Greenfields School is an independent, co-educational day and boarding public school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 in Forest Row, East Sussex, England. It has a Montessori-based Pre-school & Reception class, followed by Infant, Junior, Senior, 6th Form and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classes. The school uses the Cambridge Curriculum and is a member of the Independent Schools Council.[1]
| Greenfields School | |
|---|---|
 Greenfields School from above | |
| Address | |
 | |
Priory Road , , RH18 5JD | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private day and boarding |
| Motto | Education For Life |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Non-Denominational, open to all religions, creeds and cultures |
| Established | 1981 |
| School district | East Sussex |
| Local authority | East Sussex |
| Head teacher | Andrew Hodgson |
| Staff | 50 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Campus size | 29 acres |
| Color(s) | Green, Purple, Blue and White |
| Website | greenfieldsschool |
History
editThe school was founded in 1981 by Margaret Hodkin and moved to Forest Row in 1983.[2] It is run by the Greenfields Educational Trust, a registered charity.[3][4] As of 2024[update] it has about 180 pupils, of whom 30 are boarders.[1]
Study method
editGreenfields uses a study method called Study Technology which is a teaching method developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, and licensed from Church of Scientology's educational arm, Applied Scholastics.[5][6] The school's website states that it does not teach any religious philosophies and includes children of all nationalities, cultures and religions.[7]
The school has English as a Foreign Language programmes for international students. Summer holiday programmes run from June to August, minimum stay 1 week. The school also runs English programmes all year around for children from 10 to 18 years old. Boarding is on-campus and the school also has many day students.
Buildings
editRecent building developments have included a new four-classroom block in the Senior School, a purpose-built Sports Hall in the Lower School and a complete renovation of the Main Senior Building.
Reports
editIn 1994, one of the teachers from the school was jailed for five years after he admitted sexually molesting teenage pupils.[8]
In 2006, a detailed article was published by Tes in which the teaching methods used by the school were discussed. It pointed out that these had been praised by school inspectors from the Independent Schools Inspectorate. The Financial Times had said the school had the most improved A-level results for an independent school and had ranked it at number 46th in England. At that time, 90 per cent of teachers and 80 per cent of pupils were from Scientologist backgrounds but the deputy head said that its religious philosophies were not being taught.[9]
A 2012 newspaper report suggested that many students left the school after completing their GCSEs, without going on to the sixth form, in order to transfer to Sea Org.[10] Another similar report calls this a "rumour" but notes that, owing to the school's proximity to Scientology's UK headquarters[4] and the teaching methods used, it attracts children whose parents are employed there.[11]
During the Covid pandemic, the trust running the school was given £200,000 in UK government support.[12]
The school was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in March 2024. Their report noted that standards relating to the quality of education and to leadership and management were not met. Recordkeeping and promotion of wellbeing of pupils was also deficient, and required standards relating to pupil safeguarding were not met. Day pupils and especially boarders had insufficient outside activities, recreation, and free time. Boarding accommodations only met minimal standards.[13][14]
Greenfields announced that as of July 31, 2024 they were no longer able to sponsor students from outside the UK because their ability to sponsor had been withdrawn by UK Visas and Immigration.[15]
Notable alumni
edit- Joanna Bessey, Malaysia-based actress and director
- Shannon Tarbet, actress
References
edit- ^ a b "Greenfields Independent Day and Boarding School". isc.co.uk. 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Our history". greenfieldsschool.com. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Greenfields Educational Trust". charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ a b Kennedy, Dominic (23 June 2007). "'Church' that yearns for respectability". timesonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 June 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Study Technology". greenfieldsschool.com. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Scientology's Education Fronts - Applied Scholastics International". studytech.org. 2007. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008.
- ^ Hodgson, Andrew (2024). "Headteacher welcome". greenfieldsschool.com. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Teacher is jailed for sex offences". The Independent. London. 21 January 1994. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
Mark Kent, 32, of Forest Row, East Sussex, committed a catalogue of offences against boys at Greenfields school in Forest Row, where he worked.
- ^ Shaw, Michael (11 May 2008). "New dawn of Dianetics". tes.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016.
- ^ Herrmann, Joshi (11 July 2012). "As Katie Holmes bars Suri from Sea Org... the Sussex school whose pupils vanish at 16 to join Scientology's secret elite". Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Cavaliere, V (11 July 2012). "Boarding school in England funnels students into Scientology's most secretive sect". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Murphy, Simon (27 May 2023). "Scientology school gets £200k taxpayer handout from Covid support scheme". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Greenfields School". Independent Schools Inspectorate. Retrieved 25 June 2024. (Report)
- ^ Barnes-Ross, Alexander (16 July 2024). "Greenfields School responds to safeguarding concerns after ISI inspection". Scientology Business.
- ^ Barnes-Ross, Alexander (25 August 2024). "Scientology school loses visa status after Home Office inspection". Scientology Business.
External links
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