The Flagpole

I am writing to let you know that, after 16 years of outstanding service, our Foundation Bursar, Eddie Tolcher, will be stepping down from his full-time role at the end of the calendar year. 
 
Eddie - a former Crescent pupil and an Old Princethorpian - has been a tremendous servant, playing a leading role in the development and success of the Foundation. Eddie arrived shortly before me and together we led on the mergers of Crackley Hall and Abbotsford in 2010 and Crescent School into the Foundation in 2016 – both of which significantly strengthened all our schools. He has also overseen a major programme of campus development across all three schools, most recently with the new Science Centre at the College. Eddie has been tireless in supporting the Heads to deliver the very best possible schools and I would like to publicly thank him for all he has done. 
 
In light of Eddie’s forthcoming retirement, we have reconfigured our organisational design in line with our commitment to continue to deliver our key strategic pillar of “Operational and Financial Efficiency and Excellence” and so will be looking to appoint a new Head of Business Services by the end of the year. We have already started the recruitment process for the pivotal role and further details can be found here on our Website.  If you know any exceptional people who this may be of interest to, please do let them know – the deadline for applications is Monday 13 May. 
 
Eddie will be continuing his role as Clerk to the Trustees, and I will continue to work with him on special projects so we are delighted that we will be retaining his knowledge and wisdom in the years ahead. 
 
E D Hester

I always say to pupils that we must look for and enjoy the little things in life. I hope you would agree that this Bank Holiday is a “little thing” definitely worth enjoying. Princethorpe is its normal busy and bustling self and an extra day to take breath and maybe lie in, is very much deserved.

Our Year 11 pupils had their final lessons today, (I'm delighted we can include a few photographs from today in the News section), and our Upper Sixth students follow suit next Friday. Over the past few weeks, we have wished them luck and I know all of the College will be crossing fingers, while holding them in our thoughts and prayers. They have worked hard and deserve the rewards they will receive. Throughout the rest of the term there are various opportunities for us to celebrate their time at Princethorpe – I really hope to see as many parents as possible at the Thanksgiving Services.

I have often stressed the importance of open communication between home and school. We welcome and encourage parents getting in touch and sharing information that enables us to better support our pupils. We also appreciate that pupils may be nervous when parents contact school as they may worry about “friends finding out”. This very often puts us in a difficult position as some requests do come with anonymity or “please don’t do anything” attached. Our number one priority is positive relationships between all members of our community, but if we cannot engage with a pupil because of a parental request, it limits the measures we can put in place to address concerns. As teachers, we have a bag full of tricks to support a pupil without it ever becoming public knowledge. This includes addressing friendship issues. However, if we do not have all the information, or we have boundaries in place, it does tie our hands. My request is therefore, to continue communicating if we can do anything to improve your child’s experience, but also to trust us to manage a situation in such a way that it is a positive experience for everyone involved. For us, the most important consideration is being made aware of concerns as soon as possible. It is much easier and effective changing actions early on, compared to habits that may have taken hold over time.

I hope by now you are aware that our PTA is hosting a Summer Party on Saturday 15 June. Strong relationships are a hallmark of a good school, and this is an excellent opportunity to meet new friends or strengthen the bond with old ones. The evening promises to be full of good food and dancing, with details and booking available on Princethorpe Connect here. May I encourage you to join us as it promises to be an excellent night out.

Thank you for your continued support.

Grove du Toit
Headmaster

Friday 10 May, was an emotional day for our Upper Sixth leavers as we marked their last day in school. The students came in fancy dress and started their day with a special Thanksgiving Service. They enjoyed reflections on their time at Princethorpe, presentations and awards and then a special celebration out on the Sixth Form Lawn. The camaraderie, resilience and focus of this year group has been amazing and we wish each and every one of them the very best of luck in their upcoming exams and for the future.

Year 11 have marked their official last day in school before they start their study leave with plenty of celebrations. After a morning of lessons, pupils gathered in the Refectory for lunch together as a year group after which they were allowed into the hallowed ground of the Quad for the traditional signing of shirts and to take photos with their friends.

They finished their day with a year group assembly in the Clarkson theatre. When the bell sounded for the end of the school day, Year 11 were led out for what we hope will become a new tradition here at Princethorpe, a ‘Good Luck Parade’. Pupils walked the halls and corridors of the school where they have spent their secondary years learning. They passed along the Cloister Corridors, out across to the Limes and up through the building to the new Science Centre. Their route was lined with pupils and staff clapping and cheering wishing them all well. They were greeted with applause, high fives, joy and happy tears, from a school full of pride.

