The Flagpole

I hope you had a good Christmas break and were able to enjoy some quality family time. 
 
I would like to say a heartfelt “thank you” to all those who sent me messages and kind words last term; these were really appreciated as was the pupils’ incredible rendition of Dancing Queen at the end of term service – something I will never forget!  
 
It has been wonderful to welcome Grove du Toit into the College as our new Head – in our Epiphany Service and assembly on the first day back he gave the pupils an insight into his own background and journey and said if he had to describe himself in three words they would be “passionate, energetic and caring” – all qualities we saw in him during the recruitment process. He will be a great Head for Princethorpe and I am already enjoying working closely with him. 
 
As I start my new role as Foundation Principal, I reflect on the past few years – dominated by COVID of course, but the implications of Brexit, the War in Ukraine and political and economic matters are now firmly at the top of all our agendas. It has been a time of great uncertainty and collective anxiety across the world which has affected all of us and our communities.  
 
In a period of such considerable uncertainly and indeed turmoil, our Foundation remains very strong and despite the challenges ahead, I am very optimistic about the future of pupils in all our schools. The “spirit of family” and the willingness of all members of our community – pupils, parents and staff - to pull together and support each other continues to be a major strength and the foundation for future developments. Another is our desire to continue to improve all aspects of our schools to ensure we offer the very best education to all our pupils, and this will be my major focus over the months and years to come. As Mark Twain said, “the secret of getting ahead is getting started…” and I am delighted to have started my new role. 
 
As I start to develop a strategic vision and plan for our Foundation, one of my first tasks is to spend more time at Crackley Hall and Crescent. Although I have worked closely with the headmasters for many years, I want to get much more first-hand knowledge of all aspects of our junior schools. I look forward, not only to seeing the children in action, but also meeting parents at a variety of events so please do come and say hello.  
 
I send my best wishes to you and your families and, on the Feast of the Epiphany and the day after Pope Benedict’s funeral, we keep religious leaders of all faiths and political leaders in our thoughts and pray that their guidance and example will help to bring justice and peace to all parts of the world. 
 
Yours sincerely

Ed Hester
Foundation Principal

It is with great excitement that I am able wish you all a Happy New Year, and finally write to you as Headmaster, following a very extended lead-in time while I finished my previous role in London. During the past nine months I have been to Princethorpe on many occasions, getting to know the school and its community and I am raring to go!

I have been asked lots of questions since my appointment and it was interesting to note the different things pupils, staff, and parents were interested in. Therefore, as an introduction I thought it best to share some of these with you.

Absolutely! Princethorpe is a fantastic school, and every visit has further confirmed my first impressions. Being able to lead the College is not only a privilege, but also a big responsibility. Princethorpe is looking at the theme of “Change” this year and this is a significant change for me. With change comes excitement and nervousness as we step into the unknown – new surroundings, people, and ways of doing things. There are other new pupils and staff who have joined us this week and I expect they feel very much as I do. However, I have no doubt the warm welcome and support Princethorpe is known for will make the change a positive experience. Some of my best moments this week have been engaging with pupils and seeing the quality of children that attend Princethorpe, this is indeed very exciting.

At the moment, nothing. During my interview I was asked about quick wins and I believe this is a dangerous approach when joining a new school. Princethorpe is a very good school, and the most recent ISI inspection is testament to the strength of its provision. It is important that I get to know pupils, staff, and parents before we decide on a specific direction. This does not prevent us from asking “Why?” and looking at how we do things, but change will follow at the right time. The recent pupil and parent surveys provided invaluable feedback and I look forward to hearing more from all members of the school community. Please continue to come and say hello at upcoming events or do let me know if you would like a more formal opportunity to meet.

Maya Angelou said that: “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I do not think there is another context where this is more relevant than education. We as teachers and parents need to ensure our children feel valued, supported, cared for, and challenged. They need to feel prepared for a life beyond the school gates and it is our responsibility to ensure that happens. In my first assembly I encouraged pupils to be brave and to “walk on water” - to do something that is challenging that will lead to a feeling of accomplishment or improvement. I also said how important it is that we look after each other - being brave and embracing new challenges or changes can feel scary and we need to be supportive. Again, as educators and parents it is our responsibility to create an environment where pupils feel safe and supported to attempt the brave and extraordinary.

During my assembly, I also answered “important” questions about the football team I support, how tall I am, what my favourite food is, and the most famous person I have met. Please ask your child for details if you are interested.

