The Flagpole

The College is preparing itself for its Entrance Exams Day tomorrow, Saturday 11 November, with nearly 300 children due to sit the exams across four age groups. 

Comments Melanie Butler, Assistant Head (Marketing, Admissions and Communications), "This year we have had particularly high levels of interest and, following a successful Open Afternoon in September and Year 6 Taster Days, the registrations have continued to flow in. We know that positive recommendations from current families will have played a large part in this success."

"We wish all the candidates the very best of luck, and look forward to seeing them bright and early in the morning!"

Arrangements for the Entrance Exams Day (11+, 12+, 13+ and 14+) are as follows:

Saturday 11 November 2023 - 9.30am to 3.45pm

Candidates are requested to report to the College between 8.45am and 9.30am; it is advisable that candidates should not arrive prior to 8.30am. Please enter the school via the Pupils’ Entrance in the playground. Candidates should wear comfortable clothes and bring a coat. The day is planned to give plenty of time between the exams for breaks, a hot lunch and time to play outside if the weather allows.

The examinations will end at 3.40pm or 4.20pm for those with agreed access arrangements, refreshments will be available upon collection of the candidates.

Thanks in advance to all the staff and students who help on the day.

Talented Art Scholar, Genevieve Slater-Tucker has been recognised as one of the highest performers in her GCSE Fine Art exam.

Now in the Lower Sixth, Genevieve was delighted to recently discover that she had scored one of the best results in the country in the OCR exam board’s GCSE Art and Design: Fine Art qualification.

Genevieve said: “I was amazed and very proud to hear I had done so well. I have always enjoyed art and worked really hard on the development of my GCSE assessed pieces. The news was unexpected, and I am really thrilled.”

College Head of Art, Paul Hubball, commented: “We are so proud of Genevieve, it was a delight to receive this news. We have had comments from the Moderators before but nothing in writing. It isn’t easy to achieve top marks, but her work is innovative, skilful and complex and worthy of this recognition.”

To mark her success, Mr Hubball presented Genevieve with a special certificate in her Art lesson just before half term.

Genevieve is pictured here with one of her paintings, That Living Mystic Tree inspired and named after the line in the Rossetti poem The Blessed Damozel.

The much-anticipated History, Politics and Design and Technology trip to the United States took place over the Michaelmas half term. 44 pupils and five staff headed off on an exciting and enlightening adventure to explore and experience the American way of life. The eight-day trip visited New York and Washington providing plenty of cultural enrichment while making memories that will surely last a lifetime.

During their time in New York, pupils visited the moving 9/11 Memorial, taking time to reflect on the impact of that fateful day. They also had the chance to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to learn some of the extraordinary individual stories of immigration to the USA. Their action-packed trip included a trip up the Empire State Building, where pupils were graced with mesmerising views of the city’s imposing skyline, an incredible new attraction that flies you through New York, Rise NY, and a fascinating and informative walking tour of Harlem, as well as all the unmissable sights, Grand Central Station, Central Park, Wall Street and Times Square. The Design students also squeezed in a visit to the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. Of course, no trip to the Big Apple would be complete without a show on Broadway and everyone enjoyed the musical comedy The Book Of Mormon.

Then it was on to Washington where the group explored its many amazing monuments by moonlight, including the imposing Lincoln Memorial with its Reflecting Pool. They were also entertained by a team scavenger hunt around the American capital and had the chance to visit subject specific museums. History visited the National Museum of American History where they saw the original Star-spangled flag and the National Museum of African American History and Culture which supported their GCSE and A-level studies of Slavery, Civil Rights and Obama’s election. Product Design students enjoyed the National Building Museum and Fashion Design students the George Washington Textiles Museum. Everyone was impressed by the White House Visitor Centre.

Head of History and Politics, Adelaide Fretwell, said, “We had an unforgettable and educationally inspiring seven days, and despite walking what felt like a thousand miles, we had an amazing time. Thank you to a fantastic group of pupils and dedicated staff team, the laughter, smiles and looks of awe never stopped – truly a trip of a lifetime.”

Our thanks go to all the staff who accompanied the trip: Adelaide Fretwell, Paul Scopes, Jess Newborough, Greg Lyttle and Helen Pascoe-Williams.

At the Eleventh Hour on the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month – We Will Remember Them

On Friday 10 November, the College community gathered together outside on the school playground to remember the bravery and selfless sacrifice made by so many of our country's service men and women.

Deputy Head (Pastoral), Beth Sharpe opened the proceedings with a prayer. Then Year 7 pupils, Sam Barlow, Gilbert Millward-Boyton, Austin Newbold and Adelaide Teeton read out a thought-provoking reading Why Do We Wear A Poppy? before College trumpeters, Year 12s, Chloe Hurworth and Robyn Shaw, sounded the moving and melancholic notes of the Last Post.

The two-minute silence offered all a time for reflection, a shared moment to remember those who have given their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today. Sixth Form students, Seb Bainbridge, Blessing Katanda, Alice Minshull, Reneé Ndungu, Mia Samra, Megan Shipton and Ben Smith, read out For The Fallen before the College community sang the hymn Abide With Me.

A wreath was hung at the Pupils’ Entrance by Headmaster, Grove du Toit. Then Foundation Principal, Ed Hester, brought the proceedings to a close with a prayer for peace.

Thanks to our College musicians, Robyn Shaw, Chloe Hurworth, Theo Cowlishaw, Jasper Nicholls, Louie Tilstone, Gilbert Millward-Boyton and Alex Lawrence who played during the service.

Back in October, pupils from Princethorpe College took part in the 2023 UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Senior Challenge, a prestigious national problem-solving competition that recognises the best young mathematicians in the country. The Challenge involves answering multiple choice questions and is sat under normal school exam conditions. The papers are then sent away to be marked by UKMT and the best pupils in the country are awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold Certificates.

