Founded in 1901 under the Order of Notre Dame as a girls' convent, it was re-founded in 1979 as a co-educational school. It is a joint Roman Catholic and Anglican foundation and has a very pleasant single site of over 13 acres in remarkably beautiful surroundings, overlooking Lyme Bay. It also enjoys most attractive buildings and facilities are of a high order and include libraries, music centre and modern technology teaching areas and science laboratories. It has many of the advantages of a small family school and prides itself on its in-depth pastoral care system. Some emphasis on religious education and worship. A number of vocational qualifications are offered in addition to AS and A-levels. Strong music, drama and art. On-site sports and games facilities and a large number of extra-curricular activities for a school of this size. There is commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, conservation and community services; CCF have strong army and naval sections with many opportunities for off-site activities.
Pupils: Age range 3 months-19 years; 630 pupils, 500 day (295 boys, 205 girls), 130 boarding (85 boys, 45 girls). Senior department 11-19, 360 pupils (220 boys, 140 girls). Entrance: Entry at any age, including the sixth form. Common Entrance and own entrance exam used. For sixth form entry, 4-5 GCSEs at least grade C (usually grade B in sixth form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. State school entry, approx 50% of senior intake.
20 pa scholarships, value £750-£7500: 15 academic, others for all-rounder, sport, art, music, drama (awarded at 11, 13, 16 and at other ages). Approx 15 pa bursaries including forces bursaries. Parents expected to buy textbooks in sixth form. No compulsory extras; optional extras £100-£120 per term.
15% in armed services; 15+% are doctors/lawyers; 15+% in industry/commerce; 15+% in financial sector. 60+% live within 30 miles; up to 15% overseas.
Headmaster: Tim Waters, appointed 2008. Educated at Monmouth School and Oxford University (botany, MSc in forest ecology). Previously Headmaster of Royal Wolverhampton, Senior Teacher at Portsmouth Grammar and Housemaster at Abingdon School. Teaching staff: 54 full time, 31 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 40.
GCSE: 58 pupils in Year 11: 95% gained at least grade C in 5+ subjects. A-levels: 47 in upper sixth, all passing in 3+ subjects, with an average final points score of 320.
90% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (10% after a gap year). 40% take courses in science and engineering, 10% in humanities and social sciences, 5% in art and design, 30% in business, 5% in other vocational subjects, 10% other forms of training or to employment.
GCSE, AS and A-levels (including vocational A-levels, BTEC Access eg business, ICT, performing arts); GCSE options include dual award business. Sixth form: Vocational and academic AS and A-levels may be combined or studied separately; most take a mixture. Vocational: Applied dual award GCSE and double award A-levels in business, performing arts and IT. Work experience available. Special provision: 3 qualified EAL teachers, 4 special needs teachers or learning support assistants. Languages: French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Chinese, Russian and Japanese offered at GCSE; also AS and A-level, depending on demand. French compulsory from 5-14, German 11-14. Exchanges to France and Germany. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum, eg market research in business, collating data in science. Most pupils take Clait ICT; vocational A-level in ICT also offered. 400 computers for pupil use (14 hours a day), all networked and with email and broadband internet access. Pupils (day and boarding) have own computers, increasingly laptops.
Music: Over 25% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 7 musical groups: orchestra, choirs, strings, swing band, small musical groups. Pupils in National Children's and National Youth Orchestras, South West Schools Orchestra and Torbay Light Orchestra; involvement in Devon and Exeter Festival. Drama and dance: Both offered as extra-curricular subjects; also vocational A-level performing arts. Majority of pupils involved in school and other productions. Art and design: On average, 20 take GCSE. Pottery and textiles also offered. 3 pupils were winners of the local schools art competition; two regional winners and two national art prize winners.
Sport: Choice from: cross-country, cricket, rugby, football, hockey, netball, rounders, swimming. Optional sports: judo, horse riding, sailing, tennis, volleyball, basketball, windsurfing, golf, squash, archery. GCSE physical education offered, maybe A-level and BAGA. 1 former international rugby player; 2 national swimmers, 1 national squash player; 1 national fencer; national ISA champions, 15 swimming, 6 athletics, 3 cross-country; successful teams in tennis, girls' netball, cross-country, athletes. Activities: Pupils take Duke of Edinburgh's Award (2 recent gold medals). CCF and community service optional. Over 30 clubs including chess, art, drama, music, computing, workshop, conservation, aerobics, handicraft and many sports clubs.
Uniform: School uniform worn except in the sixth form, where a dress code applies. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Head and deputy head of school , prefects, house prefects and house captains. School Council. Religion: Joint Anglican and Roman Catholic foundation. Religious worship compulsory; certain exemptions for boarders on Sundays. Social: Joint concerts with local churches and local choral society; recent Rotary Club Youth Speaks Competitions winners at all levels. Overseas sports tours; language exchanges. Pupils may bring own bikes to school. School shop. Limited wine or beer allowed for senior pupils for special occasions only.
Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect a warning and a 'forgetfulness slip'; any pupil caught smoking cannabis on the premises would expect permanent or temporary exclusion from school, certainly until a full investigation and report produced.
30% have own study bedrooms, many ensuite; 70% share with 1 other. Houses of approx 40, divided by age and gender. Pupils allowed to provide and cook own food. 2-3 exeats allowed termly and extra ones possible. Visits to local town allowed from age 11 in small groups.
is run by James Atkinson, c/o the school.
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