Senior Reflections Week 23 2024

Dear parents,

Music

It has been a week filled with music and I want to start with huge congratulations to all those involved in the wonderful choral society concert on Wednesday in the cathedral. Mr Tamblyn and Mr Davies directed a choral society of over a hundred voices, and an impressive symphony orchestra of pupils with professional instrumentalists to play a rousing programme of the Dambusters March and Arnold’s March from Little Suite no 1, followed by three wonderful choral pieces. Vivaldi’s Magnificat and Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to music, followed by Dvořák’s Mass in D Major. The sound raised the roof in the cathedral and was much appreciated by the audience. Very well done especially to the soloists – Emily, Henry, Henry, Imogen, Oscar, Dominic, Lucia, Amelia, Izzy, Felicity and Rose. Some of them were performing their debut solo in the cathedral, and for the Upper Sixth, it may be the last time we hear them in this context. They were all spectacular, and supported brilliantly by the vocal ensemble and chamber choir. What a night! Photos of the event can be found here.

I was in the cathedral again on Thursday evening for the Exeter Cathedral School charity concert – it was lovely to hear such a broad range of wonderful and engaging music in a different context but the same setting, with every single child in the school performing. And to see a good number of future Exonians in the ECS choirs and ensembles; our future of music making at Exeter School is certainly secure.

Staff news – Mr Andrew Dobson

A passionate lover of literature and teacher of English, Andrew joined Exeter School as an English teacher in September 2010 and was later promoted to head of the department in 2014. During his time with us, Andrew has made significant contributions to our school community, overseeing the progress and development of numerous pupils in the crucial core subject of English. Under his guidance, the results of our pupils in public exams have consistently surpassed national standards. Andrew’s expertise and passion have been evident across KS3, K34 and A Level, where he has consistently challenged our pupils intellectually and fostered an environment of shared learning and progress.

As you may be aware Andrew has been unwell since January and has made the difficult decision not to return to the school.

We wish Andrew the very best in his future endeavours and I am sure you will join me in thanking him for his dedication and commitment to excellence in education.

Ten Tors

It is the Ten Tors 1633 event this weekend and I look forward to seeing many of you and your children at the finish at Ford Farm on Sunday. We wish the teams every success and hope that the weather and conditions are friendly.

Sevens rugby tournament

We have both U16 and U18 teams away at Rosslyn Park national rugby sevens tournament in the early stages of next week, and they will be leaving on Sunday. This is a prestigious tournament which offers the most challenging and broadest competition within the sport and we wish our team members every success for the competition.

Senior prefects

Today the outgoing senior prefects led our assembly and shared some reflections and their characteristic wonderful humour in a farewell assembly as they begin to prepare to hand over the baton to the new team. We interviewed 39 members of the Lower Sixth on Saturday last week and are currently ruminating on what shape the new team will take. The outgoing senior prefects have been a wonderful team to work with – lots of fun, but at the same time mature, hardworking and with many great ideas to give. We thank them very much for all they have done in these roles. I meet with the five heads and deputy heads of school every Tuesday morning and I will miss Oscar, Serena, Betsy, Hugo and Vedang and our meetings very much. They are very good at putting things into context and making me smile!

Enrichment this week

Enrichment activities this week beyond the standard schedule of clubs and activities have included Animal Encounters, sixth form German careers, house chess, CanSat physics competition, sixth form psychology conference, school councils (lower, middle and upper school), Crossing club mock trial, brain dissection, CCF and Friday 8 activities, and of course all the usual musical and sporting practices and matches. Your children embrace these many opportunities with gusto, and I hope that they enjoy the variety and breadth on offer. We are so lucky to have such a gifted staff team, with so much to offer in so many ways to extend the children in their learning beyond the curriculum, as well as to excite them about their subjects and their daily life at school. I am very grateful to all the staff who give so much to make these things happen.

With a week and a half to go before the Easter break, I have much enjoyed reading the Lower Sixth reports in the last week, with the Upper Fifth reports to come before the end of term. It is fabulous to see how much each of your children gives to their life and school; thank you for your support, and for your encouragement.