The Flagpole

We have great pleasure in unveiling the OPs' events calendar for the forthcoming academic year.

By popular demand this year the programme of events has expanded to include more former parents events and the reintroduction of the Princethorpe Open at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club, which will be open to OPs, current and former parents, staff and friends of the College.

The popular London and Leamington meets return with a spring pub meet in Leamington at the Royal Pug on Friday 1 March and an early summer gathering in London at the Bull Dog Bar, The Clarence, Whitehall on Friday 17 May.

The OPs' Summer Supper, a favourite event in the calendar, will take place on Friday 28 June 2019, this time celebrating the leavers of 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2009, although leavers of other years are also most welcome.

All OPs, past parents and staff are welcome to participate in any or all of the events. Click here to download the calendar or visit the Old Princethorpians section at www.princethorpe.co.uk for more information on Old Princethorpians.

Saturday 1 September 2018 - 10.45pm to 6.00pm

It looks like we are once again going to be blessed with lovely weather for the 8th annual Old Princethorpians' Sports Day (and 10th John Shinkwin Trophy Match) on Saturday 1 September. 

We are planning to repeat last year's successful format with a relaxing day that mixes sporting matches with music, a BBQ, ice cream van and a bar.

As in previous years points will be accumulated throughout the day, with the Alex Wallis Memorial Shield being awarded to the victors at the end of the main programme.

As a finale to the day the OPs XV will be taking on local club, Harbury RFC.

Format of day:

10.45am to 12.00pm Football OPs vs Staff

12.00pm to 1.00pm Hockey Princethorpe College 1st XI Girls vs OPs XI (x 2)

1.15pm to 2.15pm Hockey Princethorpe College 1st XI Boys vs OPs XI (x 2)

1.30pm to 2.30pm Netball Princethorpe College 1st VII Girls vs OPs VII (x 2)

2.30pm to 3.45pm Rugby - John Shinkwin Trophy - Princethorpe College 1st XV Boys vs OPs XV (leavers of 2017 and 2016)

3.45pm to 5.00pm Rugby - OPs XV vs Harbury RFC

5.30pm - After Match Awards

Please come along and support all the teams!

Thursday 6 September 2018 - Sunday 16 September 2018

The recently refurbished and re-ordered church at St Anne's, Wappenbury, CV33 9DW will be open on the following dates:

Thursday 6 September - Saturday 8 September 9.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday 9 September 9.30am - 5.00pm
(light refreshments, 9.30am - 1.00pm)

Thursday 13 September - Saturday 15 September 9.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday 16 September 9.30am - 5.00pm
(light refreshments, 9.30am - 1.00pm)

The original chapel was built circa 1734 and the new chapel of St Anne's was built in the 1800s.

Please do come and see this little Warwickshire treasure - it is only five minutes drive from the College. 

A regular Mass is celebrated at 8.30am each Sunday by Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC

Visit the website, which is currently under construction, but will give you a flavour of what to expect - click here

Sunday 9 September 2018 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Built in 1832, St Mary's Priory was one of the first Catholic buildings in England after the reformation. Come for a tour of the magnificent building and learn all about its history, including the amazing women that made it the place it is today.

From 1833 until 1966, St Mary's Priory was home to a congregation of Benedictine nuns who ran a boarding school for girls. This community sold the priory in 1966 and a new school was established by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, who had previously run a boys' school in Leamington Spa. Princethorpe College is now a fully co-educational Catholic independent day school.

Our archive team will be conducting free tours of the College on Sunday 9 September from 2.00pm - 4.00pm. Areas open include Pugin’s magnificent chapel, the cloisters, nuns’ cells, library (former church) and roundhouse.

No booking is required; just turn up and join the next available tour. Entrance is via the glazed link off the North Car Park.

Admission is free and there is complimentary tea and coffee available. We would be delighted to see you!

Wednesday 12 September 2018 at 7.30pm

We will be having our first meeting of the Parents’ Reading Group in the library at 7.30pm on Wednesday 12 September. On this occasion we will be talking about Conclave by Robert Harris and The Island by Victoria Hislop, two very different novels which members have been reading over the summer. We hope to welcome new members this year so please come along whether or not you have had an opportunity to read these books.

