The Flagpole

Many thanks to all of you who attended the Foundation Parents’ Online Forum on Monday 13 May. We had over 260 families join us, which was really encouraging. We know that many of you may have been unable to attend for logistical reasons and so have made a recording of the forum available to you via the Parent Portal. 
 
The evening focused on some potential political and economic changes in the future, and I am grateful for the positive feedback we have had from parents. There were a number of specific questions submitted on the evening, which we were able to answer, however time constraints meant we were not able to answer them all during the live event, so we have also put the full questions and answers on the Parent Portal. 

Click here to login to the Portal and access the recording and Q and A.
 
If you have any further related questions or queries, please do send them through by using this link and if you want further information on the Fees in Advance Scheme, please see the information on our website here. 
 
With all best wishes.

E D Hester

The sun finally arrived last week, and it was great to see our cricket and athletics teams having an opportunity to compete in drier conditions. We have hosted a few visitors during the past week and the first impressions of Princethorpe in the sunshine never fails to impress – the cows and sheep up the drive definitely helped!

On Monday night, Ed Hester hosted a Foundation Online Parents’ Form. During the presentation he covered various strategic aspects related to the Foundation. However, he also spoke about the “headwinds” we may be facing next year as an independent school. The feedback we have received thus far has been very good and I suggest you have a look at the recording if you have not done so already. As ever, we welcome any feedback or questions you may have.

Next week is internal exam week when the rest of the College will have an opportunity to take stock of their work throughout the year. I always remind pupils and parents that these exams are important as they are a measure we can use to mark progress, identify areas that may need improvement, refine help or support already in place, and further inform future subject choices for example. However, they are not the only measure of success, and they should not be seen as an end goal. They serve a purpose in various ways, and we do not view them as simply having a pass or fail outcome. We expect every pupil to do their very best and ask for nothing more. As with most things in life, effort matters a lot more, as it ensures good habits and a work ethic needed for when the formal external exams arrive.

Part of what makes Princethorpe stand out is the broad range of trips and visits on offer. I am amazed at all the destinations we visit, and I have no doubt of the value it adds to the experiences and development of our pupils. When planning trips, we must consider a multitude of factors which include staff availability, timings, wider impact on lessons, availability of venues, educational impact, accessibility to the pupils, and cost. Unfortunately, this does narrow down the optimum windows for trips to October half term and Easter. The IAD days at the end of the academic year also work very well for trips. Because of this, we will have several trips going out at the same time which may be open to the same year group. It is not possible or expected of any pupil to be able to attend all trips on offer which means they will need to make a choice at some point which will be hard. Please rest assured that we do spend hours in planning the calendar and scheduling trips – every visit is scheduled to ensure it is as accessible as possible. We are going to change how parents sign up for trips to prevent the “6.00pm opening rush” and disappointment. We are also changing our trips to accommodate as many pupils as possible. Again, this may not always be possible, and disappointment will be part of the experience. Recently, a few parents have reached out about the clash of trips hence my explanation. If you do have any comments or questions, please get in touch and I would be happy to discuss.

Finally, I won’t be writing to you again before half-term, so I wish you a good break before we hit the home stretch. We will be hosting our annual National Schools' Two Day Equestrian Event next weekend and everyone is welcome to enter or spectate – it is always a wonderful event.

With best wishes

Grove du Toit
Headmaster

Princethorpe College is delighted to be partnering with Team Super Sports to offer Holiday Camps to children aged 5 to 16 years for six weeks this July and August. 
 
The initiative is part of the Foundation’s new Commercial Enterprise activity aimed at generating additional sources of income and is in response to feedback and demand from parents. 
 
The Summer Holiday Camps will run from 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday from 15 July to 23 August and are open to all. They will offer a wide variety of sporting activities, taking advantage of the College’s extensive grounds and sporting facilities. Youngsters aged 7 to 16 can take their pick of rugby, cricket, football, gymnastics, netball, hockey and tennis and create their very own sports camp. In addition to sports, dance and games there will also be optional arts and crafts activities for younger children aged 5 to 7. 
 
Comments, Gemma Cullinane, Princethorpe Commercial Enterprise Manager, “Team Super Sports are an experienced provider of sport and multi-activity holiday camps with a fantastic reputation for top-level coaching for children of all abilities. We are very excited to be joining forces with them for the first of many holiday camps to come. 
 
