Pupils learn to mentor fellow students

English schools will receive almost three-quarters of a million pounds over the next two years to train their pupils to listen to one another's problems.

Pupils in secondary schools and colleges will be taught to help classmates who struggle to form friendships or find it hard to express themselves.

Ministers hope the "peer mentors" will defuse arguments through discussion, reduce bullying, improve behaviour and raise attainment.

They say a pilot project of 3,600 pupils in 180 schools has achieved these goals and helped pupils make the transition from primary to secondary school.