The School

“I couldn’t have imagined a more nurturing and fulfilling environment for my son. There was not a single day when he did not want to go into school.”

  • Based in Cragg Vale
  • Monday-Friday, 8:45am-3:00pm
  • For ages 6 to age 12

We currently have spaces available in all classes throughout the school.

Our school follows the European model where formal education starts around age 6. (Children younger than this can join our Kindergarten class) Every subject is taught in creative, project-based ways in small classes with room for everyone to blossom and grow.

The same teacher stays with the class right through the school, meaning there are no stressful annual transitions, and teachers can track the student’s continued progress without the need for testing and the anxiety of exams. We believe home is for family time and experiential learning, so we don’t set homework for children until they are aged 9 or over.

Our school follows a progressive Steiner Waldorf curriculum featuring Music, Science, Spanish, Woodwork, Gardening, Drama, Art and Handwork alongside numeracy and literacy.
Our experienced teachers weave the subjects together while following the seasonal flow of the year to help children develop transferrable and flexible skills with real-life meaning.For example, Classes 4 and 5 have recently been building a vegetable garden at the back of our school, with learning opportunities for numeracy, biology, woodwork and gardening, along with creativity and lots of time spent working physically outdoors.

The school was recently awarded a Bronze Award by the Woodland Trust’s Green Tree Schools initiative for the time we spend outdoors with students in the beautiful wild woodlands and fields on our doorstep.

Children are welcome to join us at any stage, and usually settle well thanks to our homely and nurturing environment. Likewise, children leaving Steiner education for a mainstream school generally find they can match the skills and knowledge of their peers, and go on to continued academic success.

Children aged 12+ who wish to stay within the Steiner system can access our Home School Hub, running Monday-Friday in Hebden Bridge.

We know it’s a big decision to change schooling for a child, and are here to answer any questions you might have and help in any way we can.

If you would like to arrange a visit or trial day, please click here or attend one of our frequent open days. You’ll also find lots of information under our admissions pages.

“I firmly believe Calder Valley Steiner School was a fundamental ingredient in him becoming the healthy, happy, confident and considerate boy that he is now.  I highly recommend it to any parent wanting to offer their child a healthy, loving and fulfilling education.”

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