Moving to Exeter School and The Chorister Programme

Our priority is, and always will be, the children. We are committed to providing a secure, nurturing and aspirational environment in which pupils can thrive academically, musically and personally. Exeter School is a community built on kindness, character and ambition, and we are proud to support the chorister programme in close partnership with Exeter Cathedral.

To help answer some of the most common questions, we’ve highlighted key points from the information booklet below, which can be downloaded for full details. We hope these FAQs provide a clear overview straight away.

If any dates for open events or assessments have already passed, please contact our admissions team. They will be happy to answer your questions and advise on next steps wherever possible.

Exeter Cathedral Chorister Programme at Exeter School

FAQs

Will Exeter School guarantee places for ECS pupils for September 2026?

Yes, for choristers. Choristers in Years 4–8 (as at Sept 2026) who wish to continue in the programme will be offered a place without needing to sit an entrance assessment.*

* In rare cases, if academic information suggests a child may not thrive here, we will discuss this openly and supportively with families.

Non-choristers will join our usual, age-appropriate entrance assessment process. Pupils will sit the entrance assessments appropriate for their year group as part of our usual admissions process.

Can my child join before September 2026?

Choristers must remain at ECS until July 2026 to continue their Cathedral commitments.

Do we need to register with Exeter School for a place?

Yes, all prospective pupils (including current choristers) must be registered in order to be considered for admission to Exeter School. Some families may already be registered from previous applications, so we recommend contacting our admissions team first (admissions@exeterschool.org.uk) to check your registration status.

To support families, the usual registration fee of £150 plus VAT will be waived for current ECS pupils who are not already registered. For more information, please contact our admissions team on 01392 307080.

How will you support pupils moving to Exeter School?

Exeter School is a happy school and has a strong pastoral culture, and we will provide a carefully planned programme of support to help every child settle confidently.
Our junior and senior pastoral teams will work closely with families to understand each child’s needs. All our pupils benefit from:
• A dedicated form tutor
• Peer buddies
• Heads of Section/Year support
• A full pastoral team including chaplain and pastoral assistants

What are your fees?

Year group	Exeter School termly fees £
Reception (over 5s)	3,599
Years 1 and 2	3,725
Years 3 and 4	5,299
Year 5	5,699
Year 6	5,699
Years 7 and 8	6,998
Years 9 – 13	6,998

What are the timings of the school day?

• Junior School: 8:30am-3:45pm
• Senior School: 8:30am-3:55pm

What transport options are available?

We run an extensive bus network with routes across the region. Bookings can be made via our dedicated transport portal, where you can enter your postcode, find your
nearest stop, and view bespoke travel information. In addition, there is a minibus service between Exeter School and Exeter Pre-Prep in Exminster.

See our transport page for more information.

Can we visit before deciding?

Yes. You are very welcome to visit Exeter School before deciding if it is the right school for your children. We have arranged a special open morning specifically for
ECS and chorister families. During the visit, you will have the chance to look around the school, meet Mr Bone and Mrs Van, speak with our Head of Chorister Care,
Mr Titchin, and meet a member of our learning support team. This open morning will take place on Tuesday 13 January at 9am, with arrival via our Manston Terrace
entrance. We would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance by booking online here via the admissions system you will use to apply or emailing admissions@exeterschool.org.uk.

Who to contact with questions

If you have any queries or would like further information, please feel free to get in touch with the relevant member of our team.
• Acting Head of Exeter School – Mr Bone head@exeterschool.org.uk
• Head of Exeter Junior School – Mrs van Schalkwyk juniorschoolhead@exeterschool.org.uk
• Head of Exeter Pre-Prep – Mr Ayling preprephead@exeterschool.org.uk
• Director of External Relations – Mrs Williams esw@exeterschool.org.uk
• Admissions team admissions@exeterschool.org.uk | 01392 307080
• Deputy Head (Pupil Development, Welfare and Wellbeing) – Miss Dunning ad@exeterschool.org.uk
• Deputy Head (Enrichment, Character and Community), including the Chorister Programme – Miss Rose bvr@exeterschool.org.uk