To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools are participating in the peer mentoring and befriending scheme; and what criteria are being used to assess the effectiveness of this scheme. (173835)

A list of schools who are participating in the Department’s Peer Mentoring programme has been placed in the Library. This programme is managed on behalf of the Department by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation.

Since 2006, the Department has been evaluating the impact of the Peer Mentoring programme through pilot projects in 180 schools. This two-year evaluation has been externally commissioned. Each school taking part in the pilot chose an outcome for their project, from the following list:

Improved academic performance or attainment;

Improved behaviour;

Improved attendance; and

Reductions in bullying.

The pilots are being evaluated against these outcomes.