Dear parents and guardians,
We have come to the end of another fantastic week at Exeter School.
I had the pleasure of attending the HMC Heads’ Conference in Manchester this week. Although I always dislike being away from school, I greatly value the opportunity to hear from fellow heads and leading educational thinkers about pedagogical innovation and how best to prepare young people for life beyond our school gates. I returned with plenty of ideas and a renewed sense of inspiration after listening to speakers such as David Marquet, author of Turn the Ship Around, and Jo Garner, former CEO of Nationwide, both of whom offered thought-provoking insights into leadership. It was also a privilege to attend Dame Carol Ann Duffy’s recital of some of her favourite poems, which was undoubtedly a personal highlight of the conference.
What pleased me most was the realisation that Exeter School is already doing so much, both within and beyond the classroom, to equip our pupils with the knowledge, skills and character they will need to flourish at university and in their future careers. That said, we will never rest on our laurels and will continue to seek opportunities to strengthen the educational experience we provide.
With an eye on the future, Wednesday’s Cyber Security Careers Event gave pupils a valuable insight into this rapidly growing sector. Speakers from a range of professional backgrounds, including the military, policing, healthcare, cyber security and strategic consultancy, shared their career journeys and current roles, helping to broaden understanding of the many pathways available. We were also delighted to welcome OE Ross Saunders back to Exeter School to speak about his work at Saatchi & Saatchi and how the study of modern foreign languages can open unexpected doors throughout a career.
There was plenty else to celebrate this week. Our Upper Sixth biology field trip was a resounding success, as was the Middle Fifth geography visit to Dawlish Warren. The Upper Fifth Taster Day proved immensely valuable, giving pupils the opportunity to experience sixth form study and explore new academic subjects, while the pool table in the Sixth Form Centre was predictably popular! Equally memorable was the Lower Sixth induction trip to North Devon Wake Park, which looked tremendous fun for everyone involved.
A reminder that scholarship applications opened on Friday 25 September. Our scholarships in art, drama, music and sport recognise pupils who demonstrate exceptional talent, commitment and potential. The programme begins with the Excellence Pathway in Third Form (Year 7), continues with Scholarship Development in Lower Fifth (Year 9), and culminates in Scholarship Awards in Lower Sixth (Year 12). Applications are therefore invited from pupils currently in Upper Two (Year 6), Fourth Form (Year 8) and Upper Fifth (Year 11). Full details, together with the application form, are available on our website, and the deadline for applications is Friday 13 November.
Also, next week we will be sending out a parental survey, and we would be very grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete it.
I look forward to seeing some of you at the OE Quiz this evening, which I understand is always fiercely contested, and to spending time with former pupils tomorrow at the alumni rugby reunion.
Finally, my very best wishes go to our Lower Sixth pupils who will be tackling the 23.5-mile Abbots’ Way Walk on Sunday in support of Dartmoor Search and Rescue. It is an impressive challenge and one that demands determination, resilience and teamwork. Good luck to all taking part.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend with your families.
