Pocklington’s first National School was built in 1819 on West Green. The National Society, founded in 1812, had as its aim  ”to communicate to the poor generally, by means of a summary mode of education lately brought into practice, such knowledge and habits as are sufficient to guide them through life in their proper stations, especially to teach them the doctrine of Religion, according to the principles of the Established Church.”  Since Pocklington was, according to the 1851 Religious Census, a stronghold of Methodism it is hardly surprising that Robert Dennison, the Lord of the Manor, built the National School and that it was 'very liberally supported by the gentry in the town'. In 1823 the average number of scholars was said to be 75 boys and 60 girls. The school is listed in Easton’s Directory of 1845. It was demolished when the railway was built in the 1840s and replaced by a new school in New Street.

The National School in New Street (built by Thomas Grant)

A directory of 1879 records that ‘the National schools for 100 boys, 60 girls, and 100 infants, together with a house for the master, were erected in 1854 at a cost of (including the value of the site) upwards of £1,400: of this sum the Committee of Council paid £631, and the National Society contributed £60; the site was presented by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (lately holders of land in the parish), and Admiral the Hon. Arthur Duncombe, their lessee.’ Admiral Duncombe was then Lord of the Manor. In 1913 it was listed as the Church of England School, New Street, (mixed & infants), average attendance, 150 boys &girls & 56 infants. By the 1960s it was solely for infants. The school was closed in the 1970s and was replaced by Pocklington (C of E) Infant School in Maxwell Road.The building was later used as the Pocklington Youth Centre.

Thomas Grant built the C of E Council School in Kirkland Street (Thomas Grant is thought to be the man in the apron, Charles Duncombe the man with the light suit with Thomas Robson representing the council to his left)

The County Council School in Kirkland Street, opened in February, 1908, was built at a cost of about £3,000, for 250 scholars, including infants, William Lamb, was the master. An additional class room added in 1910, built  at  a  cost of about £3,000, taking the capacity up to 290 scholars, including infants average attendance, 147 mixed & 80 infants:  William Lamb, master; Miss Amy Allanson, infants' mistress