50 Years of Thomas's

Thomas’s Academy

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50 YEARS OF

Foreword

The autumn after I left school, I spent several dusty days in my grandparents’ attic, surrounded by mountains of photographs, letters, tickets and other artefacts collected at various moments in their extraordinary lives. I pressed these, one by one, into a scanner (a museum piece in its own right) which slowly regurgitated their digital iterations. I wanted to capture David and Joanna’s lives before Thomas’s,

piecing together the adventures that informed what would become their life’s work. Many of the photographs I collected have made their way into the first few pages of this book, so beautifully put together by Nicola Diggle, Imogen Chester and Kate Thomas. This was in 2018, a world away from the one I saw in faded photos, crackling Super 8 footage, and the television programmes extracted from the

BBC archives which featured Joanna as an actress – a world yet to be distorted even further by the pandemic. Yet, as I tumbled out of the fishbowl of my secondary school into a society that was, even then, chaotic and anxious, these items bore a relevance which stretched beyond their time and place. “It was unconventional,” mused David recently, “the way we met, and persevered.” To take the risk and stick with it, I realised, to actually do the thing, takes a boldness – and a little madness – that can change the course of one’s life, and the lives of many others, for the better.

Today, Thomas’s comprises a kindergarten, four prep schools, a senior school and an academy, with Thomas’s Foundation funding bursaries, community partnerships and CAIRN. Getting to this point was by no means an easy task: setting up the schools to start with, with no fallback plan and a family in tow, had its highs and lows. As with any family business, the blurring of the professional and the personal adds a layer of no-holds-barred complexity, and Joanna and David were fortunate to find great colleagues who were instrumental in helping them steer and

steady the ship, now run by their sons Ben and Tobyn. What has held firm over the decades is a devotion to providing an outstanding education to children across various backgrounds, from central London to rural Nepal; a constant review of that education’s relevance, and the schools’ relevance, in the wider world; and a profound care for the people – pupils, staff, parents – who have made the schools what they are today.

It is an utter privilege to be a pupil at Thomas’s. I knew this at the time, but have become evermore aware of it since leaving in 2013. To have incredible resources and opportunities is one thing; to have such supportive, dedicated teachers and a ‘forwardthinking, outward-looking’ ethos which prioritises kindness above all else, is quite another. I hope this book serves as a reminder, for the Thomas’s community as it has for me, of how invaluable that is –and of the possibility out there, if you dare to put your mind to it.

Lotte Thomas

Timeline

1977

The first Apple II computers go on sale

1971

Thomas’s Ranelagh Kindergarten opens its doors for the first time

1977

The first Thomas’s Prep School (Cadogan Gardens) opens

1981

Thomas’s Kensington is established

1990

Tim Berners-Lee publishes a formal proposal for the World Wide Web

1992

Thomas’s Battersea Kindergarten opens

1993

Thomas’s Clapham and Thomas’s Battersea Kindergarten open

1998

Google was founded

1971

Rock band Queen is formed

1990

The school at Cadogan Gardens moves across the river to Thomas’s Battersea

1981

The London Marathon is run for the first time

1993

The Eiffel Tower welcomes its 150,000,000th visitor

1992

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Ruby Jubilee

1998

Thomas’s Schools Foundation (TSF) is launched

2007

The CAIRN Trust is established

2005

Youtube is founded

2015

The Paris Pact represents the first global effort to address

Climate Change

2017

The world’s largest dinosaur footprint is discovered (Western Australia)

2018

TSF and CAIRN merge to form Thomas’s Foundation

2023

Charles III is crowned King in Westminster Abbey

2019

Thomas’s Putney Vale opens 2021

The COVID-19 vaccine is rolled out

2015

New King’s Primary School becomes Thomas’s Academy

2005

Thomas’s Fulham opens

2017

Thomas’s Daheim is established

2007

British Prime Minister Tony Blair steps down and is replaced by Gordon Brown

2019

Snap Election sees the Conservatives winning a landslide victory

2018

The Super Blue Blood Moon is located

2023

Thomas’s Putney Vale welcomes pupils up to Year 11 and, with its inaugural GCSE cohort, marks a milestone in the educational history of Thomas’s

2021

Atlantic House in St Alban’s Grove is purchased to provide new premises for Thomas’s Kensington in 2025

Joanna Thomas

Joanna Thomas (née Craig) was born in Calcutta in 1940. Moving to England after the war, she was educated at Langsmead School and then The Manor House. Leaving school at 17, she took up ballet training in Paris and then returned to England to pursue a career as an actress.

Joanna

David Thomas

Born in Lahore in 1937, David Thomas grew up in India before attending Perrott Hill Prep School, where he became Head Boy. At Wellington College, David began to follow in the footsteps of his father, military advisor to the Indian State Forces, by training to become an army officer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

David Thomas

Family Years

Joanna and David met in 1957 and were married in 1962 while David was on leave from an army tour of East Asia. Putting her burgeoning acting career on hold, Joanna flew out to join him. Over the next few years they moved with the Gurkhas from Hong Kong to Singapore to Borneo, having two children, Bianca and Tobyn, along the way.

Family Years

Family Years

In 1966 the whole family trekked between villages in Nepal, visiting David’s fellow Gurkhas’ homes beyond Pokhara. This trip marked the beginning of their relationship with this part of Nepal, leading to the foundation 40 years later of the CAIRN Trust in 2007.

England Cadogan

1968 saw the Thomas family return to England, where their third child, Ben, was born the following year. David left the army and found work at Rediffusion, a television company. In 1971, with Bianca and Tobyn at school, Joanna decided to start a playgroup to occupy Ben and to supplement the family’s limited income. She put leaflets through local letterboxes and rented a room in the neighbouring church hall, giving rise to the Ranelagh Kindergarten, which was later to become Thomas’s Kindergarten, Pimlico.

As the Kindergarten’s reputation grew, Joanna began tentative discussions with Josephine Ingham, Ben and Tobyn’s headmistress at Eaton House School, about her potential succession. She therefore began sitting in on classes and learning about dayto-day school administration. When the headship was given instead to someone else, the Thomases took forward the idea of starting their own school.

Thomas’s Kensington

In the spring of 1977, David and Joanna sold their home, moved the family into a two-bedroom basement flat and, with the proceeds, took a tenyear lease on a building in Cadogan Gardens. David left his job three weeks before the start of term, and the new ‘Kensington Court Lower School’ (adjacent to an existing Kensington Court School) opened with 11 pupils and two teachers on 20th September 1977.

From the outset, the main school rule was to ‘Be Kind’ (initially ‘Be kind and don’t run’). In addition, Joanna, being an actress, wanted to see plenty of art, ballet, drama and music in the curriculum; David, being a soldier, wanted to include plenty of sport. Thus, ‘Be Kind’ and the broad curriculum became the mainstays of a Thomas’s education, as is still the case today.

In less than four years, the school had over 200 children. Demand for places continued to increase and, in response to this, Thomas’s expanded in 1981 into two buildings in Cottesmore Gardens, just south of Kensington Gardens, to create Thomas’s Kensington.

Thomas ’ s Kensington

Thomas’s Battersea

By this time, school trips were making the curriculum even more dynamic, from History trips to Shropshire to the first French exchanges in Paris and skiing in Austria.

Across the Thames, David came across a building which had been Sir Walter St John’s Grammar School for Boys from 1700 until it became vacant in 1986. He and Joanna managed to buy the premises, reluctantly closed the senior school, and moved the original prep school from Cadogan Gardens to its new site in Battersea over half term in October 1990. Three years later, they opened a kindergarten in the crypt of St Mary’s Church nearby.

Thomas’s Clapham

In 1993, with an increasing demand for places, the freehold was secured of the former Clapham County Girls’ School in Broomwood Road. Thomas’s Clapham today educates 650 boys and girls aged from four to 13 years old.

In 1995, Tobyn and Ben were appointed Principals of the schools.

Thomas ’ s Clapham

Thomas’s Fulham

“I love all the fun, outdoor activities, especially fire lighting.”

Orlando, Year 4 pupil

In 2004, Thomas’s acquired a long lease on the substantial school buildings formerly owned by the London Institute for the Chelsea College of Art and Design in Hugon Road, SW6.

The school, which has overlooked South Park since 1894, was completely refurbished and Thomas’s Fulham opened in September 2005. Today, it educates 400 pupils aged from four to 11 years old.

Thomas ’ s Fulham

Thomas’s Schools Foundation and the CAIRN Trust

In 1998, Thomas’s Schools Foundation (TSF) was formed and launched at a whole school event at the Royal Albert Hall.

It is an independent charity providing educational and extracurricular opportunities for children in the local communities of the four Thomas’s London Day Schools in Battersea, Clapham, Fulham and Kensington. The charity has two areas of focus. The first is to identify, develop and support educational activities for local children. The second is to provide funding for bursaries for children to attend a Thomas’s school.

In 2007, the Principals established the CAIRN Trust as a UK registered educational charity dedicated to ensuring that children in rural Nepal are given the opportunity of an education. The CAIRN Library programme supports literacy through the installation of libraries and quality education is supported through the CAIRN teacher training programme.

In 2018, Thomas’s Schools Foundation and The CAIRN Trust merged to become a single charity,

Thomas’s Foundation, an independent charitable incorporation registered charity no: 1181145.

At the time of writing Thomas’s Foundation has awarded over 50 bursaries and supports more than 4,500 children every year through community partnerships across 20 schools and 16 community organisations. In the rural communities of Nepal, 23 schools have been built, over 70 libraries installed placing over 200,000 books into the hands of over 18,0000 children and more than 260 teachers have been trained providing quality teaching to over 3,500 children.

