Mount House School becomes national training centre for Girls on Board programme
Mount House School in Hadley Wood has been recognised as an official Girls on Board training centre, a national role that highlights its leadership in providing outstanding pastoral care and commitment to supporting students flourish academically and personally within a nurturing environment.
Girls on Board is a programme for girls and young women aged 7 to 18 that empowers them to understand and resolve the complexities of friendship through shared language and effective strategies. The programme provides educators with tools to help girls build self-belief, resolve issues, reduce anxiety and foster resilience.
This partnership is another example of the research-based pastoral innovation that is central to Mount House’s overall success. It grew from the school’s Deputy Head (Pastoral), Gerrard Crosby's understanding of how complex friendship dynamics can affect young people’s wellbeing and their ability to thrive. He identified the benefits of a structured, compassionate approach that empowers students, particularly girls, to manage their friendships with confidence.
Mount House will host a national Girls on Board training day on Friday, 20 March 2026. The event will provide an opportunity for teachers, pastoral and school leaders from similarly minded schools to become accredited Girls on Board Champions. The training will include expert-led sessions, practical resources and ongoing support to enable participating schools to embed approaches that empower girls to manage friendships independently.
On Thursday, 6 March 2026, Mount House will also become the first school in the country to host the new Working with Boys training programme. Working with Boys is designed for boys from Year 5 upwards to grow into respectful, reflective young men who build healthy peer cultures. Educators attending the training will learn strategies to support boys in developing healthy relationships, regulating behaviour and creating positive peer environments.
While Mount House’s work with Girls on Board highlights its dedication to raising girls' aspirations and confidence, it recognises that it is equally important to support boys in building a respectful and inclusive school community for everyone.
Mount House, part of Blenheim Schools, is an independent school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. By hosting these two nationally recognised programmes, it extends its values beyond its own community. Mr Jonathan Cooper, Headteacher at Mount House School, shared,
Becoming a national training centre for both Girls on Board and Working with Boys is a natural extension of our ethos at Mount House School. Our community is built on kindness, confidence and belonging, and these programmes help young people understand themselves and each other with greater empathy. We are proud to lead this important work nationally and to welcome colleagues from across the country to our school."
Patrice Smyth, Assistant Head (Wellbeing) and Mental Health First Aid Trainer, added,
Girls on Board allows our students to develop and navigate their relationships at school in a safe environment, where adults are there to support rather than judge. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their behaviour, develop empathy and reflect on the impact this has on their wider school community. It is a refreshingly different model that prepares young people to navigate conflict well beyond school.
Reprinted with permission from Mount House School
To register your school leaders for the upcoming national training days, please visit: Working with Boys | Girls on Board
Mount House is an independent day school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18, in leafy Hadley Wood, Barnet. Our mission at Mount House School is to inspire lifelong learning within a nurturing, culturally creative and intellectually dynamic community.