As already mentioned, we have some new colleagues joining us this term:

Mrs Natasha Warwood - Head of Learning Support and SENCo

Miss Ellie Johnstone - Trainee teacher of Psychology

Miss Lucy Roberts - Trainee teacher of Mathematics

Mrs Jessica Proudlock - Teacher of English (Returning from maternity leave)

Teaching staff had an excellent Teaching and Learning INSET on Tuesday, looking at habits that will improve our pupils’ experience and outcomes. We have had a busy start to term, our Year 11 pupils and Upper Sixth students have been sitting their first set of mock exams, the co-curricular programme has resumed, and I look forward to our first Lent Term weekend fixtures tomorrow. Princethorpe is very much running at full speed after the first week with many exciting things to come.

Please take some time to read through the rest of the Flagpole as it contains important information relating to the coming weeks.

With very best wishes

Grove du Toit
Headmaster

Grove du Toit has taken on the Headship of Princethorpe College with effect from January 2023. He succeeds outgoing Headmaster, Ed Hester, who has held the post since 2009. Mr Hester now becomes Foundation Principal, a dedicated role with responsibility for the strategic vision and direction of the whole Princethorpe Foundation, its three schools and nursery.

Mr du Toit was appointed as Headmaster back in May 2022 after a rigorous selection process and until December was Deputy Warden (Senior Deputy Head) at Forest School, a co-educational independent day school for children aged 4 to 18, located on the edge of Epping Forest, a position he held for five years.

Married to Marike, with whom he shares two daughters, aged 14 and 11, Mr du Toit, 43, is a practising Christian. South African by birth, he moved to the UK in 2005 and after a brief period teaching in the maintained sector, he has held a variety of leadership roles in HMC independent schools in and around London. Following his under-graduate studies at the University of Pretoria, he completed a MA in Education Management at King’s College London, and has recently completed his MBA at Salford University through their Business School.

Comments, Liz Griffin, Chair of Trustees, “We are delighted to finally welcome Grove on board. The Foundation Trustees were unanimous in the decision to appoint him as the next Headmaster of Princethorpe College. His passion for education and young people shone through throughout the selection process and our many encounters with him since. He has immense vision and energy combined with a wealth of experience and leaderships skills, but most importantly his personal values marry perfectly with the ethos of the College.

She continues, “Our thanks go to Ed Hester, who has done an outstanding job as Headmaster of Princethorpe College over the last 13 years. Of course, Ed will continue to have a very keen interest in life at Princethorpe and will be on hand to ensure a smooth transition and successful handover to Grove, who will be supported by Princethorpe’s excellent Senior Leadership Team.”

Comments, Grove du Toit, “I am excited and honoured to take on the Headship of Princethorpe College and lead the school into the next stage of its development, building on the excellent work of Ed Hester. I recognise and fully appreciate what a special community Princethorpe is and upholding its ethos and spirit of family will be central to my role. I look forward to immersing myself in school life and building relationships with staff, parents and pupils alike.”

Outgoing Headmaster, Ed Hester, adds, “Grove is a great fit for Princethorpe and brings with him a vast amount of experience and skills. I am delighted to be able to hand over the reins of running the College to him and am really excited at the prospect of working with him over the years ahead.”

The Princethorpe Foundation educates some 1,400 pupils aged 2 to 18 years across its senior school, Princethorpe College, and prep schools, Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery in Kenilworth and Crescent School in Bilton, Rugby.

Plans for the College’s Careers Fair on Saturday 18 March are taking shape with the confirmation that freelance consumer affairs journalist, OP, Felicity Hannah (née King-Evans) has kindly agreed to be the keynote speaker for the 2023 event.

Comments Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney, "We are delighted to have Felicity on board to open the event and set the tone for the day. She has forged an amazing career in broadcast journalism and her presentation promises to be one not to miss."

After leaving Princethorpe in 2001, Felicity studied Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. She then spent several years as a print journalist, writing for The Times, The Independent, The Mirror, The Herald and others, and is now a freelance journalist. Felicity regularly presents the Radio 4 programmes Money Box and Money Box Live and Wake Up To Money on BBC Radio 5 Live. She co-presents the BBC's Big Green Money Show with Deborah Meaden from Dragon's Den, and she's a regular on Radio 4's Today programme, providing the business news. Felicity has made a number of TV and radio documentaries, and has been named Broadcast Journalist of the Year at the Headlinemoney Awards for three years in a row. 

