Moving to Exeter area - state school recommendations?

[Zedo]

We are looking to relocate to the Exeter area (within 30-40 mins drive of Exeter, but this can be flexible). We're looking for a state primary school for DS. He's year 1, and is very bright (currently doing yr 2 English & yr 3 maths). We're looking for somewhere that could continue to challenge him academically, but that is nurturing and welcoming (he can be a little shy, and is currently in a lovely small village school).

I'm also very aware that secondary schools are far & few between (a bit of a shock how few there are!) So we want to keep an eye to the future and think about secondary schools as well. Having no set location (DH travels for work; I will work from home), we're really struggling to even narrow it down to an area, and schools seem a good way to decide. Any help & advice gratefully received, we're currently in Cornwall so can make frequent recces, just feeling a bit daunted by the choice!

[Parrotmore]

What side / area of Exeter are you moving too?? It's a big place so hard to say without knowing where you are

[Zedo]

That's part of the problem.....it doesn't really matter what side we move to, anywhere within a 30 min-ish radius. I will still be coming back South to Cornwall once a week for work, but DH goes East and NW for his work

That's why I'm wondering whether secondary schools is a good way to narrow it down, as there doesn't seem to be very many of those.

[Parrotmore]

I would defo go for secondary schools, avoid west-exe and priory if you can, I went there and they were rough. The best high schools seem to be the out of town ones, smaller intakes and better resources. Qecc is a great school as is collerton ( grammar). Primary schools are are also better rurally in my experience

[Zedo]

Thanks Parrotmore, that's really useful.

[pinkdelight]

I've got relatives near Exeter and have heard Uffculme secondary is one of the best, and Uffculme primary is good too so those would seem like good options if you move to the right area and can get in.

[Zedo]

Crumbs I hadn't thought of looking up there, but google assures me it's 1/2 hr away from Exeter....and google never lies

I guess I'd drawn a bit of an imaginary circle about 10 miles from the centre of Exeter, but you're right pinkdelight, Uffculme does look really good. I think though that we'd probably stick a bit closer to Exeter if possible.

[pinkdelight]

Yeah, relatives commute to Exeter from there and it's half-an-hour give or take. Nice bit of the world, but you may well wanna be nearer to the city.

[Mum296]

Hi my family and I are moving from our home in Cyprus and moving back to uk. We don't want to go back to our home town (Worcestershire) as we love living by the sea, so after doing some intense research we have thought Exeter is for us. My son A is 9 years old, and my daughter 6, D who has Down Syndrome. I need to know the areas to look into and those to avoid. Schools that would except D. Fun things for the kids to do etc. TIA