Pocklington School Newsletter Lent Term 2019 | Page 3

Lower School
Our Lower School pupils are known for their
enthusiastic participation in house events and
extra curricular activities and this term has been
no exception. The term kicked off with the
spectacular House Music Festival and was
quickly followed by many sports fixtures, house
sporting competitions and recently, the Musical
Theatre production of Seussical The Musical.
The Lower School play is now in the rehearsal
stages and I hope you can join us to support our
young team of actors and actresses in June,
with their production of Wind in the Willows.
believe in themselves and reach for the stars in
every aspect of their learning. The end of year
assessments will take place four weeks into the
Summer term and I encourage every pupil to
prepare thoroughly in order to achieve their
absolute best. I wish you all a very enjoyable
and relaxing Easter break.
Within their academic lessons, we have been
asking our pupils to reflect on the second of
Pocklington's core values, 'Truth'. The target for
all of our pupils is to be critical thinkers, creative
and curious students and above all to truly
Middle School
This is always such a vital term for our Fifth form
and every year, at this time, we see them go
through a range of emotions and stress points
as we gear up towards the GCSE exams. Many
of them have built on their mock exams and
have been preparing thoroughly for the real
things. I have been deeply impressed with the
extra support and countless hours of revision
that Pocklington staff have provided this term:
every lunch time and after school has been
packed with sessions. But that is what it is all
about for all of us: work hard and seek help – we
can do this together. Yes, Easter is not going to
be much of a ‘holiday’ for our eldest Middle
School-ers but think ahead to that summer!
Sixth Form Symposiums continue to
broaden students’ intellectual curiosity
Wind
Lower School presents...
in the
willows
Tuesday 25th &
Wednesday 26th June
Careers and business
network event
The Sixth Form symposium programme has welcomed inspiring speakers on a whole host of
subjects since it was introduced in 2014, to encourage students to think beyond the confines of
their subject specifications.
Guest speakers have talked about topics ranging from the refugee crisis to health and wellbeing.
This year we have enjoyed many thought-provoking talks as part of the programme. Visitors have
included Old Pocklingtonians Mark Kendrew and Faye McFarlene, who came in to talk to the
students but also enjoyed reminiscing about their times at Pocklington and how they have
benefited from the OP Association and, more recently, the Careers and Business Network.
Our inspirational Pocklington School teachers also feature, often speaking about off-curriculum
subjects they are passionate about. Over the last two terms Music teacher Tom Taylor has delivered
a talk on the development of the keyboard in the Western classical tradition, whilst Head of Design
Steve Ellis ran a practical car design workshop.
The Sixth Form has engaged especially well with the programme this year and we have seen large
numbers of students sign up to a range of subject-specific and general interest talks. This not only
allows them to widen their repertoire but has allowed them to participate in conversations about
topics they may not normally have engaged in.
2
Old Pocklingtonians David Strachan and Jodie
Hill joined us in Leeds in March for our latest
PSF Careers & Business Network event.
Superbly hosted by our Headmaster Toby Seth,
it was a fantastic evening of networking for all
our guests, sharing experiences and thoughts
on careers in business and law.