The Flagpole

Year 11 took part in a Sixth Form Discovery Day enjoying the opportunity to think about life post GCSEs. The Discovery Day took place on Friday 12 January and offered another opportunity for Year 11 to consider their A-level subject choices and explore life in the College’s popular Sixth Form.

Year 11 first took part in an information session, that included presentations from three former Sixth Formers, Old Princethorpians, Lilli Draper, Cara Wallis and Miriam Isaacs, and from current Upper Sixth Former, Rahul Samra. They spoke about life in the Sixth Form and their journey to where they are now. Then Deputy Head – Academic, Michael Spencer, discussed Year 11’s next steps and the entry requirements for A-level subjects.

Pupils then explored the Sixth Form Atrium and Lecture Theatre where a host of subject stalls had been set up. With displays, models and informative handouts and manned by enthusiastic Sixth Form Subject Ambassadors, they provided a one stop information shop. Pupils had the chance to wander freely, to visit the different stalls for the subjects they are considering studying and to ask any questions they might have.

The Discovery Day was part of the wider programme of support provided for Year 11 pupils in what is always a pivotal year. It gave Year 11 the chance to visit the Sixth Form to get a feel for some of the wider Sixth Form facilities and to find out what life was like after Year 11. Organised by Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie, the Discovery Day will have helped facilitate Year 11s decision making process.

Commented Ben Collie, “Some Year 11s already know what subjects they want to study at A-level but others are less sure. The Discovery Day was an opportunity for pupils to speak with students already studying A-levels, as well as a chance for them all to come into the Sixth Form Centre to explore the next steps in their journey.”

The iDEA award is an international award-winning programme that helps pupils to develop and demonstrate digital, enterprise and employability skills. Open to pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9, the award provides pupils with the opportunity to complement their Computer Science studies, and also qualifies as 25% of the Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze Award ‘Skill’ section.

The College’s ‘Cyber Stretch Club’ meets every Tuesday lunchtime, with Mr Musson and Mr Carter providing a positive learning environment, where pupils are encouraged to develop their computational thinking skills. Last term pupils attending the club worked towards completing the iDEA Award.

Congratulations to the following pupils who completed the award within one term and have therefore additionally been awarded a Da Vinci award.

Year 7

Delilah Clay, Sophie Crawford, Harry Down, Amelia Heatherington, Scarlett Horbury, Dylan Llewellyn, Harper Lloyd, Harry McBean, Tegan McLeod, Charlie Millward, Gilbert Millward-Boyton, Poppy Morris, Florence Munn, Austin Newbold, Yash Patil, Luka Vrljicak and George Williams

Year 8

Dami Ajagunna, Victor Ball, Emilie Bell-Barth, Olivia Burley, Jai Dhaliwal, Jack Evans, Sam Eynon-Hill, Isaac Fowle, Isaac Frith, Sam Hartshorne, Dillon Horan, Evie Johnson, John Owen, Krishan Patel, Oscar Rexton-Watts, Jake Swords, Josh Taylor, Noah Walker and Erik Windham

More information on the award can be found at idea.org.uk.

It was back to school for the majority this week, but we were also pleased to welcome a number of new faces to Princethorpe.

As well as ten new pupils we were delighted to welcome three new members of staff. Jo Wong joins us as our new Archivist, Gemma Cullinane as our Commercial Enterprises Manager and Sam Harding as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

We also welcomed three new trainee teachers under our School Led teacher training programme in association with the Lion Alliance and Warwick University. Molly Brown (History), Craig Williams (PE) and Cameron Hardy (Physics) will be with us for six weeks completing their complementary placement, gaining practical experience in the classroom.

We extend a very warm welcome to all.

On Tuesday 9 January, pupils took part in services to celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, the feast that marks the arrival of the three wise men to pay homage to the newborn king.

This school year the Chaplaincy theme is ‘Resilience’. So in the service, Father Alan Whelan MSC reflected on how that journey of the three wise men was one of resilience. He encouraged pupils, as they settled back down to daily school life, to reflect on their personal resilience, sharing stories of resilience before encouraging pupils to record their focus for resilience this term on a card. Headmaster, Grove du Toit, reminded the school community to focus their energy and their resilience on the things that matter.

