Aims and objectives  

The primary task of Michael House School is to provide the best possible education for its pupils so they may become not only knowledgeable, but also inwardly free, secure and creative adults. The school strives to provide an environment in which pupils find security, moral strength and confidence to face the challenges of life with initiative and responsibility.

The school provides a complete education from Kindergarten to school leaving age. It is one of nearly nine hundred schools (sometimes called Waldorf schools) which, in various parts of the world, educate children according to the principles of Rudolf Steiner.

The curriculum arises out of awareness that the three human faculties of thinking, feeling and willing unfold at different times in a child's life, and need to be brought into harmony in order that young adults may leave school 'free' to make their way in the world usefully.

About Michael House

Michael House School is situated in woodland on the edge of Shipley Country Park in Derbyshire, England.

The children come from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. Some of the children are very gifted intellectually or artistically; others develop more slowly. There is no academic selection process.

The school is a charity and is funded by fee paying parents, fund raising events and grants.

 The Rudolf Steiner philosophy asks that children are allowed to be innocent, to be given the space to develop at their own pace without state interference beyond good governance. The school does not test children at given ages to find problems, but class screening takes place at the ages of 8,10,12 and 14 to gain a broad understanding of children’s progress and one-to-one support is given to any children who need help catching up. Dyslexia support is also given to children needing it, from the age of 11. As the children have the same class teacher from age 6 to 14 a strong relationship with the parents develops.

The teaching body has no head teacher but a college approach that allows all members to speak equally. The College of teachers meets every week during term time and for special extra training outside of term.

The values of a Steiner Waldorf education are being slowly recognised by the state sector, for example in Kindergarten learning through play, enhanced reading development from age six and in-depth study of topics rather than sectioned classes.

If you are interested in a holistic education for head, hands and heart for your children please look through the following pages and then contact the school for a tour and a chat with the teachers and parents. Michael House School is waiting to be there for you.