Admissions
Entry Requirements
The main entry points are into Years 4, 5, 7 and 12. Occasional vacancies occur in other years.
Entry into the Sixth Form is on the basis of GCSE results and an interview. At all other ages entry is through competitive examination and interview.
Entrance examinations take place on the first Saturday of February for entry the following September.
The entrance examination at all levels tests reasoning ability, comprehension, mathematics and powers of expression.
To download the Application form click here
From September 2009 Hessle Mount became an ‘Associate School’ to Hymers. As a consequence the Year 4 Entrance Examination will be replaced for Hessle Mount pupils by a system of academic tracking through Years 1, 2 and 3. Provided they meet the required standards, Hessle Mount pupils will be offered an automatic place at Hymers in Year 4. All pupils will continue to sit an entrance examination into the Senior School. For more information see the news article dated 12th June 2009.
Help with Fees
Following the abolition of the Government Assisted Places Scheme, the Governors were mindful of the original wishes of the school’s founder, John Hymers “to found and endow a school for the training of intelligence in whatever social rank of life it may be found among the vast and varied population of the Town and Port of Hull”. They had no hesitation in introducing their own Fee Remission Scheme.
The Hymers Fee Remission Scheme supports around 150 pupils throughout the school, and ensures that it retains a close link with the City. The Scheme also provides help to existing parents who face unexpected financial difficulties.
In addition, the school enjoys the support of The Ogden Trust, www.ogdentrust.com, which offers Sixth Form Science Bursaries for pupils entering independent schools for this stage of education.
Assistance towards fees is subject to a means test of income and capital.
Full details may be obtained from the Bursar, who will be happy to meet prospective parents and answer individual queries.
Fees
The fees for 2009-10 are:
Junior School - Year 4 - £2,307 per term
Junior School - Years 5 & 6 - £2,436 per term
Senior School - £2,772 per term
The fees are subject to revision annually in July.
A deposit of £100 is paid on acceptance of a place in the school an is returned when the pupil leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child have to be a genius to get into Hymers?
No. We do have some very clever pupils but also many of more average ability. We take approximately the top 40% of the ability range and we aim to ensure that all our pupils fulfil their potential, whatever their ability.
What happens if we lose our jobs and cannot continue paying the fees?
We have a hardship fund which helps parents in short-term need. The Hymers College Fee Remission Scheme provides bursaries (details above). In cases of genuine need we do all that we can to ensure continuity of education, especially at important times in a pupil’s education.
Will my child fit in?
There can be no guarantee that every child will feel comfortable, but our experience is that the wide range of backgrounds from which our pupils come and the many different interests that they have allow virtually everyone to find like-minded people, to make friends and to enjoy their time at school. Our pastoral arrangements are also designed to ensure that pupils get on well with each other and that anyone struggling with their work is given appropriate support.
Is there Saturday school?
There are no lessons on Saturdays, but most of our sports fixtures are on Saturdays and many pupils and members of staff will be involved in these. The expectation here is that pupils who are selected to represent the school will do so. Many pupils and parents look back on their Saturdays here with a great deal of pleasure, and playing team sports is a good way of making friends and enjoying a sense of camaraderie.
Is there any bullying at Hymers?
There is no school in the country where bullying does not happen from time to time and Hymers is no different. Sometimes children can be unpleasant to each other; what matters is how it is dealt with. We have a policy which makes it clear that bullying of any sort is completely unacceptable; we encourage pupils and parents to let us know if a child is being bullied and we take action to prevent it happening again. For more information look at the School Policies document which can be downloaded from the ‘Publications’ page.
How much homework is there?
This varies according to the age of the pupils. All pupils have some homework – in the Junior School this will be a relatively small amount each week, in Year 7 it will be about 1 hour per night, in Years 10-11 about 2 hours a night. We encourage pupils to develop the skills and practices of independent learning, and homework has a part to play in this.