The Flagpole

Wednesday 24 May 2023 - 7.00pm

It was great to see such a good turn-out for our last meeting in April. We were discussing Still Life by Sarah Winman – a huge tapestry of a book spanning generations and evoking both the earthiness of the East End of London and the artistic world of Florence. Despite its length, this is an easy and engaging read where both the triumphs and tragedies of life are explored with a warm heart.

As our next book, we will be reading How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee. This is one of the 70 books selected for the big Jubilee read. Set in Singapore at the time of the Japanese invasion, the book has been well-researched and explores the consequences of this on the lives of a variety of characters including the “comfort women”. We’ll be meeting in the library at 7.00pm on Wednesday 24 May. You’ll be guaranteed a warm welcome so do please join us whether or not you have had a chance to read this particular book. 

Thursday 25 May 2023 - 7.00pm to 8.30pm

There will be a recital from some of the most talented pupils taking music lessons at Princethorpe College in the Clarkson theatre on Thursday 25 May at 7.00pm.

It will be a friendly and informal evening, and a great chance to experience some of the vast talent shown by our pupils. There will be a combination of solo and small group performances on the evening, and an opportunity after the event to meet up with your child’s peripatetic teacher for a chat if you would like.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and there will be light refreshments after the event. Tickets can be booked through My School Portal by clicking here.

Gil Cowlishaw
Head of Music

Saturday 27 May – Sunday 28 May 2023

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

Entries are now open for the National Schools and Riding Clubs Two-Day Event, which is the only event of its kind in the UK and attracts up to 300 riders each year.

Now in its 22nd year, this year’s event includes a new 70cm class to open it up to a wider field of competitors, with a new spectator area introduced to satisfy growing demand.

The event takes place from Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 May at Princethorpe College, near Rugby, and is backed by local firms The Wigley Group and Newton LDP as its returning main sponsors.

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

For more information and or to enter please click here.

Open Evening - Wednesday 7 June - 6.30pm to 8.30pm

The College's annual Summer Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 7 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. This is a perfect opportunity for prospective families looking for a place in September 2024 and beyond to visit the school, for children to take part in departmental activities and for parents to meet and chat to members of staff and pupils.

The Headmaster, Grove du Toit, will also address visitors during the evening. Light refreshments will be available.

Please click here to book your place. 

Year 6 Taster Days - September 2023

Our Year 6 Taster Days are a great opportunity for pupils who will be in Year 6 in September 2023 and are interested in joining Princethorpe in September 2024. 

The days run from 9.30am to 3.00pm and typically involve four lessons, a question and answer session with some of our current pupils and the chance to talk to the new Headmaster, Mr du Toit. Snacks and lunch are provided and there is no charge for the day.

We have three dates available in September, Tuesday 12, Wednesday 20 and Tuesday 26 September 2023. Places, which are available for those children who have not already attended a Year 5 Taster Day, are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Please click here to book your place. 

Friday 9 June 2023 - 6.45pm to 9.30pm in the Sixth Form Centre

Please note the new start time for this event

Princethorpe PTA would like to invite you to a Gin Tasting evening with Rugby Distillery to sample their fantastic range of crafted gins, that are produced in copper stills using traditional methods.

Upon arrival you will be welcomed with a gin cocktail or mocktail. The evening will then continue with four gin tastings from Rugby Distillery’s range, paired with a recommended Fever-tree mixer. Throughout the evening you will be guided by Richard and Emma, the owners of the distillery, who will give an insight into their business and how Rugby Distillery craft gin came to be.

A small bar will be available throughout for alternative beverages.

Tickets cost £25.00 for gin drinkers including a cocktail, four gins and cheese platter and £10.00 for non gin drinkers including a mocktail and cheese platter.  Please click here to book your tickets.

Need a taxi?

Why not book our friendly Princethorpe taxi service aka the South Africa Tour teams to drive you home once the event is finished. All proceeds will go to the South Africa tour. If you would like to book this service, please email PTAssociation@Princethorpe.co.uk

Princethorpe PTA

Saturday 10 June - 12.00pm to 2.30pm

Crescent School will be holding a 75th Anniversary Summer Fête on Saturday 10 June from 12.00pm to 2.30pm. All Old Crescentians, former staff and parents are most welcome to attend.

