Claremont Senior Leadership Team
Giles Perrin
Principal
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Giles Perrin
Principal
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After studying Religious Studies and Philosophy at Edinburgh University, Giles spent a gap year setting up and running a guest house and restaurant for backpackers in Southern India with the intention of becoming a landscape gardener on his return. He then worked and lived at Bedes School in Upper Dicker where he was persuaded by friends to become a teacher in Sept 1997. Giles was the Founding Headteacher of Claremont Senior School and became School Principal in Sept 2018, following the School joining the International Schools Partnership (ISP). Giles has been teaching for 24 years.
I joined the teaching profession out of a love of working with people, teenagers and the community within schools. I stayed at Bedes for 7 years as a Housemaster before moving to Frome Community College as Head of Year and ultimately Assistant Head – Inclusion. In 2008 I moved to India to assist in the setting up of an International boarding School as Director of Boarding/Deputy Head before moving back to the UK in 2010 to set up Claremont Senior School, which opened in 2011.
A phrase or saying that inspires you. ‘It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it’.
If you could go back in time to your own school days, what advice would you give your younger self? Don’t worry too much about what others think about you.
Tell us something about yourself not a lot of people would know. I am a musician. I have been a classical singer for 38 years both as a soloist and always as a singer in chamber choirs, working with top amateur, semi-professional and professional chamber choirs around the country. My only gap was when I was in India. During this time I set up and ran a choir. I also, with 3 friends, started a band specialising in the rearrangement of ragtime and swing music from the 1920s – four part harmonies, kazoos, ukulele, guitar, fiddles and trombone. We performed at many festivals, weddings and parties over a 10 year period, including 6 Glastonbury Festivals! After a 10 year gap, we have just reformed!
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you be doing instead? Estates Manager
What has being a teacher taught YOU? To remember that everyone is different and to listen to people.
What are you currently ‘getting better’ at? Singing, reading music and running.
Ed Dickie
Head of Senior School
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Ed Dickie
Head of Senior School
Ed’s passion for Politics led him to a postgraduate Masters in International Relations at SOAS University of London. As well as teaching History and Politics Ed has served as a Head of Sixth Form, Head of Department and Housemaster at Bedes School before joining the Claremont Project in 2013. He has been teaching for 21 years and has been Headteacher since 2018.
I never considered teaching until, as a 19 year old, I worked as a builder’s labourer on a School’s facilities team. The Headteacher urged me to apply for University and taught me the transforming power of education. Having completed a History degree at Edinburgh University he then persuaded me to apply to train as a teacher before offering me my first job. I live in Battle with four children and a growing collection of hats! I have always really wanted to be Indiana Jones, am suspicious of helicopters & snakes and Bruce Springsteen would be my specialist subject if I ever was on Mastermind
A phrase or saying that inspires you. ‘The arc of history bends towards justice.’
If you could go back in time to your own school days, what advice would you give your younger self? You do not know as much as you think you do.
Tell us something about yourself not a lot of people would know. At the age of 18 I starred as the lead in a very successful play on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A reviewer described my performance as ‘chilling’. I think it was meant as a compliment. The promoter ran off to Australia with all the takings and that was the end of a budding career in acting.
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you be doing instead? In my dreams a Test Cricketer; in reality perhaps a journalist or lawyer.
What has being a teacher taught YOU? Not to judge a book by its cover.
What are you currently getting better at? Perfecting my samosa recipe.
Gavin Bunker
Head of Prep School
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Gavin Bunker
Head of Prep School
Gavin’s path to teaching began 16 years ago when he was a youth worker and a Community Sport Coordinator for the local authority. Here he realised his passion for teaching Sport and PE. He studied Business and Sport Studies at university and took extra modules in Sport Science. He then completed his PGCE at the University of East London.
What phrase or saying inspires you? Every day is a learning day.
If you could go back in time to your own school days, what advice would you give your younger self? Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Tell us something about yourself not a lot of people would know. I am left handed and right footed!
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you be doing instead? Police Officer
What has being a teacher taught you? We all learn in different ways.
What are you currently ‘getting better’ at? Being a Head Teacher!
