Dr Rudolf Steiner (February 27, 1861 – March 30, 1925) was an Austrian philosopher, literary scholar, architect, playwright, educator, and social thinker. A polymath whose work and career spanned the humanities, the arts and the sciences, he was trained in Mathematics and Science in Vienna, held a PhD in philosophy from the University of Rostock and went on to write plays, design a world renowned building, the Goetheanum in Switzerland, and advise professionals in a wide range of fields.

He is the founder of Anthroposophy, which literally translated from the Greek means "the wisdom of humanity" and which he described as 'a path of knowledge leading from the spiritual in the individual human being to the spiritual in the universe'.

In addition to education, Dr Steiner had a remarkable impact in many areas including medicine, the creative arts and biodynamic agriculture, which today is one of the pillars of organic farming. From this single individual who worked so quietly and tirelessly for the benefit of humanity, there has come many impulses for personal and social renewal: today there are around the world schools for children, medical practices, scientific research institutes, homes for disabled children and adults, artists' studios, banks and organisational development companies, and thousands of hectares of land being farmed using biodynamic agricultural principles.

One of Steiner's friends and students was the owner of a factory in Stuttgart, Germany. Emil Molt invited Steiner to lecture on the topic of education to the workers at the factory, known as the Waldorf Astoria Company. The workers were so enthusiastic about Steiner's ideas they pressed him to initiate a school for their children. Molt offered some buildings while Steiner trained teachers and gave indications for a curriculum: the school opened in 1919. He was only able to work with the new school, known as the Waldorf School, for the last 5 years of his life. But the ideas spread rapidly and the Stuttgart school expanded very quickly. By 1928 there was a school working with Dr Steiner's indications in New York and one in London.

Today there are over 1000 schools on 6 continents working with these methods, making them one of the largest forms of independent schooling in the world.