Development and School News
School Development Update
The School is continually enhancing the campus
and buildings and in recent months several projects
to upgrade the facilities have been completed. The
success and growth of the Prep School has led to the
creation of an additional classroom to accommodate
a second Reception class. This has become known as
the ‘green room’ due to the carpet colour and is where
the Baby and Toddler sessions and the Before and
After School Care for younger pupils take place. The
two original Reception classrooms have been opened
out to allow the children to integrate with each other
during child-centred learning tasks. Ian Wright, Head
of Prep School, commented: “It is a delight to see the
ongoing development of the building to provide such
wonderful learning spaces for the pupils.”
The School continues to implement its Estates
Development plan. The Music School refurbishment,
initiated to mark the Quincentenary, is now
complete and this excellent multi-use venue is
available for teaching and assemblies as well as for
hosting performances and recitals. The multi-gym
has been refurbished and upgraded to provide a
modern training and conditioning facility for athletes
of all levels of fitness. The appearance of, and the
approaches to, the Business Management School have
been improved and the programme to install double
glazing to improve energy efficiency also continues.
The School Shop has been relocated close to the
Sports Hall and has adjacent parking spaces for ease
of access by parents. Car parking is always high on the
agenda at a busy school and two temporary buildings
near Dolman boarding house have been removed in
order to improve and extend onsite parking facilities
and help to ease congestion in the drop-off zones at
peak times.
It is important that the campus continues to evolve
and, as older buildings reach the end of their lifespan,
the School tries to exploit the opportunity for the
development of new, distinctive and highly functional
facilities. Many OPs will already be aware that the
School has plans for a new Art and Design Centre
which will continue the School’s excellent tradition of
inspiring leading figures in these fields. If you haven’t
yet been able to attend a campaign information
reception, please do contact Susan Kay, the new
Development Officer, or Rachel Dare in the OP
Office to find out more about the School’s plans for
this exciting new development and the fundraising
strategy.
External Relations
Director Appointed
Alexandra Takes Centre Stage
at Prize-giving
One of the highlights of the summer term was a
visit by internationally acclaimed pianist Alexandra
Dariescu (01-03) who returned to the School to
give the keynote speech at the annual prize-giving
ceremony. In her speech she highlighted the values
of hard work, self-belief and dedication, as well as
the importance of having fun, and described how
her early morning piano practices at Pocklington
would set off the Faircote alarm, much to her fellow
boarders’ annoyance!
During her visit, Alexandra also gave a solo recital in
the Music School and led several piano masterclasses
for some of the School’s talented music pupils. She
said: “Pocklington School was my first home when I
first arrived in the UK thirteen years ago and it was a
huge privilege to return as the guest speaker.”
Since leaving Pocklington School in 2003, Alexandra
has taken the musical world by storm. From the Royal
Albert Hall in London to Carnegie Hall in New York,
Alexandra has dazzled audiences worldwide with her
effortless musicality and captivating stage presence.
As reported elsewhere in the magazine, Ale [