The Upper School

“Our endeavour must be to develop free human beings ableto impart purpose and direction to their lives”

- Rudolf Steiner

Class 9 is a year of transition for the pupils as joining the Upper School meansincreased expectations in terms of both work and maturity.

Class 10 is another big step up for pupils as they continue to mature and taketheir first set of GCSE exams.

Class 11 is the year when it all comes together and the pupils reap thebenefits of all the seeds that have been sown in the previous years. This is when

they also take their second set of GCSE exams.

In the Upper School (Classes 9, 10 and 11) we combine the InternationalSteiner Waldorf curriculum with GCSE studies. The Main Lessons, with their

broad range of subjects and their cross-curricular approach, form the foundationof everything we do at Elmfield.

This exciting curriculum offers what we believe is the most interesting curriculumin the country and gives our students opportunities that are just not available in

the mainstream.

Our hope is that pupils will leave Elmfield as well rounded and sociableindividuals with a broad range of skills and qualities that are valued by

employers and admissions tutors at universities and colleges.

Beyond the specific skills across the curriculum, each subject should be anopportunity to raise wider issues. We believe that such study should not be

focused solely on learning or passing exams but should be seen as a means toreflect on the deeper questions that young people have within themselves, and

to guide them towards becoming responsible, creative, purposeful citizens.

The GCSE programme is introduced in the Upper School and runs over three years.

This means our students normally do one more year of school than their mainstream peers. This extra year allows them to arrive at 6th Form College as more mature individuals, something which benefits them and is appreciated by their new teachers.

They also have had the chance to study a much broader range of subjects than other teenagers and to do so in a less pressured environment.

Pupils have the opportunity to take up to 8 GCSEs at Elmfield.

The students begin their formal GCSE studies at the start of Class 9 and take up to 4 GCSEs at the end of Class 10 – currently English Language, Maths, French and German.

At the start of Class 10 they also begin studying for their next 4 GCSEs, usually chosen from English Literature; Physics; Biology; Chemistry; Music; Art; and History. They take exams in these subjects at the end of Class 11.

Our exam results are consistently above the national average andthe majority of the students go on to college to do A-levels.

• In 2015, 77% of our Class 11 final year students left with 5 or more A*-C grade GCSEs.

• Within that 100% got A*-C in their English Language and 92% got A*-C in their Maths (compared to the national average of 66% for English and 63% for Maths).

• Their results included 19 A*, 23 A and 22 B grades.• Seven Class 11 pupils went to King Edward VI College in Stourbridge (one of

the very best colleges in the whole country), two to Haybridge Sixth Form, one to Halesowen College, two to Stourbridge College and one to Spain to do her A-levels there.

It is worth noting that at Elmfield we do not “hot-house” or put excessivepressure on exam results and so the results our pupils achieve is only one way

of measuring their success. We are also keen to build the confidence andself-belief of our pupils, educating the whole human being, and believe we

do this extremely successfully.

GCSEs

Main LessonsThe Waldorf curriculum continues in the Upper School with a selection of mainlessons, such as:

Class 9: Geometry; Probability; History of Civilisation; Biology - Organs/Anatomy; Meteorology/Climatology; Organic Chemistry; Physics - Technology; History of Art - Cave Art to Renaissance; Modern History; History of Drama; Drama Production; IT.

Class 10: Trigonometry; Surveying; History of Literature; Biology - Reproduction;Inorganic Chemistry; Physics - Newtonian Mechanics; Ancient Civilisations;Industrial Geography; History of Art - Renaissance to present day.

Class 11: Projective Geometry; Cell Biology; Chemistry - Elements; Physics -Atoms; Evolutionary and Comparative Zoology; World Geography; History ofMusic; Drama Production; Parsifal.

ModulesEach day in the Upper school is a combination of

GCSE subject lessons, Main Lessons and Modules.

