Private schools in/around Exeter, Devon (year 10)

[MeanLeanRunnerbean]

Good evening, I'm wondering whether anyone has a school they'd recommend in/around Exeter, Devon (would need to be commutable by public/school transport). I'm looking for a non academically selective school for year 10 f on September 2025, just for years 10&11. So far all I've come up with is St Wilfred's (looks nice but ever so small) in Exeter and St John's in Sidmouth (doable by bus but I can't find any clear GCSE results which is concerning). If anyone has any experience/feedback on either school or has anywhere else they'd recommend id so appreciate it!

The Maynard School? Friends daughter is there and loves it. Also Stover which is near Newton Abbot just off the dual carriageway.

Just read my post back and it barely makes sense! 🤦 I should have said this is for my DS (otherwise Maynard's would be perfect!). Will check out Stover, thank you!

Have you checked out Exeter school? This is the largest private school in Exeter as far as I am aware. Blundells is in Tiverton but unsure of the transport links. There is also Shebbear College in North Devon but it might be too far to commute. I can’t recommend any from personal experience and clearly am a bit hazy on transportation but can name a few others that are further out if needed.

The Exeter school is the go to private school in Exeter!

Exeter School is a no go due to being academically selective, unfortunately.

Blundell's is probably your best bet for a non-selective school and there is a decent public transport between Exeter and Tiverton. It's big enough to offer a proper senior school experience, particularly sport for boys which smaller and previously all-girl schools can struggle with. Stover might work- probably ranking a notch or two lower than Blundell's. It's not on my radar so can't recommend but I see their minibus at Exeter St Davids (transport sorted).

Blundells has also been ruled out as my DS plays matches for his sport on a Saturday which would clash with Saturday school (unfortunately, but it's his passion)

Trinity School in Teignmouth? I know someone who teaches there and bumped into them with some of their students at a subject-specific event. Kids seemed polite and happy.

I know someone who used to commute from Exeter to Totnes every day to the independent school there. She was happy there up to GCSEs. A number of kids do the journey in reverse to go to Exeter School.

Why private? The state schools are not bad. My hairdresser's daughter is at St Peter's and is on course for a string of 7-9s in her GCSEs. St Luke's was always the sports specialist but I'm not sure whether that is still the case. There is a new school out at Cranbrook. Clyst Vale gets decent results too.

Thank you, I'll check out Trinity School. DS is currently at a Ted Wragg school and for him it has been a very negative experience. We haven't been able to get him into any non TW states. He isn't a very academic boy but does work very hard and wants the chance to get his GCSE's. He has some statemented learning needs that his school aren't able to accommodate (I understand this, they are stretched and there are other children with much more significant needs so the threshold is higher, but it is the difference between being predicted a 3 for English Vs a 5 with exam accommodations). Mainly, he has been very unhappy for almost 3 years, hasn't found his feet and I really want a fresh start for him and having come up short on other options I'm hoping this might afford him the chance at rebuilding his confidence and self esteem 🤞

Hi op, I meet a lot of students in your area in my job who have SEND. Someone with a similar experience to your ds left a Ted Wragg school and went to Thomas Hall and had a positive experience. Parents were impressed.

I may be a bit late to the party here, but St Wilfreds in the centre of Exeter (near the Iron Bridge) is a non selective private school that's quite small and sounds like it might cater for your son's needs.