Conversations with Alumni

For our first Conversations with Alumni Series we spoke to former Farringtonian Luke:

How did you come to be at Farringtons School?
I joined Farringtons in 2012 in Year 7 after coming to an Open Day with my parents. We all agreed that Farringtons was the best school for me, and I have no regrets. A deciding factor in choosing the school was the fact that Farringtons had a great Creative Arts Department as I was quite interested in that area. After visiting the school and seeing the Creative Arts Department I really wanted to be part of Farringtons. I also liked the layout of the school, even though it is a big school, it was easy to navigate, and I enjoyed the open space of the fields.

What is your fondest memory of being at Farringtons?
My fondest memories from Farringtons are building strong relationships with the teachers. Recently I returned to the school to see the teachers and I told them about my First-Class Honours Degree, they were so proud of me and what I have achieved. I will continue to keep a relationship with the school and help in any way I can in the future.

What is your first memory of Farringtons School?
My first memory of Farringtons is of my old Form Tutor Miss George in Year 7, who was the Head of Drama. It was good having a Drama Teacher as a Form Tutor as I was going into Year 7 which is a big step up from Junior School and she really helped bring out my confidence, made me excited to learn and brought out my spark.

What were your best subjects at school?
I loved Art, Graphic Communications, Photography, and ICT. The knowledge that I have gained from these subjects has helped me excel in the career path I have chosen; they have benefited me immensely.

What Extra-Curricular Activities did you enjoy when you were at school?
In Year 7 I was part of the Sweeney Todd production which were great times. I enjoyed Art Club where I got additional help and made use of the facilities in the Art Studio. I was also part of the rugby team, I was a substitute, but I did not mind that as I liked being the one that people would go to, when they needed advice and help.

Who were your best teachers?
There were a number of great teachers during my time at the school, but I couldn’t say who was my favourite as they have all helped me in their own unique way to make me the person that I am today.

How did your time at Farringtons help to prepare you for university? 
Farringtons helped me to build my confidence, especially teaching me how to write a really good cover letter to send to universities. I was constantly looking through my letter to check that I had written it correctly and making sure I was highlighting what I was strong at, utilising my strengths to the best of my ability.

Tell us about your time at university?
I attended Solent University, studying Animation, and I achieved a First Class Honours Degree, which I was over the moon about. I am the first person in my family to receive a First Class Honours which is really nice.

One piece of advice for pupils about going to university?
Work hard and do as much research as you can. I was interested in animation, and I picked that subject, I put the hard work in, and the effort paid off, because I got a First Class degree. 

For those going to university, you have one shot at it so give it your all, give it everything you have got, to do the best you can do.

What is next for you?
I have worked for a local Estate Agents doing motion graphics promoting their careers website and more recently I have worked for a company called Trice in Hertfordshire doing some 3D animation. To keep up with my skills I have learned that I need to practise every day.

I am currently looking for my next opportunity as an Animator in the creative industry. To take a look at my work visit: https://lukemean.wixsite.com/animean

For our second Conversations with Alumni we spoke to Amina from Zanzibar:

How did you come to be at Farringtons School?
I started in 1985 when I was 15 and finished in 1988 when I was 18. My elder sister Fatma was at Farringtons from a young age, so my parents then decided I would join. My parents got to know about Farringtons from a family friend who went to the school and then through her my parents came to visit the school and were very happy.

What is your first memory of Farringtons?
I was very nervous and terrified. I came to a new environment that was completely different to what I was used to, it wasn’t easy to start with. My first impression was how beautiful the school was, with its old buildings and gardens, I thought it was a stunning school. 

I remember Mrs Fraser was a Housemistress, I remember her until today, she was from Kenya and spoke Swahili, so she made my life a lot easier as she made me feel welcome and at home.

What is your fondest memory of being at Farringtons?
My fondest memory is of my friends in the picture. You create relationships that last forever at boarding school. I have been to day schools and I have lost touch with my friends but with boarding schools, your friends are like family. Those are the memories that I will always take away from Farringtons. Boarding school life isn’t always the easiest, but with people around you, especially your friends, you create another family, and through that family you end up loving boarding school. When you leave at the end of term, you feel sad as you are not going to see your friends. 