The bi-annual Careers Fair is open to Year 10 to Sixth Form pupils and their parents. It provides a ‘one stop careers shop’ with a wide range of speakers and organisations on hand to offer advice and guidance.

The Careers Fair will run from 9.30am to 1.00pm and, as well as the keynote speaker, attendees will be able to attend up to three workshops depending on their personal interests and visit an exhibition zone, with stalls from many well-known companies, charities, institutions, universities and gap year organisations.

Mrs Quinney continues, "Registrations will open in February and there will be plenty to interest and inform our pupils and their parents."

Pupils, staff, trustees, parents and friends of Princethorpe College celebrated and gave thanks at the end of the Michaelmas Term for outgoing Headmaster, Ed Hester’s, thirteen-year tenure at the College.

Over his time in office Mr Hester has driven many significant milestones and developments at the College and indeed the wider Foundation, which now comprises Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery in Kenilworth and Crescent School in Rugby. The school has grown from 762 pupils and five form entry in 2009 to six or seven form entry and around 930 pupils today, its optimum size. Thanks to Mr Hester and the team he has built around him, the College has grown in credibility and stature over the last thirteen years and is now a ‘first choice’ school for many families. The Foundation has grown and developed too, and now numbers some 1,400 pupils aged 2 to 18 years.

At a surprise event for Mr Hester, invited guests took a look back at some of the highlights and developments of his headship including successful mergers with Abbotsford School and Crescent School, the College’s ethos and its links with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, excellent ISI Inspections, membership of the prestigious Headmasters and Headmistresses’ Conference, significant campus developments, the College’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and handling of the Covid pandemic.

The event also celebrated academic, pastoral and co-curricular success and achievements at the College and the central part Mr Hester has played in this over the years. From his enthusiastic involvement in many academic, musical, charity and house events from results day and jazz band to welly wanging and abseiling down the iconic Tower.

At the final assembly of term Mr Hester was presented with a cut glass tankard by the pupil body and a commemorative book signed by all the pupils. One last surprise was in store when the whole Princethorpe community launched into a rousing rendition of ABBA’s Dancing Queen, dedicated to the ‘Greatest Edmund we’ve ever seen!’ For once Mr Hester was lost for words.

We thank Mr Hester for his outstanding leadership, dedication and contribution to the success of the College and Foundation to date and wish him good luck in his new exciting role as Foundation Principal.

Staff and OPs will once again be pounding the pavements and paths this January to raise money for Mary’s Meals. Rod Isaacs, Cyp Vella, Andy Compton, Clare White, Ellie Callan and Ben Collie will be joined by OP Tom Pilling on Saturday 29 January to navigate a half marathon off road route starting and finishing at Newbold Common in Leamington.

The hardy runners are fundraising for a charity close to Princethorpe's heart, Mary's Meals, and specifically the project to feed the 600 pupils of Makalanga Primary School, near Blantyre in Malawi.

Keen to get in shape for the challenge, Rod Isaacs has also pledged to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) on each of the previous four weekends in January making it four and one for good luck.

If you would like to show your support for their intrepid efforts please follow the link below.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/princethorpemarysmeals

Sad news reached us just before Christmas of the sudden death of longstanding Princethorpe bus driver, Trevor Nicklin.

Trevor was a familiar face to many and will have been well known and liked by pupils and parents as he drove buses for the College for over 25 years. Over the course of his time with us he drove routes including Coventry, Stratford and Solihull, originally working for DeCourceys and then transferring to Ridleys Coaches six years ago.

Trevor was a thoroughly nice chap, unsurprisingly perhaps he was also quite the transport enthusiast and used to enjoy attending the College Motoring Festival.

His passing has come as a shock and our sincere condolences go to Trevor’s family, friends, colleagues and the pupils who knew him, at this sad time. He will be missed by the Princethorpe community and we thank him for his faithful service.

Princethorpe College’s PE and Games Department celebrated another super season of sport at the end of the Michaelmas Term. It was an opportunity to recognise the achievements of the College’s young sportsmen and sportswomen at all levels and across all sports.

In assemblies on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December, pupils from Years 7 and 8 and then Years 9 and 10 gathered to celebrate this season’s sporting endeavours, that included 362 fixtures this term with 64 different teams representing Princethorpe.

The award ceremony began with a summary of the performances of the College’s teams, with awards recognising endeavour, progress, coach's player, and most valuable player. The wide range of sports and the sheer numbers of pupils involved is a testament to the importance of sport to life at the College.

