Home -> Pocklington School -> Boarding -> Orchard House
Orchard House
Housemistress: Mrs Jan Midwinter
Telephone: + 44 (0) 1759 321281
e-mail: midwinterj@pocklingtonschool.com
Mrs Midwinter became Housemistress of Orchard House in September 2007. She has a background in the Armed Forces and is an experienced youth worker. Mrs Midwinter is married and has a grown up family.
Resident Boarding House Tutor: Miss S J Cheadle
Telephone: + 44 (0) 1759 321282
Non-resident Tutor: Miss L J Gray
Non-resident Boarding Assistant: Mrs J G Smith
Resident Gap Assistant: Miss V Parsons
History of the House
Orchard House was purpose built for junior Pocklington
and Lyndhurst boarders and opened in September 1999.
It is called Orchard because the house was built on the site of an old apple
orchard.
Accommodation
The atmosphere in Orchard is positive, informal, warm and friendly. The bedrooms are modern, recently decorated and airy. We encourage our girls to bring throws, posters and the odd cuddly to make their bed space familiar and personal.
The communal space includes large Common and Prep Rooms, a modern kitchen plus a room for music practice, also used by the second years to watch films in peace. The house is surrounded by gardens in which the girls charge about, play games and sunbathe when the weather allows.
School and Academic Work
Orchard girls do try hard to improve their own personal standard of academic work. Every weekday there is an hour of homework which is closely supervised by a member of staff. On one day we have homework in the wonderful school library but for the other four days we are in our own homework room, making the most of our computers and using the monitored Internet for quiet research when required. The Housemistress and the house team give individual, regular encouragement to every pupil and liaise closely with the Head of Lower School to ensure that both work and progress are on track.
All Orchard girls also belong to a day house at school and take part in House Drama, House Music and sporting competitions.
Rest and Recreation
The Orchard house staff organise outings to see plays and musical productions in the Tom Stoppard Theatre. There is an exciting and varied trip away from school every Sunday; karting, paintballing, skiiing at the Snowdome, skating, the cinema and shopping trips are just some of the possible activities.
In the evenings we have compulsory and voluntary activities; swimming for fun, aerobics and dance, crafts, games and talent shows. Sometimes just being calm is a good idea too and we watch television, listen to music, read, e-mail friends and family and just chat to staff and friends in the house.