Our Year 11s have shown huge determination and resilience over the last five years, and we hope they all enjoyed their last day of lessons. We wish them the very best for the upcoming examination season. Today’s walk was a reminder to them all of just how far they have come. We are proud of their hard work and accomplishments – good luck Year 11!

Watch out for clips of the walk on social media.

We said our farewells to, Foundation Assistant Head, Alex Darkes, on Tuesday 30 April, who was retiring after 45 years of working at the school. Alex joined Princethorpe College back in September 1979 when Father Bill Clarkson MSC was Headmaster and he has seen many changes and developments over the years, serving under no fewer than eight Headmasters. His association with the College goes back even further though, as he was also a pupil here for seven years (1968-1975) and, in his leaving year, the winner of the coveted Princethorpe Shield. Throughout his time at Princethorpe he has embodied the school’s ethos, and his love of the College has always shone through.

Over the course of his career, Alex has delighted in passing on his knowledge and enthusiasm for so many things, not least his main subject, Physics. Generations of Princethorpians have benefited from his excellent teaching, pastoral care and immeasurable kindness.

His contribution to the College, however, has been far greater than just in the classroom, he has been involved in so many aspects of College life. In addition to teaching and being a form tutor, he led marketing, admissions, operations and IT, and even managed the bus services. He was at the very heart of co-curricular activities such as Photography Club, equestrian events, school trips far and wide, the Arts Society, the Old Princethorpians’ Association and the popular annual Motoring Festival, which he organised for 26 years. In more recent times, he played a key role in mergers, environmental sustainability planning, the introduction of the Development team and the project management of all the Foundation’s major building projects, including the new Science Centre. He even co-wrote a history book about the first fifty years of the College for its Golden Jubilee in 2016-17.

All this he has done with good humour, kindness, tenacity and determination and as, Foundation Principal, Ed Hester, said in Alex’s leaving presentation, “Alex embodies our 'Spirit of Family' Princethorpe ethos. He is one of the finest colleagues I have had the pleasure to work with. When I arrived, he was my right-hand man who having done so much, in so many areas, knew pretty much everything about everyone.”

Indeed, Alex is renowned for his encyclopaedic knowledge of all things Princethorpe, his amazing memory for names and faces, his skilful masterminding of projects and meticulous attention to detail and his wonderful wit, cheerfulness and sense of fun. Alex is our very own ‘Mr Princethorpe’ and therefore, on his retirement it is most appropriate that there will be a corner of Princethorpe, and particularly a Physics laboratory in The Science Centre, his final and most ambitious project, named after him in perpetuity.

At midnight on Tuesday 30 April he officially became an Old Princethorpian, although he will be maintaining his relationship with the Foundation, as Alex has kindly agreed to take on the role of Archivist Emeritus, so he can continue to play a part in the College’s rich history. It’s a role that has commenced already with Alex recently recording a retirement interview where he answered questions posed by Princethorpians old and new. If you would like to listen to the interview you can find it here.

Unassuming as ever, at his leaving presentation, Alex Darkes said, “Thanks to my many wonderful colleagues and pupils, I have had a blast of a time. Thank you everyone for your friendship and kindness.”

Alex leaves us with our very best wishes. He was presented with cards and gifts, including a new cabin suitcase, the perfect present for Alex who loves to travel. We are delighted that he now finally has the chance to fulfil his and every teacher’s dream – to take a holiday in term time!

As part of our new Commercial Enterprises activity we hope very soon to be able to let parents know full details about the Summer Holiday Camps we will be offering this summer at Princethorpe.

The camps will be run in partnership with an experienced Ofsted registered external provider, who will offer an exciting sports and multi-activity programme for children aged 5 to 16. The camps will be open to Foundation and non-Foundation children from Monday to Friday for the majority of the summer holidays.

The Crackley Hall Holiday Club will continue to run as normal.

We will communicate with families as soon as more information is available.

On Tuesday evening we were delighted to host a special workshop event for alumni representing all our Foundation schools and heritage schools to look at the key strategic pillars for our alumni and development programme.

Over 40 alumni took part, they were grouped according to their leaving decades from the 60s/70s right up to the present day. Guided by the Foundation team, they gave their opinions and enthusiastically discussed activity ranging from connectivity and engagement, to careers and networking, social events, the structure and responsibilities of the committee and how the alumni can best support the Foundation’s development efforts.

We will feedback to the wider community in due course once we have compiled all the information, but we would like to thank all those who took part for giving of their time so generously. We were really overwhelmed by the buzz in the room and the positivity and support expressed by the group. It really bodes well for the future of the alumni association and a mutually beneficial relationship with all our schools. We are excited to map out the next steps over the coming weeks.