Director of Sport, Lee Cassell commented, “Congratulations to all the award winners; it has been another successful term for the College with plenty to celebrate across the school. Huge thanks to all the pupils for their commitment and effort and to the coaching staff and parents for their dedication to school sport.”

For details of the award winners please click on the links below:

U14-15 Michaelmas Term Sports Awards

U12-13 Michaelmas Term Sports Awards

Crescent School, the Princethorpe Foundation's prep school in Bilton, Rugby, is celebrating its 75th anniversary during 2023. The school has exciting plans to celebrate this wonderful milestone, with opportunities to get together, renew and strengthen relationships and revive old memories.

The year will begin with the school marking Founder’s Day on Monday 16 January. Founder’s Day is a new celebration in the Crescent calendar and will provide an opportunity for the Crescent community to reflect back to its founding in January 1948 and to commemorate and thank all who have contributed to the school’s history. To mark the start of the anniversary year pupils will also be spending Friday 20 January looking back to 1948, with teachers leading themed lessons exploring life in the 1940s.

During the year the school is planning to update A History Of Crescent School last published on its 60th anniversary.

At Easter, the school would like to welcome a panel of old pupils back in to school to talk to the children and they are looking for volunteers and for any memorabilia former pupils and parents may have from their time at Crescent School. Photos, school reports, examples of schoolwork, programmes from plays and concerts and even old school uniform would all be welcomed. Please contact the school office at admin@crescentschool.co.uk if you would like to get involved or the Foundation’s archivist catherinelewis@princethorpe.co.uk if you have anything to donate.

Then in the summer, the school will be inviting past pupils to visit the school when they hold their 75th anniversary celebrations on Saturday 10 June as part of the school’s annual Summer Fête.

More details of the events will be shared once plans are finalised. If you are interested in being kept up to date with the Crescent School's plans, then do please join our alumni community Princethorpe Connect https://connect.princethorpe.co.uk/ so we can stay in touch with you.

Crescent School look forwards to sharing this important milestone with you all.

There are just a few 2023 College Calendars remaining, so if you didn't receive one as a Christmas present then you still have time to order one now.

Featuring 12 superb images of the College and its grounds and complete with term and key dates, it is sure to be a handy addition for any kitchen or office.

Purchases can now be made easily via our online shop at https://connect.princethorpe.co.uk/shop or from the College shop.

We have a few remaining places still available on these forthcoming themed taster activities aimed at current Year 5 pupils, who do not attend a Princethorpe Foundation school.

Choral Fun Day – Saturday 14 January 2023 – 9.00am to 4.30pm

A day of free musical activities, singing tuition and team-building skills ending with a gala performance for family and friends. Light refreshments will be available for parents and children on collection.

Try Tag Rugby – Friday 20 January 2023– 4.15pm to 6.00pm

An afternoon of free tag rugby training for boys and girls on our astro, learning new skills and making friends before a mini tournament. Beginners welcome. Light refreshments will be available for spectators.

Places for both events are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. 

Please click here to book a place. The closing date for booking onto these events is Monday 9 January 2023.

Friday 20 January - 7.15pm - 9.15pm

We are delighted to invite parents of pupils in Year 9 and 10 to the Headmaster’s Year 9 and 10 Parents’ Quiz and Chinese night, which will take place in the Refectory on Friday 20 January from 7.15pm to 9.15pm. Tickets for the Parents’ Quiz are available on a first come, first served basis, including the Chinese supper, and are £10 per head. Payment for tickets will be charged to the Trinity Term school fees.

The PTA will be running a pay bar and our new Headmaster, Mr du Toit'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 Friday 13 January.

We very much hope you are able to attend and we look forward to seeing you on Friday 20 January.

Wednesday 25 January - 7.00pm

Our December book was Landlines by Raynor Winn, the third of a series of books in which she charts her extensive walking projects with her husband Moth whose Parkinson’s related illness benefits hugely but unaccountably from these expeditions. This one begins with the challenges of the Cape Wrath Trail through remote areas of Scotland, after which the couple tackle the challenges of the Pennine Way. The writing is vivid and engaging with plenty of human interest stories along the way. The writer explores the benefits to both mental and physical health of walking and evokes the impact of the natural world upon wellbeing whilst not shirking from the physical discomforts and logistic challenges of long expeditions. We all found the book uplifting in different ways.

We will be meeting again on Wednesday 25 January in the library at 7.00pm. On this occasion we will be discussing The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje and, as a bit of a lighter read, The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams. Please join us whether or not you have read these particular books. We are a friendly and unpretentious group of readers, always open to new suggestions, so it is always good to welcome newcomers.