Dan Super, Founder of Team Super Sports, added, “Princethorpe’s beautiful campus is the perfect setting for a holiday camp. We are expecting it to be a very popular choice for many families in the local area.” 
 
For more information and to book your child’s place simply visit the Team Super Sports website here. The camps are priced at £37 a day. Bookings before the early bird deadline of Sunday 9 June attract an extra 10% discount and there are further discounts available for siblings and four and five-day bookings. Childcare vouchers are also accepted. 
 
Team Super Sports will be on hand at the College’s Open Evening on Wednesday 5 June and at Induction Day on Wednesday 26 June to answer any questions families may have or you can contact them at info@teamsupersports.co.uk or call 01675 448494. 
 
Crackley Hall’s Holiday Club will continue to run as normal. 

We have just heard that Season 3 of The Sister Boniface Mysteries, the spin-off of the popular Father Brown series, will be aired on UKTV’s Drama channel from Friday 7 June.

The show follows the adventures of Sister Boniface, a Vespa-driving, crime solving, Cotswold-dwelling nun and scenes from the murder mystery were filmed at Princethorpe last summer holidays. According to UKTV this latest series includes the story of a famous organist murdered mid tune in the Chapel (we wonder where that might be) as well as story lines of mysterious kidnappings and stolen precious jewels.

UKTV Drama’s channel can be found on Sky on channel 143, Virgin on channel 130, Freeview on channel 20 and Freesat on channel 158.

We can’t wait to see Princethorpe transported back in time.

18 Princethorpians were invited to Buckingham Palace in London to recognise their achievement of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award. Across four very special events, they joined thousands of young people and their families celebrating their success.

Many were invited on Friday 10 May, when the charity’s Patron, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, a Gold Award achiever himself, congratulated all who had completed the challenging award, commending them on their perseverance, creativity and resilience.

Head of Outdoor Education, Will Bower, commented, “Completing your Gold Duke of Edinburgh takes real commitment and resolve, and the skills developed along the way benefit both the individual and their local community. All of these young people showed dedication and perseverance and their final expedition to Buckingham Palace is a really wonderful reward.”

Receiving their Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award in ceremonies this year are: Amberquay Alford, Joshua Apaya, Dawson Barnett, Frederick Boyd, Thomas Dodsley, Eve Farquharson, Eloise Gray, Molly Harper, Ruby Harris, Evie Headland, Harry Hewitt, Lucy Hurworth, Noah Kemp, Niall Meades, Rahul Samra, Edward Sharpe, Tom Spencer and Charlotte Wildey.

We look forward to news of further awards presentations and don’t forget that the maximum age limit for completing your awards is 25 years.

At the end of April, Princethorpe College took a team of golfers to compete in the Warwickshire Schools Boys Amateur Championships at Coventry Hearsall Golf Club. It was the first competition for Princethorpe’s golf team, although the boys all play regularly outside of school.

Princethorpe finished fourth, an excellent result for the school on its first time out. Year 9, James Sinclair fended off stiff competition to finish individually second overall (across all age categories). While, Year 7, Isaac Fisher was 9th, Year 10, Oscar Robbins 10th, Year 8, Bobby Emmerson 29th and Year 9 Theo Clegg 34th.

Princethorpe has been offering pupils co-curricular golf sessions after school on a Friday for several years so, it was fantastic to offer the boys the opportunity to play in a schools’ competition.

Princethorpe’s team impressed us all, and we are now looking for more competitions for them to enter. It is great to have pupils representing Princethorpe in yet another sport.

Over 30 Princethorpe pupils performed at Thursday night's Peripatetic Recital Evening. The Clarkson was packed out with supportive friends and family to watch a broad range of performances on piano, woodwind, strings, brass, guitar and drums. Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, was thrilled to see so many pupils performing, saying, "There were some phenomenal performances tonight from some of our most experienced performers, and also very excitingly, there were some pupils performing for the very first time, at the start of their musical journey." As well as soloists, there were also some chamber music performances, with pupils on different instruments brought together by their peripatetic instrumental teachers. The evening came to a close with a stunning performance from music scholar Henry Corbin, after which Mr Cowlishaw encouraged a final show of appreciation for all the pupil performers and pupil theatre technicians.

