What is a Waldorf school? An overview of the Steiner Waldorf approach

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably come across the term “Waldorf”, especially in connection with kindergartens. So what exactly is a Waldorf school?

Waldorf schools – also called Steiner schools – follow the educational approach developed by Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian philosopher who opened the first school in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1919, for the children of workers at the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory (which is where the name comes from). Today there are more than 1,000 Waldorf schools and around 2,000 kindergartens worldwide.

The approach emphasises experiential learning, creativity and imagination. The curriculum weaves in art, music, movement, languages and crafts, focusing on the whole child – head, heart and hands.

Educating for freedom

Steiner developed his approach as an alternative to the education system of his time, which he felt mainly prepared people to join the industrial workforce. He questioned how free people could really be to choose their path if their formative years were spent being conditioned for that role, and how society could improve if each generation simply repeated the last. His approach aimed to educate children to be free human beings.

In some ways it shares ground with the child-led, cross-curricular approach of the International Baccalaureate, which also aims to create lifelong learners and global citizens. A point of difference is that Waldorf education places physical, artistic and spiritual development alongside academic learning as essential parts of growing up.

In the classroom

Waldorf classrooms usually have softly coloured walls, few posters, natural materials and lots of natural light. Learning is often taken outdoors, with direct engagement with nature valued highly. Throughout the school, respect for each child’s stage of development sits alongside the importance of relationships.

Development

Steiner described three broad developmental stages – early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence – and believed subjects should be introduced at the right time for each.

A “main lesson” is taught each morning in blocks lasting several weeks, with drawing, painting, music and languages woven through. Storytelling and drama play an integral role. In the afternoons, children explore the theme further through practical and physical activities like crafts, games and gardening. Working thematically lets children immerse themselves in a subject and really understand it.

Teachers and relationships

Relationships are at the heart of the approach. Class teachers often stay with the same class for several years, rather than changing every year. A teacher who has known a child for years can quickly notice changes in their abilities and interests and offer tailored support.

Assessment is different from mainstream settings too. Teachers rely heavily on observation, and children often share their work with parents at festivals and assemblies. In the UK, many Steiner schools also offer GCSEs or other qualifications in the upper years.

Technology

Computers aren’t usually part of everyday learning in the younger classes. Older students use technology more, and some schools offer computing courses. The aim is for children to become creators, not just consumers, of technology.

Pros and cons

Supporters say that by combining academic, artistic and practical work, children develop a genuine love of learning and engage all their faculties, including imagination.

Some parents have concerns. Formal reading instruction typically begins later than in mainstream schools (around age six or seven), there is less use of technology and standardised testing, and having the same teacher for many years can be seen both ways. Many Waldorf schools are independent and charge fees, which can make them difficult to afford, although some offer bursaries.

Final thoughts

Those who champion Waldorf education value protecting childhood while giving children the chance to explore their curiosity. Its rich curriculum encourages children’s natural inquisitiveness as they grow and aims to meet the whole child and their needs.