The Flagpole

Parents and pupils are encouraged to sign up for our Twitter news feed on the bus service using @PCBuses. We will use this to keep pupils and parents informed of anything that happens during the journeys to and from school.

Simply go to twitter.com/PCBuses. From here you can follow @PCBuses, if you have a twitter account, or if you do not regularly use twitter you can bookmark this link on your mobile or computer and check it whenever you need to.

The safety of pupils using the bus service is of paramount importance. We ask parents to talk to their children about how to keep safe going to and from the bus stop and ensure they know what to do if the bus doesn’t arrive.  There is a briefing for pupils who use the bus service at the start of each academic year. The College’s risk assessment of the bus service is attached here and a copy is also on the Parent Portal.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

Under our parking permits scheme, students from Upper Sixth can gain agreement to drive into school.

In order for a parking permit and a barrier access fob to be issued, students are asked to provide the following; a £30.00 administration fee, signed contract, a copy of their driving licence and current insurance policy together with consent from their parents and Head of Sixth Form.  These forms can be found on the VLE and are also available from the School Shop.

Written permission is required from both families, if lifts are being given.

Parking places are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students are not permitted to drive to or park at school until permission has been granted.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

We offer bus passes in several different options to allow pupils the most flexible options for travel to and from school.  

All information with regards to routes, booking forms and associated costs can be found in the Information Booklet for Parents and Pupils or on the Princethorpe website under 'Getting to School' https://www.princethorpe.co.uk/daily-life/getting-to-school

If you wish to apply for a bus pass then please complete the travel questionnaire which can be found via the attached link and return to Mrs Barbara Bromwich via email at buses@princethorpe.co.uk or post to Mrs Bromwich at Princethorpe College.

Bus passes should be shown for every journey, failure to produce a pass on five occasions will lead to a replacement pass being automatically issued at a cost of £5, which will be added to the school fee account.

If your preference is to purchase bus tickets (which must be purchased in advance of travel) then these can be purchased from the School Shop. Please contact Nicola Browne on either 01926 634272 or via email at nicolabrowne@princethorpe.co.uk to order tickets for collection by pupils during the school day.

For ease, tickets of 10 or more can be added to the school fee account.

An additional charge for travelling without a ticket will be applied as follows:

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

As we start the new academic year, our catering team are proud to introduce their new and improved menus. All the menus offer a selection of healthy meal options and they will be served in both the main dining room and Sixth Form on a three-week rotation. Each term the menus will be reviewed and updated. To see the Michaelmas term menus just use the links below:

• Michaelmas Term Menu Week 1
• Michaelmas Term Menu Week 2
• Michaelmas Term Menu Week 3

A selection of vegetarian dishes will be available and for those customers with a sweet tooth who want a healthier option, we’ll be offering cakes and desserts with less sugar so everyone can enjoy a sweet treat. Choose from such delights as:

• Rich Chocolate Pot
• Berry and Coconut Tray
• Marble Cake

Customers in the Sixth Form will now be able to choose from a selection of smoothies and frappés that will be available in a variety of delicious flavours. The Michaelmas term also sees the introduction of the new Take me to be toasted service, providing Sixth Form customers with a selection of paninis, bagels and toasties with a range of fillings. Here’s just a taster of some of the flavour combinations we will have available.

• The Mexican – chicken, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and leaves
• Philly Cheese Steak – pulled roast beef, cheese, red onion & peppers
• The Greek – hummus, halloumi, avocado, honey mustard dressing and leaves

At the tuck shop, as well as continuing to serve the same street food that is available in the main dining room, we will have:

• Jacket potatoes
• Pasta pots
• Crudité pots
• Fruit Pots

And finally, customer will have the chance to try some authentic Indian cuisine when they are given the chance to sample a range of dishes prepared from scratch by our chefs at the Taste of India event during the autumn term.

Required for January 2018 or earlier if possible, a well-qualified graduate to teach English to at least GCSE and the ability to teach to A-level would be an advantage, in a lively and enthusiastic department which has just moved into superb new purpose-built accommodation. There may be flexibility for either a full-time or a substantial part-time appointment. Willingness to become involved with the extra-curricular life of the school is also essential. Candidates should be able to demonstrate success in the classroom and be effective team players. 

NQTs are also welcome to apply; the College has a comprehensive induction programme leading to full QTS status. Single accommodation may be available. Princethorpe has its own pay scale which is above national scales. 

This is an excellent opportunity to join the fast growing Foundation that values its staff and offers a rewarding benefits package including discounted places for staff, a pension scheme, child care vouchers and a cycle to work scheme.

Application: To apply for this vacancy applicants must submit a Princethorpe College application form, together with a CV and covering letter detailing your personal qualities, experience and how you meet the person specification for the role. Applicants must ensure the application form is fully completed, including a detailed career history with specific dates.

Closing date: Monday 18 September at 9.00am and interviews are likely to be held on Thursday 21 September, at Princethorpe.

Further details and an application form are available from the College website www.princethorpe.co.uk/employment-opportunities

As per Mr Hester’s introduction in the last issue of The Flagpole, we are delighted to welcome a number of new members of staff for the new academic year. Please click on photographs so you can see who to look out for.

Janette has joined the Foundation as the Archivist on a part-time basis. 

She graduated from the University of Liverpool this year with a postgraduate qualification in Archives and Records Management. Janette worked for many years as a primary school teacher, teaching in Oldham, Leicester, Oxfordshire and Leicestershire, before changing career and training to become an archivist. She is looking forward to combining the skills she’s gained in both careers here at Princethorpe.

When she is not busy preserving records in the hope that one day she might have a guest spot on ‘Who Do You Think You Are’, Janette keeps herself busy with family life and her very demanding cocker spaniel called Meg. 

The Administration Team welcomes Lisa as a new full-time Receptionist\Administrator. Lisa graduated from Coventry University with a Masters Degree in Business Administration and has over 30 years’ experience of working in the service industry. She has held roles in a variety of business sectors including retail, finance and utilities and most recently worked at Practical Action, a Rugby based charity.

Lisa enjoys good food and wine, spending time with family and friends and her hobbies include skiing and motorcycling.

Catherine comes to Princethorpe to work with both the Admissions Team, as an Admissions Administrator, and the Development Office as a Database Assistant. She has worked at King’s High School in Warwick for the last 11 years as a Computer Science and ICT Assistant; before working in education, Catherine was a nurse and a midwife for 18 years. Originally from Lancashire, she has lived in Warwickshire for almost 25 years with her husband David, three sons aged between 16 and 21, and her cat called Mimi.

If a pupil would like to purchase an item from the shop, we do require written permission from home.

All purchases can be paid by cash, debit/credit card or alternatively the item can be added to the pupils fee account.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

The school shop is open for pupils during both break and lunch time, every school day.   For parents wishing to visit the school shop, this can be done without an appointment between 3.30pm and 4.30pm, every school day.

Should you be unable to visit the shop during the above mentioned times and would like to make an appointment, please contact the Foundation Shop Manager, Miss Nicola Browne on 01926 634272 or via email on nicolabrowne@princethorpe.co.uk.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

Please click on the links below to access the Term Dates:

2017-18 (Two-page document)

2018-19