Churchfields School peer mentors

Churchfields School in Swindon has been running a successful peer mentoring scheme for over two years; its main purpose is to support students in transition from primary to secondary school who have peer group and friendship issues.  This has developed through face-to-face meetings and e-mentoring in which peer mentors talk to the students about any social, emotional or educational needs and try and help them to resolve their issues for themselves.  Peer mentors have also received training in Restorative Justice in order to enable them to act as mediators and relieve difficult situations amongst other pupils.

Whilst this successful one-to-one strand of the project continues in school, the value of the interpersonal and mentoring skills developed through the programme have been recognised and called upon by agencies outside of the school, including the local Primary Mental Health team, Swindon Behavioural Support Team, Targeted Mental Health in Schools and The Red Cross.

Project co-ordinator Tony Pilling is keen to share the success of his scheme with other projects in Swindon and beyond: 

“One of the really exciting aspects of the project has been seeing how Peer Mentors have cascaded training in First Aid to over 600 students of all ages in a project spearheaded by The Red Cross.  Churchfields is the first school in the country where children as peer mentors pass on skills learnt from The Red Cross to other pupils.  28 peer mentors taught Years 8-10 first aid basics at workshops attended by the mayor. 

We are aiming for the whole school to have basic life saving first aid within two years and the response to the idea within the community has been phenomenal.  I can’t put into words how well the pupils performed on the day; it was a joy to watch the peer mentors teaching fellow students life saving skills.  It gives them the opportunity to make other students’ lives better and give them skills that could one day save a loved one or a complete stranger’s life and in so gives something back to the community."

Jane Cooper, of the British Red Cross, said: “We are hoping to breed a generation of life savers, we were looking for a school to work with and the way Churchfields has involved peer mentors in this scheme is brilliant. We wanted it to act as a role model and it definitely will.” 

Peer mentor Jade Dance, 16, said: “I have been teaching the recovery position, how to bandage a cut hand and stop bleeding. I think this training is really important because if we ever find ourselves in the position where someone has been injured, we will have the confidence to help them.”

Mayor Steve Wakefield was also impressed: “It is an exceptional event to be invited along to... it is commendable of the peer mentors to be teaching others to administer first aid. Well done to the pupils.”
In addition to promoting restorative justice and facilitating first aid training, peer mentors at Churchfields are going further to support the local community through their mentoring skills:

• Peer mentors have been working with Swindon’s Mental Health team for over a year to support year 7 students in group work sessions
• Peer mentors have been asked to be part of a steering group working with Primary Mental Health on a project called V.I.B.E.S, they will help to evaluate a new method of assessment for young people
• Peer mentors have been included in the interview panels for new support and teaching staff at the school and the borough including Advocacies, Social Workers, Children’s Services Workers, Barnardos and many more
• Peer mentors are taking part in the South West England Student Voice and Global Education initiative, developing student-led projects to run at local, regional and national levels

Peer mentoring at Churchfields has changed the ethos of the school and has become an invaluable support mechanism in both the school and the local community.


Project co-ordinator: Tony Pilling
Contact number: 01793 487286

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