Almost 90 senior pupils from 11 schools in Northern Ireland have completed a peer mentoring qualification offered by the Open College Network and organised by the Education Authority.

The training equips pupils to address conflicts between students or between students and teachers. Mentors also assist with personal or domestic issues among pupils, while staff handle serious matters.

Abbie, 17, and Milla, 17, both from St Louise's College in Belfast, stated that students prefer confiding in peers over teachers due to greater relatability.

Odhran and Nathan from St Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School in Belfast described the role as helping younger pupils resolve arguments or fights through restorative discussions to find common ground.

Lewis, 16, from the same Belfast school, noted that mentors engage pupils as equals, avoiding perceptions of authority present in teacher interactions.

The Education Authority reported 1,002 fewer pupil suspensions from August 2025 to March 2026 in schools using peer mentors and restorative methods, compared to the prior year. This represents a 15% reduction.