Senior Reflections

Senior Reflections

Dear parents,

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The senior school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, on Thursday, tonight and tomorrow, has been extremely well received by all who were lucky enough to be there on the opening night. Well known by many of us, this play has been expertly produced and directed by Mr Jamie Brough, supported by Mr Chris Harknett, and has a huge depth of talent on display on the stage. My grateful thanks and congratulations to all those involved – and best of luck for tonight and tomorrow night’s performances. I hope to see many of you there. We have some photos coming through which you can view here and here and we will share more from the performances yet to come in next week’s newsletter.

Music

As the nights are drawing in, Christmas does not seem too far away – and we have a lot of wonderful music to look forward to in the weeks to come.

WaterAid concert in the cathedral – Tuesday 5 December, at 7:30pm – book here

Junior school Christmas concert in the school hall – Tuesday 12 December, at 2:15pm – junior school parents can book through MSP

Senior school Christmas concert in the school hall – Thursday 14 December, at 7:30pm – book here

Please do plan ahead and get your tickets so that you can enjoy our wonderful musicians’ work.

Please do, also, consider joining the choral society in the spring term – for a weekly dose of fabulous music on Tuesday afternoons, culminating in the concert in March, again in the cathedral.  Whether you are an experienced choral singer or not, we would love to have you with us.

Pastoral restructure

You will remember that we are moving towards a new pastoral structure, with heads of section (appointed in the last year) and heads of year, criss-crossing our houses, which will be reduced in number to five. The houses will move towards being the vehicle through which character and pupils’ personal development will be developed, whilst pastoral care will be supported through seven heads of year, and a newly fortified tutor system.

In September 2022 Mr Luigi Chu commenced in his role as Assistant Head (head of sixth form) and in April of this year our two additional heads of section, Assistant Head (head of lower school), Mrs Julia Daybell and Assistant Head (head of middle school), Mr Mike Glanville, took up their posts.  In the last few weeks I am pleased to say that we have completed the recruitment process for the heads of year and we are delighted to announce the following colleagues as our new head of year team from September 2024.

Lower school Head of 3F Mrs Helen Sail
Head of 4F Mr Ed Seaton-Burn
Middle school Head of L5 Dr Gary Robb
Head of M5 Mrs Kat Ridler-Murray
Head of U5 Mr Dan Trim
Sixth form Head of L6 Ms Steph Trica
Head of U6 Mrs AJ Culley

The new heads of house from September 2024 will be line managed by Miss Bethan Rose (Assistant Head, Character) and are as follows.

Mr Richard Baker

Mr Rob Charters

Dr Matthew Commin

Miss Emily Horn

Mrs Mel Sheehan

All twelve of these colleagues bring a wealth of experience, expertise and ideas to these new roles and we look forward to working with them as we shape the new system in the months to come.  We wish them all the very best as they bring their ideas and energies to their new roles.

Parents’ evenings

I hope that M5 parents had productive discussions with colleagues on Tuesday evening. We encourage you to get in touch with heads of house if there are any ongoing areas of concern. The next parents’ evening is for the L6 on Thursday 7 December, here in school.

Scholarships and admissions events

I have much enjoyed meeting candidates for sports scholarships at 11+, 13+ and 16+ this week. It is always a pleasure to hear about the children’s passions for sport, and also how much they look to role models within their chosen sport. This year’s crop have been great fun to talk to – and I wish them all well with the practical assessments. Next Thursday I look forward to meeting our music scholarship candidates – and I am sure that these discussions will be just as entertaining and insightful. On Tuesday 28 November we have an open house event in the morning for prospective families. Please do invite along any neighbours, family or friends who you feel might be in testing about finding out more about Exeter School for their own children. On Saturday 2 December we also have a sixth form interview day and 11+ assessment preparation morning. These two are filling up quickly, so please do encourage any prospective families that you might be in touch with to register as soon as they can. We look forward to meeting new families and their children at all of these events and getting to know them a little.

