About

Camphill School Aberdeen is an independent, day and residential school situated on three campuses beside the River Dee on the outskirts of Aberdeen. The location enables the pupils to benefit from both the beautiful countryside and the hustle and bustle of town life with all its cultural possibilities. The school offers residential places for full term or weekly boarders as well as day places for local pupils.

Camphill offers an inclusive, comprehensive and holistic approach to education, care and therapy for 88 pupils with complex special needs ranging from deprivation to autism from the age of 3-19 years.

For pupils aged 16-19 years there is an Extended Schooling Programme which offers a more individualised programme geared towards graduation and preparation for the future. This may include attending a 'Links Course' at Aberdeen College and/or work experi ence outside Camphill.

Cairnlee House offers further training for up to 12 young adults from 16-25 years.

All pupils, whether day or residential, belong to a House Community which is made up of groups of one or two pupils cared for by a co-worker who guides the pupils in his/her personal care. Within the house community, life is shared with house co-ordinators, teachers, therapists and student co-workers, most of whom live in, some with their families.

In School the classes are generally grouped according to age, using the Waldorf Curriculum based on guidelines formulated by Rudolf Steiner, which encompasses the Curriculum for Excellence.

In addition individual therapies are given to meet the specific needs of the pupils. These include speech formation, physiotherapy, movement, therapeutic art, riding, therapeutic music, massage, play and counselling.

Older pupils participate in a variety of craft workshops: pottery, willow-work, felt, candle, weaving, metal work, woodwork and in a Tools for Self-Reliance Workshop.

As part of its commitment to training the School offers co-workers a Foundation Year and, to successful applicants, a chance to participate in the BA Programme in Social Pedagogy run in partnership with Aberdeen University. The Camphill School Aberdeen is accredited with the National Autistic Society and registered with the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, and is a member of Camphill Scotland.