The Flagpole

Much anticipated and always hotly contested, the House Talent Show did not disappoint providing yet another sensational evening of entertainment for the College community. The show took place on Thursday 14 November, in the Clarkson Theatre in front of an audience of enthusiastic supporters.

Compered by House Activities Leader, Meg O’Gorman, ably assisted by the House Captains, the show included an array of amazing vocal, instrumental and dance performances and this year even a magician. It presented a real conundrum for the audience who had the impossible challenge of choosing the winner.

After the acts had performed, the audience had the pleasure of two special, surprise numbers. The House Captains outdid themselves performing a slick routine to a medley from Pitch Perfect. Then Princethorpe’s Dance Troupe rounded the evening’s entertainment off with a brilliant number to Somewhere In The Crowd from La La Land.

This year’s winners were Darcey and Isla Edwards, for Fisher, for their fabulous rendition of Don’t Lose Your Head from Six The Musical. Taking second place was the talented Jack Fleming, for More, who played an incredible Movie Medley on piano. Then in third place was the Mixed House Band of Lara, Esme, Harper, Lila, Erin and Poppy who sang and danced to the theme from Six The Musical.

As well as being a great night out, the event was also about fundraising with a collection for the school’s charity Mary’s Meals.

A huge thank you to all who took part, we were super impressed by your enthusiasm and commitment to your House and also to the technical team who so ably assisted. It really was a sensational House Talent Show.

Performing were: Gilbert Millward-Boyton, Emilia Novissimo-Richards, Evie Gibson, Darcey Carroll, Zara Bushell, Lara Lorimer-Allen, Esme Luck, Harper Lloyd, Lila Dixon, Erin Ferguson, Poppy Morris, Oakley Smith, Stephanie Bolton, Cassandra Quirke, Leani du Toit, Darcey Edwards, Isla Edwards, Jemima Teeton, Delilah Teeton, Adelaide Teeton, Giorgio Kleinmann, Megan Shipton, Alice Minshull, Anna Reay, Roxy Glenn, Molly Grimsley, Jack Fleming, Sophie Gambling and Lousie Gambling.

Congratulations to the U14 Girls Hockey team, who triumphed in the Tier 2 Midlands Championships on Friday 15 November, earning a well-deserved spot at next year’s Nationals.

The team was unstoppable, winning all seven matches, scoring 16 goals, and conceding just one. Captain Katherine Lee was excellent, scoring some important goals against quality opposition to keep the team on track. The girls sealed the title with a hard-fought victory over Worksop College in the final, where the winning goal was scored by Lillibee Harris.

A fantastic achievement – well done to the players and their coach Miss Carminati.

Playing for Princethorpe were: Emilie Bell-Barth, Evie Bierton, Olivia Burley, Zara Bushell, Issey Cleary, Lottie Corbin, Katie Dodd, Isla Edwards, Hattie Godfrey, Lillibee Harris, Isla Harrison, Evie Johnson, Katherine Lee and Elena Raiseborough.  

This year’s first Inter Faith week at Princethorpe College has been an inspiring celebration of our ‘spirit of community’ and a powerful reminder of the importance of unity, respect and understanding. Throughout the week, pupils and staff came together to explore the rich tapestry of beliefs that make up our school, fostering a deeper sense of connection, empathy and shared purpose.

The Inter Faith House Trail competition allowed pupils to engage in a friendly and collaborative challenge that not only promoted teamwork but also encouraged a deeper exploration of the values that unite us all. From designing beautiful Inter Faith greeting cards, donating items to the Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre and to crafting symbolic lanterns in Religious Studies lessons, pupils creatively expressed the idea that despite our differences, there is always light and unity between all faiths - and indeed, between those who follow different paths or none.

One of the most profound moments of the week was the Inter Faith Staff Question Time Panel. Mrs Tallis’ Year 10 class were given the rare opportunity to hear directly from our staff about their personal beliefs and values, creating an open space for dialogue and reflection. It was a moving experience, and afterwards many pupils shared that they felt a greater sense of understanding and respect for the diversity of thought and belief within the school community.

