Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The Frome Steiner Academy: good news and congratulations.

The government has announced that the Frome Steiner Academy's bid for Free School status has been successful. The proposal is for a new school to open in September 2012, starting with 26 places but eventually offering double stream entry through to 16 (i.e.: 644 places). It is one of 55 new, state-funded Free Schools that will open from September 2012 onwards.

The success of the Frome bid is a tribute to the hard work and professionalism of a determined and dedicated team and good news for the children and parents of this Somerset town.

The proud statement on the Frome Academy's web-site reads:

"Our dream is a reality - Free Steiner education for all."

For further information contact: Frome Steiner Academy

Frome will become only the second state-funded Steiner Waldorf school in the UK, joining the Steiner Academy Hereford which opened its doors in 2008.

There are over a thousand Steiner Schools in more that sixty countries around the world. In some countries (including many in Europe) the schools are partly or fully state-funded, while in others there is no state funding available. The government's Free School programme has created an opportunity for other existing Steiner schools and new Steiner school projects to apply to become state-funded Academies.

The Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship (SWSF) is committed to helping Steiner schools to become state-funded if they wish to, while fully supporting those preferring to maintain their independence from the state sector.

SWSF is also seeking to support parent, teacher and community groups wishing to apply to open new Steiner Academies in places where Steiner education is not currently available. It is has been developing a set of resources designed to assist Steiner free school projects with all aspects of their applications and is seeking to encourage a consistent and co-operative approach with a particular emphasis on effective models of school governance.

Groups in England (the legislation does not include Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) who are interested in the possibility of state-funded Steiner education in their area in the first instance should register their interest with the SWSF by emailing info@steinerfreeschools.org.uk