In the UK, over 100 volunteers from the Thomas’s community support reading in schools and community partnerships.

Thomas ’ s Schools Foundation

“One of my favourite things to do at school is writing because I love to use my imagination.”

Isabella, Year 1 pupil

At the invitation of New King’s Primary School, Thomas’s began a partnership which led to the foundation of Thomas’s Academy in 2016, a one-form entry primary school educating 240 children near Parson’s Green in Fulham.

The Academy is a maintained sector school which receives its funding directly from central government. It nevertheless shares the aims and values of Thomas’s London Day Schools and has led to invigorating, fruitful and mutually beneficial partnerships between Heads, teachers and pupils throughout Thomas’s.

Thomas’s Outdoors

In 2017, Thomas’s formalised its outdoor education programme with the purchase of Thomas’s Daheim in the tiny ski resort of the Wurzeralm in upper Austria, where the school had taken an annual ski trip for the previous 25 years.

Thomas’s pupils today begin with a Woodland Adventure in Reception, graduate through a Young Explorers programme in the Middle School, and culminate with a week-long residential trip to Thomas’s Daheim. The first summer expedition to Daheim took place in 2019.

Thomas’s Senior School

“Thomas’s is a special place because it’s not just you joining a school, you’re joining a community. We learn very important values that will benefit us both in and out of school. We have also learnt that school is not only about results, it’s also about learning skills for life.”

Ayesha, Year 9 pupil

Parents have long questioned why education at Thomas’s has to end at the age of 13. The intake of 170 pupils in September 2021 was a pivotal step in extending Thomas’s education to children aged two to 16. Thomas’s Putney Vale, catering to pupils aged 13 to 16, opened as a natural extension of Thomas’s child-centred approach to junior education. It also addressed the evolving educational landscape, which requires a different type of preparation for pupils’ further educational journey, as well as for the adult life that lies ahead of them. Thomas’s Putney Vale, with its forward-thinking and outward-looking ethos, embodies the core Thomas’s Values at its heart.

Thomas ’ s Putney Vale

Thomas’s College

The acquisition of a historic site in Richmond has meant that from September 2025 Thomas’s Putney Vale moves and becomes Thomas’s College: providing day, weekly and flexi-boarding education for 630 pupils aged 11-18. This expansion means that Thomas’s vision of offering a full and broad education from ages two to 18 can finally be realised in a beautiful five-acre campus, just a stone’s throw from the river and easily accessible by tube, train, bus and bike.

When David and Joanna started Thomas’s, they sought to offer something new and transformative to parents frustrated by the limitations of a tired and narrow 1970s primary curriculum. The same sense of mission, reform and improvement will drive everything we do at Thomas’s College. It is a profoundly rewarding prospect. The opening of the school in September 2025 is such an exciting moment in the ongoing Thomas’s story.

Thomas’s Foundation

“Every day I walked through the gates at Thomas’s was the best day of my life. I remember playing Nicely Nicely in ‘Guys and Dolls’ and becoming a prefect, I remember being asked to perform a saxophone solo at the Royal Albert Hall, I remember school trips and playing football in the rain. But most importantly to me, I remember the proud look of my mother as she dropped me at the gates, and despite not having a car, she was always there to pick me up with a smile on her face. Thomas’s inspired me, motivated me, fuelled me.” Naseem Moumene – a past bursary recipient who continued on his senior school journey at Westminster and went on to study at Durham University.

For everyone who is part of the Thomas’s community, whether past or present, the one school rule that eclipses all others is ‘Be Kind’.

Born out of the ethos of this school rule is an incredible depth of community engagement and support for many and varied charitable activities, both locally and globally.

Amidst all this activity there has been a permanent school charity for over 25 years. Thomas’s Foundation, an independent charitable incorporated organisation, was registered in 2018 and launched in September 2019 following the merger of Thomas’s Schools Foundation and the CAIRN Trust, bringing all permanent charitable activities of the schools under one umbrella.

The Thomas’s community has been the driving force behind the Foundation, enabling it to live out the vision that every child deserves an enriching education and, through its programmes, create a lasting impact on young lives in the local community and overseas in the rural hill villages of Nepal.

Thomas’s Foundation, with the support of Thomas’s community, has supported over 50 bursaries to date, and remains committed to funding a minimum of four bursary awards each year.

We are proud to partner with over 20 schools and more than 16 community organisations in the local boroughs. Over 4,500 children have – and continue –to benefit from grants for educational programmes, a volunteer reading programme and programmes such as Pathway – a learning enrichment programme led by Thomas’s teachers.

In Nepal, tens of thousands of children have benefited from educational programmes to support literacy and quality education though CAIRN libraries and teacher training.

So much has been achieved, for many charities, through the support of the Thomas’s community; although, there is always more to do. Thomas’s Foundation stands as testament to the Thomas’s community’s incredible force for good when we all work together to support others. Long may it continue.

Thomas ’ s Foundation

Teaching Style

When Thomas’s first opened in 1971, it aimed to provide an education that was broad, invigorating, stimulating and fun. Fifty years on, Thomas’s has significantly evolved. The facilities are now state-of-the-art, and teaching methods have advanced beyond what would have been imaginable in the 1970s.

“We love Thomas’s because we have our Fun, Funky, Friday disco!”

Year 1 pupil

However, the Founding Principals’ vision of a school centred around children, prioritising a broad curriculum and strong values with the fundamental rule to ‘Be Kind’, remains at its heart. These principles are as relevant today as they were in 1971.

Teaching and learning styles at Thomas’s have unsurprisingly developed dramatically. Today’s curriculum, committed to broad learning, is embedded within a culture of thinking and enquiry, linking learning areas to real-life contexts and thus equipping pupils to become the adults of tomorrow.

A Thomas’s education is now four-dimensional –encompassing Knowledge, Skills, Character and Meta-Learning. Outdoor education, integral at all stages, offers unique opportunities and experiences beyond the classroom. Additionally, developmentally appropriate digital learning opportunities are designed and delivered by teachers to promote creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration. The traditional ‘chalk and talk’ teaching style, with desks facing forward, is now a distant memory.

In Conversation with the Founding Principals

As the Schools reflected on 50 Years of Thomas’s, some Year 10 pupils thought it would be interesting to find out more about the early days of Thomas’s and what motivated Founding Principals, David and Joanna Thomas, to open a school. The pupils invited Mr and Mrs Thomas to Putney Vale for a tour of lessons, followed by a chat over lunch…

What made you decide to open a school?

Joanna: It was all an accident, everything we did happened by chance. We didn’t set out to be a school master and school mistress. I started the kindergarten in 1971 when Ben was two and a quarter because we needed a nanny, in order for us both to work. So we planned to start a kindergarten in our dining room with just six children, before that plan was thwarted by Westminster Council and instead we set it up in St Barnabas Church Hall.

There were very strong rules from the government at the time about what you could do with the under fives: you could give them sand, water and toys but you couldn’t actually teach them, which was quite sensible as you could get carried away with trying to teach them reading and writing, before they were ready. I found a nanny who loved this approach and we spoke to the vicar about the church hall and that is where the school was in 1971. It was a happy school that grew very, very quickly. There were 70 children by 1977.

The reason why we actually started teaching at the kindergarten was because Ben was very, very naughty and my friend advised me that he was bored and needed more than sand and water play. I couldn’t afford to go and do the Montessori course that I was interested in but my friend told us that if we bought the materials and used her notes, Ben would never be naughty again!

David: Life doesn’t always treat you the way you think it’s going to. What happened was I left the army and I worked for an American bank. They taught me business in the American ‘you can do it Dave!’ kind of

way and then when Joanna suggested opening the school, I still had that can-do attitude so we went for it.

What were you doing before you made this decision?

Joanna: I was an actress and David was in the army. Whilst I was training to join the acting company I accepted a lift from Mr Thomas because we missed the last bus home that night. Then he came to the stage door every night for the next six weeks and after that I would have died if he hadn’t married me!

David: In those days if you were 17 or 18, you had to do two years in the army. I was in the Wiltshire Regiment which was a National Service regiment and I was posted to Cyprus, a wonderful, romantic place and it had three crusader castles in our battalion area. We had the whole of the northern panhandle. Joanna and I courted through correspondence because there was no mobile phone, you couldn’t get on Facebook and it was very expensive to get on the telephone. So we had to write to each other.

Joanna: David joined the Gurkhas and he was told that he mustn’t marry for the first three years. I was left in London while he went out to the Far East. He was away for three years and he came back once, and we got engaged. For ten years, I was an army wife. We went to Singapore, Hong Kong, India and Malaya. All three children were born by the time I was 28 and David was 32. He came back to England to train as a civilian because they had decided that they would cut the Gurkhas. I ended up auditioning for and was cast in a play about infidelity!

What was the food like at the school in the early days?

David: There was a café where the taxi drivers had their lunch so I said to Peter the café owner: “Could you please cook us lunch and put it in a hay box and we will take it to the children?”. The problem was the menu was very limited, so it was always something with chips. The children would say “I’m sick of chips”. Eventually, as the school grew, we managed to employ our own cook and the menus became more varied.

What uniform was worn?

