West Exe School is thrilled to be participating in Art Bytes, a prestigious national art and EdTech programme that encourages creativity and builds cultural capital for students.  The programme, which combines an inter-school art competition with a bespoke virtual gallery and in-person celebration events across England, is aimed at Year 5 and Year 9 students. It has proven to nurture talent, raise ambition, and develop vital skills that will benefit students in future employment.

Art Bytes is now in its 12th year and the programme supports not only the development of artistic skills but also mental health and emotional well-being by creating a space for young people to express themselves through art.  By engaging with this competition, students are given the chance to showcase their talent, gain confidence, and be part of an inclusive creative community.

The programme culminates in a series of events, including the Art Bytes Virtual Exhibition in June.  Once all artwork entries are submitted, the Art Bytes panel of expert judges will shortlist the top three entries from each participating school.  These shortlisted entries will be showcased in the virtual gallery, and an online public vote 3will open on the 3rd of April. 

The students with the most votes from each school will win a place in the annual virtual exhibition and the opportunity to be regional or national winners. Additionally, the school with the most votes will receive the Community Engagement Award, with a certificate and generous art prizes awarded from Art Bytes sponsors.

West Exe School, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, is being sponsored to take part in the competition by The Arts Society Exeter.  The Arts Society Exeter’s aim is to increase the understanding, knowledge and enjoyment of arts in the broadest sense by holding talks each month and by supporting arts education in the local community.

West Exe would like to encourage everyone to get involved and vote for their favourite artworks to help support young artists and contribute to the success of the programme.  For more information, and to vote visit the Art Bytes website: https://artbytes.co.uk/

 

Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

"We are incredibly excited to participate in Art Bytes.  This programme offers our students a unique opportunity to display their artistic talents on a national platform while also nurturing their confidence, ambition, and cultural capital.  The support from The Arts Society Exeter has been invaluable, and we are proud to be part of this fantastic initiative."

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

"We are incredibly proud to support West Exe School’s participation in Art Bytes.  This programme offers students an exceptional opportunity to engage with creativity, develop vital skills for the future, and showcase their talents.  The partnership with The Arts Society Exeter is amazing and we are excited to see the positive impact participation in Art Bytes will have.”

Year 7 and 8 students at West Exe School took part in an exciting and hands-on physics enrichment activity this term, thanks to the National Space Academy. 

The young scientists designed and launched rockets, testing their flight ability and timing how far they travelled before landing.  The day was an inspiring opportunity for students to engage with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and experience the thrill of real-world science.  The event was a resounding success, inspiring a new generation of future scientists and space enthusiasts!

The National Space Academy was created with the ambition to integrate space science—encompassing exploration, astronomy, and satellite applications—into school science curriculums.  Its aim is to boost student attainment, support teachers with additional resources, and guide young people towards careers in science and engineering. 

Since its inception in 2008, the academy has grown from a regional programme in the East Midlands to a national initiative, now working with over 30 team members across the UK and internationally, including the European Space Agency.  Founded by Prof Anu Ojha, OBE, the academy continues to promote the belief that science education transcends boundaries, with space science offering global solutions to global challenges.

At West Exe School, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, the science curriculum is carefully sequenced to help students develop a deep understanding of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, with a focus on revisiting key concepts and building upon prior knowledge. 

The curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, while encouraging students to see the value of science in their everyday lives.  With a passionate and experienced team, West Exe offers practical experiments, STEM enrichment activities, and bespoke learning materials to support students' learning. The school’s commitment to science education is reflected in the success of its graduates, many of whom go on to study at prestigious institutions or pursue careers in fields like medicine.

Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

“It was fantastic to see our students diving into the world of physics in such an exciting and practical way. These kinds of activities not only bring learning to life but also inspire our students to pursue future careers in STEM, possibly as future scientists, engineers, or even astronauts!"

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“This enriching experience is exactly what we aim to provide across our trust – opportunities for our students to engage with learning in a hands-on, interactive way.  STEM education is vital for shaping the innovators of tomorrow, and this rocket science activity was a perfect example of how to make learning memorable."

 

Last night, Tuesday, 11 Feb 2025, 'Petrichor', our incredible Year 11 band, took the stage at the regional Battle of the Bands competition at Uffculme School – and they absolutely smashed it! 🎶🔥

After months of dedication and hard work, their performance was nothing short of phenomenal. They truly embodied #BestExe, leaving the judges seriously impressed—especially considering this was their first-ever performance outside of school! 🤩

The competition was packed with amazing talent, and while they narrowly missed out on a spot in the finals to QE and Kings, they still stood out as one of the best acts of the night. One judge was so blown away that they’re keen to work with our students in the future! 👏

Thank you to Devon Music Education Hub for organising such a brilliant event that gives our students an opportunity to perform and to Uffculme for hosting.

Watch this space for an opportunity to come and watch Petrichor perform in our Summer Concert.

A huge congratulation to Petrichor—you should be so proud!

Students and staff at West Exe School are delighted to share that it has become the first school in Devon to be awarded the prestigious Gold award quality mark for their work on anti-bullying.

