The Dharma School in Brighton is the first primary school in the UK to be based on Buddhist principles. Run independently by a charitable trust, it is for children aged three to 11 years.
After small beginnings, opening with four pupils, the school moved to a large detached property in 1995 and now 75 children attend.
An intimate group of 15 nursery and reception children is taught by three staff in an annex within the beautiful school grounds. The five- to eleven-year-olds are educated in the main building.
The school takes children of all cultural and religious backgrounds, although preference is given to Buddhist families when there is competition for places. Non-Buddhist families tend to choose the school because of its calm, caring ethos and human-scale values. Most of all, parents say they are attracted by the emphasis on spiritual matters. The majority of staff are practising Buddhists.
The annex is light and comfortable, with a calm, family atmosphere. Alison Mayo, who teaches the three- to five-year-olds, says the reception children benefit greatly from the play-based environment, while the nursery children are eager to learn from the older pupils.
Careful record keeping ensures that all the pupils are exposed to a broad and balanced Foundation Stage curriculum, with particular emphasis placed on personal, social, emotional and spiritual development. A strong awareness of environmental issues is also fostered.
The nursery classroom is not noticeably different from any other nursery, with the exception of a dedicated area for a shrine with a statue of Buddha.
The younger children have access to their own secluded outdoor facilities next to their room, including a wildlife area. They are also given opportunities to explore the main school grounds and use the larger climbing apparatus, as well as having access to the main hall for PE, dance and, on occasion, participating in whole-school gatherings.
Each day the children take part in the puja, which usually takes place mid-morning. This is a quiet reflective time lasting for about 20 minutes.
Adults help the children to light candles and they join in simple Buddhist chants. Sometimes the chants are dedicated to someone who is sick or has gone away. The main aim of the chanting for three- to five-year-olds is to evoke pleasant, relaxed feelings and a general sense of well-being. The children may also listen to a simple story reflecting Buddhist principles or multi-cultural issues, or sometimes they will have a discussion.
Nursery and reception children are considered too young to participate in meditation with any useful understanding. Instead, they are encouraged to listen to sounds around them, or to music, or to focus on a particular object. These might be items such as a candle or the 'singing bowl', which makes a ringing sound as an adult taps it with a stick or traces around the bowl's rim with a finger.
Headteacher Peter Murdoch says, 'It would be a bit presumptuous to say that any of the nursery children really understand the true meaning of the puja, although perhaps there are a small number for whom it does make sense. For them it is more the experience, especially learning to sit with others in quietness, even if only for short periods.'
Perhaps the most important difference between a mainstream nursery and the Dharma nursery is its underlying ethos through which the children are made clearly aware of their responsibilities both to themselves and others, in accordance with Buddhist principles (see 'Dharma School principles', below).
The school prospectus states, 'The influence of Buddhism in the school is felt not through dogma, tradition or ritual, but through exploring basic principles in a way appropriate to each age group. These principles include resourcefulness, honesty, co-operation, concentration and self-discipline.'
Dharma School principles
* I will not harm people, animals and plants, caring for them in a way I would like to be cared for myself.
* I will not take things that belong to others, I will remember to ask when borrowing and try to share when appropriate.
* I will try to be caring towards my friends and be respectful at all times even to those who are not my friends.
* I will try to say things that are honest and truthful, and be careful in regard to my speech and voice.
* I will try to keep my body healthy and my mind calm and clear by following that which brings goodness and happiness.
Further information
* The Dharma School, www. dharmaschool.org or email dharmaschool @aol.com
