Describing implementation procedures for an open educational approach in a rural English middle school (Necton Middle School located 25 miles outside Norwich, England), this paper presents the philosophies of the school's Head Mistress as she reflects upon the first year of operation. Emphasizing community involvement and sensitivity to the human and physical environment, the approaches recorded here include: interpreting the larger world and relating it to the smaller environment; developing appreciation for world-wide interdependence; designing a school building to afford maximum space and flexibility (this school includes sliding doors, a centralized library, ground floor areas for study of the practical arts, a spacious music room, and a large hall for drama, dance, and physical education activities); developing rigorous, objective, and honest methods for testing educational theory; providing a "family" atmosphere (this school is organized via 4 "year groups", so that the staff of 2 males and 2 females work with groups of 50+ for the duration of a year); teaching basic skills via local community themes left to the discretion/interest of the individual teacher; using audio visual aids and programmed materials to accommodate self-paced learning; and keeping student profiles which record both academic and social development and/or weaknesses. (JC)