While their friends have been deep in exam stress, teenagers at one school in Wales who have never taken an exam are off to university. Cardiff Steiner School does not offer GCSEs and A levels – instead pupils follow the Certificate of Steiner Education (NZCSE), a recognised alternative qualification with continuous assessment but no formal sat exams.
Rohan Grewal, 18, and Samuel Hale, 17, are among those leaving Cardiff Steiner School at the end of this term for places at top Russell Group universities. Rohan is off to Exeter University for an engineering degree while Samuel is also going to Exeter to study politics, philosophy and economics (PPE).
Classmates Noor Rippingale, 18, who has a place at Durham University to read criminology, and Chloe Salewski, 19, going to Derby University for a film and television studies degree, are among other Steiner classmates heading on to higher education without GCSEs or A levels. They all said they preferred the continuous assessment at the fee-paying independent alternative school. The WJEC has warned that A-level and GCSE results will be lower this year and you can read why that is here.
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Cardiff Steiner School pupil Samuel Hale in the school’s woodwork workshop. Samuel, 17, is starting a PPE degree at Exeter University in September
Other students are going on to universities including Cardiff Met, Birkbeck, Glasgow and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Rather than being daunted about the thought of joining undergraduate degree courses with exams, the Steiner School leavers believe the way they have been taught and learned is better preparation for university.
As Rohan puts it: “There is a lot of self directed learning here so I am used to managing my time and learning. But of course anyone would be a bit nervous going away to university for the first time.”
Samuel says he will have exams possibly in his first term at university and is “fine with that”. He says he feels confident he is prepared and has “learned how to learn” at his alternative school.
“Here we are monitored throughout the year so you know how you are doing. At Steiner it’s more about learning than just all about the result on one day – it’s about learning rather than exam stress. It’s not about cramming for revision or getting lucky or unlucky with an exam question. It’s about the effort of learning throughout the year.”
Noor, who joined Cardiff Steiner School aged 13 after moving from England to Wales, did take the 11+ exam in England – an exam to stream children going to secondary that is no longer taken in mainstream schools in Wales. She said failing the 11+ in the final year of primary knocked her confidence and she’s happy Steiner education helped her back on track and secure a place at Durham, one of the UK’s top universities.
“The way we work here is more like university as a lot of it is self-led research,” said Noor. Meanwhile, Chloe’s university course will be all assessed work, which she says she is well prepared for and wonders if those more used to exams might find the constant need to keep on track harder.
Ian Powell, Cardiff Steiner upper school co-ordinator and NZCSE co-ordinator, who used to teach in mainstream schools under exam systems, described the NZCSE as “the most moderated qualification” and “the best system to assess”.
While debate goes on about the value of exams and pupil wellbeing, Steiner teachers believe their curriculum and system of continuous assessment is better at helping children and teenagers achieve their best. The Certificate of Steiner Education (NZCSE), the certificate those who continue to 18 at the Cardiff Steiner School leave with, is a recognised alternative qualification with no UCAS university entry points.
Instead it has marks with equivalent A level grades. The NZCSE is awarded at Distinction (equivalent to A*-A at A level), Highly Commended (equivalent to A-B), and Achieve (B-C). For the latest analysis of the biggest stories, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
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During their equivalent of GCSE years Cardiff Steiner students must continue to do all subjects. That carries on in their equivalent of sixth form, but for the last two years Steiner pupils specialise in three alongside the rest of the curriculum.
Students’ “leaning outcomes” are awarded by teachers, then moderated by a fellow teacher and then one third of all are assessed again by moderators in New Zealand with teenagers there, in Australia, the UK, Taiwan, Germany and Austria among countries taking the NZCSE and having marks compared.
Ian Powell, Cardiff Steiner upper school co-ordinator and NZCSE co-ordinator, used to teach in mainstream schools under exam systems. He described the NZCSE as “the most moderated qualification” and “the best system to assess”.
He said people should not think the Steiner curriculum or continuous assessment are easy options. Assessment is done in a variety of ways including essays, portfolios, exhibitions, research specific questions and even film.
Cardiff Steiner School is in Llandaff North
Upper school teacher Ameli Holloh explained that at the start of every three-week learning bloc students are told what they will be assessed on. They also discuss what their learning outcomes should be.
“Before anything starts they understand what they have to do and how it will be assessed and what they need to do to get marks for achieved, merit or excellence. They are clear how their work will be looked at and assessed but it’s designed for understanding, not just memory.
“Of course memory comes into things for processes, but that’s not all. Right from the start they have learning outcomes. Our strength is assessment through the year which means we can take stock and the picture is clear. We ask students ‘what do you need to do and what do we need to to get you where you need to be?’”.
Ian says the system means that teachers “know quickly which students might struggle and what they need to do to achieve”. There is no pass or fail and students can “re-take” any learning outcome set.
As he prepares to start his engineering degree Rohan, who has been at Cardiff Steiner School since the age of three, agrees he is a product of the school. He has friends in mainstream schools and feels sorry hearing about the exam stress and pressure they have been under.
“I have really enjoyed school. I enjoyed the curriculum and learning and am really glad we never had exams. Friends at mainstream schools are very stressed by exams and that’s affected some of their university decisions. In some ways I think exams are good and I feel ready to take them now at university.
“But I am glad we have not had exams at school and were continually assessed instead. I chose maths, physics and English to specialise in the last two years, but still had to carry on with other subjects, which gives more breadth and I’m glad we had to do that.”
A lesson at Cardiff Steiner School
The equivalent GCSE and A level curriculum at Cardiff Steiner School
Subjects Rohan and his peers have to continue in their equivalent of sixth form years include maths, art, English, metal work, social sciences, history, geography, biology, physics, chemistry and Spanish – all of which are assessed on three possible levels. In GCSE equivalent years the list is even longer and includes Spanish, PSE, RSE, PE, drama, crafts and ecology.
Cardiff Steiner School at a glance
102 pupils Takes girls and boys aged 3-18 Accredited full member of Waldorf UK and Welsh Independent Schools Council Bases its educational philosophy on Rudolf Steiner Does not offer GCSE and A levels Offers the NZCSE a recognised alternative secondary qualification The NZCSE is recognised by UCAS and accepted by UK and international universities Fees on sliding scale from £7,068 to £9,288 a year – bursaries are available
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