Outside the Classroom

At Pocklington School, we understand that young people develop their skills and character when they are given the opportunity to explore, create, innovate and work outside of their comfort zone.

We aim to instil our core values of courage, truth, and trust within the characters of our students by offering them a wide range of co-curricular opportunities to stretch and challenge them. It is about preparing our students with the skills and spirit to thrive throughout their lives and at Pocklington, we are committed to helping each child find their passion, nurture their talents, and prepare them for a successful life after school.

Our co-curricular programme plays a key role in the all-round education we offer our students. On starting their journey at Pocklington School, each child is presented with the ‘POCK Challenge.’ The challenge invites the students to immerse themselves in at least one club or activity from each of the following categories: Physical, Outreach, Creative, Knowledge.

In doing so, we believe that our young people will discover more about their capabilities, widen their skill set and round off their character to create confident, intelligent and pragmatic individuals with bright futures ahead of them.

We have a huge range of clubs and societies to choose from and very much hope you take us up on the incredible opportunities on offer at Pocklington- both inside, and outside the classroom.

Please click the links below to view the latest Co-curricular Programme and the Co-curricular Handbook.

Co-Curricular Programme

Co-curricular Handbook

Clubs

Our co-curricular programme offers the choice of over 20 sports, nine music clubs and four drama productions throughout every school year. In addition, our students can choose from a range of inspiring co-curricular clubs such as archery, debating, classical Greek, coding, CAD design, and Young Enterprise.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is offered at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels, allowing our students to stretch their capabilities in a challenging environment as well as developing a range of interpersonal skills that will stand them in excellent stead for life beyond the classroom.

COMBINED CADET FORCE (CCF)

Pocklington School Combined Cadet Force has a very strong reputation and provides its cadets with endless opportunities to step out of their comfort zone whilst challenging themselves in a safe and supervised environment. Our qualified, commissioned Officers lead the training across several disciplines and importantly, our cadets are encouraged to grow into strong leaders and resourceful, confident communicators.

Pocklington CCF marching in the Remembrance Day Parade in Pocklington

We train every Thursday after school and have our own purpose designed CCF Centre on the school campus. Uniform is provided; cadets are asked to purchase their own boots (£20 approx) that they can keep once they retire from the Contingent.

Fourth Year

Membership of the CCF is voluntary and pupils opt for either the Army or RAF sections. The following core activities are common to both sections:

Drill
Skill at arms
Navigation
Personal survival
Inter-platoon competition
Indoor range target shooting and air rifle range

In addition, Army cadets participate in:

Basic field craft and Infantry skills

In addition, RAF cadets participate in:

RAF history
Airmanship
RAF Station visits
Air experience flying
Aviation Training package, Ground School and Gliding

Fifth Year

The Fifth Year CCF programme builds on the basic training package through a challenging and rewarding scheme that includes:

Advanced skill at arms
Advanced field craft (Army only)
Range firing at Strensall and indoor range target shooting
Personal survival
Leadership and team building training
Cadet instructor training

Sixth Form

Sixth Form Army and Air Force Cadets become Non-Commissioned officers (NCOs) whose role is to organise and be responsible for our junior cadets. Our Senior Cadets work alongside our Officers during training sessions and provide leadership during competitions.

Additional Training Opportunities

Cadets can opt to take part in various additional training activities including:

CCF Overnight Exercise (one per term)
Termly exercises help to build fieldcraft, skill at arms and survival skills.

Pocklington Town Remembrance Parade
All Fifth Year and Sixth Form cadets.

Ex Black Rat
Infantry competition run by 4X CTT, Sat-Sun, Army only.

RAF Inskip Competition
Regional leadership competition (RAF knowledge, shooting, drill etc.) Sun, RAF only.

Adventurous Training
Easter residential trip to Keswick. Activities include: mountain biking, climbing, gyhll scrambling and kayaking. Open to all.

Ex New Leader
Overnight field craft exercise to finish the training year for the Fifth Year Army cadets. Supported by Senior NCOs.

Biennial Inspection
Every other year we are visited and inspected by a serving Army/ RAF Officer. This is our opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our Contingent.

Summer Camp
All Army and RAF cadets are invited to take part in their respective summer camps that are held during the first week of the Summer holiday. The opportunities are endless and the training is second to none.

There are many opportunities to develop individual skills, both military and adventurous training, by attending courses run by the National Cadet Training Centre or at HQ Air Cadets. Our cadets are encouraged to enjoy the plentiful opportunities on offer to CCF cadets which can take them around the world.

Colours Award System

Colours Award System

The purpose of the Colours Award System is to recognise and reward excellence of performance and to enhance what already happens in sporting, and co-curricular activities. To preserve the integrity of this aim, it is essential that students see the award of Colours as being an achievement of distinguished and outstanding merit.

The emphasis is on an individual student’s achievement (albeit in a team or group activity), not a team or group achievement. Thus it is not expected that Colours would be awarded to every member of a team or group, even though that team or group may have achieved excellence. In such circumstances, recognition would be given to those individuals within the team or group who made a significant contribution to the team or group outcome. The awarding of Colours will also take into account aspects of the student’s behaviour; such as attitude, commitment, dedication, sportsmanship, etc. as well as the level of competition. While many of these awards will be automatic once the level of achievement has been reached, the Headmaster has absolute discretion in awarding Colours.

The criteria used in the nomination process for awarding Colours are outlined in the link below.

Criteria for Awarding Colours