Joanna: There was no uniform to begin with because we could not possibly afford it. David was extremely good at Sport and I was good at Drama and so we focused on those. But we did think that, if the school was to be good at Sport, the pupils would have to look the part and wear a decent strip. This led us to think that if we were going to introduce a sports kit, then we should also bring in a uniform. David and I were all set to buy grey skirts/trousers from Peter Jones to wear with a nice jacket, but one of the parents claimed those to be inelegant and offered us the design skills of her husband who conveniently owned a factory. And that is how we ended up with the shaped dresses that you still wear today. We didn’t buy them a coat but in the early days, pupils wore a cloak. It wasn’t until we got to the Battersea building that children needed something to wear in the playground and the tartan puffer was introduced.

David: We used to get our school uniform from Harrods. The advantage of that was that they gave us a percentage of the uniform sold, but things change and eventually we had to move out of Harrods because it was too expensive.

What is the same and what is different?

Joanna: Now we are going full circle. Now we are constructing new buildings and starting the Senior School. Nothing goes quite how you plan, but if you keep going and persevere with what you want to do, you will find success.

David: The attitude is the same. We enjoyed employing new teachers, mixing people up together and always maintaining the importance of our one rule: Be Kind. The facilities in the school are vastly different but the attitude is the same. Now you all have laptops and nice classrooms and you’re learning Greek so that is very different, but the Values and overriding importance of kindness remain the same.

Is

there a particular day or year that you remember?

Joanna: Every single day is different! So, not really. Every day is exciting, still. We love hearing the stories from Ben and Tobyn about what is happening now.

David: The very, very first day. We worked in our school until 3am. We piled all the rubbish up outside the front door because the dustbin men were coming that day. At 6am the dustbin men came and wouldn’t take the rubbish as they said it needed a specialist removal van to take away so much. So on the first day there was rubbish piled up outside the front of the school, not a great look for Day one!

Joanna: I also remember that we didn’t have the money for desks and tables until the parents paid the school fees. But the school fees were due on the first day. So we had to carry desks and chairs up through the building at 3am on the second day. We double parked the van outside the school and lost the key. Luckily

a taxi driver found it in the street and left it in an envelope with a note for us so we could move the van, just in time for the children to come in for their second day!

David: I also remember the concert at the Royal Albert Hall. I hope that we can do it again, but it’s a huge and extravagant undertaking so we cannot do it too often!

Do you have any advice for the current Thomas’s pupils?

Joanna: You can do anything in your lives. If we can do what we did, you can do anything. Good luck.

David: If you want to take two things away from this conversation:

1. Have a ‘can do that’ attitude – you can do anything that you want to if you put your mind to it.

2. Be kind and get on with each other.

“Mr and Mrs Thomas are the principals of the school. They have to get up early so that they are on time for Assembly.”

“I think Mr Thomas is more interested about our work and Mrs Thomas is more concerned about us having a good time.”

“Mrs Thomas always wears bright clothes and Mr Thomas wears a black suit. The only time he does not wear a suit (that I have seen) is when he goes on the bus to sailing club.”

If I was allowed to change some of the lessons, I would change ballet to sewing and tapestry.”

Never ones to rest on their laurels, Mr and Mrs Thomas often asked their charges for feedback and areas for improvement. In 1986, Class 3W from Thomas’s Kensington, offered these reflections:

“Mrs Thomas is the one who talks to the teachers about reports. She also loves a poetry recital.”

“Mr Thomas loves taking shooting and sailing. These are after school clubs.”

I would like to have homework on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.”

“I would like to have a zip on the school tracksuits.”

“If I were them, to save money, I would not put the school magazine in print, just keep it in our original writing.”

“I would also add some more work instead of adverts.”

“It seems as if we are on holiday more than we are at school.”

“I know teachers are only doing their job but I wish they knew how hard growing up is.”

“I think girls should be allowed to play football and boys to do ballet (if they want to).”

“Mr Thomas is always smiling and always wears the same suit but it is clean. Mrs Thomas wears more lively clothes and is usually smiling.”

“We often see Mr and Mrs Thomas walking around organising things with Daisy, their big, fluffy dog.”

(Pictured with the Thomas’s daughter, Miss Bianca, on her wedding day)

“Mrs Thomas is more interested in us passing our exams and Mr Thomas is more interested in us being good and working hard. I think it is because he was in the army.”

“At Break, I would have orange squash and crisps. I would make the school a girls’ school and would ban French and exams.”

Meet the Heads

Rupert Hawkins, Head, Thomas’s Battersea

Thomas’s Battersea is so much more than just a school. It is a community of people, all with a collective aim, which is for children to flourish in their education. For many, it has become central to their entire lives - the hallmark of a community that means so much to those who experience it.

My tenure as Head has only just begun, but it has already been the greatest privilege to become a part of, and lead, this extraordinary group of people. It all started with David and Joanna, and their legacy lives on. Prospective parents often comment on the unique feel of Thomas’s Battersea. It is that familial feel that binds us all together and draws people in. The support, the laughter and the sharing of memorable moments - all so noticeable and yet incredibly powerful for the pupils, the parents and the staff.

What is perhaps most distinguishable is the manner in which the school prepares its pupils to be the citizens of tomorrow. We may produce great academics, artists and athletes, but we also produce great people - and we are most proud of that. It reminds us of how it all started, with two people wanting to share their love of life, and where the opportunities on offer stem from genuine kindness, a strong set of values and a curiosity to try something new.

“Thomas’s is a great place to be as everyone is kind and friendly. In everything you do, you are always involved and any problems you have, you have someone to speak to.”

Elsa, Year 6 pupil

Thomas’s Battersea

Thomas’s Kensington

Kelly Miller, Head, Thomas’s Kensington

The spirit and ethos of David and Joanna Thomas is in the ether of our small school, nestled in leafy Cottesmore Gardens in Kensington. Within these walls, they set up a home with their three children whilst converting the houses into a vibrant London school. It is curious to think that our classrooms were once bedrooms where David and Joanna dreamed of creating the prestigious, innovative and caring educational brand that is today known far and wide for its maxim to ‘Be Kind’. We are honoured that the first small pieces of the Thomas’s Schools mosaic were honed and refined in Cottesmore Gardens, inspired by the family values, warmth and intimacy still at the heart of what we do today.

The school will continue to embody the deeply personal and inspirational values of David and Joanna as it evolves and spreads its wings into Atlantic House. I feel both proud and humbled to lead our close-knit, diverse and generous community into its newest incarnation.

Thomas’s Kindergarten

Lucy Lee, Head, Thomas’s Kindergarten

When people ask me what my job is, I always say: “It’s not a job; it’s a joy!” Being the Head of Thomas’s Kindergarten is about as much fun as you could ever hope to have. We educate the littlest learners of the Thomas’s family of schools and pride ourselves on laying the foundations of confident, self-led learning for all our children’s educational adventures, just as Joanna Thomas laid the foundations of the Thomas’s schools when she opened her kindergarten (the first Thomas’s school) in 1971. Following in her footsteps, our curriculum today is as broad and challenging as we dare to make it and our children relish every moment of their time with us; from literacy to larking about in the woods at forest school, and from maths to making dens in the garden, every minute is a joyful one that sets the tone for our little learners’ lifelong educational journeys.

Thomas’s Fulham

Annette Dobson, Head, Thomas’s Fulham

My time at Thomas’s now stretches back over 25 years –half of Thomas’s history and half of my lifetime!

I started at Thomas’s Clapham as a Year 1 teacher in 1996 and became Head of Lower School in 1997. I moved over the river in 2005 to open Thomas’s Fulham. Even back when I applied to join Thomas’s Clapham, the unicorn was a well-known emblem amongst teachers in London. The reputation was as a family school, which treated staff well... with breakfast and newspapers in the staffroom. The broad curriculum was already fully embedded even then and my early pupils’ experiences were as rich and engaging as they are now, save for a few notable additions. Foremost among these is the advancement of technology which has completely transformed our learning environments and our curriculum in the intervening years.

Back in 1996 in my Year 1 classroom at Clapham, I felt lucky to be in the only classroom that had a roller blackboard as opposed to a fixed one. It meant I could roll it around from lesson to lesson and not have to rub the chalk out each time I needed to use it! Poles apart from the Apple TVs, MacBooks and iPads which our teachers have at their disposal now.

Thomas’s is a special place, it has to be or I wouldn’t have stayed for so long. I have made some of my best friends through my career – and sadly lost some too. Over the years I have learnt so much from my colleagues, from the Thomas’s family and from my Head at Clapham, Carol Evelegh. They all allowed me the freedom to develop life at Clapham in the Lower School, and at Fulham, in the way that I know best equips our pupils for their futures. I have been given wonderful personal professional opportunities including a working sabbatical visiting schools overseas in 2015. And now, there are a number of teachers across our schools that I remember as children at Clapham.

Once a unicorn, always a unicorn!

Thomas’s Clapham

Nathan Boller, Head, Thomas’s Clapham

I have been fortunate enough to work at Thomas’s Clapham twice since 2010. My first role as a Learning Enrichment teacher was under the leadership of founding Headmistress, Mrs Carol Evelegh. This led to my appointment as Assistant Head to Phil Ward in 2013, and finally as the Deputy Head in 2014. I returned to my native Australia in Summer 2016, but little did I know that I would return five years later as the third Head – a privilege that has allowed me to give back to a school community that had positively impacted my life greatly.

Thomas’s Clapham has changed over the years but our core values remain the same. Our unwavering dedication to celebrating childhood in all that we do also stands firm. I am sure Mr and Mrs Thomas, along with Tobyn and Ben, are immensely proud of Thomas’s Clapham and all that it stands for.

