The latest edition of our new school newspaper, written entirely by our student-led Newspaper Club, features our Christmas toy appeal and poetry competition winners, along with a taster about our upcoming Drama production, Hamlet, and more! You can read it on the news section of our website.
Hymers College:
Year 13 student Emily, now known as Cadet Warrant Officer Emily, was recently recognised for her exemplary leadership as a senior cadet non-commissioned officer with 1324 Squadron, and appointed Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet, by the Lord-Lieutenant, His Majesty the King’s personal representative in the county. Well done Emily, you are an inspiration to the next generation of young cadets!
Hymers College:
Our Junior School combined with Hymers Hessle Mount were keen to get involved with all the fun for Children in Need.
Well done to the children, parents and staff; together they raised £310.40!
Hymers College:
We appealed to our parents and students to join us in supporting Cash for Kids Mission Christmas by donating gifts... and they didn’t disappoint! In fact we were overwhelmed by how generous you all were!
GENERAL REVIEW
First Place for Chemists
We’re delighted to announce that a team from Hymers has scooped not just the winning spot, but also second place, in the Hull and East Yorkshire round of the
Year 8 Become Rail Ambassadors
A group of Year 8 students took part in a Rail Safety Event hosted by Network Rail and trained to be Rail Ambassadors who will now spread awareness of rail safety to our whole school!
During the day they learnt about careers, safeguarding, travel safety, used a train simulator and VR headsets, as well as about the dangers, risks and safety on the railway.
The students are now making a video and presentation so they can begin educating their fellow students on all they have learnt!
Royal Society of Chemistry’s Top of the Bench competition!
There were over 20 teams taking part in this round last week at University of Hull, so coming both first and second place, was no easy feat.
Congratulations to Troy L, Jonathan S, Nii Okine T, and Zyana C who came second place and Aryan K, Rayan M, Kowthar K, and Eva Maria K who stole first place!
Our winning team have qualified for an all-expenses paid trip to the national final at Cardiff University in March.
Year 7 and 8 Entrepreneurs
For one day only our Year 7 and 8 students were given the chance to put their entrepreneurial skills to the test by taking part in our £10 challenge!
Groups of students were given an initial £10 investment to start a business. They then had to come up with an idea,
generate customers and turn as big a profit as possible in one day.
The event certainly generated a lot of excitement, with a whole host of wonderful and wacky ideas on show. Who knows... maybe there’s a future Alan Sugar among our students!
35 Years of Co-Education
Hymers College is celebrating 35 years of transformational co-education.
Founded in 1893 as a boys’ school, we opened our doors to girls in 1989. There is now a 50-50 split between girls and boys, we have been hosting a series of events and activities to mark the landmark anniversary. These included a celebration lunch which alumni, partners and stakeholders were invited to.
Current staff members Emily Pennack and Vikki Bastiman were among the first cohort of girls.
Head of Development Emily, who has responsibility for alumni engagement and raising funds for our bursary scheme, joined as a Year 8 student when she was 12. She said: “It was very different back then. There were only 15 girls in that year group, compared to 90 boys. They had to very quickly invent a PE kit for girls and build changing rooms. We had to mix with other year groups if we wanted to play sport against another school.”
Emily, whose two daughters are now students with us, left the Sixth Form in 1995. She returned as a member of staff four years ago. “It changed a lot during my time here as a student, and it changed a lot more after I left,” she said. “It’s much more modern now, and there’s an equal split between girls and boys.”
Alumni Engagement Officer Vikki also joined in 1989, in the year below Emily, when she was 11. She too continued through Sixth Form, and returned to work here three
years ago.
Vikki said:
“We were very much in the minority back then, but we got on really well and the boys actually helped look after us. That first year was unique, because after that there were more girls every year.
Hymers College:
Our theatre has been alive with the sounds of our House Battle of the Bands. Congratulations to winners, Holderness!
Hymers College:
“The school’s changed a lot over the years. It’s much bigger now, with fantastic facilities, but it still has the same supportive, friendly atmosphere I enjoyed. My son’s here now and has really good friendships, which is very similar to my experience. There are a lot of staff who also came here as students, and that’s because there’s a real fondness for the place – people just want to come back.”
