Michael Mount Waldorf School

Michael Mount Waldorf School is one of 18 registered schools in Southern Africa^[1] that practice Waldorf education.

Facts at a glance

.

• Type of school: Michael Mount Waldorf School is a private, co-educational day school in Bryanston, Johannesburg, South Africa. The school caters for early childhood, nursery, primary, middle and high school students – up to Matric.
• Number of students: 680
• Average class size: 25
• Number of teachers: 65
• Teacher qualifications: Degree plus a 2-year Waldorf education certificate. All teachers undergo mandatory biennial appraisals and training.
• Curriculum: The Curriculum of the Waldorf schools is used up to Class 11. It includes all subjects required by the Department of Basic Education.
• Matric: Michael Mount students write the internationally recognised Independent Examinations Board (IEB) National Senior Certificate examinations in Matric.
• Of note: Michael Mount students have maintained a 100% pass rate since the first Matric class wrote finals in 1987.^[2]
• Support measures: include Waldorf Extra Lessons, Curative Eurythmy, Support Teaching and Integrated Learning Therapy.
• Sport: Athletics, basketball, cricket, hockey, netball, soccer, swimming and tennis.
• Extra-curricular activities: These vary from year to year and can include any of the following: climbing, chess, drama, horse riding and music: orchestra, choir and individual instrument tuition.
• After-care: Available for children up to age 10.
• Campus size: 6 hectares.
• Enrolment requirements: Visit the school and attend an Introductory Talk. Pupil to undergo an entrance assessment followed by a teacher-pupil and teacher-family interview.
• Memberships: Michael Mount is a member of:

* Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA)

* Southern African Federation of Waldorf Schools^[3]

* International Association for Steiner / Waldorf Early Childhood Education.^[4]

• Status: The school is registered as a non-profit Organisation (NPO no: 001/314), as well as a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO no: 930003714).

A brief history of the School ^[5]

• 1960: Michael Mount Waldorf School is founded.
• 1964: The school acquires a 5 hectare campus on Culross Road in Bryanston.
• 1971: The swimming pool is completed.
• 1973: The tennis courts and first three permanent classrooms are completed.
• 1975: The nursery school moves into permanent classrooms.
• 1980: The high school starts.
• 1987: The first group of Michael Mount students write matric.
• 1989: Building of the school's auditorium commences.
• 1990: The aftercare facility is established.
• 1996: The Cyber Centre is completed.
• 2000: Start of the Toddler Group for children aged 2 to 3.
• 2001: Double streaming introduced.
• 2004: Four new classrooms for the high school completed.
• 2006: Building of a new high school block commences in November.
• 2009: The Library is completely transformed. Computerised cataloguing starts.
• 2009: Double streaming reaches the high school.
• 2011: Michael Mount acquires the Steiner Centre from the Anthroposophical Society on campus. It becomes the Steiner Centre for Art, Music and Drama.
• 2015: Two adjacent properties are purchased bringing the total size of the Michael Mount campus to 6 hectares.
• 2016: The Early Childhood Centre is established.
• 2016: Extension of the high school block to incorporate more classrooms.
• 2018: The AdVenture Leadership programme for post-matric students is launched
• 2019: Centenary of Waldorf education celebrated worldwide
• 2020: Michael Mount celebrates its 60th year

References

External links

• Michael Mount Waldorf official site