The girls in the photo (Kate, Lindi, Jan, Amanda and Vicky), we did everything together and I had not seen them in many years until I came back to the Alumni Lunch and it was like I had just seen them last weekend, everything fell into place and we just talked. They are like family to me, we have a bond and that’s what I got from Farringtons. 

Farringtons taught me to be tough and respect people. It also taught me discipline, I had been at a day school in the US and it was not very disciplined. When I came to Farringtons I got my act together and I always felt very safe there. 

What were your best subjects at school?
I have to say Human Biology and Religious Education, but I cannot remember my teachers names. My worst would have to be Geography.

Who were your best teachers?
I remember Mrs Roper; she taught us how to look after our skin and taught us about the importance of looking after our wellbeing physically and mentally. I also remember Mr Burgess, he was our Chaplain, you could go to him about anything and he was very open minded. I liked all my teachers at Farringtons, there was not a single teacher that I disliked.

How did your time at Farringtons help to prepare you for the world of work? 
Through discipline and the ability to respect people’s boundaries and a lot of communication. I think a lot of people who I have met through my business and travel experiences, communication tends to be something they either neglect or that they are not aware of. I think Farringtons taught me how to communicate and how to respect people. With the people that work for me, It taught me to look at peoples positives rather than their negatives, to bring out the best in them, there is always a solution.

I had a problem with Maths for example, I was very weak at Maths and I got support from my teachers, through extra lessons and managed to get my CSE. It made me realise that whatever problems you are facing there is always a solution. The school made me feel good about myself and supported me where I needed it. I see that in my daily work when dealing with my staff and children, whom I am always telling that there is no problem that we cannot solve.

Can you tell us about your current role?
I own three hotels in Zanzibar and I employ 150 people. I built the first ever water villas in Zanzibar (konokonozanzibar.com). I have a brilliant team of wonderful people, they are very supportive of my goals and aspirations and without them I could not of achieved all of this, as well as the support I have received from my parents and my grandmother. 

What is a career highlight so far and why?
I think a lot of people talk about career achievements and yes I am happy with my career achievements but my greatest achievement is my children, I have raised three very responsible children, who are good members of society, they respect people, they are not prejudice or racist, that is the kind of children I have raised and I am very proud of that. If we all concentrated on raising children the right way the world would be a better place.

One piece of advice for pupils about getting into your profession?
A lot of people tend to be scared and doubt themselves, I was always terrified to approach the bank and get a loan to build the hotels. I was lucky that I had my dad who encouraged me to take risks and go for it, if you don’t take risks you will never achieve anything and that is the message I want to send. If there is something you really believe in, don’t let the fear overtake your dream and just do it, as the chances are that you will succeed in whatever it is you want to do and never give up.

What is next for you?
I am trying to branch out into northern Tanzania into the safari sector, I am in process of acquiring land at the moment and I think once I have done that, retirement!

For our third Conversations with Alumni we spoke to Nadia who is currently at Manchester University studying Architecture:

How did you come to be at Farringtons School?
My parents decided to move me to Farringtons in Year 5 as I was having a hard time in my previous school as I was quite shy. My parents told me that it was ‘bring a friend to school day’ so it was a surprise to be joining the school, as I thought I was just going to see my friend for the day at school, so it was a total surprise, a nice one though!

My first memory was of how small the class sizes were, in my previous school I was in a class of 30 people and it was really noisy all the time and you could not concentrate, so Farringtons was completely different.

Initially it was hard, but I made friends with two other girls Buse and Zehra and we clicked instantly, we were best friends throughout my time at Farringtons and we are still in touch today.

How was the transition to the Senior School?
Having those girls as friends made the transition to the Senior School smoother. Going to the Senior School was exciting and I always had those girls as my best friends if I ever needed anything or wanted someone to talk to.

Farringtons helped boost my confidence, as when you are in a smaller class it gives you more opportunity to speak up. There were also lots of opportunities for me to join different Extra-Curricular Clubs, I enjoyed the Art Club and Drama Club and this helped bring me out of my shell.

