Views on Hymers College, Hull Collegiate & Pocklington School

[toughdecisions]

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

[flipadoodle]

Thanks for the input, @LightDrizzle. I feel quite confident in sending him to Hymers now, mostly because of the practicality of the school run.

Pocklington is a lovely school though, plus he'd been offered a scholarship there which we were immensely proud of, so feeling quite sad!

[LightDrizzle]

DD1 went to Hull Collegiate (Hull High School for Girls when she started) from 5 - 16 and then to Hymers for the 6th Form.
She finished school a decade ago.

I chose HC over Hymers because I’d heard mutterings of Hymers being pressured and hot-housing. However I think I was wrong.

I must say that DD1 was at a critical age when the school merged with Hull Grammar and this probably had a negative impact but I was a little disappointed with the culture there. There were some children from very wealthy families and there was a strong culture of being cool and cool didn’t involve being academic or musical. Being good at sports was good. DD1 didn’t feel stretched and while she did well at GCSE’s we felt a move to Hymers might be beneficial.

Hymers was totally different. Being academic was good and supported; being sporty was great and they are very strong in sport (DD is crap at sport) the drama and music are excellent and playing an instrument is seen as a good thing. She didn’t feel pressured, just encouraged and supported. It was a very positive culture. It was okay to be good at things.

I liked the Head very much but of course he may no longer be in situ. DD1 was really happy there and made lifelong friends. All her friends did very well and have continued to do so over the last decade.

The only negative first hand story of Hymers was a child who was less academic and struggled whereas her older sister thrived. Her parents moved her to Collegiate and she was happy there and did very well too in the end.

So the only caveat I have about Hymers is crowbarring children into it who are less academic.

[flipadoodle]

Anyone have more recent experience of these schools? Both Hymers and Pocklington have offered our eldest a place for Year 7, and we can't choose between them! Been to visit both.

He's very strong academically and with his music, but needs someone to keep on at him. Loves drama.

The travel time is about the same, 20 mins vs 25 mins. Hymers bus stops in our village, whereas we'd have to travel to the next village for the Pock bus. Or drive him.

[justjack]

Where did you end up toughdecisions? I'm in same boat now. Was thinking Hull Collegiate for my son, but now getting slightly cold feet and rethinking. Any advice?

[HullCollegiate]

Hull collegiate is no where near as pushy as Hymers and has a relaxed atmosphere. As for Pocklington i know quite a few pupils have moved from Pocklington. I am currently in year 7 and i am very happy. I have a friend that goes to Hymers and she struggles with homework.

[Judge1]

Just started at Collegate it is by far the best school in that area. Small classes great caring staff fully rounded pupils with a sense of moral purpose. Could not recommend it highly enough.

[iseenodust]

Louplet I live close to Hull. State schools in the city get poor results with one or two exceptions eg St Mary's College (Catholic or sports skill). Suggest you look to Beverley schools or South Hunsley along the A63. Hull Collegiate is not known for academic results & only has small sixth form so as ever depends on what you want from an independent school.

[MrsTMD]

I went to Hymers and my brother went to Hull Grammer. I have nothing but positive things to say about Hymers. I was not the best academically or in sports but Hymers helped me and did not give up on me when other schools may have done. Sadly my brother does not feel like this about his school (now collegiate).
Also, Lauren may I ask were you at the school at the time of this scandal?x

[Louplet]

Bumping as moving to Hull and interested in views on Hull Collegiate School and also any good local state schools please.

[lauren222]

Sorry, i meant 2003.

[lauren222]

I went to Hymers and know of a scandal involving one of the teachers that came out in 2006. The school hushed it up so there was no official investigation.

[inwest]

My son went to Hymers and then to study PPE at Oxford plus a Masters in economics from Oxford with Distinction. 20% of his year when on to study medicine. Of his friends that didnt study medicine they are now all working at blue chip companies having gained top degrees. His friends are all amazing kind and supportive. Do they add a lot of value? Probably not but if you want to work hard and achieve, you will.

[Freckletoes]

Pock is a good mix of normal kids with a lot of them being farmers kids and your typical posh kids! I don't know if the sports' facilities are better than other schools-I get the impression from my DCs that other schools they travel to for matches aren't as good. There are plenty of grounds for pitches and tracks, squash courts, large astro pitches and a large sports hall. If we have had any issues the school have dealt with them promptly and efficiently. League table results are a bit misleading as in some subjects the pupils do international GCSEs as they are considered more challenging (I believe) and these are recognised but the tables. Pocklington is a nice market town, the senior school attends the town church every Friday, they have other links with other organisations in the town. Saturday school is a pain at first but you soon get used to it and the kids aren't bothered as all of their school friends are doing the same! (No Saturdays for junior). The new pre-prep is flourishing and I have a feeling a nursery may be on the cards at some point in the future. For us it was the closest school so made sense plus OH also went their, but if we needed to move the kids the option is there. But at the moment-no complaints and since the school is celebrating its 500yr anniversary this month they must be doing something right!
Not heard anything bad about Hymers except the city centre location. Do know a few people unhappy with Collegiate who have moved kids away-mainly to Hymers.

[Snazzyjazzy]

No, just a parent as I said. I was just trying to relate my own experience. I'm not sure why one post would make you think I'm a collegiate teacher? Do two posts make it more or less likely? Can't really follow your logic

[paulagil]

Interesting that this is the only post you've ever done, snazzyjazzy - are you a Collegiate teacher?

