The Flagpole

As we move into the extended Bank Holiday weekend for the Queen’s funeral, our thoughts and prayers will be with all members of the Royal Family. As a school we have been able to pay our respects for the wonderful contribution that the Queen has made, not least in our whole school assembly last week and our House Eucharist service this week – both really moving and respectful occasions at the very start of the school year. Whilst the death of the Queen has been met with huge sadness, it is right that we also celebrate her amazing life of service.  

Pupil - School Charter

After much consultation, we launched a new Pupil – School Charter on the first day of term: stemming from our ethos and the values which underpin the school, it translates these into a clear set of aims and expectations. It has been discussed in detail within tutor groups and pupils have all signed up to this charter which can be found here. I would be very grateful for your support in both reading this and talking through it with your children as to what it means for them and indeed your family. If you have any feedback on the Charter please do send it through via this link.

The School Year Ahead

With a new prime minister and a new monarch there will undoubtably be many changes ahead for the country and so too for all our pupils: they all have their own journeys whichever year they are in. Each year group has an assembly to look at the key events and challenges ahead; a combination of academic, co-curricular, social and personal development and we will share the key details of these with you directly.

Parental Involvement and Support

As you know, parents’ involvement and support are fundamental to all pupil development and I will be writing to you to highlight the key events for your own children. For all year groups there are a minimum of two key touch points:

Parents’ Evenings – please note that we have renamed these Subject Review Evenings

Following our survey of parents at the end of last academic year, it was apparent that the vast majority (72%) of families much preferred the online format of subject parents' evenings and for this reason we have decided to continue to hold these events online for the coming academic year. (The exception to this is in the Upper Sixth who will have two Subject Review Evenings – the first of these, following the January mocks, will be in school.)

It was also clear that the most popular appointment times were those earlier in the evening, and so we have decided to trial offering a wider time window for appointments on a single evening.

360 Review Meetings

By contrast, the survey revealed that the in-person format of 360 Review Meetings was preferred by most (61%) respondents and so we will continue to offer meetings with tutors in this way. This year these evenings will also be coupled with presentations from senior staff on key issues pertinent to each year group, including Sixth Form.

We will continue to ask for your feedback as we review these arrangements throughout the year.

Many parents commented that over the COVID period, they have missed the social elements of school. We ended last term with a lovely BBQ for the Lower Sixth and their parents and we have added a number of new events this year – starting with the Curry and Quiz Night for new parents this week. There is of course also a full programme of sports fixtures, concerts, plays and other activities where we clearly want as many parents as possible to be able to attend. Please do check the calendar for full details of these.

On the subject of COVID, we all know that it hasn’t disappeared; already we have had four confirmed cases amongst staff. Whilst there is no expectation for anyone to test at this time, please do not send your child to school if they are unwell – a high temperature, sore throat or cough are still good indicators for this.

As always, I thank you for your support and send all best wishes for the year ahead.

Ed Hester
Headmaster

On Friday 9 September at 10.40am, the College community gathered together on the school playground to remember Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Headmaster, Ed Hester, addressed the whole school community, he spoke movingly about the Queen’s early years as a child, her ascension to the throne and her many years of unstinting dedication to her country. He shared his own memories of her Silver Jubilee and reflected on the many changes the world has seen during her long reign.

The Heads of School, Freya Mills and Pratheesh Prabakaran, led the school in prayers for Her Majesty before the school observed a one-minute silence. Following the National Anthem, Mr Hester closed the assembly with a prayer for our new king, His Majesty King Charles III, as he takes up his new duties.

Across the school, the Union Flag is flying at half-mast as a sign of respect for Her Majesty and in the Cloister Corridor, beneath a portrait of the Queen, there is a condolence table with flowers and a prayer.

The College joins the nation in mourning the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and extends its heartfelt condolences and prayers to the Royal Family.

Former Upper Sixth Former, Dan Hatfield, from the Class of 2022, has had his A-level Design and Technology in Product Design project shortlisted for The Furniture Makers’ Company’s School Design Prize.

This prestigious prize is open to gifted young design and technology pupils from across the UK. Now in its seventh year, the prize rewards talented GCSE and A-level students and offers them the opportunity to showcase their work to the industry.

