How peer mediation empowers pupils to resolve conflicts

Peer mediation is a powerful conflict resolution approach that encourages young people to communicate openly and reach a compromise in disagreements.

By involving pupils as mediators, peer mediation enables the development of empathy and independenceempathy and independence, helping them to address minor conflicts through understanding and discussion. It can also include workshops that teach pupils how to resolve low-level conflicts using their peers as mediators. 

Impact on secondary education

Peer mediation is especially relevant in secondary education, when pupils often seek social and emotional support from their peers while striving for greater independence from parents and teachers. At this age, pupils are more capable of empathising with their classmates’ viewpoints and explaining issues in relatable language, making it easier for them to navigate conflicts together.

One notable example of peer mediation’s impact can be seen at the Go! Atheneum Ekeren secondary school in Belgium, which offers peer mediation training. The programme includes an official certificate for pupils and a weekend team building trip, under teacher supervision. These experiences help pupils to get to know each other better, and to build trust and a deeper understanding of their roles as mediators.

International and community initiatives

Peer mediation initiatives around the world have shown promising results in fostering peaceful interactions between young people. The report on the United Nations Development Programme  Violence-free schools initiative explores how this measure has contributed to peace education and social stability through formal education in Syria and Lebanon (with European funding). Schools in Kosovo have also adopted this methodology, establishing mediation groups to resolve conflicts between pupils from different community backgrounds – something very valuable in societies with a history of intercommunity tensions.   

The Include Me: Inclusion Through Mediation project extends the principles of peer mediation to wider communities, aiming to help learners, activists and migrant community members become peer-to-peer mediators in their communities. The project’s Good Practice Guide on intercultural mediation provides examples of activities and strategies for conflict resolution and mediation.   

Peer mediation empowers pupils to handle conflicts with confidence and empathy, helping them to build essential communication skills. It is also proving effective in creating a supportive school environment where pupils can learn to understand different perspectives and resolve issues independently.