The Flagpole

Saturday 28 May – Sunday 29 May 2022

The National Schools And Riding Clubs Two Day Event will take place for the seventh year running on the magnificent Princethorpe estate.

Around 240 riders are set to take part across Saturday May 28 and Sunday May 29 in dressage, show-jumping, roads and tracks, steeplechase and cross-country disciplines. 

The event, run by Stoneleigh Riding Club, has the backing of Warwickshire property companies The Wigley Group and development and rural agency Newton LDP who have been announced as joint main sponsors.

The 80cm class continues again, as well as Novice 90cm and Open 100cm classes. Once again, the event includes Independent Schools' Association Classes. Show Jumping and Dressage take place on the Saturday with Roads and Tracks, Steeplechase and Cross Country on the Sunday.

Entry to the event is free so we do hope you can come along and enjoy a wonderful weekend of equestrian events.

Wednesday 8 June 2022 - 6.30pm to 8.30pm

The College Summer Open Evening will be a great opportunity for prospective families for September 2023 entry and beyond, to look around the school and to meet members of staff and pupils.

There will be two opportunities to hear from Ed Hester, Headmaster, at 6.45pm or 7.30pm, allowing families to explore the College before and after. So families do not miss out, we are encouraging visitors to book their place and optional time slot for the talk. 

Click here to book your place.

Our Year 5 Taster Days are now fully booked. However, prospective pupils who have yet to attend a Taster Day can register their interest in attending our Year 6 Taster Days in September. Click here to register your interest and be the first to book one of our Taster Days.

If you have any questions please contact the Admissions Team on 01926 643201/262 or 297 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Wednesday 15 June - 7.00pm

Our book for May was Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, which has proved to be a best seller. Set in the Sixties, the novel charts the discrimination received by a superb female scientist who achieves fame eventually through a cookery show in which her scientific approach to cooking earns her a huge band of followers. Despite its serious themes, the book is engagingly entertaining and was very much enjoyed by the whole group. 

We will be meeting again at 7.00pm in the library on Wednesday 15 June. On this occasion we will be discussing Oh William! which is the latest novel by Elizabeth Strout, who is certainly one of our favourites within the group so we have high expectations of this book. We have also been giving some thought to summer reads, so over the summer we are intending to read Learning to Swim by Clare Chambers and Foster by Claire Keegan. These are both authors we have enjoyed in the past, so these should both prove worthwhile.

Please join us whether or not you have managed to read the book. Even if you are just looking for a few recommendations, you will find us a welcoming group of readers with diverse tastes.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Tuesday 21 June 2022  - 6.00pm to 8.00pm

Year 8 pupils and their parents are invited to compete in our inaugural Science Family Challenge. 

Each team will carry out a range of hands-on science practical work, competing against other pairs to win the coveted Science Family Challenge trophy.

We can only accommodate one parent per pupil and a maximum of 36 teams due to limited space, staffing and equipment, so sign up as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.

Between challenges, Science teachers will carry out fun and exciting demonstrations and presentations. Our goal for the event is to share our enthusiasm for science and to give parents the opportunity to experience a taste of science education at Princethorpe College. 

If you have any questions, please get in touch via email: danlee@princethorpe.co.uk

Please sign-up via the link here.  

Dan Lee
Head of Physics and STEAM co-ordinator

Thursday 23 June 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 26 June 2.00pm to 4.30pm

A celebration of our pupils' GCSE and A-level Art, Photography, Design and Textiles work will take place in the Chapel and cloister corridor on Thursday 23 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 26 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

A range of design and technology projects, from resistant materials to textiles, will be showcased alongside the stunning art and photography work the College is renowned for.

Comments, Paul Hubball, Head of Art, "This is a great opportunity to share our pupils' fantastic creativity with a wider audience and to welcome more art and design lovers to Princethorpe."

On Thursday evening admission is free, on the Sunday admission will be £2 per car including entry to the College's Summer Fête and Motoring Festival. Light refreshments will be served in the Quad.

All are welcome.

Friday 24 June 2022 - 6.00pm optional tour, 7.00pm drinks reception, 7.30pm supper

OPs who left the College in 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002 and 2012 (or those who were in the same year groups) are cordially invited back to the OPs annual Summer Supper on Friday 24 June to celebrate their respective 50th, 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries of leaving.

Leavers of year groups ending in a 0 and 1, who missed out, and other year groups are also most welcome. 

Comments OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, "This event is proving very popular and we already have some 90 guests booked to attend. We know many OPs are keener to come to these events if they can be sure of seeing some familiar faces.  By focusing on year groups ending in a 2, we hope to get a critical mass of attendees, although OPs from other years are of course welcome too!"

The Summer Supper is an established event in the OPs calendar, attracting a large number of OPs, former and current members of staff. The supper is preceded by an optional tour and drinks in the Quad. Every year the OPs recognise long-standing members of staff and say farewell to any staff leaving the College.

Numbers are limited to around 100 guests, so if you would like to attend please go to Princethorpe Connect by Friday 10 June to reserve your place.

