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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for opinions on Summerhill School?

45 replies

miomymio · 16/05/2020 08:11

I’ve just finished reading A. S. Neill’s book and honestly I’m shocked at how good it sounds? I like his ideas a lot (not that I could ever afford to send my child to Summerhill).

I also watched two old documentaries on it and the place seemed quite alright, a bit hectic, but hectic in a way that reminded me of my household when I was little

Opinions?

OP posts:

Peppaismyrolemodel · 16/05/2021 16:57

Pretty sure there’s a documentary that investigated gross exploitation of vulnerable children there in the 50/60s. Not sure they ever got to the bottom of that, the school certainly haven’t ever been transparent about it

hoodathunkit · 16/05/2021 17:00

The Pairing Up ceremony can be seen at 18:50 approx in the video I posted above.

There is a depiction of massage classes for children immediately afterwards

Willowisp2020 · 16/05/2021 17:01

I'm not sure the hippy stuff still goes on (I'm sure DC would have told me if it had of!) but I agree that nowadays whether we love or loathe exams or have an opinion about how useful they are, there's no getting away from the fact they are needed to get on anywhere. I was honestly shocked at the amount of sweet eating and screen time. Give any kids the choice and that's exactly what they would do. They went back into mainstream without any issues - except having to do a lot of work to catch up :/

hoodathunkit · 16/05/2021 17:02

I would be interested to see the documentary if anyone can find it.

IDontLikeMyselfToday · 16/05/2021 19:56

@MarieIVanArkleStinks

Didn't Enid Blyton base her 'Naughtiest Girl' series on this place?

A regime policed by its own children. Sounds like heaven to Blyton - and absolute hell on earth to me.

The school meetings at Whyteleafe School in the NG books were based on it. I don't think the rest of the school day was though; I also read a book on Summerhill and if I understood correctly lessons and normal school routines aren't forced and some children would just do what they liked.

Can you imagine how Elizabeth Allen would have coped at the real Summerhill? Nothing to rebel against, I think would be her worst nightmare! Although maybe not. Her "naughtiness" after all was about being sent away from a home where she did as she pleased so maybe she would love it!

(You can see I was an Enid Blyton fan, can't you? )

Elleherd · 16/05/2021 20:57

looptheloopinahulahoop
I promise you home education can and does easily teach you how to deal with petty officialdom and pointless rules, especially if you choose to take lots of exams as a home educated candidate!

nevernotstruggling · 16/05/2021 21:06

@miomymio

I’ve just finished reading A. S. Neill’s book and honestly I’m shocked at how good it sounds? I like his ideas a lot (not that I could ever afford to send my child to Summerhill).

I also watched two old documentaries on it and the place seemed quite alright, a bit hectic, but hectic in a way that reminded me of my household when I was little

Opinions?

The book is great I loved it too. I grew up in a progressive school and it really needs to understood as part of a wider movement not just on its own.

Summer hill and the now defunct Dartington were the extreme progressive schools. Frensham, Bedales, king Alfreds and the rest of the schools we played sports against at st Christopher's are a lot more structured.

CatsArePeople · 18/05/2021 14:23

I wish i could afford it

tallredhead1 · 18/05/2021 14:39

The used to live opposite Summerhill school, the kids would walk about day and night they kept themselves to themselves. There was occasionally some trouble with the high school kids but in a small town like Leiston there wasn't much to do they got bored easily.

JudgeJ · 18/05/2021 15:02

@Elieza

The trouble with not having much knowledge (Like children) is that you don’t know what you should know or could know or what you’ll need to know so you don’t know to study it. If you know what I mean!

Is that you Donald Rumsfeld??

JudgeJ · 18/05/2021 15:08

@MarieIVanArkleStinks

Didn't Enid Blyton base her 'Naughtiest Girl' series on this place?

A regime policed by its own children. Sounds like heaven to Blyton - and absolute hell on earth to me.

I think Blyton was writing much earlier. Reading about Summerhill takes me right back to teacher training in the late 60s when it was considered to be the ideal. Like all child centred methods it was fine as long as the children had the same ethos as the school, the vast majority would see it as a licence to do nothing! Children don't learn by osmosis, they need to be lead, taiught and encouraged. I used to tell my classes that learning wasn't like measles, you don't just catch it, it needs both pupil and teacher to be involved.

spudsuliked · 18/05/2021 20:55

If you're genuinely interested it might be worth researching modern democratic schools, they tend to have more structure but similar ideals (much most suited to a well rounded education and doesn't leave out the quiet children), the children still 'lead' but have brilliant guidance to make choices which will
Either benefit or teach them. We've loved our experience with them in England but there's actually a big movement worldwide at the moment around the model.

I actually know a fairly high profile now elderly lady who went to summerhill and struggled for many years feeling like she wasn't 'good enough' as she hadn't studied the mainstream topics.. it's a tricky balance.

Legoninjago1 · 05/07/2021 17:01

I spent the day at Summerhill when I was at another boarding school not far away. We went on a school trip there. General Studies trip as I recall. I was 16 years old and completely shocked by the place. Couldn't wait to leave. I remember it so vividly. This was mid 90s so maybe (hopefully) it's changed since then.

Packingsoapandwater · 05/07/2021 17:14

One of my friends went to a school modelled on the Summerhill ethos. She left without any functional arithmetic or mathematical knowledge.

It's not held her back in life, but that's largely because she came from a wealthy family where children were supported via trust funds, but for an individual that needed to earn a living, it would have been disastrous.

TheCrowFlies · 19/02/2022 00:06

My dd goes there. Happy to answer any questions via dm if it’s something you’re still considering.
She is very happy. We love the school. It isn’t perfect, but it really is perfect for my dd.

Dimensions3 · 19/02/2022 00:19

An acquaintance sent her son there and he couldn’t cope due to the lack of cleanliness and general disorder. That was 2007 though.

MrsBerthaRochester · 19/02/2022 00:27

I know people who sent their eldest daughter there as she couldnt cope in mainstream education. The reason for this is because she is quite clearly on the spectrum but they chose to ignore this.

Thisischarming · 19/02/2022 00:34

I don't think it's that big a deal. It sounds like boarding autonomous home ed. Which is usually very effective eventually but obviously will not be for every student. But let's face it, plenty of students who really need an education do not get it at state school.

pandora206 · 19/02/2022 00:44

I think looking at the last Ofsted the school has moved on considerably from the ethos of the 70s for which it became famous. It would be interesting to hear more from those who have recent experience.

readsalotgirl63 · 19/02/2022 01:28

Havent read whole thread so apologies but recall discussing AS Neill and Summerhill many years ago when studying educational theory - conclusion the group came to and lecturer agreed with was - great in theory and for confident children but absolute hell for others. I've always imagined it would be like " Lord of the flies"

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