Middle School - Ages 10 to 14

Where curiosity blossoms into personal exploration and intellectual horizons expand

Middle School - Ages 10 to 14

Where curiosity blossoms into personal exploration and intellectual horizons expand

Welcome to our  Middle School

As children transition into middle school, they experience a time of profound personal growth.

Entering puberty, they begin to relate to the world in a new way, with their natural curiosity and love of learning now fueling a desire for deeper exploration. Ready for more rigorous, integrated academics, they also start to explore their emerging identity and place in the world. Alongside core subjects, the continued emphasis on arts, music, games, and nature enriches their learning experience.

From class 8 children begin to use their project work and class work to support their level 2 and level 3 diploma which will eventually allow them to graduate from Ringwood Waldorf school with the equivalent of up to 10 GCSEs and up to 3 A Levels to pave the way for whatever path they choose in their further education.

Class 5

Age 10-11

Developmental Stage
In Class Five, students begin to approach their studies—and life itself—with a more realistic and reasoned mindset. Physically, they achieve a greater sense of balance, ease, and grace, supported by an enriching games curriculum.

Curriculum Themes
In Class 5, students’ expanding awareness bridges their imaginative experience of mythology with a more grounded understanding of history and civilization. This transition is key as children begin to think more logically and analytically. Stories from Ancient India, Persia, and Greece bring history to life, fostering compassion. Botany and geography connect students to the natural world, while geometry explores the beauty of mathematics. Language studies in French and German, along with craft and music, continue.

A special highlight is participation in the Ancient Greek Olympics, where students join peers from other Steiner schools to celebrate ancient traditions.

Class 6

Age 11-12

Developmental Stage
In Class 6, children around 11 to 12 years old begin to experience the transition from childhood to puberty, marked by increasing critical thinking, a stronger sense of individuality, and a need for clear structure and authority. Their growing awareness of cause and effect is met with a curriculum that introduces logical reasoning and order.

Curriculum Themes
The curriculum broadens to meet students’ developing capacities for critical thinking and discernment while supporting their transition from childhood to puberty. It focuses on topics that reveal the role of structure and natural laws in driving change.

Geology and astronomy explore the earth’s formation and the universe’s vast order. In science, the observations of natural phenomena lead to discovery of natural laws. The study of Ancient Rome highlights diverse social and political structures, while geometry reveals the beauty of natural order through precise forms. This approach helps students connect meaningfully with the changes they are experiencing, fostering moral integrity, compassion, and a sense of their place in the world.

Class 7

Age 12-13

Developmental Stage

At 12 to 13 years old, students enter the turbulence of early adolescence. Physiological changes, heightened emotional depth and the beginnings of intellectual questioning bring a mix of confidence and self-doubt, making it an ideal time for exploration and critical inquiry. It is a voyage of self discovery.

Curriculum Themes
The Class Seven curriculum is richly themed around the Renaissance, incorporating elements of history, mathematics, science, and art. The ideals of truth, beauty, and balance serve as a positive counterbalance to the young adolescent’s inclination towards cynicism. The curriculum moves to become more challenging and focussed as the children edge nearer to upper school. Algebra, geography, history, science and English are all developed rigorously alongside and integrated into their ongoing studies of languages, music, fine arts, and craft. This balanced curriculum facilitates children to learn through self discovery with the aim of fostering critical thinking and to activate independent thought.

Class 8

Age 13-14

Developmental Stage
At 13 to 14 years old, students experience a significant shift marked by a deepening sense of self, critical thinking, and a desire for independence. They form strong opinions and seek to understand their place in the world. This stage is characterised by a growing sense of responsibility and need for autonomy, making it a crucial time for engaging, thought-provoking learning.

Curriculum Themes
The Waldorf curriculum meets this developmental stage with an emphasis on revolutions and progress —both historical and scientific—exploring themes of change, transformation, and human agency. Biographies of pioneering individuals provide lasting images of courage, determination, and innovation, inspiring students to connect with their own potential to shape the world. Artistic expression flourishes through visual arts, music and participation in a full length play production. At the end of the year, each student presents a project they have been independently working on throughout the school year.

From class 8 children begin to use their project work and class work to support their level 2 and level 3 diploma which will eventually allow them to graduate from Ringwood Waldorf school with the equivalent of up to 10 GCSEs and 3 A Levels to pave the way for whatever path they choose in their further education.

Where curiosity blossoms into personal exploration and intellectual horizons expand

Where curiosity blossoms into personal exploration and intellectual horizons expand