Meet our leadership team

Ed became Principal of Claremont in March 2024. Previously, he was Head of the Senior School, which he led from strength to strength over 11 years from 2013.

Ed has a passion for politics and studied a postgraduate Masters in International Relations at SOAS, University of London. He still enjoys every opportunity to teach History and Politics to his students at Claremont.

Ed brings more than two decades of experience to his position as Principal and has previously held leadership positions at Bede's School, where he was Head of Sixth Form, Head of Department and Housemaster.

Ben joined Claremont as Vice Principal (Prep) in September 2024, bringing over 20 years of Prep School experience with him.  Previously, Ben was at Longacre School in Surrey for eight years initially as Deputy Head and then Interim Head.  Prior to this Ben was Director of Sport at two Prep Schools, spanning over 12 years.  Ben firmly believes in children being allowed to be children, developing at a pace that is right for the individual. 

Ben shares: ‘Every child has the right to their own individual journey through education.  At Claremont it is our role to facilitate this by offering a personalised approach to learning, whilst providing opportunities both in and beyond the classroom.  How does a child know they enjoy something or are indeed any good at something unless they have been given the opportunity to try it?’.

Ben is a firm believer in family and community.  He is proud to let prospective parents know that he chose Claremont both professionally and personally, with both his children attending the school.

Victoria is passionate about supporting students in their academic and personal development. As director of the Sixth Form, Victoria plays a vital role in helping students navigate their future pathway, whether that be university, aprenticeships or the world of work. Understanding that not every student arrives in the sixth form with the independent study skills needed to thrive, Victoria prirotises working closely with them to ensure a smooth and confident transition into this crucial stage of their Claremont education.  Victoria studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University, before pursing a sucessful career as a Chartered Accountant and investment banker.  With her wealth of experience in both education and the professional world, Victoria serves as a key mentor helping students bridge the gap between school and the outside world.

Francoise has been a dedicated member of the Claremont community since 2013. In her role as Director of Boarding, she serves as a strong advocate for the international student community. Together with her team, she is committed to providing students with a home-away-from-home experience that is nurturing, secure, culturally enriching, and fulfilling.

With extensive experience in education, Francoise has held leadership positions in both the state sector and local government. As a linguist by profession, she is deeply passionate about multilingualism and the promotion of internationalism.

Lea studied Human Biology at Loughborough University, during which time 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 now been teaching for 10 years.

Sarah's educational journey began at an independent school in Kent, located in the south east of England. After schooling, Sarah attended Birmingham University, where she immersed herself in an English degree, leaving in 2006 to start a career in marketing in London. After 13 years managing marketing projects and teams in the city, and having started a family, Sarah decided to retrain to become a primary school teacher, gaining QTS status in 2018. Sarah experienced a number of schools over the next 5 years, combining her wider marketing industry experience with her passion for teaching.

Sarah joined Claremont in 2023, quickly becoming the Head of Nursery and Pre-Prep. Sarah's passion for the Early Years and Outdoor Learning has a strong presence in the school, having increased the Forest School provision and introduced Beach School to the Pre-Prep, Sarah firmly believes that most children have technology, school and extracurricular activities covered, so it is important to add "a pinch of adventure, a sprinkle of sunshine and a big handful of outdoor learning to every child's education".

Collaboration with colleagues, children, parents and carers is absolutely key for Sarah.  She enjoys working alongside a team of collaborators to enhance the learning experience for all children, always striving to give the youngest children at Claremont the very best start to their educational journey, allowing them to become their best.

In her spare time, Sarah loves to travel, play a variety of sports and spend time with family and friends.

My name is Laura Chan and I am the Manager of the Nursery. I have enjoyed working at Claremont for over 25 years where I have had the privilege of watching many children progress through the school and then move onto their chosen career path. I am married and have a son who also attends school at Claremont. In my free time I enjoy going for long walks and spending time with my family and friends.

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. Previously in charge of Y9-11 academic programmes at the Senior School, Claire now looks after the timetables for all sections of the school, as well as overseeing the management and deployment of academic data to improve learning outcomes.

Amy Rawlings studied Mathematics at the University of Southampton before training as a teacher through the School Direct programme in 2015. Originally from South East London, she has extensive experience in teacher training, pastoral care as a Head of Year, and leadership within a Mathematics department as Second in Faculty. Seeking a change of environment, Amy joined Claremont School, drawn to its strong sense of community, care, and the importance of relationships in education—values that are at the heart of her teaching. Beyond the classroom, she is actively involved in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme and is leading the school’s first World Challenge expedition to Borneo this summer. She also has a keen appreciation for the performing arts and loves attending the outstanding displays and productions that Claremont’s award-winning programme has to offer.

With over 20 years in education, Gavin's career spans state and independent schools, including a decade at ISP, with five years as Deputy Principal at ISP Asturias and five as Headteacher of Claremont Prep School. His passion for education centers on fostering environments where students thrive academically and socially. Recently, he has been central to developing the Claremont Summer School programme, offering immersive learning experiences through Active English lessons, project-based activities, and cultural excursions. A keen sports fan, he values teamwork and resilience, and believes education extends beyond the classroom to encompass enriching experiences that shape well-rounded individuals.

Stuart is a firm believer that schools should focus on educating rather than simply schooling those in their care - it is indeed this very focus that has drawn him to working at Claremont.  Having originally qualified as an architect and working on competitions and projects across the UK, Europe and North America before becoming a practice director he remains extremely focussed on highlighting transferable skills that are seen in a variety of careers and organisations. ISP's Life Competencies align with these views and Stuart's drive is to deliver a curriculum that continually evolving to respond to an ever changing educational and career horizon. Whilst at a younger age specific careers may seem a long way down the line for the children he believes that we can embed behaviours and thinking that will serve well whichever pathway is taken in the future. With this ever evolving landscape Stuart is particulalry interested in how technology can best serve pupils and teachers alike - there is always a trial of something going on in or around his classroom!

Rebecca earned her degree in Anthropology from the University of Southampton and has taught Geography and Politics since gaining her PGCE in 2011. She joined Claremont in 2016, bringing a wealth of experience in pastoral care. Initially working at the senior school, Rebecca served as a Head of House, Housemistress in boarding and Head of Welfare before taking on the critical role of overseeing Safeguarding and Compliance across the entire school. Committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, Rebecca focuses on removing barriers to learning and placing the individual needs of each child at the heart of the school’s culture. Outside of school, Rebecca enjoys walking, immersing herself in podcasts, and attempting to train a spirited puppy.