Anniversaries are an important part of everyday life to help us remember key events from the past – births, weddings and deaths amongst our families and friends for example. 

Today is the fifth anniversary of one of the most surreal experiences of my life - closing all our schools and telling the pupils that we didn’t know when we would be able to see them again as a result of the government response to the global pandemic.  

I particularly remember three occasions at Princethorpe College where I became rather emotional – telling the Year 11s there were no GCSE exams, telling the Upper Sixth the A-levels were cancelled, and talking to the staff after school on the final Friday about how we would continue to support the pupils, their families and each other in the lockdown which was upon us. 

As I look around the schools now with happy and flourishing children who are enjoying being with their friends, COVID and the dreaded lockdown which ensued seem like a distant memory. However, if you look around our campuses there are still a few relics from the past – outdoor sinks, the marks where tape was stuck to the floor tiles to aid good “flow” and I still have a bespoke 2m “stick” in my room which we used to ensure the desks conformed to the social distancing regulations at the time. Of course, the impact on the physical health and social development and wellbeing of many is still being unravelled. 

However, my most vivid memories are of the creativity and sheer determination of our community to ensure that the education of our pupils would continue alongside the critical pastoral and wellbeing support. We had teachers giving live TEAMS lessons with their babies on their knees, virtual sports and games lessons, a Foundation orchestral concert with pupils from all schools taking part. We even had Ben Stokes, the England Cricket Captain, as a special guest, at our Sports Awards Ceremony. 

Our resilience, patience and resolve were, at times, sorely tested, but I am immensely proud of how we pulled together as a community and supported each other. 

Five years later, government policy again presents a major challenge, as it targets independent schools and their families. Again, I am extremely proud of our response as a community; staff are working exceptionally hard to ensure our educational standards remain first-class and the support from our parents has been magnificent in so many ways, not least by supporting the Annual Fund.  

We are in a really strong position for the future with retention and recruitment of pupils – the life-blood of any school – at an optimum. 

Thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do as parents to support your children and their education. 

Very best wishes 

Ed Hester
Foundation Principal 

I hope you would agree that the most recent spell of sunshine has done wonders in lifting the spirts and giving us that exciting feeling that spring brings. Not driving to and from school in the dark makes such a difference. We are also nearing the end of a very busy term and there are various “big things” happening.

I must start with our Year 11 pupils and Upper Sixth students. They have finished their mock exams, and we are in the midst of final preparations for their exams. Our Year 11 pupils have only 14 school days left before they depart on study leave – the Upper Sixth follow a week later. As a school community, we are crossing our fingers and cheering them on as much as possible as they deserve to do well. We are excited by what they can achieve as they have worked really hard. It is important to remind them that every minute counts and that now is the time to close the door on other distractions. Staff are available to offer any extra support or challenge, and they must not hesitate to ask for help where necessary. Results Day is a very blunt finish to a two-year journey. Therefore, please make sure there are no regrets. There will be some amazing events before they depart to celebrate them as year groups and we will continue to do all we can to ensure they give the very best accounts of themselves.

Following an amazing response from parents to our school bus survey, we are working hard to put in place a small number of late 'express' buses for next year. It is clearly a need that will make a demonstrable difference to many of our families. More importantly, it will enable wider access to clubs and activities for our pupils. We must evaluate the logistical and financial viability of any addition to our current bus services, but the current indications are very positive indeed. Rob Heath, the Foundation Director of Facilities, will be in The Bourse next week from Tuesday through to Thursday from 5.15pm to 5.45pm, for drop-in sessions where we are inviting parents to come and discuss our current suggested routes. He will be able to answer further queries and note down any comments. We are excited by this development and will keep you posted.

I have mentioned in my previous communications that we expect the very highest standards of behaviour from our pupils. Our sanctions system has a slow escalation approach and is restorative at heart. When a pupil is issued a sanction that requires attending a detention after school or on a Saturday, there will be very clear reasons for us choosing this course of action. Please rest assured that we always encourage pupils to be honest and open and we very often moderate sanctions because of circumstances and context. The most important consideration is fairness and upholding the values that underpin our school community. I fully appreciate that a young person who is facing a sanction often struggles to see the wider picture and they will provide their version of events to soften any repercussions. It is a normal reaction. We have amazing relationships with our parents, and it is the foundation of the work we do. We encourage open communication and teamwork in ensuring the best outcomes for our pupils. However, every now and again we have a query where the version of events that went home has been accepted as gospel without us having the opportunity to provide the balanced alternative. This has led to sanctions being challenged in a way that is not productive. Sanctions aim to direct behaviour and to provide opportunity for reflection and discussion. They are not judgemental, and my colleagues use them, when necessary, in their professional opinion. We always welcome a check in to discuss how we move forward when a pupil gets it wrong – this works best in a supportive context. If you do have any queries about our sanctions system, do reach out and we will happily discuss. More importantly, we are currently reviewing our recognition systems which will lead to exciting changes, ensuring all pupils feel valued and encouraged.

This term we have reviewed the Teaching and Learning focus of the College as we are coming to end of the three-year cycle where Instruction, Feedback, and Response formed the foundation of what happened in the classroom. Following discussions with Heads of Department and teaching colleagues, the theme for the next three-year cycle is Curiosity and Challenge – The Thinking Classroom. The parental survey identified our classroom practice as a real strength, we therefore feel confident that we can move onto this next step and really push our pupils. Our academic profile is strong and I want us to celebrate academic endeavour even more! I always say we need to make our pupils’ brains hurt – in a good way of course, and this shift in focus places the spotlight on stretch and challenge for all pupils at the College. You will have heard me say before that we are preparing pupils for jobs that do not exist yet. We need curious thinkers who can face challenges more than ever and Princethorpe is on that journey. Our pupils are bright, and they do amazing things on the academic front – watch this space!

I received a heart warming email from a parent this week explaining how his son has joined a Rugby club out of school because of the confidence and love of sport we have cultivated in school. We crunched some numbers and before half term, we had a week where more than 2,000 pupils took part in co-curricular clubs and activities – keep in mind there are only 900 of them. The College encourages a broad educational experience, and our pupils do not disappoint. At the top end, our U12 Girls’ Hockey Team won the Midlands Regional Competition, beating Repton twice in one day, while our U14 Girls' Football Team are now ISA National Champions. We are playing in a number of finals at regional and national level before the end of the term and the Cricket season is yet to arrive. Add to this Newsies hitting the stage in the Trinity Term and the success of the most recent Performing Arts Week, and you can understand why a holiday is needed. Our pupils are incredible.

