Why Waldorf Teaching?

Inspire and be inspired

Waldorf teaching is different. With the relationship between the teacher and the child or young person at the heart of everything we do, we go beyond the delivery of a set curriculum. Waldorf teachers are creative, and our schools create the space and opportunity for that creativity to flourish.


Waldorf teaching is an art, a craft and a science

Teaching as an art involves learning to understand the needs and voices of children and young people. It means choosing and preparing just the right material at the right time so that pupils’ imagination is sparked and they are able to dive into the subject with joy.

Teaching as a craft is about deep knowledge of and enthusiasm for a subject, and using this alongside pedagogical understanding and professional intuition (knowing-in-practice) to enable healthy and effective learning within a broad curriculum framework.

Teaching as a science means using the pedagogical anthropology (understanding of the developing human being) that underpins Waldorf education to inform your teaching. It involves engaging with relevant and contemporary educational theory and research in a process of ongoing professional development.

Waldorf teaching is not an ‘easy’ option – it demands commitment, passion, research and creativity. There are no ‘off the shelf’ curricula, no commercial schemes and programmes, and no ready-made powerpoint presentations (in fact no interactive whiteboards at all in the lower school!). Within a broad framework, you will become a curriculum designer for your class or subject. You will need to learn new skills – singing, movement games, storytelling and maybe even playing the recorder. But Waldorf teaching also affords the opportunity to develop as a person and as a professional within a collaborative organisation: to play a vital role in an education that truly has children and young people at its centre.


Teaching different ages and stages:

Early Childhood Practitioners focus on work with children aged 0-5. They work in a variety of settings, from childminding to ‘playgroup’ provision for 2-4 year olds in schools.

Kindergarten Teachers and assistants work with children aged from 3 to 6 in mixed age groups. There are independent kindergartens, and also kindergarten classes within schools. There is no formal, academic teaching in kindergarten – children learn through practical activities and play.

Class Teachers usually work with the same group of children for up to eight years. They will often start in Class 1, when children aged 6-7 begin their formal learning journey, and cycle back round after Class 5 or Class 8. Some class teachers specialise in the Class 6-8 age range. Similar to a primary school teacher, class teachers will teach most subjects across the curriculum, but much of the teaching is done through cross-curricular ‘blocks’ lasting 3-4 weeks.

Subject Teachers teach across a range of classes, offering specialist teaching in world languages, crafts, handwork, games and movement, eurythmy, music, drama and outdoor learning.

Upper School Teachers teach young people aged 14 – 19. They will usually have a subject specialism, but this might be broader than in other education systems (e.g. humanities, science etc). Waldorf schools offer a range of secondary qualifications, from standard GCSEs, A-Levels and Scottish Highers to independent portfolio qualifications and innovative programmes like the Integrative Education Diploma and the Certificate of Steiner Education.

Join us



  • Job Title

    1:1 Learning Support Assistant

  • Location

    Cardiff, Cardiff

  • Posted

    16th July 2025

  • School

    Cardiff Steiner School

  • Salary

    £12.21 per hour plus statutory holiday pay

  • Hours

    Part Time, Term Time

  • Description

    Join Our Team – 1:1 Learning Support Assistant (Upper School) Cardiff Steiner School is seeking a compassionate and committed 1:1 Learning Support Assistant to work with a 15-year ...

  • Job Title

    Expression of Interest

  • Location

    Forest Row, East Sussex

  • Posted

    8th July 2025

  • School

    Michael Hall School

  • Salary

    TBC

  • Hours

    Full Time

  • Description

    If you would like us to retain your details for future opportunities at Michael Hall School, please complete an application form. Please ignore the job role this is an expression ...

  • Job Title

    Marketing, Communications & Alumni

  • Location

    York, North Yorkshire

  • Posted

    4th July 2025

  • School

    York Steiner School

  • Salary

    £11,600

  • Hours

    Part Time

  • Description

    Marketing, Communications & Alumni Manager at York Steiner School 12 Month Fixed Term part time position working all year round - 2 days per week, flexible working arrangement ...

  • Job Title

    Class 1 Teacher

  • Location

    Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire

  • Posted

    2nd July 2025

  • School

    Nant-y-Cwm Steiner School

  • Salary

    TBC dependent on experince

  • Hours

    Full Time

  • Description

    Do you believe that education should be truly child-centred, holistic and nurturing? Are you enthusiastic about promoting a love of learning and engage in development of your own ...

  • Job Title

    Teaching Assistant

  • Location

    Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire

  • Posted

    27th June 2025

  • School

    Nant-y-Cwm Steiner School

  • Salary

    12.65 p/h + holiday entitlement

  • Hours

    Part Time

  • Description

    Do you believe that education should be truly child-centred, holistic and nurturing? Are you enthusiastic about promoting a love of learning and engage in development of your own ...

