Our history

The school started on 16 September 1991 in the conservatory of Graeme and Sarah Whiting. It measured eight feet by six and a half feet and was home to only four students in the first week but already operating on a full curriculum. As word spread the numbers increased and in the first two years the nascent school moved to bigger premises four times.

In 1992, Graeme heard about a purpose-built Victorian school building in Nailsworth which had become vacant. Shortly afterwards The Acorn School moved in as tenant and a year later the school building was bought. By now the school had 42 students.

Seven teachers became twelve and so the school grew. Graeme and Sarah found they had to be increasingly selective about students so that the school did not grow too big too quickly.

The school was first assessed by Ofsted in 2005. While we do not necessarily measure our success with exactly the same criteria as Ofsted, it was nevertheless gratifying to receive a rating of ‘Outstanding’.

Since the school began there has been a regular influx of students coming from abroad bringing further valuable contributions to the cultural life of the school. The school has attracted students from as far afield as Korea and Japan and has had students travelling from Malaysia, America, Germany, France and Israel to study at The Acorn. Almost all students come as a result of word of mouth.

The school was run as a business from the outset because Graeme felt it had to survive as a business to prove it was a success. It continues to maintain non-charitable status for that reason.

The school currently numbers around 75 students from age six through to eighteen.