Dan will present his project, the Koko-Accent chair, at the Young Furniture Makers’ Exhibition that is being held in London on Wednesday 12 October. The winner of the award will be announced that evening.

Daniel’s design incorporates all the key features of Scandinavian design, minimalism, clean lines and a combination of function and beauty. Behind the aesthetic is a well crafted piece of furniture incorporating many intricate joinery processes.

A delighted Dan said, "I am so excited that I have been selected, it’s a dream come true, hours of work went into producing the chair and it is a privilege to have been short listed."

Head of Design and Technology, Paul Scopes, commented, "It was clear that this project was a real passion for Daniel, he invested a great deal of time and effort into designing, crafting and producing a visually stunning product and should feel proud of what he has designed and produced. To be shortlisted from all the schools in Britain is an outstanding achievement." 

Dan achieved an A* in his A-level in Design and Technology and this September will move to Loughborough University to study Graphic Design.

Princethorpe congratulates Dan, it is a fantastic achievement to have been shortlisted, we wish him the very best of luck for the final round.

With the new school year now in full swing, members of the Princethorpe community have one last chance to leave their mark on the College's new Science Centre.

This incredible development, due to be ready for teaching in September 2023, will facilitate not only state of the art science education at Princethorpe but also the opportunity to redevelop the existing site for complete cross-curricular enhancement.

This last chance to contribute is available in several different ways:

• By having a name engraved on a wall brick to be displayed in the entrance lobby of the Science Centre (£100)
• By having a name engraved on a chemical element on our Periodic Table display in the Science Centre (£250). As the elements are given on a first come first basis please contact the Development Office to find out what is still available.
• By having a name engraved on a granite paver to be placed outside the entrance to the Science Centre (£500)
• By you or your company sponsoring a display panel featuring the picture and biography of a particular scientist, as well as your name, message and company logo (£1500)

You could also choose to name a specific laboratory or piece of equipment (if you would like to discuss this further, please contact stevekowal@princethorpe.co.uk)

The closing date for donations will be Friday 14 October 2022. Don’t miss out on this final opportunity to ensure your chosen name or message is recorded in perpetuity in the future of the Princethorpe Foundation.

To participate, visit the link below where you can donate online: connect.princethorpe.co.uk/pages/leave-your-mark

So many of our parents, staff and friends have done much already to support the Foundation and we are incredibly appreciative of this.

Our show jumping team of Abigail Gillard on Champagne Traveller, Harriet Boyd on Clonea Daisy, Samantha Borland on Condor Goaviar and Sophie Glover on Cavalier Royal Lad, travelled to Hickstead in the holidays and came an incredible 5th in the NSEA Hickstead Elite Team showjumping Championships.

This was the culmination of months of hard work by the team who qualified earlier in the season for their chance to compete over Hickstead’s famous red planks. As always we are very proud of the girls and would like to thank their families for all of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

Louisa Fielding

From Saturday 10 to Tuesday 13 September, 33 Upper Sixth students visited Swanage in Dorset for this year’s Biology Field Trip. An essential part of their A-level studies, the trip allowed students to complete two required assessed Biology practicals, as well as experiencing a variety of field work techniques.

The group were based at Leeson House Field Studies Centre in Langton Matravers, on the Jurassic Coast. After their journey to Dorset it was straight to work on the Saturday, with students tasked with capturing and recording woodlice populations, a fascinating evening for everyone. Sunday morning it was off to the River Piddle and a comparison between the species found in slow- and fast-moving water. Then it was on to Kimmeridge Bay to undertake work on the rocky shores examining the distribution and morphology of limpets and periwinkles, a perfect opportunity to practice their sampling techniques. Monday’s activities included Studland sand dune succession and surveying of the woodlice populations again, whilst mammal and moth traps were examined before returning to school on Tuesday.

Head of Biology, Catherine Warne, commented, “Our Sixth-Formers made the most the experience, they learnt a lot but had fun too. The weekend’s sunshine was a fantastic welcome bonus to a very successful trip.”

Designed to stretch and challenge students in Chemistry, the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge takes students significantly beyond the syllabus and encourages them to think about Science in the way they would at university. 