Sunday 26 June 2022 - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

As the College gallops into Trinity Term the PTA focus our attentions on the highlight of summer – the PTA Summer Fête and Annual Motoring Festival.

There will be the usual array of stalls including our school supported charity stalls; countless fun games and activities.  We'll be firing up the BBQ and for those of you who find days like this thirsty work we'll be providing an array of drinks in the refreshment tent.

We are always seeking new supporters for this event so if you could help us out for an hour at the Fair or at future events, please do contact us at pta@princethorpe.co.uk or via Twitter @PrincethorpePTA.

We are once again running the popular ‘Pre-loved Uniform Stall’ and if you have any uniform which is no longer required this can be given in at the Student Hub.  School blazers, ties, skirts, jumpers, PE kits and PE bags are always welcomed, with proceeds of this stall going directly back to the PTA and the pupils of the College.

Should you have any ideas or queries regarding the Fête or the PTA, please contact us at the above email address.

Many thanks

Princethorpe PTA

Tuesday 28 June 2022 at 7.00pm 

(RSVP by Friday 27 May 2022)

Thank you to the many parents who have already replied to the Headmaster's invitation to this event. If you are yet to reply, please use the link below to let us know whether or not you will be attending.

Please click here to RSVP. 

An extract from the letter can be found below.

Carmel Hopkins
PA to the Headmaster

You are warmly invited to the Upper Sixth Thanksgiving Eucharist and Buffet Supper on Tuesday 28 June 2022. 

The evening starts at 7.00pm with a celebration Eucharist in the College Chapel, after which we shall all adjourn to the Sixth Form Centre for a buffet supper. The dress code is smart jacket and tie for men and equivalent for ladies. This will, I’m sure, be a very enjoyable and beautiful occasion; it is a celebration of all that this Upper Sixth group and their parents have contributed to the Princethorpe community over the years. I very much hope you will all be able to come. 

To enable seating and catering arrangements, I would be very grateful if you would rsvp by Friday 27 May 2022 using the link below, indicating whether or not you will be able to join us for this evening and how many people will be in your party.

RSVP form

On Wednesday 29 June at 7.30pm in the Chapel Tim Campain will play a wide variety of pieces from various genres. 

The renowned Princethorpe Binns’ organ of 1901 was built by James J Binns, Bramley Organ Works, Leeds. It was restored by Hugh Page in 1984.

From our archives we have a fascinating insight into the numerous letters that were written between Peter Paul Pugin and Sister Procurator of the Priory regarding the organ and the delay in placing the organ. An extract from one of the letters:

March 30th 1901 

...."it is all nonsense Binns saying the organ would be finished long ago if he had has a design for case. I sent him the design for case with full working drawings which he never acknowledged. He could have worked on it at once. The console is quite a separate affair. When I see Binns I will give him a bit of my mind. I was not at all extravagant in the design for the case and a tracing of it is now enclosed which you will kindly return after M Prioress has seen it. I will send on details of console as soon as I can!"

Please click here to reserve your place

Tickets - £5.00 including refreshments. All Foundation pupils free of charge.

The main image shows the original position of the organ console - it was moved to the gallery in approximately 1908 to make way for a statue of St Peter. This statue was taken by the nuns to Fernham when they left St Mary's Priory 1965. 

Thursday 30 June 2022 at 11.15am in the Chapel followed by a buffet lunch on the Sixth Form Centre lawn at 12.30pm

Invitations to this event were emailed to Year 11 parents on Friday 5 May 2022 - RSVPs are due please by Friday 27 May using the link here.

An extract from the email can be found below.

Carmel Hopkins
PA to the Headmaster (Acting)

Extract from the email to all Year 11 parents:

There will be a Thanksgiving Service on Thursday 30 June 2022 at 11.15am in the Chapel followed by a buffet lunch on the Sixth Form Centre lawn at 12.30pm for all Year 11 pupils.   

This is a beautiful occasion and parents are warmly invited to both the service and to lunch.  If you would like to attend, and to enable seating and catering arrangements, I would be very grateful if you would rsvp by Friday 27 May using the link here. 

This will be a special day for the pupils.  They come into school wearing suits\smart clothing following the Sixth Form dress code.  Pupils need to arrive in school at the normal time on this day ie 8.40am and will be free to leave school after the buffet lunch, from 2.00pm

Saturday 3 September 2022 - 10.45am to 5.30pm

We are gearing up for the 12th annual Old Princethorpians vs College Sports Day (and 14th John Shinkwin Trophy Match) on Saturday 3 September. 

We are planning to repeat our previous format with a relaxing day that mixes sporting matches with music, a BBQ and a bar.

As before points will be accumulated throughout the day, with the Alex Wallis Memorial Shield being awarded to the victors at the end of the day.

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 2021 and 2020)

3.45pm - After Match Awards

3.45pm to 5.00pm Rugby - OPs XV vs TBC

We are keen to get as many OPs from across the generations participating. Upper Sixth leavers of 2022 and other OPs interested in playing in any of the sports should please complete the short online form here by Friday 1 July.

Team sheets for College players will be on SOCS towards the end of the holidays.