Primary Schools in Exeter?

[Lactivist]

Hi - I am moving to Exeter next year with my 7 year old, I want to live near the centre and I'd really appreciate it if anyone could tell me what the schools are like - are there any to avoid? Any really good ones? It needs to be a non religious school.

Many thanks
Lisa

Hi, I used to live in Exeter, but we moved out nearly 3 yrs ago, so I'm not up to date anymore!

Most primary schools near the city centre are religious, apart from newtown first school

There are lotson mnetters based in exeter who I'm sure we'll help you out.

St Leonard's primary school used to be the primary of 1st choice of exeter middle class.

Ds attended another school in the city centre, which was small and lovely, but it was a CofE

Thank you, my son says he is a scientist and there is no proof for the existence of god :-) I can't inflict that on a religious school he would convert them all to atheism :-)

I'm looking around the St Thomas area at the moment but I'll check out the Newtown school too.

Stoke hill is also not religious, but I've no idea where it is!!!

at your ds

It's in Stoke Hill [helpful emoticon] - as you look at a map a bit right and down from Pennsylvania and a bit left of Beacon Heath. Not ridiculously far from centre but totally opposite side to St Thomas.

DS is probably going to end up there and I'm happy with everything I've read or heard about it

Ah thanks wondersnuffle! I really don't know that part of town

I'm useless at the other side of the river , I know that one of the schools is really good and one really bad as people get very agitated about which one their DC end up at, however without knowing which is which this isn't terribly helpful...

Thanks everyone, is Stoke Hill a walk from the centre or drive?

I've no idea Lactivist, it'd probably be a long walk, I suppose.
Do you know already where you'll live?

It's probably about 20 mins walk at an average pace, mainly fairly flat but bit of uphill at the end. Driving would probably take about 5 mins and it's also on a fairly reliable bus route if neither of those appeal.

I've got a friend who lives in St Thomas and I'm going to talk to Redhill School next week, which is not far from my friend. I like the idea of being near green and near the water!

Yes, Exeter quays are lovely (nostalgic)

I live right next to Exwick Heights school, Although DD to young for it at the mo, its where I'll be sending her. Worth checking out, a good ofsted report :)

Stoke Hill is quite near the countryside too, reasonable walk from the centre. I went there and have pretty happy memories of it :)

My brother went to Stoke Hill and really enjoyed it. I used to have my driving lessons around there and he used to wave at me from the playground.

Stoke Hill is a much better school than either Redhills or Exwick Heights. It would be a nightmare to get there from the other side of the river in the morning rush hour, though.

hello,
was just wandering if i could kind of re-ask this question? we currently live in st.davids, though are thinking of moving house as our DS is needing a garden and we hopefully have another one coming along this year. the sorts of houses in our price ranges would put is in higher st.thomas, though at a stretch heavitree (though clearly you get less for your money). i guess also possibly pinhoe, kings heath, or some outlying village, though these all might feel a bit too far out from the centre (we like being able to walk in). and i've also always found exwick to feel too far out on a limb (though in truth it isnt all that far in)

was wondering whether anyone had any experience of bohill school, or ladysmith? we have friends who are moving from st.thomas (newman road area) to heavitree, who were a bit put off by montgomery (in st.thomas), though i guess thats hearsay and others might like it (plus it is being rebuilt). we have also heart that st.sidwells is a good school (though cant think of affordable family homes in the catchment) and newtown (same problem).

any advice appreciated!
thanks

I have heard that Ladysmith is good ( through friends of friends ) although always after money for sponsered events and trips etc. TBH I would recommend Broadclyst - they tend to accept children from anywhere on the East side of the City (providing there is space in the year group) so no need to live that far out. It is definitely non-religious (DS2 is a keen Big Bang theory supporter).
Hope you find somewhere suitable. :)

Hiya, I have heard good things about ladysmith too. I plan to send my daughter there as we live in heavitree. I have only looked at schools in my area though so probably not giving you the most balanced view. I would say that heavitree is great for families though with a great park and handy shops. Hope this helps!

Hi
My daughter goes to Ladysmith and is just coming to the end of her Foundation year. She's settled in really well and seems happy which is a good sign as she's quite a sensitive, shy child.

It's got really good Ofsted reports in the past, and all the teachers seem friendly. They do lots of arty stuff, music, have a nature trail, grow their own veg, composting etc. It's spread over 2 sites, junior and infants, so is quite large but this means it has room for lots of facilities too.

Also has good after school and holiday clubs, if you need them.

Hello we have just moved out of Heavitree our two eldest girls both went through Ladysmith Infants and Juniors, i'd recommend the infants but NOT the junior school they are not joined in anyway and only share a name!!

The infant school is ok but the classes are very big and the children really have to stand there own in such a huge school, lots of lovely teachers and a new (thankfully) head make it a lovely school with lots of lovely mums but be prepared to do alot of work at home!!

Because our youngest found school v.tricky and even with the best will in the world her teachers admitted there was not enough time, teachers or money to help so it was very much down to us.

We moved a few months ago to a small village outside of exeter and the change in her school work has been drastic to say the least with a bit more attention and smaller classes she's come on leaps and bounds. If I were you, going on our experiences i'd try and find something smaller.

Good luck.

Sorry I should point out that all of the above was referring to the infant school, don't even get me started on the Junior school too awful for words!

thanks everyone, really helpful advice. interesting to hear the stuff about ladysmith as the ofsted (if you believe them) certainly seems to show ladysmith infant as being stronger than the junior school. i had no idea they were so unjoined up.

does anyone have any experience of pinhoe both as a school and as a family area to live in? broadclyst school seems a possibility from pinhoe too, and has a great reputation, through would seem a shame to travel from pinhoe if the school on the doorstep is good

many thanks

I'm a bit late to this thread but if you are thinking of the west side of the city, Bowhill seems a good school, we know lots of families who go there. I'd also recommend Alphington, St Thomas or Ide. Most of these schools are not religious (not sure about St Thomas). My dc have been in 2 of these schools and we've been pretty satisfied, but we have lived near and know lots of satisfied families in all of them.