A NORTH Yorkshire school has said it is experiencing an increase in numbers and interest thanks to its teaching methods.

York Steiner School, in Fulford Cross, Fulford, is organised around the philosophy that children should find joy in learning, and develop at their own pace rather than be pressured by tests.

Sue Morvan, chairwoman of York Steiner School’s management group and also a class teacher, said the school did not need formal testing.

She said: “We don’t test because in our method of teaching it’s simply not helpful. Formal testing is inevitably comparative and since our aim is to work with the needs of the individual in a social context, we don’t need it.

“For us, education is not about competition, but about helping each child to bring out the best in themselves and to be self-motivated.”

The school, which occupies the site of Danesmead Secondary Modern School, has 200 pupils aged three to 14, and has a waiting list of under-sixes to join their kindergarten classes.

Helen Mackfall, who teaches at the school, said it was considering running parallel classes if interest continued.

She said: “We have some groups that are full now, with 25 pupils to a class. There has been some talk of running two classes at once if we get 50 children of the same age applying, which is not the situation we were in a few years ago.”

For more information about the school, visit yorksteinerschool.org


‘Love of learning’ is paramount

• Developed from the work of Austrian academic Rudolf Steiner (1861 – 1925).

• Takes account of the academic, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the child.

• Develops a love of learning and an enthusiasm for school for children from ages three to 18.

• Steiner schools operate in 70 countries around the world, including Australia and USA.

• Pupils learn about social and emotional skills before they are taught the alphabet and maths at around their sixth or seventh birthday.

• UK schools are still inspected by OFSTED, but do not rely on testing or exams to assess learning.