Sands School

Sands School stands in a large town house in Ashburton, Devon. It is a private democratic school where students and teachers share decisions. The school was founded in 1987 by former students and teachers from Dartington Hall School. Its name comes from the first letters of two founding teachers’ first names, Sean and Sybilla. The school moved to its current building within six months of opening. It has grown from 17 students to around 70 today. The school is known for its progressive approach to education. The school is recognised as a leader in the international democratic education movement. It has been involved with IDEC since 1991 and helped launch EUDEC in 2006. Students and staff travel to conferences across Europe to promote democratic education. In 2011, Sands hosted a major conference with over 500 attendees from around the world. The school offers a range of qualifications, including GCSEs and performing arts courses. It avoids uniforms and encourages personalised learning. Inside, the school is split into six year groups, from Year 7 to Year 12. Students take part in a weekly School Meeting where everyone has one vote. A smaller School Council of seven elected students handles daily matters. There is no head teacher. The building provides spaces for students to choose what and how they learn. The atmosphere reflects the school’s belief in equality and responsibility. Visitors notice the focus on student-led decision-making.