The Flagpole

I'd like to say a sincere thank you to all the parents who have already taken the time to read and feedback to me on the Foundation Strategic Plan which was emailed to all Foundation parents last Friday.

There has been a range of comments, questions and useful feedback.

There is still time for you to share any comments, ideas or questions you might have about the plan with me. The deadline for this is Monday 29 January.  As mentioned I will personally read all the comments and my intention is to feedback generally to parents later in the term. I will also be contacting people directly if appropriate so please do complete your contact details if you would like a personal reply.

To access the Foundation Strategic Plan please click here.

To go to the online form to share your comments or queries please click here.
 
Many thanks in advance for your time and for all the support that you give to our schools. 

Ed Hester 

The first signs of spring have arrived, and Princethorpe in the sunshine remains a fantastic sight. Last week I spoke to two Upper Sixth girls holding hands as they were walking into school. Upon enquiry, they said it was for emotional support as they had both lost their battles with their alarm clocks that morning – I am certain we can all relate. However, with half term not too far away, we are turning our attention to some very exciting events over the next couple of weeks. 
 
The Sixth Form scholarship process begins in all earnest now and the great field of candidates in all areas is testimony to the good work we do lower down the College. The assessments for non-academic scholarships (Art, Drama, Music, Sport, etc.) is scheduled for the week commencing 5 February. Academic scholarship interviews for internal candidates will take place after half term.  
 
We very much consider Princethorpe to be a journey from Year 7 to Upper Sixth and we are passionate about assisting our Year 11 pupils’ transition into our Sixth Form. In some cases, other destinations may be more suitable or relevant to families, but we hope that the majority will continue their studies with us. Another aspect to Sixth Form is the number of external candidates who join us, this always adds a new dimension to friendships and classroom and co-curricular life. It is therefore really encouraging that we have had almost 50 applications from external candidates who are considering us for their Sixth Form studies. 
 
I was away at an HMC conference for two days this week and next week sees me attending the Catholic Independent Schools’ Conference – networking at these events always leaves me encouraged knowing that we are doing the right thing for our pupils and community. A prospective parent called some of our Sixth Form tour guides “passionate about their school”, and we cannot ask for a better reference. 
 
Other highlights this half-term include our U15A Rugby team reaching the quarter finals of the Bowl competition; visits to London, CERN, and North Yorkshire; a Warwickshire Schools Cross Country meet; Netball and Boys Hockey kicking off; strong results for our Foundation Maths GCSE cohort; and a lovely Burns Night dinner in aid of Malawi where £1,500 was raised. Special mention must go to Freddie Hadley in Lower Sixth who did an excellent job at manging the auction – with one item he started the bidding at £35 and ended up at £85 using only £1 and £2 increments!  
 
Finally, I have met with several parents who have reached out to me during the past couple of weeks. It was informative and good to hear their perspectives and to pass on feedback to relevant colleagues. May this long continue and I would encourage you again to get in touch if there is something we can do to better support your child. As I have said to staff on many occasions, it is much better talking to each other as this is the best way to move forward. 
 
With best wishes

Grove du Toit
Headmaster

Princethorpe College welcomed a special guest on Monday 15 January when award-winning author Ben Davis visited the school.

Mr Davis spent the day at Princethorpe hosting three creative writing workshops with Year 8 pupils.

The workshops began with Mr Davis reading extracts from his books including My Dad is Definitely not a Crime Lord and My Brilliant Plan to Fix Everything. Pupils then focused on creating their own short stories using Mr Davis’s methodology for creative writing. It included writing a plan before beginning their story and then focusing on bringing their stories to life by using visually descriptive language. Year 8 engaged enthusiastically with the former stand up comedian’s humour led approach with a number enjoying reading out their written work at the end of the workshop.

After the workshop there was also time for a question-and-answer session and for a book signing.

Nicola Treadwell, College Librarian, said:

“It was a real pleasure to welcome Ben to Princethorpe. His books are appealing and engaging, and their humour ensures that they are always popular with our pupils. The workshop was great fun and Year 8 produced some fabulous creative writing under his guidance. I have come across Ben’s books before and I know that his books are fantastic for all sorts of readers. I was delighted when he agreed to visit the school.”

