The Flagpole

Princethorpe Lower Sixth Former, Theo Sparkes has been awarded an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship. The accolade, which comes from The Smallpeice Trust, the UK’s leading STEM Education Charity, is the most prestigious scholarship of its type in the UK. The scholarships support high calibre students while they study for their A-levels, inspiring and encouraging them to pursue careers in the fields of engineering, computing and technical design.

The scholarships are awarded to students through a rigorous selection process, Head of Design and Technology, Paul Scopes, explains, “Arkwright Scholarships are extremely competitive and are the premier award for any student looking to pursue a future in the field of engineering. Pupils are nominated by their teachers, and submit an application focused on their engineering activities, interests and future plans. Applicants then take an examination where their problem-solving skills and engineering potential are put to the test and if successful, they take part in a rigorous interview with a panel of Engineers.

Paul continues, “Theo is currently studying A-level Product Design, Maths, Physics and Computer Science. He should feel rightly proud to have emerged from this process with a Sponsored Arkwright Scholarship with the Parker Foundation based in Birmingham. Theo has always been a driven young man, and the award recognises the design and engineering activities he has participated in, both in and outside of school. The College was delighted to support Theo in his application and very pleased to see his success. He has a bright future ahead of him and it really is a pleasure to teach him.”

Those lucky enough to be awarded a sponsored scholarship, receive a financial award and the support of a mentor who works with them throughout their time in Sixth Form. They are also given the opportunity to take part in courses and events for Arkwright Scholars. They benefit from networking opportunities with like-minded students, gain confidence and knowledge in their subjects and often relevant work experience. They are ideally positioned to pursue Engineering, Computing or Technical Design at university or a higher-level apprenticeship before moving into industry to progress their career.

On receiving the news, Theo said, “These scholarships are one of a kind for people who are interested in engineering. The opportunities it provides will help me develop my skills and interests as I work towards my future career. I felt really pleased and proud when I heard the news that I had received the award, and I am looking forward to working with my mentor over the coming years.”

Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie, comments, “Arkwright Scholarships are highly sought after as they provide exceptional support. Pupils who successfully obtain an award have access to unparalleled opportunities. Arkwright Engineering Scholars achieve excellent academic success and are known to make enviable career progress. Theo has done incredibly well to receive this accolade, and we congratulate him on his success.”

More information on the Arkwright Scholarship is available at www.arkwright.org.uk

Friday 27 September 2024

Those wishing to register for Entrance Examinations should do so by the deadline of Friday 27 September please, to allow for the processing of the application and to facilitate the gathering of confidential references from junior schools.

More information on the admissions process can be found in the recently published Admissions Update newsletter here or on the Foundation website here.

You can register for the Entrance Examinations by filling out our online registration form here. 

Entrance Examinations for Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 will take place on Saturday 9 November 2024 from 9.00am to 3.30pm. More information is available in our 2025 Admissions and Entrance Examinations Booklet available on our website, click here.

Congratulations to our Sixth Form Chemistry students awarded certificates in this year’s Cambridge Chemistry Challenge. Designed to stretch and challenge students studying A-level Chemistry, the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge takes students significantly beyond the syllabus and encourages them to think about science in the way they would at university.

Our Lower Sixth Form Chemists took part in the competition back in June. They had prepared themselves by taking part in the weekly Cambridge Chemistry Challenge co-curricular club, developing their critical problem-solving skills and creative thinking, and putting to the test their knowledge of chemistry in real-world situations.

All the students who took part achieved a certificate. Special mentions go to Louise Gambling who was awarded a Silver certificate, and Charlotte Gledhill, Hamish O'Brien, Joe Jaimon Jacob, Sammie Borland, and Tom Windley who were all awarded Copper certificates. All our College Chemists faced tough national competition, and we congratulate them all on the resilience they demonstrated.

The latest issue of the Pinnacle has just been published, showcasing yet more of our pupils' excellent work. The Pinnacle has always celebrated our pupils at their best and this edition includes plenty more examples of their outstanding efforts; their dedication, hard work and commitment to their studies, inside and outside the classroom, clear to see.

This bumper edition is a testament to the talent that thrives within our community. Why not explore complex engineering challenges, fabulous French weather forecasts, solving the Rubik's Cube, our Art Scholars Competition, poetry for Women's History Month and an examination of the effects of smoking.

You can download a copy of The Pinnacle to read here and it is also available on our school website here.

Princethorpe’s Lower Sixth students put their culinary skills under the spotlight when they took on the House Ready Steady Cook challenge.

Always a popular event, held at the start of the academic year, this year's competition took place at lunchtime on Thursday 12 September. Teams of four Sixth Formers donned their aprons and lined up to prepare a student staple in the Food Technology suite.

The teams were presented with a set of ingredients and challenged to produce a risotto in just 25 minutes. What’s more they had to cook, clean and tidy their workstation before presenting their dish. There were knives chopping, spoons stirring and pans sizzling as the House teams went to work. Onlookers encouraged from the side as the judges, led by expert judge Ms Scott, surveyed the proceedings.

The finished plates of food were lined up along the counter and, under the watchful eyes of the competitors and their supporters, the judges carefully taste-tested the dishes. The results were close with just a few points separating all. This year first place went to More, closely followed by Fisher and then Benet and Austin.

Huge thanks to all of the competitors for their enthusiastic efforts, to our judges who braved the tasting and to the House teams for organising and supporting the event.

