PUPILS at Wootton Bassett School who are facing problems at home or school can now talk them over with trained senior students.

The eight sixth formers have completed an 18-hour training course to be volunteer mentors.

The scheme was co-ordinated by Wiltshire County Council youth and community worker Gareth Brown and senior teacher Beryl Hill.

Special certificates were presented by head teacher Hylton Thomas at a lunchtime ceremony in the Youth Centre last week.

Those present included the head of sixth form Steve Blakelock, and Gill Thomas, area support officer from Wiltshire Youth and Community Services.

The peer mentors, Jonathan Baxter, Rebecca Martin, Sarah Minett, Steven Minty, Claire Morison, Lucy Short, Alison Stone and Leah Warren, are all A-Level students aged 17 or 18. They will work in pairs each Wednesday morning, when they meet with the school's youngest pupils.

"We've helped them to settle in and we do various activities with them, help ing them to get to know each other better, and to feel comfortable at school," said Sarah Minett.

The mentors also run a drop-in centre at lunchtime on Mondays and Fridays, and offer a confidential consultation on any matter which may be worrying a pupil.

The facility is available to everyone in the school, but Alison Stone, who is studying health and social care as one of her subjects, said most interest had come from the younger students.

"Younger pupils tend to consult us more than the older ones, who may feel they have gained confidence to tackle their own difficulties. But we're here to help everyone who comes in.''

Sarah said: "Some pupils have parents who are divorcing, and some who come to us are really upset.

"It's nice that they are able to open up to us quite a lot, in a way they might not do to an adult.

"We are closer to their age, and it's good that we can help them to feel better able to cope with their problems and anxieties.''

A wide range of difficulties from homework to bullying, feature in consultations.

Mrs Hill thanked the peer mentors for their involvement and for tackling their task with such maturity and good sense.

She said the students gain a lot from their training.

"It alters their perception of relationships and their implications, and helps them to communicate better with others. This scheme is proving very successful.''

Mr Thomas said: "When this was first mooted, it was quite a new idea.

"But it has proved to be the most effective way of communicating between age groups in the school."