Subject Profiles

Art

Visual Art is seen as being an essential form of self-expression.

Art is not just a school subject - it is fundamentally more important, a way of being aware of and responsive to our experiences.

Knowledge of significant artists, materials/media and techniques is developed but the process of creating artwork is the foundation of teaching and learning.

The children are encouraged to understand that artwork can be created in a variety ways and through the use of a wide range of materials, processes and techniques and not only by drawing or painting pictures.

The aim of Art experiences is to develop, knowledge, understanding, skills and values in these areas but to excite and inspire children to be aware and responsive to the world they live in.

"The thing I most like about ECS is art.  I love drawing in my spare time.  But the person who inspired me was our great teacher, Mr Hamer". Year 6 pupil

Design Technology

Technology is the exciting activity of providing for our needs. This activity can involve the use of materials, tools, processes, energy, mechanisms, control systems and should also involve the consideration of environmental impact and sustainability.

Methods of problem solving, designing, modelling, testing, fault finding and repair together with group working, management, delegation, task setting and reviewing are all important technological skills.

The aim of the technology experiences is to develop knowledge, understanding, skills and values in these areas but mainly to excite and inspire the children to want to be part of building a sustainable world for the future.

Drama

'My greatest achievement was when I went to the Headmaster's office and I read my poem to the Headmaster and a Governor and I was given a Headmaster's Commendation.' Year 3 pupil

Drama is a core element of the curriculum for all pupils and provides opportunities for children to grow in confidence, developing their ability to express themselves orally and physically.

Starting with the very youngest pupils children are introduced to role play and set piece dramas.  Through these early years, children are taught drama as part of their English curriculum by their form teachers.

From Year 4 (at the age of 8), Drama is taught by our specialist subject teacher as part of the carousel of expressive arts which takes place each week.

Play production is an important aspect of the drama course and the majority of pupils will take part in at least one such production each year and some children have the opportunity to do more.  These plays, from the Nursery pupils performing in their Christmas Production to the Year 8 pupils preparing for drama scholarships, are always one of the term's highlights and provide the opportunity for many talents to shine!

English

The English Department is committed to fostering a love of reading and literature,as well as developing a high level of competence in creative and analytical writing.

A broad scheme of work offers a stimulating and exciting programme of study with the National Literacy Strategy providing the framework up to year 6 and Common Entrance and Public School Scholarship being the focus of study in Years 7 and 8. The Nelson English Programme provides a basic grounding in the fundamental study of grammar and punctuation while spelling and reading skills are developed through recognised schemes and supplementary material. There is a strong learning support team which enables pupils of all ability levels to prosper and enjoy their English studies.

Our refurbished library with a designated librarian gives children access to a spectrum of classic and current fiction. This is enhanced by visits from award winning writers such as Michael Morpurgo and Mal Peet and the chance to shadow the Carnegie Prize for children's literature.

The children have a variety of opportunities to showcase their writing including publication in The Chantry Magazine.   Speaking and listening skills are nurtured in the classroom, fostering a vital confidence in oral communication.  World Book Day and National Poetry Day are special occasions where the children delight in presenting and performing their own writing and the work of other authors.

Food Technology

Food Technology provides an opportunity to teach children about the importance of healthy eating patterns as well as giving them the necessary skills to prepare and cook nutritional food.

Elements of cookery are taught to our youngest pupils in the Nursery through to our oldest Year 8 children - a vital life skill, and one which is enjoyed thoroughly by all.

Formal Food Technology lessons start in Year 5 through to Year 8 and the lessons provide an excellent opportunity to enhance the children's knowledge, skill and understanding about food and cookery.

The results can be quite delicious too!

'I like ECS because it is a very friendly place and I love having the opportunity to have a food technology lesson with all the proper tools'. Year 5 pupil

French

French is studied as a specialist subject by all pupils to Common Entrance or Scholarship Level from the age of 7+ (Year 3). An after school French Club is also offered for pre-prep pupils.

