The current site of the former Michael House School dates back to at least the 1880s and were originally the offices for the Shipley Colliery Company. There were several coal mines in the Shipley area of Heanor at the time – including the nearby Woodside and Coppice Collieries. After closure of the pits in the 60s the building became the National Coal Board Derbyshire South area offices for a time.
By the late 70s the area of the former colliery was purchased by the council which eventually lead to part of the site becoming the well-known, former American Adventure theme park. The old colliery offices then became home to the ‘Michael House’ school – moving from nearby Ilkeston – which follows the Steiner Waldorf line of teaching for pupils aged between 3 and 17.
I’d never heard of the Steiner teaching method before, so here’s what Wikipedia has to say about it;
‘Waldorf education, also known as Steiner education, is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Anthroposophy. Its pedagogy strives to develop pupils' intellectual, artistic, and practical skills in an integrated and holistic manner. The cultivation of pupils' imagination and creativity is a central focus.’
The school finally closed its doors at the end of the academic year in 2019 amid poor Ofsted ratings and cash problems.
One I never got around to posting from last summer. The pix are a bit naff from here because I couldn't be fucked wrestling around with the tripod. We returned sometime after with better kit and a more enthusiastic attitude but found the door which was happily blowing about in the breeze first time around locked, so these wank pictures will have to do!
The writing on the blackboard will be too fuzzy to make out below, but it reads;
'Burglars please leave
Nothing to take from this place
Only old ghosts & cobwebs'
Thanks for looking.
By the late 70s the area of the former colliery was purchased by the council which eventually lead to part of the site becoming the well-known, former American Adventure theme park. The old colliery offices then became home to the ‘Michael House’ school – moving from nearby Ilkeston – which follows the Steiner Waldorf line of teaching for pupils aged between 3 and 17.
I’d never heard of the Steiner teaching method before, so here’s what Wikipedia has to say about it;
‘Waldorf education, also known as Steiner education, is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Anthroposophy. Its pedagogy strives to develop pupils' intellectual, artistic, and practical skills in an integrated and holistic manner. The cultivation of pupils' imagination and creativity is a central focus.’
The school finally closed its doors at the end of the academic year in 2019 amid poor Ofsted ratings and cash problems.
One I never got around to posting from last summer. The pix are a bit naff from here because I couldn't be fucked wrestling around with the tripod. We returned sometime after with better kit and a more enthusiastic attitude but found the door which was happily blowing about in the breeze first time around locked, so these wank pictures will have to do!
The writing on the blackboard will be too fuzzy to make out below, but it reads;
'Burglars please leave
Nothing to take from this place
Only old ghosts & cobwebs'
Thanks for looking.
