South Devon Steiner School is Independent Secondary school in Non-selective for kids aged 3 to 19 (Gender - 3 to 19 )
South Devon Steiner School is a co-educational school catering for 3 to 19 year olds and which follows the Steiner Waldorf curriculum. The school is situated in an idyllic location on 8 acres of grounds near Dartington in South Devon, nestled in the rolling hills on the doorstep of the Dartmoor National Park, surrounded by fields abundant with organic and biodynamic vegetables. They provide an interdisciplinary, theme-based and experiential approach to education which emphasises observation and personal involvement. They also relate the learning material to them as human beings thereby allowing a relationship to the world around them to unfold: a sense of belonging and being a part of the world emerges.The way they explore any subject matter allows children to understand concepts from the inside out through repeated experiences. This is also sometimes referred to as an inductive approach to learning.
Early Years
For children between the ages of 3 to 6 the Kindergartens are like a warm loving home. Learning happens naturally through active involvement, rhythm, repetition and imitation. The early childhood curriculum is accessible for all children, including those with additional needs or English as an additional language. Subjects such as Literacy, Maths and Science are embedded into the daily life in the Kindergartens. There are strong weekly rhythms, which include handwork, crafts, baking, painting, woodwork and gardening. The day also follows a regular rhythm of outdoor play, finger games and counting games, ring time with seasonal songs and verses accompanied by movement, a substantial snack prepared by the children, creative indoor play and story time. Activities such as food preparation, bread making, painting or modelling are embedded into our daily rhythms. Daily story telling nurtures the imagination and develops the love of literature.
Lower School
Between the ages of 6 and 11 the children are taught, guided and inspired by their class teacher. For five years this one individual teaches the children not only literacy and numeracy but also introduces them to the world via history, geography, art and the sciences.Specialist teachers bring a foreign language, sports and craft into the classroom. The heart of the class teacher's work is the two-hour daily main lesson, which, for a period of 3-4 weeks, concentrates on one theme.The class teacher's aim is to recognise and respect the strengths, needs and unique nature of each child and adapt to each child's mode of learning.
High School (11-14 years)
From Class Six, pupils move into our High School, where they are held by a Class Guardian who is responsible for their pastoral care, and by a team of subject specialist teachers who are passionate about working with the emerging adolescent.Academic rigour is increased during the High School years, as pupils work with specialists in their field to delve deeply into each subject, thus improving the Quality of Education each pupil receives at our school. Subject lessons include Games, Gardening, Craft, Handwork including Textile Technology, German, PSHEE and Art.During Class Eight, each pupil works on an independent project which they then present to their peers and the whole school. This is good preparation for their final years at SDSS, when pupils move into the Upper School and commence the four year, single exit qualification programme.
Upper School for Students 14 - 19 years
The Upper School goes from Class 9 to Class 12 (Year 10 to year 13 in mainstream). The programme is different from most other educational settings because theyy offer an inspiring, creative and intelligent curriculum (Steiner Waldorf) and a genuine alternative qualification; the Certificate of Steiner Education (NZCSE). They believe that the NZCSE is literally the ‘best kept secret’ in education. It shouldn’t be, but it is. The 18 year old students are now able to reap the benefit of the Steiner Waldorf curriculum and concurrently attain a Level 3 qualification (comparable to A-Levels, IB, Abitur etc) that allows them to step into the world, be it university, work or a gap year. The committed team of Upper School teachers is continually working on the ‘good practice’ that is needed to underpin our qualification.
The Outdoor Classroom
'The best classroom is the one with only the sky for a ceiling'. The Outdoor curriculum plays an important part in the South Devon Steiner schools ethos. It allows the children to understand and appreciate the natural cycles of the year, learn to respect and revere nature, work as part of a team, develop their tolerance of each other, learn traditional skills that have been carried out in this country for generations and of course to have some fun.The curriculum has been tailored according to three main categories; Rudolf Steiner’s child developmental stages, age appropriate learning, supporting core main lesson topics
Please check the school website link for details.
1.70 miles
