Dear parents,
Out and about
Last week, I spent three days in Brighton at the annual IAPS heads conference – a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues and share ideas. A highlight was hearing from Alex Partridge (UniLad, LadBible), who spoke inspiringly about overcoming challenges with ADHD and the importance of celebrating our differences.
On Saturday, I visited Barton Hall, our new venue for the Lower Two residential. The children had a fantastic time enjoying a range of outdoor activities, and I even braved the zipwire from the third floor! Huge thanks to our dedicated staff for making it such a memorable experience.
Making connections
It was a pleasure to see so many Lower School parents on Monday morning for our coffee morning, and I am very much looking forward to welcoming the Upper School parents to our next one on Thursday 2 October, which will take place in the dining room. I was pleased to see that many children have already received a Good Work, which is a highlight for me as I get to see all the wonderful work that is going on and have the pupils share what they have been doing. I look forward to seeing many more over the coming weeks.
Assemblies
This week, I had the privilege of leading the Lower School assembly, where our focus was on the crucial topic of staying safe online. As technology becomes an ever-present part of our daily lives—both in and out of school—it’s more important than ever that we help our pupils develop the skills and awareness they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. The pupils enjoyed listening to the story ‘Once Upon a Time Online’. During the assembly, we discussed practical ways to protect ourselves online, and knowing what to do if something doesn’t feel right. We also talked about the importance of kindness and respect in our digital interactions, reminding everyone that our behaviour online should reflect the same values we uphold in person.
Staff news
I also wanted to share some staff news; after 18 dedicated years at Exeter Junior School, Mr John Wood, my Deputy Head, has decided to retire at the end of this academic year. It has been a genuine pleasure working alongside John, and his contributions to the school community have been deeply valued. We will, of course, celebrate his remarkable service and say our proper goodbyes in due course. The recruitment process for John’s successor will begin after half term, and I will keep you updated as we move forward.
Governor visit
Today, we welcomed many of our Governors to school who spent the morning with our pupils and leadership team as part of their Education Day. The Governors are always hugely impressed by the standard of work and manners that our pupils display, and we enjoy sharing with them all that we do.
Call for parent representatives
We are once again looking for parent volunteers to serve as our school form representatives for this academic year. We would love to have one parent from each form take on this important role. Form reps will serve for one academic year and will have the opportunity to meet with me and, termly, discuss school matters and have a coffee and a croissant. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact me at juniorschoolhead@exeterschool.org.uk.
Important dates
Two additional dates to note for the coming weeks are:
Tuesday 30 September – Family Society Meeting
Parents interested in helping to plan social events and support our school community are warmly invited to the next Family Society meeting at 8:30am in the meeting room next to the bursary. New members are always welcome.
Friday 3 October – The Exonian Quiz
A highlight of our school year, the Exonian Quiz offers an evening of fun and friendly competition. A few spaces remain, so do sign up here if you’d like to take part.
Looking ahead, our scholarship applications open on Monday 29 September. The programme begins with the Excellence Pathway in Third Form (Year 7), develops through Lower Fifth (Year 9), and leads to Scholarship Awards in Lower Sixth (Year 12). Scholarships are offered in art, drama, music, and sport. Applications are invited from pupils currently in Upper Two (Year 6), Lower Fifth (Year 9), and Upper Fifth (Year 11). Full details and the application form are available on our website, and the deadline to apply is Friday 14 November.
Tomorrow, we have our open day, and my thanks go to our Upper School pupils, many of whom have kindly volunteered to give up their time to show prospective families around our school. They are always so proud to show their school off and who better to do this than the pupils themselves.
Have a wonderful weekend.
