The Flagpole

We wanted to write to you at the end of this first half term to give you some key messages and information as your child embarks on this new academic year.

We hope that by the time this reaches you, your child has settled in well to life at Princethorpe College. It is likely that by now, they know their way around the campus, have played their first sports fixture, and have been through the full two-week timetable a couple of times. The first few weeks at any new school can be a daunting time but we have been enormously impressed with the way in which they have embraced school life and supported each other as the term has progressed.

Year 7 is an exciting time on the academic front. It is a time for pupils to explore and express themselves in and out of the classroom. It is a time to develop their passions and understanding to help begin to lay the foundations for the academic adventure ahead. 

Whilst we hope for a more stable year than the last two, please rest assured that no matter how the national covid picture evolves we will ensure that the Year 7s are very well cared for and fully supported in their learning.

We thought it would be helpful for you to see some of the key events ahead at this stage so you can note them in your diaries and get a sense of how the bigger picture is likely to unfold. Please find attached here a table guide to the key events.

We hope you find this information useful and thank you in advance for your support for the year ahead.

Ed Hester                 
Headmaster             

We wanted to write to you early in the year to give you some key messages and information as your child embarks on this new academic year.

Year 8 is an exciting time in your child’s Princethorpe journey. In Year 8 they are no longer the youngest year in the school, having ascended the first rung on the ladder towards the middle and senior parts of the school. Hopefully, they feel confident and happy in their place in the school community. School should be serious fun; Year 8 is a time for hard work, but also a time in which there is space to explore and develop the passions that will underpin success at GCSE level and beyond. 

Whilst we hope for a more stable year than the last two, please rest assured that no matter how the national covid picture evolves we will ensure that the Year 8s are very well cared for and fully supported in their learning.

Later in the year there will also be decisions to make regarding some options choices that pupils will need to make as they move into Year 9. We thought it would be helpful for you to see some of the key events ahead at this stage so you can note them in your diaries and get a sense of how the bigger picture is likely to unfold. Please find attached here a table guide to the key events.

We hope you find this information useful and thank you in advance for your support for the year ahead.

Ed Hester            
Headmaster        

We wanted to write to you early in the year to give you some key messages and information as your child embarks on this new academic year.

Year 9 is an exciting time in your child’s Princethorpe career. They have successfully navigated life in Year 7 and 8, and are taking their place in the main body of the school community. This experience will be invaluable over the course of the next year because Year 9 marks a new phase in their academic life. 

Going into Year 9, pupils will have had the opportunity to narrow some of their subject choices to focus on specific areas of interest. This is a process that will continue throughout Year 9 as they come to make their final choices for GCSE. This is an important decision-making process and over the course of the next few months they will be guided closely every step of the way with input from the teachers, tutors and our careers guidance office. 

Year 9 is also an important year because it lays the foundations for the main GCSE stage in Years 10 and 11. It may also be the case that during Year 9 some subjects begin the syllabus content of the GCSE course. Consequently, it important to hit the ground running and embed the right habits and behaviours for success from the outset. This is something we will revisit and work with Year 9 to develop over the course of the year.

Please find attached here a brief overview of the key events ahead so you can note them in your diaries and get a sense of how the bigger picture is likely to unfold. Do please talk to your children over the weekend about the year ahead and any concerns they have.

We hope you find this information useful and thank you in advance for your support for the year ahead.

Ed Hester                  
Headmaster              

We wanted to write to you early in the year to give you some key messages and information as your child embarks on this important year.

Year 10 marks the start of the formal GCSE cycle and, as such, is a critical stage in your child's school career. Last week, we delivered an assembly to Year 10 on the importance of getting into the right work habits and behaviours to make the best start and strike a healthy balance. The message was very much that the GCSE years are a marathon and not a sprint; pacing is vital. A recording of this assembly can be found by following this link.

Assembly Video

We hope that, in comparison to the last two academic years, Year 10 will enjoy a more stable and settled GCSE experience. However, if the last two years have taught us anything it is that we must be prepared for all eventualities. Please rest assured that no matter how the national Covid situation evolves we will ensure that the Year 10s are very well cared for and fully supported in their learning.

To this end, we thought it would be helpful for you to see some of the key events ahead at this stage so you can note them in your diaries and get a sense of how the bigger picture is likely to unfold, please see the attachment here. We went through these with the pupils in their assembly last week – do please talk to your children over the weekend about the year ahead and any concerns they have.

More detailed information regarding specific events such as the 360 Evening with tutors and the Year 10 Parents’ Evening will be emailed out in due course.

We hope you find this information useful and thank you in advance for your support for the year ahead.

 Ed Hester                              
 Headmaster                          

The College’s Digital Device Scheme, which offers the Surface Go 2 (M3/8GB/128GB), type cover, stylus and 36 month insurance, is currently open for orders.

If you are planning to order then please remember that the online store, which can be accessed at https://princethorpe.edutechstore.zone/, is open until 10.00pm on Monday 18 October.

A reminder that all Year 7 pupils should come to school equipped with a device from the start of the Lent Term. This scheme is an excellent option for pupils in Year 7, but is open to parents of children from all year groups. Many children in the school use this device having purchased in the first wave of the scheme, and the feedback on the device is excellent. Additionally, the insurance provides peace of mind in case of accidental damage or theft.

Andy Compton

Assitant Head - Director of Digital Strategy

Tuesday 2 November 2021 - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

To support the progress of our Year 11 we will be offering face to face meetings in the Sports Hall with your child’s tutor to discuss progress and future targets. During the meeting tutors will have information to share about current progress for your child.  It will be an opportunity for you to discuss all subjects and overall study skills. Importantly, targets will be made for further improvement and for the mock exams and therefore it is expected that pupils will also attend the meeting.

Parents will be given the opportunity to book electronically a 20 minute slot with their child’s tutor. Parents will also be able to attend a series of workshops on how best to support their child whilst at Princethorpe. An email will be sent out to parents with more information and booking details during half term.

Michael Spencer
Assistant Head – Director of Studies

Year 10 expectations: 

Year 11 and Sixth Form expectations:

• Work priorities for each subject
• This is based on 2 hours work on each weekday of the half term
• Complete homework set
• Complete coursework set
• Complete any outstanding work
• Sort out your Teams folders/OneNote into good order
• Keep on top of revision for January mocks (Year 11)

You want to come back from half term refreshed but up to date. 

Good luck and enjoy the break.

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning