Maharishi School
Encyclopedia
The Maharishi School is a non-academically selective school in Lathom
, Lancashire, UK.
(TM) and practice it for three 10-minute sessions during the school day, which school officials say enables the students to be calmer, more focused and relaxed and improves their ability to learn. According an article in the Guardian
, the school does not require students or their parents to learn TM. The principles of the "Science of Creative Intelligence", developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
, are part of the school's curriculum. The school is located in a community that is in one of England's more affluent areas and is near a Transcendental Meditation movement
community in Skelmersdale
called Maharishi European Sidhaland.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said the Maharishi School was "outstanding in almost all categories" and that the school "has a strong record of high academic achievement". He cited an Ofsted
report which says the school provides an "outstanding education" and according to the school's web site, Ofsted reports its GCSE scores to be in the country's top 2.5 per cent.
In 2009, the student body numbered 70, ranging in age from four years to 16 and their General Certificate of Secondary Education
scores were reported to be double the national average.
In 2011, it was one of 24 schools that applied for and received government funding as a flagship free school
. At that time the school's tuition fee was GBP 7,620 for its secondary school students. According to the school's Head Teacher, Derek Cassells, free school status allows the school the potential to double its attendance while retaining its character. As of September 2011, 135 students were enrolled.
The school plans to open two branch schools in 2013 for 11- to 18-year-old students. One would be in Woodbridge, Suffolk
, near a community of TM practitioners in Rendlesham, and the other would be at Oldfield House in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames
. They would expand by "one year group at a time, with 20 pupils in each year".
who called it the funding of the "education of the members of a religious sect" with links to a defunct political party. A spokesperson for the School responded to the criticism saying the school is run by an "independent charitable company" and its Consciousness Based Education approach is non-religious and has no links to any political party. Further criticism came in June 2011 from the Liberal Democrat MP for Southport
, John Pugh
, and the Liverpool city council leader, Joe Anderson, both of whom attacked the government for funding the Maharishi School while depriving funds from mainstream schools. Labor MP Lisa Nandy
made similar complaints in August and the British Humanist Association (BHA) voiced concerns about the school's "spiritual and 'pseudoscientific' teaching". The school's headmaster, Cassells, said: "We bring a balanced curriculum and all we do is introduce a few minutes of mediation three times a day". A Department of Education spokeman said "the Maharishi School, like all Free Schools, will enter pupils for the same exams as other state schools" and "will be open to all pupils of any or no faith"
Lathom
Lathom is a village and civil parish in Lancashire, England, about 5 km northeast of Ormskirk. It is in the district of West Lancashire, and with the parish of Newburgh forms part of Newburgh ward...
, Lancashire, UK.
Description
The school utilizes "Consciousness-based Education" and it's students may learn the Transcendental Meditation techniqueTranscendental Meditation technique
The Transcendental Meditation technique is a specific form of mantra meditation often referred to as Transcendental Meditation. It was introduced in India in 1955 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi...
(TM) and practice it for three 10-minute sessions during the school day, which school officials say enables the students to be calmer, more focused and relaxed and improves their ability to learn. According an article in the Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, the school does not require students or their parents to learn TM. The principles of the "Science of Creative Intelligence", developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi , born Mahesh Prasad Varma , developed the Transcendental Meditation technique and was the leader and guru of the TM movement, characterised as a new religious movement and also as non-religious...
, are part of the school's curriculum. The school is located in a community that is in one of England's more affluent areas and is near a Transcendental Meditation movement
Transcendental Meditation movement
The Transcendental Meditation movement is a world-wide organization, sometimes characterised as a neo-Hindu new religious movement, founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1950s...
community in Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale is a town in West Lancashire, England. It lies on high-ground on the River Tawd, to the west of Wigan, to the northeast of Liverpool, south-southwest of Preston. As of 2006, Skelmersdale had a population of 38,813, down from 41,000 in 2004. The town is known locally as Skem.The...
called Maharishi European Sidhaland.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said the Maharishi School was "outstanding in almost all categories" and that the school "has a strong record of high academic achievement". He cited an Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
report which says the school provides an "outstanding education" and according to the school's web site, Ofsted reports its GCSE scores to be in the country's top 2.5 per cent.
History
The school was founded in 1986 as an independent, fee-based school with 14 pupils.In 2009, the student body numbered 70, ranging in age from four years to 16 and their General Certificate of Secondary Education
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
scores were reported to be double the national average.
In 2011, it was one of 24 schools that applied for and received government funding as a flagship free school
Free school (England)
A Free school is a school in England funded by the taxpayer, non-selective and free to attend but not controlled by local authorities. The concept of free schools is based upon a similar model found in Sweden as well as US charter schools....
. At that time the school's tuition fee was GBP 7,620 for its secondary school students. According to the school's Head Teacher, Derek Cassells, free school status allows the school the potential to double its attendance while retaining its character. As of September 2011, 135 students were enrolled.
The school plans to open two branch schools in 2013 for 11- to 18-year-old students. One would be in Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
, near a community of TM practitioners in Rendlesham, and the other would be at Oldfield House in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames
Richmond upon Thames
Richmond is a town in southwest London, England and is part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is located west-southwest of Charing Cross....
. They would expand by "one year group at a time, with 20 pupils in each year".
Reception
The school's 2011 qualification for government funding was criticized by the The Lancashire branch of the National Union of TeachersNational Union of Teachers
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union for school teachers in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a member of the Trades Union Congress...
who called it the funding of the "education of the members of a religious sect" with links to a defunct political party. A spokesperson for the School responded to the criticism saying the school is run by an "independent charitable company" and its Consciousness Based Education approach is non-religious and has no links to any political party. Further criticism came in June 2011 from the Liberal Democrat MP for Southport
Southport (UK Parliament constituency)
Southport is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, John Pugh
John Pugh
John David Pugh is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom. He is Member of Parliament for Southport...
, and the Liverpool city council leader, Joe Anderson, both of whom attacked the government for funding the Maharishi School while depriving funds from mainstream schools. Labor MP Lisa Nandy
Lisa Nandy
Lisa Eva Nandy is a British Labour Party politician. She has been the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Wigan in Greater Manchester, since the 2010 general election and is one of six Asian female MPs in the country....
made similar complaints in August and the British Humanist Association (BHA) voiced concerns about the school's "spiritual and 'pseudoscientific' teaching". The school's headmaster, Cassells, said: "We bring a balanced curriculum and all we do is introduce a few minutes of mediation three times a day". A Department of Education spokeman said "the Maharishi School, like all Free Schools, will enter pupils for the same exams as other state schools" and "will be open to all pupils of any or no faith"