The Maynard School Review 2026: A Girls' School Founded on Purpose

In 1658, when Sir John Maynard established this school in the heart of Exeter, the idea that girls deserved rigorous education was genuinely radical. Nearly four centuries later, the philosophy has evolved into something more nuanced but equally distinctive; this is not simply a high-achieving school, but one where intellectual ambition sits comfortably alongside genuine kindness. The October 2022 ISI inspection awarded Excellent for both academic achievement and personal development. The school ranks 192nd for GCSE (FindMySchool ranking, top 10% in England) and 78th for A-level (FindMySchool ranking, top 3% ), yet these figures tell only half the story. What makes The Maynard genuinely distinctive is the relentless care with which the school balances academic rigour with genuine student wellbeing. Every girl who walks out of the gates at 5:30pm has been challenged academically, encouraged pastorally, and offered space to discover who she is becoming.

Just inside Denmark Road towards the main gates, you notice immediately that this is a school rooted in place. The red-brick Victorian buildings with their slate roofs still stand (largely unchanged despite bomb damage in 1942), yet the campus has evolved thoughtfully around them. Glass-fronted learning spaces sit alongside heritage buildings. The Performing Arts Centre and Health & Fitness suite represent recent investment in facilities that matter to girls. The overall impression is of stewardship rather than demolition and rebuild.

Mrs Liz Gregory became Head in September 2022, arriving from Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools. She is a Trustee and Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and is completing a Master's in Educational Leadership. Her appointment marked continuity with genuine momentum. Her predecessor, Sarah Dunn, had served for 37 years and left significant legacies including the new Performing Arts Centre, an overhauled curriculum, and substantially enhanced bursary provision. That length of tenure itself says something about the school; it attracts leaders who settle, who think long-term, who see their role as stewardship.

The school motto is #MadeForGirls, a deliberate reclaim of single-sex education as something purposeful rather than outdated. The ISI inspection noted that pupils are "compassionate, caring and mindful of each other... warm, friendly and willing to talk about their school and their love of learning in this nurturing environment, where they feel safe and happy." The language matters; the report emphasizes psychological safety alongside academic stretch, which is rare in independent school inspection reports.

Discipline is notably calm. The ISI report observed that "discipline is rarely necessary as the powerful community spirit engendered by the ethos of the school is based largely on good relationships." Older girls visibly model behaviour and younger girls mirror it. Mobile phones are restricted by year group (no smart phones in Year 7, phones in lockers in Years 8-11), a policy that appears to reduce anxiety rather than create resentment.

GCSE Performance

The school's GCSE results are genuinely strong. In 2024, 70% of grades achieved 9-7 (the top two grades). This represents approximately 60% of all entries at grades 9-8 in recent years, with 80% achieving grade 7 (A) or above. The ISI inspection confirmed that "data show that, from their starting points, almost all pupils achieve considerably higher examination grades than expected."

The school ranks 192nd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 10%. Locally, the school ranks first among 87 Exeter secondary schools, a position of genuine distinction. For an independent day school serving girls aged 4-19, these results are excellent and sustained.

A-Level Performance

A-level results are even more impressive. In 2022, 70% of grades achieved A* or A. Sixth-form pupils acknowledge that teaching quality is "very high" and this contributes "significantly to their success." The ISI inspection noted that this attainment "mirrors the centre and teacher-assessed results in 2020 and 2021," indicating consistency rather than one exceptional year.

The school ranks 78th at A-level (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 3% in England. These results place The Maynard among the highest-performing schools in the South West, which is a market with fierce independent school competition (Exeter and Torbay schools include several prestigious day and boarding options).

Importantly, the value-added picture is equally strong. The ISI report states that pupils "achieve considerably higher examination grades than expected" from their starting points. This is the metric that matters most; it suggests teaching skill rather than simply advantaged intake.

The curriculum follows national frameworks but extends deliberately beyond them. French begins in Year 1, taught by specialists. German and Spanish are subsequently offered. Classics (Latin and Ancient Greek) attract a genuine following, unusual for comprehensive independent schools in the South West. The Extended Project Qualification is offered in the sixth form; A-level results sheets from recent years show a significant cohort completing EPQs with high grades, suggesting intellectual engagement beyond examined subjects.

