Mount House

[CornwallMum107]

Does anyone have any views on this school? Its been recommended to us and looks great but useful to have some input from parents. Thanks

Hear hear Whoarethesepeople.

I did hear that there is a group of parents who are still trying to fight this merger, and I don't know who these people are either, or what on earth they think they will achieve. All I know is that Mount Kelly needs parents like that like a hole in the head!

Everyone I know is behind it (although there are perhaps a few who wouldn't necessarily have chosen it) they include many people who were Mount House pupils themselves and who then sent their children there, also older friends who sent their children there in the 80s and 90s, who all retain a huge affection for the school. The fact is that fewer people can afford to put 2 or 3 kids through the big independent schools any more, or who don't want to send them away to board, and MH has to adapt to that new market. There was a similar fuss when it went co-ed, but it had to do that to survive, which it did. There is only one bad thing which could happen, and that is that the school would close and be lost forever.

I trust that there will be enough lots more parents like Devonlass1, who will love the school as much as we do, and carry on the good work in its new 'avatar'.

What a shame that there are such shallow minded parents that seem intent to make this merger a bitter experience. Do you not realise that the only people you are hurting are our children? If you don't like it, simply leave! We all heard about this merger at the same time. We all had concerns and worries regarding our children, but this merger is happening, whether a few militant parents like it or not. My daughter is extremely positive about the merger, because I have never been anything but positive to her, even if privately I have some concerns, as I want her to see this is a positive experience. New friends, as well as old, new classes and experiences, and opportunities she may not have had.
I am a kelly parent, but as you can see from my nickname, am proud to be becoming a Mount kelly parent. Yes, there will be teething problems, yes there will be things that don't go so well, but in the end our children are the most important people in this, not us. Parents need to get over this attitude of Mount and Kelly Ethos and tradition. At the end of the day, if this merger did not go forward, Mount would not have a future, that is evident from the decrease in pupil numbers.
This last minute stand from a very small minority of mount parents is not only ridiculous, it is upsetting for us all at Kelly. We know that it is a very small amount of parents that feel this way, but as I have said before, it is the children that are suffering from this. My daughter had heard that these parents have tried to stop the merger and she cried. She has made some wonderful friends at Mount, and is very excited about becoming a Mount Kelly pupil, why would you do this? I stand by my statement, if you don't like it, leave! No one is forcing you to embrace this merger, there are other schools, why would you want to stay in a school you are not happy with? Baffling!
Let's all try and be grown ups here. The merger is a good thing. Yes, there will be issues and it is not all going to be great for everyone. I am sure there will be things I bring issue with in September, but like every new venture, these issues can be rectified. We are very lucky to have this opportunity, we have an amazing head teacher at Kelly prep, as I believe you do at Mount, so how wonderful is this school going to be!
I for one ( and I know the huge majority of Kelly parents feel the same) am looking forward to meeting new parents, my daughter widening her friendship circle and having the experience of mixing with mount children.
Please stop this negativity, we are all a little worried, but stop hurting our children. I am so happy to hear that the majority of Mount parents are embracing this merger, it is so saddening to hear of this very small group who seem intent on upsetting our children. I can assure you this attitude will not be one that sits well at Mount Kelly in September. Hopefully, the lack of support from your own school will show you that you are unsupported in this last minute stand.
Good luck to everyone in September, if you are staying at Mount Kelly, or leaving. We at Kelly prep are very excited about the future and are ready to start this new adventure!!

Jeez, you sound friendly and welcoming.

I am Duchesse!! I am just annoyed that my daughter has had to go through this upset caused by a small amount of parents. Please be assured Kelly prep parents (including me!) are welcoming this merger with open minds and I especially am looking forward to meeting new parents who are also welcoming this merger, just not those whom seem intent to 'put a spanner in the works'. ??