Princethorpe College’s Inter Girls, Senior Girls and Senior Boys teams delivered top scoring performances to finish in first place at the Warwickshire Schools Combined Events Championships. Hot on their heels were the Minor Girls, Junior Girls and Inter Boys whose determination led to second place finishes, with the Junior Boys and Minor Boys finishing in fourth overall. It was another excellent athletics outing for Princethorpe at the Warwickshire Schools Combined Events, at The Pingles Stadium, in Nuneaton, on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 May.

Schools from across the county sent their best athletes to the two-day event. Standards were high as competitors aimed to accrue as many points as possible across the track and field events.

The Senior Girls took on the Heptathlon competing in the 100m Hurdles, High Jump, Shot, 200m, Long Jump, Javelin and an 800m middle distance run. Individually Anna Reay finished individual 1st overall with Lottie Hunter 2nd, Tami Yusuf 3rd and Alice Minshull 4th ensuring the team a first place finish.

The Inter Girls also took on the Heptathlon competing in the 80m Hurdles, High Jump, Shot, 200m, Long Jump, Javelin and an 800m middle distance run. Grace McCollin finished 2nd overall, with Penelope Jones 5th, Lauren Tebbatt 11th and Mia Brander 13th, their hard work also claiming team first place.

The Junior Girls competed in the Pentathlon, with the athletes enjoying the 75m Hurdles, Shot, High Jump, Long Jump and an 800m run. The girls put in an excellent performances with Dami Ajagunna finishing 1st overall, Marisa Lumani 11th and Lola Esler 15th, Issey Cleary 16th, Ayla Plumb 20th and Faith Katanda 21st their scores helped Princethorpe’s two teams finish second and seventh overall.

The Minor Girls delivered consistent results in the Quadrathlon events, 80m Sprint, Long Jump, Shot and a 600m run. A super performance helped Ellie Gane finish 3rd individually, while Natalya Harwood came in 5th and Emily Divers 10th ensuring the girls also claimed team second place overall.

The Senior Boys had the 100m, Long Jump, Shot, High Jump, 400m, 110m Hurdles, Discus, Pole Vault and Javelin to contend with. Ben Smith finished 1st overall with Anjola Okusanya 2nd Blessing Katanda 3rd and Vincent McNevin 4th. Their results delivered another team first place.

The Inter Boys had the Long Jump, High Jump, Javelin, Discus, Shot, 100m Hurdles, 400m and the 1500m to contend with in their Octathlon event. Hunter Staveley, Dan Tomlinson, Conor Horan and James Wright competed for Princethorpe, and the team placed second overall but we still await confirmation of the individual placings.

The Junior Boys took on the Pentathlon with the 80m Hurdles, Shot, Long Jump, High Jump and 800m events. Max Kiely finished 8th overall, Will Harvey 11th, Louis Reynolds 16th, Rob James Pantoja 19th, Nashe Darare 23rd and Harry Messenger 24th their scores helping Princethorpe’s two teams finish fourth and seventh overall.

Then the Minor Boys took on an 80m sprint, the Long Jump, Shot and a 600m run. Rufus Jones finished 8th overall, Wilfie Rack 14th and Billy Faizey 16th, taking the team to fourth place.

After a very successful two days, Director of Sport, Lee Cassell, was thrilled with excellent early season results, commenting, “Princethorpe’s athletes shone across all the disciplines delivering outstanding performances in both field and track events to help the College to a super set of results. Well done to them all.”

Back in April pupils from Princethorpe College took part in the 2024 UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Junior 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 Year 7 and Year 8 and Princethorpe selected 92 able mathematicians 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 Year 8 student, Erik Windham who was awarded a Gold certificate, and took the award for best performing pupil in school, and to Year 7 student, Evelyn Waterworth, who was awarded a Gold certificate, and took the award for best performing pupil in Year 7. Gold certificates were also awarded to Year 8s Isaac Frith, Bohdan Nicholl and Drew Ovens Gibbs and to Year 7 Ethan Simons who all performed so well that they have also qualified for the follow-on round, the Junior Kangaroo Challenge.

Gold Certificate: Dillon Horan, Emily Beadle, Katherine Lee, John Owen, Oscar Rexton-Watts and Arthur Reid.

Silver certificate: Theo Cowlishaw, Darcey Sutton, Veer Chayra, Charles Packe, Luka Vrljicak, Lottie Corbin, Evie Johnson, Noah Walker, Jay Jonah, Lucas Ross, Emilia Novissimo-Richards, Lewis North, Tegan McLeod, Stephanie Bolton, Chloe Sarkies, Florence Munn, Sophie McCormick, Krishan Patel, Rufus Jones and Austin Newbold.

