Edinburgh Steiner School

[EduCativ]

Based upon the principles of the internationally recognized Steiner Waldorf curriculum, we aim to develop responsible, free-thinking young people who can contribute to society with initiative and purpose.
Steiner described his ideal of a comprehensive education as one that encompasses everyone regardless of social or religious background. The basis of this ‘art of education was – and still is – a deep understanding of the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs of the developing human being.
The philosophy (Anthroposophy) behind education can be applied to all walks of life and it is out of this that the teachers work. The philosophy itself, however, is not taught to the children.
From Kindergarten to the final year (Class 12) subject matter is linked to a child’s developmental stage, which both inspires and motivates the pupils. Teachers teach to the whole child – and each lesson is revealed in a three-fold manner: through the intellectual capacities (thinking), artistic and emotional capacities (feeling), and practical skill-building capacities (willing). All subjects are linked, and each lesson integrates academic work with fine arts and practical arts so that a child is not only intellectually engaged but emotionally and aesthetically invested in their learning.
This holistic approach to education, something which Curriculum for Excellence is striving to achieve, provides our pupils with several key benefits.
Formal learning (desk-based learning) is delayed until the age of six or seven years allowing pupils to develop literacy, numeracy, and social skills through play-based learning in Kindergarten. When they enter the Lower School, our pupils are ready to embrace formal learning. Classes are therefore arranged in Class Ages which differ from other schools.
Secondary education flows naturally from what has been taught before, and with the school located in the beautiful grounds of one single campus, the transition between the Lower School and Upper School is seamless.
The curriculum addresses all the multiple intelligences, including emotional literacy and kinaesthetic learning, while bringing into balance the attributes of the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This develops analytical, logical and reasoning skills as education has always done, but also focuses on the development of imagination, creativity, memory, and flexible thinking – skills highly prized in today’s society.
Unique to Steiner Schools, Main Lessons are topic blocks that are studied daily for up to two hours over four weeks. Main Lessons link subject matter to the phases of child development, which motivates and inspires a love of learning. Using cross-subject learning, Main Lessons creates a deep, rich, and broad appreciation for the topic being studied and enables our pupils to develop a broader understanding of the world in which we live.
We understand the importance of becoming responsible global citizens and French and German are taught from the age of six years. At the age of 14 years, pupils undertake an extended exchange program with Steiner Schools in France and Germany. The school community also benefits from the many visiting students who attend from all over the world.
Our school offers a range of after-school clubs designed to meet the varying interests of our pupils, including sports such as basketball, cricket, table tennis, and even circus skills. Many pupils opt to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

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