Surrey


<p><em>Katherine Vintiner &#8211; or Kate as she&#8217;s known &#8211; has been Principal at Hampton Court House School (HCH) since 2022. She came to HCH from a three-year stint as Head at Heathside School in Hampstead, and has before that worked in senior positions in education, training and children’s services. </em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/09/Hampton-Court-House-School-Katherine-Vintiner-1000x667.jpg" alt="Katherine Vintiner, principal at Hampton Court House School in East Molesey, Surrey" class="wp-image-49529" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/09/Hampton-Court-House-School-Katherine-Vintiner-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/09/Hampton-Court-House-School-Katherine-Vintiner-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/09/Hampton-Court-House-School-Katherine-Vintiner-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/09/Hampton-Court-House-School-Katherine-Vintiner-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/09/Hampton-Court-House-School-Katherine-Vintiner-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/09/Hampton-Court-House-School-Katherine-Vintiner.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-30-second-elevator-pitch-for-your-school-sell-it-nbsp"><em>30 second elevator pitch for your school – sell it!&nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>Hampton Court House is a co-ed independent day school for ages 2–18 set in a beautiful Grade II-listed building in Bushy Park. We offer an extraordinary education and place of inspiration for learning where children are at the heart of everything we do.&nbsp;Although we achieve academic results comparable with leading highly selective academic schools, what makes us unique is our philosophy of &#8220;Achievement with Heart&#8221;.&nbsp;</p>



<p>We balance high academic expectations with a nurturing, supportive learning environment and a student-centered approach. We have a purposely informal ethos, with no uniform and first-name terms with teachers which recognises every child as an individual. This results in student &#8211; teacher relationships which encourage both academic and personal growth. We were proud to be shortlisted for London Independent School of the Year in 2024.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-ve-been-given-a-1m-donation-for-the-school-what-will-you-spend-it-on-nbsp"><em>You’ve been given a £1m donation for the school, what will you spend it on?</em>&nbsp;</h3>



<p>An onsite sports hall and more bursaries.</p>



<p>HCH has the most beautiful parkland campus, but most of the site is listed – so our onsite sports facilities are a little limited.&nbsp;&nbsp;We have a partnership with St Mary’s University and use their world-class facilities.&nbsp;But it would be fabulous to increase our onsite sports facilities.</p>



<p>I would also use some of the money to offer more bursaries so that as many children as possible have the opportunity to experience our unique philosophy of education.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-your-own-childhood-school-days"><em>Describe your own childhood school days</em>.</h3>



<p>On the whole, I genuinely enjoyed my time at school. It was a place where learning, friendship, and community all came together. I enjoyed the excitement of discovering new things which made me look at the world through different lenses. I loved the challenge of pushing myself academically in class, creatively through art and physically in sport &#8211;&nbsp; but equally important was being part of the community and the friendships I built along the way. Lunchtimes and breaktimes were generally filled with laughter and games (and chocolate digestives). Being part of a school community gave me a sense of belonging, where I wasn’t just learning subjects, but more importantly valuable life lessons about teamwork, resilience, learning about myself and relating to others.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-the-common-theme-of-katherine-vintiner-s-school-reports-nbsp"><em>What was the common theme of Katherine Vintiner&#8217;s school reports?&nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>Kate is a dreamer.</p>



<p>Daydreaming in class often felt like adventure. My mind would sometimes drift to far-off places, creating stories, ideas, and possibilities beyond the classroom walls. A single word from the teacher could spark a whole new world in my head &#8211; a distant land to explore, a future career to dream about, or a problem to solve.&nbsp;While I loved learning, I also cherished those moments of quiet creativity, where my mind wandered freely. Looking back, I realise those daydreams weren’t distractions. They were the seeds of curiosity and imagination that shaped the way I see and engage with the world today.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-worst-teachers-at-your-childhood-school-and-why"><em>Favourite/worst teachers at your childhood school and why?</em></h3>



<p>So many of us as adults can remember the one teacher that inspired us.&nbsp; For me this was Dr Batten – my biology teacher. He is the teacher who believed in me, had time for me and encouraged me. His support turned any doubts I had into determination and my failures into lessons. He saw the potential in me that I hadn’t yet discovered, pushing me to dream bigger and reach higher. It wasn’t just his knowledge he shared and his love of biology – even though I went on to read biology and like him become a science teacher &#8211;&nbsp; but the confidence he instilled in me I recognise today had a profound influence on my life. </p>



<p>The counter opposite to Dr Batten was my maths teacher &#8211; Mrs Morgan. No matter how hard I tried, it never seemed to be enough. Instead of encouragement, she would call out my mistakes in front of the class, making me feel small and embarrassed. Her words weren’t just corrections—they felt like reminders that I wasn’t good enough. A teacher’s words have power, and sadly, hers made me question my mathematical abilities instead of inspiring me.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-and-worst-subject-at-school-nbsp"><em>Best and worst subject at school?&nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>I enjoyed most subjects and was always a bit of an ‘all-rounder&#8217;&nbsp;&#8211; from sports to maths, science to humanities. I loved the challenge of learning new things and never felt tied to just one area of study. </p>