"Listening to the interfaith representatives was very interesting as it gave us the opportunity to learn about not just their faith but their personal thoughts as well." Daisy

"I was very inspired by panel’s loyalty and trust in God which was shown through their stories." Lauren

"This opportunity has given me a deeper understanding of the different faiths and why people may hold certain beliefs." Morgan

For our Religious Studies A-level students, Inter Faith week also extended beyond the Princethorpe Tower! Head of Religious Studies, Mr Vella took Lower Sixth Religious Studies students to the Midlands Inter Faith Conference at Coventry University. The event was organised by the United Religions UK Initiative which aims to promote dialogue and understanding between all faiths and none. Students took part in a youth workshop that tackled some of the most pressing issues of our time such as hate speech and its impact on society. These discussions were thought-provoking and challenging but also essential in nurturing the critical thinking and moral awareness that will equip students to make a positive difference in the world.

Lower Sixth Former, Izzy Price, said about the event, "Overall, this was an amazing opportunity and although some topics, like the violence towards women, were hard-hitting and upsetting, I have learnt a lot of new and extended information on interfaith."

As we reflected on this week, we are reminded that our differences should not divide us, but rather, they should be celebrated as the strength of our community. The light of unity, symbolised by the lanterns we created, shines brightly as a beacon of hope and connection. Inter Faith week has been a profound reminder that, together, we can build a more compassionate and understanding world, one conversation at a time.

It feels fitting to conclude our reflections with the revered Sikh scripture taken from the Sukhmani Sahib and which was kindly shared by Mr Gurvinder Cholia during our Inter Faith Staff Question Time Panel:

'Sarab dharam meh sresht dharam; har ko naam jap nirmal karam.'

In English, this translates to:

'Of all religions, the supreme religion is to meditate on God’s Name and perform virtuous deeds.'

This message beats at the very heart of our Inter Faith week celebrations at Princethorpe and also aptly reflects our school’s mission statement: to be kind and to always try your best.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making this week such a meaningful and impactful experience.

Marianne Tallis
On behalf of the Religious Studies Department

Last Friday 15 November, we were once again delighted to recognise and celebrate the many pupils who have risen to the challenge of the College’s ethos.

Assistant Head Co-curricular, Neil McCollin, congratulated pupils from across the College who had been nominated by members of staff for recognition for their achievements. All had tried their best; some had excelled or showed commitment to sport, performing arts, charity work or academic studies, whilst others had gone over and above for their House or Tutor group. All were an outstanding example for their peers.

Mr McCollin thanked each and every one of them, recognising the commitment and effort they put in and all that they do to enrich school life.

This term congratulations go to:

From Year 7:
Jessica Blythe, Jessica Parker and Phoebe Ward

From Year 8:
Leela Blythe, Esme Card, Sophie Crawford, Grace Crowfoot, Darcy Forinton, Darcey Gonon, Emmeline Millward-Boyton, Jess Reynolds, Alice Roberts and Ava Sheppard

From Year 9: Dami Ajagunna, Evie Bierton, Merryn Cleary, Isaac Fowle, Katherine Lee, Mimi Legge, Krishan Patel, Amber Rhodes-Jones, Noah Walker and Erik Windham

From Year 10:
Keira Arriordaz, Andrei Bodorin, Noah Cowlishaw, Nashe Darare, Hartley Fielding, Joe Harcourt, William Harvey, Faith Katanda, Harry Messenger, Jasper Nicholls, Lizzie Nichols, Teni Okusanya, Jay Patil, Louis Reynolds, Amy Robinson, Tara Rodgers, James Sinclair, Oscar Singh, William Smith and Elwin Williams

From Year 11:
Josh Baker, Fin Bucke, Will Colledge, Denny Dix, Amy Farquharson, Jessica Franklin, Conor Horan, Jess Johnson, Alex Lloyd, Leo May, Lila McClelland, Rosie Moreton, Jorja Parris, Hunter Staveley, Issy Thompson, Dan Tomlinson and Bella Ward

From Lower Sixth: Max Black, Sean Birtley, Pip Evans, Issy Farrow, Liv Fox, Zach Hawkins, Hugh Henderson Martin, Anna Johnson, Frankie Kelly, Jess Lane, Tilly Southgate, Theo Sparkes and Louis Yuen

From Upper Sixth: Ollie Farquharson, Jack Fleming and Ollie Hutton

More information on pupils’ achievements can be found here.