What is your fondest memory of being at Farringtons?
When I was in the Junior School I was so passionate about art that I wanted to help teach the younger years, so every Thursday lunch we used to teach the younger children to draw.

I also have some lovely memories of playing the leading role in Year 11 in the school production of Guys & Dolls which was amazing. I still look back on those memories as it was so fun performing on stage, it felt like a real West End show. I remember feeling totally outside of my comfort zone because the main role was an opera singer and I had never sung opera before, but the Teachers believed in me.

What were your best subjects at school?
I liked Maths in the Junior School as I found it fun solving equations, I found that problem solving process exciting and interesting. I also enjoyed Art in the Senior School.

What Extra-Curricular clubs did you take part in?
I enjoyed going to Choir and I was part of the Netball and Rounders teams. I also liked the Art Club.

Who were your best teachers?
Miss Allen and Mr Coulthard, they were great teachers. I would send Mr Coulthard extra work all the time. I found them both helpful and they supported me inside and outside of the classroom. Mr Coulthard also helped me write my personal statement for university.

How did your time at Farringtons help to prepare you for university? 
Farringtons helped me with my communication, teaching me how to communicate better with my teachers and peers. Interestingly it taught me not to take things personally, because I remember when I did my A-Level English I spent so long on my coursework and I would constantly get it sent back to me, so I had to re-do it and perfect it. At that time I remember being so frustrated but now I am at university I realise that is the only way you learn.

The school also taught me how to be independent, especially when I was in the Upper Sixth. You need to be independent in the Sixth Form, as you need to plan your revision and in university I am ten times more independent.

Can you tell us about your course at university?
I am currently at Manchester University studying Architecture and I am in my first year. I am enjoying my course, as it is really interesting. I am learning new skills, like how to draw architectural drawings and how buildings are structured. It is really tough sometimes, as in my first year there has been quite a lot of work, but I am really enjoying it. I have also met some lovely people from all over the world, so have been enjoying interacting with them and learning how they see the world through their architecture.

I always wanted to do something creative, with a problem-solving element, so architecture was the right fit for me. I first knew that I wanted to do architecture on holiday in Lisbon when I visited a museum that had a beautiful art installation of a sustainable city, depicting what it might look like in the future and I was really inspired by that.

What has been your highlight at university so far?
For me it was when I made my first architectural model and brought it in, I got a lot of praise for it and that felt really good.

One piece of advice for pupils looking to go to university?
My advice would be not follow the crowd, take your time at school seriously as it can impact where you go in the future, as time flies so quickly. You will need to work hard, but it will be worth it, the more hard work you put in, the higher the reward.

If you want to get into architecture I would say be prepared, do not fear the unknown and you cannot escape physics!

For our fourth Conversations with Alumni series we spoke to Joanna who is currently studying Biochemistry at Manchester University:

How did you come to be at Farringtons School?
I joined Farringtons from Poland when I was seventeen in Year 12 after receiving an academic scholarship from British Alumni Society. I had to sit an exam and have an interview, when I was accepted, I was so excited and ready to start my adventure.

What is your first memory of Farringtons?
I have so many, I do not know where to start. It was so great at Farringtons I could happily just come back tomorrow. I was so nervous on my first day, as my English was not the best, but I should not of worried as everyone was so friendly and nice to me.

What is your fondest memory of being at Farringtons?
I remember when I first joined Boarding I loved the pamper nights, all the girls came together with hot chocolate, face masks, we would listen to music and Molly would do our hair, it was so lovely spending that time together.

There are so many different nationalities at the school, it is a wonderful community that all comes together, no matter where you are from you will be welcome at Farringtons. Even though I was so far away from my family, it felt like another home.

What were your best subjects at school?
I did Maths, Biology and Chemistry at A-Level and that is when my Chemistry passion started, I really got into it and enjoyed all the practical lessons. I also had violin lessons with Mrs Emanuela Buta, who showed me that music can be the best remedy for stress. I am really grateful that the school offered me such high quality music lessons with such a great violin teacher.

