The entrance exam results determines which maths set they go into. They are not set for other subjects. My oldest son was put straight into top set maths. Top maths set do GCSE maths a year early and then do GCSE Further Maths at the end of year 11. My oldest son is now in lower sixth taking A level Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry and loving it. I think all of top set got grade 7 to 9 in maths and further maths. They take part in the UK maths challenge. The science teaching is particularly strong and the teachers always go above and beyond for those that want it. They are very positive and encouraging. My oldest son is academic but he wouldn't have coped in the local secondary schools as he gets very anxious and stressed from lots of noise, chaos or shows of aggression. At HCS he is really happy and confident and has a really good set of friends.
Musically, the school has been very good at snapping up all the best instrumental teachers. So you can get high quality music lessons in any instrument. There is a junior orchestra and a symphony orchestra depending on ability. There are smaller brass groups and wind groups too as well as string quartets but some of these are prioritised for music scholars.
All year 7's take part in choir once a week. There is a year 8 choir which is strongly encouraged but optional. After that there is Chapel Choir and Chamber Choir. Girls who take singing lessons are invited to join Cantable who sound amazing and take part in lots of competitions. For older boys there is Acafellas Young Men's Harmony Choir. Chapel and Chamber choir sang evensong at St Pauls Cathedral recently. They do lots of small concerts around Herefordshire as part of the music in Quiet Places programme. They are also involved in several large outreach concerts with local primary schools. They also sometimes have visiting musicians to work with the students. I don't think there is another school in Herefordshire that can provide the same musical standards.
Students are encouraged to take part in the Herefordshire Festival in music or drama. The school has two very good speech and drama teachers. If they choose to do this they do LAMDA exams and Drama Revue in the summer.
There is a new acting Head of Drama as the current head has gone on maternity leave, but my son in year 7 says she is very good and is very excited that they are working on MacBeth in class. The Head of English and another English teacher also teach drama and they are very keen to encourage students to perform as much as possible. There is usually a large school production each year but my son can't do this because of his chorister commitments, so I don't know much about it. Classics Club usually put on a large summer production too.
If you get to do a tour of the school you will see the high standard of the art department. My middle son is currently doing GCSE art and the staff have been really supportive and they can do extra sessions at lunch time and after school. I think all the A level students last year got grade As.
There are loads of different clubs they can join particularly in year 7. Such as dissection club, chess club, music theory club, art club, debating club, classics club etc.
There are lots of sports but, other than rowing which my oldest son does, I can't tell you much about them. My boys aren't sporty so don't take up the opportunities but there seem to be endless sports clubs during the week and matches every weekend.
My children have been very happy there so far. I don't know how it compares to other independent schools but with all the government cuts to local secondary schools, I do feel my children are getting a much better experience and are extremely lucky that we are prepared to make the financial sacrifices for them to have that.