The Flagpole

Saturday 26 May – Sunday 27 May 2018

The Fifteenth Princethorpe-Kingsley Wigley Group National Schools’ Two Day Event takes place for the fourth year running on the magnificent Princethorpe estate.

The 80cm class continues again, as well as Novice 90cm and Open 100cm classes. Once again, the event includes Independent Schools' Association Classes. Show Jumping and Dressage take place on the Saturday starting at 8.00am with Roads and Tracks, Steeplechase and Cross Country on the Sunday commencing at 9.00am

Please come along and enjoy a wonderful weekend of equestrian events.

Wednesday 6 June - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

The College's Summer Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 6 June from 6.00pm - 8.30pm. This is an informal opportunity for prospective families to look around the school and to meet members of staff and pupils.

There will be activities in each department for children to participate in, and the Headmaster will also address visitors in the Chapel during the evening. Light refreshments are available.

There is no need to book.

For further admissions and Open Event information please contact the Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney, on 01926 634201 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Please be advised, Extended Day will be moved to LF01, LF02, LF04 and LF05 on this day. The room change will be signposted and pupils notified. 

Friday 8 June and Saturday 9 June

The College is looking forward to welcoming back the Sudden Impulse Theatre Company in June for two outdoor performances of William Shakespeare's play, The Comedy of Errors.

The Comedy of Errors is believed to be one of Shakespeare's earlier written plays; a true farce ahead of its time. The story involves two sets of twins, separated at birth, being thrown together in a tale of mistaken identity.

The performances are open to the public and will take place on the Sixth Form Lawn as follows:

Friday 8 June - 6.30pm to 10.00pm

Saturday 9 June - 3.30pm to 7.00pm

So bring a picnic and, if last year’s performances are anything to go by, enjoy some perfect summer entertainment.

Tickets are available from www.suddenimpulse.co.uk and will be priced at £12 or £10 for concessions.

6.00pm Thursday 14 June 2018

PALs Theatre would like to invite you to an original production of Lost Girls, a sequel,  with a twist, to Peter Pan written and directed by Year 10 pupils Abbie O'Carroll-Bailey and Georgia McCallum. 

The performance will be in the Clarkson Theatre at 6.00pm on Thursday 14 June. This is not a ticketed event, but seating for the performance is limited so to reserve your places please click here. Charitable donations can be made at the door and all proceeds will go to our supported charities. We look forward to seeing you in Neverland.  

Abbie O'Carroll-Bailey and Georgia McCallum
Year 10

Friday 15 June 2018 6.30pm to 8.30pm

All Lower Sixth students and their families are invited to join the Sixth Form team for a summer BBQ. A time to be able to socialise, relax, have some fun and raise money for the charity The Ups of Downs.

The BBQ will be held outside the Sixth Form Centre from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and tickets will cost £10 per parent/Lower Sixth student and £5 for children under twelve. The cost of the ticket will include food, a drink on arrival (prosecco for the adults, a soft drink for everyone else), live music and games. There will be a paying bar available too.

We hope you will be able to join us for our first ever parent/student summer social. Please click here to book your place before Friday 8 June.

Ben Collie
Head of Sixth Form

Do you have a Year 5 child who is creative and innovative? Do they love getting to grips with a problem and coming up with a solution? Then why not get them to take on the Princethorpe Year 5 Design Technology Challenge.

In our well-equipped DT studios, the children will be set a series of space-themed challenges. They will be able to try their hands at electronics or work with materials such as wood, plastic or food and textiles. After a well-deserved lunch, they'll go home with a sense of achievement and their very own 'one'off' products.

There is no charge for the day and break and lunch will be provided. Collection will be at 1.15pm from the Sixth Form Centre, where parents will be able to see the work produced during the morning and join us for a buffet lunch.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Please complete the online form here by Friday 8 June and we will advise you as to whether a space is available soon after.

