Add to clipboard

What it's like

Founded in 1658, it moved to its present site in 1882. A short distance from the centre of Exeter, it occupies high ground overlooking the Cathedral. The main building is a handsome edifice in the Victorian collegiate style. It enjoys fine gardens and grounds, in which also stands the junior department. The school's facilities are good, with many new buildings and facilities in the last 25 years, including a full-size sports hall, science laboratories, computer rooms and an extended sixth-form centre. The school is founded broadly on Christian principles and is open to pupils of all faiths and none. Every opportunity is given for the development of talents and aptitudes and for the maturing of social skills. A thorough general education is provided and examination results are very good. Music, art and sport are particular strengths. There are excellent facilities for sports and games and the school has a distinguished national reputation, especially in netball, basketball, tennis and hockey. A range of clubs and societies are offered and participation in community service and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is encouraged.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Total age range 7-18; 450 day girls. Senior department 11-18, 350 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 7, 10, 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam used up to 15; entrance to sixth form by interview, and often GCSE grade B in subjects taken on to AS-level. No special skills or religious requirements. State school entry, 52% main intake at 11, plus 35% to sixth form. All members of junior department move up to senior school without further entrance test.

Scholarships & bursaries

6 pa sixth-form scholarships: 2 art, 2 sport (25% of fees), 1 music (50% of fees), 1 science (up to 100% fees); also 5 pa music scholarships and exhibitions awarded at various ages. Means-tested governors' bursaries (up to 45% fees). Parents not expected to buy textbooks; extras approximately £160 per term.

Head & staff

Headmistress: Mrs Bee Hughs, appointed in 2009. Studied English, PE and MBA. Previously Deputy Head at Hichin Girls' School. Involved in MPhil programme for newly-qualified teachers; guest lecturer on the initial teacher training programme at Cambridge. Teaching staff: 34 full time, 22 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 40.

Exam results

GCSE: 72 pupils in upper fifth, all gained at least grade C in 5+ subjects (majority of grades at least grade A). A-levels: 53 in upper sixth: Average passing in 3.6 subjects, with a final point score of 398.

Pupils' destinations

All sixth-form leavers intend taking a degree course (25% after a gap year). 38% take courses in science and related subjects, 62% in humanities and social sciences.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 21 GCSE subjects, 25 AS/A-level. All pupils take key skills level 2 and 3. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; in addition, citical thinking offered to all. 11% take science A-levels; 18% arts/humanities; 71% both. Key skills integrated except ICT (level 3 completed in Year 11). Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision: Sympathetic attention and learning support given as required (pupils must be able to pass selective entrance test). Languages: French, German and Spanish offered at GCSE and A-level. Regular home stay visits (France, Germany and Spain). Biennial trip to Greece or Italy. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum, eg research and presentation of information. 109 computers for pupil use, all networked and with email and internet access.

The arts

Music: Over 45% of pupils learn at least one musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 13 musical groups including orchestras, choirs, jazz and wind band. Chamber ensembles including string quartet and piano trio. Drama and dance: GCSE and A-level drama may be taken. Many pupils are involved in school productions. Regional finalists in Rotary, ESU and BPWA public-speaking competitions. Art and design: On average, 23 take GCSE, 10 A-level. Variety of media are studied, including photography.

Sports & activities

Sport: Hockey, indoor hockey, netball, gymnastics, tennis, swimming, rounders, athletics, dance, basketball, badminton, volleyball, aerobics, health-related fitness compulsory at different age levels. Optional: aerobics, fencing, squash. A-level PE and BAGA exams may be taken. South West and national county representatives in hockey, basketball, cross-country, athletics, netball, swimming, tennis; school teams successful nationally in netball (U14 national champions 2002), indoor hockey, tennis, basketball (U14 national runners up 2002). Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Community service optional for 2 years at age 16. Up to 30 clubs, eg drama, geography, science/technology, Italian, debating, self-defence, Young Enterprise, Ten Tors, various sporting.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn except in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses for sports activities. No prefects but head girl team chosen by sixth form and staff in secret ballot; house sports captains elected by house members. School Council. Religion: Non-denominational. Attendance at assembly compulsory (broadly Christian with input from other religions). Social: Annual inter-school public-speaking, modern languages, classical reading events with local schools; sports fixtures. Home stay visits to Rennes, Hildesheim, Vallodolid; biennial ski trip (Alps); classical trips (Greece, Rome). Second-hand uniform shop. Meals self-service.

Discipline

Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect a reprimand by teacher and early deadline for production of work; for a serious offence on school premises the pupil involved would be sent to the Headmistress and kept out of lessons and from all contact with other pupils until the matter had been discussed with parents, preferably at school and with the offender present. The school's philosophy is to develop in each pupil a genuine feeling of self-worth. Rules are kept to a minimum and are based on common sense and consideration of the needs of others.

Association of former pupils

contact Tara Hooper, Development Officer via the school (tarahooper@maynard.co.uk)

Former pupils

Professor Margaret Turner-Warwick (first woman President of Royal College of Physicians); Penelope Campbell; Rosemary Goodridge, Heather Wakefield (hockey international); Alison Hill (tennis international); Hayley Abdullah (British Mensa Committee); Clare Morrall (author); Jo Binns (netball international).