This summer, four Lower Sixth students Hannah Lawrence, Freya Mills, William Gibson-Sexton, and Joshua Apaya took part in the Cambridge Chemistry challenge. The four chemists prepared themselves for the competition by taking part in the weekly Cambridge Chemistry challenge co-curricular club to develop their critical problem-solving skills, think creatively, and get a chance to test their knowledge in new, real-world situations. 

All four students who took part in the Cambridge Chemistry challenge achieved a certificate, with Freya Mills and William Gibson-Sexton awarded a Copper certificate. These four chemists faced tough national competition and we congratulate them all on the great resilience they demonstrated.

The College community gathered in the Sports Hall on Wednesday 14 September to celebrate a whole school Eucharist to mark the start of the academic year. Led by Father Alan Whelan MSC, supported by Father Teddy O’Brien MSC, pupils and staff were introduced to the new Chaplaincy school theme for the year of ‘Change’.

Father Alan reminded the school that change is all around us, that we should embrace change, as it is only through change that we grow. Pupils then considered what change they could make to be kind to others, recording their individual thoughts on a card.

Together as a community, pupils and staff prayed for the school, for our families and for all those in the world who need our hopes. During the service pupils and staff received the sacrament or a blessing. It was wonderful to come together as a community and to have the opportunity to reflect and pray.

Our thanks go to the Junior Chaplaincy Prefects and to Father Alan and Father Teddy for leading us in the service.

At the start of the summer holidays, 32 talented tourists from Princethorpe College’s Music department took part in a musical adventure when they embarked on a long-awaited performance tour of Belgium. Pupils from Year 7 all the way up to the Upper Sixth came along for the ride.

Their five-day action-packed itinerary included the chance to perform in three fantastic locations, as well as a visit and audio tour of the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels. They also visited the Menin Gate in Ypres and were honoured to perform at the internationally renowned Last Post Ceremony. Their trip included a day in Bruges and a super visit to a chocolate factory, as well some time to explore the beautiful city of Brussels and take part in an exciting Virtual Reality experience.

Princethorpe’s prodigies were magnificent, confidently performing to appreciative and sizeable audiences in Ostend, Ypres and the Menin Gate. They were all fabulous ambassadors for the College, and had an incredible time into the bargain.

This is the second time that the College has taken its instrumental and choral groups on tour (previously having had a wonderful trip to Vienna in 2019), and the entire trip was a resounding success.

Over the summer holidays five pupils from Princethorpe College were selected to represent the South Midlands region at the England Hockey Challenge Cup Tournament. During the tournament, which took place over a four-day period, at the Nottingham Hockey Centre, pupils played two matches a day against other regional teams from across England.

The pupils were Year 12, Will Antrobus and Year 13s, Evie Phillips and Lara Tripp-Smith, as well as OPs Fin Calder (not pictured) and Tom Hollis. After a fantastic four days of play the girls finished the tournament in overall 2nd place, an incredible achievement against the top players in the country. Special mention to Evie who made it through to the National Age Group Selection process. 

A huge well done to them all, it is a fantastic achievement to be selected to play for your Region and a testament to the commitment and hard work these pupils have put into their hockey over the past few years. 

Friday 30 September 2022

Those wishing to register for Entrance Examinations should do so by the deadline of Friday 30 September to allow for the processing of the application and to facilitate the gathering of references from junior schools.

More information on the admissions process can be found in the recently published Admissions Update newsletter here or on the Foundation website here.

A copy of the registration form can be found here.

Entrance Examinations for Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 will take place on Saturday 5 November 2022 from 9.00am to 4.00pm. More information is available in our 2023 Admissions and Entrance Examinations Booklet available on our website, click here.

Sunday 18 September 2022 - 2.00pm to 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 built in England after the Reformation and until 1966 it was home to a congregation of Benedictine nuns. The Priory was then purchased by The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart who established Princethorpe College. Today Princethorpe is a fully co-educational Catholic independent day school.

The Foundation's Archive team will be conducting free tours of the College on Sunday 18 September from 2.00pm to 4.30pm where they will share the history of our magnificent building and the amazing people that made it the place it is today.

It's always a popular event and all are welcome to come along.

