New Integrated Education qualification for schools

Crossfields Institute is delighted to announce that a new qualification for schools has been launched.

Crossfields Institute Level 2 Integrated Education Diploma

is now open for registrations and interested schools are invited to seek centre approval.

This qualification is for students aged 14 and over and contains twelve modules, three of which are mandatory. The qualification delivers a broad curriculum which will be taught and assessed using transdisciplinary work, with a focus on collaborative and individual project work and problem solving.  It includes an Independent Project module that enables students to follow their passion and explore an interest or career aspiration in depth and modules that assess Creative Thinking Skills, and Personal and Social Learning Skills, drawing on formal, non-formal and informal learning and any area of the taught curriculum.

This qualification has been developed to encourage more transdisciplinary work across subjects, increase students’ ability to think laterally and work creatively. As schools are increasingly constrained by knowledge-focused, high stakes exam based qualifications this provides an opportunity for students to think for themselves and develop as more autonomous learners. This approach is in direct response to the needs of employers who want more creative thinking in their future employees.

This qualification was developed as a result of the ACTS project (https://acts.cloud/) which was recognised and funded by Erasmus+ (Key Action 2, School Education Strategic Partnership Project 2015). The project was led by the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship (UK) in partnership with Sammenslutningen af frie Rudolf Steiner skoler i Danmark (Denmark); Steinerskoleforbundet (Norway); Steinerkasvatuksen liitto (Finland) and Crossfields Institute. Together, the four national federations of Steiner Waldorf Schools brought a wealth of curriculum and pedagogical expertise to the project and development of this qualification.

Crossfields Institute is a Gloucestershire based education charity, approved by Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulations in England) as an awarding organisation. The Institute specialises in the development of qualifications that take an integrative, human-centred approach to learning and development.

Any schools who are interested in finding out more about offering this qualification should contact qualityassurance@crossfieldsinstitute.com

The Transforming Fire

July 29th – Aug 2nd, 2019
Orcas Island, Washington

A workshop exploring the inner and outer weavings of fire co-facilitated by Jonathan Code and Maureen Curran

‘The plant can be but a flowering flame…the animal a moving flame…and the human being a speaking flame’.                                               Novalis  

What…or who…is a human being?

This is perhaps the most crucial question of our time. How we answer this question – and how we live it – determines how we will live in the world, with each other and with ourselves. As we enter times of potentially radical change we would do well to live deeply into this question and to – collectively and collaboratively – explore its many dimensions.

Taking our departure from the pithy proposal that the human being is a ‘speaking flame’ (Novalis) Fire will be our primary focus for these five days: how we kindle it, nurture it and transform with it; how it lives in us and moves in us, and how it lives in the natural world around us. Our collective task will be to kindle a ‘needfire’, an act that goes to the heart of what it means to be human at this time.

The workshop will engage with processes and practices central to the work of the teacher, the healer, the grower and anyone who shares a fascination for this central question of what it means to be human at this time!

Maureen Curran and Jonathan Code will co-facilitate this five day workshop delving deeply into the ways of fire – inner and outer. We will engage with Fire in its many guises through:

  • Transformative Movement Sessions
  • Collaborative tasks and exercises
  • Contemplative practice
  • Demonstrations and discussion
  • Creative reflection

Join us on a transformative journey as we delve deeply into the fascinating (and often elusive) nature of Fire!

To Book Contact: Kathryn Betuel – katebetuel@gmail.com
Bookings accepted until June 29, 2019

COST: $400.00

A daily snack will be provided during the workshop. A list of available lodging and camping sites on the island can be provided upon request.