Exeter Junior School

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

The school has recently acquired The New School, a pre-prep in Exminster (now Exeter Pre-Prep), 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.

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 occasions when it is felt that a child won’t benefit from the rigorous academic approach there,

School at pains 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.

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

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