SENIOR SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM
School Policies: Our policy documents are available on our website at www.herefordcs.com. If you would like copies of the policies or require any further information, please contact us on 01432 363506.
Old Deanery, The Cathedral Close, Hereford HR1 2NG 01432
Dr Michael Gray BA, MA, PhD, FCCT Headmaster
In addition to an innovative curriculum and ambitious pedagogy, is an incredible array of lunchtime and afterschool clubs and societies, alongside opportunities in sport, the performing arts and music, for which the School has a national and global reputation. While this prospectus will give you a glimpse of what it is like to have an HCS education, we would encourage you to come and see it for yourself and to witness the School in action. What you will no doubt find is a place where pupils are happy, purposeful, and fulfilled.
AgeChairHead:Website:Email:Tel:Address:ofGovernors:range:
WELCOME
Affiliations:
There are few things more important than choosing a school for your child. This prospectus will, I hope, provide you with an insight into our School, which is one of the oldest institutions in this country, and beautifully situated in the Cathedral Close. More importantly, however, is our commitment and resolve to provide sector-leading education which means delivering outstanding examination success and university outcomes, an incredible breadth of opportunities, and preparing pupils for a life of leadership and service.
I look forward to meeting you.
HEREFORD CATHEDRAL SENIOR SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM
DAYCO-EDUCATIONALINDEPENDENT&BOARDING SCHOOL
HMC11RearDrwww.herefordcs.comadmissions@herefordcs.com363506MichaelGrayAdmiralPWilcocksto18yearsandCSA
History: Hereford Cathedral School is amongst the oldest schools in the UK and is thought to have been founded as a song school attached to Hereford Cathedral in AngloSaxon times. The first written reference of the School dates back to Bishop Gilbert’s letter of 26th December 1384 appointing Richard of Cornwall as Headmaster.
But a well-rounded education is about more than what happens in the classroom. We offer a wide variety of outstanding extra-curricular opportunities, including sport, drama, music, Combined Cadet Force, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and a whole host of clubs, from Mandarin and chess to dissection and debating. All pupils are strongly encouraged to get involved with our rich programme of activities, developing confidence and character through the challenges that they take on.
Through our sports programme, we offer tailored support and set suitable challenges for each individual, identifying talent, encouraging a love of sport and enabling pupils to realise their own potential.
CO-EDUCATIONAL AGE 11
With small class sizes, specialist teaching staff and strong pastoral care, we ensure that each pupil at Hereford Cathedral School is treated as an individual. With an excellent reputation for academic, artistic, musical, sporting and extracurricular success, we look to develop pupils who are happy, fulfilled and make a positive contribution to school life.
Our vision fuses tradition with a forward-thinking approach. An enriching, wide-ranging and wellplanned curriculum allows us to stimulate enquiring minds and focus on individual development while our digital strategy and Futures Department ensure pupils establish vital skills and spark passions for life.
TO 18ALL THEMTEACHERSANDSPECIALHAVECHILDRENSOMETHING–HERETHEHELPFINDIT GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE
Meanwhile, our music programme is recognised as one of the country’s finest. With many gifted musicians and specialised, dynamic teaching, our choirs have gone on to win a variety of national and international competitions. Our music department encourages all pupils to have a go, developing and nurturing their abilities, whether at an advanced or beginner level.
SENIOR SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM
ModernMathematics(non-examined)Language(French or Spanish)
A BROAD RANGE OF GCSE COURSES
Games
Science
PSHE
ComputerArt Science Design & Technology SecondP.E.MusicLatinHistoryGeographyEconomicsDramaMFL
Options:
SELECTED AS ‘GREAT FOR MUSIC’ THE WEEK INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS GUIDE
Compulsory: & English Literature
Religious Studies (Biology, Chemistry & Physics) (non-examined)
English
PUPILS ARE AN
LIFE IN SIXTH FORM
Whether pupils are moving up from our Senior School or joining us from elsewhere, as many do, our cohesive and friendly Sixth Form offers a highly rewarding and unique experience for these important and pivotal years.
Located within the city centre, we have a Sixth Form centre with a café and study area for the exclusive use of our Sixth Form. Small class sizes and tutor groups, specialist support services, and a wide range of courses brings the very best out of our pupils, while our HCS Diploma stretches them beyond their academic studies.
