Hereford Cathedral School

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.HistoryThere 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 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.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.CurriculumAs 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.