Wiltshire


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/04/Sandroyd-school-Sarah-Segrave.jpg" alt="Sandroyd school Sarah Segrave" class="wp-image-38802" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/04/Sandroyd-school-Sarah-Segrave.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/04/Sandroyd-school-Sarah-Segrave-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/04/Sandroyd-school-Sarah-Segrave-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/04/Sandroyd-school-Sarah-Segrave-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-long-have-you-been-at-sandroyd">How long have you been at Sandroyd? </h2>



<p>Since September 2025. I relocated to Wiltshire from London, where I was Head of Eaton House The Manor Prep, and Principal of Eaton House Schools. This is my 25th year of headship, but there&#8217;s still lots I want to do! Sandroyd is an amazing school, and I&#8217;m so happy to be leading it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-30-second-elevator-pitch-for-your-school-sell-it"><strong>30 second elevator pitch for your school – sell it!</strong></h2>



<p>Sandroyd is a school where children actually have the time and space to be children. The day here is incredibly full and busy, but not in any way overwhelming. Schools do more and more, which has obvious advantages, but young children can sometimes feel stressed by all that’s being asked of them. At Sandroyd, I’m astonished by how much we fit into each day, but also how calm and civilized everything is.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Sandroyd-3.jpg" alt="Sandroyd School" class="wp-image-34096" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Sandroyd-3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Sandroyd-3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/01/Sandroyd-3-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Sandroyd is the place to come if you want your child to have a very well-rounded education &#8211; from academics to drama to sport – and the freedom and time to really enjoy these things. At morning break, you’ll find children grooming ponies, looking after the chickens in Pets’ Corner and cycling around Rushmore Park in high-vis jackets. And it’s not all about mucking around in wellies and playing polo, our academics are really strong too. Boarding is absolutely central to everything we do, with about 75% of our Prep school boarding on any one night.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-would-play-you-in-a-movie-about-your-life"><strong>Who would play you in a movie about your life?</strong></h2>



<p>I&#8217;m rubbish at knowing actors’ names, but they’d have to be a strong character!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-ve-been-given-a-1m-donation-for-the-school-what-will-you-spend-it-on"><strong>You’ve been given a £1m donation for the school, what will you spend it on?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/Dark-Sky-Reserve-Pixabay.jpg" alt="Dark Sky Reserve" class="wp-image-38900" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/Dark-Sky-Reserve-Pixabay.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/Dark-Sky-Reserve-Pixabay-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/Dark-Sky-Reserve-Pixabay-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Sandroyd sits in the heart of the Cranborne Chase Dark Sky Reserve, which is pretty unique. The stars are so vibrant here, the night sky looks like a Disney movie. So, I’d build an astronomy tower, with a telescope. We are lucky to have great sports facilities here, but I’d also add in an extra squash court, or a Fives or padel court. Hockey and netball are brilliant, but if you’re thinking about long term fitness, adults in their 40s are probably likely to play racquet sports socially. If there’s any cash left over, an outdoor pool would also be a lovely addition. Our pupils spend hours outside and they’d really make the most of it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-your-own-childhood-and-school-days"><strong>Describe your own childhood and school days&#8230;</strong></h2>



<p>I started at Dulwich College Prep in Kent, then went to a state boarding school called Cranbrook. I loved school and enjoyed learning, especially when lists and organisation were called into play. Clearly, I was a headmistress in the making! I’m one of four girls, which was pretty idyllic as I had a ready-made group of friends at home, and endless games of make-believe. We all went to different senior schools though, and I always tell parents to beware of ‘death by compromise’. It might seem convenient to send your children to the same senior school, but make sure your choice is right for each individual. The older your children get, the less they will listen to you and the more they’ll absorb from peers and teachers. Their environment is a big influence, and that’s something you can control.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-the-common-theme-of-your-school-reports"><strong>What was the common theme of your school reports?</strong></h2>



<p>They were probably quite positive, although I suspect a few said I talked too much. I wasn’t perfectly behaved though. I once got ‘the plimsole,’ because a friend and I pushed each other into the swimming pool when we were meant to be in a maths lesson, and came back inside dripping in our summer dresses. I was quite shy as a young child, but I was also quite confident. When parents tell me their child isn’t very confident, I always ask whether they actually mean they’re shy, because it’s not the same thing. You can be cautious, yet have really strong self-esteem.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-and-worst-subject-at-school"><strong>Best and worst subject at school?</strong></h2>



