By Sophie Seddon
As independent schools face mounting financial pressures, one Huddersfield parent has bucked the trend by stepping in to save his daughters’ school and turning a rare red double-decker bus into a high-tech classroom.
Chris Sellers, who bought The Mount School in Edgerton in 2017 to prevent its closure, has unveiled a 1960s Bristol Lodekka – one of only about two dozen still operating in the country – as a permanent classroom.
“Walking away wasn’t an option,” said Chris, who had worked in education for 15 years before buying the school.
“When I realised The Mount may not reopen, I felt a responsibility to act. The school had a wonderful community.
“Children, including my own, were settled, families were invested, and staff cared deeply. It didn’t need shutting. It needed modernising and a new direction.”
The two-month purchase process was a tense time for the school community, but eight years on, the now award-winning prep and nursery school thrives.
The iconic bus, which Chris drives, hosts engineering clubs, science, design technology, engineering and maths (STEM) workshops, as well as hands-on creative projects that complement classroom learning.
“The Lodekka is a classic piece of British engineering,” said Chris. “Children can explore design, mechanics and technology inside a space that reflects it.”
For Chris, the investment represents the fulfilment of a promise made when his own children were pupils during the school’s most uncertain days.
“Education shouldn’t just be about academic results. While we excel academically, we focus on curiosity, resilience, and confidence, giving children the chance to explore and discover their own strengths,” said Chris.
Under head teacher Euan Burton-Smith, who joined in 2019, the Mount has developed theatrical initiatives designed to give pupils a stronger voice and sense of responsibility.
A school parliament, modelled on Westminster, allows children to take roles including Speaker of the House and contribute to decisions about school life.
“Children learn how to problem-solve, debate and work as a team,” said Mr Burton-Smith.
“Our role is to create opportunities for them to explore their interests and develop skills that will stay with them for life.”
The bus is central to this approach, with plans for electronics, robotics, and practical ‘fix-it’ exercises where pupils repair household gadgets.
“There are so many professions that children don’t always hear about in school. Engineering, manufacturing, technical trades. If you can spark curiosity early, it can change how they see the world and what they believe is possible.”
The bus has become a focal point for both pupils and the wider community, hosting workshops and creative events that extend learning beyond the classroom.
Looking ahead, Chris envisions The Mount continuing to evolve, while remaining grounded in its founding principles.
“Education can’t stand still. Parents want schools that prepare children for life, not just exams. Our goal is to nurture imagination, individuality and practical skills alongside academic learning.
“If I could redesign education from scratch, it would value curiosity, creativity, and hands-on experience as much as academic grades. We believe children need both academic challenge and a sense of wonder and awe.”