Bronze certificate: George Williams, Elena Raiseborough, Dylan Llewellyn, Gilbert Millward-Boyton, Dami Ajagunna, George Knott, Jacob Swords, Sam Dunn, Amelia Heatherington, Aidan Morris, Sofia Papadogiannakis, Leani uu Toit, Freya Hillman, Amelie Shay, Martha Coburn, Eloise Burchill, Ellie Gane, Amalia Lee, Max Wither, Reuben Allen, Mimi Legge, Ro Somerset, Lennon Alcock, Sachin Gupta, Samuel Eynon-Hill, Delilah Clay, Adelaide Teeton, Leo Warne, Tasha Gichiri, Gwenan Roberts, Tyler Moreton, Teddy Rushbrooke, Nell Kiteley, Isaac Fowle, Jack McKay, Charlotte Nichols and Jack Phillips-Gore.

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

Princethorpe’s Lower Sixth physicists had their second opportunity to take part in the British Physics Olympiad Year 12 Senior Physics Challenge. Competing against over 6,000 pupils from more than 300 schools nationwide, the students sat a tricky one hour long written paper, where none of the marks were easy to get.

Head of Physics, Dan Lee, was delighted with their results, commenting, “Congratulations to all, it is great to see our students succeeding in the toughest school-level Physics competition there is.”

A special mention for Jack Fleming who earned the highest scores of the Princethorpe contingent and our congratulations also go to Joseph Baker, Ruby Clark, Leo Flannery, Seb Hume-Chignell, Ollie Hutton, Albert Jackson-Bettles, Blessing Katanda, Giorgio Kleinmann and Anjola Okusanya. All the pupils who took part received a Bronze certificate.

Princethorpe College came together in the Sports Hall on Wednesday 23 April to celebrate a whole school Eucharist.

Father Alan Whelan MSC reflected on the story of Easter, reminding us all that it is a time of new beginnings. He spoke about the work Jules Chevalier, who’s anniversary we celebrated last term, and of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and of how Chevalier’s resilience affects us all here at Princethorpe today. Father Alan reminded pupils that resilience was particularly important for all those sitting exams.

Pupils were also given a card commemorating the birth of Chevalier.

Then, as a community, we prayed for the school, for our families and for all those in the world who need our prayers.

Our History, Politics and Performing Arts A-level students took a trip to the West End on Tuesday 23 April to watch the amazing Hamilton and it was outstanding in every sense.

The musical tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. It blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and traditional show tunes to narrate Hamilton's life, from his rise as an orphaned immigrant from the Caribbean to his role in shaping the country's early politics and policies. It explores his relationships with other historical figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Aaron Burr, as well as his personal struggles and triumphs. The musical delves into themes of ambition, legacy, love, and the complexities of human nature while offering a contemporary lens on the founding of the United States.

It was an exciting evening of world class theatre that provided engaging cultural capital that compliments their A-level studies.

Springtime is the season for wildflowers and here at Princethorpe that always means bluebells. The bright violet-blue native perennials carpet the woodlands around the College site every year from late April to late May. After the mild winter, this year the bluebells have flowered early and have been glorious once again.

Almost half the world’s bluebells are found in the UK – they are relatively rare elsewhere. Bluebell colonies take a long time to establish, so we are especially proud of the display in the woods along the Mile Walk.

For all Princethorpians old and new, the bluebells are synonymous with Princethorpe. We popped out to take some photos to share, we hope you enjoy looking through them and seeing this year’s display.

Thursday 9 May 2023 - 5.00pm to 7.30pm

Prospective pupils and their parents are warmly invited to Crackley Hall and Little Crackers Open Evening on Thursday 9 May from 5.00pm.

Come and find out more about what a Crackley education can do for your child. This is a great opportunity for prospective families to get a feel for the school and to meet Mr Duigan, Headmaster, and speak to key members of staff.

To book your place, please click here.

We are now accepting registrations for Nursery from September 2024 and Reception and Year 3 for September 2025!

In other year groups we have limited availability or are operating waiting groups. For more information on specific year group availability and admission to Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery please email Jenny Vaughan at admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk or call 01926 514410.

Throughout the Trinity Term, we will be hosting a number of Taster Events for prospective pupils looking to join Princethorpe in 2025 and beyond.

Year 4 and 5 Say Hello To Hockey
Saturday 11 May 2024 9.30am to 12.00pm

If you'd love to give hockey a try, why not come along to the Princethorpe College 'Year 4 and 5 Say Hello To Hockey' taster session!

This activity is open to children who do not attend a Foundation Prep School.

A morning of free hockey training on our astroturf, you'll learn new skills, make friends and have fun. Aimed at girls and boys, the morning will finish with a mini tournament, beginners most welcome!

