Quaker values have been around since the 1640s, but they remain remarkably modern. Mount pupils embody these values. They know the importance they have in the world and the power of individual actions. They know how to put the I in Impact! As a result, pupils start their educational journey in a culture of courtesy and regard not found in all schools.
In Senior School on Mondays we observe a Silent Meeting where the week starts with time for reflection and the opportunity to stand up and share your thoughts on any topic with the whole room. Pupils sit in a square as there is no hierarchy and each person in the room is valued equally. It’s a powerful way to start the week, gaining perspective and building courage to face challenges, or seek advice from peers. There are no Monday ‘blues’ here.
Pupils here make a difference without huge fanfare or expecting accolades as it is a given that everyone will do their bit in the world. Pupils are often surprised at university when they compare how much they have done for charity and in the name of peace, compared to their new peers.
They’re well-prepared for the challenges of university and beyond, having already developed a strong sense of purpose and a desire to contribute to their communities.
In Junior School, children are empowered to know they can make a difference. They actively participate in school councils and role model initiatives, while exploring wider issues through the Global Curriculum, sharing their experience and hearing from guest speakers. Recent workshops with Uganda 50 provided a powerful learning experience. Pupils gained firsthand insights into the hardships faced by Asian Ugandan refugees in the 1970s.
The organiser, Shamim, said: “My daughter and I found Mount pupils so very polite and perceptive. This is one of the best schools we have visited for impeccable behaviour and excellent, thought-provoking questions.”
PeaceJam is one of our proudest legacies at The Mount as we have been part of it for decades. PeaceJam empowers youth to be the change they want to see.
Our core PeaceJam Sixth Form group has attended many PeaceJam Slams and online discussion groups to realise their desire to make a difference in the world. An ongoing PeaceJam project includes our Year 9s who are looking at how to make an impact in our community, like the existing Christmas visits to local care homes and hospitals to sing and socialise which pupils, residents and patients so enjoy.
Fay from PeaceJam, said: “The Mount has an amazing long history with us. It’s a real privilege to be collaborating with you. We visit many schools and often use The Mount as an example of how PeaceJam is being done really well, to inspire them. So many Mount pupils have shown such commitment over the years and planned and delivered amazing projects.”
We raise funds for a diverse array of charities with charity days in schools such as Anything but a Bag Day, The Great Mountie Bake Off and our Junior School Santa Run. Our charity Christmas Ball brought together pupils from schools across Yorkshire to raise funds for three charities over a lovely, sociable evening. We support Yorkits annually where pupils make period kits at York Minster to be shipped to other countries. Our junior school set up a Crochet Club where junior pupils learnt to crochet blankets and baby hats for disadvantaged families in Namibia.
We are really proud of an initiative we recently sponsored and supported called Make Space for Girls run in York parks. The initiative focused on reducing the drop off of park use as girls enter their teenage years as parks have numerous benefits for physical and mental health.
As a proud Quaker School, we are constantly thinking beyond the traditional curriculum to equip our pupils for life, urging them to actively take risks and be ‘peaceful disruptors’ for good.
Mount pupils constantly enjoy opportunities to test themselves beyond the school gates, such as the Bath Model United Nations for public speaking, regional competitions in all academic fields, performing arts contests and a host of sporting competitions. We always encourage, support and accommodate our pupils’ external interests, too, whether it’s appearing on the West End, pursuing youth political aims or attending the World Dance Cup.
At The Mount, if the curriculum is a safety net, we deliberately tear small holes in it to allow our pupils to dive into new opportunities, so they are not only successful adults – being the change they wish to see – but are happy with good mental health, too.