Who were your best teachers?
All the teachers I had helped me get where I am today, and I am so grateful for that. My Chemistry Teacher, Mr Worden was amazing, and his passion showed me that Chemistry is what I want to do in the future. I also loved the Boarding Staff – Mrs Arnold, Issy and Molly were always there to talk to and help with prep. If I am ever in Chislehurst I always try and pop in and say hello to them.

How did your time at Farringtons help to prepare you for university? 
Being in the Boarding House helped so much with my independence, it really helped me prepare for university, by learning to cook and doing my own washing. It also gave me the opportunity to really focus on my schoolwork to get the grades I needed for university.

Can you tell us about your degree?
I am currently studying Biochemistry at the University of Manchester. Initially I was going to apply to do medicine, but I loved Chemistry so much I chose that.

What is your university highlight so far and why?
Meeting so many new people, I am lucky to have so many amazing friends around me. Our learning schedule is quite flexible , so you can make your own choice about when you want to study. At first this was scary, but it has given me freedom and the feeling that I am fully responsible for my tasks that I do every day. I have joined the University Symphony Orchestra, which allows me to spend time with inspiring people and do what I love after studying.

One piece of advice for pupils about getting into university?
Enjoy your time at Farringtons, I really miss it! I wish I had done more Extra-Curricular Clubs like gym, swimming, and dance as once you are at university there is more focus on work. Make most of the beautiful school grounds and everything that Farringtons has to offer!

What is next for you?
Next year I will start applying for my industrial experience and I am really excited for that, I am hoping to get a job in a lab doing research in London.

For our fifth Conversations with Alumni series we spoke to Michela:

How did you come to be at Farringtons School?
I found out about Farringtons as one of my primary school friends was joining the school. My parents were enthusiastic about me joining, but I was quite nervous. I joined Farringtons in Year 7 as a day pupil but started boarding part time after a couple of years. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to attend Farringtons, I feel fortunate to have had such great teachers and to have been exposed to so many different activities at a young age.

What was your experience like boarding at Farringtons?
I lived in Streatham so had to catch three buses to get to school, so I started to board part-time. This was great for me as it cut down on my commute time to school. I was so excited to start boarding, I can’t remember feeling nervous as I had great friends who were already boarding so it was less intimidating for me.

I loved horse riding after school whilst I was boarding, I had a horse-riding accident, but the Boarding Matron looked after me and I have fond memories of horse riding despite that.

What is your fondest memory of being at Farringtons?
I have lots of happy memories of boarding, making friends from different places was a special experience. Even though I am not a particularly sporty person, being at a school with lots of open space and being able to try out lots of different sporting activities is something I remember fondly. I got to try out lots of activities that I would not of had an opportunity to try out otherwise, like: javelin, discus and hurdles.

I used to attend after-school club when my mum was not available to pick me up in Year 7, I made one of my best friends at the after-school club, and we are still in touch today.

What were your best subjects at school?
I enjoyed Art, Mrs Allen was a huge influence on me as my Art teacher. I enjoyed Textiles, which was fun, and I enjoyed History as well.

Who were your best teachers?
There were so many great teachers, that were all special in their own way.

It was lovely getting in touch with my Art teacher Mrs Allen, when I look back at my old coursework that I had been doing in school I realised  how important some of the things I studied, some of the artists that Mrs Allen introduced me to are still artists that inspire me to this day. She was so encouraging, it made such a difference, I might not of pursued Art if it was not for her, but she felt that I had the potential to do more which was really nice.

What Extra-Curricular Activities did you try?
I remember trying Judo, Ballroom Dancing and Japanese Club. I tried lots of different things which was great.

How did your time at Farringtons help to prepare you for the world of work? 
The boarding gave me a sense of independence and the fact that the school offered so many extra-curricular activities for me to try it really encouraged me to be curious and try new things.

After Farringtons I went on to do a Foundation Course in Art at UAL in London, then I went onto do my Bachelor in Fine Arts at the Academy of Arts in Florence.

Can you tell us about your current role?
I am Sculptor, I work mainly with traditional materials like stone, marble, wood, and terracotta. I also work with children through Social Workers.