The ISI report highlighted that teaching "enables pupils to make good progress, encompasses effective behaviour management and is supported by suitable resources." Class sizes average 14 at GCSE and are smaller still in sixth form, which has a measurable impact on individual feedback and pace.

Science is taught as three separate disciplines from Year 7, not combined science. This matters because it signals a school willing to invest in specialist teaching and dedicated facilities. The spacious science block visible from the main quad supports practical work that goes beyond textbook learning.

Technology is embedded naturally. Pupils use devices for research and learning platforms; the ISI inspection noted pupils are "well equipped" with ICT skills and use them "intelligently." The school adopted a digital-first learning platform during the pandemic and has retained it, something that appears to reduce anxiety for pupils facing academic difficulties.

The school does not publish detailed Russell Group or Oxbridge breakdowns on its main website, so I rely on and leavers' destinations (2023-24 cohort). In that cohort, one student secured a Cambridge place and none were confirmed for Oxford. This represents 1 Oxbridge place from 52 leavers (approximately 2%), which is respectable but not exceptional. The 48% progression to university is described by leavers as "first choice" for most, suggesting selective entry to universities rather than fallback choices.

Beyond headline figures, the school's sixth-form emphasis on independent research (the EPQ is genuinely taken seriously here) prepares students well for university workload. The ISI inspection noted that sixth-form pupils engage in "extended research" and "assured writing," skills directly transferable to degree-level study.

This is where The Maynard distinguishes itself most clearly. The school operates over 60 co-curricular clubs throughout the term, with participation strongly encouraged but not mandatory. Clubs run predominantly at lunchtime (to accommodate families who collect girls at 5:30pm) and before/after school.

Music: A Defining Strength

Music is genuinely central. The ISI inspection noted "several pupils are members of the National Children's Orchestra, the National Youth Choir or Theatre," evidence of pupil ambition at the highest level. The school choir performs regularly in the Cathedral. The Orchestra performs termly concerts. Jazz Ensemble, String Quartet, and various smaller ensembles operate throughout the year. Music scholars are appointed and expected to contribute to ensemble life.

All pupils learn an instrument in class up to Year 5; two-thirds progress to paid private lessons from Year 3. This breadth of provision is unusual in state or independent day schools. The performance spaces include multiple music rooms and a dedicated Performing Arts Centre opened recently.

Drama: Highly Professional and Accessible

The ISI report recorded "a large number of pupils passed LAMDA grade examinations, nearly all achieving distinctions." School productions are remarkably ambitious; recent years have seen the school tackle Les Misérables (currently in rehearsal) and other substantial musical theatre productions. The Drama Studio and Performing Arts Centre provide professional-standard facilities.

Drama is not limited to exam candidates. The school operates beginner and intermediate drama clubs, suggesting a real commitment to accessible creative experience.

Sports: Rowing, Netball, Hockey and Beyond

The school competes seriously in netball and hockey, with teams successful in "regional and national tournaments" and contributing "several players to county squads." The ISI inspection noted "School Netball and Hockey teams have been successful in regional and national tournaments and are contributing several players to county squads."

Beyond competitive teams, pupils have access to facilities that matter: the Exeter Arena (used by Olympic runner Jo Pavey for athletics training), Exeter Quay (for watersports including sailing and rowing), and multiple swimming pools. Tennis Academy coaching runs before school three times weekly, taught by a specialist. Netball and Basketball clubs operate after school.

The school also introduced an innovative partnership with Exeter Chiefs Women in 2024, a professional rugby team competing in the elite Premier 15s competition. This signals aspiration and resourcing beyond typical independent schools. Several pupils reach "county or club level" in sports introduced through school (cricket, tennis, swimming, climbing), suggesting the school successfully opens doors for girls who might not otherwise access elite coaching.

Yoga features as a termly activity for all pupils, a recognition that physical wellbeing includes flexibility and mindfulness.

