“If we change our fundamental metaphor for the education of children from the manufacture of a product to the flowering and fruiting of a plant – then we begin to see that our role is not to rigidly control each step in the process, but to create the conditions – the soil, the water, the light – under which human brilliance may unfold and flourish”. -Carol Black, Schooling the World

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 “I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn”. - Einstein

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"Most learning is not the result of instruction. It is rather the result of unhampered participation in a meaningful setting." - Ivan Illich

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Misty Meadows School provides a group of children with the best possible conditions in which they can learn and grow. We are not prescriptive about exactly what and how children learn, but we provide them with access to a rich diversity of curiosity catalysts, perspectives, experiences, learning resources, support, guidance, encouragement and opportunities for collaboration with their peers in a beautiful physical environment – we call this an "enabling learning ecosystem".

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Just as all seeds have the capacity to become beautiful flowers, but only those that receive sufficient sunlight, water and nutrients actually do, so do all children have the capacity to thrive, but they need the most enabling learning conditions to do so most effectively.

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​Because each child needs something different from their learning ecosystem, our aim is not to build a school in the traditional sense of the word – with a fixed curriculum and focused on fixed results. Children need to customize their learning experience as they go along, so instead of focusing on what the school will teach children, we focus on how the school will function, so that each child can best customize their own learning experience. This is how natural ecosystems operate - we aim to be a natural learning ecosystem for children.

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Our school operating principles are the pattern that we will follow so that each child can customize their learning outcomes.