The Flagpole

With the beginning of term now fast approaching I write to give you a few updates and key information in advance of the pupils’ full return to school next week. As I write we are at the end of the third day of four days staff training which have been carefully planned to ensure we are as fully prepared as possible for the term and year ahead.

With my letter of 16 August we sent out both the Michaelmas Calendar and Princethorpe Information Booklet for Parents and Pupils. If you haven’t yet been through these please do so together as a family over the weekend as part of your preparation for the new term.

Start of Term arrangements

Pupil Timetables

These will be uploaded by the end of this week and be available to pupils and parents via My School Portal over the weekend. Please do check them before Monday.

Monday 6 September, the first day of term

Pupils will spend the first two periods with their tutor groups, individual photographs will be taken for those in Years 7, 10, 11 and Lower Sixth, plus any new pupils to other years and new joiners will also have their fingerprint information taken for the biometric cashless catering system. In addition, there will be a whole school assembly.

We will also be conducting the last internal Lateral Flow Tests for those pupils who have not had both in-school LFTs. Pupils who missed their first in-school LFT last week will receive their first test and be tested a second time later in the week.

Pupils will generally be in lessons from Period 3 (Period 4 for the Lower Sixth) and will need to be fully prepared and equipped for these.

Throughout the year, pupils will need to arrive in full school games kit on the day they have their Games afternoon, however on the first day of term Year 10 will need to arrive in full school uniform as they will be having photographs taken, and bring their games kit with them for the afternoon.

Co-curricular Activities

The full programme of activities is in the calendar and will also be published on My School Portal and The Flagpole; please have a look out for a number of exciting new clubs and activities launching this term. The curricular programme will be running from the first day of term.

COVID-related measures

Many thanks to parents for your support with the voluntary pre-term lateral flow testing programme. This is a key plank of the government’s strategy to minimise the spread of Covid as children across the country return to school. So far, in school, we have only had two positive tests, although we also have a small number of pupils who have tested positive outside school and who are, of course, currently isolating. We will of course be monitoring the number of positive cases and the situation closely on a daily basis and will consult with Public Health England should the need arise.

Details of the measures we have in place are also in my last letter, which can be read here.

A summary of the key messages are:

* Do not send children into school if they are unwell in any way
* The wearing of face masks is mandatory on school buses
* Generally, the wearing of face masks will not be mandatory around the campus, but some pupils and staff may feel more comfortable wearing them, which is fine
*We have put in a number of measures to reduce the likelihood of “enclosed and crowded spaces”. However, we still ask that all pupils bring a face mask to school in case the situation arises where it is necessary to wear one
*We will continue to promote good hygiene and handwashing regimes for all
*We will maximise air flow and ventilation in all indoor spaces and have enhanced cleaning regimes across the campus
*We ask that pupils maintain their voluntary twice-weekly lateral flow testing regimes on a Sunday and Wednesday at home and submit the results via the Test Register email link.
*We will continue to track and trace in school and will notify parents if your child has come into close contact with a positive case and will recommend that they have a PCR test as soon as possible

If you have any concerns about the testing regime at school or the measures we are taking please do contact us at post@princethorpe.co.uk

Picking Up Pupils During the Day or From Prep

For the time being we are keeping the arrangements that if a pupil needs to leave the school during the day, for a dental appointment for example, then they go via the pupil hub. Parents should remain in their car on arrival at school and text their son/daughter who will then be released. The same system holds for picking up from Prep after school.

If a parent needs to come into school to see a member of staff, please do book an appointment in advance.

Finally, many congratulations again to all pupils taking their GCSEs and A-levels this year. They all worked exceptionally hard and achieved tremendous results that are well deserved which they can be proud of and will set them up well for all their various next steps.

With best wishes to all families for the term ahead,

Yours sincerely

Ed Hester
Headmaster

In spite of the unprecedented challenges that the last 16 months have presented, Princethorpe College is celebrating another year of excellent exam results.

Out of a cohort of 104 Sixth Form students who completed their A-levels, BTEC and Extended Project Qualification this year, at the top end 55% of all A-level grades were A* or A and overall 95% of grades were A* to C. Impressively, 39 high-flyers achieved three or more A* or A grades. Special mention must go to Sophie Cheshire, James Gallagher, Charlotte Lister, Lauren Mason, Grace McGrory, Prajeet Prabakaran, Alex Rejali, Carmel Spelman and Daisy Walker who all achieved straight A*s.