Headmaster Justin Stanley said: “Girls and women have driven huge improvements to Hymers over the past 35 years, and they continue to do so.
“There were a small number of girls that had joined the Sixth Form prior to 1989, but the change to co-education across the school was significant, and something the staff at the time were all hugely enthusiastic about. The whole initiative was readily embraced and the intake of girls was like a breath of fresh air.
“We’re now 50-50 co-education, our girls continue to be high achievers and our Hymerian women are doing wonderful things in all walks of life. Long may that carry on.”
Year 5 Residential Trip to PGL
Our Year 5 students enjoyed a fabulous weekend of abseiling, canoeing and orienteering on their residential trip. The giant swing, trapeze, sensory trail, archery and zip wire were a huge hit, all topped off with an evening camp fire.
Hannah said: ‘My highlight of PGL was the King Swing, which looked fun but was a little scary. Mr Doyle was very brave because he made the top of the trapeze. We all cheered for him as he came down.’
Archer K9 - pet and working dog trainers - came to visit our Year 6, 7 and 8 students to deliver dog safety training earlier this week. Torah, the Dutch Shepherd, and Binksy, the Pomeranian, along with their human helpers, taught the students how to spot the warning signs that a dog might bite, what to do if faced with an aggressive dog, as well as how to respect and stay safe around their family and friends’ dogs.
Hymers College:
Our Founder’s and Benefactors’ Day, which was the school’s 131st birthday, was marked by an alumni lunch and also included a fundraising day that featured a doughnut sale.
Hymers College:
The Hymers Christmas Food Parcel Appeal has once again been well supported. Due to your generosity we managed to make up over 110 parcels, which our Sixth Form students delivered to 60 households, and to vulnerable families in supported housing and homeless hostels.
Hymers College:
Our Year 3 and 4 girls took part in a football session at our Open Event in October to showcase sport in the Junior School.
Hymers College:
Prateek in Year 11 finished second in the Hull Active Schools individual table tennis championships to progress to the Humberside round next year. Prateek is proving to be a very talented all round sportsman.
Junior Sports Awards Winners SPORTS REVIEW
Well done to Autumn Term’s Junior School Sports Award winners.
Hymers College:
Our U10 rugby team played some fantastic rugby at the U10 HMC Rugby Festival at Bradford Grammar School. They really have made some fantastic progress this year and their performance against some strong opposition was spectacular!
Hymers College:
Our Year 11 GCSE PE class cheered on former rugby league player and fundraiser, Kevin Sinfield, on his mission to run 50km a day for seven days to raise money for six motor neurone disease charities!
We are so proud of all the winners and, indeed, every child in the school who has put in so much effort, represented the school superbly and played their sport with a smile on their face.
Football Selection
A massive well done to Willow S, Eden R, Molly A, Harriett T, Oliva G, Stella P, Francesca W, Lexi W, Ruby F and Isla S who have all been selected to play for Hull Schools Girls.
Girls’ football now features throughout our Junior and Senior School sports programme, so we are extremely proud of these girls, who will be representing our school and city across the country!
Our U19 netball team has qualified for the next round of the Netball National Schools Competition.
A message from the Headmaster
As ever this edition of the Hymers Review showcases the tremendous range of co-curricular activities that our pupils involve themselves with on a daily basis. From the youngest pupils at Hessle Mount to our Year 13 students as they prepare to head off to university or the world of work, Hymerians have continued to participate with enthusiasm and commitment both within and beyond the classroom. The soft skills and wider emotional development that are nurtured through activities such as music, drama, sport, volunteering and Duke of Edinburgh are central to a Hymers education.
It was uplifting to start the Autumn Term by celebrating the tremendous exam results that Hymers A Level and GCSE students had received in late August. Of course, the headline statistics are gratifying: 51% A*/A at A Level and more than one in three of our GCSE cohort achieving all grades 9-7. These results saw us placed 106th in the Times newspaper league table at A Level and the Yorkshire Post ranked Hymers 5th in the league table of independent schools in the county and overall best value for money. However, it is the success of each and every individual student and their own achievements in doing their best and reaching their personal potential that brings most satisfaction to our staff. Whatever the next stage of their educational or career pathway, the start of the academic year saw our students moving onwards, with pride in what they had accomplished and confidence in the knowledge that they had laid firm foundations for the future.