We are a friendly group of readers who are happy to try anything new so please join us if you would like some fresh suggestions for your own reading or if you have reading interest you would be able to share with the group. If you are unsure where to go, just let me know you are coming and I’ll be happy to meet and greet. Come alone or bring a friend.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Saturday 22 September 2018 - 10.30am to 5.15pm

Those who are familiar with the history of Princethorpe College, will know that from the middle of the nineteenth century until 1966, the campus was home to the Benedictine nuns of St Mary’s Priory which also ran a small boarding school for about eighty girls. Many of the Very Special Old Princethorpians (VSOPs) are still in touch with the school and some have very strong links either because their parents or close relatives attended the priory school or children subsequently attended Princethorpe College.

Princethorpe College hosts a VSOP reunion every two years and the next takes place on Saturday 22 September 2018. This is primarily an opportunity for the old girls from St Mary’s Priory to get together, catch up and reminisce, though there is an outline structure to the day which includes lunch, a look at the archives, a tour and an afternoon Mass. As in previous years, the day will be very informal and you are free to opt in or out of any of the activities which are planned.

The timetable for the day will be as follows:

10.30am – 11.00am         Tea and coffee available
(walk around the grounds if you arrive earlier)

11.00am – 12.30pm         Meet old friends and reminisce

12.30pm – 2.00pm           Buffet (seated) lunch
(please let us know if you have special dietary requirements)

2.00pm – 3.30pm             Time to explore
(there will also be an optional guided tour and there is a lift to the first floor).

Historical records will be available to view in the Library. If you have anything of interest please do bring it along to share.

3.30pm – 4.15pm             Mass in Our Lady of the Angels' Church
                                       celebrated by Fr Teddy O’Brien MSC

4.15pm – 5.15pm             Tea and departure

There will be no charge for the re-union.

For those keen to attend, please get in touch with Loretta Curtis 01926 634200 xtn 326 or lorettacurtis@princethorpe.co.uk and confirm by Monday 10 September at the latest.

These are always fascinating days and we always learn new stories and facts about our beloved Princethorpe.

Thursday 27 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm

The College Open Morning will take place on Thursday 27 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm. This is a chance to look around the school on a normal working day, prior to Entrance Examinations Day on Saturday 10 November 2018.  Year 8 and 9 pupils will act as tour guides and light refreshments will be available.

Taster Days for children who will be in Year 6 in September are available on the following dates:

• Tuesday 11 September
• Thursday 13 September
• Wednesday 19 September and
• Tuesday 2 October

Children looking at Year 7 or 8 entry for September 2019 can also attend a Taster Day on Tuesday 2 October. To register your interest in a Year 6 Taster Day click here and to register your interest in the Year 7/8 Taster Day click here.

Those wishing to register for Entrance Examinations should do so by the deadline of Friday 5 October to facilitate the gathering of references from junior schools. Registration forms are available from the Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney on 01926 634201 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Entrance Examinations for Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 will take place on Saturday 10 November 2018 from 9.30am to 3.30pm. More information is available on our website, click here.

Tuesday 2 October 2018 - 10.00am to 3.00pm

Crackley Hall, Princethorpe's junior school and nursery in Kenilworth, is opening its doors for an Open Day on Tuesday 2 October 2018 from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, no need to book.

We have places available in Nursery, Junior 1, 2 and 4 and will be recruiting for places in Reception 2019.  Please speak to our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan for availability in other years.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to look around the school, please call our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit http://www.crackleyhall.co.uk/

Friday 5 October 2018 - 10.00am to 3.00pm

The Crescent School, the Foundation's junior school for 4 to 11 year olds in Bilton, Rugby, is opening its doors for an Open Day on Friday 5 October from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, no need to book.

We have a limited number of places available and are now accepting registrations for admission to Reception in September 2019.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to visit the school, please call our Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley on 01788 521595 or email admissions@crescentschool.co.uk and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit http://www.crescentschool.co.uk/