The return to school after a break is a busy time for most schools, and John Kyrle High School is no different with exam season underway as many students prepare for their final academic year.

With 1400 pupils currently studying at the school, John Kyrle High is one of the largest education establishments in Herefordshire. The school was originally built in the 1960s, with the current site formerly being a hospital built in the 1950s at the height of the Cold War.

In its current guise the school is made up of a number of different departmental buildings, housing various subjects including Maths, English, Science and Art along with a specialist sports hall.

The school has also been celebrating the recent news that the Sixth Form Centre has been ranked amongst the top 2% of the country according to results analysed by ALPS, which compares and reviews data across the education sector, which found that JKHS’s results stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the very best schools in the country.

Speaking to the Gazette, JKHS Deputy Head and Head of Upper School Mark Croad was delighted with the results.

“As a school we are obviously delighted with the results and success of our students. To be ranked amongst the top schools in the country for results is a proud achievement, and is a great testament to the hard work of both students and teachers in applying themselves to their work.”

The school contains a Sixth Form centre where students studying for A-Levels are based, and where specialist subjects such as Sociology and Psychology are taught. The centre also contains a common room where students are free to socialise during free periods along with a revision area where students can go and study for upcoming exams with access to computers in a quieter area. Formerly these areas of the Sixth Form centre used to be manned by a teacher, but in recent years the school have opted out of this form of supervision, entrusting the students to take responsibility for their own time.

“With regards to the common room and revision area, as a school we decided against constant supervision by teachers. We often found that there were no incidents worth noting and believe that at that age students should be made responsible for how they spend their free time.

“For most of the students this is the final few months of their school life before they embark on further education opportunities, some in Universities a long way from home.

“Preparing them for a more independent lifestyle and added responsibility is vitally important at this stage in their lives and showing this form of trust in the students is often well-received and respected by our Sixth Form pupils.”See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here