Steiner (Waldorf) Schools

[mumof20somethings]

Anyone sending/sent their child to a Steiner School. Comments please

Why? Are you writing an article or planning to send your own DC to one?

If you do an Advanced search on here for Steiner you will find previous threads on the subject. These schools generally get slated on Mumsnet.

My son went to one and did the Steiner cert as an alternative to A Levels then on to do a STEM subject at a Russell Group Uni. Happy to answer any questions .

I went to one for a while. Obviously this is a long time ago. Left because I was begging my parents to send me to a normal school and let me just be normal.

I suspect they vary a great deal from area to area, but in general I wouldn’t recommend Steiner education unless your other options are very bad. I have vague memories of being told that fairies are definitely real? But more importantly most people there, children and adult, had psychological ‘issues’ and a superiority complex, tended towards conspiracy theories, and mocked anything mainstream and the average person as unenlightened sheep.

Also the school didn’t have an effective way to deal with bad behaviour.

We had one teacher for everything and I think that was part of their philosophy. Same teacher for maths english science French etc and they stay with your class for years. So you never get taught by an expert and you get utterly sick of the sight of that teacher and if you don’t particularly connect with that teacher then that’s a big problem.

If you are considering it I’d suggest you read their inspection reports very very carefully and look closely at the gcse and a-level results.

I’m very glad I left.

My brother went to one. I thought it was dreadful. To be honest the place gave me the creeps. Only one type of art allowed. Only one form of PE. He left with no qualifications, and has been on minimum wage since.

Yes, this was some time ago, but the school philosophy is still the same.

Oh yes, the one teacher for your entire school career and every subjec thing. If the relationship is not a fit you're stuffed. I think that was part of my brother's problem.

My daughter attended a Steiner independent specialist school very happily. Sat her GCSEs alongside crafts, land management and working on the smallholding. It suited her, gentle pace, lots of time outside, observation of the seasons and nature.

Daughter's school had subject specialists so she moved between classes and sites. She had a form teacher much like the average secondary school, that form teacher changed after two years so not with the same teacher throughout in her school. I suppose the biggest difference would have been there were only three lessons a day and each day started and ended with form time (no registration after lunch, reflection at the end of the day instead)

Steiner schools offer an alternative to mainstream education. If you opt for Steiner you are effectively opting out of GCSEs and A levels as these are not their main aim although they do offer them. Do not expect your child to progress through the national curriculum at the speed of a mainstream school and for that reason, it is very difficult to move back to state successfully after being in a Steiner school so I think you would need to commit to the philosophy. The early years are very much play-based rather than offering a formal education.

As another pp has said, you have one teacher for several years for all subjects. The schools are generally anti-competition hence no team sports or tests etc. Some also ban or restrict television and computers which can be very limiting in our modern world. Be aware that the world of Steiner will infiltrate your home life, not just school hours.

I am surprised by one pp's comment on fairies as I thought they discouraged anything unreal - so no dressed up bears or rabbits in books etc. I would have thought that fairies were a similar issue.

The main thing that put me off was the issue of discipline. There was a lot of poor behaviour in the school. Walking around with the head, I observed pupils physically fighting and the behaviour was totally ignored. The attitude was 'boys will be boys'.

I ended up home-schooling using a combination of Steiner and Montessori methods. I think the philosophy has its place but I would be sure it is what you want before committing to it.

DD loves her Steiner school. They have specialist teachers for maths, languages, sciences etc. They do have a form teacher who stays with them through the school, and the kids seem to like that and have great respect for their teachers.

The school is very good at dealing with behavioural issues, I have seen first hand how the teachers and students work together to face the issues rather than pretending it didn’t happen, and having heard the horror stories of our local ‘sought after’ state school, I’m glad we chose Steiner.

DD has educational needs. The school picked up on this very early and have put in place support to ensure she is reaching her potential.

It is true that there is a limited offering of GCSEs but that is due to the size of the school and if DD wants to do a subject not offered, we will discuss it and review options. She loves science and languages so that probably won’t be an issue as these are offered at her school. Most students go on to do A levels at the local much sought after sixth form college, and several to Oxbridge or other red bricks. But whatever the departing students do, they all seem to be sane, confident, respectful, self motivated individuals when they leave.

