News

U15 Rugby Boys In The Final Eight Of Prestigious NatWest Plate

Princethorpe College’s Boys U15 Rugby team have qualified, for the very first time, for the quarter-finals of the NatWest Schools National Plate competition. 

The boys earned their well-deserved place in the final eight in a hard-fought match on home turf against RGS Worcester on Monday 14 January.  Their delight in their success was only heightened when the team got a shout-out later that evening on national radio thanks to an enterprising parent, Mr Richard Draper, who contacted the new Sara Cox Radio 2 Drivetime Show.

Talking about the match, Team Captain, Oscar Blunsom-Washbrook, commented “We had a good first half, but in the second we gave away too many penalties.  It was a very nervous last ten minutes, but the team showed real resilience to get the win.”

Along the way the boys had beaten King Edward’s Birmingham, Old Swinford Hospital and Ellesmere College to get to the fourth round and their excellent 15 – 9 victory means they will now play Hymers College away in the quarter-finals of the prestigious NatWest Plate on Monday 4 February.

The boys now have an amazing opportunity to experience the knockout stages of a national competition as they look to progress into the semi-finals.  However, reaching the quarter-finals alone is a reflection of the effort, tenacity and dedication of pupils and staff over the season.  We wish them every success for the upcoming match.

Minor Girls, Junior Girls And Inter Boys Are County Cross Country Champions

The Warwickshire Schools County Cross Country Championships took place on Saturday 19 January 2019 at Moreton Morrell College.  It was a cold, damp and rainy day and a hilly, challenging, grass course but the runners doggedly turned a blind eye to the filthy weather as they tackled the tough, undulating terrain.

35 Princethorpe runners took part from Years 7 to 11 competing against runners from some 25 Warwickshire schools.  All the early morning cross country training runs paid dividend with another excellent set of results for the College; team placings are based on the positions of the first four runners from a school.  The Minor Girls, Junior Girls and Inter Boys all placed first overall claiming the County Cross Country Championship titles.  The Minor Boys also ran well to come second and the Junior Boys third.

The Minor Girls and Minor Boys ran 2.3km, the Junior Girls 3.25km, the Junior Boys and Inter Girls 3.85km and the Inter Boys 5.2km.

Year 7, Kate Pomerleau ran superbly to finish second overall in the Minor Girls race, with Sage Wesbury coming in close behind (6th), Kaena Wasley (14th) and Jemima Teeton (15th).

For the Junior Girls an excellent team effort saw Evie Phillips come home first (9th), followed by Grace Darcy (10th), Julia Loftus (12th) and Jess Evans (15th). 

Helping the Inter Boys team to first place were Will Crowfoot (7th), Luke Palmer (8th), Tom Crowfoot (9th) and Ben Scares (10th).

For the Minor Boys, Oscar Reynolds was first across the line (8th) followed by Ollie Farquharson (11th) and Thomas Windley (15th).  

Best placed in a competitive Junior Boys race was Ed Mitchell (14th).

Molly Minshull and Erin Darcy ran their nearly 4km course confidently to place (7th) and (11th) respectively for the Inter Girls.

Princethorpe’s runners’ excellent individual placings mean that many will now be considered for selection to represent the Midlands in the English Schools Athletics Association (ESAA) Cross Country Cup taking place in Leeds later this year.

Year 7’s Kate Pomerleau, Sage Westbury and Oscar Reynolds will also be considered for the Primary and Year 7 National Cross Country Finals, which will be held at Prestwich Hall in Loughborough in March.

Head of Outdoor Education/PE Teacher, Will Bower commented, "It was good to see the College so well represented at the County Championships.  Well done to all of our competitors, we saw some excellent personal performances in a tough race in freezing, wet conditions. I am delighted with the overall team results, not least placing first in three of the age groups we entered."

 

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Freshers’ Fair Allows Year 11 To Explore Life In The Sixth Form

The Year 11s Freshers’ Fair took place on Thursday 24 January and offered another opportunity for Year 11 to explore life in the College’s Sixth Form and consider their A-level subject choices.

Set out in the Sixth Form Centre Atrium were a host of subject stalls with vivid displays, models and informative handouts, all manned by enthusiastic Sixth Form Subject Ambassadors and teachers.  Pupils had the chance to wander freely, to visit the different stalls for the subjects they are considering studying and to ask any questions they might have.

The Year 11s were also given the opportunity to visit the Sixth Form Resource Centre and Common Room to get a feel for some of the wider Sixth Form facilities.  Sixth Form pupils and staff gave presentations on what life was like in the Sixth Form including information on the many enrichment and leadership opportunities available and the different sorts of support. 

Orchestrated by Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie, the fair will have helped facilitate Year 11s decision making process.

Commented Ben Collie, “Some Year 11s already know what subjects they want to study at A-level but others are less sure.  The Freshers’ Fair was an opportunity for pupils to speak with students already studying the subjects, as well as a chance for them all to come into the Sixth Form Centre on a busy school day.”

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Everything Is Awesome At Princethorpe’s Choral Fun Day

Nearly 80 young singers from local primary schools enjoyed a super day of singing when they joined Princethorpe's Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, Music Teacher, Alison Wakeley, Peripatetic Music Co-ordinator, Felicity Coulson and twenty members of the Princethorpe College Choir for a fantastic Choral Fun Day.

The Year 5 and 6 pupils tackled a variety of choral pieces from popular favourites such as Katie Perry’s Roar, classics such as Abba’s I Have A Dream and The Beatles’ Nowhere Man, traditional works such as Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho and The Sally Gardens, to the wonderfully corny hit Everything Is Awesome from the LEGO movie.

As well as rehearsing furiously, the visiting children took part in a musical team scavenger hunt and enjoyed lunch in the Refectory.

The day culminated in an impressive gala performance of their newly learnt pieces in front of an enthusiastic capacity audience of family and friends in the College's newly refurbished Clarkson theatre, followed by afternoon tea for all.

Commenting on the day, Gil Cowlishaw said, "We were really impressed by the children. They achieved such a lot in just a few hours, learning six songs and then taking to the stage to perform is no mean feat, well done to them all!”

A special thank you to all of the fantastic Princethorpe pupils and staff involved in supporting the day.

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Interest High At French Cycling Pilgrimage #2 Information Evening

There was a high level of interest in last night's French Cycling Pilgrimage #2 Information Evening held in the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre.

The trip, which is aimed at parents, staff and Old Princethorpians, will take place next May Half Term, from Saturday 25 May to Wednesday 29 May.

Led by the Headmaster, Ed Hester, the pilgrimage will return to the beautiful Loire Valley. The 100-mile route will wend its way from Saumur to Amboise via Azay le Rideau and Chinon, taking in some wonderful countryside, stunning chateaux and vineyards.

Over French cheese and wine, potential pilgrims were talked through the trip itinerary and logistics, informed about fundraising for Mary's Meals, had the chance to ask questions and given details about how to sign up for the trip. 

Comments, Ed Hester, "There's only four months to go until the pilgrimage starts and we already have a fantastic bunch of people on board, many of whom took part in the first Cycling Pilgrimage, back in 2017 for the Golden Jubilee. We have planned the five day trip to allow plenty of time for chateaux and wine tasting, we estimate the cost including travel, food and accommodation will be around the £500 per person mark. Places will be limited to 30 including cyclists and some non-cyclists too."

To download the information booklet shared on the evening click here.

To secure your place on the pilgrimage a deposit of £100 is required by Friday 15 February, with the remainder to be paid by Monday 1 April.

Those interested in participating are invited to email Melanie Butler by Friday 8 February.

 

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