A PARENTS’ group, backed by education professionals, are bidding to open a new school in Warrington under the Government’s Free School programme.
Catering for 4-11 year-olds, it would be the first Montessori school in the Warrington area and the aim is to have it up and running by September 2013.
The school will teach the same subjects as existing primary schools, but using the Montessori approach to education.
It would also have more flexible hours and days in order to make it easier for working parents.
The Montessori method supports learning through activity and the classrooms are arranged with open shelves of learning materials from which the children select their activities and learn at their individual pace. The teacher works one-to-one with each child regularly and oversees the class working on all their individual and small group activities.
Classes are also mixed years with ages 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 working together.
Research has consistently shown that Montessori children score well on standardised tests and are also well prepared for later life academically, socially and emotionally.
The application to open the school will be submitted in February with a decision in the summer.
A spokesperson for the group said: “The success of the application will depend in a large part on the evidence of support for the school in this area, so if you are interested in the school for your children or if you generally support the idea of Warrington being a leader in educational innovation in this way, please go to our website at www.warrington-montessori-school.org to find out more and fill out our consultation survey.”
Montessori schools were founded by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, who started her first class in 1907.
The Montessori Schools Association claims a membership of 644 schools, including pre-schools and nurseries, mostly in the UK, although there are said to be some 20,000 worldwide.
In the North West there are schools in Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, Stockport, Wilmslow, Cuddington near Northwich and Lower Peover near Knutsford.
A PARENTS' group, backed by education professionals, are bidding to
open a new school in Warrington under the Government's Free School
programme.
Parents bid to open new school
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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There are only so many children so this will clearly have a detrimental effect on any existing primary school – hands up who wants their local school at risk of closing down.