We are delighted to announce the appointment of Laura Lamont as the new Head of Ardingly College Prep School.
Laura is currently Headmistress of Queen’s College Preparatory School in London, having previously worked as Deputy Head of City of London Girls’ Prep School.
“I am thrilled to be joining Ardingly College’s Prep School. I was so impressed on my first visit to the school to meet such happy children and see how the fantastic team of teachers really get to know and value every child as an individual. I also loved seeing how enthusiastically the children live the four ‘Us’ values; they were eager to show me how they are adventurous, curious, generous and ingenious every day in their learning! I very much look forward to getting to know the whole school community better before taking up my post in September.”
Ben Figgis, Head of Ardingly College, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Laura to the Ardingly Community. Our Prep School has ambitious plans for the future and I know Laura will do a fantastic job of ensuring that the school continues to go from strength to strength as we enter this exciting next chapter of its history. I also want to say an enormous thank you to Harry Hastings, who has contributed so much to the College over the past six years as Head of the Prep School. Harry will be greatly missed by us all and we send him every best wish as he embarks on his own exciting new chapter.”
The current Head of Ardingly College Prep School, Harry Hastings, is standing down at the end of this academic year, after over 30 years as a teacher and Headteacher, to begin a new career as an Executive Coach.
About Ardingly College Prep School
Ardingly College Prep School provides an outstanding education for boys and girls from the age of 2 until 11, when most pupils will transition to the College’s Lower School at Year 7. The Prep School’s attractive Farmhouse site houses our youngest pupils and adjoins the main College grounds, providing age-appropriate play areas, as well as its own Forest School.
About Laura Lamont
After graduating with a first class degree in Art History from Bristol University, Laura spent two years travelling the world on cruise ships, giving lectures to international audiences on 19th century American and European Art. An opportunity then came up to work in the primary school on the Isle of Mull which she had attended herself as a child. The Head, who had taught Laura when she was a pupil, encouraged her to move into teaching and she subsequently relocated to London to undertake her PGCE and an MA in Education. Laura joined City of London Girls’ Prep School in 2012 and was appointed Deputy Head in 2016, before taking on her first headship at Queen’s College Preparatory School in 2020. She has since gained a National Professional Qualification for Headteachers from UCL and has innovated in numerous aspects of the provision at Queen’s, including introducing a cutting-edge curriculum, new values system, a talent programme and various partnerships with organisations such as the Royal Marines Commandos. Laura, her partner and their young daughter are looking forward to relocating to Ardingly this summer.