Lea Owen
Deputy Headteacher -Senior School and Assistant Designated Safeguarding Lead
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Lea Owen
Deputy Headteacher -Senior School and Assistant Designated Safeguarding Lead
Lea studied Human Biology at Loughborough University, during which she spent a year working at a Pharmaceutical company in the market research team. After graduating, the allure of a company car and a mobile phone (‘it was the early 1990s so it was big deal then‘ Lea reminisces), pulled her away from a nagging thought she had about becoming a teacher. Lea went on to work in industry for the next 20 years in sales and marketing roles until the draw of becoming a teaching caught up with her once again. Lea has been teaching now for 10 years.
Teaching gets me out of bed in the morning. Every day is different and I love the thought of helping all the future hotshots in jobs we don’t even know exist yet!
A phrase or saying that inspires you. ‘A winner is a dreamer who never gives up’. Nelson Mandela
If you could go back in time to your own school days, what advice would you give your younger self? If you really want it enough, you can make anything happen.
Tell us something about yourself not a lot of people would know. I achieved Grade 7 Piano but HATE performing in front of anyone!
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you be doing instead? A marine biologist in New Zealand studying Bottle nosed dolphins
What has being a teacher taught YOU? That I definitely don’t have all the answers.
What are you currently ‘getting better’ at? Enquiry led learning
Victoria Liggett
Director of Sixth Form
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Victoria Liggett
Director of Sixth Form
Victoria has been teaching for 10 years. She studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University before training as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse Coopers. Victoria then worked in investment banking in the city of London, specialising in UK mergers and acquisitions.
Once I had my family, I decided on a career change to allow me to work more locally and to find a new challenge to utilise my skills. I teach Economics and Business, and very much enjoy working with our students in advising on their future destinations, and helping them see all the opportunities available to today’s school leavers.
A phrase or saying that inspires you. ‘Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying “I will try again tomorrow” ‘
If you could go back in time to your own school days, what advice would you give your younger self? It’s much more interesting not to be the same as everyone else.
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you be doing instead? Probably back to company accounts and financial structuring spreadsheets – much less interesting than my current role!
What has being a teacher taught YOU? That it is still possible to learn new things every day!
What are you currently ‘getting better’ at? I am currently getting better at the crow pose in yoga. I still fall over every time I try it, so not much sign of progress at the moment.
Stephanie Edmunds
Deputy Head Prep School - Academic
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Stephanie Edmunds
Deputy Head Prep School - Academic
Stephanie studied Biology and Maths at the University of London (Goldsmiths College). She was a manager of clinical trials within the pharmaceutical industry before retraining to become a teacher.
I decided to become a teacher because I love learning and being with children. No day is ever the same and there are always opportunities to make a difference. I teach Maths, but have also taught IT, Biology and Games.
A phrase or saying that inspires you. I love inspirational quotes – so it changes daily. As I like running, here is one from Roger Bannister, “However ordinary each of us may seem, we are all in some way special and can do things that are extraordinary, perhaps until then… even thought impossible”.
If you could go back in time to your own school days, what advice would you give your younger self? Try not to worry about what other people think of you.
Tell us something about yourself not a lot of people would know. I have played rugby at representative level and I was a Karate brown belt.
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you be doing instead? Animal Conservation, or something in Ecology.
What has being a teacher taught YOU? How to explain concepts in a variety of ways.
What are you currently ‘getting better’ at? I’m always trying to improve, so hopefully a lot of things!
Claire Martin
Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning - Senior School)
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Claire Martin
Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning - Senior School)
Claire studied Chemistry at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford University before working in Database Management for 15 years mostly with the Reference Laboratory Services Divisions of what is now Public Health England. After having her children, Claire and her family moved to Kent where she retrained as a Chemistry teacher and before joining Claremont Senior School in its third year since opening.
A phrase or saying that inspires you. ‘We are the stuff that stars are made of‘
If you could go back in time to your own school days, what advice would you give your younger self? Enjoy the freedom of being young and take the time to get involved in as many different activities and “things” as you can. It is so much harder to find the time to do so later in life
Tell us something about yourself not a lot of people would know. In my first year at University I rowed for my college’s novice 1st eight and I love to make things, including jumpers for my boys.
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you be doing instead? Probably still a Database Manager.
What has being a teacher taught YOU? Learning takes place in many ways and many places.
What are you currently ‘getting better’ at? Time Management!