What is a career highlight so far and why?
The opportunity to participate in sculptor symposiums which is a reunion of a group of sculptors that are invited to work for a period of time together in a public space, leaving a work of art that becomes part of the space. This is used by local towns to create local artwork and create tourism.  I enjoy doing this because you get to meet artists from all over the world and make new friends.

One piece of advice for pupils about getting into your profession?
You must be determined and expose yourself to as much art as you can and be curious.

What is next for you?
I would like to organise some exhibitions in the near future and undertake more travelling to meet new artists. I also want to keep on learning, as life is a learning curve.

For our sixth Conversations with Alumni series we spoke to Sarah:

How did you come to be at Farringtons School?
I joined Farringtons Junior School when I was ten years old, I moved from the Middle East to the UK. It was quite a shock as my school in the Middle East ran from 7am – 1pm and we never did any homework!

What is your first memory of joining Farringtons?
Having to carry the satchel into school full of books and also doing homework which was alien to me. I enjoyed the food and the teachers were lovely. I also remember the beautiful grounds.

What is your fondest memory of being at Farringtons?
I loved sports at Farringtons. I also enjoyed acting on stage and took part in the school production every year. My sister also joined the school and one year we were both in the school production of ‘The Boyfriend’. I loved singing in the choir and Mr Reed (Music Teacher) was very encouraging.

What were your best subjects at school?
I enjoyed Maths and Biology which I took at A-level. I also enjoyed doing my Duke of Edinburgh award. I liked most subjects apart from History.

Who were your best teachers?
Mrs McInally (PE Teacher) was very motivational with a lovely smile. I stated boarding in the Sixth Form and Mrs Fraser (House Matron) was supportive. The Head was always approachable. I got to know the Leadership Team a little bit as well when I was Deputy Head Girl.

What did you enjoy most about boarding?
I started boarding in the Lower Sixth as a weekly boarder whilst my parents were in the Middle East. I am glad I stayed on at the school for my A-levels as the friends I made whilst boarding have been the most remarkable thing. I have many fond memories of my time boarding, sometimes we would sneak out of our rooms and go out. I made some lifelong friends, two of which I travelled to Sri Lanka with after I finished my A-levels and we are still in touch now.

How did your time at Farringtons help to prepare you for the world of work?
As it is such an international school, it was great for meeting different people, who have different cultures. It helped me learn to be empathetic which in turn has helped me with my dentistry patients. Boarding helped promote my independence. It also helped being exposed to so many different opportunities which shaped my character and helped me develop new skills.

Can you tell us about your current role?
I opened my dentist practice seven years ago in Bedford with my husband and we now employ nearly thirty staff. Prior to that I have worked in general practice, NHS and private.

One piece of advice for pupils about getting into your profession?
It’s not easy. There is a lot of pressure both mentally and physically, however it’s rewarding and I particularly like working with anxious patients to help them overcome their fear of going to the dentist!

My son is wanting to do dentistry and although it’s highly competitive now, I am happy for him to pursue a career in this field. However, unlike when I applied, I’m aware that candidates need to take a preliminary exam called UCCAT, taken prior to the UCAS application which is an important part of the application.

For our next Conversations with Alumni series we spoke to Emma:

How did you come to be at Farringtons School?
I joined Farrigtons Junior School in January 2006 in Year 2, having moved from Hong Kong.

What is your first memory of joining Farringtons?
I remember looking at the fields and all the outside space and thinking it looked incredible. I was in Mrs Hayes class and on my first day I sat next Charlotte who was my buddy and our parents are still frequently in contact. I got included in a class assembly as soon as I joined the school which was nice and welcoming.

What is your fondest memory of being at Farringtons?
Having lots of fun with my friends and teachers. I have really fond memories of my teachers. I always looked forward to the teachers’ Christmas Pantomime which was a highlight of the year.

My best memory is of the Duke of Edinburgh trip that I went on. The group that I achieved a Gold Duke of Edinburgh award with are still in touch and meet up frequently. We always look back fondly on the days of trekking across the countryside and the stories that we all have.

What were your best subjects at school?
I loved PE, History and English. I also really enjoyed Psychology which I took at A-Level.