The success of a school like Hymers depends on a great team effort, and I know how lucky we are to be part of such
A visit from Olympian Tom Dean
Three-time Olympic Gold Medallist swimmer Tom Dean stopped by Hymers last week to meet some of our swimmers and staff!
He took the time out of his busy schedule to inspire our students, some of whom are in the pool at 7:30am three mornings a week. His visit was equally as inspiring for our swimming teachers!
a strong community of pupils, parents, Old Hymerians, teachers, support staff and governors. While the role and contribution of governors may not always be fully understood or appreciated, the impact and influence of these volunteers is hugely significant. Few schools are able to draw upon a governing body as capable and committed as we are, and for the last six years the Board has been expertly steered by its Chair, Mr John Redman.
John, who hails from Northern Ireland moved up to East Yorkshire from the south east of England, following a successful career in HR and general management. He already had considerable experience of school governance under his belt before Hymers was fortunate enough to be able to recruit him to the Board in 2013. After a short period as Vice Chair, John took on the position of Chair in January 2019. John stepped down as Chair at Christmas, having completed his second term of three years.
John has been an outstanding Chair of Governors. The commitment he has shown to the role has been quite extraordinary, and his skills and qualities – both personal and professional – are numerous. Everyone who knows John appreciates his integrity, his financial acumen and his ability to bring the best out of people. He has a warm sense of humour and a generous spirit and he is genuinely interested in those around him. To my mind, one of his great qualities is his deep understanding of education and empathy for everyone with a stake in school life: the pupils, the parents, the staff. He will trust others to get on with their jobs, but equally he will roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty when he needs to – and his judgement in this regard is invariably spot on.
John has been a huge support to me personally as a Head and he has been instrumental in helping us navigate some testing times such as Covid and the ongoing issues of parental affordability. So – yes – we will miss John Redman, but we are fortunate that he will remain on the Board until the end of the academic year. I know that the Board have found an excellent successor in Dr John Kittmer (Old Hymerian) and I look forward to working closely with him in the years ahead.
Hymers College:
Our Year 6 students embarked on our annual three-day sports tour to Worcester to play some amazing rugby, hockey and netball. Although it wasn’t all sport, the teams managed to cram in lots of fun, and food, by stopping off at Cadbury World, hitting a few strikes at ten pin bowling, and refuelling after a hard day on the pitch at an all-you-can-eat pizza restaurant!
Hymers College:
The final house rugby competition involved every boy in Year 8. Trinity were the eventual winners.
Hymers College:
Congratulations to our U13 boys football team. A brilliant performance today against Armthorpe Academy, securing a spot in the last 16 of the Schools Football National Cup.
Hymers College:
What a brilliant performance from the U13 girls who progressed as Hull and East Yorkshire winners to the Yorkshire finals of the indoor cricket at Headingley. Two comprehensive wins against Snaith and South Hunsley.
Hymers College:
Huge congratulations to Mrs Redhead and our Year 6 Choir who have reached the final of the Barnardo’s National Choral Competition! We look forward to performing at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham in March.
Hymers College:
Typography was the focus for Year 5 in the autumn term. Combining typography with drawing, they created personal maps as a form of self-portrait. The finished works are intriguing
Hymers College:
Every student in Year 8 designed a poster to illustrate a different element from the periodic table for a fantastic display in our Chemistry corridor! Third place was awarded to Edward C with his wonderful interpretation of highdensity hafnium. Second place to Emily M with her beautiful poster of silvery scandium. The overall winner was Rianna R for her innovative design of inert argon.
Hymers College:
Year 6 spent the Autumn Term exploring how 2D drawings can be transformed to 3D objects. By upscaling their drawings, they worked towards a sculptural outcome, creating delightfully hand drawn dogs which were freestanding.
ARTS REVIEW
Years 3 and 4 Perform Superstar
Children in Year 3 and 4 presented their Christmas nativity Superstar in the theatre in front of their families.
