Pocklington School
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| Motto | Virtute et Veritate |
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| Established | 1514 |
| Type | Independent School |
| Headteacher | Mark Ronan |
| Location | West Green Pocklington East Riding of Yorkshire YO42 2NJ England |
| Ages | 7–18 |
| Website | www.pocklingtonschool.com |
Coordinates: 53°55′45″N 0°46′57″W / 53.929040°N 0.782430°W
Pocklington School, is an independent school in Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1514 by John Dolman. The school is situated in 70 acres (280,000 m2) of land, on the outskirts of a small market town, 12 miles (19 km) from York and 26 miles (42 km) from Hull. It is an Anglican foundation and Friday morning church is compulsory for years 7-11, although pupils from all faiths are accepted. It is the 67th oldest school in the United Kingdom and will celebrate its 500th birthday in 2014.
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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. Pocklington School has a junior section, 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, having taught economics.
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 school’s 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 Wilberforce 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 offer the chance for cadets to take part in camps around the country.
The school sports hall is housed in the trainshed of the former Pocklington railway station, designed by George Townsend Andrews.[1]
[edit] Recent GCSE Results
96.4% of GCSE entries were graded A* to C in 2010. 50.6% of exam entries were graded A* or A. [2]
[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.[3] A statue of a freed slave sculpted by Peter Tatham (1983–93) is in the centre of the St. Nicholas Quadrangle. A bronze statue of Wilberforce as a boy, by York sculptress, Sally Arnup, stands near the school foyer. Erected in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of slave emancipation, Dr John Sentamu unveiled the new statue in autumn 2007.[4] 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 former pupils
- 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. The new CCF Centre, opened in 2009, is named after him.
- Jason Carr, 1980–85, Composer, lyricist, arranger and musical director. Studied composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has written and directed music for many Chichester Festival productions. He has composed the music for over 40 plays including London productions of Tennessee Williams' "Glass Menagerie", "Rose Tattoo" and "Camino Real". Other compositions include songs and dance numbers for the Paris Lido world tour. He has also written various musicals including: Born Again (a musical of Ionesco's Rhinoceros), The Water Babies, and, Six Pictures of Lee Miller. He opened the refurbished Music School in 2003.
- Sir Tom Stoppard, O.M., C.B.E., 1950–54, playwright. His portrait, presented to the school by Peter Stoppard (1949–53), hangs in the senior school reception entrance.
- 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, 1968–74, playwright
- 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, author and co writer / actor of Bottom and The Young Ones.
- Stewart Eldon C.M.G., O.B.E., 1966–71, British Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Dublin
- Christopher Elliott C.B. 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., DL 1966–72, Major General, General Officer Commanding 5th Division, awarded the Legion of Merit by the U.S.A. in 2005.
- Brian Fenwick-Smith, 1943–54, entrepreneur and school benefactor. He donated a large sum of the money for the Fenwick-Smith boarding house, opened in 2007.
- Mark Fisher O.B.E., M.V.O., 1958–65, Architect, designer of rock concerts for Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones & U2. Chief designer of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
- Robert Horner, 1947–55, president of the Rugby Football Union, 2003–04
- Sebastian Horsley, artist and writer, best known for having undergone a voluntary crucifixion.[5]
- Steven KYFFIN, Professor, 1970-1977 Industrial design, University Of Northumbria at Newcastle, Royal College of Art, Director of Design Research, Philips Design, The Netherlands. Awarded Innovation Design Award UNN 2008.
- Xavier Pick 1980-1990 Illustration Glasgow School of Art, Royal College of Art. Official War Artist, Iraq 2008/9
- Ted Maidment, 1951–61, headmaster of Shrewsbury School, 1988–2001
- Lord Moran, 1910–19, personal physician to 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 Stephen Robson, 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
- Peter Walker, C.B., C.B.E., 1959–68, Air Marshal, is director, Joint Warfare Centre, Europe
[edit] References
- ^ Bairstow, Martin (1990). Railways In East Yorkshire. Martin Bairstow. ISBN 1-871944-03-1.
- ^ "Pocklington School GCSE Results Summary 2010". www.pocklingtonschool.com. http://www.pocklingtonschool.com/Documents/2010_WEB-SUMMARY_GCSE.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Pocklington History - William Wilberforce". www.pocklingtonhistory.com. http://www.pocklingtonhistory.com/archives/people/famous/williamwilberforce/index.php. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
- ^ "Statue unveiled - Pocklington Post". www.pocklingtonpost.co.uk. http://www.pocklingtonpost.co.uk/news/Statue-unveiled.3241750.jp. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
- ^ "Obituary". London: The Daily Telegraph. 2010-06-18. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/art-obituaries/7839061/Sebastian-Horsley.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