<p>However, the one subject that truly tested me was typing. In my day we were encouraged to take a course called Pitman’s – which was essentially touch typing on a typewriter! No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get the hang of it – especially without looking at the keys! </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-you-go-to-uni-and-what-did-you-study"><em>Where did you go to uni, and what did you study?</em></h3>



<p>I read Biology at Oxford, then went to Kings London for my Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Biology and Science).&nbsp; I completed my MBA (Executive Masters in Business Administration) at Hertfordshire University and then my Graduate Diploma in Law at the College of Law.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/The-Bodeian-Library-at-Oxford-University-tim-wildsmith-unsplash.jpg" alt="Duke Humfrey's Library, the oldest reading room in the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford." class="wp-image-59218" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/The-Bodeian-Library-at-Oxford-University-tim-wildsmith-unsplash.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/The-Bodeian-Library-at-Oxford-University-tim-wildsmith-unsplash-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/The-Bodeian-Library-at-Oxford-University-tim-wildsmith-unsplash-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/The-Bodeian-Library-at-Oxford-University-tim-wildsmith-unsplash-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/The-Bodeian-Library-at-Oxford-University-tim-wildsmith-unsplash-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/The-Bodeian-Library-at-Oxford-University-tim-wildsmith-unsplash-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/03/The-Bodeian-Library-at-Oxford-University-tim-wildsmith-unsplash-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Duke Humfrey&#8217;s Library, the oldest reading room in the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford. <em>Photo credit: Tim Wildsmith / Unsplash</em></figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-your-high-and-low-of-student-life"><em>What was your high and low of student life?</em></h3>



<p>I think one of the most exciting and enjoyable things I found about university was meeting new and interesting people from all walks of life.</p>



<p>University was also the first time I realised my passion for teaching.&nbsp; On my course all Masters students were asked to lead a seminar for undergraduates.&nbsp; </p>



<p>The thing I found difficult at university was never having enough time in the library in particular the Bodleian Library – wow! I’ve always believed that libraries are magical places. Walking into one to me feels like stepping into a world of endless possibilities.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-weren-t-a-head-what-would-you-be"><em>If you weren’t a head, what would you be?</em></h3>



<p>I’m not a ‘career head’. And&nbsp;I’ve not always worked in schools, but have held numerous leadership roles across education, mental health, sport, and children&#8217;s services.&nbsp; Each position has given me new skills, perspectives, and experiences, allowing me to contribute in different ways. For me it’s never been about following a set path—just making the most of each opportunity and seeing where it leads.</p>



<p>Hampton Court House is my last role, I intend to retire after being Principal here. It has been absolutely wonderful to be able to combine all of my experience and knowledge into one place to make it the really very special place HCH is.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-what-s-on-your-work-desk"><em>Describe what’s on your work desk…</em></h3>



<p>The things on my desk are more than just objects &#8211; they are little pieces which each holding a special meaning. Every item represents a part of who I am, from my passions and memories to my dreams for the future.</p>



<p>There’s a well-worn book <em>A Happy Poem to End Every Day</em>&nbsp; which was a gift from a parent. There’s a pop-up card of a cherry tree from my best friend which reminds me to live in and enjoy the moment.&nbsp; </p>



<p>I have a mosaic dish – which my Head of Prep gave me – it says ‘Bonjour’ on it as we have a French immersion programme in our years 1-4. </p>



<p>There’s also a notebook filled with ideas and goals yet to be achieved! </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-want-to-hide-from-the-kids-and-staff-for-half-an-hour-where-do-you-go"><em>If you want to hide from the kids and staff for half an hour, where do you go?</em></h3>



<p>We are incredibly lucky at HCH to be located on the edge of Bushy Park. If I’m not on duty and ask my Deputies nicely – I sometimes escape for half hour at lunchtime to walk in the sunshine with a coffee. Escaping to Bushy Park is always a breath of fresh air, a moment of calm in the middle of a busy day. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-song-you-sing-at-full-volume-when-everyone-s-gone-home"><em>The song you sing at full volume when everyone’s gone home?</em></h3>



<p>Bruno Mars is my favourite artist. I love the way his songs make me feel alive and want to dance.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-advice-would-you-give-to-a-young-katherine-vintiner"><em>What advice would you give to a young Katherine Vintiner?</em></h3>



<p>If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to ‘start where you are at’ and not get stuck dwelling on mistakes. It’s so easy to waste time overanalyzing what went wrong and why, but what truly matters is how you move forward. Its important to realise that everyone makes mistakes. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-would-you-like-to-star-as-you-in-the-movie-of-your-life-nbsp"><em>Who would you like to star as you in the movie of your life?&nbsp;</em></h3>



<p>Judy Dench or Gal Gaddot &#8230; it would depend on the movie.</p>



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<p><strong><em>Hampton Court House School is a unique co-ed day school for pupils aged 2-18 in Hampton Court. It has a refreshingly modern and child-centred approach to teaching. <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/school-reviews/hampton-court-house-school/">Read our review here</a><a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/school-reviews/hampton-court-house-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">.</a></em></strong></p>



<p><em><strong><a href="https://www.hamptoncourthouse.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hampton Court House School</a>, Hampton Court Road, East Molesey, KT8 9BS. Tel: 020 8016 2529</strong></em></p>


Head’s up! Katherine Vintiner, Hampton Court House School

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