York Steiner School

Prospectus

Contents

25 Class Trips and Festivals

26 Community

30 Alumni

35 Next Steps

36 Contact

4 Our School

8 Reclaiming Childhood

12 Curriculum

22 Learning inNature

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Our School

Welcome

York Steiner School has been nurturing and inspiring children for almost forty years and is part of a worldwide educational movement. Self-reliance, authenticity and creativity are among the cornerstones of a York Steiner School education, along with social responsibility and independence of thought.

Our students go on to achieve wonderful things in business, science, academia, and medicine as well as the creative industries. We give our children the tools they need to maintain calm and focus in a fast-paced world.

The school offers a unique education from birth (parent and child groups) through Kindergarten and the Main School to the age of fourteen, with aims to open an Upper School taking children up to 18. Each stage has its own distinct character and rich curriculum, supporting the emerging intellect of the developing child.

York Steiner School recently won a silver Pearson Award for outstanding teaching and was shortlisted for Creative School of the Year by the TES Award.

“The tasks that pupils are given are interesting and enthuse them, helping to promote a love of learning.”

School Inspection Service

"Pupils thrive under the care of the staff and increase their self-confidence and esteem from an early age."

Ofsted

Did you know?There are currently over 1,200 Steiner schools worldwide

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“The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility — these three forces are the very nerve of education.”Rudolf Steiner

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Reclaiming Childhood

At York Steiner School children are given the time and space to enjoy their childhood. In the Kindergarten, genuine free play is self-initiated and supports each child to meet challenges in their own time. Rhythmic structure securely holds the unfolding of each child.

Throughout the school the whole child is nourished through song, craft and story. We nurture the sense of wonder, which all children bring to the world, and help them to transform that wonder into intellectual curiosity, which creates self-motivated learners who approach challenges with enthusiasm and confidence.

“Education is an art — it must speak to the child’s experience. To educate the whole child, their heart and their will must be reached as well as the mind.” Rudolf Steiner

Did you know?Our main school starting age mirrors that of the education systems in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland and Germany.

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Curriculum

Kindergarten (3-6 years)Educating through activity

In Kindergarten the children learn through play and rich, teacher-led activities such as baking, painting, sewing, weaving and other crafts. The day, the week and the year all have a regular rhythm and this creates a secure atmosphere in which the children learn and grow. Strong foundations are laid for numeracy and literacy through meaningful, everyday tasks.

Main School (6-14 years)Education through the imagination

The strong foundations, established in Kindergarten, are built upon when the children enter the main school, where the curriculum is presented in a lively, holistic way expanding each

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” Albert Einstein

We offer a rich, diverse curriculum at York Steiner School, carefully designed to fire the imagination of the developing child and help them grow the inner confidence necessary to fulfill their potential. Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of the child at each developmental stage. The core subjects of English, Maths and Science are at the heart of the curriculum.

Did you know?Our children begin learning French and German at the age of six.

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year along with the children’s horizons. English, Mathematics, History, Geography, and Science are taught in the morning lesson and the rest of the day is spent in subject lessons including: German, French, Handwork, Gardening, Gym, Eurythmy, Painting, Woodwork, Cookery and Seasonal Crafts.

The curriculum appeals to the children’s imagination; this fuels their enthusiasm and instills a love of learning.

Did you know?Steiner graduates are highly sought-after in further education and the work place for their unjaded interest in the world and their resourcefulness.

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"Pupils at York Steiner School are highly valued as individuals, very well known to the staff and each other and regard themselves as part of a large, welcoming family."Ofsted

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Learning in Nature

A passion and respect for the natural world has been a fundamental part of the ethos of York Steiner School since its humble beginnings as a Kindergarten in rural Yorkshire in 1978. Research has shown the positive impact of learning in nature on children’s development and we endeavour to take every opportunity to incorporate the natural world at all stages of the school. This includes seasonal songs, stories and nature walks in Kindergarten and gardening lessons and environmental studies in the main school.

The curriculum develops a deep respect for the environment and the wider community.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will under-stand everything better.” Albert Einstein

Did you know?Our children’s outdoor lessons cover topics as diverse as bee-keeping and blacksmithing.

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Class Trips and Festivals

Carefully selected, developmentally-based class trips enrich the curriculum. This may include a trip to a working farm, a trip to Hadrian’s wall, a trip to a Scottish island or crewing a tall ship. Every year our class 5 children take part in a three-day sports event inspired by the Ancient Greek Olympiad with class 5 children from over 20 Steiner schools from the UK and across Europe.

A lively and engaging calendar of festivals provides a colourful rhythm to the school year and gives the children the opportunity to come together to sing and perform, or to enjoy quiet moments of contemplation.

“Receive the children in reverence; educate them in love; let them go forth in freedom.” Rudolf Steiner

Did you know?Every year all the children from York Steiner School go on a sponsored cycle ride to Selby for charity.

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The warmth of our school community is one of our greatest strengths. Families are welcomed and supported throughout their children’s journey here, and they become a genuine and valued part of the fabric of the school.

