At a time when settling disputes has taken on international importance, students at Greenhead High School have come up with their own form of diplomacy.

They are starting up a peer mediation scheme to help fellow students resolve problems in an amicable and positive way.

The 30 pupils from years nine, 12 and 13 have all been trained on how best to build bridges between students.

The year nine students will provide a mediation service for the lower school, with the year 12 and 13 students helping out students in the upper school.

Performing arts teacher Kath Lockwood, who is co-ordinating the scheme, explained: "The idea is for them to mediate between two students and to try and find a compromise and resolution. They are not there to make any decisions, they are there to help.

"We piloted the scheme last year on a much smaller scale and it was very successful, so we are hoping it will work just as well now it is a larger undertaking.

"The process has involved selecting students from across the school spectrum. They are the students we believe will be very good at helping others."

Mrs Lockwood said that former sixth form mediators had helped to pass down their skills to the new generation.

Year nine student Danielle Stephenson is one of the students who will be putting her training into practice next term.

She said: "The group has been set up so that children having problems at home or at school can talk to us and we will do our best to help out.

"We will keep the mediation private unless it is a really serious situation, when we will call in a teacher to help."

The group is set to launch the service next term and will outline its aims with a special assembly that will be performed for all year groups.

Year nine student Sarah York has also come up with a rap to ensure the message gets across.

The mediators will also have their photographs on a noticeboard and will wear pale and dark blue ribbon badges to identify themselves.