A Day in the life of Rhian Thornton, new Head of Somerhill Independent Prep School
The accomplished Head on moving to Kent, early morning runs and Elmo and Ernie!
There is a particular kind of magic to a school before the day begins. The grounds are quiet, the classrooms still, and for a short while there is space to think before the energy of the children fills every corner.
I have always been an early riser, and at Somerhill that usually means starting the day with a run around the grounds. It is my best thinking time, although these days I am not always alone. I often pass the cross-country team out for morning practice, or the cricket teams warming up at the nets. It is a lovely reminder that the school is already alive before the first bell has sounded.
After heading back to the cottage to get ready, breakfast is an important part of the morning. Marcus and I are real foodies, and his poached eggs with avocado and chilli flakes are a favourite. Meanwhile, our fox-red Labradors, Elmo and Ernie, have usually been out with Mr T, proudly retrieving stray cricket balls from the pitches and returning them to the pavilion.
By 7.45am, Somerhill really begins to come to life. I love standing on the steps to greet the children as they arrive, often loaded with bags of kit, whether musical, sporting or both. A quick catch-up with the team follows, and no two days are ever the same. On this particular day, there is a parent coffee morning, exciting IAPS swimming finals news, with 15 places for Somerhill, and Home Front Day, with Year 6 pupils dressed for Second World War evacuation activities.
The morning takes me from meeting a new family recently arrived from Dubai, to visiting our youngest children in Pre-Nursery and Kindergarten. They are always a joy, and I am proud that even our nursery children benefit from qualified teachers and subject specialists. From there, I head to Saplings, our Forest School, where the children are busy with wheelbarrows, tree swings, leaf prints and endless conversation.
Music is another highlight of the day. House song rehearsals bring a wonderful sense of energy and team spirit, while the choristers are already preparing for the concerts ahead. Later, Year 7 boys take me on a whistle-stop tour of the school, where we see news quiz champions and an engineering class launching gliders they have designed on the formal lawns.
Lunch is one of my favourite parts of the day because staff and children eat together in the dining hall. There is always a strong sense of community, and on match days the excitement is unmistakable, with cricket kit everywhere and fixtures ahead.
Sport is a huge part of life at Somerhill. With some of the largest prep facilities in Kent, there is always plenty going on. I love watching matches, seeing parents arrive to support, and then gathering afterwards for match tea. It is one of those simple traditions that says a lot about school life.
Although the official day finishes at 4.30pm, Somerhill rarely slows immediately. Clubs run until 5.45pm, and in the Trinity term, aquathlon and cyclo-cross are particularly popular. Watching pupils ride across the estate, I often think they must sleep well after a day here.
Evenings are for emails, planning and family time. With my own children preparing for GCSEs and A levels, life is busy at home too. Later, Elmo and Ernie wait eagerly for their twilight walk, and there is nothing quite like seeing the sun set across the grounds.
Dinner is a chance to catch up with Marcus, whose work in technology often sparks ideas for school. I am keen to build further opportunities in areas such as engineering, drones, CAD and broadcasting not by replacing real learning with screens, but by giving children exciting, practical experiences that may inspire future careers.
By 10pm, I am usually ready for bed. Like the children, after a full day at Somerhill, I sleep very well.