Two scathing inspection reports have revealed a catalogue of failings at a top fee-paying school in Aberdeen.
Officials from Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate discovered multiple risks to children and a lack of checks on staff at the Waldorf establishment in Cults.
Kindergarten youngsters were seen eating food off the floor, bad behaviour went unchecked, and children disappeared from classes without teachers knowing
The watchdogs intervened after concerns were raised by parents – particularly over bullying – in a dossier passed to the Press and Journal.
Bosses at the Cults school, which follows a curriculum set by Dr Rudolph Steiner, have since announced its doors will close at the end of the summer term because it is running out of money.
Last night, the mother who compiled a dossier of complaints for inspectors and alerted the Press and Journal, said she had been vindicated by the official reports.
“I feel I was right to raise my concerns,” she said.
“The Steiner movement needs to come into the 21st century. They can’t seem to move with the times and it is to the detriment of pupils.”
Education Scotland inspectors said teachers at the school had resisted attempts to improve classroom standards.
Their report concluded: “Overall, the leadership of the kindergarten and school is not effective and there is little accountability for improving the quality of education provided.
“Without clear systems of governance and accountability, the kindergarten and school will have difficulty in making the necessary improvements.”
The Care Inspectorate, which regulates nursery provision, gave the lowest possible grading for care, school environment, staffing and management.
Dr Robert Peat, director of inspection, said he had serious concerns – but no immediate worries about the safety or welfare of children which would have warranted closing the school.
Some staff had not undergone disclosure checks, and references were not sought in all cases, the report said.
A spokeswoman for the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship, the umbrella group for schools across the UK and Ireland, earlier said: “The SWSF has been aware of efforts by Aberdeen Waldorf School to enable wide and inclusive access to the Steiner Waldorf education.”
Councillor Jennifer Stewart, Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on education, said it was of particular concern that the reports followed the crisis at the independent Hamilton School, which was closed by the Scottish Government following concerns over the safety of pupils.
“It is incredibly unfortunate that this school has received such a damning report,” she said.
“Of course, these schools don’t come under council control which, by and large, offers a robust network of challenges, checks and balances.”
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