Pocklington School is a private day and boarding school in Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1514 by John Dolman. The school is situated in 50 acres (20 ha) of land, on the outskirts of the small market town, 12 miles (19 km) from York and 26 miles (42 km) from Hull. It is the 67th oldest school in the United Kingdom and celebrated its 500th birthday in 2014.

Pocklington School
Address
Map
West Green

, ,
YO42 2NJ

Coordinates53°55′45″N 0°46′57″W / 53.929040°N 0.782430°W / 53.929040; -0.782430
Information
TypePrivate School
Day and Boarding
MottoVirtute et Veritate
Established1514; 510 years ago (1514)
Department for Education URN118132 Tables
HeadmasterToby Seth
Age2 to 18
Websitehttps://www.pocklingtonschool.com/

Introduction

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The most common entry points are at Pre-School and Reception, at Pocklington Prep School and the First Year (Year 7), Third Year (Year 9) or Sixth Form in Pocklington School. Pupils can however be accepted for all school years subject to vacancy. All pupils are interviewed as part of the admissions process. Academic scholarships and exhibitions are offered to candidates for the First Year, Third Year and Sixth Form of Pocklington School. A limited number of Sixth Form Bursaries, worth up to 100% of the day tuition fee, are available to Sixth Form applicants.

The current Headmaster is Mr Toby Seth,[1] appointed in January 2019.[citation needed]

Pocklington School has a number of traditions, such as the year group naming convention (first year, second year, etc.). Its motto Virtute et Veritate is Latin for With courage and truth.

There are four houses: Dolman (named after the school's founder John Dolman), Gruggen and Hutton (named after former headmasters Rev. Gruggen and Rev. Hutton) and Wilberforce (named after the 18th/19th-century anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce who attended the school).

The school has an armed forces centre, located on the edge of campus in the Annand VC Cadet Centre.[2] The Combined Cadet Force takes part in various competitions each year and cadets can attend camps around the country.

The school sports hall is housed in the train shed of the former Pocklington railway station, designed by George Townsend Andrews.[3] The school runs outreach programmes engaging other schools, and working in the local community, as well as an app called Chatta to improve communication among preschool children, and has won awards for this work.[1]

William Wilberforce

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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.[4] 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 sculptor Sally Arnup, stands near the school foyer. Dr John Sentamu unveiled the new statue in autumn 2007, which was erected in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of slave emancipation.[5] Pocklington School appeared in a television programme entitled In Search of Wilberforce, made by former BBC news presenter Moira Stuart, and first shown on BBC 2 on 16 March 2007.

Notable former pupils

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References

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  1. ^ a b Horner, Ed (24 April 2021). "Pocklington school celebrated with education award". York Press. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  2. ^ "New centre for cadets at Pocklington School". This is Hull and East Riding. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  3. ^ Bairstow, Martin (1990). Railways In East Yorkshire. Martin Bairstow. ISBN 1-871944-03-1.
  4. ^ a b "Pocklington History – William Wilberforce". www.pocklingtonhistory.com. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  5. ^ "Statue unveiled – Pocklington Post". Pocklington Post. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  6. ^ Deans of Carlisle
  7. ^ Beale, Robert (18 March 2014). "RNCM's award-winning graduate Alexandra Dariescu returns to Manchester". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Transcript of interview, 2016". Churchill Archives Centre Repository. 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Obituary". The Daily Telegraph. London. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  10. ^ "Old Pocklingtonian is new leader of Scottish Labour Party". Old Pocklingtonians. Pocklington School. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  11. ^ "'Bitesize' Project Archive 1514 – Lord Moran" (PDF). Pocklington 500. Pocklington School. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  12. ^ Silkin, Jon (27 August 1997). "Obituary: Professor Robin Skelton". The Independent. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  13. ^ SGE Books Archived 3 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine
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