West Coast Steiner School is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation taking a preventative and participatory stance on child protection issues and promoting a child safe environment.
Primary
7-12 years old.
Joyful primary years instil a love of learning.
A curriculum that balances intellectual growth and creative expression.
Primary School at West Coast Steiner School is from Class 1 to Class 6 and the beginning of formal academic learning via an integrated curriculum that balances intellectual growth and creative expression. Introducing core subjects such as literacy when children are developmentally ready means they are eager and therefore enjoy learning, and equal or surpass national curriculum literacy targets by age nine or ten.
The essence of the Steiner approach is the principle that education is an art. Whatever the subject, its presentation must be alive, and it must speak directly to the child’s experience. Each child is valued as a complete individual and a caring, rather than competitive, relationship is encouraged between students.
Structure of the day.
The "main lesson".
All the traditional subjects are taught through this different, creative approach and core subjects are deepened in the block learning feature of Steiner education called the Main Lesson. The first two hours of each day are dedicated to the Main Lesson, which involves focusing on a specific subject for three to four weeks. The rest of the day is made up of specialist subjects, including languages, music, handwork, woodwork, physical education, library and practice lessons in literacy and numeracy.
Six classes, one strong curriculum.
- Class 1-3 build strong academic foundations through storytelling, movement, and hands-on practice. Students progress from letter formation to composition, from counting to mathematical operations. Languages such as German are introduced through immersion and students begin their first lessons with a music specialist.
- Class 4-6 develop independence and curiosity through grammar, fractions, geometry, and complex problem-solving. History comes alive through mapmaking and reenactments, while science introduces zoology, botany, and physics.
- Class 6
explores business maths and algebraic reasoning, geology, astronomy, Ancient Rome and Australian History. The breadth and depth of the curriculum is a unique aspect of Steiner education and the material covered is used as an integrated whole, with one part always enhancing another.
Our approach.
Our approach is centred on building strong connections between children, teachers, community and the world around us. It is holistic, relationship-based and human centred.
For that reason each class has a Primary Teacher who, where possible, stays with the children from Class 1 through to Class 6 and develops an in-depth understanding of the children, both as individuals and as a class group.
West Coast Steiner School educators are highly qualified and dedicated to creating a genuine love of learning, and to respecting each developmental stage of childhood when shaping lessons, planning activities, or creating the classroom climate and environment.
Meeting the needs of our students.
To meet the needs of all our students, West Coast Steiner School has an Extra Lesson Teacher and a School Counsellor who support students and families across the school, and works closely with our Learning Support Team and Teachers. WCSS also has a qualified in-house Circle of Security Facilitator offering parents and staff members ongoing opportunities to complete this internationally renowned course.
Steiner schools develop the student’s capacity to learn, to be open to life and to develop a sense of meaning and purpose. A non-competitive environment allows children the time to learn and develop at the pace they need and protects them from the pressure to enter the adult world prematurely. Being part of a class community that journey together through the primary years awakens individual capacities and social awareness. In this way, not only is the individual’s development fostered, but students are encouraged to develop a genuine regard and respect for humanity and service to others.
Whilst many WCSS graduates choose to continue in Steiner education for high school they can, and do, transfer to mainstream schools. We have graduates at Mount Lawley Senior High, Perth College, Aranmore Catholic College, Trinity College and Kent Street Senior High to name a few.
The heart of the Waldorf method is that education is an art-it must speak to the child's experience. To educate the whole child, the heart and will must be reached, as well as the mind.
Rudolf Steiner
Ready to explore our Primary School?
Book a school tour or contact our Enrolments Team today on 9440 1771 or enrolments@wcss.wa.edu.au.