Running Deer School

20/03/2025

Its the Spring Equinox, equal day, equal night, and what a beatiful dawn!

19/03/2025

We are delighted to be able to announce that Running Deer School is now registered with AQA exams board for the delivery of GCSE's. YAY!!!🎊

14/03/2025

Partial Lunar Eclipse on Dartmoor this morning.

12/03/2025

Come and work in our beautiful woodland supporting the most amazing children.

We are recruiting! Excellent rates of pay. Term Time only.

If you would like an informal chat, or to arrange a visit please contact the school. Application pack details are on our website.

https://www.runningdeerschool.org.uk/vacancies

07/02/2025

I caused a small explosion in a child’s brain on Saturday (metaphorically speaking).

I was in Chippenham for a Rubik’s cube tournament, and a competitor I know came along his brother (8 years old and autistic) for the first time. His mum pointed me out, saying “this is Chris – he’s autistic too! He’s got the same kind of awesome brain that you have!”
The boy was immediately dismissive, saying “autism isn’t a good thing, it just means you think different to everyone. Why’s that good?”
He may have asked this rhetorically, but I gave a genuine answer. There was an opportunity here.

“Do you want to know why autism exists?” I asked.
“Why?”
I sat down to give my answer. (And a quick disclaimer- I didn’t come up with this on the spot. I speak professionally about neurodiversity using this analogy, and it works well.)

“Ok, imagine you have ten people on a desert island, they have one hour to build a shelter before a storm arrives, and all of them have exactly the same brain. They only have one set of ideas, one way of looking at the problem, and will probably only come up with one solution.
But now imagine you have ten different people on that island – one’s neurotypical, one’s autistic, one’s dyslexic, one has ADHD and so on.
THAT way, you have TEN different sets of ideas, and they’re ten times more likely to get that shelter built- as long as they listen to each other.”

He looked like he immediately understood. Then I finished by saying:
“THAT’s why autism exists. Because humans do so much better when they can think about problems in lots of different ways!”

And then BANG. The look on his face…
People talk all the time about seeing the instant someone has an “I get it!” moment, but in my experience they’re rarely as stark as that boy’s face – from the wide expanding of the eyes, to the looking away from me in a moment of “wow, I need to process this for a second”.

Best moment of the day, by far. (And this was a day when I solved a 7x7x7 cube in under seven minutes. Three times.)

One of my ‘catchphrases’ when speaking is “human progress relies on diversity of thought”. It’s a fact that our species relies on, which is all too easily forgotten when we're too busy pathologising difference, or treating autistic people as inferior (and when autistic people are busy obediently believing it).

Like I said, I don’t just use this analogy with children. I use it with companies when discussing why neurodiversity in the workplace isn’t just a piece of performative inclusion, but an active part in improving your company. I use it in school staff training. I use it in general conversation while geeking out about neurodiversity.

I won't be forgetting the look in that boy’s face for a long time. In a day packed with speedsolving Rubik’s cubes, that was by far the most important moment.

07/02/2025

Chris Bonello, teacher, speaker, author, autistic!

I caused a small explosion in a child’s brain on Saturday (metaphorically speaking).

I was in Chippenham for a Rubik’s cube tournament, and a competitor I know came along his brother (8 years old and autistic) for the first time. His mum pointed me out, saying “this is Chris – he’s autistic too! He’s got the same kind of awesome brain that you have!”
The boy was immediately dismissive, saying “autism isn’t a good thing, it just means you think different to everyone. Why’s that good?”
He may have asked this rhetorically, but I gave a genuine answer. There was an opportunity here.

“Do you want to know why autism exists?” I asked.
“Why?”
I sat down to give my answer. (And a quick disclaimer- I didn’t come up with this on the spot. I speak professionally about neurodiversity using this analogy, and it works well.)

