SCHOOL NEWS// STAFF ARRIVALS
SARAH MCLOUGHLIN and I’m really pleased to be taking up
my new post at Pocklington.
My name is Sarah McLoughlin and I am
joining Pocklington School as an English
Teacher. I’ll be teaching throughout
the Senior School, including A Level
English Language and Literature. I’m
from Northern Ireland, but I have been
Yorkshire-based since 2007. I came
here originally to work on my PhD at
the University of York, and loved the
area so much I never left! In addition to my work in the classroom,
I’ll be assisting with U12 and U13
rugby. I picked up the sport at university
and had six wonderful years playing in
and around the York area, so it’s great
to have a chance to be involved again.
I started my teaching career in
the
university
sector,
teaching
undergraduate classes in English and
History at the universities of York,
Manchester and Leeds Trinity, before
gaining my PGCE. This led to a job at
Queen Margaret’s School in Escrick,
where I taught English from 2014.
After four years, it was time for a change
FRANCES CLIFFORD
I’m originally from Montreal, Quebec
and moved to the UK about 12 years
ago - though I go back most summers.
I am, as you might expect, super keen
on skiing and ice hockey and I actually
worked as a ski instructor as my first
part-time job. Being from French
Canada I am totally bilingual and did
all of my schooling there in French.
HELEN ANDREWS
“When looking through photos of
myself to put with this bio I appear to
always be eating, drinking or outdoors
wearing a bobble hat, which suitably
sums me up.
My name is Helen Andrews and I
am joining Pocklington School as a
Chemistry teacher. This is my first role
in teaching and I join the profession after
an enjoyable time in research. I
When not in the classroom, I can
normally be found on the North York
Moors or in the Yorkshire Dales,
enjoying a spot of walking in the
peaceful countryside. Either that or
curled up with a good book! My current
tastes run to murder mysteries and non-
fiction, particularly travel writing and
history.
I also enjoy travelling in the real world
and will be spending my half term break
on my first visit to China, exploring what
I moved to the UK just in time to sit
A levels and then went to Oxford to
study Engineering. There I was really
involved in setting up the first ever
Oxford Fashion Week – which is still
running today – as well as fashion shoots
for university newspapers. I also skied
for my college and dabbled in rowing.
Since graduating I worked briefly as a
consultant in the City of London but
quickly changed my mind a started
teaching. I have been teaching Maths
Chengdu and Sichuan province have to
offer. As my Mandarin knowledge is
close to zero, luckily both my travelling
companions are fluent. If there are any
Pocklington students who would like
to teach me any phrases when they see
me around school, it would be much
appreciated!
and Physics now for five years and I
love it. Outside of teaching I have been
a boarding assistant and have taken
on science and cross country clubs as
well as trips to France. I currently am
running a chess club at Pocklington.
I am really keen on fitness, especially
running, hiking, swimming and gym
work. I also love cooking, travelling, a
good game of chess (and shopping).
obtained my PhD in Chemistry from the
University of York; I stayed on at York
in the Green Chemistry department
to complete my first postdoc before
moving to the National Institute of
Materials Science in Japan to undertake
a research fellowship. During my time
in Japan I felt my real calling was to get
out of the lab and into teaching and on
my homecoming to the UK returned to
the University of York for my PGCE.
My first two weeks at the school have
been fantastic and I am incredibly
excited to be here and become part of
this wonderful community!”
THE POCKLINGTONIAN
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