The Flagpole

At the end of this academic year there will be some changes to the Senior Leadership Team at the College. Digby Carrington-Howell, our Deputy Head – Staffing and Assessment has decided to step down and will be leaving Princethorpe, and as a result, Dr Michael Reddish, our Assistant Head (Director of Studies) will be assuming a new role of Deputy Head (Academic).  In addition, we are currently recruiting for a new post of Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning) to join us in September.

Digby has played an important part in the College’s development over the last nine years. In addition to being a key member of the Senior Leadership Team he has played a significant part in the smooth running and organisation of the school with specific responsibilities including: leading all aspects of the school’s assessment and reporting programme; the organisation and efficient running of internal and external examinations; staff appraisal, training, professional development and induction; monitoring and tracking of pupils’ performance; and oversight of all external inspections.

He has approached his work with enthusiasm and diligence and is greatly appreciated for his calm headedness, sense of perspective and wry humour.

An experienced Biology teacher with a track record of exam success for his pupils, Digby has also supported the wider life of the school, making time to coach badminton and play guitar in the staff band.

We are enormously grateful for all that Digby has done for the College and wish him well for the future as he steps down to spend more time with his wife, Patricia, and looks forward to new challenges.

Princethorpe has passed a recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) regulatory compliance inspection with flying colours.

The College was inspected in mid February and has been judged to have met all of the eight standards required of it.  Areas examined in terms of compliance include the quality of education provided, welfare, health and safety of pupils and the quality of leadership and management of the school.

Amongst its findings the report comments on ‘GCSE performance from 2014 to 2016 (the period covered by the inspection) being above the national average’, ‘that principles and values are actively promoted which facilitate the personal development of pupils’ and that ‘the leadership and management demonstrate good skills and knowledge and fulfil their responsibilities effectively’.

Regulatory compliance inspections report on a school’s compliance with the Independent School Standards Regulations. All schools are required to meet all standards applicable to them and the judgements are either met or not met.

Comments Headmaster, Ed Hester, “We are delighted to have met all the ISI’s regulatory standards, the report is testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole team at Princethorpe and my thanks go out to them.”

To access the full report please click here.

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is the body approved by the Department for Education for the purpose of inspecting schools belonging to Independent Schools Council (ISC) Associations and reporting on compliance with independent school regulations. ISI inspections are also carried out under arrangements of the ISC Associations for the maintenance and improvement of the quality of the membership.

Our biennial Careers Fair takes place tomorrow, Saturday 17 March 2018 from 9.30am to 1.00pm. Open to all Princethorpe pupils from Year 10 to Sixth Form, this year's fair is set to be our biggest one yet!

With a wide range of speakers and organisations on hand to offer advice and guidance on careers, universities and gap year options, there really will be something for everyone! 

There will be over 40 speakers covering a whole wealth of careers from accountancy to engineering, physiotherapy to dentistry, flying helicopters to property, film design to the music industry, design to entrepreneurship and many, many more. We'll also have universities from across the country, such as Cardiff, Southampton, Loughborough and Surrey, with stalls in the exhibition part of the Fair.

Pupils and their families who registered in advance can collect their personalised timetables for the event at registration. We look forward to seeing you! 

For more information about the day and for an overview of speakers, click here.

Each year Hollywood celebrates the prestigious Academy Awards, but here at Princethorpe College we have our very own ‘night of nights’, the Princethorpe Oscars, when the Sixth Form Atrium is transformed and the red carpet is rolled out for our shining stars and budding directors.

This year 15 films, produced by pupils and staff, were up for consideration with the best of the best being awarded much prized mini Oscars.  Up for grabs were categories including Best Comedy, Best Cliffhanger and Best Romantic Comedy, as well as the much-prized People’s Choice award and of course the most prestigious accolade Best Movie.

Host and compere for the ceremony, Assistant Head – Co-curricular, Mr Greg Hunter, welcomed guests to a special VIP drinks reception before the evening’s showing commenced and the audience sat back and the movies flickered onto the big screen.  The film industry is all about entertaining audiences, providing a momentary escape from reality and the event did just that in spades.

Before handing out the awards Headmaster, Ed Hester, commented, “What a wonderful occasion, such a celebration of talent, wit and creativity.  Our thanks go to all of the contributors and to Greg Hunter for organising this tremendous event.”

