Exeter Cathedral School
Exeter Cathedral School is an independent co-educational day school in Exeter, UK, serving about 176 pupils aged 3-13. Founded 1179 as one of 44 UK choral schools, its Prep section will close in 2026 due to financial pressures.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersExeter, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Exeter Cathedral School does
Exeter Cathedral School is Exeter's oldest school, founded in 1179 as 'The Chorister School, Exeter' to educate boys who sang daily services at the Cathedral. Originally a chorister institution, it admitted non-Chorister places in the 1960s and became fully co-educational in 1994 with the establishment of a Girls' Choir. The school operates three educational phases - Nursery (ages 3-4), Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2, ages 4-7), and Prep (Years 3-8, ages 7-13) - delivered across the Cathedral Close in Exeter, Devon, including Hall House (a 14th-century former Canonry housing Nursery and Pre-Prep) and Kalendar Hall (the Music School). It serves approximately 176 pupils with average class sizes of 13-15, employing around 27 staff, and is governed as a company limited by guarantee and registered charity (No. 1151444), legally and financially separate from Exeter Cathedral since 2014.
The school's distinctive offering is its Chorister Programme - one of only 44 choral schools in the UK - training up to 18 boy and 18 girl choristers alongside Exeter Cathedral Choir, with a 25% tuition remission funded by the Dean and Chapter. Curriculum is supplemented by over 194 weekly instrument lessons across 18 instruments, more than 30 extra-curricular clubs each term, wrap-around care from 07h30 to 18h30, and a Devon-wide transport network via Vectare and a joint shuttle service with Exeter School and The Maynard School. The technology stack is minimal: Microsoft infrastructure for online learning and Tapestry Learning Journal for nursery documentation. Marketing channels are predominantly community-led (word-of-mouth referrals, 'Be a Chorister for a Day' events, open days) supplemented by organic social media and third-party validation through The Good Schools Guide.
Revenue is generated almost entirely through termly tuition fees ranging from £4,148.40 per term (Reception) to £6,952.80 per term (Years 6-8), payable termly in advance or monthly via School Fee Plan, plus a £90 registration fee and £250 confirmation deposit. Distribution is direct-to-family through a five-step admissions process. As of January 2026, the Board of Governors announced closure of the Prep section (Years 3-8) effective September 2026 due to financial pressures facing small independent schools; Nursery and Pre-Prep will be taken over by Inspired Learning Group, and a new partnership with Exeter School will ensure choristers can continue their studies locally in a co-educational environment.
Exeter Cathedral School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Exeter Cathedral School
- Legal name
- Exeter Cathedral School
- Website
- https://exetercathedralschool.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Exeter Cathedral School is an independent co-educational day school in Exeter, UK, serving about 176 pupils aged 3-13. Founded 1179 as one of 44 UK choral schools, its Prep section will close in 2026 due to financial pressures.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Exeter Cathedral School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Primary and Prep Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)
Keywords
Where Exeter Cathedral School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Exeter
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Exeter Cathedral School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Termly Tuition Fees: Primary revenue stream from termly tuition fees covering all provision from 08h00 to 17h00 including Early Club, snacks, hot lunch, after-school snack, clubs and late stay. Fees are payable per term in advance or through monthly instalments via School Fee Plan.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Reception: £4,148.40 per term (includes £691.40 VAT) |
| Subscription | Annual | Years 1 & 2: £4,245.60 per term (includes £707.60 VAT) |
| Subscription | Annual | Years 3 & 4: £6,220.80 per term (includes £1,036.80 VAT) |
| Subscription | Annual | Year 5: £6,440.40 per term (includes £1,073.40 VAT) |
| Subscription | Annual | Years 6-8: £6,952.80 per term (includes £1,158.80 VAT) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Registration fee: £90 (non-refundable), Confirmation deposit: £250 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Exeter Cathedral School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Exeter Cathedral School is an independent co-educational day school delivering tailored education from Nursery (ages 3-4) through Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2) and Prep (Years 3-8), serving approximately 176 pupils on a single Exeter campus. Its offering centres on classroom teaching, a flagship Chorister Programme linked to Exeter Cathedral Choir, individual instrumental tuition, extra-curricular clubs, wrap-around care, and school transport services, with revenue generated primarily through termly tuition fees.
