The Family School
Encyclopedia
The Family School at Larkhall
is a small, alternative school
, based in South London
, UK, founded by Polly Griffiths in 2007/8 to offer a Democratic education
model to primary
age children.
The Family School is firmly in the Free Schools
tradition, with no set curriculum
, working on the basis that children are natural learn
ers, and that it is the school's job to provide a rich environment as a context and medium for that learning. The school aims to support children as they develop towards becoming confident, competent and caring adults.
The founding documents of the school set out five principles, on the basis of which the school operates. These are:
The school is a charity, "reluctantly fee-paying", to quote its literature.
The Family School as it now exists was founded in September 2008, with Virginia Carrington as Director. For the first two years of its operation, families were officially home educators
, as the school was not registered with Ofsted
. The registration process began in September 2010, and the school is now registered.
, but is in the process of developing a site in North Clapham
which will provide its long-term home.
The building is being designed by architect Dil Green, who is a founder of the school.
However, the school considers that certain skills and abilities are vitally important to enable full participation in society, and these are carefully and consistently incorporated into the school environment.
Larkhall (ward)
Larkhall is a ward in the London Borough of Lambeth, represented by Labour councillors Cllr Pete Robbins, Tina Valcarcel and Neeraj Patel. It is one of eight wards in the Vauxhall constituency represented by Kate Hoey MP....
is a small, alternative school
Alternative school
Alternative school is the name used in some parts of the world to describe an institution which provides part of alternative education. It is an educational establishment with a curriculum and methods that are nontraditional...
, based in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, UK, founded by Polly Griffiths in 2007/8 to offer a Democratic education
Democratic education
Democratic education is a theory of learning and school governance in which students and staff participate freely and equally in a school democracy...
model to primary
Primary
The word Primary when used alone may refer to any of the following:* Primary , the larger of two co-orbiting bodies* Primary is used for the name of the primary mirror in a telescope.* Primary , from Australia...
age children.
The Family School is firmly in the Free Schools
Democratic education
Democratic education is a theory of learning and school governance in which students and staff participate freely and equally in a school democracy...
tradition, with no set curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
, working on the basis that children are natural learn
LEARN
LEARN may refer to:* Law Enforcement Agency Resource Network, a website run by the Anti-Defamation League* LEARN diet, a brand name diet product...
ers, and that it is the school's job to provide a rich environment as a context and medium for that learning. The school aims to support children as they develop towards becoming confident, competent and caring adults.
The founding documents of the school set out five principles, on the basis of which the school operates. These are:
- Support the Developing Child
- Learning is part of Living
- Family involvement is Fundamental
- Ethical Consciousness and Action
- Self Governance
The school is a charity, "reluctantly fee-paying", to quote its literature.
History
Polly Griffiths and Dil Green, the founders of the school, worked to develop their ideas over two years with two other families and with Colin Hill, a teacher who had worked at Community and Voluntary Education in South London.The Family School as it now exists was founded in September 2008, with Virginia Carrington as Director. For the first two years of its operation, families were officially home educators
Home education
Home education is a collective term used in the UK to describe education provided otherwise than through the schooling system. Parents have a duty to ensure their children are educated but the education legislation in England and Wales does not differentiate between school attendance or education...
, as the school was not registered with Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
. The registration process began in September 2010, and the school is now registered.
Site
The school is currently in premises in BrixtonBrixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, but is in the process of developing a site in North Clapham
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
which will provide its long-term home.
The building is being designed by architect Dil Green, who is a founder of the school.
Curriculum
The school has no set curriculum, and offers few formal lessons. Each pupil's journey through the school constitutes the curriculum they will follow.However, the school considers that certain skills and abilities are vitally important to enable full participation in society, and these are carefully and consistently incorporated into the school environment.