Finally, following my letter to all families earlier this half term, a reminder that the important date for our Annual Fund is this coming Monday 23 March. This is in no way a deadline and the Annual Fund will continue to remain front and centre as it makes such a big difference to the experience of our pupils. However, within the context of our financial planning, having a clear picture on Monday would be really helpful. If there are questions about the Annual Fund, do reach out to Steve Kowal or me. The key message continues to be that we want as many families as possible signing up to donate, no matter how big or small the contribution. The response has been fantastic and it will make a real difference moving forward. However, every extra sign up helps can make a real impact.

The rest of The Flagpole is chock-a-block with information and updates. I appreciate we are very busy and finding time to read all of it may be a challenge, However, with a 19 school day half-term after Easter and the summer term upon us, knowing as much as possible about what is going on at Princethorpe will help massively in managing the family calendar and mum’s/dad’s taxi service. As ever, thank you for your support.

With all best wishes

Grove du Toit

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have currently raised over £325,000 for the Annual Fund. This will directly benefit our pupils, facilities, and bursary provision and we are incredibly grateful for the support shown.

One of the most inspiring aspects of this campaign has been the generosity and philanthropic spirit of our school communities. At Crescent School, the trend among donors has been to support both the school and its pupils, with most families who are donating choosing to split their contribution between Greatest Need and Capital Projects and supporting those in need through the Hardship Fund. At Crackley Hall and Princethorpe College, we are seeing more donations directed towards Greatest Need and Capital Projects, which allows the Heads to allocate funds where they are needed most, ensuring the greatest possible impact. This collective approach is making a real difference across all our schools, giving us the flexibility to respond to immediate priorities and enhance the experience of every pupil.

Whilst the funds raised so far are a fantastic achievement, it’s important to recognise that the funds raised currently come from just over 10% of our families. I know from the many parents I have spoken to that there are a lot of families who have thought very carefully about what they are able to donate and will be committing soon, but I also know that there are some who haven’t yet considered this.  

My main message to you all is please act now so that we maximise the benefit to the whole community from the donations.

The Annual Fund is about supporting the future our schools in a tax efficient and collective manner - where the overall majority contribute a manageable amount – and this has the power to be transformative. The more families that take part, the more the benefits will be felt across all areas of school life, ensuring that we can continue to invest in bursaries and hardship support, enhance our facilities, and continue to develop the education we all value for our children.  

Show Your Support – Wear Your Pin Badge with Pride

To recognise the generosity of our donors, we have been sending out Annual Fund supporter pin badges. These badges are a simple but meaningful way to show that you are part of the growing community supporting the future of our schools.

We encourage all donors to wear their badges with pride - whether at school events, open days, or simply in daily life - as a visible reminder of the impact we can have when we come together as a community.

If you have made a donation but haven’t yet received your pin badge, please let us know and we will ensure one is sent to you.

A number of people have asked me if there a deadline for donations?

There is no hard deadline and we hope that donations keep coming in each and every year, but to help with our financial planning for the next academic year and beyond, we really want people to confirm to us their donations before the end of March if possible.

How Can You Help?

If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to give, I would strongly encourage you to consider making a donation today. As a parent myself with children in the Foundation, I understand that this is a big ask, but I also see first hand the difference that even a small, regular contribution can make - not just for my own children, but for all pupils across our schools. That’s why I personally support the Annual Fund with what I can each month. Every gift, no matter the size, adds up to something truly impactful, ensuring that all our pupils continue to benefit from the very best opportunities.

For UK taxpayers, donations can be made even more impactful through Gift Aid, allowing us to claim an additional 25% on your gift at no extra cost to you. For example:

• A £100 donation becomes £125
• A £1,000 donation costs actually costs £687.50 after tax relief (for an additional-rate taxpayer)

If you would like to join this growing list of supporters making a significant contribution to improving the experience of our pupils, you can donate easily via our Annual Fund Giving Page, or you can contact me at stevekowal@princethorpe.co.uk for more information or to set up a discussion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have more than one child in the Foundation? 
Donations are not tied to the number of children you have in the Foundation. Most families donate ‘per family’ rather than per pupil and often split their donation across funds - for example, supporting both Princethorpe College Greatest Need and Capital Projects and Crackley Hall Greatest Need and Capital Projects or Princethorpe College Greatest Need and Capital Projects and Crescent School Greatest Need and Capital Projects.

Can I make a one-off donation or set up a regular gift? 
Yes! You can donate in any way that works best for you - monthly, termly, or as a one-off gift. Many families choose to spread their support over time to make giving easier.

Can I make a donation through my company? 
Yes! Corporate donations are tax-efficient, as they can be deducted from your company’s taxable profits for Corporation Tax purposes. However, Gift Aid cannot be claimed on corporate donations, only on personal gifts. Many families have already donated in this way.

Are you fundraising because the Foundation is in trouble? 
Absolutely not! And I can’t stress this enough. This appeal isn’t about keeping the Foundation afloat, the Foundation is in a healthy place - it’s about ensuring we can continue to invest in key areas while navigating increased financial pressures from Government policy.
While many independent schools raise significant non-fee income, our fundraising percentage remains low. By growing this, we reduce pressure on fee income and ensure our schools continue to thrive.

Are you expecting everyone to donate the same amount? 
No, we understand that every family’s financial situation is different. Families who have chosen to support the appeal are typically donating between £50 and £100 per month, but the most important factor is participation, not the amount given. Every contribution - regardless of size - adds up to something truly significant, and the more families who take part, the greater the collective impact on our pupils and schools.

Will donations lead to lower fee rises in the future? 
While donations don’t directly impact fee levels, they help strengthen the Foundation’s financial position, allowing us to better manage rising costs. By supporting the Annual Fund, donations enable us to invest in essential areas while maintaining financial stability. While we can’t promise donations will directly lower fees, they do ease financial pressures, which helps us plan more sustainably in the long term.

Do you think most families will donate? 
Yes we believe that the majority will. Before launching this appeal, we spoke individually to 40 families, all of whom were very supportive. So far, around 100 families have donated, and the impact is already visible in our planning for next year. However, we need more families to contribute if we are to maximise the impact across all schools.

What if not enough people donate? 
We remain committed to providing the best education possible for our pupils, regardless of the appeal’s outcome. However, the more families who contribute, the greater the long-term benefits for everyone. Every donation helps. We are committed to transparency and will keep families updated on our progress. Your support - whatever the amount - plays a critical role in shaping the future of our schools.