Tuesday 31 January - 4.30pm to 7.00pm

If you are interested in finding out more about working at Princethorpe College either as a member of teaching or non-teaching staff, why not come along to our A Taste of Princethorpe College – Staff Recruitment Event on Tuesday 31 January from 4.30pm to 7.00pm.

The event will be in two parts, one aimed at those interested in teaching posts and one aimed at those interested in support roles. Final details of the event will be sent out shortly beforehand.

You’ll get a tour of the College with some of our Sixth Formers, and a chance to meet the Head of Department or Manager. There will be short presentations by the Headmaster and Foundation Bursar and the opportunity to ask questions of our senior team. Light refreshments will be available.

If you would like to attend or to find out more about what kind of people thrive at Princethorpe click here.

The closing date to register your attendance is Tuesday 24 January. 

Further information on the event will be confirmed nearer the date.

Any other questions about recruitment should be directed to recruitment@princethorpe.co.uk or call 01926 634269.

Year 11 Mock Exam Reports will be published on Friday 20 January 2023 and will be available to view on My School Portal.

The Year 11 Subject Progress Evening will take place online on Thursday 26 January 2023 from 5.00pm to 8.30pm. Details of how to book appointments will be emailed week commencing 16 January.

The Upper Sixth Subject Progress Evening will take place in person on Wednesday 18 January 2023 from 6.00pm to 8.30pm. Details of how to book appointments will be emailed on Tuesday 10 January.

Upper Sixth Mock Exam Reports will be published on Friday 13 January 2023 and will be available to view on My School Portal.

Year 7 have joined the rest of the school in using devices in school from the start of this week. It has been a really successful start to device use for Year 7 and has been great to see the pupils enjoying and getting used to using their devices in lessons.

Pupils across all year groups will be getting some key reminders on systems and organisation next week as part of the tutor program, and good systems for IT use are a key part of this. As such, please see a few key messages and reminders for parents of pupils in all years regarding digital devices:

• Devices should be charged overnight so pupils arrive in school each day with a full battery.
• Pupils should also bring a charger to school so they can re-charge if and when needed.
• IT Services do have a limited supply of chargers that can be borrowed for a short period, but pupils should not rely on this.
• Pupils should ensure all school work is saved to their school OneDrive account or directly into Class Notebooks. This ensures work is backed up in the cloud.
• Pupils should use sensible file naming and organisation when saving work so they can always easily find it. Click here for an example.
• Pupils should always be connected to the Princethorpe WiFi network when in school.
• If pupils have any IT issues, they should contact the IT Service Desk by emailing servicedesk@princethorpe.co.uk or going to F13a. The team will be happy to assist them.
• Replacement styluses for devices bought through school are available in the uniform shop.

Further to our article in the previous edition of The Flagpole, can I remind you that the deadline for ordering Year 11 2023 Hoodies and Yearbooks is Monday 9 January 2023.

Apparently less than half of the year-group have ordered so far, so we would be very grateful if you would place your orders over the weekend, if you have not done so already. If you are unsure whether or not you have completed your order, I would recommend checking your bank statements as orders are placed directly with our supplier, Fizz. 

It is essential that these orders are placed in plenty of time so that they do not miss out as there will only be one order. Orders must be placed by Monday 9 January 2023.  
 
To place an order, please visit https://shop.fizz-group.co.uk/

Our School Unique ID is: P024672YR11 
 
I cannot stress this deadline enough, as we do not want anyone to be disappointed. Princethorpe will not be able to order any spare Yearbooks or Hoodies, so please do not miss out.  
 
All orders will be delivered direct to school for pupils to collect. Hoodies will be handed out prior to the Easter holidays and the Yearbooks will be given out on Tuesday 27 June 2023 at the Year 11 Headmaster’s Thanksgiving Service and Buffet Lunch. 
 
Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral 

We will be celebrating Year Group Eucharist for Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 in the Lent Term 2023.

• Wednesday 25 January - Year 10 - 9.40am-10.30am
• Wednesday 1 February - Year 9 - 9.40am-10.30am
• Thursday 9 February - Year 8 - 9.40am-10.30am
• Thursday 16 February - Year 7 - 9.40am-10.30am

Family members are invited to join the relevant groups in the College Chapel and to stay afterwards for light refreshments.

Please use the main exterior Chapel entrance. Car parking will be clearly indicated.

