About The Mount Camphill Community
   
 
Co-Workers

Colleagues at The Mount have been working with educational ideals for over 30 years and endeavour to include and give them expression by:

Fostering a cultural life so that students may learn to relate to the Christian festivals of the year, gaining hope, confidence and a deeper meaning in their lives.

Developing a moral capacity for social life through a full regard for the spiritual dignity of each human being.

Caring for the environment and the land, encouraging a consciousness in the students of human responsibility towards the earth.

rural skills tuition at Camphill

 
Volunteer Co-workers

Volunteer Co-workers who come to work at The Mount for a year bring a lively international flavour to community living which benefits students. They help students in the houses and workshops while studying towards certification at OCN Level 2 in the Camphill approach to special education.

 

For our Term dates for academic year 2008/2009 please click here
Background

The Mount is part of the Camphill Movement founded in 1940 by Dr Karl König based on the philosophical, educational and social principles of Rudolf Steiner, Austrian scientist, artist and philosopher.

Over 100 Camphill Communities have been founded worldwide so that vulnerable people, many with learning difficulties, can live, learn and work together with others in a healthy social environment that is based on mutual care, respect and the spiritual integrity of every individual. Co-workers are committed to community living, a radical life choice that positively affects and underlies the ethos of the College.

 
The Setting

The Mount is set in twenty acres of land in the heart of the Sussex Weald, surrounded by lawns, wooded areas and a large, productive vegetable and flower garden

The village of Wadhurst is within walking distance and provides opportunities for shopping and social interaction. Tunbridge Wells, within easy reach by train, has leisure and entertainment facilities with scope for practising skills and independence.

The buildings occupied by the community are an interesting assortment. The largest was at one time a monastery, which has been completely renovated and is home to one large household. The monastery chapel is now an inspiring hall used for many cultural and social events. Four specially designed buildings are home to four smaller households. Purpose-designed buildings house the Bakery, the Pottery, the Weavery, the Woodwork shop, Rural Skills and Estate Course the Horticulture classroom, Gymnasium.
Our Work at The Mount

Students generally join the first year between ages 16 and 19 and stay for three years. Students then progress into their chosen craft course where they receive an Open College Network accredited pre-vocational craft training within one (or in some cases two) of the workshops: bakery, weavery, woodwork, pottery, cooking, garden and rurals skills.

An individually tailored 1 year Young Adult Programme is then available for students to continue their development towards transition and independent living skills.

The therapeutic value of craft skills for thinking and personality development allows for self-discovery and increasing integration of the student’s personality with their physical abilities. This is supported by additional individual therapeutic input. This in turn leads to greater independence, maturity and the ability to contribute meaningfully to society.