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 Is Progressive Education and Where Does It Come From?
Progressive education is an approach to learning that places the child at the centre of the educational experience. It aims to educate children as a whole, developing them intellectually, socially, ethically, and emotionally.
This approach to education gained momentum as part of the nineteenth-century Progressive Education movement and can be traced back to John Dewey’s belief that learning should be experiential and student-centred.
In today’s learning environment, more and more families are drawn to approaches that balance a rigorous curriculum and real-world learning experiences. They want a school where expectations remain high, but the mental health, well-being, and personal growth of students are protected.
What Does Progressive Education Look Like?
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.
Our Progressive Approach to Education
At Liberty Woodland School, learning is designed around the individual child. We understand that children develop at different rates and have different interests.
We utilise this in our teaching.
For us, it is not about teaching children surface-level knowledge of a subject they don’t feel connected to. It is about leveraging their natural interests to make learning more meaningful and engaging.
We give our primary school and secondary school students the freedom to take an active role in their learning.
Progressive Education in Primary School
Children in the primary years benefit from exploration and creativity, as well as traditional subject-based knowledge.
Our primary school curriculum largely follows a project-based approach to learning, helping children develop their curiosity by allowing them to create projects on a topic of their choosing that feels meaningful to them, purposeful, and relevant to their lives.
The school is also rooted in the outdoors. Outdoor learning is an important part of the school day and helps develop our students' confidence and independence.
You can find out more about the importance of outdoor learning in our blog.
Progressive Education in Secondary School
We are dedicated to making sure progressive learning continues to support the academic and personal growth of our students as they move into secondary school.
Our secondary school curriculum follows the International Baccalaureate. The IB is designed to encourage students to think critically and develop a global perspective across a wide range of subjects, as well as skills and attributes.
As we follow a 4-day school week, we also incorporate a flipped learning approach where secondary school students conduct independent study on Fridays instead of coming into school.
Our approach to secondary school education aims to build academically capable, globally responsible young people by encouraging them to take ownership of their learning.
Why Are More Families Choosing Progressive Education?
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.
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 Education 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-centred, 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.
Still unsure if progressive education is right for your child? Learn about the 6 signs that suggest it might be.
Experience Liberty Woodland School
Choosing the right educational fit for your child is an important decision for every family. Visiting us is one of the best ways of understanding our approach to progressive education and how we work.
Based in Morden, we welcome families from all over London, including Wimbledon, Fulham, Southfields, and Putney.
We encourage you to book to attend an open day, meet our dedicated teaching team, and experience what makes Liberty Woodland School so special.
FAQs
What kind of school are you?
We’re a progressive, nature-rich independent school in South West London for children aged 3-18. 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.