The competition is aimed at students in the Sixth Form and Princethorpe selected 27 able mathematicians from both Lower and Upper Sixth to participate in this year’s Challenge. It is a demanding exercise designed to stretch and test pupils’ mathematical skills, so the College is delighted that this year, Princethorpe’s mathematicians achieved exceptional results.

Congratulations to Upper Sixth Former, Joseph Newborough who was awarded a Gold certificate, and took the award for best performing student in school, and to Lower Sixth Formers, Blessing Katanda and Mia Samra, who were awarded a Silver certificate, and took the joint award for best performing students in the Lower Sixth. Joseph Newborough, Christopher Lock and Alexander Flegg performed so well that they have also qualified for the follow-on round, the Senior Kangaroo Challenge.

Gold certificate: Joseph Newborough, Christopher Lock and Alexander Flegg

Silver certificate: Jack Grindal, Lola Ahley, Blessing Katanda and Mia Samra.

Bronze certificate: Zachary Abba, Emma Sarkies, Adam Ledbrook, Zachary Johnson, Natasha Thomas, Anjola Okusanya, Ollie Hutton, Jack Fleming, Dominic Lee, Archy Walker, Andrew Wills and Roman Thearia.

Well done all and many thanks to all the pupils who took part, we hope you enjoyed the challenge.

Theo Scoutas
Post 16 Mathematics Co-ordinator

The ISA U14 and U16 Regional Rugby Sevens took place on Wednesday 8 November at Market Bosworth RFC.

Princethorpe’s U14 boys powered through their games with convincing wins against: Twycross House 28-14, Stafford Grammar 56–0, Lichfield 42-7, Derby Grammar 38-0, LGS Stoneygate 64–0 and Pitsford 28–0. The team’s discipline and power in defence blending well with skill and intelligence in attack ensured they finished top of table claiming a well-deserved Gold medal. 

Six teams took part in the U16 competition, Princethorpe was slow to start and went down 21-0 to Twycross House in their opening game. That was a wakeup call for the boys and from then on, they were firing on all cylinders, winning their next four matches against: Bowbrook House 26-7, Derby Grammar 21-7, LGS Stoneygate 19-7 and Tettenhall College 33–0. They finished second overall to take the Silver medal.

Foundation Director of Sport, Lee Cassell, commented, “It was a great day of Rugby that gave the boys the opportunity of playing a different format of the game. Both teams worked hard and enjoyed the day despite the weather. The tournament was good preparation for further Rugby Sevens competitions later in the year.”

Much anticipated and always hotly contested, the House Talent Show did not disappoint providing yet another sensational evening of entertainment for the College community. The show took place on Thursday 9 November, in the Clarkson Theatre in front of an audience of enthusiastic supporters.

Compered by House Activities Leader, Meg O’Gorman, ably assisted by the House Captains, the show included an array of amazing vocal and instrumental performances alongside dazzling dance routines. It presented a real conundrum for the audience who this year had the impossible challenge of choosing the winner.

After the serious acts had performed, the audience had the pleasure of three special, surprise numbers. The Upper Sixth BTEC Musicians performed Radioactive by Imagine Dragons, while Upper Sixth Former, Noah Kemp, delivered a moving a cappella version of Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley and the House Captains rounded the evening’s entertainment off with a brilliant Barbie dance medley.

This year’s winners were Chloe Henderson and Robyn Shaw, for Fisher, for their incredible rendition of For Good from Wicked. Taking second place was Abby Henderson and Tallis Alford, also for Fisher, for their powerful performance of When We Were Young by Adele. In third place was Leani du Toit, for More, who sang I Dreamed A Dream from Les Misérables.

As well as being a great night out, the event was also about fundraising with a collection for the school’s charity Mary’s Meals.

A huge thank you to all who took part, we were super impressed by your enthusiasm and commitment to your House and also to the technical team who so ably assisted. It really was a sensational House Talent Show.

Performing were: Jemima Teeton, Delilah Teeton, Adelaide Teeton, Dami Ajagunna, Penny Thomas, Abby Hewson, Tallis Alford, Laura Beake Illana, Louise Gambling, Dan Taylor, Chloe Henderson, Robyn Shaw, Jack Fleming, Leani du Toit, Olivia Burley, Isla Edwards and Grace Johnson

24 Princethorpe College swimmers competed in the ISA Regional Swimming Gala at Walsall Gala Baths last Thursday 12 October. The College’s team brought home an amazing haul of medals, with 7 Gold, 14 Silver and 6 Bronze medals with a number just missing out on top three finishes.

For the Year 7 girls’ team, Bebe Hesketh-Reynolds claimed two Silver medals in the 50m Breaststroke and the 25m Butterfly, while her teammate Harriet Reynolds did nearly as well with a Silver in the 50m Backstroke. The Year 7 Girls also took a Silver in the 4x25m Freestyle Relay. The Year 8 Girls did even better with Issey Cleary earning a Gold in the 50m Breaststroke and a Silver in the 25m Butterfly while Stephanie Bolton took two Silvers in the 50 Backstroke and the 50m Freestyle. The Year 8 Girls also claimed a Gold in the 4x25m Freestyle Relay and a Bronze in the 4x50m Medley Relay.

Charlotte Gower claimed a Gold and a Silver for the Year 9&10 team, finishing first in the 100m Backstroke and second in the 100m Freestyle. Then for the Senior Girls (Years 11,12 and 13), Year 12 Lottie Hunter took two Silvers in the 100m Backstroke and the 100m Freestyle while her teammates Year 11 Mia Webb took Silver in the 100m Breaststroke and Year 11 Amelia Fry took Bronze in the 50m Butterfly. The Senior Girls also won a Silver in the 4x50m Medley Relay.

