The Flagpole

Earlier this week the Princethorpe Foundation issued its response to new data legislation (GDPR), which comes into force today, Friday 25 May 2018.

Over the last year we have been working hard to keep abreast of directives from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and their guidance concerning data processing. We have also sought advice from professional industry bodies, our school solicitors and external consultants.

Having undertaken a thorough review and audit of the data we hold and the way in which we process it, the Princethorpe Foundation believes that all of the data held relating to our community can be lawfully processed under three bases, namely Legal Obligation, Contractual and/or Legitimate Interests. This is due to the nature of the existing relationships we already have with our community which includes prospective, current and former pupils, prospective, current and former parents, prospective, current and former staff and Friends of the Foundation.

Please be assured that we will treat your data with the utmost integrity, respect and confidentiality. Your personal data will be stored and used in accordance with our updated Privacy Notices in line with the new regulation and our communications with you will be conducted in the least intrusive way possible and only in ways that you would reasonably expect.  You can opt out of receiving non-legal or non-contractual communications at any time by contacting us by email, telephone or by letter.

To see the full response, view the updated Privacy Notices and how to contact us, click on this link.

The Princethorpe Foundation is pleased to announce that it has appointed two new trustees.  Elizabeth Kenward and Mike Fletcher have joined the Governing Body and will work with fellow Trustees to oversee the overall management and strategic direction of the Foundation.

Mrs Elizabeth Kenward BA, PGCE, CTC brings a wealth of educational experience having worked in Catholic secondary education for 37 years, including 15 as a Deputy Head. 

Mrs Kenward, commented, “My two children left Princethorpe in 2017 after seven happy years at the College, both progressing to university to study their chosen courses. They benefited greatly from the opportunities the school provided to travel widely and play sport, leaving with many happy memories.”  She continued, “I was honoured to be asked to join the Princethorpe Foundation Trustees, which will enable me to continue my links with the College and my involvement in Catholic education, both of which I value greatly.”

Mr Mike Fletcher BSc (Hons) is an Old Princethorpian, who attended the College from 1977 to 1982.  Mr Fletcher has recently retired from his role as Vice President at a global IT company, where he worked for over 30 years in a number of technical, operational, managerial and business development roles.  Mr Fletcher has two children that currently attend the College.

Mr Fletcher, remarked, “I particularly appreciate the environment that Princethorpe provides, academic challenge is complemented by sound ethical values and the opportunity to experience a wide range of extra-curricular activities that enrich the lives of pupils for years to come.”

Eddie Tolcher, Foundation Bursar and Clerk to the Trustees said, “Both our new Trustees bring valuable experience to the Foundation’s Governing Body.  Their support and advice will be much appreciated and we are delighted to welcome them to the Board of Trustees.

Congratulations go to our Year 8 Netball Team who are the newly crowned U13s ISA National Netball Champions.

On Saturday 12 May Princethorpe’s U13 Girls’ Netball Team took on 11 schools from across the country in the Independent Schools Association’s National Netball Finals.  The championships took place at the excellent facilities of Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate in York.

The girls stormed though the Group Stage hitting the ground running with fast attacking play.  They won all their first round matches dispatching Alderley Edge School for Girls 8-6, St Michael’s School 15-1, Hull Collegiate School 16-4 and Claires Court School 11-10.  

Keeping the momentum up and their shooting sharp, the U13s had another easy win in the semi-final against St James Senior Girls’ School 12-4.

They were then pitted against Ballard School in the final and from the start it was a tight match.  The girls had to fight for every ball and work tirelessly together, grabbing every opportunity to turn over, transition down the court and convert.  Ballard fought back hard, testing the Princethorpe defence again and again.  The teams were well matched and with goals aplenty from both sides at full time the score stood at 12-12. The game then went to sudden death and, Goal Attack, Rosie Pritchard-Jeffs kept her nerve and shot the golden goal to seal the national championship title for Princethorpe College.

Well done to all the girls involved, everyone played fantastically and we are super proud of their achievement.

Playing in the team were Millie Giffin (Captain), Lara Tripp-Smith, Molly Wincott-Thomas, Evie Phillips, Eve Farquharson, Issy Bunting, Rosie Pritchard-Jeffs, Mia Johnson, Ruby Harris.  Missing on the day but a key player in the qualifying matches was Jess Mackenzie.