Product overview
Exeter Cathedral School is an independent co-educational day school offering a tailored education from Nursery (ages 3-4) through to Year 8 (ages 12-13). The school operates three main educational phases: Nursery Programme, Pre-Prep Programme (Reception to Year 2), and Prep Programme (Years 3-8). A distinctive feature is the Chorister Programme, offering Cathedral choir training with 25% scholarship support. The school provides supplementary services including over 194 weekly instrument lessons across 18 instruments, more than 30 extra-curricular clubs, wrap-around care (07h30-18h30), and shuttle bus transport. Specialised offerings include the ECS Awards scholarship programme, ECS Pathway Places guaranteed senior school placement scheme, and a High Performance Sports Programme in partnership with Blundell's School. Catering is provided by Thomas Franks Ltd, with learning documentation in Nursery using Tapestry Learning Journal and transport booking via Vectare platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Nursery Programme Early years education for children aged 3-4 located in Hall House within the Cathedral Close, following the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum 2021 with a purpose-built modern nursery and woodland garden.
- Pre-Prep Programme Education for Reception through Year 2 (ages 4-7) housed in the 14th-century Hall House former Canonry, following the EYFS for Reception and a creative Key Stage 1 curriculum for Years 1-2.
- Prep Programme Comprehensive education for Years 3-8 (ages 7-13) delivered by dedicated Form Teachers and subject specialists, including Common Entrance preparation for senior school transitions.
- Chorister Programme
Quantifiable outcome
- 75-85% of Year 8 leavers earn Scholarships or Exhibitions to senior schools
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Exeter Cathedral School
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Exeter Cathedral School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature1 record
Exeter Cathedral School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Blundell's SchoolcoreCollaborative High Performance Sports Programme exclusive to ECS pupils in Years 5-8. Includes 1-2-1 fitness coaching, major sports masterclasses, elite player development, and high-level Saturday competitions with Blundell's Years 7-8 sports scholars.
- The Maynard SchoolminorSaturday Creativity School collaboration launching 2025-26, combining Visual and Performing Arts programmes from both schools to create a Creative Arts Hub for boys and girls across Exeter.
- Exeter SchoolcorePartner in ECS Pathway Places guaranteeing Year 9 entry for ECS Year 6 pupils. Head Graham Bone confirmed commitment to the partnership.
- Wellington SchoolcorePartner in ECS Pathway Places. Head Alex Battison highlighted shared ethos and ongoing collaboration spanning decades.
- The Maynard SchoolcorePartner in ECS Pathway Places guaranteeing Year 9 entry for ECS Year 6 pupils.
- Wells Cathedral SchoolcorePartner in ECS Pathway Places guaranteeing Year 9 entry for ECS Year 6 pupils.
- Blundell's SchoolcorePartner in ECS Pathway Places, with many ECS pupils joining Blundell's in Year 9 and contributing to music and sports programmes.
- VectarecoreSchool transport provider partnership covering multiple routes across Devon including Axminster, Exmouth, Okehampton, Tiverton, and Torquay/Newton Abbot areas. Vectare provides online booking, real-time seat availability, live journey tracking, and app-based management for ECS Prep School families.
- Thomas Franks LtdcoreCatering company providing fresh, healthy hot lunches daily for all Nursery and school pupils using seasonal ingredients.
- Bursary Administration LimitedminorExternal organisation used by school to assess appropriate level of means-tested bursary support for families.
- Exeter SchoolminorJoint transport network partnership with Exeter School and The Maynard, expanding routes and opportunities for shared transport service.
