***IMPORTANT UPDATE***
We have a team of four families working hard to start a Classical Christian Academy for primary students in Southern England. It is a huge and much-needed project as government schools here are left wanting and private schools here are extremely expensive. We are offering rigorous Christian education at half the price!
We are asking you for financial donations and prayers. We have already done the extensive work of preparing and submitting our OFSTED (government) application. We have raised £11k in startup donations, secured £8,600 of recurring yearly donations, recruited three fee-paying students, and have had two conditional offers of employment accepted for the position of primary school teacher.
The big snag is with our selected building. It needs planning approval for “Change of Use“ from commercial to educational, and the local authority has recommended we withdraw our application on grounds that three additional specialist reports were needed: Ecological, Highways, and Noise. The cost of these surveys and the additional consultant fees has subjected us to an extra £11,200 of unexpected costs which we haven’t raised funds for.
So, whilst we’ve gotten very far, this planning thing may take us several steps back if we can’t raise £11,200 by end of August. Please consider clicking that "Give" button now.
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Are you tired of the current educational system in the United Kingdom that fails to inspire a love of learning in students and instead focuses on standardised testing? Do you long for an educational experience that teaches critical thinking, creativity, and character development? Are you worried about the future of society with how secular education has become in England?
We are a group of passionate parents, families, and educators who believe in the power of a truly classical and Christian education to transform society. We have found ourselves in a part of the world where Christian school choices are limited--in fact there is only ONE Classical Christian school in England which is 3 hours away from Southern England. We are planning to open St Alban's Classical Academy in January 2024 to provide parents with a thoroughly Christian education that is academically rigorous and steeped in faith.
St Alban's Classical is set up as a non-profit organisation with the dream that one day, we might be able to provide parents with a private-school education at a low-cost (maybe even free). We want to start this independent Christian school to provide students with an education that is grounded in the wisdom of the past and prepares them for a successful future.
Classical education is a time-tested approach, rooted in biblical truths, that emphasises the study of the liberal arts, including literature, history, mathematics, science, and languages. This approach fosters a love of learning, teaches students how to think critically, and provides them with the tools they need to become responsible and engaged citizens. The Classical Model has proven its benefits throughout the USA in providing a high-quality education and producing adults who continue in the faith. According to the "Good Soil" research done by the Association for Classical Christian Schools (ACCS), the classical approach was most effective in transmitting the faith (90% of ACCS grads go to church at least three times a month), preparing students for academic success (88% felt well-prepared for university), and producing happy graduates (scoring 60% higher than students in Catholic schools and state schools in agreement with the statement "I have so much in life to be thankful for"). It is time to bring the classical approach back to British schools.
Our vision is to create a school where students are challenged to learn and obey the Scriptures, find their place in this world, where they are encouraged to explore their interests and passions, and where they are surrounded by a community committed to their wellbeing, safety, and success.
But we need your help to make this dream a reality. We are seeking funding to cover the costs of starting an independent primary school, including facilities (£32,000), materials (£15,000), and initial hiring costs (£25,000).
By contributing to our campaign, you will be supporting an educational initiative that has the power to transform lives and shape the future of our society. This school will be the first of many that will spread across the UK. Join us in creating a school and a network of schools providing education that parents can trust, where students can thrive, and children can be formed to become the leaders of tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers and support!
