PROSPECTUS

HYMERSCOLLEGE

I warmly welcome you to Hymers College which is

a co-educational independent day school for pupils

aged 8 to 18. Established in 1893, we have more

than a hundred years behind us, and are continuing

to develop our school to ensure our pupils are

provided with the very best education.

Choosing the best school for your child is one of

the most important decisions you have to make. At

Hymers we value the qualities that make every child

unique and aim to develop individual talents and

strengths. By providing a challenging and stimulating

learning environment we encourage each pupil to

develop his or her own potential and contribute to

the life of the school.

Our aim is to enable all of our pupils to achieve

outstanding academic qualifications, as well as

offering extensive extra-curricular activities, which

encourages pupils to develop their talents to the full.

I am confident that we can make a real difference

to your child’s education and that we can give them

the best possible start in life. We are a school that

welcomes progress in education but also maintains

traditional values.

This prospectus can provide only a brief introduction

to our school. You are welcome to come and visit

us to see for yourself what we have to offer. In the

meantime further information can be found on our

website – www.hymerscollege.co.uk.

We look forward to welcoming you to our school.

David Elstone

Headmaster

An OUTSTAnDIng EDUCATIOn

Hymers College provides a first class education

with high academic standards and is committed

to ensuring that pupils achieve their full potential.

Results at gCSE and A Level consistently show the

school is one of the highest achieving schools in

the north East. But there is more to education than

academic success. We believe that a good education

should inspire pupils to take every opportunity

offered to develop their talents.

We pride ourselves on the quality and breadth of

the curriculum provided, whilst also developing the

creative, sporting and personal skills of all our pupils.

We have invested in facilities which provide the best

possible learning environment. This, combined with

teachers who are energetic, innovative and dedicated,

ensures pupils receive the best possible education.

Our pupils achieve success at all levels – local,

regional and national – in Sports, Music, Design,

Young Enterprise and many other competitions.

However, whilst we are proud of these many

achievements we are also pleased with the

participation it encourages.

The school stands in over 45 acres of beautiful

grounds with first class buildings and facilities. In

addition to laboratories and lecture rooms, there

is a specialist Design Centre, an ICT Centre, Music

Rooms, a Sports Hall, gymnasium, a Theatre and a

Swimming Pool.

A COMMITMEnT TO ExCELLEnCE

Hymers College is more than just an excellent

school – it has a strong sense of community, with

the well-being of each of its members being of

primary concern. There are designated staff in both

the junior and senior schools who are responsible

for monitoring children’s personal and social

development throughout their school life.

Pastoral care is an integral part of everyday life at the

school and is supported by a formal structure which

ensures a high level of individual care and attention.

Senior students are trained to support and guide

younger pupils by working as mentors, and prefects

assist teachers with form classes.

The school has a tradition of good discipline and

mutual respect between pupils and staff. Pupils

have a sense of responsibility and consideration

for others, coupled with good manners and a high

standard of behaviour.

A HAPPY COMMUnITY

The school provides outstanding opportunities for

pupils to develop their creative talents both in the

classroom and through involvement in a host of

activities at lunchtime or after school.

There is a dedicated Art & Design Centre with wide-

ranging facilities for work in various materials. There

are art displays around the school which reflects the

breadth and depth of pupils work including painting,

ceramics, drawing, textiles and photography.

The school also has a strong tradition in drama, with

several major productions during the course of the

year and other informal productions at all age groups.

The Judi Dench Theatre provides excellent

opportunities for actors, actresses, stage and lighting

crews to develop their talents. Drama helps to develop

communication skills, confidence, and creativity.

There is a strong link with the Art department which

provides the sets for musical productions.

CREATIvE EnDEAvOURS

Hymers has a fine reputation for its music,

achieving exceptionally high standards. The Music

Department provides opportunities for all members

of the school to develop musical skills, knowledge

and understanding. Performing opportunities are

available to all pupils.

In addition to its place in the academic curriculum,

extra-curricular music is strongly encouraged at

Hymers with a vast range of options to choose from.

There are many opportunities to take part in choirs

and instrumental ensembles of various sizes and

at all levels of age and ability. There are frequent

performances in and out of school.

Pupils have the opportunity to meet and work with

some of the finest musicians who visit the school to

give recitals or hold master-classes.