The main aims of the course are:

• To develop an ability to communicate in French through listening, speaking, reading and writing.
• To promote an understanding of how language works.
• To begin to familiarise pupils with a culture different from their own.

The French Trip to Château de la Baudonnière in Normandy, France

The French Department at Exeter Cathedral School takes a group of pupils to France every two years in the October half term holiday.

The aim of the trip is to allow pupils to have fun on an activity holiday in the superb setting of a château while learning French by being totally immersed in the language and culture.

The Château is quite unique in that it offers a wide variety of activities from canoeing and climbing to bread-making and the woodland adventure, but the whole holiday is conducted in French! While that may sound incredibly daunting to you as parents and guardians, the pupils love the atmosphere and challenge and needless to say their French improves dramatically!

The trip has now been running for eight years and is available to pupils in Years 6 - 8. It is very popular and is always oversubscribed.

Geography

Geography is studied by all pupils from Nursery to Year 8, when the children take Common Entrance. It aims to stimulate curiosity about the world, provides an insight to places and environments, increases awareness of environmental issues and introduces the children to different societies and cultures around the world. Fieldwork is an important aspect of the subject because it brings certain topics alive and provides experience of geographical enquiry. Field work investigations are used throughout the school using many local destinations such as Dawlish Warren, the new Princesshay and the Exeter Quay.

In the Pre-Prep (age 3 -7) Geography is generally taught as part of broader cross curricular topics rather than as an individual subject. Learning through their experience of different foods, exploring the local area, farm and coastline visits and hence to looking at a variety of different landscapes and maps allows children to develop their skills and knowledge through direct experience of their environment.

From Year 3 to Year 8 Geography is taught as an individual class subject by specialist teachers. The schemes of work are designed to meet the needs of the National Curriculum Programmes of Study and the 13+ Common Entrance syllabus. The topics for years 3 -8 are designed to build foundations and increase their knowledge of the subject. The use of case studies within the teaching brings all of the different topics alive and is designed to encourage pupils to be more aware of the impacts that nature and we as humans have on our world.

Year 3 and 4 enjoy studying rainforests, deserts and polar regions. Cross curricular links are made with other subjects eg Science and Art.

Years 5 - 8 look at plate tectonics such as earthquakes and volcanoes, flooding, weather hazards, settlements, globalization, rivers and coasts and locational knowledge in greater detail. The children enjoy opportunities to discuss issues of environmental and ecological importance.

Greek

Some pupils in Years 7 and 8 have the opportunity to be introduced to this wonderful language.  Meeting a new alphabet is akin to code-breaking!  Lessons can be delivered in a symposium style, as small group sizes enable a more informal approach.  By the end of Year 8, pupils have reached a level to attempt the first two parts of Common Entrance Examination Level 1.

Technology is the exciting activity of providing for our needs. This activity can involve the use of materials, tools, processes, energy, mechanisms, control systems and should also involve the consideration of environmental impact and sustainability.

Methods of problem solving, designing, modelling, testing, fault finding and repair together with group working, management, delegation, task setting and reviewing are all important technological skills.

The aim of the technology experiences is to develop knowledge, understanding, skills and values in these areas but mainly to excite and inspire the children to want to be part of building a sustainable world for the future.

History

History at ECS is taught using the National Curriculum areas of study.  In the Pre-Prep Department History is taught as part of Humanities up to Year 1. From Year 2 to Year 4 it is taught as a separate subject by form teachers and thereafter by subject specialists.

The schemes of work are designed to meet the needs of the National Curriculum Programmes of Study and the Common Entrance and Common Scholarship Examinations to Independent Schools.

The main aims of the course are:

• To stimulate the pupils' interest in and enthusiasms for a study of the past.

• To encourage a lively and questioning approach to history which will enable children to enjoy their learning.

• To further an understanding of the development over time of social and cultural values.