Not sure where you get the idea its a small minority of parents ,they had the support of parents( throughout the school) with over 60 children in the school and many more have serious concerns and why wouldnt they?
Why would parents who are looking to get children into selective schools be happy about a meger with a non academic school that looses a third of its pupils to local state schools for A levels,thinks its a sports school but doesnt even have a sports hall and thinks its acceptable to make girls wear skirts that have no place in this century,luckily the prep will be stramed and setted so not too much damage should be done.
On the positive side you have a nice pool.,now when are you going to get the money for the new pool you claimed would be open by now?

What exactly do you mean by 'selective schools' propatria?

I assume you are removing your children then Propatria seeing as you are so set against the merger?

Not at the moment, but like many other parents we have looked at other schools and will not hesitate to withdraw if the promises we have been given are not kept..See you in September...
I think you know what a selective school is ex mhwife etc but perhaps its easier to say what it isnt, it isnt a school that says "we are not solely selective on academic ability" perhaps it would be easier to say ""got a cheque book,in you come",Im sure some people think BTECs are worth paying for but that is not a school that interests me or indeed the majority of mh parents,it certainly wasnt your choice of school was it ex mhwife?

The thing is Propatria, does MH or as it is now,Mount Kelley, really need DP like you? I would have thought you would have been better palced putting your DC in a school more appropriate to your persepective - ie a more selective environment. As you are from Truro, your DC must board anyway. Mout Kelley will never be good enough for you and you may well ruin it for those who would make work. No one needs a grump Propatria.

I think youll find mk needs every parent it can, no need to pay boarding fees as we are further up the A30 than Truro,long day but worth it,plenty of grumps next year but as we leave over the next couple of years lets see what happens to the school,several prospective parents we know holding fire and seeing what happens,

At the moment Propatria there are almost no independent schools in this area who do not need all the parents they can get, as you put it.

But sometimes it may well be better if parents who cannot show a positive attitude to the change would go rather than take that hold fire approach as it gives the school a better chance of success. No one needs the negative attitude.

Positive is my middle name.

I actually asked what you meant by the term selective schools, because to me that implies the Winchesters, Etons and Wycombe Abbeys. Mount House has sometimes managed to send one or two people to that type of school but it's not what it was known for. Even going right back to the Wortham days, most pupils have gone on to places like Blundells, Kelly and the schools in Taunton, which are not selective at all. Even Sherborne and Bryanston, which have been popular in recent years, are not that hard to get into, and are not (in my view) selective.

You seem to be talking MH up to be some sort of Dragon School of the SW, and it has never been that, although it is a lovely school.

"has sometimes managed" classic,please tell us what school it " managed" to get your son into.
Certainly not saying its the Dragon in the sw,if it was we wouldnt go anywhere near it,but what it does do is allow children to get into the best school they are capable of, be that Wycombe Abbey or kelly,that parental choice needs to remain and the ability of the school to teach to the level required needs to remain.Schools in the western part of the country will of course predominate for geographical reasons,however parents have a choice and they know that mh is capable of teaching to the level required for any school if that is what the parents want and the the dd or ds has the ability.
Schools such as the three you mention in your first para I regard as super selectives.

I think you will find Propatria, that Mount Kelly does not need "every parent it can get", what it will need is supportive, mindful parents who are invested in making the merger a success! There will be no place, I hope, for such a negative opinion on anything remotely "Kelly", as this seems to be a real sticking point for you. And for the record, most of the girls love the kilts at Kelly, they are part of Kelly's tradition and I for one am keen for my child not to wear short skirts at school.
Maybe if your child/ children are so above any at Kelly prep and you are worried their stupidity may effect your wonderful child's grades, then a more "selective" school may suit you better. I can assure you, there are some talented kids at kelly!

"most of the girls love the kilts" thats hilarious,they are ridiculous,thats why Mh parents refused to allow our children to wear them,hence the opt out for year 7 and 8,Im sure there are some talented children at kelly, and if had a child who was a good swimmer and I wanted a free senior school then it would be a very good choice if I couldnt get into Millfield or Plymouth College but a talented academic child or rugby player or cricketer,or artist ,or musician,no sorry,really not somewhere we would consider,you are happy with it and thats great,we and most of the MH parents(as they always have) are looking at other senior schools,lots of choice,something for everyone...

