Calderdale school will open for four days a week from September

Hebden Bridge School is becoming a four-day, flexi-time school from September.
Hebden Bridge School is becoming a four-day, flexi-time school from SeptemberHebden Bridge School is becoming a four-day, flexi-time school from September
Hebden Bridge School is becoming a four-day, flexi-time school from September

The school, which is based at the Birchcliffe Centre, opened 18 months ago as a one-day school which focuses on democratic decision making, meditation and learning through experience.

For the next part of their development plan they are going to become a four-day flexi-time school from September 2018 and offer children a maximum of 18 hours of learning.

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Read: Halifax bank branch in Sowerby Bridge to be shut downIt will allow the school to offer a varied timetable of English Literature, Spanish and creative writing along with one topic per term chosen together by the children and the teachers.

Anil Sarna, Lead teacher, said: “Our unique approach is based on yoga and meditation, democratic decision making, and a topic-based approach which allows children to see the big picture, think more freely and learn through experiencing.

“Last term the topic was democracy. In science the children learn about how animals make decisions, which is much more democratic than one might think with bees’ waggle dances, scouting ant consultations and herds of deer only moving when 60 per cent or more stand up.

Read: Baa-rilliant visit from special guest at Heptonstall School“They are now working on causes they have identified to campaign for change to make the world more equal, more democratic and environmentally safer for all species, and this begins with change in our local community.”

Hebden Bridge School hopes the move to a move to a four-day flexi school will be a stepping stone to becoming a full-time school in the near future.