The Exeter school received the Gold award from the Anti-Bullying Quality Mark UK (ABQM-UK), a national scheme which endorses how good schools are at preventing bullying. 

West Exe School, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, has a clear Anti-Bullying Strategy and staff at West Exe have been sharing best practice and advice about this with partner schools across the trust.

Student anti-bullying ambassadors at the school have also received accredited Diana Award training so that they are prepared and equipped with the skills they need to support students experiencing friendship difficulties.  Staff anti-bullying champions also meet with students on a regular basis to ensure student voices are listened to and that areas raised as a concern are reviewed, revised and developed to minimise future issues.
 

Ofsted inspectors also noted in their last report that at West Exe Pupils’ mental health and wellbeing is a priority and pupils know how to stay safe and keep safe online.

The ABQM-UK award challenges schools to demonstrate their effectiveness in anti-bullying and the prevention of harassment. School communities that gain the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards can show that:

• Children and young people come to school without the fear of being bullied or harassed.
• Staff members respond to all aspects of bullying behaviour and harassment with confidence.
• Families are confident that they know who to approach about bullying and harassment and that it will be dealt with efficiently and effectively.

 

Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

"I am so proud of all of our staff and students, and especially our anti-bullying ambassadors, for achieving this Gold Award.  It is a testament to how hard they all work to ensure the school environment is a caring one where every child can thrive.  Our ‘kindness elective’ has seen our students visiting local primary schools to deliver anti-bullying strategies and training, ensuring that our wider community are able to benefit too. ”

Ole C, Year 8 student at West Exe School said:

‘I chose to become an antibullying ambassador because I wanted to help people who are struggling with being bullied. My main goal as an antibullying ambassador is to help people who feel like they are alone and to stop people from being targeted.’

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“The work the West Exe School community has done regarding their anti bullying strategy has been exemplary and I am so pleased that this has been recognised through the Gold Award.  At the Ted Wragg Trust we believe that every child should come to school feeling safe and happy and all our schools work hard to make sure this is the case.”

 

We’d like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the key themes from our parent survey which took place earlier this term.  Our staff video version can be viewed here and a transcript of the video is available below.

Hello West Exe families! It's Joe Bispham here, I'm the Deputy Headteacher for Community and Education and I am just sharing with you some of the feedback you gave us on the Edurio parent survey. Thank you so so much for all of you that took the time to provide that really valuable feedback it makes an absolutely huge difference to what we do here and we really really want to be working with the community to ensure that your child's experience at school is the best it possibly can be.

Ric Claydon, Head of Year 7:

We were absolutely thrilled to see that more of you than ever felt really informed and empowered by the work of our attendance team following your feedback last year. We have improved our systems and processes around attendance and we are so pleased that has had the impact we hoped for. We will continue to work hard in this area as children being in school means that they not only get access to all of their brilliant lessons but can also be involved in making memories that will last a lifetime.

Kelsey Flynn, Head of Year 8:

Last year you said communications were coming from too many different places, we listened and streamlined our systems so now that we only have one parent app and a fortnightly Head Teacher update. We're so pleased to hear from you that it's having the desired impact and you're telling us you feel much better informed this year and not overloaded with information. The rewards that celebrate good behaviour are particularly positive and we want to let you know even more about this going forward.

Laura Peacock, Head of Year 10:

Last year you raised your frustration with not always being able to contact the school and we've been working hard behind the scenes to address this. Over October half term, we had a new telephone system installed, that enables us to answer so many more telephone calls. Obviously it's early days yet, but we're already seeing a rise in the number of calls answered and this will remain a focus for us this year so watch this space.

Ric Claydon, Head of Year 7:

You told us that you see lots of opportunities for your child to take part in activities and clubs here at school which we're really pleased to hear. We know that the electives are now just a part of the school culture but there is so much more, from debating to Duke of Edinburgh trips and visits and after school sports clubs. Your children were involved in more than ever before but we are not done yet. We are focusing on widening participation and giving even more experiences that make your child’s school day so special.

Chris Mayes, Head of Year 9:

This year some of you told us that you don't always feel confident supporting your child's learning at home or you can't always see how the school's learning approach fits your individual child's needs.

We are keen to help with both of these things. We are looking at ways to share more tips and ideas with you around your child’s development and learning journey. We'll be back in touch in the summer time about that.

Joe Bispham, Deputy Head Teacher

We really appreciate all your feedback and it really does help us to improve all aspects of the school and help us serve the community much better. Some of these things are much longer projects, they will take time, but there are some really quick things we can do to support for example you told us you wanted more notice on key dates and events and things that are happening so we're adding a key dates document to our website that will be really easy to access for you. On top of all of these exciting changes we are also adding our year group on a page, something we're going to be launching over the next few months and over this year which is going to give you an overview of everything's happening with your child’s year group throughout the year so do watch this space and that will be coming your way soon.

Nicky Lewis, Head of School:

The parent survey is a fantastic listening opportunity for us to hear from you and take action as a direct result, so thank you once again for all of you that participated. However, we don't just listen once a year, if you have any feedback, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us, we love to hear from you.

Here is how to enter: