Exeter Cathedral School is celebrating another year of outstanding academic results. The Class of 2021 sat the prestigious Common Entrance exams, with 75% of all papers being graded A*-B. 100% of pupils have been awarded a place at their chosen senior school – with a record 84% of pupils winning a scholarship/exhibition.
Pupils will be moving on in September to some of the country’s leading senior schools, either close to home (Blundell’s, Exeter School, Maynard, Wellington) or further afield to Marlborough College, Sherborne School, Canford and Lancing College. They have been offered a range of awards and places including some with double or triple scholarships. Reflecting the breadth of the curriculum on offer at ECS, awards have been offered for Music, Sport, Art, Academic, Performing Arts, Vocal and Organ.
Mr James Featherstone, Headmaster, said that “ECS pupils have risen to the challenge of virtual interviews, online tests and recorded assessments. They have adapted and excelled – showing tremendous resilience and industry – and we are incredibly proud of what they have achieved. It is to their great credit – and that of their outstanding teachers – that despite the pandemic Exeter Cathedral School pupils are again moving on to some of the region’s and country’s top schools at the age of 13.”
The School, which has seen a surge of new pupils over the last year and achieved the top grading of ‘Excellent’ in all areas during its most recent ISI Inspection, introduced a dedicated Senior Enrichment Programme in 2017. Pupils in Years 6, 7 and 8 have dedicated curriculum time for the discovery of passions, the honing of skills, and preparation for scholarships tests and interview days.
Mr James Meeke, Head of Scholarships and Enrichment is incredibly proud of the results: “This year’s cohort deserve particular praise for persevering during lockdown and for putting up with me appearing via Teams to give them interview practice in their own homes!”
“These awards reflect the roundedness of the education offered by ECS. It is true that many are indicative of academic rigour, and musical excellence, which might be expected from a Cathedral School, but they also recognise Art, Drama and Sport. The greatest satisfaction I derive from these results is that they highlight the varying talents of our pupils, and the plethora of areas in which we excel as a school.”
