Mount House School in Barnet

I've got a child at Mount House and this was not my best decision. At the outset I was drawn to the fact that it was a small, nurturing school. However the downside is that when there is an issue or problem with a kid in the school, your child cannot get away from them. They have to deal with those problem kids day in, day out. (only approx 220 pupils in the whole school). The school is owned by Venture capitalists and it sometime feels that they let it any students just to get the numbers up. I don't mean students with disabilities or learning difficulties but problematic and disruptive children that other schools wouldn't accept. If I was asked by friends whether to send their children here, i would tell them to AVOID Mount House. There are far better schools to send your child to and I don't mean St Johns. The facilities at MH are pretty poor as well. On a positive note I have found the teachers to be good. In regards to the financials they made a loss of £40k last year and owe millions to their group undertakings - you can find their accounts at Companies House... just search MHS 1 Ltd.

Never heard it either and know a dozen or so at the school.
Up to sixth form, it’s a perfectly decent choice.
After that I’m not sure as so many leave.

Haven't heard anything about that at all. My daughter is in year 8 and the school appears to be getting more popular if anything and no sign of financial hardship. They have countless clubs and many residential trips abroad - New York, golf/tennis trip to Portugal, Morocco, ski trips, plus many trips within the UK etc etc. Big choice of GCSE subjects. Doesn't seem to be in financial difficulties. My daughter is happy there.

Further to above , how true is this? We have place for our daughter to start this September in Y7 and we were not told by the school anything about the above.
please share if anyone know about this and how would it affect …. Does this means they would close the school in near future?

The not so new head at Mount House is very good and has worked in fully functioning schools before joining MHS.

Just to give you a rough idea of strict St John's is on discipline... I showed the ITV documentary about "Britain's Strictest Headteacher" about the Michaela School to my daughter to tell her I will be sending her there if she doesn't behave at school 😂and her reaction was "St John's is actually stricter".

Sorry I know it's an older thread, but I just saw it. We changed from St John's to Mount House (as did many pupils we know). St John's is brilliant on paper and works for particular types of kids (who like discipline and don't mind very strict rules and teachers). Mount House is definitely more relaxed in that sense. I also haven't noticed that it's weaker than St Johns academically. I haven't yet met anyone who preferred St Johns to Mount House after experiencing both

We have been offered a place at Mount House and we really like it - it seems small and nurturing with a good headteacher. I was just wondering if anyone's children go there and how they find it?

@Mum2017 it you scroll up the thread, you will see that I advised PP to look at other schools, but if I had to choose between your current school and MHS, it would be MHS every time.

@Mum2017 art, Latin, history and classics are very strong at Mount House. Although Latin isn't as popular as classics. Most of the GCSE art students get 8s & 9s, with the odd 7.

She wanted to take Latin but her favourite teacher just left. She is still undecided whether to take geography or history and wants to take triple science. Art is her favourite subject.

and I thought we shall take their words with caution and ask MH when we go there next week.

I think schools that have a single owner or owning family like St John's tend to be a bit sniffy about schools owned by private equity companies (Albion Capital Group in this case).

Then I would take what your head says with a pinch of salt and speak to the head of Mount House directly. Lots of independents accept pupils into Year 10, without issue. What subjects has your daughter opted for?

I am unsure as that came out during a meeting this morning between my husband and the head of St John school.

@Mum2017 sorry posted too soon. When they sold the school and it became Mount House.

@Mum2017 what sort of 5 year contract? The nuns who owned and ran St Martha's owned the buildings outright.

@NOTANUM it is my understanding that a good number stayed on for sixth form in 2019, none in 2020, and a handful in 2021. Many of the girls leave for Woodhouse, Finchley Catholic, and bigger independent sixth forms, like Queenswoods, St Albans, Hampstead Fine Arts, King Alfred etc.
The school was particularly strong in the creative arts, and I heard that a favoured teacher left in 2020 and a number of girls left for that reason.

We have been told that Mount House has a 5 years contract which expires this year (not sure if a contract or a lease) and the school, if not profitable enough, might change its usage (not to be a school anymore). Is that really possible or is only a rumour?
I guess pupils may need change for various reasons. Mine is struggling with friendships (or the lack of them or toxic relationships) at school and this is really affecting her a lot...

The only thing I'd say @Mum2017 is that quite a few seem to be leaving for 6th forms elsewhere this year. I am not entirely sure why but two said they "need a change". One is less academic, one very much academic so there isn't a pattern.

@Mum2017 if it was a choice between St John's and Mount House, I would choose MHS. It doesn't matter how academically strong a school is, if your DD is unhappy. It is my understanding that MHS have picked up quite a few pupils from St St John's over the years

The thread is not too old and I need some opinions.

I have a daughter in year 9 who goes to St John's in the Ridgeway. She has been struggling there for the last year or so with no support of her mental health and not getting better. She was adamant she will stay and 'cope' but clearly she needs change though it is perhaps the worst time having in mind the GCSE. So, we have been thinking of moving her Mount House but I am still unsure how academically good they are. Although St John's is brilliant on paper and it worked well for my son (19 now) but for her is a nightmare.

I would love to hear some feedback from people who are there really. Thank you

That's a really good point previous OP.

Facilities look wonderful in lots of these places especially those with swimming pools, yet my DC hates swimming lessons.

A friend's very academic DC is there they are all happy with the school. They chose it because it was most affordable for them.

Another chose it because their DC is not academic and they felt the school won't be too pushy.

Like has been said local people with kids there say their kids are happy and they are too.

When we went to see it, the student showing us round said she'd given up a place at Henrietta Barnett to join the school in Y7. She was going to Cambridge to study Law. This was 2018 or 2019.

The reason I mention all this is, it seems cater for all.

What I've realised since my kids started secondary school is, not to be blown away by facilities your kids might end up not being interested in. Like huge sports fields and your DC isn't keen. Or fancy DT facilities and zero interest. Speaking from experience 😂. Appreciate one might not know what they'd be interested in though.

Really interested to hear both the positive and negative, so please explain in more detail @Soma if you can. There is nothing wrong with the school my daughter is at the moment. It's just her friends at Mount House are trying to convince my daughter to switch. She goes riding and some of her horsey friends are at Mount House and really love it. I'm trying to figure out if the school is really as lovely as they say or if they like the fact that it's laid back on academics. Their outside space is also much smaller than her current school.