Pastoral care and wellbeing
This decision gives us the chance to improve our high-calibre pastoral care . The newly designed timetable will give pupils increased access to their tutors and they will spend more meaningful and productive time together on a daily basis . All tutees and tutors will follow a bespoke ‘ tutor programme ’ designed to support pupils ’ welfare and their pastoral care . Housemasters and Housemistresses will continue to play a vital part in the overseeing of pastoral care in the School . We also believe this new working week responds to the increasing pressure on pupil wellbeing . As with all schools , we have seen an increasing trend towards anxiety , stress and issues affecting pupil wellbeing over the past few years . This new working week ensures pupils are busier from Monday to Friday but allowed appropriate time for rest , recuperation , family time and comparable or increased opportunities for physical exercise across the week .
Boarding
Our redesigned boarding activities and enrichment programme will be a major part of this development . This will include additional academic opportunities , ‘ skills-for-life ’ courses , trips to local and regional places of interest and more activities designed to offer boarders the very best from our staff , the campus and local area . A major advantage of this change is that a larger number of teaching staff will now have a greater involvement in boarding and so their talents and knowledge can be brought into our boarding community . Full-time boarding pupils will benefit from all the pastoral , educational and co-curricular benefits this proposal affords , and a new weekend package will offer them more flexibility and opportunity during Saturday and Sunday . Further details will be sent to all parents in due course .
Saturday
Sports fixtures and the newly designed boarders ’ weekend programme will be the focus for pupils on Saturdays . Whilst some trips , camps and rehearsals may take place over some weekends , these will be relatively rare and published in advance .
Sport
We will maintain our weekend fixture card whilst also seeking additional midweek competition that may be more easily accessed as a result of the extra time afforded on Games afternoons . As ever , our emphasis on participation alongside
New term dates for 2021 / 22 are confirmed below . Future term dates will be published on our website .
Unless otherwise stated , School will finish at 3:50pm for half-term breaks and after period 4 for the end of term . Exeats will retain their current pattern .
2021 / 2022 Pocklington Term dates Staff INSET Michaelmas Term Half-term
Staff INSET Lent Term Half-term
Staff INSET
Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd September Tuesday 7th September − Wednesday 15th December Saturday 23rd October − Wednesday 3rd November
Christmas Holiday Wednesday 5th January Thursday 6th January − Friday 1st April Saturday 19th February − Sunday 27th February
Easter Holiday
Wednesday 20th April Summer Term Thursday 21st April − Friday 8th July ( after Prizegiving ) Half-term
competitive performance lies at the heart of our sporting programme . Fixture dates and times will be published in advance and will be available
here . Most fixtures are likely to take place in the morning , given the propensity for opposition schools to operate a 5-day timetable . Where we play competitor schools that have 6-day timetables , fixtures are more likely to be in the afternoon . Parents and pupils will recognise and understand that a successful sporting programme depends as much on pupil commitment as on staffing arrangements . We are grateful to you for your support in ensuring our sporting excellence continues . Being selected for a school team is an opportunity we expect our pupils to be proud of and to fulfil .
CCF
CCF will remain a key part of our provision . Pupils will have the option to participate , with both Army and RAF contingents available . This will take place after school , whilst ‘ Field days ’ will ensure pupils have continued opportunities to fly and visit ranges . Camps and other trips will continue as per current arrangements . We are proud of our outstanding CCF record and are eager to continue this in the future . Further details will follow in due course .
Saturday 28th May − Sunday 5th June Summer Holiday
Other co-curricular opportunities
We know how important our broad co-curricular offering is to our parents and pupils . It is for this reason that part of the re-design of our working week prioritises continued excellence of provision in this area . We will retain our long lunchtimes to enable clubs and activities to take place during this time . No changes are planned to after school activities , so rehearsals , practices and other such sessions will continue as normal . Our holiday periods will continue to afford pupils and staff the chance to embark on local , national and overseas trips , camps and excursions . Whilst our Prep School Saturday morning activities will no longer run , our after-school care provision remains unchanged .
Church
We will continue to go to Church on Friday . As a Christian Foundation , we believe this is a fundamental aspect to our School .