This weekend’s matches see the girls taking on Wellington School in hockey both at home and away, whilst the boys’ rugby teams are up against Collegiate from Bristol and Millfield Prep for the U11 teams. We hope that the matches are successful and enjoyable for all concerned. On Sunday we wish the Ten Tors participants every success with the second of their navigation training days.

And in the words of the Bard……

“I had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was… The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dream was.”  I hope that you enjoy the show!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

WaterAid Christmas Concert

Our annual Charity Christmas Concert, this year in aid of WaterAid, takes place on Tuesday 5 December 2023 at 7.30pm in Exeter Cathedral.

The musicians of Exeter School will provide a joyful start to the festive period with a concert of seasonal music and readings. The groups that perform are the Chamber Choir, Senior Choir, Show Choir, Belles Canto, Vocal Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and the Senior Brass.

Tickets can be purchased here for the nave or unreserved side aisles, with reductions for children. Ticket Prices Nave Adult £15 / Child £8. Unreserved side aisles Adult £13 / Child £7.

We will let the pupils know when tickets are ready to be collected from the Bursary office at Exeter School, otherwise they will be available at the Cathedral on the evening of the event. People with special access requirements are asked to contact the Box Office on (01392) 458934.

An outstanding week of sport

The senior school cross country teams were in action last week competing in the Exeter district event at Blundell’s. Teams from 3F, 4F/L5 and M5/U5 raced in very muddy conditions across a course ranging from 2.4 – 3.9 km. Exeter pupils had a really successful day dominating the 3F (U12) event with Max, Benjamin and Edward finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd in the boys event and Lydia, Kiva, Astrid, Lucy and Lucy finishing in 2nd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 11th in the girls race. They will be joined by Sophie, Lisa, Rose, Thea, Omar and Austin (4F/L5), Arabella, Gracie and Rory (M5/U5) and a number of sixth pupils in the Exeter district team when they compete the best athletes from East Devon on 23 November. A special mention to Rory who was in superb form winning the U15/U16 race by some distance in an incredible time – 3.9km in 12:58. Rory made it all the way through the national finals last year where he finished 12th overall and we look forward to monitoring his progress, and that of the others in the squads over the coming weeks.

A great week of rugby

As the school rugby term reaches its conclusion the senior school teams continue their fine form. Exeter were involved in some extremely tight matches last weekend and showed real character winning eight out of the tern matches. It was superb to be able to field really strong ‘B’ teams at U12, U13, U14 and U15 and is an indication of the enthusiasm and commitment to Rugby across the school – all four also recorded victories, well done to everyone involved. The 1st XI came from behind to win 24-20 and go onto their final matches this season against Collegiate and Truro in good form. The U16s (12-10) and U15As (12-7) were also involved in very close contests. The U15s deserve a special mention as they were also involved in the fourth round of the national plate on Tuesday where they defeated Brymore Academy (66 – 14). They have now won eight matches in a row and face Ivybridge in the next round of the plate next week.

Coat Collection

The Community Service team is running a coat collection again this year. We would be very grateful if you could donate your family’s outgrown and pre-loved warm coats and shoes / boots to help keep people warm this winter. Items for both adults and children will go to a good home! All donations are very welcome as supplies are running low with all the charities who help the homeless, refugees and others in need. Please bring donations to room 34 in the Senior School.

Thanks in advance from the Community Service Team.

Advent Carol Service

A chance to sing some carols and reflect on the season of advent and Christmas. Join us on Sunday 3rd December in the Chapel at 5pm for the service and afterwards for refreshments. All are welcome, no need to book.

Christmas shoebox appeal: 1 December

We are delighted to be partnering with Cranbrook Education Campus in their holiday gift appeal this year, assembling Christmas boxes for refugee children living in the local area. The plan is for each form group to put together a box/gift bag for a child, and you can find a list of suggested items here. The boxes will be collected from our chapel Friday 1 December. Any donations you can make would be very much appreciated.

