We understand that choosing a school for your daughter can be a difficult decision. We encourage parents to visit the school in the first instance, to meet the Headmistress and key staff members. We also offer Taster Days, when your daughter can spend a day in class to experience what the Maynard has to offer. There is no substitute for a personal visit to the school; but on these pages we offer some background that might help you make this important decision.

To ensure that the school will suit your daughter, our selection process involves written assessments. We understand that for younger girls this may be their first experience of formal assessment so we make the day as relaxed and enjoyable as possible. Our experienced staff look for potential and we advise that coaching is not necessary. The most common points of entry are at Years 3, 7 and 12. However, entry at any level of the school is welcomed where space allows. Applications to the Maynard should be made on the application form enclosed with the school prospectus. We encourage candidates to visit the school prior to the entrance assessments and they will also have the option of spending a day in class to experience life at the Maynard for themselves.

If you would like to discuss entry to the school for your daughter, request a prospectus, or arrange a visit or taster day, contact our Admissions Team on 01392 355998 or click on Contact Admissions.

Entrance Assessments

With the exception of Sixth Formers, selection for entry is by written assessment. Entrance Assessments are held in the January prior to entry the following September (assessment later than January is possible, see below). The deadline for applications is, therefore, 15th December each year for entry at the start of the next academic year. A fee of £50 is charged for the January entrance assessment which should be enclosed with the application form. The Maynard policy is to keep costs to parents as low as possible, so the £50 fee represents the cost of administering the assessment only. No preferential waiting list is operated. All applications received by the deadline will have an equal opportunity to qualify. Once a girl has passed the entrance assessment and has accepted an offer of a place in the junior or senior department, she automatically has a place until the end of Sixth Form with no further qualifying assessments or registration fee required. Information on the Maynard Entrance Assessments can be found in the General Information Booklet, available with the School Prospectus.

Supplementary Assessment

A later assessment date can be arranged for girls who are ill on the main Entrance Assessment day. Places and awards are not fully allocated until these candidates have had their opportunity to qualify.

Late Assessments

Late assessment can be arranged for girls applying after the main Entrance Assessment date in January. Late assessments can take place at any time up to the beginning of the school year applied for (subject to places still being available); late assessments can also be arranged for entry during an academic year (again, subject to places still being available). A fee of £100 is charged to cover late assessment arrangements, administration and marking, which reflects the additional costs of administering a late assessment for one girl. If a place is offered a further fee of £100 is payable on acceptance. Governors’ Bursaries and Awards are allocated soon after the January assessment date, therefore it is unlikely that financial help would be available to latecomers.

Acceptance of a Place

Offers of a place are made in writing as soon as possible after the entrance assessment has been taken (this is usually within seven days at the latest). Included with the offer letter is a copy of the Maynard Terms and Conditions (including school rules); parents are asked to sign the offer form to confirm acceptance. A non-returnable Registration Fee of £150 is charged on acceptance of a place offered