The Flagpole

We have great pleasure in unveiling the OPs' events calendar for the forthcoming academic year.

This year's calendar features some of our regular favourites including the OPs vs College Sports Day on Saturday 4 September and the return of the Former Parents, OPs and Staff Brunch on Saturday 14 May 2022. The popular London and local meets have been scheduled with a spring meet in Rugby, upstairs at Inside the 22 on Friday 4 March 2022 and a London Meet this Autumn at London's Covent Garden in a private room at French restaurant, Balthazar on Friday 8 October.

The OPs' Summer Supper Reunion will take place on Friday 26 June 2022, this time celebrating the leavers of 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002 and 2012, although leavers of other years are also most welcome.

All OPs, past parents and staff are welcome to participate in any or all of the events. Click here to download the calendar or visit Princethorpe Connect, our new online community to register and book on events.

You can also visit the Old Princethorpians section at www.princethorpe.co.uk/ops for more information on Old Princethorpians.

Saturday 4 September - 10.30am to 4.00pm

We are looking forward to our 9th annual Old Princethorpians vs College Sports Day (and 11th John Shinkwin Trophy Match) on Saturday 4 September.

We have a relaxing day planned that mixes sporting matches with music, a complimentary BBQ, ice cream van and a subsidised bar.

As previously points will be accumulated throughout the day, with the Alex Wallis Memorial Shield being awarded to the victors at the end of the main programme and the coveted John Shinkwin Trophy being awarded to the victorious Rugby squad.

Format of day:

10.45am to 12.00pm Football OPs vs Staff

12.00pm to 1.00pm Hockey Princethorpe College 1st XI Girls vs OPs XI (x 2)

1.15pm to 2.15pm Hockey Princethorpe College 1st XI Boys vs OPs XI (x 2)

1.30pm to 2.30pm Netball Princethorpe College 1st VII Girls vs OPs VII (x 2)

2.30pm to 3.45pm Rugby - John Shinkwin Trophy - Princethorpe College 1st XV Boys vs OPs XV (leavers of 2020 and 2021) plus additional College vs Older OPs (non contact adapted game)

4.00pm After Match Awards

Please do come along and support all the teams!

Sunday 12 September 2021 2.00pm - 4.30pm

This September the College will once again be participating in the Heritage Open Day festival and you are all invited to come for a tour.

Built in 1832, St Mary's Priory was one of the first Catholic buildings in England after the reformation and until 1966 it was home to a congregation of Benedictine nuns. The Priory was purchased by The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart who established Princethorpe College. Today Princethorpe is a fully co-educational Catholic independent day school.

The archive team will be conducting free tours of the College on Sunday 12 September from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and will share the history of our magnificent building and the amazing people that made it the place it is today.

Wednesday 15 September - 7.00pm

I am very pleased to say that we will be able to resume meetings this year of the Parents’ Reading Group.  This group has been running for very many years now by popular demand.  We are a group of readers who meet regularly each month to discuss a book which we have previously agreed on.  We are very unpretentious and are always happy to try something new.  You will find us very friendly and it would be great to welcome some new faces at the start of the new year.  We meet in the library and our first meeting will be on Wednesday 15 September at 7.00pm.  We usually finish at about 8.30pm but feel free to leave when you need to. 

Don’t worry if you don’t know the school, as there will be someone to meet you at the playground entrance and guide you to the library.  As this is our first meeting for quite some time – it would be great if people could possibly come along with a few recommendations of books they have enjoyed during the summer months.  Then we can decide on something to read for next month.  It’s a great opportunity to broaden your reading horizons, as we can all get stuck in a rut with the sort of books we go for. I’m looking forward to welcoming readers old and new and I hope you’ll be able to join us.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Sunday 19 September 2021 

This year we have added an extra event to our admissions calendar to give prospective families more opportunities to visit Princethorpe. The College Open Afternoon will take place on Sunday 19 September 2021 from 2.00pm to 5.00pm and will be a great opportunity for prospective pupils and families to hear a welcome address from Ed Hester, the Headmaster, meet members of staff and pupils, take part in activities around the different departments and tour the school and grounds. 

There will also be an opportunity to visit The College on a normal working day at our Open Morning on Thursday 23 September 2021 from 10.30am to 12.30pm. 

To book your place at our Open Events please click here

Taster Experiences will also be available on Saturday 25 September for those who are in Year 6 and have not had the chance to attend previous Taster Experiences.

To register your interest in a Year 6 Taster Day click here.

Those wishing to register for Entrance Examinations should do so by the deadline of Friday 1 October 2021 to facilitate the gathering of references from junior schools. Registration forms are available from the Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney on 01926 634201 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Entrance Examinations for Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 will take place on Saturday 6 November 2021 from 9.30am to 3.30pm. More information is available in our 2020 Admissions and Entrance Examinations Booklet available on our website, click here.

Thursday 7 October 2021 - 10.00am to 3.00pm

Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery in Kenilworth, are opening their doors for an Open Day on Thursday 7 October 2021 from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and nursery, and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, please register your interest in attending our Open Day.

To book your place please click here.

We have places available in Nursery and will be recruiting for places in Reception 2022.  Please speak to our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan for availability in other years.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to look around the school, please call our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk

Friday 8 October 2021 - 10.00am to 3.00pm

The Crescent School, in Bilton, Rugby, is opening its doors for an Open Day on Friday 8 October from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, to book your place please click here

We have a limited number of places available and are now accepting registrations for admission to Reception, Year 1, 2 and Year 3 in September 2022.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to visit the school, please call our Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley on 01788 521595 or email admissions@crescentschool.co.uk and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit www.crescentschool.co.uk