Secondary schools around Exeter and Torbay/St Cuthbert Mayne School

[curiousfather]

Hi all. Need some guidance on secondary schools around the area for my 2 sons. We'll hopefully soon be moving to the area and need to explore in advance school options. My sons are in primary catholic school and would ideally want them to continue attending catholic schools. If we decide to move in before year 6, I have options in Exeter/Exmouth/Newton Abbott for primary schools.
However, there seem to be only 1 secondary catholic school in the area which is St Cuthbert Mayne School near Torquay. I wonder if I'm missing anything or if that's the case. Also, I have looked at their reviews and they're 50/50 plus Ofsted has dropped their rating earlier this year from good to requires improvement. Does anyone want to share their thoughts of this school/maybe your kids still attend or attended not long ago? It is rather unsettling to know 1 possibly have 1 option and the school is performing worse and worse over time.
Any comments are appreciated. Thanks

St Peter's High School in Exeter traditionally offered places to Catholics in the city. C of E got first dibs on Foundation places, then RC and other Christian denominations. Please do check it out. They have gone through a lot of changes but it seems to be improving. St Nicholas' Primary used to be really good (I did a little bit of work there back in the day).

St Joseph's is the Catholic primary in Exmouth. Again, it's a happy school. However, most kids move up to the comp in Exmouth.

Most of the primary schools in East Devon are connected to the church, which is really annoying for those of us preferring an entirely secular education. However, none of the secondaries has any religious affiliation at all.

Thanks a lot for your feedback.
I think we may have had too high expectations about Catholic secondary schools. We are happy though to widen the search and explore schools in general. Any recommendations ? I can see in different posts St James, St Peters, ISCA, West Exe. Still need to continue own research about these but wouldn't mind some comments from local community 😀 thx

My info is probably outdated but I have worked briefly in 3 of them. St Lukes was dreadful. Issa has improved but isn't great. West Exe hasn't had a great reputation for a long time. St James and St Peter's were the best of a poor bunch. We moved out of Exeter, one reason being the awful secondary schools, another that they only went up to 16. IMHO 6th forms are a civilising influence on younger students.

I don't have current knowledge of Cuthbert Mayne, but I've known of it historically. I think, given the demographic it serves, it is a pretty decent school in general, and it does have a strong Christian character with Catholic emphasis. When I knew it better, a lot of the teachers were practising Catholics or had been brought up Catholic. Students I knew who attended did Confirmation etc.

I had a look at the Ofsted report, and IMO the school has likely been downgraded due to persistent absence, and not enough students doing the EBACC. Arguably, you, as a parent have a high level of control over these things compared to a lot of aspects of education.

I'd read the report, but I didn't think there was anything especially worrying in it- I've read much worse RI reports: https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50217280

Thanks Postapocalypticcowgirl.
I will have a closer look at the report. I think the school is decent but it is always worrying when school is downgraded, that there may be a longer term trend which one needs to be mindful of.
If we end up being close to Exeter, school run and commute to work may be too much to cope with...Still need to explore other schools...

Thanks Malbecfan.

Would you please explain to a layperson without extended knowledge and full understanding of the education system in England, what the difference is with and without 6th forms? What one loses potentially or what may be in favour of such system? I guess one finishes at the age of 16 and goes to a college without this 6th form. Would be great for me to understand what changes if secondary schools have this 6th form option... ;-) And please give examples, if you know, of schools with/without 6th form in/out of Exeter. Many thanks! 🙂

@curiousfather in Exeter, schools do not have 6th forms. Students go on to Exeter College. The college is big and because of its size, can offer a range of different courses and qualifications. However, in my experience, some students are simply not emotionally ready for this at 16.

Schools which only teach to GCSE can get away with employing non-specialists, for example in Science, if you only teach the double award rather than separate sciences, you can employ a Biologist with Chemistry and Physics A levels who could deliver the Chemistry and Physics components at GCSE. That's not ideal for the kid who is a passionate potential physicist. As an experienced teacher, I love the challenge of A level teaching, even though it takes a lot more preparation.

I am less familiar with schools west of the Exe, but the grammar schools in Torbay definitely have 6th forms. QE in Crediton does, as do many of the schools in East Devon apart from Axe Valley.

