History of The Mount School


The Mount School was originally based in Highgate Village.
The picture above shows the original school.



In 1926 the school consisted of ten pupils, eight rabbits and
two spaniels as show in the photograph above.



The Mathematics Classroom



The Library



The Dining Room



An Outdoor Classroom



The school grew over the years as this photograph
taken in 1931 shows.
The Mount School was started by Mary McGregor in 1925 in a house in North Grove, Highgate Village.

"To be, rather than to seem to be" was chosen by her as the school motto. The school's 10 pupils gradually increased until 1935, when it moved to Mill Hill with a chance to expand in country surroundings.

A school bus would take pupils to Mill Hill each morning from Highgate and return them in the evening. Old girls remember that a paraffin heater in the bus kept them warm on winter mornings.

In 1939, a large group of children were evacuated to the Cotswolds, with several members of staff.
When they returned in 1945, the LCC reconditioned the Mill Hill buildings which had been used as a Mental Hospital during the war. With the rent received, four large classrooms were added and a gymnasium soon afterwards.

In 1947 The Mount was recognised as an efficient Secondary School by the Ministry of Education.

Mary McGregor retired in 1963 and Betty Shannon Millin was appointed to the Headship.

In 1973 Miss Millin retired to Ireland and Margaret Pond, a member of the Science Staff, succeeded her.

In December 1998, Mrs Pond retired. She was succeeded by Mrs J Kirsten Jackson who herself retired in December 2008, after 10 years as Head. The Head of The Mount School is now Ms Catherine Cozens, who started in January 2009.

The school expanded to 380 girls with new facilities and buildings, including a new Laboratory, Dining Room, Art Rooms plus a Design & Technology department, incorporating a Woodwork room. Further modernisations are planned for the future.

The Mount School was last inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in 2007 and was found to have a friendly, family atmosphere, with a caring and supportive ethos.

"To be, rather than to seem to be"

» BACK TO TOP