At GCSE Princethorpe pupils also performed well, from a cohort of 137 pupils over two thirds of all entries were graded 9, 8 or 7 and 56 Year 11 pupils received nine or more 9, 8 or 7 grades. There were many exceptional personal achievements, special congratulations go to Joshua Apaya, Keira Eaton, Amélie Friess, William Hawkins, Freya Mills, Eleanor Page, Oscar Page, Pratheesh Prabakaran and Madoc Williams, who all achieved eight or more grade 9s. Overall, over 99% of the grades achieved were levels 9 to 4.

Ed Hester, Headmaster, commented, "This year’s A-level and GCSE results have been arrived at in a very different way to normal. That said we are delighted that the results are a fair reflection of the hard work and achievements of these year groups. Pupils remained resilient throughout periods of lockdown, home learning and self-isolation. It has been an extremely demanding time and all credit goes to our pupils and staff for their commitment and hard work."

He continued, "We are proud of their academic achievements but all these pupils 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 well-deserved success."

With just nine weeks to go, the countdown to the College's Entrance Exams for admission in September 2022 has begun. This year the exams for Year 7 to 10 entry will take place on Saturday 6 November from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

Our friendly Admissions Team have been kept busy over the summer accepting registrations from prospective parents. The deadline for registration is Friday 1 October, to enable the processing of applications and seeking of references from junior schools.

There are still plenty of opportunities for prospective pupils and their parents to visit the College before the Entrance Exams, including our Open Afternoon on Sunday 19 September from 2.00pm to 5.00pm and Open Morning on Thursday 23 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm, both events will allow prospective families to look around the school and experience school life. 

Our Year 6 Taster Experiences are also a great way for your prospective pupils to really experience Princethorpe. Each session will involve a welcome introduction from Mr Hester, Headmaster and two taster lessons.

We have two sessions available on Saturday 25 September for those who are in Year 6 and have not had the chance to attend previous Taster Experiences.

All our events are by appointment only. To book your place click here

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.

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 enjoyed an informative and busy start to their time at Princethorpe. Together they bring a wealth of new experience to the school and we extend a very warm welcome to them all.

Joining the College are:

Michael Spencer - Assistant Head (Director of Studies)

Steve Kowal - Development Director

Lewis Clarke - Teacher of PE and Boys' Games

Daniel Lumb - Teacher of Business Studies

Greg Lyttle - Teacher of Politics

Jack Parker - Teacher of English

Jess Proudlock - Teacher of English

Alef Rosenbaum - Teacher of Mathematics

Isobel Turner-Pryce - Teacher of Mathematics

Laura Wilford - Teacher of Business Studies

Sinead Birks - Graduate Sports Coach and Teaching Assistant

Luke Brotherton - Teaching Assistant

Jessica Scott - Teaching Assistant

Sam Wincott-Thomas - Teaching Assistant

Rob Heath - Health and Saefty Manager

James Munsey - IT Engineer

Paul Reay - IT Engineer

Also pictured are staff who started earlier this year:

Lizzie Caisey - Teacher of Psycology and Sociology

Sam Curtis - Teacher of Chemistry

Michelle Gawthorpe - Teacher of MFL

Angela Ritson - Learning Support Teacher

Jo Flowers - Marketing and Coomunications Executive 

Friday 3 September was an exciting day for the 130 Year 7 pupils who are joining Princethorpe College this academic year.

For this latest generation of Princethorpians, the Activity Day was all about meeting their new classmates, familiarising themselves with the layout of the school and getting a feel for the sorts of lessons they can expect. It was also a great opportunity to generally ask questions, allay any fears and ease the transition to secondary school.

Our incoming Year 7s arrived looking excited and a little bit nervous. During their action-packed day they participated in fun team building activities including a scavenger hunt, took part in Science or Technology lessons, a Year 7 Chorus rehearsal with Mr Hester and enjoyed an afternoon Games lesson.

During the day we saw plenty of smiling faces and it was clear that everyone was making new friends. It was a flying start to secondary school that will have helped them get ready for the beginning of the Michaelmas Term.

It’s been all systems go since the end of the Trinity Term for our Estates, Grounds and IT teams (not to mention the many external contractors too) who have all been busy working on campus-wide improvements.

Just some of the work that has been carried out this summer includes; stripping and redecorating various classrooms and corridors including a whole new fresh look for the Textiles and Library Corridor, creating a new Textiles Fashion Lab, refurbishing the Staff Room, creating a new Sixth Form Coffee Bar, painting the Limes corridors and the sports changing rooms, completing external building maintenance including painting and roof repairs and installing new entrance barriers.

