Steiner Education

Who Was Rudolf Steiner?

Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925) was an Austrian philosopher, scientist, educator, and architect with a profound interest in human development, education, and society. In 1919, in response to a request from the workers at the Waldorf factory in Stuttgart, Germany, he founded the first Steiner (or Waldorf) school. Steiner personally oversaw the founding of the school and developed a carefully structured education system designed to engage the whole human being: thinking, feeling, and willing, providing a truly integrated approach to learning.

What Is Steiner Education?

Steiner Education is a global education movement, with more than 1,300 schools worldwide, rooted in the belief that children grow through distinct developmental stages and learn best when teaching aligns with their needs.

At its core, the curriculum:

  • Is fully integrated and age‑appropriate, building with the child through the early years, primary years and adolescence.

  • Works through the three‑fold approach of Head (thinking), Heart (feeling) and Hands (doing) so that students grow intellectually, emotionally and practically.

  • Engages the child’s full spectrum of experience (often described via the “12 senses”) so that learning is lived, tactile and meaningful, not just memorising content, but discovering self, others and the world.

  • Recognises the teacher as observer, guide and mentor, someone who knows the child’s pathway, maps their growth and partners meaningfully with families.

Why It’s Relevant Today

Steiner Education remains both timeless and contemporary, having stood the test of over 100 years. It’s not about covering standards, but about meeting the child where they are and helping them unfold to their full potential.

In Australia, Steiner schools align with the national curriculum frameworks and meet state education standards, while retaining their distinctive approach to human development and learning.

Through intentional planning, honest assessment and meaningful reporting, Steiner Education ensures students not only progress academically but grow as individuals—rooted, confident and capable.