Limited places for September 2025 – Find out More.
Limited places for September 2025 – Find out More.
Upper School - Ages 14 to 19
Upper School - Ages 14 to 19
Our Upper School provides a holistic and dynamic education designed to meet the evolving needs of adolescents as they navigate a critical stage of self-discovery, intellectual growth, and social development.
Spanning classes 9 through 12, the curriculum balances academic rigour with artistic, practical, and experiential learning, fostering independent thinking, creativity, and a sense of purpose.
At our Upper School (ages 14-19), students follow a Waldorf curriculum whilst working towards Level 2 and 3 Integrative Education Certificates and Diploma, accredited by Crossfields Institute and regulated by Ofqual. These qualifications, equivalent to GCSEs and A-levels, offer a rigorous education and the opportunity to earn UCAS points. Students also study for GCSEs in English and Mathematics, ensuring a well-rounded and internationally recognised qualification.
Developmental Stage
At 14 to 15 years old, students undergo profound inner and outer changes. Their thinking becomes more polarised, often seeing the world in extremes as they seek clarity and truth. This is a time of questioning, confrontation, and deep introspection, making it essential to engage them with subjects that challenge their reasoning and deepen their understanding of complexity.
Curriculum Themes
The curriculum in Class 9 is carefully designed to meet these developmental needs by integrating subjects that encourage observation and reflection through themes of contrast and change.
In visual arts, for instance, work with stark contrasts mirrors the inner struggle between extremes and helps students develop a more nuanced perspective. Courses like geometry, world history, and literature provide a bridge between the concrete learning of earlier years and the more abstract, analytical thinking required in Upper School. Hands-on projects, practical arts, and experiential learning further support students’ exploration of their inner and outer worlds, fostering independence, personal responsibility, and a sense of connection to both the academic and social environment. The holistic approach nurtures a balanced development of intellect, creativity, and perception during this pivotal year.
Developmental Stage
In Class 10, students experience a deepening of their intellectual and emotional development, as they continue to seek their own place in the world. At this stage, they are more ready to engage with complex concepts and ideas whilst developing their sense of individuality and responsibility.
Curriculum Themes
The curriculum reflects this growth by introducing subjects that challenge their thinking and help them connect their learning to the broader world. Subjects like chemistry, physics, and literature delve into the laws and patterns of nature and society, whilst artistic and practical subjects provide opportunities for creative expression. The emphasis on balance and comparison cultivates a considered engagement with the material, whilst encouraging a sense of self and responsibility. Class 10 students are encouraged to explore their own relationship with the world, preparing them for the more self-directed learning ahead.
Developmental Stage
Class 11 represents a turning point in a student’s academic journey, as they are now more capable of abstract thinking and can approach complex topics with greater maturity and self-awareness.
Curriculum Themes
Students are beginning to prepare for life beyond school, and the curriculum in Class 11 is designed to support this transition by focusing on in-depth study and independent analysis. Subjects such as advanced mathematics, history, and a modern foreign language help students strengthen their intellectual abilities, whilst artistic and practical activities continue to offer a creative outlet for self-expression. As students deepen their studies, they are encouraged to take on more responsibility in their learning and start exploring potential career and life paths. The curriculum in Class 11 helps students understand the hidden complexities of the world, encouraging them to think deeply, objectively and critically and develop their sense of social responsibility.
Developmental Stage
In Class 12, students are poised on the threshold of adulthood, with a strong sense of who they are and what they can contribute to the world. This final year of Waldorf education focuses on preparing students for their future, both academically, personally and with careers support.
Curriculum Themes
The curriculum in Class 12 is designed to help students integrate their learning and understand the connections between different areas of knowledge and their real-world applications, and encourages them to think critically about the issues they will face as young adults. It seeks to prepare the students for the joys and challenges of the world they will soon enter, whilst fostering a deep sense of creativity, ethical responsibility, empathy and self-awareness.
Advanced subjects such as literature, history, mathematics, and sciences are studied in depth, and students must undertake independent research projects and presentations. Alongside academic work and working towards their qualifications, Class 12 students continue to develop personal responsibility, creative collaboration and ethical reflection, whilst strengthening their artistic, academic and practical skills.
We recognise that choosing a school is a big decision. We invite you to visit us and learn more about how a Waldorf education at Ringwood Waldorf School can benefit your child.
Address
Ringwood Waldorf School, Folly Farm Lane,
Ashley, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2NN
Open Term Time
Monday – Friday
8.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
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