Lessons in Life

Pupils from Evelyn Community Primary School proved that they have a thing or two to teach us all when they picked up certificates for peer mediation at Edge Hill?s Faculty of Education based at the Ormskirk Campus.

The year six pupils have been specially trained to help other children resolve disputes in the playground and in the classroom, learning valuable lessons in life in the process.

Skills learned as peer mediators include listening to both sides of the argument, not taking sides, calming the situation and helping others find solutions to their problems.

Before certificates were presented, the children explained how they?d used their skills to resolve disputes and encourage friendships at school.

Angela Milner, Senior Associate Dean at Edge Hill said: "You now have valuable skills that you can use in all aspects of life. Adults often have to mediate in both their work and home lives and we can learn a great deal from your experiences and skills at dealing with disputes."

The peer mediation qualification is recognised in high schools and children will be continuing their roles as mediators when they leave primary school this September.

Carol Arnold is Head Teacher at Evelyn Community Primary School: "We have many partnerships with Edge Hill and are very grateful to them for endorsing the hard work that our pupils achieved in peer mediation. We are very keen to develop our pupils? citizenship skills. This initiative is one of many to help develop the pupil voice, where children have a say and make decisions about their future."

As a valued partner Edge Hill works closely with Evelyn Community Primary School, which provides mentors and placements for its trainees with qualified teachers taking up continuing professional development opportunities. ends

photo: children from Evelyn Community Primary with (left) Angela Milner and (right) Carol Arnold