Huge thanks to Ben Davis for visiting Princethorpe College and inspiring the next generation of successful writers and maybe even a future author or two.

All of Ben's books are available for pupils to borrow from the school library. 

Huge congratulations to the Boys U15 Rugby team who are through to the Quarter Final of the Continental Tyres National School Bowl.

The boys faced Gresham’s School at home on Wednesday 24 January and played an excellent tactical game to claim a great 31-12 victory.

They team had a tough first half playing against the wind and uphill, and at half time they were only just ahead, but in the second half they used the conditions to their advantage maximising their opportunities to add points to their score. It was an exciting match full of brave tackling with the team, and notably Josh Baker, playing an impressive game.

The boys now wait to see who they will play in the quarter-final of the Bowl.

A huge well done to them all.

Princethorpe College's U16 Boys Football team were the victors in the Plate after an excellent performance at the Independent Schools Association's (ISA) National Football Championships.

The six-a-side competition took place on Thursday 25 January at Nottingham University. 20 teams travelled from across the country to take part in this year’s prestigious event.

The team played consistently well across the day. In their opening match they faced Quinton House School dispatching them 2-0. They next faced The King Alfred School and held them to a 1-1 draw. They claimed another good win against North Bridge House School 3-0. Their final pool game saw their only loss of the day, 0-1 against Ipswich High School. That placed the team second in their pool and qualified them for the Plate competition.

In the semi-final the boys faced the Duke Of Kent School and capitalised on every opportunity for a super 1-0 win. They then took on Mount House School in the Plate final where their tenacity and resolve helped them to another fantastic 1-0 win.

Foundation Director of Sport, Lee Cassell, was delighted and commented, "The boys had an excellent day and they fully deserved their success."

The Warwickshire Schools County Cross Country Championships took place on Saturday 20 January here at Princethorpe College. 37 Princethorpe runners, drawn from across the school, competed against the best cross-country specialists from 31 schools across the county, in what is always a well contested event.

On hand to oversee the event was former Director of Sport, Gwil Price, and we were delighted as always to welcome him back. A huge well done to everyone who took part. We had nearly 200 runners, and their supporters, here at Princethorpe last Saturday, pitting their cross-country running skills against the College’s tough hilly course.

Upper Sixth Former, Grace Darcy earned herself a Silver medal, while, Year 10, Lily Hunter and, Year 9, William Smith both claimed Bronze. Eight runners finished in the top eight in their race and have qualified for the English Schools National Championships on Saturday 16 March at Pontefract Race Course in Yorkshire or at the National Primary and Year 7 Cross Country Finals on Saturday 3 March at Prestwold Hall in Leicestershire.

In terms of team placings, the Junior Boys and Minor Girls teams both finished in overall second place with the Inter Boys, Junior Girls and Minor Boys claiming fourth.

The Minor Boys ran a steady race, Rufus Jones came home first for Princethorpe in 7th, followed by Austin Higham 23rd, Isaac Fisher 30th, William Shaw 31st and Samuel Barlow 33rd. The Minor Girls ran a determined race with Esme Card finishing 5th, Ellie Gane 8th, Adelaide Teeton 17th, Liv Lamb 19th and Isabella Messenger 20th.

For the Junior Boys, William Smith led the team home in 3rd with James Bostock 9th, Ruben Allen 21st, and Alvin Wamala 24th. In the Junior Girls race, Katherine Lee came 16th, Rosa Davis 18th, Anabel Davis 23rd, Marley Adnitt 24th, Evie Bierton 28th, Jessie Murphy 29th, Ellie Maffey 30th and Dami Ajagunna 33rd.

In the Inter Boys race, Charlie Atkins finished 13th, Jesse Esler 17th, Toby Iley 26th, Mark Message 27th, Eddie Arkesden 29th, Will Gower 30th, Oscar Civzelis 32nd and Soren Wasley 33rd. A good run by cross country stalwart Lily Hunter saw her finish in 3rd place in the Inter Girls race.

Finally for the Senior Boys, Ben Smith and Felix Batty ran strong races to finish in 6th and 7th respectively while for the Senior Girls, Grace Darcy ran an excellent race claiming 2nd place.

Head of Outdoor Education and PE Teacher, Will Bower commented, "It was good to see the College so well represented at the County Championships. Well done to all of our competitors. Huge thanks to Estates, Grounds, current and former staff, parents and the Games Captains for all their help with organising and running the event."

