Farmor's School

Nearly three centuries of history meet modern comprehensive education in this Cotswold market town. Founded in 1738 by benefactors Mary Barker and Elizabeth Farmor, the school has evolved from educating 60 local boys to serving over 1,000 students aged 11 to 18 from across the rural communities of Gloucestershire and beyond. The school's motto, Integrity, Fellowship and Endeavour, captures an ethos that balances academic ambition with genuine community spirit. Rated Good by Ofsted in 2021 across all categories including sixth form provision, Farmor's offers a genuinely comprehensive experience where students of all abilities find their path.

Set on 18 acres of parkland on the edge of Fairford, Farmor's occupies a campus that has grown significantly since the 1960s buildings first opened their doors to 400 students. The original schoolhouse still stands in the town centre, a tangible link to the school's eighteenth-century origins. Today's site accommodates more than double its original capacity, and while the 1960s architecture shows its age in places, substantial investment has delivered modern science laboratories, a business teaching facility, and a newly built learning resource centre for the sixth form.

Mark Surowiec took the helm in September 2025, having previously served as deputy head in Faringdon, at Faringdon Community College. A geographer by training with a Manchester degree and Bristol PGCE, he brings experience from a neighbouring comprehensive to a school that has grown considerably over the past decade. The atmosphere is calm and purposeful. Students are courteous and confident, and relationships between staff and students are characterised by mutual respect.

The school operates a house system that creates vertical connections across year groups, building community bonds that extend beyond the classroom. Tutor groups of around 30 students provide daily continuity, while peer mentoring schemes, including buddy reading programmes, strengthen relationships between older and younger students. The pastoral structure is clear and well-embedded, with external agencies brought in where specialist support is needed.

Fairford itself is a picturesque Cotswold town surrounded by beautiful countryside. Some students travel from as far as the Wiltshire borders, reflecting both the school's reputation and the rural geography of its catchment. This is a genuinely comprehensive intake, drawing from comfortable county families alongside those facing greater challenges. The diversity creates a realistic social environment where students learn alongside peers from varied backgrounds.

GCSE Results

Farmor's delivers solid academic results that reflect its comprehensive intake. The school's Attainment 8 score of 50.1 places it above the England average of 45.9, indicating that students leave Year 11 with a creditable set of qualifications. Progress 8 of +0.03 suggests students make broadly expected progress from their starting points, with neither significant underperformance nor dramatic value-added.

The school ranks 1,582nd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the middle 35% of schools in England. Locally, Farmor's sits 2nd among schools in the Cotswold area, making it one of the stronger state options in this rural district. The combined GCSE and A-level ranking of 955th in England (FindMySchool composite) reflects the school's particular strength at sixth form level.

Sciences perform strongly throughout the school, with specialist teachers for every subject. Languages are also a strength, with French and Spanish offered alongside Latin at GCSE. Setting operates in mathematics, science, and languages from Year 7, allowing teaching to be targeted appropriately, though English remains in mixed-ability groups.

A-Level Results

The sixth form is where Farmor's particularly distinguishes itself. At A-level, 56.5% of grades achieved A*-B, with 20.5% at A*-A. The school ranks 985th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the middle 35% of schools nationally. Notably, it ranks 1st among sixth forms in the Cotswold area, outperforming both local independent alternatives and more distant competitors.

Twenty-four A-level subjects are offered alongside vocational options including engineering. Art and design students achieve exceptional results, as do those studying English, business, sociology, and media studies. The breadth of curriculum ensures most students can pursue their preferred subjects without needing to look elsewhere.

Class sizes at A-level are manageable, typically smaller than the lower school groups of 25-30. GCSE classes average around 20 students, allowing for more individualised attention as examinations approach. Investor in Careers accreditation is in place, and Year 12 includes a dedicated week focused on post-18 options, reflecting serious investment in guidance and preparation for life beyond school.

