Steiner Academy Hereford

The Steiner Academy Hereford is a Steiner-Waldorf Academy school in Much Dewchurch near Hereford, Herefordshire, UK.[1] It opened in September 2008 based at the earlier Hereford Waldorf School and is the first publicly funded Steiner-Waldorf school in the UK.[2] The school takes students from the Kindergarten age of 3 to 16.

Steiner Academy Hereford
Address
Much Dewchurch

Hereford
,
Herefordshire
,
HR2 8DL

England
Coordinates51.9764°N 2.7565°W / 51.9764; -2.7565
Information
TypeAcademy
Established2008
Local authorityHerefordshire
Department for Education URN135672 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalKate Andrews
GenderCoeducational
Age3 to 16
Websitehttp://www.steineracademyhereford.eu

Natural Environment Academy

As a state funded Academy its specialism is the natural environment. The Academy is based on the earlier Hereford Waldorf School which existed for 25 years at the same site and comprised a Victorian school, medieval farmhouse and a more recent Kindergarten extension, and 18th century barns. Between 2008 and 2011 the school and site were redeveloped by John Renshaw Architects in a £6.5 million project that transformed the school using natural materials. This redevelopment provided a new hall, renewable energy, and buildings upgraded to reduce the environmental footprint, while organising the development of the site in sympathy with the natural environment. The school has outdoor classrooms and a significant area of productive gardens and other ecology areas dedicated to Landwork activities.

Controversies

In December 2009 Steiner Academy Hereford was bottom of the primary school league tables for England derived from SATS scores at Key Stage 2. Parents had opposed the testing and many children were absent for the dates.[3]

In contrast with assessment tests, in July 2013 Ofsted reported [4] that 'Pupils are well prepared for more formal learning', 'Pupils achieve well throughout the school, reaching above the expected levels', they 'Go on to successfully study and achieve wide-ranging qualifications at GCE A level and beyond.', 'Older students develop strong independent working and thinking skills', 'Pupils’ artistic and practical achievements are impressive', 'Pupils have a strong sense of personal responsibility', and 'bullying is extremely rare'.

In September 2012, the school was accused by the British Humanist Association of including pseudoscience in its curriculum. Clarence Harvey, an acting principal of the Steiner Academy Hereford, responded:[5] 'It is not our aim to promote scientific orthodoxy, but rather to enable pupils to think and engage in independent verification of reality.'

See also

Curriculum of the Waldorf schools

Notes and references
  1. Francis Beckett, Protests over plans for new Steiner academy, The Guardian, March 10, 2008. Accessed 2008-11-09.
  2. First publicly-funded Steiner school in Britain passes major hurdle, NNA Nachrichten, 29 April 2005. Accessed 2008-11-09.
  3. Gary Eason (1 December 2009). "Primary school league tables expose shortcomings". BBC News.
  4. SAH Ofsted report 2013 hosted at SAH website accessed 2013-11-28
  5. Times Educational Supplement article 'Homeopathy? Sorry, we're just not swallowing it' 17-09-2012 accessed 2013-11-28
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