FAQs

Children can join at the main entry points of Years 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12, but if space is available they can join at other entry points.

We also have Exeter Pre-Prep, previously called The New School, based in Exminster, for girls and boys aged 3 – 7 years of age, from Nursery to Year 2.

Class sizes typically vary through the school as follows:

• In years 7, 8 and 9, class sizes are between 18 and 25 pupils.
• At GCSE, class sizes are closer to 16 pupils on average with most classes between 10 and 22 pupils.
• At A Level, the typical class size is 8 pupils and tend to range from 3 to 15 pupils.

One-to-one tuition, both within a classroom setting and outside, is one of the school’s strengths. Teachers happily make time for pupils at lunchtimes and break, albeit on an informal basis. Clinics to address areas of developments, for subjects such as Maths, ensure that everyone’s needs are met.

You need to complete a registration form by 18 December before the year of entry so that we can get their testing completed. However, pupils can be accepted at any point in the year if there is space in the year group.

We recommend that initially parents visit the school on one of our Open Evenings or arrange a visit to meet the Head of the Junior School. This can be followed by a taster day for the prospective pupil. The next stage is registration followed by an assessment appropriate to the age of the child. If successful, a formal offer of a place is made and parents are asked to sign a contract within three weeks.

Children of all faiths and none are welcomed to the school.

Exeter School offers the Child Student Route via the UK’s Points Based Immigration System and we welcome applications from around the world to study alongside British students.

Exeter School has no boarding facilities as our international pupils live with local families in the local area.

Exeter School has partnered with Vectare, a specialist school transport management company, and The Maynard School, to run a comprehensive school transport network, consisting of routes from Ottery St Mary, Okehampton, Moretonhampstead, Newton Abbot and Exmouth, where there is sufficient demand.

This service is designed to reduce the number of vehicles on or around the school site, reduce our environmental impact, and provide a more convenient school run for parents.

Please take a look at our School Bus Network page.

Bookings for all routes can be made via our dedicated transport website at exetermaynard.vectare.co.uk. This website allows you to enter your postcode, find your
closest stop and see bespoke travel information for your child’s journey to school.

Through the use of Vectare’s technology, you will be able to track your child’s journey to and from school, as well as being able to see when your child has boarded and alighted.

Vectare are responsible for over 1.5 million school journeys per annum, and any enquiries can be directed to their team via exeterschool@vectare.co.uk.

Pupils come from a very wide catchment area, but the majority live within easy reach of Exeter city centre.

There are approximately 42% girls and 58% boys currently in the school.  Some year groups are 50/50.

The school has two Learning Support Coordinators who work with pupils, teachers and parents to support our pupils.

Pupils are supported by a team of house staff who act as the principal contact for our families. The Deputy Head (Pastoral), Pastoral Assistant, the School Nurse and specialist staff support children of different ages. In the junior school, caring form tutors, a well-qualified team of teaching assistants, a Pastoral Assistant and a Learning Support Coordinator are all there to offer advice, guidance and a sympathetic ear. The “Buddy System”, whereby mentors keep an eye out for and show younger pupils the ropes, goes a long way to ease the initial settling-in process for younger pupils.

• Junior School – 8.35am until 3.45pm.
• Senior School and Sixth Form – 8.35am until 4pm.

Junior school – a late room is available until 5.30pm at no additional cost.

Senior school and sixth form – the computer suites and library are open after school until 5pm and 5.15pm respectively.

No, a child is registered once and the registration can be moved forward to a later entry point, if required.

The main sports are rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, rounders and swimming. There are many additional sports options available including tennis, squash, shooting, cross country running and badminton. Football is played in the junior school and in the sixth form.

The same opportunities as are offered to boys.

Current fees can be found on the Fees Page.

Food technology is taught in the junior school. Sixth formers are taught how to cook as part of the Futures Programme, preparing them for life after school.

There is generally one teacher per class, and in the junior school teaching assistants provide additional teaching support to our younger pupils.

Please see our Anti-Bullying Policy

Only pupils in Years 11-13 are allowed offsite during the day, providing they have gained permission and have signed out.

From September 2025, we are introducing an exciting change and our new uniform provider is Schoolblazer. The new items will be available to order from 23 June when parents register here:

Click here to go to Schoolblazer’s website

Pupils should report to the Bursary if they feel unwell and will be assessed by the School Nurse.