Of course, no Epiphany service would be complete without the singing of the popular carol, We Three Kings. You can hear pupils singing the opening lines here.

Our thanks go to Father Alan for leading the services and for reminding us all of the importance of resilience.

It’s fantastic to see the Princethorpe Foundation’s pupils’ work being celebrated in the Independent Schools Association’s latest National Art Competition Brochure. It’s just been published and can be found on their website here. 

This year the College had three pupils qualify for the National competition after winning their class in the Midlands’ regional competition. Recent Upper Sixth leavers, Ruby Harris and Ava Jones and Lower Sixth Former, Amaanya Bose’s work can be found on pages 10, 35 and 42 of the brochure respectively.

The Foundation Prep schools are featured too, with Crackley Hall pupils Avni and Amaya, who are now in Junior 1 and Junior 2, on pages 4 and 39 and Crescent School’s, Year 3 pupil, Alice on page 5.

Princethorpe will once again be holding its Summer Art, Photography and Design Show on Thursday 27 and Sunday 30 June as part of Warwickshire Open Studios when this year's A-level and GCSE examination work will again be on display. Why not put the date in your diary now?

As the deadline is swiftly approaching we would like to remind Year 11 pupils and parents of the Sixth Form Scholarship process for September 2024 for internal candidates.

All of our Year 11s are encouraged to apply as appropriate for Sixth Form Scholarships - Academic, Art, Music, Organ, Drama and Sport. To do so they must complete a Sixth Form Scholarship Application Form and write a 'personal statement' outlining their achievements to date and why they feel they would make an excellent candidate for the scholarship (maximum 500 words).

Those pupils who currently have a scholarship, will normally retain their award for Sixth Form, but must also complete a Sixth Form Scholarship Application Form to re-apply for the scholarship.

The deadline for this application is Monday 22 January 2024. Applications should be marked for the attention of the Registrar, Mrs Catherine Rogers.

Depending on the scholarship, prospective award holders may be interviewed and/or take part in a scholarship assessment in February or March.

Details of any awards will be confirmed when the Sixth Form Offer letters are sent out in writing during week commencing Monday 18 March 2024. Some awards may be dependent on final GCSE grades.

The criteria for each of the scholarships can be found on our website here and in the Sixth Form Admissions Information Booklet 2024. It is essential that pupils and parents look through these in detail before making an application. The Sixth Form Application Form for current Princethorpe Year 11 pupils can be found here. The form can be filled in electronically and returned via email to admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Princethorpe is an 11 to 18 school, and the expectation is that pupils will continue with us through to Sixth Form, providing they meet the academic requirements and embrace the College’s ethos. Princethorpe Year 11s are not required to reapply for Sixth Form, however notice in writing is required to the Headmaster (copying in the Registrar at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk) by Wednesday 17 April 2024 should a pupil not be intending to return.

Christmas came early for OP, Steve Dade (1986 -1990), as he was the lucky recipient of this year's Princethorpe Connect Christmas Hamper Prize Draw.

Steve who lives in Coventry, with his wife of 23 years, Becky, and teenage daughter, Charly, works in behaviour management at Evergreen School in Warwick, a 4-19 school for children and young people with Special Educational Needs.

Steve received his prize from OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, who hand delivered it to his home in Coventry the week before Christmas.

Commented Steve, “I was delighted to hear of my win, it was lovely to share it with the family over Christmas!”

Steve is still great friends with fellow OP, Richard Williams. Remembering his time at Princethorpe, Steve commented “I have some great memories from my time at Princethorpe, I was in More House and my form tutors were Paul Adams, Frank McGreevy and John Miller. I have particularly fond memories of playing for the school Rugby team as we were very good!”

Thanks to all those who engaged with Princethorpe Connect in the run up to the prize draw, we have just celebrated 1,500 online members and look forward to building on this in 2024!

There are just a few 2024 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.