If you would like to attend please click on the relevant year group above to confirm your attendance.

If have any queries please email Mrs Mary Benham, Chaplaincy Co-ordinator at marybenham@princethorpe.co.uk

A nasal flu vaccination clinic was held in school this week.

If your child is in Year 7, 8, or 9 and missed it and would still like to receive the vaccine, please follow the link below to book into a local community clinic.

https://www.swiftqueue.co.uk/userlogin.php

Any queries please let us know via our email address at pcmatrons@princethorpe.co.uk.

Mrs Paula Greig
Senior Matron 

Confirmation preparation sessions for the Lent Term are:

Tuesday 16 January or Friday 20 January
Tuesday 24 January or Friday 3 February
Tuesday 7 February or Friday 10 February
Tuesday 14 February or Friday 17 February
Thursday 2 March (everyone) 

Confirmation will be celebrated by Canon Paul Fitzpatrick, Episcopal Vicar for Coventry and Oxfordshire, in the College Chapel on Friday 3 March 2023 at 7.00pm.

I hope everyone has enjoyed a relaxing time over the Christmas break. It is so good to witness the Sixth Form students returning in a positive and industrious frame of mind, ready to make the most of the term ahead.

Student Leadership for 2023/24 

The deadline has now passed, and all applications are currently being reviewed.

Upper Sixth Mock Examinations

The Mock Examinations are going well.

UCAS and Careers

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

Key Dates

Wednesday 11 to Wednesday 18 January - Business and Sports BTEC examinations

Wednesday 4 to Friday 6 January - Upper Sixth Mock Examinations

Friday 13 January - Upper Sixth Mock reports available on My School Portal

Wednesday 18 January - Upper Sixth Subject Progress Evening

Tuesday 7 February - Interview Skills Day

Saturday 18 March - Careers Fair

Thursday 29 June - Upper Sixth Thanksgiving Eucharist and Buffet Supper

Wednesday 5 July - Upper Sixth Leavers' Ball 

Best wishes

Ben Collie 
Head of Sixth Form 

Maybe you were lucky enough to get away over the Christmas 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

We have been given the opportunity for Princethorpe pupils to visit Mattioli Woods, Welford Road and watch the European Champions Cup match between Leicester and Ospreys on Friday 20 January 2023.

This will include a guided tour of the stadium prior to kick off. Additional tickets are also available to purchase. To access further information and to register your child’s interest, please complete the form here before Tuesday 10 January.

As part of the fundraising for the Senior Sports Tour to South Africa this summer we will be selling refreshments on Saturdays before home sports fixtures begin.

Hot drinks and cakes will be available from the Tuckshop from tomorrow morning so please come and support. 

We are continuing with the process of organising the return visit of our Dutch hosts from October 2022. We are looking forward to reciprocating the fantastic experience which our pupils received during our four night experience with the players from Hopbel Hockey club. The return dates are from Saturday 29 April through to Wednesday 3 May.

The girls and boys (mainly girls) are a variety of ages, between 12 and 15. This may be of interest if your child would like to attend the Holland visit in October 2023, however this invitation is open to all families. In order to host, we are looking for families who can offer to host a pair (or more) of Dutch visitors and willing to entertain and involve them in your family life for the four nights. We will organise an itinerary of fixtures, activities during the school day and a BBQ for our guests with their host families on the final evening. We will let you know who the other host families are so that you can organize other events together if you wish. We will supply bus tickets for the Dutch visitors should these be required but they will need to be picked up after fixtures each day from College.

Due to requisite safeguarding checks, all adults (members of the family over 18 years old) within the household must hold an enhanced DBS certificate, to be sent for by the Princethorpe Foundation, even if they currently have a DBS certificate from another employer. If you are subscribed to the DBS Update Service, please do let us know. To allow plenty of time for the DBS certificates to be received before the tour, please do book an appointment with our Recruitment Co-ordinator at recruitment@princethorpe.co.uk, to take place after Monday 30 January, as the DBS check has to be done within the three months prior to the visit. It will only take 15 minutes per person to apply for the DBS certificates, and one person from the household can bring the documentation on behalf of everyone in the household. The recruitment team are available Monday to Friday from 8.00am until 5.00pm. If you have any questions, please do contact Claire Wildsmith or Suz Jeffery on 01926 634269.  Please see the attached document entitled ‘Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks’ for the ID documentation required.

Many thanks for your continued support of Princethorpe Sport and we hope that you can continue this by hosting some Dutch guests in April. 