MARvELLOUS MUSIC MAkIng

Brass Orchestra

String Orchestra Wind Band

Boys & girls Choirs Percussion Ensemble

Tuition available: Flute Oboe Clarinet Saxophone Bassoon Trumpet Flugel Horn Cornet

French Horn Euphonium Trombone Tuba Orchestral Percussion Drum kit Piano Organ

violin viola Cello Double Bass guitar voice

Musical groups available at Junior, Intermediate and Senior levels:

There are also numerous other chamber music groups.

‘‘

PARTICIPATIOn & PERFORMAnCE

Our spacious grounds provide an ideal setting for

sporting activities. We have invested in our sports

facilities and currently have numerous pitches

for cricket, football, hockey and rugby along with

athletics facilities, tennis/netball courts, a floodlit all-

weather pitch, a swimming pool and fitness suite.

During the year there are many competitive fixtures

and sporting competitions. Sports tours are a regular

feature of the calendar and in recent years rugby,

hockey, cricket and netball teams have visited St

Lucia, Malta, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

The school has a long tradition of sporting success.

The school teams are coached by experienced and

committed staff together with a number of visiting

professionals. Hymers has an enviable track record

of both individual and team achievements at county,

regional and national levels allowing the gifted and

talented to make progress in rugby, hockey, netball,

tennis, fencing, athletics, cricket and swimming.

We are especially proud of the pupils who are

selected to represent England or great Britain either

while they are still at school or later when they are at

university and beyond.

However, sport is not just for those with exceptional

ability. There is a wide range of sporting opportunity

available across all age groups – from rugby and

netball to swimming and cross-country – for pupils

who simply enjoy physical exercise and teamwork.

Participation is the key principle and all children are

encouraged to take part in sports which they enjoy.

‘‘ We went along to have a look at the facilities at Hymers and it was clear they were world class facilities which a professional club, like ourselves would be interested in using, working in partnership with the school.

Justin Morgan – Coach, Hull kR Rugby Club

Rugby Football Cricket Hockey netball

Cross-country Swimming Athletics Tennis

Sporting clubs: Fencing Table tennis Badminton Basketball

The vast range of sports on offer includes:

BEYOnD THE CLASSROOM

An extensive education cannot be confined to

the classroom. Our excellence in academic study

is complemented by an extensive range of extra-

curricular activities. There is a wide range of clubs

and societies within the school. The Duke of

Edinburgh Award Scheme provides scope for personal

development in terms of building confidence and a

sense of responsibility and self-discipline.

There is also a voluntary Army Cadet Force (ACF),

various sports clubs and a range of other activities

covering a wide variety of interests.

The school places great value on its links with the

local community which allows students to undertake

activities ranging from helping in local primary

schools to compiling Christmas parcels for the elderly

and those in need. From time to time, money is raised

for local causes. It is an important part of the Hymers

education that pupils learn about the local area and

needs of those less fortunate than themselves. The

school encourages involvement in charity fundraising

and pupils get involved with enthusiasm.

The school arranges a wide variety of educational

visits, both in the Uk and abroad, which supplement

the curriculum and allows pupils to become

independent and acquire a lifelong appetite for

discovery. Annual visits include Warwickshire,

north Yorkshire, Bath and recent trips abroad have

included Arizona, Austria, and Iceland.

‘‘

‘‘THE DIFFEREnT STAgES – JUnIOR SCHOOL (YEARS 4 TO 6)

The Junior School has its own spacious purpose-

built facilities which provide a happy and caring

environment in which pupils are encouraged to

develop and learn. Learning takes place in an

environment where pupils have fun and develop

their skills and independence.

The curriculum is designed to provide a thorough

grounding in the basic skills which are required

throughout education, along with a broad range of

subjects which interest and challenge the children for

academic success in future years.

All pupils are taught a variety of sports. There are

teams in athletics, cricket, cross-country, football,

hockey, netball, rugby and swimming. Additionally

there is a wide range of extra-curricular activities,

outings and events. All pupils learn a musical

instrument with high standards being reached in

concerts and drama productions.

The pupils have access to attractive recreational

areas and extensive sports fields and facilities.

Close attention is given to the progress of

each child, with individual help being given

whenever it is needed. There is an energetic and

friendly atmosphere in which the children work

enthusiastically and enjoy their school day, with its

varied lessons and activities.

If sound progress has been made in the Junior

School, it is expected that pupils will proceed into the

Senior School, for which an entrance examination is

taken in the February of Year 6. Some staff teach in

both Junior and Senior schools and this helps to ease

the transition from Junior to Senior School.

