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Letter From The Headmaster - September 2018

Welcome to the first Flagpole of the 2018-19 academic year and a special welcome to all parents new to the school. As I write, we are just finishing three very productive staff training days; these allow us to both prepare for the year ahead and also to focus on how we can deliver the best possible education to all the children in our care.

Over the holidays we had well over a hundred pupils and staff safely return from the Costa Rica Expedition, the 202-mile Wales cycling tour and the spiritual retreat to Taizé. These were rewarding, enjoyable and in many cases life-changing experiences and I thank the staff who gave up their precious holiday time to support our pupils.

You will be aware that each year we steadily develop our campus and improve our facilities. Although we had no major construction projects this summer, we have had a major upgrading of our ICT infrastructure and refurbished many areas of the campus including the Art corridor which now looks wonderful.  In addition, we are also now in a position to request planning permission for our new Science laboratories; having had a “virtual tour” of this building last week I can assure you it will be a stunning addition to our campus and hugely benefit all our pupils’ learning.

Of course, towards the end of summer, the examination results loom large: this year was particularly nerve-wracking for both pupils and staff with so many new specifications, the phasing out of the modular A-levels and of course the new GCSE grading scheme with numbers 9 to 1 in most subjects. As I expect you will be aware by now, we are delighted with the results achieved by our pupils a few weeks ago both at A-level and GSCE. We strive hard to ensure that each member of the College’s community makes the most of their own talents. Princethorpe is certainly not an examination factory - when pupils leave, they do so with so much more than an examination certificate - but we do take great pride in trying to ensure that all our pupils achieve the very best possible academic results.

At A-level, we had seventeen high fliers who achieved three or more A* or A grades including Head Girl, Miriam Isaacs, Head Boy, Tim Duffy and the College’s highest achieving student James Fletcher, who will now go on to read Law at Trinity College, Oxford.

We were delighted that we have achieved our best ever haul of A* and A grades but also, more importantly, over 90% of our students have been accepted to study at their first choice university or on their chosen apprenticeship scheme, with the remainder also doing exceptionally well and securing their second choice. We wish all our leavers well for the next phase of their education and look forward to welcoming them back on Friday 16 November to the annual Prize Giving, which this year will be held at the Dallas Burston Polo Club.  I hope that many of you will be able to attend this special occasion – further details will be circulated in due course.

At GCSE, 43% of all entries were graded the coveted new 9, 8 or 7 grades (A* or A grades) and a stunning 39 of our Year 11 pupils achieved eight or more 9, 8, 7 or A* or A grades. Overall 92% of the grades pupils received were A*-C or 9-4 grades.

Many Princethorpe pupils achieved the new 9 grade with the highest individual results achieved by Caitlin McBride who achieved nine 9s, two A*s and an A grade and Sophie Mitchell who achieved nine 9s and two A* grades.

We are of course delighted with the exceptionally high number of top grades but are proud of all our pupils who have worked hard and done their very best.  Whilst academic results are important, we value their qualities of kindness, respect, determination and friendship.

As we look to the new academic year I thank, in advance, all parents for your support over the year ahead. At the first school assembly next week, I shall be talking about the importance of making a strong start and getting into good habits to ensure a successful year and will be talking about two things vital for the strong start: Sleep and Systems.

Sleep: As I am sure you are aware, getting a good night’s sleep is critical for the health and well-being of us all, but in particular teenagers. The evidence is that many are getting nowhere near the minimum of seven hours (eight is better) of proper regular sleep per night and that mobile phones and other electronic devices are quite often the main reason why. Of course this can have a hugely detriment effect on the child’s academic progress and social development.  I would urge all parents to discuss these issues with their children (from Year 7 right through to the Sixth Form) and do all you can to support healthy sleep routines at home.

Systems: a few years ago we changed our report grade of “Organisation” to “Systems”. The difference is subtle, but whilst some seem to have better “natural” organisational skills, everyone can develop their systems to ensure they can successfully cope with the rigours of day-to-day life at school. We do a lot of work on developing good strategies and systems at school, but again I would welcome all parents’ support in helping develop their children’s systems at home to support their busy school lives. 

If you would like any further help or advice on either sleep or systems, please do contact your son or daughter’s form tutor initially. Conversely, if you have any top tips that you have found work for your children on sleep or systems, please do send them to me and in the next Flagpole, I will share them (anonymously if you prefer…) with you all. 

Finally, I hope that you and your families have had a peaceful and happy summer and look forward to seeing you over the course of the year. 

