Restorative Approaches to Conflict in Schools
Spring and Summer Term 2011
Attendance: Friday 14 January, Friday 11 March, Friday 6 May, Friday 24 June (9.30 - 5 pm)
Saturday 15 January, Saturday 12 March, Satuday 7 May, Saturday 2 (9.30 - 1 pm)
Venue: University of Cambridge Faculty of Education
Tutor: Belinda Hopkins
Course Description
This 60-hour course is being run in collaboration with Cambridge & District Community Mediation Service.
This course is for teachers and others who wish to work with schools to develop restorative approaches to conflict. It will support you to develop conflict resolution skills and to reflect on your own personal and professional development as you help promote initiatives such as peer mediation and restorative conferencing. It will explore areas such as: the nature of conflict and violence in schools; bullying; peace education; restorative justice in youth justice settings and schools; PSHE; child-centred and collaborative discipline and school exclusion.
- Explore issues and research relating to peace education, violence and bullying in schools and the role of culture, politics and the media in discourses of violence in schools
- Support you to develop and improve your practice as a mediator and restorative practitioner
- Support th e development and evaluation of conflict resolution initiatives such as anti-bullying strategies, peer mediation and Restorative Justice in schools
- Support the development and evaluation of teaching personal social and emotional skills through PSHE and Citizenship
- Enable you to reflect on processes of behaviour management, child-centred collaborative discipline, and support for young people at risk of school exclusion
- Provide a structure for auditing a school (or a service) and formulating an action plan for promoting peaceful schools.
Course Overview
Session 1
- Introductions
- Setting the scene: Theory and practice of RA in schools
- Skills building: Mediation
Session 2
- Presentation and discussion: Problematising Restorative Justice
- Skills building: Mediation
- Investigating practice: Auditing your school/service
On-line learning (1) Personal research and discussion of audit
Session 3
- Touching base
- Presentation and discussion: Violence in schools
- Skills building: Mediation
Session 4
- Presentation and discussion: Restorative behaviour management
- Skills building: Using restorative language with children and young people
- Investigating practice: Planning your enquiry
Session 5
- Touching base
- Prestantion and discussion: Restorative approaches to bullying
- Skills building: Restorative conferencing
Session 6
- Presentation and discussion: reducing social and educational exclusion
- Skills building: Restorative conferencing
- Investigating practice: Analysing and presenting findings from your enquiry
On-line learning (3) Personal research and presenting findings
Session 7
- Presentation findings
- Presentation and discussion: Social and emotional wellbeing in schools
- Skills building: Using circles to promote wellbeing amongst young people
Session 8
- Presentation and discussion: Working with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties
- Skills building: Coaching and mentoring
- Writing your reflective account for assessment
Accreditation
The course may be taken on a free-standing basis leading to the award of a Postgraduate Certificate of Professional Study (PCPS). Alternatively, if you are currently studying or wish to enrol for a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Studies (PDES) you may count this as one of your units. (For full information on the requirements please contact the PPD Office).
All participants will be expected to attend regularly (a minimum of 80%) and to complete a related assignment to the satisfaction of the course tutor.
Application
If you would like an application form for this course please contact the CPD/PPD Office (01223 767732) or download the PCPSregform11-12.doc from our website.
The tuition fee of £764 will be payable prior to commencement of the course (this excludes the cost of meals and refreshments). An invoice will be issued on acceptance to the course and applicants are therefore asked to indicate who will be responsible for the payment of fees. Cheques should be made payable to the University of Cambridge.