A Level students top academic progress tables
Pocklington School Sixth Formers made so much academic progress in the two years after their GCSEs that their 2017 A Level results place them in the Top 15 % of the country, new figures confirm.
Department for Education data shows our personalised approach to learning paid off, helping A Level students make more academic progress aged 16-18 than pupils at any other school in the East Riding, York or Hull.
They gained the highest average A Level grade
Extra Curricular Update
of all schools in East Yorkshire, and their individual progress was classed as“ above average” compared with similar students across England. This puts them in the top 15 % of 2017 A Level students in the new performance tables, which include progress made in both independent and state schools.
Headmaster Mark Ronan said:“ We’ re very proud of the tremendous progress our Sixth Form students made between the end of key stage 4( GCSEs) and their A Level exams last year.
“ We offer students a broad and diverse curriculum and encourage them to play to their strengths by choosing the subjects they’ ll be happiest studying. We also foster their enthusiasm by encouraging and supporting an independent approach to learning.
“ We’ re delighted our students have responded to that by stretching and challenging themselves to make the significant progress noticed by the Government’ s new performance league tables. Well done everyone.”
Whilst the Lent term may have been short- only 10 weeks – we have certainly managed to fill the time with a host of exciting extra-curricular opportunities for students of all ages and interests.
The Rugby 7-10 ' s programme is now in full swing, and in between keeping warm, the 1st X, drew in the plate final against Durham 17-17( 3rd position play off). We hosted a fixture with our U16 ' s, U17 ' s and Pocklington Rugby Club to help the team’ s preparations for forthcoming tournaments as well as building closer links with the club and the East Yorkshire Rugby Community. Last weekend the U16 ' s came third, managing to beat QEGS Wakefield 28-21 to ensure them of their position. In the 15-man game, the U15 Rugby squad made it through to the quarter-final of the NatWest Schools Vase trophy, before narrowly losing out to QEGS Penrith.
In cross-country Georgia Rothwell is the Humberside Champion, Emma Forsyth came 8th in the Junior girls race, and has now qualified for ESAA English Schools. Our Equestrian teams have achieved significant successes at regional and national levels. Additionally, the U11 & U13 trampoline teams qualified for the National Schools Championship Finals.
The musical life of the school is thriving. Almost 50 % of the school took part in the House Music Festival in January. The Soloists’ Concert involved 16 students of all ages and abilities. The Musical Theatre Society performed a student-conceived‘ Musicals Through The Ages’ to three packed houses in the Music School. 50 students were ably directed by Sixth Form students Emma Burke and Sarah Jackson.
Whilst the Drama department’ s focus has been on examined pieces this term, a junior production of‘ Aladdin’, led by two Second Year boys through the Drama Department has been enthusiastically received.
The Combined Cadet Force continues to go from strength to strength. The RAF section has recently taken part in the Annual RAF Inskip competition; their dedicated preparation enabled them to achieve a number of high placings. The Fourth Year Army Sections are working through an updated training programme this year and ten of our top cadets will be representing the CCF at the Welbeck Cadet STEM Leadership Challenge in April; preparations are already underway. The Fifth Year Army Cadre are now preparing for their role as NCO Instructors next year; they have been preparing and teaching Skill at Arms and Fieldcraft lessons all term. The Army NCO Cadre Final Overnight exercise took place this week. 19 cadets and 3 staff will travel to Keswick, Cumbria on 26th March for a week of Adventurous Training. Activities include mountain biking, climbing and kayaking.
Well done to all of our students for getting involved and making the most of all the opportunities on offer at Pocklington!
Martin Kettlewell
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