Thanks.
I have started learning about differences between 6th form and non-6th form. I agree, I'd rather have my children go more difficult route to potentially be in a better position in the future.
Shame none of the schools in Exeter have 6th form. I would have thought at least 1 would be ambitious to offer something extra and stand out!
I have had a look at grammar schools in Torquay and that one for boys only seems good and reasonably high in rankings.
Questions to you as to experienced teacher:

• is it again worth while sending children to a grammar school which I believe has entry exams so don't just accept based on catchment etc and possibly has higher standards of education compared to a state school?
• I believe you have A-level exams after those extra 2 years - what is the difference between applying to a Uni with and without A-levels? Does it mean you have more options when applying with A-levels? Sorry, some questions may have straightforward answer, but for someone who is only starting walking, anything seems like an ocean of unknown:) thanks!

To get into a good University, you need level 3 qualifications. These include A levels but also the International Baccalaureate (IB). Exeter College has a very good IB course with a great reputation.

The Exeter situation is historic. Long before I moved there they had the grammar and secondary modern systems. Then they moved to the First, Middle and High School model, plus a 6th form college, which was still in operation when I moved there. Whilst it may have its advantages, it does not fall in line with the National Curriculum key stages and, as a result, despite living in the city, I chose to have my daughters educated outside it. In around 2005, they moved to the "normal" model of primary and secondary schools. There was a lot of rebuilding and remodelling as primary schools had to be formed from First & Middle Schools and secondaries had to accommodate year 7. They kept the 6th form college.

Grammar schools do not suit all learners. They work at an accelerated pace and my view is that if you need extensive tutoring to get in, you won't be happy there. For all the people reading this around London, this is Devon. Things are more laid-back here.

Thanks. I understand that it is expected more from teenagers in grammar school compared to average state school without entry exams. Ant this will not suit everyone. I suppose last 1-2 years of primary school will prove where my kids are and how much support they need to be able to judge whether they'd cope or not. If I decide not to apply for St Cuthbert Mayne, maybe grammar school with 6th form is something to aim for given kids are smart and cope with fast pace learning. Do you know whether St Cuthbert Mayne offers 6th form too?

Ok did more research, all of my potential choices (Cuthbert St Mayne and Grammar school in Torquay) have 6th form. I am definitely oscillating around that area more than Exter, which was always our first choice regardless. How good it is to explore and talk to others, to widen horizons and explore different possibilities 😀 Now my pencilled plans to look for a house in Exeter are ruined:) It could be a torture to do school run from Exeter there, therefore it makes more sense to locate self closer to north Torquay. Maybe one of the villages along main road (Kingsteignton, Newton abbot, Kingskerswell) may be better to search there...and also to have bus link too when kids are older... Anyone doing something similar?:)

Worth joining the Facebook group Mums in Exeter and searching posts about the Ted Wragg Academy Trust (in Exeter, only St Peter’s , Thomas Hall and Clyst Vale are not part of this trust). No Exeter high schools have sixth forms, but the Kings School, Ottery and Clyst Vale have traditional sixth forms and seem to have a good reputation. Exmouth, Honiton, Crediton and Sidmouth also have community colleges with sixth forms, but a number are now part of the TWAT.
St Nicholas in Exeter is a catholic primary and St Peter’s High, Exeter, is religious, though not solely catholic.

If you like the thought of living in Exeter (personally I prefer it to living in the Torquay area) there’s also Colyton Grammar which has school buses from Exeter.

Apologies of you are already aware of this, but Torquay, and lots of seaside towns to a greater or lesser extent, has a lot of social deprivation. Schools are up against it with these issues. Places like Torquay can have big city problems, but only provincial resources to deal with them.

Have you spent much time in the area? People walking round the centre of Exeter tend to look clean and healthy and purposeful. Torquay, not so much….

Again to a layperson in this field and only starting to learn, is it not better to hmbe in 6th form secondary school rather than change from one school to another and then again possibly after 2 years to Uni? I would think being in 1 place for extra 2 years means smoother transition, place you know etc. But again, I may be wrong, not yet knowing how all works in practice.
I need to always bear in mind secondary school options, not primary. So living in a village fat from schools etc, it will make my life very hard to do school run and commute to and from work.
I understand that seaside towns in UK have high levels of deprivation and when you walk around the promenade and city centre, you see a huge mix of wealth and behaviour. However, I would not consider living anywhere near close to Torquay centre if anything this would be far far suburbs. As much as I'd prefer exeter, imagine wanting to live there and send children to grammar/catholic school in North Torquay. I don't want to stretch my journey to maximum, so if I decide to choose St Cuthbert or Grammar school for boys, I must live nearer that area.... I consider anything between Kingsteignton and North Torquay...along main roads....I have spent decent amount of time in that area, my friend has lived in multiple places stretching between Kingsteignton and Kingskerswell and was recommending living there...and surely tnot recommending moving in to Torquay centre 😀

Torquay isn’t that big, there’s no ‘far suburbs’ really.
I’ve lived in the middle and on the edge and in between, so if there’s an area you’re looking at, I will tell you if I’d bring up my own child there!