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To book your child's place please complete a booking and consent form, for a copy please click here.

Year 5 Taster Days
Tuesday 14 May, Tuesday 11 June, Thursday 13 June and Wednesday 19 June 2024

Aimed at prospective Year 5 pupils, our Taster Days are a great way for your child to really experience Princethorpe during a normal school day.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Please click here to book your child's place at one of our Year 5 Taster Days.

Crackley Hall and Crescent School Year 5 pupils and their parents have already been invited to school specific Taster Days and Parents' Information Sessions in April.

Year 6 Taster Days will be available in September 2024.

For further information on admissions and entry to the College in 2025 visit our school website or speak to the Admissions Team on 01926 634201/297 or by email at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Monday 13 May - 7.00pm to 7.45pm

Parents at all our Foundation schools (excluding Little Crackers) and those with children joining us in September 2024, are invited to an Online Parents’ Forum on Monday 13 May.

We have had a number of queries from parents about the current political climate and potential changes which may affect the independent schools’ sector in the future, and what our plans are in the light of any changes.

This event will specifically cover potential changes, some of which have been highlighted and discussed in the media, including the possible introduction of VAT on school fees.

To access this event on Monday 13 May, please click on this link.

During the live online forum there will be the opportunity to raise questions, but if you would like to submit any queries in advance, please do so by using this short form.

Tuesday 14 May - 5.00pm to 7.00pm

Prospective pupils and their parents are warmly invited to Crescent School's Open Evening on Tuesday 14 May 2024 - 5.00pm to 7.00pm.

Come and find out why Crescent School has been judged 'Excellent in all areas' by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. It's a great opportunity for prospective families to get a feel for the school and to meet, Mr Thackway, Headmaster.

We are already taking registrations for places in Reception and Year 3 starting in September 2025 and beyond. 

To book your place please click here. 

For more information or to talk to our Admissions Team, please contact our Registrar Mrs Becky Witcomb on 01788 523851 or by email admissions@crescentschool.co.uk.

Thursday 16 May 2024 - 7.00pm to 8.30pm

There will be a recital from some of the most talented pupils taking music lessons at Princethorpe College in the Clarkson Theatre on Thursday 16 May at 7.00pm.

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

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

Gil Cowlishaw
Head of Music

Saturday 25 May – Sunday 26 May 2024

The National Schools And Riding Clubs Two Day Event once again takes place on the magnificent Princethorpe estate.

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

This year’s event includes classes at 70cm, 80cm, 900cm and 100cm for school and riding club teams. The best performing school will be awarded the Wigley Cup and ISA member school teams will also compete for ISA rosettes.

The event takes place across the weekend of 25 to 26 May at Princethorpe College, near Rugby, and is backed by local firm The Wigley Group.

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

For more information and or to enter please click here. Entries close Friday 10 May.

Wednesday 5 June - 6.30pm to 8.30pm

The College's annual Summer Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 5 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. This is a perfect opportunity for prospective families looking for a place in September 2025 and beyond to visit the school, for children to take part in departmental activities and for parents to meet and chat to members of staff and pupils.

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

Please click here to book your place. 

Wednesday 26 June 2024

The British Motor Museum is proud to host a special Girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Day on Wednesday 26 June, for pupils in Years 9 and 10. As well as being an inspirational day for female scientists and engineers of the future, it will be an exciting day of immersive and interactive learning in a unique setting, surrounded by an amazing collection of historic British cars.

The day will begin with an exclusive keynote presentation and Q&A with Louise Reynolds, Director of Procurement at Aston Martin, who will share her story as a woman in STEM and her route into her senior role. Pupils will also have the chance to meet racing driver Eliza Seville, winner of Formula Woman 2022, to discover what it takes to be a successful woman in motorsport.

Pupils will enjoy an interactive women in motoring-themed tour, put their engineering skills to the test with some interactive STEM challenges, take control of remote-controlled Jaguar D-types, master Sphero coding ‘bots with our partners the STEM Ambassadors from MoD Kineton and try their hand at a motorsport pit stop challenge.

To continue their learning back at home or school, pupils will also have a goody bag containing two STEM activities including a salt powered car kit to take away.

• The cost will be covered by the Princethorpe College STEAM budget and will be free to pupils.
• To apply, please Teams message or email at danlee@princethorpe.co.uk a maximum of 200 words, outlining why you would like to attend.
• Closing date for applications is Friday 17 May 2024 and places are limited.

Thursday 27 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 30 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

A celebration of our pupils' GCSE and A-level Art, Photography and Design work will take place in the Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 27 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 30 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

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

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

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

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

As we approach the beginning of the examination season, we wanted to provide some final notes about arrangements for Year 11.