Modules run from 8.45am to 10.15am in mixed groups of students from all three U/S classes. They are an exciting way to start the day and give the pupils the chance to try new activities and develop a wide range of skills. Modules run in three-week blocks and each block usually has five modules to choose from. A typical year of module choices looks like this:

Dance; Drawing; Pottery; Schools’ Shakespeare Festival; Music for Shakespeare Festival; Blacksmithing; Art – Figures; Mountain-biking; Bow-making; Choreography; Dressmaking; Basketball; Home Cookery; Harmony; Candle making; Tie Dye; Class 11 Play; Archery; Stagecraft; Stained Glass; European Cookery; Leatherwork;Eurythmy; Half-marathon training; 3D Art; Upper School Choir; Class 9 Play; Gym-nastics; Drama Skills; Folk Music; Vegetarian Cookery; Jewellery-making; Wood-work; Art - Insects/Plants; Summer Sports; Willow Work; Seasonal Cookery.

Maths - Diana Ball, Sarah Parkin, Cathy Showell and Canute GayleEnglish - Kelly Underwood and Emma HaywardFrench - Sarah ParkinGerman - Elaine SheppardPhysics - Judyth Sassoon and Cathy ShowellBiology - Catherine Maguire and Judyth SassoonChemistry - Cathy Showell and Judyth SassoonMusic - Caroline PriceArt - Gaynor Gallagher and Sue DuttonHistory - Kelly Underwood and Emma HaywardProjective Geometry - Judyth SassoonJason Pond – Woodwork, metalwork and craftsIan Neale – SportTomie Ando-Boardman - EurythmyDrama - Kelly UnderwoodPottery and handwork - Briar CollinsCookery - Heather HowesDance and choreography - Beth Nabbs

Upper School Staff

Tracking ProgressIt is important that both pupils and their parents know what progress is being made through the Upper School.

The way we do this is via:

• Half-termly Progress Reports that track effort and achievement in GCSE subjects, main lessons and modules. They also report on the pupil’s homework and discipline record, organisational skills, attendance and punctuality.

• Regular parents’ evenings including opportunities to receive updates on progress, which pupils are also expected to attend.

• End of year reports.• Commendations for exceptional work, effort or personal progress.• Practice GCSE exams at the end of Class 9 (“mock mocks”).• Mock GCSE exams in January in both Classes 10 and 11.

Alongside their GCSEs, Main Lessons and Modules the pupils have access to a wide range of other opportunities, including:

• Weekly assemblies, sometimes with guest speakers.• Work experience outside school at the end of Class 10. • Increased responsibilities with younger pupils at Elmfield, including a partnership

between Class 9 and Class 1. • Career talks.• The school council – two pupils from each class represent their fellow students

and a Class 11 pupil chairs the meetings.• Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.• Upper School Music.• Class plays in Classes 9 and 11.• Participation in the Shakespeare Schools’ Festival.• Trips – Class 9 go on a ten day trip to our sister school Schloss Hamborn in

Germany; Class 10 go on a trip combining study and outdoor activities; Class 11 go on a final trip abroad designed around a social or community deed.

Extra-curricular activities

Elmfield Rudolf Steiner SchoolLove Lane

Stourbridge, West Midlands

DY8 2EA01384 394 633 info@elmfield.com www.elmfield.com

Quotes from Class 11 pupils“I have enjoyed not only how good our education has been but also how personal everything is. I am so grateful for everything this school has done for me. I will never forget it!” Beth

“Elmfield has allowed me to be an individual.” Meghan

“I’ve enjoyed almost everything about Elmfield. It’s been brilliant and given me the platform and support to be who I want to be. There has also been the freedom to persevere in my own areas of interest.” Nick

“Thank you Elmfield for giving me all that I need to feel ready to go out into the world! I will always remember how happy I’ve been here.” Anna

“There were things I sometimes questioned and didn’t always enjoy in Classes 8 and 9 but now that I’m in Class 11 it’s all suddenly making sense and I can see why we did things the way we did. As a result I’m really enjoying school and am very glad I stayed on.” Jake

Visit www.elmfield.comto watch a video about the Upper School.

You will also find a link to our Facebook pagewhich has regular posts about life at Elmfield.