Mexborough Grammar School, pioneers of progressive thinking in the field of education, are to provide the pupils for a Pilot scheme which could lead to the continuous interchange of students between the grammar school, Conisbrough Northcliffe High School and one of Britain’s leading experimental interdependent schools, Dartington Hall, near Totnes Devonshire.
A scheme has been put forward for consideration by the County Education Authorities which would involve students from Dartington, which has some 250 fee paying pupils,visiting Mexborough and Conisbrough for up to a full term in order to gain practical experience of life and work in an industrial community.
Students from Mexborough and Conisbrough would travel to Devonshire for a similar period of time, working in the atmosphere of a boarding school in a rural community.
Pilot Scheme.
Mexborough Grammar school and Dartington are to launch a pilot scheme on July 1at, in which pupils from Devonshire will attend the Grammar school, and vice-versa, from a fact-finding mission which will form the basis of future exchanges.
The schools are two of the country’s best examples of the advantages of free discipline,in which paramount importance is placed on the student- teacher relationship and the involvement of pupils in the running in school.
Said the Mexborough grammar school headmaster, Mr. G. W. Shield, “The head of Dartington Hall, Dr. Royston Lambert, was anxious to find an opportunity to link his school with the state system of education. He felt that a school with a completely different background, yet with the same progressive and liberal attitude to education,would be ideal for the exchange of pupils. Mexborough grammar school and Conisbrough Northcliffe High School were suggested for this reason.
“Twelve of my senior sixth form pupils will spend a fortnight at Dartington from July 1st to 15th, living in at the boarding school, and when they return they will be able to provide important information concerning the advantages and the snags of the scheme.I will also be in touch with Dr. Lambert.”
And Staff.
The exchange will involve both pupils and staff, younger pupils from Dartington attending Conisbrough Northcliffe, and older ones the Grammar school. seventeen pupils from Dartington will be staying at Mexborough some time within the first fortnight in July, Accommodation will be provided by sixth former’s and staff, although Dr. Lambert is hoping to get official sanction for plants to buy property in the area to be used in the experiment at a later date.
The 12 Mexborough Grammar School pupils involved in the pilot scheme are: Elizabeth Archer, Jane Minto, John Parr, Carolyn Sanders, Lesley McKirdy, Anne Davison, David Harmer, Peter James, Stephen Gutowski, Lynne Beswick, Gary Clemitshaw, and Martin Damms.