Steiner school in Exeter

[cherrytomato40]

I know this is brand new- has anyone been to look at it? Or is sending their kids there? We are moving to Exeter soon and I quite like the sound of it, but then I haven't had any experience of Steiner before.

My daughter is at a private Steiner School and she loves it. (Not the Exeter one.)

If you visit the school and like it, then you will need to get your child's name down quickly as the school is likely to be heavily over-subscribed. The other Steiner Academy, in Hereford, has a very long waiting list.

Thanks for the reply, can I ask how old your DD is? Did she go to a mainstream school beforehand, and if so have you noticed much difference?

I am really tempted by the idea of getting away from the obsession with reading books, levels, SATs, etc that I see in DD's current school. I love the idea of prolonging the learning through play stage and encouraging creativity, as well as learning languages and musical instruments at an early age etc. But if I google steiner some of the references to the philosophy behind it freak me out a little, although the school website specifically states it does not teach anthroposophy.

Do a search on Mumsnet for Steiner OP. They really, really divide opinions. Personally they are the only type of school I would categorically avoid.

She is 3, so only at Nursery, but we have met a lot of the children from the upper school and they are articulate, confident, keen and engaged. Despite the lack of hot-housing, they also get very good exam results.

There is a lot of rubbish posted about Steiner schools, both on the net and on Mumsnet. I would say, visit the school and meet the children, ask them questions, then make up your own mind.

There are good and bad Steiner Schools, just as there are good and bad state, private, Catholic or Islamic schools. I personally would never send my child to a Catholic School, but I guess it's each to their own.