On the IT front classroom interactive whiteboards have been installed or upgraded, staff laptops and desktops have been reimaged, a Foundation project moving files and resources on to Sharepoint completed and new printers and copiers installed.

Last but by no means least, ahead of the new sporting season, the Grounds team have also been busy preparing our wonderful playing fields.

A huge thank you to all of the support staff who have worked so hard on these projects for us.

A few snapshots of the work carried out over the summer are included in the gallery.

It’s all looking great, and we can’t wait to welcome our pupils back on Monday.

There was much excitement at Princethorpe College over the summer holidays as filming commenced for a new series – a spin off from the world of Father Brown, The Sister Boniface Mysteries.

BritBox first announced the commission of The Sister Boniface Mysteries in February 2020 as a brand-new period drama.

The official synopsis for the series reads:

“The Sister Boniface Mysteries is set in 1960s rural Warwickshire and follows the investigations of Sister Boniface, Bride of Christ, vintner, and Crime Scene Investigator. Police forensics is rudimentary by today’s standards. DNA is yet to be discovered. Blood testing can take days. The notion of trace evidence is in its infancy and the preservation of crime scenes is shockingly hit and miss. Fortunately the Great Slaughter Constabulary has a secret weapon in its fight against crime.

“Hidden deep in the countryside is St Vincent’s Convent, (aka Princethorpe College) a small community of wine making nuns where ensconced in a laboratory is Sister Boniface. An IQ of 156 and a PHD in forensic science, plus an addiction to popular detective fiction and a fully equipped crime laboratory make Boniface an invaluable aid to Police investigations. Mud, blood, stains, hairs and fibres. If there is evidence to be found Boniface will find it. Poisons, trace evidence, blood stains, etymology. She’s more up to speed on the latest forensic techniques than the Police.”

For those of us a little older it was wonderful seeing the College taken back in time but it was quite surreal to occasionally round the corner and find yourself confronted by a nun.

Once we hear more from the producers and know when the new series will air, we will be sure to share the details with you all.

In August, Princethorpe’s Upper Sixth leavers celebrated their examination results and their time at Princethorpe at a farewell Ball. The celebration was one last chance for them to gather together to reminisce over their time at the College, the friends they have made and the many adventures they have had along the way.

Results day had been a long time coming for this year group, who have faced unprecedented challenges throughout their time in Sixth Form. So it was wonderful to see them all smartly attired at the beautiful venue of Coombe Abbey in Coventry.

In black tie and ball gowns they enjoyed a sparkling reception, followed by a delicious dinner, much anticipated speeches and then dancing until dark. It was a joyous occasion with lots of laughter, shared memories and plans for the future.

Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie said, “We wish all the Upper Sixth the very best as they move on from Princethorpe. We very much hope that they all keep in touch and come back to tell their teachers and future pupils all about their fascinating endeavours and achievements.”

Photos from the ball are now available on Princethorpe Connect here. To view the photos the new OPs will need to create an account (as an Upper Sixth leaver), then once they have logged in they can view the gallery and download any photos they wish to keep.

Princethorpe College welcomed pupils to Coombe Abbey in Coventry on Thursday 11 August to celebrate their GCSE results and the end of their time in Year 11. It was the perfect way to mark their achievements as they come to the end of their GCSE year.

In time honoured tradition the boys, handsome in black tie, and the girls, bedecked in beautiful gowns, arrived at the venue in their choice of transport to be greeted by members of staff. They were blessed with a beautiful summer’s evening and the backdrop of the atmospheric architecture and grounds of Coombe Abbey lent an extra special magic to the air.

Deputy Head Pastoral, Beth Sharpe, commented, "It was a wonderful event and the end of an era for this year group. We are immensely proud of them all, and it was a pleasure to welcome them to their prom and to share their delight and excitement at their results. The last 18 months has been difficult for all but even more so for Year 11 as they navigated their way through their GCSE studies. The prom is always an emotional occasion but the mood was full of optimism for the journey ahead and we are looking forward to welcoming most of them back to the Sixth Form this September."

Photos from the Prom are now available and a link to a gallery of the photos will shortly be emailed to parents. 

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

This year's calendar features some of our regular favourites including the OPs vs College Sports Day on Saturday 4 September and the return of the Former Parents, OPs and Staff Brunch on Saturday 14 May 2022. The popular London and local meets have been scheduled with a spring meet in Rugby, upstairs at Inside the 22 on Friday 4 March 2022 and a London Meet this Autumn at London's Covent Garden in a private room at French restaurant, Balthazar on Friday 8 October.