<p>I loved maths until I was about 15, then I went off the boil. My biggest passion was (and still is) history, and in my late twenties I did a Masters in history at the Institute of Education. If we want children to flourish as well-rounded adults, we have to focus on humanities teaching. History teaches you communication skills, develops critical thinking, and gives you the context for the modern world.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-you-go-to-uni"><strong>Where did you go to uni?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/Durham-Castle-Pixabay.jpg" alt="Durham Castle " class="wp-image-38902" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/Durham-Castle-Pixabay.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/Durham-Castle-Pixabay-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/Durham-Castle-Pixabay-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I went to Durham, where I did a BA in Education. My degree doesn’t exist in the same way now, but it was great. I lived in Durham Castle for four years, and there was a real sense of community. I learned to row, got involved in drama productions and we set up the Ladies Society. We were the first year the college became properly co-ed and accepted as many girls as it had boys.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-weren-t-a-head-what-would-you-be"><strong>If you weren’t a head, what would you be?</strong></h2>



<p>I&#8217;d love to be in a surgeon, but I have a slight tremor in my hands. I inherited it from my father, and I don&#8217;t think anyone would want me to operate on them! I’m fascinated in all things medical and my friends still describe me as a wannabe doctor, because I&#8217;m forever watching medical dramas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-what-s-on-your-work-desk-and-what-s-in-the-top-drawer"><strong>Describe what’s on your work desk (and what’s in the top drawer)</strong>&#8230;</h2>



<p>My trusty essentials – Clarins hand cream and By Terry lip balm. I also have a bottle of Evian, because I’m very fussy when it comes to water, and wine. Oh, and some crumbs, from the croissant I ate this morning. In my top drawer there’s a whistle, about 3,000 pens, and a great deal of random detritus. They say a clean desk is a sign of an organised mind, but I buck the trend. I’m very organised, but my desk looks quite chaotic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-any-hobbies"><strong>Do you have any hobbies?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/crossword-.jpg" alt="crossword" class="wp-image-38898" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/crossword-.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/crossword--800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/11/crossword--768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>As a working mum with two children, there isn’t a great deal of time for hobbies. Unless spending time with family and enjoying white wine counts! I adore my job, it’s my genuine passion and I’m very happy to spend most of my life thinking about it. I&#8217;m one of four and my husband is one of five, so spending time with family is really important to us. I love going to the theatre and reading, although I have a bad habit of having five books on the go at once. I also do the Telegraph’s quick crossword every day. I also spend quite a bit of time advising families who have children with ADHD, which is a big interest of mine.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-a-little-about-your-family-and-pets"><strong>Tell us a little about your family and pets&#8230;</strong></h2>



<p>Nick and I have two children, Johnny and Eloise, and three cats, Ottilie, Loki and Polly. Now that we&#8217;ve moved to Sandroyd, a new puppy is joining the Segrave clan imminently! Eloise is now 17 and in her final year at St Mary’s Ascot, while Johnny is 19 and studying at the University of York. He left Westminster school in 2024, and that was really our cue to move out of London</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-favourite-childhood-book"><strong>Your favourite childhood book?</strong></h2>



<p>It’s such an old-fashioned book, but I love <em>Swallows and Amazons</em>. It’s so full of innocence, and I love that the children are in charge of their own destiny. These days we protect children so much, and we don’t give them much freedom to have their own adventures. Of course, keeping them safe is very important, but they need to have a bit of adventure and it’s great if they can be inspired.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-book-film-or-play-should-all-kids-discover"><strong>What book, film or play should all kids discover?</strong></h2>



<p>I love <em>Moana</em>. I love the messages, the spirit of it and the values, plus the music’s great too. <strong></strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-song-you-sing-at-full-volume"><strong>The song you sing at full volume?</strong></h2>



<p><em>Everything at Once</em>, by Lenka</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-want-to-hide-from-the-kids-and-staff-for-half-an-hour-where-do-you-go"><strong>If you want to hide from the kids and staff for half an hour, where do you go?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/04/Sandroyd-school-Sarah-Segrave2.jpg" alt="Sandroyd school Sarah Segrave" class="wp-image-38803" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/04/Sandroyd-school-Sarah-Segrave2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/04/Sandroyd-school-Sarah-Segrave2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/04/Sandroyd-school-Sarah-Segrave2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/04/Sandroyd-school-Sarah-Segrave2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If I ever felt overwhelmed, I’d actually seek out the children. Being with our students reminds me why I’m here. &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advice-you-d-give-your-younger-self-and-your-current-students"><strong>Advice you’d give your younger self – and your current students?</strong></h2>



<p>Don’t let caution stop you from doing things. You regret the things you don&#8217;t do, not the things you do. Be brave and if you <em>are</em> going to do something, commit to it.</p>



<p><em><strong>Sandroyd&nbsp;School,&nbsp;Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Salisbury, Wiltshire&nbsp;SP5 5QD. Tel 01725 516264,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sandroyd.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.sandroyd.org</a></strong></em></p>


Head’s up: Muddy meets Sarah Segrave of Sandroyd School

You may also like