STEM and Specialist Clubs

Robot Club, TechFutureGirls, coding activities, and Olympiad coaching appear on the club list. The ISI inspection noted pupils "excel in Olympiads in mathematics and science and are highly successful in a variety of competitions from robotics challenges to essay writing." This is evidence-based excellence in academic co-curricular work.

Academic Enrichment and Service

Model United Nations operates, exposing pupils to diplomacy and public speaking. The Maths Club for juniors is run by sixth-formers, a mentoring opportunity that appears genuinely embedded. Pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme widely (the ISI report notes "the majority of pupils are involved"), with achievements up to Gold level.

The school runs the Ten Tors challenge annually (a 35-mile endurance hike across Dartmoor); participation is famously selective and the school has a strong history here. In 2005 and 2012, Maynard teams made history as the first all-girls teams to finish Ten Tors, a rare achievement that signals both physical resilience and community pride.

Charity and fundraising are embedded. Pupils "participate ardently in fundraising activities, many of which they suggest and organise themselves." The ISI report noted pupils' "motivation for such social action is cited as giving back for the privileges and service that pupils themselves have received," which is remarkably mature reasoning.

The school also operates Beyond the Classroom, a structured community service programme in partnership with the University of Exeter, allowing sixth-formers to mentor school pupils in younger years and contribute to local primary schools.

Fees for 2025-26 are £7,187 per term (Senior School & Sixth Form), £6,013 per term (Years 3-5), £3,966 per term (Year 1-2), and £3,443 per term (Reception). Over a three-term year, this equates to approximately £21,561 (Juniors), £21,390 (Years 1-2), and £10,329 (Reception). All fees include wraparound care from 8:00am to 5:30pm, which significantly increases the effective value for working families.

Lunches are compulsory for Reception to Year 7 at £5.10 per day. Older girls can opt in or bring packed lunches. Registration fee is £180 (£240 for international families); Acceptance fee is £480 (non-refundable).

Financial aid is substantial and genuinely accessible. Means-tested bursaries offer up to 45% fee reduction for families with household income under approximately £60,000. Scholarships worth 10% of fees are awarded for academic, music, sport, art, and drama achievement. Maynard Awards combine scholarship (discretionary, merit-based) with means-tested bursary, designed to ensure talented girls from modest families can access the school. The school explicitly states this reflects "the strong ethos" that "an excellent education should be accessible to the most talented and gifted girls, regardless of household income."

This approach is significantly more generous than many independent schools, where bursaries are often token. The presence of bursaries worth up to 45% suggests the school prioritizes access alongside selectivity.

The Maynard is academically selective. Entry at Reception is through interview and observation; entry at Year 3, Year 7, Year 9, and Year 12 (Lower 6) requires entrance assessments. The school publishes that pupils' ability is "above average when compared with pupils taking similar tests in England.". The admissions policy is explicitly Selective, according to GIAS.

The school receives strong demand. With approximately 468 pupils across all ages (10 in EYFS, 125 in Juniors, 234 in Seniors, 99 in Sixth Form), the intake is controlled and purposeful. Families should visit the school website for specific assessment dates and registration timelines, which vary by entry year.

The school operates a transport service, which is significant for a city-centre location; this allows families from across Devon and beyond to access the school without managing urban traffic daily. Bus routes cover Tiverton, Cullompton, and surrounding villages.

The ISI inspection emphasized wellbeing extensively. Pupils are "warm, friendly and willing to talk about their school and their love of learning in this nurturing environment, where they feel safe and happy." Teachers appear genuinely invested in individual pupils; the report notes "Almost all pupils' questionnaire responses indicated that teachers help them to learn and are supportive."

The school was the first school in Devon to achieve the Wellbeing Award for Schools (2019) and achieved re-certification in 2023. This is not ceremonial; it reflects structured investment in mental health, mindfulness, staff training, and peer support.

Sixth-formers run dedicated support structures including the Buddy system (younger pupils paired with sixth-form mentors), peer mentoring for younger secondary pupils, and a Lunchtime Maths Club. The ISI inspection noted "pupils relish leadership roles, viewing them as opportunities to help others."