We are thrilled to report that our smallholding initiative is well on its way. Thanks to the incredible support of our Princethorpe community and beyond, we have raised £40,000 towards our £50,000 goal!

A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed. Your generosity has been pivotal in getting us this far, and we are deeply grateful for your support.

Our team has made significant strides: the location for the smallholding has been identified, and our dedicated 'Smallholding Working Group' is working hard to integrate the project with our current curriculum and co-curricular activities. This will provide our pupils with invaluable hands-on learning experiences, from understanding agriculture and sustainability to engaging with real-world issues across the academic spectrum.

The smallholding will not only benefit our pupils but also serve as a community resource, fostering local engagement and sustainable practices.

We are so close to reaching our £50,000 target, and we need your help to cross the finish line. If you haven’t yet contributed, or if you’re in a position to give more, now is the perfect time to do so. Every donation brings us closer to making this project a reality. You can support the project here.

Thank you once again for your support and commitment. Together, we can turn this vision into a vibrant, educational reality for all.

Steve Kowal
Director of Development

It was wonderful to host our OPs vs College Sports Day at Princethorpe on Saturday 31 August, and to welcome so many familiar faces back to the school. This popular annual fixture traditionally kicks off both the College’s sporting calendar and the Old Princethorpians’ social calendar for the year ahead.

The Football started the morning off in good spirits, with the College First XI participating in the day for the first time; strengthened by some staff members, they gained a victory over the OP team.

Next up was the mixed Hockey game and it was fabulous to see full teams playing in the spirit of the game. Whilst the more experienced OPs took the victory, the College pupils got some valuable game time in before their season starts.

Moving on to Netball, where there were three teams playing, the College's team secured victory with an outstanding performance against an OP team from 2024. The College then followed this up with a victory against an OP team from 2023; these wins showing that this team could be set for success this year.

The OPs vs College First XV John Shinkwin Trophy match produced an entertaining game, with a strong OP team of leavers from 2023 and 2024 taking the victory. The young College team showed promise for what could be a good season ahead.

The results of the matches were as follows:

• Football – Staff 6 vs OPs 4
• Netball – College 12 vs OPs 2023 7
• Netball – College 10 vs OPs 2024 5
• Netball – OPs 2024 2 vs OPs 2023 11
• Mixed Hockey – College 1 vs OPs 4
• Rugby – College 15 vs OPs 46

Lee Cassell, Foundation Director of Sport, commented, "It was fantastic to see so many OPs returning to play in some very competitive games and it was great to see the College First XI being included for the first time. The day showed the true spirit of the Princethorpe community and gave staff, pupils, OPs and parents the opportunity to watch plenty of entertaining matches over the course of the day."

He continued, "A huge well done to all those who played and made the day so special. We look forward to seeing you all again next year on Saturday 30 August 2025 at the next OPs vs College Sports Day."

You can find more photos on our alumni website here.

Thanks to all the players, supporters, organisers and caterers for making the day such a lovely, relaxed affair, and to A-level Music student Robyn Shaw for performing live during the day. 

The next OP event to look forward to is the popular London Meet, this year taking place on Friday 27 September at The Clachan on Kingly Street, W1B 5QH. Visit Princethorpe Connect for details and sign up information. We'd love to see you there.

The College community gathered in the Sports Hall on Wednesday 11 September to celebrate a Eucharist to mark the start of the academic year. Led by Father Alan Whelan MSC, pupils and staff were introduced to the new Chaplaincy school theme for the year ‘Integrity’.

It was wonderful to come together as a community, to reflect on the importance of integrity and to take time to think and pray.

Our thanks go to Father Alan for leading us in the service.

Last Saturday 7 September, we were delighted to welcome to the College some of the ‘Old Girls’ from St Mary’s Priory, the school on the Princethorpe site run by Benedictine nuns before the College was founded. The group are affectionately known to us as ‘Very Special Old Princethorpians' (VSOPs).

We welcomed them warmly and over tea, coffee and pastries our guests enjoyed catching up and sharing memories with their former schoolmates and friends. One such memory was about the high standards of discipline they had to maintain, with a former pupil recalling how she had to spend her evenings for two weeks cleaning the gymnasium, as punishment for talking in the corridor!

Their day unfolded happily with the chance to pore over a presentation and archive display arranged by our Archivist, Jo Wong, a Zoom call to allow more distant VSOPs to join in the reunion, lunch, a guided tour of the College, and a special Mass conducted by Father Teddy O'Brien MSC.

You can read the full write up and see more photos on Princethorpe Connect here.

Princethorpe College was delighted to take part in the 2024 Heritage Open Days festival on Sunday 8 September. England's largest community-led festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days has run annually since 1994, celebrating local history by giving access to thousands of places usually closed to the public.

The College has participated in the festival for many years and on the day welcomed over 90 visitors through its doors. They came from near and far, including local neighbours, OPs, current and former Princethorpe families, and those interested in local history. All were made welcome and enjoyed a fascinating tour that took in Pugin’s magnificent Chapel, the Cloisters, nuns’ cells on Lower Pugin, the Library (originally the first church of St Mary’s Priory) and the unique Roundhouse. Visitors were also delighted to see the recently-restored last Station of the Cross and decorated altar alcove in the Cloisters and Nuns’ Library respectively.

Foundation Archivist Jo Wong and Alumni and Development Officer Caroline Spencer acted as tour leaders, sharing wonderful insights into the history of the magnificent building and the amazing people that made it the place it is today.

A huge thank you to all who kindly organised and supported this super community event.