If you would like more information about peripatetic music lessons, please contact our Peripatetic Co-ordinator for Music and LAMDA, Felicity Coulson at felicitycoulson@princethorpe.co.uk

House Bake Off is always a popular competition and this year we had another tantalising display of 26 creative entries. The ‘Sounds of the Summer’ theme producing an incredible array of cakes with festival camps, records and even beach themed bakes featuring among the many different designs.

At lunchtime on Wednesday 15 May, Miss O’Gorman, Mr Cowlishaw, Mrs Wilford and Mme Galano, with support from expert judge Ms Scott, took on the arduous job of judging all the entries, considering taste, decoration and relevance to the theme. Staff and pupils had crowded in at break time to admire all the amazing cakes and vote for their favourites.

House Activities Leader, Meg O’Gorman, said, “Our House bakers are just incredible, the effort and creativity put into making these cakes was fantastic. House Bake Off is always a super competition. Well done to everyone who took part.”

The results were:

Pupil Decoration

1st Harriet Reynolds (Fisher)
2nd Luke Foster (Austin)
3rd Robyn Shaw (Fisher)

Staff Decoration

1st Mrs Cowan (Benet)
2nd Ms Roberts (Benet)
3rd Ms Scott (More)

Taste

=1st Lauren Dent (Benet)
=1st Mrs White (Benet)
2nd Bella Cunnington (Austin)
3rd Amy Flegg and Hannah Atkinson (Austin)

All entries earned were awarded house-points and the final House placings were:

1st Benet
2nd Austin
3rd Fisher
4th More

This year's OPs Bluebells and Brunch was a real family affair, with past pupils accompanied by spouses, partners, their parents, children, a bump (and even the odd pet pooch!). It was a real pleasure to have past pupils attending from the very earliest days of the College right up to a leaver of 2023.

All enjoyed a friendly catch up with former and current staff over a delicious brunch, a tour of the school, including spotting themselves in the whole school photos, followed by a leisurely stroll around the Mile Walk. To top it all, the weather couldn't have been kinder to us!

All former pupils, staff and parents are welcome to attend our alumni events, find out more on Princethorpe Connect.

Princethorpe’s U10s football tournament was well attended with eight teams from local primary schools taking part. The youngsters all more than delighted to play friendly 5-aside football on the College’s astro-turf.

Primary School Sport Liaison Teacher, Ellie Callan, masterminded the event which had all the teams out on four pitches playing a round robin of 12-minute, one-way matches.  Refereed by Princethorpe Sixth Formers, Lottie Hunter, Jacob Iley, Blessing Katanda, Vincent McNevin and Oscar Reynolds, the mixed teams of girls and boys threw themselves into each game enjoying the opportunity of putting their skills into practice in a competitive environment.  

The coaches gave good side line support shouting advice to their players whose enthusiasm was clear to see. Matches were fast paced and the teams focused. The ball was moved skilfully up and down the pitch and there were some excellent shots at goal.

Congratulations go to overall winners Crescent School who were unbeaten throughout, playing smart, quick and skilful football. Well done also to runners up Grange Farm Primary School and to Milverton Primary School who finished third.

Miss Callan enjoyed seeing all the talent on display, saying “I thought the event was a real success. It was lovely to see the children having so much fun; they all deserve huge congratulations for their energy and enthusiasm.”

Taking part in the tournament this year were teams from Bilton CofE Junior School, Crackley Hall School, Crescent School, Dunchurch Boughton CofE Junior School, Grange Farm Primary School, Knightlow CofE Primary School, Milverton Primary School and Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School.

Our thanks go to all of the staff and pupils involved in the organising and running of the tournament and to the many parents who turned up to support the children.

Princethorpe welcomed OP Tesni Shemilt (Class of 2016) to school on Wednesday 8 May to talk to Year 10 about life as a prison officer and its challenges and rewards. Year 10 study ‘Good and Evil’ in their module on Religious, Philosophical and Ethical Studies in the Modern World in their Religious Studies GCSE.

Tesni last visited Princethorpe on her A-level results day so, before her talk, Head of Religious Studies, Cyp Vella, gave her a quick tour of the College to bring back memories of her school days.