For the boys, Year 7s, Sam McCormick claimed two Golds in the 50m Backstroke and the 50m Freestyle while Leo Warne took a Gold in the 25m Butterfly and a Bronze in the 50m Breaststroke. For the Year 9&10 team, Year 10 Matthew Crawford took Bronze in the 100m Backstroke while Year 10 Ewan Pearce earned himself a Bronze in the 100m Freestyle. The Years 9&10 Boys team also claimed Silver in the 4x25m Freestyle Relay and Bronze in the 4x50m Medley Relay.

For the Senior Boys, Year 11 André Onyekwe took Gold in the 100m Freestyle and Silver in the 100m Backstroke.

Foundation Director of Sport, Lee Cassell, commented, “These results are a great achievement, the result of many long hours of training for our pupils with their swimming clubs. The ISA Championships are a superb opportunity for our swimmers to showcase their skills in the competitive school environment. Princethorpe is always a force in the water, and I was delighted to watch the scores build over the day.”

Eight Princethorpe swimmers have been selected to swim for the Midlands team at the National Championship: Stephanie Bolton, Issey Cleary, Charlotte Gower, Lottie Hunter, Sam McCormick, André Onyekwe, Ewan Pearce and Leo Warne.

Princethorpe College’s cross-country runners have been busy with the Warwickshire Inter Area race in Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 4 November and the English Schools Cup Regional Final at Bromsgrove School just a few days later, on Tuesday 7 November. Cross country running has always been a strength of the school, so it was great to see pupils taking part and upholding the tradition.

The College took 13 runners to the Inter Area event and five pupils have qualified to run for Warwickshire in the Inter County Race which takes place at Princethorpe College on Saturday 18 November. Good luck to Year 7s, Esme Card and Rufus Jones, Year 8, Issey Cleary, Year 9, Will Smith and Year 10, Lily Hunter.

Princethorpe had qualified three teams to run in the ESAA Schools’ Cup Regional Final, the Junior Boys, Senior Boys and Senior Girls. Our cross-country athletes all ran well delivering respectable finishes for their teams: Senior Girls 4th, Senior Boys 6th and Junior Boys 7th overall.

Head of Outdoor Education, Will Bower commented, "Well done to all of our runners, who put in a great effort against strong competition. I am very pleased with the results. A huge thank you to all the parents who took the runners to the races. It was really great to have so many pupils competing."

Princethorpe’s U13 Hockey Girls had a fantastic day out at the National ISA Tournament at the Lee Valley Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Thursday 9 November.

Facing the best players from 20 schools from across the country, the girls began with a morning of round robin games for the group stage. They had a solid start holding Crosfields School to a 1-1 draw, and their confidence grew with wins against Thorpe Hall School 2-0 and S. Anselm’s 2-0. They finished the first round with a tight goalless draw against Akeley Wood Senior School. That put them at the top of the table, and they qualified for the afternoon’s Cup competition.

In their semi-final the team faced Cranford School. In a fast and exciting game, the girls worked hard and scored to take the win 1-0. They then faced King’s High School in what was a tough final where despite never giving up, they went down 1-0. They finished second overall taking a well deserved Silver medal.

Team Coach, Ellie Callan, said, “The girls played great hockey and represented the College excellently. We had a fantastic day. The girls learnt lots and should be really proud of finishing second in the Cup competition.”

Congratulations to them all.

Back before half term, Mrs Wilford’s Year 10 Business Studies class enjoyed a practical session on Market Research courtesy of our amazing Holroyd Howe team. Regional Development Chef, James McCarroll, and Catering Manager, Andrew Williams, shared the planning and processes behind creating new menu choices and the decision-making behind the choice of locations to sell the different food and drink items.

Pupils have been studying customer needs; including price, choice, convenience and location, in their lessons, and the talk gave Year 10 a valuable, practical insight into the application of this concept.

The pupils enjoyed taste testing different menu items including a range of Paninis, BBQ Chicken, Antipasto, Tuna Crunch and Hummus as well as a Chicken Goujon Pot and a Sweet Chilli Tart. They provided their feedback online using an online questionnaire.

The class spent time discussing the value of gathering research through online questionnaires, and agreed that when processing quantitative information, it makes it far easier and quicker to make a judgement on the potential menu item. However, they also appreciated that focus group recordings would gather much more detail but that it would take time to process and form judgements on this information.

Business Studies Teacher, Laura Wilford, said, “Huge thanks to our Holroyd Howe team for all the time and effort they put into supporting this session for Year 10. It was fantastic for pupils to hear and see first-hand how market research works.”

Over the Michaelmas half term, Princethorpe’s U15 Boys' and U14 Girls' Hockey teams travelled to the Netherlands for the first leg of this year’s annual Hockey Tour. Organised by the Princethorpe Sports department, over the years thousands of pupils have participated in the hockey training camp and enjoyed the opportunity to experience another country and culture.

The five-day tour had an early start and a long day of travel on Saturday 21 October. On arrival at Hopbel Hockey Club the tour party were greeted warmly and whisked away by their Dutch host families to make friends and experience traditional Dutch family life.

In addition to three days of training and tour matches the pupils and their hosts managed to squeeze in plenty of fun, including a cycling tour round Rotterdam, a tour BBQ and a walking tour of the local town, Den Bosch.

Hockey wise, as always, the teams were up against some very good opposition. Princethorpe battled well and showed great improvement throughout the course of the tour, making use of all that extra coaching and practice.

