Neighbours of tragic headteacher Emma Pattison say they are heartbroken by her death.
Police were called to Epsom College, in Surrey, at 1am on Sunday morning, alerted by ambulance services, where they made the horrific discovery.
The bodies of Emma Pattison, 45, her daughter Lettie, seven, and her husband George, 39, were all found.
She had only started as head of the top independent school in September and was discovered along with her husband George and their seven-year-old daughter Lettie.
Security guards are now manning every entrance to £42,000-a-year Epsom College and police have so far not given a cause of death for the family.
Today those living near her said they couldn’t fathom what had happened.
Meanwhile parents whose children went to school with Mrs Pattison’s daughter Lettie say they are at a loss with what to tell them - with one linked to one of her classmates saying: “They don’t know how to explain it.”
Today, as cordons remain in place, buses are lined up preparing to take pupils home.
It is understood the school cannot close because of the number of overseas pupils.
Some could be seen going from lesson to lesson with their sports bags this afternoon.
The Pattisons’ house near school buildings on the far left hand side of the college from the main entrance, is flanked by other staff accommodation.
And those who live nearby are all struggling to make sense of what happened as speculation runs riot.
So far all staff have replied “no comment” when asked whether they had anything to say on Mrs Pattison’s death.
But neighbours of the Pattisons who don’t live on school grounds couldn’t believe what had occurred in the tight-knit community.
Juel Ahmed, 54, said: “It’s very shocking, very distressing for the community and the school.
“I’m sure their families are going through shocking times.”
Spiro Fernando, 49, former Head Boy at local Kingsford House school, added: “I was shocked. I have lived in Epsom all my life - this kind of thing is not what you expect to hear in Epsom. It’s a London news story.
“I had a lot of friends who went to Epsom College so it’s really intertwined with my memories.”
A neighbour who did not wish to be named: “When I heard about the story it was really terrifying. What happened to them is really awful.”
And another, who works for an education company not linked to Epsom College, added: “There is a lot of speculation as to what it was. There is shock, sadness, disbelief.
“A friend of a friend’s daughter was at school with Lettie. They’re shocked. They’ve got to explain to the children what happened and they don’t know how to explain it.”
A neighbour, whose daughter went to the school, said: “It’s just so sad and tragic. She left a while ago so I don’t know the headmistress but I have heard she was a really, really good headmistress.
“It’s a nice school. Apparently she was amazing and it’s a shock. The fact that it is a seven year old is just beyond me.”
And former student and neighbour Sam, 27, added: “It’s very odd. It’s very hard to put into words. It’s a big part of my childhood and I’ve had mixed feelings of the school but it feels really strange.
“It’s really sad with the little girl. It happened in a place where I spent five years of my life.”
Katie, who lives with Sam, 27: “It’s so close to home. I am just sad for the family. The school is a safe space.”