Tuesday 20 September - 6.30pm to 7.30pm

The College's Admissions Team will be holding a Online Parents' Q&A session on Tuesday 20 September from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

The event will be a live streamed Q&A session with Ed Hester (Headmaster), Michael Spencer, (Deputy Head - Academic) and Mrs Vanessa Rooney (Registrar). This is a chance for parents to ask our Admissions Team questions relating to the admissions process and Entrance Examinations Day in an informal forum before the registration deadline of Friday 30 September.

If you would like to attend please click on this link, where you will also be able to submit any questions you may have in advance.

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

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.

Year 6 Taster Day
Tuesday 27 September 

Our final Taster Day is on Tuesday 27 September and is great for prospective pupils to experience school life at Princethorpe. Typically they involve four lessons, a question and answer session, with some of our current pupils, and the chance to talk to the Headmaster, Mr Hester. Snacks and lunch are provided and there is no charge for the day. Parents of prospective pupils who have yet to attend a Taster Day can book their child a place 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.

Friday 23 September 7.00pm – 9.00pm

One of the COVID casualties last year was the Year 7 Parents’ Curry and Quiz Evening, so we are delighted to be able now to invite parents of pupils in Year 8 to our Quiz and Curry Evening, which will take place in the Refectory on Friday 23 September from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. Tickets for the Parents’ Quiz are available on a first come, first served basis, including the curry supper, and are £10 per head. Payment for tickets will be charged to the Lent Term school fees.

The PTA will be running a pay bar and Mr Hester’s quiz will hopefully not be too testing! 

It should be a very enjoyable evening for all and enable you to meet and socialise with fellow parents, as well as some staff and members of the PTA.  

If you would like to reserve your place, and to enable us to plan our catering, please click here to complete and submit a brief form by 9.00am, Wednesday 21 September.

Year 8 Social

At the same time, there will also be a Year 8 Film Club organised by the PTA, staff and school prefects in the Sixth Form Centre. 

Tickets for the Year 8 Film are free of charge, but you do need to reserve a place; to do so, please follow the link above. Children can attend the Year 8 Film without their parents attending the Quiz, however parents are required to sign them in and sign them out. Drop off is at 7.00pm and collection no later than 9.00pm.

We recommend children bring approximately £3 pocket money with them to purchase drinks and treats. Children should have eaten their evening meal before attending. 

We very much hope you are able to attend and we look forward to seeing you on Friday 23 September.

Saturday 24 September 2022 - 9.30am to 2.00pm

If your son or daughter is a budding Scientist who loves getting hands-on with experiments, then sign them up for our Year 6 Science Investigators Workshop on Saturday 24 September.

Aimed at children in Year 6 who do not currently attend a Princethorpe Foundation School, the morning will involve a variety of fun, practical Science sessions, assisted by members of the Science Department and their Sixth Form helpers. There will also be time for a break including the legendary Princethorpe cookie. The morning will round off with our investigators re-joining their parents for a complimentary buffet lunch in the Refectory.

You can still attend if you have previously attended a Taster Day!

To book your place please click here. 

Thursday 29 September 2022 - 6.30pm to 8.00pm

Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery in Kenilworth, are hosting a dedicated Nursery, Reception and Year 3 Open Evening on Thursday 29 September from 6.30pm.

This Open Evening is a dedicated evening for prospective families wishing to join Little Crackers Nursery, Reception or Junior 3 in September 2023 and beyond. 

The evening will be split into two sessions with the first session dedicated to those looking for Nursery and Reception places and the second session dedicated to those looking for Junior 3 places. This is a perfect opportunity to see the school and talk to key members of staff who will be teaching and supporting your child.  

To book your place please click here. 

If you can't make the Open Evening but would like to look around the school, you can now book a personal tour here or call our Registrar, Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk and come on a day to suit you.

For more information visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk

Friday 30 September 2022 from 6.30pm

The Old Princethorpians' popular London Meet returns to Covent Garden this September. On this occasion we will be gathering upstairs in the stylish private Dining Room of The Marquess of Anglesey on Bow Street on Friday 30 September from 6.30pm.

The London Meets are always very sociable affairs, with OPs from across the generations mixing and networking happily together.
 
As ever the Old Princethorpians Committee will be laying on some delicious, complimentary food and of course a welcome drink or two for all those attending.

There is still time for OPs to book their place via Princethorpe Connect, to do so please visit this link by Wednesday 21 September. 

We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up!