The girls played exceptionally well, their tenacious approach and focus on teamwork helping them claim four good victories, 8-1, 10-0, 9-0 and 5-2. The boys also played well, their strong performance giving them a 5-1 win in their first match, a tight 2-2 draw in their second game and an unfortunate loss 2-4 after a spirited encounter against an experienced U18 side in their third.

Assistant Head Co-curricular, Neil McCollin, said, “We have had another very successful Hockey Tour and I am very proud of all our pupils. They made the most of opportunity to get to know their host families, played some excellent hckey and gained a good insight into how another country plays the game. Both teams were victorious across the tour, so the Hopbel-Princethorpe exchange trophy has returned to the College and is now on display in The Limes. We look forward to welcoming our Dutch friends in the spring for the return leg of the tour from Saturday 20 to Thursday 25 April. If you are interested in being a host family for the our 50 visiting Dutch hockey players please look out for the Flagpole article in January.”

Huge thanks go to all the staff involved in supporting and running the hockey tour: Neil McCollin, Rachael Mack, Victoria Howell and Paul Whitehead.

Before half term, on Tuesday 17 October, 26 family teams (pupil and parent) enthusiastically took part in the Year 7 Science Family Challenge.

The teams watched exciting demonstrations involving fire, explosions and tricks of the mind, before tackling some challenging tasks across the fields of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. They had to apply practical skills and also answer challenging questions.

The calibre of the teams competing was unbelievable. Congratulations to them all but particularly to the winning team ‘The Howitzers’ who scored 42 points out of 47, just beating ‘Cool Chemists’ into second place by answering the tiebreak question ‘What is the average distance between the Earth and the Moon?’ Answer: 384,000km.

Thanks also to our wonderful Laboratory Technicians, helpers and Science staff who made the evening possible. We hope pupils and parents enjoyed taking part.

Princethorpe’s Chaplaincy Team is supporting the St Anne's, Wappenbury, Parish Shoe Box Appeal, to provide gifts for children overseas who would not otherwise receive a Christmas present.

This year, a grand total of 173 boxes have been assembled, the most ever collected, ready to bring happiness and joy to children at this special time of the year.

The boxes will be distributed by Teams4U and will be given to a vulnerable child, or family, through schools, nurseries, hospitals and orphanages. T4U share the gifts through relationships with local communities as part of a long-term commitment to their children.

Each shoebox is packed full of little gifts and includes educational and hygiene essentials, and each and every one also contains a personal message handwritten by a Princethorpe pupil.

Our thanks go to all the pupils, parents and staff who have donated to the appeal and to our team of pupils, Jemima, Genevieve, Maria, Alexa, Ruby and Liv who have so kindly supported the appeal by organising, assembling, sorting and packing all the boxes.

During last half term, we carried out a Science poster competition, with the intent of displaying the top few in the new science block. The entries we received, each showcased a lot of detail, balancing information and creativity.

We had prizes of Amazon vouchers for the winners for each of the sciences picked by myself and Mr Lee, along with one overall winner, picked out by Mr du Toit.

We would like to congratulate:
Headmaster's Prize £20: Sasha Mangwiro (Year 8)
Biology £10: Alex Lloyd (Year 10)
Physics £10: Josh Gorbutt (Year 10)
Chemistry £10: Noah Cowlishaw (Year 9)

All entries were greatly appreciated and clearly thought out, displaying lots of imaginative ideas and making it hard to finalise. The winners we did choose, evidently put a lot of effort into their entries and have a talent for design, whether digitally or on paper, including an impressive drawing of the human muscular system and equations.

Well done to everyone who took part.

Lola Ashley
Upper Sixth Former and STEAM Ambassador

Over the half term holidays Princethorpe’s PE and Games Department took 38 Year 8 and 9 pupils on a four-day tour along the south coast. The 16th Annual South Coast Sports Tour included training and matches interspersed with plenty of off-pitch activities and fun. It was a great chance for all to hone their skills and practise technique against friendly but competitive teams.

The Year 9 boys faced Portsmouth RFC first where despite a strong performance they went down 12-42. Their second match involved a trip across the water to the Isle of Wight where they faced Ryde School. The team played well and comfortably won the game 40-12. They finished their tour facing Pates Grammar School, who were a much tougher test, they played well but lost 10-28.

Head of Boys’ Games and Tour Leader, Joe Jackson, commented, “The boys were competitive across each of their three fixtures. They came up against tough competition but scored a number of fantastic tries. The group played an excellent brand of Rugby that looked to exploit space in the wide channels, and they came closer together as a group over the duration of the tour. Angus Griffin was awarded boy of the tour for his consistently excellent contributions both on and off the field. The Rugby was a big success, and the group is well prepared for the remaining games of the season.”

The Year 8 Netball girls had good results too, their games included good ball handling and individual play and what was most pleasing was their progression throughout the tour. Fielding two teams, the girls first played Ryde School. The U13A girls came up against fierce competition and a team that was very well practiced. They played with grit and determination but that wasn't enough to secure a win and the match finished with a 16-28 loss. The U13B team played with consistency throughout their fixture and secured an excellent 15-10 win.

In their second match the girls faced Pates Grammar School where both teams played a disciplined game to win their matches 22-4 and 8-4 respectively. Girl of the tour went to Thomasina Spencer.

On tour, off the pitch is always a great chance to build team spirit through lots of different activities. Pupils enjoyed Splashdown, the all-action, flume filled waterpark in Poole, had time for shopping at Gunwharf Quays, went ten pin bowling, rose to the challenge of Callan’s Quiz Night and of course enjoyed a competitive morning of games on the beach.

Joe Jackson, continued, “We had a great tour group this year. Pupils were impeccably behaved, mixed well with their opponents and with each other, but what pleased us most was how enthusiastic our pupils all were. It made for a very successful tour.”

