Junior Reflections Week 7 October 2024

Dear parents,

A wonderful day

Half term is upon us, and what a super busy term it has been. I can hardly believe that we have got here as it has flown by and I know that the pupils are all ready for a rest. Today, I have been thoroughly spoilt as the pupils treated me to a wonderful rendition of Happy Birthday, some beautiful homemade cards, poems, flowers and cake… they are all very good at keeping a secret.  I won’t share with you my age, but twenty-one again!

Click here to hear the children singing

Form reps

I have had another busy week meeting with our form reps on Monday morning. It was a great opportunity to talk about the beginning of term and how things have gone. I am still looking for volunteers from the following classes; F1C, U1W, L2E and M and U2T. If anyone would be willing to volunteer it would be very much appreciated. It entails; one meeting a term with myself, be the point of contact for important reminders, e.g. non-school uniform days, late returns from matches and most importantly coffee and pastries. Please do note that there are no fundraising events for this group and anything that involves fundraising falls under the umbrella of the family society. If you are interested, please do email, jsreception@exeterschool.org.uk.

Visits

I also met with the wonderful family society, who have lots of exciting events being planned for this academic year. The first one for the junior school being the Christmas disco and hopefully we will have more details to follow after half term. I had a lot of fun down in the pre-prep where I took an assembly on the theme of staying safe. Egg Bert came to visit who wasn’t good at listening and staying safe and sadly followed the same route as Humpty Dumpty… The pre-prep children are always a joy to visit, full of questions, curiosity and just all-round loveliness. I spent the afternoon in classrooms on Thursday enjoying seeing all of the work that the upper school pupils were completing, from charcoal drawings, to spiders, excel spreadsheets and much more. I am always so impressed with the quality of the work that all the pupils produce and to see lots of curious minds being put to work.

And so it leaves me to wish you all a wonderful two week half term break, stay safe and I very much look forward to welcoming the pupils back on the 4 November.

Mrs Saskia van Schalkwyk

Playground people of the week

Catherine J

Barnaby B

Leonie McG

Whole school photo

Tempest photography are pleased to report that our whole school group photograph is now available to view and order via the following weblink:

Click here to view and order

Please include your child’s full name to assist with distribution at the school. Order within two weeks to avoid P&P charges (delivery to school). For assistance, please call 01736 752411 – option 3 to place an order (P&P applies) and option 5 for customer services.

Senior school production of ‘Blue Stockings’

The Senior School production of “Blue Stockings” by Jessica Swale takes place on Thursday 28, Friday 29 and Saturday 30 November at 7.30pm in the Butterfield Hall.

Ticket Prices: Adult £10 Child £6 – please purchase tickets via MSP

Love or knowledge; which would you choose?

It is 1896 in Girton College, Cambridge – the first college in Britain to admit women. The Girton girls study ferociously and match their male peers grade for grade. Yet, when the men graduate, the women leave with nothing but the stigma of being a ‘blue stocking’ – an unnatural, educated woman. They are denied degrees and go home unqualified and unmarriageable.

Tess Moffat and her fellow first years are determined to win the right to graduate. But little do they anticipate the hurdles in their way; the distractions of love, the cruelty of the class divide or the strength of the opposition, who will do anything to stop them. The play follows them over one tumultuous academic year, in their fight to change the future of education.

Seating is reserved, and we will advise pupils when tickets are available to collect from the Bursary office, otherwise they will be available to collect on the door on the evening.

People with special access requirements are asked to contact the Box Office on (01392) 458934 in advance.

Poster art by Emma (L6)

Chamber concert

School Chapel at 7.30pm

Prices Adult £6.00 Child £3.00 – please purchase your tickets via MSP

The Chamber Concert will take place on Thursday 21 November in the School Chapel. The concert will feature many of the school’s smaller ensembles and quartets, including Chamber Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Barbershop, Senior Brass, Wind Ensemble, Sax Quartet, ‘cello Ensemble,

Belles Canto and Flute Ensemble.

After the concert, refreshments will be available in the Music Hall.

People with special access requirements are asked to call the Box Office on (01392) 458934.

Junior School News

Junior Sport News

Do you have a story or pupil achievement to share with our community?

If you have a couple of lines of information and a photograph that you and your child are happy to be shared we will try to post these at relevant times through the year.
Email our communications team
Summer experiences will have been varied so we love hearing the options our pupils explore.  Rosalila, going into Lower Sixth, had the opportunity to go on the @nationalyouthchoir residential this summer. She said, "There was real community of people and everyone was so friendly. I really enjoyed being part of such a welcoming group and it was wonderful to be in a choir with people who love singing and wanted to do their best to create amazing music. The range of songs was inspired and enlightening, from beautiful choral music, to jazzy songs, a capella singing to a Spanish fishing song. One song was created with Argentinian native languages and our Argentinian conductor told us about the origins and taught us some Latin dance moves. We even had a chance to speak to composers about their work which added more depth to our performance."  #summerfun #independentschoolsuk #choirmusic #schoolchoirs #summeropportunities

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Good luck to @exschsports pupils Josh, Marcus and Mo who are off to Surrey tomorrow to play in the semi-finals of U16 ECB Cup. They qualified following a thrilling win the quarter-final vs Essex bowling them out for 149 and chasing the total in less than 25 overs.  @exeterschooluk @devoncricket #countycricket #cricket #exeterschoolsport #devoncricket

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We're bringing you results from the @britishrowing Club Championships at the National Water Sports Center in Nottingham in July where Isabelle (M5) and Lisa (L5) won Gold in the Under 14 Women’s Doubles and set a new course record for the WJ14 double!  We're so proud and can't wait to see what the ladies achieve next 🙌  @exschsports #rowing #goldmedals #schoollife #aspireandflourish #newcourserecord #wj14double #u14doublesrowing #nationalwatersportscentrenottingham #independentschools #sports

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Our pupils have shone in GCSEs, with 23% of all grades being grade 9. Furthermore, 47% of grades awarded were a grade 8 or 9.  Acting Head of Exeter School, Mr Graham Bone said: “As I take up the role of Acting Head, it is a privilege to share in the celebration of these fantastic results. Our Year 11 pupils have again shown themselves to be hard-working, diligent Exonians who have made the most of our outstanding teaching, top quality pastoral care, and the wide range of opportunities that Exeter School offers. We are delighted with their GCSE grades: with almost a quarter of results at the top grade of 9 and 47% at the top two grades, there is much to be proud of, and I want to thank all our staff, especially our dedicated teachers, in helping our pupils achieve these excellent outcomes."  #gcseresults2025 #resultsday #sixthformlife #endofyear11 #school #exams #celebrate #schoolexams #talkeducation #goodschoolsguide

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U1 Farmwise trip 2024

U2 Lulworth Cove trip 2024

L2 PGL residential to Beam House

Junior school try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Stover trip 2024

Welcome to our new sixth form centre

Open morning - Saturday 27 September 9.30-12.30pm

Come along to our biggest open morning of the year for a complete overview of our junior and senior schools.

Take part in fun activities, sampling experiences from lessons, hear from our staff and take a tour with those who know Exeter School best – our pupil ambassadors.

Click here to register your place