The Old Pocklingtonian Old Pocklingtonian 2017-18 | Page 11

DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL NEWS
NEW HEADMASTER
APPOINTED AT
POCKLINGTON SCHOOL
Pocklington School is delighted to announce that
it has appointed Toby Seth, currently Deputy Head
at the King’s School in Macclesfield, as its new
Head.
Toby, who takes over from Mark Ronan on 1 January
2019, has been at the King’s School for six years.
He was previously Assistant Head at Godolphin
and Latymer School, London, and before that
taught at Wellington College and Dulwich College,
having read Modern and Medieval Languages at
Trinity College, Cambridge. He also holds an MA in
Leadership in Education.
Tim Stephenson (70-79), Chair of Governors
at Pocklington School, said: “Toby really impressed
all Governors involved in the rigorous selection
process, up against many highly qualified candidates.
He has excellent experience, a sharp understanding
of Pocklington School’s strengths, a passion for
education and he identifies very well with the ethos
of the school. We are excited by the prospect of
Toby leading the Pocklington School Foundation
OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE
ART & DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
CENTRE
Pocklington School’s new £3m Art and Design
Technology Centre was officially opened on Friday
18 May 2018, in a ceremony attended by more than
150 guests including campaign donors, Governors,
staff and students.
Three years after the school announced plans to
launch a fundraising campaign to raise the £2 million
needed to build the new centre, guests were able
to see how the success of the campaign had made
the school’s vision to continue its great tradition of
inspiring creative minds a reality.
Campaign patron and donor, York-born actress
Dame Judi Dench, sent a special message to those
gathered at the event, saying she was unable to
attend as she was in the middle of filming, but she is
delighted at the success of the campaign and sends
congratulations to you all.
The Centre was officially opened by Campaign
President Lord Halifax, who cut the opening ribbon
helped by three Pocklington School students, all of
whom who are already benefiting from the Centre’s
well-equipped studios, workshops and open, light-
filled spaces.
Lord Halifax praised the “fantastic support” of the
Pocklington School community for providing the
facilities for future generations of art, design and
technology students to develop their talents.
Art student Florence Colbeck, who designed the
laser cut, corten steel centrepiece to the Centre’s
opening foyer, said: “We now have the opportunity
forward, cherishing and maintaining the values we
hold dear, and bringing a new and fresh perspective.”
Toby is a keen sportsman, coaching rugby, tennis and
football, and has a strong interest in the arts. He is
married to Jess, who is also a teacher. They have two
young children, Cora and Arthur.
Toby said: “I am deeply honoured and tremendously
excited to be leading the Pocklington School
community from January 2019. On every visit to
Pocklington I have been struck by the strong sense
of warmth, care and individual attention offered to
the pupils as well as the wonderful relationships that
exist between staff and pupils.
“The breadth of opportunities available to all in
the community is equally impressive. I am both
confident and ambitious to further improve this
already excellent school.
“Jess, Cora, Arthur and I are very much looking
forward to joining you towards the end of this
calendar year and becoming part of the wider
Pocklington community. I should like to thank the
Governors for the faith they have placed in me and
I look forward to visiting the school again during the
Michaelmas term.”
Mark Ronan will leave Pocklington at the end of the
Michaelmas term to take up the post of Headmaster
of The King’s Hospital School in Dublin. Tim
Stephenson added: “After eleven very successful
years at Pocklington we wish Mark every success.
He has made (and continues to make) a great
contribution to our community. Toby’s appointment
marks the start of a new era, building on the very
firm foundations on which Pocklington School has
been established.”
to try out a greater range of techniques and there’s
room to display our work, too, so we can learn from
each other.”
Magnus Swann, an art, design and photography
student, said: “I’m excited about all the new kit for
photography students – and the fact the rooms are
so big and light.”
The Centre, which has impressive facilities for the
pursuit of design technology, art, photography and
related disciplines, was designed by York architect
Simon Mitchell, of the Mitchell Design Consultancy,
and built by Hull-based construction firm Houlton.
Headmaster Mark Ronan praised the design and
construction teams, and thanked school staff for
their hard work to ensure the project ran smoothly,
which had been crucial to its success.
Old Pocklingtonian Professor Steven Kyffin (70-77),
now Pro Vice-Chancellor (Business and Enterprise)
at Northumbria University and Campaign Patron,
praised the school’s long-standing recognition that
creativity and innovation are the driving force behind
any successful workplace.
He said: “When I came here in 1970 it changed my
life for ever. It made me creative, it made me a trader,
it made me understand what it is to connect all the
disciplines – all the things this department does
so well, and will continue to do so well, to equip
present students to go on and lead in the future.”
Recalling the school’s famous early pupil, the slave
trade abolitionist William Wilberforce, he added:
“Wilberforce changed the way we understand
humanity and how we exploit humanity. What’s
been happening here now, and has been happening
for the last 50 years, is about how we create our
future in a different way, bringing the disciplines
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