Junior Reflections

Junior Reflections Week 21 2024

Dear parents,

I feel like the weather is beginning to turn. I must admit I am a little bit fed up with the rain, and I know that the children certainly prefer outdoor breaks than indoor. Thank you for reminding your children to bring their coats to school, as this means that, where possible, we will try to get them out for some fresh air, whatever the weather.

Assembly

I had seven budding actors helping me in my assembly on Monday, demonstrating through drama the different roles that bullying can take. My helpers reminded the school that often being a bystander and not helping can be seen as just as hurtful as the person who is being unkind. We discussed how important it is to stand up to bullies and how hard it can be if the person being unkind is our friend.

Parents’ evenings and governors’ meetings

This week has been a busy week with parents’ evenings and governors’ meetings. The junior school committee met and started our meeting with a super presentation about our history department led by Mr Evans and Miss Lawrence (pre-prep), and everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed looking at the work that the pupils across the school had completed. The Viking longships by Upper One were particularly impressive, as were the Form One diaries.

School Council

I attended School Council on Thursday, and, as always, I did like hearing all about what the pupils are enjoying but also what we can do to make things a little better. We shared some new badges for Good Works, which was a suggestion from Nathan in Lower Two, and I look forward to showing these to the rest of the school, as the school council was very impressed. The smell of cheese and onion pasties wafted through the junior school on Thursday in our Upper Two cookery club, and it was lovely to welcome Benjamin and Zhi, two Lower Fifth pupils, who were volunteering as part of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh. I think they very much enjoyed returning to the junior school and spending time in their old classroom.

Next week

A couple of reminders for next week; World Book Day is taking place on Thursday, and I know that the pupils are very much looking forward to dressing up as their favourite character, and on Friday I am looking forward to welcoming the Upper One parents to school to watch the anticipated performance of ‘Viking Rocks’.

Good luck to the girls playing netball tomorrow at Taunton. I look forward to hearing all about it on Monday.

Playground people of the week

Jake U1R

Sandra U1R

Henry U2T

William U2T

Informal Concert

Our final 4pm Informal Concert on Wednesday was an open event, meaning that singers, pianists, pupils accompanying themselves and violinists were all performing. Hugo and Tom played/sang pop numbers by Bruno Mars and Adele, whilst keen composer Amelia performed one of her own songs. Two of our talented Upper One violinists were especially impressive with their excellent intonation and confidence. Anna and Lucia both chose jazzy vocal solos, creating a relaxed mood with Summertime and Love Like You, an ambience that also was conveyed by a sensitive and very moving rendition of Chopin’s Prelude in D Flat (Raindrop) by Spiro. Also performing a piano solo was Ingrid, who played the 3rd movement of the Moonlight Sonata with vigour and technical accomplishment, and was much appreciated by the audience. You can access the audio recording here.

On Wednesday 6 March at 5-6.30pm there is the Twilight Jazz, Rock and Pop Concert in the Music Hall, in which a number of bands will be performing. Entrance is free, and all members of the school community are welcome to attend. The following week is the Choral Society concert in the Exeter Cathedral, featuring the main chorus, Chamber Choir, Vocal Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, along with our guest orchestra of professional players from across the South West. Tickets are available here.

World Book Day

Mark your calendars, everyone! On Thursday, March 7, Exeter Junior School will immerse in the enchanting world of literature for World Book Day. We are delighted to host author Sam Sedgman, who will conduct engaging workshops for each year group. There is an opportunity to order copies of Sam Sedgman’s books in advance at a special discounted rate. Please use the form which can be found here to order, or alternatively, books will be available to buy on the day. We invite you to join the festivities by participating in our biennial tradition of dressing up as your favourite book character. We would like you to step into the shoes of any one of your most cherished book characters. Let’s make this World Book Day a memorable celebration of the magic found within the pages of a good book! Happy reading, Mrs Hardy.

