60 Spylaw Road, Edinburgh EH10 5BR
10 reasons to choose Edinburgh Steiner Lower School
Top line
Edinburgh Steiner Lower School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 69. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Edinburgh and one of the 3 best primary schools for 1.5 miles.
School fundamentals
Edinburgh Steiner Lower School is an independent prep day school for boys and girls (50%/50%) between the ages of 3.5 and 14 years. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is the junior division of Edinburgh Rudolf Steiner School, an all-through school to age 18, and is a member of the Steiner-Waldorf Education group. Edinburgh Steiner Lower School fees range from £3,627 (Rec) to £5,013 per term (2025/26). Fees include VAT but exclude lunches.
Average class size
Edinburgh Steiner Lower School has one class per year and an average class size of 15 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Most Junior School pupils move up to Edinburgh Steiner Upper School at age 14.
The Edinburgh Steiner Lower School curriculum
School follows the Steiner curriculum which emphasises creativity with a balance of artistic, practical and intellectual topics. For example, technology lessons are handwork (knitting, sewing, etc), and craft (woodwork, metalwork, basket weaving), and gardening. The first lesson of the day is the two hour thematic ‘Main Lesson’, after which there are five discrete subject lessons. Curriculum also includes PSHE, French, German. The school has a no devices policy for pupils up to Year 6, and there is no formal testing through primary years.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers and a residential trip in Senior 1.
Specialist teaching
Steiner practice is that the same class teacher stays with the same pupils year on year for Main Lesson at least. Specialist staff teach the other subjects such as languages, sport, eurythmy, craft, handwork etc.
Sport at Edinburgh Steiner Lower School
School offers a small range of sports. Though there are regular PE lessons, the emphasis is on fitness and wellbeing, not competition.
The Arts at Edinburgh Steiner Lower School
Art, music, Eurythmy (dance/movement), handwork (knitting, sewing), and craft (woodwork, metalwork, basket weaving) are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils.
Wraparound care
Out of school hours care to 5.30pm.
Find another school near Edinburgh Steiner Lower School
George Watson’s College Junior School (0.1 miles); George Heriot’s Junior School (1.6 miles); ESMS Junior School (2 miles).
Edinburgh Steiner Upper School (0 miles); George Watson’s College (0.1 miles); St Mary’s Music School (1.5 miles).