Tesni told Year 10 about her journey to becoming a prison officer and then talked about the skills she needs to do the job and the challenges she faces. She spoke about being a key worker and problem solver and her work to support and help the inmates she works with break the cycle of reoffending.

Tesni gave Year 10 plenty to think about and reflect on as they study the concepts of good and evil and we thank her for delivering such an interesting and informative session. It was great to welcome her back to Princethorpe and to hear all about her career.

College athletes put in super performances in the first round of the English School Track and Field Cup to claim top spot in the Junior Girls competition. The Inter Girls did nearly as well finishing second overall, while the Junior Boys finished third and the Inter Boys team was sixth. The event took place at Rugby Athletics Track on Tuesday 7 May with teams from 13 local independent and state schools taking part.

The English Schools Track and Field Cup is a competition for school teams, pupils score points based on their individual performances, with their scores contributing to the team total. It’s all about the combined team effort and Princethorpe’s athletes certainly performed, a testament to the strength of sports here at the school!

The Junior Girls (Years 7 and 8) delivered a high scoring performance. Their best results came from Ellie Gane who ran the 800m in 2.42.4 minutes to earn 23 points, while Issey Cleary and Dami Ajagunna earned 20 points each for their respective performances, running the 1500m in 5.58.7 minutes and jumping 1.38m in the High Jump. The 10-strong Junior Girls team amassed an overall score of 318 points to claim their first place.

Then for the Junior Boys, their top scores came in the 1500m. James Bostock ran 5.01.6 minutes earning 21 points while Isaac Fowle finished just behind in 5.07.3 minutes to earn another 20 points. The 14-strong boys team together earned Princethorpe 286 points and a third-place team finish.

For the Inter Girls (Years 9 and 10) Grace McCollin was outstanding in the Hurdles, finishing in 12 seconds and scoring 27 points and then earning a further 20 points jumping 1.47m in the High Jump. Lily Hunter did not disappoint earning 24 points after a super 5.16.1 minute run in the 1500m, while Penelope Jones ran the Hurdles in 12.7 seconds to earn 23 points and Lauren Tebbatt threw 25.21m in the Javelin to earn another 20 points. Super performances across all the events by the 13-strong team accumulated a final overall total of 358 points and a second-place team finish.

Best point scorer for the Inter Boys was Will Smith who collected 19 points for a 4.55 minute run in the 1500m. Together the team amassed a score of 303 points to finish sixth overall.

Director of Sport, Lee Cassell, said, “It was a very good day for Princethorpe with outstanding performances across the school years. Everyone worked hard for their team, showing determination and resilience as every single point counted. We look forward to seeing the Junior Girls compete in the regional finals.”

On Saturday 11 May, Princethorpe College hosted its popular ‘Say Hello to Hockey’ taster session. In glorious sunshine, pupils from local primary schools, enjoyed a fun introduction to this exciting field game.

Rotating through different training drills, the children learned about the key skills of dribbling, passing, tackling and shooting. They quickly got to grips with the fast-paced sport and the morning finished with a mini-tournament in front of a crowd of enthusiastic parents.

Princethorpe College Games Teacher, Rachael Mack, was impressed at how well the children took to the sport commenting, “Some children were nervous at the beginning, having never been to Princethorpe or ever held a hockey stick before but everyone soon settled, and they were all chatting like old friends by the end of the morning. They progressed enormously and the standard of hockey played in the mini-tournament was really very good.”

At the end of the session, Princethorpe’s Headmaster, Grove du Toit, spoke to the children and their parents before everyone was sent on their way clutching a legendary Princethorpe cookie.

A big thank you to all the staff and Sixth Formers who gave up their morning to run the event.

Following on from a super visit to Sixth Form earlier this term, on Tuesday 14 May Loudmouth Education and Training Theatre Company visited Year 10 pupils in their PSHE Lesson. Through a series of excellent drama performances, they educated the pupils about the risks of exploitation and grooming, and of county lines and knife crime. The pupils responded positively to the performances, engaging in a question-and-answer session afterwards with the actors, who stayed in character to talk further about their experiences. The session also raised awareness of the wide range of further information and places of support which are available. These are listed here on the pupil pages of the Loudmouth website.

