Inside the secretive 'Scientology school' where students are taught through clay modelling and staring matches

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It is one of the most expensive boarding schools in the country and its alumni includes Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's daughter Isabella.

But for years, the 'Scientology school', the Delphian, in Sheridan, Oregon has largely remained a mystery.

Now former students are speaking out about the controversial $42,000-a-year school where the unconventional curriculum includes learning through clay modelling and students are encouraged to report each other for breaches of the school's extensive list of rules.

It does not have academic accreditation and its unorthodox teaching methods, inspired by L Rob Hubbard, have been rejected by mainstream education experts.

In a series of interviews with The Daily, former students said that the curriculum is based around an invention of the Scientology founder called 'Study Tech'.

It revolves around three main principles – all educational problems arise from misunderstood words, abstract ideas need to be shown in pictures or clay to be understood, and students should not progress in a subject until they grasp each step.

One example of a drill given was a task in which students are required to sit still for two hours and stare at each other.

If students flinch or slump they are made to start again.

Another drill called 'TR-7: High School Indoc' teaches students how to make people do what they are told.

'You learn to control your body, and to control other people's - so you don't feel shy about pushing someone, or getting someone to do what you need them to do,' one student told The Daily.

'It starts simple. You tell him to look at the wall. If he doesn't, you try to make him look at the wall, physically.'