Personal and Social Development

How does the school educate our children about moral and social issues?

Moral and social issues occur frequently in a wide variety of lessons and are discussed, as appropriate to the age group, as part of normal teaching. More specifically, there are form periods at least once a week when topics such as treatment of other people and respect for others both within the school community and outside it are discussed. Pupils may also give talks about themselves or issues about which they have strong opinions, if they so wish. Assemblies provide a forum for the pupils to listen to outside speakers or to give their own talks. Years 7, 8, 10 and 12 have timetabled PSE lessons when there is discussion and teaching of issues such as codes of behaviour, problems within communities, relationships and a wide variety of topics concerning citizenship. Pupils raise money for charity at least once a year by having a non-uniform day; they collect food for parcels for the elderly at Christmas and from time to time there is a charity appeal on a larger scale.

Girls' Welfare

The school became co-educational in 1989. Although there had been girls in the Sixth Form for a few years and there were some female members of staff, the whole ethos of the school was male at that time. The change happened smoothly and very soon mixed classes were the norm.

Hymers quickly became a co-educational school in spirit as well as in numbers of boys and girls and male and female teachers.

The Assistant Head, Mrs C Gravelle, is a member of the Senior Management Team but part of her job is the overall care of all the girls in the school and dealing with any specifically female issues.

Careers Guidance in Years 9 to 11

In Year 9 during the second term, the Careers Adviser, undertakes four group sessions with the pupils to consider GCSE option choices. After these sessions, the Careers Advise short, self-referral interviews where necessary. Pupils are also encouraged to discuss GCSE choices, along with general careers issues, with their Form Tutors and with subject teachers. A GCSE options booklet is given to each pupil in Year 9 during the Spring Term.

The Careers Adviser and the School Careers Co-ordinator, Mr Meadway, institute a programme to introduce pupils to the Careers Room, outlining how to use the materials available.

In Year 10 during the Summer Term, the Careers Adviser group sessions dealing with career planning, self-awareness, and routes available and she distributes information to the pupils. This forms the basis of her interviews with Year 11 the following year. During the PSE programme time is spent dealing with job applications, CVs and interviews.

In Year 11, the Careers Adviser interviews each pupil during the Autumn and Lent Terms, offering advice, referring him or her to relevant material and encouraging the use of the Careers Room. A Careers Action Plan is produced for each pupil. In the Spring Term she is also available for self-referral interviews where necessary.

In October, all pupils in Year 11 attend the Hymers Careers Convention, organised by Mr Meadway, at which representatives of different careers, professions and higher education establishments are invited to attend.

Mr Gravelle organises work experience placements for each pupil in Year 11, which take place after their GCSE examinations and we are fortunate to have the support of numerous highly successful and respected organisations locally.

Throughout Year 11 pupils are encouraged to discuss AS and A level choices, along with general careers issues, with their Form Tutors and with subject teachers.

Throughout the year a series of careers specialists are invited into the School (Armed Services, Medics etc.). Pupils in Years 9-11 are encouraged to attend these meetings, some of which are arranged via the Science Forum, organised by Mr Bell.

A Careers Adviser attends Parents’ Evenings for Years 9-11 and parents are sent a letter during the Autumn Term informing them of the careers guidance given to each year group.

Discipline

We expect our pupils to work hard and to behave in a sensible manner, showing consideration and respect to others. On the whole, they do this. Misbehaviour is punished by appropriate sanctions and parents are contacted if necessary. People who visit Hymers generally comment on the ordered, but friendly and cheerful atmosphere that they find in the school.

Community Service and Charity Work

There is a fundamental acceptance at Hymers that we have a duty to help those less fortunate than ourselves and there is a long-standing tradition of supporting charitable organisations, be they local, national or international.

The last major fundraising event realised a total of over £38,000. On an annual basis, non-uniform days raise well in excess of £1,000, as do the collections taken at Christmas carol concerts.

Money raised last year went to the U-Foundation, which works to promote health and education amongst the children of Zambia; in addition to this £3,000 was donated to St Andrew’s Hospice – a local charity which supports children with life-threatening illnesses.”

Every Christmas, each tutor group in the school provides food items for over 100 hampers which are then delivered by our Sixth Form students to pensioners throughout the City of Hull.

For over 20 years now, the school has provided lunch for a small group of pensioners once a week, and more importantly, the opportunity for them to chat to members of the Sixth Form, who give freely of their time.

It is a tradition of which the school has every reason to be proud!

Health Care

On entry to the school, each pupil receives a routine medical examination with the possibility of referral if necessary. Several members of staff have First Aid training and the school’s sick-bay is supervised by a trained member of staff.

A nurse visits regularly to give pupils an opportunity to discuss medical or personal issues in confidence.

Assembly

Morning assemblies are broadly Christian in nature. Seasons and festivals in the Christian calendar are marked by special services. At these and other times, visiting speakers of a variety of faiths talk of their beliefs and experiences.
Pupils may be withdrawn from assembly with the permission of the Headmaster.

Former pupils also visit and speak about their ‘life after Hymers’ at university, in business and in the professions.

Provision is made for lunchtime prayer.