Maltman's Green School A GSG School

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmistress

Since 2020, Jill Walker. From a family of teachers but had an unusual entry into teaching herself. Following her degree in nursing studies (King’s College, London), she worked as an HIV nurse, before a stint in Kenya with her husband led to her becoming the housemistress of the boarding school attended by her sons. PGCE in Bedfordshire on return to the UK and then cut her educational teeth teaching science at a Milton Keynes comprehensive, before becoming deputy head of Glendower Prep School in London, then head of St Nicholas Prep in Kensington for three years. When the top job at Maltman’s came up she ‘couldn’t resist applying’ as she had ‘always had (her) eye on the school’. Also has a master’s in leadership and management (University of Bedfordshire).

While most would consider taking the reins of a school in the midst of a global pandemic to be challenging, the optimistic Mrs Walker saw it as ‘an opportunity’. Maltman’s may have been accused of being a bit too traditional (dare we say stuffy?) in the past, but Mrs Walker’s goal is to shift it into the ‘forward-looking’ category, while maintaining the key values of ‘confidence, kindness, and good manners – a fundamental’. Passionate about all-girls education, she has also a strong interest in STEAM – hence the addition of the shiny new STEAM lab (most popular lesson with pupils, we’re told).

Hands-on approach is key to her leadership style – she still teaches regularly and is adored by her young charges - one parent told us her daughter ‘begged’ to go to homework club on Fridays because it’s taken by Mrs Walker. ‘She really makes herself available to the girls and they feel they can relate to her,’ said another. We felt instantly at ease in her company.

One half of a prep head power couple, she lives on-site during the week (we wouldn’t want to leave her cosy office either) and travels to the family home on weekends. Enjoys swimming (fortunately, she has easy access to one of the finest prep school pools we’ve seen), running and hiking – and she is also a keen gardener.

Entrance

Main intake from school’s own day-care and nursery, pupils then transfer on to early years. Non-selective at this stage, although prospective pupils have an informal meeting at school to ‘make sure it’s the right fit’. Two classes of 20 in reception, increasing to three with an intake in year 3, as well as entry in other years if places become available. Assessments for pupils joining the prep school comprise maths, English and team building activities. Be warned – while capacity for day-care and nursery has doubled due to recent demand, waiting lists (particularly for early years) are oversubscribed so it is harder for those moving to the area to secure a place than it once was.

Exit

Approximately half to local grammars such as Beaconsfield High School and Dr Challoner’s High School. The rest to independent schools of which Wycombe Abbey, The Royal Masonic, Berkhamsted, St Helen’s and Queen Anne’s School, Caversham are the most popular, as well as Downe House and Cheltenham Ladies College. In 2023, 11 scholarships, although some parents feel there could be more guidance for those wanting to pursue the scholarship route.

Our view

Founded by Beatrice Chambers in 1918 as a boarding school for girls aged 8-18, Maltman’s was seen as a progressive school, championing a curriculum for girls that included traditionally ‘male’ subjects. ‘Girl power’ still very much the ethos today, hence the distinctive Maltman’s uniform colours of purple, green and white - ‘We wear the colours of suffrage,’ our poised guide informed us (feminist history clearly well taught).

Located down a narrow residential road in leafy Gerrards Cross (woe betide those who flout the unofficial one-way system during school run hours), the school’s pretty but petite entrance belies its 12-acre site, with substantial outdoor space and woodland areas. Although not the biggest campus we’ve seen, facilities are not to be sniffed at - ‘They are what sold us the school in the first place,’ one parent told us. Pupils have access to two cosy libraries, IT room, art and DT room, STEAM lab and woodland school, although the star of the show is undoubtedly the six lane, full-length indoor swimming pool, complete with tiered spectator seating. It’s no wonder that Maltman’s girls are so eager to come to school every day.

Day-care (coined ‘Little Malties’) and nursery benefit from dedicated teaching spaces but enjoy access to rest of the site and are very much ‘part of the school community’. Specialist teaching even at this young age in music, French and PE, with weekly swimming lessons from the start. Wraparound care is designed with working parents in mind - from 7.30am – 6pm for 49 weeks of the year. School wants to achieve a good grounding in the basics before reception, but places having fun at the heart of learning. Lots of time outside, although the nursery and pre-prep playground is, by school’s own admission, ‘in need of a refurb’ - we saw plans for a new climbing frame and nifty mud kitchen on a pulley system.

Those keen to secure a place at top independents and local grammars are in the right place. Don’t be fooled by Maltman’s non-selective entry criteria – results here are stellar, with a record 85 per cent qualification rate most years in the Bucks 11+ transfer test. Recent timetable additions of verbal and non-verbal reasoning from year 4 upwards, current affairs and interview skills in year 6 (taught by Mrs Walker) have ‘sharpened the 11+ focus’, (worth noting, however, this is helped by willingness of sharp-elbowed parents to support thriving local 11+ tutoring industry, with almost all girls using tutors to prepare throughout year 5).

Specialist teaching in all subjects from year 4, and parents rave about the ‘high level’ of academia throughout. Most popular subjects with pupils are English, PE and art, although the clear winner with every year group was STEAM. Our guides couldn’t wait to show us the project they were working on in the STEAM lab, making dresses from recycled materials (gold star for sustainability teaching). Corridors and classrooms are bright and engaging, with every inch of wall space covered with neatly written poetry and colourful displays of pupils’ art - even the doors are adorned with posters to celebrate book week. Setting from year 4 in maths and year 5 in English, although the sets are given neutral names such as ‘Topaz’ and ‘Amethyst’ to ward off any obvious hierarchy among pupils. Surely such an obvious ploy wouldn’t fool these savvy girls, we thought, but our guide was quick to reassure us, ‘Nobody feels upset about the sets – we know they’re there to help us learn at the right pace.’ Do their notoriously ambitious mothers feel the same, we wondered?

