Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools

Special Education Needs

The Camphill-Rudolf Steiner-School is an independent voluntary school situated on three estates beside the River Dee on the outskirts of Aberdeen. The school offers residential places for full term or weekly boarders as well as day places for local pupils. The school year covers 40 weeks over 4 terms. Camphill offers an inclusive, comprehensive holistic education programme known as ‘Curative Education’ for 88 pupils with complex special needs ranging from deprivation to autism from the age of 3 to 19 years. For pupils aged 16-19 years there is an Extended Schooling Programme which offers a more individualised programme geared towards graduation and preparation for the future. Cairnlee House offers further training for 12 young adults from 16-25 years. Pupils are generally funded by their local authority. All pupils whether day or residential, belong to a life-sharing House Community which is made up of groups of one to two pupils cared for by a co-worker who guides the pupils in his/her personal care and a number of co-workers who also live in the house. In School, classes are generally grouped according to age, using the Waldorf Curriculum based on guidelines formulated by Rudolf Steiner, which encompass the Scottish 5-14 Guidelines. In addition individual therapies are given to meet the specific needs of the pupils. Older pupils participate in a variety of craft workshops. As part of its commitment to training, the School offers co-workers a Foundation Year and, to successful applicants, a chance to participate in the four-year BA Programme in Curative Education run in partnership with Aberdeen University. The School is accredited with the National Autistic Society and registered with the Scottish Care Commission.