Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
The Oak School: proposed Steiner-Waldorf school in Crouch End
I've just learnt that a parent-run group is proposing a new free school in Crouch End, to be called The Oak School:
http://www.theoakschool.org.uk/
They are calling for people to register their interest via a Demand Survey.
Anyone have any views/inside knowledge/outraged political opinions on this? Or any experience of Steiner-Waldorf schools? The only thing I know about them - and it is based on a Steiner school in another hemisphere several decades ago - is that they don't let children start to read before their baby teeth have fallen out. (Now I type that, it sounds like an urban myth, but I swear it happened to a family I knew.)
Tags for Forum Posts: free school, schools, steiner-waldorf
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by NIck and Lizzy on
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I don't think that is an urban myth- I think the belief is that kids enter a new 'stage' when they are 7 (so about the time baby teeth have gone) and this more appropriate to learn how to write. I don't know if they go as far as 'stopping' them reading. I have always been interested in the Steiner approach, but the schools are normally fee paying; therefore I kind have always thought, well its not so progressive if its exclusive is it? Interesting that this one isn't. While in principle I am anti free school, nation wide and in London particularly there is a shortage of school places. Maybe free schools aren't THE answer, but they are AN answer. And you can't blame parents for looking for answer.
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Permalink Reply by ElleCarumba on
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A little bit from the British Humanist Association on the first Steiner free school and concerns over some of the "science" teaching
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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They are a dodgy religious cult organisation. Google them. Free school? I doubt that anything is free with them.
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Permalink Reply by Isabelle on
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There's already one in Hornsey: http://www.rudolfsteiner.london.sch.uk/ - There you can read more about it (or visit the school I suppose!). For all I know, their methods are quite successful... I've never heard that they're free though, where did you get that from?
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Permalink Reply by empyrean_aisles on
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It's not that it's going to be cost-free - rather that it will be one of those new "free schools" ("all-ability state-funded schools set up in response to what local people say they want and need in order to improve education for children in their community").
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I have heard of free schools, I have a friend whose son goes to one in NW London. I thought that they had to be non fee paying though? Mmmm. Thanks though.
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Permalink Reply by David Barry on
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They are non fee paying; paid for by the state they are free to attend, in the same way as any other state school.
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Permalink Reply by Phil Smith on
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The idea of Free Schools was modelled on a very successful Swedish model.
Unfortunately the idea seems to have received a bad press in this country. I think this I in part due to the fact teachers in free schools do not need to be qualified in the PGCE sense, so it has been bashed by a great many conventional teachers. I also think the fact it was introduced by the Tories meant it had a bad press and there was a suspicion of privatisation via the back door. Although I am no particular fan or D Cameron & Co Ltd, I suspect that the idea of free schools may have been rather rashly judged by many, and that it may offer a great opportunity for conscientious and entrepreneurial pedagogs (teachers) who are frustrated by the shortcomings of mainstream education, and a 'one-size fits all' approach which may often overlook the holistic well-being of many children who do not quite fit the mould.
I would love to find out more about free schools, and also the opinions of others. (My first blog).
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Have you been following current news/debates about the Swedish free school experiment? For example.
Or academic research which poses questions about the application of the model in the UK? Just one example.
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Dear Alan,
Thank you very much, but I could only open the second link. One negative seem to be that it can be used to promote social segregation. This could lead to indoctrination and radicalisation from a young age which is clearly the last thing we as a society need in the present circumstances. But surely this is a problem with the delivery, and OFSTED / LA's being lax. (There was a documentary about one in Stamford Hill recently). In actual fact, schools founded on religious lines already exist in the mainstream system and this has already been highlighted as a problem, in particular, in Birmingham.
Another complaint I hear is that free schools may spring up on a rather adhoc, amateur basis, without professionally qualified teachers. However, it seems rather cynical to assume we cannot achieve anything better than the established system, in view of the fact there is such a shortage of provision for adequate secondary education in much of the Borough. I am fortunate local provision for primary schools is fantastic, but what do you do in Year 7? And there is a shortage. No one can say we are happy to send our children to the current secondary school system with all its problems. So why would anyone object to an attempt to do better?
At the end of the day, the parents chose the school they feel best for their children. I accept the problems of religious segregation, poor facilities and the potential for inadequate staffing, but these can be addressed by better regulation. Then parents can decide whether or not their local free school can do better.
It seems to me that with better regulation of staff, facilities and curriculum, there is potential with a lot of positive, creative input into the education system to create schools which better suit local communities. This is our children's future at stake. We cannot get better without believing it can be done. We just need to believe.
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Thanks Phil. My apologies for messing up the link to the Reuter's website. This one should work! http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/10/us-sweden-schools-insight...
In any case, my aim was simply to point out that there seems to be some rethinking underway in Sweden itself. As well as considerable doubt about how far their model can be simply "lowered" onto our somewhat different system/society.
It also seems to me that there's a growing pile of non-partisan independent research which suggests that sweeping claims of success for free schools - both in Sweden and in England - can't yet be confidently established.
I'd also suggest caution with other sweeping assertions such as: "No one can say we are happy to send our children to the current secondary school system with all its problems". As we're told by estate agents, it's not unusual for parents who can afford it, to move house and in effect pay a substantial cash "premium" to be in the catchment area of a successful community (state) secondary school.
Of course I agree with you that parents want a school that's best for their children. But if you want to see "better regulation of staff, curriculum and facilities" with "a positive creative input ... to create schools which better suit local communities" that is possible within the existing system.
Claire Kober's "Education Commission" gave two case study examples of Haringey schools which some twenty years ago had serious weaknesses. They were transformed by determined action by the school itself - staff, governors and parents - working closely with the council.
There's a further question - on which many people will disagree with me. How far is the whole programme of education "reform" actually a "trojan horse" for the privatisation of public education? I'm not suggesting, Phil, that this is what you want. But in my view a strong case can be made that this is the underlying national agenda. Especially since it means community-owned land and buildings become up for grabs by private interests.
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Dear Alan,Thank you very much again. I've certainly developed my thinking on this, thanks to you, although we probably have different standpoints, and I still think Free Schools have a lot potential as an idea, if correctly regulated.
In my previous email, I certainly did not want to ignore, nor undervalue the hard work of teachers in existing Haringey schools, but I think the society as a whole seems to be failing to provide happy, healthy learning environments, perhaps as schools are getting too large-scale and impersonal. (I have seen a large number of them). That is probably what led me to send my own into private education, the lack apparent care and attention to the individual, and the fear of my own daughter being treated as a number.
All children are different and I find the uniformity and lack of diversity in approach slightly concerning. I'd be interested to sit in on some Steiner Waldorf, etc. I am not naive about education. Also, as a former teacher, I worked in a great range of schools (both private and state) and did a placement in a secondary montessori in Austria during my PGCE. I didn't find English schools open to new ideas from overseas - too obsessed with curriculum, OFSTED and exam results.
Your point about catchment areas: In my own area I see parents moving away, due to lack of secondary provision. That is precisely my point, and one more very strong reason why there is a temptation for parents to abandon state education and take matters into their own hands.
So I maintain people should have the right to choose schools for their kids. Most would not choose a 'Free School' if facilities were inadequate.
It seems there is a great deal of idealism in education from many angles. At the end of the day, we all want the best for our kids, but opinions differ as to which horse to back.
A final word, perhaps a good compromise would be for parents and the local community to have more direct input into existing local schools and how their existing local schools are run. (OK, but the trouble remains, there is still a shortage of adequate secondary round here - and a demand for more variety.)
Kindest regards
Phil
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