The OPs' Summer Supper Reunion will take place on Friday 26 June 2022, this time celebrating the leavers of 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002 and 2012, 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 Princethorpe Connect, our new online community to register and book on events.

You can also visit the Old Princethorpians section at www.princethorpe.co.uk/ops for more information on Old Princethorpians.

Saturday 4 September - 10.30am to 4.00pm

We are looking forward to our 9th annual Old Princethorpians vs College Sports Day (and 11th John Shinkwin Trophy Match) on Saturday 4 September.

We have a relaxing day planned that mixes sporting matches with music, a complimentary BBQ, ice cream van and a subsidised bar.

As previously 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 and the coveted John Shinkwin Trophy being awarded to the victorious Rugby squad.

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 2020 and 2021) plus additional College vs Older OPs (non contact adapted game)

4.00pm After Match Awards

Please do come along and support all the teams!

Sunday 12 September 2021 2.00pm - 4.30pm

This September the College will once again be participating in the Heritage Open Day festival and you are all invited to come for a tour.

Built in 1832, St Mary's Priory was one of the first Catholic buildings in England after the reformation and until 1966 it was home to a congregation of Benedictine nuns. The Priory was purchased by The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart who established Princethorpe College. Today Princethorpe is a fully co-educational Catholic independent day school.

The archive team will be conducting free tours of the College on Sunday 12 September from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and will share the history of our magnificent building and the amazing people that made it the place it is today.

Wednesday 15 September - 7.00pm

I am very pleased to say that we will be able to resume meetings this year of the Parents’ Reading Group.  This group has been running for very many years now by popular demand.  We are a group of readers who meet regularly each month to discuss a book which we have previously agreed on.  We are very unpretentious and are always happy to try something new.  You will find us very friendly and it would be great to welcome some new faces at the start of the new year.  We meet in the library and our first meeting will be on Wednesday 15 September at 7.00pm.  We usually finish at about 8.30pm but feel free to leave when you need to. 

Don’t worry if you don’t know the school, as there will be someone to meet you at the playground entrance and guide you to the library.  As this is our first meeting for quite some time – it would be great if people could possibly come along with a few recommendations of books they have enjoyed during the summer months.  Then we can decide on something to read for next month.  It’s a great opportunity to broaden your reading horizons, as we can all get stuck in a rut with the sort of books we go for. I’m looking forward to welcoming readers old and new and I hope you’ll be able to join us.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Sunday 19 September 2021 

This year we have added an extra event to our admissions calendar to give prospective families more opportunities to visit Princethorpe. The College Open Afternoon will take place on Sunday 19 September 2021 from 2.00pm to 5.00pm and will be a great opportunity for prospective pupils and families to hear a welcome address from Ed Hester, the Headmaster, meet members of staff and pupils, take part in activities around the different departments and tour the school and grounds. 

There will also be an opportunity to visit The College on a normal working day at our Open Morning on Thursday 23 September 2021 from 10.30am to 12.30pm. 

To book your place at our Open Events please click here

Taster Experiences will also be available on Saturday 25 September for those who are in Year 6 and have not had the chance to attend previous Taster Experiences.

To register your interest in a Year 6 Taster Day click here.

Those wishing to register for Entrance Examinations should do so by the deadline of Friday 1 October 2021 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 6 November 2021 from 9.30am to 3.30pm. More information is available in our 2020 Admissions and Entrance Examinations Booklet available on our website, click here.

Thursday 7 October 2021 - 10.00am to 3.00pm

Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery in Kenilworth, are opening their doors for an Open Day on Thursday 7 October 2021 from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and nursery, and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, please register your interest in attending our Open Day.

To book your place please click here.

We have places available in Nursery and will be recruiting for places in Reception 2022.  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 www.crackleyhall.co.uk

Friday 8 October 2021 - 10.00am to 3.00pm

The Crescent School, in Bilton, Rugby, is opening its doors for an Open Day on Friday 8 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, to book your place please click here

We have a limited number of places available and are now accepting registrations for admission to Reception, Year 1, 2 and Year 3 in September 2022.

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 www.crescentschool.co.uk

Coming up there is an opportunity for Year 8 pupils to take part in a Discovery Crest Award. CREST is a National scheme designed to encourage pupils to explore their interest in Science beyond the curriculum and inspire them to consider careers in future innovation by helping them to think like scientists and engineers. Only one in three people globally have access to clean water, so our project will be based around designing a water filter and exploring ways to provide clean water to the global community.  

The Award will be run over two after-school sessions on Wednesday 22 September 4.00pm - 6.30pm and Wednesday 29 September 4.00pm - 6.30pm. Pupils will need to attend both sessions to complete the Award.  Places are limited so please email fayeroberts@princethorpe.co.uk to book a place by Friday 10 September and then further details will be sent. 

