The Flagpole

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