We get to know each and every member of the Sixth Form and work with them to build on strengths, while taking the due time and care to identify areas that need support and attention. Pupils receive invaluable help from our UCAS coordinators and Futures Department, specific to their needs.
Annually, we achieve the best exam results in Herefordshire, with over 90% of our pupils going on to the university of their choice and fulfilling their aspirations and goals.
What sets us apart is that we offer far more than an academic Sixth Form education. Our diverse range of extra-curricular and sporting opportunities allow pupils to excel, to participate and to try something new.
APPRECIATIVEARTICULATEONESUPPORTIVEDELIGHTABSOLUTE–VERYOFANOTHER,AND GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE
Cardiff ManchesterLiverpool BristolBirminghamHerefordBath King’sLondon(UCL,LSE,College,Imperial) OxfordWarwick Exeter Cambridge Nottingham Edinburgh St.DurhamAndrewsYorkLeedsGlasgow Southampton BRINGING THE VERY BEST OUT OF PUPILS A RANGE OF SIXTH FORM SUBJECT UNIVERSITYOPTIONSDESTINATIONS At Hereford Cathedral School, we offer tailored higher education and careers support to all our students, whichever path they choose. Some take gap years, others choose to go straight into industry, while many more go on to study at top universities including Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities such as Bristol, Warwick and Edinburgh. Art : Fine Art Art: Extended&EnglishEnglishEconomicsDrama/TheatreDesignClassicalChemistryBusinessBiologyTextilesStudiesCivilisation&TechnologyStudiesLiteratureLiteratureLanguageProject Qualification (EPQ) Geography Greek ModernFurtherMathematicsLatinHistory(GCSE)MathematicsForeignLanguages - French - Mandarin Chinese (for native speakers) - Spanish SportReligiousPsychologyPhysicsMusicStudies(BTEC) Availability of these courses is subject to pupil numbers.
Become a member of ours Arrive a member of your family
NURTURING POTENTIAL
Developing well-rounded pupils who are happy and successful requires an education that goes beyond academic results.
ARRIVE WITH PROMISE; BECOME YOUR POTENTIAL
Aside from being stretched academically, we place great importance on developing strong values of honesty, integrity, kindness and compassion, as well as learning life skills in perseverance, determination, teamwork and leadership.
Giving the School its name, and at the heart of our community, is the Cathedral. It is our pupils’ privilege to use this magnificent space for morning chapel, services and performances. Central to our pastoral care system, the Cathedral provides a space for our community to come together, reflect, learn and celebrate.
Another essential factor in developing well-rounded pupils, is their ability to form relationships, both with adults and their peers. Every pupil enjoys daily contact with their Form Tutor, who is there to support and offer guidance where it’s needed. Tutors work in close partnership with Heads of Year and parents, resolving concerns and ensuring pupils flourish.
Through our thriving House system and healthy interHouse competition, pupils get to know each other across the school and develop strong, supportive and lasting friendships.
Our pupils quickly become a part of our warm, nurturing and supportive community, where our exceptional pastoral care system plays an active role in every part of their school experience.
Pupils leave us with the necessary life skills for a successful and fulfilled future, not only happy and resilient within themselves, but making a positive difference to those around them.
House life is busy, packed with fun activities for pupils to enjoy. As well as the sporting and extra-curricular opportunities on offer at school, our boarders enjoy a full programme of social activities during evenings and weekends. These include quiz and film nights on-site, and trips to a variety of cities, attractions and events. Transport to and from school is provided, as well as planned trips into central Hereford at the weekend.
The boarding house is situated in nearby How Caple in a beautiful Georgian building which has become a home-fromhome for our pupils. Boarding house pupils are cared for by our experienced and dedicated residential staff.
Our dining room, extensive gardens and communal spaces allow the pupils to come together and develop lasting friendships. Pupils eat their lunch in the school dining hall or sixth form café during the week, and come home to the boarding house to enjoy dinner with their friends before supervised prep time. During the evening, there is always someone to share a game of table football, pool or table tennis. Kitchen areas are also available for pupils to make their own snacks.
CATERING & RECREATION
BOARDING
The boarding house offers single, twin and quad rooms, all with en-suite facilities. The light, airy rooms have ample storage and provide students a calm space to work and relax. Pupils enjoy adding their own personal touches to make sure they feel at home.
