Nicola Beck
Nicky Beck's page
Fundraising for The New School
Story
We were so lucky to be in the right place at the right time for our daughter Luci to be part of this bold new vision for a school.
Luci had initially enjoyed school, but at the age of just 7 she was struggling to master reading and writing as fast as her peers. This manifested itself as stress and refusing to go to school due to mysterious tummyaches, etc. Her self esteem was plummeting as she felt inferior and angry about having to do extra work to stop falling more and more behind. The school she was at would not allow part-time attendance, so that we could help her 1 to 1 at home and grow her confidence again, and so therefore we removed Luci from school to home educate.
In the 2 years that we home educated, it was difficult (though not impossible) to replicate the social interaction elements of attending a school and being around other children for a good amount of time each week. Various home educational groups do exist locally but it is hard to find the same set of children attending regularly each week, and financially not many parents can afford the fees of private group tuition/activites to occur 5 days a week.
When we heard about The New School's vision and location, it was difficult to pursuade Luci to try 'school' again, but fortunately she got a place along with her very good friend she had made at a home education group. So in the midst of a pandemic this ''New'' School started in a somewhat experimental way for all concerned in September 2020, with just 46 children.
Fast forward to 2022 and the school is growing to around 95 children in total and the oldest ones are in year 8, with Luci being in Year 7 and choosing to stay on rather than go to a regular secondary school. It took a good few months for her to build new friendships with the other children and the teachers, but now these bonds are deep and strong and causing her self confidence to be restored.
Luci is thriving at The New School, and not just because of its small setting, but because the children are really listened to, and given the time and space to make some of their own decisions about their activities at school. They are learning how to reach decisions within a group, so that everyone is happy (via sociocracy) and feels included, rather than learning how to follow arbitary rules decided by others.
Now Luci is keen and eager to get to school every day not just on time, but early! There are thousands of children in the UK whose lives could be similarly transformed by attending a school like The New School. I would love for this new model to be a success, and for it to be replicated elsewhere and remain non fee paying to be truly accessible for all. To do this, it is essential that schools like this can access state funding, and so be offered as an option to all children who would prefer this scale and style of schooling.
This is why I am cycling the 55 miles from London to Brighton (+ 10 miles or so getting to and from the start and end points) this Sunday 11th September 2022. All money raised will help ensure that The New School can continue to operate and graduate its current set of young people, and inspire other schools to follow its model and principals. I am hoping to raise £500 towards the group effort, which has already smashed its original target of raising £5k.
Some information about The New School:
The New School is an independent and highly innovative school for 4-16 year olds in South London. The school does not charge fees because its ethos is that education should be freely available to everyone. It therefore operates as a charity and relies heavily on donations in order to survive (as an independent school, the school doesn't receive the usual Government funding that is available to state schools).
The school was conceived and founded by Lucy Stephens (ex The Princes Trust) and opened its doors in September 2020 (during the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic). Not only did it open, but it was heavily oversubscribed, and remains so now.
The school's principles are to put the young person at the heart of the design and delivery of their schooling, through the creation of an inclusive, democratic school community, promoting social justice and fostering positive wellbeing.
In 2021, the school was independently evaluated by researchers from the University of Nottingham whose cost-benefit analysis found the benefit of the school to the children, their parents and society outstripped its running costs in its first year by a ratio of £2.40 benefit for every £1 spent (this is projected to grow to £3.88 for every £1 spent by 2025, when the school plans to have 120 young people and one educator for every six students). The school also recently received a Good OFSTED review and has been featured in The Guardian and TES (Times Educational Supplement).
The school is expanding its work with local authorities, which is critical to its financial sustainability. The school is also deepening its thought leadership with University College London and other academic partners. However, the school urgently needs additional funding in order to survive, hence why a number of parents, staff and other supporters have decided to cycle over 55 miles in September with a target of raising over £5,000 to support the school.
We appreciate that it is a difficult time financially for many, and there are many good causes worthy of support. However, if you are able to support us in our efforts, however small, we (and 90+ children) would massively appreciate it. Thank you.
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