BRISTOL Waldorf School has announced it will close permanently on December 17.
Trustees of the independent primary school on Redland Hill cited an unsustainable financial position and falling pupil numbers as the main reasons for the decision, despite the school’s alternative curriculum being a core strength for many families.
Founded as Bristol Steiner School in the 1970s, the school offers children aged three to 11 a “holistic and children‑centred alternative to mainstream education.”
Its curriculum combines academic studies with practical and creative learning, including woodwork, handcraft, music, movement, and outdoor learning in forest school.
Ofsted rated the school Inadequate when it visited in June 2025 . Inspectors raised concerns about a weak culture of safeguarding, inconsistent curriculum delivery, particularly in early years, gaps in pupils’ knowledge, a lack of consistent training and expertise in phonics teaching, and inadequate support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Following the report, the Board of Trustees wrote to parents acknowledging the Inadequate rating while highlighting elements they said inspectors recognised, such as pupils taking “pride in their contributions to charitable projects, growing vegetables and composting” and routines that “support pupils’ social and spiritual development … helping them understand the value of teamwork”. Trustees also noted governance challenges, with several members having recently stepped down, limiting the board’s capacity.
A formal closure announcement has been published on the school’s website, in which the Board of Trustees states: “Despite the dedication of our teachers, staff and families, it has not been possible to secure the financial and enrolment stability needed to continue operating the school into the future.”
The school previously avoided closure in late 2023 after raising nearly £1 million through community fundraising and it celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.