Steiner education?

GlasweJen

She really went into the nitty gritty of it, spoke to parents etc. Amber even went to the school one morning when they had a sort of open day for nursery kids and she loved it, came home singing a song about colours.

My sister concluded that the people who criticise are people who send the wrong sort of child to the school or the ones that send their kids to Steiner and expect for it to produce Beethovens when realistically not every kid is a musical genius or whatever.

If your daughter is just going to worn down by comprehensive education then why not Steiner for high school? She could always do the paper qualifications at college should she ever feel the need (some kids at the steiner my sister looked at were doing courses through a college as part of their chosen education path).

You could always sit your daughter down and talk her through the options, let her go to an open day or meet some of the teachers for all of the potential schools and tell her you'll support her regardless of where she decides to go.

bestpud

GlasweJen wrote: »

She really went into the nitty gritty of it, spoke to parents etc. Amber even went to the school one morning when they had a sort of open day for nursery kids and she loved it, came home singing a song about colours.

My sister concluded that the people who criticise are people who send the wrong sort of child to the school or the ones that send their kids to Steiner and expect for it to produce Beethovens when realistically not every kid is a musical genius or whatever.

If your daughter is just going to worn down by comprehensive education then why not Steiner for high school? She could always do the paper qualifications at college should she ever feel the need (some kids at the steiner my sister looked at were doing courses through a college as part of their chosen education path).

You could always sit your daughter down and talk her through the options, let her go to an open day or meet some of the teachers for all of the potential schools and tell her you'll support her regardless of where she decides to go.

That makes sense as it won't suit every child, or probably even most children!

GlasweJen

Bestpud it wouldn't have suited any of my siblings, and certainly not Amber's younger sister (who goes part time to a SEN and part time to a mainstream primary). When the time comes for the baby to go to school we might be looking at Steiner for her again.

My sister keeps saying that if her husband gets a job closer to a Steiner they will be trying to transfer Amber to that because although she does ok in her current school it's not her "perfect" school. Amber will never be a rocket scientist and no amount of shoe horning her into exams will change that, we're just grateful that there isn't an 11+ in Scotland, it's bad enough for her that her little sister already reads more confidently and is working at the same level as her (soon to overtake) even though there's a year and a half between them.

ETA Amber is really creative; she takes dance lessons in 5 different styles and has a place at the royal ballet summer school which is really competitive so we're not hung up on her getting grades. She's much more likely to need a portfolio of work for whatever she ends up doing - not a string of highers.

bestpud

GlasweJen wrote: »

Bestpud it wouldn't have suited any of my siblings, and certainly not Amber's younger sister (who goes part time to a SEN and part time to a mainstream primary). When the time comes for the baby to go to school we might be looking at Steiner for her again.

My sister keeps saying that if her husband gets a job closer to a Steiner they will be trying to transfer Amber to that because although she does ok in her current school it's not her "perfect" school. Amber will never be a rocket scientist and no amount of shoe horning her into exams will change that, we're just grateful that there isn't an 11+ in Scotland, it's bad enough for her that her little sister already reads more confidently and is working at the same level as her (soon to overtake) even though there's a year and a half between them.

ETA Amber is really creative; she takes dance lessons in 5 different styles and has a place at the royal ballet summer school which is really competitive so we're not hung up on her getting grades. She's much more likely to need a portfolio of work for whatever she ends up doing - not a string of highers.

I know what you mean.

DD isn't musically gifted but she loves it anyway. She also loves to dance but her coordination isn't brilliant.

I guess I would like her to be in an environment that doesn't ridicule alternative ways of learning as she prefers hands on or active learning.

With the music side of it, I'd like her to feel she can carry on enjoying it without needing to be brilliant at it iyswim? For example, she will often talk about difficult topics by singing what she wants to say - she makes it up as she goes along but it seems to help her work things out somehow.

She also likes to draw how she feels.

As they move up the school, even music lessons start to involve tests and I'd just like her to enjoy it iykwim? If she wanted to take music exams then I'd obviously support her but I don't like that they can be seen as no good if they don't start gathering bits of paper.