Wednesday 5 October - 7.00pm

It was good to welcome some fresh faces at the first meeting of our Parents’ Reading Group this year and there was plenty to discuss about our summer reads. All agreed that Foster by Claire Keegan was a highly sensitive and thought-provoking book. With great economy of style, Claire Keegan leads the reader into the heart of some of life’s unspoken tragedies through the story of a girl who is sent to live with relatives while her mother is having the next baby in her large brood. We also enjoyed Learning to Swim by Clare Chambers, but perhaps not quite as much as her previous Simple Pleasures. This was quite a light read for summer with some surprising twists and turns regarding the life of a bohemian family and the impact they have on a woman from a very different background. Ihimaera’s Whale Rider takes a bit of getting into perhaps but is a lyrical evocation of the lives and culture of the Maori community in New Zealand.

We will be meeting again in the library at 7.00pm on Wednesday 5 October. On this occasion we shall be discussing Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, which many might know from the TV series. Please do join us whether or not you have read this book. We are a friendly and unpretentious group who are always open to new reading suggestions.

Tuesday 4 October 2022, 7.00pm to 8.00pm

The Crescent School, in Bilton, Rugby, is opening its doors for a dedicated Open Evening on Tuesday 4 October 2022 from 7.00pm.

This Open Evening is for prospective families wishing to join Reception or Year 3 in September 2023 and beyond.

There will also be opportunities to look around the school, visit specific year group and specialist classrooms, such as the Science Lab and IT Suite, as well as speak to key members of staff. Joe Thackway, Headmaster, will also be available to answer any of your questions you may have about the school.   

To book your place please click here.

If you can't make the Open Evening but would like to visit the school, you can now book a personal tour here, or please call our Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley on 01788 521595 or email admissions@crescentschool.co.uk and come on a day to suit you.

For more information visit www.crescentschool.co.uk

To support the progress of our new Year 7 pupils, we will be offering face to face meetings with your child’s tutor to discuss how they are settling-in to life at Princethorpe. Alongside this, senior staff will present some key messages for the year ahead, including how to support pupils’ learning at home. As targets will be made for further improvement we expect that pupils will also attend the meeting wherever possible.

Parents will be given the opportunity to book a 10 minute slot with their child’s tutor electronically; an email will be sent out with more information and booking details before the evening itself.

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head – Academic

To support the progress of our Year 10 pupils we will be offering face to face meetings with your child’s tutor to reflect on how they are settling-in to GCSE study, and to discuss future targets. These will be preceded by a presentation from senior staff to explain how we can use YELLIS testing data to inform these discussions, and to highlight some key messages for the coming academic year. As we are discussing their individual targets, we expect that pupils will also attend the meeting.

Parents will be given the opportunity to book a 10 minute slot with their child’s tutor electronically; an email will be sent out with more information and booking details before the evening itself.

As our new Lower Sixth students settle in to life in Sixth Form, we would like to invite all parents to our Lower Sixth A-level Information Evening. This will include a talk by Mr Spencer who will explain how we can use the results of recent ALIS tests to support our students to succeed. This will be followed by the opportunity for a personal meeting with your child’s tutor or member of the Sixth Form Team to discuss how your child is settling in to Sixth Form and how their individual ALIS predictions can inform their personal targets. The meetings will follow a very similar format to what would normally occur at our 360 Review Evenings lower down the school. Further information and instructions on how and when to make your bookings will follow next week.

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

The Right Reverend William Kenny, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Birmingham will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in the College Chapel on Friday 3 March 2023.

Medical Centre staff would like to remind parents that if the medical needs of your son/daughter have changed over the holidays please do let us know so we can support them whilst they are at school.

Please email at PCMatrons@princethorpe.co.uk or telephone 01926 634214 for Matron or one of the School Nurses.

As a rule, property should not be left at school overnight or at weekends. The school is in constant use by outside teams, clubs and organisations so we cannot control access to belongings if they have been left at school at these times.  

All items found will be stored safely at the Student Hub. They can then be collected at break or lunch time.

Parents can email lostproperty@princethorpe.co.uk about any items that have been lost. We will then email a response back as quickly as we can.

Please note that if a lost item does not have a name label then it is almost impossible to return it to its owner.

