Location and Transport

The school, a fine country house, stands in 22 acres of gardens, grassland and woodland overlooking Honiton, near Exeter. School minibuses operate from many adjoining areas including Sidmouth, Ottery St Mary, Beer, Seaton, Lyme Regis, Axminster, Cullompton, Whimple and Exeter.

The Aims of the School

• To develop in pupils a confident, enthusiastic and caring attitude to life
• To use the creative arts as a launch-pad towards academic excellence
• To enable every individual to reach his or her full potential

Religious Ethos
Although the school has a Christian Ethos, children for all religious backgrounds are welcomed. 

Facilities
Teaching accommodation includes a pre-school suite, library, music school, English and French room, maths room, computer centre, special needs rooms, art room and science laboratory.

Other facilities include a sports and multi-purpose hall, netball court, sports field and adventure playground. Lunch is served in the dining hall and is so delicious that parents may find their children growing out of their uniforms more quickly than expected!

The School Curriculum
The school specialises in the use of the creative arts (art, music and drama) to inspire children, promote confidence and self-esteem, and to impact positively on the quality of learning in all other subjects. Courses, working alongside the National Curriculum and beyond, are designed to stimulate and enthuse children, to stretch and challenge high attainers and to support, encourage and reward less able pupils. The Numeracy strategy, Literacy strategy and emphasis on Science are consistent with modern educational requirements but adapted to suit the needs of smaller classes in an independent school. A full range of these and other subjects, including I.C.T., humanities, art and craft, French from the age of 6, religious education and music, uses an imaginative blend of traditional and modern teaching methods, including regular project work and information technology. A pattern of written homework is established from age 7 as well as daily reading, spelling and times tables.
School examinations are held in January and June. Additional arrangements exist for pupils preparing to take the 11-plus exam or entry exams, including scholarships, for independent senior schools.

Reports are issued in February and July. Parents' meetings take place in November.
Teachers are available daily for discussion.

Nursery
Three large, bright and well-equipped rooms are home to our thriving nursery, The Folly, where children are welcomed from birth to school age. Youngsters are taught to become confident, industrious, resourceful and independent in a happy and stimulating atmosphere. Music and singing, drama, craft, P.E. and structured play operate alongside an introduction to more academic activities. Pupils can join their older friends for assemblies and some singing and drama sessions. The Devon County Council Early Years Grant is accepted.

To read more about The Folly Nursery please click here.

Pastoral Structure
The school prides itself on pastoral care that is second to none and leads to a tangible atmosphere of happiness, enthusiasm, ambition and mutual respect recognised by parents, visitors and inspectors alike. Each pupil on admission becomes a member of one of three houses, each with its own leader. Houses meet for weekly assemblies and regular sports activities. House leaders additionally have a pastoral responsibility for pupils in their house.

Special Needs
Specially trained staff, using two well-resourced rooms with their own computer facilities, provide a range of help for those with special needs including dyslexia. Courses are designed to dovetail alongside work the pupils are following in their class activities.

Discipline
The Code of Behaviour and school rules are clearly defined in the School Handbook and firm but fair discipline is seen as an important factor in the provision of essential guidelines. Only the highest behavioural standards are accepted in class and any child not complying with those standards leaves the class to work individually with a teacher or teaching assistant.

Music and Drama
The school prides itself in the range of out-of-classroom activities it offers. All children are encouraged to join the recorder group and school choir. There is a flourishing orchestral ensemble and a guitar group. All perform regularly. The following instruments are taught individually: piano, keyboard, guitar, percussion, violin, 'cello, flute, clarinet, brass and saxophone. ABRSM exams are regularly held.

Besides class drama lessons, individual drama tuition is offered. At Christmas the entire Junior School performs a seasonal drama. In July a large-scale stage show is performed by senior pupils, fully costumed and complete with band, staging and professional lighting.

Sport
A full range of sports activities makes good use of superb facilities: a sports hall and extensive sports field with pavilion. Summer sports include athletics, cricket and rounders; in winter, football, rugby, netball and hockey are taught. A full programme of fixtures with other schools is organised. Gymnastics and swimming lessons are also time-tabled.

Other optional activities include ballet/dance, badminton, basketball, judo, short tennis, typing, golf, carpentry and chess and computer clubs.

Skiing
An annual skiing visit has become an important feature of Manor House School's calendar. The visit, tailor-made by the school, is specially designed to offer, besides excellent skiing, an introduction to a European culture, cuisine and language and an opportunity to experience the fun of living as part of the school community in a fresh but closely-supported environment.

Events
An appropriate balance is maintained between routine lessons and occasional events: the latter are promoted as valuable opportunities to learn skills such as presentation, performance and personal organisation. Every Thursday afternoon parents are invited to an open assembly led by the Headmaster and often including presentations of work across the age range and curriculum.

Autumn term events include a Harvest Festival, Christmas parties, carol-playing visits by the orchestra, a lower school nativity play and two carol services. In the spring term are held a talent festival of performances and exhibitions, an evening concert, a music-making day for instrumentalists and house hockey and football competitions. Summer term events include sports day, outings, house rounders and cricket competitions, the annual school stage show and an end of year recital.

Regular trips to the theatre or places connected with pupils' studies occur throughout the year.

Clubs
Pupils at Manor House are offered a wealth of opportunities to learn about and experience new pursuits through a programme of clubs and extra-curricular activities.

The following activities are just some of the options on offer: chess club, computer club, speech and acting skills, jazz dance, cricket coaching, ski club, woodwork club, art club, guitar group, orchestra, choir, basketball and short tennis. An extensive range of after-school activities is also a feature.

After-School provision
Pupils are normally in school from 8.30 to 3.30.
An after-school service from 3.30 to 5.00 is available every school day. This consists of a full tea at 3.30 followed by a supervised break; then homework from 4.00 to 5.00, supervised by a member of the teaching staff. Homework takes place in or near the library, allowing full access to library and ICT facilities.
It is possible for pupils to be supervised from earlier in the morning, with optional breakfast supplied, and further into the evening by special arrangement with the Headmaster.