Senior Reflections Week 7 October 2024

Dear parents,

With half term commencing today, I am sure that you are looking ahead to some rest and recuperation with your children over the coming two weeks. It has been a busy and very productive first half of term and it has been great to see all new members of the school community, children and colleagues, settling in and becoming integrated in the school so well. I hope that, for new parents, your children have had a good first few weeks, and they are happy in their learning, the care that they are receiving, their co-curricular activities and in the social frameworks that they have made.

Approach to learning grades and parents’ evening

You will have received your child’s first grade sheet in the last few days. This is accessed on MySchoolPortal and hopefully is self-explanatory. Please do get in touch with your child’s tutors or head of year if you have any concerns. I hope that parents of Upper Sixth pupils had useful conversations with their children’s subject teachers at the online parents’ evening on Tuesday. These young women and men are looking ahead, quite definitely now, to their next steps beyond school and we know that they are ambitious and excited about what lies ahead. Of course, the small subject of A Level and BTEC exams are still ahead of them, and hopefully the conversations on Tuesday were effective in setting targets, reviewing strengths and considering areas of development in the weeks ahead. The university application process is well underway with Oxbridge and clinical applications all now submitted. It has been a pleasure to read the pupils’ personal statements and to reflect on how much they have achieved to date, and how much potential they have to the institution that will be lucky enough to have them. Well done to them all, and for those still writing their applications, I look forward to seeing them after half term.

Mobile phone policy and practice

We know that the issue of mobile phone use in schools is a national one at present and we, along with other schools, are looking at our own protocols with a view to reviewing these.  in order to gauge parents’’ opinions we have sent you a survey to complete and would be very grateful if you can do so before November 4, so that we have the voice of parents in our discussion.  We will be hosting a parental forum on the topic on November 21, and we hope that you will be keen to come along to take the discussion forward.

Sport

It has been a busy week of sport this week with fixtures in hockey, swimming, netball, squash, rugby, hockey sevens and football. This demonstrates just what a diverse offer we have in our sport and I hope that all of those participating enjoyed the matches and felt pleased with their performances. It was a shame that our now annual local U15 rugby tournament, due to be held yesterday, had to be cancelled as the pitches were waterlogged. We hope to be able to host this rugby tens tournament for local schools later in the term.

Trips this holiday

We are lucky to have five trips heading off over the holidays. The rugby tour to Portugal set off safely at around half past midnight this morning, the German exchange heads off to Hildesheim on Sunday morning, then on Friday 25 at 1am the geographers are off to explore glacial landforms in Iceland, and just before midnight on Saturday 26 October the French department heads off to Nice to practise their language skills. Finally, on Tuesday 29 October, the physics department are heading off to Geneva to explore the Large Hadron Collider at Cern. My colleagues give their time and skills so generously to make these trips a success and I thank Mr Ross, Mr Trim, Mr Hopkins and Mr Dutch who are taking the rugby tour, Mrs Wilson and Miss Dunning who are off to Germany, Mr Hyde, Mrs Sail, Mrs Roff and Mr Seaton-Burn who are off to Iceland, Mme Masters, Mr Latimer and Mrs Johnson who are going to Nice and Mr Bone and Mrs Pinches who are taking the trip to Switzerland. I hope that they all have a fabulous time away from school and look forward to hearing all about it on their return.

Finally, Mrs Mel Sheehan commences her maternity leave today; Mr Patrick Pugh will be joining the staff team to teach history and politics after half term whilst she is away. We wish Mrs Sheehan all the best as she prepares for the arrival of her second baby and look forward to meeting the new family member in due course.

Have a lovely holiday, and thank you for your support in this first half of a very busy term.

Whole school photo

Tempest photography are pleased to report that our whole school group photograph is now available to view and order via the following weblink:

Click here to view and order

Please include your child’s full name to assist with distribution at the school. Order within two weeks to avoid P&P charges (delivery to school). For assistance, please call 01736 752411 – option 3 to place an order (P&P applies) and option 5 for customer services.

Senior school production of ‘Blue Stockings’

The Senior School production of “Blue Stockings” by Jessica Swale takes place on Thursday 28, Friday 29 and Saturday 30 November at 7.30pm in the Butterfield Hall.

Ticket Prices: Adult £10 Child £6 – please purchase tickets via MSP

Love or knowledge; which would you choose?

