School mediation
WMS is a not-for-profit set up by renowned mediator Stephen Ruttle KC. For over 20 years we’ve been supporting state and independent schools to resolve conflict through mediation – a confidential process where an impartial mediator helps people reach an agreement they can all accept.
Our areas of expertise:
- Parent-parent disputes
- Parent-teacher disputes
- Workplace conflict between staff
- Supplier disputes
- Disputes over bursaries
- School fee disputes
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?
Getting started
- The school can refer a case to us by sharing any relevant background information and the contact details for the parents. We’ll then reach out to the parents and invite them to mediation.
- Alternatively, parents can contact us directly. We’ll take the background information from them and then get in touch with the school.
- After an initial phone call to explain the process, we’ll arrange individual meetings with everyone involved.
Individual meetings
- The mediator meets with each person separately. These usually take between one and one and a half hours.
- It’s a chance to talk through concerns and what everyone hopes to achieve. Everything discussed is confidential, unless there is a safeguarding concern that requires it to be shared.
- If everyone agrees to go ahead, a joint meeting is arranged.
Joint meeting
- The joint session is a round-table meeting of up to three hours, where everyone involved can share their concerns, explore options and work towards a resolution.
- The mediator remains impartial. They won’t take sides or impose solutions. The outcome is decided by the people in the room, not the mediator.
- Everything discussed in mediation is confidential and cannot be shared outside the session without everyone’s agreement, except where there is a safeguarding concern that requires action.
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.