Summerhill School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Summerhill School
Established	1921
Type	Independent Boarding School
Principal	Zoë Neill Readhead
Founder	A.S. Neill
Location	Westward Ho Leiston Suffolk
Ofsted number	yes
Staff	approx 10 teaching, 5 support
Students	78 students
Gender	Co-educational
Ages	5 to 18
Publication	The Orange Peel Magazine
Website	http://www.summerhillschool.co.uk

Summerhill School is a special boarding school in Britain. It was started in 1921 by A.S. Neill, whose full name was Alexander Sutherland Neill. He believed that schools should change to fit the child, instead of children having to change to fit the school.

Summerhill is run like a democratic community. This means that everyone, including teachers and students, has a say in how the school is run. They make decisions in school meetings where everyone gets one vote. These meetings are where rules are made and problems are solved. Summerhill is the oldest "children's democracy" in the world. It is also known as a famous alternative or "free" school.

At Summerhill, people are free to do what they want, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. A.S. Neill called this "Freedom, not Licence." This even means that students can choose which lessons they want to attend, or if they want to attend any at all.

The school is not very big. It usually has between 60 and 80 boys and girls, from ages 5 to 17. Today, the school is owned by Zoë Readhead, who is A.S. Neill's daughter.

How Does Summerhill Work?

Summerhill is famous for its unique way of teaching and learning. It focuses on giving students freedom and responsibility.

Democratic Meetings

The school's rules and daily life are decided in weekly meetings. Everyone in the school community, from the youngest student to the oldest teacher, can join these meetings. Each person has an equal vote. This means that students have a real say in how their school is run.

Freedom to Choose

One of the biggest ideas at Summerhill is that students can choose what they want to learn. They can decide which classes to go to, or if they prefer to spend their time on other activities. This helps students learn to be responsible for their own education.

Does Summerhill Succeed?

Many people wonder if this kind of school really works. According to official inspections, it does!

OFSTED Inspections

OFSTED is a group that inspects schools in England. Their report on Summerhill School said that it provides a good education. They noted that the school helps students grow in their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. Students' behavior is also seen as outstanding, and they make good progress in their learning. The school also does a great job of keeping students safe and healthy.

A Legal Battle

Summerhill has had some challenges in the past. In 2000, the school had a big legal fight with the government. An earlier OFSTED report in 1999 wanted Summerhill to change its unique teaching style. But the school won the case. This was a big victory for Summerhill, as it meant they could continue to run the school in their own way, protecting the rights of their students.

School Fees

The cost to attend Summerhill School is less than many other independent schools.

• Day students (who go home at night) pay between £3,735 and £8,931 each year.
• Boarding students (who live at the school) pay between £8,568 and £14,889 each year.

Images for kids

• 

  The main building of Summerhill School.

See also

In Spanish: Escuela de Summerhill para niños