Class Teacher at York Steiner School

Deadline for applications: Sunday, 30th March 2025

The class teacher forms a very deep bond with the children as they accompany them on their Steiner journey. The job description outlines the general class teacher responsibilities. 

OUR ETHOS AND PEDAGOGY

We work with the pedagogical principles of Rudolf Steiner in partnership with the Steiner Waldorf Schools’ Fellowship. The key responsibilities are:

• To lay the foundations for the journey ahead
• To establish good classroom habits and routines, helping the children to develop a class dynamic that is both nurturing and purposeful;
• To seek to understand the children, working to nurture the healthy development of their physical, social, emotional and intellectual capacities, understanding their strengths and weaknesses and structuring work accordingly
• To provide a balanced curriculum at a pace suitable to the children’s age and development, based on an understanding of Waldorf pedagogy/child development
• To maintain good discipline, holding boundaries and developing children’s confidence to ensure that effective learning can take place in the class.
• To work with classroom assistants, subject teachers and learning support in a collaborative and supportive way
• To develop the children’s capacity for critical thinking and problem solving, perseverance, academic curiosity and independent study and research, ensuring good work habits are established
• To engage in pedagogical study/discussion and child observation with colleagues and take a proactive and compassionate approach to addressing areas of concern/need
• To share their subject knowledge with other teachers and classes where relevant
• To strive to be a reflective practitioner on a path of self-development and participate actively in the appraisal process

     MONITORING PROGRESS AND PARENT COMMUNICATION

• To take overall responsibility for the progress of the pupils including feedback, assessment and monitoring
• To organise regular class and one-to-one parents’ evenings
• To complete detailed end of year reports
• To provide necessary updates to parents as and when appropriate
• To support and participate in the enrolment process for new pupils

OTHER

• To coordinate the purchase of materials for the class
• To organise class trips, events and festivals
• To provide cover for absent colleagues when the need arises

COMPLIANCE

• To maintain the classroom environment to a high standard and observe Health and Safety policies and procedures
• To participate in staff meetings where relevant
• To operate within the school’s policies and procedures including safeguarding.
• To attend statutory and non-statutory training courses as required      

We implement safeguarding protocols in all aspects of our working practices and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.  All successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check and this will include social media checks.   

York Steiner School is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to ensuring that every job applicant or employee receives equal treatment irrespective of sex, marital status, age, race, nationality, disability, sexuality or religious belief.

In order to apply for this role, please complete an application form, which can be downloaded at https://www.yorksteinerschool.org/job-opportunities/ and send to the School HR Manager at sarah.heaton@yorksteinerschool.org alongside a cover letter and up to date CV.

Closing Date: Sunday, 30th March 2024   

Interview Date: Week Commencing 28th April 2025

Start Date: September 2025

Training: For non-Steiner trained teachers who have PGCE/QTS, the school will fund a Postgraduate Diploma in Waldorf Education and Creative Pedagogies run by Bath Spa University. Please see the link below: 

https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/courses/pg-waldorf-education-and-creative-pedagogies/

PERSON SPECIFICATION