Princethorpe's cross country teams also had a really successful day at Bedstone College on Wednesday 24 January. We are just waiting on confirmation of the team places and will share news of the results in the next Flagpole.

Archers from the College’s club had their first competitive outing last weekend when they took part in the Redhill Archers Novice Portsmouth Tournament on Saturday 21 January. Facing competitors from club teams from across the region, Year 10, Sophie Henry earned herself a first-place finish and a Gold medal in the Barebow Women U18 class. Year 7, Chloe Brosnan also took Gold in the Barebow Women U14 while, Year 8, Grace Symons claimed Gold in the Longbow Women U14. Year 9, Yasmine Edwards and, Year 10, Jessica Johnson did nearly as well, collecting Silver and Bronze respectively in the Barebow Women U16 section. Well done to them all.

It was a great introduction to the world of competitive archery. Many thanks to Redhill Archers for welcoming our pupils so warmly.

Year 9 have been exploring Churchill’s War Rooms this week, in support of their studies of World War Two. 90 pupils visited London on either Monday 22 or Wednesday 24 January. 

The trip provided fantastic enrichment for their history studies, bringing to life the tense days and nights of the Second World War. As well as exploring the underground nerve centre where Churchill and his generals directed the course of the war, pupils also had a tour of Westminster discovering the statues linked to their earlier studies of the Suffragettes as well.

The visit was also excellent preparation for those looking to study History at GCSE, supporting the component that explores the Rise of Hitler.

It was an informative and fascinating day for them all.

On Thursday 25 January, the U14 Girls Netball team took part in the ISA Midlands Netball Tournament at Loughborough Amherst School. They faced 18 teams from across the Midlands region.

Split into pools, Princethorpe flew through their first-round matches against St Dominics, Kingsley School and Twycross House playing an excellent game. In the playoffs, they faced Stafford Grammar and came away with another win, dispatched the hosts Loughborough Amherst in the semi-finals before facing Kings High in the final. Despite being in the lead at half time and communicating and playing well, the girls lost the match to finish second overall.

PE Teacher, Vicky Howell, commented, “We had an excellent tournament, with the girls improving throughout the day. They played with resilience and clearly enjoyed their matches. Well done to them all.”

Princethorpe College was pleased to welcome Sarah Gillard-Falkne who is the CofE Chaplain at Onley Prison on Thursday 18 January to talk to Year 11 pupils about her work. Year 11 study the topic of ‘Good and Evil’ in ‘Component 1: Religious, Philosophical and Ethical Studies in the Modern World’ in their Religious Studies GCSE.

Sarah spoke at length about her work at Onley, the prisoners she meets, the support and counselling she provides and her belief that prisons are places that have to offer hope. Sarah challenged Year 11’s perceptions on prisons and the role that they play in society. Her anecdotes were thought provoking, at times amusing at times stark. An engaged and interested Year 11 audience had plenty of questions for her. There will be much for them to further debate in class.

Many thanks to Sarah for an informative and engaging session.

On Tuesday 16 January, Princethorpe’s GCSE Art pupils visited the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The trip offered an opportunity to take photos and produce drawings and sketches from first hand observation, all of which could then be used as stimulus for their coursework portfolios.

Full of atmospheric galleries and artefacts from all corners of the world, the complex and diverse collections offered pupils plenty to reflect on. Pupils worked exceptionally hard and came away with plenty of valuable inspiration.

It was an enjoyable and productive day.

Popular Learning Support Assistant, Amanda Kelly, has been honoured for her service as a local GirlGuiding Leader. Amanda is the Brown Owl for the local Coventry St Thomas More’s Brownies.

For 40 years she has volunteered her free time, enjoying the fun and friendship that working with children can bring.

She told us: "There is so much joy in Guiding; giving the girls the opportunity to learn about themselves, their community and the wider world whilst learning important skills such as first aid. Most importantly, they also have lots of fun, playing games and singing campfire songs."

We couldn’t let her milestone pass without applauding her for her amazing service. Many congratulations to Amanda, you are an inspiration to us all.