Francoise Armstrong
Assistant Head - Senior School (International) & Director of Boarding
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Francoise Armstrong
Assistant Head - Senior School (International) & Director of Boarding
Francoise spent her youth in sunny Marseilles and graduated from Aix-en-Provence University with a BA in Philosophy and an MA in English Literature. She has dedicated her whole career to education working with students of all ages, from Nursery to adult learners on her teacher training programme. Francoise taught in a range of large London based comprehensive schools running language faculties before coming to Claremont a year after the school first opened in 2011. Francoise has worked as an education consultant for a range of national organisations and for our international students provides a crucial bridge between their school experience and life in the boarding house.
Celia Ackerley
Deputy Head Prep School - Progress Lead
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Celia Ackerley
Deputy Head Prep School - Progress Lead
Celia Ackerley has been teaching for 20 years. She started out with a degree in Zoology from Liverpool University before trying out nursing. However, after realising she was too squeamish to make that a career she started working in challenging schools in London, Sheffield and East Sussex.
I became a teacher as I wanted to help people and be challenged. I particularly like working with young people as they make make my day fun and two days are never the same.
A phrase or saying that inspires you. ‘Play is the highest form of research‘ – Albert Einstein
If you could go back in time to your own school days, what advice would you give your younger self? Just have a go.
Tell us something about yourself not a lot of people would know. I have a sausage dog!
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you be doing instead? Psychologist or a gardener.
What has being a teacher taught YOU? Help other staff before sorting out yourself!
What are you currently ‘getting better’ at? Life / work balance
Rebecca Hurton
Assistant Head - Senior School (Student Welfare) and Designated Safeguarding Lead
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Rebecca Hurton
Assistant Head - Senior School (Student Welfare) and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Rebecca studied Anthropology at Southampton University and has been teaching for 10 years.
I went straight to university straight from school at 18 with a very narrow view of the world. It was the most informative three years of my life, where I discovered activism, and a world of different people and experiences. When I left university I worked as a teaching assistant in a challenging school. I realised I wasn’t yet ready for the rigour, and routine of the 9-5 so I travelled for a year across India and Nepal, working for six months with the Tibetan community in exile in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. When I came home I was ready to return to University and completed a PGCE at Brighton.
A phrase or saying the inspires you. ‘Before you judge a person, walk a mile in their shoes’
If you could go back in time to your own school days, what advice would you give your younger self? Whatever you thought was going to happen, won’t. And that is OK, and possibly even better.
Tell us something about yourself not a lot of people would know. There is a photo of me aged 8 in the Head’s office at the Prep School.
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you be doing instead? Foreign Correspondent
What has being a teacher taught YOU? Teaching is only a small part of our jobs. We are mentors, role models, counsellors, confidants, champions, and sometimes the enemy.
What are you currently ‘getting better’ at? Spelling. It is a constant work!
Rachel Potter
Head of Pre-Prep and Nursery
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Rachel Potter
Head of Pre-Prep and Nursery
Rachel completed her Bachelor of Education (hons) Degree at Middlesex University in London. Part of the degree included the invaluable opportunity to study at a school in the MidWest USA, Muncie, Indiana. This involved teaching and being a fully recognised member of the teaching department. Rachel has also worked in inner city London, Hertfordshire, Hastings and Eastbourne, teaching across the entire Primary age range 5-11 years.
I have been incredibly lucky to work with some outstanding professionals throughout my career, including current colleagues from whom I continue to learn a great deal.
A phrase or saying that inspires you. Your limitation is only your imagination…
If you could go back in time to your own school days, what advice would you give your younger self? Maximise any opportunity that comes your way, be positive, confident and compassionate. Always remain open to new learning, new ideas and never close doors on different ways of thinking.
Tell us something about yourself not a lot of people would know. I rode a mule 7 miles down the Grand Canyon, which was covered in ice, with a sheer drop of over 4,000 feet! It was quite a challenge for someone with a fear of heights.
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you be doing instead? Something involving children’s learning or development, possibly paediatric nursing.
What has being a teacher taught YOU? That education should ALWAYS be about the child.
What are you currently ‘getting better’ at? Ensuring that I have regular designated time to reflect and review in order to make changes that positively enhance all aspects of the children’s day.
