Schooled in Buddhist teachings Brendan Montague TBC The Argus PARENTS and pupils shuffle into the primary school assembly together. The children are not wearing school uniforms but are instead dressed in rainbow cardigans, jeans and fashionable Tshirts. They sit on a large square of blue carpet, not segregated into classes or by age and not in rows. The toddlers sit on their mothers' laps towards the back of the room. Some of the parents have bare feet and appear to be meditating. A chime rings and the chatter of young voices slowly lulls before Kevin Fossey, who founded the school, begins the "impromptu Puga". Sitting at the front is visitor Pema Dorjee, a Buddhist monk draped in rich red and orange robes who was exiled from Tibet as a child. As the teacher is speaking the children interrupt to ask questions, addressing him by his first name, with enthusiasm and confidence. As the assembly closes, what is striking about the school is the chaos, the noise, the boldness and lack of inhibition of the children. The Dharma School in Brighton is the only Buddhist primary in Europe. It opened in September 1994 in a teacher's living room with just four pupils. Its present home is a large detached house in Ladies Mile Road and 84 children study there. Confidence Many parents send children here to avoid the stresses and strains of SATs testing, league tables, Ofsted inspections, the National Curriculum, improvement targets, and the constant demands for forms and feedback from the Department for Education and Skills. Above all, they want smaller class sizes. The small size of the school and the holistic approach has meant the relationship with parents is extremely close - for example, school reports are more detailed and personalised. Catherine Rees, 40, from Seven Dials, who sends her six-year-old daughter Georgia to the school, said: "This school is like State schools were 20 years ago, where children can play a bit more and do creative things like music, cooking and art. "In State schools they're not given the time any more because of the drive for numeracy and literacy. "My daughter has gained tremendously in confidence and her personality was able to flourish." Assuntina Cardillo, 42, from Patcham, said her son Ian, six, loved his time at school. She said: "I didn't want him to have the pressure of SATs. He is very intelligent but I wanted an atmosphere that was warm." Diane Farrell, 39, who lives near The Level and sends daughter Dulcie, seven, to the school, said: "The children are disciplined but itıs done with humour and compassion. "I am not interested in league tables because the children do learn. I'm not worried about milestones. Normal schools teach conformity." The latest Government paper also promises a "richer curriculum" with foreign languages and music playing a more central role in education. This has been the central tenet of education since the Dharma school was formed. Mr Fossey said: "Creativity has become the new buzzword in education and the Government is beginning to understand that learning should be enjoyable and rewarding. "We do teach the National Curriculum but we are a bit more relaxed with it. When the children leave they do very well in State secondary schools." Pema Dorjee advises the Dalai Lama on education and runs teacher training for exiles from Tibet living in India. He belongs to the Bodong Buddhist tradition. He said: "Education is really important for us. "We never ask the grade of the child, but how good is their moral character. My prayer and hope is this school will create a good human being so what they learn will be used for the good of all human beings. If the children are happy they will learn." Martha Roe, 47, remembers the day the school opened in her front room in Queenıs Park Rise. It moved to its present site in 1995. She said: "People here feel they can breathe and they are not under attack. We do get the best out of the children and work really hard on the basic skills." Laura Negus, 14, was among the first four pupils at the Buddhist school and now attends Blatchington Mill secondary, where she is about to start her GCSEs. She said: "Secondary school was horrible and scary at first. They tested us so much more. I used to get so scared but now they test us so much I donıt worry at all." There is concern the children are not exposed to the hard work, structure and discipline expected in the workplace and the world at large. Brighton councillor and former National Union of Teachers president Pat Hawkes said: "This is an easygoing environment so the pupils may not be equipped for life as they may meet it because itıs a tough old world out there."