History of the school

Our school opened in September 1975 in response to the needs of the workers and volunteers at the Glencraig Camphill Community to educate their children. Their desire for truly integrated education was not provided within the state system and with a largely international background, they saw merit in delivering a Steiner Waldorf curriculum to all children, regardless of religious affiliation or cultural background. It started with ten pupils on the register but by the end of the first year, it had grown to an enrolment of twenty children. In August 1976, it moved to its present site at "Highlands" on Croft Road, Holywood. It previously had been the home of the Heyn family, owners of the Ulster Steamship Company.

The beautiful old mansion was renamed Saralies House in honour of a beloved member of staff. Initially, it was too big for the school and two families lived in the extra rooms. However, this soon changed and by 1978 plans were being made for a separate Kindergarten. This building, completed in 1979, is now the Galloway Hall. The Kindergarten marked the beginning of the development of the school site. New classrooms were needed as the school grew and the Upper School was formed.

Much of the work was carried out on a voluntary basis by the parents of children attending the school. With their generous support, a second-hand temporary building was obtained from Glencraig. This is now the Music Room but at that time served as the Class 9 classroom. In December 1987, plans were made for twelve new permanent classrooms, a new Kindergarten and a hall. The construction was to be undertaken in phases as money became available, and a building appeal was launched. The first two phases involving the construction of four classrooms was completed in 1993. In 1997 our new Kindergarten building was completed. The most recent addition was the new classroom and laboratory block, funded by a generous grant from the National Lottery. A new games surface was made with a kind grant from Children in Need. This was opened in September 2002 by Lady Hermon. As the school buildings grew so did the academic life of the school with the establishment of Class 11, for children aged 16-17.

In common with other Steiner Waldorf schools, a compromise was reached concerning public examinations and it was decided that they would be taken in Class 10 and 11 to allow children time to mature and to avail of as much of the Waldorf curriculum as possible. GCSEs are now mainly taken in Class 11. Now in its 48th year, the school has a current register of 160 pupils and maintains a distinct international environment with families and teachers from all corners of the world.