Students who provided a friendly face and a supportive ear to pupils making the switch from primary to secondary school have been recognised. Eight students – Susanna Brunswick, Katie Callin, Amy Duncan, Amy Griffiths, Tim Griffiths, Anna James and Sophie Pilkington, all 18, and Holly Prescott, 19 – completed a National Open College Network qualification in peer mentoring. Four of the students attended the Department of Education and Children today to receive certificates from Dudley Butt MLC, a political member, and Stuart Dobson, Chief Executive Officer. The DEC’s Youth Service offers a volunteer peer mentor course to students, accredited at level 2 by the National Open College Network. It is the fourth year that students from Queen Elizabeth II High School have taken it up. The course is aimed at sixth formers who are willing to surrender some of their time to help 11-year-olds make a smooth transition from primary school to secondary school. Students attend classroom sessions on mentoring and work with young people in school, then produce a portfolio that shows what they have learned. Ken Callister, Principal Youth Officer, said: ‘This is a great way for older students to put something back into the system. They are young enough to remember how it felt to be in a stranger in a new school and how a friendly face and some encouragement and support can make a difference to how newcomers settle in. ‘The young people who took this course were pretty busy with their own studies but they all said it was really useful and has made them think about themselves and how they might support friends and family.’ Some of those who achieved the qualification are still in the sixth form at the Peel school while others are in their first year at university. ‘For those going off to university, leaving home and finding themselves in a new friendship group, completing this course helps make them more resilient,’ Ken said. Sue Crowe, course tutor, commented: ‘The young people have completed the course on a voluntary basis and have worked very hard to achieve the National Open College Network qualification. They were able to use their own experiences and those within the training programme to help others overcome difficulties and problems as they were needed during school time.’ The Youth Service is an accredited National Open College Network centre. Ends