Examination Timetables 
Year 11 pupils have already received their examination timetables and know how to view these on My School Portal. These are also visible to parents from the left-hand menu on My School Portal. Roomings will be added closer to the examinations. 
 
Study Leave  
From Friday 3 May, pupils are not required to be on-site except when they have an examination. They may choose whether they work at home, in school or a combination of the two.  
 
Study Leave Registration 
In order to know who is on site at any time, Year 11 pupils will need to sign-in and out of school if arriving/leaving during the school day. For those wishing to leave school after an examination, we would request that they are collected in specified windows so that we can control traffic on the playground during the school day.

• Pupils arriving for a morning examination will be registered in the exam room 
• Pupils arriving to a study room for Period 1 will be registered in the room
• Pupils arriving at any other time of day should sign in at the Pupil Hub
• Pupils leaving after an examination can sign-out on the playground and be collected by parents at the times shown in the table below. 

Parents are not required to sign-out pupils when collecting them, but please do send your child a text when you have arrived so that they can show the Student Hub staff before leaving the premises. Similarly, if your child is being collected by another parent, when leaving school during the day after an exam, please email in advance to attendance@princethorpe.co.uk with the details. 

The May Challenge Calendar is live on the Challenge Curriculum Channel in the Whole School Team.

This month's theme is 'Spring'. There are also activities linked to some key events such as Mental Health Awareness week and Deaf Awareness week, among others. 

Pupils can send photos or files to me via Teams linked to any Challenges completed from the Challenge Curriculum, or directly to Mr O'Hara for this month's DT challenge. Merits are always available for pupils who contribute. 

A link to the challenge can be found here.

Invitations have been sent to parents of Year 11 Pupils and Upper Sixth Students for the year groups Thanksgiving Services, both of which will be followed by a buffet supper.

Event and RSVP dates are as follows:

• Year 11 Thanksgiving Service and Buffet Supper - Wednesday 19 June at 7.00pm. RSVP date Tuesday 11 June
• Upper Sixth Thanksgiving Service and Buffet Supper - Tuesday 25 June at 7.00pm. RSVP date Monday 17 June

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in the College Chapel in the Lent Term 2025. We are waiting for the Bishop to confirm the date.

Confirmation preparation will begin in October 2024. The preparation takes place over the lunch break. There will be four sessions in the Michaelmas Term and four in the Lent Term. Each 20-minute session will be offered twice during the week to avoid clashes with other activities.

If you would like further information, please email marybenham@princethorpe.co.uk.

Tuesday 7 May is the deadline for the Upper Sixth to sign up to Princethorpe Connect to be in with a chance of winning a £25 Amazon Voucher and a magnum of fizz for their table at the Leavers’ Ball on Tuesday 2 July at Warwick House. The winner will be announced on their last day, Friday 10 May.

All the Upper Sixth have been encouraged to join Princethorpe Connect over the last few weeks giving them access to our online alumni network, careers and mentoring advice, the termly OP e-newsletter, and OP Friendly Faces - our initiative to match new undergraduates with OPs at universities around the country. They will also be able to view their Leavers’ Ball photos on the platform after the event.

Any of the Upper Sixth who have yet to join can do so by going to connect.princethorpe.co.uk and creating a profile as an 'Upper Sixth Leaver'.

All the Upper Sixth leavers' profiles will be approved to go live the week commencing Monday 13 May.

Parents of Upper Sixth leavers, for whom this is also their last year in the Foundation, are very welcome to join as a former parent, and can do so be going to connect.princethorpe.co.uk and creating a profile as a 'Former Parent'.

Parents might also like to take a look at the Princethorpe Connect Online Shop and purchase some of our souvenir items which include the OP Tie, Tower Pin, Scarf, Pen and the Soaring Redbrick Tower Fine Art Print. Items will also be available to purchase at the Upper Sixth Thanksgiving Eucharist and Buffet on Tuesday 25 June.

connect.princethorpe.co.uk/shop

As we embark upon the vibrant summer term, we have a multitude of exciting events lined up for our students. Please take note of the following key dates and add them to your calendars to ensure your child's participation and enjoyment in these enriching activities.

Further details regarding each event will be communicated closer to the respective dates but in the meantime if you have any questions or should require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

24/7 Mary's Meals Walk - Sunday 9 June 2024

Continuing our tradition of philanthropy and global citizenship, we are proud to participate in the 24/7 Mary's Meals Walk. This initiative aims to support Mary's Meals in their mission to provide nutritious meals to children in some of the world's poorest communities. By walking together, our students exemplify the values of compassion, empathy, and solidarity.