In addition to stalls, activities and a BBQ organised by the wonderful Friends of Crescent on the school field, Old Crescentians are warmly invited to come along, have a tour of school, visit our archive room, help us identify past pupils, visit our 'memory booth' and catch up with fellow past pupils and former and longstanding members of staff.

If you would like to attend please sign up via Princethorpe Connect here.

Thursday 22 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 25 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

A celebration of our pupils' GCSE and A-level Art, Photography and Design work will take place in the Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 22 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 25 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

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

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

Adds Head of Design and Technology, Paul Scopes, "We look forward to welcoming all the exam pupils and their families from across Design, Art and Photography to enjoy the fruit of their labours."

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

Friday 23 June 2023 - 6.00pm optional tour, 7.00pm drinks reception, 7.30pm supper

OPs who left the College in 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2013 (or those who were in the same year groups) are cordially invited back to the OPs annual Summer Supper on Friday 23 June to celebrate their respective 50th, 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries of leaving. Other year groups are also most welcome. 

The evening will start with an optional tour of school at 6.00pm, drinks in the Quad at 7.00pm followed by a delicious complimentary three course meal with wine at 7.30pm in the Refectory.

Comments OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, "This event is proving very popular and we already have some 50 guests booked to attend. We know many OPs are keener to come to these events if they can be sure of seeing some familiar faces. By focusing on year groups ending in a 3, we hope to get a critical mass of attendees, although OPs from other years are of course welcome too!"

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

Numbers are limited to around 100 guests, so if you would like to attend please go to Princethorpe Connect by Friday 2 June to reserve your place.

Sunday 25 June 2023 - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

As the College enters the Trinity Term the PTA focus our attentions on the highlight of summer – the PTA Summer Fête and 26th Annual Motoring Festival.

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

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

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

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

Many thanks

Princethorpe PTA

Tuesday 27 June 2023

The British Motor Museum are hosting a Girls in STEM Careers Day on Tuesday 27 June.

Girls in Years 8, 9 and 10 who are interested in STEM subjects and would like to participate in this exciting STEM Careers Day, should send Mr Lee a brief email/letter of application to  danlee@princethorpe.co.uk stating why they would like to attend.

The visit will be free of charge to successful applicants and is sponsored by the Princethorpe College STEAM budget.

Places are limited and successful applicants will be notified in the coming weeks.

Tuesday 27 June 2023 at 11.15am in the Sports Hall followed by a buffet lunch on the Sixth Form Centre lawn at 12.30pm

Invitations to this event were emailed to Year 11 parents on Thursday 4 May 2022 - RSVPs are due please by Friday 9 June using the link here

An extract from the email can be found below.

Keren Andrews
PA to the Headmaster 

Extract from the email to all Year 11 parents:

There will be a Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday 27 June 2022 at 11.15am in the Sports Hall followed by a buffet lunch on the Sixth Form Centre lawn at 12.30pm for all Year 11 pupils.  

This is a beautiful occasion and parents are warmly invited to both the service and to lunch.  If you would like to attend, and to enable seating and catering arrangements, I would be very grateful if you would rsvp by Friday 9 June using the link here.

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

On Wednesday 28 June at 7.30pm in the Chapel, organist Tim Campain,will play a wide variety of pieces celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. 

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

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

March 30th 1901 

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

Please click here to reserve your place

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

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

Thursday 29 June 2023 at 7.00pm 

(RSVP by Friday 9 June 2023)

Invitations to this event were emailed on Wednesday 3 May 2023 - RSVPs are due please by Friday 9 June using the link here.

An extract from the email can be found below.

Keren Andrews
PA to the Headmaster

You are warmly invited to the Upper Sixth Thanksgiving Eucharist and Buffet Supper on Thursday 29 June 2023.

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

To enable seating and catering arrangements, I would be very grateful if you would rsvp by Friday 9 June 2023 using the link below, indicating whether or not you will be able to join us for this evening and how many people will be in your party.

RSVP form