'Ask the Expert' Q&A with Anil Sarna
A Webinar for Start-Up Schools and Learning Communities
Wednesday 6 May
7.30-9.30pm BST
Are you thinking about setting up your own school or learning community? Come and meet Anil Sarna, founder of the Hebden Bridge Learning Community in the heart of the Pennines, and The Learning Circle, an online sister school extending the Hebden Bridge ethos beyond West Yorkshire.
Anil will talk to us about his experience of founding and running two democratic, child-centred learning communities in the beautiful surroundings of West Yorkshire.
Hebden Bridge Learning Community
Since 2016, nestled in the heart of the Pennines in the vibrant town of Hebden Bridge — a place long celebrated for creativity and independent thinking — a small but powerful learning community has been quietly flourishing.
Supporting up to 55 home-educated children aged 5–15, the community is rooted in democracy, mindfulness, wellbeing, creativity, and deep connection to nature. Here, learning is not driven by pressure, but by curiosity. Children and staff grow side by side in a culture of trust and care, rediscovering the intrinsic joy of learning and the freedom to thrive as fully themselves.
The Learning Circle
Founded in 2020, The Learning Circle brings the spirit and principles of Hebden Bridge into a dynamic online space.
Around 100 children join live, interactive classes in small groups where every voice can be seen and heard. With fewer limits on space, students enjoy a wider range of subject choices — and, true to the democratic ethos, they help shape what and how they learn.
Alongside inspiring classes, they offer confidence coaching and a strong mentoring programme, ensuring each child feels supported not just academically, but personally — building self-belief, agency, and a genuine love of learning in a connected community.
About Our Guest
Anil Sarna has spent more than 30 years reimagining what education can be. He began by teaching English abroad before returning to the UK to teach Spanish and Italian at A Level and IB Diploma level. Along the way, he quietly wove in his love of yoga, meditation and shiatsu.
Years living in Spain and Italy deeply shaped his philosophy of education. Inspired by the cultures he encountered, Anil began blending democratic practice and mindfulness in the classroom, creating learning spaces where students felt both empowered and genuinely seen.
In 2005, he founded Playing to Learn, a UK-based language school for international students, where children learned English through sport and structured play.
In 2012, he helped establish a school from scratch in a deprived area near Rishikesh, India, working in partnership with The Doon School and Oakham School and raising £50,000 to bring the vision to life.
In 2016, with the help of friends, he founded Hebden Bridge Learning Community and a year later he organised the Alternative Education Festival — the UK’s first national conference dedicated to democratic education — which evolved into the now annual Freedom to Learn Forum.
In 2020, alongside Zoe Holden, he co-founded The Learning Circle, an online sister school extending the Hebden Bridge ethos beyond West Yorkshire.
Event Format, Recording and Ticket Price
This event takes place online via Zoom at 7.30-9.30pm BST on Wednesday 6th May. You will have the chance to hear a short presentation from Anil, and then you are invited to ask any questions you might have. Everyone who registers will be sent the recording after the event.
If you have questions but can't make the date, you are still welcome to register for the event. Simply send your questions through to us at [email protected] and they will get asked in the session on your behalf.
This webinar is £20 for non-members, and FREE for members.
Become a Member for Further Support
Join Us!
Would you like to join the Education Start-Ups membership community to access further support? Our membership offers:
Monthly expert webinars (like this one);
Monthly group coaching for peer support and collaborative problem solving;
Online platform for sharing resources/ideas and supporting each other between sessions.
Some extra bonuses too!
You can find out more at EducationStartUps.org/community.
Note to Members
If you are a member, you do not need to register for this event. You will automatically receive the Zoom link in your online community portal.
About Us
This webinar series is brought to you by Jo Symes at Progressive Education and Alex O’Neill from Limitless. We are education activists who have a shared passion for raising awareness of alternatives to mainstream school.
For the past few years Alex and Jo have been creating events and resources for start-ups, in response to the growing number of children and young people leaving mainstream education, and the urgency that parents/carers/educators feel to build new learning environments where young people can thrive.
Introducing Alex O’Neill
Alex is the driving force behind Limitless, an organisation dedicated to igniting social change with a special emphasis on revolutionising the education sector.
Through the Limitless podcast, she shares expert insights and neuroscience tips to empower changemakers to tackle the world's most pressing issues.
Alex is committed to uniting individuals who are driven to advance education and supporting them in overcoming obstacles that stand in their way.
Introducing Jo Symes
Jo is the founder of the social enterprise, Progressive Education, which raises awareness of alternatives to conventional schooling and campaigns for change within mainstream education. She is building a global directory of jobs, events and progressive schools and learning communities.
It began with the launch of the Progressive Education Group on Facebook in 2019, which is an international community of over 11k members including parents/carers, educators, academics, researchers, psychologists, education innovators and changemakers.