Where is the money going?
All donations to the Annual Fund are directed to key areas that will have a direct and immediate impact on our pupils. Families can choose where to allocate their support to:

• Bursaries and Hardship – Providing financial assistance to families in need, helping pupils access or remain at our schools.
• Greatest Need and Capital Projects – Specific to each school, these funds give Heads the flexibility to invest in priority projects that enhance teaching, learning, and pupil experience.

Here are just a few examples of how donations could be used to support each school:

• Crackley Hall – Restoration of the Orangery, upgrading the minibus fleet, improving changing and refreshment facilities on the sports field, and resurfacing and remarking the Netball court.
• Crescent School – Enhancing classroom facilities, purchasing new science equipment, developing the outdoor play area and Forest School, dry robes, and renovating changing rooms.
• Princethorpe College – Supporting a tree planting initiative, restoring historic stonework and tiled floors, resurfacing the Astro pitch, and upgrading classroom and communal furniture.

These are just some of the many ways your support can make a tangible difference—both now and for the future of our schools.

Thank You – Let’s Build This Together

Your generosity is already making a real difference, and with more families involved, we can secure the future strength of the Foundation.

Thank you for your continued support.

Steve Kowal 
Director of Development 

Many of our Sixth Form students got their UCAS applications in early for a wide range of courses, including Medicine and Veterinary. We are delighted that a number of them have already received offers from their top choice universities. It’s still early in the UCAS admissions cycle as the universities have until May to make their decisions but it is fantastic to see that so many well-respected institutions are keen to offer places to our Sixth Formers. 

• University of Bath
• University of Bristol
• University of Durham
• The University of Edinburgh
• University of Exeter
• King’s College London
• University of Leeds
• University of Liverpool
• The University of Manchester
• Newcastle University
• University of Nottingham
• The University of Sheffield
• University of Southampton
• University of York
• University of Warwick

Congratulations to all those who have already received offers, and we look forward to supporting all our Sixth Formers with their next steps as the remaining offers come in over the next few months and they make their final exam preparations.

Congratulations to the College's 1st VII Netball team on an excellent outing at the U18 ISA National Tournament in Nottingham on Friday 14 March. The girls faced tough opposition from the best independent school netball teams in the country and after an exciting day of play just missed out on a medal.

The girls stormed through the first round winning six matches on the trot to finish top of the table with excellent results against Finborough School 9-6, King’s High School 12-8, Leighton Park School 13-6, Kingham Hill School 13-5, Hulme Grammar School 13-5 and Claires Court School 16-6. That qualified them for the afternoon’s knockout Cup competition.  

They confidently saw off Queen Ethelburga’s College in the quarter-final 17-1 but then faced New Hall School in the semi-final in a very closely matched game. Despite their resilience and determination they just lost out 9-10. The play-off for the bronze medal was against Wycliffe College and the girls could not overcome their opposition with the match finishing 10-12.

It was hard for the girls to just miss a medal after playing some amazing netball throughout the day. This team continue to amaze us with their tenacity and versatility, they have had a great season so far and fourth place in the ISA Nationals is a real achievement. A huge well done to them all! 

The U12 Girls Hockey team showcased exceptional skill and determination as they were crowned Midlands Regional Hockey Champions.

In the group stage, the team demonstrated their dominance, securing victories against Newcastle Under Lyme (2-0), Repton (2-1), Leicester Grammar School (3-0), Wrekin College (5-0), and Bromsgrove (2-0), while being held 0-0 by Wellingborough. Their impressive performance ensured qualification for the semi-finals.

The semi-final clash against Denstone was a tense encounter, but a well-executed goal saw the team emerge 1-0 winners, booking their place in the final. In a thrilling rematch against Repton School, the girls held their nerve to secure a 1-0 victory, clinching the championship title.

Head of Girls' Games, Carly Walton, commented "Winning the U12 Midlands Hockey Regional Tournament is testament to the teams demonstration of Pride, Presence and Perseverance. The team showcased excellence, conceding just one goal all day and securing a well-earned victory against a talented Repton side in the final. A truly outstanding achievement!"

Congratulations to the players and coaching staff on their fantastic success!
 

After a busy programme during February and March of interviews and assessments for Academic, Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Organ and Sport Scholarships, the internal Sixth Form Scholarship process for September 2025 has now concluded.

We have been very impressed by all the Year 11s who have participated, competition has been very strong and details of any awards will be confirmed when the Sixth Form Offer letters are sent out in writing during week commencing Monday 31 March 2025. The letters will also include confirmed A-level and BTEC option choices for September.

Princethorpe is an 11 to 18 school, and the expectation is that pupils will continue with us through to Sixth Form, providing they meet the academic requirements and embrace the College’s ethos. Notice in writing is required to the Headmaster (copying in the Registrar at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk) by Wednesday 30 April 2025 should a pupil not be intending to return.

Award-winning teen and children’s author, Bali Rai, visited Princethorpe College on Tuesday 11 March to work with our Year 8 pupils. Across three sessions, Bali spoke about growing up in multi-cultural Britain and what it means to be British today. He talked about the many books he has written and how his stories feature characters that are often ignored by history. He encouraged Year 8 to overcome their prejudices and stereotypes and think of Britishness as one long process of migration and multiculturalism.

Bali led writing workshops, sharing different writing techniques, he explained how to make stories more interesting and exciting, and he provided general advice about becoming a writer. Bali also met with the College’s Book Club answering their questions too.

Year 8 enjoyed engaging with Mr Rai and are looking forward to writing their own stories. 

Many thanks to Bali for visiting us and providing Year 8 with such a thought-provoking day.

As Princethorpe looks forward to welcoming its new pupils to the College in September, the Admissions Team has now turned its attention to entry for 2026.

Entrance Examinations, for entry to the school in September 2026, will take place on Saturday 8 November 2025 and the Admissions Team are already busy accepting registrations.

For 2026 entry there are a range of scholarships available for particularly able or talented candidates, from Academic, Art and Performing Arts (Choral, Dance, Drama, Music and Musical Theatre) to Sport.

In addition, exceptional candidates who are both academically able and gifted and talented across a number of areas may be considered for an All-Rounder Scholarship, which would be awarded at the discretion of the Headmaster. Means-tested Bursaries are also available, along with The Thomas More Scholarship a means-tested scholarship for Catholic children, who attend a Catholic state primary school.

