Moving to Exeter area

[Jk1997]

Hi, can anyone please advise on schools, general living near Exeter Tiverton or Columpton? We are looking to relocate there. Please let us know more information.

What kind of information are you after? Primary or Secondary? State or private? Houses in these towns or villages nearby? A bit more info would be useful.

Just seen this is in secondary education. In Exeter, they can be very hit and miss. The Tedd Wragg Trust is awful. Stay away from Isca. St James still ok and St Peter’s (not in the Trust). If private then Exeter School is very good; Blundell’s near Tiverton is an option too. There is also the Maynard in Exeter (girls only) which is very small, especially for sixth form. No idea about state secondaries in Tiverton and Collumpton.

How is life there? We have read that is safe and open to families. I am intrested in secondary state schools. We looking to move in either to Collumpton or Tiverton. Are kids in school friendly? Any information would be helpful thanks Xx

I’m a bit further down the road but people are quite rude about Tiverton. Not sure it can all be true! Don’t hear much about Cullompton.

Tiverton just had a bad Ofsted, a change of head and are in the middle of joining a multi academy trust. Some go to uffculme from there which historically had a good reputation not sure about now. Not sure about Cullompton. Exeter schools are fine, regardless of MAT. QE in Crediton might be worth a look - has got better in recent years. Good luck!

I can only speak for Exeter. There are some good neighbourhoods for families with a good community feel. The high street can be rough though especially in the evenings; it can feel a little edgy. Quite a bit of rough sleeping. Lots of students too.

I don’t know if you’d consider private schools but we’ve gone for Wellington which has been exceptional for our son. Incredibly friendly, ambitious, loads and loads going on and made tons of friends

I have heard good things about Uffculme school for high achieving kids, although not so great for SEN. I don’t live in that area but a colleague of mine has kids there and speaks highly of it.

I live in Wellington, so just across the border.
Local opinion is Tiverton High has/is going through a very bad time. As PP says it had a bad OFSTED, Head left abruptly before it was released, a lot of SLT have left & isn’t viewed well. Plus they are losing their sixth form so students will have to travel to either Exeter, Barnstaple or Taunton for sixth form.
Cullompton Community College has recently joined a MAT, so last OFSTED was 2022 & was considered Good. Not heard massively positive stuff about it as it tends to be overshadowed by Uffculme School.
Uffculme has been recently rated Outstanding & has been oversubscribed for several years. It is considered quite academic, but as PP says doesn’t get great reviews for SEN pupils. It does have some very good facilities. But to get in you’d need to ideally be at a feeder primary school living in catchment.
However it is part of a large MAT that also includes Court Fields School in Wellington & Castle School in Taunton. Court Fields is considered Good after several years of issues & Castle is considered Outstanding. However both are also oversubscribed, with some children in catchment not getting spaces & being allocated Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe which has been having some issues & therefore isn’t as desirable atm.

In terms of what it’s like to live - each town/village is different & will very much depend on what sort of budget you have & what amenities you want close by. Tiverton is regarded as a bit rough, partly due to a more industrial past. Cullompton is currently expanding with new housing estates but the town centre can be a bit sparse & dead at times. Uffculme is a village & has fewer amenities, & less public transport links than Tivvy or Cully.
Tivvy does have a train station but it’s not located in the town itself. Cully is due to get a train station in the next few years.

Personally I’ve lived in Tivvy previously & much prefer Wellington, but appreciate its not what you’ve asked.
Can’t offer much about Exeter as have never lived there but it is a nice city to visit; good array of shops, nice city centre, quay side, culture etc.