Community

Festivals, Fairs and Groups

Our exciting calendar of annual festivals and beautifully- presented school fairs provide a great way for pupils, former pupils, parents, grand-parents, neighbours and friends to come together – to socialise and share skills. Day to day, we have a lively parents’ choir, parent and toddler groups, craft group, wood-working classes and regular workshops on a whole range of educational and self-development topics.

Shop and Café

We are also lucky enough to have our own craft shop and vegetarian café on site. The shop sells a beautiful range of toys and gifts, craft essentials and eco-friendly health and beauty products for all ages, while the café serves healthy school lunches to our children and delicious meals and snacks to the wider school community.

“A healthy social life is found … when in the whole community, the virtue of each person is living.” Rudolf Steiner

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“One of the strengths of the school is that the teachers have the freedom to shape their teaching approach based on their instincts, experience and understanding of the needs of the children. Each child is appreciated for what they contribute to the community of their class, and supported to do it better.”

— Dr. Cath Heinemeyer Community artist and researcher

“I was captivated by the way story, song, rhythm and rhyme were used to unlock lesson content and I relished the imagina-tive and playful approach to learning and language. This imaginative approach is something that is intrinsic to my work now, as a writer and theatre-maker. Steiner’s holistic approach to teaching is something I have often incorporated into my own practice as lecturer, theatre workshop leader and doctoral researcher.”

— Hannah Davies Writer and playwright (former pupil)

“We came to an open day and were just blown away. Mostly by the students them-selves and the community of the school. There is a real sense of belonging amongst the children and their ability to present with confidence shone out of every child we met.”

— Aissa Gallie Charity Communication Manager

"Our children become independent, largely confident, content, well-grounded young adults who are ready to make their marks in the world.”

— Liza Patel Café Manager

"We chose the York Steiner School as we were struck by the warm and nurturing feel of the school. The older children carry them-selves in a confident, assured way that we would hope to see from our own children when they’re older.”

— Dr. Hendrik Kraetzschmar Associate Professor in Middle East Politics, University of Leeds

“In our choice for a school a strong sense of community that supports the child was important. We feel the school really does foster an enabling community in which our daughter is thriving, happy to learn and ready to contribute.”

— Dr. Nigel Woolsey Professor, Department of Physics, University of York

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Alumni

Lawrence Omar Dudley Bahrani EntrepreneurClass of 2004

Lawrence was at York Steiner School from Kindergarten to Class 8. He went on to All Saints RC School, followed by York College.

Having stated from a very young age that he never wanted to work for anybody, he decid-ed early on that university was not for him and set up in business instead. Starting off as a photographer he then joined forces with three friends and in 2010 established a very successful digital agency in Leeds called Parallax. They are now a medium sized company with 25 employees and several prominent clients.

Apart from running his company, Lawrence loves flying small aircraft as a hobby and makes sure he is up in the air as often as possible.

Sabra Thomas-GrayStaff Nurse Class of 2007 After leaving York Steiner School, Sabra went on to All Saints RC School and completed 10 GCSEs and 3 A-levels. She had always enjoyed caring for people and so nursing seemed the obvious choice of career for Sabra. After a gap year she completed a three-year Nursing degree at Northumbria University and has gone on to specialise in plastic surgery, working on a busy plastics ward at The Royal Victoria. She loves her work and says that she is still learning new things every day.

“York Steiner school gave me the confidence to be the person I wanted to be, and I think that is a very rare thing to find in a school. As a result, I can’t see myself ever sending my own children to a mainstream school.”

Our dedication to helping each child develop their own inner confidence and personal gifts is borne out by the diverse range of careers and callings that our children go on to enjoy after leaving us; the proof of the pudding is in the eating. In the words of our Alumni and where they are today…

James KelleherCraftsmanClass of 2007

After leaving York Steiner School James continued his education at the Stables Project in York. There, he developed a passion for Blacksmithing, practising in his spare time at home. So he went on to do a two year diploma at Hereford College of Blacksmithing.

After leaving there he used what he had learnt to make commissions for people, such as woodworking tools. Then he felt the need for a change and volunteered for various charities including a particularly special project in North West Wales called Felin Uchaf. Over his one and a half years at the communal project he helped, alongside many other inspiring people, with establish-ing the Centre, helping with all manner of different activities and learning many new skills including traditional building methods. He was awarded Wales Young Volunteer of the Year in 2015.

More recently he has spent time volunteer-ing in France on a farm producing wheat, milling and producing high quality bread, which is sold at the local markets. He is now working in order to save up to do more volunteering.

“I feel that being at York Steiner School was very beneficial in many ways. It allowed me to develop my creativity though my hands which has been so useful to me and which I so often use now.”

Chloe Cullen-Dent ArtistClass of 2010

After taking GCSEs Chloe gained a highly coveted place at a United World College in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The United World College’s mission is educating for peace, broadening international understand-ing, respecting the environment, seeking sustainability and celebrating difference.

