In the Lower School, that is in Class 1 to 8,

it is always the Class Teacher who teaches the Main Lessons and it lasts for the first two hours of every morning.

And for a period of about three or four weeks, a topic will be looked at in a lot of detail.

They will, for instance, begin with rhythmical activities, with singing and with poetry,

often connected to that subject and then the teacher will tell them about the subject that they are doing

and each child makes their own book with their own writing and their own drawings.

Main Lessons continue in the Upper School as well and the whole class does them

irrespective of what exam subjects they are doing in their lessons outside the Main Lesson.

[Bruce Houldsworth] The curriculum supports the child in its development all the way up through the school.

We have a 12 year curriculum which matches the stage at which the child finds itself.

For instance in Class 3,

the child is sometimes becoming very much aware of the difference between them and the rest of the world

so our curriculum brings them into the world with very practical Main Lessons.

on Farming and Fishing and Mining.

My parents originally sent me here because they thought I was quite creative and I love Art,

but actually I've turned out to really enjoy the Sciences, so I'm going to go on and hopefully do Medicine.

I think this school has given me a much broader education. The Main Lesson gives you a broader understanding of each subject

and you continue learning different subjects apart from your exam subjects.

[Lucy, Upper School Pupil] We do so much work on the exam curriculum the same as everywhere else, but then we get to do things like Main Lessons

like painting the maps. Like what we were doing just now, that's a lot of extra creative work that we wouldn't get the chance

to learn otherwise I don't think. Like this Main Lesson.

[Michael Hooper, Biology & Physics Teacher] In our Main Lessons we can explore Science more creatively, for example,

I've just taught an Embryology Main Lesson to our Class 11

and in that we used clay modelling and drawings to work through the processes, you know, as an embryo develops

and we took several days to do that. It gives us a greater understanding and a deeper enjoyment of Science.

[Danny, Upper School Pupil] The Sciences in the Steiner School are very good because the teachers at the Steiner School generally teach you a lot more.

A huge amount that is nothing that we need to know about for the exams but very interesting

because the teachers are so passionate about teaching you.