Numbers have doubled in the past year

Last September, an innovative new school opened in the outskirts of Sligo town.

The Sligo Sudbury School introduced a fresh approach to teaching, or  'A place for self-directed democratic learning in the North West', as they describe it.

It's a school where young students between the ages of 4 & 18 can learn through play and experience at their own pace, in their own time and in their own way.

The school follows a policy of self-governance where the rules are decided by the pupils. There's no fixed school time either - it's open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, but there are core times (between 10:30am and 2:30pm) where students must be present.

Dermot and Dave spoke with co-founder Gayle Nagle prior to the opening and the reaction from listeners was very mixed. Fast forward a year later and it has been a huge success, as Gayle explains:

We had a great year last year and we've doubled our numbers now for September, so there's a great interest and a great appetite out there for this kind of education

Nagle admits the school is still adapting and learning to provide the best platform for the pupils but they are still "trusting that children are innately curious".

Dermot and Dave offer their thoughts on the concept along with huge reaction from listeners.

Check out the chat in full by pressing the listen/play button on screen.