Hereford Cathedral School is an independent, co-educational day school for pupils of ages 3 to 18 years, from Nursery to Sixth Form. Its headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school's premises are next to Hereford Cathedral in Hereford.
Video Hereford Cathedral School
History
There was probably a school associated with the Cathedral from the time of the foundation of the see in the late 7th century. Thus Hereford Cathedral School is likely to be among the oldest in England. The earliest documentary record of its existence dates from 1384 when Bishop John Gilbert appointed Richard de Cornwaille as school master and authorised him to rule over the school with birch and rod. The school's library is named after Bishop Gilbert and Cornwall house is named for Richard de Cornwaille.
During the following centuries the school attracted generous benefactors. It was rebuilt under the reign of King Edward VI, and it received considerable emoluments from Queen Elizabeth I in 1583. During the 17th century Dean Langford, Roger Philpotts, a former Mayor of Hereford, Sarah, dowager Duchess of Somerset (wife of John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset), and King Charles I all gave to the school for the foundation of scholarships and the purchase of buildings.
By 1762 the school building was once again rebuilt after it had fallen into disrepair and by the mid 19th century teaching was being carried out in the Headmaster's house. In 1875 new class rooms were built in School Yard.
The school remained relatively small in size until the inter-war period. It attained direct grant status in 1945 and by 1970 had expanded to 370 pupils, all of whom were boys and many of whom were boarders. In 1973, the school became co-educational. It was a direct grant school until 1975, and when this scheme was abolished, it chose to become independent. The school also participated in the Assisted Places Scheme from its introduction in 1980 until its abolition in 1997.
As of September 2006, Paul Smith is headmaster, succeeding the long-serving Dr Howard Tomlinson.
Maps Hereford Cathedral School
Curriculum
As well as core disciplines, other subjects taught in the school include Ancient History/Classical Civilisation, Art, Business Studies, Design and Technology, Drama, Economics, French, Japanese, Spanish, Greek, Latin, Further Mathematics, Psychology, Music and Textiles.
Sport
Among sports practiced in the school are: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Canoeing, Cricket, Cross Country, Fencing, Fitness Training, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rounders, Rowing, Rugby, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, and Volleyball
Traditions
Former pupils and members of staff are referred to as Old Herefordians, using the postnominal designation OH.
Every year pupils at the school run a cross-country race called the Hull Cup. The origins of this competition are said to be found with Hereford Cathedral organist Percy Hull who believed that the choristers at the time were in poor shape and so demanded that they take part in an annual run.
Although there is no official school song, the de facto school anthem is the hymn Jerusalem (English Hymnal 656A). It has become a school legend that the singing of this hymn during an assembly in the Cathedral on Friday 27 May 1983 was heard outside Marks and Spencers in High Town. The hymn is a popular choice in weddings, memorial services and funerals of Old Herefordians.
House System
Upon entry into the school every pupil is assigned a house. The houses are as follows:
The four extant houses are: Langford (after Charles Langford, Dean of Hereford and benefactor 1607), Stuart (named after King Charles I, benefactor 1637), Somerset (named after Sarah Seymour, Duchess of Somerset, benefactor 1682) and Cornwall (named after Richard de Cornwaille, first known headmaster of HCS, 1384).
Before the abolition of boarding at the school, there were also separately named houses for boarders, namely: School House, Number 1 (Castle Street) and Old Deanery. In those days, Cornwall, Langford, Somerset and Stuart consisted entirely of day pupils.
Uniform
In the senior school (years 7-11) pupils are expected to wear a blazer with school crest, navy pinstripe trousers or skirt, plain white shirt, and an authorised school tie for boys. In the sixth form pupils are allowed to wear a grey, navy or black suit with authorised school tie. School ties include: house ties, sports colours, the Dean's Scholar tie, the sixth form tie, and various other ties awarded for specific contributions to the school.