There are plenty of opportunities for prospective pupils and their parents to visit the College before the Entrance Exams take place; including Year 5 Taster Days in May and June, our Summer Open Evening in June and Open Afternoon in September.

Comments Melanie Butler, Foundation Director of Marketing, Admissions and Communications, "Parents and pupils will have plenty of time to prepare and opportunities to visit the College in the run up to the registration deadline on Friday 26 September."

Following the Entrance Exams, offer letters will be sent out on Thursday 27 November 2025 and the acceptance deadlines will be Monday 8 December 2025 for Years 8, 9 and 10 and Tuesday 3 March 2026 for Year 7. The acceptance deadline for Year 7 places is, by a nationally agreed code of practice, the same for all independent schools, allowing parents and children time to review all their options, including those from the maintained sector, before making a final decision.

To download a copy of our new 2026 Admissions and Entrance Examinations Booklet click here.

If you have any questions about the admissions process please contact the Registrar, Catherine Rogers and Assistant Registrar, Georgia Newborough, on 01926 634201/297 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

To read the latest edition of the Princethorpe Admissions Update newsletter click here.

The College welcomed seven Warwickshire primary schools to Princethorpe’s High 5 Netball Tournament on Tuesday 11 March. Teams from Barford St Peter's CofE Primary, Bilton CofE Junior, Long Itchington CofE Primary, Paddox Primary, St Lawrence Primary, St Mary's Catholic Primary and The Croft Prep School had the chance to test their skills against their opponents in a round robin of matches. The tournament was played to England Netball High 5 rules; a popular entry format of the traditional game that has players rotating positions and ensures the ball keeps moving.

Matches were umpired by Princethorpe’s Sports Leaders and staff, and you could see the children’s skills developing game by game as they gained experience and took on board feedback and suggestions. 

Congratulations to The Croft Prep School who were the overall winners of the tournament. Well done also to St Lawrence Primary and Paddox Primary who came second and third.

Primary Schools Sports Liaison, Hannah Carminati, said, “It was great to welcome everyone to Princethorpe and to be able to offer these young players the chance to play in a fun and friendly netball tournament. All the pupils were so enthusiastic; I saw lots of great ball work, tremendous teamwork and plenty of energy on the courts today.”

A huge well done to all and many thanks to the College pupils and staff who organised and officiated all the games.

Our next Primary Schools sports tournament is our U10 Football Tournament that takes place on Monday 12 May. 
 

Last week, pupils enjoyed lots of different opportunities to engage with and celebrate the Performing Arts. The College’s second ever dedicated Performing Arts Week allowed pupils to explore and enjoy the performing arts and also gave the brave a chance to showcase their skills. Organised and led by our Performing Arts Prefect, Ellie Alphonso, supported by Lower Sixth Former, Grace Rushbrooke, the week included workshops, activities, performances, a danceathon and even a few special surprises.

There was live music every break in the Limes Atrium where all styles and genres were welcome to perform at a busking event, The Spotlight. Then there were workshops on Theatre Lighting and Sound, Just Dance Battles, Acting and Photography. Pupils also enjoyed the opportunity to take part in an immersive experience in the Nun’s Library every lunchtime.

One of the best well-kept secrets was the Staff Flash Mob when teaching and support staff surprised pupils in the Refectory singing and dancing along to Mama Mia to mark the start of Performing Arts Week. A big thank you to all the staff who volunteered to get involved and who really gave it their all!

Then the grand finale was of course our first ever Charity Danceathon that saw pupils, staff and parents take to the floor to raise funds for the Youth Arts Trust while showcasing their best moves. Headmaster, Mr du Toit, and Assistant Head, Mr McCollin, both took to the floor to deliver their unique take on the Cha Cha Slide!

A huge well done to everyone who got involved and especially to all who organised the week. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves.
 

Princethorpe’s U14 Girls were on top form at the ISA Midlands Girls Football Tournament and were delighted to come away with Gold medals.

The tournament took place on Wednesday 19 March at Stafford Grammar and the College took a squad of nine Year 8 and Year 9 girls, who worked fantastically well together showing great team-spirit, determination and quality.

The team played four games in the first round against St Dominic's Grammar, Lichfield Cathedral School, Birchfield Indpendent Girls' School and Twycross House B winning two and drawing two. That qualified them for the play-offs where they faced Twycross House A.

The final was a closely matched game where despite their tireless efforts they were unable to break the deadlock and were held to a draw. The match went to penalties which was nail-biting for them all but the girls held their nerve and were delighted to come out on top.  

As well as their excellence on the field, the girls conducted themselves brilliantly off the pitch showing sportsmanship and team spirit and representing the College with pride. A huge well done to them all!
 

On Wednesday 12 March, the Princethorpe Foundation took part in the first ever UK School Archives Day joining in with schools across the country by celebrating our rich heritage and all that our archive collections have to offer.

At lunchtime, pupils were invited to a lunchtime talk in the Library to discover strange and interesting stories from Princethorpe’s past. Foundation Archivist, Jo Wong shared lots of fascinating facts and photos, including intriguing stories of Princethorpe’s resident ghosts and astonishing reports of fire drills where pupils were actually lowered from the top floors by ropes. She even shared a few fetching photos of staff from long ago.

Jo, said "Thank you to all the pupils who attended – they really engaged with the talk and asked some brilliant questions!"

In the Cloisters, our School Archives Day display continues until the end of Lent term, for pupils, staff and visitors to see some of the fascinating items held in the Foundation Archive collections.

Our school archives provide a collective history of our school, preserving wonderful stories from the past for future generations and reflecting the legacy of the Princethorpe Foundation. Why not visit our online archives here.

School Archives Day was organised by the School Archives and Records Association, and over 30 schools around the UK and Ireland took part, running events and activities for their school communities. There was even one school in Australia which participated! It was a great first event and planning is underway to build on this success in future years – we’re already looking forward to School Archives Day 2026!
 

This year, the College Library decided to extend World Book Day to World Book Week organising competitions and reading related fun for pupils and staff across the College.

From badge hunting to book trails, a dinner table set for some famous book characters, a murder in the library, wordsearches, emoji quizzes and other book related activities, Princethorpe’s pupils had a wonderful time celebrating all things books. Merits were given out to all those that participated in activities and all week there were double merits and tokens to be had in our House Book Bingo competition which runs until the end of Trinity term.

This week, on Thursday 20 March, Headmaster, Mr du Toit, visited the library to present the competition winners with their certificates and prizes.