We do want to ensure that pupils take responsibility for their belongings, in particular their valuables, and not to leave items around the school. For this reason we do discourage pupils from bringing valuable items into school at all.   

Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

This year we are managing our detention system slightly differently to how they have been in previous years.

Detentions will be held daily as follows: 

Years 7, 8 and 9 Tuesday at 1.05pm in F23A

Years 10 and 11 Thursday at 1.05pm in F23A

Detentions will be set if a pupil receives three LLCs (which includes uniform and mobile phone violations) or one HLC per half term.

Three lates per half term will also result in a lunchtime detention. 

One HLC per half term will automatically lead to a Friday after school detention for a pupil. 

Three detentions equals a Saturday morning detention. Parents will be notified in advance if their child is expected to attend an after school detention via an isams email message.

Please can I take this opportunity to ask parents to remind their children of the importance of good conduct and organisation in school. Pupils failing to comply with the Princethorpe College Code of Conduct may put themselves and others as risk of harm.

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

Thank you to everyone for a calm and successful start to the term. It has been a time of getting used to the routine and becoming familiar with new timetables. 

Looking ahead, I would welcome ideas of items to purchase from our allocated budget which will benefit the Sixth Form. Please email me your thoughts. 

UCAS and Careers

Any questions about UCAS or careers related advice please contact Mrs Quinney directly by email at jacquiquinney@princethorpe.co.uk.

Lower Sixth Reminders

Lower Sixth Tutor Evening (Sports Hall and The Limes)

Wednesday 28 September from 6.00pm - 8.30pm 

Lower Sixth Trip to Dearne Valley Outdoor Centre

Friday 23 September to Sunday 25 September. 

Upper Sixth Reminders

Upper Sixth UCAS Q&A session (Sixth Form Centre and Online)

Thursday 29 September from 6.00pm - 7.00pm

With best wishes

Ben Collie 
Head of Sixth Form 

Welcome to the start of a new school year. We thought we would take this opportunity to remind you of what we do and where we can be found. Our office is now in F49 on Lower Pugin, and Kerry Low and I welcome visits from students and staff with queries and questions. 

Here is reminder of what we aim to do.

For pupils

For all year groups we can talk about pupils' choices and options for subjects and careers. We offer each student a one-to-one guidance interview in Y10 and Y11 and again in L6. Students are also welcome to pop into F49 at lunch, tutor or breaktime for further help. We also contribute to the careers curriculum that runs from Yr7 to Yr13 in PHSE and provide information for all the choices the students will need to make at the appropriate time.

For parents

Parents can contact the careers team via email and one of us will get in touch. 

Finally, we are now responsible for Work Experience and the biannual Careers Fair, next scheduled for March 2023. If you are a parent and feel you could contribute in terms of offering a work placement or exhibiting at our Careers Fair please get in touch.

Jacqui Quinney   
Head of Careers

The Healthcare Virtual Work Experience Programme is an excellent opportunity to participate in the largest programme for students who are specifically interested in the following careers:

Midwifery
Nursing
Paramedicine
Physiotherapy
Occupational Therapy
Dietetics
Radiography
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Speech and Language Therapy
Pharmacy

Applications for this programme are now open, and they will be open throughout this academic year, with the first programme taking place on Sunday 2 October. 

Students can enrol here.

During the work experience day, students will follow two patients from their initial presentation to recovery. Students will observe the healthcare professionals as they interact with the patients and each other. They will have an opportunity to ask questions and gain knowledge through observation.

This will help students learn about how healthcare professionals work together as part of a multidisciplinary team. Each work experience day is completely different and students will be able to build on their knowledge of NHS careers as they see different patient cases and healthcare professionals work in a variety of settings, such as in hospital and out in the community.

Students will also receive certificates as evidence of having participated in the work experience programme. Places cost £10 a day to cover administrative costs.

Have you heard about the 'Upskill Me’s Empowered Females in STEM Programme'?

The programme aims to:

Prepare your skills for the start of your STEM careers.

Enable you to network with global STEM employers in-person and online.

Raise your self-efficacy.

Empower you to be valued members and bold leaders of the STEM community.

The programme involves you attending masterclasses and receiving group mentorship from diverse and relatable women in STEM. You will also carry out a real-world STEM challenge with individual support from industry experts working in global STEM companies.

