Peer Listening

Peer listening is a service run by the students, for the benefit of students at Canons High School.

Research has shown that students who are having problems, both inside and outside of school, usually respond best to having a friend or peer to talk to. Peer listening creates a support service for all students.

At Canons High School the Peer Listeners are a specially trained group of upper school students. These selected students are thoroughly trained by staff from Relate during a three day course. They learn skills such as understanding bullying behaviour, strategies for coping with bullying, understanding and demonstrating empathy and understanding and practising listening skills. All Peer Listeners sign confidentially guidelines as part of this training.

These students then take responsibility for the daily organisation of the peer listening service. This includes the drop-in sessions, assemblies, PSCHE lessons and the buddy system with lower school tutor groups. Students are able to go and visit the peer listener at the lunch time drop-in sessions. Peer listeners also run competitions and are responsible for the promotion of the service around the school.

The Peer listening program at Canons High School has been recognised for the contribution these students make to creating a positive school environment. Each year six students are nominated by their colleagues for the ‘Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for young people'. Peer listeners have also been nominated and won the Harrow Youth Achievement Award. These awards recognise and celebrate the contributions that young people make in the school community and the outside world.