free schools

The Free Schools initiative offers the possibility that Steiner Schools could move into the maintained sector and become state funded while continuing to deliver their very distinctive style of education. We remain interested in applying to become a free school, but are investigating further the possible implications and benefits of Free school status. If you have not already done so, please complete the online survey, the results of which we continually review and which help us to assess demand. Should we decide to proceed with an application to become a free school, demonstrating demand is essential to supporting a successful application

what would free school status mean for our school?

Clearly, the most obvious advantage of Free School status would be that present and future parents would no longer need to pay fees in order for their children to attend the school. As the school currently receives no state support the necessity to ask for financial contributions means that all our parents have to make sacrifices and, despite our best efforts to offer support to those least able to afford fees, must inevitably exclude some families who would like their children to attend the school.

As part of the application that is being prepared, we are seeking evidence of the demand for places that might be expected were Free School status to be granted to Norwich Steiner School. We are collecting information using both an online survey and by telephone. Current parents will be sent by email on Saturday 2nd October a link to an online survey. If you are not the parent or guardian of a current pupil at the school, including its associated kindergartens and other early years groups, we would be extremely grateful if you could help us by registering your views on the brief online survey linked to below.

Every current or potential parent of a child at the school will have their own views on the proposed application and its implications for the educational choices they make for their children. As a starting point, we offer here a summary of points that are most often mentioned in discussions of Steiner schools and Free School status. Further information on the Free Schools policy, including several FAQ sections, can be found on the government website via this link .

Some changes would be required in a Steiner school that was granted Free School status. At the moment, all the teachers of Norwich Steiner school take joint responsibility for the children’s education, meeting regularly as a ‘Collegiate’ to take decisions together. There is no Head Teacher in a position of authority over the others. To become a Free School, we would be required to appoint such a Principal, so introducing a degree of hierarchy among teaching staff. Another change would be that the school would have to agree to administer the national SATs at ages 11 and 14.

The experience of the first state-funded Steiner School, the Hereford Steiner Academy, which opened in August 2008 also suggests that state funding may lead to a considerable increase in demand for places. Our class sizes would be expected to increase, perhaps to 20 in each of the combined classes. As a Free School, once our classes were full, or if there was an intake demand which was in excess of the capacity of a class, our admissions priority would have to be based on proximity and siblings, so any family moving into the area with a prior interest in or commitment to Steiner education might find it harder to obtain places for their children.

A more clearly positive factor is that the financial support and higher pupil numbers we could expect as a Free School would ensure that the school thrives in both the economic and social senses and that it would become genuinely accessible to families regardless of their financial situation. As well as no longer asking parents for fees, we would be in a position to pay a salary to our teachers that better rewards them for the wonderful work they do. The provision of resources such as books, games and science equipment; the employment of SEN specialist teachers and maintenance or caretaking staff; and assistance with capital costs such as refurbishment of the building, development of a science laboratory and extra classroom space may be other benefits.

Norwich Steiner Free School? Your Views

Please let us have your views on the possibility that we will become a Free School.

Parents or guardians of a current pupil please use the personal link which will be sent to your email address on Saturday 2nd October to access the online survey. If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact the school to discuss these further.

If you do not currently have a child at the Norwich Steiner School, including the Kindergarten, playgroup and parent and child groups, please use the link below. Alternatively you are welcome to register your views by calling the school on 01603 611175 on any weekday and giving your responses to the survey over the telephone.

Link to survey for non-current parents/guardians only