Peace Circles in Schools with Roy Leighton

Show notes

Exclusive podcast 20% discount on our London training - 8 & 9 March 2025 Use the code POD20 when you check out. Circle Holding Non-Residential Retreat - London https://www.circleholding.org/weekend-retreat

In this episode, Tessa Venuti Sanderson and Roy Leighton (https://www.independentthinking.co.uk/speakers/roy-leighton/) talked about: **For data on the impact of circles at Carr Manor School go to: **www.circleholding.org/podcast-episode-24

• His involvement in Peace Circles being rooted in his childhood with Adverse Childhood Events
• How circles can increase inclusion and belonging in schools – in 7 years only 7 days of exclusion across the whole school (e.g. at Carr Manor)
• Using the framework of the ‘Four Rooms’ – intellectual, emotional, practical and spiritual in every circle – to deal with conflict quickly through structure of ‘When you…’, ‘I feel….’, ‘because….’, ‘what can we do about it?’
• Different levels of circle from senior management – with mixed staff (dinner ladies, ground staff) and mixed year groups
• Thrice weekly meetings called ‘family circles’ by children (and Coaching Group on the school website: https://carrmanor.org.uk/coaching/)
• Staff trained in holding circle and moving through restorative, chaotic and self-organising circles
• Circle works to re-educate away from simple hierarchy to transcend and become more inclusive
• Circles can hold conflict and prevent escalation
• Intergeneration circles build maturity in younger members
• Circles provide spaces where people can be called out but lead to change rather than conflict and unhealthy confrontation

Get your free Start Your Circle Guide HERE You can order our book Circle Holding: A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Circle-Holding-Practical-Facilitating-Talking/dp/1805013157/) For a signed copy from Independent Book Store West End Lane Books purchase the book here https://www.welbooks.co.uk/shop/p/circle-holding-by-julia-davis-and-tessa-venuti-sanderson

To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings: https://www.circleholding.org Circle Holding Fundamentals - introductory 3 hour workshop https://www.circleholding.org/circle-fundamentals Circle Holding Facilitator Training - 3 month training https://www.circleholding.org/circle-holders-journey Yoga Nidra & Circle Holding https://www.circleholding.org/yoga-nidra-circle-holding Circle Holding Self Study Programme https://www.circleholding.org/self-study Circle Holding Non-Residential Retreat - London https://www.circleholding.org/weekend-retreat Circle Holding Residential Retreat https://www.circleholding.org/autumn-residential Free Events and mini trainings - meet Julia & Tessa and get a taste of circle holding https://www.circleholding.org/free-resources We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at info@circleholding.org

Music credit: Fabio Venuti