Meet the Leadership Team

Mike Farmer joined St Teresa’s in September 2012. He began his career teaching Economics and Business at the Godolphin School in Salisbury, taking up the position of Assistant Head at Headington School in Oxford in 1997. In 2003 he was appointed Principal of Kilgraston School in Perthshire. He transformed the school to achieve the highest growth rate within the sector and also topped the Scottish academic league tables. In 2011, Kilgraston gained national recognition by being named the UK Independent School of the Year.

Under Mike’s headship, St Teresa’s has experienced dramatic growth of 60%, enabling capital investment of over £5m. With a roll of 650 pupils, St. Teresa’s is currently the largest Catholic independent girls-only school in the UK.

In addition to Headship, Mike was a member of the governing council for the Girls’ Schools Association for many years, and also Chair of the boarding committee. In 2016 he had the honour of chairing the Boarding Schools’ Association. He is a Governor of two independent schools and also chairs the advisory board for the Chinese owned company, Achieve Education.

Mike is supported by his wife Mary-Ann who has worked in boarding for many years. They have two grown up children.

Dr. Claire McShane joined St Teresa’s in 2013, initially as Assistant Head, and later as Deputy Headmistress. Over the course of her time at the school, Claire has assisted in implementing a vision of dynamic growth and change, including expanding the roll by 60%, and she has a particular interest in the area of academic development and enrichment. She is also Head of Classics, and continues to teach Latin to GCSE and A Level pupils.

After completing her undergraduate degree in Medieval Literature at University College, Oxford, she undertook an M.Phil in Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Queens’ College, Cambridge. She began her teaching career at all-boys Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, where she simultaneously commenced studying for her PhD on Margery Kempe, the boisterous fourteenth century mystic. Over the course of her career, she has taught English Literature, Latin, Ancient Greek, and Classical Civilisation.

During her third year of teaching, Claire was offered the position of Head of English at all-girls Kilgraston School in Perthshire. It was the transition to a female single-sex environment that confirmed her abiding passion for the education and mentoring of young women in particular.

In her free time, she enjoys the theatre, reading, and learning French. She is married to Matthieu.

Stuart joined St Teresa’s as Assistant Head (Director of Studies) in 2021 before taking on the role of Deputy Head (Academic). After earning his degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Central Florida, he relocated back to England to pursue a career in teaching.

Stuart teaches Maths and Further Maths to A level and Computer Science to GCSE. He enjoys sharing his passion for these two subjects with his pupils. In his spare time, Stuart enjoys football and running.

Rachel started at St Teresa’s in September 2023. Prior to that she was the Deputy Head Pastoral and Boarding, DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) at Heathfield Girls School in Ascot. Rachel has been involved in Pastoral education for many years and her 20 years of experience in Boarding schools has awarded her recognition as a Fellow of the Institute of Boarding. Rachel began teaching as a PE teacher and has had the privilege of working in numerous prestigious state, independent day and boarding schools.

Over the last thirteen years she has specialised in pastoral care, becoming a DSL and well-being lead, and is passionate about the role of promoting the well-being and holistic development of students and staff enabling every member of a school’s community to flourish. Her expertise within safeguarding have assisted her to become a safeguarding governor at a Surrey Primary School and sit on the GSA Pastoral and Safeguarding committee; as well as being a part of research projects such as the Self-Harm Workforce

Project with Bracknell Forest Council, Brighter Futures Together and University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry. As an affiliate of IVET, Rachel is passionate about a values-based education, teaching children the skills they need for life and encouraging each pupil to develop their confidence, embrace opportunity, develop a love of learning in and out of the classroom and above all feel supported and listened to as they embark on their journey to adulthood.

In her free time Rachel enjoys open water swimming, walking the Surrey hills with her dogs and spending time with her husband James and son Rory.

Claire joined St Teresa’s as the Head of Sixth Form in 2014. In 2018 she became a member of the Senior Leadership Team, undertaking the role of Assistant Headteacher (Head of Sixth Form) before becoming Deputy Head (Pupil Enrichment).

After attaining an undergraduate degree specialising in Drama and Dance, Claire completed a PGCE at the University of Cambridge, where she subsequently earned a Masters in Education and became a member of the Chartered College of Teaching.

Claire is a dedicated educationalist who believes that education should be holistic. She has proactively gained valuable experience in both the pastoral and academic spheres of secondary education, including within the specialist area of safeguarding. Claire supports her pupils to be ambitious in nature, motivates them to foster their sense of curiosity and encourages them to grow a resilient spirit of independence. Highly motivated to provide young people with an enriching and challenging education, Claire also volunteers as a Community Governor for a comprehensive secondary school in London.

Claire teaches both Drama and Dance to students up to, and including, A Level. She is a trained Hatha Yoga teacher and enjoys running and attending the theatre in her spare time.