Sir Walter St John's was founded in 1700 for twenty boys of the village of Battersea.

A document of 1800 shows that the operation was based on the rules laid down by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and much of the curriculum was centred on the Bible.

An Air Training Corps Flight was started in 1941 and continued after the disbandment of the army cadets.

The number of boys in the school grew from 320 in 1917 to 544 in 1928 and remained at approximately at this level until the start of the Second World War in 1939.

The buildings remained unused from 1988 to 1990 when they were purchased by Thomas's London Day School and once again boys and girls received education in Battersea High Street.

The School had an uncommon status, operated by the local authority but legally a charity, which led to its being mentioned by name in several Education Acts, a highly unusual procedure.

This meant that when it closed the assets of the school, principally property, did not revert to the Education Authority upon closure.

Instead the Sir Walter St John's Educational Charity was formed in 1992 and continues to support disadvantaged children in the former London Boroughs of Battersea and Lambeth.

An Old Boys Association continues, with a golf society, football and cricket clubs and a masonic lodge.

See also Category:People educated at Sir Walter St John's Grammar School For Boys