After much deliberation and an interval to allow the audience time to rate the films the main awards were announced.  This year the People’s Choice Award was given to the prolific Josh Tidd for his stunning film ‘The Holy Buxton Water’, an excellent piece of work that featured the bleak landscapes of the Peak District and Victorian spa town of Buxton.  The main award of the night Best Movie was reserved for what will clearly become an epic of its time, ‘Class Dismissed Fisher Style’.  The depth of talent involved, Mrs Galano’s struggle, the unique quality of the acting and the artistic talent made the film a clear winner with the judges and audience alike.  The assembled audience couldn’t remember the last time they’d laughed so much.    

It was another fabulous evening; thank you to all of the pupils and staff involved and watch out for next year when our film awards night returns - The Oscars - The Hexalogy.

Other awards went to:

Best Public Information Film: Hollie Moore and Freya Barnett (for Diet And Nutrition)

Best Wildlife Film: Rupert Hatton (for Roos Green Team Video)

Best Editing: Seb Shaw (for The Clone Problem)

Best Bruce Lee Impersonation and Best Falsetto: Mr Scope (for VEGAS 1973)

Best Foreign Language Film: Mr Parsons (for Spanish Trip)

Best Use Of BBC Licence Fee Payers Money: Charlotte Fitzpatrick, Holly Kennedy and Lauren Mason (for The BBC Takeover)

Best Soundtrack and Best Cinematography: Josh Tidd (for The Holy Buxton Water)

Best Horror: Harry Cheshire (for Hide and Seek)

Best Romantic Comedy: Archie Hancock (for The Rise Of The Killer Robots)

Best Tribute: Mr Hunter (for Father’s Day)

Best Script: Caitlin Conmy (for Dear ….)

Best Cliffhanger: FSR (for Which Carys)

Best Cinema Verite: MSS, MSW (for Missions Impossible)

Best Ensemble Piece: Kiera McRae, Lauren Mason and Caitlin Conmy (for Class Dismissed Fisher Style)

Best Comedy: Josh Tidd, Seb Shaw, Isaac Ryan and Ollie Lyons (for Mobile  Kombat)

Princethorpe College has been awarded the Gold standard in a prestigious national school library accreditation scheme.  Awarded by the School Library Service UK, the scheme recognises and acknowledges the work of school libraries and their librarians across the country in raising literacy levels, educational achievement and promoting a love of reading.

The national award scheme is endorsed by the School Library Association (SLA), the School Library Group (SLG) and the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL).  The scheme audits 20 key activities and services provided by a school library.  For each key activity the school is recognised at one of three levels – developing, establishing and enhancing.  The Gold award is presented only to school libraries with 15 or more activities and services in the ‘enhancing’ category.   Princethorpe gained an impressive 17 activities awarded as ‘enhancing’, including monitoring of pupils reading, diversity of stock, reading culture and teaching in the library.

College Librarian, Celia Scott, was presented with the award on Wednesday 7 March by Stella Thebridge, Principal Librarian of the Warwickshire Library Service, in Warwick.

Celia Scott commented, “We are thrilled to have achieved such high recognition for our work. Our submission covered a wide range of library activities and services that included not only the library, its staff, facilities and stock but also our wider school support and engagement, the reading culture of the College and the many initiatives, competitions, activities and events we organise and run.  The requirements were challenging and we had to meet tough criteria to receive the award.  We are delighted that the School Library Service team have decided we are worthy of the Gold standard.”

Stella Thebridge, Principal Librarian, Warwickshire Library Service added, “The College librarian clearly works to the highest standards and offers pupils an excellent library service embedded in the wider school curriculum and reading culture. This is a very well deserved Gold award.”

Last weekend Princethorpe College nailed the Independent Schools Netball National Championships with the U18s, U16s and U14s teams all placing and bringing home medals; the only school competing at the Championships to have such success.  Playing at Malvern St James Girls’ School in Worcestershire on Saturday 10 March, girls from schools across the country battled the College sides in as many as six back-to-back gruelling matches.

Played on inside courts and outside on the astro, a new surface for our girls, the teams blitzed through their matches with enthusiasm and tenacity. Thankfully the weather had improved from the biting cold and snow of the week before.

Commenting on the teams’ performances Princethorpe College Head of Girls’ Games, Mrs Debs Brookes said, “It was a fabulous day’s competition with schools visiting from London, the Midlands and the North so there was a great edge to the play and exceptional skill on court.  Our teams were really remarkable from the off with energy and commitment as well as organisation and competitiveness.”

The U14 Girls had five straight wins netting 75 goals along the way.  They lost out only in the finals to Alderley Edge 6-11 to finish as silver medallists.

