ELMFIELD Rudolf Steiner School in Stourbridge has scooped a top independent school award for its innovative approach to teaching GCSE students.

The school, based in Love Lane, was named winner of the Education Initiative of the Year accolade in the 2013 Independent School Awards which are open to independent schools across the country.

The judges were particularly impressed by Elmfield’s approach to teaching GCSE students and the school's Waldorf curriculum in general.

Teacher Jason Pond collected the award on behalf of the school. It was presented by guest speaker John McCarthy at an awards ceremony in Nottingham.

The accolade is the third prestigious education award Elmfield has been nominated for this year.

Business manager, Ben Arnold said: “This award is a wonderful validation of everything we do at Elmfield and in particular it recognises the hard work and talent of all our staff. What a great way to end the year.”

In May the school was runner-up in the School Team of the Year category in the Pearson National Teaching Awards and in July teacher Avril Whitehead was short-listed in the Inspirational Teacher of the Year category of the TES Schools Awards.

Elmfield, which has been going for more than 60 years, is an independent Steiner Waldorf school for three to 17-year-olds that does not follow the national curriculum or do SATs. Children are not taught formally to read or write before they are six and there is no regular homework until they are ten.