Waldorf education aims to develop intellectual, artistic, manual and social skills on an equal footing. The so-called epoch lessons, in which the more cognitive subjects are taught for 3-4 weeks at a time, enable more intensive contact with the subject matter. Foreign language lessons in English and Russian begin in Year 1. An artistic approach permeates all lessons. This also includes the encouragement and education of productive independent activity in all subjects. Passive or media-based reception of learning content is kept to a minimum. Various work placements in the upper school establish a connection to the world of work.

The Freie Waldorfschule Dresden is a state-approved independent school. In addition to the Waldorf diploma in Year 12, pupils can take all state diplomas as part of an external examination (in our school with the same requirements as all Saxon pupils). This is regulated in the Waldorf School Examination Regulations. The Hauptschulabschluss is generally taken after year 11, the Realschulabschluss after year 12 and the Abitur (for those who are admitted) in year 13.

The results (e.g. Landeshauptstadt Dresden (2014): 2nd Dresden Education Report, central results, Figure Z5) show that we more than stand up to comparison with public schools.

Lisa Albrecht, born in 1996, graduated from the Freie Waldorfschule Dresden in 2015. Years later, the author meets her former classmates. She wants to know what their path from school to life was like.

Number of pupils: 774 in the 2024/2025 school year

Classes: 25 classes - 1st-12th grade 2 times each (A/B), 13th (Abitur) grade

Qualifications: Abitur, Realschulabschluss, (qualifying) Hauptschulabschluss, Waldorf diploma after year 12

After-school care: Grades 1-4 (until 17:00)

Languages: English and Russian from Year 1

Internships: Forestry internship (year 8), agricultural internship (year 9), surveying internship (year 10), industrial and social internship (year 11), art trip (year 12)

Craft and art classes: handicrafts, blacksmithing, basket weaving, bookbinding, carving, joinery, copperplate making, tailoring, drawing, painting, sculpting

Other lessons: middle and upper school orchestra, choir, big band, theater projects, eurythmy, horticulture, computer science, annual projects in 8th and 12th grade

Remedial teaching: extra lessons, music therapy, eurythmy therapy

Co-organization: student council, parent-teacher council

Events: Student performances, St. Martin's bazaar, Christmas plays, spring and autumn orchestra and choir concerts, information evenings

Afternoon and all-day activities: Circus, basketball/ ball sports, cooking/ baking, Spanish, integration for career changers (Russian, German as a second language), tutoring in mathematics, learning strategies, choir, orchestra, big band, training of school mediators, training of school paramedics, "Every child an instrument" (string instrumental lessons in year 2), media education and addiction prevention offers from and with external partners
also: school library,

Interested providers should contact the GTA coordinator: gta@waldorfschule-dresden.de