Huge thanks to the dedicated sports staff who accompanied the tour: Ellie Callan, Tom Gleghorn, Joe Jackson and Carly Walton. A big thank you of course to the schools and sports clubs that hosted us; their hospitality was outstanding, and we look forward to continuing the relationship with them for future tours.

Keen to get everyone hungry for books, the College Library has introduced a new ‘snack bite’ taster scheme. On the menu in the Refectory alongside all the usual College favourites, are short extracts of popular books for pupils to peruse as they enjoy their break or lunch. With the bonus that if they like what they read, then they are all available to borrow from the school library for free. That sounds like a tasty treat to us and a fantastic way for pupils to explore new books in a fun and engaging way.

Wednesday 15 November 2023 - 7.00pm to 8.30pm

The Princethorpe Literary Lovers will meet in the Library for a delve, debate and deliberation of Shelby Van Pelt's, New York Times Bestseller, Remarkably Bright Creatures. The novel is an exploration of friendship, reckoning and hope when a widow develops an unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus. I'm sure there will be some interesting talk on this one.

Whether you are a seasoned reader or someone who just wants to extend their reading material, come and join us for a chat and a warm drink to chase away any autumn blues. 

Look forward to seeing you there, 

Friday 17 November 2023

At Princethorpe College, and across the entire Princethorpe Foundation, one of our key aims is to help our pupils develop into Digital Citizens; young adults who can use a wide range of online digital tools creatively, constructively, safely and of course, happily.

As part of this, Friday 17 November will see our very first foundation-wide 'Digital Wellbeing Day' celebrated across all three schools. Over the day pupils will be focusing on how we can really take care of ourselves in the online world, examining and discussing key issues such as screen time, online addiction, social media peer-pressure and many more. 

• Look at the Family Media Agreement, attached here, and agree together on how you will ensure digital wellbeing is prioritised
• Plan a device free period of the day for the whole family. This could be used to spend time together, maybe going on a walk, playing board games or reading
• Create a 'family charging station' in the house, where all phones can be charged overnight, keeping them out of the bedroom at night time
• Make an offline wish list. Make a list of 5 offline activities your family would like to try, and make plans to do these

You can find more information on online safety and parental controls on the Parent Toolkit section of My School Portal here, and we will also be sending home some helpful guides to digital wellbeing, along with some great tips and talking points to keep the discussions going at home! 

With Year 11 and Upper Sixth mocks coming up, we would of course advise pupils in those year groups to still revise for the mock exams on the weekend of the 18 and 19 November, but this may be a good opportunity to begin the habit of revision with phones out of the room, as research shows that this can increase focus and productivity.

If you would like any further information on any of this, or would like to get involved yourself as a parent expert, please do get in touch.

Friday 24 November, 7.00pm - Butterworth Hall, University Of Warwick

We are looking forward to welcoming guests to our annual Prize Giving Ceremony.

Additional tickets are now available through Eventbrite and can be booked via the link below or the QR code in the gallery. 

Eventbrite Additional Ticket Bookings

These complimentary tickets are released on a first come, first served basis; after booking you will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite with your seat details. Please see the FAQs on the event listing for more details.

There are also a limited number of accessible seats available, again, allocated on a first come first served basis. If you require accessible seating, please contact post@princethorpe.co.uk. 

This year's Prize Giving promises to be a full house, so please arrive in good time to take your seats. Doors will open at 6.30pm in time for everyone to be seated by 6.55pm.

We hope you can join us for the Prize Giving Ceremony.

Wednesday 29 November 2023 - 4.00pm-5.00pm

The next English enrichment event will take place on Wednesday 29 November, between 4.00pm and 5.00pm in the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre.

This time we will be looking at The World of Publishing. Where can the study of English lead you? To publishing perhaps?

Join us to find out more about how to research a book and get published, or the art of publishing itself.

Pupils from all year groups, staff and parents are all welcome. 

Thursday 30 November to Saturday 2 December 2023 - 7.00pm

Princethorpe's Drama Department is delighted to invite you to our production of A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. 

Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother fell ill. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there’s a monster at his window. It’s elemental, a force of nature, and it wants something from Conor. It wants the truth. 

Our company have crafted an imaginative version of this acclaimed novel of love, loss and hope. We bring this powerful story to the stage for just three nights in the cold of the winter.

We would love you to come along and support our cast who have worked with vigour and imagination to tell this important tale.

Please be aware the story deals with powerful themes of illness, loss and grief. We recommend for Year 7 and above. 

Tickets are free and performances will take place on Thursday 30 November, Friday 1 December and Saturday 2 December at 7.00pm in the Clarkson theatre here at Princethorpe College. Please click on the day you require in order to book tickets on My School Portal.

We do hope you can join us for this event.

Tuesday 5 December and Wednesday 6 December - 7.00pm

Our Christmas Wreath Making Evening has proved so popular in the past that this year we will be putting on two evenings in support of the Malawi fundraising effort.

The evenings will take place on Tuesday 5 December and Wednesday 6 December in the Sixth Form Centre. Arrival time will be 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start. Cost for the evening will be £25 per person and includes all materials to make your beautiful wreath, a welcome drink and mince pie.

It is open to all Princethorpe parents, staff and friends. In order to book your place(s) please click here by Tuesday 28 November. One person can book for a group of people – recommended if you would like to sit together for the evening.

There will be a bar on the night and a raffle, so if anyone has a raffle prize they would like to donate, please get in touch with bencollie@princethorpe.co.uk

Ben Collie
Head of Sixth Form

Thursday 7 December 2023 - 7.00pm - College Chapel

The Music Department extends a warm invitation to all parents and friends to join us in a Christmas celebration of music and poetry.

