Senior Reflections Week 25 March 2025

Dear parents,

It has been a busy and very diverse week at Exeter School this week, with some momentous and important events along the way.

Ten Tors training

Last weekend the Ten Tors training programme held its highlight ‘1633 event’. This is the first unaccompanied expedition for the teams and they were very lucky with cold dry conditions, and generally good visibility which makes the going so much easier. Across the 35 mile and 45 mile events (Middle Fifth and Lower Sixth respectively) we had ten teams out on the moor, all arriving safely into Sticklepath to finish their two day trek at about lunchtime on Sunday. As ever, it was a pleasure to be able to see the groups in, with so many smiling faces, despite the sore feet and shoulders! At this event the teams were welcomed home by friends and family – and quite an assortment of canine companions, who helped to urge them through the finish. Very well done to them all, and many thanks to the huge team of helpers who make it all possible, led brilliantly by Mr Ben Hall. I would also like to mention Mrs Helen Clark and Mr Tony Clark who host us so generously at their farm in Sticklepath, which makes an excellent base. Mrs Clark is a member of our board and she and her husband have supported the Ten Tors event for many years, for which we are very grateful. The tea and cakes are legendary!

Here at school the netball and hockey matches went really well, and in the city, the art scholars’ exhibition was enjoyed by all who visited the Positive Lights Project. Thank you to all who facilitated these opportunities for pupils.

Sevens rugby

This week we have had two squads at Rosslyn Park, the national schools sevens rugby tournament. The squads represented the U16 (Upper Fifth) and U18 (sixth form) and we had high hopes as they set off. The tournament was incredibly exciting and the sixth form team did phenomenally well, losing in the semi-final to an impressive Cheltenham College team.  The matches were live streamed and it was a pleasure to be able to watch the action (from the sixth form common room) as it was happening. Goodness me, we were on the edge of our seats and enjoyed some spectacular play by the players. I congratulate all involved – they did themselves proud and were impressive on the field and in their sportsmanship. Very well done and huge thanks to all the staff who supported the boys not just on the day, but in their journey to the competition. Very well done indeed.

Click here to read more about the Rosslyn Park National 7s

Futures conference

Back at school on Tuesday, the Futures conference for the Lower Sixth gave them a valuable opportunity to start to consider next steps beyond school. Our alumni are an important element of our careers and university advice programme and, as ever, it was a real pleasure to be able to welcome alumni with a wide range of backgrounds to come to school and share their own journeys; reflecting on the difference that their Exeter School experience had made in giving them a wide range of choices. Many thanks to Mrs Szender, Miss Holohan and Mr Chu for organising the event.

Founders’ Day

Wednesday was Founders’ Day and saw us in the cathedral, celebrating the founding of the school, reflecting on the work done here since 1633, and considering the importance of the future for us all. With over 1000 of us in the cathedral, the event is a pertinent reminder of the importance of togetherness and community, and in such a grand and inspirational building, it is almost impossible not to be moved by the enthusiastic singing (from the congregation) as well as the more nuanced and expert music, from our instrumentalists and choirs. The guard of honour, in smart CCF uniforms were there at the west door of the cathedral to welcome us into the sunshine, and it was a pleasure to welcome board members and the Lord Mayor of Exeter as our guests. Thank you to all who organised and supported the event to make it run so smoothly.

Governor activity

Founders’ day is always the same day as the final board meeting of the spring term and this year, in addition to that meeting on Wednesday, we had a day of strategic discussion on Thursday with the board and leadership coming together to consider next steps for the school. This built partly on the survey that so many parents had completed for us earlier this term and we had fascinating discussions about what we value today, what challenges we face in the future and what steps might be taken to better develop the school’s provision for pupils and face the future with confidence.  Coming as it did the day after our celebration of the school’s founding, and reflections on almost four centuries of history, it was clear that the board are determined to see the school healthy, fit and thriving into the second four hundred years. With the political and financial headwinds that we face, of course that means that we need to be agile and innovative, and having days set aside to consider this are important for us all. My grateful thanks go to all our board members for the time and expertise that they share with us, so generously.

German exchange

On Wednesday, the school also welcomed two staff members and 17 pupils on our German exchange trip, with the visitors coming to us from Hildesheim in Lower Saxony. You may know that this is a long running relationship, indeed, in a discussion with an alumnus who left the school in the 1970s earlier this week, we reflected on his own memories of the exchange. It has been running now for over half a century and, like all such activities, gives pupils from Exeter (and Hildesheim) a unique opportunity to have a cultural and linguistic opportunity, staying with a family and seeing the daily lives of people whose own experience is so different to their own. The group are here for a week and we hope that they enjoy their time with us, both in school and exploring the area more widely. My grateful thanks go to Mrs Samantha Wilson who is leading the exchange.

House drama

Tonight and tomorrow we will enjoy the House drama in the drama studio. Pupils have been working hard on this pupil-led drama, the first edition of which was last year. The pieces were funny, clever, inventive and hugely entertaining last year, and I am confident that this year will be similar. Best of luck to all the actors and technicians who are supporting the performances and many thanks to the drama team for their input in the productions.

Senior prefects

Over the past two weeks we have been considering carefully who will take the reins as the new prefect team. They will find out today (after the newsletter is published) and I wish them every success in their roles. We will be sharing the news with the school community next week. It has not been easy to make the decision – the Lower Sixth are a very impressive bunch, and I congratulate every one of the nearly 60 candidates who put themselves forward for interview. It has not been easy making the decisions.

After a busy week of sport, with house netball and hockey and both hockey and rugby sevens, there are no fixtures this weekend. The Lower Fifth bronze DofE participants have a training day on Sunday and I hope that this goes really well as they take their first steps with navigation and mapwork as they prepare for their expeditions later in the year.

Have a lovely weekend.