On Wednesday 13 November, our Sixth Form physicists enjoyed a day trip to A-level Science Live at the Emmanuel Centre in London. They heard from five inspirational scientists working at the cutting edge of their specialisms and had an informative and thought provoking time.

The presenters included theoretical nuclear physicist Professor Jim Al-Khalili who spoke about the ‘Story of Time’, Dr Jessica Wade on cutting edge materials science ‘Nex-Gen Technology’, Dr Helen Czerski on the ocean engine of the planet, which she has explored in her book ‘Blue Machine’, Dr Emma Chapman about her work on ‘First Light’ and Professor Frank Close on the subatomic world in ‘Charge: Why does gravity rule?’

Their day also included useful sessions led by A-level examiners, with tips and guidance on how to improve examination performance.

It was a fantastic extra-curricular session for our Sixth Form students.

On Monday 11 November, the College community gathered together outside on the school playground to remember the bravery and selfless sacrifice made by so many service men and women.

Father Alan Whelan MSC opened the Remembrance Service with a prayer and prayers were then read in different languages by Year 10s, James and Tommy, and Year 11, Mohammed. At 11.00am, College trumpeter, Year 11, Henry Corbin, sounded The Last Post.

The College community observed a two-minute silence, offering all a time for reflection, a shared moment to honour and remember. Sixth Form students, Max, Bea, Eliana, Hugh, Issy, Oli and Topsie, read the poignant poem by Laurence Binyon, For The Fallen, and Maria finished the readings with a prayer in Ukrainian for peace.

A wreath was hung at the Pupils’ Entrance by Headmaster, Grove du Toit, and Heads of School, Megan and Seb. Then, Teacher of Religious Studies, Marianne Tallis, read a prayer for peace.

The Remembrance Service finished with College community singing the traditional hymn Abide With Me. They were accompanied by Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, and College musicians, Year 7s Darcey and Naomi, Year 10s, Will and Jasper, and Lower Sixth Former, Alex.

At the Eleventh Hour on the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month – We Will Remember Them

The Classics department took Upper School pupils studying the Classics at GCSE and A-level to Warwick University on Friday 8 November to attend the A.G. Leventis Ancient Worlds Day. Pupils experienced University style teaching through lectures and smaller seminar sessions delivered by Warwick University academics. The topics covered supported those in the Latin, Ancient Greek, Classical Civilisation and Ancient History curricula and reflected the specialities and interests of Warwick’s Classics lecturers. The seminars expanded pupils’ knowledge and understanding, building on what they have already learnt in their school studies, further deepening their appreciation of the Ancient World.

The day was informative and enjoyable and provided pupils with the opportunity to connect and engage with their study of the Classics.

On Friday 8 November, our A-level Geographers attended an excellent Geography Study Day at Malvern St James Girls School. They heard from Chief Examiner and Geography teacher, Cameron Dunn, and curriculum designer, fieldwork advocate and Senior Examiner, David Holmes. Across five informative sessions, students refined their exam skills and furthered their understanding of the Tectonics, Superpowers, Regeneration and Climate Change topics. They even had time for some well deserved lunch at the beautiful nearby Priory Park.

The 2025 College Calendar featuring 12 superb images of the College and its grounds, and priced at £7.50, is now available. It is sure to be a handy addition for any kitchen or office and would be a perfect Christmas present for all Princethorpians.

The front cover of this year's calendar was chosen by followers of the College's social media and is an autumnal photo of the tower, but the competition was a very close-run race, as the picture with the cows in front of the tower (which features in June) was in the lead almost to the end. We had so much interest in the calendar competition that we decided to award a free calendar to both a current Princethorpe family and an Old Princethorpian. Many congratulations to Kerrie Heatherington and to OP Alice Pointer who were picked as our two lucky winners. 

Copies of the calendar can be purchased via our online shop here or from the OPs/College stall at the PTA Christmas Fair on Sunday 1 December.

If you are on the hunt for presents, we also have a wonderful range of Old Princethorpian merchandise available from ties to cufflinks, pin badges to scarves and, not to mention, some very snazzy socks that would make a perfect Christmas gift.

Then we have prints and greetings cards available featuring the Soaring Red Brick Tower image and prints also of St Joseph's School.

To ensure UK orders can arrive in time for Christmas, orders and payment will need to be received by 12 noon on Monday 16 December 2024 please.