Nikesh Shukla author visit 30 November 2023

On Thursday 30 November the award-winning author Nikesh Shukla will be coming to Exeter School to talk to L5 and M5. Nikesh is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, an author, screenwriter and one of the most prominent UK voices on diversity and inclusion in the arts. He will be talking about his books, as well as reflecting on wider issues of race and diversity, which pupils will be discussing in their Character and Practical Wisdom lessons.

Nikesh is the author of three YA novels, Run, Riot (shortlisted for a National Book Award), The Boxer (longlisted for the Carnegie Medal) and Stand Up. For younger readers he has just published The council of good friends, and the Spider-Man India miniseries ‘Seva’ for Marvel. His book, Brown Baby: A Memoir Of Race, Family And Home was longlisted for the Jhalak Prize. He has also written a book on writing called Your Story Matters, and edited a very influential essay collection, The Good Immigrant, about the experience of immigrants and people of colour in the UK.

Many of Nikesh’s books will be for sale in the library and there will be an opportunity for all staff and pupils to chat to Nikesh and get books signed at lunchtime.

Please use the form on MSP to order books to be collected on the day.

Senior School News

Senior Sport News

Today is Q&A's third birthday! 

Q&A stands for Queer community & Allies, and is a group that provides a weekly safe space for pupils to explore ideas, share experiences, and recommend things to read, watch or listen to, all refracted through an LGBT lens. 

The group was founded in the summer of 2021, when a newly appointed prefect offered to take responsibility for improving Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across the school. In particular they were keen to begin an LGBTQ+ group for pupils, and asked for staff support. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Today is Q&A`s third birthday!

Q&A stands for Queer community & Allies, and is a group that provides a weekly safe space for pupils to explore ideas, share experiences, and recommend things to read, watch or listen to, all refracted through an LGBT lens.

The group was founded in the summer of 2021, when a newly appointed prefect offered to take responsibility for improving Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across the school. In particular they were keen to begin an LGBTQ+ group for pupils, and asked for staff support. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
...

The 1st XI girls’ hockey team popped along to watch @exeterunihockeyclub against @lborohockeywomens in the @bucssport yesterday. Great experience! 👍🏻 @exeterschooluk #girlssport #hockey #exeterschoolsport #thisgirlcan

The 1st XI girls’ hockey team popped along to watch @exeterunihockeyclub against @lborohockeywomens in the @bucssport yesterday. Great experience! 👍🏻 @exeterschooluk #girlssport #hockey #exeterschoolsport #thisgirlcan ...

As part of the junior school celebrations for National Poetry Day, the upper school took part in a Guinness World Records Official Attempt: World’s Largest Poetry Lesson this morning. The children had great fun and enjoyed voting on which lines to include in the poem. 
On Friday, the Form One classes will also be participating in an exciting online workshop with the poet Simon Mole. Everyone is very busy celebrating poetry in the junior school!

#exeterschools #schoolofgreatcharacter #nationalpoetryday #guinnessworldrecord #poetryworkshop #worldslargestpoetrylesson

As part of the junior school celebrations for National Poetry Day, the upper school took part in a Guinness World Records Official Attempt: World’s Largest Poetry Lesson this morning. The children had great fun and enjoyed voting on which lines to include in the poem.
On Friday, the Form One classes will also be participating in an exciting online workshop with the poet Simon Mole. Everyone is very busy celebrating poetry in the junior school!

#exeterschools #schoolofgreatcharacter #nationalpoetryday #guinnessworldrecord #poetryworkshop #worldslargestpoetrylesson
...

Join the head, former teacher Giles Trelawny and the alumni team - a great way to catch up with old friends and meet fellow Exonians who live, work or study in and around Bath. RSVP to our alumni team or send us a DM.

#exoniansinbath #brownsbrasserie #brownsbath #independentschoolsuk #oldexonians #alumnievent

Join the head, former teacher Giles Trelawny and the alumni team - a great way to catch up with old friends and meet fellow Exonians who live, work or study in and around Bath. RSVP to our alumni team or send us a DM.

#exoniansinbath #brownsbrasserie #brownsbath #independentschoolsuk #oldexonians #alumnievent
...

Superb performance from the @exeterschooluk U14s this morning! A great weekend of rugby! @nextgenxv #rugby #exeterschoolsport #team #mates #friendship

Superb performance from the @exeterschooluk U14s this morning! A great weekend of rugby! @nextgenxv #rugby #exeterschoolsport #team #mates #friendship ...

The 1st XI girls’ hockey team popped along to watch @exeterunihockeyclub against @lborohockeywomens in the @bucssport yesterday. Great experience! 👍🏻 @exeterschooluk #girlssport #hockey #exeterschoolsport #thisgirlcan

The 1st XI girls’ hockey team popped along to watch @exeterunihockeyclub against @lborohockeywomens in the @bucssport yesterday. Great experience! 👍🏻 @exeterschooluk #girlssport #hockey #exeterschoolsport #thisgirlcan ...

Superb performance from the @exeterschooluk U14s this morning! A great weekend of rugby! @nextgenxv #rugby #exeterschoolsport #team #mates #friendship

Superb performance from the @exeterschooluk U14s this morning! A great weekend of rugby! @nextgenxv #rugby #exeterschoolsport #team #mates #friendship ...

Great morning of rugby 🏉 against @westbucklandsport 

Well done to our U17s on their performance! 🙌🏻 #exeterschoolsport #rugby #teamwork #endeavour

Great morning of rugby 🏉 against @westbucklandsport

Well done to our U17s on their performance! 🙌🏻 #exeterschoolsport #rugby #teamwork #endeavour
...

Great to find out more about our talented female footballers and their achievements. Jess (U6) is in the @exetercitywomensfc 1st team squad, Sophie (M5) in the Exeter City U16 JPL, Faith & Anna U14 JPL and Astrid U13 GDC. What brilliant role models, can’t wait to hear more about their footballing achievements! @exeterschooluk #thisgirlcan #exeterschoolsport #girlsfootball #grecians

Great to find out more about our talented female footballers and their achievements. Jess (U6) is in the @exetercitywomensfc 1st team squad, Sophie (M5) in the Exeter City U16 JPL, Faith & Anna U14 JPL and Astrid U13 GDC. What brilliant role models, can’t wait to hear more about their footballing achievements! @exeterschooluk #thisgirlcan #exeterschoolsport #girlsfootball #grecians ...

Equestrian news - Lamorna (U5) recently represented Exeter School at a national showjumping qualifier at Moreton in Dorset, competing against teams and individuals from Millfield, Bryanston, Sidcot, Gillingham to mention but a few. She secured 1st place in the 90cm competition competing against over 50 other riders and a 3rd place in the 80 cm. She has qualified to represent the school at The National School’s Equestrian Championships in the Autumn. @exeterschooluk

Equestrian news - Lamorna (U5) recently represented Exeter School at a national showjumping qualifier at Moreton in Dorset, competing against teams and individuals from Millfield, Bryanston, Sidcot, Gillingham to mention but a few. She secured 1st place in the 90cm competition competing against over 50 other riders and a 3rd place in the 80 cm. She has qualified to represent the school at The National School’s Equestrian Championships in the Autumn. @exeterschooluk ...

Congratulations to 1st XV captain Ollie (U6) who has been invited to the England U18 training camp! 🙌🏻 @nextgenxv @exeterschooluk @exeterchiefsacademy #exeterschoolsport #rugby #captain

Congratulations to 1st XV captain Ollie (U6) who has been invited to the England U18 training camp! 🙌🏻 @nextgenxv @exeterschooluk @exeterchiefsacademy #exeterschoolsport #rugby #captain ...

Defeat against good opposition but a really promising start to the season and lots to be excited about. Well done to @exschsports 1st VII netball this afternoon. @nextgenxvnetball @exeterschooluk #netball #sistersinsport #schoolsport #thisgirlcan #exeterschoolsport

Defeat against good opposition but a really promising start to the season and lots to be excited about. Well done to @exschsports 1st VII netball this afternoon. @nextgenxvnetball @exeterschooluk #netball #sistersinsport #schoolsport #thisgirlcan #exeterschoolsport ...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream