Our School
Our History
Brother Joseph Gard’ner – Founder, Visionary, Educator
Brother Joseph Gard’ner was the founding spirit of More House School. Arriving at Moons Hill in 1931 as lead of the Mount Olivet monastic community, he believed deeply in the transformative power of education — especially for boys who struggled to thrive in conventional schools. His vision was rooted in compassion, discipline, and creativity, and he saw every child as possessing unique potential worthy of nurture.
In 1934, he established the Mount Olivet Institution, a pioneering school for young men with learning difficulties. When the monastery closed, he reopened the site in 1939 as the St. Thomas More School, laying the foundations for what would become More House. His educational philosophy combined structure with imagination, and nowhere was this more evident than in the creation of the Frensham Circus and Zoo which gave boys confidence, joy, and a sense of achievement. Pupils learned traditional subjects in the morning and were trained in the arts, skills and traditions of the circus in the afternoons. The school boasted its own big top performance tent, and an eclectic mix of circus and other animals. Each year, hundreds of visitors travelled to Frensham to watch the circus, and it sometimes toured the South coast in the summer holidays.
Brother Joseph, the school’s first Headmaster, died in 1947 at the age of 39, just days after performing in his final circus season. Though his life was short, his legacy is profound. More House School continues to celebrate Brother Joseph and his bold vision as the reason so many pupils have succeeded and honour his belief that every child deserves to be seen, supported, and given the opportunity to flourish.
The Story of More House School
A Timeline of Transformation
Mount Olivet Institution Established on Moons Hill
Three years after a small Anglican monastic community settled at Moons Hill with a mission to serve through education and faith, Brother Joseph Gard’ner and his companions established a residential provision for young men with learning difficulties (Mount Olivet Institution). This was a pioneering and compassionate initiative for its time, which faced some challenge from the local community.
Brother Joseph Gard’ner, Founder
1936: The Frensham Circus was founded by Brother Joseph, and was a pioneering school-run spectacle, unique in Britain. (Read more about this exciting era of our school’s history in the timeline below.)
1939: Having converted from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism in 1936 and becoming The Servants of Christ the King, the Mount Olivet Institution’s licence was not renewed. Brother Joseph reopened the site as a Catholic school, the St. Thomas More School, and continued his mission to support boys who struggled in mainstream education.
1947: Just days after performing with the circus in his ‘Garden of Arabia’ conjuring trick, Brother Joseph died unexpectedly on 14 August 1947 at age 39. His legacy lives on in the school’s ethos and the success of generations of pupils. Brother Joseph was buried in the Catholic section of West Street Cemetery, Farnham. The circus died with Brother Joseph.
The Frensham Circus
The school launched its own circus and zoo in 1936, run and performed entirely by students and staff. It featured trapeze acts, tightrope walking, conjuring, liberty ponies, dogs, llamas, and even a monkey house.
The circus toured southern England, drew thousands of spectators, and was filmed by Pathé News. It became a local legend and a source of pride. It was more than entertainment — it was a philosophy of education through confidence, discipline, and joy.
The final season in 1947 was the most successful, culminating in Brother Joseph’s final performance days before his death.
Though the big top is long gone, the spirit of the circus lives on in the school’s drama, music, and creative life.
Laying Foundations for Growth
1947: Mr Campbell-Murdoch took over as the school’s Lay-Headmaster in the Michaelmas (autumn) term of 1947. At this time, there were 50 boys on roll.
1949: Mrs Campbell-Murdoch purchased the freehold of the school site from the Farnham Land Development Company for £7,000.
1953: The St Thomas More Foundation Ltd purchased the school site, with diocesan assistance. Mr and Mrs Campbell-Murdoch left, with the school on a sound footing.
Building Identity and Infrastructure
The third Headmaster, Mr Valentine Roy Newbery, was appointed in 1957. The school changed its name to More House School in 1961, and the company’s name was changed to Gard’ner Memorial Ltd, remembering Brother Joseph Gard’ner.
1959-1970: During this time, the pupil roll grew from 50-85, and the fees were £190 per term. The school site also underwent significant development, including:
- Expansion and levelling of the playing fields
- Creation of a new swimming pool, gifted by Mr Newbery
- Addition of St. Benedict’s (practical classrooms and staff accommodation)
- Creation of St. Anthony’s (music rooms, form rooms, dormitories and a photographic club room)
- Opening of St. Joseph’s (assembly hall, gym, stage, and senior boarding)
- Cotswold Cottage, opposite the main entrance, was purchased for £5,500
- Three new classrooms adjacent to St Jospeh’s opened
Resilience and Renewal
Mr John Clarke Dawson succeeded Mr Newbery in 1968, becoming the fourth Headmaster and introducing language training and speech therapy.
