Our Junior School provides a happy, secure and lively environment where each young girl will flourish. We foster individuality, confidence and an enthusiasm for learning in a warm and supportive atmosphere.

The Junior Department accommodates about 100 seven- to 10-year-old girls and has its own dedicated staff and building within the Senior School grounds. Thus the friendliness and close support of the small Junior Department are combined with access to all the resources of the Senior School.

 

The School Day

08.15	Junior School opens; girls are supervised in the Junior Hall until registration
08.40	Registration in classrooms
10.05	Morning break
12.20	Lunch
13.40	Afternoon school begins
15.55	School Day ends; late room opens
17.30	Late room supervision ends

 

Curriculum

The teachers at the Maynard are of the highest calibre. They deliver their lessons with flair and imagination, firing the girls' enthusiasm for learning. We embrace the spirit of the National Curriculum but are not limited by it and we ensure considerable extension for able pupils. Music and PE are taught by specialist staff and French is introduced in Form 2 (Year 5). There are opportunities for girls to develop a rich mixture of skills including those in Drama, Art and ICT.

Most lessons take place in the Junior Department building, but as they grow up, Junior girls have increasing access to the Senior School's specialist facilities in Physical Education, Science, Information Technology, Food & Nutrition, Textiles, Art and Music. In this way the younger girls become familiar with the Senior School and benefit from a smooth transition at the age of 11, whilst also gaining a range of valuable skills early on.

All classes enjoy the opportunity of outside visits to places of interest and also welcome visiting specialists into school, all of which relate to the curriculum.

Art

Artistic activities take place in our light, spacious, well-equipped classrooms and are led by class teachers to inform, reflect and develop topic work. A wealth of materials is available, and a range of activities allows the girls to explore their creative and expressive potential and develop skills and experience of using a variety of materials. In Year 6, girls are taught by Senior Department Art staff.

Drama

Drama is included in the curriculum, and additional group lessons can be arranged. Girls can work towards the LAMDA examinations in Speech and Drama, and many girls take part in the Devon Competitions for the Performing Arts each Spring. Drama is taught as part of the Year 6 curriculum. Years 3-5 produce a Christmas play each year and and Year 6 stage a production in the Spring Term.

Music

All girls have three class music lessons each week with our own Junior Department music specialist, Mrs Crissie Austin, who encourages every child's musical ability and enjoyment in listening, composing and performance. Major concerts are produced at Christmas, led by Year 3, and in the summer, Year 5, and everyone can take part. The girls will also be encouraged to learn an instrument and they can join various musical groups including Junior String Band, Junior Wind Band and the Junior Orchestra where each girl is given a part to suit her ability. In Years 5 and 6, girls who have reached Grade One standard can join the School Wind Band and ‘Philharmaynardia’ Orchestra. In Year 6 all girls are welcome to join Middle School Choir.

Physical Education

There are four games/gym periods each week, taught by specialist PE staff. In the Winter terms the Juniors do hockey, netball, dance and gym. In the Summer term tennis is the main sport, with an introduction to athletics. All girls go swimming once a week in the Spring term and we have access to the University pool at St Luke’s campus which is within walking distance of the Maynard.

We value PE and sport for developing healthy bodies and for inspiring confidence, co-operation and team skills. Our Junior sports teams play matches against other local schools with notable success! In recent years, we have had finalists in the junior sections of the HSBC Tennis Tournament and the National Schools Swimming Championships. Our U11 Hockey Team has represented the South West at National Finals and our U11 Swimming Team has represented the South West at the National Schools Swimming Finals at Sheffield. There are annual Junior Department sports days and swimming galas, and regular lunchtime PE clubs.

Transition to Senior School

At the age of 10, the girls begin their transition to the Senior School. Although remaining with one class teacher for much of the time, they receive more specialist input from Senior School staff. They also benefit from Science lessons in the laboratories and are taught in specialist areas for Art, Music, Textiles and Food & Nutrition.

Girls in Year 6 remain part of the Junior Department in all areas of pastoral care and involvement in Junior Department activities. They receive special privileges and carry extra responsibilities as befitting pupils at the top of their junior career. They proceed automatically to the Senior Department at the age of 11 — there is no further qualifying exam.