A huge thank you to team coaches Hannah Carminati and Debs Brookes and to our pupils’ parents, for their support.

Jacqui Quinney, Head of Careers at Princethorpe College has been appointed to UCAS’ Secondary Education Advisory Group (SEAG). 

The Secondary Education Advisory Group (SEAG) represents the pre-higher education sector and advises UCAS on the impact of its products, systems and services. They also discuss and debate wider policy issues and their effect on students’ progression to higher education and UCAS’ role within this.

Jacqui will be one of only five representatives from independent schools, alongside colleagues from Marlborough College, Cheltenham Ladies College, Sevenoaks School and Felsted School. They will work with representatives from maintained schools and further education colleges to represent the views of the secondary sector on UCAS’ services and educational policy issues.

When inviting Jacqui to become a member of the Group, Georgina Venman, Provider Engagement Co-ordinator at UCAS commented, “We were impressed by Jacqui’s experience and Princethorpe's diversity of admissions and curriculum.”

Jacqui heads up the College’s in-house Careers Service which works closely with pupils to support and develop their careers plans.  Together with Kerry Low, Careers Adviser, they meet with pupils in Year 10 and then again in Lower Sixth to provide one-to-one support and guidance.  Jacqui also oversees the UCAS process and helps students choose their Universities and courses. She also advises on alternative opportunities such as apprenticeships.  The Careers Team also supports pupils through Life Skills sessions using career tools such as Unifrog and Kudos and organises careers events to widen pupil understanding of the choices and opportunities available to them.

Before joining the College Jacqui spent six years at Myton School as an Assistant Head of Sixth Form and UCAS Co-ordinator.

Jacqui comments, “I am really looking forward to working with SEAG, and helping UCAS understand and appreciate independent schools’ needs and opinions.  I want to make sure that our students can make the very most of the opportunities available.”

Summer Fete and 23rd Annual Motor Festival - Sunday 24 June 2018, 2.00pm to 4.30pm

Our Summer Fete is fast approaching and this year has a Royal Wedding Theme. There'll be Zorbing and countless other fun games and activities and entertainment for all ages, including our “Food and Fodder” competition. Categories include:

• o    Wedding theme cupcake
• o    Red, white and blue flower arrangement in a jam-jar
• o    Royal wedding look-a-like scarecrow
• o    Preserve, jam or chutney
• o    Bread - White or wholemeal 1lb tin loaf

Entries should be brought on the day and don’t forget to make sure your name and contact number are clearly marked on your entry.

There will be the traditional array of school supported charity stalls, and external stalls selling a range of high quality crafts, cakes and jewellery. We'll be firing up the BBQ, and for those of you who find days like this thirsty work we'll be providing an array of drinks in the refreshment tent, including Gin, Prosecco, beer and a selection of soft drinks.

The Princethorpe Art, Photography and Design Exhibition will be open to all our visitors and, for those not wanting to miss the big sporting event of the day, we’ll be showing the England World Cup match.

As always we will be holding a raffle, this year with a 1st Prize of £250, 2nd Prize of a Fortnum and Mason Hamper, 3rd Prize of £100 and many more fabulous items to be won. You can return your completed tickets (and any unsold tickets) with payment in an envelope marked ‘FAO Anne O’Rourke, PTA Treasurer’, to the special PTA Post Box at the Student Hub. Cheques should be made out to "Princethorpe College PTA". Further tickets are also available from Mrs Satchwell if required. We would also be grateful for any donations of bottles for our tombolas, again to be delivered to the Student Hub.

We are always on the lookout for volunteers, so if you can help in any way on the day, even for half an hour, we would really like to hear from you! Please email us at pta@princethorpe.co.uk.

We do hope that you are able to come along to this fun, family event.

Many thanks,

Princethorpe PTA

Click here to access the twenty eighth issue of the Old Princethorpian which was published on Friday 4 May.

This issue includes the latest Foundation and College news plus plenty of news and updates from OPs across the decades.

If you are an OP or know an OP who would like to share their news or pictures with us for the next issue due out in early May please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk by the end of April

If you would like to be added to the distribution list please email Old Princethorpians' Secretary Melanie Butler.

