Message from the Head Teacher
As we reflect on the past academic year, it is heartening to recall the huge variety of ways that the children in the Junior School have made the staff feel proud. Junior School groups, teams and choirs have reached an incredible six National Finals this year in girls’ football, swimming, dance, singing and rugby. Success like this, however, is just the icing on the cake and stems from children across the age and ability range pushing themselves beyond their comfort zones to master new skills and make progress, both in and out of the classroom.
I would like to thank the wonderful staff team in the Junior School who dedicate themselves with such energy, ensuring every child is supported, encouraged and challenged to grow into a resilient learner and as a kind, confident young person. Mr Whitehead has embodied the principles of our CARE Code over the past two years, enthusing and inspiring the children in so many ways, and will be sorely missed by all as he leaves to pursue new interests.
Finally, I would like to thank parents, grandparents and friends for supporting the children on their Hymers journey this year. I wish you all a very enjoyable and restful summer.
Mr Doyle | Headteacher of Junior School
In the
DT Room DT Room
It has been an exciting term for Hymers DT with lots of design and make projects, plus the addition of a new kitchen.
Year 3 have been designing and making their own clocks. They have cut using fret saws to create a shape from plywood. This outline has been carefully painted and then fitted with a clock mechanism. Examples include a fried egg design, Pikachu and watermelon slice.
Year 4 ended the year with exciting ‘Wacky Racers’ - constructing their vehicles from a
recycled container, motor, fan, battery pack, switch and circuit. These wind powered racers were fettled for balance and friction reduction to produce the speediest racer.
Year 5 pupils have been baking bread this term. They weighed, measured and combined ingredients to create a soft dough. After allowing this to prove, they enjoyed kneading and shaping by hand, before baking their creations.
Delicious!
Mr Whitehead
Theme Week
Our annual Theme Week is always popular and this year was no exception. The students had a wonderful time learning about all about different careers they might want to pursue when they are older. They worked hard producing some imaginative presentations for their visiting families at the end of the week.
Great Big Dance Off
The Year 6 Dance Club qualified for the National Finals of the Great Big Dance Off after winning their regional heat in April. The girls, ably led by Mrs Marsden, travelled down to Oxford on the 23 June to perform at the New Theatre. Although not placed on this occasion, they performed their routine ‘Sweet Dreams’ brilliantly to an appreciative audience. Well done!
The Year 5 and Year 6 dancers also performed for the Junior School in the theatre, showing off their talents.
Speech Day
The annual Speech Day took place on Thursday 26 June in the Main Hall. After a special performance of ‘Give Us Hope’ from the Year 6 Choir, speeches from Mr Stanley and Mr Doyle preceded the
presentation of awards celebrating sporting and musical success. A variety of children in Year 6 then received special awards for curriculum areas as well as for ethos and endeavour.
Mrs Redhead
In the Art Room Art Room
This term, Year 3 have been using their sketchbooks to investigate illustrative styles, creating characters and telling stories. Inspired by Dirty Beasts, the children modelled their own character. A festival of feasts was in order for Year 4. After looking at the work of an American pop artist, they drew tasty treats and sculpted wedges of cake out of cardboard and Modroc. They looked good enough to eat!
Inspired by aspirational architectural homes, Year 5 further developed their observational drawing skills, creating wonderfully expressive and accurate
drawings of architecture. They then sculpted their own artistic houses with foamboard – fantastic aspirational ideas! Year 6 finished off the year by creating a wonderful window installation, with the intention of bringing joy through colour and light. They achieved it – all the pupils love to see how the artwork moves across the Art room as sunlight changes; just wonderful!
The Art room looked spectacular as we celebrated the wonderful artwork created by the children this year in our first ever Summer Exhibition.
Mrs Rowland
Out About and Windermere
In May, the Children in Year 6 went on their residential trip to Windermere. This trip is always eagerly anticipated as it is the children’s last Junior School residential and the chance for them to try
a range of outdoor adventurous activities and push themselves beyond their comfort zone. Staying right next to the lake, we had a wonderful time enjoying a range of activities including canoeing, archery, the ever popular Pico sailing and, new this year,
Paddle boarding. The trip finished off with an entertaining camp fire where each group presented a song or rap about the week and ate toasted marshmallows. A great end to a fantastic week!
Mrs Julian
Hull and East Riding History Museum
Our Year 5 pupils had a great time when they visited the Hull and East Riding History Museum to learn more about the Anglo-Saxon and Viking eras. They discovered more about how the Anglo-Saxons lived and handled replicas
of different artefacts linked to their lives, including some exciting weapons! They also had the opportunity to dress up as AngloSaxons and Vikings, making their own brooches based on the designs they had seen in the museum.
HMC Boys Cricket
In June this year, our HMC Boys cricket team took part in two 6-aside tournaments, starting with the Scarborough College tournament. They performed very well in this tournament, reaching the final by beating Scarborough College in a Super Over. However, Aysgarth were the better side on the day so we took the runners-up position. This was great preparation for the HMC 6-a-side at Woodhouse Grove later in the same week. After a slightly disastrous start, losing the game within one over of Durham’s run chase, the boys knuckled down and performed superbly by beating Bootham and losing narrowly to Grammar School at Leeds, putting us into the Plate competition.
