Does anyone have any experience with this type of school?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudbury_school

I remember reading and watching some videos about the Sudbury Valley School a while ago.. seems completely amazing for the right kind of kid. I think that kind of school would be amazing for my son...

I LOVE the concept! and I think that a lot of gifted kids would thrive in that kind of democratic environment where they are the masters of their own academic fate

I think it looks like a great idea but worry about how it would play out in practice. I think a lot of the schools are really small. If most of the students spend all day watching TV and playing video games, I think it could be bad. If they are out exploring and playing with each other it could be great.

I went to Summerhill School: www.summerhillschool.co.uk/
which the Sudbury school was based on (it is not "the first of its kind" as stated in Wiki).

I went there for 8 years and loved it. My brother probably would have been diagnosed with adhd, oppositional, anger issues etc if they did that back then. We tried 4 schools ranging from straight public to co-op alternative before my mom finally decided for the sake of his happiness and everyone else's sanity my brother should go to Summerhill. I demanded to go to on the grounds that it was unfair to send him to England and not me. My mom was right, my brother thrived there (and so did I).

It was a very happy childhood, and I go to the 5 year reunions whenever I can. I wish I could have afforded to send my girls there. Most of my friends from there are now happy and well-adjusted adults, some are now doctors, dentists, chiropractors, teachers, restaurant owners, writers, musicians, producers etc.

When I went we averaged 60-80 students, we did not have cell phones, TVs or computers so I don't know how technology might have changed the dynamic for today's students but really, I think those things are escapes and at Summerhill there was nothing to want to escape from. If we got bored, we would round up other kids for a game or climb a tree, go have an adventure in the woods or hang out in the art room or woodworking shop or dance. Ahhh the good old days!

Thanks Nik for sharing the link. It looks like an awesome learning environment and I am glad to hear from someone with firsthand experience. I think my son would thrive in that setting. We'll keep it in mind for when he is older.

I couldn't find the cost on the website. Do you know what the tuition is like now?

If I recall correctly it was about 12,000.00 British Pounds a year which depending on the exchange rate is roughly $24,000.00, add to that 3 round trip plane tickets a year...

My best friend is sending her 2 DDs there currently and I believe that is what she said she was paying for each of them but that could include the 10% discount for former Summerhillians.

(Edited to add: I just heard back from my friend and she said its around 3,000.00 British Pounds a semester for the younger pupils and 4,700.00 for the older ones with a discount for siblings (3 semesters a year) I think it gets more expensive as they get older because they eat more and they getget a higher weekly allowance (pocket money) which is included.)

One cool benefit beyond freedom and a happy childhood is a worldwide network of lifetime friends and an exposure to many cultures, the development of critical thinking and leadership skills. There is a cool drama now on youtube that was made about the school's battle with Ofsted that give a little peak into the heart of the school

I appreciate the information and the movie was great. I had never seriously considered a boarding school. Mainly because the stereotype I had was of starched uniforms and harsh disciplinarians smacking kids' hands with rulers.

I looked into a Sudbury school within a commuting distance but I just don't think it would be a good fit. There were fewer than a dozen kids and most were siblings. I think the cultural exposure and leadership development would be lacking in that setting.

I will keep Summerhill in mind. I think it sounds great. My husband thinks our son would be heartbroken by boarding and feel like we discarded him. First, I doubt that. For one, we wouldn't be discarding him. Second, I am more concerned about the impact of a poor school fit. On him and on our family. Given the options in our area and my son's personality, I could easily find myself in your mother's place in the future.

Thanks again for the information.

I had never heard of this school. And a little googling tells me that there is one opening in my town this fall. Their Facebook page has 133 likes so it seems that there may be interest -- tuition is a manageable rate. I'm thinking of throwing it into our list of possibilities to present to the psych who is doing our DS8's testing this week. One of the main reasons we are having him tested is to get a grasp on what learning environment would benefit him best. Public didn't work, a small (6 students total) gifted private didn't work. They have an info session coming up, I might need to attend.

I don't think anyone at Summerhill feels discarded, I remember adults asking questions like "why would your parents want to send you away like that?" I always answered "because they loved me enough to care more about my happiness than anything else"

If you are seriously considering it, I wouldn't wait too long, I don't think Summerhill will take kids older than 11 because by then they are either too broken or it's just too difficult for them to adjust.

I went when I was just about to turn 9, my brother was almost 10. Oh, and we were both gifted, I believe many of the students who go there are.

A lot of parents who send their kids there do so because they had bad school experiences themselves as children and they want something better for their own kids.

I'd love to see how this worked in practice. I think it could be amazing for my DD, who is incredibly self-motivated. Pipe dream, though, I guess, since there isn't one anywhere near us.

Gosh, my stereotype of boarding school was 'sorting hat' and '3 points for Griffendor' and 'Hagrid.'

bwhahaha! Aiden's too - it's the reason he wants to go to boarding school; just in case he gets to ride a broom and attend potions classes.

That is a great point. Perhaps my son won't share my negative stereotype should we look into boarding later on.

I really like the idea of a democratic school. I think the closest thing I am going to find that works right now is Montessori. While this is very different from a Sudbury school or Summerhill, at least there is some choice of activity allowed.

Nik, thanks again for sharing the information on Summerhill. My oldest son is only four so we have plenty of time.

I loved that info on summerhill - watched the entire set of youtube videos and promptly sent them to everyone I know who would love this sort of school.

The great thing about a democratic school, is that it really can cater for all learning types, speeds and styles.

And there is a good chance of finding another "like you" there too I would think purely because it's the school where being yourself is encouraged.

I told my son about Summerhill. I asked him what he thought of a school where the kids made the rules, they could learn whatever they wanted or they could just play all day. His face lit up "I want to go there!" It was the first time he has had any enthusiasm towards school since preschool. It sort of goes along with his request from several months ago that I "release him into the wild".

I have to say that in my experience kids at boarding schools don't feel like they've been "discarded". (At least, not at the boarding schools we've been exposed to.) I live at a boarding school. (Married to a teacher.) We eat all of our meals there, with our three children. I work in residential life (dorm duty), and the students there seem to love it. In fact, many of them would prefer to stay there with their friends over breaks. At the spring picnic, my 6-year-old son said, "This is so great! It's like having 100 older brothers and sisters, and a party in your big backyard!" It really is a unique experience.

Just thought I'd add to the boarding life information. :-)

Lol, but I have to say a lot of little details in HP brought back fond memories…the description of the train cars was exactly how I remembered them traveling from London to the school. I was so disappointed to see that they have replaced those cool compartment trains with modern bleh trains.


Yes, it is nice because everyone who is in class really wants to be there and they want to learn so you can cover a lot of ground very quickly.


Lol, I think my mom was accused by some of “setting us free to raise ourselves in the wild”. I remember when my mom told us about Summerhill, I was so excited; I immediately packed and wrote a countdown on my calendar even though it was 3 months away.


Yes, well put! It's exactly like having a ton of brothers and sisters...except much better