SCHOOL NEWS // DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
POCKLINGTON SCHOOL WELCOMES SUMMER CAMPS AND MORE
Pocklington School has been busy over the summer holidays welcoming guests from across the UK , as its facilities have been used by a wide range of different groups for camps and activities .
Trampoline club Pocklington Tornadoes ran two weeks of summer camps in the sports hall and on the playing fields , which saw 75 children enjoying gymnastics , relay races , giant board games , obstacle courses , football , swimming and dodgeball , as well as learning trampoline skills . The camps are an extension of the weekly trampoline sessions which are available in term time and are run by OP John Chatterton ( 06-13 ).
John said : “ We are extremely grateful to Pocklington School for allowing us to use their fantastic facilities ! After a year of interrupted training due to the pandemic , it was great to have not only our members , but children from the Pocklington community , come together and spend a couple of weeks taking part in the many different activities we had to offer . I ’ d like to thank all the parents who trusted the club with the care of their children , as well as my amazing team of coaches who made our camps a huge success . We hope the children enjoyed the camps as much as we did , and we can ’ t wait to run them again during the holidays next year !”
Educational workshop company , Grumpy Moose Ltd ., hosted a range of residential courses for young people . Focusing on art , creative writing , short film making , drama and dance , the workshops saw over fifty individuals stretch their creative imaginations and enjoy the chance to explore their passions and hobbies , developing new skills and making new friends over the five-day courses .
The popular Byas Academy , led by former Yorkshire Cricket Club Captain , David Byas , held their three annual residential sports camps at the school over the summer , for cricket , hockey , rugby and netball . With over 130 students in total in attendance , the groups enjoyed using the school ’ s 21 acres of grass pitches , two full size sand-dressed synthetic pitches and the cricket pavilion . As well as packed schedules , the camps featured a number of top international sportsmen and women supporting the coaching teams .
The Army Ornithological Society used the school as a base during their weekend stay in the area in July . Twenty-five members enjoyed the facilities of the school ’ s Fenwick-Smith boarding house as a base for their visits in the area . Their trip to Bempton Cliffs to see the black browed albatross , which had been sighted there , was less successful than hoped , as it was nowhere to be seen , although , a great time was had by all !
The school ’ s boarding houses also hosted a family gathering which saw over 60 family members meet up for the first time in three years . All ages enjoyed their own version of the Olympics , quizzes and fun activities including performing their own drama production .
Janet Knott , Deputy Bursar at Pocklington School , said : “ It ’ s been fantastic to welcome so many different groups back to our campus over the summer and see so many children and adults enjoying themselves and having some fun . We ’ ve had some very positive feedback from the group organisers , which is a wonderful testament to everyone in the Pocklington School team who plays a part in making them feel so welcome .”
16 THE POCKLINGTONIAN