“Ok, imagine you have ten people on a desert island, they have one hour to build a shelter before a storm arrives, and all of them have exactly the same brain. They only have one set of ideas, one way of looking at the problem, and will probably only come up with one solution.
But now imagine you have ten different people on that island – one’s neurotypical, one’s autistic, one’s dyslexic, one has ADHD and so on.
THAT way, you have TEN different sets of ideas, and they’re ten times more likely to get that shelter built- as long as they listen to each other.”

He looked like he immediately understood. Then I finished by saying:
“THAT’s why autism exists. Because humans do so much better when they can think about problems in lots of different ways!”

And then BANG. The look on his face…
People talk all the time about seeing the instant someone has an “I get it!” moment, but in my experience they’re rarely as stark as that boy’s face – from the wide expanding of the eyes, to the looking away from me in a moment of “wow, I need to process this for a second”.

Best moment of the day, by far. (And this was a day when I solved a 7x7x7 cube in under seven minutes. Three times.)

One of my ‘catchphrases’ when speaking is “human progress relies on diversity of thought”. It’s a fact that our species relies on, which is all too easily forgotten when we're too busy pathologising difference, or treating autistic people as inferior (and when autistic people are busy obediently believing it).

Like I said, I don’t just use this analogy with children. I use it with companies when discussing why neurodiversity in the workplace isn’t just a piece of performative inclusion, but an active part in improving your company. I use it in school staff training. I use it in general conversation while geeking out about neurodiversity.

I won't be forgetting the look in that boy’s face for a long time. In a day packed with speedsolving Rubik’s cubes, that was by far the most important moment.

30/01/2025

26/01/2025

**BE ADVISED**
After consultation with others please be advised the school site will be closed to staff and students tomorrow (27/1/25). This is to ensure the safety of all involved in the education of students at Butterdon woods. We will be in touch later today about alternatives.

Nick

10/01/2025

I am afraid that we are having to close school today as the last stretch of road up from Moretonhampstead is impassable. As a result of this we are not able to provide the requisite number of staff. Students taxis are being turned around.

10/01/2025

School will be open as per the plan sent out yesterday. See you all at 11:15!

09/01/2025

We open provisionally open from 11am tomorrow- to give us chance to fully assess the roads around school 1st thing- overnight forecast is 1*c and rain- which may clear it or may make it worse. This is also when the yellow weather warning for ice is in place until. I will ask transport to try and get students into school between 11 and 11:15.

Should the conditions around school dictate we may have to move to a full closure. In this case the same person as today will be in touch in the morning. I know its deeply frustrating but I’ve had car rolling at slow speed and cars slipping into each other today and I really feel its not worth the risk.

09/01/2025

Running Deer School this morning. the roads are icy, with snow compacted on top, although the snow is melting currently. Howwever there is a yellow weather warning in place for ice into Friday. Will keep you posted!

08/01/2025

8/1/25- school will be closed tomorrow (Thursday 9/1/25). This is because the roads around school will be unsafe for school transport and staff. We will be in touch via email to discuss alternative plans. I’m sorry for the disruption this causes. I’ll email this afternoon and you will hear definitively by 10am in the morning with exactly what the plans are.

Nick

21/12/2024

Running Deer School is now closed for Christmas. We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 🎄🎁🎉🎆School opens for students on 7th January.

08/12/2024

Good evening, the school will be open tomorrow.

06/12/2024

The science pod always looks amazing on the inside!

06/12/2024

Notice to all parents, the amber weather warning in place for WNW and NW high winds (up to 72mph gusts forecast) in our area means that there is likely to be tree damage at the school. We will not be able to get onto site until either Sunday evening or Monday morning to assess any damage. Therefore we may have to move to hybrid learning. In the meantime, this little chap is stocking up on supplies to weather out the storm!

21/11/2024

Just to add to Amber's photos - Chaos, broken trees and abandoned cars. It was a walk to the horses this morning, then helping Oli move stuck cars to enable the snow plough to get through!