Exeter Junior School A GSG School

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmistress

Since September 2019, Saskia van Schalkwyk (40s), previously deputy head of The Granville School in Sevenoaks for five years. Affectionately known as Mrs Van, she is fast talking and warm, with a contagious enthusiasm for her school. Her first headship, she is already a hit with parents who describe her as ‘amazing,’ ‘hugely empathetic’ and ‘always with a sparkle in her eye’. They appreciate that she has young children herself (both at the school) and that she dedicated her first year to building strong relationships with the pupils, parents and staff, thankfully just before Covid struck.

Educated at nearby West Buckland School, she specialised in maths and science during her four-year teacher training degree at Roehampton, then spent two years in the state sector in London before a 12 year stint at St Michaels in Kent, where she climbed the ranks from class teacher to the pastoral head of the senior leadership team. ‘The minute I walked into the school I knew I wanted the job’, she says of this school.

Determined that being head should never stop her teaching (currently maths), she has an open door, mutually appreciative relationship with the pupils who think she is ‘brilliant’. Married with two children, she enjoys spending down time walking and re-discovering Devon. She is an ISI inspector.

Entrance

The school has recently acquired The New School, a pre-prep in Exminster, which has historically provided 40-50 per cent of their intake at year 3. Other children join from a wide range of feeders, both state and independent. Total of 36 places up for grabs in years 3 and 4, split across two classes per year group, rising to three larger classes and an additional 30 places for years 5-6.

Entry tests in maths and English are ‘pitched at their age requirements, with no hidden curve balls’, designed to determine whether your child will thrive here and also in the senior school. Head is expressly anti-tutoring for these tests - ‘We want them to flourish here on their own ability - if they are at or above the average for their age they should get a place.’ Parents spoke of the kindness with which the tests were administered and the school’s ‘good eye for academic ability’.

Newbies are welcomed with open arms: ‘I felt at home and happy here from the moment I started,’ said one new-ish year 5. All helped by open days, a buddy system and plenty of ‘exciting goings on’, including a PGL trip in the first weeks of year 5 to help bond the new starters with existing pupils.

Exit

Aside from a few who opt for the free grammars in Torquay and Colyton most (90-ish per cent) move on to the senior school at the end of year 6. On rare occaisions when it is felt that a child won’t benefit from the rigorous academic approach there, conversations start long before year 6.

Our view

It’s no mean feat to set this school apart from its big sister senior school. Housed in a Georgian villa on the edge of the main senior campus, it is very part of the whole and benefits vastly from being so. Noticeably well kept, every inch is well presented and that takes some doing. Immaculate classroom displays, bright and engaging corridors full of current pupils’ trip photographs and sports team updates, cloakrooms over spilling with musical instruments and games kits - all filled with the sound of happy, chatty children. An immediately warm and welcoming environment.

A strong academic pace as befits a selective school, but the teaching is ‘wonderfully creative, full of ideas and really fun - not at all overwhelming,’ according to a parent. We saw whole classes fully engaged. Children in a year 3 history lesson were reading out inspired diary entries they had written posing as Howard Carter on discovering Tutankhamun’s tomb and assessing the validity of sources around the supposed curse. Just one example of the academic team’s aim to ensure that the children leave the junior school secure in the key learning skills required at the senior school. ‘We discussed with each department at the senior school where they wanted the children to be academically before they move up and have built our junior school curriculum approach to ensure it delivers this,’ the head of upper school explained. The history department, it turns out, ‘want the children to start learning the key skills of analysing sources as early as possible’. Tick.

Specialist subject teachers from the off, with the head of English a published author, no less. Project based learning is built around joined up thinking between departments rather than shoehorning for the sake of it. ‘Maths doesn’t always work when it has to be about sea turtles for a term but we do, for example, look at why sea turtles are endangered in science, make clay models of them in art and create Kodu games around them in computer studies.’ The curriculum overview is clear and shared with pupils and parents at the start of each term.