I would suggest looking at Churston Grammar, as well as Torquay boys. It’s mixed sex, has a 6th form and good reputation, and there are some nice residential areas and villages in the catchment - Galmpton, Churston, Stoke Gabriel, Hookhills, White Rock, Broadsands, Compton and Marldon.

Coffinswell, Abbotskerswell and Chudleigh are nice villages on main roads that might suit you, on the Newton Abbot side

Speaking as someone who went to an Exeter high school, then college and then uni, @curiousfather , I totally agree with you. I found it unnecessarily disruptive and would have preferred 11-18 straight through, as you say. Sadly that wasn’t an option at the time.

There are some lovely towns and villages within commuting distance of Torquay. I’d possibly look at Chudleigh, Coffinswell, Ipplepen, or towards Stoke Gabriel or even Maidencombe etc rather than Kingsteignton or Kingskerswell but it’s personal preference and depends what you want .

Thanks for your message.
I was mainly thinking of north suburbs so that it's easy to access a380.
So let's say anything above grammar schools and St Cuthbert, including Kingskerswell. Any suggestions?:)
Not sure if I want to go that south to be around Brixam, must be lovely there, but far from everything and everywhere.

I feel like Exeter is really limited in terms of choices post 16 compared to cities in the rest of the country. I would want my children to have options at post 16, both staying on at school and going to college, if possible. Different things suit different children.

In terms of grammar schools, they can really suit very academic children. The Torquay grammars are also very sporty in my experience. It's about the right school for the child, really.

In terms of going to uni, you need to have Level 3 qualifications to apply. This could be A-levels, or it could be a more vocational qualification like a BTEC depending on the course you want to apply for. You can't apply to uni with just GCSEs, so students do need to do something between 16-18 before uni.

Thanks Postapocalypticcowgirl
I stsrt understanding more about higher education system:)
I like schools that promote sport and exercise, my kids are definitely very active and like different activities and team sports.
Would you say that there is high % of future doctors or researchers etc leaving grammar schools? How do we know which school suits more academic children or different cohort? Is it all written in schools curriculum that's usually on their website? Trying to understand where to read about school to know their focus/speciality etc
Thanks

Would you say that there is high % of future doctors or researchers etc leaving grammar schools? How do we know which school suits more academic children or different cohort?

Yes. To get into the grammar schools, the kids have to score highest in academic tests. Only the top 25% or so would get in.

There is, or use to be, quite a strong culture of aiming for a good university and getting into a profession.

There are good non-school sports clubs and outdoor activities around, so personally I wouldn’t make sport a deciding factor for choosing a school.

The A380 runs all the way to Paignton, depending on traffic it can be quicker to get to Exeter from the top of Paignton than say, St Marychurch or Babbacombe (which is ‘north Torquay’).
I’d seriously look at Marldon and the Preston area of Paignton, as well as Kingskerswell and Coffinswell.

Good Luck! Can you rent for a bit to get the feel of the place?

Thanks. Not sure if I want to explore suburbs of Paignton. However my kids love Paignton Zoo 😅 But from all the conversations so far, I'd rather be higher up on the map, closer to Exeter, maybe outside of it but closer to Exeter than Torquay.
Yes - we'd rent for minimum 6months, probably more to have a feel of a place and then search for a place to buy, what again takes long time. But - I am asking lots of questions and exploring all of the suggested areas, as I'd rather narrow down my search to 1-2 places, probably close driving distance to each other, so that I can rent in one and visit the other regularly too and check out both 😀

Also - this Tedd Wragg Academy Trust - can someone share their views/experiences?
I was shocked when came across this.

Not sure what this is all about??

I was thinking maybe if I'm on St Thomas side, I have WestExe as an option. ISCA one of the options in Heavitree. There are St Peters or Clyst Vale but I think would need to be closer there...I hope that this below blog is outdated and these schools have improved since. I think i need more fresh parental feedback from secondary schools:) anything from 5 years ago can mean a little today :)

https://www.tedwragg.com/#ContactUs

If you can, get a feel for summer holiday traffic before you decide how far things are away from other things!

Kingskerswell does seem really nice, I wanted to look at a house there but husband wasn’t keen as doesn’t drive.

Don’t spend silly money on a house with beautiful views in Maidencombe, they’ve been trying to ruin it with massive developments for a decade.