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Padworth school bids farewell with final advent fair




A village school will host a final festive splash before its closure.

The Alder Bridge Steiner-Waldorf School in Padworth is permanently closing on Friday, December 16.

The school community is welcoming everyone to celebrate its last-ever Advent Fayre tomorrow (Saturday).

Alder Bridge Steiner-Waldorf School in Padworth
Alder Bridge Steiner-Waldorf School in Padworth

The Advent Fayre is a longstanding school tradition and will feature a magical market with festive-themed craft stalls, storytelling, candle dipping, hot food and music between noon and 3pm.

Simon Birch took over as interim school lead in September.

He said: "The school is closing as it is not viable on present pupil numbers and fees received.

"The vast majority of children are moving to local private and mainstream schools, some are moving to Steiner Schools in other parts of the country and some are looking at home schooling.

"While it is very sad for the school community, it is hoped the advent fayre will remain a celebration."

In response to the announced closure, one person wrote online: "Very sorry to hear this. I can imagine how devastating it is for hardworking, committed staff, pupils and parents. Thoughts and love to you all."

"We are so sorry to hear you are closing. We attended your lovely autumn fayre and enjoyed meeting the children, parents and staff. We wish you all the best for your new venture," said another.

The school was rated as 'requiring improvement' following its most recent Ofsted inspection in September, a development from the 'inadequate' rating it previously received after an inspection in February 2019.

The Alder Bridge School ⁠– the only Steiner-Waldorf school in the Thames Valley ⁠– opened in 1987 as an independent school focused on promoting alternative education for pupils aged three to 14.

The Steiner-Waldorf is an international fellowship of more than 1,000 independent, non-denominational schools worldwide, including 35 in the UK.

The first Steiner-Waldorf school was founded in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1919 by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. Although many of its schools in Europe closed under the Nazi regime, they all reopened after the Second World War.

The school celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019.



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