SCHOOL NEWS // DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
NEWS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
SHAPE THE FUTURE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
A virtual event was held at the end of March to launch Pocklington School ’ s new Shape the Future Campaign to raise money for bursaries . Attended by members of the school community including Governors , Life Patrons and staff , the event focused on the ambitious aims of the Campaign and featured presentations by the school ’ s Headmaster , Toby Seth , and Chair of Governors , Tim Stephenson ( 70-79 ).
The Campaign is part of the school ’ s Strategic Education Vision and its objective to ‘ nurture a culture of giving back and increase accessibility to the school ’. A significant increase in applications for bursaries from external candidates has been received in the last academic year , and the Campaign seeks to raise £ 10 million for the John Dolman Trust endowment fund in ten years , to provide bursary places in perpetuity . The Campaign also wishes to raise £ 50,000 every year for the Annual Bursary Fund , which is used for immediate need .
Bursaries are offered to students whose families cannot afford the full fees and are offered on a strictly means-tested basis .
Founder members of the school ’ s new legacy society , the 1514 Club , were also present at the launch . They have already shown their commitment to the Campaign by including a donation in their will , in recognition of the fact that Pocklington School can be transformative for young people .
Tim Stephenson , Chair of Governors , said : “ Like many Old Pocklingtonians , I benefitted in the 1970s from the ‘ direct grant scheme ’ which paid my fees at the school . I went on to read Maths at Oxford and now enjoy a career in international finance , commodity risk management and sustainability . As Chair of Governors , and also a former parent , I can see clearly the enormous progress made by the school since I left . Many young people would greatly benefit from being at Pocklington School , and from whose presence the school as a whole would benefit . I strongly believe the school should be an inclusive place , available to as many deserving students as possible . The Shape the Future Campaign will enable us to make this happen .”
The fundraising Campaign is now being rolled out to the Pocklington School community , with information also available on its website .
FOUNDER MEMBERS ENJOY ‘ VIRTUAL ’ GATHERING
As the Commemoration of Benefactors Service and the 1514 Club President ’ s Lunch had been unable to take place during 2020 , Founder Members of our legacy society , the 1514 Club , came together via Zoom in early December . As well as wishing each other a Happy Christmas , the members enjoyed watching the new school video and heard from the
Chair of Governors and Headmaster about how the school had successfully adapted its online provision to meet the needs of its pupils during the pandemic .
The 1514 Club is planning to host an event for members of the society in November at school , and will be issuing invitations soon .
12 THE POCKLINGTONIAN