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KEY CONTACTS
Louise HigsonHeadmistress
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I am passionate about education. My career has been devoted to teaching and leading in schools in the UK and abroad - Calday Grange Grammar School for Boys in West Kirby, The Sir James Henderson British School of Milan and Croydon High School for Girls. I have overall responsibility for the strategic leadership of Farlington School. I aim to create and share a vision which expresses the core values of the School: Individuality, Opportunity and Community. I am committed to providing a creative, inclusive and purposeful learning environment which challenges every student to embrace challenges, seize opportunities and achieve their full potential. |
Mandy HiggsAssistant Head (Senior School and Boarding) |
Following a degree in Education and Maths at Cambridge, I started my teaching career as the music specialist in a county junior school in Cambridgeshire. I then moved to Windlesham House, an all-boarding coed prep school in Sussex where I was a residential houseparent for many years. Consequently, I manage the Boarding and Medical Centre teams at Farlington. Fourteen years after leaving Farlington as a pupil, I returned as Head of the Lower School, teaching Maths. I now have overall responsibility for the timetable, day-to-day logistics, pastoral care and staff wellbeing. |
Sara PoveyAssistant Head (Prep School) |
My first post was at Dulwich College Prep School, a large co-ed school where I was a Housemistress and French teacher. This was followed by a move to The City of London Freemen’s School where I was a Head of House teaching Maths, French and running the Junior ICT department. I am also an Inspector with the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Working as a member of the DFE Teachers’ Panel for SATs developed my interest in primary maths teaching. It is my firm belief that children must be happy at school in order to gain confidence and progress with their learning; this has been my personal ethos throughout my long teaching career. |
David Walker-SmithHead of Curriculm |
I joined Farlington from a management background in civil aviation, including service development, training, customer relations and internal communications. I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists and am passionate about languages and their real-world application. I have many years of experience as a professional tutor to postgraduate trainee teachers from the University of Chichester. My overall responsibilities include the quality of the Senior School curriculum and teacher delivery to ensure that it inspires and challenges our students. I also lead Professional Development and manage IT staff and strategy, in addition to those in the Faculty of Languages. |
Alan MaudeHead of Assessment and Reporting |
After completing my degree in Ecology and Animal Behaviour, I briefly worked in a school as a science laboratory technician. This made me realise that teaching might be a good career choice. I have worked in a variety of different schools over the years, but more recently, I spent twelve years at the Ursuline High School for Girls as Head of Biology before joining Farlington in 2003. The time has flown by and I love working at this wonderful school. I have overall responsibility for assessment, reporting and tracking within the Senior School. I also run the Science Department, which continues to be a popular and successful area of the School. |
Jo RobinsonDirector of Finance and Operations |
Following a 20 year career as a Fund Manager and Banker in the City of London, I joined Farlington in September 2017. I oversee Operations, Finance, PR and Marketing, I am a member of the senior leadership team and I am responsible for the 33 acre Estate. I am also Clerk to the Governors of Farlington School Trust Limited. I have three children in both the Senior and Prep schools at Farlington and they all love it here. |
Sara WhittakerHead Creative & Expressive Arts |
I joined Farlington having taught in the independent sector for quite a number of years since qualifying. I have overall responsibility for Physical Education in both the Prep and Senior Schools which encompasses a huge variety of activities including riding. I am passionate about delivering a curriculum which inspires lifelong participation for all, whether that is in sporting or any one of the many creative fields we are privileged to offer at Farlington. |
Caroline NewellHead of Faculty |
