Middle School age 11-14

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  • An inspiring and nurturing education

    for children age 3 to 18

Middle School age 11-14

What is Middle School?

From age 11 to 14 education should awaken both intellect and imagination. At Cardiff Steiner School we guide students in Middle School to think rigorously, create boldly and engage meaningfully with the world.

The Middle School years are both exciting and challenging. Young people at this age are growing rapidly in independence and self-awareness, while also navigating significant physical and emotional change. We offer a rich and diverse curriculum for Classes 6 to 8 (Years 7 to 9), designed specifically for this important stage of development.

As students begin to think more independently and take greater responsibility for their learning, we honour the changes unfolding in both mind and body, creating space for students to question, to express themselves creatively and to develop a strong sense of who they are becoming.

Students are welcome to join us from other educational settings at any stage of the Middle School years, subject to availability within the class.

Class 5/6 (Year 6) is often an ideal time to join Cardiff Steiner School, offering a valuable bridge year before moving into Middle School.

Students join Cardiff Steiner School at a variety of stages, and many are encountering Steiner education for the first time. We see this not as a challenge, but as an opportunity – a chance to welcome a new perspective into the class and to help a young person find their place within our community.

Joining a new class is a transition, and transitions are themselves part of learning. We work closely with families to help children settle. Before your child begins, we will talk through their previous experience and offer practical guidance where needed. If they are entering Class 6 or Class 9 and have not yet studied a language or taken up an instrument for exmaple, we can suggest ways to prepare and ensure that their teachers understand their starting point. No student is expected to arrive having followed an identical path.

The beauty of Steiner education lies in its responsiveness. In our small school, teachers balance the needs of the group with the needs of each child. Some students we have known for many years; others we are just beginning to know. In every case, we strive to meet each child where they are, to honour their individuality, and to provide experiences that allow them to grow intellectually, creatively and socially.

We are committed to keeping our fees as accessible as possible, while maintaining the quality and integrity of a Steiner education.

Our annual fees in Middle School range from £9,996 to £11,712 per year (£833 to £976 per month) depending on family income. By comparison, fees at other local independent schools are typically in the region of £18,000 to £19,000 per year.

We also offer generous sibling discounts to support families with more than one child at the school:

  • 20% discount on the fees of the second sibling attending at the same time
  • 80% discount on the fees of the third and any subsequent siblings attending at the same time

We believe that an inspiring, holistic education should remain within reach for families, and we work hard to balance financial sustainability with affordability.

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How is this reflected in the curriculum?

Learning in Middle School is active and participatory. Through practical investigation, lively discussion, artistic work and collaborative projects, students learn to observe, ask questions, think critically and be curious about the world around them. These habits form a strong foundation for the more advanced academic work of Upper School.

Our broad curriculum invites students to explore subjects in depth – from the laws of electromagnetism to the richness of Shakespearean drama. Academic study is enriched through a multidisciplinary approach that weaves together the sciences, mathematics, humanities, and the arts, helping students see connections across and between disciplines.

Alongside core subjects, students engage in Music, Art and Crafts, Spanish, Games and Movement, as well as a range of educational visits and outdoor experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom.

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What our parents say…

“We’ve been so impressed with how our daughter has settled in. She comes home talking about what she’s been learning and you can tell she’s really thinking for herself. The teachers notice what she’s interested in and encourage her to follow it, ask questions and try things out. We love that she’s learning so much, while keeping that spark of curiosity and excitement about the world.”

“Since moving to Cardiff Steiner School, his development in skills is clear, but even more evident is his growth into a confident, social and caring young man. In his previous school, he was finding it difficult to find his place in the hectic, competitive, mainly anonymous structure. He now has a class full of friends who he can trust and who trust and understand him. He’s always had an empathetic quality and a sense of equality, but these traits were being quashed. He is now able, not only to feel confident to freely use them, but also understand that they are integral to his way forward in becoming an active, caring and inspiring young man.”

“Our daughter joined Cardiff Steiner School at age 10 and she absolutely LOVES it. We felt she was trying to grow up too quickly at her previous school, with peer pressure around music, clothes and technology. Since starting here she is fitting in really well, has made lovely friends and is enjoying expressing herself without fear of what others think.”

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Known, Seen and Supported

Middle School is a time of profound change. Students are beginning to understand themselves as individuals and to explore their role in the wider world. It is essential that they feel seen and known by their teachers. This is not the time to get lost in the crowd.

At Cardiff Steiner School our teachers focus on building close, supportive relationships with each student, encouraging them to explore, take risks and stretch their abilities. At the same time, they guide the class community as a whole, helping foster a close-knit class community and navigate the natural challenges that arise in adolescence.

When students feel seen and valued by their teachers and classmates, they develop confidence, a clear sense of self, and the ability to express their thoughts and ideas.

An Experiential Science Curriculum

Curiosity and experimentation lie at the heart of our Middle School Science curriulum. We flip the traditional “teach then show” model by allowing students to first observe a phenomenon with deep curiosity, hypothesise potential explanations, and then test their ideas through experiment. The ability to observe with fresh eyes is a key step in the out-of-the-box thinking essential for innovation. The beauty of this phenomenological approach is that it allows students the time to become scientists – motivated to trial, error, and continuous inquiry through their own curiosity, observation and experimentation.

Growing Independence

Middle School is a time when students gradually take greater responsibility for their learning and for themselves. This independence culminates in the Class 8/9 Project – a year-long, self-directed undertaking that combines research, creativity and personal initiative. Each project builds towards a written report, an oral presentation, and a public exhibition, giving students the chance to share their work with the wider school community.

Recent Class 8/9 Projects have showcased the diversity of student interests and approaches: a collection of writings exploring the perspectives of a writer, literary critic, and philosopher; the crafting of an authentic Viking longbow and a replica 900-year-old arrowhead from the Battle of Crécy; an investigation into the world of street art combining research and creative expression. Through these projects, students develop practical skills, critical thinking and creative problem-solving, while experiencing the satisfaction of seeing a long-term effort come to fruition.

A Balanced Approach to Tech

At Cardiff Steiner School, our Middle School classes are interactive, discussion-based, hands-on and smart-phone free. As students begin to navigate digital media independently, both at school and at home, teachers guide conversations about online behavior, digital literacy, information evaluation and responsible citizenship in the digital world.

The entire school is smart-phonefree, and the School is part of the Smart-Phone Free Childhood School Network. Through this we encourage families to work together to establish guidelines for introducing media and personal devices. This approach fosters intentional, conscientious use of technology and helps students develop awareness and self-discipline, creating a shared sense of responsibility within the school community.

Learn more about our Middle School

  • Come and Visit Us

    The best way to really get a feel for Steiner Education, and see whether Cardiff Steiner School is right for your child is to visit us

  • Find out How to Apply

    We operate an ‘all year’ admissions policy, where children can join at any point throughout the year – find out more

Watch…

‘Learn to Change the World’ an introduction to Steiner Education

A look at Steiner Education around the world shot in South Africa, Israel, Japan, India, South Africa, Guatemala, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Germany. [20:36 mins]

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