Key Dates

Wednesday 8 May - PC at the Races

Friday 10 May - Upper Sixth Last Day and study leave commences

Sunday 9 June - 24/7 Mary's Meals Walk

Saturday 15 June - Lower Sixth First Aid Course

Sunday 9 June - 24/7 Mary's Meals Walk

Monday 24 June - Activities Week and Lower Sixth Parent and Student Summer BBQ

Tuesday 25 June - Upper Sixth Eucharist and Lower Sixth UCAS Day at Birmingham NEC

Friday 28 June - Lower Sixth Alton Towers Trip

Sunday 30 June - PTA Summer Fete and 27th Annual Motoring Festival

Monday 1 July - Lower Sixth Make A Difference Day

Tuesday 2 July - Upper Sixth Leavers' Ball and Lower Sixth UCAS Information Day

Ben Collie 
Head of Sixth Form 

A limited number of members of the Lower Sixth will be able to park at school from Thursday 6 June 2024.

To receive permission the Sixth Former must:

• have the consent of their parents and the Head of Sixth Form
• provide their full driving licence and their current insurance certificate and photocopies
• agree to abide by the required Code of Conduct

There is an administration fee of £30 for the provision of a parking permit which provides access to parking, an electronic fob and a parking permit until the end of Upper Sixth. The charge for lost fobs is £18 and for lost discs £2.  Please note that there will be a refund of £10 for electronic fobs returned to the School Shop at the end of Upper Sixth.

Please note that there is a limit to the number of parking permits that can be issued. Permits are issued on a first-come first-served basis but only where the requirements detailed above are met in full.

The forms to apply for a permit are available from the Sixth From Administrators in the Sixth Form Resource Centre. When completed, including the signature of a parent and the Head of Sixth Form, the Sixth Former should take them, together with their full driving licence, (both the card and the paper section - if applicable) and current insurance certificate, plus photocopies, to the School Shop.

Members of the Lower Sixth are welcome to provide the paperwork to the School Shop from the 20 May 2024 but permits will only be issued from Thursday 6 June.

If the contract is broken then the permission to drive to school will be withdrawn by the school. Please note that Sixth Formers park at their own risk and that the school does not accept liability for accidents, damage or loss incurred.

Please note that if a Sixth Former drives to school without a permit they will be given a warning on the first occasion and will be denied parking on the second occasion. We would appreciate the support of parents in this matter, this is so we can discharge our responsibilities to everyone on school premises as well as to individual drivers.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar 

Did you know you can support the Princethorpe PTA online?

Follow, like, and share our social media posts to help us reach a wider audience. The more people who are aware of our fundraising events, the greater impact we can make for the school community! Please see below the links to our social media pages:

Facebook: PTA Princethorpe

Instagram: @princethorpepta

X (Twitter): @PrincethorpePta

Thank you. 

Princethorpe PTA

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.

Are you interested in joining the PTA Committee?

Comprising a dedicated group of volunteer parents and guardians of Princethorpe students, the committee orchestrates and assists in various school events, including the immensely popular Summer Fête and Christmas Fair, aimed at raising funds for projects within the school that enrich the student experience and foster a sense of community.

If you are interested in offering your support or wish to become more actively involved in event planning by joining the committee and attending meetings, please don't hesitate to email us at ptassociation@princethorpe.co.uk.

The Innovation and Adventure Days this year take place during the last week of term on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 July. Normal lessons are suspended and a wide variety of activities are on offer at school and off-site. 

The form for pupils to make their final choices will be emailed to them on Tuesday 7 May. Bookings will then open at 6.00pm and will close 11.00am on Friday 10 May. Activities are offered on a first come, first served basis.    

Some activities attract a charge – this charge will be added to the school bill with parent consent. If you have any queries about the Innovation and Adventure Days, please do not hesitate to contact me at neilmccollin@princethorpe.co.uk.

The presentation given to pupils is attached here. We have some really exciting opportunities and the days will be a great way to end the year.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

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. Please be aware that due to the upcoming exams, Year 11 and Upper Sixth will not be able to attend.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

Pupils are invited to enter the Brilliant Poetry Competition to write a poem (maximum 40 lines) about science. Brilliant Poetry is an international competition that invites people from around the world to express scientific wonder and discovery through verse.

Please see Mrs Lindsay or Mr Lee for more information or advice, the link here or from the STEAM Channel in the Whole School Team.

The deadline for entries is 21 June 2024.

The first Prize is £1000, Second Prize is £500, Third Prize is £250.

Good Luck!

It is always great to be able to share news of pupils' co-curricular successes outside of school.