All Junior School pupils belong to one of four Houses

which exist for sport and other activities, which

enable co-operation, competition and teamwork

across the different years.

The best thing about Hymers is the grounds. We play games on the field. Some things are really fun – but sometimes it’s serious and you have to do really hard work. There are lots of nice people to play with and I have a lot of new friends.

Georgina Nettleton – Year 4

SEnIOR SCHOOL (YEARS 7 – 11)

All pupils, whether joining from our own Junior school

or other primary schools, are supported in the key

transition from Junior to Senior School.

The curriculum for Years 7-9 lays a common

foundation for all pupils, while that for Years 10-11

allows some flexibility to take account of individual

strengths and interests but leaves options open for

6th form study.

In the senior school we place emphasis on

independence and social responsibility, encouraging

self-motivation and self-confidence. Specialist staff

provide careers education and individual advice

throughout the senior years.

All members of Year 11 take part in work experience

after taking their gCSEs. Through interviews with

our own careers staff and visiting advisers from the

Careers service, pupils are encouraged to think about

their future. An important annual event is the Careers

Convention at which senior representatives from the

professions, commerce and the Services are present.

In addition the school holds mock interview evenings

with the help of senior local business people which

provides pupils with valuable interview experience.

Progress is closely monitored by regular school

reports and parents evenings.

SIxTH FORM (YEARS 12 & 13)

The sixth form is a stimulating community with

its own sixth form centre where pupils have the

freedom to develop their personal study and enjoy a

greater measure of independence.

Academically, the students build on their previous

good work ethos and continue to make progress

working in smaller groups with teachers who know

them well.

Students who join Hymers in the sixth form rapidly

establish friendships and good working relationships

with fellow students and teachers alike.

The sixth form students are much appreciated

for the contribution they make within the whole

school community. new skills are acquired

through involvement with mentoring, running

school councils, producing the school magazine,

participating in Duke of Edinburgh, Young Enterprise

and various other clubs.

The sixth form centre provides its own dining facility

and sells everything from main meals to snacks and

drinks. There are also computer facilities, areas in

which to study, soft chairs in which to sit, relax and

socialize, recreational games, boards to display

posters, screens with notices for 6th form news, and

tables and chairs outside for the summer months.

Sixth formers are encouraged to take on new

responsibilities, and to develop independence,

maturity and leadership skills.

‘‘ The sixth form at Hymers provides a genuine sense of freedom, independence, and respect for your adulthood, with a wide range of extra-curricular activities and all the universities and career advice you require.

William Wadsworth – Year 13

‘‘

A LIFELOng RELATIOnSHIP

The vast majority of school leavers from Hymers go

on to Higher Education and great care is taken to

ensure that appropriate courses are chosen. Hymers

has a proud tradition of success in entrance to

Oxford and Cambridge.

Help with University and College applications is

always on hand, as well as practical careers advice,

work experience placements and support for the

Young Enterprise Scheme.

All school leavers become members of the Old

Hymerians Association, which maintains strong links

with the school – providing a network for life. Links

with former pupils provide invaluable contacts within

industry and the professions for careers advice and

experience.

Our aim is that every student leaving Hymers should

have the academic qualifications, interpersonal skills,

adaptability and confidence to take full advantage of

the opportunities of the wider world.

DisclaimerThis prospectus is for information purposes only and does not form part of any contract between parents and the School. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, certain information in the prospectus may become out of date from time to time.

Most of the photographs in this prospectus have been taken by pupils. Thanks go to:Max Laverack, Year 12, Madeleine St John, Year 13, Anna Thompson, Year 11.

Thanks also to Richard kemp Photography & Journal Print Media.

‘‘ The dynamic leadership of the Headmaster, supported by those in senior management positions in both senior and junior schools, combined with the strong level of support for social, moral, spiritual and cultural development, enables the College successfully to meet its aim of creating an environment where each pupil may achieve his or her full potential both academically and socially.

Inspection Report 2008 – Independent Schools Inspectorate

‘‘

Hymers College, Hymers Avenue, Hull, East Yorkshire. HU3 1LW

t (01482) 343555 f (01482) 472854 e enquiries@hymers.hull.sch.uk w www.hymerscollege.co.uk

Hymers College Trustee Ltd Company no. 5193649 | An Educational Charity Reg no. 529820-R

HYMERSCOLLEGE