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In conversation with Zoë Readhead, Principal of Summerhill School, Leiston, Suffolk

  • Gill Clifton
  • Clifton Associates
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

As the UK battles with an ever-changing education landscape in which growth can be seen in the introduction of academies, trust schools, federations, chains of schools and 'free schools', I talk to Zoë Readhead, Principal of what is often called the first democratic, self-governing 'free' school. Whilst the term 'free school' today implies a model that is 'state-funded… set up in response to what people say they want and need in their community to improve education for local children' (www.gov.uk/government/collections/opening-a-free-school#free-school-model-funding-agreements), Summerhill is grounded on Alexander Neill's principle of 'freedom not licence'. This principle extends beyond a notion of self-governance, to that in which the community is wholly democratic, where children learn to be self-confident, tolerant and considerate and are given the space to be themselves (www.summerhillschool.co.uk/an-overview.php).

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of pedagogic development (Volume 4.0, Issue 2.0)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 07/2014

Publication status

Published - 07/2014

ISSN

2047-3265

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/335857

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