Mrs. Alison Melrose

FROM CAMERON VALE SCHOOL, CHELSEA

In this episode of Education Corner Podcast, we welcomed Mrs. Alison Melrose, Head at Cameron Vale School, a coeducational prep school located in the heart of Chelsea, London. Alison spoke with us about the school’s ethos, the importance of outdoor learning, the possible VAT on school fees and the exciting future for Cameron Vale.

Mrs. Alison Melrose’s journey in education spans over two decades, with a career rooted in London’s prep schools. After studying to become a teacher, she began her career at Norland Place in 1996. She explained: “I spent four years working as a classroom teacher before I moved to the Northwood Schools Group.” At the age of twenty-eight, Alison then became the head of one of their schools, a role that eventually led her to joining the board of directors.

“celebrated throughout the week” : courage in learning, critical thinking, collaboration and striving to be “the best version of yourself you can be.” These principles shape the school’s philosophy, from the Chelsea Nursery right through to Year 6. Alison shared: “It’s all about communication and making sure we are delivering that bespoke, unique curriculum for each child, so that they are in the zone of proximal development at all times.”

Her experience also involved “working for Cognita”, a global school group, where she helped to expand schools and develop new campuses. She recalled: “One of the school projects I was working on was St. Nicholas Prep in Hyde Park and the opening of the new Prince’s Gardens School in Knightsbridge.” However, despite the “challenge” of launching a school during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alison reflected on it as an “amazing project” and a rewarding experience. In 2023, she joined Cameron Vale School, drawn to its personalised approach to education and the school community.

Cameron Vale is built on core values that are

The school places a strong emphasis on building “great interpersonal skills” within their students, “making sure that they are polite, have good manners, have a firm handshake and they can look you in the eye,” and ensuring pupils are well-prepared for future challenges. They are also encouraged to have a “good understanding about current affairs and knowledge of the world around them so that they’ve got their own opinions,” making sure they can “stand on their own two feet.”

Despite its location in central London, Cameron Vale School provides ample opportunities for outdoor learning. Alison explained: “Fresh air, food and exercise are great for the mind and body, which means that when they come back into the classroom, they’re ready to focus.” The school makes creative use of its surroundings, integrating local resources into the curriculum. “We talk about using London as our classroom,” Alison described. Pupils visit nearby institutions like the Institut Français, local museums and the Saatchi Gallery. These trips allow

Cameron Vale School, Chelsea students to connect classroom lessons to real-world experiences and “bring their learning to life.” Alison summarised: “We very much are part of London, part of Chelsea and part of our local community.”

Outdoor activities are a significant part of school life. The school’s Forest School programme is a standout feature, with children travelling to Barnes Common weekly for “a full outdoor learning programme.” Activities include climbing trees, lighting fires and making hot chocolate or pancakes. Alison emphasised: “It’s a great way to find out more about the children.” This hands-on approach also fosters creativity and motor skills, developed through the “huge range of different activities” that Cameron Vale offers.

Navigating London’s competitive senior school market can be daunting for families, but Cameron Vale offers comprehensive support through the 11+ process. The school provides regular reports and parent-teacher meetings every term, tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement that are “quantified” and “clear.” Alison highlighted: “We are probably one of the few schools in London that reports to parents every half-term.” This transparency ensures that families have a clear understanding of their child’s development.

The school has “strong links with children and parents: it is very much a family community,”

TURN TO PAGES 63 - 65 to learn more about Reed’s School, Cobham organising 11+ coffee mornings to guide parents through the process and help shortlist suitable schools based on their child’s strengths and interests. They then “tailor the preparation to the schools that those children have applied for,” adopting a personalised approach to ensure all students are well-prepared and confident in situations from reasoning skills to interview practice.

As part of its commitment to supporting families, Cameron Vale School is addressing the growing concerns surrounding the possible VAT on school fees from January. This anticipated policy change poses significant challenges for many families, particularly those with both parents working fulltime to provide private education for their children, with Alison adding: “I have two children who go to boarding school myself and I know it’s going to be very challenging for everybody.”

Cameron Vale is among the many schools taking proactive steps to support their communities. Alison shared that the school “have confirmed that they’re going to freeze their fees for the coming academic year,” aiming to provide families with some “stability.” She added: “That will help families to be able to budget, so that they know what their expenses are going to be for the next eighteen months or so.”

Beyond academics, Cameron Vale focuses on teaching essential life skills through its “hidden curriculum.” Alison expanded: “Those interpersonal skills are so important,” describing it as an example of “hidden skills.” Students learn to work collaboratively, communicate effectively and develop a sense of self-awareness. The skills are reinforced through various activities, such as partaking in debates and listening to guest speakers.

One memorable experience for the students was a visit from explorers Mensun Bound and Dan Snow, who shared their adventures from the Disney+ film Endurance with the children. Alison reflected: “These are life experiences that we can provide within our school and enrich their lives,” helping children to “find out where their interests are.”

Cameron Vale is part of the Forfar Education Group, a small network of independent schools across the UK. While each school maintains its individuality, the group provides shared resources and support in areas like IT, HR and finance. Alison joked: “The central team are like our friendly uncle.” The collaboration extends to “inter-school” activities such as “debating competitions” and professional development opportunities for staff. This connection to a broader network allows Cameron Vale to offer unique opportunities while maintaining its distinct identity. “Our décor here will be very different to the décor in any of the other schools,” Alison explained. “You won’t walk in and think: ‘This school comes from a particular group.’ But the big benefits are having a broader team to work and collaborate with, rather than just being a standalone.”

As Cameron Vale looks ahead, the focus remains on providing an excellent education while expanding opportunities for families. Alison emphasised the importance of maintaining the school’s “nurturing” ethos while adapting to the needs of its community: “We want more families to be able to benefit and thrive and flourish from all that we have to offer here.”

With a dedicated staff team and a commitment to adaptive teaching, Cameron Vale School is wellpositioned to thrive. Alison concluded: “It’s about continuing in the same vein of travel, to continue to provide a really excellent education for local families.” www.cameronvaleschool.com

We would like to thank Mrs. Alison Melrose, Head of Cameron Vale School, for giving up her time to speak to us.