Senior Reflections 25 September 2026

Dear parents and guardians,

As we come to the end of another purposeful week at Exeter School, it feels as though we are truly settling into the rhythm of the academic year. 

I was delighted to have my first experience of school drama at Exeter School when I attended the outstanding performance of Night of the Fox on Friday evening. It was immediately clear why the cast received such high praise at the Edinburgh Fringe. Thought-provoking, moving and humorous in equal measure, Night of the Fox was a remarkable production, and I was immensely impressed by the teamwork and talent displayed by the cast. Bravo! 

It was also wonderful to see so many of you at the School Fete on Saturday. It was lovely to watch the children having so much fun and to have the opportunity to speak with so many members of our community. Events such as these are enormously important in celebrating all that makes our school special. My thanks go to the Family Society and our Events and Operations staff for organising such a successful event. 

On the theme of fun, I greatly enjoyed visiting the 3F residential at Heatree Activity Centre on Wednesday evening. The buzz amongst the pupils on their first night was infectious as they took part in a variety of activities, including building balloon chairs and staging a fashion show using outfits made entirely from newspapers. The facilities were excellent, but what I enjoyed most was the spirit of camaraderie, joy and togetherness on display. These residential experiences play such an important role in strengthening our sense of community, and I am hugely grateful to the staff who care for and support your children so diligently. 

I also had the pleasure of welcoming some of our alumni back to Exeter School over the weekend. It was wonderful to hear stories from years gone by and to learn more about the experiences of these Old Exonians. Speaking with OEs who were pupils here in the 1940s was particularly special and served as a reminder of the privilege and responsibility of stewarding the school during my time as Head. I love the statement displayed in Butterfield Hall: “Celebrating the past; embracing the future.” I very much look forward to meeting more Exonians in the months and years ahead and learning more about the rich history of this special school. 

In terms of community, it was a pleasure to visit St Peter’s Prep School this week and spend time with their inspiring Head, Charlotte Johnston. It was fascinating to see where so many of our pupils began their educational journeys and to hear more about Mrs Johnston’s philosophy of education. I was deeply impressed by all that I saw at St Peter’s and look forward to strengthening the already close relationship between our schools in the years to come. 

Other highlights this week included four of our L5 pupils participating in the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival with Mrs Ridler-Murray, where they joined pupils from other schools across the region to explore the magic of literature. Our M5 pupils demonstrated their creativity during their GCSE Art trip to Bristol, while our CCF RAF cadets enjoyed an exciting Air Experience Flight at Boscombe Down. Meanwhile, our Pupil Leadership Team are attending the Pupil Leaders Conference at Wells Cathedral School today.  

As I write, our governors are spending the morning shadowing pupils in lessons as part of our Governors’ Education Day. Strong governance is essential for any independent school to thrive, and I am immensely grateful for the dedication and expertise of our governing body. Their commitment to Exeter School is exceptional, as is their care for our pupils, staff, parents, alumni, and community. Their stewardship helps ensure that we continue to be the very best school we can be, and for that I am sincerely thankful. 

Tomorrow we hold our Open Morning, beginning at 9.30am. My thanks go to all of your children who are helping in some way, whether by guiding tours, helping in a department or showcasing their work. We very much look forward to welcoming our visitors and giving them the chance to see our amazing school in action. 

Have a wonderful weekend with your families.