We have been able to arrange a package which will allow us to raise some funds for the upcoming school trip to South Africa in July 2023.

A hospitality package is available for us to go and watch Coventry RFC at the Butts Park Arena in their league match against London Scottish, with the hospitality in the Formation Media Marquee.

We have 40 seats available for the match on 4 March 2023 at £78 per person (inc VAT) which includes a £18 donation to the 2023 Tour Fund.

The price includes:

• Matchday Ticket
• Three Course meal
• Welcome drink on arrival
• Access to private cash bar for pre-match, half time and post match socialising
• The option to watch the match from the XL Motors stand or from the Marquee
• A visit from a player, subject to availability and Covid rules
• Free e-programme

We did a similar event for the previous school tour in 2019 which was a great event enjoyed by all who went. 

To book your seats please could you email post@princethorpe.co.uk with the following details:

• Name of parent
• Contact email address
• Whether your son or daughter is due to be on the 2023 trip
• Number of seats you would be interested in taking up

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

A warm welcome to the Lent 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 Lent Term 2023 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 Lent 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.

Our friendly PTA here at Princethorpe College are keen to welcome new members. 

By joining our PTA community, you are not committing to volunteer, but just to joining our community and if you do wish to volunteer you will receive emails when we require help to run our events.

For more information about the PTA and how to join please email pta@princethorpe.co.uk

Princethorpe PTA

The Music Department's New Year's resolution is to try and develop a whole college listening culture.

Too many of us get caught in a loop of listening to the same type of music all the time, and the ‘helpful’ algorithms our streaming services use to push new music to us only serve to make our musical diet more limited.

In Music lessons this year we are going to challenge our pupils to actively listen to new music each week. Not answer questions on it, not have it as background noise to other activities, to really listen.

Pieces will be from many different genres, artists, traditions and groups. The only constant will be variety! We'll add a little background to each piece and a reminder of the 'elements of music' if people want to really think about it as they listen, but if you want to let the music wash over you and ignore the text, that's okay too! 

Each week, the pieces will also be shared on the new ‘Music of the Week’ channel in the Princethorpe College Whole School Team, which can be accessed by all members of the college with a Princethorpe Office365 login. We would encourage everyone in the college to have a look at this page! Please feel free to react to posts, comment if you would like to, or just listen along. But try to make it deliberate, active listening. No multitasking here! Most pieces will be shorter than five minutes in length, so you don't need to take ages out of your day.

Whilst the enrolment deadline has now passed for moving up to the next level, there is still time to complete your award from last year in full. Please continue to prioritise signing off your volunteering, physical and skill sections. 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 in January, lunch 1 – LG01 and lunch 2, in LG02. The Certificate Presentation Evening takes place on Thursday 16 February 2023.  Please do prioritise signing off your sections as we will be sending out invitations in the new year.  We would like to celebrate all of your achievements on the scheme!

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education - DofE Manager

A reminder to Y10 Silver group, your expedition training takes place in The Limes on Saturday 28 January, 9am – 4pm and Sunday 29 January 2023, 9am - 1pm.  You will receive an email with full details.

Online eDofE accounts have been created and you have been sent an email with the login details. Please sign in as soon as possible. The DofE will then send a participant handbook directly to your home address.

The enrolment packs have been distributed at the DofE Start-Up meetings and the next steps explained. Please could all new bronze, silver and gold participants complete the steps listed below as soon as possible.  If you haven’t already, all should be aiming to start their volunteering, physical and skills sections this month.

1. Download the DofE app or find www.edofe.org.

2. Login using the username and password sticker on your folder (or the email sent directly to the address you put on your enrolment form).

3. Update your personal details.

4. Set timescales (for example at bronze physical 6, volunteering 3 and skill 3 months).

5. Complete programme planners for the physical, volunteering and skill sections. This includes;

- selecting the activity  
- inputting start dates
- setting a goal to achieve
- recording your assessor details (please speak to your potential assessor to ask permission before you upload the details)

Submit your ‘programme planners’ online to your DofE Leader for approval. Once approved you can start your award.

6. Get used to the app/website by experimenting with other features, for example: manage evidence, contact your leader and DofE card.

Additional guidance will be emailed directly home, please could participants spend some time reading through this information with their parents. Further resources can be found on My School Portal.

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education - DofE Manager

It is always great to hear about our pupils' successes that take place outside of school; please do keep us updated if your son or daughter has won a competition, is performing in a show or competing at a high level with a sporting team outside of school, we would love to hear more. 

