Any opinions or experiences on these schools in Devon please ?

[Ishani]

Stover school, first choice I think as co ed
St Margarets
The Maynard School

TIA

Right great news I have found a house between Taunton and Exeter so that's settled at least (it's a rental but that's fine for now).
Should I book an appointment for Exeter school as well as Maynard ?
I do really like the sound of Maynard I must admit, but it's DD2 who likes boys better than girls and baby 4 is indeed a boy.

I would, definitely. They're pretty much next door!

Might as well, as yellowstone says, and since you're going....

My only other comment (and I can't remember if you are considering boarding, sorry) but do consider how far you'll be travelling if they are day pupils. I spent seven years happy but tired because most of my school days were about 12 hours, before homework - but that's because I got involved extra-curricularly. There's quite a difference between taunton and exeter mileage-wise.
propatia i get your comments, and again I can't speak for the schools in their current status (and i'm not about to do any substantive research on it with my kids only under 3 ) but i just wonder how adequate they'd be in comparison with their local comprehensives? The two schools I would have ended up if we'd stayed state educated were both failing... hence my mum and dad forking out. Plus... I've met an awful lot of alumni from much much posher schools and, er, didn't think much of them . But perhaps i'm a tricky person to get to know .
( I will probably be back in that part of the world by the time the kids are secondary school age...and I won't be looking at wellington...But I probably won't bother looking at Blundells/Kings etc either. Am skint and hopeful for the local comp...)
EITHER WAY.....you're moving to a beautiful part of the world - am envious

Thank you MummyElk, I think I am destined to be a taxi service for my children, I've found a sweet little state school in a nice villiage that I can walk the littlies to whilst DH drops DD to the school bus stop, I think that's life nowadays though, if we'd stayed where we are DD would have been out at 7.25am to catch a bus and if they (and they better had) do sport, drama well it's better than mischief isn't it ;)

very true ishani and, as someone who was out of the house at 0725 every morning....just tell them not to lean on the post box in frosty weather with wet hair... it's not the best look to leave a clump of hair stuck to the metal as you run to the bus?!!
not horrific timing though, sounds like a good arrangement. good luck

sorry to resurrect this plight again but am more confused than ever, people are talking about Kings School and Sidmouth state being really good and people who you might expect to go private choose those instead.
Now I'm all for saving £140k at least does anybody rate those two at all ?

Both are well thought of round here . Kings has been oversubscribed for years and years and is very popular indeed. I don't think anyone gets in out of catchment. Sidmouth wasn't good historically and went into special measures. But it got a new head in Sept 2009 who used to be at another local comprehensive and is said to be exceptional.

Houses in the Kings catchment would make life easier for your DH because he could be on the A30 in a couple of minutes and Exeter Airport is right there. Only problem might be that all the places for 2011 will have been allocated. Don't know how admissions are these days at Sidmouth but the education people at Devon CC will be able to tell you the current position with both.

Headmaster at Sidmouth was previously at Uffculme School which is another excellent state secondary. I believe last year 77% of pupils gained 5 or more A-C GCSE grades including maths & english.

Just found this. I put up a new thread. Can someone tell me exactly what is wrong with Stover? Its one on my list because it would be nearer to Ivybridge (where we will live) than the others.

I am also looking at Plymouth College and Trinity. I have a boy and a girl. I need to send them to the same school.

King's is excellent. Many of my cousins went there, and some of dd's friends from primary started there last September.

This appears to be a pretty old thread but from experience Maynards is very bitchy and has bullying which is ignored by staff! It also lacks sporting facilities and decent grounds but if you like a bitchy atmosphere go for it! Contrary to what they say, tests given are not very hard to get in!

Exeter School is far better than Maynards. St Margaret’s closed down years ago.

Stover School is Nr Newton Abbot, was not good between 2008 and about 2015 but has two new headmasters and has improved immensely and getting better so worth look now (2018). Trinity school in Teignmouth is worth a look too, similar to Stover and Brandean although very small would suit kids who like s very small family run school. They are all around 4-5k per term.

What is the point of resurrecting a seven year old thread? The children who would have gone, will have left by now, and as you say St Margaret's has been closed for a few years!