Six Princethorpe pupils were part of the winning team in the Warwickshire U15s Rugby Cup Final on Sunday 28 April when they played for Broadstreet against Silhillians. Congratulations to Year 10s, Dan Tomlinson, Zach Rose, Harry Gallagher, Leo May, Fintan Bucke and Year 9, Joe Harcourt.

Year 9, Will Harvey had an exciting Easter holidays that included plenty of tennis success. He won the LTA U16 Grade 3 Singles at Ashby Castle, the LTA U14 Grade 3 Doubles at Ashby Castle, the LTA U14 Grade 3 Singles at Sutton Coldfield and the LTA U14 Grade 3 Doubles at Sutton Coldfield.

To top that off and on the basis of his recent form, which has seen him win 27 out of 33 matches this year, he was awarded a wild card for his first Tennis Europe Junior International in Wrexham. That proved to be a fabulous opportunity to play against top players from the UK and abroad. As a result of his success Will has now moved into the UK top 60 for U14 tennis.

A huge well done to all.

There's lots going on in the Library at the moment!

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

Well done to all who completed their practice expedition over the Easter holidays and at the start of the term. The next step is for all participants to plan their qualifying expedition routes. 

Review and Route Planning – Sunday 12 May

Year 9 Bronze: 

The Bronze Review and Route Planning takes place on Sunday 12 May in the Limes.   

Group A - 9.00am-12.00pm    

Group B - 1.00pm-4.00pm  

This important element of the expedition section is mandatory for all participants. Please arrive promptly. Bring a pen, notebook and your DofE folder. You may wear appropriate casual clothing. In the meantime, all participants should aim to log hours, collect evidence and sign off their physical, volunteering and skill sections.

Useful resources can be found on MySchoolPortal here.

Year 10 Silver:   

The Silver Review and Route Planning takes place on Sunday 12 May in the Limes.  

Groups 1, 2 and 3 - 9.00am-12.00pm    

Groups 4, 5 and 6 - 1.00pm-4.00pm  

This important element of the expedition section is mandatory for all participants. Please arrive promptly. Bring a pen, notebook and your DofE folder. You may wear appropriate casual clothing. In the meantime, please continue to log hours, collect evidence and sign off your physical, volunteering and skill sections.

Useful resources can be found on MySchoolPortal here.

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education - DofE Manager

The Princethorpe Foundation welcomes Gurvinder, who joins the IT Team as Digital Transformation Leader. Gurvinder brings a wealth of experience, having worked in IT roles for nearly 20 years.

Gurvinder has most recently worked in the fast pace of the retail industry as a Business Analyst, where he delivered a number of large IT development and transformation projects.

In his spare time he is a keen family man with a young toddler to keep him busy and provide a good work life balance.

• Adhere strictly to the speed limits and instructions given by College staff
• Never hold or use a mobile phone whilst driving
• Park in designated areas and never on double yellow lines
• Stop for pedestrians wishing to cross at designated crossing points
• Ensure that pupils only exit or enter cars when safely parked in designated areas
• Music should be kept to a minimum level
• Be patient, kind and courteous 

• Pupils arriving to school at the normal time can be dropped off in the area adjacent to the pupils’ entrance. Please note, this is for quick drop-offs only. Should you need more time or have to wait, please use the main playground area instead.
• The playground is closed to traffic from 9.00am to 3.30pm. Parents arriving within this period are asked to park in the ‘Short Stay’ parking (yellow hatched area between Reception and the Roundhouse) and go to Reception or the Student Hub.
• If you are collecting your child at the end of the day, please avoid arriving before 3.00pm. If you are queueing, please keep yellow hatched areas by the main gates clear to enable our Estates Team or Emergency vehicles access.
• Sixth Form parking is available only to those issued with permits. A designated Sixth Form car park has been provided next to the sports field. Permit holders must park in their designated space as issued by Mr Collie.
• Should you require access to the Student Hub, please park in the Short Stay parking area next to Goods In and follow the pedestrian Theatre Entrance sign.

• Parking on site is very restricted. If you are wishing to attend the College to watch sport, please use visitor, short stay or overflow parking however, we cannot guarantee this will always be available.
• We encourage drivers to turn off their engines whilst waiting to reduce pollution.
• The whole site is non-smoking/vaping and dogs must be kept on leads.

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.

Please find below the Term Dates for 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.

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

2025-2026 (two page document)

Please see below our current vacancies:

Princethorpe Foundation

• Head of Business Services

Princethorpe College

• Assistant Registrar
• Science Technician
• Events Co-ordinator
• Minibus Driver

Full details and how to apply are available via the following link: Join Us

Should you know anyone who might be interested in these posts, please do share this information with them.