Summerhill - has anyone got any experience of this school?

[LivingLaVidaLurker2]

I have recently been reading a lot about A.S. Neill and Summerhill school and it seems a fascinating place. I am planning to attend an open day, but would be interested to hear of any MNers' experiences. Have you been? Do your children go? What do ex-students think about the school?

My biggest concern from everything I've read, including the website, is that parents are kept at a distance. Although I can understand that children should be left to be children (to wildy summarise the philosophy), why would the staff at Summerhill be better adult influences than dh and me?

Oh, and I am filled with very mixed feelings about boarding - do day pupils thrive at the school?

[lazymumofteenagesons]

I don't know what area Summerhill is in or where you live. But if you want a slightly more traditional version (progressive but lessons compulsory, no uniform, individuality recognised and learning support given) take a look at St Christopher in letchworth, Hertfordshire. Website www.stchris.co.uk

[floaty]

I have several friends with children there and am quite attracted to the philosophy(dh though is very anti)I have heard though thta they are not good if your child needs learning support because the ,when asked what happens if your child wants to learn but can't because of dyslexia etc I felt they floundered a little but it is still a great place.You need to be aware though thta except in exceptional circumstances they do not admit children older than 11 as they find it too hard to adapt

[snorkle]

Dd's friend never went to maths lessons for years (at least 3) - though I think she went once for a dare. I'm not even sure if she has started going yet or not. That would really bother me if a child of mine boycotted what I consider to be an important subject as I don't really think they have an appreciation of the long term consequences. That's why I couldn't be a summerhill parent - I suspect it works OK for most but not all and I don't have enough trust.

[Jux]

I think most of the kids opt out of lessons at first just because they can (wouldn't you?), but I imagine they get a bit bored too and wander in to see what's happening. I know dd would skip lessons for a while, but I also know that she would end up going to lots bacause she's really interested in so many things.

[anxiousmax]

Tavker

It really is a lovely part of the country & the schools are wonderful & we've been on the beach with NO RAIN all week.
I'm not a local originally but can't imagine living anywhere else now.

[Takver]

I should also say vidalurker that having lived in a place that has been filmed many times I would never, ever, believe anything that is presented on tv about 'alternative' approaches to society. Basically IME all tv people want is conflict and scandal and 'look at the funny people'.

[Takver]

Thanks for the helpful comments re the power station. We're thinking about leaving Wales, and have a lot of ties in the East so maybe we should look again at Leiston. Sadly I don't think we would be able to afford the fees for Summerhill, also I have a (probably irrational so don't jump on me) gut reaction against paying for education and taking my child out of the state system. But its really interesting to hear from people who have been there.
I like the description as being a bit like home ed but in a group - I can see so many positive aspects of being out of school, but I worry about being able to offer a wide range of options to dd, so I've always thought something like Summerhill would be an ideal halfway house.
Now if only 'choice' in the state system meant a meaningful choice between traditional schooling and alternative approaches rather than between a good trad school or a bad one . . .

[Doobydoo]

Hi Again.I found it quite strange at first!
Being able to have some control over my life[we had moved around alot]and also being listened to and listening to others.
I went in the 80's.I would have loved to have boarded there.The teachers were incredibly enthusiastic and I really enjoyed science[never since I left though]
Some hildren are at the school because they have not 'fitted in' to mainstream school.for one reason or another and have in some cases been classed as problem children.Others are there because it has been the 1st choice for parents and kids.
I think it is abit like home education but in a group[ifyswim].We home ed though our son wants to give school a try and is going in Sept[we are in Ireland].I think as with home ed,parents sometimes need nerves of steel!It depends where you are coming from as a parent.The school has pointd out that children may choose not to attend lessons at all during the first year or two.So I think AS A PARENT YOU HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY[whoops] in agreement with the schools philosophy in order for your child to be themselves etc.Hope that makes some sort of sense!?

[LivingLaVidaLurker2]

...stiched up by the film makers...

[LivingLaVidaLurker2]

Thanks everyone - I'm definitely planning a visit up there. I was a bit put off after seeing the documentary, but have since read that the school was completely stiched up the the film makers who wanted the most scandalous angle possible.

Doobydoo, would you mind telling me more about your experience there? Can I ask when you went? Would you have been happy boarding if your mum wan't there? Thank you.

