A message from our Headteacher

Portrait of a middle-aged woman with curly brown hair, white flower earrings, and a green sweater outdoors

Yellow sunburst with stylized birds perched on radiating rays

I have enjoyed 30 years plus in our wonderful school, which embodies all that is good in education, valuing the happiness and growth of each child above all. York Steiner School fosters a love of learning and enquiry, helping pupils become kind, creative, independent and resilient, with the capacity to make an impact on the world. Few schools live out their values as authentically as we do.

We stand out because we let children be children. We encourage them to explore, play, imagine and connect, finding joy in learning through movement, feeling and thinking. Our broad and detailed curriculum is rooted in child development, honing physical, emotional and intellectual capacities in a balanced way.

It begins with the magic of kindergarten, where creative play and daily rhythm give space to breathe in and out, a theme carried throughout the school. In Classes 1 to 8, two hour Main Lesson blocks over three to four weeks allow deep exploration of a single subject, weaving disciplines together and engaging head, heart and hands.

Alongside Main Lesson subjects such as Maths, Literacy, History, Geography and Science, we offer Crafts, Woodwork, Languages, Music, Gardening, Games, PSHE and Gym. Festivals, plays, trips, fairs and community service enrich school life, which is vibrant, purposeful and filled with kindness.

In our Upper School, we are privileged to offer a programme of study, that opens every pathway for students, but keeps the stress of examinations to a minimum. Instead, with the Crossfields Diploma, students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, develop resilience and build the confidence to express their own ideas.

Teachers act as mentors as well as subject specialists, creating relationships built on trust and mutual respect. As responsibility grows, so too does self belief.

Our pupils leave with the tools to thrive in the world, alongside the ability to lead balanced and joyful lives. We are a truly unique school. We do things differently, and therein lies the magic. I warmly invite you to join an Enquirers Morning or Open Evening to see this for yourself.