1972: In the early hours of Thursday, 13th July, fire broke out, destroying the greater part of the old Moons Hill House (now Main House). Despite finding the school was significantly under insured, work to rebuild began on 26th March 1973. (Read more about this turning point in our school’s history in the timeline below.)
1972-1975: The school responded to the fire with resilience. The chapel became a refectory, a marquee was used for mass and Physical Education, and new buildings rose from the ashes. The cloisters of Main House survived and remain a symbol of continuity.
The Great Fire
In July 1972, a fire broke out in the staffroom of the main house, rapidly engulfing the building in flames…
- The entire school was evacuated within minutes. Though the fire destroyed five dormitories and the Headmaster’s residence, no injuries occurred.
- Fire crews from across the region battled the blaze, drawing water from nearby sources including the school’s swimming pool. Despite their efforts, the original Moons Hill mansion was lost.
- Many historic artefacts from the school’s monastic and circus days perished, though the cloisters and some refectory furniture survived and remain a symbol of continuity.
- Emergency measures followed: the chapel became a temporary refectory, a marquee was erected for Mass and PE, and temporary dormitories were improvised.
- Financial recovery was difficult. The school was under-insured, and rebuilding costs triggered a major crisis. Yet new buildings rose from the ashes, and the school emerged stronger.
The fire marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one — a turning point in More House’s physical and institutional identity.
Stability and Community Connection
Mr M.P. Brien was appointed Assistant Headmaster in 1975, and became the fifth Headmaster on Mr Dawson’s retirement in 1978.
1980s: New classrooms, a science laboratory, and a library were added. The pupil roll stabilised, and the school began building stronger links with the wider community.
Mr Brien left in December 1987, and Mr Stephen Mullen became the sixth Headmaster.
A Transformative Era
After six years, Mr Mullen moved to St Martin’s School in Yorkshire in 1993, and Mr Barry Huggett (later appointed OBE) became the seventh Headmaster of More House School and began a transformative era. Over the next 22 years, the pupil roll grew to over 400. Through steady expansion and a clear vision, the school became a national leader in specialist education.
1994: Cotswold House was sold for £135,000, stabilising the school’s finances and enabling the expansion of teaching accommodation.
2002-2018: a period of major building projects including:
- The Bradbury Multi-activity and Creative Arts Centre (now predominantly the Sports Hall and Gym) – opened by Princess Alexandra in 2002
- The Simkins Centre for Performing Arts
- The Bradbury Music School and Bradbury School of Engineering
- The Shire (a woodland area of school site comprising cabin-style teaching rooms and offices)
- The Chapel of Christ the King and humanities classrooms
- The Boyd Centre (comprising a brand-new library, media and photography space, and two new English classrooms)
- Crosslanes (a large house dating from about 1910, by the celebrated architect, Harold Faulkner) - renovated and converted into the current Sixth Form Centre, retaining its original name.
2010: The Learning Development Centre (LDC) opens. A landmark addition to the school’s specialist offering, the LDC was purpose-built to support pupils with complex needs. It provides tailored interventions, therapies, and learning support, and remains central to More House’s commitment to helping every child thrive.
2014: Barry Huggett was honoured for services to education with an OBE. Though retired now, he continues to support the school and advocate strongly for high quality inclusive SEND provision.
A Thriving Specialist School
Previously a long-serving English teacher, Head of Year, Head of Sixth Form, and Head of Boarding, Jonathan Hetherington became the eighth Headmaster in 2015 and now leads the school with warmth, energy, and vision. He has championed innovation while ensuring More House remains firmly rooted in its core values.
More House now supports over 500 boys aged 8–18 across its Junior, Middle and Senior Years, and Sixth Form provision, and employs over 180 staff. It welcomes pupils of all faiths and none, and remains rooted in the belief that every child deserves the chance to flourish.
The school’s vision is, and will always be, to empower its neurodiverse pupils to transform their futures.
More and More - the miracle at Mount Olivet
The history of More House School is captured in a fascinating hardback book, written by celebrated local historian, Roy Waight.
‘More and More, the Miracle at Mount Olivet’ is available to purchase online.
Founder’s Day
Celebrating every pupil, honouring every achievement
Founder’s Day is our annual celebration ceremony that brings together staff, pupils and their families to reflect on a year of growth, creativity and success. Held on the final Saturday of the academic year each July, we recognise pupil achievements, applauding the remarkable journeys of our neurodiverse learners.
