Kidbrooke Park, Priory Road, Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JA
10 reasons to choose Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School, Early & Lower
Top line
Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School, Early & Lower has a Schoolsmith Score® of 72. It is one of the best independent schools in and around Forest Row and one of the 3 best primary schools for 2 miles.
School fundamentals
Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School, Early & Lower is an independent junior day school for boys and girls (50%/50%) between the ages of 2 and 14 years. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is the junior division of Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School, an all-through school to age 18, and is a member of the Steiner-Waldorf Education group. Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School, Early & Lower fees range from £3,600 (Rec) to £6,180 per term (2025/26). Fees include VAT but exclude lunches.
Average class size
Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School, Early & Lower usually has one class per year and an average Lower School class size of 20 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
At the end of Year 9 most pupils move up from Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf Lower School to the Upper School.
The Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School, Early & Lower curriculum
School follows the Steiner curriculum which emphasises creativity with a balance of artistic, practical and intellectual topics. For example, technology lessons are handwork (knitting, sewing, etc), and craft (woodwork, metalwork, basket weaving), and gardening. The first lesson of the day is the two hour thematic ‘Main Lesson’, after which there are five discrete subject lessons. Curriculum also includes PSHE, Spanish, German. The school has a no devices policy for pupils up to Year 6, and there is no formal testing through primary years.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups and visiting speakers.
Specialist teaching
Steiner practice is that the same class teacher stays with the same pupils from Class 1 to Class 8 teaching Main Lesson and some other subjects. Specialist staff teach subjects such as languages, sport, eurythmy, craft and handwork.
Sport at Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School, Early & Lower
School offers PE and up to 10 seasonal sports. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in orienteering and basketball.
The Arts at Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School, Early & Lower
Art, music and Eurythmy are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. Two orchestras. DT covers handwork (eg sewing, needlework, knitting) and craft (eg woodwork, metal working, basket weaving).
Wraparound care
School day runs from 8.15am to 3.15pm. Homework Club extends the day to 4.00pm.
Find another school near Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School, Early & Lower
Greenfields Infant & Junior School (0.4 miles); Brambletye School (1.8 miles); Cumnor House School (5.2 miles).
Groombridge St Thomas’ Church of England Primary School (9.2 miles); St Stephen’s Church of England Primary School, Godstone (11.2 miles); Newick Church of England Primary School (11.4 miles).
Michael Hall Steiner-Waldorf School (0 miles); Greenfields School (0.4 miles); Lingfield College (Lingfield Notre Dame) (7 miles).
Imberhorne School (5 miles); Uckfield Community Technology College (11.2 miles); Hazelwick School (11.3 miles).