With all best wishes

Ed Hester
Headmaster

OVO Energy Cycle Tour Of Britain - Expected Traffic Congestion Near College - Wednesday 5 September 3.00pm - 3.45pm (Approximate Times)

Parents are advised that there may be traffic delays on the afternoon of Wednesday 5 September from 3.00pm due to Stage 4 of the Cycle Tour of Britain, which will be passing very close to the College. There will be a rolling closure of roads in the vicinity of the College from 3.00pm to 3.45pm although this time may vary. This will impact on buses and cars approaching the College and also on the flow of traffic away from the College after school.

For further information on the cycle route please see: http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage-four/

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

Best Ever Academic Results For Princethorpe’s A-level Pupils

Princethorpe College is celebrating its best ever set of A-level results. 107 students sat A-level examinations this summer, over a third (34%) have been awarded A* or A grades, more than 80% have achieved A* to C grades.

Ed Hester, Headmaster said, “These students have worked so hard and we are incredibly proud of their achievements.”

Amongst the seventeen high fliers who achieved three or more A* or A grades were Head Girl, Miriam Isaacs, Head Boy, Tim Duffy, Ed Williamson who received his results on his 18th birthday and the College’s highest achieving student James Fletcher who will now go on to read Law at Trinity College, Oxford.

Ed Hester, continued, “We are thrilled that we have achieved our best ever haul of A*/A grades but also, more importantly, over 90% of our students have been accepted to study at their first choice university or on their chosen apprenticeship scheme, with the remainder also doing exceptionally well and securing their second choice. We have had another great year and today’s results show that the hard work of both students and staff has been richly rewarded. We are proud of their academic achievements, but these students have many other fine qualities: kindness, respect and a strong sense of right and wrong, which will be tremendously important for them as they move on to the next phase of their lives. We congratulate them all on their success and wish them the very best for the future”.

 

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Princethorpe Pupils Nail The New 9 Grade

Princethorpe College is once again celebrating excellent GCSE results. From a cohort of 154 pupils 43% of all entries were graded the coveted new 9, 8 or 7 grades (A* or A grades) and 39 of its Year 11 pupils achieved eight or more 9, 8, 7 or A* or A grades.

Many Princethorpe pupils nailed the new 9 grade with the best individual results achieved by Caitlin McBride who achieved nine 9s, two A*s and an A grade and Sophie Mitchell who achieved nine 9s and two A* grades.

Princethorpe pupils performed well in all the core subjects but the College is again delighted to receive its best ever English results with this year 64% of pupils achieving 9, 8 or 7 grades. Overall 92% of the grades pupils received were A*-C or 9-4 grades.

Given the rarity of the new 9 grade, and the new more demanding GCSE courses, Princethorpe’s pupils have really excelled themselves: the College also had 11 pupils achieve a grade 9 in Art and its Scientists secured no less than 41 grade 9s.

Headmaster, Ed Hester said, “I would like to congratulate all of our Year 11 pupils. I am delighted with the excellent results they have achieved across the board; it is a privilege to be amongst so many happy pupils this morning and marvellous to be able to celebrate such success. We are of course delighted with the exceptionally high number of top grades but are proud of all our pupils who have worked hard and done their very best. Whilst their results are important, this year group have also demonstrated many fine qualities worth celebrating, such as kindness, respect, determination and friendship.”

He continued, “All credit goes to our pupils and staff for their commitment and hard work. The College goes from strength to strength and we look forward to welcoming the vast majority of this cohort back into our successful Sixth Form for the next stage of their education.”

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A Warm Welcome To New College Staff

Princethorpe College is welcoming plenty of new faces this Michaelmas Term, as in addition to its new pupils the school also has a number of new staff members.

Pictured here on their Induction Day the new staff include two Assistant Heads, three Heads of Department, seven teachers, three teaching assistants and a member of support staff.

Together they bring a wealth of new experience to the school and we extend a warm welcome to them all.

