Welcome to our New Teachers

11 February 2012

We are absolutely delighted to have appointed the founding teachers for our new Steiner School for children aged 6 to 16, opening in September 2012. We were incredibly lucky to be spoilt for choice in our recruitment process, with a choice of excellent, experienced Steiner Teachers. Pankaj and Leila stood out and we are thrilled that they have agreed to come on board with such enthusiasm and dedication.

Pankaj Sulodia – Class 1/2 (age 6-8)

LWTTS (London Waldorf Teacher Training Seminar)

Pankaj was born and grew up in New Delhi, India, and has been interested in teaching children since he was a teenager. After studying for a Bachelor in Computer Application in New Delhi, he began work as a graphic designer and became involved with Manzil Welfare Society, an educational organisation working with children and young people fromlow-income backgrounds.

“Teaching children of all ages gave me great satisfaction and fulfilment and encouraged me to pursue a career in education.”

Pankaj moved to the UK in 2004 where he discovered Steiner Education through his wife, Rosemary, who had been through Steiner Education herself. He trained as a Steiner Teacher at The London Waldorf Seminar at Rudolf Steiner House with Dr Brien Masters.

Before Cardiff Steiner School, Pankaj taught as a Class Teacher for 6 years at the Sheiling School in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire – one of the only two Steiner Schools in the country for children with special needs and learning difficulties.

Pankaj has a calm authority, respect for the children and twinkling sense of fun. There is a maturity and gravitas in Pankaj, despite his relative youth, and the children love him.

“The experience of teaching the Steiner Waldorf Curriculum while working in a therapeutic environment has helped me to recognise the individuality in each child. I am delighted to be joining Cardiff Steiner School and it’s dedicated team of staff, trustees and parents. I will strive to lead the children to develop clear and precise thinking, a rich and healthy emotional life, and a developed power of will, to allow the children to apply their thoughts, feelings and actions to practical challenges in the world.”

Leila Abuhilal – Class 3/4 (age 8-10)

NESTT (North of England Steiner Teacher Training)

Leila’s love of the arts, story and children led her to training as a Steiner teacher at North of England Steiner Teacher Training Course. Since graduating in 2010 Leila has been Class Teacher for classes 4/5 and 5/6 at Ysgol Nant-y-Cwm Steiner School in Pembrokeshire.

Leila became interested in education while studying for her BA in Acting, enjoying the arts health, creative learning and storytelling aspects of her training. She began working with children in outdoor community festivals ten years ago, holding the children’s spaces, leading creative workshops, songs, games and storytelling.

Leila went on to work in partnership with local schools, galleries, artists, community groups, local authorities and the NHS to deliver creative arts and arts health projects in Lancashire, before deciding to work within mainstream education at Preston College.

Here Leila supported students in their learning whilst training to be a Steiner Teacher. Leila also gained experience co-teaching, and enjoyed bringing mainstream education and a Waldorf approach together, seeing how this way of teaching can be shared both in Steiner Schools and in a mainstream environment.

Leila is passionate about learning, thoroughly enjoys the Steiner curriculum, has a natural, friendly and joyful approach to teaching and strives to bring an innovative and interesting experience to the children.

“It is a wonderful and exciting opportunity to be part of Cardiff Steiner School right from the beginning, using all of our experiences together to build a vibrant and flourishing school that aims to reflect the nature and personalities of the children who will be attending. Because really it is the children that will make the school, as they are the heart of it, and that in itself is what makes working in Steiner education so wonderful.”

We are enrolling now for 6 to 10 year olds for September.