London Steiner School (formerly Waldorf School of South West London) is a
Steiner Education
Waldorf education, also known as Steiner education, is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. Its educational style is holistic, intended to develop pupils' intellectual, artistic, and practical ski ...
-based independent school on 9 Weir Road in
Balham
Balham () is an area in south London, England, mostly within the London Borough of Wandsworth with small parts within the neighbouring London Borough of Lambeth. The area has been settled since Saxon times and appears in the Domesday Book as B ...
, in the
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth () is a London boroughs, London borough in South London, England, which forms part of Inner London. Its name was recorded in 1062 as ''Lambehitha'' ("landing place for lambs") and in 1255 as ''Lambeth''. The geographical centre of London ...
, England.
History
The Waldorf School of South West London opened in September 1983, with one student and one teacher. For more than 30 years, the school has provided Steiner Waldorf education in South London.
The school was situated on Tooting Common, on public land rented from
Wandsworth Council
Wandsworth London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Wandsworth in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Wandsworth is divided into 20 wards, eac ...
until 2010. The original wooden buildings burned to the ground in 2004 (suspected arson) and the school relocated temporarily to a church hall in Streatham while a new building was erected on the original site. Four years after the school moved into the new building, the council decided not to renew the lease, and the school looked for new permanent premises.
The school moved temporarily back into the Church Hall in
Streatham
Streatham ( ) is a district in south London, England. Centred south of Charing Cross, it lies mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth.
Streatham was in Surrey ...
for a further two years, before the present site of 9 Weir Road in
Balham
Balham () is an area in south London, England, mostly within the London Borough of Wandsworth with small parts within the neighbouring London Borough of Lambeth. The area has been settled since Saxon times and appears in the Domesday Book as B ...
was found.
The school is now using the trading name of London Steiner School.
Admissions
The Waldorf School of South West London (now London Steiner School) provides Waldorf Steiner education for children aged 3 to 14 (early years/kindergarten to Class 8). When grade 8 is completed, students move on to their next school, which could be any secondary school in the country, Steiner or otherwise. Plans for opening an upper school have been considered, but are not currently being acted on, mainly due to funding. The school provides indoor and outdoor Parent and Child Groups (0–3 years old).
See also
*
Curriculum of the Waldorf schools
In the curriculum of the Waldorf schools, much of the education in academic subjects takes place in blocks, generally of 3–5 weeks duration. Each pupil generally writes and illustrates a self-created textbook representing the material learned ...
External links
Official websiteFire on 26 June 2004
{{authority control
1983 establishments in England
Balham
Educational institutions established in 1983
Independent co-educational schools in London
Independent schools in the London Borough of Lambeth
School buildings in the United Kingdom destroyed by arson
Waldorf schools in the United Kingdom