The Flagpole

Friday 17 March 2023

Can’t make it to Cheltenham this year? Then the PTA invite you and your friends to come along to school on Friday 17 March at 7.00pm and enjoy the Craic of the races at our inaugural St Patrick’s day Race Night!

Tickets cost £10 each and includes a hearty Irish meal, pudding, and racing slips! As always, our popular bar will be open with a variety of drinks including Guinness!

Please click here to request tickets, the cost of which will be added to the Trinity term bill.

We look forward to see you there!

Saturday 18 March 2023 - 9.00am to 1.00pm

Registrations for the College’s Careers Fair 2023 have now closed and the Careers Team are putting the finishing touches to the event which takes place on Saturday 18 March from 9.00am to 1.00pm.

OP Felicity Hannah, a financial journalist, currently presenting Radio 4’s Money Box and the Green Money Show and Wake Up To Money on Radio 5 Live, will give two keynote addresses over the course of the morning and in addition to three career/university speaker sessions, attendees will also be able to visit the Exhibition part of the Fair in the Sixth Form Centre.  Light refreshments will be available.

Attendees will receive a personalised timetable upon arrival on the day.

The format of the day will be as follows:

• 8.30am - 9.00am - Registration in Sports Hall for parents and pupils
• 9.10am - 9.40am - Session 1 
• Walk
• 9.55am - 10.25am - Session 2 including Keynote
• Walk
• 10.35am - 11.05am - Session 3
• Walk
• 11.20am - 11.50am - Session 4 including Keynote
• Walk
• 12.00pm - 12.30pm - Session 5
• 12.30pm - 1.00pm - Exhibition remains open

Comments, Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney, "We are looking forward to welcoming everyone. The event will be a unique experience and will enable our pupils and students to gain a real insight into the work of work and further study, thus helping them prepare for important decisions that they will need to make over the next few years at Princethorpe and beyond."

Tuesday 21 March - 6.30pm

Wednesday 22 March - 7.00pm

At our January meeting we spoke about both The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje and The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams. Certainly it would be hard to find two novels that are more different than these. We all enjoyed The English Patient but agreed this made quite heavy demands upon the reader, with its time shifts, differing perspectives and mysteries – but it is without doubt a highly evocative portrayal of disparate lives and settings that come together in strange and difficult circumstances. The Reading List is a much less ambitious read – quite heartening nevertheless, but perhaps a little glib in its handling of some fairly dark themes.

Our next meeting will be in the library at 7.00pm on Wednesday 22 March. On that occasion we will be discussing Proust and the Squid – the Science of Reading as a non-fiction choice and also The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, a modern classic that inspired a wonderful film. Do join us if you can. We always welcome new faces and are always open to new reading ideas and suggestions. 

Wednesday 22 March 6.30pm-7.30pm

Parents of Year 11 pupils are cordially invited to the Year 11 Parents' Sixth Form Admissions Q & A Session which is due to take place online on Wednesday 22 March from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

The session is designed to answer any questions you might have relating to final preparation for the exams, the exam season, study leave, GCSE Results Day and transition to Sixth Form.

To access this online event please click here.

Saturday 13 May 2023 9.30am to 12.00pm

If your child would love to give hockey a try, why not sign them up to the Princethorpe College 'Year 4 and 5 Say Hello To Hockey' taster session!

This activity is open to children who do not attend a Foundation Prep School.

A morning of free hockey training on our astroturf, they'll learn new skills, make friends and have fun.  Aimed at girls and boys, the morning will finish with a mini tournament, beginners most welcome!

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To book your child's place please complete a booking and consent form, for a copy please click here.

Saturday 13 May 2023 - 10.30am to 12.30pm

Former parents, staff and OPs are warmly invited to join us for a Science Centre Preview and Brunch on Saturday 13 May from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

After a full English Breakfast or something lighter guests will be given a preview of the College's new £8 million Science Centre by Alex Darkes, Foundation Assistant Head and Project Manager. The new ten laboratory Science Centre is due to open in September 2023.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Click on this link to book your place.

All are welcome, please do spread the word.

Saturday 27 May – Sunday 28 May 2023

The National Schools And Riding Clubs Two Day Event will take place for the eighth year on the magnificent Princethorpe estate.

Around 240 riders of all ages are set to take part across Saturday 27 May and Sunday 28 May in dressage, show-jumping, roads and tracks, steeplechase and cross-country disciplines. 

The event, run by Stoneleigh Riding Club, has the backing of Warwickshire property companies The Wigley Group and development and rural agency Newton LDP who have been announced as joint main sponsors.

For the first time this year, a new 70cm class has been introduced, which will hopefully appeal to those riders starting out on the eventing journey. The 80cm class continues again, as well as Novice 90cm and Open 100cm classes. Once again, the event includes Independent Schools' Association Classes with an additional class this year for 70cm. Show Jumping and Dressage take place on the Saturday with Roads and Tracks, Steeplechase and Cross Country on the Sunday.

Spectators are most welcome and our sponsors plan a new viewing area with hospitality which will overlook the watersplash and other parts of the cross-country. There will also be a new, easily-accessed entrance to the cross country for pedestrians. Entry to the event is free so we do hope you can come along and enjoy a wonderful weekend of equestrian events.

Click here to view the schedule for the weekend and for information as to how to participate.