What we’re about
Self-directed education is an approach where children are choosing what, how, and when they learn. It emphasises intrinsic motivation, personal interests, and the development of self-directed learning skills like goal setting, resource management, and evaluation.
Successful examples of such an approach are the Sudbury Valley School in the US and Summerhill in the UK. There are now hundreds of school globally modeled after these pioneering schools.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Roundtable: Setting up Singapore's first democratic schoolOpen Kitchen by Prata Alley, Singapore
A small community of people came together in 1968 in Framingham, United States. Their goal? Set up a school where children are truly in charge of their own learning. No grades, no exams, and no mandatory lessons. What the school offers is an environment that supports the natural curiosity of each child.
When children are in charge of their own lives, remarkable things happen. Graduates of the Sudbury Valley School have a long-standing track record of achieving success later in life. This sparked the democratic school movement with hundreds of democratic schools around the world.
We are gathering people, resources, and founding families to establish the first democratic school in Singapore. Want to take part? Join us for our Roundtable discussion. We are meeting at SMU Connexion near Open Kitchen.
Q: What is a democratic school?
A: It is a place where children are completely free to pursue their interests as they wish. What makes the school democratic is that the school is managed by a Student Council, where each student and staff member has an equal vote.Q: What is the age-range of the school?
A: The school will accept students from ages 5-18 years old. Age-mixing is encouraged, as research shows that it promotes learning. Younger ones look up to older children with more advanced skills and push themselves to reach new goals. Older students can pass on skills to younger students.Q: What if my child just wants to play all day?
A: Play is crucial for a child's development. It is where children discover their interests and talents. This approach is supported by decades of research on school graduates. Read 'Free to Learn' by Peter Gray or 'Unschooled' by Kerry McDonald for more details.Q: Is there a curriculum?
A: No, we do not follow a curriculum, nor do we require anyone to take exams. Everyone is responsible for evaluating themselves.Q: How will my child learn the basics?
A: We consider reading, writing, and mathematics to be basic life skills. Research shows that children in a self-directed, stimulating environment acquire these skills as a byproduct of engaging with their peers.