This will be an informal evening offering pupils the opportunity to perform a range of out-of-the-ordinary Christmas pieces. Pupils from the various music ensembles, LAMDA lessons, as well as individual music recitals will be taking part in the evening. Please feel free to enter into the spirit of the occasion by wearing a Christmas jumper or similarly festive outfit. There will be an award for the finest example of Christmas knitwear!

This promises to be an enjoyable and memorable introduction to the festive period. If you would like to join us then please note that due to our restrictions on numbers this will be a ticket-only event. To apply for tickets please click here and complete your details. Please note that due to the number of seats available in the Chapel there is a limit of four seats per family. If you think you may need any more, please contact me directly at gilcowlishaw@princethorpe.co.uk

We hope that you will partake in a little festive mulled wine and mince pies following the performance in the Sixth Form Centre. Please note that tickets are free of charge, but there will be a retiring collection in aid of Save The Children's Christmas Jumper Day Appeal.

With thanks for your continuing support.

Gil Cowlishaw
Director of Music

Sunday 10 December 2023 - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

The PTA Christmas Fair will take place on Sunday 10 December 2023 - a fun, festive event for all ages including:

• Christmas shopping market – choose from a range of artisan crafts, jewellery and gift
• Christmas craft room – make a Christmas table decoration
• Refreshments – mince pies and mulled wine, hot drinks and cake
• Bottle and chocolate tombolas
• Princethorpe student stalls
• Pre-loved school uniform stall
• Many other fun stalls 

Please note the PTA can now take card payments on their refreshments and pre-loved uniform stalls.

You can also participate in the Christmas Raffle and tickets will be sent out next week.  We have some fantastic prizes:

1st Prize £250
2nd Prize Fortnum and Mason Hamper
3rd Prize £150
Plus, many more….

We would be very grateful for donations of bottles and/or chocolates in order to run the ever-popular tombolas - these can be sent in to school via the Student Hub.

And don’t forget your pre-loved school uniform! Please leave laundered uniform that is still in good condition with plenty of wear at the student hub. Thank you.

Help Needed:

If you love decorating for Christmas and would like to help in the preparation for the Fair or even at the Fair itself, we’d really like to hear from you. Setting up begins after school on Friday 8 December and runs through the weekend. We greatly appreciate any help, so even if you can only spare half an hour we’d love to see you. Please register with us on the following website app.ptasocial.com/register/princethorpecollege or email PTA@princethorpe.co.uk for more information.

We do hope that you and your family and friends are able to come along to what promises to be a wonderful festive event.

We have recently sent out Year Group Journey letters to parents and attach the Key Dates below for reference too.

Year 7 Key Dates 2023-24

Year 8 Key Dates 2023-24

Year 9 Key Dates 2023-24

Year 10 Key Dates 2023-24

Year 11 Key Dates 2023-24

Lower Sixth Key Dates 2023-24

Upper Sixth Key Dates 2023-24

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head (Academic)

Progress Reports for Year 8 will be published today (Friday 10 November), and will be available to view on My School Portal.  

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

Tuesday 14 November 2023 – 5.00pm to 8.30pm

The Year 8 Subject Progress Evening will take place on Tuesday 14 November from 5.00pm to 8.30pm. Appointments are now available to book on SchoolCloud

Reports for Year 9 will be published on Friday 24 November 2023, and will be available to view on My School Portal.

Tutor Reports for Year 10 will be published on Friday 24 November 2023, and will be available to view on My School Portal.  

Now we are in to the second half term, it is important to recognise the stresses and demands on our Lower Sixth students. You should have noticed the level of study has increased somewhat but be aware that this level of load can cause difficulties and anxieties. Here are some tips to support your youngster.

Encourage your youngster to ask for help when they need it – seeking out a teacher before stress starts to build up is essential. This could be as simple as finding the teacher before class, chatting to their tutor or sharing worries with friends.

Stay organised – consider how your youngster is scheduling their time and ensure that they are setting aside time for each subject throughout the week. Encourage them to start assignments early, set deadlines and make the most of study periods in the school day.

Mix up your study routine – talk to your youngster about staying focused and positive during their study time. It is important that they use a variety of study techniques from using flashcards or mind maps, writing summaries and watching online tutorials to getting a friend or family member to quiz them, completing practice tests under exam conditions and working through questions from the text book.

Take time to research your post-school options – get your youngster thinking about their future aspirations. Taking time to research and make plans for post-school life can provide a nice break from studies, while also helping them to stay motivated by reminding them of the bigger picture. This may include researching institutions and courses of interest, organising things for a gap year and putting together course applications.

Stay calm and keep things in perspective – Sixth Form studies are rewarding but also demanding. Your youngster’s mental health is a vital component to success. Take time to encourage them to be involved in other activities and have a balanced life style.

For more suggestions, please click on this link.

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

At the start of the academic year our school photographers, Gillman and Soame, with whom we have an excellent and longstanding relationship, came to school to take the start of year photographs.

Photographs were taken of pupils in Years 7, 10, 11 and Lower Sixth, as well as of all pupils new to the College in Years 8 and 9. Further photographs of Year 11 and Upper Sixth were taken by Gillman and Soame just before October half term.

You are now able to create an online account with Gillman and Soame, which will allow you to view and order prints directly online, with email notifications when new photos are available to view. 

Photographs are available now. Please refer to the link sent to you via iSAMS by Louise Eaton (Foundation Data Manager) and register as soon as possible. If you have any problems with registering your child’s account, please email action@gillmanandsoame.co.uk and they will be happy to assist you. 

Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

Progress Reports for Lower Sixth will be published today (Friday 10 November), and will be available to view on My School Portal.  

