BOARDING//
FENWICK-SMITH
HOUSE “It feels like my second home with one big giant
family.” Naeem Choudhury, L6th
This has been yet another positive year
for Fenwick-Smith House. We have a
great set of lads in the house and a really
good team of dedicated staff. Yet again,
over 60 different boys have stayed in the
Fenwick-Smith House over the course
of the academic year. found her feet and proved an invaluable
support to the boys. Our Non-resident
tutors Mr Butcher, Mr Perham, Mr
Wheeler, Mr Copley, and Mr Bond
have been fantastic at supporting the
lads as they negotiate their way through
the pressures of GCSE, AS and A2
examinations. Mr Butcher and Mr
Bond retire from boarding at the end
of the year. We will miss them in the
house but Mr Butcher will continue
to visit to offer invaluable UCAS
support and Mr Bond is still teaching
in school. I’d also like to thank Mrs
Bond, Dr Dyson and Rev Jan for their
frequent visits offering pastoral and
academic support. Mr Loten and I may
burn the candle a bit but we wouldn’t
change our jobs for anything. It is a
pleasure and a privilege to look after
such a fantastic set of lads. As we say
goodbye to some of the 5th form and
upper 6th leavers we wish them all
the best as they fly the Fenwick-Smith
nest.
A growing number of day pupils have
tried Extended Day Boarding, Ad Hoc
short stay boarding when parents have
been away or several nights a week
Flexi-boarding for additional support
with their academic work. Flexibility
is our middle name and we are really
pleased to be able to support families
as pupils negotiate the trials and
tribulations of GCSE and A levels.
We really hope that we have been able
to make a positive difference to the
outcomes for a significant number of
the boys associated with the house.
On the trips front we have enjoyed
sporting fixtures supporting Hull City
(football) and Yorkshire Carnegie (rugby
union) and York City Knights (rugby
league). Several tribute bands featured
on the menu again this year with
Absolute Bowie at Fibbers, York being
one of the best concerts for some time.
Games nights where boarders have
taken on the day pupils who they have
invited as guests for the evening have
proved popular, with snooker and
indoor football being the most popular.
As ever the BBQ evenings in the better
weather have proved a welcome break
from exam revision.
In terms of staff we are lucky to have
such a dedicated team. Dot, Margaret
and Sue in the laundry and Sally and
Julia on the domestic front do a great job.
We would all like to thank Jill Dowson
for her years of service in both School
House and Fenwick-Smith House and
wish her well over the road in Faircote.
We have welcomed Kim Miller as our
new Day Matron and she has already
now Henry Foster will all have had the
honour of being Head Boy. A great
hattrick for Fenwick-Smith House!
“I am a day pupil but have boarded and
I think it’s amazing. It’s fun being with
your mates and I get all my work done.
At the moment I am boarding full time
due to my GCSE exams and I am getting
lots of revision done – much more than I
would at home. It’s very productive at the
boarding house and teachers are always
there to help when it is needed.” (John
Wright, 5th year)
As I am writing this report, news has just
come out of the prefect appointments
for the coming academic year, 2018-
2019 and I was delighted to hear
that FSH boarder Henry Foster has
been appointed as Head Boy. Whilst
Alejandro will be delighted with 3 wins
in a row for his beloved Real Madrid
in the Champions’ League, as Fenwick-
Smith Housemaster, I am delighted
that Rob Smith, Edward Dare and
THE POCKLINGTONIAN
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