Pocklington School has received a sevenfold increase in applications for fee assistance from external candidates in the last academic year.
The independent school in East Yorkshire has sustained a programme of outreach activities and visits to local senior schools, generating interest from pupils looking for different post-16 options in the area.
Where visits were not possible during the pandemic, online presentations and video tours were utilised to demonstrate the educational and co-curricular opportunities on offer at the school.
Almost 80% of bursary applications in the last 12 months were successful, with the majority receiving full funding. Up to 100% fee assistance is available for the school’s sixth form, and all of the awards are offered on a means-tested basis.
The increase in applications comes in the same year as Pocklington School launched its Shape the Future campaign to raise money for bursaries.
Kate Groves, school governor at Pocklington School, has been appointed as an ambassador for the campaign and will be assisting in the fundraising programme. She said: “I am delighted to be part of the Shape the Future campaign, through which we can support and nurture individuals, allowing them to develop and giving them the confidence to achieve their full potential.
“Pocklington School is a warm, inclusive, fabulous school and this campaign will allow us to provide additional bursary places and to give those pupils the opportunity to join this wonderful community and experience everything the school has to offer.”
Sixth form student Kim, who currently receives fee assistance to attend Pocklington School and is studying for her A-levels, said: “Being here has allowed me to expand in my athletic and creative abilities due to the excellent facilities and teachers that the school offers. Without the fee assistance I wouldn’t have been able to experience this life changing opportunity, which I believe has given me such a great platform for my future.”