For more information contact Helen Morgan, Assistant Registrar on 01926 634262 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Tuesday 19 June 2018 - 7.30pm

Sixth Form Lecture Theatre

Followed by wine and light refreshments in the Atrium

The Christian church is one of mission. At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples to go and teach all the nations, baptising in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This talk will look at the different ways art was used to communicate God’s Word in early Medieval times.  Our investigation will begin in the Mediterranean, where we will gaze upon sparkling mosaics, intricately carved ivories and wooden doors. We will then consider what was going on in the British Isles in the seventh and eighth centuries, and how Mediterranean art influenced creative minds in the far reaches of the ‘known’ world. Beautifully illustrated manuscripts, like the Codex Amiatinus, impressive stone crosses, such as the one at Ruthwell, not only communicated Scripture but also encouraged emotional responses in the viewers and contributed to prayerful relationships with the Divine.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door, adults £5.00; but advance notice helps with catering, please. Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent pupils free of charge. Please complete the booking form here. We are happy to receive provisional bookings by e-mail, please, to alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk

Thursday 21 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 24 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

A celebration of our pupils GCSE, AS and A2 Art, Photography and Design work will take place in the College's Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 21 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 24 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

A range of design technology projects, from resistant materials to textiles, will be showcased alongside the stunning art and photography work the College is renowned for.

Comments, Paul Hubball, Head of Art, "This is a great opportunity to share our pupils' fantastic creativity with a wider audience and to welcome more art and design lovers to Princethorpe."
Added Head of Design Technology, Paul Scopes, "We look forward to welcoming all the exam pupils and their families from across Design, Art and Photography to enjoy the fruit of their labours."

All are welcome. On Thursday evening admission is free, on the Sunday admission will be £2 per car including entry to the College's Summer Fete and Motoring Festival. Light refreshments will be served.

Thursday 21 June 2018 to Saturday 23 June 2018

Grease meets The Big Bang Theory, as the College’s Musical Theatre group show what it’s like to be an American teenager in this fun and energetic performance of Loserville. 

It tells the story of Michael Dork and his closest friends, a group of socially awkward teenage boys struggling through High School in 1970s America. Michael is trying to invent email, Lucas is writing his first Sci-Fi novel (Galaxy Battles; Episode 4) and Marvin and Francis spend all their time building a space ship from a shopping trolley. They are constantly being thwarted by popular and privileged school quarterback, Eddie Arch and his cronies.

Then one day, a new girl arrives at the school. Holly is intelligent, funny and harbours a desire to become NASA’s first woman in space. Her sudden arrival throws everyone’s world into turmoil.

Loserville is filled with brilliant and energetic rock songs by James Bourne of Busted. Come along for the ride to find out if our heroes ever get their “Ticket Outta Loseville”.

Tickets will be on sale shortly…

Gil Cowlishaw
Head of Music

Wednesday 20 June 2018 at 7.30pm

At our meeting in May, we discussed Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor.  This was enjoyed by members of the group as a very sensitively observed and credible portrayal of village life.  The book opens with the disappearance of a young girl which leads to much media interest.  It is worth pointing out, however, that the fate of the girl is never discovered.  It is helpful to know this as otherwise readers can be looking out for clues that are simply not there.   The book charts the ebb and flow of the lives of the villagers but does not have a conventional plot.  This seems to be McGregor’s point.  He is simply giving us a slice of life and letting us draw our own conclusions about the material.   

We will be meeting again at 7.30pm in the library on Wednesday 20 June.  On this occasion we’ll be talking about Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, a first novel by Gail Honeyman which has been a best-seller now for many weeks.  Please come along whether or not you have read this book.  We’ll be thinking about books for summer reading and giving each other a few recommendations.  We’re a small friendly group and always welcome new faces, so we’d be very pleased to see you.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Friday 22 June 2018 at 11.15am in the Chapel followed by a buffet lunch on the Sixth Form Centre lawn at 12.30pm

Thank you to the many parents who have already replied to the Headmaster's invitation to this event.  If you are yet to reply, please use the link below to let us know whether or not you will be attending.

Please click here to RSVP  

An extract from the Headmaster's letter can be found below.

Carmel Hopkins
PA to the Headmaster

Extract from the letter posted to all Year 11 parents:

There will be a Thanksgiving Service on Friday 22 June 2018 at 11.15am in the Chapel followed by a buffet lunch on the Sixth Form Centre lawn at 12.30pm for all Year 11 pupils.  