The overall aim of the teaching of History could be said to be to stimulate the pupils sufficiently so that they will pester their parents for visits to castles, ruins and museums when they are young, to enquire into the past on their own when an adult and to look back and analyse their lives by studying historical events when they are in their bath-chairs!

Information Technology

Information Technology is used at the Cathedral School from the earliest years as a tool to aid learning.  Specially designed software for use in the core subjects is used.

Each class in the pre-prep department has its own computer and appropriate software.

From the age of 7 (year 3) children will be introduced to a Windows based environment in the school's PC equipped Computer Room.

In years 3, 4 and 5, using standard Microsoft applications, pupils will progressively learn the basics of Word Processing, the handling of graphical images and the production of presentations.  In years 6, 7 and 8 this progress will be continued along with creation and manipulation of spreadsheets and the creation and interrogation of databases.  They also learn the basics of Windows file management on the network.

Latin

Some pupils in Years 6, 7 and 8 study Latin to Common Entrance Examination (CEE) Level 1 or to Senior School Scholarship Level.  Languages such as Italian, French, Catalan, Romanian, Spanish and Portuguese are descended from Latin, while many others, including English, have inherited and acquired much of their vocabulary from Latin.  After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Latin survived as the 'lingua franca' of educated classes in the West, and this survival was reinforced by the adoption of Latin for use in the Catholic Church.

Learning Latin is intellectually challenging, but can be fun!

Mathematics

Mathematics is a core subject studied by all pupils to Common Entrance level.

It is taught by Form Teachers up to and including Year 5 and thereafter by subject specialists.

In the upper years the schemes of work are designed to prepare children for the entrance and scholarship examinations to independent senior schools.

The main aims of the course are to develop:       

• Basic "four rule" numeracy - both written and mental.
• The ability to think logically and progressively in problem solving.
• Spatial awareness in two and three dimensions.
• Confidence in handling a wide range of mathematical concepts and skills.

Music

It is not uncommon for those who have not had personal contact with the Cathedral School before to think of it only as the Choir School for the Cathedral Choristers. While the Choristers are central to music at the Cathedral School, music making extends far beyond the choir stalls and involves a good many more of our 200 pupils than the 36 Cathedral Choristers.

School music begins in the Pre-Preparatory Department with our younger pupils.  Here a specialist music teacher begins to work with children on all the basics of music making, developing their singing and ear for music and gradually introducing them to different types of instrumental music.

Around the age of 8, a number of pupils will begin having individual instrumental lessons in school.

Class lessons continue into the Prep School and all pupils in Years 3 and 4 form the Junior Choir with a weekly practice as part of their timetabled curriculum.  Class lessons place emphasis on musical literacy and learning to read music through creative, composition based exercises.  Many pupils will also begin, as they progress on their chosen instruments, to join the ensemble practices and take part in concert performances. 

Altogether the School boasts an orchestra, junior and senior choirs, a big band, wind, guitar, recorder and brass ensembles, junior and senior string groups.  Additional small groups may emerge in different year groups depending on interest and talent.

There are a number of school concerts each year at which the school Senior Choir, Orchestra, Big Band and other ensembles perform - usually held in the Cathedral Chapter House. The annual Charity Concert in the Cathedral and the Marquee Concert in the Bishop's Palace Garden, take place in May/June and are the culmination of the music year.

Instrumental tuition is offered on a wide variety of instruments with pupils prepared for Associated Board examinations on a regular basis.  Approximately 140 individual instrumental lessons take place in the School each week. Choristers and other advanced musicians are also offered weekly classes in musical theory.

Whilst it is hoped that pupils of Exeter Cathedral School are trained to give musical performances to the highest possible standards, we also regard it as paramount that pupils should enjoy making and experiencing music in many forms.  This philosophy is shared with many children in Devon Primary Schools who have worked with Stephen Tanner, our Director of Music and Rachel Smith, our Assistant Director of Music and founder of the Devon County Junior Choir, as part of the School and Cathedral's Chorister Outreach Programme.  