Teacher Badge Hunt 

• A joint entry from, Year 7s, Arthur and Ben who between them found an amazing 41 badges, they won Mr du Toit’s £25 book voucher.
• Runners up went to, Year 7s, Miriam and Daisy-Mai with 38 badges found, they got to choose a brand new book each for their prize.

Emoji Quiz

• We had lots of correct entries and, Year 7, May was picked out of the hat and she choose a brand new book for her prize.

Book Trail

• A joint entry from, Year 7s, Darcey and Eloise who won a £10 gift card plus a choice of book.
• Runners up prizes went to Year 7s, Elora and Jess  who also got to choose a brand new book for their prize.

Murder In The Library Short Story Competition

• There were so many great stories submitted. What brilliant imaginations our pupils have. However, the outstanding winner was, Year 7, Mila. Her wonderful story will be published in the next edition of Pinnacle and she won a £15 gift card.

Well done to all of our winners and thank you to all our pupils for making World Book Week such a fabulous reading celebration.

Well done to our Year 7 STEM enthusiasts who entered the ISA’s STEAM competition. This is the first time the College has taken part in this annual competition which encourages pupils from ISA member schools to delve into modern-day problems, nurturing vital skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving.

The pupils, who all attend the College’s weekly STEM Club, demonstrated excellent innovation, ingenuity and creativity in the challenge to design a floodproof house.

They worked well together as a group, meeting the deadline, researching requirements and materials to include, as well as online systems to create their designs. They also worked independently to create a document to explain their design.

Congratulations to Chey, Jairam, Jayant, Aaryan, May, Jessica and Leela who all receive certificates (some of whom are pictured here). They were presented by, Head of Physics, Mr Lee at this week’s club session.

STEM club is now working towards its next challenge, the STEM On Track programme that empowers pupils to build their own Racing Kart, providing more opportunities to hone practical skills in a real-world setting.
 

As part of the College’s drive to improve the sustainability of our catering, this week, Foundation Director of Business Services, Rebecca Iley, and our Holroyd Howe catering team, met with the College’s Pupil Council to review a variety of new snacks and drinks for the Tuck Shop range. The new products had been chosen to broaden and refresh the current offer, to appeal to pupils, to support healthy eating and for their sustainability credentials.

For each product pupils were asked:
•    Did they like the taste?
•    Would it appeal to all year groups?
•    Did they think the price was ok?
•    Would they buy it?

Popular products were the cherry soda, salt and vinegar lentil chips, sour cream and onion pretzel thins, tomato and basil hummus chips and apple crisps with mango. Although pupils felt the price of the salt and vinegar lentil chips was a bit high. Pupils were less impressed with the root beer, ginger and turmeric soda and sea salt veggie straws.

Suppliers of the successful products will now be invited into school to provide a pop-up tasting session for all pupils.

Thank you to the Pupil Council for their feedback and help, we hope you enjoyed the tasting session. We look forward to seeing the new snacks on the shelves next term.
 

Wednesday 26 March - 7.00pm

As the nights are getting lighter and Spring is in the air, the PTA would like to invite you, your friends and family to their latest fundraising event, a Spring Flower Arranging Workshop on Wednesday 26 March at 7.00pm at Princethorpe College. 

The night starts with a welcome drink and deli boat, then moves onto creating a fabulous spring flower arrangement to take home. Tickets cost £30 per person, and upon buying your ticket you can select diet preferences which includes a vegetarian option. A bar will be open to purchase additional drinks.

Please click on the link here to purchase tickets. Booking will close at midnight on Monday 24 March. 

We look forward to welcoming you! 

Princethorpe PTA 

Friday 28 March 2025 - 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Our annual Spring Concert is fast approaching!

We will be holding our fantastic Spring Concert at Princethorpe again, and it will be taking place in the Sports Hall at 7.00pm on Friday 28 March. This is your opportunity to hear all the best items from the Music department across one exciting evening of entertainment. Concert Band, String Orchestra, Choir, and our new Chamber Choir, alongside small ensembles and solos will provide an unforgettable evening of musical entertainment.  

Tickets are free of charge and are available using the link here.

Gil Cowlishaw 
Director of Music

We are greatly looking forward to welcoming some 300 Year 10 to Sixth Form pupils and their parents to Career Insights 2025 on Saturday 29 March. It promises to be a unique and valuable experience and will give pupils a real insight into the world of work and further study.

Over the course of the morning attendees will have four workshop sessions and hear from our Keynote Speaker, OP Tunde Olanrewaju, Senior Partner with McKinsey & Co in London. The morning starts at 9.30am and finishes at 1.00pm.

Registered Year 10 to Sixth Form pupils and their parents will receive their personalised timetable for the morning, early next week.  

Please arrive in good time for the first session, parking will be in the Orchard.

More information on Careers Insights and an overview of the speakers is available here.

Wednesday 2 April 2025

Parents of students elected to serve on the Prefect Body, for the term of office which commences at the start of the Trinity Term 2025, will have received an invitation from the Headmaster inviting them to attend the Prefect Inauguration Ceremony.

The ceremony takes place on Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 2.35pm, in the Sports Hall, as part of our final assembly of the term, and will be followed by afternoon tea and light refreshments in the Sixth Form Centre.

Replies are due in by Wednesday 26 March.

Team Super Sports are back at Princethorpe College during the Easter Holidays with an action-packed three weeks for children aged 5 to 16 years. From Monday 7 April to Friday 25 April (excluding bank holidays), the Holiday Camps will run from 8.00am to 5.00pm.

Children aged 7 to 16 can choose from a variety of sports to create their own personalised sports camp! For our younger campers (ages 5 to 7), along with sport we’ve got arts, crafts, and dance activities to keep them engaged and having a blast!

Why Team Super Sports? They’re experts in sport and multi-activity holiday camps, providing top-level coaching for all abilities.

Click here to visit the Team Super Sports website to secure your child’s spot.

Camps are priced at £38 per day.

Sibling discounts and flexible booking options available!

Wednesday 9 April, 2.30pm and 4.00pm and Thursday 10 April, 2.30pm and  4.00pm

As part of the Foundation's drive to increase non-fee income, our Commercial Enterprise Team are delighted to be hosting LOL Theatre Company's lovingly adapted production of The Tale of Peter Rabbit in The Clarkson Theatre in the run up to Easter.

