Moving/schools/devon

[Devon3946]

Devon3946 · Today 18:35
Good Evening!
My husband & I along with our 9yr old daughter are relocating to devon. Husband has already had to move to start work & we are following shortly.

We are so undecided on areas and schools. We love the Topsham area but ideally wanted to be in the Kings School catchment but prefer Topsham area. May I ask peoples opinions on good secondary schools? My daughter has been offered a place at a primary school close by to Topsham. I have been told St Peter's in Exeter is very good? My daughter loves Dance, performing arts, singing, gymnastics etc. Any advice most appreciated as I am so torn from living in an area we prefer and suits my husbands commute to work better due to the M5 or to live in an area just for the sake of a very highly respected Secondary school?!
We just want to make sure we choose the best option!

Thank you 😊

This reply may be too late for you. I have heard bad things about St Peter's School, but don't know what it's like. To be honest the secondary schools in Exeter and Devon as a whole aren't great. There are 2 outstanding schools, although personally I believe Ofsted reports are inaccurate and irrelevant. One of them is The King's School, I have heard good and bad things about it. Apparently their bullying policies etc aren't up to scratch. The other is Uffculme, which is likely too far for you but avoid it like the plague, probably the worst secondary in Devon to be honest, it's infested with bullying, violence, behavior issues and the teachers are victim blamers who don't care. ISCA in Exeter I think is okay.

Agree with the above Devon isn't great for schools. Uffculme as mentioned is probably the worst and as for the Kings, I'm also not sure on them as they may just act good for inspections like Uffculme does

It's unlikely you would get into King's living and schooling in Topsham. If King's is your preferred secondary school your best bet would be to try and live school closer.

No little about St peters prep/private school. Eldest DC has just finishing Yr 7 of st peters c of e. She seems happy there and is doing well so far.

Also a dance(ballet) school in woodbury if dd.

If you want to get your child into St Peter’s in Exeter then you would either need to meet the religious criteria or live nearby. All the other secondary schools in Exeter apart from Avanti are run by the Ted Wragg Trusts which has had a lot of negative publicity recently (google it) concerning Reset/Ready to Learn and toilet policies.

King’s school in Ottery is always oversubscribed as well so you would need to be in catchment as well.