Conflict is a natural part of any school environment, arising from differences in perspectives, behaviours, and expectations.

 

Left unmanaged, conflict can undermine morale, damage relationships, and create a stressful or toxic atmosphere. However, when handled skillfully, conflict can strengthen collaboration, build understanding, and improve problem-solving among staff and pupils.
 

Most school staff encounter conflict in various forms—staff-to-staff, teacher-to-pupil, pupil-to-pupil, or parent-to-staff. This course equips participants with practical strategies, techniques, and tools to manage and resolve conflict effectively, reducing stress, improving relationships, and fostering a positive school culture.

 

Many strategies are adaptable for use with pupils, including engaging activities and games that teach constructive conflict resolution.
 

Session 1 – Understanding Conflict
•    Defining conflict and identifying common causes in schools
•    Exploring personal conflict styles
•    Recognising behaviours that escalate or de-escalate conflict
 

Session 2 – Managing Your Personal Response
•    Recognising personal reactions: body, voice, and emotions
•    Managing stress: diaphragmatic breathing, tension release, engaging senses
•    Building emotional awareness: self-awareness and social-awareness exercises
•    Developing empathy: 8 practical strategies, class activities and games
 

Session 3 – Conflict Management Strategies
•    Understanding the phases of conflict
•    Skills to employ: slowing down, cooperative language, non-judgemental
      responses, managing body language
•    Using the CICASS system: Control, Identify, Connect, Acknowledge,
      Summarise, Solution
•    Managing challenging behaviour: addressing violence, inappropriate actions,
      and escalation
 

Session 4 – Applying CICASS in School Situations
•    Staff/Parent conflicts: techniques for communication and resolution
•    Staff/Staff conflicts: mediation, managing past issues, cooperative
      approaches
•    Teacher/Pupil conflicts: escalation prevention, involving appropriate parties
•    Pupil/Pupil conflicts: 6-step resolution plan, class activities, and games
 

Session 5 – Conflict Prevention and Reduction
•    Implementing policies and clear communication to reduce conflict
•    Between staff: dialogue, understanding roles, leveraging complementary
      styles, providing feedback
•    With parents: guides for positive interaction and communication
•    With pupils: clear rules, safe spaces, teaching conflict resolution skills,
      modelling behaviour, and using calm corners
 

Outcomes - By the end of the course, participants will:
•    Understand the causes and types of conflict in a school environment
•    Recognise personal conflict styles and manage their own responses
•    Apply practical strategies to de-escalate and resolve conflict
•    Use the CICASS system effectively in a variety of school situations
•    Prevent conflict through clear communication, modelling, proactive policies
•    Equip pupils with conflict resolution skills through activities and games
•    Foster a positive, respectful, and collaborative school culture
 

This course ensures staff are confident in managing, resolving, and preventing conflict, improving relationships, reducing stress, and creating a supportive learning and working environment.