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

As we embark on the path towards the Christmas holiday season, it is an opportune moment to reflect on our achievements, acknowledge the current happenings, and anticipate what lies ahead for our dedicated Sixth Formers. This period holds significance for our students, particularly the Upper Sixth, as they navigate the challenges and opportunities that come their way. 
 
For the Upper Sixth, the looming mock exams are a crucial milestone in their academic journey. The dedication and hard work they have poured into their studies are undeniably making an impact, preparing them for the real assessments that lie ahead. We commend their commitment to their education and stand by them as they prepare for this pivotal phase. 
 
In the spirit of the season, we look forward to a series of heartwarming events that will fill this half term with joy and goodwill. Our school community will come together to share the festive spirit through various activities, including the cherished care home lunch and the heartwarming care home Christmas carols. These events provide an opportunity for our students to give back and spread happiness among the elderly residents. 
 
Moreover, our wreath-making evenings are a delightful chance for students to express their creativity and craft beautiful decorations that will adorn our homes during the holiday season. These moments of artistic expression and collaboration are what make our school community so special. 
 
Last but not least, we eagerly anticipate the Upper Sixth social, which promises to be a memorable occasion. It is a time for our students to unwind, celebrate their accomplishments, and bond with their peers before the holiday break. 
 
In conclusion, this season is a time of reflection, celebration, and anticipation for our Sixth Formers. We appreciate the efforts and determination of the Upper Sixth as they prepare for their mock exams, and we look forward to sharing the joy of the season through the various events and activities that await us. Together, we will make this holiday season a time of growth, unity, and festive spirit in our school community. 
 
Wreath Making - Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 December 2023

We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming wreath making event! Get ready to embrace the holiday spirit and let your creativity bloom as we come together to craft beautiful wreaths.

For full details and to book your place please see the article under Events.

UCAS and Careers - Reminder 

This can be an overwhelming and confusing time for Sixth Form students (and their parents) when faced with the huge choice of university courses and apprenticeships available. The Careers and Sixth Form teams are available to help and advise students on all aspects of these decisions, but we are also here for parents too. Below is some information that may help but please do get in touch if you any specific queries that are not answered.  
Feel free to contact me by email jacquiquinney@princethorpe.co.uk
 
University Applications 

All applications to university are made through UCAS.com which produces a very comprehensive Parents Guide.  
 
Parent guide to UCAS (ucas.com)
 
Students will receive comprehensive guidance this half term on all aspects of the UCAS application.  

Apprenticeships

Students interested in applying for apprenticeships can find lots of information both on Unifrog and also UCAS.com. Applications are made directly to the employer and many larger schemes open for applications from November onwards. However, many smaller employers will continue to recruit throughout the year. Due to the competitive nature of many degree apprenticeship schemes, students may want to consider applying to university too, as a back-up.   

Key Dates

Friday 10 November - Lower Sixth progress reports available on My School Portal

Tuesday 14 November - Sixth Form Chemistry Trip to London

Tuesday 21 November - Sixth Form Physics Trip to London

Tuesday 27 to 29 November - Upper Sixth Mock Examinations

Friday 24 November - Prize Giving Warwick Arts Centre 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Tuesday 5 December - Wreath Making 7.00pm

Wednesday 6 December - Care Home Christmas Lunch

Wednesday 6 December - Wreath Making 7.00pm

Friday 8 December - Upper Sixth mock reports available on My School Portal

Thursday 14 December - Upper Sixth subject progress evening online

Friday 15 December - Upper Sixth Social - More details coming soon

Ben Collie 
Head of Sixth Form 

As I enrolled for my CPD course "Understanding Autism, ADHD and Aspergers" with the University of Derby I was reminded how amazing it is to have MOOCs as a free resource and the significant benefits for staff students and parents.

In recent years, the world of education has undergone a significant transformation, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have emerged as a powerful force driving this change. MOOCs are online courses that offer a flexible and accessible way to learn, and they bring a plethora of benefits not only to students but also to educators and parents.

Benefits for Students

Accessibility and Flexibility: MOOCs break down geographical barriers, allowing students from all corners of the world to access high-quality education. 
Diverse Course Offerings: MOOCs offer an extensive range of courses, spanning various subjects and levels. This diversity ensures that students can find courses that align with their interests, career goals, or academic needs, providing a tailored learning experience.  
Cost-Effective Learning: MOOCs often offer free or affordable courses and although the levels do not equate to full Degree courses they can be used to identify and try out interests/career areas.
Self-Paced Learning: MOOCs allow students to progress through courses at their own pace. This self-paced learning promotes autonomy and self-discipline, helping students develop crucial skills for lifelong learning.  
Interactive Learning: Many MOOCs incorporate interactive elements such as quizzes, assignments, and discussion forums. These features encourage active engagement and foster a sense of global community among learners. Especially useful for career areas where a network is important such as performing arts.

Benefits for Parents

Increased Parental Involvement: MOOCs can help parents become more involved in their children's education. Parents can access course materials, track their child's progress, and offer support and guidance when needed.
Improved Understanding: MOOCs can help parents better understand the educational landscape and the skills their children are acquiring. This knowledge can aid them in making informed decisions about their child's educational journey.

Lifelong Learning Role Models: Parents who engage in MOOCs themselves set a positive example for their children. They demonstrate the value of lifelong learning and the importance of staying curious and open to new knowledge.

Massive Open Online Courses have revolutionized education by making it more accessible, flexible, and affordable. Their benefits extend beyond students to include educators and parents. Students gain access to a wide range of courses and the flexibility to learn at their own pace. Educators can enhance their teaching skills, reach a global audience, and access valuable data for improvement. Parents can actively participate in their child's education. As MOOCs continue to evolve and expand, they promise to play an increasingly vital role in shaping the future of education for everyone.

