TEACHERS from France are keen to learn how a Swindon secondary school trains children to be peer mentors.

At Churchfields School, children act as mediators when pupils misbehave or encounter problems.

Teachers from College Jules Verne in Poitiers visited the Salcombe Grove school to learn more about its peer mentoring programme and science department.

The teachers met headteacher Steve Flavin and were also due to meet deputy mayor Rex Barnett. Helga Maddock, modern foreign languages co-ordinator, said it was useful for Churchfields pupils to experience French culture and the schools have many similarities.

Peer mentor co-ordinator Tony Pilling said: “I think peer mentoring has taken Churchfields into a new era – it has changed the ethos of the school. “There is a massive benefit to those involved in peer mentoring because they are learning social skills. Pupils being mentored actually feel more confident about talking to people about their issues.”