When young Peter Rabbit disobeys his mother and enters the forbidden garden belonging to Mr McGreggor, he indulges himself with lettuce, green beans and radishes, however he soon starts to feel sick and goes in search of some parsley to soothe his stomach ache. Who does he encounter when he ventures further into the vegetable patch? None other than Mr McGreggor himself! After a frantic chase, he loses his clothes and his sense of direction. Will Peter Rabbit escape Mr McGreggor's clutches and return home unharmed? More importantly, will he learn his lesson and listen to his mother's warnings next time? Let's hope so!

This 45 minute family friendly production is based on the classic short story by Beatrix Potter and teaches about the importance of listening to warnings, doing the right thing and facing the consequences of your actions. Recommended for ages 4 and above.

This enchanting theatre show brings Beatrix Potter’s beloved characters to life! This is a public performance and all are welcome.

Tickets

• Adult ticket - £10
• Child ticket - £5
• Under 4s go FREE

Click here to book your seats.

Wednesday 30 April - 4.00pm to 5.30pm

Our next English Enrichment Event will take place on Wednesday 30 April, between 4.00pm and 5.30pm in the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre.

Professor Rutter is Professor of Shakespeare and Performance Studies at the University of Warwick, a regular contributor to BBC Radio arts programmes and a rehearsal consultant for the Royal Shakespeare Company. We are delighted to welcome her to Princethorpe to speak on Shakespeare's tragedy Othello.

All A-level English Literature students are expected to attend please, and all other interested students are most welcome, especially Year 11 students considering studying English at A-level.

Helen Pascoe-Williams
Head of English

Summer Exam Season 2025

All pupils have been given their personal exam statement of entry. Timetables and, nearer the time, allocated rooms can be viewed on the pupil and parent portals.

A few pupils have exam clashes, and have been contacted through Teams with a resolution. A clash of exams only occurs when two exams for different subjects are timetabled to start at the same time on the same day.

Where two exams for the same subject are timetabled to start at the same time on the same day, they will be taken one after the other. This applies to IGCSE French, IGCSE Spanish and A-level Maths.

Mr Spencer will be delivering assemblies to Year 11 and Upper Sixth pupils before Easter to outline key advice and information ahead of their study leave.  

Sarah Tsang
Examinations Officer

The Year 11 Subject Progress Evening will take place in person, on Thursday 27 March 2025 from 6.00pm to 8.30pm. Booking is now open through My School Portal for appointments with Year 11 subject teachers.

Michael Spencer 
Deputy Head - Academic

Tuesday 29 April 2025 - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

We would like to invite all parents of Year 8 and 9 pupils to a 360 Review Evening with their child’s Form Tutor. The main part of this will be a 15-minute face-to-face appointment with their Form Tutor to discuss overall progress and involvement in school. There will also be a presentation from senior staff to support pupils’ preparations for the forthcoming internal examination week, as well as the opportunity to meet with the Learning Support department.

Appointments will be available to book from 6.00pm on Thursday 3 April 2025 . We will also email you to remind you nearer to the time.

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

The Spring Hemingway writing competition is now open - this is to create a six word short story. Further details are available on their website here: The Hemingway Contest | International Writing Competition for Students.

The deadline for entries is 31 March 2025.

Julia Lindsay
Challenge Curriculum Co-ordinator

Please click here to view the Challenge Calendar for March. The theme is linked to International Women's History Month. 

As usual, there are range of activities based on a wide range of subjects so there is something for everyone. Any pupil who creates a response to any of the activities should send it to me via Teams or email.

Outstanding work will be rewarded and may also be published in the next edition of the Pinnacle.

Julia Lindsay
Challenge Curriculum Co-ordinator

Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC would like to invite you to participate in any or all of the upcoming services over Easter, including:

Thursday 17 April             
Maundy Thursday Mass      7.00pm Princethorpe College

Friday 18 April                
Good Friday Service             3.00pm Princethorpe College

Sunday 20 April - Easter Sunday           
First Mass of Easter              8.30am St Anne's, Wappenbury
Mass of the Day                    10.30am Princethorpe College

If you would like further information about St Anne's, Wappenbury please use the link here.

Thursday 19 June 2025

We can now confirm that the Headmaster’s Thanksgiving Service and Buffet Supper will be held from 7.00pm on Thursday 19 June 2025 in school.

Please save the date.

Further information will be sent to our Year 11 parents nearer the time.

Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

If the weather over the past week has hinted at a change in the seasons, the imminent changing of the guard in Sixth Form is a reminder that time never stands still for them.  The process to select the new Prefects, which started in the new year, concluded this week with the announcement of the new Prefect Body who will take up their positions in the Trinity Term. 

Nearly two thirds of the year group applied to be Prefects; they submitted written applications which were followed up with Mr du Toit interviewing each candidate. It is a testament to the strength of the year group that the decisions were so difficult.  We send our congratulations to the successful candidates, and we remind those who were disappointed that there remain many more opportunities for them to flourish whilst here in the Sixth Form.

As our Upper Sixth begin their final advance towards exam season, we reminded them this week of the excitement, as well has hard work, which awaits them next term by launching their Yearbook, opening the online shop to purchase leavers hoodies, and publishing details of the much anticipated Leavers’ Ball. Please can we remind you that the deadline for signing up for the Leavers' Ball and Yearbook is next week, by 12.00pm on Monday 24 March 2025. Hoodies can be ordered up until 11.00pm on Sunday 6 April direct from our supplier. Please do get in touch should you need any assistance with these. 

MedSoc Update

In recent weeks, our aspiring medics have been looking at the changes to the UCAT admissions testing for 2025 and testing their skills with a variety of practice questions. This has inspired much debate, particularly regarding the Situational Judgement section of the assessment. 

UCAT timeline 2025

13 May (09:30 BST): UCAT Account creation opens. Bursary and Access Arrangement applications open.

17 June (06:00 BST): Booking opens

7 July Testing starts

It is strongly advised that pupils aim to book their admissions test towards the end of the summer holiday (mid to late August). This allows plenty of time for testing preparation without the additional pressure of school and homework.

We hope all members of the Sixth Form enjoy the final fortnight of school before the Easter holidays and would like to remind you of these key dates.

Career Insights Event - Saturday 29 March 2025

The biennial Career Insights Event is open to Year 10 to Sixth Form pupils and their parents. It provides a ‘one stop careers shop’ with speakers representing a wide range of careers and professions, along with universities on hand to offer advice and guidance. Personalised timetables will be emailed to registered Sixth Formers and their parents early next week.

Prefect Training - Monday 31 March 2025 4.00 - 8.30pm 
Empowering our students to lead with integrity and resilience, Prefect Training provides an invaluable opportunity for personal and professional development. Through interactive workshops and team-building exercises, students will hone their leadership skills and cultivate a sense of responsibility towards their peers and the wider community.

