We are a democratic school. Teachers and students are equals and are on a first-name basis. Once a week students and teachers hold a democratic meeting to determine the non-academic workings of the school. This meeting provides a forum for the school community to solve problems, air concerns, determine the nature of the agreements and negotiate the use of funds. We have the freedom to influence course content and the method in which it is learned.
Instruction is conducted in small groups or individual tutorials.
Independent learning and personal projects are encouraged. We go on a school-wide camp out in September as well as field trips and outdoor education activities throughout the year. Students must then pass a six-week probationary period in order to obtain full student status. We have a mentor system in which each teacher is responsible for monitoring the progress and well-being of 11 to 12 students. It is a deliberate compromise between the specialization required in some national systems and the breadth preferred in others.