Boarding Houses

Dolman House (Boys Years 5 – Year 10)

Houseparent & Boarders' Enrichment Programme Co-ordinator: Mrs Nicola Bradshaw Dip Couns HLTA
Telephone: + 44 (0) 1759 321233
Email: dolmanhouse@pocklingtonschool.com

 

Mrs Bradshaw worked at Dolman House as resident Boarding House Tutor before being appointed Housemistress in Sept 2017. She lives there with her husband and two sons.

Mr and Mrs Bradshaw worked for nine years at an international boarding school in India, working with staff and students from 40 different countries. When the family returned to the UK, Mrs Bradshaw trained as a higher level teaching assistant, working with students who had autism and behavioural problems.

Helping students who have difficulties achieving their best in the classroom is close to Mrs Bradshaw's heart as her own severe dyslexia was not diagnosed until after she left school. She also has a diploma in counselling.

Mrs Bradshaw served at a boarding school in the Midlands as Housemistress and Matron, before joining Pocklington School in September 2016.

Resident Boarding House Deputy: Mr B Byas MA

Boarding Assistant:  Mrs M J Pearcy

Non-resident Tutors: Mr  G P Askew BA, Mr C A Lambert BSc, Mrs R E D Walton BA

Day Matron: Mrs A C Woodcock

Housekeeper: Mrs C Hayward

Dolman boarding house is home during term time for up to 27 boys. The house, which dates back to the 1860s is situated on the edge of the school sports field. The boys make good use of this during their free time. They also have plenty of space indoors for relaxation and prep activities.

Fenwick-Smith House (Boys Year 11 and Sixth Form)

Houseparent: Mr M B Devine MA
Telephone: + 44 (0) 1759 321211
Email: devinem@pocklingtonschool.com

 

 

Mr Devine joins Fenwick-Smith House as the newly appointed housemaster in September 2023. He has studied boarding school leadership with the Boarding School Association (BSA) and is a level 3 BSA accredited practitioner. Mr. Devine hopes to complete his BSA masters soon.

Mr Devine joins us from an international background in boarding. He was a housemaster for three years at Schule Schloss Salem in Germany. He spent two years as an art and photography teacher in Bangkok Patana School in Thailand and four years as a deputy houseparent in Aiglon College in Switzerland. He brings a wealth of international experience to Pocklington and its diverse student cohort. 

Mr Devine is a keen photographer and artist and is looking forward to exploring the beautiful countryside around Pocklington. 

Mr Devine will be bringing his wife, their two children and their dog with them to join the Pocklington family. Their son will join Pocklington in September in the Prep School. The Devine family are very excited about joining Pocklington and making Fenwick-Smith House their home and making the students feel the same way.

Resident Boarding House Deputy: Mr C D Ball MMath

Non -resident Boarding Assistant: Mr O I Toomey

Non-resident Tutors: Mrs C E Bell BSc, Mr A A J Copley MA, Mr J R Parker BA, Mr H R Perham BSc

Day Matron: Mrs C K Burnside

Housekeeper: Mrs S Terry

Fenwick-Smith House is a modern purpose built boarding house. The house which opened in 2007 was a gift to the school from a former pupil Mr Brian Fenwick-Smith who was a boarder at Pocklington School from 1943-54.

The house provides high-quality spacious accommodation for senior boys with a mix of single, double and three-bed rooms all with en-suite facilities. It is also equipped with superb study, internet, music and games facilities. Common rooms have comfortable sofas, Sky TV and kitchen facilities for the preparation of snacks (Main meals are served in the central dining hall on the school campus). There is also a snooker room and table tennis facilities.

I am a day pupil but have boarded and I think it’s amazing. It’s fun being with your mates and I get all my work done. At the moment I am boarding full time due to my GCSE exams and I am getting lots of revision done – much more than I would at home. It’s very productive at the boarding house and teachers are always there to help when it is needed.

