Farmor's School

Farmor's School is a

After receiving an inspection from Ofsted in 2017, the school was given a 'Requires Improvement' classification. The 6th Form also received the same classification.^[1]

The school is aided by the Elizabeth Farmor Trust, founded in 2008. The trust assists the school by "advancing the education of the pupils at the school".^[2] For example, in 2011, the trust helped fund new computer hardware for the school.

History

The school was founded in 1738, using a gift of £500 by Miss Mary Barker and a bequest of £1,000 by Miss Elizabeth Farmor.^[3] The original site of the school was next to St Mary's Church on the High Street - the current location of the Community Centre. When it first opened, the school was called Fairford Free School and accepted 60 boys aged 5–12 from the town of Fairford.^[3] In 1817, children from outside Fairford were admitted, but had to pay fees, and the school began to accept girls in a separate section of the school and hired a mistress to teach them.^[3] The master of the school in 1866 was dismissed on grounds of neglect.^[3] In 1877 the school benefited when a charity set up 200 years before by Jane Mico for apprentices in Fairford was merged into the school.^[4]

The school's name in 1904 was Farmor's Endowed School, and it became co-educational in 1922, and the sections were combined under a single headmaster. It moved to its current location in 1961, and became an 11 to 18 Comprehensive School in 1966.^[5]

In 2020, the school was taken to court over unfair dismissal of a member of staff, who shared posts on social media against LGBT+ inclusive education, in Higgs v Farmor's School.^[6]

Specialist School

In 2004 the School became a Business and Enterprise Specialist School. In 2007 the school was named a High Performing Specialist School and as a result of this it became a Science Specialist School.^[7] In 2013 the school's rating was downgraded from its previous 'Outstanding' in to 'Good' by Ofsted.^[8] A more recent inspection in 2017 again downgraded the schools Ofsted rating from 'Good' to 'Requires Improvement'.^[1]

Academy Conversion

In August 2011 the school, after a consultation, applied for and gained Academy status. The move came at a time when many schools across the county were converting.^[9]

Academies Capital Maintenance Fund

In 2013, the school was awarded a grant totalling nearly £1 million by the Academies Capital Maintenance fund. The grants were used to complete the schools flat roof repairs and build a new sixth form learning centre. The existing sixth form was re-decorated during the construction of the new extension, which was completed in 2014.^[10][11]

Exam results

In 2012, 79% of GCSE students achieved 5 or more A* to C grades. At A-level, 81% received A* to C Grades.

In 2013, both GCSE and A-level results rose in comparison with the previous year, with 89.5% of GCSE students achieving 5 or more A* to C grades. At A-level, 85% received A* to C Grades.^{[citation needed]}

Notable former pupils

• Felix de Giles - jockey

References