Police seal off Epsom College rifle range during probe into deaths of first ... trends now

The Epsom College rifle range appears to have been cordoned off by police after headteacher Emma Pattison, her husband and their seven-year-old daughter were found dead at their house in the school grounds. 

The bodies of Mrs Pattison, 45, husband George, 39, and Lettie were discovered in their house after police were called just after 1am yesterday. Surrey Police said it is believed the tragedy is an 'isolated incident' and there is 'no third-party involvement.' Their deaths have been reported to the coroner. 

In December - four months after becoming the prestigious school's first female head teacher - Mrs Pattison told a pupil podcast her family was experiencing some 'really big changes' including taking new jobs, moving house and getting a new dog. 

She said: '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.' Mrs Pattison also spoke about her approach to life, saying she wanted to 'grow, learn, explore and live life to the fullest'. 

Today, the school's rifle range had been cordoned off, a man at the scene told The Telegraph. Forensics officers have been seen going into the house and a blue tent has been set up nearby. 

Epsom, which charges boarders up to £42,000 a year, was the 2022 Independent School of the Year and counts BBC presenter Jeremy Vine and BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell among its former pupils. Today it issued a statement calling Mrs Pattison's death 'shocking and tragic'.

In a pupil-presented podcast episode released just before Christmas, Mrs Pattison explained that she, George and Lettie were facing a lot of new change.

She explained that amid the new professional journeys she and her husband were facing, they also added a six-month-old Labrador called Bella to their family.

'In terms of transition it's been a really big change for my family. We've moved house - we've bought a dog,' she told the Epsom Insight hosts.

'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.'

George was a chartered accountant and the director of a management consultancy firm called Tanglewood 2016.  

In the podcast, Mrs Pattison described how she got into teaching after flicking through a copy of the Times Educational Supplement at a coffee shop. 

At the time she was on the graduate programme for Thomas Cook ' a job I absolutely hate'. 

The head said she 'hadn't looked back' since going into teaching, adding that 'working with you people keeps you young, they keep you energised'.  

Mrs Pattison said: 'I am absolutely loving my time here so far. It's been very busy but absolutely wonderful. The college have been so supportive and everyone has been very, very welcoming.'

She then spoke about her hobbies and how she liked learning. 'There is something about being a lifelong learner,' she said. 

'And if you're a reader and a modern linguist who likes going and talking to people and exploring different versions of life I think that fits in with someone who always wants to grow, learn, explore and, I suppose, live life to the fullest.' 

In one of her final social media posts, written in October last year, Mrs Pattison celebrated the school's recent accolades.

'Wow! What an honour,' she wrote. 'We're thrilled to be Independent School of the Year.'

Known as an elite rugby school, Epsom College teaches more than 850 boys and girls aged 11 to 18 and charges up to £42,000 a year for boarders.  

Mrs Pattison took up her position in

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