The U15 Girls played in the U16 competition and, despite being a year younger, played brilliantly to place third and earn themselves a bronze medal.  They lost out in the play off to Alderley Edge, but should take comfort from the knowledge that they beat the overall U16 winners, Stafford Grammar, in the Group Stages.

In their competition the U18 Girls were the winners of the plate final which earned them an overall bronze medal as well.

Thank you to all of the coaches involved in what was a brilliant but long day: Hannah Carminati, Danette Matthews and Tina Fletcher and to Teaching Assistants Bella Fogarty and Evie Donaldson who supported the teams on the day.

Playing for Princethorpe were:

U18s: Leah Dunkley, Sammy Inskip, Sophie Marrow, Emily Nicholls, Reanne Popham (Capt), Cara Wallis and Anna Wells

U16As: Amelia Cunnington, Mia Darling, Luisa Garcia-Stokes, Madeleine Glasspool, Beth Hutcheson, Evie Nicholas, Lucia Rincon-Tivey, Mia Sweeney and Emelia Tubb (Capt)

U14As: Charlotte Brotherton, Anneliesa Douglas, Lucy Gribben, Poppy Hainge (Capt), Milly Hemmings, Nell Johnston (Vice-Capt), Lucia McCosker-New and Rachel Timms

The College’s Lent Term Celebration of Achievement Lunch was an informal and convivial affair.  Held on Tuesday 13 March 2018; 61 pupils from across the school were nominated by members of staff and invited to the College Roundhouse by Assistant Head (Co-Curricular), Mr Greg Hunter, to celebrate their amazing achievements.

All of the pupils had risen to challenges, they had done their best in many different ways, both in and outside of school.  Some were elected for academic perseverance; others were invited along for their contribution to their Tutor Group or House. 

As was to be expected, the pupils were modest about their achievements and seemed surprised by the attention they received, not realising the commitment, motivation and tenacity such success would clearly have demanded.  It is just such qualities that the Celebration of Achievement Lunch aims to reward.  Mr Hunter congratulated each of them and thanked them all for the many wonderful ways that they enrich College life.

Congratulations to them all:

From Year 7: Sam Astle, Jess Evans, Harry Fitzpatrick, James Hawkins, Amy Hogg, Harry Kelly, Morgan King, Jake Lambert, Alexander Leret, Tom Lomas and Chloe O’Carroll-Bailey.

From Year 8: Alex Allison, Marcus Critchley, William Hawkins, Izzy Kuzemko, Jess Mackenzie, Eva Ostler, Evie Phillips, Edward Sharpe, Grace Thomas, Aaron Tiwana and Joseph Watts.

From Year 9: Keely Ball, Stanley Brocklebank, Archie Hancock, Archie Houghton, Bhavdeep Jandu, Grace Leight, Lucia McCosker-New, Ethan Smith, Lauren Taylor, Mac Wood and Riley Worrall.

From Year 10: Ben Abrahamson, Ellis Chaplow, Tom Crowfoot, Will Crowfoot, Evie Nicholas, Toby Rigg and Matthew Wills.

From Year 11: Libbi Ancill-Griffiths, Jack Bent, Caitlin Conmy, Charlotte Khan, Caitlin Newport, Hannah Richards and Dominic Turner-Burr.

From Lower Sixth: Luke Browning, Meera Chauhan, Amy Field, Jasmin Rigg and Jake Wilson.

From Upper Sixth: Matthew Bonsall, Samantha Bromage-Eccles, Maddie Doherty, Matthew Duigan, Luke Dunkley, Sol Elliott, Miriam Isaacs, Lucy Jordan and Aidan McMahon.

Huge congratulations to Upper Sixth Former Charlotte Martin and her wonder dog, cocker spaniel, Whispa who came third in the Young Kennel Club team agility at the international dog show Crufts last weekend, Sunday 11 March.  Charlotte who has been competing with Whispa in agility classes for over five years now said, “Whispa really loves agility and she always gives her all.  She is semi-retiring now and I have a new dog, Deefa, to bring on, so it was just perfect that we did so well and ended with a podium finish.”

Charlotte’s team, Diamond Cluster, consists of five handlers with their dogs, her fellow competitors are all friends she has made through the Young Kennel Club (YKC) and she urges anyone with an interest in dogs to join up.  She continued, “The Young Kennel Club and Crufts are a great place to network, meet fellow enthusiasts and make friends.”

Diamond Cluster qualified for Crufts last year in regional rounds of the YKC Agility.  In the 2018 final they were competing against 16 other teams, a total of 80 dogs.  Clever canines who leap, balance and whip around a complex obstacle course following a snap of a finger and a shouted command seemingly defying the laws of gravity and momentum.

