Community update

Welcome to Kate’s Community Connections Update, a new half-termly feature celebrating how Claremont continues to connect with and contribute to our local community.

Each half term, Kate, our Community and Alumni Officer, will share highlights from our partnerships, events and initiatives that bring people together and create meaningful opportunities for our pupils.

At Claremont, we are proud to be an active part of the local community. Through a growing number of partnerships and collaborations, we continue to build connections that celebrate our heritage, champion local initiatives and provide enriching experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.

Kate Bradford, Community and Alumni Officer

Claremont Teams Up with Hersham FC to Support Girls’ Football

We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Hersham Football Club, supporting their inspiring grassroots girls’ football programme.

As part of this collaboration, Claremont is sponsoring the girls’ first team’s training tops, and our very own football star Neive has been featured on pitch-side banners celebrating the players. The partnership also offers exciting opportunities for our pupils and Sixth Form students to get involved. For example, Robert, one of our A-level photography students, is supporting Hersham FC by capturing match-day action as part of his coursework, and additional volunteering opportunities are being explored through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme. This collaboration reflects Claremont’s ongoing commitment to sport, community and pupil development, combining support for local grassroots football with enriching real-world experiences for our pupils.

Connecting Through Heritage: Heritage Open Day

To celebrate Claremont’s rich heritage, the school once again partnered with the National Trust for its annual Heritage Open Day in September, welcoming over 500 visitors of all ages. As in previous years, we also collaborated with Kingston Aviation, commemorating Sir Sydney Camm’s years making aviation history at Claremont during World War II. The event was made even more special through the support of our neighbours at Claremont Landscape Gardens, bringing the estate’s historic grounds to life for the local community. The occasion was further marked by a visit from the Mayor of Elmbridge, who toured the school alongside our Head, highlighting Claremont’s enduring role in the local area.

Fairy Sarah’s Toadstool Holiday Camp

This October half term, Fairy Sarah’s Toadstool Holiday Camp visited Claremont, held in Fan Court’s facilities and magical forest school, welcoming children aged 4 to 8 for a week of magical fun and outdoor adventures.

This partnership is a wonderful example of how Claremont continues to support families and the wider community by offering wraparound care in a familiar, nurturing environment. For the children, it provides the comfort and continuity of spending time in the school’s natural surroundings during holiday periods, while parents benefit from trusted childcare provision delivered with creativity and care. By opening our doors of Fan Court to the wider community, the camp reinforces Claremont’s commitment to being a welcoming and family-friendly space for all.

A Piece of Royal History Returns to Claremont

We were thrilled to welcome Kate Burvill, a member of the local community, to Claremont during Heritage Open Day in September. She brought with her a beautifully framed lock of Princess Charlotte’s hair, and on the back, a note revealed that it had once been given to one of her ancestors in Claremont’s very own Drawing Room — a fascinating personal connection to the estate’s rich history.

Bringing a fascinating personal connection to the estate’s rich history full circle to Claremont’s life as a school today, the History department will host a special Princess Charlotte exhibition at lunchtime on 6 November. The event was held on the exact anniversary of Princess Charlotte’s death at Claremont in 1817.

Claremont’s A-level History pupils will lead a roving exhibition in The Great Room, welcoming senior school pupils and parents to explore an immersive display. Highlights will include a fragment of a dress worn by Princess Charlotte from the school archive and her collection of mourning china kept in the Albany classroom. The exhibition will also include information boards from a 2012 display on Princess Charlotte at the Royal Pavilion.

The Friends of Claremont’s Christmas Fair

The Friends of Claremont’s Christmas Fair took place on Saturday 22 November, offering festive fun, shopping, and seasonal treats for all ages.

This much-loved event reflected Claremont’s strong sense of community, with local and small businesses joining the celebration to showcase their products. Visitors enjoyed festive activities, delicious refreshments, and explored a range of stalls while soaking up the joyful atmosphere on our beautiful school grounds. The celebration highlighted Claremont’s ongoing commitment to community spirit and connection, creating a warm, welcoming space where families, friends, and neighbours came together to celebrate the season.

 Looking Ahead: The Vanbrugh 300 Festival in 2026

Looking ahead, Claremont is preparing to mark the 300th anniversary of Sir John Vanbrugh’s passing in 1726— the renowned architect and original owner of the first house on the Claremont estate, built in 1708. This early house stood just in front of the current Palladian mansion, alongside the stables, walled gardens, and the White Cottage, which Vanbrugh built for the estate’s gardener Thomas Greening. Persistent damp conditions at the foot of the hill led to the construction of a new mansion on higher ground, where it still stands today as our senior school.

In 2026, Claremont, in collaboration with the neighbouring National Trust site, Claremont Landscape Garden, will take part in ‘Vanbrugh 300’—a national festival, recognised by The Georgian Group, celebrating Sir John Vanbrugh’s extraordinary legacy in the world of architecture.

The annual Heritage Open Day in September 2026 will adopt a special Vanbrugh theme, while earlier in the year a banquet celebration will take place. Guests will enjoy a sweet banquet in the mansion’s Great Room, complemented by an engaging lecture and a guided walk to the Belvedere Tower, offering a truly authentic Georgian experience.