At Pocklington School we are committed to providing challenge for all our pupils in their journey towards academic excellence and personal growth.
We believe that every child, no matter their academic profile, should aspire to become an independent learner and thinker
We start nurturing this spirit of enquiry and intellectual curiosity in Year 7, and we continue to encourage and challenge our pupils as they progress through the School.
Our curriculum and co-curricular activities are designed to challenge and stretch pupils across the School. In Lower School, pupils may be asked to lead activities in a second language, tackle complex tasks or texts, or answer challenging questions that are typically encountered in later years.
Similarly, we encourage pupils in Years 9 and 10 to take on our Higher Project Qualification (HPQ), which involves working on a research project with a supervisor, honing skills such as critical thinking, independent learning and reflection, and preparing pupils for the rigours of higher education or employment.
There are opportunities for pupils
to challenge themselves
outside the classroom
Academic competitions, Olympiads, lectures, historical visits and symposia offer rigorous academic challenge in the more traditional subjects. Alongside this, we offer pupils the chance to compete in internal and external competitions and awards in diverse fields such as coding, theatre and photography. This enriches every pupils’ school experience and encourages them to pursue their passions and interests.
We strive to build confident
and self-directed learners
Taking on challenges can be daunting and comes with the risk of making mistakes. That’s why we create supportive classroom environments with small class sizes, where mistakes are encouraged and seen as an opportunity for growth and learning.
Our pupils rise to the challenge when faced with difficulties, knowing that their teachers believe in them and are there to support them. The more we challenge our pupils to reach beyond their perceived limits, the more they learn to celebrate their mistakes and become motivated, resilient and excited learners who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact on the world.
