From The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - March 13th 2004. Report by Ian Small.

The benefits of trust, respect and silence

Quaker schools work on the principal that every student has strong potential for good – whatever their creed, says Ian Small.

The principle of trust and the idea that a “person's word is his bond” is as central to the philosophy of Quaker schools as it was to the early success of Quaker businesses such as Barclays Bank, Clarks' shoes and Rowntree, Cadbury and Fry, the chocolate manufacturers. They all flourished, because they were trusted.

For every prospective parent, the key question is: “How will my child benefit from a Quaker education?”

Here are some of the answers: by being encouraged to work hard and make the most of opportunities inside and outside the classroom; by learning in an atmosphere of friendliness and openness, where relationships are based on trust and the expectation of sensible, thoughtful behaviour; and by having the opportunity to develop academically but also personally, socially and spiritually.

It could be argued that every good school should aim to provide this academic and social environment. As one shrewd parent visiting a Quaker school once put it to the head: “We've had a marvellous tour of your school; we've seen buildings, grounds and facilities and purposeful youngsters enjoying their work; we are entirely satisfied with your exam results and the quality of care you give to your pupils. But what makes a Quaker school different from any other first-rate independent school, and why should I send my child to one?”

The answer, in a nutshell, is a shared heritage and a unique ethos. The prospectuses of the seven Quaker schools in England (see below) will proudly tell you of the features that make them special. No school is quite like any other, and the Quaker schools are no exception. But the strands of common heritage run through the fabric of each one and have left a structure of values that will leave their mark on all the young people in the Quakers' care.

These values stem from one simple core belief: that religion should start from personal experience, not from dogma or ceremony. As all individuals have “that of God” within them, everyone has strong potential for good and is worthy of dignity and respect.

Core values: a sense of genuine inquiry and a friendly informality characterises Bootham school

From this comes much of what is now valued in Quaker schools: an expectation of the highest standards of individual excellence; the quest for truth (many Quakers have become distinguished in the scientific and academic life as well as in business); the tolerance that refuses to see the truth as confined to one creed or dogma; an openness to inspiration from whatever source it comes; and an insistence on the equal rights of all people.

How do these values come out in the everyday life of a Quaker school? This question is all the more interesting because of the relatively small numbers (less than 10 per cent) of Quakers in the schools, even though many parents and staff espouse Quaker values.

Essentially, Quakerism is a practical form of Christianity, which places most emphasis on the manner in which people lead their lives and treat each other. Because of the sense of genuine inquiry and the freedom from dogma, young people of all religious beliefs – or none – can feel comfortable and united during the silence of a Quaker meeting. Held ever morning at school, this is an opportunity for all to reflect quietly and gain a fresh perspective on daily life.

When you visit a Quaker School, you will be struck by an atmosphere of friendly welcome and a natural openness and informality among the pupils. Discipline is firm, but not based on regimentation or the fear of punishment. It comes rather from trust and the expectation of hard work and sensible behaviour that leafs to self-discipline.

Art, drama, music and sport all have firm places in Quaker schools, and everyone takes part for enjoyment as well as for the competition.

Membership of the group of Quaker schools has great practical benefits too, as it allows choirs and musicians to joining together to perform important choral works that cannot be tackled alone.

Pupils are also encouraged to be outward looking and adventurous. The strong Quaker concerns of internationalism, of active participation in global as well as local issues, lead to involvement with the community environmental projects, the Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme, voluntary service, trips and expeditions abroad and money-raising for charity. Participation on this scale stimulates initiative as well as a healthy concern for the needs of others.

There are other powerful reasons for choosing a Quaker school. The increasing uniformity of the national curriculum is challenged by the Quakers' emphasis on personal development and learning, while the warm and friendly atmosphere of a Quaker school makes parents and pupils alike feel at home straight away. It can be stressful being a new parent in the independent sector, but it isn't at a Quaker school.

All this is underpinned by trust. How we need that principle today.

Ian Small is head of Bootham School, York.

The seven Quaker Schools are: Ackworth, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire; Bootham, York; Friends' School, Saffron Walden, Essex; Leighton Park, near Reading; The Mount School, York; Sibford, Banbury, Oxfordshire and Sidcot, Winscombe, Somerset.

For more information, see www.quakerschools.co.uk or call 020 7663 1000