We are delighted to announce that Kate Parsons, Teacher of Spanish (BA Hons Spanish, PGCE in MFL, MA Innovative Education) has been appointed as the new Language for Learning Coordinator.

The Language for Learning initiative aims to support and enhance literacy and communication across the school. Kate’s goal is not only to support some of the existing programmes such as ‘BookBuzz’ and FOSIL projects, but to involve pupils, staff and parents in developing literacy school-wide.   "As a Spanish teacher, I have a natural curiosity and love of words, communication and language and I am excited to have the opportunity to work with Celia Scott our wonderful librarian, to further raise the profile of language and literacy at Princethorpe, focusing on expanding vocabulary and developing the reading culture within the school".

One of the first differences pupils will see, is ‘word of the week’ on the TV screens around school, chosen by staff. These will also appear in the weekly tutor group quiz. If you have a favourite word that you would like to add to the mix, please feel free to fill in the form here.

Please see the link here for the equipment pupils will be expected to have for the start of term.

Kind Regards

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

Welcome to all our new Years 7s. We hope that the children and their families are looking forward to the new term and all the years ahead at Princethorpe. To support the transition to secondary school, here are some tips to ensure that the move goes as smoothly as possible.

At Princethorpe, your child will be expected to take greater responsibility for their own organisation. You can help to encourage this at home with the following tips:

• Encourage your child to get organised for school the evening before. This can save them (and you!) a lot of undue stress in the morning. Remind them to check their timetable for the following day, pack their bag and lay out their uniform if necessary.
• Try and resist the temptation to do everything. Your child needs to learn to manage their time efficiently and they won’t do it if you get everything ready for them.
• Your child will have several homework tasks to complete each night, and it will be recorded the homework diary. Make a note to yourself to read and sign the diary at least once a week to make sure your child is keeping up with their assignments.
• Allocate a place where your child can complete their homework quietly and purposefully.
• Have a calendar on display at home clearly marked with different equipment needed for different days (sports kit, music, projects etc.). Encourage the habit of looking at the schedule the night before and organising schoolbags there and then.

Once your child has started school, make time to talk and listen to your child each day to check how things are going. Just giving attention in this way can help your child feel supported and more confident. Perhaps ask about what they are learning, but also ‘how’ they are learning in different subjects. It is important that your child understands the many different ways to learn to support their progress and eventual revision.

Your child’s tutor will be keen to help with the transition and to ensure your child is settled and happy. Please contact your child’s tutor if you are concerned that they are finding the first few days or weeks stressful.

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

There will be an online Parent-Tutor meeting for parents of students in the Lower Sixth later this month, taking place across the evenings of Wednesday 29 September and Thursday 30 September.

This will be an opportunity to meet with your child’s tutor online to discuss how they have settled into life in the Sixth Form. 

Details regarding how to register for an appointment will be emailed home in the next few weeks.

Deputy Head - Academic

Medical centre staff would like to welcome pupils back after the summer holidays and hope both parents and pupils enjoyed a lovely break.

If the medical needs of your son/daughter have changed over the holiday please do let us know so we can support them whilst they are at school.

Email PCMatrons@princethorpe.co.uk or telephone 01926 634214.

Paula Greig
Senior Matron

Please be aware that individual portrait photographs will take place on Monday 6 September for all of Years 7, 10, 11 and 12 and pupils new to Princethorpe College.  

Mrs Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

We would like to remind Sixth Form students that high standards of personal appearance and presentation are expected of them at all times. Our Sixth Formers are the main ambassadors of the College and role models for the lower school pupils.

Please click here to download a copy of the dress code. If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of items you purchase during the summer, please retain receipts and consult myself, Mr Vella or Mrs Allen before you wear them.

Please pay close attention to the sanctions which will be incurred if you do not adhere to the dress code.

Ben Collie
Head of Sixth Form

We are still hoping that Year 11 pupils can undertake some work experience this year.

I know that this is a very challenging time, and that getting some work experience could be less easy for the next few months, but as things start to open up, it could be possible.

Placements can be done at any time during the summer holidays. They can also be undertaken during the early part of Lower Sixth, for example October half term 2021.

I would also suggest looking at the website Springpod which offers a virtual work experience programme which has been highly recommended by our Careers Advisor.

