Primary education lays the foundation that children need to become lifelong learners. It helps them to begin to develop an understanding of themselves as individuals. Learning in a Quaker School offers your child a great start to their full-time education.
Quaker philosophy in primary education ensures that children enjoy their studies. They begin to explore the interests and hobbies that they’ll love for the rest of their lives. Children learn the importance of being truthful and respectful to all people, regardless of any differences between them. Quaker schools teach students to be creative and start to question the world around them. They spend time developing their skills both inside and outside the classroom.
Take a look at the different options available to your child for primary education informed by Quaker philosophy:
Ackworth School
Ackworth School offer friendly and enriching primary education for all their students. Their junior school, Coram House, teaches students in mixed-ability classes and targets a child’s specific strengths and development points. They promote learning both inside and outside the classroom, teaching children in high challenge, low threat situations, to develop their academic, teamwork, empathy and leadership skills. They’re based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
More infoBootham School
Bootham School, York, develop genuinely good people who are hard-working, self-regulating, reflective, kind, thoughtful young adults. Teachers help students to become independent learners who enjoy their study and offer flexible teaching styles to suit the children in each class. Outside the classroom, Bootham offer a wide range of sporting and outdoor education to develop the physical and practical skills that they’ll carry with them for life.
More infoBreckenbrough School
Breckenbrough School offer specialist education for boys between the ages of 9 and 19 to access and support tailored to their interests, needs and abilities. They cater for both day and weekly boarders who have complex needs, including Autistic spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, Pathological Demand Avoidance, Tourette syndrome and Attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder.
Each student has their own mentor and key worker to support their learning, and they see their students develop both socially and academically as a result of their peaceful working environment. They’re based in Sand Hutton, near Thirsk, in North Yorkshire.
More infoFriends’ School Lisburn
The Friends’ School Lisburn offers a Preparatory Department for children aged 4 to 11 to help get students ready for the challenges they’ll face in secondary education. Teachers help each child develop academically, socially and emotionally to give them the best start to their lifetime of learning. Parents, teachers and students have a great working relationship, as the school recognises the importance of the partnership between home and school in a child’s progress.
More infoThe Mount School
The Mount Junior School teaches boys and girls from the age of 4. They’re a small school that has only one class per year group, so students are not lost in the crowd and get invaluable one-to-one time with their teachers to help them progress. Students are encouraged to live and think adventurously in the classroom and outdoors in sports and extra-curricular skills-based lessons. The Mount School is based in York.
More infoSibford School
Sibford’s Junior School teaches children from age 3 through to 11 in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The junior school has its own distinctive area of the campus and operates as a self-contained unit while still being part of the whole school. Class sizes are always small to ensure students get enough individual attention and can thrive both inside and outside the classroom. They have a strong focus on transition, and make sure their students are prepared for the new challenges waiting for them in secondary education.
More infoSidcot School
At Sidcot, the junior school lays the foundation children need for a lifetime of education. Each individual child has the opportunity to develop their own unique talents and alongside the national curriculum, students learn the “hidden-curriculum” which teaches them the importance of honesty, courage, humility and respect. Theirs is a skills-based curriculum that motivates students to become independent, resourceful learners with enquiring minds. They’re based in Winscombe, Somerset.
More infoWhat are the benefits to primary education in one of our schools?
Primary education is one of the first stepping blocks on your child’s formal study. How they respond to it has a massive impact on their approach to the rest of their time at school. Children who study in a Quaker school enjoy their lessons and become inquisitive and thoughtful young learners interested in the world around them.
Our schools typically avoid formal SATS testing for students. Each school has its own entry criteria which can include a test of ability. However, these tests are often much more informal and suitably tailored to the student than the nationally standardised examination. Prospective students are invited to spend time in classrooms to ensure the school offers the right learning environment for them.
It’s during their primary education that children begin to think critically. They start to develop their own individual opinions and identities. In a Quaker school, as well as teaching vital skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and science, children start to learn the values that sit at the heart of the Quaker educational philosophy.
Young students learn the importance of respecting and valuing all people and how to resolve conflict peacefully. Their confidence and ability to communicate blossoms, and, perhaps most importantly, they see that learning can be fun. The majority of students and teachers in our schools don’t identify as a Quaker, but all can share in the morals and teachings of our philosophy.
Many of the institutions listed above have their own Forest Schools. These schools have been specifically designed to teach children specialist outdoor skills, including activities like fire lighting, den building and plant cultivation. Children are taught to be risk aware, not risk averse and can safely explore the outdoors without fear.
Lessons outside the classroom are used to support what’s taught inside the school walls in all Quaker schools. It helps students to develop an interest and connection with the world around them. All students in our schools are able to leave the classroom and pursue outdoor learning. We know how important being immersed in nature is to a child’s development.
Fees
Each Quaker school sets its own fees. You can find out how much these are by visiting the school’s website, and please note that these can vary from year to year.
Many of our schools offer scholarships and bursaries to children to help cover the costs of their education. If you’re interested in sending your child to one of our schools but are worried about being able to meet the educational fee, contact the institution directly.
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