Michael Hall is an independent

Steiner Waldorf school Waldorf education, also known as Steiner education, is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. Its educational style is holistic, intended to develop pupils' intellectual, artistic, and practical s ...

in Kidbrooke Park on the edge of Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. Founded in 1925, it is the oldest Steiner school in Britain, it has an enrolment of 400 students aged between three (Kindergarten) and eighteen (6th Form). The school owns a large amount of land. Predominantly a day school, boarding is arranged with families of children at the school. It offers a broad education to boys and girls from pre-school to university entrance, based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. The curriculum embodies cultural studies, sciences, general arts and humanities, crafts, music and movement and foreign languages. EFL is available in term time. The school explains its educational ethos, curriculum and approach to prospective parents at open mornings. A range of sports, games and extra-curricular activities is offered. Entrance is non-selective and no streaming; for sixth-form entry an interview and GCSE grade C (preferably higher) in sixth-form subjects.

History

The school was founded by a group of five people on the initiative of

Daphne Olivier Daphne Olivier (October 1889 – 14 July 1950) was the third daughter of the British politician Sydney Olivier, 1st Baron Olivier, and Margaret Cox. She was the sister of Margery (1886–1974), Brynhild (1887–1935) and Noël (1893–1969), a ...

after she had attended one of Rudolf Steiner's educational conferences in

Stuttgart Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the ...

in 1923. She approached Rudolf Steiner, asking for his support in founding the first Waldorf school in the English-speaking world. As she was speaking on behalf of three other women, Steiner asked if they could not include a suitable male teacher. This prompted Daphne to recommend her friend and future husband,

Cecil Harwood Alfred Cecil Harwood *05.01.1898 London (UK) †22.12.1975 Forest Row Sussex was a lecturer, Waldorf teacher, writer, editor and anthroposophist. Cecil Harwood was the youngest of five children born into the household of a pastor. He attended sc ...

, who met Rudolf Steiner in this manner for the first time and remained connected to the school for the rest of his life. It was founded in South London and named "The New School", until moving to Kidbrooke Park in Forest Row after World War II, whereupon it took on the name Michael Hall. In November 2014 a book titled "A Good School" was published by Blue Filter documenting the first ninety years of the school's history. With an original manuscript by Joy Mansfield and edited by Brien Masters and Stephen Sheen, the book provides an overview of the school from its beginnings in

Streatham Streatham ( ) is a district in south London, England. Centred south of Charing Cross, it lies mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth. Streatham was in Surrey ...

to its current home in the

Sussex Sussex (), from the Old English (), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English ...

countryside.

Kidbrooke Park

Michael Hall - Rudolph Steiner School at Forest Row - geograph

Kidbrooke Park is a grade II* listed house built for the

Earl of Abergavenny Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form '' jarl'', and meant " chieftain", partic ...

at the time when Eridge Castle was in ruins and occupied by the Nevills until 1825. Date of construction is 1735 and stands on 60 acres of parkland landscaped by the landscape architect Humphry Repton, which is separately listed at grade II. ''Includes detailed description and history of house, gardens and park'' A number of its facilities are available for hire including the reception hall (The Great Hall), The Long Room, The Round Room, The Terrace Room and The Oak Panelled Room for weddings, conferences, parties, film shoots and memorials. There is a theatre seating 450 persons, an expansive and modern gym and additional lecture studio capable of seating 80 people.

Former students

There is an association of former students run by the school's administration. Former students include: *

Jean-Michel Le Gal Jean-Michel Le Gal is a Canadian stage, television and film actor and creator. Early life Le Gal was born in Toronto, Ontario to a francophone stage actress and television/music producer. He began acting at 10, opposite a squirrel puppet in the t ...

- actor * Michaelina Argy MBE - Thalidomide campaigner * Gavin Carr – conductor and opera singer * Oliver Chris – actor * Frank Dillane – actor, known for playing Young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Nick Clark in Fear the Walking Dead * John Davy – journalist *

Winslow Eliot Winslow Eliot (born August 19, 1956), also known as Ellie Winslow, is an American novelist and nonfiction writer. She is the author of ten novels, which have been translated into twelve languages including Greek, Swedish, French, Italian, and Japa ...

– writer * Bella Freud – Young Designer of the Year * Eva Frommer – pioneering child psychiatrist, writer, translator and sponsor of Steiner publications *

Marguerite Lundgren Marguerite Lundgren (born 5 October 1916 in London, d. 1 August 1983 in Hamburg, Germany) was a British/Swedish eurythmist and anthroposophist. Marguerite Lundgren was born to a Swedish father and English mother and during her childhood lived both ...

–

eurythmist Eurythmy is an expressive performing art, movement art originated by Rudolf Steiner in conjunction with Marie Steiner-von Sivers, his wife, Marie, in the early 20th century. Primarily a performance art, it is also used in pedagogy, education, esp ...

* Jonael Schickler – philosopher * Oliver Tobias – actor * Jonathan Westphal – philosopher * Sean Yates – international cyclist * Charlotte Tilbury - celebrity makeup artist and founder of eponymous makeup brand

References

{{authority control Waldorf schools in the United Kingdom Independent schools in East Sussex Educational institutions established in 1925 1925 establishments in England Grade II* listed buildings in East Sussex Grade II* listed houses Grade II listed parks and gardens in East Sussex Forest Row