Philip Bujak, chief executive of Montessori St Nicholas, said unifying the movement was one of the principal aims in Montessori's mission statement and that it had been backed by 60 per cent of schools in a survey last year. He said, 'They wanted greater unity, an all-embracing, grassroots movement for all people involved in Montessori education, not just school heads but also teachers, parents and those involved in research.'
Mr Bujak said Scotland's Montessori schools had been particularly enthusiastic about the plans for the Montessori Schools Association. 'They face accreditation and inspection issues which are slightly more acute than elsewhere in the UK,' he added.
The Scottish Executive has stipulated that all qualifications have to be part of their framework by 2005. Currently Mon- tessori qualifications sit outside that framework. Mr Bujak said a new course was being devised to secure accreditation.
'Many schools have sacrificed aspects of Montessori philosophy to meet requirements set by Ofsted and Her Majesty's Inspectorate in Scotland. We want to stop that erosion of Montessori philosophy and try to blend it with the requirements of the national standards,' said Mr Bujak.
'Our efforts will be underpinned by considerable financial resources and we aim to be open, inclusive and vigorous in our support as well as expanding awareness of Montessori teaching across the UK.'
Rosie Pressland, principal of Pocklington Montessori School in Yorkshire, is to be the inaugural national president of the new association. Mairi MacIver Clark, who runs Mulberry Bush Kindergarten in Killearn, Glasgow, and is a director of the Scottish Independent Nurseries Association, is the Scottish regional chairwoman.