London Steiner School

Was this once a school? You might be surprised to learn that the London Steiner School, which met its end in 2023, wasn’t always housed in this unassuming building. This school, formerly known as the Waldorf School of South West London, began its life in 1983 with a single teacher and a single student. Imagine that, a whole school for one pair! They were situated on Tooting Common in rented wooden buildings. But tragedy struck in 2004 when a fire, suspected to be arson, completely destroyed the school. The London Steiner School found temporary refuge in a church hall in Streatham while a new structure was built on the original site. However, their time there was short-lived. Just four years later, the council decided not to renew their lease, forcing them to relocate once again. They returned to the Streatham church hall for two years before finally settling here on Weir Road in Balham and adopting the name London Steiner School. This building, now silent, once echoed with the energy of children learning through the unique methods of Steiner education. Despite its long history and dedication to a different style of learning, the London Steiner School faced challenges. By 2023, with an “inadequate” rating from Ofsted, it sadly closed its doors for the final time.