Many thanks to those who already have managed to help their son/daughter obtain a placement; in the meantime please could you let me know if you have managed to arrange something by emailing miketaylor@princethorpe.co.uk

Mike Taylor
Work Experience Co-ordinator

The Chaplaincy is again supporting the St Anne's Parish Shoe Box Appeal, to provide gifts for children who would not otherwise receive a Christmas present. This year the boxes are being distributed by Teams4U who operate around the world supporting community initiatives aiming to improve the lives of children through education, healthcare, training, financial assistance, and delivering shoeboxes.

Each shoebox will be given to a vulnerable child, or family, through schools, nurseries, hospitals and orphanages.

The aim of T4U is that each box is given in relationship with the local community as part of a long-term commitment to these children. This includes financing pre-school programmes to support their education and development.

We are encouraging everyone to bring one item.

What these children need most are educational and hygiene supplies, e.g.

•           Toothbrush and toothpaste

•           Hairbrush/comb

•           Facecloth and soap

•           Stationery/pens/pencils/paper

Please also include a few small gifts, e.g.

•           A soft toy, ball, game, puzzle, stickers, balloons

•           Gloves/hats/scarves

Homecare Family Shoe Boxes

•           Cooking utensils (no knives), candles, hairbrush plastic utensils (plates, bowls, cutlery)

•           Soap, small Christmas decorations, small decorative items, small saucepans

•           T-towels (preferably quite decorative), plastic containers, washing line pegs

•           Washing up cloths

All items may be left in G12a or at the Student Hub by 5 October 2021.

Mary Benham
Chaplaincy Co-ordinator

Maybe there are a few old coins or notes lurking in the back of a drawer, a pocket or a handbag? Why not round them up and put them to good use? All donations would be gratefully received and all money raised will be split between UK projects of the SVP (St Vincent de Paul Society), including support for the homeless, elderly, handicapped and those coming out of prison and an overseas SVP project helping to fund secondary school education children - especially girls - in India. Click here to discover what the SVP organisation is about and how your donation can help.

The money can be current or out of date, British or foreign; anything is welcome! We already have 8kg, but we need more!!

Click here and watch the video to see how cash4coins works. This is what you can donate:

All foreign coins and banknotes
Current UK coins and banknotes
Any old British and Irish money
Even obsolete currency!
Please send in money in a strong envelope labelled ‘Rod Isaacs - Cash4Coins’.

We raised a spectacular amount last year.....

Many thanks

Rod Isaacs
Assistant Head of Sixth Form

Please find attached here a letter regarding Rugby this term at Princethorpe.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at peterbucknall@princethorpe.co.uk

Mr Bucknall
Head of Rugby

A warm welcome to the Michaelmas Term programme of Physical Education and Games at Princethorpe College. 

Our PE and Games Department have created a helpful new guide for pupils and parents ahead of the Michaelmas Term 2021 which includes further information about: 

• Team coaches and how you may contact them
• Instructions on how to access the Princethorpe Sport app
• Information about fixtures, including selection and cancellations
• Sports kit expectations
• Postcodes for away fixtures (which can also be found in the Michaelmas Termly Calendar)

If you have any questions, please direct them to your son/daughter's team coach or email myself, Lee Cassell (Foundation Director or Sport), or Ms Law (Head of Girls' Games). 

Lee Cassell 
Foundation Director of Sport 

Lee Cassell will email you with your appointment time for your child's fitting. 

This academic year our pupils will be taking part in an extensive sports programme which will include sports which require them to wear a gumshield.

To support this, we have invited OPRO to come into school to fit and create custom made mouthguards. They will be visiting on Tuesday 7 September 2021 from 12.15pm–4.00pm. On that day, the OPRO dental team will take impressions of all pupils who want to be fitted and the finished mouthguards will then be delivered to your home address or school approximately 7 working days later.

OPRO mouth guards start at £39.99 and they offer a number of benefits with their service:

· Buy one mouthguard and get a second mouthguard for half price;

· Your child will receive a complimentary Snap-Fit mouthguard at the dental visit so they have something to use whilst they wait for their Custom mouthguard to be delivered;

· Each mouthguard comes with a dental warranty which covers up to £22,500;

· Your child’s name and the school name will be included on the mouthguard and case;

· OPRO store all of the models in case a replacement is required;

· All mouthguards carry the CE mark;

· Our exclusive school design mouthguards are priced at £44.99 and an example can be found here.

If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity and have your child fitted, please place an order with OPRO on their website.

If you have any questions about the products or OPRO’s service please contact their customer care team directly on 01442 430690 or email info@oprogroup.com.

Once all the bookings have been confirmed, we will inform you or the time slot that your child will be having their fitting.

It is not compulsory for the pupils to have a custom made mouth guard to participate in sport. You are welcome to purchase one from other retail outlets such as from your own dentist, the school shop or any sports shop. This facility with OPRO is just to make the process easier for families at the College.

If you have any questions about Princethorpe sport for next year, please feel free to get in contact via email at leecassell@princethorpe.co.uk.

Lee Cassell
Foundation Director of Sport

Thursday 16 September 2021
Sixth Form Centre Dining Room - 7.00pm

The PTA extend a warm welcome to all, and hope you will be able to join us for cheese and wine at the PTA AGM on Thursday 16 September at 7.00pm.

The AGM will give new and current parents an opportunity to find out what the PTA does for the school, and how you could help us by supporting activities such as Open Days and the Christmas Fair and Summer Fête.

There will be an opportunity to meet other parents, those who are new to the PTA and existing members. We have a number of parents who are involved in the PTA to differing degrees. As well as welcoming those parents who may wish to join us on the committee – we also very much welcome parents who may be able to spare an hour supporting the fairs or welcoming visitors to the school on Open Days. It really is an excellent way to get involved with school life, and you can offer as little or as much of your time as you feel is possible.

Our main aim is to provide the ‘extras’ for the school which are very much appreciated by pupils and staff alike; we support events such as Trips, House Activities Day, Planet Princethorpe, the Library and hopefully the proms which the children missed out on last year. 

If you are interested and would like to discuss what is involved in being on the PTA please feel free contact the Committee at pta@princethorpe.co.uk. 

We hope you will be able to join us on the night and very much look forward to meeting you.

Princethorpe PTA

Please don’t forget that Princethorpe College PTA is registered with easyfundraising. So, although we’re unable to get together and hold fundraising events in person, we can continue to raise free funds, at no extra cost to you.

When you shop via the easyfundraising website or app, with over 4,100 of your favourite retailers, including John Lewis & Partners, eBay, Amazon and many more, you will raise FREE donations for the school.  

If you’re not already registered, please visit our easyfundraising page here:

This will really make a difference to our school! Thank you for your support.

Welcome to the start of the new academic year. We are very much looking forward to getting the Co-curricular programme up and running on Monday 6 September. Please find here the link to the updated Co-curricular timetable which has been amended slightly due to some timetable changes of staff. The changes are: 

• Young Magicians Club is now Monday lunchtime; 
• Fitness is Wednesday after school; 
• Knitting club and Warhammer are Thursday afterschool
• Table tennis is Friday lunchtime; 

These are just an example of the range of activities in offer this term. Please do look through the timetable and see whether Podcast club, Dungeons and Dragons, Climbing, Folk group, Spanish Cinema or Bee keeping spark your interest. 

We are also looking forward to welcoming parents back on site to watch the Michaelmas term fixtures programe. Please use www.princethorpesport.co.uk or MySchoolPortal to know when the fixtures are, their venues and whether pupil shave been selected. This term we are also be continuing to arrive in school in sports kit on the days when pupils have their Games afternoons.  

The Drama Department rehearsals are in full swing and we look forward to seeing the pupils perform in Holes in November while the Music Department are incredibly excited about the String Orchestra and Concert band after school clubs.  

Good luck this academic year and I hope that every pupil finds something in the Co-curricular plan to get in volved with. 

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

Thank you for the applications for individual Music and LAMDA lessons received to date; tuition will commence during the second week of term from Monday 13 September. The teacher concerned will contact you in the next few days to confirm the day of the first lesson. Lessons are charged at £17.50 per half hour individual lesson. Please can all parents return the invoice payment and the completed ‘new pupils’ Teacher/Parent contract and Privacy Statement to the teacher by the first lesson date at the very latest. Please note that Lesson Timetables will be drawn up within College this term and will take into account the staggered timing of lunches; I shall issue these to parents during next week.

The most important change that has been made this summer is the move to creating a Music and LAMDA teaching area on the Upper Pugin Corridor (on the top floor - above the Heads of House and Learning Support). Most lessons will be taught in rooms S16, 17, 19, 20 and 21. The exception being drums (continue to be taught in M16 Drum Room); cello (to be taught in M7) and Mr Prior's guitar pupils (to be taught in M7 or the Studio).