As part of their Science studies, Year 10 were visited by Beth Parker from Severn Trent Water’s Education Team on Monday 12 May. Beth spoke to pupils on the Science of Sewers, taking Year 10 through the water cycle and explaining the journey water makes to and from our homes.

As well as explaining how Severn Trent deliver fresh clean water to our taps, pupils also discovered how dirty water is treated and recycled and some of the problems and strange items that Severn Trent regularly encounter in the sewers (everything from mobiles to false teeth).

She also shared how Severn Trent’s sludge scientists and their sustainability work is helping to harness the power of poo.

The enrichment talk supports pupils’ studies on potable water, one of the topics they cover in their AQA GCSE Chemistry studies.

Beth also spoke about career opportunities at Severn Trent, including apprenticeships and graduate placements and encouraged pupils to visit the Severn Trent website to find out more.

Many thanks to Severn Trent and to Beth for delivering such a fascinating session.

Saturday 25 May and Sunday 26 May 2024

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

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 two day 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 and spectators are most welcome to come along and enjoy a wonderful weekend of exciting equestrian sport.

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. 

Tuesday 11 June and Wednesday 19 June 2024

We have a limited number of places available at our last remaining Year 5 Taster Days aimed at prospective pupils looking to join Princethorpe in 2025.

The 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.

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.

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 today, Friday 17 May 2024 and places are limited.

Sunday 30 June 2024 - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

Our Summer Fête is fast approaching and we are planning lots of fun activities and entertainment for all ages, plus our ever-popular shopping village with a fabulous array of stalls.

This year, there will be the traditional selection of school supported charity stalls and external stalls selling a range of high-quality crafts, cakes and jewellery and we will also be welcoming “Alpaca Pals”, an opportunity to get up close and personal with these gorgeous animals. We will be firing up the BBQ, and for those of you who find days like this thirsty work we will be providing a tempting selection of drinks in the refreshment tent, including gin, prosecco, pimms, beer and soft drinks. The Motoring Festival will be celebrating its 27th year and there will be the traditional stunning display of vehicles for visitors to admire.

As in previous years, the Princethorpe Summer Art, Photography and Design Show will be open to all our visitors in the Sixth Form Centre - please do go and have a look, the talent of our GCSE and A-level pupils is always amazing.

One of the highlights of this event is the Princethorpe Raffle, featuring fantastic prizes generously donated by local businesses and stall holders, all presented by Mr du Toit on the day. In a new approach this year, raffle books are colour-coded with school house colours, incentivising sales with house points. Each pupil will have already received two books distributed by form tutors, with additional tickets available from the Pupil Hub. All sold ticket stubs and cash should be returned to the student hub, where house points will be calculated and awarded accordingly. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Our popular Bottle Tombola, Water to Wine and Pre-Loved Princethorpe Uniform stalls rely on your generous donations of bottles so please dig deep (or peer into the back of the cupboard) and send your donations in to the Pupil Hub by the morning of Friday 28 June. Please ensure pre-loved uniform is clean and still has some wear in it. 

We rely heavily on the PTA volunteers to run this event and we are always on the lookout for more helpers, so if you can assist in any way on the day, even for half an hour, we would really like to hear from you! Please email us at ptassociation@princethorpe.co.uk to register your interest.

We do hope that you are able to come along to support this fun, family event and share in the special atmosphere at Princethorpe.

Many thanks

The English Department is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair from Thursday 6 to Wednesday 12 June 2024.

An exciting range of books, suitable for KS3 pupils, will be available at discounted prices. The Book Fair will be situated in The Limes and pupils are very welcome to browse the selection at lunchtime.

English Department 

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.

Lord God, over the coming weeks I will be tested in so many subjects. My revision timetable is planned and my notes are in the best order I can put them in. Help me to focus on the topics I am weak in and feel a sense of achievement after my revision periods.

As I enter the exam room calm my anxieties and fears and give me peace and clarity of thought.  Prompt me to remember the things I have studied and to express my thoughts and ideas precisely.

And when all my exams are completed give me the joy of knowing that I did my best to achieve my goal. 

I make this my prayer through Christ my Lord. 

Amen.

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.

As the end of the half term approaches, it brings with it a sense of anticipation and excitement, especially for our Upper Sixth and Lower Sixth students who are about to embark on their exam journeys. We understand the dedication, hard work, and perseverance our students have put into their studies, and we want to take a moment to acknowledge and support them during this pivotal time.

To Our Upper Sixth Students;

You have reached a significant milestone in your educational journey. The exams you are about to undertake are not just a culmination of your year of learning but also a stepping stone to the future opportunities that await you next year. We are immensely proud of your resiliance and determination, especially considering the unique challenges you have faced.

Remember, while exams are important, they do not define your worth or potential. Trust in your preparation, stay calm, and approach each paper with confidence. You have the support of your teachers, family, and friends, cheering you on every step of the way. Whatever the outcome, know that you have already achieved so much, and the experiences and knowledge you have gained will carry you forward to success.

To Our Lower Sixth Students;

As you prepare for your internal exams next week, this is your time to demonstrate what you have learned and to set a strong foundation for your final year. These exams are an opportunity to reflect on your progress and identify areas for growth. They are also a chance to build confidence and test strategies that will serve you well in the future.

Stay focused and organised, and make sure to balance your study with breaks to keep your mind fresh. Use the resources and support systems available to you, whether it's seeking help from your teachers or forming study groups with your peers. Remember, this is not just about grades, but about understanding and mastering the material that will be crucial for your Upper Sixth year.

To All Our Parents;

Your unwavering support plays a crucial role in your children's success. Encouraging them, providing a conducive study environment, and understanding their needs during this stressful period can make a significant difference. Together, we can help them navigate this challenging time with confidence and poise.

As we approach the exam period, let's all extend our best wishes to our Upper Sixth and Lower Sixth students. We are confident that their hard work and dedication will shine through. Good luck to each and every one of them!

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.

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.

If you have any questions or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Key Dates

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

Saturday 15 June - Lower Sixth First Aid Course

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 (MAD) Day

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

Ben Collie 
Head of Sixth Form 

Progress Reports for the Lower Sixth will be published on Friday 7 June, and will be available to view on My School Portal.  

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

Wednesday 12 June 2024

The Lower Sixth Subject Progress Evening will take place on Wednesday 12 June from 5.00pm to 8.30pm. The evening will be conducted online using SchoolCloud. Details of how to book appointments will be emailed week commencing Monday 3 June 2024

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.

Upper Sixth Former, Carys Nicolle, is the lucky winner of the College’s Upper Sixth Leavers' Princethorpe Connect Prize Draw, winning a £25 Amazon Voucher and a Magnum Of Fizz for her table at the Leavers’ Ball on Tuesday 2 July at Warwick House, Southam.

All the Upper Sixth were 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 going live next week.

Parents of Upper Sixth leavers, for whom this is their last year in the Foundation, are also 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

Wishing all our Upper Sixth leavers well as they complete their time at Princethorpe College and begin their journey as an Old Princethorpian. Good luck to them all in their exams and do please keep in touch, we always love to hear how you are doing.

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.

Qualifying Expeditions

The qualifying expeditions are fast approaching after the half term break. I would like to encourage all to consider completing some walks with a rucksack over the next few weeks to further prepare for the physical demands of the trip. In addition, please could all participants continue to log hours and sign off their physical, volunteering and skills sections. I am delighted to see the quality of the evidence and assessor reports being uploaded onto the eDofE website. Any pupils requiring help with this element should please attend the weekly DofE clinic, 1.05pm on Tuesday lunchtime in LG02. Useful resources can be found on MySchoolPortal here.

Bronze

Pupils have a pre-trip meeting scheduled on Wednesday 5 June at tutor time, in the Clarkson theatre. Following this, full final expedition details will be distributed via email.

Group A – Cotswolds - Friday 21 June, 7.30am – Saturday 22 June, 5.00pm.

Group B – Cotswolds - Sunday 23 June, 7.30am – Monday 24 June, 5.00pm.

Silver

Thank you to pupils for attending the qualifying expedition assembly on Friday. I will send an email to you early next week with the presentation confirming full final details for the trip. 

Good luck in your preparations.

Peak District – Dark Peak - Thursday 6 June, 6.30am – Saturday 8 June, 6.00pm.

Individual kit will be handed out on Monday 3 June at 3.45pm in the Limes Atrium.

Gold

Pupils have a pre-trip meeting scheduled on Friday 14 June at tutor time, in the Clarkson theatre. Following this full final details will be distributed via email.

