The Montessori Place

Authentic Montessori education from infancy to adulthood, delivered across two distinctive sites in East Sussex. The Hove campus sits opposite the Sussex County Cricket Ground, within sight of the sea; the Eason's Green site occupies 13 acres of ancient woodland near Uckfield, where adolescents live, study, and work as a residential community. Founded in 2011 by Rob Gueterbock and Paul Pillai, both trained at the Maria Montessori Institute in London, The Montessori Place has built something rare in the UK: a complete AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) pathway from 15 months through to A-levels. Ofsted rated the school Outstanding across all areas in July 2025, continuing a pattern of excellence established since its first inspection in 2012.

The school describes itself as offering "timeless education for a changing world," and the philosophy is evident from the moment children arrive. At the Hove site, a renovated house on Cromwell Road has been transformed into an environment designed specifically for small children. Mixed-age groupings are fundamental: three-to-six-year-olds work alongside one another in the Children's House, while six-to-twelve-year-olds collaborate in the Elementary community. Children learn from peers as much as from guides (the Montessori term for teachers), and the atmosphere emphasises independence, self-direction, and respect.

The adolescent programme operates differently. At Eason's Green, students aged 12 to 18 form a residential community known as the Young People's Community. They maintain a 1,750 square metre building, cultivate a one-acre Soil Association certified organic garden, manage 10 acres of woodland, and operate a small Airbnb. This is not extracurricular activity; it is the curriculum. Maria Montessori believed adolescents need economic independence and meaningful contribution to community life, and The Montessori Place takes this seriously.

Rob Gueterbock serves as Head of School, leading the Elementary programme. A former Climate Campaigns Manager at Greenpeace, he trained at the Maria Montessori Institute under Lynne Lawrence and Hilla Patell before heading one of MMI's model schools. Paul Pillai, co-founder and Director, leads the adolescent programme; his background includes founding a telecommunications company with Siemens before retraining as a Montessori guide. Karen Pearce, Director of Pedagogy, ran MMI's model Children's House from 1990 to 2008 and continues to lecture on AMI courses.

The leadership structure reflects the school's unusual nature. Three co-directors work as a cohesive team, each bringing deep Montessori expertise to their respective areas. Inspectors in 2022 noted this arrangement functions effectively, with high expectations maintained throughout the school.

Parents describe the school in striking terms. During Ofsted inspections, families used words like "magical," "extraordinary," and "wonderful" to characterise their experience. Students themselves reflected that "community and respect are at the heart" of daily life. One inspection report noted pupils' behaviour as "impeccable."

The Montessori Place does not follow the traditional academic calendar that most schools observe, nor does it prepare students for standardised tests in the same way. Results data must be understood in this context.

At GCSE level, students sit examinations in English and Mathematics at age 16. The school's Attainment 8 score of 17.3 reflects this narrow examination entry rather than academic weakness. Students pursuing Montessori education to this level have chosen an alternative pathway deliberately; the programme prioritises depth of understanding and practical capability over examination breadth.

At A-level, the picture changes significantly. In 2024, 27% of grades achieved A*, with a further 27% at A and 18% at B. This means 73% of A-level grades fell within the A* to B range, substantially above the England average of 47%. The school ranks 184th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), placing it well above the England average and in the top 10% of schools. Locally, it ranks 1st in Hove for A-level results.

Students study a wide range of A-levels tailored to individual interests and aspirations. The small cohort sizes, typically in single figures, allow genuine individualisation. Staff possess expert knowledge of the curriculum and understand how each student learns best.

The discrepancy between GCSE and A-level outcomes reflects the programme's structure. Students who remain through adolescence have typically committed to the Montessori approach; those seeking conventional examination pathways at 16 transfer to other schools. The A-level cohort represents students who have chosen this distinctive education and thrived within it.

All guides at The Montessori Place hold AMI diplomas, the international standard for Montessori training. This matters: AMI training requires substantial supervised practice and theoretical study, ensuring consistency with Maria Montessori's original methods.