Who were your best teachers?
All the PE Department – Mrs Broughan, Mrs Long, Mrs Sherwood, Mr Dougherty and Mr Doyle. Also the History Department – Mr Curren, Mr Wilson and Mr Jones.

What extra-curricular clubs did you participate in?
I participated in lots of sporting clubs, I particularly enjoyed netball and running club. I assisted Mrs Long with some Junior School sports clubs – netball, rounders and running.

I learnt to play the saxophone in Junior School and I am now a Grade 6.

Did you take part in any of the school productions?
I took part in Bugsy Malone in Year 6 and The Lemonade Kid in Year 4.

How did your time at Farringtons help to prepare you for the world of work/ university?
You learn all the skills you need for the wider world. I learnt time keeping skills and I was well prepared for writing assignments at university.

I learnt how to forge relationships and work with different people effectively by being adaptive.

Can you tell us about your current role?
I work for INEOS as a Fitness and Wellbeing Coordinator. I studied my undergraduate degree in sports science and my masters in sustainability in sporting events.

What is a career highlight so far and why?
I recently organised an event for the London Marathon with the Chairman, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and senior members of staff. As part of it, I got to meet Eliud Kipchoge, the fastest marathon runner alive!

One piece of advice for pupils about getting into your profession/course at university?
Make as many contacts as you can, branch out and try new things and meet new people.

What’s next for you?
I have just signed a contract to continue my role at INEOS and I am looking forward to working closer with the sports teams we have, particularly Mercedes F1.

For our next Conversations with Alumni series we spoke to Darcee:

How did you come to be at Farringtons School?
I joined Farringtons at the end of Year 8 after being bullied at my previous school. I got buddied up with Sophie on my trial day, she made me feel so welcome and comfortable. Farringtons had such a lovely homely feel and everyone seemed to know each other and this made it easy to settle in.

What is your first memory of joining Farringtons?
From the moment I joined Farringtons it felt like a family, the class sizes were smaller than my previous school and everyone was so friendly it made getting to know everyone and settling in easy.

What is your fondest memory of being at Farringtons?
My fondest memories are sitting in the vast grounds with my friends.

What were your best subjects at school?
I enjoyed English, Drama and Business during my GCSEs, but English was my favourite. I have always struggled with dyslexia and had in previous schools been in the bottom set for English. When I moved to Farringtons the English teachers really worked on building my confidence and they were amazing, I went from the bottom to the top set.

At A Level I studied Textiles and Photography. Mr Matthews really took his time to work with me, he made me feel really motivated and inspired.

Who were your best teachers?
I love this question as I feel so privileged to say I had many amazing teachers who impacted my life and supported me hugely during my time at Farringtons. Mrs Broughan was my Year 9 tutor and we were her first ever tutor class at Farringtons. We were very lucky to have her as she really took time to get to know us all and I have so many fond memories laughing during tutor time.

Mrs Sherwood was my Sports teacher, she was always so attentive and encouraging.

Mrs Allen my Art teacher is such a special woman, I was lucky to form such a close relationship with her over my time during my GCSEs.

Miss Ootim was another teacher I always looked forward to having, her teaching style was so engaging, she broke down each topic and would not move on until she felt confident you understood the work.

Mrs Bowdery would often spend her evening after school helping me understand how to turn my ideas into an essay, I really appreciated her.

Mr Courthard was one of the most unique and inspiring teachers, he would always encourage me to voice my ideas and he helped me build my confidence to not be scared of being wrong.

I will always be so incredibly grateful to Mr Matthew’s as he helped me explore my creativity and was really invested in every piece of work I did.

Lastly, Ms Jackson, Head of Sixth Form, I couldn’t have got through my last years at Farringtons without her, she was an amazing support and gave me the confidence to believe I could go to university. Farringtons have some of the most amazing, attentive and engaging teachers it was a privilege to be taught by such inspiring individuals. 

What extra-curricular clubs did you participate in?
I enjoyed participating in the Hockey team, multiple school plays, Poetry and LGBTQ meetings. I was also a school Prefect.