I came on to reply, but propatrias last post has made me realise I just CBA, so I'm standing by my last post re the destinatiions of the majority of MH pupils in the past, and am signing out.

Leave it mkp it ain't worth it. I hope you have a great summer and that all goes well in September .

My DC aren't sons BTW , but whatevs...

Wow, opinionated aren't we! Yes, most of the girls do love the kilts, and if having the option of wearing them a few inches shorter pleases you, then so be it, they are still Kelly kilts! I think you will find "mount house parents" didn't really get a choice in the new uniform, it was decided by the Governors!
Yes, we are very happy at Kelly, and parents like you are not needed or wanted. Best of luck in finding somewhere to fill your exacting criteria. I think you will find that swimmers still pay substantial fees at Kelly, but then most of your "kelly facts" seem based on your opinion. You obviously have a pure hatred for anything Kelly related, hopefully your days at Mount Kelly will be short, for all our sakes.
I feel sincerely sorry for other Mount parents if you are like this in person, you must be a very lonely person.

Thanks MHwifeMHparent, look forward to meeting you, and the vast majority of welcoming Mount parents in September! There are always the militant few who think that a little money in their pocket makes their opinion worth more than others, it won't be tolerated by parents and staff at Mount Kelly. Have a lovely summer, hope you don't hate the Kilts too much

Nothing to do with money, or the militant few,its about what a school can offer, , kelly senior is too small to offer very much of interest to anyone but very local parents who insist on a private education,nothing wrong with that just not for us or the vast majority of MH parents.
Delighted to hear the swimmers "pay substantial fees" I presume then that the less than 7 million gross fees that are reduced by 1.3 million in scholarships etc are very little to do with them..most peculiar,but very generous fee reductions, far far more generous than plenty of other schools with much bigger gross fees, and scholarships have gone up as gross fees have dropped ,,obviously the drop in fees last year of 600k is fine and trustees that state "reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operative existence for the forseeable future" is very positive.
You are indeed correct ankle length skirts are are indeed the future for 11 year old girls,so practical and 21st century,silly MH parents...
Have a great summer,dont expect we will meet much as dc wont be in a class with ex kelly prep unless they decide not to transfer to kelly senior but Im sure your daughter will love the school,perhaps she was one of the children that my dc said stood wide eyed and amazed at the site of a sports hall,imagine a private school with a sports hall,what will they think of next

Thats not nice at all propatria. Also I suspect much is very incorrect - as are many of the "facts" in your other comments (including the ones you made to me when I told you MH was in trouble a long time ago - well we waited and now we see do we not?). I am beginning to wonder if you have a DC in MH or any other school around here frankly.

Whilst Kelly may have taken a poor direction in recent times , it is still a good school. It always has been. Its issues are similar to many others in the area - but it will survive. Unlike some others I would mention ( and they are not the ones which you might immediately think of Propatria.

But I do not go around badmouthing any schools and making snide comments like you do.

Of course you dont narries,thats why youve rushed back to comment,all info freely available,accounts are of course available on charity commission site,so go and check what info is available in the public domain and then come back and back up "I suspect much is very incorrect" or not....
So lets make it simple,
Are fees around 7 million?
Did they drop by 600k?
Is the gross fee income reduced by 1.3 million in scholarships etc?
Did scholarships increase while income dropped?
Did the trustees give the "reasonable expectations" quote
Are the scholarships as a % of total fee income more generous than many other schools?
If any of those statements are wrong,please confirm....

Yes, my daughter has never seen a sports hall before! [big grin]

But I said MH was in trouble and it would close - and a year later, it was closing. Thats a fact. You can posture all you like I was right you were
(and are) wrong.

So I presume you agree that all of the above are correct and a matter of public record...

,yep you said mh was in trouble,and its merged,no arguement,whether it needed to and were all alternatives fully looked at ,different matter..but yep you were correct.
No need to grin mkp,its the only sports hall she will see if she stays at kelly,mind you she might see an olympic pool,or perhaps not,

Must go as I have "reasonable expectations" of a cup of tea...