We had a cracking evening at Ye Olde Mitre on Friday 18 May at the OPs London Pub Meet. A tremendous number of Old Princethorpians from across the generations managed to find their way to this quirky, historic venue and up the steep stairs into the cosy Bishop's Lounge.

It was particularly nice to see some newcomers to OP events including Emilio Doorgasingh, Corin Johnson, Charlie Emerton, Simon Fisher, Maddie Sykes and Andrew Bunt and to wish many happy returns to birthday boy, Harry Robinson. London stalwarts, Daniel Bevan, Joel Gleghorn, Aaron Jaffer, Chris Santamarina, Michael Nagaur, Jeremy Peacock, James Simpson, Carmen Simpson and Ian Rudolph joined in the fun with the Princethorpe contingent led by OPs Chairman, Peter Rollason, Alex Darkes, Eddie Tolcher, Loretta Curtis, Rachel Hadley-Leonard, Harriet Brember and Melanie Butler.

One of the loveliest things to see was how well all the Old Princethorpians got along together, regardless of whether they had been at Princethorpe in the 60s or had only left three years ago! Roll on the next OPs event, our Summer Supper on Friday 22 June, celebrating the leavers with an 8 in their leaving year. Leavers from other years are most welcome too.

Matt Dickinson, award-winning author and Mount Everest summiteer visited Princethorpe College on Monday 21 May 2018. A successful writer and film maker Matt has worked for production companies including the BBC, National Geographic Television and the Discovery Channel and is one of the very few cameramen to ever film at the summit of Everest.

Matt spoke to Year 9 Geography pupils about his experiences climbing the tallest mountains in the world and coping in extreme climates.  He talked about the risks involved in mountaineering and his personal experiences of dangers such as frostbite. He shared breath-taking images and film clips of towering icebergs, fathomless ice crevices and gigantic glaciers and discussed the wider geographic impact humans are having on the world.

His anecdotes helped pupils understand the preparation and practice, the determination and resilience required to be an adventurer, but also how it is possible for anyone to get out there and get involved in the natural world.  Matt has met some amazing and inspirational people on his travels and his love of adventure and extreme environments has given him plenty of story lines for his writing. He is the author of the ‘Mortal Chaos’ series, fast-paced action adventure stories for teenagers, and the crime drama series ‘The Everest Files’. He has also written ‘Death Zone’, a factual book based on his climb to the summit of Everest during a devastating killer storm.

Celia Scott, Princethorpe Librarian, who organised the visit, commented, “Matt’s passion for the natural world was inspirational, he has had some amazing adventures and was able to share stories that really captured the imagination of our pupils. We had five lively sessions and it was great to see pupils interacting and asking questions.”

Matt Dickinson was clearly delighted with his enthusiastic audience and said, “I have had a great day at Princethorpe College, with some superb questions from the pupils. Their knowledge of the natural world is impressive, they were able to talk about alternative energy sources and global warming and appreciate the impact of tourism on natural environments.”

Year 8 enjoyed a wonderful weekend at Whitemoor Lakes Outdoor Residential Centre in mid May.  They were blessed with good weather and going off the grid, with no mobiles, ensured plenty of old style outdoor fun.

90 pupils took part in a three-day programme that included archery, canoeing, climbing, abseiling, zip wire, high ropes, problem solving and the challenge course.  In small groups pupils rotated around the different activities working together to rise to all the challenges they were set.  The group also had fun playing team games and enjoyed a fabulous Saturday night disco. Pupils tackled the activities with great energy and commitment and showed excellent teamworking skills.

Trip Leader, Adam Rickart, said, “The residential provided an opportunity for pupils to develop their ability to work as part of a team, to encourage initiative and to develop resilience and social awareness. The children had the chance to demonstrate leadership skills and really go out of their comfort zones.  Year 8 have established friendships groups but this cross-year activity, enabled them to mix with different groups and make new friends. The aim of the trip was for them to come back to school having gained in confidence and ready for the challenges of Year 9.”

Well done all on a truly wonderful weekend and a big thank you to all the staff and to Lower Sixth Formers, Sammy Inskip and Aimee Sen-Gupta, who accompanied the trip and took on many of the activities too.