We urgently need to start this development in order to accommodate more students, improve facilities and become a centre of excellence for Self-Directed Democratic Education, where policy makers, educators, and learners can experience the vast potential of this sustainable and future-fit model of education. 

Over the past five years we have proven that Self-Directed Democratic Education is a viable and sustainable model of education, where all learner types and personalities can flourish and thrive.  Our retention and growth rates, along with the numbers of families who have moved country and county to join our school, have demonstrated the pressing need for this kind of school in Ireland and Europe.

We have been operating since August 2018 and all of our funds are continually invested in the school and in particular the staff, and the grounds, buildings and facilities.  In the past five and a half years both our business and our social impact have grown steadily.  We started with 15 members in September 2018 and we now have 85 enrolled with a considerable waiting list.  Our model and our impact is scalable further and we expect to be granted planning permission to develop our current building and site and to extend our facilities into recently acquired neighbouring lands. 

Our students and their families have chosen a self-directed model of education for a variety of reasons, some philosophical and moral and others because the mainstream curriculum-led model has not been able to meet their neurological and physiological needs or positively support their development.  Our educational environment supports learners in following a self-directed path, with the flexibility to discover and develop their intelligences in a way that meets their needs in the context of their lives.  Further, we are providing a service that is not being met by any other providers in the area.  We are delivering a much needed service to a social group who are otherwise unable to access a level and quality educational provision that is appropriate to their needs and abilities.  

We have been steadily improving our facilities over the past five years.  Additions have included a 20m x 10m all weather playing pitch, a polytunnel, a barn for indoor physical play and a dedicated music room.  Due to the increase in student numbers, we are now growing out of our current space.  We have an urgent need for additional spaces and improved facilities. 

We host, educate and support a large number of people every year who are interested in learning about and experiencing Self-Directed Democratic Education first hand.  This work is important to us.  It is a key way that we can further the development of the movement of Self-Directed Democratic Education and scale the impact of our enterprise and our charitable purpose.