Academy

Suzanne Kelly, Head, Thomas’s Academy

I have been at Thomas’s Academy, previously New King’s Primary School, for 16 years so have witnessed and experienced the school’s transformation over this period. In particular, as a strong believer in community, the links with Thomas’s London Day Schools have enabled us to strengthen our values base which, in turn, has strengthened the school community. The value ‘Be Kind’ is a lived experience at Thomas’s Academy with the hope being for our pupils to carry this value with them as they continue in their learning journey and beyond. Congratulations to all those who have made Thomas’s what it is today, including those who have supported the Academy to be part of this amazing set of schools.

Thomas’s

Thomas’s Putney Vale

Therese Andrews and Emma Oliver, Heads, Thomas’s Putney Vale

We were thrilled to be appointed as Co-Heads of Thomas’s Putney Vale in September 2022 and open as a standalone Senior School in September 2023 for pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11. The campus has been a perfect home, with Drama Studio and Library, gym, science labs and Design and Technology spaces. We were excited to lead our first cohort through their GCSE exams in 2024.

We’re also very excited about the move to Thomas’s College in Richmond in 2025. Staff and students have visited the campus and we look forward to transferring across, ensuring that our forward-thinking and outward-looking education has the facilities to match Thomas’s Putney Vale.

“The fact that Thomas’s involves not just Maths and English but lots of active things too, make it a fun and happy place to be.”

David, Year 4 pupil

Will le Fleming, Founding Master, Thomas’s College

In September 2025 a remarkable new school opens in South-West London: Thomas’s College. The five-acre campus is spectacular and the vision for the school matches it: we want this to be an exciting and compelling prospect for every London family considering independent secondary education.

The Thomas’s schools hold such a distinct place in the London prep market, and one glance at the building confirms the ambitious scale of this expansion into senior.

My vision for the College is that it must be, first and foremost, a true Thomas’s school. That means an extraordinary breadth of experience, academic excellence and effectively one guiding principle: be

kind. This philosophy is so embedded and powerful that it drives everything that young people across the group do, and stems directly from David and Joanna and the foundation of the first school in 1971. Education has meaning at Thomas’s, and it’s centred on values that matter. Those values provide a wonderful foundation on which to build, and with the college, we have the chance to build from scratch.

What matters most to me is creating a sense of hope and assurance in bright, curious, well-rounded young people. Helping them to fulfil their potential and achieve excellence, with the confidence to go out into the world with what they’ve learned and challenge both themselves, and what they find, to do better. We need to equip them to move on to the world’s best outcomes and experiences when they graduate – and it’s not just the path they follow, but the way they follow it: with delight and belief in what they do and a readiness to get involved and collaborate with those around them.

Thomas’s College

I Remember When...the 1970s

Karen Walker (née Beevor)

Thomas’s Cadogan Pupil, 1977-1984

When I think back to my time at Thomas’s (which was a very long time ago!) I only ever think happy thoughts: laughter, friends (who I still see now) and adventures. I seem to always visualise our Assemblies in a hall in Cadogan Gardens with Mr and Mrs Thomas leading them: wise words spoken that left a lasting impression, hymns sung with enthusiasm and always a bit of time for reflection. The day would then begin with a long climb up many stairs to our various classrooms. We were always the oldest form in the school so each year we climbed an extra flight of stairs to our new classroom as the school grew. We finally made it to the top of the building in our 11+ year where I will never forget Mrs Jackson patiently going over Maths and Verbal Reasoning as many times as we needed in order to get through our exams, which were on my birthday that year.

I remember longing for Friday afternoons when Mr Thomas would drive us (in the infamous Thomas’s minibus, we had four – one for each House in each

Karen was one of the very early Thomas’s pupils, joining the Pimlico kindergarten in 1977 at the age of three. She moved into Reception at Cadogan Gardens and left in 1985 to move onto Tudor Hall. Karen trained as a Montessori teacher and worked at Mouse House off the Northcote Road, from where many of the children went to Thomas’s Clapham. So she found that she had come almost full circle! Karen now lives in Hampshire with her husband and two sons.

House colour) to Queen’s ice rink and there we would spend the afternoon perfecting our skills under the watchful eyes of wonderful instructors.

The annual poetry competition was a highlight too, especially as we would have a judge from Mrs Thomas’s acting days come and listen to us and give us amazing feedback.

There was not enough space in Cadogan Gardens to put school plays on so, in true Thomas’s style, we hired the Mermaid Theatre and put on our performances there. I remember being in awe of the ‘green room’ and the ‘real stage’. I am sure it’s moments like these that made me continue to love all things Dance and Drama at Senior School and instilled in me a love of theatre forever more.

Nothing was ever too much at Thomas’s – anything was doable and that attitude has left a lasting impression on me. Each day was different and every day exciting. Life at my senior school seemed rather bland in comparison! We spent a lot of time with Mr and Mrs Thomas, they were more than just ‘Heads’ of a school and I have been lucky to keep in touch with them over the years and visit them in the New Forest.

I Remember When...the 1980s

Paul Moss

Cottesmore/Cadogan/Battersea Staff, 1982-1993

It was the early summer of 1982 and I was in the process of applying for deputy headships after 11 years in state education. A close friend, Cheryl Ann Stewart, recommended I apply to Thomas’s as they were looking for a Deputy Head. Somewhat dubiously, having no experience of the Independent sector, I applied to Cottesmore Gardens.

The interview went well and Mr and Mrs Thomas seemed keen on my raw talent, down-to-earth Northern background and current experience.

They were pioneer days when I joined the school and I loved the atmosphere, the sense of freedom and, in particular, two excellent colleagues: Jill Kelham and Angela Jackson. Later, we were joined by the wonderful Morag Johnston.

The children were a delight: open, free and eager to learn. We were not bound by the national curriculum so the days were full of traditional educational riches: song, speech, Dance, Drama/Shakespeare, plenty of

Paul joined Thomas’s Cottesmore in September 1982 where he was joint Head with Jill Kelham. He then went on to become Headmaster of Thomas’s Cadogan Gardens in 1986 and then Thomas’s Battersea when the school moved across the river in 1990. Paul left Thomas’s in January 1993 to become Headmaster of St James’s, Queen’s Gate. Sixteen years later, he retired in 2020 but continues to oversee the St James’s Schools abroad.

Sport, trips to France and extensive end-ofterm productions. It was a time of adventure, excitement, experimentation and complete immersion into the care of a young child. We all worked well together and the school was vigorous and expansive.

Lady McCowan (who taught Latin) and myself were inveterate smokers. Can you believe we had a smoking room, which we managed to set on fire one day! David and Joanna did not seem at all perturbed!

My Thomas’s days were brilliant days: interesting colleagues, receptive children and a sense of freedom and potential. I look back upon them with great pride and such fondness.

I Remember When...the 1980s

Heather Beeby

Battersea Staff, 1989-1997

Heather joined Thomas’s in 1989 and left in 1997 to become Deputy Head of Brighton College Prep School before joining St Christopher’s, Hove as Head and later becoming Head of Hurstpierpoint College Prep School until 2014. She then went on to become Head of Lancing College Prep and is now Deputy Director of Admissions at Lancing College. Heather is married and has two daughters. Her interests are many and varied, including the theatre in all its forms, travelling, reading and walking the dog on the South Downs. However, her greatest passion by far is education and she considers it a huge privilege to work with young people thereby helping them to discover their potential.

I joined Thomas’s in September 1989 as a young and newly married teacher. Thomas’s was then based in Cadogan Gardens, and it felt like paradise moving from a tough inner-city primary school to an idyllic converted house close to Peter Jones and Sloane Square! After a year and half a term, the school moved to the current site on Battersea High Street, and over time I progressed from class teacher to Head of Stationery, to Head of Science to Senior Mistress, becoming a mother to two daughters along the way! It was a happy and fulfilling time for me and I learnt so much from Joanna and David and the Heads I worked with, Paul Moss and Jill Kelham. I loved the creativity and excellence which filled every classroom and every corridor. I loved the nine years I spent there, and I loved learning to be brave as a leader. I have now been a Head for 20 years and I hope that in the three schools I have led, I have taken a little bit of the Thomas’s magic with me.

Christos joined Thomas’s Kindergarten in 1987 at the age of three and left Thomas’s Battersea in 1997. He went on to St Paul’s and then studied at Bristol University before completing his MBA at Stanford. Christos has embraced life as an entrepreneur, starting and selling three companies and is now an operations-focused value-creator in private equity.

Christos Shepherd

Thomas’s Pimlico and Battersea, 1987 to 1997

Even at 38, I’m still able to say that a quarter of my life was spent at Thomas’s. In fact, I spent such a long time there that the school, its curriculum and my friends and teachers still shape who I am today.

We were surrounded by wonderful characters: Mr Williams’ hilarious schoolbus stories included a brilliant tale about how a shark had eaten one of his ears; Mr Hodges’ cheeky cigarette accidentally set off a fire; and Mr Scaife, who was an extraordinary motivator, also terrified us to such an extent that “rather Deathe than false of Faythe” became “rather death than Mr Scaife”.

These and other teachers grew pupils like me into good, kind adults who now get to pass those basic principles of integrity, humility and curiosity on to our own kids and colleagues. The world is a better place because of it. And although today I’m in touch with only some classmates, I regard all my classmates as an extended family. Such is the community that Thomas’s and its teachers built.

