Pocklington School Newsletter Summer Term 2018 | Page 2

First students
receive updated
Pocklington
Award
Headmaster’s Welcome
Nothing heralds the arrival of summer like the
biennial Whole School Walk across the Yorkshire
Wolds. We were fortunate this year with warm,
sunny weather which lit up a beautiful landscape
for our 16 mile/ 25.7km hike.
Everyone was in great spirits and the happy
chatter of pupils from across the Prep and Senior
schools helped power our progress. We were
attempting to boost our fundraising for the
Senior School chosen charities: Water Aid;
Andrew’s Hedgehog Hospital; St Leonard’s
Hospice and the Stroke Association. All
excellent causes and we significantly increased
the amount raised during last term’s Charity
Week. Well done, everyone!
Throughout the walk, I was particularly struck by
the mutual support across the school. Pockets
inevitably formed as we snaked across the
countryside and I was impressed by how many
pupils dropped back to encourage others who
were beginning to lag, without teachers having
to ask them to do so. Older pupils encouraged
the young, and vice versa: a special bond of
mutual support and respect which binds pupils
together across the year groups.
That spirit has also been on display during
sporting events this term, when several of our
teams have excelled on the regional and
national stage, notably the U13s trampolining
team, the Equestrian Team, the U14 and senior
girls’ tennis teams and our Middle School
athletics team. In each case, supervising
teachers commended the positive team spirit
and continued mutual support of all the pupils
involved. By calming nerves, encouraging and
praising each other, the teams raised the
standard of their performances and were duly
rewarded. I see similar each weekend as pupils
represent our school in team matches - and it
was also evident during our recent public and
School exams.
The first pupils have been recognised by the
updated Pocklington Award, which celebrates
students’ involvement in the co-curricular life of
the School.
Last week, the Lower School’s superb
performance of Around the World in 80 Days
again reflected the benefits of teamwork and
mutual encouragement. The talented and
energetic cast kept the audience entertained –
and their backstage support was obviously
tremendous, to keep the fast-moving comedy
running so smoothly.
The art of performance was also very much in
evidence among the budding politicians who
have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into our
Pocklington School Parliament. Their practise in
debating issues which affect us all today will, I
hope, stand them in good stead when they go
out into the world and seek to make a positive
difference.
This term’s official opening of the Art and
Design Technology Centre was a source of pride
to us all. The Centre is the culmination of more
than five years’ discussion, planning and
fundraising and is a great advert for the power of
people working together to reach a collective
goal.
I wish you all a happy and relaxing summer and
look forward to welcoming pupils back in
September, ready for an autumn term of
working together to achieve our aims.
The graded certificate scheme of recognition
celebrates and reflects students’ life outside the
classroom and offers them an opportunity to
learn how to present their achievements and
participation in activities to others.
Students in the Lower and Middle School can
work towards Bronze and Silver Awards; Gold
Awards are reserved for the Sixth Form. All
encourage students to develop their own
identities and interests through the many and
varied co-curricular opportunities at School.
Students achieve the Bronze Award in the final
term of the Second Year, evidenced through
termly tutor interviews and an extra-curricular
audit. 36 students were awarded their Bronze
Award this year.
The Silver Award is given to Fifth Year students
who compile a portfolio showing their
involvement in the wider life of the Middle
School, as well as their personal reflections on
what they achieved and learnt through their
involvement in an activity. Ten students received
the Silver Award this year.
The respected Gold Award, which recognises
personal development and the acquisition of
“soft skills” valued by employers, was awarded
to six Upper Sixth students this year. We
congratulate every student who has been
successful.
Martin Kettlewell, Co-curriculum Director
Pocklington Staff Update
This year we wish several long standing staff a
long and happy retirement:
• Mr Peter Horne, Dr David Dyson and Mrs Sue
Pratt all leave the Chemistry Department and
are replaced by Miss Charlotte Parker, Dr Helen
Andrews and Mrs Joy Myers.
• Mr Martin Butcher, is replaced internally by Dr
Kirsten Clow as Head of Biology and by Mrs
Claire Bell to replace his teaching
commitments.
• Mr John Cullen, Head of Mathematics, is
replaced by Miss Clare Bracken in the role of
Head of Department and by Miss Frances
Clifford as a mathematics teacher.
• Dr Sheena McNamee is stepping down as
Head of Psychology and is being replaced by
Mrs Jane Barham; Mrs Rosemary Anderton,
teacher of psychology and learning support,
also retires at the end of the year.
• Mr Chris Thornton Holmes, singing teacher will
be replaced by Mr Ian Seddon.
Other new staff joining the senior school are Dr
Sarah McLoughlin, an English teacher, and Miss
Emma Robertshaw and Miss Georgia Hird, both
sports graduates. Miss Frankie Marsh leaves the
PE and Games department after two years with
us.
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We would like to wish all
our A/AS Level and GCSE
students every success with
their exam results this
summer.
A LEVEL RESULTS
16th AUGUST
GCSE RESULTS
23rd AUGUST