The school employs a Learning Support and SENCO team. The ISI report notes "Pupils with SEND and those who have EAL perform well in lessons and in their work." Approximately 90 pupils are identified with SEN (dyslexia, autism, and processing difficulties); 41 receive additional specialist help. All pupils are screened with LUCID to pick up underlying processing difficulties, with one‑to‑one or small‑group support offered where needed. This proactive approach to learning differences is genuinely rare in independent schools.

Physical health is similarly prioritized. Girls participate in yoga, PE is compulsory and enthusiastic, and the school offers conscious attention to nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices. The report notes pupils "enjoy a balanced lifestyle at school and manage their time well."

The school operates 8:00am to 5:30pm, with breakfast club and after-school provision included in fees. School day starts at 8:55am. Lunch is on-site (compulsory to Year 7, optional thereafter). The school is located centrally in Exeter on Denmark Road, approximately 5 minutes walk from the Cathedral and High Street.

The Maynard Transport Service operates multiple routes across Devon, allowing families from Tiverton, Cullompton, and surrounding areas to access the school without managing daily traffic to central Exeter. This is a significant logistical advantage for rural families.

The school is approximately 20 minutes from the South Hams and Jurassic Coast (beaches), and 30 minutes from Dartmoor. Exeter itself is a university city with cultural facilities (theatres, galleries, museums) readily accessible.

Entry selectivity. The school is academically selective and entrance assessments are competitive. Families seeking entry should begin conversations with the admissions team early (the school recommends registering by the Autumn of Year 6 for Year 7 entry).

Fees. At £21,561 per year for Senior School (before extras), The Maynard is a significant investment. Bursaries exist but are means-tested; families should explore financial aid early if cost is a factor. Wraparound care inclusion does improve value compared to schools charging separately.

Girls-only environment. This is not for every family. Some parents value single-sex education as evidence-based advantage; others see it as limiting. The school is deliberate about its philosophy here and operates confidently within it.

Academically demanding culture. The ISI report notes "occasionally, some pupils' learning in examination classes lacks the verve and sense of curiosity demonstrated by younger pupils because teaching does not encourage this sufficiently." This is the school's own inspectorate pointing to a risk that academic pressure, even in a supportive environment, can narrow creative thinking in older years. It's worth being aware that sustained high achievement is expected.

Distance/commute. While the transport service is excellent, the school's location in central Exeter means some families will travel significantly. The school is not suited to families seeking a quiet campus setting; it is urban and purposefully integrated into city life.

The Maynard is that rare independent school that achieves genuine academic excellence without sacrificing psychological wellbeing. The ISI inspection awarded Excellent for both achievement and personal development, and the evidence supports this across all metrics: strong GCSE/A-level results, impressive co-curricular achievements, and pupils who are articulate, confident, and genuinely kind to one another. The school ranks in the top 10% in England for GCSE and top 3% for A-level (FindMySchool rankings), a position earned through consistent teaching quality and evidenced value-added from starting points.

What distinguishes The Maynard most is not the grades (though they are excellent) but the culture. The school has succeeded, four centuries in, in maintaining the founding belief that girls deserve rigorous education while also embodying genuine care for their development as whole people. Discipline is rarely necessary because relationships are strong. Anxiety exists but is managed explicitly. Wellbeing is monitored through rigorous frameworks, not simply hoped for.

The school is best suited to families who value academic ambition but refuse to sacrifice kindness. It works well for girls with intellectual curiosity and some resilience (the school challenges girls to think for themselves, not simply to reproduce knowledge). It is particularly strong for girls with particular talents in music, sport, or drama, where facilities and coaching are exceptional. Single-sex education is a genuine philosophy here, not a logistical accident.

The main challenge is cost and entry selectivity. Families should begin conversations early and explore bursary eligibility openly; the school's financial aid is genuine but not infinite. The urban location is excellent for girls who enjoy city life and cultural access but may feel constraining for those seeking rural calm.