Mason Bees
Ages 12-15 years old
For young people aged 12-15 ready to explore, question, and discover
The teenage years mark an extraordinary time of transformation. Young people naturally develop a stronger sense of independence and begin to see themselves as separate from the world around them. This emerging identity comes with a powerful drive to understand and engage with the broader world on their own terms.
At this pivotal stage, teenagers are ready to tackle big questions: How did we get the technology we use every day? What drives people to revolution? How do creative minds solve problems that seem impossible? The Mason Bees class is set up specifically for this moment of awakening curiosity and growing independence.
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Learning Through Revolution: Our 2025/26 Journey
This year, our Mason Bees will explore the theme of Revolutions - the moments in human history when everything changed. Through the Class 8 Waldorf Curriculum, we'll discover how human ingenuity, courage, and creativity have repeatedly transformed our world.
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Main Lesson Topics
The History of Electricity & Communications - From ancient Babylonian clay tablets to the smartphone in your pocket - how did humans learn to harness invisible forces and send messages across the globe? Students will trace the revolutionary discoveries of pioneers like Franklin, Edison, and Tesla, and understand the electromagnetic spectrum that powers our connected world.
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Cryptography and Code Breaking - Ever wondered how your banking app keeps your money safe, or how spies communicated during wartime? Students will learn the art and science of making and breaking codes, exploring everything from Caesar ciphers to modern digital encryption. They'll discover how mathematics became a weapon of war and peace.
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Creative Writing - Writing is thinking made visible. In these lessons, students develop their ability to express ideas clearly and creatively. Whether they're crafting stories, experimenting with poetry, or learning to argue a point persuasively, they're building skills they'll use for life. We work on finding each person's natural voice as a writer, because good writing comes from authentic expression, not following formulas.
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The Engine - Every time you travel by car, train, or plane, you're experiencing one of humanity's greatest inventions and revolutions. Students will explore the brilliant minds who figured out how to harness steam, combustion, and jet propulsion. Plus, we'll visit a local garage to see these principles in action and meet the people who keep our engines moving.
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The American and French Revolutions - What drives people to risk everything for change? We'll dive deep into the revolutions that created the modern world, exploring the ideas of liberty, equality, and democracy that some teenagers today take for granted. Students will debate the big questions: When is revolution justified? How do you build a fair society? What is equality? What is freedom?
Music of the World - From Edison's phonograph to Spotify's algorithms - how did we learn to capture and manipulate sound? Students will explore the technology and artistry behind music production, whether their passion is pop, jazz, hip-hop, or something entirely new. They'll discover how audio engineering became an art form, and how music unites humanity across the globe.
Earth's Ecosystems - Connected to GCSE Biology syllabus, these lessons will take students into the intricate web of life on our planet. Through David Attenborough documentaries and hands-on field trips, they'll discover how ecosystems work and why biodiversity matters. Perfect preparation for the environmental challenges of their generation.​​
Beyond the Main Lessons
Every day starts with movement, stretches, music and mental maths practice - not because it's required, but because these activities help the students to arrive into the classroom space and become mentally and physically prepared for each days lessons.
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Students get regular study support for English and Maths, helping them stay on track with core academic skills while pursuing these richer topics. We work with parents to support each child's home-education journey.
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The creative work - handcraft projects, art exploration, linocut printing. These projects give students a chance to make something beautiful with their hands. In our screen-dominated world, there's something deeply satisfying about creating physical objects.
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Why Choose Mason Bees?
With no more than 16 students, everyone gets proper attention. More importantly, this size creates real community - students know each other well and learn to support each other's growth. It's big enough for good discussions and small enough that nobody gets lost.
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The learning reaches far beyond classroom walls. We visit local garages as part of the Engine Main Lesson, the London Science Museum, explore nature, bring in guest speakers, and connect what we're studying to the real world around us. BEEhub focuses on hands-on learning for home-educating families.
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Time in the Mason Bees class prepares students beautifully for the challenge of the GCSEs while developing the critical thinking and communication skills they'll need whatever path they choose.
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Most importantly, our classroom community provides a safe space for young people to explore big ideas, make mistakes, and discover their strengths. The teenage years can be turbulent, but we aim to make them exciting rather than just challenging.
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Ready for Revolution?
If your teenager is ready to dive deep into the forces that shaped our modern world, if they're curious about how things work and why change happens, if they want to be part of a learning community that takes their growing independence seriously - then Mason Bees might be exactly what you're looking for.
