Meet the Head: Exeter School’s first female head
We speak to Louise Simpson, Head of Exeter School, to find out how their pupils benefit from their ethos and co-ed environment.
What were your first impressions of Exeter School?
It is a wonderful, warm and welcoming community, where the pupils and their teachers work extremely well together, and everyone takes up all the opportunities that are offered. The site is impressive, but it is the achievements of the pupils (both academic and otherwise) which are more important, and their development as individuals, which is enhanced and nurtured by excellent relationships with the adults they work with, and by the incredible range of opportunities that they are offered.
Tell us about your background.
This is my third headship, and my seventh school. I am an environmental scientist, and have enjoyed a varied background in schools around the country, all within the independent sector. I have recently spent six years as head of a British international school in Brazil, and now I am delighted to be back in the UK.
What are your plans in your first year at Exeter School?
That is hard to say! With so much that is unknown at the moment, the only thing I can say for sure is that I will spend the first few months getting to know everyone and finding out what is important for them. Developing a vision requires input from the whole community, and until I know what that looks like, we will have to wait.
What are your priorities as a Head?
Excellence for every child. That means having a real focus on the individual and what is right for them. The range of activities and enrichment that we offer at Exeter is phenomenal and should give every child the opportunity to find out what they are good at – and to excel at it.
What are the school’s strengths?
The range of opportunities are incredible. It is a school with ambition, warmth and excellence for all. Exonians have boundless energy – just what is needed to keep up with all that is on offer.
Why should children be educated in a co-ed environment?
Because life is co-ed. Having been head in an all girls’ school I do understand the importance of equality and challenging the norms and stereotypes that we sometimes see played out in education. I feel that the best place to do this is in an environment where boys and girls are seen as equals and where they mix freely and can grow and learn together. It is preparation for the world of work and life beyond school.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Glass half full.
What would you say to a prospective family considering relocating to Devon and sending their children to Exeter School?
Exeter and Devon offers so much choice and a fantastic quality of life for families. The school is an extension of this – taking advantage as we do of all the local outdoor education facilities. Many of our staff and pupils are great sailors, passionate walkers and surfers – and they are drawn to the south west to have access to these facilities. Perhaps that explains why the school is such a dynamic place – always buzzing with energy.
Do many children attend the Senior School from the Junior School? And from the Senior School to the Sixth Form?
Yes – the vast majority move to the senior school from the juniors and this year every single one of our Y6 did. Equally, the vast majority move up to the Sixth Form and we always have a number of new pupils joining us at 16+.
The extra curricular offering at Exeter School is vast – how do children balance the mix of sport, music, art, drama, ccf etc?
It is really important that pupils don’t burn themselves out with too much activity. To do so, we help to manage their contributions and offer support and guidance when pupils make choices about the activities they would like to do. In the Junior School and key stage 3 we encourage them to try lots of things, and then focus on a few areas when they are a bit older – in order to balance things out.
**What do you love about the school?**
I love the fact that the creative arts and music are just as important as sport! I am a lover of music (though only as a listener!) and so having choirs, orchestra and other ensembles to enjoy, and the rich offering of dramatic arts is fantastic, but of course, it is the breadth and balance which makes an Exeter School education so excellent.
**What is the school’s ethos?**
Putting the individual child at the heart of the school is what is most important. This is underpinned by our brilliant pastoral care, the house system and the way that the sixth form team works to support the oldest pupils in the school. Teachers take pride in knowing the pupils very well indeed, which is crucial to this aspect.
How does Exeter School look after children with special educational needs?
Every teacher approaches every child with respect to their individual needs. That is what makes great teaching. Of course, some children need special care and support, though our learning support unit, but differentiation and focus on the individual is where this starts.
Find out more about Exeter School here.