Headmaster’ s welcome
Back in September, I promised I would " reflect on what has been a rewarding six-and-a-half-year tenure " and try to " soak up as many events and moments as possible " before I left. I also tentatively gave myself a‘ Grade 7’ for performance in GCSE terms. Regrettably, I must now admit that my grade hasn’ t improved. It is perhaps the busy nature of Pocklington School that has meant I have not performed to the best of my ability!
That said, what a final term it has been. I have been truly fortunate to witness so many inspiring and moving moments. The Ambitio evening was, as ever, a joy – watching our younger pupils embrace independent learning with such enthusiasm and curiosity was both heartening and a clear sign that the future is in very capable hands.
Other highlights included the Whole School Walk( where I discovered I’ m still no match for First Year energy levels), stirring concerts, brilliant drama productions, and our very special Prefect Presentation in All Saints’ Church. On that occasion, Rev Bill kindly allowed me to choose a hymn – I went for Be Thou My Vision, a nod to my Irish roots and my mother’ s all-time favourite.“ That’ s a cracker,” she would have said, in her unmistakable Northern Irish accent.
Although I missed our most recent OP Reunion Day, I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting a particularly spritely Old Pocklingtonian during a visit to London – he left the School in 1952 and is now 92, though you’ d barely know it. His stories( and sharp memory!) will stay with me for a long time.
At the other end of the age spectrum, we were delighted to welcome families to our Little Pips Nursery Open Day. The building is nearly complete, and from September, we’ ll be welcoming the tiniest members of the Pocklington family. The atmosphere was full of joy – as was the realisation that we may need a well-developed buggy-parking strategy for future events.
More seriously, the recent news of Queen Margaret’ s closure has served as a sobering reminder of the emotional bonds that can form between families and schools. It’ s a timely, if painful, reflection on how deeply schools matter in the lives of pupils, parents, and staff alike.
And that’ s what makes leaving Pocklington so difficult.
While I’ m looking forward to the next chapter – and returning to the part of the country I call home – this school will always hold a special place in my heart. It’ s been an immense privilege to serve as Head here, and I will take with me countless happy memories, enduring experience, and enormous pride in what this community has achieved together.
At the time of writing, I have still the pleasure of the Upper Sixth Form leavers’ ball and Prizegiving. I hope that at both of these I can redress my‘ performance’ and immerse myself in all things Pocklington for one last time.
Thank you for all your tremendous support over the past six years; it’ s been a real honour and a joy. Wishing you all the very best for the future.
Toby Seth, Headmaster
Chaplain
The end of the summer term is always tinged with a sense of thankfulness, joy, sadness, anticipation, and change. In our church assemblies this year, we reflected on William Wilberforce, whose life captured all of these emotions as he set us an example, as he pioneered change in our society.
We gave our Upper Sixth Form a good send off in their Leavers Service and later, welcomed in the new prefects for 2025 / 26. We have bid farewell to Toby Seth with thanks for all he contributed to the life of the school, and now prepare for a new adventure with the incoming Head, Becky Lovelock. Older pupils leave and the Prep School pupils prepare to move up to the ' big ' school. All of this change is inevitable, but we hope the ' Pock ' characteristic has been and will be maintained. We continue to be ' pupil ' focused, enabling individuals to overcome failures, instilling commitment, and nurturing an attitude of kindness to all.
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