With celestial angels, shepherds who grumbled about the fact they were not washing their socks and wise men from lands afar, Stella the star managed to
guide everyone to the baby Jesus – the true superstar of Christmas.
There was some fabulous acting, singing and dancing from the children. Well done Years 3 and 4. We’re sure you’ll all agree that each and everyone of them lived up to the name of ‘superstar’!
Junior School Students Meet an Illustrator
Illustrator, Hannah Penrose, visited Year 5 to talk about her work, particularly her illustrated maps.
Inspired by Hannah, the students will be using her hints and tips, combined with their own hand-drawn typography and drawing skills to create their own personal maps.
Hannah’s work can also be seen in our newly refurbished dining hall.
Charity Carol Concert
An incredible end to the term at the annual charity carol concert. Many thanks to all performers and readers
and also to our extremely talented music department staff. All funds raised will go to Emmaus Hull and East Riding.
National Citizen Service Trip
During October half term, a group of Year 11s got the opportunity to take part in National Citizen Service (NCS), a government backed programme created to help young people build essential skills for work and life.
Hymers is extremely proud to be the only independent school in the country to be a delivery provider for the NCS.
Our students spent their day team-building and developing their confidence in a range of activities such as paintballing and battlezone archery at Elsham Activity Centre. The rest of our Year 11s will take part in this trip in February.
Hymers College:
As the new academic year got underway we gathered for our whole school photo. It was the first time in Hymers history we have captured a student body ranging in age from three to 18! We were delighted to welcome Hymers Hessle Mount for their first ever experience in front of the camera.
Hymers College:
Year 6 enjoyed a visit to Ferens Art Gallery. Using their sketchbooks to record observations, ideas and recreate their favourite paintings, they were so engaged with the works that they could have stayed much longer.
Hymers College:
Our Senior wind quintet used their talents to spread some Christmas cheer when they visited three local care homes in December.
Hymers College:
The winning design in our Christmas card competition was created by Imani M in Year 9! We particularly loved Imani’s inventive perspective, seeing Hymers viewed through Santa’s sunglasses. Congratulations Imani.
Hymers Hessle Mount
Children in Need
Be Bright, Be Seen
Hymers College:
Hymers Hessle Mount pupils spread Christmas joy to elderly residents at Tranby Park Care Home as part of a range of activities and community events - you may have seen them in the local press. You can read more about what they’ve been up to on our website.
Hymers College:
Our children collected donations for their Harvest Festival with Year 2 undertaking the mammoth task of loading them all into the school minibus!
Mr Copeland, accompanied by his team of helpers, drove the donations to Hull Churches Home From Hospital Service. After the tiring job of unloading everything, they were invited inside to see where the donations go and to find out all about the good work the charity does.
For Children in Need our Year 6 Leadership club headed over to Hymers Hessle Mount to take responsibility for organising fund raising activities with the younger children. Together they raised £145.45. It wasn’t all just about fund raising...the day was also about team building, role models, and lots of fun, with one Reception pupil declaring it, “The best day ever!”
Christmas Performance
Reception children delighted audiences with their production of Baarmy Bethlehem. It has been a privilege to see the children’s confidence develop as their learned their lines and songs to perform for the show.
Jess from Humberside Police visited our pupils at Hymers Hessle Mount for Be Bright, Be Seen Day!
She explained the importance of being visible to traffic, especially in these dark winter months, and what to do in an emergency.
Of course, there was also some time for a bit of fun too as the children tried on police uniforms and sat in the police car!
Odd Socks Day
The children marked Odd Socks Day in style by wearing their oddest socks with pride! Odd Socks Day is part of Anti-Bullying Week and teaches the children all about embracing differences and accepting diversity. Mr Copeland led a special assembly, sporting his own odd socks of course.
Year 2 Science
Inspired by reading The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch, the children enthusiastically used teamwork and their building skills to make a pulley system moving a bucket from one place to another, understanding how the food would make it to the top of the lighthouse. Replicating how Mr Grinling, the dedicated and hard-working lighthouse keeper, received a his Christmas dinner with all the trimmings!