Headmasters
- 1385 Richardus de Cornwaille
- 1583 -- May
- 1590 Thomas Cooxey
- 1595 -- Povey
- 1637 Clement Barksdale
- 1669 Richard Gardiner, DD
- 1686 Robert Phillips
- 1687 Thomas Gwillim
- 1689 Richard Treherne
- 1711 John Rodd
- 1731 Thomas Willim
- 1748 John Stephens
- 1749 Richard Traherne
- 1762/3 Reverend Gibbons Bagnall/Thomas Horne
- 1778 Abraham Rudd
- 1784 Robert D. Squire, MA
- 1803 Reverend Samuel Picart, BD
- 1807 Charles Taylor, DD
- 1826 Charles Taylor, Junior, BD
- 1839 William Henry Ley, MA
- 1842 John Wooley, DD
- 1844 Thomas F. Layng, DD
- 1851 Reverend Thomas Barratt Power, MA
- 1857 John Woollam, MA
- 1869 Reverend Eric John Sutherland Rudd, MA
- 1875 Francis Hey Thatham, MA
- 1890 Thomas Thistle, MA
- 1898 Reverend Prebendary William Henry Murray Ragg, MA
- 1913 Reverend John Henson, MA
- 1920 Dr J. H. Crees
- 1940 C. Fairfax-Scott
- 1944 A. F. J. Hopewell
- 1956 W. J. R. Peebles
- 1967 David M. Richards
- 1975 Barry B. Sutton
- 1988 Canon Emeritus Dr Howard C. Tomlinson, BA, PhD, FRHistS
- 2006 Paul Smith, BSc
Controversy
In February 2017, the school was sued by a former pupil who alleged that when he was transitioning from female to male, the school discriminated against him. In response, the school's governing body said that the pupil had been withdrawn before any decision on his support had been made.
Extracurricular activities
Combined Cadet Force
The school operates a Combined Cadet Force composed of Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force sections. It is the second oldest school CCF in the country. Recently the organization has had notable success in the CCF (Army) March and Shoot. The unit is currently commanded by Sqn Ldr A D Howell.
The last Biennial Inspection was on 8 May 2014. The inspecting officer was Col Seal, who is the Deputy Commander of 143 Brigade.
Ghachok link
The school is linked with a school in the village of Ghachok, Nepal, which is one of the school's chosen charities. Money donated by the pupils has been put into the building of new classrooms, employment of teachers, provision of sports equipment, and the purchasing of computers for the school. Every year, a number of pupils and parents visit Nepal and the school.
Chamber Choir
The Hereford Cathedral School Chamber Choir tours internationally and has won a number of awards.
Old Herefordians
Upon leaving the school former pupils and staff are referred to as Old Herefordians (OH) and become members of the Old Herefordians Club. This entitles them to wear the colours of the Old Herefordians Club (navy blue, yellow and white).
Notable Old Herefordians include:
- Denis ApIvor, (1916-2004) Composer
- Martin Baynton, writer and illustrator, creator of Jane and the Dragon books and TV series
- Andrew Davies, politician, formerly Minister for Enterprise, Innovation & Networks
- Pete Farndon, (1952-1983) Bass Guitarist of The Pretenders rock group
- William Gregory, Speaker of the House of Commons
- Matthew Hall, barrister, screenwriter and novelist
- Robert Hollingworth, musician and choral director
- David Keyte, former chairman of Hereford United F.C.
- Giles Latcham, BBC News Reporter
- Arthur Machen, supernatural and horror fiction author
- Anthony Nuttall, literary critic and academic
- Arthur Peppercorn, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London North Eastern Railway
- Jemima Phillips, former Royal Harpist
- E. J. Rapson, numismatist and professor of Sanskrit (1906-36) at the University of Cambridge
- Miles Smith, Bishop of Gloucester and translator of the King James Bible
- Philip Wilson Steer OM, impressionist artist
- Paul Thorburn, Welsh rugby international
- Michael Tomlinson, Conservative Member of Parliament
- Thomas Traherne (though nothing certain is known about his education before Oxford)
- Frederick Weatherly (1848-1929) Wrote over 3000 popular songs, including "Roses of Picardy", as well as the best-known set of words for "Danny Boy".
References
Notes
- School ISC Reference Number: 80122
- School ISI Reference Number: 6533
- School DfE Reference Number: 884/6004
External links
- Hereford Cathedral Junior School
- Old Herefordians' Club
Source of article : Wikipedia
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