All i know is that Pock and Hymers are virtually full and Collegiate is 2/3 full. So you'll definitely get a place at Collegiate, OP!!

[Snazzyjazzy]

I've known parents and offspring happy with all 3 schools, my own experience of collegiate is very positive, children happy, staff superb, eldest just got a string of A*'s at gcse. Class sizes at hymers are quite large and there is currently a problem with maths - lots of pupils having extra tuition, no doubt this will change. A child in my daughter's class has just transferred from hymers due to bullying, however in fairness this happens in all schools. Collegiate head is retiring so things will change there. Personally the location of collegiate suits me, originally we had intended to choose hymers but changed our mind after attending open day and a less than helpful attitude following initial enquiries. I know many parents dislike the Sat morning school at Pock. I think the popular view of Hymers being 'the best' is no longer true, Collegiate is less selective and therefore results are more varied but academically able excel and all pupils are valued.

[jazzy4eva]

As a former student who left the school 2 years ago I had to comment on this thread, but I must say first that I am a little biased as I do hear some 'behind the scenes information.' I must say I was at the school for 8 years from junior school to year 11 before leaving. Whilst in Junior School I was blissfully unaware of everything except my own little world but even looking back, I am now aware that I was not the ideal student for most of the teachers as I was not particularly middle class and I did not live in Kirkella and I was not a majorly academic student which does not particularly fit the schools criteria a lot of the time. They like their students to be majorly academic and get A's and A*s all the way through as well as being sporty, I wasn't particularly either, although a lot of the teachers do have the 'academic attitude' I can not say that all of the teachers are like that, i did get a lot of support off some of them ... although most of them have left the school now, the school is clearly being run into the ground as about 20 teachers have left the school for one reason or another, so they must be doing something wrong. A lot of the students, parents and teachers are quite snobbish and I remember being humiliated in the junior school for saying photo without pronouncing the t. Overall I think the school is going very much downhill and something will have to change if they want people to carry on going to the school.
I really know nothing of Hull Collegiate or Pocklington except I used to play them in sport and a lot of the students there did seem more stuck up and snobbish than us but to be honest that may have just been one of the schools as I honestly do not remember which was which. I hope this helps you to make an informed decision. i.e avoid Hymers like the plague, they may get good grades but that is mainly from parents and kids pushing not all of the teachers

[slippysofa]

No way is my DD3 going into Year 7. She will go to Pock. Still tempted by Hymers for DS4. He's sporty so it would be great for him and his rugby. It's a shame cos Collegiate Prep did my kids proud but the Senior school has some lazy-arsed teachers and lamentable pastoral care. And shit exam results.

[slippysofa]

Collegiate Prep is fantastic. The Senior school failed my 2 oldest kids - don't touch it.

[toughdecisions]

Cazzy glad to hear the Collegiate is doing well by your DD. You hear so many different things. As you say it's about best fit for the child and it seems to me in some ways a leap into the unkown at great cost.

[Cazzymaddy]

DD1 is at Collegiate now and DD2 will go for Year 7 ( neither of them went to/is at the prep school). DD1 has some great teachers there and is doing very well. Obv have no experience of the prep school but their state primary certainly let them down in terms of science as I felt DD1 was very behind when she started- the prep school children seemed very more advanced in science teaching.

It was my impression that Hymers senior school is very hard to get into unless your child already goes to the prep part or has been to Froebel house, or it certainly was when DD1 was going through the admissions process (she is not that academic so we didn't enter her for Hymers but she had a friend that was very academic and was on Hymers waiting list for long while (til June) until she got a place. Hymers is good for sporty youngsters though- my DD2 hates swimming, so it was an easy choice to make this time round, also school bus from outside our house vs two public buses into and out of town, leaving at 7.30 made the choice easy too. At the end of the days though, you have to choose whichever school is right for your child- good luck!

[toughdecisions]

Thanks SpecialT good to hear from someone with direct experience of two of the schools. I'm glad to hear things have worked out well for your DC. I have to say I was talking to someone who goes into schools and they say there is a bit of an exodus from the Collegiate at the moment but I do appreciate these things go in cycles. We are definitely leaning towards Hymers at the moment.

[specialted]

My children both went to collegiate prep for a while, it was the biggest mistake we ever made. My son would cry every morning saying he didn't want to go and my daughter was happy but bored. She was made to sit next to the naughty kids and help them with their maths! The discipline was appalling and the children were not taught any manners at all and would barge past you through a doorway. The staff really didn't want to put in any extra hours at all. I moved both of them to Hymers and what a difference! The teaching is superb and the discipline and manners of the children is amazing. The staff genuinely like the pupils and want to be there, and give up so much time after school and at weekends to support activities. The sport at Hymers is fantastic too. The children are confident not arrogant and the general ethos is that they will succeed, and they do, whereas at collegiate it is all about rewarding the naughty kids and overlooking the bright well behaved ones. There is no question about which school is better. I have to say though that hymers play pock at sports and pock does also have a nice atmosphere and great facilities.

[toughdecisions]

I do hear very good things about sport at Pocklington and liked the vibe when I went round. The downsides are it is significantly more expensive than the other two and Saturdays. Also the very long summer holiday which I'm not sure can be juggled with working. Sorry musing out loud.

RoseV I wonder if you felt Hymers still felt more like a boys school? This is a comment I've had from a friend whose daughter attends.