Teaching at Farmor's follows clear structures with high expectations. Specialist teachers deliver every subject, a strength that not all schools of this size can claim. The curriculum is designed to challenge across the ability range, with setting in core subjects ensuring appropriate stretch for the most able while supporting those who need more scaffolding.

The library is well-resourced with full-time staff and substantial computing provision, with 350 networked computers throughout the school giving students access to their work and protected internet resources. Dedicated study spaces for sixth formers create separation between social time and focused academic work, reflecting an understanding that older students need different environments at different times.

Enrichment extends well beyond examination requirements. The curriculum is supplemented by activities that broaden horizons and develop interests that examinations alone cannot measure. This reflects the comprehensive philosophy that education should prepare students for life, not merely for qualifications.

Learning support is well-organised, with the school maintaining a dedicated SEN unit. Most support is delivered within the classroom to maintain inclusion, though withdrawal sessions operate where specific needs require more intensive intervention. Literacy support is a particular focus, recognising its importance as a foundation for success across all subjects.

The 2023/24 leavers destinations data shows 42% of students progressing to university, with 6% taking up apprenticeships and 33% moving directly into employment. This profile reflects the comprehensive nature of the intake and the rural economy that many families operate within. Apprenticeships and management training schemes have become increasingly popular as alternatives to traditional university routes.

Over half of university-bound students secure places at Russell Group institutions, with popular destinations including the University of East Anglia, Leeds, Bristol, Manchester, and Durham. The school regularly produces medical students, with two gaining places in 2024. The careers programme supports students in exploring all post-18 pathways, recognising that university is not the only route to a successful future.

Around 50-60% of Year 11 students continue into the sixth form, with others moving to vocational courses or the sixth form college in nearby Cirencester. The sixth form draws approximately half its intake from other local schools, many of which do not offer post-16 provision. This creates a refreshed cohort at 16, bringing new perspectives and friendships to the upper years.

Year 7 Entry

Admissions are coordinated through Gloucestershire County Council. Applications for September 2026 entry opened on 3 September 2025, with the deadline falling at midnight on 31 October 2025. National Allocation Day is 2 March 2026, with families required to accept or decline places by 16 March 2026.

The school operates truly comprehensive admissions with no selection of any description. Students arrive with their KS2 SATs scores and are placed in sets for mathematics, science, and languages, but there is no entrance examination and no faith-based or aptitude criteria. The catchment extends across a fairly large rural area, with some families travelling from the Wiltshire borders.

With 297 applications for 162 places in recent data, the school is oversubscribed, with a subscription ratio of 1.83 applications per place. Families should not assume a place is guaranteed, particularly those living at the edges of the natural catchment. The school has doubled in size over the past decade and reports being as large as current facilities allow.

Transition support includes two induction days during the summer term where incoming Year 7 students meet staff and future classmates, participate in confidence-building activities, and practice using the school buses. This is particularly valuable given the rural catchment where many students will be unfamiliar with secondary school routines.

Sixth Form Entry

Entry to Year 12 requires five GCSEs at grades 9-4, with grades of 6 preferred for chosen A-level subjects. Some flexibility exists depending on circumstances. About half the sixth form intake joins from external schools, creating opportunities for students whose current schools do not offer post-16 provision.

Open days typically run in autumn. Families interested in sixth form entry should contact the school directly at sixthformadmin@farmors.gloucs.sch.uk or call 01285 712302 for current event dates.

In-Year Admissions

Families seeking places in Years 8-11 should contact Amanda Sampson, the Head's PA, to arrange an appointment to discuss enrolment. Mid-year places depend on availability and are not guaranteed.

The school takes safeguarding seriously, and the 2021 Ofsted inspection confirmed that pupils feel safe and well supported. Students report that bullying is rare, and when it does occur, staff address it effectively. The atmosphere is described as happy, with students telling inspectors they enjoy their time at school and appreciate teachers who are kind and thoughtful.

