Field Day 2026: Learning Beyond the Classroom at Exeter School

Third Form – Exeter Exploration

As part of their Third Form Field Day, pupils explored their hometown, discovering more about Exeter’s rich history through a series of visits across the city.

The day began in Exeter’s Underground Passages, where pupils navigated the historic tunnels beneath the city streets. They learnt about the passages’ role throughout history, including their connections to wars, royal visits and even notorious thefts.

Pupils then visited Exeter Cathedral, exploring its statues, memorials and engravings while learning more about the Cathedral’s history and its longstanding links with Exeter School.

At the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), pupils enjoyed exploring the galleries, from meeting Gerald the Giraffe to discovering displays on Roman Exeter. The visit gave them the opportunity to learn more about the city’s heritage through the museum’s varied collections.

The day concluded with a Red Coat Tour of Exeter. Some groups were led by Old Exonian John Davidson, who created a bespoke tour highlighting aspects of Exeter’s history alongside the School’s own story, sharing his enthusiasm for both with today’s pupils.

Fourth Form – Paignton Zoo

As part of their Fourth Form Field Day, pupils visited Paignton Zoo, where they enjoyed a day of exploration while supporting their learning in Geography.

Accompanied by 10 members of staff, the pupils explored the zoo’s diverse habitats and animal enclosures, linking their observations to their current topic on Extreme Ecosystems. Seeing animals adapted to a range of environments helped bring their classroom learning to life and deepen their understanding of how species survive in different climates and habitats.

The visit also encouraged pupils to develop greater independence as they navigated the zoo in groups, while inspiring curiosity about the natural world and the importance of conservation.

The day provided an enjoyable opportunity to combine learning with exploration, leaving pupils with a greater appreciation of the remarkable diversity of life across the world’s ecosystems.

Field Day – Community Service at Ellen Tinkham School

As part of Field Day, members of the Community Service group visited Ellen Tinkham School in Exeter to see the Early Years playground funded by the Wooden Spoon charity, an organisation that Exeter School regularly supports through fundraising.

The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of inclusive education and to see first-hand the dedication, care and expertise involved in supporting pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Sixth form pupils also had the chance to spend time with staff and pupils, gaining a greater understanding of the school’s welcoming community and the positive impact of its work.

The experience prompted thoughtful reflections from the pupils who took part.

Sam said: “The school was a whole new environment, and it was a beautiful experience where we witnessed teaching to a whole new level. The experience was amazing.”

Penny reflected: “This is an invaluable experience to visit a school for students with special needs. We learnt about how the school supports the children and their families. Seeing students enjoy coming to school and continue into further education shows the impact these teachers have on their futures.”

Ollie said: “It was great to teach and play through the use of actions rather than words.”

Charlie added: “My time at Ellen Tinkham School was very eye-opening. Seeing where our donations are going and how they are helping was great, and I enjoyed spending time with the students.”

The visit offered a valuable opportunity for pupils to learn from the expertise of the staff at Ellen Tinkham School while seeing the impact of Exeter School’s ongoing support for the Wooden Spoon charity.