When the children leave their Class Teacher they are entering a new phase in their development. During puberty the thinking intellect begins to predominate. Questions, discussion, criticism – all the activities of the enquiring mind – grow in strength. Now education must foster imaginatively the faculty of clear independent thinking. Adolescents long for someone to respect and to ask for help. In the Upper School a teacher (known as the Class Sponsor) takes on special responsibility for pastoral care of the class and liaison with parents. Each Subject Teacher is the relevant resident expert in his or her own field. The task of all the teachers in this phase is the unfolding of the inner being of the pupil into an independent adult, working with the core principles of freedom, responsibility and collaboration.

Competitive exams play no part in the internal assessment in the school. However, each child is encouraged to attain his or her full potential and therefore the normal complement of GCSEs and GCE ‘A’ levels is taken: GCSEs at the end of Class 11 and ‘A’ levels at the end of Class 13. The important balancing of academic studies with the practical and aesthetic side of education provided by the Steiner Waldorf curriculum means that examinations are taken one year later than in other schools. Year on year, our pupils consistently produce results well above the national average.

Upper School pupils also gain experience through community work (e.g. helping at nurseries or old peoples’ homes, engaging in local environmental work, etc.). There are frequent trips to theatres, galleries, etc.
The School has a Careers Coordinator who provides Upper School pupils with the help and advice they need to make informed decisions about their futures both within and after school.