Aspiring young singers from local primary schools enjoyed a super day of song when they joined Princethorpe's Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, Music Teacher, Alison Wakeley, and Princethorpe College pupils for a fabulous Choral Fun Day.

The Year 5 and 6 pupils tackled a variety of choral pieces including popular favourites Count On Me by Bruno Mars and High Hopes by Jake Sinclair and Jonas Jeberg and even Imagine by John Lennon, as well as a number of traditional and specially arranged choral pieces.

As well as rehearsing furiously, the visiting children took part in a musical team scavenger hunt and enjoyed lunch in the Refectory.

The day culminated in an impressive gala performance of their newly learnt pieces in front of an enthusiastic capacity audience of family and friends in the College's Clarkson theatre, followed by refreshments for all.

Commenting on the day, Gil Cowlishaw said, "We were really impressed by the children. They achieved such a lot in just a few hours, learning so many songs and then taking to the stage to perform in front of an audience is no mean feat, a huge well done to them all!"

And a special thank you to all of the fantastic Princethorpe pupils who came along to support the Choral Fun Day.

19 Sixth Form students have completed a two-day course in Teaching English As A Foreign Language (TEFL). Taught by Nathan Lomax, an experienced TEFL Teacher Trainer, and former Modern Foreign Languages university lecturer, the course took place in school on Saturday 13 and Sunday 20 January. The course covered topics such as teaching English language skills, identifying learning styles and creating learning materials through a series of active, engaging and fun activities.

Princethope’s Sixth Form has offered the TEFL qualification as an extra-curricular option for a number of years as TEFL certification is particularly useful for those students considering a gap year abroad. The qualification offers a good way to help fund travel. Despite giving up two full days of their weekends, all the participants really enjoyed the course.

As an added extra the pupils were also all given access to a TEFL job prospects site set up and run by Mr Lomax that provides details of contacts and opportunities for teaching English abroad.

All the pupils passed with flying colours, congratulations to them all. We wish them all well in their TEFL adventures!

Crescent School warmly welcomed former pupil and teacher, Felicity Furber, and former governor, Mark Furber, back to school on Tuesday 16 January to help celebrate Founder’s Day. The school was marking its 76th birthday and also the publication of its updated A History Of Crescent School.

Mr and Mrs Furber took part in a Founder’s Day Assembly, then answered questions posed by the School Council before enjoying a tour of the school.

During the assembly, six Year 6 pupils shared extracts from the school’s early history. Dressed in original school uniform, they spoke about the experiences of the early pupils when the school was situated in Rugby town centre, on Horton Crescent adjacent to Rugby School.

Mrs Furber is the daughter of the school’s first headmistress, Mrs Eve Mortimer, and has a long and close association with Crescent School. Mr and Mrs Furber were delighted to be able to share new information and anecdotes about the school’s early years, bringing the Founder’s Day celebrations vividly to life for pupils.

During the visit, Crescent School discovered that Mr Furber has his own strong connection to the school’s current Bawnmore Road site. Mr Furber was one of the first pupils to attend the former, St Mark’s School when it opened on the Bilton site back in 1950, prior to its acquisition in 1988 by Crescent School.

Headmaster, Joe Thackway, said: “We were delighted to welcome Mr and Mrs Furber into school. The children had so many questions for them, and it really helped them understand what the school was like in its early years and to appreciate that while many aspects of the school have changed, there is much that remains the same.”

Mrs Furber commented, "It meant a lot to me to see how the school is thriving in every way.”

Copies of the second edition of A History of Crescent School have been shared with parents and contributors and a digital version is available to download for free on the school website here: https://www.theprincethorpefoundation.co.uk/publications-crescent. Printed copies are also freely available for all Old Crescentians and local residents. They can be requested here: https://connect.princethorpe.co.uk/shop (there is a small £2 charge to cover UK postage).

Thursday 1 February to Saturday 3 February 2024

Grease meets The Big Bang Theory, as the College’s Musical Theatre group show what it’s like to be an American teenager in this fun and energetic performance of Loserville.

It tells the story of Michael Dork and his closest friends, a group of socially awkward teenage boys struggling through High School in 1970s America. Then one day, a new girl arrives at the school. Holly is intelligent, funny and harbours a desire to become NASA’s first woman in space. Her sudden arrival throws everyone’s world into turmoil.

