Education founded on the principles of Rudolf Steiner
About Michael Oak Waldorf School
Michael Oak Waldorf School provides a creative child-centred education at Nursery, Primary and High school levels up to and including Grade 10. The school occupies one hectare of rambling grounds in quiet surroundings, close to Kenilworth station in Cape Town.
Michael Oak was started in 1962 through the initiative of parents who wanted Waldorf education for their children. The school started out in the dining room of one of the parents who lived just minutes away in Rosmead Avenue. The Old House was bought by parents on an auction and provided the first classrooms for the 15 pupils. School assemblies were held in the present reception foyer. Bricks were laid by parents and the first classrooms completed with their hard work. More classrooms were followed by a school hall, then a neighbour's house was bought for the kindergarten.. The rest has been a story of continuing growth and development, where parents, staff and pupils form a vibrant and strong school community, a school where teachers really love to teach.
Michael Oak is a registered independent school and a member of the Independent Schools Association in South Africa (ISASA).
The school is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising parents and teachers. The College of Teachers serves the pedagogical needs of the school and essentially fulfils the role of school principal.
There are sixteen Waldorf schools in South Africa registered with the S.A. Federation of Waldorf Schools, and well over 1000 of these schools throughout the world, with many opening every year.
Our Goals are...
- To provide an education for boys and girls that embraces every race, colour, creed and class bringing together a healthy cross-section of South African society.
- To maintain a warm and supportive learning environment.
- To educate each individual child in a holistic and caring way to realise his or her own full inborn potential.
- To send out into the world well-rounded individuals able to meet the challenges of tomorrow, with particular emphasis on the following essential lifeskills :
- self-confidence, enthusiasm, curiosity;
- clear and creative thinking;
- social awareness, a sense of responsibility;
- ability to forge relationships in a spirit of reconciliation and co-operation;
- reverence for life, love of learning, faith in the future.
- To develop further the art of education within the school and in the wider community.
- To provide a community centre for cultural activities and continuing education for life.