SCHOOLS are using a technique pioneered with offenders to help pupils resolve their disputes and avoid exclusions.

The 'restorative justice' project has been trialled in two Staffordshire schools and has proved so successful in improving behaviour that the ideas could be taken up across the county.

It revolves around mediation sessions, where students are brought face-to-face to talk about their feelings and the consequences of their actions.

Wolstanton High is one of the schools trialling the system, and has trained up eight staff to act as the mediators.

Behaviour support manager Samantha Barber, who is one of the trained staff, said: "We haven't had a case yet where it hasn't worked.

"It gives young people the time to reflect on what has happened and how it made them feel. It makes them responsible for their actions.

"There was one disciplinary issue between two girls in year nine, for instance. It had all come to a head when one girl lashed out at the other. They had mediation and agreed to be civil to one another."

Incidents which have sparked the intervention could include brawls on the playing field, bullying issues, misbehaviour in lessons, or pushing and shoving in the school corridors.

But the technique is also being deployed to help friends who have fallen out, or to smooth over rifts sparked by comments on social messaging sites.

In some cases, being referred for mediation is seen as an alternative to getting suspended or being kept in detention.

As part of the work, both sides may be asked to verbally agree a contract to avoid similar conflicts bubbling up again.

Some mediation sessions have involved large groups of friends after disputes escalated beyond the original argument and threatened to wreak havoc at school.

The role of the mediator is to act as an impartial observer, asking questions and getting each side to talk about their emotions. Both pupils then decide what to do next to help solve the problem.

Restorative justice is already a well-established tool for tackling youth crime in Staffordshire and Cheshire.

First-time offenders may meet their victims to apologise and find out about the impact of their crime on others. It has helped significantly reduce re-offending rates.

Sue Owen, assistant head at Wolstanton High, said police community support officers were interested in the mediation work at the school.

She added: "They may be involved in an issue in the local community, with the same young person and their parents."

Wolstanton has offered some mediation sessions to families. And it is even using the technique to resolve tensions between members of staff.

Staffordshire County Council's behaviour support team has been overseeing the pilot, which has also involved a school in Lichfield. It is based on a scheme in Hull.

Now several other Staffordshire schools are keen to get involved and do the training.

Councillor Liz Staples, pictured left, cabinet member for education and skills, said: "Excluding someone is the easy option.

"The hard option is for them to go back into school and to put things in place to stop it happening again.

"One of the areas where it is making a difference is in reducing bullying."