Certificates and special trophies are awarded, recognising academic progress, creativity, sporting triumphs, social development and more. The House Shield is also presented to the house that has earned the most points for embodying the school’s core values: kindness, spirit and responsibility across the academic year.
Each year, we are joined by an inspirational speaker, and in 2025 we were honoured to welcome Olympic athlete Roger Black MBE. His moving speech struck a powerful chord, sharing his unexpected path from aspiring doctor to elite athlete. He reflected on the moment a friend encouraged him to commit to athletics—reminding him that talent means little without hard work and self-belief. His message surely resonated with many More House pupils who often arrive at our school knowing more about their challenges than their strengths. Just as Roger learned to believe in himself, More House students are empowered to discover their talents and pursue their passions with confidence.
He urged us not to become “if only” people, those who look back wishing they’d tried. Success, he reminded us, isn’t always measured in medals or rankings, but in effort, resilience and perseverance. “You don’t always have to have a gold medal put around your neck to feel like a champion. If you’ve given everything—if you’ve just gone for it, committed, and know you couldn’t have done any better—then everyone has the ability to feel like a champion.”
Roger’s closing question—“What does success mean to you?”—offered a lasting moment for reflection. Many of us might not know the answer yet, and that’s OK. Some of the best things in life arrive unexpectedly. Keep exploring, keep trying new things. If one day you discover that spark—that flame that lights inside you—you are lucky. When you do, give it everything you’ve got.
The voice of the pupil always lays a central role. The outgoing Head Boy and his Deputies reflect on their experiences and share heartfelt messages with their peers. The next year’s student leadership team is then appointed and a new chapter in pupil voice and representation begins.
Evan - Head Boy 2024
Welcome to you all on this very special day.
If you’d told me in 2016 when I started at More House that I would be standing here today delivering a speech I wouldn’t have believed you.
At my previous school I was diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder. I felt like I was the only person with this issue. I would stare out of the window and gradually disappear into my own world. So, when I first started at More House, I was very shy and lacked self-confidence, and my speech and language disorder affected me a lot when communicating with others. But looking back now, More House has completely transformed me. All the support they have given me has got me to this moment standing up here with a team of amazing friends representing the school as Head Boys!
I made lots of new friends and we all found new ways to overcome our challenges together. I know my parents felt an enormous weight lifted from their shoulders too. They didn’t have to fight anymore to get my needs understood and met. I guess there is a downside to this though… soon I’ll hopefully be rewarding my parents with a big old university debt.
I have lots of people to thank at More House. The Learning Development Centre was brilliant, always there for me with expert support. I feel more confident and fluent. And now my parents are complaining that I talk too much, so that’s a win in itself!
All my Form Tutors and Heads of Years went above and beyond for me during my time at More House so thank you. Your wise guidance has encouraged me to grow as a person.
My big passion is Sport and, of course, football. More House School has been brilliant for this! I believe sport builds character it teaches you to play by the rules and to know what it feels like to win or lose. So I would like to thank the Sports Department. We all enjoyed playing football tournaments and especially beating the boys at Eton… even if they do style their top hats and tails better than us off the pitch! One of the best memories I have at More House is being on the inaugural World Football Tour – what an experience! We had a stadium tour at Old Trafford, watched a Man City match at Etihad and actually trained on England’s training ground at St George’s Park.
History has been another of my A-Level subjects and the whole department have been remarkable and incredibly supportive. Our lessons were always interesting with lots of animated discussions. And just the right amount of banter in between!
In these past 2 years in the Sixth Form, I have got to know all my teachers really well, and the Computer Science Department are no exception. Thanks to them I have enjoyed the A-Level syllabus and hope to build on this in my future career.
They say an army marches on its stomach and a boy’s school is pretty similar I’d say! Everyone in the Catering Team – thank you! It has been delicious, and completely reassuringly, nut free!
My biggest thank you must go to my family. Mum and Dad, you have been the best parents anyone could ask for. Your determination and passion to get me into the right school for me and support to ease me through GCSEs and A-Levels is nothing short of miraculous! My Grandparents have also been an enormous support and my Nain and Grandad are here today to continue their support. Gwen, my lovely dog has been by my side through all the ups and down for the last 13 years. The best dog in the world!
I have one piece of advice for all the More House pupils: Enjoy every moment here. They’re precious times with your friends and all the amazing staff. So recognize the opportunities you’re given, take on the new challenges, and have fun.
Thank you Mr Hetherington. It has been an honour to represent the school as Head Boy. I will always cherish my time here. I know all of us leavers today have so many wonderful memories. We are friends for life and we can feel so excited for the next stage.
