The Dharma School

Europe’s only primary school based on Buddhist principles

As a small, community school and nursery with skilled and committed staff, children excel in a safe, secure and nurturing environment. We provide a conventional, quality academic education, informed by the National Curriculum, but with the flexibility and creativity to respond to the children’s needs, talents and interests. Children develop confidence, maturity and a love of learning enabling them to do well academically and to make a successful transition to local independent and state secondary schools.

Through our Buddhist based ethos and daily meditation and mindfulness practice, we encourage children to cultivate focus, self-reflection, wisdom and compassion. Buddhism is not taught as a ‘faith’, but as a set of principles and tools for living a productive and fulfilling life.

Ethos and Vision

We intend that our pupils leave our school with a good heart, sound ethical values and a sense of responsibility combined with the academic and social skills that enable them to make a successful transition into secondary education. We hope our pupils will then go on to act in ways that will help to create a more compassionate, intelligent and peaceful world.

Children are introduced to the joy of stillness through regular meditation practice enabling them to develop a reflective understanding of themselves, their life and the world around them. We discuss key Buddhist teachings to help children understand cause and effect, cooperation and change, known as karma, interdependence and impermanence.

Download Ethos & Curriculum Policy

“The biggest gift a teacher can give a child is the capacity to use their minds. The Dharma School embraces and embodies mindfulness in education” - Parent