Welcome from our Headteacher,
Rachel Bochenski

Welcome to The London Acorn School, a creative and progressive school for children from 2 to 9 years old in the heart of Morden Hall Park.

Our vision is to provide an unhurried introduction to education, where emphasis is placed on the natural world as well as on academic excellence.

We are an enthusiastically inclusive school where we encourage all our children to find their passions, create enduring friendships and take time to find out what really makes them unique. Our children are the innovators, creators and architects of the next generation. They are active creators, and not passive consumers.

Our academic curriculum challenges our pupils, and our “hidden” curriculum offers all our children the opportunity to build resilience, imagination and curiosity. We place an emphasis on independence and our children thrive in an environment which trusts them to make decisions and be responsible for themselves.

We have a strong sense of community, and our families are encouraged into school regularly for workshops and events which celebrate our school culture. We follow the rhythms of the seasons, and our children have a strong sense of their place in nature and the environment.

We work closely with our sister school, Hall School Wimbledon, to ensure a smooth transition into upper key stage two at their campus on the outskirts of Wimbledon Common.

A London Acorn child has a quiet confidence, an understanding of their place in the world and the ability to succeed and make friends wherever life takes them.

We look forward to welcoming your child to The London Acorn School.

“There is a strong culture of respect and tolerance for others”

Ofsted Report

The London Acorn School is a committed and vibrant community of pupils, faculty, parents and carers united by shared beliefs.

In an ever changing world, the only certainty is uncertainty; the skills we learn today may be obsolete tomorrow. Our focus is equipping children to thrive whatever happens by imbuing them with the skills, resilience and desire to learn throughout their lives.

Our increasing addiction to smartphones and other devices limits the downtime that the brain needs to process, wander and dream and is particularly detrimental to the development of young minds. While we introduce technology later on, in the early years we are very careful about exposing our children to screens.

Just as technology can be detrimental, so nature is beneficial, providing children with the space for their bodies and their imaginations to run wild. For this reason, we based our school in London’s most eco-diverse park and ensure that all pupils spend time every day in nature.

Numerous studies have shown that the large class sizes and exam pressure heaped upon children from an early age is counterproductive, leaving them anxious and turning them off learning. So we create a gentle environment where children in small classes learn at a pace in keeping with their developmental needs.

Being gentle does not mean being lax. A secure and ordered environment with consistent daily rhythms is essential to learning. We uphold the highest standards when it comes to behaviour.

We have high academic expectations for our children; indeed many educationalists have concluded that a gentler approach to education in the early years can be conducive to academic achievement later on.

Though important, academics are not the ‘be all and end all’. Supporting children’s emotional, physical, creative, technical and spiritual development is as important as fostering academic accomplishment. We take a holistic approach, equipping children for life, not just for exams.

Rather than limiting ourselves to a single philosophy or approach, we stand on the shoulders of the educational giants that came before. Our curriculum is primarily shaped by the Steiner Waldorf approach, blended thoughtfully with elements of Montessori, forest school and mainstream education that align with our values. Read more about our Montessori Nursery in London.

Situated in a truly global city and fortunate to count people from a wide variety of ethnicities and backgrounds as part of our community, we recognise the tremendous value that people with different experiences and perspectives can provide our community and embrace them.

Our greatest asset is our community. Together we are charting our own course, creating a school for the future with every decision we take dictated by the best interests of our children. We welcome others who share the passion to rethink what a school can be to join us.