- The Maynard SchoolminorJoint transport network partnership with Exeter School and Exeter Cathedral School, expanding routes and opportunities for shared transport service.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Exeter Cathedral School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Clifton College: Independent day and boarding school in Bristol with a prep school, music specialism and South West catchment. Operates at a larger scale than ECS but competes for the same broader South West independent family demographic.
Direct peers
- Blundell's School: Co-educational independent day and boarding school in Tiverton, Devon, similar in heritage, scale and South West catchment. Direct collaboration partner for ECS Pathway Places and the High Performance Sports Programme, making it a key feeder and competitor for the same families.
- Wells Cathedral School: Cathedral-based co-educational independent school in Somerset with a renowned music specialism, directly comparable to ECS's chorister heritage. Partner in ECS Pathway Places and one of the UK's leading specialist music schools.
- The Maynard School: Independent day school in Exeter for girls aged 3-18, overlapping directly with ECS in Exeter city centre and Devon catchment. Partner in ECS Pathway Places and Saturday Creativity School, and joint transport partner via Vectare.
- Shebbear College: Small co-educational independent school in North Devon serving ages 2-19, comparable in scale (small, regional, day-and-boarding mix) and explicitly named as collaborating with Inspired Learning Group in the post-2026 ECS restructure.
- Exeter School: Co-educational independent day school in Exeter (ages 3-18), directly competing for the same Exeter families and a partner in ECS Pathway Places. From September 2026 also taking over the Chorister programme, deepening the partnership/competitive overlap.
- Wellington School: Independent day and boarding school in Somerset serving a similar South West independent catchment as ECS. Partner in ECS Pathway Places guaranteeing Year 9 entry, and competes for the same senior-school-bound prep families.
Broad incumbents
- King's School, Canterbury: One of the UK's oldest and largest cathedral-founded independent schools. Comparable to ECS in its choral-Cathedral heritage and broad academic proposition, but operates at significantly greater scale across multiple phases.
- The Perse School, Cambridge: Large, established independent day school group in Cambridge. Listed because ECS Headmaster James Featherstone previously served as head of lower school at the Perse, indicating shared pedagogical approach and a credible reference point for ECS's small-class, scholarship-led model.
Emerging players
- Magdalen College School: Historic choir-school foundation in Oxford (ages 4-18) with a strong choral tradition and prep-to-senior pathway, directly comparable to ECS's Cathedral-anchored chorister model and prep-school structure.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Exeter Cathedral School social profiles
Digital presenceExeter Cathedral School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Exeter Cathedral School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Exeter Cathedral School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Exeter Cathedral School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Exeter Cathedral School
What does Exeter Cathedral School do?
Exeter Cathedral School is an independent co-educational day school delivering tailored education from Nursery (ages 3-4) through Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2) and Prep (Years 3-8), serving approximately 176 pupils on a single Exeter campus. Its offering centres on classroom teaching, a flagship Chorister Programme linked to Exeter Cathedral Choir, individual instrumental tuition, extra-curricular clubs, wrap-around care, and school transport services, with revenue generated primarily through termly tuition fees.
Is Exeter Cathedral School a public or private company?
Exeter Cathedral School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Exeter Cathedral School founded?
Exeter Cathedral School was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Exeter Cathedral School based?
Exeter Cathedral School is headquartered in Exeter, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Exeter Cathedral School make money?
One revenue line is on record: termly Tuition Fees.
Who are Exeter Cathedral School's main competitors?
Clifton College is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Blundell's School, Wells Cathedral School, The Maynard School, Shebbear College, Exeter School and Wellington School. Broad incumbents are King's School, Canterbury and The Perse School, Cambridge. Magdalen College School is listed as an emerging player.
Does Exeter Cathedral School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Exeter Cathedral School.
What industry is Exeter Cathedral School in?
Exeter Cathedral School's product category is Independent Primary and Prep Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAA, Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.