Pocklington School
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| Pocklington School | |
| Type | Secondary School |
| Headteacher | Mark Ronan |
| Location | West Green Pocklington East Riding of Yorkshire England |
| Ages | 7 to 18 |
| Website | http://www.pocklingtonschool.com |
Pocklington School, is a public school in Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Pocklington School was founded in 1514 by John Dolman. The school is situated in 70 acres of land, on the outskirts of a small market town, 12 miles from York and 26 miles from Hull. It is an Anglican foundation, although pupils from all denominations are accepted.
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[edit] Introduction
Pupils sit entrance exams in order to join the senior school, years 7–11. After having taken GCSEs, pupils may enter the Pocklington School Sixth Form, providing they meet the required results (at least 5 B-grades). The main points of entry to the senior school are 11+, 13+ and 16+. Entry is subject to examination and references from the pupil’s current school. Academic and music scholarships are available at most entry levels including the sixth form. There is also a feeder-school, Lyndhurst Junior School, situated on the same grounds, accepting pupils of ages 8–11.
The current Headmaster is Mark Ronan, appointed from January 2008. He was previously Deputy Head at Trent College.
Pocklington, like many private schools in the United Kingdom, is based on traditions. Its motto Virtute et Veritate is Latin for Truth and Virtue (though some translate the motto as Virtue and Manliness) and other traditions, such as the year group naming convention (first form, second form etc.), still remain today.
There are four houses; Dolman (named after the schools founder John Dolman), Gruggen, Hutton (both named after ex-headmasters Rev. Gruggen and Rev. Hutton) and Wilberforce (named after the 18th/19th century anti-slavery campaigner William Wiberforce who attended the school in his youth). Each accepted child from a new family will be entered into a house, all following siblings enter the same house.
The school prides itself on its armed forces centre, located on the edge of campus, in what is known as the CCF compound. The CCF take part in various competitions each year and regularly offer the chance for pupils to take part in trips or camps abroad.
The school sports hall is housed in the trainshed of the former Pocklington railway station, designed by George Townsend Andrews.
[edit] Recent GCSE Results
97% of GCSE entries were graded A* or A in 2006, an improvement of 8.4 percentage points compared with last year. 100% of pupils achieved 5 GCSEs graded A*–C. 100% of pupils achieved 10 GCSEs graded A*–C.
[edit] William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce was the school's most notable pupil. He attended Pocklington School from 1771–76 and is famous as the parliamentary campaigner who brought about the abolition of the slave trade and the emancipation of slaves. A statue of a freed slave sculpted by Peter Tatham (1983–93) is in the centre of the St. Nicholas Quadrangle. A monument to the young Wilberforce is planned to be constructed near the foyer, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of slave emancipation. Dr John Sentamu has agreed to attend the unveiling of the new statue in autumn 2007. Pocklington School appeared in a TV programme entitled In Search of Wilberforce, made by former BBC News presenter Moira Stuart, first shown on March 16, 2007.
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Richard Annand, V.C. 1925–32, awarded the Victoria Cross in 1940 during the battle for France. His most recent visit to the School was in 2002 to unveil a copy of his citation. This can be seen in the Senior School Reception entrance. He died in December 2004
- Jason Carr, 1980–85, Musician and Composer. Directed music for the 2004 and 2005 Chichester Festival and composed the music for their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. He opened the refurbished Music School in 2003
- Sir Edward Clay, C.M.G., 1955–63, British High Commissioner to Kenya
- Sir James Cobban, 1920–29, educationalist, headmaster of Abingdon School, 1947–70
- Martin Crimp, 1968–1974, playwright, whose play Cruel and Tender and his translation of the 18th Century French comedy The False Servant, starring Charlotte Rampling were both staged in London during summer 2004. His newest play Fewer Emergencies is at the Royal Court Theatre during autumn 2006
- Jack Daniel, 1931–37, artist and illustrator in The Eagle, The Illustrated London News and The Field. He also sculpted the war memorial in Chelsea Barracks and drew the Wheelbarrow Hero, a scene depicting Richard Annand's heroism, which is displayed in the foyer of the Stoppard Centre
- Adrian Edmondson 1969–75, co-author and actor with Rik Mayall of Bottom and The Young Ones, married to Jennifer Saunders
- Stewart Eldon C.M.G., O.B.E., 1966–71, British Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Dublin
- Christopher Elliot M.B.E., 1960–65, Major General, responsible for current doctrine in the British Army
- Michael Elsworth 1941–51, actor, Gondorian archivist in the film The Lord of the Rings and Círdan in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Andrew Farquhar C.B.E., M.B.E., 1966–72, Major General, commander British land forces, awarded the Legion of Merit by the U.S.A. in 2005
- Brian Fenwick-Smith, 1943–54, entrepreneur and school benefactor
- Robert Horner, 1947–55, president of the Rugby Football Union, 2003–04
- Ted Maidment, 1951–61, headmaster of Shrewsbury School, 1988-2001
- Lord Moran, 1910–19, personal physician to Sir Winston Churchill, author of The Anatomy of Courage and The Struggle for Survival, his personal accounts of looking after Churchill
- Sir Charles Reece, 1938–42, formerly technical director I.C.I. and chairman, Committee for European Development of Science and Technology
- Sir Daniel Williams, 1955–62, H.M. Treasury, director Cazenove Group Plc & Xstrata Plc.
- Robin Skelton, 1937–43, poet and literary scholar, author of more than 100 books of criticism, biography and poetry
- Frank Smailes, 1924–27, Yorkshire and England cricketer. Smailes took all ten wickets in a match against Derbyshire in 1939
- Sir Tom Stoppard, O.M., C.B.E., 1950–54, playwright. His play Henry IV was in London, summer 2004. Films include Shakespeare in Love and Enigma. His new play, an adaptation of Le Vent des Peupliers (The Wind in the Poplars) opens in London in autumn 2006. His portrait, presented to the school by Peter Stoppard (1949–53), hangs in the senior school reception entrance
- Peter Stoppard, (1949–53), brother of Tom Stoppard
- George Pollard, C.B., C.B.E., 1959–68, Air Marshal, is director, Joint Warfare Centre, Europe
- William Wilberforce was the school's most notable pupil. He attended Pocklington School from 1771–76, abolitionist and statesman. A statue of a freed slave sculpted by Peter Tatham (1983–93) is in the St. Nicholas Quadrangle. A monument to the young Wilberforce is planned to be constructed in between the main school and the music school, in commemoration of the 200th year of ending the slave trade
