Moving into the chorister programme – your questions answered

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

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.

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?

Exeter School fees

Year Autumn term 2026, spring and summer terms 2027
Fee (ex VAT) VAT support discount1 Net Fees (ex VAT) VAT Cost to parents Cost per month
Junior school – Form 1 & Upper 1 (Years 3 & 4) £4,806.35 (£302.18) £4,504.17 £900.83 £5,405 £1,351.25
Junior school – Lower 2 & Upper 2 (Years 5 & 6) £5,219.33 (£231.83) £4,987.50 £997.50 £5,985 £1,496.25
Senior school & sixth form £6,340.03 (£198.36) £6,141.67 £1,228.33 £7,370 £1,842.50
1 VAT support discount only applies to tuition fees that are subject to VAT

 

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 would be grateful if you could book an appointment to visit via the admissions system you will use to apply or by 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.
• Head of Exeter School – Dr Adrian Rainbow 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 (Enrichment, Character and Community), including the Chorister Programme – Miss Rose bvr@exeterschool.org.uk