In the Classic program peer training is two days with a teaching/drama and a health professional co-leading the training, ideally supported by expereinced peers or “super peers”.  Some areas have trained their own peer trainers and some schools with sixth forms do all training in house

For the new variant of the program the training has been re-structured to reduce the amount of time peer educators have to spend off-timetable from two days to one, use materials consistent with this variant facilitating in-school delivery and modify it slightly to be more appropriate for use in training year 11 peer educators in schools without their own sixth forms.  This has been achieved by reducing the ’session practice’ element and providing a CD/DVD for peer educators to use in individual or further short revision periods for each session.  

 The Classic training provides:

• Advanced information about human sexuality, contraception and STIs so that they feel empowered to strut their stuff with year 9s
• Training in delivery skills including positive techniques for ensuring application of the ground rules supporting small group work, leading whole class discussion, managing the more difficult young people and encouraging participation in role plays and feedback.
• Introduction to and extensive practise with delivery of the scripted sessions with opportunities to personalise the scripts 

The New Variant provides:

• Structured exercises to extend participants understanding of the rationale for the programme and the validity of promoting both postponement of first intercourse and use of both barrier and hormonal contraception
• Similar exercises to demonstrate the power of peers in promoting healthier behaviours to a lower age group, usually Year 9 students
• Development of appropriate classroom skills as in the Classic training
• Introduction to the layout, conventions, personalisation and use of the scripts used in the classroom
• Demonstration and introduction to using the CD/DVD for personal, small group or whole group revision, extended training in classroom techniques and understanding of session content.