Junior Reflections Week 15 January 2025

Dear parents,

What a super start to the new year this week has been. We welcomed six new pupils and their families to the school and I know that your children have made them all very welcome to the school and the start of their Exeter School journey. The corridors are full again and even though the twinkly lights and tree have all come down, the laughter and chatter certainly makes up for dark mornings and nights.

New year’s resolutions

New year’s resolutions were the order of the day on Monday. My lovely dog, Rocco, the fox red labrador, made an appearance (not literally) whereby I shared many photos of all the things that he had chewed/eaten, much to the amusement of the pupils: homework, airpods, many pairs of flipflops, books, his bed, sunglasses and finally my iWatch. My new year’s resolution was not a new dog but a new watch to include keeping my steps up, from which the dog, of course, benefits…. Let’s see how long it lasts. It is always good to reset, think about all the good things that happened in 2024 and of course be thankful for all the things that we have to look forward to this year.

Positive start to the year

This week, our junior school buddies gathered to share their hopes and dreams for 2025. It was a delightful session where they reconnected and kicked off the new year by discussing their resolutions and goals for the year ahead. Good work has started with a bang and as always I am blown away by the standard of work that comes to my office. A highlight was enjoying a rap created by three Upper Two boys, bringing in our school virtues; it was simply brilliant and made my day.

Junior school quiz

Our junior school quiz is fast approaching on 24 January, 7-10pm. If you would like to join, please do contact your form rep or email familysociety@exeterschool.org.uk and we will add you to our list. You can also book via the ESFS website and more details can be found below. We are also looking for donations for our raffle prizes so if you are able to contribute please do send any items to the junior school office. It has always proven to be a fun (with a little bit of competition) night out and an opportunity to catch up with the school community.

Warm clothing

Finally, a reminder that your children will need to wrap up warm over the course of this half term, with chilly, wet and windy conditions almost guaranteed! Each morning, we would like them all to bring in the blue branded school coat, gloves and a woolly hat (school colours only, please – red, white, blue). Please also ensure that all items of clothing are named, which makes returning misplaced items so much easier for us.

Stay warm this weekend.

Mrs Saskia van Schalkwyk

Playground people of the week

Theo S-M F1C

Georgia L U2E

ESFS pre-prep and junior school parents quiz

Exeter School Family Society are hosting a fun quiz night on Friday 24 January at 7pm in the main school hall.

Teams of up to six are welcome and tickets can be purchased for £5 each, below. (Please use the password: ESFS1633 when prompted)

Additionally, if any parents have any prizes they would be willing to donate for the raffle this would also be very much appreciated.

 

Click here to book tickets

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
We are so proud of our pupils for the way they embody our virtue of kindness and integrity both at school and beyond the classroom 💫 

#KindnessAndIntegrity #ExeterSchool #CharacterEducation #DevonSchools #IndependentSchools

...

199 0
It was wonderful to see a group of Lower Fifth (Year 9) pupils volunteering for their Duke of Edinburgh by litter picking on Exmouth Beach over the weekend. 

Their efforts were recognised by an Exmouth resident who shared this photo to a local community group, receiving over 1,000 likes and countless positive comments.

Well done to all pupils for embodying Exeter School’s values of welcoming and serving the community 👏

@dofeuk #WelcomeAndServe #DukeOfEdinburgh #MakingADifference #ExeterSchool #IndependentSchools

...

52 0
📅 One month to go

Join us for an evening with Exeter School alumnus Alex Leger, the man behind Blue Peter, as he shares stories from his days here at Exeter School and explains how they set him on a path to an adventure-filled career. 

📍Exeter School

⏰ Friday 6 February 2026 at 6.00 – 8.30pm

 🎟 Book your place now via the link in our bio.

#ExeterSchoolAlumni

...

8 0
Last chance 📢 Applications for bursaries close this Friday.

Our bursaries are designed to support families who would benefit from financial assistance, helping ensure an Exeter School education is accessible to pupils with the ability to thrive here.

For more information on eligibility and the application process, please visit the bursaries page via the link in our bio. 

#ExeterSchool #InspireAndChallenge #Bursaries #IndependentEducation #DevonSchools

...

13 0
📢 We are seeking an Early Years Practitioner to join our pre-prep school in Exminster.

🧑‍🏫 You will join a small, friendly professional team on a permanent basis for 2 days a week, from 23 February 2026.

🕛 The closing date for application is 12 January so don't delay! Visit the link in our bio to apply.

#JobAlert #ExeterJobs #EducationJobs

...

12 0
It was a beautiful but frosty start as pupils and staff returned through the school gates this morning. We hope everyone had a restful break and is enjoying their first day back ❄️ 

We noticed a few parents with big smiles while dropping off their children, perhaps looking forward to some quiet time after a busy couple of weeks 😄

#BackToSchool #WinterMornings #SchoolLife #ExeterSchool #InspireAndChallenge

...

101 0
Feeling inspired for the year ahead? Our sixth formers certainly were after hearing from Nick Butter — the first person to run a marathon in every country and holder of multiple world records 💫

@nickbutterrun #Running #NewYearMotivation #StartTheYearStrong #InspirationDaily #StayMotivated #exeterschool

...

155 0

Young Changemakers Reindeer Run 2024

Junior school house sport - 13 Dec 2024

Christmas house day - 2024

L2 robot morning 2024

Junior school house sport - 12 Dec 2024

U2 Powderham Castle trip - History Expedition Day 2024

L2 Buckland Abbey trip - History Expedition Day 2024

F1 RAMM trip - History Expedition Day 2024

Whole School open morning - Friday 23 January 9am

Experience the school in action at our open morning. This smaller event offers the chance to hear from the Headteacher and have the opportunity to visit both the junior and senior schools. Click here to book your place.