The family were found dead at their home on the school grounds. Reports claim that the property is next to the school’s indoor rifle range, which has allegedly been cordoned off by police.
A member of staff at Epsom College reported hearing ‘gunshots’ before the bodies of the school’s headteacher, her husband, and their seven-year-old daughter were discovered.
The bodies of headteacher Emma Pattison, 45, her husband George, 39, and their daughter Lettie were found at their home on the school grounds yesterday morning (Sunday, February 5).
A source told The Telegraph that a member of the college staff called emergency services in the early hours of Sunday after hearing gunshots.
It’s understood that the Pattison home is surrounded by buildings occupied by other members of the school faculty.
The publication also claimed that the house is located next to the school’s indoor rifle range, which authorities had seemingly cordoned off today (Monday, February 6).
However, the source, who is reportedly familiar with the school, claimed the range does not store live ammunition there.
Students at the college have, this morning, attended a chapel service while staff notify parents the school will be closing for day pupils.
Some students will remain on the site, as the site houses international students.
Mrs Pattison became Epsom’s first female head teacher in September of last year.
In a student-presented podcast, she described the role as a “really big change for my family” after moving to the school.
“In terms of transition, it’s been a really big change for my family,” she said.
“We’ve moved house – we’ve bought a dog. I’ve got a new job, my husband has got a new job. That wasn’t meant to happen, but it did, and my daughter has started a new school so there’s been a lot of change for us as a family.”
Yesterday police confirmed that the Pattison family were found dead at their home on the school grounds.
A spokesman said that Surrey Police officers attended at 1:10 am, where they had “sadly found the bodies of three people, including a child”.
The spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the bodies found were Emma Pattison, aged 45 years, head of Epsom College, her daughter, Lettie, aged seven years, and her husband George, aged 39 years.”
Officers are expected to conduct investigations at the school for the rest of the week.
Police said the family’s next of kin had been informed and that they were confident at this stage that the deaths were an isolated incident, with no third-party involvement.
