Steiner schools warned of closure after first Ofsted inspections reveal 'deep concerns' over child safety

Steiner schools have been warned that they could be shut down after their first Ofsted inspections revealed staff were manhandling children and turning a blind eye to “sexualised” behaviour.

The chief inspector of schools, Amanda Spielman, has written to the Education Secretary to describe the “deeply concerning” safeguarding failures at Steiner schools and urged him close down any that fail to "rapidly" improve.

The move follows a long-running Telegraph investigation into fears about child safety at the schools.

Favoured by liberally-minded middle-class parents, Steiner schools base their curriculum on the spiritual philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, called anthroposophy, which emphasise child creativity and the importance of rearing free spirited individuals.

Last month Damian Hinds ordered Ofsted to carry out a series of urgent inspections at Steiner schools. The majority of Steiner schools in England are private and inspected by the School Inspection Service (SIS), an independent organisation whose inspectors are trained in the Steiner ethos.

But there had been concern about the suitability of the SIS - which has now shut down - to inspect Steiner schools and hold them to account on their shortcomings. Mr Hinds took the unusual step of commissioning Ofsted to conduct a “series” of inspections of Steiner schools in England and report directly to him on their findings.


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2019/01/31/steiner-schools-warned-closure-first-ofsted-inspections-reveal/

Wow. Ofsted rarely get so het up about closing schools down.