Choose to Succeed with Banbury Crossroads

Banbury Crossroads School is the only Self-Directed Learning private school in Calgary. It was founded in 1979 on the principle that learning should take place in a relaxed, accepting, and welcoming atmosphere that recognizes that each student has different learning styles, rates, interests, and talents. In Self-Directed Learning, teachers support students in pursuing the knowledge and activities they find meaningful. This learning philosophy is based on the idea that having some control and direction over their own learning helps students develop self-confidence, initiative, perseverance, and a sense of well-being. Banbury Crossroads has established itself as the city’s leading Self-Directed Learning private school. Enriched by the foundations built at our school, students have gone on to lead successful lives and engage in a wide array of careers. We would love to have you here!

Take advantage of our two day try-out – Call (403) 270-7787 or email [email protected]

Important Update on Tuition Rates for 2023-2024

Thanks to a generous grant from the Alberta Government, we are excited to inform you that we are currently offering new and reduced rates from now until September 30, 2023. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! To view these updated rates, kindly visit our Prospective Students Page. Register now to secure your spot at this special rate!

Orange Shirt Day at Banbury Crossroads - Friday, September 29th

At Banbury Crossroads School, we are committed to creating an environment that fosters understanding, acceptance, and compassion. In alignment with our principles, we are observing Orange Shirt Day on Friday, September 29th, as the official date falls on a Saturday this year.

Orange Shirt Day is an annual event to honor and remember the Indigenous children who were taken from their homes and families, forced to attend residential schools. This day serves as a time for us all to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and affirm that “Every Child Matters.”

We encourage everyone—students, staff, and families—to wear an orange shirt on this day to show support for this important initiative. Together, let’s make a stand for a more inclusive and respectful future for all.

Reasons for studying at Banbury

Academically Innovative: Where learning is really fun!
One-on-One Teaching: Individualized Learning!
Self-Directed Learning: Student-paced!
Interest-Based: You learn based on your interests.
Small class sizes: Maximum ratio 1:10!
Hands-on Learning: Get real-world experience.
Mixed Aged Groups: Age 3-6, 7-11, and 12-18.
Mutual Respect: We immediately resolve disputes which creates mutual respect.

Banbury's Core Values

Students are happy and engaged in learning.

And that’s because of Self-Directed Learning! We engage students to plan their day and to design their assignments depending on their interests. We encourage them to make decisions about their goals, materials they need, and how to monitor their progress. We explore the world on many field trips! We don’t stress competition between students since it creates performance anxiety. And yes, we do follow the Alberta Curriculum, although we have no marks until Grade 10.

We teach and mentor each child individually.

Every child is different. Banbury trusts students to make scheduling decisions and to learn at their own pace. With our tutorial approach, teachers move around, assisting and teaching every child one-on-one, with daily feedback.

We encourage mutual respect.

Our school fosters mutual respect, providing a peaceful, caring, and safe environment for our students. We prioritize welcoming students who seek refuge from negative experiences or have developed social anxieties. Rather than adopting a behaviorist approach, we emphasize a communication and problem-solving approach based on mutual respect.

We believe in multi-aged groups.

And that’s because this approach prevents social problems that can arise when children learn at different rates. Banbury implements a system with three multi-aged groups: ages 3-6, 7-11, and 12-18. By placing students together with older or younger peers and eliminating marks on report cards, Banbury creates a unique classroom atmosphere that minimizes destructive judgment. At Banbury, every child is embraced for who they are, fostering acceptance and inclusion. Moreover, this environment encourages children to learn from one another, allowing them to gain valuable knowledge and even develop leadership skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

We offer small class sizes.

Classrooms at Banbury are not traditional. You often will find cozy sofas or bean bags. With a ratio of 8:1, teachers have time to interact with students, look at their work and chat about how they are doing.

Banbury's Introductory Videos

Website Under Construction

Our website is currently undergoing construction and updates. As a result, some information may be incorrect or outdated. If you come across any errors or discrepancies, kindly report them to [email protected]. Your feedback is highly appreciated as we strive for accuracy. For other inquiries, please see our contact us page.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

-The Banbury Crossroads Team