Loserville is filled with brilliant and energetic rock songs by James Bourne of Busted. Come along for the ride to find out if our heroes ever get their “Ticket Outta Loserville”.

Performances:
Thursday 1 February, 7.00pm to 9.30pm
Friday 2 February, 7.00pm to 9.30pm
Saturday 3 February, 2.00pm to 4.30pm
Saturday 3 February, 7.00pm to 9.30pm

Tickets for performances may be booked here via Eventbrite. 

The Clarkson theatre has a limited number of seats, so if you can no longer make the performance you have booked, please cancel your booking through Eventbrite so that other families are able to book.

Accessible seating is available, please book this directly with our main Reception by calling 01926 643200 or email post@princethorpe.co.uk.

Wednesday 21 February - 7.00pm to 8.30pm

Our first meeting of 2024 went off with a somewhat controversial start. Both novels we were reading, The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough and The Figurine by Victoria Hislop, had very mixed reviews. McCullough's novel of love and passion in the outback felt somewhat dated and was considered a novel that was one to remember with affection but kept firmly in the past. Hislop's latest offering was not considered her finest, with The Thorn being considered overly descriptive and unnecessarily long. What was the aim of the novel? We were not sure. The Figurine looked the part but that was about all.

And so on we go to the next pairing. We are not meeting until after half term and so we decided to go for two books once more, to keep everyone going. The first is Girl A, by Abigail Dean which looks to be a thriller with a psychological edge. It's a novel that has sat by my bed for a while now so I'm happy to be moving it into the 'reading' pile. We are also going to read the teen Sunday Times Bestseller, Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell. 

We meet on a Wednesday evening for a cuppa and a chat about all things bookish. If you fancy a change of scenery (especially as The Traitors will have ended) please do come and join us. We love a fresh face. 

Friday 23 February 2024 - 6.45pm to 10.00pm

Join us for a night of good food, great company, and valuable insights into the future of farming.

Hear from two speakers:

• Jennie Wheildon: Unlock New Funding Opportunities and Plan for the Next Generation in Farming
• John Price (OP 2014): My Journey into Farming and Prospects for the Future of Farming

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow farmers, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and gain valuable knowledge for the future of your farm.

Secure your spot here by Friday 16 February 2024.

Friday 8 March 2024 - 6.00pm to 10.30pm

The OPs annual Local Meet takes place on Friday 8 March 2024. We are returning to Leamington Spa, but to a new venue, the upstairs function room of the Fox and Vivian on Clarendon Avenue.

Our local meets are usually very popular, so we are hoping for a really good turnout of OPs from across the decades to attend, plus a few former members of staff.

There will be the customary welcome drink or two and the OPs Commitee will be laying on some delicious food, so do let us know if you would like to attend by clicking here by Friday 1 March.

Alumni of all our Foundation schools and partners and friends are most welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!

Progress Reports for Year 9 will be published on Friday 2 February, and will be available to view on My School Portal.  

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

The Year 9 Online Subject Progress Evening will take place online on Wednesday 7 February from 5.00pm to 8.30pm. Details of how to book appointments will be emailed week commencing Monday 29 January 2024.

Tutor Reports for Year 8 will be published on Friday 9 February 2024, and will be available to view on My School Portal.  

There have been recent localised outbreaks of measles centred around the West Midlands, so as a precaution we would like to share the latest advice with you.

Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious symptoms in some people. It spreads very easily among those who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools.

Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth. You can find out more on the NHS website:

Measles - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Having the MMR vaccine is the best protection against measles. There’s no specific medical treatment for measles, so it is important to get vaccinated as it is the best protection against becoming seriously unwell.

MMR is offered to all children as part of the National Immunisation schedule. The MMR vaccine gives long lasting protection with just two doses of the vaccine. The first dose is given at the age of 12 months and the second dose is given at around 3 years and 4 months, before starting school.

The best way to prevent contracting measles, for both children and adults, is to get both doses of the MMR vaccine. It is never too late to have these vaccinations.

If your child hasn’t received two doses of the MMR, please consider contacting your GP surgery and booking an appointment.

As always, if your child is unwell, please keep them off school to minimise the spread of infection within the community. As a Foundation, we will follow any advice or guidance from the Department of Health.