If you are interested in this exellent opportuntiy please apply via this application link by the deadline, which is Friday 23 September.

Some degree courses require students to take an admissions test as part of their application. It will be stated in the entry requirements for the course and Sixth Form students can check with their tutor or a member of the Sixth Form Leadership Team. Registration for these tests is now open and must be completed by Thursday 29 September 2022. Late registrations are not accepted.

The BMAT test has a fee of £75 all other tests are free.

Tests take place in school during October and early November depending on the subject, individual test dates are shown on the back of the registration form.

To be entered for a test please complete the attached form here and return to the examinations office before the deadline.

Shellagh Dodds
Examination and Assessment Manager

Thank you. 

Mary Benham
Chaplaincy Co-ordinator

Maybe you were lucky enough to get away over the summer holidays and now there are a few foreign coins or notes lurking in 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.

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’. This can be handed in to form tutors to pass on.  We raised nearly £170 last year. 

Many thanks

Rod Isaacs
Assistant Head of Sixth Form

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 guide for pupils and parents ahead of the Michaelmas Term 2022 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 of Sport), Jen Law (Head of Girls' Games) or Joe Jackson (Head of Boys' Games).

Lee Cassell 
Foundation Director of Sport 

Please don’t forget that Princethorpe College PTA is registered with easyfundraising. So, although we’ve been unable to get together and hold fundraising events in person for a while, 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 5 September. Please find the link here to the Co-curricular timetable. 

These are just an example of the range of activities in offer this term. Please do look through the timetable and see whether Beekeeping, Magic, Knitting or Jewellery design spark your interest. 

We are also looking forward to welcoming parents back on site to watch the Michaelmas term fixtures programme. Please use www.princethorpesport.co.uk or MySchoolPortal to know when the fixtures are, their venues and whether pupil shave been selected. 

The Drama Department rehearsals are in full swing and we look forward to seeing the pupils perform in A Christmas Carol in December 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 involved with. 

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

The Parent Information Evening recorded presentation, Information Booklet and Enrolment Form are all available on MySchoolPortal/Co-curricular/DukeofEdinburgh’sAward via the link here.

The deadline for enrolment is Friday 14 October (half term). Please complete the form and submit the £50 non-refundable deposit. Assemblies will be held with pupils after half term where course materials will be distributed and the next steps explained.

Here is a reminder of the eligibility criteria: 

Award Stage    Age Requirement

Bronze              Year 9

Silver                Year 10

Gold                 16 years old (must be in the Sixth Form)

I look forward to welcoming pupils onto the scheme this year. 

Please continue to prioritise signing off your volunteering, physical and skill sections.  You will notice that this week I have been working through signing off your expedition sections.  Many have already completed their award in full.  Guidance can be found on a DofE Completion email sent to you and your parents, the advice documents are also available on MySchoolPortal.

Lunchtime drop-in clinics continue this week, lunch 1 – LG01 and lunch 2, in LG02.  I will aim to hold the Certificate Presentation Evening in February 2023.  However, the final deadline for completion for those aiming to move from bronze to silver is October half term, for those stopping at bronze it is Christmas.

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education - DofE Manager

Co-curricular trips and educational visits have always been a major part of life at Princethorpe. These experiences for pupils enrich their lives, enhance their learning and develop their understanding and appreciation of the world around. The Upper Sixth Biologists had a successful trip to Dorset last week and we are looking forward to running the Year 7 residential to Whitemoor Lakes and the Lower Sixth residential to Dearne Valley in Yorkshire next weekend.

We would like to update you with the provisional major trips and visits plans as they currently stand (this does not include academic department day trips or Duke of Edinburgh's Award). Please click here for the planned school trips in the coming years.

Please also ensure that you read the information about individual trips with care when they are released, in particular in relation to consent, cancellation and insurance.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

The College takes the safety of pupils, staff and visitors very seriously and we have taken various measures to minimise the risk of an accident involving a vehicle. Please take care when driving on campus particularly at busy times such as the start and end of the business day.

The College has updated its risk assessment on the management of traffic on site to ensure the safety of pedestrians and vehicles, these can be made available on request. Parents are also asked to discuss with their children how to keep safe. Our aim is to make it as safe and easy as possible for everyone. 