On a musical note, I would appreciate it if you could encourage some practise at home before the initial lesson and ask your child to bring along a piece of music to play to their teacher (this helps establish positive relationships between pupil and teacher as the pupil is ‘in charge’ of their own learning and lessons can then progress from such a meeting of minds). All musical instruments must be clearly named on both the case (try a strong suitcase label or dog tag) and instrument, if possible, and then stored safely either in the pupil’s locker or music storage shelves on Upper Pugin first thing in the morning. Guitars and cellos are very vulnerable to accidents if placed in the Bus ‘hold’, I would recommend that guitars/cellos are brought to school in a hard shell or very padded case. These can be purchased either online or from a local music store and will be a sound investment.  NB. Instruments must NOT be left around school at any time.

With regard to COVID-19 guidance all Music and LAMDA pupils must have a copy of their own study work and bring it to lessons each week. A strong folder (with plastic inserts) and bag for sheet music (where required) is a necessary part of school equipment. Sheet music should be kept flat in a music bag – not inside the instrument case where they become misshapen; some bags are available to purchase from the school shop or can easily be purchased online.

Also, all brass and woodwind players will be required to use a moisture guard for their instruments. These have been ordered for new pupils who are taking lessons in school and will be handed out to pupils as soon as possible. If you are still in need of a moisture guard then please do contact me as soon as possible so that a further order can be made.

If you have not yet arranged music or LAMDA lessons and are interested in individual tuition for your child, then please can you contact me either by email at felicitycoulson@princethorpe.co.uk or by my direct phone line on 01926 634268.

Felicity Coulson
Peripatetic Music Co-ordinator

Tuesday 14 September 

More information concerning the Year 7 trip to Whitemoor Lakes which departs on Friday 24 September will be available on Tuesday 14 September. We will email you a link to access this information which will give parents and pupils an insight into their activities and arrangments. This will be a fantastic weekend which will give our new Year 7s an opportunity to make new friends and have fun.

Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

Parents of single and return bus pass holders will be emailed over the weekend with information relating to the bus services from the start of term on Monday 6 September. As per last year seats will be zoned on the buses based on year group. Bus pass holders are required to sit in their allocated seat within their year group.

Please inform your son or daughter of their seat allocation number on the email and visit https://princethorpe.vectare.co.uk/ for the latest seating plans or click here, so he/she can familiarise themselves with the location of their seat and read the Bus Briefing here before Monday.

Please note that the government expects and recommends that face masks are worn in enclosed and crowded spaces including dedicated transport to school.

Ad Hoc Journey Bookings

Ad Hoc journey bookings are now open on our Bus Services website at https://princethorpe.vectare.co.uk. You will need first to have set up an account in order to book your ad hoc journeys. Existing single and return bus pass holders will already have an account for this academic year.

Please note that it is now possible to book multiple ad hoc journeys at once.

As well as availability, the site shows clear information on all bus routes, stops and fare information. The latest Bus Briefing is also now available on the site.

If you have yet to book your single or return pass we would encourage you to do so as soon as possible as capacity on some of the services is becoming limited.

If you have any queries please contact buses@princethorpe.co.uk or call Gill Price on 01926 634275.

The Bus Team

To help families new to the school, and as a reminder for all, here are some top tips for navigating the College's e-newsletter, The Flagpole, on your mobile phone.

Each edition of The Flagpole has a general overview message followed by an index list of the news, events and other information, split into categories, with clickable title links.

• Click the title link of the article or event you are interested in.
• From here you can scroll through all the articles in this category.
• To get back to the top of a category quickly, use the arrow in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click this and you will jump to the top of the page nd see the category index.
• Select ‘NEWSLETTER INDEX’, to return you to the main newsletter index listing all the categories and articles.
• To move between different editions of The Flagpole use the dark blue button with three white lines towards the top right of the newsletter. Click on the button and choose which edition of The Flagpole you would like to read.
• To find a topic quickly use the the search function with key words.

The Flagpole is one of the College's main communication tools and is always a good first place to look for information and news. Bookmarking https://flagpole.princethorpe.co.uk/ will allow you to get to the newsletter quickly.

Please see below our current vacancies:

• Estates Co-ordinator - Princethorpe College
• Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages (Part Time) - Crescent School 
• Lunchtime Supervisors - Crescent School

Full details and how to apply are available via the following link: Join Us

Should you know anyone who might be interested in this post, please do share this information with them.

As we start the new academic year, our catering team are proud to introduce their new and improved menus. All the menus offer a selection of healthy meal options and have been endorsed by Holroyd Howe’s nutritionist.

All options will be served in both the Refectory and Sixth Form dining room on a three-week rotation. Each term the menus will be reviewed and updated. To see the Michaelmas term menus just use the link below:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Andrew Williams
General Manager

Please find below the Term Dates for 2021-22 and 2022-23

2021-22 (two page document)

2022-23 (two page document)