Good luck and best wishes to you all.
Maverick – Head of Cobbett House (Class of 2024)
Hello ladies and gentlemen, governors, and other esteemed guests,
If you do not know me already, I am Maverick, the Deputy Head Boy and House Captain of Cobbett.
Let me begin by thanking my mum because without her, I wouldn’t be here today. Before I even knew about More House, she was fighting to get me into this school. Also, thank you to Mr. Huggett, who held my place until I joined.
Before I joined More House School, I barely spoke. After some time here, with help from the LDC Department, I began to speak. One evening at home, I sat down at the table and said, “Let’s have a conversation.” From that day forward, I slowly became more confident in speaking to people. Now, look at me up here speaking to you. I have come a very long way since my first day at More House.
Now let’s move on to a tough period for everyone, Covid. I was in Year 9, had just picked my options, and was feeling confident, but then it started. We all expected it to last only two weeks, then six weeks, and then it turned into two years, including a few lockdowns! During that time, lessons seemed normal at first, waking up, logging in, and having a normal day but from home. Then came the holidays, which threw everyone off. We weren’t allowed to go out; everything was online. To be honest, I didn’t really do much. I liked sitting in my room on my computer, but when school returned in the form of online learning, a lot changed and I had purpose again. I managed to get through it and my GCSEs, even though we sadly had to actually sit them, unlike the year before us.
I know I just went on a long tangent, but it’s good to hear and sometimes talk about the hardships we went through. I would like to thank all the teachers who helped me, and other students get through it.
Moving on to after GCSEs, Sixth Form. This is a huge development for anyone, moving on with life and into higher education. For me, this was like stepping into a new world, with newfound freedom at some points. Learning when to revise properly was probably my number one thing to master. I still don’t really revise, BUT I COULD…..
Founder’s Day 2023 came, and I am sitting there with the Lower Sixth, and it comes to the new Officers of the School to be selected, and my name is called among others. My legs are shaking, and all I can think back to is when I was in Year 7 at my first Founders Day where I wanted to be like the Head Boys up on the podium giving a speech in front of everyone. Now here I am, giving my speech remembering when I was a kid just like the lower years looking at me, wondering if I could be like them one day.
And so, it has come to the end of my More House career. I am proud of all we have achieved personally and collectively. Equally, though, and in all honesty, without the school, I don’t know where I would be right now.
Finally, can I please give a big thank you to all the teachers: Business, Drama, Computer Science, Science, Maths, English, and especially the tutors who have guided me through this school. Thank you for helping me make it through.
Now, I say goodbye. Thank you and all my love.
Rex – Head of Sturt House (Class of 2025)
Good afternoon.
Like my mates, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the future lately. But today, looking out at all your faces, I am reminded that none of us got here alone. To all the parents, and friends here today, I saw how challenging the road was all the early mornings, late nights, victories and defeats, that defiance to give up is amazing but it’s not easy – you are the reason we are all here today.
And to my own family, Mum, Lee, – I owe so much of who I’ve been nurtured to become, to you.
When I first arrived here, I was a timid character, unsure of what lay ahead. As an autistic individual, I had so many questions but often found no answers. I was convinced then by my environment and way of thinking that something was wrong within me. It was a confusing world, and very much still is.
I didn’t know then how much I’d grow, not just academically, but personally. I faced challenges I never expected to be able to face, and pushed myself, to reveal the potential seen by the amazing teachers here, and most importantly my Mum (thanks, love you lots).
It’s for this reason More House is so much more than an academic experience – this community encourages us to be comfortable in who we are in a world that often doesn’t make sense. We’re taught to value our eye, and to embrace our individual journeys towards all those big ideas, regardless of how unique they can be. For me, I have learned about living life on my own terms, and to embrace my (often-questionable) way of thinking, something that will stay with me forever. What a gift.
To the youngest of us in front of me, whether it may or may not feel like it now, trust me when I say your purpose will be found. Never stop questioning the world we live in – because you’re here at this incredible school with the best opportunity you’ll have to be yourself.
To those families, teachers, and mentors that help forge the exceptional people around me — thank you for guiding us. And to my fellow graduates, congratulations.
To the stars, the best is yet to come. Thank you.
Callan – Co-Head of Student Council (Class of 2025)
Hi everyone.
It’s an honour to be speaking here today, on what is somehow, my last day here at this school after 10 years.
It’s a strange feeling, because in some ways, it feels like I only just arrived. The school felt massive back then, Sixth Formers felt like adults, and I remember wondering what it would feel like to one day be one of them. I even got a brief preview when during the first week, I walked into one of their assemblies by mistake. That’s a strong start.
