School opens 2026
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Part-time learning pod open NOW
A whole human approach to education
Human scale education
Size matters
Opening in 2026, Hawthorn Small School will be a small, independent school in the New Forest that caters holistically to the diverse needs of students who choose to learn in a democratic community. We offer a naturally human experience that prepares for a high-tech future.
Our mission is to be a sustainable community for progressive, autonomous, human scale education that nurtures and develops students inclusively; co-creating personalised learning that inspires a life of wonder and success.
Four schools in one community
Community structured learning
Flexi school (Branch pod)
A flexible, part-time learning pod that supplements home education, for students from 11 to 16.
Primary
Play-based, flexible, child-centred introduction to the learning community from 3 to 10 years..
Secondary
Collaborative, consent-based, and professionally facilitated learning from 11 to 16 years.
Post-16
Self-driven and directed, professionally facilitated learning from 16 to 19 years.
"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery "
Mark van Doren
Progressive education
Our approach to education is truly human
Every part of Hawthorn Small School will be considered and purposeful. We live our values and guiding principles and use these to make the decisions that govern how we run the school, the organisation, the team and how we show up everyday.
- Human scale community-structured education
- Child-centred personalised learning pathways
- Consent-based and autonomous learning
- Courageous growth through imperfection
- Consistently compassionate care
- Educator facilitated collaborative exploration
- Knowledge in context; connected to the diverse nature of self, human interaction and our world.
- Nurturing lifelong curiosity
Whole human approach
Trans-disciplinary projects
Natural human-scale environment
Autonomous and consent-based
We are part of the family.
All the way through.
When you join Hawthorn School, you will become part of the community. It isn’t just the student that joins, it is as a whole family. We work together as a community to build human relationships that nurture and last.
What people say about us
Testimonials
Feel like you don't fit?
We actively include people who often feel out of place
School refusal and anxiety
We will be an ideal setting for students who have struggled with their mental health in a mainstream setting.
Autism and ADHD
We celebrate neurodiversity and specialise in meeting the needs of neurodivergent students whether officially diagnosed or not.
Learning and sensory differences
In a whole human approach to education, cognitive, learning and sensory needs and differences are considered in detail for every student.
Passionate about progressive education and neuropsychology
News and ideas
Values: The ABCDEF and G of Hawthorn Small School
We have spent the last six weeks exploring and discovering these core values, and then ensuring that they are something we can live by. We know that our understanding and practice will always grow but we are confident that these values will ensure we develop in the way we want to for the people who need us.
Welcome to Hawthorn Small School
Hello. I am the Human Needs director of Hawthorn Small School. In a minute I will introduce you to Maz, our inspiring Education director, with whom I co-founded and co-direct the school.