This is a beautiful occasion and parents are warmly invited to both the service and to lunch.  If you would like to attend, and to help with catering arrangements, I would be very grateful if you would rsvp by Friday 8 June using the link which will be sent to you shortly by email.

This will be a special day for the pupils.  They come into school wearing suits\smart clothing following the Sixth Form dress code.  Pupils need to arrive in school at the normal time on this day ie 8.40am and will be free to leave school, after the buffet lunch, from 2.00pm

Friday 22 June 2018 - 6.00pm optional tour, 7.00pm drinks reception, 7.30pm supper

OPs who left the College in 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2008 are cordially invited back to the OPs annual Summer Supper on Friday 22 June to celebrate their respective 50th, 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries of leaving.

Comments OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, "We know many OPs are keener to come to these events if they can be sure of seeing some familiar faces. By focusing on these year groups we hope to get a critical mass of attendees, although OPs from other years will of course be welcome too!"

The Summer Supper is an established event in the OPs calendar, attracting a large number of OPs, former and current members of staff. The supper is preceded by an optional tour and drinks in the Quad. Every year the OPs recognise long-standing members of staff and say farewell to any staff leaving the College.

Numbers are limited to around 100 guests, so if you would like to attend please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk, message Old Princethorpians on Facebook or call Melanie Butler on 01926 634284 by Wednesday 13 June to reserve your place.

Sunday 24 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm 

The Motoring Festival always coincides with the College Summer Fete, which takes place on the last Sunday in June. This year's event is on Sunday 24 June 2018.

The Festival is open to anyone keen to bring any sort of classic, vintage, veteran or interesting vehicle along for the afternoon. There will be rally plaques for all pre-booked vehicles and awards for self-judged competitions.

The Festival is preceded by an informal morning road run of about 30 miles through the Warwickshire countryside. Vehicles taking part in the run need to arrive at Princethorpe for 11.00am. There is no charge for classic vehicles entering the festival or taking part in the road run.

Barbecued food is available for a nominal charge on return to Princethorpe at lunchtime, or feel free to bring a picnic.

The Summer Fête takes place in the Orchard between 2.00pm and 4.30pm, unless the weather is inclement when we will retire indoors.  There will be lots of entertainment both for children and adults alike including a large inflatable slide for the kids, BBQ, refreshments, bar, pupils’ stalls, over 30 external stalls, a raffle and many, many more exciting things for all the family to enjoy.

On-line registration for the 2018 event is open now! See below.

For a Motoring Festival 2018 Newsletter click here

To register a vehicle online click here

For a booking form in Word click here

For a club booking form in Word click here

Further details from Alex Darkes on 01926 634207 or email alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk

Tuesday 26 June 2018 at 7.00pm (rsvp by Friday 15 June )

Thank you to the many parents who have already replied to the Headmaster's invitation to this event. If you are yet to reply, please use the link below to let us know whether or not you will be attending.

Please click here to RSVP. 

An extract from the Headmaster's letter can be found below.

Carmel Hopkins
PA to the Headmaster

Extract from the letter posted to all Upper Sixth parents and students:

You are warmly invited to the Upper Sixth Thanksgiving Eucharist and Buffet Supper on Tuesday 26 June 2018

The evening starts at 7.00pm with a celebration Eucharist in the College Chapel, after which we shall all adjourn to the Sixth Form Centre for a buffet supper. The dress code is smart jacket and tie for men and equivalent for ladies. This will, I’m sure, be a very enjoyable and beautiful occasion; it is a celebration of all that this Upper Sixth group and their parents have contributed to the Princethorpe community over the years. I very much hope you will all be able to come.

To help with catering arrangements, I would be very grateful if you would rsvp by Friday 15 June using the link which will be sent to you shortly by email, indicating whether or not you will be able to join us for this evening and how many people will be in your party.

Tuesday 3 July 2018 at 7.30pm in the Chapel

Followed by refreshments in the Atrium

Once again, Tim Campain, Director of Music at Warwick Road United Reformed Church, Coventry, will play a wide variety of pieces from various genres on the renowned Princethorpe Binns’ organ of 1901.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door; but advance notice helps catering, please. Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent School pupils free of charge. Please complete the booking form here. We are happy to receive provisional bookings by e-mail, please, to alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk