Tragedy as head of Epsom college, Daughter and husband found dead at school ground

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Emma Pattison, 45, her husband George, 39, and their daughter Lettie, seven, were discovered in the early hours of Sunday
Parents of pupils at Epsom College have paid tribute to its headmistress after she and her family were found dead in their home on the school grounds.

The bodies of Emma Pattison, 45, her husband George, 39, and their daughter Lettie, seven, were discovered in the early hours of Sunday morning by the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

Surrey Police have confirmed it was an isolated incident and there was no third-party involvement.

Mrs Pattison became Epsom’s first female head in September 2022 after six years as headteacher of Croydon High School in south London.

Boarding students at the college pay more than £42,000 a year and its alumni include Conservative MP Sir Michael Fallon, broadcaster Jeremy Vine and comedian Tim Vine.

One mother, who only gave her first name Sheena, described how the ‘slight but very formidable’ new head had ‘turned the school around’ after taking up the role last September.

She told BBC News: ‘In her time as head teacher, she turned the school around, and she did so many things that enriched the children’s lives.

‘She was slight but very formidable, she knew all of the pupils by name. She was exactly what you would want from a head teacher.’

In anames independent school of the year in 2022, said: ‘The shocking and tragic news has now reached many about the death of our Head, Emma Pattison.

‘The College community will be coming together today to process the news, grieve and pay our respects to a wonderful Head.

‘At this time there is nothing more that we can say regarding the circumstances around Mrs Pattison and her family’s death beyond the statement issued by Surrey Police yesterday evening (Sunday 5 February).

‘The College and Surrey Police will be in close contact over the coming weeks and months.

‘We hope everyone will respect the privacy of Emma’s family at this time and allow the College’s pupils, staff and wider community the time and space necessary to come to terms with this loss.’

Police said the family’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers while an investigation is now under way to establish the circumstances of their deaths.