Home from Home

Hereford is one of the most beautiful cathedral cities in England, located in stunning countryside renowned for its attractive towns and villages with their famous medieval black and white buildings, its apple orchards, and the beautiful river Wye.

The city has a small population of 55,800 and is located near the border between England and Wales, within easy reach of Britain's second city, Birmingham and the capital city of Wales, Cardiff. Despite being a small, rural city, Hereford has excellent transport links to London, Manchester and Oxford and it is relatively easy to get to most major airports, making your child’s journey to and from School much easier.

The School is located at the heart of the city, situated in and around the Cathedral Close and medieval Cloisters . The school buildings, with their attractive gardens, are a mix of old and new, including historically important buildings and brand new facilities including state-of- the-art science laboratories and a brand new sports hall. The large playing fields occupy a striking setting on the banks of the river Wye. Sports and games flourish, and there are a wide range of extra-curricular activities available. Music plays an important part in the life of the school, and the school is renowned for its choral tradition.

Our caring, expert staff members can offer a complete package of learning provision alongside excellent pastoral care. The School has two School Nurses who can help students should they feel unwell or homesick.

Rebecca Hunter with one of HCS's international students

There is also a designated member of staff who oversees international students. Staff keep in regular contact with parents providing updates and information on how their child is progressing and we actively encourage our students to do the same by ‘writing home’ with all their news. By keeping the lines of communication open, it offers parents the opportunity to keep track of their child’s education and personal development.

Although the School is steeped in tradition, it is not old fashioned and seeks 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 knowledge and life skills necessary for the challenges of our modern world.

Boys and girls from different walks of life make friends, support each other and share a common sense of purpose. A unique energy and spirit prevails where expectations are high and pupils excel. Small class sizes, specialist teaching staff and strong pastoral care ensure that academic standards and examination results are excellent. The majority of sixth form students go on to study at Russell Group Universities, with some 8% going on to either Oxford or Cambridge.

Former pupils include scientists, engineers and captains of industry, commerce and public life, as well as politicians, rock stars, authors, international rugby players, a royal harpist, writers, playwrights and poets.

ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (EAL)

Developing English language skills is always an important part of any extended educational programme overseas. Of course, there are daily opportunities for international students to mix with English students, develop their language skills and make friends. Additional support is also available with EAL courses to ensure that students are fully conversant in English during their stay in the UK.

CULTURE SHOCK

For many of our international students, their stay with us will be the first time that they have been away from home for an extended period.

The idea is that they improve their English, gain top-quality qualifications and experience British culture. Our staff members carefully monitor international students for signs of culture shock and home sickness to make sure that they are settling in well. We can help give guidance and support during what can sometimes be a difficult first few months in a very different environment.