Upper School

The Upper School is for students age 14 (or turning 14 in the course of the school year) and up to the age of 19, when most of our students leave for university.

The Upper School curriculum is unique to The Acorn School, covering a wide range of subjects, though still underpinned by many Steiner Waldorf principles.

It is at this stage that the intellect begins to become engaged, with students thinking, exploring and learning for themselves. Material is presented to classes in lecture format, similar to university education. A multitude of subjects are offered, including:

  • English language and literature, history, philosophy, politics, Parzifal, history of art, history of architecture, comparative religions,
  • geography, ICT, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, human science (anatomy and physiology), zoology, environmental science,
  • art, drama, music, geometrical drawing, photography, carpentry, pottery, silversmithing, blacksmithing, stone carving, mosaic, stained glass
  • gymnastics, swimming, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, climbing, mountain biking, hill walking, orienteering, Canadian canoeing.

All students study all subjects all the way through for a broad and well-rounded education.

Subjects are offered in a main lesson each day within a three to four week cycle. Within this, a particular feature of our approach to learning is the ‘Three Day Rhythm’:

  • Day 1 – The subject material is presented.
  • Day 2 – The material from day 1 is recalled in detail, and students make an artistic drawing connected to the main theme.
  • Day 3 – The students write an essay on the subject being taught.

This three-day rhythm is repeated on successive days. At this stage in a student’s school life, there is a substantial amount of homework for each subject.

We do not take state examinations at the school, as we believe that these are too narrow and the curriculum is too inflexible. However, we have continual assessment of every student in every subject, with regular internal assessments (tests) so that teachers can gauge the ability of students. Examinations, based on the school’s unique curriculum, are taken in the course of the year, and are offered in lieu of state examinations. All results are logged in the student’s file and a record of these achievements is offered to UCAS for university entrance, if applicable. Students who may not be academic are nevertheless encouraged to immerse themselves in every subject offered, which helps them to become freethinking young adults, ready for the world.

The students in Class 12 are engaged in writing self-researched modules, which are submitted to universities to support their application. So far no student has failed to gain direct entrance to university using this system, and the school is proud of its university success rate, in a wide range of subjects. (see Alumni)

Some main lessons are offered outside the school, for example: a trip through Europe studying art and architecture, a residential main lesson in South West Wales constructing (and designing) a straw-bale roundhouse, a residential main lesson constructing a Proa (an Eastern out-rigged boat, some 25’ long), and the design and making of a 24’ gaff-rigged sailing Caledonian yawl.