“We shouldn’t ask: what does a person need to know or be able to do in order to fit into the existing social order? Instead we should ask: what lives in each human being and what can be developed in him or her?”
Rudolf Steiner
If your a parent of a young child and live in the Exeter Area and are looking for an education that will nurish your child and bring out their unique individual qualities as well as equiping them with the skills and knowledge to grow and develop into healthy, well adjusted and capable adults then Exeter Steiner school could be just the place your looking for www.exetersteinerschool.com
Maybe your unsatisfied with the education your child is currently receiving and are looking for something that fits your values. Perhaps your child is unhappy or bored with school and needs something more creative and inspiring.
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire“ W.B. Yeats
‘Exeter Steiner School is dedicated to offering a real and viable alternative by providing a style of education that truly embraces all aspects of the development of each individual child-social, spiritual, emotional and physical as well as intellectual. In this way we aim to inspire a passion for lifelong learning, equipping individuals with the tools they need to engage in a fast-moving world in a meaningful, wholesome and positive way. ‘ (Exeter Steiner School www.exetersteinerschool.com )
Steiner education is renouned for its artistic and holistic methods. And children who have been Steiner educated are renouned for their self-confidence, ability to communicate well with adults and children alike, their social skills and care for the natural environment, their creative skills and their ability to think for themselves. They are also known to love school and love learning. Given that everything they learn is taught to them in such an artistic and inspiring way this is hardly suprising. The children are actively engaged and fascinated with what they are learning and excited to find out more. It is the fastest growing educational system in the world with over 875 schools, 27 of which are located in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In many countries Steiner education is State funded and places in schools are highly sought after.
Steiner or otherwise known as Waldorf education has received much publicity over recent years for its creative teaching methods and its ability to engage children in the learning process. It has become increasing known for what are now viewed as progressive teaching methods. Many methods which are recently being developed in the state sector have been used in Steiner education for 80-90 years. in fact there has been so much interest around Steiner education even at government level that the government recently agreed plans for a Steiner/ Waldorf Academy school just outside Hereford.
In a recent Ofsted report for Wynsones one of the larger UK Steiner Schools this is what the Ofsted inspectors found of the Children’s Spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development
‘Provision for the pupil’s spiritual, moral,social and cultural development is outstanding. This is a strength of the school and recognised as such by parents. Wynstone’s pupils grow into confident, mature young people who are well prepared to go out into the adult world. They enjoy their education and have positive views about the school. Strong personal relationships are at the heart of this success. From an early age, pupils learn to trust each other and their staff, and develop a deeply respectful and considerate attitude towards one another. This begins in Kindergarten in the small tasks that they do for others and the care they show to their immediate circle of friends. As pupils get older this sense of responsibiliy to others deepens and extends to the wider world through fund raising activities for local and national charities. Pupil’s behaviour and attitudes to learning are outstanding. They know exactly what is expected of them and rise to the challenge. Pupils are encouraged to reflect on their own strengths and to pursue their interests. They have a strong desire to learn, become self-reliant and increasingly take responsibility for their own learning. Pupils are acutely aware of their own spirituality and their empathy with the views and cultures of others is shown in their written and oral work.’
To view details of the full report go to www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/pdf/?inspectionNumber=298233&providerCategoryID=16384&fileName=.pdf
Although this ofsted is for a bigger and more estabilished Steiner school in the UK the same philosophy and emphasis on spiritual, moral, social and cultural development runs throughout the whole Steiner movement and is in fact the basis of it. Never before has the world been so greatly in need of these very qualities as it is today. With the global problems of climate change , cultural and religious conflict and poverty among other things the world is greatly in need of generation of people with both the imagination to find solutions, the sense of responsibility for society and the planet and the strength of will to take action. I believe Steiner Education is a educational system which addresses just this.
To find out more about Steiner education visit:
Dancing Barefoot 