Senior Reflections Week 28 May 2025
Dear parents,
It certainly feels like the summer has arrived for us all and it has been wonderful to see your daughters and sons enjoying the glorious sunshine on the field in their break and lunchtimes this week. A reminder please that we do expect pupils to continue to be smart in their school dress, even in the hot weather, and we ask that you remind your children about tucking in shirts, tying up hair, not rolling skirts over at the top, wearing blazers and not wearing jewellery beyond that which is allowed in the school uniform rules. The new school uniform will be available to purchase next month and some of you will be keen to get your children into the new dress as soon as possible, especially where they have outgrown the bespoke items such as skirts and blazers. You can find out more about the new uniform, including information on how to order, below.
Click here to view the new uniform guide Click here to view the Schoolblazer ordering information
Upper Sixth leavers
The last three days of this week have seen the Upper Sixth enjoying their ‘spirit week’ where they have had fun and games on the field in the sunshine and dressed up in fancy dress. Next week we will be saying goodbye to them at their graduation event, thanking them for the contributions that they have made to the school and also awarding prizes and leavers’ certificates. It is always a really poignant event, as they head off on study leave, and I look forward to welcoming Upper Sixth parents to this rite of passage on Thursday. The boys and girls will celebrate again after the exams at their leavers’ party, this year to be held at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in the city centre, which we are sure is going to be a fantastic event. I have been writing valedictory reports for our leavers this week – and it has been a real pleasure to review their progress and to see how much they have achieved in the sixth form, and also during their journey as an Exonian. They are on track for success and I hope that, as parents, you enjoy reading the warm words from my colleagues reflecting on their progress and attainment.
Schools Challenge Quiz
Our senior quiz team headed off to Winchester College on Saturday for the national final of this prestigious competition. Very well done to Toby, Henry, Tyler, Caspar and Lucas who ended up coming sixth nationally in this competition. They are, I hope, very proud indeed of doing so well. Many thanks to Mr Bone for taking the group to the competition.
Sport this week
The cricket season is in full swing and making the most of the glorious weather with fixtures for boys and girls against Wellington School, Exeter College, Uffculme School and Colyton Grammar through the week. The sports department has been busy with other sports too: hosting a swimming gala against Taunton on Tuesday, tennis against Blundell’s on Wednesday and an athletics meet at Taunton on Saturday. I congratulate everyone for their participation and energy in their sport and wish this weekend’s participants in fixtures all the best in their competitions.
M5 parents’ evening
Thursday saw an online parents evening for Middle Fifth. As your children are drawing to the end of their first year of their GCSE’s, I hope that this was really helpful for you to hear about how they are doing and also how you can support them at home and in their independent work. Remember if you have any concerns on queries, we are here to help and I urge you to reach out to your child’s tutor in the first instance if this is the case.
Fourth Form residential
The Fourth form headed off on their residential to Brenscombe in Dorset this afternoon and I am sure they are having a fabulous time. They will do a wide range of activities to develop their character and spend time getting to know each other better whilst they are away. I am sure they will also have a lot of fun and I look forward to meeting up with them over the weekend.
Staff training day
Please note that the staff training (INSET) day for this term is on Monday 2 June, the first day back after half term, and not Friday 23 May. Please ensure that your children do come to school on 23 May and do not come to school (unless they have a public exam) on 2 June. The school returns after half term on Tuesday 3 June.
I wish you all a wonderful May Day bank holiday this weekend and hope that the sun continues to shine on us all.
