Education for a changing world.
A complete education can no longer be limited to the accumulation of knowledge and the development of some rudimentary academic skills. Children growing up today will need much more. 21st century students must not only be critical thinkers, self-motivated learners, competent problem-solvers, and life-long learners. They also must have well developed qualities of empathy, respect, cooperation, and collaboration.
Children today need an education system that supports initiative, fosters self-motivation, and provides each individual with freedom to excel on their terms.
Over the past five years, we have proven that Self-Directed Democratic Education is a viable and sustainable model. A diverse range of learner types and personalities flourish and thrive here. Our retention and growth rates, along with families who have moved country and county to join our school, demonstrate the pressing need for this kind of school in Ireland and Europe.
We have been operating since August 2018. Our funds are invested in the school, staff, grounds, buildings, and facilities. Since our inception, we have experienced exponential growth: from 15 members in September 2018, to 85 in 2024 and a considerable waiting list. Our model and impact has great potential. Now that we have been granted planning permission, we can extend our facilities.
We urgently need to start this development to accommodate more students, improve facilities and become a Centre of Excellence for Self-Directed Democratic Education. Here, policy makers, educators, and learners will experience the potential of this sustainable and future-fit model of education.
Your support will make a significant difference in the lives of young people. By making a donation or becoming a Major Benefactor, you can have a huge impact on our organisation, ensuring it has the facilities and resources it needs to continue to make a positive impact for years to come.
“The move to the Sudbury School has been profound for my daughter. She is happier and more confident and no longer lost in a system that didn’t suit her style of learning or recognise her as an individual. We are so lucky the school opened in Sligo. To be honest I’m not sure what we would have done if it hadn’t.
“Our child is learning through play everyday. Sligo Sudbury School extends this ability in a very different way to mainstream schools. She is learning through participation about; democracy, community and leadership and how to overcome difficult situations through talking. It is this aspect of emotional literacy that we feel cannot be taught but rather it is an environment that can be provided in which it can grow and develop as there is the space and time for students and staff to talk to each other. Adults and students both actively value and practise the ability to understand, express and talk about feelings in order to manage them. It is these skills and the freedom that comes with this type of education that we value as being some of the most important aspects for our daughter and her happiness in a world that is rapidly changing with a future that is largely unknown.”
Want to organise and run a fundraising event? Please get in touch with us at info@sligosudburyschool.com