Welcoming a new Head is a milestone for any school community, and it is with great excitement that we announce Miss Jessica Mair will be joining us to lead Thomas’s Clapham from September 2026. She arrives to inherit a beautifully thriving school, taking the reins from Mr Nathan Boller after his deeply impactful tenure. Miss Mair is perfectly poised to lead Clapham into its next exciting chapter, bringing a fresh, dynamic energy while protecting the ethos that makes Clapham so special.
For today’s parents, navigating the complexities of modern childhood requires a school environment that offers a genuine, supportive school community with considered leadership. Miss Mair instinctively understands this. She encourages a learning culture that drives academic excellence through confidence and curiosity, rather than pressure.
At the core of Miss Mair’s educational philosophy is a quality that families value above almost all else: she truly sees every child. By tuning into their individual identities, passions and potential, she ensures that each pupil known and supported. She knows that for a child to achieve outstanding academic outcomes and experience joyful excellence, they must first feel understood.
When reflecting on what makes Miss Mair the very best fit for our community, Ben Thomas, Principal and CEO of Thomas’s London Day Schools, was quick to highlight her unique balance of warmth and authority:
“Those who work with Miss Mair describe a leader of clarity, warmth and quiet authority, someone deeply attuned to how children learn, how staff thrive and how schools sustain excellence over time. Her approach is grounded in the belief that children do best when expectations are high, pressure is low and the adults around them are consistent and thoughtful. Throughout the appointment process, her alignment with the vision, aims and values of the School was clear and compelling. She is exactly the kind of leader we look for at Thomas’s.”
Having spent a highly admired decade at the helm of John Betts Primary School, Miss Mair brings a profound understanding of how a modern school breathes and grows. Crucially, she recognises that a values-led education, one that places our ultimate rule, Be Kind, at its absolute centre, is the most powerful foundation we can give our young people.
Speaking about her upcoming arrival for the 2026/2027 academic year, Miss Mair shared her clear excitement for the journey ahead:
Thomas’s Clapham is a remarkable school where the culture, ambition and sense of purpose are the backbone to its success. The opportunity to join and lead its wonderful community is indeed an exciting prospect. I am looking forward to working closely with families and staff to continue to grow the excellent standards of education, parent engagement and personal development that define the school. It is a real privilege and an honour to be taking on this role from Mr Boller. I hope to build on all that he and his team have created… I am deeply aligned with Thomas’s founding values, and I view kindness, resilience and honesty as the fundamental traits we must instil in every child.”
Miss Mair is deeply passionate about the earliest years of education, holding the firm belief that our role is to prepare children “not just tomorrow, but for every tomorrow for the rest of their lives.”
We are incredibly proud to welcome a leader who so naturally embodies our mission to raise givers, not takers. Under her thoughtful guidance, we are confident that Thomas’s Clapham will continue to flourish, empowering every pupil to step out into the world as a compassionate contributor to society and a courageous shaper of the future.