Can you tell us about your current role?
After I left Farringtons I went to Nottingham Trent but left after one term due to Covid. I moved to Dubai and did a makeup course. When I moved back to the UK I got accepted for a place at Delamar Academy to gain a Certificate of Higher Education in Makeup Design – they taught everything from prosthetics to wigs. My first job after this was with Strictly Come Dancing.

One piece of advice for pupils about getting into your profession?
Sometimes it can feel impossible, but if you have a passion hone in on it. Do lots of research on universities and apprenticeships to see what is best suited to you and do not be afraid to use any connections you may have.

What’s next for you?
I am self-employed, as well as working on Strictly Come Dancing, I also work on weekly shoots for brands including Amazon and V&A. I am building up my portfolio and I am looking to open my own home studio, so that I will be able to create my own shoots with the skills I learnt from my A Level Photography.

For our next Conversations with Alumni series we spoke to Maria:

How did you come to be at Farringtons School?
I joined in Year 5 in the Junior School as my family moved from Canary Wharf to Bromley.

What is your first memory of joining Farringtons?
My first memory is of attending the school taster day, my guide for the day was a girl in my year who ended up being my best friend, and we are still in contact today.

I remember loving the atmosphere and the grounds - Farringtons had a nice welcoming feel, with lots of green space compared to my previous school. I loved being outside, close to nature in big wide-open space.

I enjoyed participating in sports throughout my time at Farringtons particularly playing for the Netball and Rounders teams.

What is your fondest memory of being at Farringtons?
When I entered the Senior School, I enjoyed the team building day in Year 7, I felt like I was growing up. It was easy to settle in as we had the taster day, induction day and team building and I already knew the school layout well.

One of my fondest memories was in Year 11, this was my favourite year of school as everyone came together and bonded so well, regardless of the Covid restrictions in place at the time. This created a real community feeling, easing back to school after the lockdown.

What were your best subjects at school?
My favourite subjects were Economics and Maths – I am an analytical and logical thinker and I love problem solving. I also loved Performing Arts, especially Drama and Dance.

After school clubs
I participated in public speaking and debating clubs which massively helped build my confidence. I also did Netball, Rounders, Running and Football. The facilities at the school are great if you are interested in sport.

Who were your best teachers?
Mrs Miah and Miss Hanson – both were my Economic Teachers, Miss Smith and Miss Warburton who both taught me Drama. I felt very lucky as my teachers really pushed me. I told Mrs Miah I wanted to take Economics further and she helped me with that. I felt very supported and challenged and developed good relationships with my teachers.

What Floreat courses did you participate in?
I did an EPQ on the ‘Policies of Communist Romania and the Romanian Revolution’. I really enjoyed the research, it set me up well for the academic projects I have now. I believe every student should consider taking the EPQ.

Did you take part in any of the school productions?
I participated in the talent completions and the school production of Grease in Year 9, which was an amazing show, alongside that, I also participated in dance and LAMDA Speech and Drama showcases. 

How did your time at Farringtons help to prepare you for the world of work/ university?
Farringtons has taught me a lot about organisation and leadership, especially being Head Girl – having this responsibility really helped me. It taught me that you have to believe in yourself and be confident. My English was limited when I first joined Farringtons but they helped me come out of my shell.

Can you tell us about your current role/ university course?
I am currently doing a degree apprenticeship at Deutsche Bank in the Fixed Income and Currencies (FIC) Division).  We work in financial trading and investment banking and at the moment I am working in an area called ‘private credit’ which involves a lot of loan issuing to private investors. Mrs Miah (Head of Careers) gave me advice and encouraged me to look at apprenticeships at investment banks whilst I was at Farringtons as an alternative to university. 

What is a career/ university highlight so far and why?
I like being in a professional environment, its fast paced and very efficient. I have a lot of exposure to the whole business which is a big highlight for me.

One piece of advice for pupils about getting into your profession/ course at university?
Do a lot of research about apprenticeships, be super confident, be very sure of what you want. Make sure your A-Level choices align with your chosen career and you have the necessary skills for the role. 

What’s next for you?
I want to finish my degree apprenticeship programme, then work for a few years in investment banking, with the hope of eventually starting my own business in the future. 