I Remember When...the 1980s

Rachna joined Thomas’s in 1985 and here she reflects fondly on her time at the school, albeit with some goulash and test traumas along the way…

Rachna Raina ( née Vohra)

Thomas’s Kensington Pupil, 1985-1988

The food was foul! I recall my sister and I being kept back in the dining hall until we finished eating the dreaded meat goulash and rice. But there were some brighter days with homemade pizzas and chocolate rice crispy cakes – so it wasn’t all bad.

Miss Carol would watch over us. I still recall weekly Maths and grammar tests. One wrong answer and Miss Carol was definitely not pleased. Anything less than a 10/10 was deemed unacceptable! However, she was a woman who made such an impression on me: she was so strict and I was petrified of her at times, but soon enough this fear turned to love and I even ended up being invited to her wedding.

I absolutely loved my performances on the stage and even then, Thomas’s Kensington seemed alive with diverse activities and lots of fun–apart from those tests and the goulash trauma, of course.

I was the world’s worst skier but adored our ski trip to Austria, before Daheim was what it is now. My mother loved to push me out of my comfort zone and insisted I go, but then also insisted on calling the

chalet every night to check how I was. I’m not sure how this went down with Joanna, David, Ben and Carol who were in charge.

I always thought that if I had children I would send them to Thomas’s, which of course I did. Senior school seemed such hard work and I realise now how much fun we had at Kensington. I tell my children to enjoy every moment they can.

I do not recall the ‘Be Kind’ maxim back then, but everyone wanted the best for the children and the school ensured we were well-rounded. You could be sporty, academic, artistic … anything you wanted to be. My mother still has the pottery I made with Miss Jenny and I recall the piano lessons in the music chambers at the convent, and how we learnt resilience in the open air of Richmond Park as we ran around frozen lakes in the Cross Country event. Mr Brown was so cool and Ms Kelham so kind.

My lasting impressions are of Thomas’s Kensington being such a happy place. My three siblings and I are all so grateful for all the many unique experiences and opportunities presented to us, which we still treasure today.

Celine joined Kensington Reception in 1985 and such is her love for her time at Thomas’s that she still lives opposite the school and now enjoys the role of current parent, as well as alumna. Celine is an active member of the PTA and is particularly keen to help drive forward Thomas’s Alumni.

Celine Mankassarian

Thomas’s Kensington Pupil, 1985-1991

Thomas’s has always played a very big role in my life, not least of all because I have lived opposite the original buildings in Cottesmore Gardens since I was six months old! My time at Thomas’s was so meaningful that it really impacted my future plans and was the main reason why my husband and I decided to remain in the building where I grew up, as he knew how much it meant to me for us to send our children there.

I was a pupil from 1985-1991, starting in Reception with Miss Underwood. Back then, the school was just at 17 and 19 Cottesmore Gardens, Miss Kelham was the Headmistress, Mr and Mrs Thomas lived across the street, we would use the convent for Gym and for Drama. Where the Lower School is now used to be an all girls’ school called Lady Eden’s, with whom we would collaborate and do a Christmas Fair each year, and the building at St Albans was the Prue Leith’s Cookery School.

It has always been a happy school and one that everyone in the area wanted to send their child to.

I love how I can still walk around the block and name all the families who have lived there for decades and whose children I am still in touch with. In fact, the first friend I made on my first day of school is now the Godmother to my eldest child.

My favourite teacher was Mr Brown, and I think I can safely say that anyone who knew him or had the pleasure of being taught by him would say the same. My funniest teacher was Mr Fuller. He would wear the craziest ties and made the coolest puppet theatre using the puppets we made in pottery that year. Our food was the best, cooked by a sweet husband and wife team: Mr Walters and Miss Bruna.

The dining room had the walls lined with tiles handpainted by each student at the school, and we all took turns to look after the garden and pond. When I left Thomas’s I missed it so much that I went back to water that very garden over the holidays just so I could feel like I was still there! I couldn’t be happier that my own children are now Thomas’s Kensington pupils themselves and that I can share my own memories with them; every story remembered with a smile and embedded in me for a lifetime.

I Remember When...the 1990s

Sophie joined Thomas’s in Reception in 1995 and left at the age of 13 in 2004 to go on to Marlborough College. After studying for a degree and PGCE at Oxford Brookes, she returned to London to begin a career in teaching. They spotted a good one; Sophie moved through the ranks quickly and has recently been appointed as Head of Ibstock Preparatory School.

Sophie Bartholomew

Battersea pupil, 1995-2004

I arrived at Thomas’s aged four and managed to stay until I was 13! I have many happy memories; I recall being very ‘eager to please’ – which never quite paid off in Art (sorry Mr Jordan) but I was always given encouragement by some truly inspiring teachers. I remember all of my teachers very fondly and remember my final year with Mr Scaife and Miss Irby. I loved sport (and still do) and we were lucky enough to be given many opportunities to play competitively. I was especially proud to have won the ‘Victor Ludorum’ prize in my final term (not least since I beat all the boys!).

The ‘cool and fun’ Middle School teachers certainly made the teaching profession look appealing, but I never dreamed I might end up teaching myself. I spent five very happy months being the Thomas’s ‘Gappy’ and made great friends, some of whom were my former teachers. I would never have guessed that 14 years later I would be Head of an Independent

Prep school. I lay the blame firmly at the feet of those that taught ME! Now I know first-hand what a special community the profession is, and I will always aspire to the wonderful ‘family feel’ of Thomas’s and be grateful for my privileged start in life.

Jess joined Thomas’s Clapham in the Reception Class of 1995 and stayed right the way through to the end of Year 8 after which she went on to Bryanston School in Dorset, followed by university at Leeds and King’s College, London. She began her teaching career at Garden House before moving on to Thomas’s Academy and is now Year 5 Leader at Thomas’s Fulham. Jess is married to Harry and has a little girl called Octavia.

Jess Coles (née Dymond)

Clapham Pupil, 1995-2004

As I jotted down memories of my time at Thomas’s Clapham, I read back over the list and thought how lucky were we. It’s probably the reason I’ve never really left and now find myself teaching at Thomas’s Fulham, still wearing a Lawrence t-shirt, alongside some of my old teachers! I’ve only just got used to calling them by their first names. My nine years spent at Thomas’s Clapham involved Guinness World Records for the biggest hug, singing at the Royal Albert Hall and fireworks displays which rivalled New Year’s Eve celebrations. Learning was fun and engaging thanks to memorable teachers and regular events on stage such as Geography quizzes and West End-standard productions. This, plus a term spent as a Gappy at both Clapham and Fulham, no doubt influenced my own decision to go into teaching. But above all, the longest lasting memory has to be the friends I made. Memories which are still being made now. All three of my bridesmaids were ex-Thomas’s pupils as well as two of my daughter’s godparents. You could say Thomas’s is in my DNA.

I Remember When...the 2000s

Anne joined Thomas’s in 1991 as a Year 3 teacher and later became Headmistress of the School. Anne left Thomas’s in 2000 and is now Head of Geography at the Prep School of King’s Canterbury. Anne is married to Ben, who lectures in Law at Canterbury Christ Church University and they have two children.

Anne Waters (née Charlesworth)

Thomas’s Kensington, 1991-2000

In September 1991 I joined Thomas’s Kensington as the teacher for 3N. I think I can still remember every child in my class and keep up with at least two of the families. I became Head of Lower School and then Deputy Head, before taking on the Headship in 1999. My time at Thomas’s was incredible. The friendships I made have lasted to this day and the experiences I had shaped my life. The fond memories I have include the wonderful ski trips to Austria, the amazing plays and musicals performed by the children and the forward-thinking educational ideas encouraged by the Thomas Family. Other recollections I have include the time when a child decided to colour in the hieroglyphs on the Rosetta Stone (I notice it’s in a glass case now), and when all the teachers decided to dress in the same colour to see if the children noticed, and I wonder if they ever found the millennium time capsule that I climbed up a precarious ladder into the roof to ‘bury’.

I left Thomas’s to have my own children and am now Head of Geography at Junior King’s school, Canterbury. I would like to thank David and Joanna for all they have given me and very much look forward to seeing them again at alumni reunions!

Nick and Bex arrived in England in 2004, fresh, young and in their early 20s. They worked at Thomas’s from 2005-2015. Lower School was Bex’s nest while Prep School was Nick’s. They left to return to their native New Zealand, with great experience in the Senior Leadership Team and a lifetime of friends. With a growing family, Bex began working part-time, focusing on special needs. She is currently employed as a Year 1 teacher at the school attended by her 3 children. Nick is at New Plymouth Boys’ High School, alongside some of the teachers that taught him there decades ago! As well as Maths, he is Head of House, helping keep law and order with the teens. In true creative style, Nick and Bex have chosen to record their Thomas’s memories in the form of a poem!

Nick and Bex Creery

Thomas’s Kensington Staff, 2005-2015

There are many in New Zealand who carry Thomas’s in our hearts, A place of fluffy unicorns, where our OEs would start.

A maori word for kinship Whanaungatanga – or connection, Thomas’s had this from its very conception.

For if you have Be Kind as your very beginning, There is no end to the road It is a school that is winning.

The Thomas’s family we made Is what we have and hold, Kids, parents and staff Our memories are like gold.

Classrooms stacked like pancakes, Fresh croissants for morning tea, What’s an Easter bonnet? Are those resources for ME?

To Kensington Gardens to play? Bussing to a pool? Gaining your 10,000 steps a day Traipsing up and down the school.

The founders truly believed And with awesomeness all around, Our careers were influenced At Thomas’s there were no bounds.

It was kinship and connection That returned us home in time, But in my sticker box at school Some Thomas’s unicorns still shine!