There, we met Scarborough College in the quarter final and won convincingly this time around. Following that, we played St Peter’s in the semi-final who came in as overwhelming favourites. However, a magnificent team performance got us through that game and into the final where we played Birkdale, who have knocked us out in the quarter finals on countless occasions over the last few years!
The boys did magnificently, taking key early wickets which restricted their total. The chase went perfectly, with the result hardly ever in doubt, meaning we walked away as HMC Plate champions. This is a tremendous achievement for the boys and testament to the hard work they have been putting in during training. Well done!
Mr Hodsdon
Essa National Finals
On 14 June, the 29th English Schools Swimming Association (ESSA) National Finals for Primary Schools was held at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield.
Hymers College proudly qualified for three events:
Girls 4 x 25m Medley Relay
Girls 4 x 25m Freestyle Relay
Boys 4 x 25m Medley Relay
All swimmers delivered outstanding performances, earning places in the B Finals across all three events. Their efforts were a fantastic reflection of the commitment, teamwork, and training they’ve shown over the years, and we couldn’t be prouder. Well done to all involved!
Mr Mills
HMC Athletics
This year’s HMC Athletics event proved very successful once again for Hymers, extending our run of wins!
On a hot summer’s day, our athletics team performed superbly well. The girls, in particular, had a stormer, winning the U9 and U11 titles while the U10s came 3rd. This meant that our girls finished as overall champions. The boys also performed well, with good finishes for our U9 and U11s while our U10s finished 2nd overall.
We had some individual successes too, with Jasper Kirby becoming U10 200m and Long Jump champion, Elsie Foote winning U10 girls Long Jump and 200m champion, Harriet Arnott winning the U9 Girls Long Jump, Harry Leek winning the U10 boys High Jump and the U11 Girls finishing as relay champions.
Well done to everyone who participated in the event and for your efforts over the course of the day.
Mr Hodsdon
Hull Schools Netball Champions
After two initial rounds playing seven matches of four quarters, which the girls won while only conceding two goals, the girls progressed to the Hull Schools U11 netball finals, held at St. Mary’s College. As it was an extremely warm evening the games were made shorter but still four quarters of netball for every game. The first game versus Bricknell was a physical one. The girls battled well against a mixed team; they kept their composure and skills level which helped them get a win. The second game versus Maybury challenged their game play, but again they showed excellent team work, even when they were required to play in different positions on court - and won.
The final game was against Kingswood Parks and the girls really had to dig deep in both heart and physicality. They rose above the pressure and played with incredible resilience. The match against was fastpaced and intense, with both teams giving their all.
U11 Girls Football
Premier League Primary StarsNational Finals at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Molineux Stadium. 12 June
The U11 football team made their way to Birmingham for the highly anticipated finals at Molineux Stadium, home to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The atmosphere was electric as the players were warmly welcomed, and they had the honour of bearing the Hull City flag onto the pitch, standing proudly in front of the Premier League trophy.
The day was filled with tough competition, with schools from all across the country showcasing their skills. The team faced some challenging opponents, including Bolton Wanderers, Derby County, Preston North End, and Southend.
Although the first match didn’t go their way, and the disappointment was evident, the team didn’t let it define them. They showed incredible resilience, coming together and digging deep to prepare for their next game. The spirit and determination in the squad was contagious, and even though they didn’t get the results they wanted right away their focus remained on pushing forward.
In between matches, the team had a unique moment to cherish. They were given the chance to pose for a photo with the iconic Premier League trophy, adorned with Liverpool’s red ribbons. It was a surreal moment for the young players, many of whom dream of one day playing in the Premier League themselves. This was a reminder of the big stage they were on and the potential they had to aim even higher.
As the day wore on, the team continued
Despite the challenges, the girls maintained their focus, demonstrating excellent communication and tactical awareness. Their adaptability on the court, switching positions seamlessly, allowed them to keep Kingswood Parks on the back foot.
In the final quarter, the girls pushed through fatigue and kept their composure, holding off a late surge from Kingswood Parks. The victory was hard-earned, and the team’s collective effort and determination was clear for all to see.
With their hard work paying off, the girls celebrated their well-deserved victory in the Hull Schools U11 netball finals. Their ability to stay composed under pressure, their teamwork and strategic play were all key factors in their success. It was a fantastic achievement and a testament to their dedication and skill throughout the tournament.
Mrs Fillingham
to improve, battling through each match with a growing sense of unity and purpose. They may not have come out on top in the tournament, but the experience of competing at such a high level, and in such a prestigious stadium, is one they would carry with them for years to come.
ISFA Finals
After the heartbreak of missing out on the semi-finals in Birmingham, the girls were determined not to let that setback hold them back. The following week, they found themselves at the prestigious St. George’s Park, ready to compete in the national finals - a whole new level of challenge and excitement.
