A New School Based On A Community Of Equals
In this Podcast we interview Lucy Stephens who was tired of \u2018shoehorning\u2019 pupils through tests. Her new school has no Sats, no behaviour policy \u2013 and an idea for a novel funding system
\nThe New School, based in Croydon, south London, opened its doors in September. It has no Sats and no behaviour policy, and operates on a \u201cdemocratic\u201d decision-making model for pupils and staff. It can escape statutory testing because it is a private school \u2013 but one with no fees. It is funded by philanthropic company donations \u2013 \xa31m of seed funding this year \u2013 although Stephens hopes to move to a completely different funding model involving her local authority, believing she can offer a social partnership approach which could be copied by other schools that want to innovate.
\nThe main aim is to create a mini democracy. Many schools have become focused on maintaining a hierarchy to control children\u2019s behaviour, rather than listening to them or building meaningful relationships with them, she says. \u201cWe live in a democracy, but we don\u2019t practise that model in schools. And then we expect young people to come out aged 18 and operate democratically in society.\u201d The idea is for \u201cself-determination within a community of equals\u201d.