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You will recall that the government in the UK has ordered emergency inspections into all UK Steiner Schools, whether they are private schools, Academies or Free Schools. This was prompted by appalling safeguarding failures at a number of these schools which suggest a common pattern inherent within the Steiner system. Three of Michael Gove’s new Free Steiner Schools (Frome, Exeter and Bristol) have been deemed to be unable to correct [read more…]

Ofsted have published their inspection report into Gove’s Steiner Academy Exeter and it is about as damning as you can get. “Leadership is dysfunctional at every level in the school.” “Leaders have failed to ensure the safety and well-being of pupils.” “Governors have failed in their duty of care towards both adults and pupils. ” “Teaching is inadequate. Staff do not consider progress in mathematics, reading and writing to be [read more…]

The Telegraph reports in an ‘exclusive’ that Rudolf Steiner School Kings Langley (RSSKS) has been ordered to close by the government. Six weeks ago, I reported on how the School had received a series of terrible inspection reports that resulted in the school being unable to take on new pupils. The Secretary of State for Education has now issued a notice for the school to be deregistered and closed. The [read more…]

It has been reported today that Canterbury Steiner School is to close as it is no longer financially viable. It would appear that they cannot get enough children into this independent, fee-paying school to keep it running. This comes only a matter of weeks after the school appeared confident that it could attract many new entrants and expand. Canterbury is not the only Steiner school in the UK that is [read more…]

Waldorf Schools (or Steiner Schools as they are sometimes called) are portrayed as progressive, humanistic and child-centred. Parents are attracted to this form of education as such schools suggest they are an alternative to the ‘robotic exam factories’ of mainstream schools that do not take into account the unique needs of each child. However, before you plunge into putting your child into such a school it is worth understanding things [read more…]

The first Free School approved in the UK run under the occult teachings of Rudolf Steiner has been issued with a ‘Financial Notice to Improve’. Frome Steiner Academy was set up in 2012 with the support of Michael Gove after applications from local Steiner supporters including Emma Cragie, former trustee of Bruton Steiner School, and her sister Annunziatta Rees Mogg (whose brother is local MP Jacob Rees Mogg). A letter that has [read more…]

The British Humanist Association has forced the government to release documents showing what they knew about Steiner Schools before they gave them State Funding. The report shows serious concerns regarding systematic bullying of children by teachers,  serious concerns about the underlying philosophy being racist, a culture of secrecy and a refusal by schools to allow themselves to be properly assessed and inspected. BBC Newsnight have picked up the story and [read more…]

Last week, it was reported that pupils at Ringwood Waldorf School, a private Steiner School, had been given art lessons in “supervised self harm”. The pupils had been encouraged to cut themselves with a blade as part of an art class. The teacher resigned before a disciplinary hearing could take place. Steiner schools sell themselves as focusing on art. I am sure this was not what parents were expecting. But [read more…]