Your DC's Independent School

[LongHairedDrummer]

I am looking around primary schools for my DD for next september. She now goes to a lovely 'forest school' type nursery three days a week, and with a September birthday she will be among the eldest of her year group when she does go to primary.

I am feeling increasingly disillusioned with mainstream schooling. I've been to see 4 primary schools so far, and all have had kids learning phonics on screens, sat at desks for the majority of the day from as young as 5, all the core subjects taught the same, a heavy emphasis on academic achievement. 30 kids in a class, most of them sat in silence most of the time as teacher asks them things individually. It all seems so bland, repetitive and unisispiring, almost as if the purpose is to process them through the system knowing how to read, count and sit still for long periods of time.

I want somewhere where my DD can really thrive, develop her interests, experience a range of things, learn new practical skills, be inspired to learn, be encouraged to an active and healthy lifestyle, be part of a community. I don't want her on screens or being forced into a learning style that is easy for teachers but against her stage of development.

I have started looking at independent schools and would be grateful for any insights or recommendations from people whose DC go to one. (Or from people who are very happy with their mainstream school!). We could probably stretch to 2k-3k per term. A lot of the ones that I have seen are just rich person versions of the mainstream schools. I really love the Steiner schools, but there are none near and we would have to move location.

It might be useful to use the correct terminology so people don't get confused. Most/many independent schools are mainstream. Mainstream isn't a state school thing it simply means a school providing standard education that don't specifically cater for children with special educational needs.

You appear to be looking for some kind of alternative type school. I would very very carefully consider whether Steiner schools are a good thing or not and whether you are able to fully subscribe to the way of life that is anthroposophy, they are not very open as t the true meaning of this philosophy. It is basically like a cult.

what part of the UK are you looking in?

Steiner is very alternative and has a really odd background. why not look at Montessori or another forest school instead? there are forest schools that teach the whole of primary.

look on the GoodSchoolsGuide website

What sort of area of the country?
£3k a term is quite a tight budget

There are lots of schools which use forest school/outdoor learning/school farms as part of their curriculum but they will still have to largely follow the government curriculum

If you are in the south east, this could be an option?

https://www.libertywoodlandschool.com/

Where are you based? Your experience of primary settings so far seems unusual - the schools near me in Wales do learning through play with some more structured activities at desks. In general independent schools are very focused on academic performance.

:@parietal Great, thank you, I didn't realise that forest schools went all the way through. I will have a look at that website, thank you.

We're based in the midlands, not too far from Birmingham.

@Comefromaway thanks, yes you're right - I am just getting the hang of all the different types of schools, you are right I'm looking for alternative education I guess.

interesting about the Steimer schools being cult-like, in what way?

Wow, that school looks amazing. This is the type of place I'd love for DD.

We're based near Birmingham, although I think at this stage I'm interested in just seeing what is out there, if you see what I mean. I'd even consider moving for the right school. It is quite a tight budget, it's probably the most I could commit to without going into debt right now.

I agree that 2-3k per term is going to be tight. Ours is 4k per term and we're in the SW.

OP a cousins primary school kids live near Birmingham and she sings the praises of their Montessori school. I can't remember name but it's in Henley -in - Arden
I could find out for you

You have Elmfield Steiner in Stourbridge. It’s not a cult! 🤣

It depends on the school. Our local state school does play based learning in reception and year one and progresses from there.
They use more tech in ks2 but that's largely about creativity and supporting learning, including beginning coding.

This is great to hear, this school is within distance! Thank you, I will go and have a look.

@RumAndCocaCola good to hear you don't get cult vibes from it! Have you or your DC been to these schools?

I am not sure how much the anthroposophy bothers me - most of the state schools around my way are religious in one way or another, CoE or catholic schools, so it perhaps is similar? Informs the values and curriculum, but not taught directly to the kids?

Milton Keynes has the Weber School and Akeley Wood both of which have alternative education styles.

I personally think you need a school that values sport - the ones that do have daily PE and outdoor play. King Edwards School & Edgbaston Girls in Birmingham, Dixie, Loughborough and Leicester ‘Grammar’ Schools all have that focus - so while they do learn on screens the kids will get outdoor play too.

Tight budget I think. My sons school fees start at £4,000 at reception and end at £6,400 in year 13.

We are south.

His school is also an apple distinguished school so each child is given an iPad when they start. So, lots of digital learning.

All state primaries will have the eyfs in reception - ie play-based learning. Ours doesn’t have desks and they don’t have ‘seats’. Different activities set up at different tables. Class learning is when they’re sat on the carpet.

In any case, look at the Annan Froebel school in Sussex. Friends’ kids go there and they speak highly.

Thank you, this is a very good point. I think I would really like somewhere that focuses on sport and nature / outdoor play, but I hadn't considered that the MORE kids do this, the LESS they are on screens. Great point!

Steiner is a very specific philosophy, look into it carefully. Also remember they are only in school for a few hours a day weekdays, they can do sports, outdoor activities etc after school and on weekends plus holidays

@Comefromaway @gotomomo I have fallen down a Steiner history rabbit hole! This stuff is wild. But on the other hand, it doesn't seem that much of it informs what they teach the children, and I doubt most teachers believe in it now? But either way, it's very interesting and informative to know about it, thanks for pointing me towars this odd belief system.

No, if you attend a Steiner School you pretty much have to subscribe to that way of life.

Ok, interesting, thanks - I'll look into it. If the 'spirit' stuff is a metaphor for... personal growth or something I would be ok with that. I wouldn't be ok with passing on explicit occult beliefs.

Another option to consider is if there are any small, rural schools in your area. We live on the edge of a town and went into a neighbouring village and the school was fantastic for time spent outdoors, being physically active, caring and just a very happy place. Mixed year groups worked out well despite my initial misgivings. Of the 9 in my son's year (yes was v v small) found out this weekend 3 are doing Oxbridge applications currently - all have turned out to be lovely kids and none from pressurising families and I note without any academic stress. Oh and it was a non-home work school too.

Re Steiner, I did that for nursery until I started looking into the racist ideology. Read up - there is some real nonsense mixed in with the wooden toys etc, such as eye colour reflecting your spiritual development. He believed blue-eyed people are more spiritually evolved. Also found an unhealthy emphasis on who could be the most right on (eg I handknitted little Django's rainbow sweater from wool foraged from our local brambles..) in a weirdly competitive way which I didn't have much time for.

Thank you so much, this is really helpful. 9 in a year, wow! Your school sounds wonderful. This is exactly the sort of thing that I would like, and to be honest, that I had hoped to find in our local state schools. Somewhere with lots of outdoor time, happy and well rounded kids who do well academically without being pressured. I'll do a tour of our village schools.

I didn't know about the Steiner racist streak!!! Another rabbit hole, thank you for bringing this to my attention.

A few threads

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/primary/2578148-Steiner-schools-does-anyone-have-any-experience-of-them

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/2341575-Steiner-Schools?page=1

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4642353-steiner-montessori?page=2

Thank you!

My kids were in a village Primary school and had what they viewed as an idyllic time . Other posters have talked about EYFS which I think personally will give you what you are looking for . I don’t think you have sufficient budget for private and would concentrate on looking at more state primary schools .