EXCURSIONS & TRANSPORT
Our boarding pupils enjoy being part of a boarding house with a warm, friendly atmosphere where we ensure they feel safe and well looked after throughout their time with us.
ACCOMMODATION
VISITS AND TASTER DAYS
We offer a variety of school minibus and coach services, together with concessionary rail fares for our pupils. These affordable services provide a reliable, supervised journey to and from school and in addition, help to reduce the number of vehicles on the road each morning. We have several established routes available and always look to meet the needs and requirements of parents wherever possible.
The minibus service is very popular and as such, we have a limited number of seats available each year.
If you would like to enter your child for admission to the Senior School, please complete the Registration Form (enclosed) and return it to Admissions with the registration fee. When we have received your Registration Form your child will be placed on the prospective pupil list so we can ensure that the relevant information will be sent to you at the appropriate time.
For pupils looking to join into Year 7, we hold a School Experience Day in the Autumn Term. For other year groups, we offer taster days where pupils spend the day in the appropriate year group. Both options give prospective pupils the opportunity to meet potential future peers and learn first-hand what it’s like to be a pupil at Hereford Cathedral School.
For further details, please www.herefordcs.com/transport,visit call 01432 363545 or email transport@herefordcs.com.
A DMISSION S & ENTRY GUIDELINES
We run a programme of Open Events and Tour Mornings throughout the year, and believe it is the best possible way to find out about the School.
For further details, please call 01432 363506 or email admissions@herefordcs.com.
Our Open Events offer a fun and interactive way to see the school and meet with our pupils and staff, while our Tour Mornings offer the chance to see us in action on a working school day.
THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Admission is usually at 11+, 13+ or 16+ (although we are able to make arrangements for children who wish to transfer to the Senior School at other ages). Entrance is subject to satisfactory performance in the Entrance Assessment (or GCSE grades for Sixth Form entry), interview and suitable references, and at the Headmaster’s discretion which will also consider the availability of places.
TRANSPORT
Awards are made from a limited fund and therefore not all applications made will be successful. Please visit www.herefordcs.com/bursaries for more details.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES
We offer sport, art, drama, music and academic scholarships to recognise and reward exceptional talent which can be nurtured through an education at Hereford Cathedral School. We look to our scholars to bring an attitude, dedication and commitment that will enrich our school community, becoming role models for their peers, whilst making the most of their talents.
Candidates are invited to apply for scholarships at 11+, 13+ and 16+ and scholarships are awarded following an assessment and interview process, in addition to our usual entrance examinations. For more information, please visit www.herefordcs.com/scholarships.
All bursary awards and assisted places are subject to an independent parental means test, which takes into account savings, investments and realisable assets as well as income. Support is available to pupils in Year 7 and above who are likely to gain the most from an education at Hereford Cathedral School and who will contribute fully to school life.
SCHOLARSHIPS
FEE ASSISTANCE
A limited number of transformational bursaries are available each year to provide full financial support to families who would not otherwise be able to support their child’s education at the School. We also offer partial fee assistance on a sliding scale according to the results of our means test.
Pupils learning is enhanced by access to a wide curriculum, extensive learningresourcesopportunities,extra-curricularappropriateandapositiveenvironment.
Pupils notice when somebody needs help and are swift to offer support.
Pupils demonstrate good study skills as they move through the school. They have good concentration and persistence.
Quotes taken from ISI Integrated Inspection Report 2020. For the full ISI Report please visit: www.herefordcs.com/Inspection-Reports
Pupils mature into thoughtful, caring young people who are keen to contribute to all aspects of society.
Older pupils demonstrate excellent qualities of leadership, successfully promoting the aims and ethos of the school.
Pupils show excellent levels of self-understanding and spirituality for their age.
SENIOR SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM Hereford Cathedral School, Old Deanery, The Cathedral Close, Hereford, HR1 2NG Tel: 01432 363506 Email: admissions@herefordcs.com HEREFORDCS.COM HerefordCathedralSchoolHerefordCathedralSchoolHerefordcs Hereford Cathedral School is a registered charity. Registered in Cardiff No 2081261 (Limited by Guarantee). Registered Charity No 518889.