Secondaries within Exeter

As earlier in the thread - they are ok, get good results and most secondaries are fairly similar. I think they have got better over the past couple of years and I have friends who’ve been really happy with them. There is also Thomas Hall school - it’s an all through school in Exeter that started out as a Steiner free school, and seems a bit more settled than it used to be. I don’t think west exe has a new head within the past couple of years. Personally I’m less keen on the broadclyst side of Exeter as there’s so much building going on. QE in Crediton is another option just outside Exeter, but is also Ted Wragg

CVCC is in Broadclyst which is just North of Exeter. There is a lot of new build housing being built there. I have friend who live there and they like it. Easy access to the motorway if you need it.

I’ve also here good things about Matford Brook School which is a new all through school. It is Ted Wragg but they seem to be a bit more ‘normal’. They are in temporary buildings at the moment as there was some problems with the newly built school. I think within the secondary phase they only have about 90 per year group at the moment.

I’ve heard the Head has left West Exe and that they have a new Head. The new Head seems to be a bit more relaxed. I don’t know about Isca. It your child is NT then they will most likely be fine at a school in Exeter. If you have a ND child it becomes more tricky.

What’s the area around Clyst Vale like to live? I am from Devon but don’t know this area well at all. Thanks!

Kings in Ottery has a better reputation. Clyst Vale is also not part of Ted Rag group.

Exeter Secondary Schools. Anyone got anything positive to say about the Ted Wragg Trust?

We are hoping to relocate to Exeter and are not church-goers so no hope with St Peters…all this controversy is making me doubt our decision. Does anyone have any more positive insights? Are the behavior and uniform policies really that bad? I’m interested in ISCA in particular which seems to have had a lot of very bad press although I’m open to any info on schools within the trust. Thanks!

Hi @educationfather did you end up moving in the end or have any fresh info on ISCA? We are in the same boat, looking at moving home after living abroad for many years and love Exeter for the location but I’m panicking now reading all this stuff online.

Asked my DW and was only aware of a couple of friends kids going there any they seemes to have enjoyed it. Sorry for the lack of info.

If you go onto "Devon Live" on Facebook and search for Isca Academy there are several articles which don't seem that positive unfortunately.

Oops sorry. Obviously didn't read your username!

Have you tried asking on Mums in Exeter on Facebook. Think they are isca parents on there.

I know someone whose child is starting y7 in isca in september, that's all

HUGE staff turnover since new head arrived at Isca last year.

The advice is always to visit and see what you think, ask the questions and decide for yourself whether it’s right for you.

I have two children at West Exe school. As previous posters have said, there are things that are not ideal but the vast majority of parents and children get on just fine with the school. The majority of the teachers I have encountered so far have been ok and some have been brilliant (DS1's form tutor in his first year was outstanding). Whilst there are some issues, the vocal brigade are all mostly of a particular type and want the moon on a stick most of the time... For us the school choice was dictated by the fact that it was walkable from home, the majority of the children's friends would be going there, there was no long transport journeys needed, exams results are good and all other schools within spitting distance are run by the same trust anyway!

We have a DC at St Peters, they seem to be getting on well at the moment, but it's difficult to say either way at the moment as had little to either praise or be concerned about from the school. Aske again in a couple of years and I'm sure I'll have a clearer opinion.

Both of my children attend West Exe. I have no complaints about the school (or the wider academy trust for that matter). The transition from primary to secondary was well supported and I have found the form tutors and heads of years I've needed to interact with helpful and responsive. The school is very rule and reward oriented but that seems to work well for both of mine. In the immediate circle of families I know from primary (a large local feeder) I would suggest 85-90% appear happy with how their choice. What I would say is the 15/20% who aren't happy are very vocal (and that might be for good reason for their circumstance) but I wouldn't say it's representative.

I think Isca had a new head a year or so ago and quite a lot of changes were made. I have friends with children there. They call the pupils there scholars now, if that’s your sort of thing…of the other schools in Exeter then St James or St Peter’s or QE in Crediton just outside Exeter might be worth a look

If you were happy to live just north of Exeter, you'd be in the catchment for Queen Elizabeth's school in Crediton. They run school buses to the villages.
https://www.qe.devon.sch.uk/ They also have a sixth form, unlike the Exeter schools, which only go up to Year 11 and then feed into Exeter College.

If you go to church, you could consider St Peter's https://www.spexe.org/ but they also have a percentage of open places too. Friends tell me that St Peter's is popular with Exeter parents and oversubscribed.