Steps drivers can take to improve safety:

• Adhere strictly to the speed limits and instructions given by College staff
• Never hold or use a mobile phone whilst driving
• Park in designated areas and never on double yellow lines
• Stop for pedestrians wishing to cross at designated crossing points
• Ensure that pupils only exit or enter cars when safely parked in designated areas
• Music should be kept to a minimum level
• Be patient, kind and courteous 

Everyday traffic

• All pupils arriving and leaving school at the normal time must be dropped off and picked up in the playground area adjacent to the pupils’ entrance and tennis courts; this is the only designated area for parents at the beginning and end of the school day. 
• The playground is closed to traffic from 9.00am to 3.30pm. Parents arriving within this period are asked to park in the ‘Short Stay’ parking (yellow hatched area between Reception and the Roundhouse) and go to Reception or the Student Hub.
• If you are collecting your child at the end of the day, please avoid arriving before 3.00pm. If you are queuing, please keep yellow hatched areas by the main gates clear to enable our estates team or emergency vehicles access.
• Please do not drop off pupils at the end of the drive as it is unsafe for pedestrians.
• For the safety of all pupils, parents are asked not to drive through the North Car Park and drop off or pick up from the Sixth Form Centre and not to park on the grassed areas.
• Sixth form parking is available only to those issued with permits. A designated Sixth Form car park has been provided next to the sports field. Permit holders must park in their designated space as issued by Mr Collie.
• For improved security, our automatic main gates close between 9.00am to 3.20pm. Should you require access during this time, please press the bell button on the keypad.
• Parking on site is very restricted especially whilst we have construction taking place on site. If you are wishing to attend the College to watch sport, please use visitor or short stay parking however, we cannot guarantee this will always be available.

Start of the academic year

The start of term is exceptionally busy and we recommend that new pupils use the bus service from the first day of term. However, we accept that some may want to be picked up while they settle into College life. To help ease the queues, we may use The Close (grass area next to the playground) at the end of the day. Trained staff will manage parking on this area and all drivers are asked to cooperate and to follow instructions. Please note, this will only operate during the first week of the academic year (5 to 9 September).

Polite reminders

• We encourage drivers to turn off their engines whilst waiting to reduce pollution
• The whole site is non-smoking/vaping

Rob Heath
Director of Estates

We have moved to a different payment platform, Global Payments, which we hope will improve the service for parents.

Parents can pay by debit and credit card and additionally by Google pay and we are hoping that Apple Pay will be available in due course.  Some further information on what the screen now looks like can be found here.

Cashless Catering Team

As we start the new term we would like to remind parents of some useful contact details.

To report a pupil absence please email attendance@princethorpe.co.uk or telephone the Attendance Line on 01926 634260.

For other enquiries please use the email addresses below:

Bus related queries - princethorpe@vectare.co.uk

School Shop - uniform@princethorpe.co.uk

Medical Centre - pcmatrons@princethorpe.co.uk

School fees -  accounts@princethorpe.co.uk

General enquiries - post@princethorpe.co.uk

Lost property - lostproperty@princethorpe.co.uk

Wisepay catering - cashless@princethorpe.co.uk

Email addresses for members of teaching staff can be found on My School Portal.

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: 

Princethorpe Foundation

• Foundation Director of Finance

Princethorpe College

• Head Librarian

Little Crackers

• Nursery Manager
• Nursery Practitioner

Crescent School

• KS1 Teaching Assistant

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.

Please find below the Term Dates for 2022-23 and 2023-24

2022-23 (two page document) 

2023-24 (two page document) 

Cyber-crime – please be extra vigilant

Parents are asked to be vigilant when reading emails relating to the payment of school fees and any other items to the Foundation. You can protect yourselves by only making payments to us in line with our normal, published methods. Any email offering a large discount on fees for the coming academic year if paid immediately is fraudulent.

There has been no change to the bank details of Princethorpe College, Crackley Hall or Crescent Schools and there is no intention to make any changes in the foreseeable future. Any electronic notification that appears to be from any of the Foundation schools changing these details may be fraudulent. Our bank details are available on the Parent Bills, the Online Payment Portal and in the Information Booklet for each school, and only those details should be used.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or my colleagues in the Bursary if you are have any doubts about the correct details or indeed if anything appears suspicious.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar