We currently have two combined classes at Waldorf Cambridge - Oak Tree - Class 3/4 and Rowan Tree - Class 5/6. 

Earlier in Waldorf Cambridge's history, combined-classes enabled the school to grow and develop. Combining classes enabled them to reach healthy social sizes of 18-24 students in a financially viable way. Combined classes also allow opportunities to develop sensitivity to group work, varieties of friendships, and an appreciation for a differentiation of tasks and expectations based on each student’s unique learning journey. Classes feel like a family of siblings of various ages, strengths, and challenges that contribute to a rich social mix.  This demands alertness in the teacher, movement against complacency in curriculum, and flexibility in block design. 

In these classes, lesson content is taught in the same order according to our curriculum; However, there is a slight shift to enable both ages to receive their content at an appropriate developmental time. Subject lessons may be split according to class depending on the needs of the whole group, this is organised and timetabled in discussion with the Class Teacher and Teaching and Learning Lead. 

The academic year runs September to August, but the curriculum is taught January to December so each class gets a full 3 terms of their appropriate content. For example for Class 3/4:

Autumn term 2024 - remaining Class 3 content

Spring and Summer terms 2025 - Class 4 content

Autumn term 2025 - remaining Class 4 content 

Spring and Summer terms 2026 - Class 5 content

Autumn term 2026 - remaining Class 5 content and so on

On reaching Class 7/8, the Class 8 group will have additional support from Subject and Upper School teachers to complete the Class 8 content before moving into Upper School. 

We acknowledge that the children now coming towards us show a wider variety of needs and levels than before, and our aim to have a thriving school, with teachers who are supported and able to meet the needs of their classes, means that we have decided to move to single classes. This places pressure on the recruitment and retention of children to ensure that classes have sizes large enough for healthy social interactions, and are financially viable. But we feel that the benefits to teacher work load, differentiation and supporting every child in the class outweigh these risks. 

Our current combined classes will continue in this way. However, we regularly review the pupil numbers and teacher availability to see if it would be appropriate to consider splitting the class. The school will always make these considerations in consultation with the families affected.