With regard to sports, they do plenty of gym and competitive sports too.

Steiner schools seem particularly hated on Mumsnet, but my experience of Steiner has been very positive. I’m sure, just as with state comprehensive or private schools, there are good and bad Steiner schools. We have a good one, the best thing to do is visit and make up your own mind.

I did almost my entire schooling at a Steiner school.

There were some good points that I wish mainstream schools adopted a bit more - wide range of arts and crafts.

But..

Nobody from my class put their own kids in the school and most of them still live near it. A few, including me, live in towns with other ones and we haven't done that either.

I agree with all the negative comments here. Definitely lots of fairies..and gnomes!

But the class teacher is class 1-8 then the class guardian is class 9-12. Specialist language teachers all the way through. Specialist subject teachers class 9-12.

I went to an interview at one. I found that they considered that children didn't need safeguarding, because they have guardian angels, who only let them get hurt as badly as they deserve hurting.

Also, I was not offered the job because they didnt think I was Psychic.

Which was just fine, as I didn't want the job after discovering that they were teaching that black people can be reincarnated as white if they are "good" enough

Thank you for all your inputs. There are some very favourable comments and some concerns too. I get the idea that most Steiner schools have improved with inspections. Rudolph Steiner had some very bizarre beliefs. Presumably some of his beliefs must still be promoted in order for a school to carry the Steiner name. I'm interested to know what those persisting beliefs are because they will influence the pedagogy and the life of the school. No, I'm not planning to write an article. I'm a mum, great aunt, would be grandma and retired teacher.

I would suggest you go along to an open morning if you are close enough to one. That's what we did and made up our own minds . I hadn't read anything positive on MN that's for sure ! It was a perfect fit for my son but it wouldn't have been for my other kids any more than their schools would have suited him

What?! Sarcasm?

Nimbostratus100 · Today 11:02

I went to an interview at one. I found that they considered that children didn't need safeguarding, because they have guardian angels, who only let them get hurt as badly as they deserve hurting.

Also, I was not offered the job because they didnt think I was Psychic.

Which was just fine, as I didn't want the job after discovering that they were teaching that black people can be reincarnated as white if they are "good" enough

Here's an example of persistent strange beliefs in Steiner schools. But how widespread are these beliefs? How much do they underpin what the staff practise?

I agree about going along to an open morning - thank you whataboutnow. I think go with some questions about the beliefs and do plenty more research on Rudolph Steiner.

Tbf there was very little evidence of the school being a Steiner school outside of the crafts and observance of nature and the seasons. From memory there was a gathering at both solstices which was entirely voluntary and dd opted out of both.
Leavers assembly was perhaps "alternative" in part, achievements were celebrated and then leavers sent their aspirations for the future into the ether by burning them on the fire.
Local Authority paid £70k pa for dd's place so can assume that they were satisfied with safeguarding anyway.

Good grief.

Ffs why does everyone think everyone is writing an article?! 🤷‍♀️

Jeesus.

Which was just fine, as I didn't want the job after discovering that they were teaching that black people can be reincarnated as white if they are "good" enough

children also has SEN because of previous lives but, like black people, can reincarnate ‘better’. Similarly if you are bullied that is because of your previous life and must be left to play out.

Gnomes and fairies exist in their belief system

Schools are run by a committee of the teachers not a head teacher

The colours of the school classrooms are all prescribed.

Remember Steiner was a man partly if his era and country - late 19th/early 20th century Austrian very into his version of spiritualism. Steiner schools differ in how closely they follow his teachings.

😮which Steiner school was this?

@hiredandsqueak £70k? Is that a typo?

At those prices I'm amazed anyone can afford to attend..Isn't that more that Eton? Was it boarding?

@listsandbugets no LA paid the £70k fees through her EHCP. It was a reasonably inexpensive independent specialist school tbf. Many cost six figures. It offered a bespoke curriculum for every pupil, SALT, OT, psychotherapist, counselling on site so that bumps up the cost of a placement.

No not boarding that would have bumped costs well into six figures. LA funded transport to and from school on top.