It is 1896 in Girton College, Cambridge – the first college in Britain to admit women. The Girton girls study ferociously and match their male peers grade for grade. Yet, when the men graduate, the women leave with nothing but the stigma of being a ‘blue stocking’ – an unnatural, educated woman. They are denied degrees and go home unqualified and unmarriageable.

Tess Moffat and her fellow first years are determined to win the right to graduate. But little do they anticipate the hurdles in their way; the distractions of love, the cruelty of the class divide or the strength of the opposition, who will do anything to stop them. The play follows them over one tumultuous academic year, in their fight to change the future of education.

Seating is reserved, and we will advise pupils when tickets are available to collect from the Bursary office, otherwise they will be available to collect on the door on the evening.

People with special access requirements are asked to contact the Box Office on (01392) 458934 in advance.

Poster art by Emma (L6)

Chamber concert

School Chapel at 7.30pm

Prices Adult £6.00 Child £3.00 – please purchase your tickets via MSP

The Chamber Concert will take place on Thursday 21 November in the School Chapel. The concert will feature many of the school’s smaller ensembles and quartets, including Chamber Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Barbershop, Senior Brass, Wind Ensemble, Sax Quartet, ‘cello Ensemble,

Belles Canto and Flute Ensemble.

After the concert, refreshments will be available in the Music Hall.

People with special access requirements are asked to call the Box Office on (01392) 458934.

Senior School News

Senior 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
Take a listen to one of our junior school poet laureates, Livvy in Form One, reading her beautiful Christmas poem. The Christmas spirit is well and truly here at Exeter School! 🎄🎁

#exeterschools #schoolofgreatcharacter #devonschools #christmaspoetry #christmasspirit

Take a listen to one of our junior school poet laureates, Livvy in Form One, reading her beautiful Christmas poem. The Christmas spirit is well and truly here at Exeter School! 🎄🎁

#exeterschools #schoolofgreatcharacter #devonschools #christmaspoetry #christmasspirit
...

17 0
A superb season for the 2nd XI hockey squad. A lovely way to finish (a 3-0 win) the season and fitting way to mark the final match for the U6 leavers. Well done girls! @exeterschooluk #aspire #flourish #teamwork #commitment #exeterschoolsport

A superb season for the 2nd XI hockey squad. A lovely way to finish (a 3-0 win) the season and fitting way to mark the final match for the U6 leavers. Well done girls! @exeterschooluk #aspire #flourish #teamwork #commitment #exeterschoolsport ...

113 0
What a great day. Thank you @mount.kelly for hosting another fabulous 10s tournament. Well done to our U13s who had a particularly good day and were crowned winners going unbeaten all day. @exeterschooluk @devonrfu #aspire #flourish #champions #exeterschoolsport

What a great day. Thank you @mount.kelly for hosting another fabulous 10s tournament. Well done to our U13s who had a particularly good day and were crowned winners going unbeaten all day. @exeterschooluk @devonrfu #aspire #flourish #champions #exeterschoolsport ...

85 1
Doon, in Upper Two, has written a beautiful poem about advent and her excitement about the build up to Christmas 🎄

#exeterschools #schoolofgreatcharacter #juniorschool #poetry #advent #christmas

Doon, in Upper Two, has written a beautiful poem about advent and her excitement about the build up to Christmas 🎄

#exeterschools #schoolofgreatcharacter #juniorschool #poetry #advent #christmas
...

18 0

Field day - Oct 2024

4F Plymouth aquarium 2024

U5 CCF (Army section) Nantillio Wood 2024

U17XV and 14AXV vs West Buckland - 28 September 2024

Pre-Prep 7+ taster day

Music scholars' concert 2024

U6 Parliament trip

3F STEM club

Senior co-curricular update

Following an action-packed summer term of trips and activities, we would like to give you an overview of what pupils can look forward to over the coming few weeks. This is by no means an exhaustive list but highlights the key events that are planned for the first half term. More information will be communicated in due course by the teachers responsible for each activity.