Paula Greig
Senior Matron

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

• Friday 2 February - Year 7 - 9.40am-10.30am
• Monday 5 February - Year 8 - 9.40am-10.30am
• Monday 26 February - Year 9 - 9.40am-10.30am
• Tuesday 27 February - Year 10 - 9.40am-10.30am

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

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

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

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

Thursday 20 June 2024

We can now confirm that the Headmaster’s Thanksgiving Service will be held from 7.00pm on Thursday 20 June 2024 in school.

Friday 21 June 2024

The Year 11 End of Year Celebration will be held on Friday 21 June 2024 at Coombe Abbey Hotel in Coventry.

Please save these dates.

Further information will be sent out to all Year 11 parents next week.

Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

Thursday 1 February

The Lower Sixth Subject Progress Evening will take place on Thursday 1 February from 5.00pm to 8.30pm. The evening will be conducted online using SchoolCloud. Appointments are available to book from 6.00pm today.

It is hoped that all parents will be successful in gaining an appointment, however if this is not possible teachers may contact you via email to update you about your child’s progress.

As we delve into the heart of the academic year, we are excited to bring you updates on the enriching experiences and events that will define this term for our Sixth Form students. From embracing cultural traditions to preparing for future endeavours, here's a glimpse of the highlights.

Lower Sixth Interview Skills Day - Preparing for the Future

Next week, we will be hosting an Interview Skills Day for our Lower Sixth students. This event aims to equip them with the essential skills needed for successful interviews, preparing them for future academic and professional endeavours. We encourage your support and engagement as your child takes these critical steps towards their future.

Lower Sixth Online Subject Progress Evening - Reminder - Thursday 1 February 

We would like to remind you about the upcoming Lower Sixth Online Subject Progress Evening. This event serves as an invaluable opportunity for you to connect with our dedicated teachers, gain insights into your child's academic progress, and discuss any questions or concerns you may have.  
 
TEFL

We successfully completed our recent TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course last weekend. We extend our thanks to all participants for their dedication and enthusiasm, making the event a resounding success. The TEFL course brought together a dynamic group of individuals, all of whom demonstrated a keen commitment to enhancing their teaching skills. We are proud to announce that every participant successfully passed the course. Our appreciation goes out to each participant for their active involvement and eagerness to learn.  
 
The overwhelming interest and positive feedback from participants has inspired us to explore further opportunities. We are planning for an Advanced TEFL course and will communicate details as soon as we have a date.
 
We express our gratitude to the Sixth Form community for fostering an environment where professional development is celebrated and encouraged. Your continued support plays a crucial role in the success of these educational initiatives. 

Oxbridge

Let me take a moment to revel in the collective successes of our Oxbridge applicants. Their achievements are a testament to the collaboration between students, parents, and staff. I am confident that the skills, knowledge, and resilience they have developed throughout this process will serve them well in their future endeavours.

Burns Night Success

Our Burns Night event brought together students, parents, and staff in a celebration of Scottish culture and the enduring legacy of Robert Burns. The evening was not only a cultural experience but also a remarkable fundraising success. Thanks to the generosity and active participation of our community, we were able to raise £1,500 towards the Malawi project. 
 
The night was filled with laughter, joy, and the shared appreciation of Scottish traditions. From the captivating poetry readings to the lively ceilidh dancing, every moment was a testament to the vibrant spirit of our community. The culinary delights featuring traditional Scottish fare added a delightful touch to the evening, making it an event to remember. 

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the parents who attended, contributed, and supported the event. Your enthusiasm and generosity played a pivotal role in making Burns Night a resounding success.

Key Dates

Tuesday 30 January - Lower Sixth Mock Interviews

Thursday 1 February - Lower Sixth Online Subject Progress Evening

Friday 22 March - Sixth Form Leadership Inauguration and Award Ceremony

Sunday 7 April - 40 Mile Walk 

Tuesday 2 July - Upper Sixth Leaver's Ball 

Ben Collie 
Head of Sixth Form 

As the Trinity Term is fast approaching we start moving our thoughts to summer sports and the cricket season. The cricket kit is not compulsory for all, however, for those who will be representing the College in the Girls' A, Boys' A and B teams and those who would like to wear the kit we offer a cricket shirt, trousers, sleeveless slipover and cricket cap or sun hat. 

