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Original poster

Views on Hymers College, Hull Collegiate & Pocklington School

52 replies

toughdecisions · 20/10/2011 14:06

Please share any experience, information or even gossip about these as we start to weigh them up. Thanks.

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ElaineReese · 20/10/2011 14:12

I know nothing of Hymers.

Hull Collegiate - know someone who taught there and was very badly treated in terms of employment rights etc - they run it like a business, and it is one. Gossip suggests the parents are more likely to be supportive of the child than the school, and expect that if they're paying then their child should be indulged.

Pocklington on the other hand is more rich farmers' kids. I knew lots and they were all madly up themselves, but then if these are the schools you're looking at, you might take a different view on that kind of thing from me Wink.

Original poster
toughdecisions · 20/10/2011 14:27

No farming blood here. No intentionally indulged DC either!
I know Hymers has good results but it is more selective at intake so not sure if quality of teaching is better?

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Original poster
toughdecisions · 23/10/2011 20:17

Any more views out there ? please?

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Loshad · 23/10/2011 21:35

only know them really from rugby fixtures. The general atmosphere and climate at both pock and hymers seems lovely, bit less so at hull collegiate. Know one person with kids at pock and she is very happy with the school.

GreyRosesAreMyFavourite · 24/10/2011 09:50

I'd rank them;
Pocklington
Hymers
Hull collegiate

Indith · 24/10/2011 10:00

I went to Hymers! Of course I have no idea what it is like now but certainly when I was there (10 years ago ) it was a very good school, high standards and expectations with staff who were always willing to give up some of their time to lend extra help where needed. Downsides were more in 6th form I think where the expectation is of going to a "proper" university to do a "proper" subject and those who wanted to go and do something a bit different struggled to get equal support from the staff as those who were off to do medicine or something.

I just googled to see if the Head of Hull Collegiate was who I thought it was. He was head of Hull Grammar before the merger and is pretty much the reason my parents removed my sister and I from there and sent us to Hymers because his stance on bullying was to ignore it and hope it went away. My sister had a terrible, terrible time of it. I expect things have changed, it has been a long time, but I don't trust the man at all.

Original poster
toughdecisions · 24/10/2011 20:34

Thanks for all the replies. Like that atmosphere at 2 comes across as lovely.

Hymers quotes the Independent from back in Jan. as saying it got best A level results of independents in Yorkshire. Anecdotally I hear the sports facilities at Pock are fab.

GreyR can I ask is that based on academic side, overall experience for child or even teacherly insight (without wishing to out anybody)

Indith most interesting indeed about stance on bullying. The Hymers focus on 'proper' subjects seems still to be there but I don't know for how long. They have paired up with 2 preps and all their kids move across without sitting the entrance exam.

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CollegiateMum · 01/11/2011 16:14

I've read these comments and I can't believe we're talking about the same school. I've been a Collegiate mum for 5 years and have nothing but praise for the school. My girl has been in both Prep and Senior and is blossoming - she's funny, considerate and is excelling in ways beyond my aspirations. I knew she was clever and was being failed at her previous school but she's now on course to get a string of A*s at GCSE. The school is more open to more abilities of kids, hence you get a mix of results. Look beyond the league tables. The teachers are always helpful - I've forgotten the amount of times I've forgotten violins and glasses and the office staff have always said "no problem, I'll take them up to her now". My son is a total sod at home but behaves so well at school so his behaviour is starting to improve at home as well - not bad considering he only started this September.

If you want my advice, go to Collegiate first, Pock second then Hymers.

ProperLush · 01/11/2011 16:18

My view?

The first and last must be made up names as who'd call a college 'Hymers' or Pocklington'?!

Therefore it has to be Hull, doesn't it?Grin

Original poster
toughdecisions · 01/11/2011 21:40

Hello Collegiate. Great to get a view of current experience to add to the mix. Glad both your DCs having a very positive time. Would you care to expand on why Pock second over Hymers?

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ElaineReese · 01/11/2011 21:46

well Pocklington is the name of a town where Pocklington School is, so that'll be why that is!

From the schools you're looking at, I guess you're Hull or not far outside it? And obviously the political bit of me wants to say stop looking at these schools at all, but I sort of see why you might be. However - I'll just say I remember getting the school bus from Cottingham in my sixth form when my family moved and I stayed at same school halfway between York and HUll, and there were a lot of Pocklington kids on it - and I used to feel really sorry for the ones who came all the way from Hull, coming home so late and leaving so early in the morning 6 days a week for 7 years.

Also they were rather entitled and used to say things like 'so it is like, really common at your school', which didn't endear me much, but even so I did pity them their commute, and I would factor that in if you're nearer Hull than Pock.

