Private Education Awards 2026 | 17 An independent school in Hertfordshire, Mount House School is renowned for its personalised education for ages 11–18, delivered against the backdrop of a Green Belt location in Hadley Wood. One of the region’s leading co-ed schools, Mount House is known for small class sizes, nurturing independence, and offering a holistic education. This means that, whilst academic ambition is significant, more important is helping young people to thrive as individuals. Head Jonathan Cooper shared more following Mount House’s recognition here in our Private Education Awards 2026. Most Empowering Education Environment 2026 – London & Holistic Student Development Excellence Award 2026 deliver a genuinely personalised education. By encouraging each student to win their own race – be that academically or discovering a passion for the arts through its co-curricular programme – personal development goes beyond being an ‘add-on’ and is instead part of the engine. Examples of this can also be seen across its curriculum, where structured research and project-driven pathways – including HPQstyle journeys, its new Oracy pathway, and the Sixth Form Enterprise curriculum – are seeing decisions made to reduce the unnecessary pressure associated with exams and instead create time for deeper learning and broader enrichment. This feeds into what students and their parents are looking for. With emotional safety coming first in the eyes of many parents, Mount House’s integration of it at every level of the educational journey sets it apart, especially in the highly competitive and more selective settings associated with independent education in this region and North London. Jonathan told us: “Schools that can offer ambition without anxiety, and challenge without pressure, are the ones that will truly serve young people in the years ahead.” Similarly, investing in teachers is also key, and this is something Mount House prides itself on doing across its team. Staff feel the strong sense of purpose that exits here, something that is seen in the common language used when it comes to talking about the growth they are looking to foster in young people. The aforementioned focus on oracy, structured enrichment, and a holistic education is also beneficial for the team, as it allows them to teach beyond the narrow confines associated with assessment and go deeper into development. Looking ahead, Mount House is looking to continue to strengthen what it already does so well: personalised learning, flexible pathways (especially in sixth form), and academic enrichment that stretches the mind without being overwhelming. Similarly, Mount House is also becoming part of Blenheim Schools, a group dedicated to providing the very best for students across its institutions. Joining this group gives Mount House the best of both worlds – stability and momentum within its unique, personal, small-school identity. A modern, all-ability school where every child is known, support, and challenged, Mount House School is building confident and compassionate young people who are ready to succeed within both their own and collective ambitions. For those families looking for the increasingly rare sight of an authentic school where their child will receive a world-class education and yet still be truly known, Mount House ticks all of the boxes. Contact: Jonathan Cooper Company: Mount House School Web Address: https://www.mounthouse.org.uk/ ount House School sees its role in the independent education space as being about much more than examination outcomes. Existing to create the conditions to empower young people, the mission of Mount House School was crafted with intention, and sees it strive to be a setting where curious and ambitious students can thrive, all within a nurturing community. Everything it does starts with this mission, and the teaching staff want their students to enjoy learning but also to feel confident in who they are now and will be in the future. “This is all encapsulated in our ethos: ‘Be You. Belong. Become.’ We are guided by the values that underpin this, namely authenticity and confidence (Be You), community and compassion (Belong), and aspiration and growth (Become).” Whilst the four short words behind this ethos may be simple, they serve as a compass for how Head Jonathan Cooper and the rest of the senior leadership team want Mount House to feel on a daily basis – a place where students can be confident, feel genuinely known and supported, and grow into ambitious yet grounded young adults. Beyond being something reflected in documents, this is lived through the small class sizes of this independent school, as well as its strong pastoral relationships and the friendly and uplifting culture. The small size of Mount House compared to many independent schools is a unique advantage it has over other institutions, as this makes it easier to M Mount House School
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