Following a training and development programme, nine pupils from York have become the first team of Restorative Peer Mentors in a North Yorkshire secondary school.
The Year 8 students, who all attend Millthorpe School in York, received their certificates from Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime at a celebration assembly earlier today. Also in attendance were Schools Liaison Sergeant, Heidi Lewis and Schools Liaison Police Officer, Vicky Brook, from North Yorkshire Police and Dave Pascoe, Service Delivery Manager for North Yorkshire Restorative Solutions. The students’ parents and carers were also invited to attend the assembly which was followed by a small gathering of staff, students, parents and invited guests.
Following an application and interview process, the nine students were selected to join a Restorative Peer Mentors programme led by Mr Pascoe. Over a two-week period, the students attended workshops to learn what Restorative Justice is, how it is used in the community and how the approach can be used within schools. The students worked with Mr Pascoe to come up with ideas about how they can use their training to implement support for students and resolve difficulties in a restorative, positive manner.
Sophie Cole, Senior Leader and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Millthorpe said “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the students on this project. They are so passionate about using their skills to resolve conflict in a restorative way and I hope that their expertise in this area will help other young people to learn positive ways of resolving issues. We are so proud that we have had this opportunity to work with Restorative Solutions and that we are the first secondary school in North Yorkshire to have delivered this training to our students.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to our new team of Restorative Peer Mentors: Amelia Auckland, Reuben Bainbridge, Chloe Bennett, Rosie Davies, Elena Mellows, Henry Smith, Charlotte Wind, Samuel Walton and Ava Temlett. They have all been amazing and I’m sure we are at the beginning of a very exciting journey.”
After the Easter break, the school will develop the initiative further, sharing more information with students and parents as to what support is available and how it can be accessed.
Millthorpe School belongs to Excel Learning Trust alongside York High School, Inspire Academy, Carr Junior School and Knavesmire, Scarcroft and Woodthorpe Primary Schools.
4 April 2025
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