I don't know if that makes sense - I suppose I fear her way of doing things will not be encouraged in the conventional system.

ellesbellesxxx

I would personally consider Steiner school for when I have children, should I have the money. Being a Teacher in the state system, I think we do a great job but I adore how the Steiner system focuses on the arts. However, I would be tempted to only do it up until y9 as for academic achievement at GCSE/A levels, I think the state system has got it sussed.

sueeve

It's not just prejudice that you aren't accepted on some courses without the grades. It's because you won't cope. It doesn't sound as though a degree course would be the eventual aim, but if it were then 'A' levels or equivalent are required by law until the age of 25.
if you are looking at state schools it might be worth while seeing if BTEC is offered. This more practical approach is an alternative to the traditional pathway, and has examination equivalence for various courses and careers. I think that this should also be a consideration at independent schools unless they are focused purely on university entrance. Does your Steiner School offer this choice?

bestpud

sueeve wrote: »

It's not just prejudice that you aren't accepted on some courses without the grades. It's because you won't cope. It doesn't sound as though a degree course would be the eventual aim, but if it were then 'A' levels or equivalent are required by law until the age of 25.
if you are looking at state schools it might be worth while seeing if BTEC is offered. This more practical approach is an alternative to the traditional pathway, and has examination equivalence for various courses and careers. I think that this should also be a consideration at independent schools unless they are focused purely on university entrance. Does your Steiner School offer this choice?

I know - when I said about discriminating, I was meaning it's not always essential to have a subject GCSE to go on to sixth form and take an A level in that subject iykwim?

They'd obviously want to know she had enough subject knowledge to cope but she wouldn't be barred automatically.

I don't know if she will want to go on to HE at this stage but I'm keen to keep doors open for her so a vocational route is certainly an option.

Our local state school does many vocational routes but I've had experience of it with my older children and don't want to put another child through that school.

There is a small rural secondary that I like - they have vocational routes and are quite relaxed, and more 'arty' than many of the other secondaries around here.

It's not our catchment school though...

It's also as much about the general ethos of the schools as the qualifications they offer iykwim?

If I knew I could manage to fit work in, I'd look seriously at home educating her, but it's obviously a big commitment, financially as well as the obvious!

pipkin71

sueeve wrote: »

It doesn't sound as though a degree course would be the eventual aim, but if it were then 'A' levels or equivalent are required by law until the age of 25.

Can you explain this comment, please.

There have been many home educated children accepted onto degree courses at university, without having taken A levels, so they certainly aren't required by law.

Why, anyway, would A levels be required by law until the age of 25 when many students start degree level at 18?

pipkin71

Bestpud, I've heard many positive things about Steuner schools and do know people who have gone, or whose children have gone from HE to Steiner.

I would echo what others have said about having a look round the school, talking to your DD about what she wants, talking to others, which you are doing.

I asked tons of questions for months, before bringing my girls out of school, as I wanted to be as sure as I could be, that I was doing the right thing. I guess though, that you are never 100% certain about anything, until you try it.

Agree with your comment about people criticising alternatives - we get that a lot about home education but, ultimately, that is irrelevant, because you need to do what suits you and your DD, so if Steiner is the best option, then go for it.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Joanne xx

NickyBat

GlasweJen wrote: »

Bestpud it wouldn't have suited any of my siblings, and certainly not Amber's younger sister (who goes part time to a SEN and part time to a mainstream primary). When the time comes for the baby to go to school we might be looking at Steiner for her again.

My sister keeps saying that if her husband gets a job closer to a Steiner they will be trying to transfer Amber to that because although she does ok in her current school it's not her "perfect" school. Amber will never be a rocket scientist and no amount of shoe horning her into exams will change that, we're just grateful that there isn't an 11+ in Scotland, it's bad enough for her that her little sister already reads more confidently and is working at the same level as her (soon to overtake) even though there's a year and a half between them.

ETA Amber is really creative; she takes dance lessons in 5 different styles and has a place at the royal ballet summer school which is really competitive so we're not hung up on her getting grades. She's much more likely to need a portfolio of work for whatever she ends up doing - not a string of highers.

I'm facing this problem this year with my littleone. hw is due to take the 11+ in November and although he is bright and far from stupid he is a lazy child in school and i doubt he is going to pass (unless im sat next to him threatning him with no x box). Its a worrying time