Any opinions or experiences on these schools in Devon please ?

Ishani if you don't even know that Exeter, Maynard and St. Margaret's aren't boarding schools, how do you know that Colyton students are 'flown in'?

School websites are a good starting point really.

I don't think any of DD1's classmates were flown in to take the entrance exam! Most of them live closer to the school than she does (we are in Exeter).

There might be an issue with the Maynard if that is the case, certainly people who don't get into Colyton do get in there but they might find it pressured.

The kids and teachers I know at Exeter school seem less pressured, similarly with St Margarets. You might want to consider Blundells as well? Again, less pressured. But that is a boarding school.

St Margarets is the easiest to get into of the Big 3 posh schools (unless you are a boy in which case obviously there is only the one option) but the results of all 3 schools are pretty comparable. None of the kids I know who go to those 3 schools right now own ponies. :)

It really is a minefield choosing a school in Exeter/Devon, there is such variation. The illusion of choice can be disorienting. But, I know kids who have been to the big 3, several of the local state schools, QE in Crediton, Colyton, Bramdean (a sort of second tier posh school in Exeter) Stover and Blundells and they have all, without exception, gone on to good universities, and then to have good careers and happy lives. The schools here are actually all pretty good for conscientious kids. The amount of choice we parents have is bewildering but I find it comforting to think that at the end of the day, the kids seem to be doing just fine even in the face of all our worries.

None of those schools are boarding schools. At least, not primarily. Exeter School offers many 100% scholarships, to children whose family income is very low. On this basis I doubt that your family would be the poorest.

I also however doubt that most people would think that a family paying 7K a year for school fees for 3 (or more) children could be described as even remotely 'pretty normal'.

Ultimately, if you send your children to any of those three schools the fact is they won't be going to the best school potentially available to them if they live in or around Exeter. Therefore it seems, to me, strange spending that sort of money without even considering the Colyton option.

The Maynard girls I know are not boarders. The St Margaret's girl wasn't a boarder and got some sort of bursary to help with the fees.

Why wouldn't you consider Exeter School? That, the Maynard and St Margarets are in a differed league in every way than Stover.

Avoid Stover. Maynard has fantastic reputation.

Don't know about Stover.

St Margaret's - a woman I know got her dd in but she was there for 3 days as all the girls seemed able to talk about was their ponies. She was a scholarship girl and didn't have a pony. No comment.

Maynard - if you can get a place grab it! Have heard nothing but good, and know a couple of girls who are very happy there.