  • Job Title

    Clerk to Board of Trustees

  • Location

    Dartington, Devon

  • Posted

    18th June 2025

  • School

    South Devon Steiner School

  • Salary

    £16 per hour

  • Hours

    Part Time

  • Description

    At South Devon Steiner School, we have a new position open for an Clerk to our Board of Trustees  Job overview You’ll be responsible for the smooth running of the Trustee Bod ...

Join the Waldorf Community

Register your interest in future roles at Waldorf UK or any of our Schools by clicking the link below and completing the form

If you're searching for your next education job, please get in touch. You'll be working for a great employer and be part of a friendly, helpful team. We're always interested to hear from enthusiastic, committed education professionals - send us your CV now via our Talent Pool and detail what sort of role you're looking for. By joining our Talent Pool we'll know you're interested in working here when the right vacancy comes up.

Waldorf UK Schools

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Waldorf International Schools

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Getting in to Waldorf Teaching

There are many pathways into teaching in the Waldorf Education movement in the UK


If you do not yet have any Early Years qualifications, the Early Childhood training programmes are as follows:


Crossfields Institute Level 3 Diploma in Integrative Early Childhood Pedagogy (Early Years Educator): Holistic Baby and Child Care: https://emerson.org.uk/course/level-3-diploma-in-holistic-baby-and-child-care-early-years-educator/ (specialising in working with children from birth to five).


Crossfields Institute Level 4 Diploma in Integrative Early Childhood Pedagogy: Steiner Waldorf: https://loswec.co.uk/ (London) or https://neswec.org.uk/ (York and Stourbridge) (specialising in kindergarten – age 3-6)


Interest-free loans are available for the course fees for these courses. They are all part-time courses and can be completed alongside a full- or part-time role.


If you already have an early years qualification, the above courses all offer a ‘quality mark’ pathway, where the course content is the same, but the assessment burden is significantly reduced.


If you already have a PGCE / PGDE or other recognised teaching qualification: You may be able to apply for a teaching role at a Waldorf school. However, you will be expected to complete a further part-time post-graduate qualification – the Post-Graduate Diploma in Waldorf Education and Creative Pedagogies: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/courses/pg-waldorf-education-and-creative-pedagogies/ This course can also be completed whilst teaching in a state or other independent school.


Interest-free loans and some bursaries are available for the course fees for this course.


If you do not yet have a teaching qualification, but you do have a degree, you can apply for a role as a teaching assistant, a classroom assistant, a learning support assistant, a cover teacher or a training teacher. You can then complete the Post-Graduate Diploma in Waldorf Education with PGCE and QTS: https://emerson.org.uk/course/postgraduate-diploma-in-waldorf-education/


Interest-free loans and apprenticeship funding are available for the course fees for this course. You will need English, Maths and Science GCSE equivalents, as well as a degree in any subject.


If you already have a PGCE / PGDE or other recognised teaching qualification: You may be able to apply for a teaching role at a Waldorf school. However, you will be expected to complete a further part-time post-graduate qualification – the Post-Graduate Diploma in Waldorf Education and Creative Pedagogies: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/courses/pg-waldorf-education-and-creative-pedagogies/ This course can also be completed whilst teaching in a state or other independent school.


Interest-free loans and some bursaries are available for the course fees for this course.


If you do not yet have a teaching qualification, but you do have a degree, you can apply for a role as a teaching assistant, a classroom assistant, a learning support assistant, a cover teacher or a training teacher. You can then complete the Post-Graduate Diploma in Waldorf Education with PGCE and QTS: https://emerson.org.uk/course/postgraduate-diploma-in-waldorf-education/


Interest-free loans and apprenticeship funding are available for the course fees for this course. You will need English and Maths GCSE equivalents, as well as a degree relevant to your specialist subject.


For non-National Curriculum subjects (such as craft, handwork or outdoor learning) you may need to follow the Class Teacher training route, and develop your specialist teaching independently and based on your previous experience. Eurythmy training is available through Eurythmy UK: https://eurythmyuk.org/


If you already have a PGCE / PGDE or other recognised teaching qualification: You may be able to apply for a teaching role at a Waldorf school. However, you will be expected to complete a further part-time post-graduate qualification – the Post-Graduate Diploma in Waldorf Education and Creative Pedagogies: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/courses/pg-waldorf-education-and-creative-pedagogies/ This course can also be completed whilst teaching in a state or other independent school.


Interest-free loans and some bursaries are available for the course fees for this course.


If you do not yet have a teaching qualification, but you do have a relevant degree: You can apply for Upper School roles as a teaching assistant, a classroom assistant, a learning support assistant, a cover teacher or a training teacher. You can then complete the Post-Graduate Diploma in Waldorf Education with PGCE and QTS: https://emerson.org.uk/course/postgraduate-diploma-in-waldorf-education/


Interest-free loans and apprenticeship funding are available for the course fees for this course. You will need English and Maths GCSE equivalents, as well as a degree relevant to your specialist subject.

Waldorf Teachers' Standards


The Waldorf Teachers' Standards (previously the National Steiner Waldorf Teacher Standards) were originally created in 2020 as part of a collaborative process to set out the clear benchmarks required for all teachers in Steiner Schools.


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