I Remember When...the 2000s

Fe Coe

Clapham Staff, 2002-2015

In te reo Maori, the word whanau means family. When I think of my time at Thomas’s Clapham, this is exactly what I think of. The Thomas’s family holds a very special place in my heart. ‘Work hard, play hard’ was definitely the mantra and I credit this to my amazing colleagues over the years. I would name them, but there were far too many during my years from 2002 to 2015.

I humbly began as a supply PE teacher, housed in the old PE office, which was tucked behind the then changing rooms (now the beautiful Library). This was for a 3 week contract! From here to Year 4, then Year 5 and finally Year 6, where I loved helping 11+ pupils gain their places to their chosen senior schools.

Highlights include the staff Christmas parties, ski trips and watching pupils flourish with the many opportunities that Thomas provided for them. And, of course, meeting my husband Stu, another Thomas’s teacher!

Fe arrived at Thomas’s Clapham in 2002, when she joined the school as a supply teacher. Her considerable talents were quickly recognised: she was soon ‘made permanent’ and went on to become a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Fe and her husband Stu now live in New Zealand with their two boys, Ollie and Finn. There, Fe is a Year 6 teacher at Geraldine Primary School, where she is also a Syndicate Leader of four classes and a member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team.

I give so many thanks to the Thomas’s family for taking on another ‘rogue’ Kiwi traveller and to Carol Evelegh for putting up with some of my antics!

Rowena Heaton (née Arney)

Clapham Staff, 2008-2016

I joined Thomas’s in January of 2008, fresh off the plane from Sydney where I had been teaching. I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to be back home in London. However, I quickly realised I had completely landed on my feet working at Thomas’s Clapham. The Reception classrooms at the back of the playground had just opened, so I had a stylish new classroom to move into. There was almost instantly a huge party held at the school with lasers and clowns on stilts serving drinks, celebrating 30 years of Thomas’s Schools. Then weeks later I went through one of three Ofsted Inspections. Obviously it was outstanding! This was followed by another celebration party!

For the next almost 10 years (on and off due to having children and doing my OCR level 5 qualification), I was to teach at Thomas’s, mostly as the Head of Early Years. My initial four years were under Carol Evelegh, the Head at the time, and Helen Stewart Morgan, then Head of Lower School. To this day, both remain good friends of mine.

Rowena joined Thomas’s Clapham in 2008 and spent eight happy years at the school, before moving onto Kew Green Preparatory School in 2016, where she is Head of Early Years.

I have so many incredibly fun memories of the school: The delicious school lunches (especially the chocolate sponge and custard), Gary Evans’s playtime discos, the wonderful school productions–my favourite being High School Musical! Not forgetting ‘Fizzy Fridays’, being proposed to in an Assembly and, of course, working with the ‘Dream Team’ in Reception as we hammered another outstanding Ofsted inspection. I think we even made the inspector for Early Years cry in happiness at what she saw! Whilst at Thomas’s, I had two beautiful girls and then I made the hard decision to leave the school. I now work at another beautiful school, once again as Head of Early Years. I will never forget my happy days at Thomas’s and feel so lucky my journey took me there.

I Remember When...the 2000s

“I have been here since reception and have had a great journey throughout the years.”

Year 6 pupil

Lily Tangen (née Drummond-Hay)

Thomas’s Fulham Staff, 2005-2009

The first time I stepped foot on the Thomas’s Fulham grounds was in a hard hat, one week before the first day of school in 2005. I was fresh out of university, eager and enthusiastic to start my career in education at Thomas’s as a teaching assistant. I was one of 11 members of staff employed that first year. The tour of the school involved stepping over beams and boards, paint pots and hammers, as we acquainted ourselves with each other and familiarised ourselves with that beautiful,

After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, Lily started her teaching career at Thomas’s Fulham in 2005. She was a teaching assistant in Year 1 and 2. She went on to get her PGCE at Roehampton University before returning to Thomas’s Fulham as a Year 2 teacher, and was the subject coordinator for PSHE. In 2010 she returned to America where she was born and raised. Lily and her husband and three children live in Connecticut, where she runs a tutoring business for elementary and middle school children. She works individually or in small groups with students as a learning support specialist, focusing on academic skill building and executive functioning coaching. Lily’s mission is to instil and foster a love of learning in children.

light-filled space. It was a vibrant and engaged group of dynamic, young people all coming together from different backgrounds but with the same drive and excitement to work with children and be part of the fabric of this new school. The buzz of that first day continued as we welcomed the children. The families all seemed as invested as we did to be part of the birth of this new, tiny school. There was a sense of camaraderie that bonded us quickly and prevailed in every school gathering, assembly and staff meeting. We all wanted the same thing – to grow this school into a progressive, nurturing, intentional and joyful environment.

Sam Thomas

Thomas’s Fulham Pupil, 2007-2013

I remember an overwhelmingly kind atmosphere, evident in the countless hours my teachers spent helping me manage my newly diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes.

At Thomas’s, I discovered my love for acting. It began playing ‘The Gingerbread Man’ in the Drama Studio aged six, and later performing parts of ‘Matilda!’ in the Royal Albert Hall in 2012, which was one of the most spectacular things I have ever done. I remember my hair was still sticky with gel in Maths the next day! One of the songs we sung was ‘When I Grow Up’ which had a poignancy to it, as it all went too fast.

On leaving Thomas’s I went to Ibstock Place as a Drama Scholar and ultimately became Head Boy. I am currently reading History at Oxford. Next year, I will play Ferdinand in ‘The Tempest’ at the Oxford Playhouse for Oxford University Dramatic Society. On the sporting front I’m Vice-Captain of Somerville College Cricket Club and have represented the Blues against Cambridge in Mixed Lacrosse.

Sam joined Thomas’s Fulham in the Reception class of 2007. He left at the end of the school year in 2013 to attend Ibstock Place School, where he went on to become Head Boy. Sam is currently reading History at Oxford.

“My favourite thing about Thomas’s is if you are worried about something, there is always someone you can tell, and you are never alone.”

Max, Year 6 pupil

1971-2021: Celebrating 50 years of Thomas’s

As part of the 50th Birthday celebrations, a special Service of Thanksgiving was held at St Mary’s Church, Battersea. Former pupils and staff were in attendance and former Head and Vice Principal, Miss Jill Kelham, gave the address.

Jill is (and always will be) part of the very fabric of Thomas’s, having joined Cadogan Gardens in 1978, as a Year 4 teacher. She retired in 2013, got married and moved to Hertfordshire. Fortunately, Jill’s connection with Thomas’s did not end there and she continues to work with Thomas’s Foundation and the Pathway Programme, which she started in 2019. (Prior to the address, the Head Boy and Head Girl shared a Bible reading: Matthew 25:14-30, The Parable of the Talents…)

Well, that sets a jolly tone for this 50th anniversary, doesn’t it? Weeping and gnashing of teeth? The poor man was only trying to look after his master’s money. He might not have been very imaginative about it, but at least he kept it safe. Did he deserve to be insulted and thrown out into the darkness? And what’s all this about investing and banks and deposits and interest? Are we being encouraged to focus our energies on using money to make money – and then to be harsh to those who do not or can not? Why was this reading chosen for today? What on earth does it have to do with a school whose one overarching school rule is Be Kind?

It is of course a parable. A story to illustrate a moral lesson. Jesus told this story to his disciples and I think it’s safe to assume that Jesus wasn’t handing out bags of gold and the disciples were not nipping off to the bank to check their investment every five minutes.

This parable, usually known as the Parable of the Talents, has been interpreted in many ways and I think there’s one clear interpretation that is suitable for today’s thanksgiving service.

In the original translation of the Bible it wasn’t bags of gold but something called talents that were given to the servants. In the currency of 2000 years ago a talent was worth what someone could earn in 20 years of work. So, a lot. Very valuable. Wealth.

Over time the word talent came to mean wealth in a form other than gold or money. It now refers to special abilities, skills, gifts. So the parable can be seen as a message that you must use and develop the abilities you’ve been given and by doing so you will be rewarded with a richer, more fulfilling life. If you waste the opportunity to make the most of your potential you will live a poorer life.

I know what you are thinking. This is the part where she tells us how lucky we are to be at a school with so much to offer. How we should take advantage of all the marvellous opportunities so that we make best use of our talents and do not waste them.

Well, yes, of course. I’ll assume that you’re sensible enough to understand the message of the parable. The man who buried the gold is like one of you taking up violin lessons, loving the feel of it, finding it easy and exciting. Yes! You have a real talent. You master

your first tune, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ and it’s good. Then, every so often, over the next few years, you take out your violin and play Twinkle Twinkle and you think it still sounds pretty good. And you’ll never know what it feels like to play a Beethoven violin concerto.

But this is a service of thanksgiving for your school and I do not want to talk about your talents, although I can not promise I won’t circle back to them at the end. No, I want to talk about the talents that someone might need if they were to start a school from scratch, which is what Mr and Mrs Thomas did.

And why am I here to talk to you about it? It’s because I’m old. Old enough to be saying not just to you but also to many of your parents and teachers “before you were born…” a phrase I never thought I’d hear myself utter.

So, before you were born, I had the privilege of being witness to the very earliest days of Thomas’s. Not the kindergarten where the whole venture began, (about which I know little, but I have seen a very cute photo taken there of a certain Ben Thomas aged two), but the prep school which was one year old when I joined as a teacher in 1978.

A school is not something that arrives one day fully formed but, rather, requires an enormous amount of work and, of course, certain skills and talents.

