A Sneak Peek Inside What's Coming Next at The Mount

A Sneak Peek Inside What's Coming Next at The Mount

If you've visited The Mount recently, you may have noticed a little more activity than usual.

For the past few months, parts of the school have been hidden behind doors, with builders coming and going, materials arriving daily and plenty of excitement building behind the scenes.

I'm delighted to finally share a first look at one of our latest projects.

Months in the making

Although it might look like a summer refurbishment, this project actually began much earlier.

The first conversations started back in February, as we looked at how we could make even better use of our building while continuing to meet the growing demand for places at The Mount.

As with every project we take on, we didn't rush into it. We explored different ideas, challenged ourselves, refined the plans and asked one simple question throughout the process:

How can we create an even better experience for our children?

Once we were happy we had the right solution, work began as soon as the Easter holidays arrived. Whilst many families were enjoying a well-earned break, the school became a hive of activity as builders, decorators and tradespeople worked incredibly hard to bring our plans to life.

Making room for more children to thrive

One of the biggest reasons behind this project has been the fantastic demand we've seen for places in our nursery.

Rather than simply trying to squeeze more children into the existing space, we wanted to think much more carefully about how every part of the school could work better for the children who use it.

Our Reception class will be moving into what was previously our music room, creating a wonderful new learning environment for them. Their current classroom will then become an extension of the nursery, giving our youngest children even more room to learn, play and flourish.

It's a reshuffle that benefits everyone and allows us to continue growing without ever compromising the experience we want children to have.

A music room full of character

Perhaps the most exciting part of the project is our brand-new music room.

Hidden away on the top floor of the school is a truly beautiful space that many people have never seen before. With its pitched ceilings, exposed timber beams, charming dormer windows and wonderful circular feature windows, it already had an incredible amount of character.

As we've renovated it, we've tried to preserve everything that makes the room so unique whilst creating a space that inspires creativity from the moment children walk through the door.

There's even a hidden entrance, something I know our children are going to absolutely love.

It's exactly the sort of space that sparks imagination before a single note of music has even been played.

Spaces matter

One of the things we've spoken about a lot over the past year is how much the environment children learn in influences the way they feel.

Of course, outstanding teachers are at the heart of any great school, but inspiring surroundings can encourage children to think differently, ask more questions, become more creative and feel genuinely excited about learning.

That's why we've invested so much time into these new spaces.

Not because we wanted them to look impressive, but because we wanted children to walk in and instantly feel inspired.

It's exactly the same thinking that led us to create the London bus, the Imaginarium and many of the other spaces around the school. Every project starts with the same question:

Will this help create an extraordinary childhood?

If the answer is yes, it's worth exploring.

A small setback

I have to admit this project hasn't gone entirely to plan!

Partway through the build I managed to break my ankle, which definitely wasn't part of the schedule. Normally, I like to be incredibly hands-on with projects like this, so having to manage much of the work from a distance was frustrating to say the least.

Thankfully, I'm now back on my feet, back on site and enjoying seeing everything finally come together.

Sometimes these things happen, but I think you'll agree it'll have been worth the wait.

We can't wait to welcome everyone back

There's still plenty to do before the new school year begins in September, but we're getting closer every day.

These photographs give you an early glimpse of what's been happening behind the scenes, but the real excitement will come when the rooms are filled with music, creativity, laughter and children making them their own.

That's always the most rewarding moment.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and encouragement. It's a privilege to keep investing in The Mount, and we're incredibly excited about what the new academic year has in store.

We can't wait to welcome everyone back and share these wonderful new spaces with you.