Junior School News

Junior Sport News

With many of you probably making your way through Easter chocolates, Alec Bourne, sous chef at Exeter School, talks to us here about how important our food choices are when it comes to fuelling our bodies for the activities we're undertaking during the school day. Check out our salad bar when you're back in school to see what you can choose to fuel your minds for the exam period so that you can always be looking to aspire and flourish in your next endeavour. 

#HealthyEating #SchoolDinners #SchoolLunch #WelcomeAndServe #SchoolOfGreatCharacter #sodexouk_ire #EatWithPurpose #FuelWithFlavour 

🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co

Captured In The Moment by Aidan Hogg, https://t.lickd.co/l/PG8vlz5wegl

...

107 2
🏏Free professional learning event for sport coaches ⚽️

We are delighted to be partnering with Leeds Beckett University to host a Knowledge Exchange Event at Exeter School, bringing together school-based practitioners for a collaborative day focused on long-term athletic development (LTAD) in schools.

This free professional learning event invites PE teachers, sport coaches, athletic development coaches and directors of sport to connect, share practice and explore how schools can create joined-up, sustainable athletic development programmes that support every young person. Across the day, delegates will move from theory into practice through a carefully structured programme of discussion, workshops and practical sessions, designed to support the creation of a shared vision across PE, sport and strength and conditioning. 

Participants will explore how schools can work more collaboratively to strengthen long-term athletic development, while addressing key challenges such as workload balance and the demands placed on both staff and students. The event will also highlight innovative and collaborative approaches to athletic development, encouraging practitioners to share ideas, challenge current practice and develop practical solutions that can be implemented within their own school environments.

For more info and to register, please see the link in our Linktree in our bio.

#sportsdevelopment #professionaldevelopment

...

87 0
County champions 👏🏻🏆 - well done to our U14 rugby squad who rounded off a brilliant term with a 54-7 win in the county cup final yesterday. 

@devonrfu @exeterschooluk #champions🏆 #countycup #exeterschoolsport #schoolofgreatcharacter

...

115 1
County champions 👏🏻🏆 - well done to our U14 rugby squad who rounded off a brilliant term with a 54-7 win in the county cup final yesterday. 

@devonrfu @exeterschooluk #champions🏆 #countycup #exeterschoolsport #schoolofgreatcharacter

...

115 1
Massive congrats to the 1st XI football squad who won their final league game of the season yesterday to be crowned ISCA league champions 🏆 2026! This is only the fifth time the school has won the league! Great achievement. @exeterschooluk 

#exeterschoolsport #champions #football #schoolofgreatcharacter

...

170 0
Team photos 2025-26 by @marklockettphotography

...

171 0
Brilliant footage of one of the recent National cross country events. Huge congratulations to Rory (L6), Penelope (U5) and George (4F) who all represented Devon as well as the school and their clubs at these amazing events. 

@exeterschooluk #exeterschoolsport #schoolofgreatcharacter #busyschool #madmarch

...

71 0
A day to remember! Congratulations to the U16 netball squad who won the @sistersnsport bowl at finals day today hosted at @lborouniversity 

A nail biter (23-24) in the semi final against Manchester High School set up a final vs Surbiton High School. A superb performance saw the girls win 25-19 to be crowned bowl champions! Well done girls, so proud of you! 👏🏻🏆👏🏻 @exeterschooluk #exeterschoolsport #netball #exeterschoolnetball #schoolofgreatcharacter

...

219 3
The 1st VII returned with a bit of silverware today 👏🏻 winning the shield at the West of England 7s. Loads of progress and great preparation for the @rpns7s in two weeks time @exeterschooluk #rugby7s #exeterschoolsport #exeterschool #schoolofgreatcharacter

...

198 2
Whole School open evening - Thursday 7 May 5.30pm

 

Experience the school in action at our open evening – 5.30pm on Thursday 7 May. This event offers the chance to hear from the Head and have the opportunity to visit both the junior and senior schools. Click here to book your place.