Sixth Form Inauguration and Award Ceremony - Wednesday 2 April 2025

Parents of students elected to serve on the Prefect Body, from the start of the Trinity Term,  will have received an invitation from the Headmaster to attend this special event. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday 2 April at 2.35pm in the Sports Hall, as part of our final assembly of the term. This will be followed by afternoon tea and light refreshments in the Sixth Form Centre.

UCAS and Careers Information Evening - Tuesday 6 May 2025

An opportunity for parents and students  to learn about all aspects of applying to university, including detailed advice about the UCAS application process.

Upper Sixth Last Day - Friday 9 May 2025

A fun last day for our Upper Sixth students to look back and reflect on their time at Princethorpe before their study leave commences.

24/7 Challenge Walk for Mary's Meals - Sunday 11 May 2025

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.

Lower Sixth First Aid Course - Saturday 14 June 2025

An important opportunity for our Lower Sixth students to learn life-saving skills and receive a certified qualification in first aid. If your child is interested in signing up for this please get in touch for more details.

Lower Sixth BBQ - Monday 23 June 2025

We are looking for contributions we can use as prizes for our Lower Sixth Charity BBQ event. If you are able to donate, please do get in touch.

Upper Sixth Leavers' Ball - Monday 30 June 2025

This will be held at Warwick House and is an opportunity for our Upper Sixth students to come together again after their exams to celebrate and enjoy a fun evening.

Tutor Reports for Lower Sixth students will be published on Thursday 3 April 2025 and will be available to view on My School Portal.  

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

Just before we break up for Easter, we will be talking to the Upper Sixth about the benefits of being part of the Old Princethorpians Association once they finish at Princethorpe, and, in particular, the benefits of our OP Friendly Faces scheme.

The scheme links past pupils established at university with Upper Sixth Leavers as they start their first year. Providing a friendly, familiar face to meet up with over a coffee (compliments of the OPs) or having someone to call in their new university town or city, does, we know, make for a smoother experience in those first few weeks away from home.

As many of the current Upper Sixth are receiving their university offers and will soon be choosing their first and second choice destinations, our Alumni Relations and Development Officer, Caroline Spencer, will lead a CoRE session to explain the scheme and invite students to sign up to be matched with a Friendly Face at their first choice university. 

Comments Caroline, "We have OP Friendly Faces in many university towns and cities, and are hoping to expand on that this year so that we can get more of our leavers matched up for the new academic year. Understanding where our current Upper Sixth hope to study will help us plan for next year's scheme."

In the CoRE session, Caroline will walk the students through the sign up process to join Princethorpe Connect, our online alumni community, where they can request to be matched with a Friendly Face. This platform will then serve as the main portal through which former pupils and their parents can stay in touch with each other and the school. All leavers and their parents are automatically given free membership of the OP Association and are welcome at all of our events, but creating a profile on PC Connect will provide the member with exclusive alumni benefits, such as access to OP events, the private photo gallery, and our termly OP e-newsletter. 

For more information, please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

The Princethorpe Foundation has switched all its vehicles to biofuels. Everything that runs on a diesel engine is now using a renewable hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel (HVO). The  change applies to the whole Foundation vehicle fleet which includes the minibuses across all our schools, as well as the vehicles used by the Estates and Grounds teams between the sites. Furthermore, the greener fuel will also run our utility buggy, tractors, ride-on mowers and the generator floodlights used to illuminate playing fields in the winter.

The biofuel, a ‘green diesel’, is expected to cut the fleet’s carbon emissions by up to 90% and supports the Foundation’s drive to become sustainable and its commitment to become carbon neutral, whilst making sure that our environment is safe, fit-for-purpose and healthy.

The HVO fuel is manufactured from 100% renewable and sustainable waste vegetable fats and oils, it is a drop-in fuel so has not required any modifications to the vehicle engines.

Foundation Director of Facilities, Rob Heath, comments, “The move to biofuel will reduce vehicle emissions from our fleet and is one of a number of impactful steps we are taking to become carbon neutral.”

Next term, Princethorpe's four Houses will be taking part in a ‘yarn bombing’ challenge.

The goal is for each House to yarn bomb one of the trees that line the driveway leading into the school. Each tree will feature a variety of colours, with a predominant focus on the House colour of that team.

We are seeking donations of wool to help us get started with knitting and crocheting. Additionally, if you would like to contribute a Granny square or knitted square, we would be very grateful.

Please send your wool donations to the Pupil Hub, addressed to Mrs Nelson.

Thank you for your support!

Kati Nelson
Teacher in charge of Textiles

The process of organising the return visit of our Dutch hosts from October 2024 is now well under way. We are looking forward to reciprocating the fantastic experience our pupils received during our four night stay with the players from Hopbel Hockey Club. 

The return dates are from Saturday 26 April through to Wednesday 30 April 2025. These dates are at the start of the Trinity Term to allow all year groups to host if they wish. 

The girls and boys are a variety of ages, between 13 and 16. This may be of interest if your child would like to participate in the Holland visit in October 2025 (current Year 9 boys and girls), however this invitation is open to all families. In order to help, we are looking for families who can offer to host a pair (or more) of Dutch visitors and are willing to entertain and involve them in your family life for either all, or some, of the four nights, we can look at visitors moving between families and are happy to discuss this further.

We will organise an itinerary of fixtures and activities during the school days and a BBQ for our guests with their host families on Sunday 27 April.  Please see the following provisional draft itinerary. We will let you know who the other host families are so that you can organise other events together if you wish. We will supply bus tickets for the Dutch visitors should these be required but they will need to be picked up after fixtures each day from College.

Due to the requisite safeguarding checks, all adults (members of the family over 18-years-old) within the household must hold an enhanced DBS certificate, to be sent for by the Princethorpe Foundation, even if they currently have a DBS certificate from another employer. If you are subscribed to the DBS Update Service, please do let us know. 

Please use our online system here to book an appointment. The DBS check has to be done within the three months prior to the visit. It will only take 15 minutes per person to apply for the DBS certificates, and one person from the household can bring the documentation on behalf of everyone in the household. 

One booking is usually long enough for two applications, if there are more people within  the household requiring checks, please book multiple slots.

If you have any questions, or cannot make any of the allocated appointment slots please do contact Claire Wildsmith or Suz Jeffery on 01926 634269 or by email to recruitment@princethorpe.co.uk 

Bringing the correct documentation is critical to the application process, please see the attached document entitled 'Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks’ for the ID documentation required.