John Wright - 5th Year Pupil

Orchard House (Girls Years 5 - Year 10) 

Houseparent: Mrs Claire Hall BA
Telephone: +44 (0) 1759 321281
Email: OrchardHouse@pocklingtonschool.com

 

Mrs Hall assumed responsibility for Orchard House in September 2018, after holding the post of Resident Tutor there for four years and having worked in both Orchard and Dolman Houses prior to that. She is also a Primary Teacher, and taught in Pocklington Prep School before the birth of her daughter in 2015.

Mrs Hall studied Ancient History and Archaeology at The University of Liverpool, followed by her PGCE at the University of Southampton and more recently the BSA Certificate Course in Pastoral Care and Boarding Management at Roehampton University. 

Mrs Hall lives at Orchard House with her husband and two children (and their significant collection of lego, model ships and teddy bears). Mr Hall also works at Pocklington School as History Teacher, amongst other roles. He shares Mrs Hall's passion for and dedication to boarding at Pocklington, having also worked as Resident Tutor in Dolman House from 2013-2015.

Resident Boarding House Deputy: Mrs R J Atha PgDip

Non-resident Boarding Assistants: Mrs D Dawson,  Miss L B Goddard BSc, Mrs C Hayward, Mr O I Toomey

Day Matron: Mrs B King

Housekeeper: Mrs L Baxter

The atmosphere in Orchard is positive, informal, warm and friendly. Bedrooms which are shared by  2 – 4 girls are modern and airy. Girls are encouraged to bring personal items such as posters, throws and a favourite cuddly toy to make their bed space more homely.

The communal space includes large, newly decorated, Common and Prep Rooms and a modern kitchen. There is also a room which can be used for music practice or 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.

Faircote House (Girls Year 11 & Sixth Form)

Houseparent: Mrs Cassie Wilson BA
Telephone: +44 (0) 1759 321215
Email: FaircoteHouse@pocklingtonschool.com

 

Mrs Wilson is our houseparent in Faircote house who joined the school in 2016. She is entering her 14^th year in boarding and has worked hard to create a warm and inviting space for the girls joining the house and often has old girls returning to catch up with our Faircote family. 

Mrs Wilson has studied Art and Design at York St John University and more recently Boarding Management at Roehampton University. She lives at Faircote with her husband Paul, and their baby boy Lando.

Houseparent: Mrs C Wilson BA

Resident Boarding House Deputy : Miss E C De Nadai BA

Non-Resident Tutors:  Ms E Browne BA, Miss C Crossley MA, Miss B E Rees BSc

Non-resident Boarding Assistants: Mrs D Dawson, Mrs K Eccles,  Mrs S Saunders

Day Matron: Mrs J C Speight 

Housekeeper: Mrs A Draser

Faircote house is a delightful house, blended old and new with modern facilities all beautifully decorated. Our girls board together, sharing rooms, we have large three or four bedded rooms for the fifth years. The Lower Sixth share double rooms and Upper Sixth boarders have their own bedrooms, all with individual desks for extra study in the evenings and weekends. Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the house and there are desktop computers in the Prep Room.

The house has three large Common Rooms where girls can relax.  Each Common Room is furnished with seating areas, sofas, flat screen TVs, and we are lucky to have two kitchens for the preparation of meals at weekends and everyday snacks. 

The girls in Faircote House are assigned in house tutor groups lead by their dedicated house prefect, in these groups of mixed age students they meet weekly to check in and take part in small activities. This works alongside the schools' buddy system to help our boarders integrate as a house. Skype, Zoom and social media are used to positive effect to build confidence and to answer those important questions before arrival. The ethos of the house is to cherish individuality and to encourage all girls to take a lead in challenging prejudice and changing the world they live in for the better.

“Boarding has prepared me in many ways – from interacting with new people, to learning to manage my time effectively – clearly useful skills for university and everyday life. Take the opportunity and get stuck in! It’s been amazing and well worth it! The bonds you build here will change your life forever...

Faircote Boarder