Modern Waldorf School to open in Nerang, new option for Gold Coast’s home schooling families

A new school is opening to cater for surging demand among Gold Coast families. But one key things makes it very different.

A NEW alternative school has applied to open on the Gold Coast next year, to cater to the growing number of families choosing to home school.

The Modern Waldorf School, a primary distance education school, has applied for State Government accreditation so it can open in Nerang in March next year.

It will offer programs from the Australian Curriculum, the Modern Waldorf Steiner Curriculum and other courses as an alternative model to parents looking to teach at home.

The Gold Coast Bulletin this year revealed that the number of children being homeschooled on the Glitter Strip had tripled in just five years.

Principal Hayley Clearihan, who currently runs tutor group Sunshine Bridge Education, previously worked at Biggera Waters Primary and Silkwood School and left full-time teaching in 2017.

Hayley Clearihan is the mastermind behind the Gold Coast's newest distance education school. Picture Glenn Hampson

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“I believe in mainstream schooling but I think that the system needs more options,” Ms Clearihan said.

“Mainstream is not for everyone, we need these alternatives a lot more than people think.”

Ms Clearihan said the inspiration behind the Modern Waldorf School’s conception was driven by the parents of her tutoring students.

“There is a massive community of homeschoolers on the Gold Coast and further west.

“I was getting a lot of phone calls asking for step by step, at-home lessons so I started developing my own curriculum with a Modern Waldorf approach.”

Ms Clearihan, who coined the term Modern Waldorf, said educators should be constantly learning and refining their profession.

“We are inventors as educators. We need to start calling ourselves that.

“When I talk about Montessori and the Waldorf approach we are talking about the child leading the curriculum. A hands-on, child-centred approach that is catered to their abilities and needs, not a one-size fits all.”

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Clearihan’s children attend mainstream schools. Picture Glenn Hampson

From Prep to Year 3, families will be able to undergo a day-by-day program in the direct learning in the Waldorf/Steiner philosophy. The Waldorf and Steiner teaching philosophies are focused on holistic learning and moral growth.

From Prep to Year 6, families can also opt for a flexible program and work with teachers to develop an individualised course to suit the child.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: $5 PER MONTH FOR THE FIRST 3 MONTHS

Ms Clearihan said despite being a distance educator the program aimed to limit screen time.

“We are not a computer-based, distance education provider,” she said.

“It isn’t about sitting in front of a computer or just reading through a book.

“The curriculum is developed so it is printable and accessible to those in the most remote areas. Parents have to be hands on.”

The school is unable to take enrolments while the Non-State School Accreditation is pending.

A decision is set to be made in the coming month.