Primary/Secondary Schools Exeter

[curiousfather]

Hi all. I have been exploring primary and secondary schools in and close to Exeter and would like to hear comments from parents who have kids in schools in the area. I would like to send my boys to catholic school (Exeter or Exmouth) as they are already in catholic set up, following that St Peters and Clyst Vale are schools that attract me. We all heard about Tedd Wragg schools and I wonder few years down the line what is the situation currently in these schools. Any positive changes and less rigid approach there? I am looking for alternatives to these mentioned. I wouldn't mind hearing some feedback re St Nicholas and St Josephs primaries if any parents read this. Also I wouldn't mind comments about alternatives to catholic primaries on East side only. Any useful info and recent experience with these schools would be much appreciated, especially things like admissions difficulties, oversubscribed schools, something that makes one school stand out compared to others. Thanks!

Anyone anything?:) x

I live in Exeter but the opposite side. As far as I know St Nicks is a good school and I have never heard anyone say anything bad about it.

Secondaries are more of a concern in Exeter. My children are too young for me to be thinking about secondary yet. I am concerned as my youngest is most likely autistic and my local school has a particularly bad reputation for SEN. Last year there was a big campaign by parents and some changes were made a some Ted Wragg schools. My local school had two 20 minute breaks. One was mid morning and one late lunchtime. Children and parents were complaining that 20 minutes was not enough time to queue up and get lunch, eat lunch, and go to the bathroom in a school with 1,000+ pupils.

St Peter’s and Clyst Vale CC were quite oversubscribed for September 2024 entry. To get into St Peter’s your children will either need to attend church regularily (and the priest has to fill out the form) or you need to live very close to the school. Clyst Vale is not religious but there are loads of houses being built nearby in Pinhoe.

ThatsGoingToHurt thanks for your message. I guess secondaries like St Peters or CV are oversubscribed. I wonder what schools students go to if they don't get there, what are their usual alternatives? I think for CV you need to be outside of m5 on Clyst side to increase your chance to fall into catchment.

At the moment I have time to wait as my eldest is only 6. In Exeter there is also Thomas Hall which an all through school by the university. Some people in Exeter also send their children to grammar school either Torbay Girls or Boys or Colyton Grammar school. Lots of people do send their kids to West Exe, St Luke’s, Isca, and St James. These are all good schools (according to Ofsted) and get good results but they are very strict and don’t suit all children (but neither does any school).

Im not from Exeter so if you didn’t like the ethos of your local school you sent you child to another nearby school with a different ethos. It seems odd to me that most of the schools in Exeter are run by one academy trust so they all have a similar ethos.

Where are you moving to, and how old are your kids?

Thanks. Similar age so will have to do in year admission. Haven't decided yet of the area, it will be driven by what schools we choose for sure! I don't like the idea of being on west side, far from m5 access and having potentially to cross the bridge a lot so prefer east side. However I do like st Thomas but probably not to live permanently. I can see St Peter's doesn't have catchment area but I suppose when they're oversubscribed, small things can make them decide to offer or not to offer a place. I was exploring for a moment Torquay boys' school and also St Cuthbert Mayne but gave up on those due to not wanting to live close there or having my children to commute long time each day. I know about Colyton and King's school in Ottery but I think King's have catchment and Colyton is quite far and high level so you must make sure your children don't have any learning difficulties and can cope with faster pace/higher level of educational demand. For now I am focusing on primary school but obviously one need to bear in mind next step especially when relocating to live permanently.