Snowdonia – Friday 28 June 9.00am – Tuesday 2 July, 9.00pm.

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education - DofE Manager

Warwickshire Libraries are looking for young people who are outgoing and love talking about reading to volunteer for the Summer Reading Challenge.

Follow these links to view the job description and submit your application. 

Job Description 

Application Form

The closing date for applications is 31 May 2024.

Year 10 pupil, Arun Bilkhu, has been developing his engineering skills and interest in mechanics by spending his spare time restoring a 1993 Mercedes 190e car.

Arun has spent hours bringing the old car back to life and this resulted in him being the youngest finalist in the Pride of Ownership category at the NEC Classic Car and Restoration Show, which took place back in April. Arun was interviewed by lots of people about his work on the car including with an American TV station and met experts and presenters from the car industry such as Ant Anstead, pictured with Arun and his car here.  

Arun commented that:

‘The car arrived at our house from Glasgow on a trailer. We were shocked by the condition of it. It wasn't what we thought we bought, as the condition of the paint was terrible and needed full paint restoration. My dad was very tempted to sell it and get rid of it but I stopped him from doing that as I thought it would be a good investment and hobby for me and him. Ever since then I have done all the work on the car such as paint restoration, new parts for the engine and keeping it in good condition.’

What a fantastic experience for Arun, we are all very impressed!  

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 sports successes outside of school.

Many congratulations to Year 8 Issey Cleary and Year 9 Charlotte Gower on successful outings at the recent West Midlands Summer Championships. Issey swam personal bests to win Gold in the 100m and 50m Breaststroke events and Silver in the 50m Butterfly. She also finished 4th in the 200m Breaststroke and fifth in the 50m and 100m Freestyle, setting club and West Midland records along the way. While Charlotte swam superbly and brought home a bucketful of medals, one Gold, three Silver and two Bronze medals. Both girls are on course to qualify for the invitation only British Summer Championships and the Swim England Summer Nationals, which take place at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Pool in July. A huge well done to Issey and Charlotte we are incredibly proud of you.

Then, seven Princethorpe pupils were part of the winning team on the Broadstreet Tour, winning all four of their games to be U15 tour champions. They beat Salisbury in the semi-finals and Canterbury in the finals at Ivybridge Rugby Club in Devon for a fantastic end to their season. Congratulations to Year 10s, Dan Tomlinson, Zach Rose, Harry Gallagher, Leo May, Fintan Bucke, Will Colledge and Year 9, Joe Harcourt. 

Year 7, Will Shaw, was sailing his Optimist dinghy over the Bank Holiday weekend at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, at the National Optimist Selection Trials. Will was the only Oppie from the Midland’s to qualify for this national sailing event, which comprised 75 boats from all over the UK who raced over four days, and ten races across the weekend.

Will finished 25th overall in a fleet of 75 boats, finishing the final race of the weekend in an amazing 3rd place. This was the qualifying event for the Optimist GBR team for 2024 and Will is now waiting to hear if he has a place on the GBR Oppie team in 2024. A huge well done to Will!

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

• 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.

Please note that half a term's notice is required if a pupil no longer needs to use the bus service provided by the school.

Parents wishing to give notice should contact Vectare by email at princethorpe@vectare.co.uk.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

Current bus users (who have not given notice by this half term or who are not leaving the school this summer) will shortly be receiving an email from Vectare inviting them to make their booking for 2024-2025.

Bus passes are booked on an annual basis and are invoiced termly, starting with the Michaelmas Term fees. Payment must be made by the start of each term in order to guarantee the place.

Those wishing to book a new single or return bus pass will be able to do so from later in the Trinity Term and the date will be advised after half term.

Ad hoc journeys for the next academic year will be available to book from the bus website from the end of the summer holidays. All ad hoc users must pre-book a seat to travel. A £10 penalty fare will be charged per journey for those who fail to do so.

Should you have any queries please email princethorpe@vectare.co.uk.

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.

We will be sending out emails within the next few weeks regarding instructions for returning textbooks, locker keys and fobs.

Please see below our current vacancies:

Princethorpe College

• Events Co-ordinator
• Minibus Driver

Crackley Hall

• Class Teacher (maternity cover)
• Teaching Assistant

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.