The competition was fierce, but right from the start the girls showed incredible character. They drew their first match, which, though not a win, was a solid start. The second match was tough and despite their best efforts they were narrowly beaten, but they didn’t let it shake them. With heads held high, they focused on their next game, which they dominated with a fantastic 4-1 win. The energy was back and their teamwork was shining through.
As the day continued, they faced a tough final match. With everything on the line, they gave it their all, but unfortunately lost by just one goal - a heartbreaking narrow defeat. It was a tough pill to swallow, especially as the girls knew how close they were to making the semi-finals. However, there was no shame in their performance. The team played outstandingly and showed incredible resilience. They battled through each match, never backing down, and played with heart and determination. Though it wasn’t the outcome they had hoped for, they should be so proud of how far they had come and the skills they developed along the way.
A special moment came when the girls had the chance to meet the Lionesses - the national women’s football team - ahead of the Women’s Euros 2025. It was an inspiring sight to see their heroes up close, and no doubt it gave the girls a renewed sense of purpose and motivation. Watching the Lionesses and learning from their experience was a perfect way to close out the day, reinforcing the idea that big dreams are always within reach.
Mrs Fillingham
to my ears Music
Year 6 Choir Tour to Edinburgh
This year, for the first time, the Year 6 Choir Tour took place in May. 26 excited children set off early on Friday 16 May, travelling up to Edinburgh.
On arrival in the Scottish capital, they visited the famous Edinburgh Castle with its stunning views and historic walls. This was followed by a wonderful meal at the renowned Hard Rock Café. Accommodation this year was at an outdoor activity centre which had the benefit of having outdoor space for the children to play.
The following day saw a visit to the National Museum of Scotland before the big event itself – the concert in the stunning St Giles’ Cathedral. The children drew in a tremendous audience, singing 14 songs absolutely beautifully. There was praise from spectators from all around the world, including a couple from Canada.
The children then went for a well-deserved swim at a local waterpark, which they thoroughly enjoyed. On the evening, they had the privilege of joining together with another choir who were staying at the accommodation. Each choir performed to each other before joining together to sing ‘Karma Chameleon’ which was great fun!
On the final day, there was time to visit Edinburgh Zoo with its wide variety of creatures. The penguins were a big hit! Overall, this was a highly successful trip which the children will remember. A huge thank you to Miss Clark, particularly for her skills in the kitchen, Mr Newton, particularly for his photographic skills and Ms Pearson, who joined us to accompany the choir so brilliantly.
Mrs Redhead
Summer Concert
The Junior School Summer Concert took place on Monday 16 June in the Main Hall. Over 100 children from Years 3 to 6 entertained an appreciative audience with some superb performances.
The orchestra, ably led by Ms Pearson, began the proceedings with three items: Theme from Haydn’s Surprise Symphony, Finlandia by Sibelius and a Dutch children’s song, Berend Botje. This was followed by Teasing Tango from the Junior Strings, led by Mrs England. Yellow Bird and Movie Buster were the pieces performed by the Wind Group, again led by Ms Pearson, before the percussion group brought the house down with Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star, led by Mr Hayton. All instrumental groups performed brilliantly.
The choirs then took to the stage, and it was the youngest group, the Year 3/4 Choir, who
set the standard with their confident and engaging performances of The Dinosaur Gang, The Butterfly Song and I am the Earth
The quality of singing of children so young was impressive.
The Year 5 Choir followed with Hot Air Balloon, Lord of All Creation and finally Kusimama, a firm favourite of the children’s, Mrs Redhead and the audience!
The final choir of the evening was the Year 6 Choir who entertained with He Lives in You from the Lion King, Go Down Moses, You Raise Me Up and Give Us Hope. The children in this choir have been a pleasure to teach and it was so lovely to hear how they have progressed this year, being able to produce such a beautiful tone.
A huge thank you to all the music staff for all their hard work.
Mrs Redhead
Key Dates
September
Wednesday 3 Autumn Term Commences
Thursday 11 Half Day – Senior School Speech Day
Friday 19 Year 5 PGL Trip departs
October
Wednesday 1 HMC U11 Rugby and Hockey at GSAL
Saturday 4 Whole School Open Event
Tuesday 14 Junior School Harvest Festival
Wednesday 22 Break up for half term at 3.40pm
Children who learn a musical instrument either in or out of school were given the opportunity to perform in a friendly Chamber Concert in the school hall.
There was some beautiful performances ranging from violinists, cellists, guitarists, singers and pianists. A huge array of talent on show!
Cleethorpes Music Festival Chamber Concert
The Year 3/4 and the Year 5 Choir spent a successful afternoon at the Cleethorpes Music Festival.
Singing before a very experienced adjudicator, Steven Roberts, both choirs performed in two classes.
The Year 3/4 Choir won the school choirs aged 9 and under as well as the school choirs hymn singing class, whilst the Year 5 Choir gained two second places. The children were exceptionally well behaved and had a great time.
Very well done!
