A school where both pupils and teachers live and learn together in a totally unusual way is about to celebrate its fortieth anniversary. At Brockwood Park School in Hampshire academic studies are important but not the main focus. The deeper purpose was made clear by the school’s founder, philosopher/educator, J. Krishnamurti.
He saw that young people can be drastically conditioned by race, nationality, religion, self-centredness, the cult of celebrity, and many of the ills of our society. But students in their day-to-day living and interactions can learn to be aware of all this, and so create the possibility of becoming truly open-minded, intelligent human beings.
This school for 14 to 19 year-olds is residential and coeducational with staff and pupils coming from over twenty different countries and widely different backgrounds. The granting of a high proportion of scholarships is aimed at, and all staff – from principals to domestic helpers – receive the same salary. Brockwood is not run for financial gain and is not supported by the state.
Staff and students discuss together the running of the school, and pupils often choose to help in a very practical manner with gardening and various other activities. The setting is forty acres of beautiful countryside not far from the village of Bramdean. The main building is a handsome Georgian house with many outbuildings, some of which have been purpose-built. There is a large organically cultivated kitchen garden which contributes to the vegetarian and healthy life style of staff and pupils. Green issues are studied in depth and, as far as possible, good ecological practice is observed. To find out more visit the website at www.brockwood.org.uk.
Melissa Corkhill is the editor of The Green Parent magazine, mother of two and author of the book Green Parenting
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