An alternative school in southern Scotland which was closed more than a decade ago after is set to reopen. Kilquhanity House near Castle Douglas has been given the go-ahead to become a day school for 15 pupils. Former pupil Andrew Pyle is to be the school's new head teacher.
He said the children would be offered a creative and flexible education where they could choose what to study and homework and exams would be optional.
Kilquhanity was founded in 1940 by John Aitkenhead to provide an alternative to ordinary schools. He felt they delivered an education which was too authoritarian and too utilitarian.
At Kilquhanity youngsters were expected to fill their time but could opt to play the piano all day or explore the woods. Rules were decided by a weekly council meeting in which the youngest child had the same voting rights as the head teacher.
Many youngsters went on to become gifted artists, designers or writers.
Mr Aitkenhead closed the school in 1997 after a visit from inspectors who criticised education standards and the state of the buildings. He died a year later.
"If Kilquhanity can offer you anything it is the ability to adapt to the uncertain futures that our children probably are going to face. I am not entirely sure that conventional education and state education is going to do that any more." Mr Pyle said
1 comment:
Good Luck Kilquhanity, I hope it works.
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