Hereford Sixth Form College - Hereford

Aine W.

Unchecked culture of bullying from students and staff, with an unhealthy obsession with Oxbridge.

I attended the college about 5 years ago to study 4 A-Levels and was part of the HE+ programme (support exclusively for students hoping to be accepted to Oxford or Cambridge). During my time at the college I was bullied by a small group of my peers. I made the college aware of this bullying immediately and asked for help. The college’s response was to tell me that I was ‘stopping my peers from reaching their full potential’ by complaining about their behaviour towards me and that I should ‘get out of the way so they can get into Oxbridge’. The bullying continued relentlessly: over time I began to incur serious health problems as a result of stress and anxiety, which culminated in being given a lift key as I was too physically unwell to use the stairs in the college. During this time my Oxford application was rejected: I was immediately dropped from the HE+ programme and received no support for my other university applications. The bullying continued. I later received an offer from Durham, which I was told by my Director of Studies that I ‘only received [an offer] because they were trying to fill places on the course’: completely disregarding my academic merit. Having received no support from my Director of Studies regarding the bullying or my academics, I turned to my lecturers. One told me there was an ingrained bullying culture amongst the staff, and that they weren’t surprised at the way I had been treated. Once my Director of Studies found out I had contacted other staff members about their ineffectuality, they rushed to silence me, implying that I was ‘mentally ill’. At this point I stopped attending my lectures, with a few months to go before my final A Level exams. I left the college with 4 A Levels, and severe mental and physical trauma.

Throughout my time at HSFC, I had a disability support tutor, Mel, who grew to become my only source of sanity: she stood by me throughout, let me sit in her room during breaks, and listened to me and understood. Unfortunately as a disability-specific support tutor, she was unable to make any significant changes to my situation, but she was there for me nonetheless and was possibly the only reason I did not drop out.

5 years later, I have been accepted to the University of Cambridge to study a PhD, having studied my MPhil there. I studied my undergraduate degree in Durham and Athens, Greece. I have an exhibition and a documentary to my name.

5 years later, I am still appalled by my treatment and by the treatment of other students who attended the college, who’s stories I have heard since finishing my time there. HSFC lacks compassion and has little to no effective pastoral infrastructure. They pursue outstanding results at any cost, discarding those who do not conform to a rigid definition of academic potential, and have no regard for the pain they may cause their students in pursuit of this.

Umlaut F.

Pretty good college, went here 3 years ago to study - the cafeteria is nice and has a good selection and the staff is very friendly. Dropped out after the first year but the tutors were very understanding

Andy

Go here to take my son football training and it's quite an impressive place. . Loads to do here .

Helen P.

Well organised relaxed and everyone very friendly and approachable . Thankyou Graham for showing us around.

Claudia ..

Dear old psychology teacher. I still have nightmares where I forget to do my psychology homework after 2 years of leaving the college.

Matthew J. H.

Wasn't for me but Emma (Computer Science), Matt (Business) and Mel are awesome Tutors

Z S.

Nothing to do in between lessons, tables and chairs vandalised.

L L.

College food lowkey slaps 🔥🔥