Devon County Junior Choir Website

A small number of Music Scholarships are awarded annually; further information is available from the School's Admissions Registrar, Lucy Lewis.

Click here for information regarding choristership in Exeter Cathedral Choir.

Individual instrumental tuition is available from our enthusiastic and experienced peripatetic music teachers on a wide range of instruments, including the voice.  Each pupil has the opportunity to enter the Associated Board Royal School of Music Examinations on the recommendation of his or her teacher.

Approximately 140 individual instrumental tuition lessons take place in the School each week. As well as thoroughly enjoying the learning and performing experience many of our pupils achieve outstanding results and music scholarships to senior schools.

Instrumental tuition is currently offered for the following instruments:

Bassoon
'Cello
Clarinet
Cornet
Flute
Guitar
Horn
Percussion
Piano
Recorder
Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet
Violin
Viola
Voice

The School Director of Music is always happy to discuss instrumental tuition options with current or prospective parents.

Visit the standard forms page for a tuition application form.

Cost of lessons

Individual instrumental lessons for the academic year 2009/10 are £13.80 per half hour.

Instrumental hire

It is possible for a limited number of instruments to be hired from the School.  The charge for this is £20 per term for the first three terms and £35 per term thereafter.

Timetable

Individual instrumental lessons are taught on a rota basis. A detailed weekly Music Timetable gives details of instrumental lessons and all other music events and rehearsals in School.  The timetable is posted in the Music Department and on the Chantry Pillar notice board for parents to read and is also available on this website. Click here

Associated Board of the Royal School of Music Examinations (ABRSM)

Pupils who receive tuition in instruments, voice or music theory, at school, are entered for ABRSM examinations on the recommendation of their peripatetic instrumental teacher to the director of Music, Stephen Tanner. Parents who wish to discuss the advisability or the proposed grade of examination entries are always welcome to speak with Mr Tanner. Entries are made twice each year with examinations taking place in January and May/June. The cost of ABRSM examinations is not included in the general fee. Current charges for these vary according to the instrument and the grade and range from £30 to approximately £60.

Notes:

0. Lessons lost through teacher absence or unavailability will be made up whenever possible or, if necessary not charged for. Lessons lost through pupil error (forgotten time or instruments) cannot be made up.
0. Parents are required to give notice in writing to the Director of Music if they wish their son / daughter to take up further instruments or switch to a new instrument. Notice must be given in writing before the first day of the preceding half term if a pupil is not to continue with an instrument. If such notice is not given, a half term's fees for that following term will be required by the Governors, which will be payable to the teacher concerned. Any queries regarding accounts should be directed to the Director of Music or the School Finance Office.
0. Peripatetic staff are asked to send out accounts themselves. An administrative charge of £0.50 is therefore added to those accounts that are paid by parents.
0. Parents should please be aware that instruments brought into school and those hired from the school are not insured by the School. These need to be covered by your home insurance policy for all risks. If you have a problem with your own insurers the School Finance Office has details of a scheme available through Holmwoods.
0. Examination entry fees and instrument hire charges will be included in the main fees account payable to Exeter Cathedral School at the end of each term. 

Outdoor Pursuits

"I like that if you are not in a match then you can go and have loads of fun in outdoor pursuits.  You get muddy and wet but it is really, really fun!"  Year 5 pupil

Wednesday afternoon outdoor pursuits lessons are the highlight of the week for some of our Years 5 - 8 pupils. Our highly experienced and qualified instructor presents the children with personal challenges, giving them the leadership and support to achieve their goals.

Outdoor Education should develop an awareness of ourselves, others and the environment.  Children are naturally adventurous; the aim of these activities is to encourage this need for adventure but in so doing develop an awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses, an understanding, care and concern for others and a passionate respect for the complexity, fragility and beauty of the natural environment.

Just some of the activities that take place:

• Dartmoor training walks
• Snowdon expeditions
• Year 8 Dartmoor Camp 
• Gorge scrambling
• Canoeing and kayaking
• Raft building
• Orienteering
• Campcraft

And more comments from some of our Year 5 boys and girls...

