The Lower School

Children who enter the Lower School in Class 1 have eight consecutive years to benefit from the relationship with the same class teacher. The teacher provides stability and the continuity in the child's school life up to the age of 14.

Each morning starts, after singing, poetry and instrumental music, with a one-and- three-quarter hour period called the Main Lesson. During this lesson one subject is studied continuously for three to four weeks. Core curriculum subjects such as reading, writing, mathematics, history, geography and the sciences are taught in this manner as well as topics such as house building, farming, mythology, botany and astronomy.

The Main Lesson, allows the children to immerse themselves fully in a subject. They learn to explore subjects from many different angles, intellectual, artistic and practical perspectives. The Main Lesson is followed by shorter subject lessons. The timetable is structured to provide a balance between academic, artistic and practical activities while manual dexterity is encouraged through work with textiles, wood, clay and other materials. Each child learns to play an instrument and there are class orchestras, a school orchestra, junior and senior choirs. Most classes work on at least one play each year. Eurythmy, an art of movement unique to Steiner schools, is practised throughout the Lower School. Team games and gymnastics are well catered for.