The Flagpole

Wednesday 14 September - 7.00pm

We enjoyed a lively discussion at our May meeting about Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout. As a great fan of Strout’s writing, I was interested to see that the rambling nature of the first person narrative and the preoccupation of the novel with much of the minutiae of life were a little off-putting to some. Others did not warm sufficiently to the character of Lucy Barton but at the very least the book generated some engaging discussion.

Our next meeting will not be until next term on Wednesday 14 September at 7.00pm, when we will be meeting in the library as usual. We are hoping to welcome some new members then. As we will have plenty of time before then, we have opted for a few books for this occasion, including Learning to Swim by Clare Chambers and Foster by Claire Keegan, as these are both authors we have enjoyed in the past. We have also opted for The Whale Rider by Witi Ihumaera. All these are short reads and there’s a bit of choice here for those who don’t have much time for reading.

I hope you’ll be able to join us in the new academic year. We are a warm and welcoming group of readers who are always ready to try something new. We look forward to hearing of fresh recommendations from others after their summer reading.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Tuesday 20 September - 7.30pm

On Tuesday 20 September at 7.30pm Dr Nick Baker will present a fascinating talk on the myth, legend or reality that was King Arthur.

It is thought that King Arthur was a British warrior who, in the late fifth and early sixth century, defended Britain against hordes of invading barbarians. Although early records for this military superman are few and far between, Arthur has featured in popular culture for centuries. Geoffrey of Monmouth, a Welsh cleric, famously promoted Arthur in his History of the Kings of Britain (1136), a history book which details the king’s birth at Tintagel Castle. Later still, Medieval romances speak of Arthur’s chivalrous behaviour, his Knights of the Round Table, Excalibur and the enigmatic Merlin. His bones were unearthed by the monks of Glastonbury in 1191, which formed part of an elaborate hoax to put Glastonbury on the map! Arthur has also been the subject of cinematic treats like Walt Disney’s The Sword in the Stone (1963), Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and John Boorman’s Excalibur (1981). 

This talk will attempt to introduce the historical evidence for Arthur and separate fact from fiction. It will also consider the diverse ways he has been portrayed in literature, art and film, over the centuries. The audience will then be able to make up their own minds about the ‘real’ King Arthur!  

The presentation will take place in the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre.

You can reserve your place by clicking here 

We look forward to seeing you and enjoying the evening together.

For those families looking at entry to the College in September 2023 for their child, there are still several opportunities to visit the College before the registration deadline on Friday 30 September. 

Year 6 Taster Days

Parents of prospective pupils who have yet to attend a Taster Day can register their interest in their child attending one of our Year 6 Taster Days in September, by clicking here.

Open Morning
Thursday 22 September 10.30am to 12.30pm

The College's Open Morning will give prospective families a chance to visit the school on a normal working day, with Year 8 and 9 pupils acting as tour guides. Light refreshments will be available.

All are welcome please book your place by clicking here.

Entrance Examinations Day for September 2023 entry will take place on Saturday 5 November 2022 from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The deadline for registrations, scholarship and bursary applications is Friday 30 September 2022.

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