Peace Circles in Schools with Roy Leighton

Show notes

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

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/)

To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings: https://www.circleholding.org

Tessa's trainings can also be found at [https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/circles/circle-training] IG @tessa.venuti.sanderson

We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at info@circleholding.org

Music credit: Fabio Venuti