Leadership team and governors

The Senior Leadership Team

Mr Mark Suroweic (Headteacher)

Mark joined Farmor’s School as Headteacher in September 2025. He previously worked in leadership roles in secondary schools in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and the London Borough of Redbridge. A father of two daughters and a Geographer at heart, when not at work Mark can often be found in the great outdoors – preferably riding a bike!

Mrs Emma White (Deputy Head)

Joining the school in 2000 as an English teacher, Emma later became a Head of Year and then Head of Sixth Form in 2010. Emma has two sons and a daughter, now in their twenties, who enjoyed their various studies for GCSE and A level at Farmor’s School and Sixth Form. Emma continues to teach English and also Horticulture, a course she set up in 2009.

Ms Noelle Sturla (Assistant Head)

Noelle joined the Learning Support Team in January 2014. Before taking on the role of Inclusion Manager at Farmor's, Noelle worked as an Advisory Teacher for Wiltshire Council and Head of Year in Swindon. Noelle has two daughters and her husband is Headteacher of a Special School in Newbury. Outside of school, Noelle enjoys planning holidays to take with her family.

Mr Roger Eckersley (Assistant Head)

Roger took up the role of Pastoral Assistant Headteacher when he joined the school in September 2016. After an accountancy career in the City of London he turned to education in 2005, working as a teacher of Mathematics and Head of Year in Witney. As a qualified Mountain Leader and keen lover of the outdoors he is often found hiking, biking or skiing in the mountains with groups of students (or his own children) during weekends and holidays.

Mrs Claire Wells (Assistant Head)

Claire joined Farmor's School in 2022 as Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning. Claire started her teaching career in inner London. She moved out of London in 2001 and since then Claire has worked in schools in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Claire's degree is in Geography, but she now also teaches Sociology. Claire has two teenage boys, one of whom is now at university. Like many staff at Farmor's Claire also enjoys mountains, walking her dog (Hugo - a black Labrador), cycling and spending time with friends and family.

Dr Sylvia Bettington (Assistant Head)

Sylvia joined the school in 2018 as Head of Science and until recently, also held the role of staff governor. Sylvia has been seconded to the SLT this year with a remit that includes Assessment and Feedback, amongst other things. She has two school age children and can often be found running, hiking and kickboxing during the weekends and holidays.

Mr Henry Bew - Head of Sixth Form

Henry joined Farmor's School in May 2024 as Head of Sixth Form, having worked in Oxfordshire as a head of year and assistant headteacher, before joining Farmor's School. As an English Language and Literature graduate, he can often be found with lots of exciting and varied texts to recommend to students. Away from school, Henry's can be found with his young family exploring the local area, as well as fitting in a little bit of photography around this, when he can.

Mrs Sarah Hughes (Business Manager)

Sarah joined Farmor's in 2020 and has been in education since leaving the commercial sector in 2015. Outside of school she spends time with her family, walking her dogs, looking after their horses and playing hockey.

Governors

Mr Sam Bartholomew (Chair of Governors)

Sam has been a parent of children who attend Farmor's since 2015. Sam is an experienced primary school Headteacher and School Improvement Adviser - he uses his knowledge of education in his role as a governor to support the school. In his spare time Sam enjoys playing the piano and running at a very leisurely pace.

Miss Elizabeth Knox

Elizabeth is a solicitor specialising in financial matters and worked in Hong Kong, Singapore and Milan before settling in Quenington with her husband and family. She is a governor of Fairford Church of England Primary School as well as Farmor's. Her interest in education originally arose from having her family of seven children, all of whom are now grown up and working. Elizabeth finds her legal background is useful in her role as a governor.

Mrs Rachel Surch

Rachel has a son who attends Farmor's School. She has 25 years experience in education and 17 years of this in senior leadership. Rachel is Director of Primary at the Park Academies Trust currently overseeing 3 primary schools and working closely with 3 secondary schools. In her 'spare' time, Rachel enjoys walking the dog, holidays by the sea, music and theatre.

Mr Simon Hill

After studying at Farmor’s from 1986-1992, Simon followed the apprenticeship route of education when he left becoming an electrical / mechanical engineer and now runs his own business. Simon lives in Fairford with his wife and two boys who both attend Farmor's School.

Mrs Laura Daniel

Laura is mum to two boys, one of which is currently in year 9 at Farmor's and another who is currently in year 5 at a local primary school. She joined the Governing Body at the end of the last academic year and hopes to use her professional background in purchasing as well as various senior leadership roles to bring insight and challenge to both committee's she sits on and generally support the school, its pupils and staff achieve their goals. When not at work or watching football matches from the sidelines she enjoys a number of creative hobbies including sewing, gardening and baking.

Mrs Rachel Chamberlain - Staff Governor

Rachel joined the History Department at Farmor's School in 2018, having previously been an Assistant Headteacher at a Secondary school in Leamington Spa. As well as teaching History for over 20 years, she has been a Staff Governor in two other Secondary schools and also a Governor of a local Primary School. Rachel lives in the local area and has a daughter at Secondary school. Aside from her work in the classroom, Rachel plays several musical instruments and enjoys sport, especially tennis.

Mr Kenny Robins - Staff Governor

Kenny joined Farmor's in 2016 and has worked in a variety of role throughout the school, starting as a teaching assistant and is now Head of Social Science since 2024. Kenny lives in the local area, has a keen interest in sport and plays rugby locally. When not on the rugby pitch, Kenny fully embraces the school holidays and enjoys travelling.

Mrs Sarah Worster - Clerk to Governors

Sarah joined Farmor's at the start of 2025 and clerks for a number of local primary and secondary schools. She lives in Cirencester and has two children at primary school. Sarah has a background in sport, but since having children, enjoys a more leisurely pace to like and like to explore new areas with them.