About the Peer Listening Team   

 The team is made up of members of the Upper and Lower Sixth forms, supported and led by Sue Hewitt who is a non-teaching member of staff. The new Peer Listeners are chosen at the start of each academic year from volunteers in the Lower Sixth.  This provides continuity when they move up into the Upper Sixth form the following year. Those pupils in the new Lower Sixth wishing to join the team complete an application form.  References are obtained from the pupil’s House master/House mistress and Tutor.  A panel comprising a member of staff and two current Upper Sixth PLs then interviews applicants, and selections are then made.  The successful applicants undergo an intensive training programme conducted by professional counsellor from Relate.   

  Confidentiality    

   The most important aspect of listening is confidentiality.  A listener will agree to keep what you tell them confidential, unless something you tell them makes them think that you or others may be at serious risk of harm. In this case, they may need to refer to a member of staff who might be Sue Hewitt or the Chaplain.  They will endeavour to keep you involved at all stages.  Your peer listener will talk to you about this, to make sure you are comfortable with how this works.      

  Our Role in the School        

 We are here to help fellow pupils who may be experiencing problems (however big or small) that we may have had ourselves, so may find it easier to understand than a member of staff. There may be some things that a pupil would prefer to discuss with one of us rather than an adult.   

    
  How Can we Help ?

  As the name suggests, we are here to listen and not to offer solutions to problems, but sharing a problem can often make it that much easier to bear. In certain cases we may be able to suggest other ways in which a pupil may seek help, or discuss options you might want consider in order to help you resolve a situation.      If you have any suggestions for how the Peer listeners could improve the service they offer, we would love to hear them. Email your suggestions to peerlistening@bloxhamschool.com   
  

How Others can Help        

 There are, of course, adults who are here to help you and who can be trusted to act in confidence (with the proviso above). There is a school counsellor who is here on Tuesdays from 3.00 to 6.00 p.m.
 
 Sue Hewitt is the person who supports and leads the PL team, but Father Michael, the Sisters in Palmer and the school doctors may be able to help those who are experiencing certain worries or problems.
 
 There are also national bodies such as Childline who can be contacted free on
 0800 11 11.