Pocklington School Newsletter Summer Term 2018 | Page 8

Summer Term
Michaelmas Term 2018
Parents ’ evenings

Pocklington Parliament declared a success

A parliament established by pupils to debate national issues and help students learn about political process has gone into summer recess after a very successful year .
Thirty pupils were selected to be MPs representing the Conservative , Labour , Liberal Democrat and Green Parties along the lines of the UK 2017 general election result .
As well as spending many lunchtimes debating in a room set out as the House of Commons chamber , they also hosted cabinet and shadow cabinet meetings and held surgeries .
The sessions have proved so successful that the Pocklington School Parliament ( PSP ) will now resume in September , with plans to select new MPs and hold a School-wide Parliament Week , where bills , debates and campaigning will take place .
Upper Sixth Former Cameron Brown , who established the Parliament with politics prefect Henry Burr ( also Upper Sixth ), said : “ We decided to follow the legislative agenda of the UK Parliament to give pupils hands-on experience of how laws are being passed , how government works and how the laws are affecting them .
“ Political education has long been an issue schools across the country have failed to address , but allowing pupils to establish a working parliament is giving them the best political education they can have .”
PSP Prime Minister , Third Year Thomas Brown , said : “ I ’ ve had good fun debating real topics involved with running a country and learned a lot about the challenges of living up to the expectations of being Prime Minister .”

Good Luck to all our 2018 leavers

Diary Dates

Summer Term

Wednesday 18 July - Pocklington School will be at Driffield Show Friday 27 July - Sports Tour to South Africa Thursday 16 August - A Level Results Day Thursday 23 August - GCSE Results Day

Michaelmas Term 2018

Tuesday 4 September - Boarders return to School Tuesday 4 September - New Pupil Induction Day Wednesday 5 September - Start of Michaelmas Term Thursday 27 September - New Parents ’ Reception Friday 28 September - Reception for Boarding Parents Tuesday 2 & Wednesday 3 October - House Drama Festival , 7pm , Tom Stoppard Theatre Monday 8 October - Friends of Pocklington School AGM , 7pm , Gruggen Room Thursday 11 October - “ Does Science Need God ?” – talk by Prof Tom McLeish & Mr Hutchings , 7.30pm , Tom Stoppard Theatre Friday 12 October - Pocklingtonian Sports Dinner , 7pm , The Oaks Golf Club , Aughton Saturday 13 October - Pocklington and Pocklington Prep School Open Morning , 9am – 12pm Wednesday 17 October - Autumn Concert , 7pm Friday 19 October - Commemoration of Benefactors ’ Service , 11am Friday 19 October - Start of Half term , 12.25pm Thursday 1 November - Start of 2nd Half of Term Thursday 8 November - Soloists ’ Concert , 7pm , Music School Tuesday 20 November - School Play Wednesday 21 November - School Play Thursday 22 November - Pocklington School Parents ’ Forum , 7pm-9pm , Gruggen Room Monday 3 December - Exam Week 4th & 5th Year Saturday 8 December - Friends of Pocklington School Ball , 7pm – 1am , The Principal Hotel , York Friday 14 December - Christmas Carol Service , 11am Friday 14 December - End of Michaelmas Term , 12.25pm

Parents ’ evenings

Wednesday 19 September - Upper Sixth Parents ’ Evening , 6pm
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