Joining the College at the start of the term are:

Andy Compton – Foundation Assistant Head - Director of Digital Strategy

Liz Pyne – Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

Emma Cooper – Head of Science and Chemistry

Jen Law – Head of Girls' Games

Tomi Owens – Head of Mathematics

Nicola Borman – Teacher of English

Louisa Fielding – Teacher of Economics and Business

Loretta Jones – Teacher of Law

Miranda Porter – Teacher of Design and Technology

Francesca Wright – Teacher of Science

Callum Ford – Teaching Assistant

Ben Haden – Teaching Assistant

Luke Tallis – Teaching Assistant

Claire Lloyd – Recruitment Co-ordinator

Starting later this term to provide maternity cover are:

Rachel Beasley – Teacher of Mathematics

Anna Fennell-McLoughlin – Teacher of MFL

Countdown To Entrance Exams For 2019 Entry Begins

With just ten weeks to go the countdown to the College's Entrance Exams for admission in September 2019 has begun. This year the exams for Year 7 to 10 entry will take place on Saturday 10 November from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Our friendly Admissions Team has been kept busy over the summer accepting registrations from prospective parents.  The deadline for registrations is ideally Friday 5 October, to enable the seeking of references from junior schools.

There are plenty of opportunities for prospective pupils and their parents to visit the College before the Entrance Exams, including our Open Morning on Thursday 27 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm, when pupil tour guides will be available to show visitors around the school.

The College will also be hosting Taster Days for children in Years 6, 7 and 8 (as of September 2018).  For more information please contact the Admissions Team on 01926 634262.

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

If you have any queries relating to admissions please feel free to email the Registrars at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk or call them on 01926 634201.

Trip To Taizé Was Truly Inspirational

In July eleven pupils and two staff travelled to Taizé, an extraordinary Christian community made up of Catholics and Protestants, situated in a small village in the Bergerac region of the south of France. The community was founded in 1940 by a Swiss Protestant, Roger Schütz (Brother Roger) who wanted to live a simple life of prayer and to offer a haven for the many refugees fleeing Germany at the time. From the start, the community that grew around him (which now numbers 100 brothers) was characterised by the search for peace and reconciliation in the human family.

During the 10-day trip, the Princethorpe pilgrims camped and experienced community life with around 2,000 other young people from across Europe and beyond.  Three times a day they gathered with the brothers in the church to sing and reflect in silence. They also took part in discussion workshops with young people of their own age and had plenty of free time for socialising too. 

Reflecting on the trip, Y11’s Hannah Bryer, commented, “One of the most memorable moments for me was when we met our Bible discussion group and made many new friends, some of whom I am still in touch with.  It was interesting to find out about other countries and their cultures and realise how different they are.”  She continued, “Another memorable experience was when we served food at lunch. It was great fun as you got to meet so many people, as well as having a laugh with the people you were serving with.”

Trip leader, Rod Isaacs, explained, “No one who has been to Taizé comes back unchanged.  Whether they see themselves as religious or not, they leave with a deeper appreciation of what a Christian community can offer. I think they also discover in themselves a new spirit of generosity. They get a sense of joy in being with so many young people from other cultures and countries. It’s a truly inspirational place.”

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Princethorpe’s Cyclists Conquer 202-Mile Challenge

Over the summer holidays, Princethorpe College’s Cycling Club undertook the 202-mile Coast-to-Coast Challenge that runs from the bottom to the top of Wales.  This infamous route, known as the Lon Las Cymru, is one that really tests a cyclist’s mettle.

On the seven-day trip, eleven pupils and four staff pedalled from Chepstow Castle in the south, up through the Gospel Pass and Hay-on-Wye, into the Black and the Cambrian Mountains, then up into Snowdonia, passing through Machynlleth, Dolgellau and on past Harlech and Criccieth Castles to finish at one of the loveliest towns in North Wales, Caernarfon.  Along the way, Princethorpe’s tourers cycled up through the highest pass in Wales, undertook one of the steepest ascents in the National Cycle Network and enjoyed some of Wales’ most picturesque views.

Minor teething problems such as the inevitable saddle sores and punctures did not dent the cheerful spirit of the group, who embraced all they encountered with enthusiasm and resilience.

Staying in comfortable Youth Hostels along the way there was plenty of recovery time for the boys and they even managed to watch one of England's World Cup matches on the big screen at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth.

Trip leader, Will Bower, commented on the camaraderie of the boys, “What was most impressive was the bonding between the pack. With boys from across different year groups it was great to see how well they got on, how they helped and encouraged one another during some of our longer days when we were riding well over 40 miles.”

For all of the tourers the sense of pride and achievement as they approached Caernarfon was palpable.  Princethorpe’s 2018 Cycling Challenge was a super summer adventure that made memories and muscles that will surely last a lifetime.

With thanks to the accompanying members of staff: Will Bower, Cyp Vella, Daniel White and Debs Brookes.

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