Surrey Homes | SH97 | February 2023 | Education Supplement inside

Education Supplement
Meet the
School Principal
We’ve been getting to know Claremont
School’s new Principal, Severine Collins
What excites you most about
joining Claremont School?
Claremont’s principles align with
my own belief that every child is an
individual who needs to be nurtured,
developed and challenged to become
the best they can be. The young people
who will shape our future need to be
agile, empowered with a deep love of
learning that enables them to take risks,
be creative and innovative, solve complex
problems and drive societal change. At
Claremont pupils are given opportunities
to improve their self-esteem in social
contexts, teamwork and collaboration
activities, sporting, performing,
debating, musical performances… the
list is endless. Claremont is the ideal
setting for young people to thrive
and achieve their dreams, and I feel
privileged to have joined the team.
What do you most enjoy
about being a Principal?
Working with young people. Their
creativity, their thirst for knowledge and
for a brighter future is contagious. You
have to work hard to achieve success,
and I am honoured to be supporting
them in developing those attributes
What are the greatest
challenges of the role?
An African proverb rightly states, “If
you want to go fast, go alone; if you
want to go far, go together”. I much
prefer to make decisions through
collaboration, allowing teamwork,
creativity, and innovation to happen.
I like to receive ideas and input
from all, including students. I have a
genuine interest in the achievements of
others too, and I am a firm believer in
professional development of all staff.
Tell us about your own school days.
I am a French national and did all my
schooling in France, including university,
before I came to the UK to do a degree.
Languages were my thing but I used to
think I couldn’t do maths., thankfully
my maths teacher was amazing, she
explained that arithmetic is actually
another form of language, it made
such a difference. I went on to study
Artificial Intelligence at Sussex University.
Programming computers to do what
humans do using their intelligence was
yet another form of language, but it also
taught me so much about the human
brain. It was absolutely fascinating.
Did you always want to go into
education?
Always! It is such a humbling experience
knowing that you are equipping young
people with key personal characteristics,
attributes to positively impact their local,
national and international communities.
I am also a passionate supporter of new
technologies and how they enhance
learning so I did a Masters Degree at
Kings University in ICT and e-learning.
How do you relax away from work?
I spend time with my family, my dog, go
to the gym or go swimming, cook and
socialise. During holidays I like to travel
and see my family in France, or I will go
hiking or visit galleries, museums and
historical houses. But my big passion is
DIY and interior design. I love looking
for a bargain, vintage furniture or
decorative objects, and like to upcycle
tired pieces.
What are your hopes for the year ahead?
I first want to get to know everyone and
understand their views. Being surrounded
by gifted professionals who realise the
vision we uphold for our young people is
what gets me out of bed every morning.
claremontschool.co.uk
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