East Kent Sudbury

About this program

East Kent Sudbury is a self-directed democratic learning community for home-educated children located in Ringwould, Deal, in the beautiful Kent countryside of southeast England. Founded on the Sudbury model—inspired by Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts—this part-time provision supplements home education by offering children complete freedom over how they spend their time and what they learn. The community operates on a foundation of direct democracy where every member, regardless of age, has an equal voice and vote in all decisions affecting the group. Weekly Community Meetings address matters from budgets to field trips, while a Judicial Committee handles conflicts fairly and openly. This structure prepares children to become engaged, responsible citizens who understand democratic processes. What sets East Kent Sudbury apart is its fundamental trust in children's natural curiosity. Rather than imposing a curriculum, the community unleashes the learning drive already present in every child, allowing them to follow their interests and satisfy their own thirst for knowledge in an environment rich with resources and mixed-age interactions.