School Governance
How We Are Run
York Steiner School is an educational charity and company limited by guarantee. The Board of Trustees ensures the school has a clear strategy and that its work and goals are in line with its stated vision.
Trustees work in a collaborative way with the Headteacher, School Business Manager, School Leadership Group, teachers, administrative staff, pupils, students and parents to develop a strategy that delivers good quality Steiner-Waldorf education to meet the needs of all the children in our care.
Regular forums and updates, alongside an annual Community Meeting, provide a platform for open communication and consultation.
The Board of Trustees carries responsibility for the financial and legal running of the school and oversees the work of the Headteacher and the School Business Manager.
Our Strategic vision – a whole system approach
Our 5-year strategy is depicted by a tree. This metaphor helps to articulate our school as a whole system. The leaves and the bows, representing the teaching and educational outcomes are supported by healthy roots. The strong trunk is our culture and how we communicate. Our ethos and values are the sap and bark.
We hold at our heart the vision of a thriving school from birth to 16 years, delivering a Steiner Waldorf education, designed with the child at the centre. An education that values play, gentle daily rhythms and immersive learning. An education designed to engage curiosity and encourage critical thinking, creative problem-solving and ethical decision making.
An education that is rooted in an engaged and vibrant school community which works cooperatively for the benefit of all, and promotes and sustains our children’s intellectual and emotional well-being.
Sustainable governance and leadership
No one part of the tree is healthy, without the whole tree being healthy. Whilst core accountabilities are held by a few, responsibility for the health and sustainability of our school is distributed, every part of the system adds value to the whole.
Leadership at York Steiner School is understood as both a practice and a promise. It is not owned by the few, rather it is a commitment of the whole system. Leadership is defined as an influence rather than an authority, considering the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of students, staff and community. Leadership is intentional and inspired to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for our school.
School Leadership Group
The School Leaders, our Headteacher and School Business Manager serve the needs of the whole school community, working with the School Leadership Group to empower and enable the school to be governed through the guiding principles of sustainable governance.
The School Leadership Group, is made up of representatives from across each phase of the school, and key elements such as SEND and Safeguarding, Business and HR. The group considers the school as a whole system and supports consensus-based decision making and a shared responsibility for the school’s educational and operational mission.