After I’d settled in, music became a huge part of my time here. I still remember the day I was handed the tuba, without warning, and without preparation. I was a Year 4, and it was about the same size as me. I didn’t know then, but it would become a huge part of my school identity. Every concert would be a highlight of the school year, and when it came time for me to buy my own, I raced round the M25 early one morning to be the first at the shop – don’t think I’ll be forgetting that one.
I also certainly won’t be forgetting the lunches here. I don’t know what was in those lunches, but they were good enough to make me start queuing up twice, which somehow became a tradition, and lead to me earning the nickname ‘Double Dinner Dilworth’ by the music department. Word did eventually get out and ruin my success rate but honestly, those extra lunches were worth it, and I regret nothing.
Of course, it wasn’t just the music and food; the school trips were always a highlight, such as those to Paris and New York. I must say I now understand why they call New York the city that never sleeps – because we didn’t sleep at all either.
But whether it was a chaotic trip or an intense exam season, the teachers were always there for us. Their support, patience and exceptional teaching really helped make all the difference. Thanks to them, I can now calculate precisely by how much I can’t afford to go to university next year.
But what really made this school special was the people and the community. We came in as kids, and we’re now leaving as slightly older, slightly wiser, and definitely better-fed kids. I think that’s how you know that this is the perfect place to be. So a big thank you to my teachers and friends here, and of course, a special extra big thank you to all the catering staff.
I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day and have a great summer.
Thank you.
Patrick – Head of Hawthorn House (Class of 2024)
“What’s WRONG with him?” Shouted my new Year 3 teacher as she stormed across the playground after my first day. Turns out, she hadn’t yet read the thick ‘SEN’ file that Mum had sent the school. Fellow students, parents, teachers, and support staff of More House, hands up if you can relate? My parents were told at age 2 that I may never walk – or talk. So, I’m standing here today as Head of Hawthorne, proudly talking to you.
I was born in Sydney, with Cerebellar Ataxia, which means my brain doesn’t talk to my body properly and gifts me penguin feet and affects development, speech, and learning. I repeated Reception year twice, wearing a weighted vest and doing daily therapy to get strong enough to sit in a chair and hold a pencil. In fact, I’m the poster boy for early-childhood intervention! On our move to England, the Mainstream system insisted I jump straight from Reception into Year 3, and saw only what was wrong with me.
More House saw my potential. During my orientation day, Mrs. Davenport and the LDC team ‘got’ me in a way no one else had. I was offered a place for Year 6 and my parents didn’t hesitate. Here, I could finally be me. I started occasional Boarding to help with organisation for GCSEs. Although organisation is still an “opportunity for growth” area for me – I now make my bed neatly every morning. Thank you, Lord Webb – and the brilliant Boarding staff.
Then – epilepsy appeared! Out of the blue, I had my first big seizure in Simkins right before lockdown. Yes, the play was that bad! And I’ve had some crackers since. Thank you, Georgie and the office staff, for always being on alert for me and Nurse Anne for your unwavering care. And – if it wasn’t for my close More House friends, I might not be here at all. They saved my life when I had a seizure in a pool at my 18th birthday. Cheers lads. Unfortunately, I ended up developing pneumonia and other complications. When I was in extreme pain and mentally struggling in hospital, the get-well video many of you participated in kept me going. Mrs. Rashleigh, thank you for making that video. You are not just my valued Form Tutor and friend, but an earth angel….
A toast too to Mr Hetherington for steering this mighty ship and to every teacher I’ve had at More House, for your dedication and patience. How you’ve all not yelled ‘For the love of God, Shut Up Patch” when I’m waffling on, normally about politics, deserves a knighthood. Even the staff who’ve not actually taught me have influenced who I am. For example, I’ve never taken Drama as a subject, but the department are like family. And, Mr Faasen, your resilience and grace in the face of the worst adversity has inspired not just me, but us all.
To my parents, you’ve given me deep roots and broad wings. You’ve taught to embrace ALL of life’s highs and lows. Which brings me to the message that I have above my bedroom door and want to give you, the young men of More House: “You are stronger than you seem, braver than you believe, and smarter than you think you are.” I’m going to miss you all enormously. Thank you very much.
After the ceremony, guests are invited to explore the school site and enjoy exhibitions of pupils’ work. Refreshments, including fizz and strawberries and cream, accompanied by live music performed by ensembles made up of our talented pupils and staff, add to the celebratory atmosphere and round off a truly special day.