Go to the Ofsted Parent View survey taken this week for The Rudolf Steiner School, Kings Langley.

As of today, 194 parents (of a school with about 380 pupils) responded, 99 per cent said their children are happy and 99 per cent agreed the felt their children were safe. Link to the survey – https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/parent-view-results/survey/result/125603/current.

We have been parents at the Steiner School since 1992 – all three boys (26, 22 and 15) have profoundly enjoyed their school experience there (youngest is still attending). We trust the school and believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that the quality of stewardship, safeguarding and teaching has been perfect for our children.

The school is over 65-years-old and despite it’s alternative teaching principles (taught at over 450 schools worldwide, and similar to many European teaching approaches), the pupils get above national average results in GCSEs and A-levels.

READ MORE: Pupils at independent school ‘not safe’ according to Ofsted inspectors

Almost all who graduate go on to the university of their choice.

The pupils end up with a desire to serve others, care for their planet, have great self-esteem, a wonderful sense of playfulness, and respect the individual. What more do we want for our children, really? In a world filled with cynicism, most of these children walk out positive and secure within.

On average, families dedicate 10 to 12 years of their lives to the school – many up to 20 years – this in itself shows a vote of confidence in our school. Children feel safe at our school, because they are. Things need to be tweaked in this age of ‘Health & Safety’, and rightly so. Only a few questionable issues have arisen in the last 25 years we’ve been there, as will happen in all schools and institutions in some measure. Nearly 250 families return each year, so, to us, that is a vote of confidence regarding safeguarding.

The fees you report are misleading, basically. Annual fees increase from £5,000 up to £9,500, and that £9,500 takes place the last four years. These fees are 30 to 50 per cent less than other private schools.

In fact, during the last Government, the Department of Education expressed interest in the Waldorf/Steiner curriculum model to inspire, in ways, the general education system of this country. FYI, the government now is funding some Steiner schools in the UK, because they support it.

Our family (as do 95 per cent in the Ofsted Parent View Survey) would recommend this school to others. We trust the school can bring it into line with the Ofsted standards required. We were encouraged to hear that Ofsted were pleased that our school had reacted positively to their recent unannounced visit this week – meaning, our school is open to enhancement, change and improvement, as we always have been. After 25 years at the school, we see positivity, increased belief in the school, and pupil enrolment rising. Our support for Rudolf Steiner School Kings Langley is there, wholeheartedly!

David & Siobhan Wachs

Kings Langley

  • David Wachs is chairman of the Parent Teachers Friends Association at the Rudolf Steiner School, Kings Langley