MHS Foundation

CEO, Antony Spencer reveals ambitious development plans for the five schools comprising the Foundation portfolio: Mill Hill School, Belmont, Grimsdell, Mount Mill Hill International and Cobham Hall

OMs of a certain age visiting the Foundation today will find much that is reassuringly familiar but also a number of things that are different. Since I started as CEO in January 2020, I’ve got to know the Foundation during an unusually testing period for all schools. The good news is that the Foundation is emerging from the pandemic stronger than ever. Yes, it has taken its toll financially, with reduced fee income and a negative impact on our commercial operations. The move to remote learning and development of blended learning (with classes mixed between physically and virtually connected pupils) was challenging, but spurred significant progress in our IT capability. I have no doubts that the bounceback/building back better alliterative slogans we hear in national politics will be equally appropriate to the Foundation.

As we look hopefully towards some semblance of normality from September 2021, it’s a good time to reflect on how the Foundation has evolved over the years. Those OMs who remember an all-boys, predominantly boarding Mill Hill School, would be struck by a number of changes. Boarding is still a prominent part of school life, with around 200 boarders in the school community at Mill Hill, and a further 50 at Cobham Hall, but the vast majority of the 1,800 pupils across the Foundation are day pupils. The move to co-education has steadily worked its way through the schools, with an almost exact 50/50 split of boys/girls in the pre-prep (Grimsdell), and Belmont. Mill Hill School is still majority boys, but the number of girls continues to grow and the aim is to move towards parity in the coming years. There are now five schools in the Foundation, following the addition of Cobham Hall School in Kent through a charity merger in early 2021.

This followed the merger with the local girls’ school, The Mount, in 2015, which became a school dedicated to international pupils, particularly boarders, in the form of Mount Mill Hill International. We therefore have a family of five schools linked in different ways. For Grimsdell, Belmont and Mill Hill School, we offer an all-through education that provides continuity and stability. Virtually all pupils joining the Nursery or Reception at Grimsdell now complete their education at Mill Hill School. Their numbers are added to by a large intake into Belmont at 11+, with around 50% of these new pupils coming from local state schools. Competition for places is very high, and large waiting lists exist.

Conversely, the direct entry into Mill Hill School into the Fourth Form at 13+ is relatively small, and being reduced every year. The pupils at MMHI are able to transfer into Mill Hill School for Sixth Form if they meet the entry requirement, and now have an alternative option within the Foundation in the form of Cobham Hall. Overall, as an educational charity, this structure gives a great deal of commercial and educational resilience: with income increasing to around £40 Million, and over 500 staff, the Foundation is a substantial charity.

Many OMs will be particularly interested to hear about Mill Hill School. It continues to have some quaint anachronisms, like calling the first year of pupils ‘Fourth Form’, who then take two more years to become Fifth Form! Fortunately, the school inspectors were more impressed by the level of pupil progress than the nomenclature suggests. The House structure continues to be a very prominent feature of school life, somewhat against the norm in other schools, and House competitions abound (pandemic permitting). The overall educational philosophy continues to draw upon its historic roots, emphasising academic excellence but also breadth of experience. Music, the arts and sport all strongly play their part in school life, and there is a focus upon the development of all pupils, rather than a narrowly selective intake. The pupil intake is diverse, aided by a bursary programme that is already extensive but capable of further development.

For the Foundation to continue to thrive for future generations, we need to continue to invest appropriately. The Court of Governors is working with the management team to devise a campus master plan that will provide long-term planning for the estate. More details should follow towards the end of 2021, but among the projects being considered are a new sports centre to supplement the current one, and a new Science School to replace the venerable Crick. Some of this investment is to meet the need for extra capacity due to the substantial growth in pupil numbers at Belmont and Mill Hill School, with the latter currently approaching 900 pupils. Fortunately, the schools continue to enjoy a wonderful setting with plenty of space, and nurturing this physical environment for the long-term is part of our sustainability strategy for the future.

What continues to be of great value to the Foundation is the links it enjoys with OMs. For such large schools, there is a palpable sense of belonging and community, and OMs are an essential part of that. We are all looking forward to the return of events that bring us all together again.