[cornsilk]

My ds would love it, but wouldn't want to board. Bit too far for us - and too expensive anyway! Fab idea though, shame there aren't more schools like that.

[Doobydoo]

I have seen that there are 1 or 2 schools in Devon run along similar lines.

[Doobydoo]

I had the prospectus until recently.I finally admitted to myself we wouldn't be able to afford it.I think they are around 15.000 a year for a boarder[my ds is nearly 9]
I could be wrong but it is around that figure.Summerhill is setting up a fund to help people with fees but it isn't active yet[it is looking for donations].
I think some chldren start as day pupils and then want to board as their confidence builds and they don't want to miss out.

[Jux]

I would love to send dd to Summerhill - think it would suit her down to the ground. I wanted to go there myself but never heard of it until I was over 20! Still want to go myself, actually.

We're in Devon, income at subsistence level, so no chance

[cornsilk]

what are the fees like then?

[anxiousmax]

The other schools in the area a re VERY good if Summerhill isn't your thing.

Summerhill pupils are very international & come from all walks of life, i know of some that have returned to the area & settled as adults (although i don't know them well iykwim).

Actually one of the landlords of a local pub is a former Summerhill pupil.

Sizewell A stopped generating last year & is currently being decommisioned, Sizewell B has many many years to run before it is decommisioned , it is currently the UK's newest nuclear reactor. Sizewell C is still in the planning stages.

[worley]

sizewell b is being shutdown very very soon and there will only be sizewell c.
if there was high radiation or any radiation coming from there do you think people would be allowed to live there!!
it is true what anxiousmax says in that there is more cosmic radiation than there is being near here. you get more radiation from a long distance flight than one chest xray, so when people complain about having xrays, they dont complain about going on airplanes do they!!

i didnt go to summerhill but was taught at primary school what to do in the event of a leak from the powerstation, which petrified me for years that it was going to explode and kill us all!!!

[Doobydoo]

went

[Doobydoo]

I wet for a year.My mum was working there.I never saw her
Think it depends on the type of child you have too.They hold weekly meetings,everyone has a say.I f you do decide to go to a lesson it is because you have chosen too and therefore the messing around etc is not expected.
Sorry am typing fast as child on rampage.I loved it.The prospectus is informative and all sorts of people go there and leave to pursue many different careers.

[Blandmum]

Radon, though isn't? rather than any effect of Sizewell?

[anxiousmax]

There is higher background radiation naturally occuring in Devon & cornwall than is found locally in Suffolk & every time you fly in a plane the radiation levels are far higher than found on the ground in Suffolk.
It is also one of the closely monitored areas of the country, even the anti-nuclear groups who carry out their own monitoring have yet to find anything.
The only thing I notice if we walk VERY close to the station is the large number of pylons coming from the national grid station attached to the power station.

It does mean that we keep all our local retained fire stations to support the stations own. We don't get disturbed by aircraft as there is a no fly zone in force & we have an increased number of police as the Civil nuclear constabulary patrol the local towns/villages in support of the suffolk police.
I ahve no strong views on Nuclear power either way but as a local resident the only impact we feel is a positive one.

[Takver]

Somewhat off topic, but although I'd love to live in Suffolk (and have the option of DD going to Summerhill, although I don't think we could afford it!), we ruled the idea out completely because of how very, very close Leiston is to Sizewell B nuclear power station - not because of accidents, just the potentially high levels of background radiation . . . .

[anxiousmax]

I live near Summerhill & while I don't know any of the pupils I do know several staff members. All have worked there many years & say the ethos of mutual respect & taking responsibility for your actions is far more important than if the children go to lessons, in fact a very high % do attend lessons & therefore behavioural problems & bullying is very rare.

I do see some of the children in the local shops (they do stand out as being Summerhill pupils) they are always polite etc.
Also the owner (founders daughter) is a very well known & respected local figure, certainly not thought of as weird etc.

I think its the sort of education you would either love or hate for your child (i wouldn't opt for it myself but i'm more traditional i guess). If you fancy it pay them a visit.

[Milliways]

My nephew went there as a boarder. He is severely dyslexic and local schools were no help. The freedom of Summerhill allowed him to decide what he wanted to do & focus on the skills he had. He is now at college and if he passes his course will go to Uni.