Last year Chloe married her former York Steiner School classmate Ellys, honey-mooned in India and started volunteering for a charity which offers creative workshops to disadvantaged children and young people. This year Chloe graduated from Goldsmiths College, University of London with a BA in Fine Art and History of Art. Chloe’s long-term plan is to become a teacher.

“I am grateful for the education I received at York Steiner School and to my teachers, particularly my class teacher who guided me, educated me in a way that cannot be measured by a government test. I am still amazed by her support in me and by how much she still teaches me. I not only learned how to be excited about learning, I learned how to be excited about the opportunities of living, and the vast-ness of what you can do with your life and in how many ways you can be yourself and feel the rewards of just doing that.“

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Tom Welbrock Senior Financial Services ConsultantClass of 2006

Tom was at York Steiner School from the age of 2 to 14. When he went on the All Saints RC School he was happy to discover that he had been so well prepared for the challenge of academia. He excelled in both GCSEs and A-levels.

He gained a degree in Maths from King’s College London and, after graduation, got a job working for a consulting firm in the financial sector. He is now working in New York and living the dream.

“To date, my proudest boasts remain that I can knit; that I know how bread is made; that I’ve got a weirdly specif-ic understanding of the life of Harald Hardrada (King of Norway 1046-1066) and that I know how to use my hands and head to create all manner of things. I made lifelong friends at York Steiner School and couldn’t recom-mend it highly enough.”

Beth Gilham Doctor Class of 2002

Beth was with us from toddler group through to Class 8. After taking her GCSEs at All Saints RC School, she went to live with a family in Schwäbisch Hall in Germany where she attended the local Steiner School and became fluent in German.

During her year abroad, she decided that she really wanted to become a doctor –

Eleanor Gibb Linguist Class of 2004

Eleanor Gibb was at York Steiner School from toddlers to class 8. She studied German and Polish at Oxford University, Oriel College, then an MA in Applied Linguistics and is currently studying for an MA in Steiner Waldorf education in Mannheim Germany, training to work in Steiner schools as a class teacher specialising in inclusion of children with special needs.

Samuel Poulten Software DeveloperClass of 2007 After leaving York Steiner School, Samuel went on to The Stables, a small Steiner Upper School. There he studied four GCSEs as well as pursuing many other interesting subjects and developing his passion for Art, Maths, Gardening and Languages (including Arabic). He went on to York College where he stud-ied Maths, Further Maths and Additional Further Maths, Physics and Spanish and gained four A*s and an A at A-Level.

He graduated from Durham in 2015 with a 1st Class Maths and is now working as a software developer for a rapidly growing company in Leeds. He continues to pursue many varied activities outside work including languages, singing (he is a member of Leeds Male Voice Choir) and chocolate making.

“I believe that Steiner education has given me a passion for learning and a much wider spread of interests than I might otherwise have had.”

something she had been thinking about for some time. So she returned to All Saints to complete the necessary A-Levels. Between A-Levels and University she took another year out to work at a Camphill Community doing diverse jobs from carer to dairy farmer and everything in between.

She went on to Sheffield University’s Medical School and, since graduating, has continued her training and is now working as a GP and loves the variety of work.

Martha LucasTrainee MidwifeClass of 2007

Martha was at York Steiner School from the Parent and Child group through to class 8. She then went on to do GCSEs and A-Levels at All Saints RC school.

After this she did a four year Degree in Anatomical and Physiological Sciences at Dundee University, graduating with a first.

She is now at Oxford Brooks studying for an MSc in Midwifery. She is really enjoying working with women at this very important time in their lives. Although Martha has gone into the medical field, her life is enhanced by the other skills she learnt at York Steiner School and she still enjoys making her own clothes and singing.

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“Steiner-educated children make great scientists because of their excellent observation and drawing skills and their wonderful imaginations.” Sarah Houghton, PhDHigh School Science Teacher

Next Steps

If you’d like to find out more about the wonderful education on offer at York Steiner School, please register for our next Enquirers’ Morning by calling the Admissions Team on 01904 654983 or emailing admissions@yorksteinerschool.org

Our Enquirers’ Mornings give you the opportunity to meet our children and teachers, observe lessons as they’re taught, and ask any questions you might have.

We look forward to welcoming you to the school.

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Contact

York Steiner SchoolDanesmeadFulford CrossFulfordYork, YO10 4PB

Emailinfo@yorksteinerschool.org

Telephone01904 654983

Websitewww.yorksteinerschool.org

TextKatie Greenbrown katiegreenbrown.art

PhotographyOlivia Brabbswww.oliviabrabbs.co.uk

Art DirectionRhiannon Silver Gilmore

Graphic DesignJoe Gilmorewww.qubik.com

York Steiner School is a registered charity. Registration Number: 511974 Company Registration Number: 1591107

Office Hours8.45am – 1pm and 1.45pm – 4pm, Monday to Friday during term-time

Facebook@YorkSteinerSchool

Twitter@YorkSteiner

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York Steiner SchoolDanesmeadFulford CrossYork YO10 4PB

www.yorksteinerschool.org