Crucially the curriculum and pastoral care have been carefully planned to encourage good learning habits from the off: gently introducing homework, independent learning and personal skills. ‘If you can’t do up your shoelaces you have to sit on a bench and learn, it’s about getting them up and on it themselves both mentally and physically,’ said one parent, with another concurring, ‘Children are expected to be able to cope at what is thrown at them.’ But it’s all handled in an encouraging, compassionate way, we were assured.

All year groups take advantage of the sports, music and drama facilities at the senior school and for year 6, separate sciences are taken in the senior labs. All adds to the ‘whole school’ approach and avoids the big move feel of starting afresh at senior school. Not to mention it being the highlight of many of their educational experiences to date: the first explosive Bunsen burner experiment was regaled many times to us with great excitement.

The wrap around playground, set apart from the senior school, is new and exciting with spongey play areas and a tantalising array of wooden adventure climbing frames. There’s a bespoke mini Astro turf for essential playground football matches, plenty of skipping space, table football, ping pong tables and a wooden outdoor classroom. Children voted for all of it and are proud of the results.

The ‘hub’ provides everything from informal counselling through to extra support sessions for those struggling with certain aspects of the curriculum. All children are assessed on entry for dyslexia and fully personalised learning strategies for this or other SEN are shared with teaching staff. ‘I have been overwhelmed with the level of support,’ said a parent with a child who has complex learning needs. ‘The LS staff see the strengths in your child and understand the struggles. They give incredible emotional and educational support to ensure they get the very best for themselves.’ The team continues to work with pupils for the first two years of their time at the senior school to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

While this school has a local reputation for its academic success, it is the extracurricular opportunities that set it leagues apart. ‘The range of clubs on offer is ever-changing, growing and utterly incredible,’ remarked a parent and we concur. From podcasting to Minecraft, squash to ballet and African drumming to cooking (taught by the head), the choice alone is remarkable. Children are given the chance to discover skills and hobbies in every direction, with parents unanimous that ‘every child here will flourish and find out what they love to do in life.’

Ambitious drama productions rangie from the Gruffalo to a nativity entirely in French and a paired down version of The Tempest. Public speaking opportunities are ‘woven in to everything we do,’ with lots of pupil involvement in assemblies instilling a quiet confidence from the offset. Musically strong too, with most children learning at least one instrument. Under a new scheme, all year 3 pupils get to learn a string for free. Vast array of clubs, orchestras, choirs and ensembles for even the tiniest of players.

Sport is aimed at inspiring interest. At the top level it is well coached and competes strongly against its local competitors, but the real focus is on introducing children to all sports and instilling a love for their favourites. Lots of swimming at the onsite 25 metre pool. Cricket and hockey for boys and girls. Rugby, football and netball are all regulars, with plenty of opportunities for everyone to represent the school. Inclusivity isn’t just a buzz word here.

Children feel listened to, respected and secure in their environment. Pupils we met were impressively open - chatty, kind and empathetic to each other and the adults around them. A true accolade to a school that is getting things right pastorally, with ‘happy children learn well’ an oft repeated mantra among staff we met. Parents applauded the easy communication with, and quick responses from, teachers, saying they feel abreast of exactly where their child is with their learning. ‘The teachers are hugely accessible and always astound me in their understanding and gauge of exactly where my child is, academically and emotionally,’ said one.

Pupil voice is high on the agenda for the head. ‘It was a boy in my school council who suggested that the girls could have a different summer uniform as it felt unfair that the boys could wear shorts, so we brought in the summer dress option,’ she told us. We wonder if she will be as quick to add the horse riding, go-karting and Kodu clubs that the pupils we spoke to had on their wishlist!

Parents a mix of professionals and business people. Popular with medics, probably due to its close proximity to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, which lies at the far end of the school pitches.

Money matters

School at paints to point out its commitment to accessibility. Fees are kept as competitively low as possible and there are plenty of bursary options for those whose children meet the entry criteria.

The last word

In the words of more than one parent, ‘Exeter Junior does what it says on the label’ - that is, offering an inspirational education supported and enhanced by a dazzling array of extracurricular activities and trips. Not flash or showy, just a brilliant school.

Special Education Needs

No special provision.