Our School
We are an Independent Special Educational Needs Secondary school located near Pocklington along the A1079 in the East Riding of Yorkshire We work with multiple local authorities across Yorkshire including North Yorkshire, York City Council and Hull Council.
The school is laid out over 3 floors and has been designed to provide nurturing and engaging spaces for learners.
The ground floor has a state-of-the-art sensory room catering for many different sensory needs and therapies including light, music and vibration. This room also provides a quiet space for learners to regulate. There is a brand new learner’s kitchen with all the modern and adapted equipment they need to learn essential life skills. We have a fully refurbished hall and two classrooms with easy access to the playgrounds and MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area), which is ideal for learners who need lots of movement breaks.
On the first floor, we have a further 6 classrooms catering for between 6 and 8 learners. There is a state-of-the-art ‘My Space’ room with calming and multi-sensory equipment for learners to use to regulate throughout the school day. The first floor also boasts an amazing and fully stocked multi-use room that caters for Art, DT and Science lessons.
The second floor has our final multi-use room which also holds our well-stocked library. This room has large Velux windows that provide lots of natural light, whilst the shape of the ceiling, ensures the acoustics are just right to make the perfect music space.
Every room in the school is fitted with air-conditioning that regulates the temperature within the classrooms in summer and acts as a heater in winter, allowing learners the comfort of a year-round stable temperature.
Our learners join at different points of the academic year arriving to us from broken educational backgrounds, extended periods out of education and various trauma following bad educational or life experiences. This results in low self-esteem, lack of trust in adults and gaps in their education. We cater for learners between the ages of 11-16 and specialise in ASD, ADHD, MLD, SEMH, and learners who struggle with the hustle and bustle of a mainstream secondary school, and who need a little more nurture.
We meet the emotional, social, and academic needs of our learners through a bespoke adaptive curriculum. This is underpinned by our core values of ‘building BRIGHT futures’ for all our learners no matter their starting points. We believe in an emotionally informed and restorative approach to support learners’ every need. This includes trips and visits to places of cultural and educational interest, local villages and towns, the Allerthorpe Canal, and local forests among others.
We also offer a range of extra-curricular activities such as, Lego club, football, Art therapy, bouldering, swimming and Bikeability to name just a few.
Our Offer
We are proud of the extensive services we provide to our learners and families, which include the following.
Our school’s ethos and aims are to uphold our Purpose, Mission, Vision and Values which are:
Our Purpose
To ensure every learner, regardless of their individual challenges, is empowered to achieve their fullest potential.
Our Mission
To care for each learner’s unique needs through a tailored and therapeutic approach facilitated by offering a flexible curriculum that incorporates academic, social, and emotional development opportunities which encourage our learners to thrive.
Our Vision
To inspire confidence, independence, and lifelong learning in a safe, supportive, calm and structured environment.
Our Values - BRIGHT Futures
Belonging: We will foster a sense of belonging where every learner feels valued and accepted.
Respect: We will maintain a culture of respect, ensuring all members of our school community treat each other with kindness and dignity.
Inclusivity: We will celebrate diversity and provide an inclusive environment where all learners’ needs are met.
Growth: We will ensure the continuous growth and development of our learners, staff, and school community.
Holistic Support: We will provide comprehensive support that addresses the academic, emotional, and social needs of our learners.
Trust: We will build trust through transparent communication and robust safeguarding practices to ensure the safety and well-being of all learners.
Jenny Walker
I am incredibly proud to be Principal of Allerthorpe School and feel privileged to lead such a dedicated team. Having joined the school when it opened in 2024 as a Group Tutor, it has been a pleasure to see our learners, colleagues and school community grow, and I am excited to lead the next chapter of Allerthorpe’s journey.
I have been teaching for over 20 years, beginning my career as a Maths teacher in a 14–18 school before progressing to Head of Maths in an independent school. I then moved into a pupil referral unit, where my work developed into Special Educational Needs provision and confirmed what I had long felt – that supporting children and young people with SEND is my true passion and calling.
I was proud to be promoted to Assistant Principal in February 2025 and am currently studying for a Level 6 Diploma in Careers Leadership, further developing my understanding of post-16 pathways and opportunities to ensure our learners receive the very best support as they transition to the next stage of their education and future careers.
Throughout my career, I have believed that we all continue to grow and learn throughout our lives. I am committed to ensuring every learner is recognised as an individual, with their own strengths, needs and potential, and is given every opportunity to succeed.
For me, schools should be safe, welcoming places where learners feel comfortable, valued and confident enough to have a go. I believe children learn best when they feel secure enough to make mistakes, reflect and grow from them. I am passionate about making learning enjoyable, meaningful and holistic, because education should reach far beyond pen and paper. Central to my approach is helping learners develop the skills, independence and self-belief they need to shape their own futures and move confidently towards the next chapter of their lives.
As a leader, I value collaboration, trust and the strength of a united team. I believe the best outcomes for learners come when colleagues work together, support one another and continue to develop professionally, enabling both learners and colleagues to thrive.
Underpinned by Allerthorpe School’s BRIGHT Futures values, I am committed to helping our school continue to grow and flourish year on year, ensuring every learner is ready for the opportunities and challenges ahead. I look forward to working in partnership with our learners, families, colleagues and the wider community as we continue to build on the school’s success together.
Community & Charity
At Allerthorpe School, we are proud to foster strong connections with our local community and support a range of charitable causes. We have close ties with Pocklington Rugby Club and the local youth group, and our learners and staff actively contribute through their time and fundraising.
Some of the organisations we support include:
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Macmillan Cancer Support
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Pocklington Town Council and local events
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British Heart Foundation
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Red Nose Day
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Children in Need
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Pocklington Rugby Club
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Save the Children
Our Latest News
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Melrose Education is continuing to strengthen its commitment to wellbeing across its family of specialist... -
Allerthorpe School is delighted to announce that it has been awarded the Woodland Trust’s Green... -
Melrose Education Schools were proud to be represented in the local community on Saturday 7th...
