Quick summary of key school information
All the details about this school in their own words
Number of students |
Including primary, kindergarten and playgroups, over 100 students. |
Number of nationalities represented in the school |
There are 15 different nationalities are represented at our school. |
Most common nationality |
Hong Kong Chinese. |
Ratio of local students to international students |
3:1 |
Native English speaking teachers |
Yes |
Language support for students not fluent in English |
Yes |
Additional language classes offered by the school |
Mandarin, and German language starting in September 2023. |
Max. number of students per class |
Parent and Child: 10 students
|
Average number of students per class |
Parent and Child: 9 students
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Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes |
Use of technology in the classroom |
Waldorf pedagogy famously precludes early years technology use. From Class 9 up, technology becomes a part of the curriculum. |
Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
Virtual classroom technologies were only used during an international crisis such as COVID-19 which was in a way to keep the students as healthy as possible. |
Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
We do not practice any religion at our school. |
External examinations or assessments available |
In primary school, students are continuously assessed formatively and summatively without external examinations. Teachers in all levels are clearly aware of all students' progress. |
Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
From Class 3 onwards, students may complete the work at home if they did not finish in school. For lower grades, students will do all their work at school. |
Approximate hours of homework given |
No more than 40 minutes. |
Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
From the Waldorf schools around the world, studies have shown that over 90% of the graduates attended higher education. As for our school, we started our primary school in 2022, therefore we do not have any track records yet. |
Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
Because of our experiential learning approach, students with mild learning difficulties are more easily accommodated. |
Learning support offered |
Through movements, art therapy and child study programs, our students get the support needed. |
The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
Lesson content is differentiated with plenty of extension materials. Students of higher ability help their classmates in a healthy social way. |
Student access to education psychologist |
If needed, we will refer these students to them after consultation with parents. |
Entry evaluation for students |
Most of the evaluation is done in Class 1 enrolment where we look at the students' readiness for formal learning on their physical, emotional and cognitive situation. |
Brief description of entry evaluation required |
There is no standardised testing, it is important for the pedagogical work that the teachers understand the student that is coming in. To this end, various viewpoints are considered, ranging from how the pupil moves, how they speak, how they draw and their relationship to music as well as a general assessment of their numeracy and literacy. In other words, qualitative considerations are of equal importance to quantitative ones. |
Waiting list |
There is a waiting list for accompanied classes in the early years at present. |
Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
We accept students all year. |
Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes, we welcome students throughout the year. |
School start time |
Primary: 8:00am
|
School finish time |
Primary: 2:30pm
|
Supervised care before/after school |
Not at present. |
School bus service available |
Yes. |
School provided lunches |
We provide organic wholesome vegetarian lunch for students. |
Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
We aim to meet the dietary needs for students as far as possible. |
Uniform required |
No. |
Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Before COVID-19, we had ballet, kung-fu, dance, Mandarin, cooking, craft making and camping activities. We are in the process of bringing these back in the near future. |
Sports activities included |
We have a wide range of physical activities and games to develop physical movement skills and also to enhance their social interactions. Included are: farming, gardening, eurythmy dance, nature walks, climbing, skipping and Bothmer gymnastics. |
Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Not at present. |
Facilities at the school |
Our school has assembly hall, garden with pets, playground with sandpit, play equipment "jungle gym", a farm (with fishpond, fruit trees, veggie plots, outdoor classroom, forest paths), acquarium and herparium. |
Sports facilities at the school |
We have plenty of natural surroundings near our school which we use to our advantage; including Silverstrand Beach, country parks, nature walks for all our games and sport activities. For larger whole school events, local government facilities are available. |
Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
We belong to a strong international educational movement, but our school is locally distinct, independent and not-for-profit. Students are grouped by age (unstreamed) and we are coeducational. Class teachers accompany children through the years. We have a Main Lesson of 2 hours in the morning followed by subject lessons. Pupils receive individual support where needed. The lessons themselves are artistic: original, image-filled and creative with a living alternation of concentration and letting go between tasks. This artistic element in structuring lessons forms the essence of Waldorf education.
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Teaching approach of the school |
The teaching approach is teacher-led but pupil centred. This mean that out of their professional insight into their students’ development, the teachers fashion an individual sequence of lessons that can most suit the learning stage being undergone. There is though a strong emphasis on students’ own experience and this is incorporated in all classes. Movement, music and the arts play an integral role in all areas including subjects traditionally ascribed as academic. |