Mr and Mrs Thomas already had a number of talents. She had trained and worked as an actress and was an inspiring Montessori teacher at her Pimlico kindergarten. He had been an army officer and had worked in the city.

Of all the many talents they brought to the job of starting a school I would pick three: creativity, organisational skills and a talent for hard work. I mean creativity in the sense of creating something unique.

A young couple bouncing ideas off one another, thinking about the kind of education available in London at the time, sharing a vision of something different, something better. And then actually making it happen. They took ideas from the best of the time and ran with it, ran rings round it. It was almost impossible to keep up with them but we young teachers were swept up by this thrilling adventure of pushing the limits of what a school could give its pupils. They had organisational talents. The list of tasks involved in starting a school would put most people off.

From buildings to bureaucracy, finding teachers to finding playing fields, designing the curriculum to designing the uniform, buying buses and buying bin liners and on and on. Organisation was essential.

And they had an extraordinary talent for sheer hard work. Of course, this talent was the glue that prevented the dream from disintegrating. They could have just sat and talked about the dream and ended up like the Twinkle Twinkle-playing violinist. They had to be prepared to take on any job that needed doing. This meant that in the early days they would stay up to the early hours most nights doing anything from writing timetables to scrubbing floors, then they’d be at the front door at 8.30am looking polished and professional to shake every hand, then probably have to drive the school bus, cook lunch, teach drama, take the sailing club…

The teachers had to be prepared for the hard work of building a school too. It was not unknown for Mr and Mrs Thomas to have slight disagreements about which classrooms went where, which could result in teachers moving desks and chairs up and down

three or four flights of stairs, possibly more than once –and that first building was tall and steep.

Were these talents enough to believe they could start and run a prep school? They had the necessary qualities too – you’ll know which ones from the values that Ben Thomas mentions at every opportunity. And they knew what they were aiming for.

They want their pupils to learn and to learn how to learn. They know that you and your brain are hopefully going to spend a great many years together and it would be pleasant for you to have a well-informed, interesting, curious brain for company so you carry on enjoying learning for all your life.

They want their pupils to be happy, encouraged and challenged. Happy, busy children are more likely to discover things they love doing.

They want their pupils to become fine and useful members of society. We all have responsibility for helping to create the society we want.

Albert Einstein said: “All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.” That word ‘opportunity’ I believe holds the key to the reason we can be here today

“Thomas’s is an amazing place with incredible people, teachers and an environment where you want to be.”

Layla, Year 6 pupil

celebrating 50 wonderfully successful years of Thomas’s.

The Thomas’s were pioneers when it came to providing opportunity for development. There was nothing like it at the time and Mr and Mrs Thomas created a school that was invigorating, stimulating and fun. There was no limit to what they were prepared to provide for their pupils but it was no gimmick. It came from that original creative thinking, born of their beliefs and values, and it grew out of perseverance and commitment.

Their sons Tobyn Thomas and Ben Thomas have the same qualities and continue to take the schools forward with courage, vision – and lots of jolly hard work.

It’s a very neat symmetry. Mr and Mrs T used their talents to create a school designed to provide every opportunity for their pupils to discover their talents.

So, do not cast yourselves into the darkness with all that weeping and gnashing and people still playing Twinkle Twinkle. Find your passion, nurture it and let it contribute to what is valuable in society.

There can be no better way for you to offer up and to demonstrate your thanks for your school than that.

Jill Kelham

Thomas’s Battersea

On a fittingly sunny day, against the backdrop of a cloudless blue sky, the Thomas’s Battersea community came together to celebrate 50 Years of Thomas’s.

‘1971 Day’ was a day of celebration and reflection, and we were fortunate to have the company of past Heads of Thomas’s Battersea, along with some other former senior members of staff.

Additionally, no fewer than 17 current parents, who are themselves former Thomas’s pupils, joined us for the morning festivities.

The day began with a special Service of Thanksgiving at St Mary’s Church, where we enjoyed hymn singing, prayers and a wonderful rendition of ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ by The Carpenters, complemented by a thought-provoking address from Jill Kelham, former Headmistress and Vice Principal. Following the service, our guests enjoyed visiting the 1971 Art Exhibition, before joining the entire school in the playground for a birthday moment that featured flag waving, singing and the cutting of a special cake by Mr and Mrs Thomas, with help from some of the youngest and oldest pupils in the school. Everyone enjoyed Thomas’s 50th Birthday cupcakes during Break.

Then followed an enchanting Lower School Commemorative Assembly in the Great Hall, featuring more singing and a wonderful Show and Tell. During this event, some of our alumni parents bravely volunteered to share their favourite memories from their time as Thomas’s pupils.

Thomas’s Clapham

Thomas’s Clapham love to party, and we partied hard to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Thomas’s Schools! It was a particularly gold and glitzy affair which lived up to the highest standards in terms of fun, laughter and happiness. We enjoyed class picnics in the playground, we loved hearing stories from David and Joanna Thomas about the very early days of Thomas’s, we sang them a special song and then performed a flash mob dance!

When reflecting on how this school came to be, it is hard to imagine the levels of resilience, persistence, leadership and confidence that Mr and Mrs Thomas must have drawn upon, and we remain in awe of how the wider Thomas’s community has grown since 1971.

To all of the Thomas family, thank you for your dedication to our school. Thank you for ensuring we create a meaningful, relevant and contemporary education where childhood is celebrated each and every day. We are sure you have called on every reserve available to get through the past 50 years and this community would like to thank you for helping us create the environment our pupils, parents and staff benefit from every day. From all of us at Thomas’s Clapham, thank you for making all of this possible.

Thomas’s Fulham

We were thrilled to launch the Fulham branch of Thomas’s Alumni at our Golden Anniversary party on a sunny day at the end of June. We welcomed back some founding parents and staff and six current parents who are expupils. We listened to an excellent Q&A hosted by Mr Fitzherbert-Brockholes (Rory and Euan’s father and an original Thomas’s pupil from the first school site in Cadogan Gardens).

“I love being able to vote for our favourite books during Library.” Mane, Year 1 pupil

Mr Fitzherbert-Brockholes interviewed our guests of honour, David and Joanna Thomas, about the inception of the schools and their hopes for the alumni. The children enjoyed hearing about where our ‘Be Kind’ school rule came from and why the unicorn was chosen as our emblem. There were two musical performances, a medley of British pop through the ages, and the aptly worded ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’.

The children were also treated to a goldenthemed picnic in the playground and then danced off their gilded cupcakes at the whole school disco. Unicorns, glitter and golden children were let loose on the dancefloor as DJ Dr Fox (a former Thomas’s parent) kindly got the party started with more music through the ages. Watching the children dance in a crowd with reckless abandon was a highlight for the staff, and something we could only have dreamt of this time last year. A reminder indeed that for everything there is a season.

Thomas’s Kensington

How could Thomas’s Kensington mark this huge milestone in the timeline of Thomas’s? The answer was to travel back to 1971 of course.

The Art department created a breathtaking exhibition inspired by the painters, printers, ceramicists and photographers of the time. During our Whole School Quest, both children and teachers explored the year 1971. Embracing the spirit, we donned our flares and dancing shoes for a 1970s-inspired Danceathon. Adam Garcia, a Year 1 parent, kindly choreographed a disco routine for us, and we performed the grapevine under a giant glitterball on an LED dance floor. We were thrilled that David and Joanna Thomas could greet the children at the doors, and many families appreciated the opportunity for an impromptu family photo with our Founding Principals.

In our Quest, Year 2 prompted us to envision what Thomas’s might look like 50 years from now, creating their own models. Nartan and Nina were particularly inventive: “We made a Science lab. If you jump on the pump, it will send you into space. There are also headphones so you can listen and talk to robots.”

A Danceathon in Space sounds like an exciting idea for 2071...

Art Competition

Thomas’s Clapham Art Competition

At Thomas’s Clapham, every child and member of staff decorated a stone to mark 50 years of Thomas’s. These were then brought to the front of school, where we arranged them into a big 50 to be photographed with a drone! Afterwards, all of the stones were added to the bay tree planters around school, for everyone to enjoy.

Thomas’s Battersea Art Competition

The Art department thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with the PTA and Thomas’s Alumni to produce a pack of ten A6 notelets and a new Lower School correspondence postcard, celebrating 50 Years of Thomas’s. Each piece of art was inspired by an artist or Art movement from the 1970s (e.g., Jasper Johns, Jim Dine, Yayoi Kusama, Alma Thomas and Patrick Caulfied), the decade the school was founded. The whole school participated in the project and each year group voted for their favourite entry.

Thomas’s Fulham Art Competition

The children in Year 2 at Thomas’s Fulham created pieces in the style of David Hockney’s ‘Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)’.

Hockney began the painting in 1971, our founding year, and completed it in 1972. It sold for £70 million in 2018, setting an auction record for a living artist. Next time you pick up your paint brush, remember that Hockney once said: “The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 per cent.”

“I enjoy my Chemistry lessons because you will never leave the room without learning at least three new things ”

Becca, Year 7 pupil

Thomas’s Kensington Art Competition

The 50th Birthday Art Competition took place in June with all artwork on show, linking to the Quest theme of the 1970s. We explored work from the Pop Art period, with Year 1 looking at the confectionary inspired work of Wayne Thiebaud, whilst Years 3 and 6 focused on Andy Warhol’s flower and iconic food-brand prints. Year 4 produced experimental, tonal drawings of everyday objects in the style of Jim Dine, and Reception and Year 5 were inspired to make ceramics and wallpaper inspired by the groovy patterns and colour palettes associated with this era. Year 6 worked creatively to stage a photoshoot, producing stunning iPad images in response to album covers and fashion of the time.

Meet the Alumni Team

What better way to celebrate 50 years of Thomas’s than by establishing Thomas’s Alumni, which was officially launched on 20th June, 2021. The organisation aims to build an active global association of past pupils, parents and staff so that they are part of the extended school family – for life. This is such an exciting new phase for the schools and will see our community go from strength to strength.

With a combined total of over 130 years of working at Thomas’s, the Alumni Team are well qualified to lead this exciting venture:

Joanna Copland first joined Thomas’s in 1989 when it was based in Cadogan Gardens. Having been part of the relocation to Battersea, she spent four years away from the school at university before moving to Thomas’s Clapham as a Reception teacher. Over the next 18 years she taught Years 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 as well as taking on the roles of Deputy Head, Head of Middle School, and briefly, Acting Director of Music.

For the past decade Jo has been Vice Principal of Thomas London Day Schools, supporting all the schools, including the Kindergartens, and building cross-school links to enhance the group ethos. Creating the alumni programme to maintain contact with past pupils has been a long-term aim and she hopes that ‘Thomas’s for Life’ will allow for reconnection and celebration of our alumni pupils, parents and staff.

Nicola Diggle joined Thomas’s Battersea in 1995 as a Year 6 class teacher. Three years later, she was appointed as Senior Mistress with responsibility for the Upper School girls and their secondary school placements. This role developed into that of Assistant Headmistress, a position which Nicola held for 16 years before she became Director of Admissions. In the summer of 2021, Nicola and her family moved to Suffolk from where she is busy developing the alumni association across the Thomas’s Schools. She is having a wonderful time reconnecting with former colleagues and also with pupils (and their families), many of whom she taught over two decades ago. Nicola looks forward to helping to turn ‘Thomas’s for Life’ into a reality and to meeting up with her former charges!

“Thomas’s is a great place because everyone is kind and friendly. Thomas’s is full of high spirit and joy.”

Layla,

Year 9 pupil

Helen Stewart-Morgan started at Thomas’s Clapham in September 1998 as a Year 4 class teacher. After teaching in the Middle School for seven years, she was then appointed as Head of Lower School, with Annette Dobson (the previous Head of Lower School) going to be the Head at Thomas’s Fulham. Helen led the Lower School for 11 years and was then made Senior Deputy Head in 2016. Since then, Helen has continued her work across the school, and also across the Thomas’s group. She is really excited about the creation of the Thomas’s Alumni. Hopefully it will be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with lots of former pupils, parents and staff.

Andrea Street started at Thomas’s in September 2004, doing a year at Clapham before heading over the river as one of the founding team at Fulham.

She began life as a Year 1 teacher but her previous background working as a class teacher in the Special Needs sector meant that she was delighted to move sideways into part-time work within the Fulham SEND department after the birth of her first child in 2010. She looks forward to facilitating the Thomas’s Alumni vision of Thomas’s as a lifelong community.

Allie Barnes Wright joined Thomas’s Kensington in 1990 when the whole school resided in Cottesmore Gardens. In her time at Thomas’s the school has grown considerably and is currently located on three sites before an exciting planned move to Atlantic House, St Alban’s Grove, in 2024. Allie has held many roles at the school including Head of Science, Head of English and now Deputy Head. She is relishing the opportunity to connect with the alumni community and is eager to hear from them all!

Thomas’s: The Next Generation

You know a school has ‘come of age’ when you begin to see children of former pupils on the roll. These pages celebrate the next generation of Thomas’s with all children featured having a Thomas’s alumnus/a as a parent.

Alessio Isabel Pilkington, Kensington 1990-1992

Arya Nathalia Chubin-Norman, Cottesmore 1988-1994

Charles Freddie Krespi, Battersea 1992-2000

Alexander Benjamin Moore, Kensington 1988-1992

Ava Tom Braithwaite, Kensington 1984-1986

Charlie Ben Chance, Cadogan Gardens 1989-1991

Alfie Alice Pelly, Battersea 1992-1999

Badger Max Hunt, Kensington 1987-1994

Chloe Celine Mankassarian, Cottesmore 1985-1991

Anastasia Jack M, Battersea 1991-1999

Beatrice Tom Braithwaite, Kensington 1984-1986

Cora Benjamin Samuels, Battersea 1994-1998

Anees Neda Ziadeh, Cottesmore 1987-1994

Bisher Karim Azem, Kensington 1990-1992

Daisy Freddie Krespi, Battersea 1992-2000

1985-1991

1985-1991

Felix Robert Jenkins, Cottesmore 1982-1984

Daniel Celine Mankassarian, Cottesmore

Emma Madeleine Hammar, Kensington 1988-1995

Elodie Caroline Downing, Kensington 1992-1996

Euan James Fitzherbert-Brockholes, Cadogan Gardens 1975-1977

Ethan Celine Mankassarian, Cottesmore

Freddie Charlie Thomas, Battersea 1984-1987

Frederick Madeleine Hammar, Kensington 1988-1995

Felix Caroline Cochin de Billy, Kensington 1992-1994 and Battersea 1998-2000

Filippo Isabel Pilkington, Kensington 1990-1992

Hamza Lara Khan, Kensington 1991-1998

Griffin Caroline Downing, Kensington 1992-1996

India Charlie Thomas, Cadogan Gardens, 1984-1987

Henry Madeleine Hammar, Kensington 1988-1995

Inda Michael Sackler, Kensington 1992-1998 and Battersea 1998-2000

Jemima Alexander Gilbert, Cadogan Gardens 1984-1993

Liberty Nathalia Chubin-Norman, Cottesmore 1988-1994

Marianna Isabel Pilkington, Kensington 1990-1992

Joshua Ben Chance, Cadogan Gardens 1989-1991

Lola William Toye, Battersea 1994-1989

Maxi

Lara Gargour, Battersea 1990-1997

Lara Catriona German-Ribon, Cottesmore 1981-1986

Luna Tanya Lobel, Kensington 1981-1990

Mia William Toye, Battersea 1994-1989

Leia Lara Khan, Kensington 1991-1998

Luna Benjamin Samuels, Battersea 1994-1998

Monty Giles Patterson, Kensington 1991-1992

Leo Louisa Mayor, Cottesmore 1986-1992

Madeleine Justin Lewis-Oakes, Battersea 1993-1998

Nico Lara Gargour, Battersea 1990-1997

Alexander

1972-1974

1984-1987

Sara-Allegra Tanya

1981-1990

1984-1987

Ralph Freddie Krespi, Battersea 1992-2000

Romy Alexandra Jabre, Battersea 1990-1996

Olivia Alexander Gilbert, Cadogan Gardens 1984-1993

Otis Lara Gargour, Battersea 1990-1997

Saria Karim Azem, Kensington 1990-1992

Skye Alexandra Jabre, Battersea 1990-1996

Rufus

Bastin, Ranelagh Kindergarten

Sylvie Harriet Morgan, Battersea 2000-2004

Lobel, Kensington

Thomas Luisa Thurner, Cottesmore

Willa Robert Jenkins, Cottesmore 1982-1984

Teddy Luisa Thurner, Cottesmore

William Michael Shasha, Cottesmore 1985-1991

Theo Justin Lewis-Oakes, Battersea 1993-1998

Noah Stephanie Pentl, Cadogan Gardens 1988-1990

Afterword/The Next 50 Years

Humility is a core value, so it may be unwise to look ahead to the next 50 years of Thomas’s with anything other than the combination of gratitude, hard work, relief and sheer good luck that has seen us through our first half century.

The immediate future of Thomas’s is clear. Our aim is to complete the journey of a Thomas’s education from the ages of two to 18 by making a success of Thomas’s College and securing an onward journey for those prep school pupils who choose it. In pursuit of this aim we will echo the pioneering spirit of my parents and those dedicated members of staff who joined them at the start of this journey. They were driven by the vision of an imaginative and creative education which would equip children superbly for the adult lives that lay ahead of them. In seeking to fulfil this vision, they unintentionally challenged the

established order and were bold enough to become a disruptive force in education, motivated only by what they believed was best for their pupils.

That spirit is as relevant today as it has ever been. Thomas’s has the chance once again to disrupt and challenge areas of education such as the insanity of the testing regime at 11 and the grip of an assessment culture at 16 and 18, which narrows the curriculum and mitigates against a breadth of learning and the development of skills and attributes which are vital for today’s pupils. In an age of machine learning, the qualities which make us uniquely human will be more important than ever and a curriculum which, alongside academic rigour, embraces and promotes imagination, creativity, the performing arts and sport will provide the best possible preparation for today’s children as we contemplate the futures that lie ahead of them.

At the time of writing, there is a good deal of commentary in the media about the headwinds faced by the independent sector, with the imposition

of VAT on private school fees and a new political landscape which seems indifferent to the success of the sector and the opportunities it provides for all.

Nevertheless, as this remarkable publication shows, we still have the opportunity to foster school communities which support their own, which are a force for good in local, national and global contexts, which give young children the best possible start in life and which leave a lasting legacy in the world of kindness, courtesy, honesty, respect, perseverance, independence, confidence, leadership, humility and being givers not takers.

In summary, be kind, don’t run - and long may the unicorn continue to flourish.

Ben Thomas, Principal

Humility

Independence Confidence Leadership Givers, Not Takers

Thomas’s Academy