In the Children's House, three-to-six-year-olds work with specially designed materials that make abstract concepts concrete. A child learning addition might work with golden beads representing units, tens, hundreds, and thousands, physically combining and exchanging them. The guide observes, introduces new materials when appropriate, and allows extended periods of uninterrupted concentration.

Elementary education builds on this foundation. Six-to-twelve-year-olds explore interconnected subjects through the Great Lessons, cosmic narratives covering the formation of the universe, the development of life, the history of humans, the story of language, and the story of mathematics. From these stories, children pursue individual research projects, developing literacy, numeracy, and scientific understanding through genuine inquiry.

The adolescent programme at Eason's Green integrates academic study with practical work. Open-ended work cycles dovetail with small group presentations in mathematics and the sciences, the arts and humanities, and foreign languages. Students create work they take pride in, developing investment in their own education.

The 2022 Ofsted inspection rated Quality of Education as Outstanding, noting that the "unique curriculum" supports strong achievement across all age groups. Inspectors observed that staff have high expectations for what pupils can learn and achieve.

At the end of Year 6, students from the Elementary programme proceed to various destinations. Some continue to the Young People's Community at Eason's Green; others transfer to state or independent secondary schools. The school does not publish comprehensive destination data for this age group.

University destination data for sixth form leavers is not published on the school website. The small cohort sizes mean statistical reporting carries limited meaning. What matters more is that students develop the independence, self-direction, and academic capability to succeed in higher education and employment.

The A-level results suggest students are well-prepared for competitive university courses. With 55% of grades at A* or A, and 73% at A* to B, students leave with strong credentials. Parents seeking specific university destination information should contact the school directly.

The typical entry point is the Infant Community at 15 to 18 months. The school will consider applications for children turning 3 in the relevant academic year, or children moving from other AMI Montessori schools. Older children may occasionally be admitted when spaces become available.

The admissions process begins with attendance at an Open Day. These run three times per year at each site, covering the Infant Community, Children's House, and Elementary environments. The school notes it has been oversubscribed in recent years, limiting some Open Days to younger age groups only.

Following an Open Day, families complete a waiting list application form. Placement on the waiting list does not guarantee a place. When spaces arise, the school invites families to visit with their child. A trial day may be arranged if both parties wish to proceed. Offers require written acceptance within two weeks.

Priority factors include age-appropriate entry point, parental commitment to retaining children through age 18, existing siblings at the school, community participation, and registration date. The emphasis on long-term commitment reflects the Montessori principle that education should be continuous and coherent.

The school year comprises 36 weeks divided into approximately three 12-week terms with one-week half-term breaks.

The Montessori Place offers boarding for students in the Young People's Community at the Eason's Green site. Approximately 49 students board, with 24 boys and 25 girls currently in residence.

Boarding here differs fundamentally from traditional models. Students live as a community, participating in the daily operation of their environment. They prepare meals in the commercial kitchen, serving approximately 200 meals daily. They maintain buildings, manage the organic garden, steward the woodland, and run the small Airbnb operation. This integration of living and learning reflects Maria Montessori's vision for adolescent education: young people need to feel economically useful and genuinely responsible for their community.

Tracey Younghusband, a trained ecologist whose previous roles include Southeast Water's Ecologist responsible for 25 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Eastern Area Ranger for the South Downs Joint Committee, guides students' woodland management work. Pete Dollimore, former Director at Hankham Organics with an Environmental Science degree, leads the horticultural programme and beekeeping.

The countryside setting provides space for reflection and physical activity. The 13-acre ancient woodland offers both educational opportunities and natural beauty.

The 2025 Ofsted inspection rated the school Outstanding for Behaviour and Attitudes and Outstanding for Personal Development. Inspectors noted a "safe and nurturing environment" where pupils demonstrate "resilience, independence and a strong sense of personal responsibility."

Staff know students exceptionally well. Small class sizes and mixed-age groupings mean relationships develop over years, not months. Guides observe children carefully, identifying interests and challenges early.

Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The inspection confirmed that leaders have created "an open culture around safeguarding that places pupils' interests first." Pupils report feeling safe, with no concerns about bullying or harassment.

The Montessori approach inherently supports wellbeing. Children develop autonomy through meaningful choice; they build confidence through mastery of challenging materials; they learn empathy through multi-age collaboration. Older children naturally support younger ones; younger children observe and learn from their seniors.

The Land Programme

At Eason's Green, the distinction between classroom and extracurricular dissolves. Students manage a one-acre walled garden certified organic by the Soil Association, growing and selling produce. They steward 10 acres of woodland, maintaining biodiversity under expert ecological guidance. Building maintenance and renovation provide practical construction skills.

Arts and Creative Expression

Tara Canick, former Head of Art at Shoreham Academy with degrees in Theatre and Fine Art, leads arts programming in the Young People's Community. She also runs arts counselling services, recognising the therapeutic value of creative work.

Music

The Infant Community introduces music through the Suzuki method, with guide Laura Martinez Stone bringing eight years of Suzuki violin teaching experience.

Commercial Kitchen Operations

Students prepare approximately 200 meals daily in the commercial kitchen, learning food preparation, nutrition, hygiene, and hospitality.

Small Business Enterprise

The community operates a small Airbnb, providing students with direct experience of hospitality management and customer service.

The Montessori Place is an independent school, and fees apply at all stages. For the 2025/26 academic year, Elementary fees are £4,873 per term. Fees include VAT but exclude lunches. The fee structure varies by age group, ranging from approximately £1,793 to £5,218 per term depending on the programme.

For nursery and early years fee details, families should contact the school directly or visit the admissions page. Government-funded hours are available for eligible 2, 3, and 4-year-olds.

Information about bursaries or scholarships is not published on the school website. Families seeking financial assistance should enquire directly with the admissions team.

The Hove campus is located at 45 Cromwell Road, opposite Sussex County Cricket Ground. The nearest railway station is Hove, approximately 15 minutes' walk. Parking in the area is limited.

The Eason's Green campus is located in Framfield, near Uckfield, approximately 45 minutes' drive from Brighton. This rural site is most accessible by car.

School hours vary by programme. Contact the school for specific timings. The school operates 36 weeks per year across three terms with half-term breaks.

Unconventional examination pathway. Students sit GCSEs in English and Mathematics only. Families seeking broad GCSE portfolios for conventional sixth form or university applications should recognise this limitation. The approach suits students committed to Montessori education through to A-level.

Residential requirement for adolescents. The Young People's Community at Eason's Green operates as a boarding programme. Day attendance is not the primary model. Students live as a community, participating in daily operations. This intensity suits some brilliantly; others may prefer the flexibility of day schooling.

Philosophical commitment expected. The Montessori Place follows AMI principles authentically. Parents benefit from understanding and supporting this philosophy at home. The school offers parent education programmes for this reason. Families uncomfortable with child-led learning or seeking highly structured academic preparation may find the approach challenging.

Small cohort sizes. With approximately 145 students across all age groups, social circles are limited. Some children thrive in intimate communities; others prefer the variety of larger schools.

The Montessori Place offers something genuinely distinctive: complete AMI Montessori education from infancy to adulthood, delivered with rigour and authenticity. The Outstanding Ofsted ratings across all areas, maintained since 2012, reflect sustained excellence rather than fortunate inspection timing. A-level results ranking 1st in Hove and in the top 10% in England demonstrate that alternative approaches can produce strong academic outcomes.

Best suited to families who believe deeply in child-led learning, who value practical capability alongside academic achievement, and who seek a close-knit community extending from early childhood through adolescence. The residential adolescent programme particularly suits young people ready for responsibility, independence, and meaningful contribution to community life.

The main consideration is commitment. This is not a school for families seeking conventional examination preparation or easy transfer to mainstream secondary education. It rewards those who embrace the Montessori philosophy fully and trust the process through to its conclusion.