CollegiateMum · 02/11/2011 09:10

Hi toughdecisions - have to be careful because this is a public forum, but I've heard some pretty bad things about Hymers, especially from an acquaintance who had a girl at Collegiate then went to Hymers for 6th form. He was nearly crying and said that he was regretting sending her there as the school had knocked her confidence. We go to the gym at David Lloyd and there's a Hymers family who arrive at the same time - their girl always looks my daughter up and down snootily and it took me ages to work out that she (other girl) wasn't sneering at my actual daughter but at the Collegiate uniform! Nice. Not....

I have friends at Pock - the class sizes are small and it's great for sport. One friend's boy did very well (not particularly bright) and got 2As and a B at A level, but the younger, very clever one, is currently duffing out - but only because he isn't working very hard at all. I think the only way you will find out about what a school is really like is to keep visiting and asking lots of questions. Good luck!

Original poster
toughdecisions · 02/11/2011 09:48

Blimey it's a nightmare when you realise it's 10 years & how much money! We're not after a DC with a superior attitude.

The travelling is a consideration and strangely the school bus routes/timings mean we could have extra 45mins in bed if went with Pock. Really don't know how anyone juggles working with the extra long summers hols.

Point taken collegiate about public forum. Not good about your acquaintance. Wondering though also what made them move from collegiate for 6th form? Pocklington also seems to lose some at 6th form to Hymers for more choice of subjects.

Pock open morning this Sat - the research goes on.

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GreyRosesAreMyFavourite · 03/11/2011 12:30

I think you need to stop thinking about it as a 'ten year' plan. Pick the school that's right for right now. You can change your mind later and switch at appropriate points if that's the right thing later on.

Good luck for Open Day Grin

glittershoes · 04/11/2011 21:21

I am a former Hull High student which was the school that merged with Hull Grammer to form Hull Collegiate. I was there from 1995 to 2002 so a good while ago but loved it there.

I can't speak for the standard of education now but it was excellent, as was Hull Grammer. The building also has an amazing history with the Billiard scandel etc...

My very much younger brother now attends Hymers and loves it but, when I was at school, I too heard some really hideous things about the school, one particular thing regarding the school's involvement in a legal dispute between two families.

It is an excellent school academically but I found its morals very disturbed, much more worried about its reputation than the wellbeing of its students. From what my brother says, it is still very much a boys' school that happens to take girls.

Original poster
toughdecisions · 06/11/2011 20:46

glitters - excellent name

Glad you have fond memories. Thanks for the current view on Hymers too. Sounds like your parents got it right for both of you.

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toffeepops1 · 08/11/2011 21:20

I would put Collegiate at bottom of list but would be better if you just forgot it existed.

All my children have been privately educated since the age of four but only my youngest at Collegiate ......worst thing I ever did ,but ok if you want dictatorship, atrocious pastoral care, lack of common courtesy from the establishment,teachers who think shouting is the way to instill knowledge.

Avoid at all costs if you want a happy stress free child .

Original poster
toughdecisions · 10/11/2011 10:13

Hi toffee. Thanks for the honesty of your opinion. Are you looking to move your DC? Seems Collegiate is a 'marmite' school - love or loathe.

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toffeepops1 · 10/11/2011 19:09

Hi, we have changed school already as it was a total waste of money and a lot of heart ache. Yes it appears it may be a 'marmite' school and ok if your musical.I agree with elainereese in so far as it is run purely as a business and also strongly agree with Indith re the Head ! Unfortunately I dont think you truly know a school until you become part of it and had someone tried to tell me all the unacceptable things that occurred during our time there, well, I just wouldnt have believed it.

However, I have heard excellent reports of Pocklington.

Good luck as it is a tough decision and I wish you all the best

ASuitableGirl · 10/11/2011 19:27

I am marking my place here as do know some things about Hymers but would out myself a bit if someone I knew came on here and found this thread. Will pm you if you would like though :)

Original poster
toughdecisions · 11/11/2011 10:08

Thanks for coming back Toffee. Lots of bells going off.

AsuitableG if don't mind sending me a PM I would be discreet with any info shared.

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Original poster
toughdecisions · 07/02/2013 10:37

Bumping a year on as we left DS in his state primary last year so now we're back in the same place. Grin All views welcome.

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Original poster
toughdecisions · 07/02/2013 21:51

Evening bump.

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toughdecisions · 14/02/2013 16:05

Helloooooo. Half-term bump.

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MissTriangle · 17/02/2013 22:25

My nephew is at pock school and has been very happy there. The sports facilities are fab - esp cricket. He has done well in exams and has lots of opportunities to develop outside of the school.
It is in a lovely little town too. From my experience it isn't all rich farmers children - although there are some of those... It is a mix of all sorts. If I could afford it I would be happy sending my DDs there, but alas it will never happen unless our lotto numbers come up!
Don't know the other schools though.