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Hereford Cathedral School A GSG School

What says..

Staff say this is not a crammer and that the range of abilities is reasonably wide. Nonetheless, expectations are high. Music is a central part of school life. The school remains the choristers’ school for the cathedral but aside from that there are masses of choirs, chamber ensembles, jazz bands and piano trios as well as a music technology club. About half of all pupils take instrumental lessons, and the school is a choral power to be reckoned with. It is impossible not to feel slightly removed from the cut and thrust of the 21st century here...

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What the school says...

A message from the Headmaster:

Welcome to Hereford Cathedral School. We seek to provide an exciting and dynamic environment in which young people can feel happy in themselves, secure in their learning and confident that they are developing the life skills necessary for the challenges ahead.

Within the beautiful historic setting of the Cathedral Close you will find a unique energy and spirit, where expectations are high and pupils excel. Boys and girls from different walks of life make friends, support each other and share a common sense of purpose.

Small class sizes, specialist teaching staff and strong pastoral care ensure that each pupil is seen as an individual. Traditional values are at the heart of what we do and with an excellent reputation for academic, artistic, musical, sporting and extra-curricular success, Hereford Cathedral School is a very special place to be.

You and your family are warmly invited to come and experience our distinctive school for yourselves. I look forward to meeting you.

Paul Smith ...Read more

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Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

Choir school - substantial scholarships and bursaries usually available for choristers.

Sports

Rowing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmaster

Since 2005, Paul Smith BSc. Originally a zoologist (undergraduate at Manchester, postgraduate at KCL), his first teaching post was at Rugby, followed by stints at King Edward’s School Birmingham and as head of science at Haileybury, then second master and acting head at Portsmouth Grammar School. A softly spoken, friendly, but determined character. Married with two daughters.

Works hard at getting to know every child and speaks of teaching as a 'humbling experience'. Insists on the importance of staff respecting pupils and not becoming 'myopic' about children who don’t fit a particular mould. Emphatic about the importance of strengthening relationships through extracurricular activities. Pupils say he is 'nice, funny, witty and approachable'. Staff say he is 'calm and considered - you can ask him anything'.

Very keen that...

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Please note: Independent schools frequently offer IGCSEs or other qualifications alongside or as an alternative to GCSE. The DfE does not record performance data for these exams so independent school GCSE data is frequently misleading; parents should check the results with the schools.

Who came from where

Who goes where

Special Education Needs

Hereford Cathedral school is a selective secondary school, whose pupils are in the average and above-average ability ranges. Learning Support is provided for those pupils whom our screening procedures show to be in need of additional help with reading, spelling or maths, usually provided in small groups. Problems with organisation and handwriting are also addressed. Occasional help is given in other curriculum areas to pupils who are referred by their teachers.

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Y
Aspergers Y
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders Y
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia
Dyscalculia Y
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia Y
Dyspraxia
English as an additional language (EAL)
Genetic
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment
Hospital School
Mental health
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Natspec Specialist Colleges
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special facilities for Visually Impaired
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
VI - Visual Impairment

Who came from where

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