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

I have sent you a message @curiousfather .

Thanks again all for your recommendations and suggestions. I think we will stick to original plan and choose Exeter. I am not yet 100% sure what schools to choose but at least I have narrowed down the search for sure. Now off to explore in depth Heavitree, Pinhoe, maybe little bit lower towards Monkerton and Digby. In search for healthy balance between schools and property price...😀

As a prospective parent I can share what we saw on open day at Torquay Boys Grammar. They have 35 acres of grounds for lots of sport (more than many local private schools) and a wonderfully varied curriculum. Their art dept and design technology centre are very impressive. They think carefully about things like how to engage boys in reading and English through innovative teaching methods. The pastoral care also looks strong.

There is a direct train connection from Exeter to Torquay Grammar, and they run a dedicated bus on that route. So if youre on the right side of Exeter near a station it could work.

Grammar school tests are getting increasingly competitive though, so worth being in catchment for a good comprehensive school just in case your boys dont pass (or one does and not the other). St Peters Exeter has a good reputation and we have friends who are very happy there.

Thanks for your message. Did you mean St David's side to be on? :) And do you know this bus route - I wonder whether it crosses the river maybe and collects children from Eastern suburbs too? I haven't given up completely on that area, or I should say school, but would prefer living closer to Exeter. Obviously this creates a challenge and question how do kids get to school. I know people send kids on school bus even to Colyton, but I don't know how I'd feel about pushing such young kids to spend on the bus probably 2h if not more each day, 5 times a week. Plus considering demanding learning pace. Torquay would be definitely closer even when using public transport/dedicated school bus. We are yet still to observe kids and decide whether they'll cope with accelerated learning pace. As much as parents we'd like the best for our kids, sometimes you need to realistically look and judge. Anyway, St Peter's seems good too and I hear rather positive feedback. I wouldn't mind hearing extra feedback from anyone from Exeter or nearby who decided to send their kids to one of the grammar schools, whether this is Torquay or Colyton. Just to understand how this works in practice for them and children :) thanks!

Have dc at colyton and St peters. Live East of Exeter and they use/can use public transport or the school bus. Also friends her who have dc at Torquay grammar who use school bus also know kids get the train from Topsham through exeter down to Torquay

Loads of kids get the train from Exeter to the Torquay grammar schools, it is walking distance from Torre station.

Churston is a mixed sex grammar if you aren't interested in single sex, I've had children/grandchildren at both and found the pastoral care at Churston to be very high. Not great for an Exeter commute though.

I have two children in West Exe. You hear mixed reviews but mine are happy and thriving. Check out their exam results if you want to judge on some concrete evidence. There have been issues but I would say the school is trying to engage parents more and listen to any concerns when they are raised.

Thanks again all for great comments. I wonder if anyone knows routes of these buses to Colyton and Torquay? I am trying to google these and can't find anything that has any value! Unless I need to ask the school directly as they're the ones who organize transport. Also, do they charge much for kids using these buses?

I can't see the Torquay grammar bus times but worth speaking to dartline. I'm sure there is a bus from tesco rydon lane and one from darts farm, around 730/8.

For Colyton look here and can download all the Exeter bus times https://www.colytongrammar.com/97/getting-here

Wouldn't the train be easier. I asked GS, he's just left TBGS, and he says all his friends from Exeter used the train.

Hey, it depends I think which side of Exeter you're on? It must be easier to catch the train when you're on St David's or Thomas side. I will try searching for bus to Torquay school too, thanks

Thanks a lot, that is really helpful. Now hopefully will find the same for Torquay school

I haven't been to Exeter for a while but there are some new stations, don't know if the Torquay train uses them. I think one is near the rugby ground. I could be wrong but might be worth investigating. I'm thinking of hold ups with road traffic although again I think the Newton Abbot link road has improved the access to Torbay.

Newcourt is a newer station.

All the Exeter stations are on the Exmouth to Paignton line that would stop at Torre.