As a general guide we normally run a Girls' A and Boys' A and B team for U12 through to Sixth Form who are required to wear the school cricket kit. 

All orders must be placed before the end of the school day on Thursday 8 February 2024 using the order form here, you will be notified by email when they are available to collect from the School Shop.

We have one of each size available to try on in the School Shop. The white PE polo is also a good size guide.

If you need any help with your order please contact Tamsin Frost on 01926 634272.

Barbara Bromwich
Foundation Shop Manager

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 MySchoolPortal.

Princethorpe PTA

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. Guidance can be found on a DofE Completion email sent to pupils and parents, and the advice documents are also available on MySchoolPortal. Lunchtime drop-in clinic takes place every Tuesday 1.05pm in LG02.

The Certificate Presentation Evening takes place on Thursday 8 February 2024. Please prioritise signing off your sections so they can be processed in time to receive an invite to the evening. Invitations will be distributed in the next couple of weeks.

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education

A reminder to Year 10 Silver participants, your expedition training takes place in The Limes on Saturday 27 January, 9.00am – 4.00pm and Sunday 28 January 2024, 9.00am - 1.00pm. You will have received an email with full details. Attendance on both days is mandatory in order to be adequately trained for the practice expedition in April.

Well done to all who met the first deadline by completing the steps listed below by Wednesday 20 December. You should now be logging your hours for the volunteering, physical and skills sections and uploading evidence on your eDofE account. Gold participants should also book their residential.

For those who failed to meet the deadline, please sign in and get started as soon as possible. The DofE will then send a participant handbook directly to your home address. For help, DofE clinic takes place every Tuesday at 1.05pm in LG02, or refer to your ‘eDfoE Start Up’ email and MySchoolPortal.

A reminder of the start-up steps required:

• Download the DofE app or find www.edofe.org
• Login using the username and password sticker on your folder
• Update your personal details
• Set timescales (for example at bronze physical 6, volunteering 3 and skill 3 months)
• Complete the programme planners for the physical, volunteering and skill sections.  This includes:
  - selecting the activity
  - inputting start dates
  - setting a goal to achieve
  - recording your assessor details (please speak to your potential assessor to ask permission  before you upload the details)
• Submit your programme planners online to your DofE Leader for approval.  Once approved you can start your award.

It is fantastic to see the wide variety of activities pupils have chosen to complete. Good luck in logging your hours, I hope that you enjoy your sections and achieve your goals.

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education

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, raised money for charity, is performing in a show or competing at a high level with a sporting team outside of school.

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

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

Educational and co-curricular visits have always been a major part of life at Princethorpe. These experiences for pupils enrich their lives, enhance their learning and develop their understanding and appreciation of the world around them. 

We would like to remind you of the provisional major trips plan as it currently stands (this does not include academic department day trips or Duke of Edinburgh's Award). Please click here for the planned school trips.

Please also ensure that you read the information about individual trips with care when they are released, in particular in relation to consent, cancellation and insurance.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head, Co-Curricular

Please see below our current vacancy: 

Princethorpe Foundation

• Digital Transformation Leader

Princethorpe College

• IT Engineer
• Sixth Form Administrator
• Payroll Officer
• Minibus Driver

Crescent School

•  School Registrar and Marketing Secretary

Crackley Hall School / Little Crackers

• Learning Support Assistant (Nursery)

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.

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

Eddie Tolcher 
Foundation Bursar

Please 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

Cyber-crime – please be extra vigilant

Parents are asked to be vigilant when reading emails relating to the payment of school fees and any other items to the Foundation. You can protect yourselves by only making payments to us in line with our normal, published methods. Any email offering a large discount on fees for the coming academic year if paid immediately is fraudulent.

There has been no change to the bank details of Princethorpe College, Crackley Hall or Crescent Schools and there is no intention to make any changes in the foreseeable future. Any electronic notification that appears to be from any of the Foundation schools changing these details may be fraudulent. Our bank details are available on the Parent Bills, the Online Payment Portal and in the Information Booklet for each school, and only those details should be used.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or my colleagues in the Bursary if you are have any doubts about the correct details or indeed if anything appears suspicious.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

We would like to remind parents of some useful contact details.

To report a pupil absence please do so on My School Portal.

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.