Pocklington School - A Guide for International Families Pocklington International | Page 12

Boarding houses do close for the three half
term holidays and for the main long holidays –
Christmas, Easter and Summer.
Friendships
SPORT AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR
With 50 acres of beautiful green
sports grounds, we are keen for
every student from 3-18 to be able
to enjoy the healthy option of sport
and exercise.
Autumn Term outdoor sports
include rugby for the boys and
hockey for the girls. The Spring
Term sees rugby 7s and 10s for the
boys and also hockey. Girls play
netball and hockey. The summer
Term introduces tennis, rounders
and athletics for boys and girls.
Boarders have year-round use of
our 28-metre indoor swimming
pool, large, well-equipped sports
hall and, for our older students, a
mini-gym. We keep a close eye on
students to ensure they are being
sensible about the type of exercise
they do.
For those who love dance, we
have an acclaimed dance school
in Pocklington that welcomes our
international students if they want
to become involved.
Our local sports centre is only few
minutes’ walk away from school
12
and provides additional
exercise opportunities.
Within school, there are numerous
clubs and activities to join. These
include clubs for music, sport,
theatre, politics, gardening, charity,
business, art, design, computing,
religion and many groups that help
students with their school subjects,
too. Please see our website for
more details about activities
beyond the classroom. Pocklington
is such a busy place – there will
be something for everyone if you
are willing to give things a try!.
Getting involved in extra-curricular
activities is one of the very best
ways to improve English levels – no
pressures, just fun!
International boarders may also
have individual musical instrument
tuition; we have teachers in almost
every instrument. The cost for this
will be charged in advance on
the start of term invoice. In recent
years, it’s been wonderful to see
many of our international students
performing in concerts throughout
the school year.
Of course one of the most important things about
school is the forming of friendships and we want
our international boarders to experience this from
the very first day. Boarders are given a ‘buddy’
both in their house and also in school to help
them through the first few days. Boarding provides
wonderful opportunities for building life-long
friendships and we encourage all boarders to
make the most of every day alongside their ‘house’
brothers and sisters! We also insist that English is
the lingua franca in the houses and around school,
not because English is better, but because it is it is
easier to learn a new language if you hear it all the
time. International students tell us that learning the
language is one of the main reasons they commit
to studying in this country – so it’s important that
they come to Pocklington with that mindset!
Students who are willing to push themselves out
of their comfort-zones and have a go are more
successful at overcoming challenges.
University applications
At Pocklington, we don’t just focus on the
‘here and now’ but begin as early as Year 10 to
encourage our international boarders to think
about life beyond school. Our friendly and
experienced in-house Careers Advisor guides
and supports all students, and we have an
extensive network of contacts and expertise
to draw on. International boarders have
world of potential opportunities ahead
of them and have our support every step
of the way, from first ideas, to academic
training and university applications.