York’s Steiner School in the running for award double

York Steiner School in Fulford Cross has been shortlisted for 'Creative School of the Year' in the TES Schools Awards.

And Fiona Dudley is in the running for 'Teacher of the Year in a Primary School' for the Pearson Teaching Awards.

The school will learn if it is successful in June, while judges will assess Class 4 teacher Ms Dudley for her award next month.

"I was bit shocked and overwhelmed really," she said. "It was a bit unexpected.

"One of my colleagues had nominated me and I knew that, but I didn't expect it to go further.

"It was a lovely feeling."

York Steiner School is fee-paying and employs a more flexible curriculum, with pupils having the same teacher for main lesson blocks for eight years, until they are 14.

Ms Dudley, 55, is in her fourth year at the school, having come into teaching after working as an occupational therapist.

But her links with York Steiner go back further as all three of her children were educated there.

Ms Dudley's shortlisting cited the use of a yurt - a type of tent - which she got her class to make.

She said: "We learn about building in Class 3 and I was thinking 'what should we do for the project'?

"I was showing the class some pictures of nomadic dwelling in this old 1930s book.

"One of the little boys said 'wow, that's awesome' and I said that's what we'll do."

The yurt helped the children learn about literacy and numeracy, as well as history, geography, RE and design and technology.

Ms Dudley said: "We got it ready the day before we went away on our trip to the North Yorkshire Moors.

"We had the boys sleeping in it one night and the girls the other, so 12-13 children at a time."

She added: “I’m absolutely delighted for the children, the teachers and the parents.

"It’s such a supportive community that the honour of being shortlisted belongs to everyone who plays a part in the life of the school.

"To know that the judges feel we are among the best in the country makes us all incredibly proud.”