"My greatest achievement at ECS was in outdoor pursuits, going on the army assault course and getting my foot stuck in the mud!  It was really good fun".

"What I like most about ECS is outdoor pursuits, especially when we built a fire in the woods - our group was one of the best!"

"I like ECS because all the teachers are really nice and I really like outdoor pursuits with Mr Hamer because you get to light fires and

follow tracks!"

Religious Education

Religious Education lessons are taught by Form Teachers up to Year 2 and thereafter by the School Chaplain and specialist RE teacher.

RE is taught as an academic subject, and is studied by all pupils to CEE or CSE levels as well as being an important element in the promulgation of a religious and moral framework within which and through which our pupils may grow.  Pupil discussions and debates are common features of lessons.

The RE schemes of work, including the Common Entrance syllabus, are predominantly Christian-based, but the study of other major world religions is also a part of the course.  The RE department possesses a wide range of religious artefacts, videos and dvds which are used in lessons, and also organises trips to various places of worship; not surprisingly, frequent use is made of Exeter Cathedral, but pupils have also visited sites such as Exeter synagogue and mosque.  In addition, the department has invited members of other faiths to visit the school to talk to pupils about what their religion means to them, and to give pupils an opportunity to ask them questions.

Science

"Science is very exciting at ECS - doing experiments and testing and just listening to how amazing things work". Year 5 pupil

Science is a core subject studied by all pupils to Common Entrance Level.

It is taught as a class-based subject by form teachers up to Year 4 and thereafter by the subject specialist.

The schemes of work reflect both the needs of the National Curriculum Programmes of Study at KS1 to KS3, as well as the Common Entrance Examination and Common Scholarship to independent schools.  Pupils are therefore fully prepared to study three separate science subjects at their senior school, if they so wish.

The main aims of the course are to develop:

• A sufficient knowledge base in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• A scientific awareness.
• The ability to hypothesise and develop fair tests for these hypotheses. 

Sports

The importance of a healthy body has never been more true and at the Cathedral School, pupils undertake a varied, challenging and enjoyable physical education course from the Nursery Class through to Year 8.

Games/swimming lessons take place at several venues including Hall House Garden (for our youngest pupils), Exeter University, the County Cricket Ground, the Northbrook Swimming Pool, Exeter Arena and the sports pitches at Countess Wear. 

The School also has a varied and exciting programme of inter-school fixtures, with an average of 60 fixtures per term. It is very much part of our philosophy that as many pupils as possible should be able to represent the school at some stage of the year.

In addition to the main inter-school sports, a number of minor games are played, some within the timetable, others in after school clubs.  Outdoor pursuits, for example is a games option for older pupils for much of the year while tennis, ballet, hockey, running, squash,  judo and fencing are popular after school clubs.

Nursery children enjoy a fun and challenging daily mix of physical activities including "Leap into Life" (a physical education programme) and "Sticky Kids" (a music and movement programme).  These activities take place either inside Hall House, or in the garden, as appropriate and are designed to build up skills of balance, movement and hand / eye co-ordination.

From the age of 4 in the Reception Class, pupils also swim on a weekly basis at the Northbrook Swimming Pool.

After-School / Lunchtime Clubs for Pre-Prep pupils include ballet and judo and during the summer months, tennis.

Years 3 and 4 have two games sessions per week in addition to PE and swimming lessons. Pupils will begin to represent the school or their House in athletics, cricket, hockey, netball, rugby, rounders, soccer and swimming.  After-School / Lunchtime sports clubs for pupils in Years 3 and 4 include fencing and judo.

Year 5 and above have two games afternoons each week as well as swimming lessons,  most weeks involving inter-school or inter-house competition.   After-School / Lunchtime Clubs for pupils in Years 5 and above include hockey, running, squash, fencing and judo.

The Sporting Year

Sports Contacts

Weekly Arrangements

Sports Venues