The seventeen-year-old from Cawston in Rugby has worked hard for her success, as well as practising at home she trains weekly with Rugby Dog Training Club, the home of the renowned Mary Ray, who invented heel work to music, and who gave a stunning farewell display at Crufts this year.

Charlotte is a great ambassador for the YKC, she took time to volunteer on their stand last weekend, talking to young people about the YKC and the opportunities it offers, she added, “If you have an interest in dogs then you should get involved, there are lots of opportunities available and I have made some great friends.  I was lucky enough to travel to Luxembourg last year where I represented Great Britain in dog agility.”

Well done Charlotte and Whispa, we were delighted to hear of your success.

On Tuesday 13 February 2018 Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award holders accompanied by their families enjoyed a night of celebration and were treated to an inspirational talk by Professional Rock Climber Ben Heason.

Ben shared with us his incredible journey from his first television debut on ‘You’ve Been Framed’ (falling off the rock face as a young man) to him leading an international team ascending the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela, which stands at a colossal height of 979 metres. It took 20 days of continuous climbing and pushed the team to their limits. He taught us that as long as you have faith in your own abilities and determination there is nothing you cannot achieve. It demonstrated that, with hard work, focus and planning, positive thinking and a determination to succeed, any goal is attainable; it encouraged others to live their own lives to their potential.

Last year was special for the College’s Duke of Edinburgh team as a record number of pupils signed up to and completed their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Four Upper Sixth students completed their Gold Awards and are now awaiting their presentation events at St James's Palace and I am sure that more will follow as fourteen students completed their Gold expeditions last summer. The College has also had its success and expertise at managing the award recognised by becoming a Directly Licensed Centre and was presented with its organisational licence by a representative from DofE Central Office.

It was a fantastic evening which would not have been possible if not for the hard work and dedication of pupils, parents and DofE Staff.  On behalf of all of the DofE participants I would like to thank the DofE team for their invaluable contribution and hard work behind the scenes.

Grace Blackhall
Upper Sixth Student - DofE Gold Award Recipient

The lastest edition of the College's Admissions Update e-newsletter has just been published. It is packed with news to give prospective parents and pupils a feel for College life, information on forthcoming events and helpful advice about the admissions process, particularly for those who are looking to join us in September 2019.

Our friendly Admissions Team are already busy accepting registrations for 2019 and there are plenty of opportunities for prospective pupils and their parents to visit the College before the Entrance Exams in November, including a new open event, our Open Morning next Tuesday 20 March 10.30am to 12.30pm, our summer Open Evening on Wednesday 6 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and taster days for Year 5 children in May and June.

Comments Melanie Butler, Assistant Head, Marketing, Admissions and Communications, "Parents and pupils still have plenty of time to prepare and opportunities to visit the College in the run up to the exams. The results will be posted out at the end of November, making for an exam-free Christmas holiday, which has got to be good news."

The newsletter is issued twice a year to coincide with key admissions periods and the next edition will be published in Autumn 2018, prior to the Entrance Exams.

To view the newsletter click here.

If you have any queries relating to admissions please feel free to email the team at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Click on the attachment below to download the latest ‘In the News’ posters featuring some of the Foundation's recent media coverage.

In the News

In the last few months we have had stories in the local press including the Leamington Courier, Kenilworth News, Rugby Advertiser, Daventry Express, Leamington Observer, Rugby and Lutterworth Observer and the Coventry and Warwickshire Telegraph.  The Foundation has also been featured in Catholic Today and the Independent Schools’ magazine Attain.

Six Princethorpe boys have earned representative honours playing for the Warwickshire Under 16s rugby squad this season.  Pictured proudly in their County strip are Year 11s (left to right) Callum Cooke, Harry Smith, Tom Parker, James Crabtree, Sam McCosker-New and Jack Hewitt at their match against their North Midlands counterparts at Leamington RFC on Sunday 4 February 2018.

The Princethorpe boys have been helping to make Warwickshire a side to contend with for several years now – some first made the County squad two years ago as Under 14s.  They have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities their County selection and training has provided.  This formidable combination of wing, second row, prop, hooker, scrum half and centre had a tough match at Leamington but proved that Warwickshire was definitely a side to be reckoned with taking the win with help from tries from Harry, Jack, James and Sam.

The boys are due to take on the East Midlands next although the game has had to be rescheduled because of the recent snow.

Head of Rugby at Princethorpe College, Pete Bucknall commented, “The boys’ County selection is fully justified, reflecting the hard work they put in on the training field and the competition pitch.”