Senior Reflections Week 15 January 2026
Dear parents,
As we move further into the term, the school is already very much in full swing. Classrooms are buzzing again with purposeful learning, clubs and activities are well underway, and the calendar is filling rapidly with sporting and cultural events. It has been a pleasure to see pupils so fully engaged across all areas of school life so early in the term.
Last weekend saw our first sports fixtures of the season. While frozen surfaces caused a little disruption, it was nonetheless heartening to see such enthusiasm and adaptability. Our girls enjoyed a mini tournament of netball in the sports hall, and last weekend it was the boys’ turn to demonstrate their skills with sticks, producing some excellent results and closely fought hockey matches against Blundell’s. Looking ahead, this weekend sees the girls taking on Mount Kelly and the boys facing King’s Bruton. Good luck to all involved, and my thanks, as always, to the coaches and staff who give so generously of their time to support our pupils.
This week our Middle Fifth (Year 10) and Lower Sixth (Year 12) drama pupils travelled to the Bristol Old Vic to watch a performance of Lost Atoms, which comes highly recommended. Meanwhile, our senior artists benefited from a series of inspiring talks led by Will Hardy, encouraging them to think more deeply about creative practice and professional pathways in the arts. The workshop offered valuable insights into the wide range of career opportunities within the creative industry and successfully explored how technology is shaping new pathways for young people entering the field. Wednesday also saw an outstanding Lower Sixth art exhibition on the theme of obsession. Your children’s talents continue to amaze!
Continuing the creative theme, on Wednesday it was wonderful to listen to our percussionists performing an impressive and engaging programme at our informal Woodwind Concert. Listening to the wonderful warmth from the variety of different saxophones, the round smooth sounds from the clarinets and the bright and delicate tones from the flutes was a real pleasure. These low-key concerts are among my favourite events of the school year, showcasing not only musical progress achieved through dedication and practice, but also the collaborative and supportive spirit of our music community. Next week it will be the turn of our singers, which I am very much looking forward to.
Our Upper Fifth (Year 11) pupils have been outstanding this week during their trial examinations. I look forward to reviewing their results and, over the coming weeks and months, we will be working even more closely with them as they prepare for their summer exams.
Lower Fifth (Year 9) pupils have been learning about the GCSE options process this week, with discussions continuing next week at the face-to-face parents’ evening. With so many exciting choices on offer, narrowing options can feel daunting. Please do encourage your child to speak with their tutor, subject teachers, Mr Trim or Mr Fennemore if they would value further guidance.
On Wednesday our Upper Sixth (Year 13) geographers enjoyed an educational visit to Hinkley Point. They came back glowing having learnt more about the importance of this huge project to our future national energy requirements, and the challenges and logistical complexities of such a large endeavour. And today our sixth form historians head to Ireland for a three-day trip, where they will deepen their understanding of Irish history and the social and political developments that have shaped the modern nation. Also today, our Lower Two (Year 4) pupils are enjoying a special ‘Robot Morning’, and I hope to pop in myself to experience part of the session.
I am sharing our senior school half-termly safeguarding and health bulletin, which has useful information on current online scams and the risk they pose to pupils. If you have any concerns, please contact your child’s form tutor in the first instance.
I hope your year has started well. There is much to look forward to here at Exeter School, not least the arrival of Dr Rainbow in September. He and I remain in regular communication, and he has asked me to pass on his best wishes to you all for a positive and successful 2026. We will also shortly be sharing further details on the outcomes of our Shape of the Week and curriculum review project. We are confident that the changes being introduced will further enhance learning, teaching and the day-to-day experience of your children.
One date for the diary is the quiz night, on Friday 27 February, which is a great opportunity to socialise with other parents and have some fun. If you wish to join us, tickets can be booked at https://esfs.org.uk/quiz. It really is a fun evening, with raffles, a game of heads and tails, and I promise that the questions are fun and written by our very own Mr Ayling.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. I wish you all a restful weekend and look forward to the exciting weeks ahead.
