The Flagpole

We have great pleasure in unveiling the OPs' events calendar for 2023-2024.

This year's calendar features some of our regular favourites including the OPs vs College Sports Day this Saturday 2 September and the popular London Meet on Friday 29 September at The Riverside, a trendy Thames side venue.

Our spring meet returns to Leamington this time at The Fox and Vivian on Friday 8 March and the annual Summer Supper Reunion takes place at the College on Friday 28 June, celebrating the leavers of 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004 and 2014, although leavers of other years are also most welcome.

All OPs, past parents and staff are welcome to participate in any or all of the events. Visit Princethorpe Connect, our online alumni community, to register and book on events.

We're looking forward to another fabulous year of events!

Saturday 2 September 2023

We are gearing up for the 12th annual Old Princethorpians vs College Sports Day (and 14th John Shinkwin Trophy Match) this Saturday 2 September 2023. 

We day will repeat our previous format with a relaxing day that mixes sporting matches with music, a complimentary BBQ and ice cream van and a subsidised bar.

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

Format of day:

• 10.15am to 11.30am Football OPs vs Staff
• 11.30am to 12.30pm Hockey Princethorpe College Mixed Team vs OPs XI
• 12.30pm to 1.30pm Netball Princethorpe College 1st VII Girls vs OPs VII
• 1.45pm to 3.15pm Rugby - John Shinkwin Trophy - Princethorpe College 1st XV Boys vs OPs XV (leavers of 2023 and 2022)
• 3.30pm - After Match Awards by the BBQ

Spectators are most welcome to come along and support all the teams.

Sunday 10 September 2023 - 2.00pm to 4.00pm

This September Princethorpe College is once again participating in the Heritage Open Day festival.

Dating from 1832, St Mary's Priory was one of the first Catholic buildings constructed 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.

As part of the Heritage Open Day festival Princethorpe’s archive team will be conducting free tours of the College on Sunday 10 September from 2.00pm to 4.00pm where they will share the history of the magnificent building and the amazing people that made it the place it is today.

Tours will start at 2.00pm, 2.30pm and 3.00pm. Areas open include Pugin’s magnificent Chapel, the Cloisters, Nuns’ Cells, Library (formerly a Church) and the unique Roundhouse. Admission is free and refreshments are available.

Monday 11 September - 6.30pm to 7.30pm

The College's Admissions Team will be holding a Virtual Parents' Q & A session on Monday 11 September from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

The event will be a live streamed Q & A session with Grove du Toit (Headmaster), Michael Spencer (Deputy Head - Academic) and Catherine Rogers (Registrar).

This is a chance for parents interested in Year 7 to 10 entry to the College in September 2024 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 29 September.

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

Wednesday 13 September 2023 - 7.00pm

It is with a fond goodbye to Chris Kerrigan, I take leadership of the Parents' Book Club. As an English teacher, literature is obviously a central part of my daily life but also in my personal life literature has been a huge part of my, and my family's experiences. One of my earliest memories was walking to my local, and it was local in those days, library to take out books on horses. 

The first session for this year will be on Wednesday 13 September in the library at 7.00pm. The first book on the agenda will be Trespasses by Louise Kennedy, an Irish writer who is building up a great reputation for herself. This book takes us back to the troubles in Northern Ireland in the 1970s and is written with great sensitivity.

We hope to recruit some new readers, so please do come and join us. There’s no commitment to attending every session, but you’ll certainly be guaranteed a warm welcome from a wonderful body of parents and friends. I am also hoping that we can develop an online link so those of you who want to share some musings but cannot join us are able to. 

I certainly look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones too. 

Friday 15 September 7.00pm – 9.00pm

We are delighted to invite parents of new pupils  to our Quiz and Curry Evening, which will take place in the Refectory on Friday 15 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 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 9.00am, Friday 8 September.

Year 7 Social

At the same time, there will also be a Year 7 Disco organised by the PTA, staff and school prefects in the Sixth Form Centre. 

Tickets for the Year 7 Disco 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 7 Disco 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 15 September.

Sunday 17 September 2023 - 2.00pm to 5.00pm

Princethorpe will be holding its annual Open Afternoon on Sunday 17 September from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. All are welcome to visit the College and for younger visitors, there will be many fun subject related activities organised by the departments.

