Deputy Head

Mayville has been at the heart of Southsea life since 1897 and, to this day, we continue to follow our founding philosophy of educating the 'whole child' – 'The head. The hands. The heart'. Our ethos serves to instil a life-long love of learning in every pupil. Throughout our Nursery, Junior & Senior Schools, studies and activities are inclusive and structured to meet the needs, challenge the expectations and exceed the goals of each individual.

We have high academic standards and strive to achieve the best outcomes for our pupils. We also believe learning should be fun and that happy children flourish in an environment which values and promotes inclusivity, community and a sense of belonging. This is the balance at the heart of our ‘whole child’ approach and we deliver this, in practice, through our independent curriculum, small class sizes and first-rate pastoral provision.

Our size is our strength; we are big enough to offer pupils a wide range of opportunities, yet small enough to treat each pupil as an individual. Small teaching groups, enhanced by cutting-edge technology and modern facilities, make for a stimulating and highly enjoyable learning environment, where everyone can thrive. Our philosophy ensures that, wherever the pupils' strengths lie, they are nurtured and developed to the best of their ability.

Our recent ISI (January 2020) and CReSTeD (February 2020) inspection reports are testament to this philosophy – Mayville was rated 'Excellent' in all areas of provision. Independent school inspectors found that Mayville High School pupils 'develop excellent skills and understanding across all areas of learning and develop excellent self-understanding, self-esteem and confidence’.

Our very youngest children are integrated into the broader life of the school from the outset – benefiting from shared facilities and specialist teaching, along with all-school assemblies and other events throughout the year. This continuity helps to ensure a smooth transition into the next stage of their educational journey. Our recent ISI report found that, 'Pupils are well-behaved and considerate towards each other' and that, 'Older pupils are excellent role models, including those who take on extra roles such as anti-bullying ambassador.' Mayville is characterised by an incredibly strong sense of community and our pupils show compassion, empathy and respect to their peers.

We offer wraparound care and a holiday club that runs for 50 weeks a year, along with a wide range of after-school extracurricular clubs and activities. Mayville children are well looked-after, in a safe, caring and supportive environment. Every child at Mayville is given the space to identify, develop and achieve their own unique potential.

'Pupils exhibit increasing levels of confidence and self-esteem over time, fully supported by the school’s excellent pastoral care and welfare system. They enjoy school, have a keen sense of belonging and thrive in the family atmosphere created in a tight-knit community where all ages mix.'

ISI Inspection report, January 2020.

At Mayville, we take the holistic view that not all pupils learn at the same rate or in the same way and, through our expertise, we are able to provide tailored learning for pupils. Children's self esteem is also central to our support; equipping them with them life-skills, coping strategies and confidence, as well as curriculum achievement. We have been renowned for our expertise in the specialist tuition of dyslexic pupils for over 20 years, running the well-established Harden-Davies Dyslexia Unit, catering for a variety of academic needs that can also be associated with a dyslexic profile, including dyscalculia, mild dyspraxic-type difficulties and mild speech and language disorders.

'Although many schools claim that support for learning is at the heart of the school, at Mayville it is. Mayville is a school where students are listened to, supported, challenged and encouraged. The level of support from the learning support team and from mainstream teachers is outstanding.'

CReSTeD Inspection report, February 2020”

Headteacher Rebecca Parkyn says, "The defining features of a Mayville education have always been: a pastoral care system outstanding enough to nurture the individual child into gaining knowledge of themselves and an appropriate academic bite, the constant striving towards academic excellence tempered perhaps by the belief that true success is that magical combination of both ability and temperament, which is refined over a lifetime. The school has always been an inspirational place, where a remarkably warm, inclusive and caring ethos guides all pupils to achieve their very best. Children at Mayville flourish in a family-style environment where they are part of a caring community and are taught to respect and support each other.”