An independent school in East Yorkshire plans to reflect a five-day working week in its timetable next year, alongside an improved weekend activity programme focusing on sport and pastoral care.
Pocklington School have revealed new plans to support its strategic goals of improving academic performance, increasing pupils’ independence and meeting the needs of modern family life.
The timetable will be restructured to provide longer lessons, allowing for more in-depth study, and there will be an extension to term dates to facilitate additional teaching time. This will result in an extra two weeks teaching time across the academic year for most pupils, and an extra six days teaching time for younger children in the prep school.
Additional subjects will be included on the curriculum for the middle school and sixth form, including a new BTEC in business.
For boarders there will be a more varied weekend activity programme, including sports fixtures on Saturday’s and a bespoke tutor programme designed to support students’ pastoral care. A wider range of sporting options will be made available during the week and at weekends.
The plans, which will be adopted from September 2021, have been led by headmaster Toby Seth and endorsed by chair of governors, Tim Stephenson. School governors have also approved the plans after consultations with staff, parents, pupils and prospective parents.
We looked very closely at what families wanted from an independent education and have adapted our already very strong provision to meet their needs too – Tim Stephenson, chair of governors
“Our new working week will improve our overall educational product and experience for generations of Pocklington students to come,” said Seth.
He continued: “They will be benefit from longer lessons during the week, giving them the time to develop independent thinking, consider problems in more depth and undertake practical work on a more frequent basis.
“Our enhanced sporting and co-curricular programmes will give students the opportunity to develop new interests, follow their passions and learn vital new skills to take with them when they leave school.
“In addition to this, we are determined to give our students the time to be able to relax and spend time with their families, plus pursue any outside interests they have, which is so important for their wellbeing.”
Stephenson said: “We looked very closely at what families wanted from an independent education and have adapted our already very strong provision to meet their needs too.
“We believe it is right to provide our pupils the very best platform to prepare them for whatever pathway their future holds. This is even more important given the increasingly uncertain world our students are facing when they leave school.”