Pre-prep teaching uses the basis of the EYFS framework, but with ‘the freedom to adapt’ and to ‘pull down objectives from higher up that we feel our girls can cope with’. Girls throughout are encouraged to think laterally by cross-curricular teaching – a year 3 art lesson on building catapults consolidated the Roman topic for that term. ‘Collaboration’ was a word we heard throughout our visit, and it was evident in every lesson we observed on the day – a year 2 English class split into groups to act out scenes from the week’s story using persuasive language and powerful verbs, and year 4 maths split into groups to solve problems on length and area. Streamlined language provision, with French from the off and Mandarin added in year 6 (although pupils told us they’d prefer to learn Spanish).

Although Maltman’s undoubtedly pins its flag to the academic mast, with over 100 clubs and activities on offer each week, the girls are unlikely to emerge simply as swots, with strings to their bow likely to include coding, yoga and podcast production. Over half the girls take up an instrument with one of the peripatetic teachers from year 3. Several selective and non-selective choirs for budding vocalists, and the fabulously named ‘Maltman’s Belles,’ a select group of year 5 and 6 pupils who carry on the longstanding tradition of hand-bells at Maltman’s. The Lapraik Hall, with its retractable seating and full lighting and sound set-up, is the venue for most of the music and drama performances, as well as gymnastics and dance shows. With three nativities at Christmas and full-scale productions by years 4 and 6 at the end of the summer term, there’s plenty of drama on the curriculum to satisfy most, plus LAMDA as an extra. Parents praise the recent year 6 performance of Matilda as ‘outstanding,’ and when we visited, auditions were underway for Annie and The Lion King – with parts, we were reassured, for everyone who wants them. Shrinking violets are turned into blossoming flowers with ‘lots of opportunities for public speaking and performance’, say parents. ‘My daughter was so shy and didn’t want to try anything but, with encouragement from the school, there has been a huge difference to her confidence – she now volunteers herself to speak in public.’

Girls are packed off to senior schools equipped with all manner of skills – if they fall off their bike despite having been trained in cycling proficiency, never fear, they’ll be able to bandage their own knee thanks to the first aid training given as part of the year 6 enrichment programme. Parents with sons at local boys’ schools lamented that they were far less prepared for the outside world than their sisters. ‘My daughter had learnt more life skills in one term than her brother had all year.’

Competitive sport was once queen at Maltman’s, with the jungle drums telling us that the mere sight of the gymnastics squad strutting out in their impeccable leotards would make mincemeat of the competition in days gone by. While the cabinet gleaming with trophies in the entrance hall should leave you in no doubt that the Maltman’s teams still regularly come out on top, there has been a move towards more sports inclusivity in recent years. The introduction of a weekly games afternoon, where teams of all levels compete with local schools, has been a welcome addition, with lots of opportunities for all to get involved, regardless of athletic ability. Gymnastics and swimming are still the most popular sports, and swimming is popular too - although parents and pupils grumble that the weekly 35-minute swimming lesson (including changing time) is too short, an issue we were told is being raised by the school council.

With such high achievers in all areas, does the culture foster a sense of competition erring on unhealthy? Happily, pastoral care is ‘thoughtful and well-implemented’, according to parents. Playground squabbles notwithstanding, discipline issues are few and far between, with girls encouraged to ‘resolve problems themselves where possible’ – although form tutors, head of pastoral care and matron are all on hand if needed. ‘The aim is for all of the girls to feel valued, safe and that they know who to talk to if they have any worries,’ says school.

Mental health not just a buzzword – year 5 and 6 girls are trained as mindfulness ambassadors and wellbeing warriors to equip them with the tools to face the pressures of modern schooling and the outside world. Boxes for worries and acts of kindness in all the classrooms, as well as a ‘Kindness Corner’ in the ‘Purple Print’, the school newspaper, where girls can write a note commending a fellow pupil’s good deed. School leads by example – several pupils and parents told us a heart-warming story of how Mrs Walker kicked off her shoes to run in solidarity with one girl on sports day.

Dedicated learning space for those who need extra support. SENCo (who is both a teacher and educational psychologist) says they try not to take girls out of lessons unless necessary. Eight per cent of pupils on SEN register (lower than national average), with needs ranging from mild dyslexia to ADHD, autism and hearing impairment. Focused support with clear plans, termly reviews and constant communication with parents.

Mixed ethnicities of pupils reflect the demographic of the local area, with an increasing number of dual-income families. Despite the effort of class reps to organise coffee mornings and nights out, most parents we spoke to said enthusiasm for get-togethers is waning – perhaps not the school for those looking for a buzzing parent social scene.

The last word

A school that strives to bring out the best in its pupils, making sure they are ready for senior school and beyond. Parents praise the strong work ethic instilled by the school. 'My daughter is thriving at her secondary school, and a lot of that is down to Maltman’s.’

Special Education Needs

The new post of Head of Learning support was created in September 2006. The current post-holder is a qualified educational psychologist who works with a team including a literacy support teacher and a number of assistants. Support is provided for children with physical disabilities and conditions such a dyslexia as well as to girls who need help in consolidating or revisiting certain concepts and aspects of their work. IEP's (individual educational plans) are set up and reviewed in consultation with parents and pupils so that we all work towards the same goals and share strategies. We are keen to be as inclusive as possible. 09-09