We would like to invite parents to submit this information to us via a nomination form by clicking here so we might celebrate these achievements in school too.  

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

Details of the co-curricular clubs for this term were posted to families over the Christmas break as part of the Lent Term Calendar. I also have pleasure in attaching an electronic copy here.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

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. 

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 Malawi 2024 Expedition is a first for Princethorpe and an incredible opportunity.

The cost of the Malawi trip will be £3,290 and is built around the three pillars of School Partnership, Global Citizenship and Experience which are explained in more detail in the presentation linked below. The trip is scheduled to run from 5-20 July 2024 and will include:       

• Evening flight with Ethiopian airlines from London Heathrow to Addis Ababa and from there to Blantyre in Malawi   
• Accommodation at seven different lodges in different parts of the country  
• A visit to the charity STEKA which works with street children  
• A chance to experience the exuberant worship of a typical Sunday morning service
• Three days of classroom, sport and collaborative activities at two different schools with whom we have existing links. Mary’s Meals staff will spend half a day with us at each school. We may also visit the Mary’s Meals HQ in Blantyre
• Twenty-four hours on Mount Mulanje, the largest mountain in the country, including hiking and sleeping in a mountain hut overnight. The group will be assisted by porters and guides
• Two days at Ecolodgy Centre learning about environmental projects linked to sustainability, agriculture and business enterprise
• Afternoon safari and bush supper followed by two days R&R on Lake Malawi
• Two days at Bhubesi Pride Foundation with hands on experience of their work which centers on sport and education 
• Return flight from Lilongwe to Heathrow via Addis Ababa 
• The cost includes all accommodation and food, transport for the duration of the trip, all activities, insurance and travel to and from Heathrow airport, as well as tips and contingency money. Vaccination costs, personal insurance and money for souvenirs or personal items are not included

Pupils who take part in the trip will be expected to have a strong commitment to our College ethos, especially the ideals of kindness, hospitality and openness to others, plus a sense of humour. In addition, high expectations of pupils are expected in terms of a consistent work ethic and good behaviour in school from the moment that they sign up for the expedition. We expect and encourage all pupils to contribute towards the cost of the trip in whatever way they can.  In addition, we will decide on some charitable fundraising towards one or more projects at the two schools we will visit during our trip – for example classroom refurbishment or construction of girl’s toilet blocks. We look forward to collaborating with parents, pupils and local businesses in achieving this aim. 

Please click to view the following linked documents (but note the updated deadline for deposit payment) 

• Malawi 2024 Presentation
• Pre-Residential Trip School Behaviour Contract and Code of Conduct 
• Payment schedule and cancellation agreement
• A video about a previous Orbis Expedition can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yikGo43bg0

To secure a place on the trip: 

The Year 8 trip to the WW1 Battlefields this summer proved to be very popular and filled up very quickly. We are investigating the possibility of adding more pupils to the trip but need a handful more to make it viable. If your child is not already on the trip and would like to go, please complete the form here.  Further information on the trip is available here.

We will be in a position to confirm whether the additional places are available next week.

Peter Bucknall 
Head of History

The Learning Support Department welcomes Natasha Warwood, Head of Learning Support and SENCO.

Natasha has worked within education for twenty-three years, originally qualifying and working as a Physical Education teacher. Alongside teaching Physical Education, Natasha has been a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator for the past seven years and has the National Award in Special Educational Needs. Natasha is passionate about supporting young people and their families.

In her spare time, Natasha enjoys playing netball, running, horse riding and snowboarding. Natasha ran the London Marathon in 2019 and has a busy family life with two children and a cocker spaniel called Slowcoach Samson.

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

2022-23 (two page document) -  new Bank Holiday for the King's Coronation

2023 -2024 (two page document) - revised Prize Giving date

Thank you to all the parents who turn off their engines when they are waiting for pupils to come out of school. As a community we are striving to reduce the impact that we have on our world and turning off engines reduces our carbon impact and the emission of smelly exhaust fumes.

Eddie Tolcher 
Foundation Bursar

Please see below our current vacancies: 

Princethorpe College

• Head of English
• Head of History
• Teacher of Mathematics (Maternity Cover)
• Head Librarian

Crackley Hall

•  PA to the Head and Office Manager  
•  Nursery Manager
•  Teaching Assistant - KS1
•  First Aid Administrator

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.

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

The Lent Term Calender was posted out over the Christmas break. Please also find an electronic copy here.