I joined Farlington in April 2016 after almost eleven years in the state sector and haven’t looked back! Starting as a classroom teacher of History and Religion, Philosophy and Ethics, I progressed to Head of RPE and have recently been appointed as the Head of Faculty of Social Sciences. Teaching at Farlington is always a pleasure and I feel very fortunate to lead a wonderful team of Social Scientists who are equally passionate about their subjects. I am currently in my final year studying for a Masters’ in History with the University of Edinburgh, and you may also see me playing in my clarinet in Slinfold Concert Band, or of course, in Farlington concerts. |
Claudine MaudeHead of Sixth Form |
After gaining a degree from the University of Sheffield specialising in Anatomy and Cell biology, I went on to get a PGCE. I have taught in the state and independent sectors and have been at Farlington since 2007. Alongside teaching, I have carried out many different roles of responsibility. I currently have the best of both worlds where, as Head of Biology I can inspire and pass on my passion for biology and in my position as Head of Sixth Form I have the opportunity to help and guide students in the exciting time of their lives where they gain independence and get to explore pathways for their future. |
Dan CroninDeputy Head of Sixth Form |
History surrounds and encompasses and influences our lives, culture and society. My interest is mainly in Modern History, and I thoroughly enjoy teaching all my topics, but in particular teaching 20th Century American A Level History. Having spent 10 years in industry in marketing, I also enjoy teaching Business and running our Enterprise enrichment, which keeps me up to date with British business trends. My roles are varied, like my interests and skills. At present I am Head of History, Deputy Head of Sixth Form and Head of Enterprise. I also enjoy exploring Teaching and Learning, having completed my MA in Education, mainly concentrating on Student Voice and motivation. As a sixth form tutor, I enjoy seeing students move onto their destinations and reaching for their aspirations.
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Penny HartHead of Years 10 & 11 |
Having completed my Psychology degree and subsequent teacher training, I taught in the state sector before joining Farlington as Head of Psychology in 2019. Since then I have taken on a number of roles including Careers, Wellbeing and Life Skills Coordinator, as well as Head of Year 10 & 11. My ethos is that meeting the pastoral needs of an individual is a fundamental element in education, underpinning, not only in grade attainment but also in helping to form the future adult. It is a privilege to be able to be part of that process.. |
Sarah-Jane GilbertHead of Years 8 & 9 |
I graduated from the University of Bath with a Languages and Politics degree and later completed a Masters degree in Educational Leadership through the Institute of Education. I completed the Teach First programme in South London, working firstly as a French and Spanish teacher before transitioning into Maths teaching. I also worked as Head of Year, following my year group from Year 7 to their GCSEs in Year 11. I moved to Farlington in 2019 as a teacher of Maths and am now also Head of Years 8 & 9. I love working with young people and inspiring them to look beyond their own horizons to see what can be achieved with determination and hard work! |
Kathryn PurcellHead of Year 7 |
After completing a degree in Coach Education & Sports Development at the University of Bath, I decided to embark on a PGCE in Secondary PE Teaching. From here I taught at a girls' state school in London before moving to Spain to teach in a British International School. I was delighted to join the team at Farlington as a PE Teacher and now Head of Year 7. I am passionate about inclusive teaching and learning and instilling a love for sport and healthy active lifestyles. I can also be found in the Boarding House, as I am Assistant Houseparent for the Mansion House. |
Louise MursellHead of Admissions |
After graduating from Homerton College, Cambridge I taught in the Prep Department of Croham Hurst School, Croydon, lived in America for a while and then taught at Arundale School, Pulborough where I became deputy head. I then joined the Prep School at Farlington, teaching all KS2 classes and watched my own daughters thrive here. Recently I have moved from the classroom to admissions and I love getting to know all the new families, from their initial enquiry and tour of the school to when they come up the drive on their first day here. |
Camilla GibsonFinance Manager |
After graduating with a degree in modern languages (French and Spanish), I worked in Sports Marketing mainly in Europe and the UK, responsible for logistics and marketing of all manner of sport events. Following a career break to bring up my family, I joined Farlington and retrained as an accountant (MAAT). I am responsible for the finance operations of the School, and enjoy getting involved in all aspects of school life, from judging the Bake-off competition to helping out at school events and refreshing my Spanish on the study trip to Madrid. |