The Hipster School

This week’s article summary is Britain's Most Hipster School: Where Children Have No Rules, No Exams, and No Uniforms

While the ‘hipster’ school below --and I think by definition a ‘hipster’ school has to have at least one yurt--is clearly for a limited number of families, I found the article interesting because of how many of its beliefs fit into a quality elementary education.

All of our pillars--deepen learning experience, empower students, cherish childhood, develop academic and character foundation, foster continued excitement for and engagement in school and learning—are clearly evident at the Green House Project.

They have morning meeting, emphasize student social-emotional development, and give kids plenty of voice and choice and outdoor recess time.

It will be interesting to see if this school can retain its founding tenets such as no traditional subjects. My suspicion is the trailblazing enthusiasm will give way to practical realities, yet I will root for the school to stay true to its ideals!

While clearly not a school in or for the mainstream, all schools can learn from this school and what kids need.

Joe 

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A school with no rules, no exams, no uniforms and only three days a week of classes.

Well, it’s very much a reality now that the Green House Project is open.

It’s been branded Britain’s most hipster school because of its free-spirited agenda.

A typical day involves students spending their time playing outside wearing what they like

They don’t have desks but instead sit on blankets and huddle round wood burning stoves.

The kids are not tutored in traditional subjects but instead are taught ‘how to resolve problems’, ‘find their real passion in life’ and how to play freely without supervision.

Its 23 pupils, aged 5-14, go to classes either outdoors if the weather is good, or in a yurt with a wood-burning stove.

They sit in circles and often give a presentation about their chosen passion for example, ballet, Hebrew traditions, snow leopards.

There are no rules, no exams and no uniform, and the school encourages children to understand safety by taking risks – including climbing trees with whittling knives.

The Green House Project is the brainchild of parents and teachers. They describe their school as a learning community, with a focus on developing social skills through collaborative learning.  They came up the idea after agreeing about their disillusionment with traditional schools, feeling there is too much pressure put on children.

‘There is something wrong when research shows young children are suffering high levels of anxiety. In our schools, we do yoga, meditation and mindfulness and we encourage free play.”

‘We want our children to be happy – you can’t learn if you are anxious.’

They say that the children learn all the things they need to but much else besides – including how to resolve problems, how to find their real passion in life and how to play freely without supervision.

They start each day with circle time. Then each child gives a presentation about their chosen passion.

‘We do use technology and they have their power points, but we like to work as a community and spend lots of time outdoors.’

‘While safety is at the core of what we do, we also like our children to explore, not to be afraid to do things.’

‘We let them climb trees with their whittling knives – we believe they learn safety by understanding the risks and being allowed to do things without always being supervised.’

The pupils are divided into two age groups – the Wolf Cubs, aged 5-7, and the Wolf Pack, aged 7-14.