Maynard appoints Pre-Prep department head

The Maynard School is delighted to announce that Emma Cook has been appointed as the Head of the recently established Pre-Prep Department, after a rigorous and searching selection process.

Emma, who was brought up and educated in Devon, is currently the Head of Years 1 and 2 at Beaudesert Park School in Gloucestershire and has a depth of experience forged throughout a career specialising exclusively in this age-group.

“I am thrilled and very excited to be returning to Devon to take up this role in such a successful and nurturing school. As a little girl growing up in the area I was always aware of The Maynard and then when I studied for my Primary Education degree at the University of Exeter, I was only just around the corner. And now, finally, I shall be inside those hallowed gates, doing what I absolutely love best which is teaching young children in a happy environment and watching them grow in confidence.

“I adore my job and it is such a privilege to be in a position to make a significant impact on the very earliest footsteps that our precious girls take in learning. As a parent myself, I am committed to ensuring that all of our daughters have the best possible start to their lifelong learning journeys and social development. I am excited at the prospect of being an integral part of this process: leading the team, inspiring our girls to develop a passion for discovery and to thrive within a safe and nurturing environment. It is a truly unique opportunity and I can’t wait to start my new post in April!”

In response to growing demand, the Maynard School took the decision to open its gates to an influx of Year 2 students in September 2015 and this will be enlarged upon at the beginning of the next academic year when Years 1 and Reception will be welcomed for the first time in many years.

“We have had a terrific response to this new enterprise,” said Steven Smerdon, Head of the Junior School, “and it really is a landmark decision for the school to be able to provision for students from the beginning to the end of their school careers. A number of parents have been calling for this over the years and I’m thrilled that we have finally been able to arrange the facilities in such a way as to provide the perfect environment for the younger ones at the Junior School.

“We are delighted at the appointment of Emma Cook who was an outstanding candidate with a wealth of experience in this sector and I am confident that her drive and enthusiasm will grow the Pre-Prep Department into a huge success. It makes me especially proud that the Junior School here at The Maynard is synonymous for its happy and nurturing environment and I am looking forward to working with Emma to make sure that the Pre-Prep becomes a natural extension of this.”