WMS is a not-for-profit mediation provider offering a range of services to schools nationwide, in person or via zoom: – Mediation of school-related issues: We can help resolve disagreements and improve relations between parents and the school, or teachers and pupils. Matters that often come up in our work are SEN, exclusion and disciplinary proceedings,… School mediation
What is school mediation?
Mediation is a way of resolving conflict through conversation, which is facilitated by a neutral third party – a mediator. When dealing with a school dispute, it is crucial that each party has an opportunity to express themselves without being confronted. This is where an experienced mediator can help, offering parties impartial support and assisting them in finding a mutually agreed resolution to their conflict. The process is confidential, highly effective and keeps parties in control of the outcome.
Why choose WMS as your School mediation provider?
High success rate. Litigating a dispute in court can be expensive and time-consuming. Every single one of the school mediations we have been involved with reached an agreement, saving time and minimising stress for both parents and school staff.
Expert mediators. We are supported by a panel of highly skilled, accredited mediators. Since 2004, we have conducted mediations in numerous private and state schools in London. We will match the right mediator to your dispute. Click here to find out more about our mediators.
Quick turnaround. We found that early intervention through mediation enhances the potential of a settlement, so we aim to organise the initial meeting within two weeks of the referral. The majority of mediations are concluded within one day.
Less damaging. Compared to open court proceedings, mediation is bound by a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). All details of the dispute will remain confidential.
More amicable. Conflict can be immensely damaging to a school environment, affecting pupils’ wellbeing and staff morale. Mediation can achieve outcomes that preserve relationships. The mediators will ensure the final agreement is in the best interests of everyone involved.
How does school mediation work?
Referral
The school can “hand over” the dispute to us by giving us any relevant information, and the contact details for the parents. We will then contact the parents and invite them to mediation. Alternatively, the parents can contact us in the first instance, to give us all of the background information, and we will then contact the school and invite them to mediate. After the introductory phone call to explain the process, initial meetings with each party will be organised.
Initial meetings
At the initial meeting, the mediator(s) will meet each party separately. It usually takes 1-1.5 hours, and is an opportunity for the parties to talk about their concerns and what they hope to achieve. If the parties agree to mediate, a joint meeting will be organised.
Joint meeting
The joint mediation meeting is an up to 3 hours round-table session where everyone involved in the conflict are able to express their concerns, explore what options are available and look for a resolution. The mediator(s) will remain impartial: they will not takes sides or impose solutions. The final outcome of mediation will be agreed by the participants, not the mediator(s). Find out more about the mediation process here.
Download Information
Click here to view full details (PDF)School mediation Questions
- Mediation of school-related disputes that don’t involve financial issues is available to all Wandsworth residents for free.
- Mediation of disputes about school fee payments is a paid-for service. The cost depends on the amount in dispute. For example, if the disagreement is over one term’s fees of £7,500, the mediation would cost £320 per party for a 3-hour session.
Fees are usually covered by the school, but they can also be split between the parties. For disputes under £50,000, our pricing follows the Civil Mediation Council’s fixed fee scheme.
All fees do not include VAT which is not currently payable.
We have seen a huge increase in demand for our service since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our mediators are fully trained to conduct mediation sessions online.
Online mediation means you can resolve disputes quicker, and from the comfort of your home. All you need is a computer or mobile phone, a webcam and a quiet location. Our dedicated case managers will provide detailed instructions and guide you through the set-up.
If you have more questions, please visit our FAQs or contact us.
