Summerhill School

Summerhill School, as documented in the YouTube clip above, is unlike any other school in the world.  In 1921, Suffolk England, A.S. Neill created a school where children are in charge of their own learning. Whether they want to play outside, attend a lesson, sit in the library and read or even write on the graffiti wall, it is their choice.  There are lessons available for pupils to attend should they so wish.  Likewise at school leavers age it is the pupils decision as to whether they sit final examinations.  Many students opt to take GCSEs at this point (Summerhill, 2012)

As pupil, James Friis-Lawrence said in the documentary; of course children want to play, however at some point they all realise that something is missing.  That missing element is learning, reading and writing, all of which can be just as exciting as playing outside.

Pupils of Summerhill live at the school during term times, they do not have anyone to tidy up after them, this is their responsibility, although they are not forced to do so (Neill, 1960).  Although it is a ‘free school’ it is not without rules; there are over 150 rules at the school derived collaboratively from what pupils, teachers and parents believe the school should look like (Summerhill, 2012).  Following the death of A.S. Neill in 1973 his daughter, Zoe Redhead became Principal of the school enabling her to continue her father’s work, started over 80 years ago.

Over the years the school has received its fair share of negative press for being ‘too free’ and for their non-conformation to the way society views education.  The most high profile incident taking place in 2000 when the Labour government and Ofsted fought for the closure of the school; the legal dispute was resolved in the schools favour following a High Court ruling (BBC News, 2000).

All things considered, Summerhill School clearly works as a context of learning.  Looking at the school’s alumni it is evident that they have produced a multitude of brilliant minds who have proved successful in their various fields over the years.  Professors, doctors, actresses, artists and authors are amongst the esteemed graduates.

References

Neill, A., 1960. Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing. New York: Hart Publishing Co..

Summerhill. 2012. [Film] Directed by Arvind Gupta. s.l.: YouTube.

The Independent, 2011. Summerhill Alumni: 'What we learnt at the school for scandal'. [Online]
Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/summerhill-alumni-what-we-learnt-at-the-school-for-scandal-2373066.html [Accessed 08 January 2014].

Google Images, 2014.  Rebecca De Mornay. [Online] Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rebecca+de+mornay&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=_cTPUpWkEMaRhQeP_4C4DA&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=673#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=T2L9GcTZ2GmvyM%253A%3BAaKLPN7T1-qCpM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.palzoo.net%252Ffile%252Fpic%252Fuser%252FRebeccaDeMornay.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.palzoo.net%252FRebeccaDeMornay%3B399%3B610  [Accessed 10 January 2014]

Google Images, 2014.  Storm Thorgerson. [Online] Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rebecca+de+mornay&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=_cTPUpWkEMaRhQeP_4C4DA&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=673#q=storm+thorgerson&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=rpDjsSa4eZcTDM%253A%3ByLYhSFQq3hNixM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fshockthebadger.co.uk%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F04%252FStorm-Thorgerson.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fshockthebadger.co.uk%252Fstorm-thorgerson-1944-2013%252F%3B470%3B312 [Accessed 10 January 2014]

Google Images, 2014.  John Burningham. [Online] Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=John+Burningham%E3%80%80&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=McfPUqK0MJTB7AaB_oD4DA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=673#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=i2Eb3CfNkt4krM%253A%3B49ANa8jNPnkZDM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.walker.co.uk%252Fwalkerdam%252Fgetimage.aspx%25253Fclass%25253Dperson%252526id%25253D1656%252526size%25253Dpowerpoint%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.walker.co.uk%252Fcontributors%252FJohn-Burningham-1656.aspx%3B268%3B380 [Accessed 10 January 2014]

BBC News, 2000. Summerhill closure threat lifted. [Online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/688152.stm [Accessed 10 January 2014]