Miss Mynhardt has more than 30 years of experience in education and has three Degrees, as well as two Post Graduate Certificates in Education and Educational Management. Her approach to education is embedded in constructivist theory, and behaviour management is accomplished through assertive discipline techniques. This ideological framework is founded on the assumption that people learn from each other. To this end, learners are not streamed or differentiated according to academic ability – education is undertaken in mixed ability main stream classes and support is provided through individual and group intervention programmes.
Miss Mynhardt is progressive and holistic in her approach to education and the teaching team that supports her leadership recognises that this trait manifests itself in constantly striving to find more effective ways to educate and learn, both in the classroom and through extra-curricular activities. As a result, Miss Mynhardt, the Management Team and Educators at Tom Newby School are supportive of new programmes and changes to procedures – where the possibility exists that such change could result in a higher standard of education.
Having been an educator for 24 years, prior to her promotion, Miss Mynhardt understands that the most important resource in a classroom is the teacher and that high ratios of student to teacher tend to have a detrimental effect on the learning process. For this reason, she prefers to have between 20 and 30 learners per class, depending on the age of the learners being taught.
Foundation Phase ratios are lower than those in the higher Grades in order to support the learning process in its formative stages and ensure that individual attention can be given to children when required.
Miss Mynhardt also believes strongly that children learn better in an aesthetically pleasing teaching and learning environment. The School Governing Body supports this belief and ensures that funds to improve classroom and school grounds visual appeal are made available. In the time that she has led the team at Tom Newby School, the Southern Playground has been upgraded and stands have been erected at the school swimming pool and sports field. All cloakrooms have been refurbished and plans are underway to do the same for the swimming pool cloakrooms. A fully equipped Music Centre has been erected and two new classrooms have been built. The reception area, central quad and Foundation Phase wildlife garden have been upgraded and outdoor rubberised surfacing has been laid in the Grade 0 Play area. Interactive projectors have been installed in all classrooms and the Grade 5, 6 and 7 learners have made the transition from textbooks to android tablets.
Tom Newby School is a Section 21 School with an effective Governing Body that is committed to providing an outstanding education at affordable fees. The school governors ensure that financial resources are effectively used to support the school’s mission statement:
To provide the pupils of Tom Newby School with the best possible academic, cultural, sporting and social conditions to ensure their development to their maximum potential.