For our next Conversations with Alumni Series we spoke to former Farringtonian Maggie:

How did you come to be at Farringtons School?
I joined at age 11 in the Senior School as a day pupil and settled in very quickly. I left when I finished my A Levels at 18.

What is your first memory of joining Farringtons?
I remember the grounds were amazing, the extensive gardens and the pool. I remember enjoying doing sports outside, particularly lacrosse, netball and rounders. I have fond memories of making some great friends.

What is your fondest memory of being at Farringtons?
I really enjoyed being at Farringtons for my A levels, that feeling of being independent and treated as an adult and it was nice having our own Sixth Form area. I was Deputy Head girl which required me to help at different events, and showing prospective families round. I am still in touch with a number of friends from my time at school.

What were your best subjects at school?
Biology was a favourite subject and sociology, I enjoyed learning about what was going on in the world. I was always interested in going into nursing, so I started volunteering at Farnborough Hospital and also with the Red Cross. I always wanted to be in a caring profession.

Who were your best teachers?
Mrs Elliot who was my biology teacher. Farringtons was always a very supportive environment, it was inclusive and people were valued for their contributions.

How did your time at Farringtons help to prepare you for the world of work?
It gave me a good grounding, I enjoyed that it was a day and boarding school as there were girls from all over the world. They instilled confidence in me and an ethos of looking out for each other.

I felt it was a supportive environment and they helped me reach my potential.

Can you tell us about your current role?
I work in a specialist field in rare genetic diabetes. I trained as a nurse at Kings College Hospital and worked there for a number of years before moving in 1987 to a post as a diabetes specialist nurse at Greenwich District Hospital. I moved to Devon in 1995 and joined the team that specialised in rare genetic types of diabetes as a research nurse. My job was to collect blood samples, which were then tested to identify changes in single genes (monogenic) which caused the diabetes. Many of these individuals had originally been told that they had type 1 diabetes and had been taking multiple daily insulin injections. By recognising their diabetes was different and confirming this through genetic testing many of them were able to stop insulin injections and transfer to tablet treatment with improvements in their blood glucose control and quality of life.

I undertook a PhD to discover more about the impact of obtaining the correct diagnosis in monogenic diabetes and two post-doctoral fellowships to gain insights into changing treatment and I was keen to raise awareness of this amongst healthcare professionals across the world as approximately 80% of patients with monogenic diabetes were initially misdiagnosed, and therefore often given inappropriate treatment and advice. During this time the Exeter team identified genes causing neonatal diabetes (which is diagnosed within the first 6 months of life) so I was also able to conduct work in this area. We offer testing for neonatal diabetes free across the world to ensure all those who could potentially benefit from genetic testing are able to access this University of Exeter crowdfunding with University of Exeter (hubbub.net).

For me it is about ensuring patients have the correct diagnosis treatment. In order to increase awareness of monogenic diabetes amongst healthcare professionals I have developed a range of educational initiatives which are easily accessible Training in Diabetes Subtypes // Diabetes Genes

What is a career highlight so far and why?
Winning the Astor Guardians Global Nurse of the Year Award 2023, from more than 52,000 applicants from 202 countries. I received this in recognition of my work across the areas of leadership, research, clinical care and education.

I am also very fortunate to have won other awards which have included a visit to Buckingham Palace and have met King Charles and the late Queen. I have also been able to travel abroad with my work and am often asked to give talks on monogenic diabetes across the world.

One piece of advice for pupils about getting into your profession?
Absolutely go for it! One piece of advice I would give is to think big and think outside the box, being able to innovate, follow through with ideas. If you are passionate about making a difference you can do that. Look for great role models and mentors in the field you want to work in and in turn become an excellent role model and mentor yourself

What’s next for you?
There is always more to do, the Exeter team are finding new genes causing these rare types of diabetes all the time and so we continue to need to raise awareness amongst healthcare professionals. I have now started a series of podcasts with a colleague to make the work of the Exeter monogenic diabetes team more accessible to a wider group (www.1in6b.com). I am also keen to bring on the next generation to carry on the work in this field.