Whole school

Monday 11 November: remembrance service, 10.45–11.15am on the quad

Wednesday 13 November: charity committee meeting, 1.15–1.45pm in the seminar room

Saturday 16 November: MUN conference at Queen’s Taunton, 7.30am–5.30pm

Thursday 21 November: Chamber concert, chapel, 7.30pm

Thursday 28 – Saturday 30 November: Blue Stockings (school production), 7.30pm

Sunday 1 December: Advent Service, 5pm, chapel

Tuesday 3 December: Water Aid Concert, 7.30pm

Wednesday 4 December: Interhouse swimming, 4-6pm, swimming pool

Saturday 7 December: Exeter College MUN conference, 9am–4.30pm

Wednesday 11 December: Christmas house day (from lesson 4 onwards) + Christmas jumper and Christmas dinner day

Friday 13 December: Carol service at St Leonard’s church during the school day

Tuesday 17 December: Christmas Concert in the main hall, 7.30pm

Wednesday 18 December: Finish at 12.50pm

Lower School

Wednesday 6 November: interhouse basketball round 1, 1.15-1.45pm in the Sports Hall

Tuesday 12 November: colour run, 3.15-4.30pm on the field

Wednesday 13 November: interhouse basketball round 2, 1.15-1.45pm in the Sports Hall

Monday 18 November: Fourth Form author talk with Wren James, lesson 3 and tutor time

Wednesday 20 November: interhouse basketball round 3, 1.15-1.45pm in the Sports Hall

Wednesday 4 December: Music at ‘light up a life’ event, Exeter Cathedral, 6:30pm

Wednesday 4 December: Lower School council, 12.50–1.50pm, rm14

Wednesday 4 December: interhouse basketball finals, 1.15–1.45pm, sports hall

Tuesday 10 December: Fourth Form interhouse hockey during games, Astro

Thursday 12 December: Third Form interhouse hockey during games, Astro

Middle School

Sunday 20 October: Upper Fifth – Upper Sixth German exchange to Hildesheim, returning Friday 27 October

Saturday 26 October: Upper Fifth – Upper Sixth French trip to Nice, returning Thursday 31 October

Monday 4 November, Monday 11 November, Monday 25 November, Monday 2 December: Middle Fifth–Upper Sixth intergenerational learning

Tuesday 5 November: Upper Fifth A Level subject taster morning

Thursday 7 November: sixth form open evening

Saturday 10 November: Middle Fifth Ten Tors nav training (option 1), Sourton Village, 7.45am-5pm on quad

Wednesday 13 November: Upper Fifth GCSE drama performances, 5.30pm, drama studio

Friday 15 November: Crossing Club Children In Need charity quiz, 1.15–2pm, Andrews Hall

Monday 18 November: Lower Fifth author talk with Wren James, lesson 5

Sunday 24 November: Middle Fifth Ten Tors nav training (option 2), Sourton Village, 7.45am-5pm, on quad

Thursday 5 December: Middle School council, 12.50–1.50pm, rm44

Sunday 8 December: Middle Fifth Ten Tors safety training day

Thursday 12 December: Middle Fifth interhouse hockey during games, Astro

Sixth Form

Sunday 20 October: Upper Fifth – Upper Sixth German exchange to Hildesheim, returning Friday 27 October

Friday 25 October: Sixth Form geography trip to Iceland, returning Tuesday 29 October

Saturday 26 October: Upper Fifth – Upper Sixth French trip to Nice, returning Thursday 31 October

Monday 4 November, Monday 11 November, Monday 25 November, Monday 2 December: Middle Fifth–Upper Sixth intergenerational learning

Thursday 7 November: Sixth Form open evening

Tuesday 12 November: MedExe talks for MedSoc, 1-2pm, Andrews Hall

Friday 15 November: Sixth Form Art RIBA competition, Royal Albert Museum, 8.15am-5.30pm

Friday 15 November: Crossing Club Children In Need charity quiz, 1.15–2pm, Andrews Hall

Saturday 16 November: Upper Sixth MedSoc event in the library, 9am–12.30pm

Saturday 17 November: Upper Fifth-Upper Sixth play technical rehearsal, Butterfield Hall, all day

Monday 25 November: Upper Sixth economics trip to London, departing 6.30am and returning 10pm Tuesday 26

Wednesday 27 November: Sixth Form charity netball match at lunch

Friday 6 December: Sixth Form council, 12.50–1.50pm, seminar room

Monday 9 December: Lower Sixth BTEC sport trip, St Luke’s campus, 1.30-4pm

Monday 16 December: Upper Sixth business studies trip to Midlands, departing 7am and returning 7pm on Tuesday 17

Come along to our whole school open morning on Friday 24 January 9-10.45am to hear from the Head, have a pupil-led tour around classes in action and have your questions answered by our friendly admissions team.

Register your place here