There are a wide range of activities available in sport, drama, and music, and many clubs suitable for all ages.

At Year 10 pupils can opt to take up the Duke of Edinburgh award or can join one of the three CCF sections. In the sixth form, the Friday 8 programme is expanded with opportunities for pupils to take part in Community Service, the Sports Leader Award, join the musical group SWUNK or the Exonian editorial team, or take part in the Sixth Form Drama Club, delivering drama workshops to local primary schools.

Residential trips, at home or abroad, are offered as part of the new pupil or academic programme. In the junior school, there are two residentials: one at the beginning of Year 5 and one at the end of Year 6. All Year 7 pupils spend a night camping on the school grounds. Trips to support learning in modern languages, art, history, geography, politics, classics, music and drama also take place on a regular basis.

We believe that it is important to have a broad and enjoyable learning experience, whilst further developing key study skills and keeping subject options open. The majority of pupils choose to continue with three subjects in the Upper Sixth.

Providing a pupil is progressing well in the junior school, following regular assessment, the Headmistress of Exeter Junior School will recommend a transfer to the senior school at the end of Year 6.

The school’s kitchens can and do cater for a very wide range of dietary requirements and food allergies. The Catering Manager is happy to discuss the dietary needs of your child and arrange for suitable food to be provided.

There are hot and cold vegetarian options available every day, and vegan option on request.

Pupils can access a wide range of instrumental lessons ranging from the piano to the trombone, though a network of music teachers that work with the school. The Director of Music can advise on the availability of a specific instrumental lesson.

There are a large number of ensembles for all ages, both classic and modern.

Internal assessments at the end of Year 9 will determine if a pupil will study for Double Award Science or separate sciences at GCSE. Both paths are given the same amount of teaching time and are taught by subject specialists.

Phones in the junior school should be handed in to the office and in the senior school, locked in their lockers. You can find a copy of our mobile phone policy on our policies page.

As part of our wider ICT strategy, we operate a 1:1 pupil owned, school-managed iPad scheme for pupils in Upper Two (junior school) to Upper Fifth. New pupils receive their iPad along with a thorough induction, when they join the school, most commonly in September.

More information on the scheme along with a comprehensive set of frequently asked questions is made available on pupil commencement on MSP, our parent portal.

We operate a ‘bring your own device’ scheme for pupils in the sixth form to ensure each pupil has a suitable device with them to participate fully in all lessons. There is a guide on our parent portal containing more information on specific device requirements, a set of frequently asked questions and links to manufacturers providing an education discount for pupils.

In addition to mobile devices, the school has a large well-equipped computer suite containing a network of high-quality computers used for computer science classes for all age groups. The suite consists of three computer rooms available to the whole school including lunch times and after school. The design technology building has its own computer aided design system, and the music department has a computer suite for music technology. All classrooms and departments in the school have their own networked computers. The internet, which is under supervision and is filtered for pupil use, is available in the teaching day and at lunch time in designated rooms.

All pupils and staff must adhere to an acceptable usage policy that promotes a mature use of ICT facilities.

You can take a look at our entrance assessment guidance and sample papers on this page.

To qualify for entry into the Lower Sixth, applicants and current Upper Fifth pupils need to achieve a minimum of three grade 7 and three grade 6 GCSEs as well as passing GCSE English and mathematics.

We welcome children with all specific learning difficulties and disabilities, and fully support them through their school career at Exeter School. Our learning support team advise teachers on how to support individuals with learning needs and are well trained to work with all children to help them achieve success. Exam access arrangements such as extra time, rest breaks and other adjustments can be put in place for entrance exams, GCSE and A Level. The senior learning support coordinator is a qualified exams access arrangements assessor so all support towards study and exams can be done in school. Pupils are seen regularly by learning support and any emerging needs will be addressed with your full involvement. We establish links with your child’s current school to ensure a smooth transition. Any access arrangements your child has at their current school will be made available for entrance exams, to ensure your child has the same chance as any other pupil. Learning support will contact your child’s current school to discuss what your child needs and advise the Admissions team, making the entrance exam experience as easy as possible.

There are several differences between a state-run primary school and an independent pre-prep school. Read our article on the differences between pre-preps and primary schools for more information.