Exeter school or Blundells / areas to live

[gigglingsandunes2009]

Hello, new to MN! We are relocating to / around Exeter next summer. We have two children (9 and 7) and looking at school options for them to start in September 2014. We have looked at both Blundells and Exeter School and really love both for different reasons ... Both children are good all rounders, love sport but also enjoy all aspects of learning.
Was hoping some mums on here or x/current students could give some inside info on the schools ... good or bad ..... would love a more rounded view than the wonderful but tailored sales patter!
If moving to Exeter for Exeter school we were looking at St Leonard's or Topsham, but would love to know of any other nice areas. Blundell's being much more rural seems to have a larger catchment but again, if anyone can recommend some areas to avoid or include on our list of villages to check that would be so helpful!
Thanks very much in advance for any help!

Has the headmaster from Blundells moved on already?

Do Blundells boys still have to wear bizarre corned beef coloured tweed jackets? I presume not - I am remembering a very long time ago!

They have got a very whizzy headmistress who has been there a couple of years or so.

The uniform seems to dark trousers and jacket, although I have seen boys in tweed jackets. They are an orangey brown colour though. More small-baby-poo colour than corned beef.

Headmistress????? The Reverent Stanton must be positively spinning....... No, it was certainly nearer corned beef than baby poo. And very hairy. Maybe they can't get tweed that disgusting any more!

Yes, Nicola Huggett, I think she came from Downe House. I have heard only good things!

at the tweed, sounds delightful! I will have to ask my Old Blundellian mates if they remember it.

I have a friend who has just moved her daughter from Colyton for very much the reasons you gave legallyblonde

horrendously pushy academically and no time for any music or sport

From what I have heard I would never consider it in a million years.

Just wondering how you got on with the relocation and the schools gigglesanddunes2009? I'm considering exactly the same move and would love to know your (or anybody else's) thoughts and experiences. DD 13 and DS 8. Cheers