EDITOR’S CHOICE Night sky goodies

STERLING SILVER KEYRING, £50 You won’t go losing those keys again when they’re attached to this shiny star. From Eric Cox Jewellery at Georgie & Flo, 1 Upper Paul Street, Exeter; ___OeorOieInLÆ oKoU

SKY’S THE LIMIT CRYSTAL STAR HAIR CLIP LARGE, £8.50 Brighten up your look with this 3D layered eight-point star hair clip covered in sparkling clear crystals. From Busy & Fox, 21 Cathedral Yard, Exeter; www.busbyandfox.com

Stars, moons, planets and a slightly weary owl – Exeter’s magical night sky themed gifts

SOPHIE ALLPORT KIDS SPACE APRON, £16 Protect little one’s clothes from paint and baking mess with this colourful space themed apron. Planets are orbited by satellites, rockets and moons, whilst brave astronauts fl oat amongst the stars on a deep blue sky – the ultimate apron for the little ones. From Darts Farm, Topsham, Exeter; www.dartsfarm.co.uk

TREEHOUSE – ARCHIVAL PRINT, £20 Sweetly poetic, we love this sitting-on-the-roof-under-dark-skies print. From Jane Foster Designs; www.janefoster.co.uk

TOTE BAG FEATURING VINCENT VAN GOGH’S THE STARRY NIGHT, £8.95 No space (or budget) for a Van Gogh on your walls? No problem. Carry around the dreamy night skies on your shoulder instead. From The Shop at Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Queen Street, Exeter; www.rammuseum.org.uk

CRYSTAL MOON EARRINGS, £29 Eff ortlessly cool and Yuirky, check out the large turYuoise crystal moon with a chunky heart on mini hoop earrings. 5ix and match with other charm earrings for a playful, justfallen-out-the-sky look. From Shh by Sadie;

www.shhbysadie.com

HANGING LED GLITTER MOON LIGHT, £14.95 ?ho doesn¼t want a glitter moon hanging above them in their bedroom' Snug as a bug feelings guaranteed. From Hyde and Seek, Unit 1, Harlequins, 1 Paul Street, Exeter; www.hydeseek.co.uk

MADEMOISELLE MOJO NOCTURNE CANDLE, FROM £20 ?hat does night-time smell like' ?arm aromatic seeds, clove buds on a base of amber, vetiver, patchouli and sandalwood. 7bviously. From Mademoiselle Mojo, 36 Gold Street, Tiverton; www.jesuismojo.com

GALAXY PRINT PYJAMA SHORTS, £25 Soft and cosy, these dreamy organic cotton galaxy star print pyjama shorts will help you to get those much needed bbb¼s. )lternatively wear out and about in warmer months · there¼s a matching top too if you fancy going full-out spacey. From Sancho’s; www.sanchosshop.com

ORLANDO THE OWL, £24.99 This night owl may have had one too many shandies last night, but his coat of fl uff y feathers still totally rock. /ive the chap a wee nap and a couple of )lka Seltbers and he¼ll be back to his nocturnal head-turning, partying ways in no time. From Insideout, 1 Bampfylde Street, Exeter; www.insideouthome.co.uk

Growing together

EXETER CATHEDRAL SCHOOL’S Deputy Head of pupils and Designated Safeguarding Lead, Sarah Reddington, explains the virtues of a co-educational school.

This year, Exeter Cathedral School is proud to be celebrating its 25th year of co-education. A quarter of a century has passed since girls were fi rst admitted to the School and Cathedral choir and this historic occasion has prompted us to refl ect on the incredible contribution that co-education has made to our School and, most critically, why girls and boys benefi t from learning together.

For parents choosing independent education, the question of single-sex or co-education schooling can often be a tricky one to navigate. Advocates of single-sex education often claim that the educational experience of the children can be improved through separation.

Our experience of co-ed is that it benefits all its members. Co-ed provides an environment that is mutually supportive of both girls and boys, fosters respect and teaches children to understand and appreciate differences. There is little evidence to support the notion that children’s academic performance is enhanced through single-sex classrooms. Indeed, Alan Smithers and Pamela Robinson published a report in 2006 entitled ‘The Paradox of Single-Sex and Co-Educational Schooling’ on behalf the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham. Their report found that there was no comparable difference in terms of academic output between single and co-ed schools.

As educators, our priority is to equip young people with the skills and experience they need to thrive and succeed in adult life. Beyond the school gates, life is co-educational: from universities to places of employment. If schools are serious

about preparing young people for the future, a co-ed school is a strong place to start. There are a range of learning styles that suit different types of children and a good school is one that can enable all children to excel – irrespective of gender. Like other co-ed schools, Exeter Cathedral School provides a supportive environment where girls and boys learn, play and thrive together. ■

Exeter Cathedral School, The Chantry, Palace Gate, Exeter EX1 1HX 01392 255298; www.exetercathedralschool.co.uk