Upper School (Classes 9 - 12)
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Our Upper School goes from Class 9 to Class 12.
Our programme delivers a full Waldorf curriculum supported by the Certificate of Steiner Education (NZCSE), which, at Level 3, allows students to apply for university through UCAS. The programme allows students to explore subjects independently and in depth, becoming increasingly specialised as they enter Classes 11 and 12, with extension areas in their preferred subjects. We would like to invite you to join with us on this exciting journey towards a meaningful education, that seeks to prepare students for a future filled with confidence and interest in the world. Main Lesson
During the four Upper School years (Classes 9-12) at the school, subject area specialists continue to guide the students’ education. The curriculum is delivered through Main Lessons, and increasingly as the students progress, student options are delivered in small seminars and workshops allowing for independent study and research guided by specialist mentor teachers.
Each student's moral relationship to the world and his or her objective understanding of and connection to the world and sense of inquiry is of primary importance. A broad range of subjects and activities allow the student to develop clear thinking, artistic creativity and responsible action. Class Trips
To support the diverse and broad Upper School Curriculum, students in Classes 9 to 12 go on a number of trips, each focused around a subject or 'Main Lesson' in the Steiner system, and age appropriate in terms of the maturity and capacity of the group.
The trips expand the students' experience and provide a depth of learning and engagement, simply not possible within a classroom setting. The short film below was made by one of our students using a Go-Pro camera during the Class 9 cycling trip to Brittany. |
The Sciences form a significant part of the Upper School curriculum
Class 9 students train for their cycling trip to Brittany
Students in Upper School study Surveying and travel to Cornwall to practice
'in the field'
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NZ Certificate of Steiner Education (NZCSE)
Following approval from the DfE in July 2017, our Upper School expanded into Class 11 in September 2017. Class 12 was opened in September 2018, achieving our goal to enable students to remain at South Devon Steiner School until they are 18. We are extremely proud of this achievement. Students study the Steiner Waldorf curriculum and are assessed using the NZCSE framework, which sits on the NZQA. At Level 3, the NZCSE has verified parity (via NARIC) with any other UK Level 3 qualification, such as A Level / International Baccalaureate. The programme is a single exit qualification, and graduating students are able to apply for university places via the usual UCAS pathway. For more information please see the links and references below, or contact Jeff van Zyl, School Education Manager. Links & Downloads
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Upper School students work with metal in our Forge
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Cycling
The school is a cycling school. We take a positive approach to nurturing a cycling culture. Cycling is integrated into many aspects of the school curriculum, not only as a games activity, but for older classes cycling will often be the means by which students travel to off-site trips such as surveying and local excursions during main lessons. Cycling is practised across all age groups and students regularly see teachers and parents making their way to and from school by bike. We hope this serves as a positive role model for a low-carbon lifestyle. It appears that increasingly more students are cycling to and from school which is a positive expression of the cycling culture which the school fosters. After a long community campaign during which the school community was a major protagonist, the Totnes to Dartington cycle path was extended directly to the school's front door transforming the possibilities of car-free commuting to and from school. Recognising this facility as a fantastic asset, we are able to tie cycling into our everyday activities. We employ 4 National Standard Cycling Instructors who bring cycling skills to students from Class 5 through to Class 9.