The Headmaster will address visitors in the Chapel during the afternoon and refreshments will be available. 

To book your place please click here.

Year 6 Taster Days - Tuesday 12, Wednesday 20 and Tuesday 26 September

Our Year 6 Taster Days are aimed at Year 6 pupils who wish to join the College in September 2024 and who have not already attended a Year 5 Taster Day. 

Taster Days are available on:

• Tuesday 12 September 2023
• Wednesday 20 September 2023
• Tuesday 26 September 2023

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

To book your place click here.

Thursday 28 September 2023 - 6.30pm to 8.00pm

Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery in Kenilworth, are hosting a dedicated Nursery and Reception Open Evening on Thursday 28 September from 6.30pm.

This Open Evening is aimed at prospective families wishing to join Little Crackers Nursery or Reception in September 2024 and beyond. 

This is a perfect opportunity to see the Nursery and Reception classrooms, as well as the opportunity to talk to key members of staff who will be teaching and supporting your child.  

To book your place please click here. 

The Early Bird Deadline for Reception registrations for 2024 entry is Friday 20 October 2023.

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 29 September 2023 - 6.00pm to 10.30pm

Our popular OPs London Meet moves this September to the trendy Thames-side pub, The Riverside, Hamilton House, 5 Saint George's Wharf, SW8 2LE on Friday 29 September from 6.00pm to 10.30pm.

Described as Vauxhall's hidden gem, the The Riverside offers panoramic views of the London Eye and Battersea Power Station along with delicious food and drink and is just a short walk from Vauxhall Underground Station.

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.

Our London Meets are always very popular, sociable affairs, with OPs from across the generations mixing and networking happily together.
 
If you would like to attend please RSVP via the registration button on Princethorpe Connect by Friday 22 September 2023.

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

Tuesday 3 October 2023, 7.00pm to 8.00pm

The Crescent School, in Bilton, Rugby, is opening its doors for a dedicated Reception Open Evening on Tuesday 3 October 2023 from 7.00pm.

This Open Evening is aimed at prospective families wishing to join Reception in September 2024 and beyond.

The evening will have presentations highlighting key admissions information as well as what school life is like in Reception. There will also be opportunities to look around the school and visit the Reception classrooms, 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.

The Early Bird Deadline for Reception registrations for 2024 entry is Friday 20 October 2023.

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

Friday 13 October - 7.00pm to 10.00pm

Princethorpe College invites parents and alumni working in the creative industries to join us for an exciting networking event. Featuring a keynote address by Marc Marot, a Princethorpe College alumnus who has left an indelible mark on the music industry, the evening promises to be an exciting oportunity to make connections, find inspiration, and gain insights. Whether you are a creative professional, entrepreneur, artist, or enthusiast, this gathering is designed with you in mind.

Our networking event takes place at Princethorpe College on Friday 13 October from 7.00pm to 10.00pm. After welcome drinks and introdcutions, OP Marc Marot will share his experiences in managing iconic artists, shaping record labels, and staying ahead of industry shifts. From his early days at Our Price Records to his influential role as President at Island Records, Marc's journey exemplifies innovation, resilience, and substantial contributions to the world of music.

Following the keynote address a buffet supper will be served and there will be plenty of time to network. The evening is free of charge, and we encourage you to extend the invitation to relevant friends and colleagues who would benefit from this exceptional networking opportunity.

Don't miss this chance to connect with like-minded individuals, gain valuable insights, and foster new opportunities within the creative industries. 

You can find out more and register for Princethorpe's Creative Industries Networking Event here.

Tuesday 31 October 2023 - 7.30pm

Those who love a murder mystery and are interested in Princethorpe related history, may like to attend Stoneleigh History Society's Talk, The Kilsby Tunnel Murder Mystery 1906, on Tuesday 31 October.

Returning to school at Princethorpe, St Mary's Priory pupil, Lillie Roachaid, the young daughter of a French aristocrat is found dead in Kilsby Tunnel. Is it suicide, a terrible accident, or the work of the Railway Ripper?

The talk takes place in Stoneleigh Village Hall and will be given by Paul Waddoups. Non-members £3, to include refreshments.

Stoneleigh History Society