Many thanks for your continued support of Princethorpe Sport and we hope that you can continue this by hosting some Dutch guests in April.

Any items of sports kit that require initialling during the Easter holidays should be brought into the school shop prior to Thursday 3 April 2025 in a clearly named bag with a completed form attached.

If you do not have access to a printer a form may be collected from the School Shop in advance at break or lunch time. Please note all articles of clothing must be new or freshly laundered and dry, if they are to be sent to the embroiderers. This service is only available on items bought directly from the School Shop that have not been previously embroidered.

Initialling is not compulsory but is highly recommended to look professional, help reunite any lost items with the owner and is already included in the price. Initials can be a maximum of three letters and should not spell out a first name or nickname. 

Items will be ready for collection from the school shop when school re-opens on Monday 28 April 2025.

If you have any queries please contact the school shop on 01926 634272 or email uniform@princethorpe.co.uk

Barbara Bromwich
Foundation Shop Manager

The Year 8 Forensic Club will run on Wednesday lunchtimes from Wednesday 30 April  until Wednesday 11 June, at 1.05pm to 1.30pm in SF05, with the finale crime scene on Wednesday 11 June from 4.00pm to 6.00pm.

There are only 20 spaces available, so if your child is interested in attending, they can either Teams message Mrs Curtis, or email at samcurtis@princethorpe.co.uk, to reserve their place

Sam Curtis
Teacher of Chemistry

The Innovation and Adventure Days this year take place during the last week of term on Monday 30 June and Tuesday 1 July. Normal lessons are suspended and a wide variety of activities are on offer at school and off-site. 

Activity details and consent forms have been sent to pupils this week. Please be reminded that the deadline for receiving consent to take part in the activities is the end of term on Thursday 3 April.  Activities are offered on a first come, first served basis.  

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

We have some really exciting opportunities and the days will be a great way to end the year.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular and Operations

Bronze 24-25 have an assembly at tutor time on Wednesday 26 March ahead of the expeditions over Easter. Mr Stapleton will be helping participants with any questions, meal preparations and packing. We will be revealing the walking groups, that have been put together very carefully ensuring everyone is with one or more of their requested friends.  

Silver 24-25 have a meeting at lunchtime 1.05pm - 1.30pm on Wednesday 26 March.  Mr Stapleton will be helping participants with any questions, meal preparations and packing.

Gold 24-25 have a meeting at lunchtime 1.05pm - 1.30pm on Thursday 27 March. Mr Stapleton will be helping participants with any questions, meal preparations and packing. We will be revealing the walking groups, that have been put together very carefully ensuring everyone is with one or more of their requested friends.  

All participants - This year's scheme has now been running for over six months and participants should be requesting Assessor Reports from their Assessor for any three or six month activities. Participants should be proactive in this ensuring the sections are signed off in good time to complete their award.

Participants are reminded to check their Teams messages. Please check in with your participant to ensure they are making full use of the support on offer. There is lots of information under the 'Files' tab including a document with links to free online courses that would count towards the Skill or Volunteering sections. 

Participants are encouraged to use Teams chats with their Young Leader or individually with Tamsin Frost, Natalie Hardy or Sion Murphy for any extra help.

The presentation, expedition dates and other useful information including the links to online courses is still live on My School Portal under the Co-curricular - Princethorpe page. Link here.

For any Duke of Edinburgh's Award enquires please use the dedicated email dofe@princethorpe.co.uk with the subject DofE-B, S or G-Surname.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head (Co-curricular and Operations)

The PTA support the school with many events throughout the year and we are currently looking for volunteers to help. 

If you can spare some time, please fill in the form linked here.  Any help you can offer would be gratefully received. 

Our PTA secretary, Melanie Flegg, will email you closer to the time with further details of events we need help at.

Please feel free to share this plea for help with any other members of the school community  that may also be able to volunteer. 

Our upcoming events that we need help at are:

Peter Rabbit performances:

Wednesday 9 April - 1.30pm

Wednesday 9 April - 4.00pm

Thursday 10 April - 1.30pm

Thursday 10  April - 4.00pm

Princethorpe College Summer Musical Theatre production (times to be confirmed): 

Thursday 12 June

Friday 13 June

Saturday 14 June

Summer Fest (time to be confirmed):

Sunday 29 June 

Thank you in advance for your support. 

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

Thank you for your support. 

Princethorpe PTA

The 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 are not already registered, please visit our Easyfundraising page here.

We are hoping with to buy a 3D printer for the Technology Department with the money raised via Easyfundraising. This will really make a difference to the department and students! 

Thank you for your support.

Please click here to view a copy of the current catering menus. 

If you have any questions regarding the selection of food we have on offer here at Princethorpe College, especially if related to any allergies or specific food requirements, please feel free to email andrewwilliams@princethorpe.co.uk as we aim to cater for all needs.

Andrew Williams
Catering Manager

The College's new cashless catering payment system, +Pay, has been live since the start of term, allowing parents to pay via mobile app and also via Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Parents can also see an itemised breakdown of all their child's purchases in +Pay, helping them to track spending and support their child with making healthy choices.

If you want to see what your child has purchased each day, follow the below instructions.

1. Log into +Pay
2. Open 'Accounts'
3. Click on Dinner Topup
4. Click on 'Statements' (at the bottom of the screen)
5. Click on the month to see how much has been spent each day
6. Click on a specific date to see the items purchased on that date

Did you know you can also setup Automatic Top-up, so that +Pay automatically takes a payment when the balance drops below a certain value, saving you the time and effort of logging in and topping up the account? More information on this can be found here:  Automatic Top-ups

Should you have any further questions regarding +Pay, or require any assistance, please email cashless@princethorpe.co.uk.

Andy Compton
Foundation Director of Digital Strategy

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

+Pay catering - cashless@princethorpe.co.uk

Email addresses for members of teaching staff can be found on My School Portal.

Please see below our current vacancies:

Princethorpe College

• Teacher of English
• Teacher of Physics
• Attendance and Pupil Support Officer

Crescent School

• After School Manager

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

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

We are delighted to welcome Sean Curley to the Grounds Department as an Apprentice Grounds Operative. 

Sean has experience of various roles with an engineering background and has now taken the opportunity to have a career change and is currently studying towards a Garden Design and Maintenance Diploma which will perfectly support his role at Princethorpe.

Outside of school, Sean enjoys spending his time with his family, playing football and cycling.