Mount House, Hadley Wood

[CanteringAlong]

I am interested to learn more about this school. However, I was reading the website and the governors seem to be venture capitalists, i'm guessing from the company that own the school. I'm wondering what this means for the school, who goes there, how things are run. I know private schools are a business really but this is new to me and I find it hard to understand.

My children are shy and I am looking for a small school but one that is nurturing with the right staff there with strong interest in pastoral care foremost.

Misuse of authority often appears not as open hostility, but as quiet rigidity where inflexibility, defensiveness and control replaced by listening, leaving parents feeling unheard and systems prioritised over children.
Beware there is bullying in the school it’s been going on for years !!

The school’s limited pastoral provision, combined with a rigid and institutionalised structure, results in students’ emotional and welfare needs being overlooked, with systems and discipline taking precedence over genuine care and support.
Misuse of authority often appears not as open hostility but as quiet rigidity and in this case is reflected in a defensive leadership , unresolved bullying, poor facilities, declining academic outcomes and a focus on control over student wellbeing, contributing to a large growing number of families choosing to leave the school.

Sad to hear it hasn’t improved with a new head, although I always thought that place needed more than a new head

This is sad to read. It’s quite close to me, has academic focus and small which would suit autistic, very able children like mine. I do not want my children managed out of a school.

The bullying is extreme and the academic standards are very low. There is a huge amount of classroom disruption. It’s not a place to send an able child with autism.

Although as I have previously stated, pastoral care at the school is pretty much non-existent, I think what you say about disruption only happens in bottom sets - at leats in my daughter's year. Top sets standards are quite high and kids are aiming for 9s. Also, high-functioning SEN kids in my daughter's year are doing very well and are mostly in top sets. The school also has some very good teachers.

It could all be entirely year group dependent though.

This sounds awful. I thought the point of private schools was better standards of behaviour, but especially as they can expel. It’s very small and sounds like you can’t get away from people you don’t like/bully!

It’s so small that they can’t afford to expel anyone.

How is the bullying extreme?

There is some violence and name calling. Perhaps not ‘extreme’ compared to other schools, more unresolved by the leadership and the small size of the school makes it impossible to avoid bullies

Yes, a previous thread had mentioned that you can’t escape people you don’t like. My children are very quiet, autistic and vulnerable to bullying. This definitely is very concerning. I would expect bullies and violent kids to be expelled!!

A school can only expel pupils if it’s oversubscribed and can afford to lose the fees. Mount House has £5 million negative assets

Is that a rule? They can’t expel unless their school is oversubscribed??

fornaicejaderaven do you have children there?

My child was there. Luckily, not anymore. It’s not a rule about not expelling, it’s simple economics. Popular private schools with waiting lists will expel children very quickly but those who are in debt and don’t have enough pupils are less likely to do so. I moved my child to a bigger school and she loved being able to choose her friends from a larger group and avoid bullies. I’ve seen the same thing a few times with friends children too.

would you mind DM ing me to let me know the school she is happy at? I’m so worried for my children

I have serious concerns about the pastoral care and supervision at this school.

In my experience, when parents raise safeguarding or bullying concerns, the school can become defensive rather than addressing the issues transparently. I am aware of situations where children experienced prolonged bullying and parents felt their concerns were not taken seriously, which ultimately affected the children’s mental health.

From my own experience with my children, I did not feel that concerns were consistently followed through. I also found the school environment to be quite crowded at time and there were occasions where pupils appeared insufficiently supervised.

they deem to be supportive however it’s the opposite and they sweep everything under the carpet academically it is not a successful school either.

As a result, I made the decision to withdraw my son and move him to St John’s, where the environment and support have been much better suited look at other schools!!

Thank you for sharing this. Sadly St. john’s don’t want autistic children, I think. They don’t even have a senco.

it would be wise to look more broadly when considering suitable schools for your children. The priority must be to ensure they are placed in an environment where they feel safe, supported, and able to learn without distress.

There are ongoing concerns raised by parents about aspects of the school’s leadership and overall management. In particular, some families report that when safeguarding issues or bullying concerns are raised, responses can feel dismissive or defensive. This can understandably undermine confidence in the school’s ability to protect vulnerable pupils.

Every child’s needs are different, but given the level of concern expressed, it may be sensible to carefully explore alternative schools and take time to assess which setting can genuinely meet your child’s needs.

Ultimately, the goal is to secure a school where your child can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.
St John’s have a senco but she’s a teacher depending on needs of child they can either attend to or not.
King Alfred is a great school for children they have space and facilities to nurture and support children.

Pastoral care is definitely absolutely appalling at Mount House, which is hilarious as they make such a song and dance about it publicly. It's actually a joke how bad the pastoral care is.

Thank you. The worrying thing is at open days you can’t know how they really deal with problems that arise for their students. King Alfred is way too far from us in Herts but St Chris is similar. I am not sure they provide the academic riguour that my children need, although they seem fantastic for those needing low demands and woth SEND. It seems impossible to find a private school that is right for academically able (and needing high standards of behaviour and routine) autistic children.

I know St Chris quite well and I think it would be a far better fit. I know some parents are concerned by the lack of uniform, first names etc, but it’s a better school than Mount House

St Chris - I just keep wondering if they have the structure, behaviour and academic riguour my children need.

Have you considered home schooling? There are some good online schools

@CanteringAlong have you looked at St Margaret's Bushey? Or City of London Boys?