SCHOOL NEWS// STAFF LEAVERS
singing at the top of their voices and
the parents left, not with tears, but with
music in their hearts!
Chris’ endless patience, calm manner,
lively sense of humour, and cups of tea
are going to be really missed. Chris has
SUE PRATT
Sue Pratt joined the chemistry
department at Pocklington School in
Jan 2002.
She has contributed extensively to the
school community during her time at
the school with many different roles.
She started as lower school science
coordinator which led onto the science
coordinator role. She was the founder
of science club and has remained
heavily involved. She took on Head of
Chemistry in 2007. During this time she
was Hutton House Mistress for 3 years.
Her care and understanding of the
students’ needs and the best way to help
them was clearly evident and instinctive.
JOHN CULLEN
John joined Pocklington School in 2002
and has led the Maths department in an
exemplary fashion.
He speaks so quickly when he gets
excited about something that the rest
of us are left trailing behind: a regular
occurrence as he is so passionate about
what he does. He leads by example
and without question is a superb
mathematician who is always able to
assist with those difficult further maths
topics that get the better of most!
As well as his accomplishments in the
classroom he has led several teams of
children to success in Maths challenges
over the years, sometimes helped by
his own talented daughters.
over the year increased his duty and has
always coved duty with a willingness
that we seldom see, the whole house
is going to miss Chris, and Nicola
commented that ‘we are losing one of
the most wonderful colleagues I have
had the pleasure to work with, and the hole he leaves will never quite be filled.’
Sue has played her saxophone for the
swing band for 10 years and performed
in numerous school concerts and been
on Swing Band tours. She has also
accompanied Dr McNamee and fifth/
sixth form students on the NABOSA
expedition. highly knowledgeable and witty style
characterised so much of her work.
We wish him well in his retirement.
MK
Sue has invested a huge amount of time
to the school community and we wish
her well in her retirement.
She also contributed significantly to
the Tom Stoppard Theatre in its early
days, both as Front of House and as
Director, where she performed all duties
with charm, good humour and ruthless
efficiency.
Her lessons were often models
of professionalism and precision,
combined with a fearless approach
to new-fangled technology such as
interactive whiteboards. A kind,
We have all enjoyed witnessing his
talents in various musical ensembles
and of course his willingness to help out,
even stepping in to play the organ in
church. One of the remarkable things
about John is that he seems to know
the lyrics to every hymn and has never
been known to glance at the sheet once
the music begins. As a violinist, he
is exceptional and played in the first
performance of an Ernst quartet for
over a century not long after joining:
a piece which was both difficult and
beautifully played.
John has also been a keen sportsman.
He has had a stint with the cross-country
teams as well as assisting on the rugby
field, all delivered with characteristic
good humour and flair.
by volunteering at our local primary
schools to assist with Maths and is
looking forward to some quiet time at
home (although Rachel has several odd
jobs at home planned for him!)
He also plans to use his time to travel
more at cheaper times of the year – an
opportunity which we all envy.
John is a superb classroom teacher,
a fine Head of Department and a
delightful and witty colleague and has
turned many reluctant mathematicians
into eager ones through the energy and
knowledge which he has given.
We shall all miss him.
HT
When he leaves here he will keep busy
THE POCKLINGTONIAN
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