MOOCS are really easy to find for our students. Just login to Unifrog and select the MOOC square on the first screen. You can study anything at all to find your interest or use the courses to put a top world ranking Univeristy on your CV which makes a student stand out for really competitive University courses. Happy Exploring! Enjoy!

Kerry Low
Careers Advisor

Please don’t forget that Princethorpe College PTA is registered with easyfundraising. 

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 ptassociation@princethorpe.co.uk or visit My School Portal.

Princethorpe PTA

Online eDofE accounts are currently being created. Please keep an eye on emails as pupils will receive a message regarding their updated eDofE account. Once you have logged in the DofE will send the participant handbook directly to your home address.

Further course materials will be distributed at the DofE Start Up Meetings. Attendance at these sessions in mandatory for pupils as the next steps will be discussed.

• Silver - Wednesday 22 November – Tutor Time – Clarkson theatre
  
  
• Bronze – Wednesday 29 November – Tutor Time – Clarkson theatre

I will email Lower Sixth Gold students directly regarding the re-arranged meeting time.

Whilst the enrolment deadline for new starters has passed, there is still time to complete your award.

Please continue to prioritise signing off your volunteering, physical and skill sections. Many have already completed their award in full. Guidance can be found on a DofE Completion email sent to you and your parents and the advice documents are available on MySchoolPortal.

Lunchtime drop-in clinics continue this week on a Tuesday at 1.10pm in LG02.

I am delighted to announce the Certificate Presentation Evening will take take place in February 2023. More information to follow

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 can celebrate these achievements on Monday 20 November.  This form will be closing on Sunday 12 November.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

From Monday 6 November a stop has been added to the PC1 Afternoon Service.

The College introduced a morning stop in Crick in September 2022, which has proven very popular, we have therefore decided in order to complete the service that an afternoon stop in Crick should now be added. As a result, stops after Crick will run around six minutes later on the homeward journey. The revised timetable can be seen at https://princethorpe.vectare.co.uk/.

We hope this will come as good news to those who use the Crick stop and that the impact of this change will be minimal to those who use the later stops.

Afternoon ad hoc tickets and passes for Crick are now available to purchase on the website at https://princethorpe.vectare.co.uk/.

If you have any queries relating to this change to the service, please contact us at princethorpe@vectare.co.uk.

Are you planning a Green Christmas?

Here at Planet Princethorpe we believe that for Christmas 2023, green should be the new white. Here are some ideas to help you put the environment at the heart of your decision making.

Gift buying is a great place to start. Consider buying second-hand gifts from charity shops or sites such as Vinted for example; this is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, reduce plastic packaging and save money. If you want to buy something new, try something that helps save the planet, such as a nice reusable coffee cup which could save disposable coffee cups going to landfill; or some beeswax wraps to store food which saves people using cling film. Giving a gift of time or help and making a pretty voucher that you can give is a really thoughtful alternative, for example, offering to babysit; taking the dog for a walk once a month or cooking your Nan a meal. These gifts cost nothing but could mean a lot to the recipient.

If you want to spend money then you could buy experiences instead of gifts e.g. cinema vouchers for families; a coffee voucher card, local restaurant vouchers – these can be a great way to create memories and support local business while reducing waste.

How about making gifts? I enjoy making foodie festive gifts for my friends and family for example clementine marmalade, biscotti or jars of chilli jam. Again get the children involved and if pupils send me pictures of foods they have helped to make, I will gift them with merry merits.

Finally, obviously my area of expertise and most favourite part of Christmas…. the food!

Try making your own food instead of buying heavily-packaged Christmas food that could contain ultra processed ingredients. BBC Good Food website is a great place to go to get ideas and plan ahead. You can make Christmas day cooking easy if you plan ahead and you can get started this month by making your own Christmas pudding. Stir up Sunday this year falls on the 26 November. It’s a great activity to do as a family and if you are being traditional, you could add coins - just warn your guests to take care!

Consider going plastic-free and saving money by buying meat, loose fruit and vegetables (with no plastic packaging) from your local butchers and greengrocers and farm shops instead of the supermarket. This supports local producers and you only buy what you need and reduce food waste. Also, in that glorious post Christmas fog, I suggest making a big pan of Boxing Day soup, using all the left over vegetables and turkey bones, reducing your food waste even further.

Hopefully this has given you some food for thought. However you plan your Christmas I hope it will be full of blessings and joy and hopefully a sprinkle of green.

As we all know, the site is used by hundreds of vehicles throughout the day and into the evenings. We'd like to thank all drivers who support us in keeping it safe for all by:

• driving within the speed limits indicated
• not using mobile phones whilst in control of a car
• obeying instructions given by traffic marshals 
• following the line markings and directional arrows
• not parking on double yellow lines or in yellow hatched areas
• stopping at marked crossing points for pedestrians 
• never blocking other cars in 
• waiting patiently in the queue for a space to become available
• being kind, courteous and friendly

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.

Please find below the updated Term Dates for  2023-24 and 2024-25.

2023 -2024 (two page document) - revised Open Morning and Christmas Fair dates

2024-2025 (two page document) - revised Sixth Form Open Evening and Christmas Fair dates

Please see below our current vacancies: 

Princethorpe College/Foundation

• Casual Estates Assistant

Crescent School

• Teaching Assistant (Key Stage 2)
• Lunchtime Supervisor

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.

This term we have taken a fresh look on the choice of food we are offering to pupils across Princethorpe College.

Please click here to view the new Michaelmas Term 2023 menus. 

If you have any questions regarding the selection of food we have on offer here at Princethorpe College, especially if related to any allergies or specific food requirements, please feel free to email andrewwilliams@princethorpe.co.uk as we aim to cater for all needs.

Andrew Williams
Catering Manager