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Scholarships

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Exeter Cathedral School
The Chantry, Palace Gate
Exeter, EX1 1HX

[email protected]
+44 (01392) 255 298

ECS Awards

ECS Awards 2025: applications are now open

We hope that the information on this page, and particularly inside our digital brochure, will prove helpful to you and your family as you explore our fruitful scholarship programme, ECS Awards.
 
Should you have any questions along the way, you would be more than welcome to get in touch with our friendly admissions team via: [email protected] | 01392 255 298

Assessment Day: Saturday 18 January 2025

Application deadline: Friday 3 January 2025
Click here to apply

What is ECS Awards?

ECS Awards (the name for Exeter Cathedral School’s scholarship programme) is designed to recognise and reward enthusiasm, commitment, potential, passion and talent amongst pupils entering the School in Year 7.

The Awards take the form of fee remission (with bursary top-ups also available) and are offered for the following:
 
Music Award
Sport Award
Visual/Performing Arts Award
Academic Award
The School Award
Devon Award

What our Award Holders say…

“I was very excited when I found out about the Awards. At first I was a bit daunted about trying to play perfectly in an audition because my first piece was very ambitious for me. However, Mrs Featherstone put me at my ease and the 20 minutes just flew by. There was a lot of whooping and hugging when the letter came through with the news that I had got a Music Award.”
Jacob2021 Music Award Holder
ecs-awards-jacob-testimonial
“I am passionate about sport – in particular, hockey – and so the opportunity to be recognised for my potential in sport has given me even more enthusiasm! My ambition is to play at County and perhaps national level so I know that this will encourage me to keep working towards that goal which I hope to achieve!”
Gen2021 Sport Award Holder
ecs-awards-gen-testimonial
“I was so ecstatic to receive 2 scholarships, in fact, I jumped around the room: accidentally scaring my cat! I am super excited about the next two years at Exeter Cathedral School; I want to learn and develop, and I am confident that with the support of the teachers I will. If I had to sum up the experience of ECS Awards in 3 words they would be exciting, challenging, and positive!”
Ellenna2021 Academic Award Holder
ecs-awards-ellenna-testimonial
“As Ellenna’s mum I found the process for ECS Awards very professional and smooth. I had many questions and all of them were patiently answered. This was a wonderful opportunity and has helped to prepare for Ellenna’s next steps.”
Parent of ECS Award Holder

The value of Years 7 & 8
at Exeter Cathedral School

Bespoke Provision

Exeter Cathedral School is a Prep School, meaning that we educate pupils up until the end of Year 8. Joining us at Year 7 through to Year 8 offers huge advantages to children: our pupils benefit from being part of a small school and can grow in independence, self-reliance, self-awareness and self-confidence in a tailor-made and nurturing environment.

Valuing the Individual

We focus on educating ‘the whole child’. Our average class size is 15, and we are proud to know each and every one of our pupils as an individual. Our pupils can continue being children whilst learning about themselves and honing the skills they need to flourish at secondary school.

Superb Preparation and Future Success

At the end of Year 8, all our pupils move on to one of their chosen secondary schools: some choose state secondary schools, some choose grammar schools, and some choose independent schools. Whatever the family’s choice, we work alongside parents/guardians and the children to find the right school for them. In both 2020 and 2021, 84% of our Year 8 pupils secured a scholarship – some with double/ triple awards – at their first-choice senior school (with significant fee remission).

Click here to apply

FAQs

Assessment day will be taking place on Saturday 13 January 2024.

We will be accepting applications for ECS Awards up until Monday 18 December 2023.

We welcome our Choristers to apply for ECS Awards! Choristers of Exeter Cathedral School may apply for up to two awards but are eligible to be awarded one award, as per the following:

  • A Choristership is classed as one award 
  • Choristers can still opt for up to two awards (with the exception of the Music Award) 
  • Choristers are only permitted to be awarded one award in addition to their Choristership award

Once the application deadline has passed, parents/guardians of candidates will receive an email from the school regarding information on their chosen awards.

The assessment day will include:

  • A 10-minute interview with a member of the Senior Leadership Team. This is a chance to get to know a bit more about the candidate as a person, as well as to explore together some of their interests, experiences and passions. These interviews are quite informal, and there is no need to prepare anything. 
  • Assessments in chosen award(s) conducted by specialist members of school staff

Interested in enrolling at Exeter Cathedral School?

We are always happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the enrolment process, or simply about life at Exeter Cathedral School in general.

To find out more, please contact our Admissions Manager or enquire using the button below: [email protected] | 01392 255 298
Enquiry Form

Contact us

Exeter Cathedral School
The Chantry, Palace Gate,
Exeter, Devon EX1 1HX

Tel: 01392 255 298
Email: [email protected]

Enquire
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Pupils’ self-esteem, self-confidence and self-knowledge flourish as a result of warm relationships between staff and pupils and the nurturing culture of the school. They also develop because of the encouraging and effective feedback provided by teachers.
The curriculum for the youngest children is highly tailored to their individual needs and interests, while the oldest pupils are supported effectively by teaching planned to develop pupils’ analytical skills and prepare them for the likely academic demands of their senior or secondary school.
Academic leaders employ a robust tracking system which informs teachers’ understanding of the progress made by their pupils…. Teachers adapt their provision in response to needs identified by assessment data. This contributes to pupils’ good progress.
The school provides a wide range of extra-curricular clubs and activities, ranging from the ‘country club’ in the pre-prep school where the children extend their geographical learning, to those exploring coding or ancient history.
Pupils who attain highly in sport are supported in progressing to high level competition by specialist coaching.
Music is embedded across the school. Staff have shaped an inclusive approach where all pupils are involved.
An emotionally-healthy lifestyle is promoted by leaders through the provision of quiet classroom areas and the support available from the ‘wellbeing room’.
Pupils are encouraged to express their views and show appropriate consideration toward those who hold opinions different from their own.
The culture of the school cultivates a sense of self-awareness and an appreciation of the needs of others.
Leaders and staff model high levels of respect and consideration, which are then shown across the community.
Pupils develop a sense of responsibility towards wider society through involvement in local citizenship projects and initiatives.
Leaders maintain an effective safeguarding culture where staff are aware of their responsibilities and respond appropriately should a concern be raised.
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