A school counsellor is available for students needing additional emotional support, complementing the peer counselling programmes that build support networks among students themselves. The buddy reading scheme creates meaningful connections between older and younger students while strengthening literacy skills. External agencies are engaged where specialist support is required, reflecting a realistic understanding that schools cannot meet every need alone.

Clear behavioural expectations are well-known and consistently applied. Pastoral challenges tend to arise from family pressures rather than classroom disruption, and staff respond with understanding rather than purely punitive approaches. The unflustered, orderly atmosphere reported by visitors reflects effective systems that allow learning to proceed without constant interruption.

Sport

Sports facilities include playing fields, tennis courts, and a sports centre shared with the local community. Rugby and netball sit alongside hockey, football, basketball, cricket, athletics and tennis in the programme. Girls' football teams compete across multiple age groups, and the school has representatives in county teams with regular success in district and county competitions.

The campus offers plenty of space for outdoor activity, though there is no swimming pool and no all-weather surfaces. The shared sports centre arrangement means facilities are well-maintained and benefit from community investment, though scheduling requires coordination with external users.

Creative Arts

The drama studio is properly equipped with lighting and sound equipment, including a green room for production preparation. Performing Arts GCSE has grown in popularity, reflecting genuine student interest. Music provision includes a recording room and practice rooms within a dedicated music block, with around 150 students taking individual music lessons. Choirs and orchestras provide performance opportunities, with regular concerts and dramatic productions throughout the year.

Enrichment and Trips

The Duke of Edinburgh Award programme is popular, developing independence and outdoor skills that complement academic study. Young Enterprise introduces students to business concepts through practical application. The Environ eco-club reflects growing environmental awareness among young people.

International trips extend horizons significantly. Destinations have included Ecuador, Paris, Berlin, Iceland, and Russia, with World Challenge expeditions reaching Bolivia and the Galapagos Islands. Language trips to France and a Normandy residential embed classroom learning in cultural context. These opportunities require financial commitment from families, but the school works to ensure cost is not an absolute barrier to participation.

The school day runs Monday to Friday. Monday finishes earlier at 2:35pm, with other days following a standard timetable. The campus is located at The Park, Leafield Road, Fairford, GL7 4JQ.

Transport is a consideration for many families given the rural catchment. School buses serve surrounding villages, and the transition programme includes practice with bus routines to build confidence before September. Parking is available by the main school entrance and the sports centre for those driving.

Parents access school information through ParentPay, Office 365, and Show My Homework platforms. Parents' evenings are bookable online, reflecting modern communication systems that keep families informed without requiring constant physical presence at the school.

Rural location requires transport planning. Some students travel considerable distances from surrounding villages and even the Wiltshire borders. Bus journeys can be lengthy, and families should factor this into daily routines. Snow and flooding occasionally affect rural routes in winter.

Facilities are under pressure. The school has grown substantially, now accommodating over 1,000 students in buildings originally designed for 400. While investment has addressed some needs with new science labs and a sixth form centre, the 1960s fabric requires constant maintenance. Families used to newer academy buildings may notice the difference.

Comprehensive means comprehensive. This is not a selective school, and the full ability range is represented. Students who have always been top of their primary class will find themselves among capable peers. This is ultimately healthy, but the adjustment can take time.

Limited all-weather sports provision. The absence of an all-weather surface and swimming pool means some sports activities depend on weather conditions. Families prioritising swimming or winter sports may need to supplement school provision.

Farmor's offers a genuine comprehensive education in a community-minded setting where students of all abilities can find their path. The sixth form is a particular strength, ranking first in the Cotswold area and sending the majority of university-bound leavers to Russell Group institutions. Academic results are solid rather than spectacular at GCSE, reflecting the comprehensive intake, but value is added as students progress.

Best suited to families in the rural catchment who want a school embedded in its community, with breadth of opportunity both academic and extracurricular. The atmosphere is calm, relationships are strong, and the comprehensive philosophy means no student is written off. The challenge is securing a place in an increasingly oversubscribed school, and families at the edges of the catchment should consider alternatives as backup.