Pocklington School Newsletter Summer 2020 | Page 3

Lower School
If our time away from school and each other has
given us anything, we have all been given ample
opportunity to develop our independence,
resilience and compassion. Although we have
been apart for several weeks now, this has been
a team effort and my heartfelt thanks go out to
all of our pupils, parents and staff for everything
you have done to support each other. Our
assemblies over the Summer term have been
very different from usual and have been vast and
varying in their focus. Only a few weeks ago, I
Middle School
was delighted to congratulate Sam Smart for his
interesting and inspiring travel
recommendation. Using the recent space
mission as a starting off point, I asked the Lower
School to explore incredible journeys with me
with the final challenge for our pupils being to
send me a brief insight into where they would
love to travel to when they eventually can. Sam
took me on a tour of Georgia, USA and I have to
say, I am now more convinced than ever that I
must visit! I have thoroughly enjoyed taking part
in the photograph, joke and Flim-Flam
competitions too and I hope the Lower School
has appreciated the sense of community and
collaboration as much as I have. As we start the
Summer break with a tentative glimmer of hope
for more easing of the lockdown to come, I
would like to wish you all a safe and relaxed
holiday and I look forward to seeing you all
soon.
Sam Cheadle, Head of Lower School
The winning photo from the Middle School
assembly challenge (taken by Tom McDowell)
Well, this has certainly been a term like no other
before it! Firstly, I’d like to once again thank the
Fifth Year. This has been such an unsettling and
uncertain time for them and, after the initial
shock, the way they have responded has been
magnificent. From completing your GCSE
courses, adapting to remote learning and then
throwing yourself into A Level transition work –
you have impressed us all. I do hope that we will
get to have our celebration evening at some
point in the future – you deserve it!
And to the Middle School as a whole, thank you
for all your efforts this term. I know a highlight
for me has been the weekly assemblies and your
engagement in them. From Flim-Flam to
photographs and dream holidays to jokes, it has
been a fun distraction for us all. Have a lovely
summer and we all hope to see you back at
school soon. Let’s end with the winning joke
from the Middle School competition: ‘And the
Lord said unto John, “Come forth and you will
receive eternal life.” But John came fifth - and
won a toaster.’ – Phoebe Anderson.
Gareth Hughes, Head of Middle School
Sixth Form
We have been hugely impressed with how our
sixth formers have approached their studies,
and wider school life, with enthusiasm, focus
and good humour during our term of remote
learning.
Upper Sixth pupils have been able to maintain
their academic focus through engagement with
our transition programme, as well as dropping in
for informal weekly Zoom chats with house staff.
Lower Sixth have ‘picked up the baton’ with a
range of appointments to positions of
responsibility and the beginning of our post-18
options process – complete with virtual open
days and Zoom presentations!
As well as showing excellent focus in lessons,
students have enjoyed the opportunity to
interact with staff and each other through weekly
tutor group challenges (our particular favourite
was our weekly montage of ‘pets and plants of
Pock’) and – more recently – live weekly Zoom
assemblies for all the Lower Sixth. Our fabulous
student editorial team have also kept spirits high
with a fortnightly ‘Good News’ page, sharing
top tips on entertainment, cooking, humour and
other good news items.
We’ve even had a virtual student council to
reflect on what we have valued from this period
of remote learning and what we can take with us
into the future!
Laura Powell, Head of Sixth Form
We asked Upper Sixth Form students and teachers to share their favourite memories of their time in Sixth Form. Here are a selection of them. For the full
video click on the link https://bit.ly/2NIKqIo
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