Latest News & Updates: January 2025

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

Since the publication of our Strategic Plan 2024-2026 in November 2023 we have had many constructive conversations with a wide range of people on the development of education in the UK. Our commitment to supporting state-funded Waldorf Education, including through Waldorf schools, has been a central part of this dialogue, and we have recently been delighted to fund consultancy projects for Steiner Academy Hereford as they undertake provision design reviews in both SEND and financial modelling.

We would like to congratulate Simon Birch, Camilla Thorogood and Gwyn ap Harri on their appointment as Steiner Academy Hereford’s consultancy team, and we further appreciate the support of Waldorf UK, whose Executive Director, Fran Russell, commented:

“We are very pleased to see both projects take shape. Looking to the future development of Waldorf education in the UK, both are much needed and we are grateful to Waldorf Learning Foundation for their support.”

We send the consultancy team and all at Hereford very good wishes as this project unfolds and look forward to hearing its conclusions. For now, please find below brief bios for the team.

Simon Birch is a SEND consultant working across a range of schools in the UK. He holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education in Special Education. He is well known as practitioner, trainer and speaker and has a long history of delivering training and talks nationally, including at the Times Education Show and chairing the Leaders Forum there.  Simon also has extensive experience of the financial difficulties and context in Steiner Waldorf schools in the UK and knowledge around mainstream and Local Authority funding and finances.

Camilla Thorogood has over 25 years international experience in the development sectors, specialising in strategic planning, project management and interdisciplinary solutions.  She holds a Batchelor of Commerce in Financial Management and a Master of Philosophy in Land and Agrarian Studies and has published academically. Recent consulting experience includes working with a UK Waldorf School to lead change management.

Gwyn ap Harri is the CEO of the XP Trust (made up of eight schools) and founder of the first XP School in Doncaster. He has a background in IT and teaching and has extensive knowledge and experience of financial sustainability in the academy sector and working with Local Authorities, the ESFA and DfE.

Creativity and Community

News from the PG Dip in Waldorf Education and Creative Pedagogies offered by Bath Spa University and Waldorf Learning Foundation.

Next cohort: September 2025, application portal now open.