The Progressive Choice: Why More Parents Are Choosing Progressive Schools in London
By Leanna Barrett, Head of Liberty Woodland School
Over the past few years, I’ve spoken to more and more families asking a different kind of question about education. Not “Where will my child get the best grades?” but, “Where will my child be challenged, supported, and seen as a whole person?”
Progressive education isn’t new, but it’s gaining fresh momentum here in the UK, especially in London. Parents are re-evaluating what school is really for, and many are concluding that the conventional model no longer reflects how children learn best or what they need to thrive.
At Liberty Woodland School, we’re proud to be part of this shift. We’re a progressive, independent school offering a purposeful alternative to traditional education, one that’s academically robust, emotionally intelligent, and grounded in the real world.
What Progressive Education Really Means
Progressive education begins with the child. That doesn’t mean lower standards, it means higher relevance. It means meeting children where they are, giving them real ownership of their learning, and holding them to expectations that are meaningful rather than mechanical.
At Liberty Woodland School, we focus on depth over coverage. Our children explore ideas through discussion, experience, and inquiry. They’re encouraged to think critically, to ask better questions, and to make connections across subjects and the wider world.
This isn’t about learning “less.” It’s about learning with purpose, and that requires just as much discipline, if not more.
High Expectations, Delivered Differently
It’s no secret that school has become more pressurised, particularly in the early years. Many children are pushed through content before they’ve had time to understand it, let alone enjoy it.
We take a different approach. We create the conditions for genuine learning by building a calm, respectful, and highly engaging learning environment. When children feel secure and challenged in equal measure, they don’t need to be pushed—they move forward because they’re motivated.
Our expectations are high, clear and consistent. But they’re delivered through trust, not pressure or fear.
A Curriculum Designed for Now
We design our curriculum to be responsive, relevant, and rigorous. It’s interdisciplinary and project-based, shaped by the real world beyond it.
At Liberty Woodland School, children explore ideas through themes that span science, philosophy, literature, geography, and the arts. A project on climate change might involve data analysis, persuasive writing, ethical discussion, and fieldwork in the forest. The goal isn’t just knowledge, it’s understanding, application, and action.
This kind of learning sticks. It gives children the tools they’ll need in secondary school, at university, and in life.
Why Families Are Making the Shift
What I hear from many parents, especially here in London, is a growing sense that the mainstream system isn’t quite working for their child. Not because of failure, but because of misalignment. Their child is bright but bored. Anxious. Disconnected. Or simply not thriving in a one-size-fits-all environment.
That’s when they start looking for something different. Not an easier path, but a better fit.
Progressive schools like Liberty Woodland offer that alternative. And when the fit is right, the change is visible: confidence, engagement, curiosity. A child who comes home enthusiastically talking about ideas, not just about the homework they have to do today.
Is This the Right Kind of School for Your Child?
Progressive education isn’t for every family. But if your child is curious, thoughtful, and ready for a learning environment that values thinking as much as knowing, it may be exactly what they need.
Liberty Woodland is a progressive, child-centered, independent school in South West London. We combine academic rigour with emotional literacy and structure with flexibility.
We’re not preparing children for the next phase of tests. We’re preparing them for everything and anything that comes their way in their future.
Quick Answers: What Sets Liberty Woodland School Apart?
What kind of school are you?
We’re a progressive, nature-rich independent school in South West London for children aged 4–16. We have a strong focus on well-being, with close relationships, mutual trust between teachers and students, and a sense of belonging to our community. Our curriculum combines real-world learning, outdoor education, and strong academic foundations. In secondary school we deliver the International Baccalaureate curriculum.
Do you still cover core subjects?
Yes. We teach core subjects you’d expect, such as English, maths, and science—but we teach them in integrated, purposeful ways and by stage of progress rather than date of birth.
Is this approach academically rigorous?
Yes. Our children are expected to think independently, work collaboratively, and reflect deeply on their learning. It’s a far richer, more intellectually challenging style of learning.
At Liberty Woodland, we believe in an education that respects childhood, equips children for complexity, and gives them the space and challenge to grow into themselves.
We’d love to show you what that looks like in action.
