About us
The Dublin Steiner School was established in response to growing demand from parents for a true educational alternative for pre-school and school-age children living in Dublin. We join an already established community of five other Steiner schools across Ireland in Kilkenny, Kildare, Clare and Galway.
The school delivers the ethos of Steiner Waldorf education, the international pedagogy derived from the insights of Austrian-born scientist, philosopher and educator Rudolf Steiner. This holistic education integrates disciplines of movement, fine arts and academics into the study of humanities, science and math. Our school program provides an educational experience that meets the needs of each student in a developmentally appropriate manner, integrating critical thinking, emotional intelligence and the arts. We believe in creating a nurturing and inspiring environment for our students to discover themselves and their potential. We strive to create a deeply meaningful learning process upon which experience, not just acquisition, underscores knowledge- thereby encouraging students to be active and creative thinkers. The school’s focus is on creativity, developing emotional intelligence, and cultivating a love of learning as an end in itself, rather than as a means to an end.
Dublin Steiner School is part of Saoirse Waldorf pre-school and administrated by parents entirely on a voluntary basis. It is a non-profit and is registered as a charity (RCN 20077181). The kindergarten opened in 2009 and the primary school started in 2017.
Our Mission
“The heart of the Waldorf method is that education is an art–it must speak to the child’s experience. To educate the whole child, his heart and his will must be reached, as well as the mind”
Rudolf Steiner
Through the Steiner Waldorf ethos, we raise a diverse group of young people who are distinguished by the scope and acuity of their minds, as well as the depth and integrity of their character. Using a developmentally appropriate approach, we nurture each child’s unique capacities to meet the world with confidence and a sense of purpose.
Our Vision
We are a model Waldorf school in the centre of Dublin.
Our vision is that:
- Children are open, curious and ready to lead with integrity and conscience
- All families in Dublin can choose a Steiner Waldorf education for their children (through the establishment of a sustainable school)
- The school enriches, and is enriched by, the community
- The school is a beacon for the best teachers and staff
Our Values
“You must be for the children the representative of the good, the true and the beautiful. The children must be drawn to the truth, goodness, and beauty simply because the children are drawn to you yourself.”
Rudolf Steiner
We have five school values which we use to guide us in all that we do.
Reverence to Beauty
We see the world is beautiful through its creations, people and places. Beauty begets care, gratitude, order and calm. Handwork and creative expression are tenets woven into all aspects of our academics. We take great care and thoughtfulness in our work, in its content and presentation. In our decision-making, we are guided by the principles of creativity and patience.
Reverence to Truth
We understand the quest for truth as the foundation of all scholarship, learning and inquiry. We seek what is true, through experiential and contextual learning in place of rote acquisition. We refer to original source material and give students the space and resources to come to their own active conclusions on the subjects at hand. In our decision-making, we are guided by the principles of curiosity and integrity.
Reverence to Goodness
We strive to find what is good in the world. Goodness is respect, inclusion, fairness, gratitude and compassion. We learn this in our curriculum, and from our teachers and peers. Through doing what is good and true we ourselves become worthy of imitation. In our decision-making, we are guided by the principles of honesty and responsibility.
Reverence to Nature
We hold reverence for the natural world and embrace our responsibility as stewards of the environment. Our connection to time and place is deeply rooted in nature, its seasons and its beauty. In our decision-making, we are guided by the principles of sustainability and conservation.
Reverence to Each Other
We acknowledge that as human beings we are all connected. We believe that as human beings we are also spiritual beings. We take time to foster meaningful relationships and we are motivated to serve humanity with strength of will, depth of feeling, clarity of thought and the ability to work cooperatively with each other. In our decision-making, we are guided by the principles of community and fairness.