Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School - Anyone have any feedback?

As I mentioned in an earlier thread, we are currently investigating secondary schools for my DD for 2015.

She is very artistic and creative and imaginative. Her real strengths are fine art, story writing, English and history. She also has a strong sense of social justice and compassion.

In my search I have come across the Melbourne Rudolph Steiner School in Warranwood. It is prep to 12.

Does anyone out there have any personal experience with this school?? I would love to hear from anyone who knows anyone who goes there and would like to share experiences.

Thanks in advance!!

Warranwood is an incredible school!!! My hubby is a steiner teacher (not there) and I work with children under 7. We adore our school and the children's teachers. I would go to open days, school tours if I were you. You can also meet with her class teacher before enrolling her, you will get so much information about that teacher that is better then feedback, each teacher is unique in the way they meet your child's needs. You can ask how they will meet your child and where she is in her development. Goodluck... feel free to ask any questions if you need.

I know someone whose three kids go there and they rave about it. His eldest started at another Steiner school and they weren't particularly happy with her teacher (just not a great fit), changed to Warranwood and haven't looked back.

i have two friends with nephews and nieces that go there itms? and their parents absolutely love it. i've also spoken to a lady who works in a local shop that i go to a lot about it as her daughter goes there. she loves it too. apparantly their fair is supposed to be a great day to go to. it has the reputation of being the best steiner school in the area.

Thanks everyone. I rang and spoke to them. It sounds promising. Need to do a bit more research about Steiner philosophy and make sure it's the best fit. I will also go along to the Fair/Open Day which is in mid-November.

It is such a big decision. I don't want to get it wrong!!

It's amazing. I went to an Open Day in 2007 and loved it to bits. Even Super Science Geek DH was impressed by it.

N2l, I will come back tomorrow to say something about the curriculum.. I just wanted to say the spelling of his name is Rudolf!

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N2l, I will come back tomorrow to say something about the curriculum.. I just wanted to say the spelling of his name is Rudolf!

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Lol thanks!! I'd better get that right!!!!

My niece is in year 11 there and loves it. Has been the since year 7... Her strengths were always creatively based so she's done super well and has grown up into a beautiful young adult, alot of which I think comes from the school.
Let me know if you want to know specifics. My sister would highly recommend it.

Mmmmmm I've never considered this school for DD1 but I may as she's similar

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Mmmmmm I've never considered this school for DD1 but I may as she's similar

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I have to say, I am getting excellent reports from all sides so far. My DD's current teacher (at state primary school) is a senior leading teacher (so she has been around for a while lol) was very glowing in her reports. She said she actually wanted to send her kids there but they weren't a good fit. She did say it wasnt for everyone but for those it *is* for, it's great.

There is an Open Day/ Fair on Saturday 16 November.

Are you sure you are into the whole Steiner way of life though? How come you didn't send her to a Steiner primary school?

Well that's it Ginger....I'm not sure :/ I have not looked in to it previouslyso it's all new to me (us). I need to make sure it suits. Honestly, I don't agree with everything I've read so far but I'm not sure that's enough (I don't agree with a lot of things at DD's current school either!)

Ok. Fair enough. I think it really is a way of life, and if its something that you're committed to then the school would be awesome and really inclusive. IMHO, it's too extreme for my family, but I think it is wonderful for the right sort of families itms? I guess you have to work out if the match is right for you xo

My sister is in absolutely no way into the "way of life" and her daughter went to a mainstream primary school with no problems. She's had no issues at all and her DD settled in beautifully because the beauty of the school is the range of backgrounds people come from... Not just tree hugging crunchies ;)

I don't think it's full of crunchies. I just think that it's important that the philosophies behind the teachings are aligned with your family's values, or I don't really see the point in going there.

I had a look at their site and one thing stood out - how do you enroll your child? their site says that they are interviewing prospective 2014 year 7 students now, which for me, is pretty late in the year, especially as it sounds like they are a selective school because it cuts it pretty find to get her into any other competitive school if you don't get in at this one. So you would have to ask how many places do they have available for new students entering year 7, because you have to remember that they already have a year 6 class coming through. And then you have to ask yourself what would you do if DD didn't get a place? At DS1's school they are 100% selective and this year they had 70 students apply for 6 places in year 8 for 2014 and for the year 7's they had 120 students apply for 50 places - so would your school be a highly competitive school and hard to get into? How do you think your DD would cope with an interview process to get her into the school? And what other options do you have if she doesn't get in? It really does sound like a fantastic school though and it would suit her to a T I think, just make sure you ask those questions though when you speak with them.

My brother went to Steiner in Collingwood from year 8 I think, then finished off at Warrenwood. He has aspergers, and it was just right for him. After he finished year 12, he went to uni and got a degree, with honours. The two Steiner schools helped him come out of his shell, and he even had speaking roles in the school performance at Collingwood. At the time there was a mini van that took students from the Ivanhoe area to school and back each day.

So, seeing how happy my brother was to go to school, instead of pretty much being kicked out of a grammar school for not fitting in, I would highly recommend it. I even remember at Collingwood that at lunchtimes teachers would sit on a banana lounge in the middle of a playground, reading aloud from a book, surrounded by students.

I'm just curious, for those who have a closer insight into the Steiner school than I do, how does the teaching treat 'science'? Is it taught the same way as in mainstream schools?