Year 8 pupils enjoyed a hugely successful three-day bushcraft trip where they learned survival skills while enjoying the great outdoors. They visited Boughton Woods in Northamptonshire from Saturday 10 to Monday 12 May and took part in a range of activities including shelter building, camouflage, campfire making, wilderness first aid and other bushcraft skills. They enjoyed wilderness walks and campfire camaraderie, developed their team working skills, made new friendships and generally all had a wonderful time. 

Princethorpe College’s Inter Boys delivered top scoring performances to finish in first place at the Warwickshire Schools Combined Events Championships. Hot on their heels were the Inter Girls, Junior Girls and Minor Girls whose determination led to second place finishes, with Junior Boys and a second Minor Girls team finishing in overall third place. It was an excellent early season athletics outing for Princethorpe at the Warwickshire Schools Combined Events, at The Pingles Stadium, in Nuneaton, on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 May.

Schools from across the county sent their best athletes to the two-day event. Standards were high as competitors aimed to accrue as many points as possible across the track and field events.

The Inter Boys had the Long Jump, High Jump, Javelin, Discus, Shot, 100m Hurdles, 400m and the 1500m to contend with in their Octathlon event. Max Kiely finished 2nd overall with Stephen Upton 3rd, Jo Sheeran 6th and Nashe Darare 9th their super scores helped Princethorpe to overall team first place.

The Inter Girls took on the Heptathlon competing in the 80m Hurdles, High Jump, Shot, 200m, Long Jump, Javelin and an 800m middle distance run. Ayla Plumb finished 5th overall, with Lola Esler just behind in 6th, Darcey Wolsey 9th and Faith Katanda 10th, their hard work delivered team second place.

The Junior Girls competed in the Pentathlon, with the athletes enjoying the 75m Hurdles, Shot, High Jump, Long Jump and an 800m run. An amazing performance ensured Dami Ajagunna finished 1st overall, Natalya Warwood 6th and Emily Divers 12th. Their scores helped Princethorpe’s team finish second overall.

The Minor Girls had great results in the Quadrathlon events, 80m Sprint, Long Jump, Shot and a 600m run. A super performance helped Lucile Bell-Barth finish 2nd, while Freya Harvey came in 6th, Sofie Major 9th, Jessica Parker 10th, Mila Foulerton 12th and Zarah Chime 16th, ensuring Princethorpe’s two teams came in second and third place overall.

The Junior Boys took on the Pentathlon with the 80m Hurdles, Shot, Long Jump, High Jump and 800m events. George Knott finished 5th, Dax Frost 6th and Rufus Jones helping Princethorpe’s team finish third overall.

Then the Minor Boys took on an 80m sprint, the Long Jump, Shot and a 600m run. Rupert Harrison came 6th, Zac Herring 17th, Elliot Black 19th, Ollie Morgan 22nd, Isaac Mainwaring 26th and Albert Nash 27th , taking Princethorpe’s two teams to sixth and seventh place.

After a successful two days, Director of Sport, Lee Cassell, was pleased with excellent early season results, commenting, “Princethorpe’s athletes shone across all the disciplines delivering outstanding performances in both field and track events. Well done to them all.”

In April, pupils from Princethorpe College participated in the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Junior Mathematics Challenge, a prestigious national competition designed to promote problem-solving and reward mathematical excellence amongst the best young mathematicians in the country. The Challenge, which takes the form of a multiple-choice assessment, is open to pupils in Years 7 and 8 , with all papers submitted to the UKMT for marking. High-achieving candidates are awarded Bronze, Silver, or Gold certificates in recognition of their performance.

This year, 87 of Princethorpe’s most promising young mathematicians were selected to take part. The College is delighted to report that its pupils achieved outstanding results, reflecting both their ability and the strength of mathematics teaching at Princethorpe.

Special congratulations are extended to Tegan McLeod (Year 8), who not only achieved a Gold certificate, but also emerged as the highest-scoring pupil in the school. Tegan, along with Ethan Simons and Arthur Cowell, achieved scores qualifying them for the next stage of the competition - the highly demanding Intermediate Kangaroo round.

The full list of award recipients is as follows:

Gold Certificate:
Tegan McLeod, Ethan Simons, Arthur Cowell, Eloise Burchill, Darcey Carroll, Max Sanger, Monty Lester, Austin Newbold, Jessica Parker, Darcey Wilcox-Smith.

Silver Certificate:
George Williams, Mila Foulerton, Rufus Jones, William Shaw, Jay Jonah, Emilia Novissimo-Richards, Gwenan Roberts, Leo Warne, Evelyn Waterworth, Elora Hughes, Theo Cowlishaw, Chey Okpala, Dylan Llewellyn, Lucile Bell-Barth, William Hinojosa Thewlis, Jacob Read, Isaac Mainwaring, Atty Taylor, Luka Vrljicak, Jasper Robbins, Oakley Smith, Ellie Gane, Darcey Sutton, Rory Gordon.

Bronze Certificate:
Alfie Burden, Yahya Abedi, Isabella Messenger, Florence Munn, Sofia Papadogiannakis, Leela Blythe, Jairam Palagani, Aaryan Maindola, Amelie Shay, Harper Lloyd, Imogen Hogg, Euan Smith-Rolfe, Alex Taylor, Sam Bierton, Eloise Joyner, Thabiso Mpofu, Eloise Scares, Sebastian Rotheram, Gilbert Millward-Boyton, Sophie Crawford, Jayden Ateh, Delilah Clay, Harry McBean, Isaac Fox, Leani Du Toit, Jessica Blythe, Cassandra Quirke, Annabelle Sparkes, Charlie Millward, Max Wither, Lennon Alcock.

Well done to them all and many thanks to all the pupils who took part, we hope you enjoyed the challenge.

Theo Scoutas
Post-16 Mathematics Co-ordinator
 

Princethorpe has just received its first review from popular online platform, Muddy Stilettos.

An editor from Muddy visited the College in April, met with Grove du Toit, the Headmaster and was toured round school by two of our Lower Sixth Formers.

The very positive review describes the College as 'An idyllically-placed selective independent co-ed Catholic day school for 11-18s in rural Warwickshire with a family feel, excellent pastoral care and excellent academics.'

To read the Review in full click here.

At this year’s Career Insights Event, we were honoured to welcome back Old Princethorpian Tunde Olanrewaju (Class of 1998) as our keynote speaker. Now a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and Managing Partner for McKinsey across Europe, Tunde spoke candidly about his path from Princethorpe to global leadership — and the profound impact the College had on him during a defining period in his life.

Tunde’s talk was hugely inspiring for the pupils but also for all the adults in the hall who had the privilege to hear him speak. 

"Princethorpe was a very, very big piece of why I could make it through that period of my life," he said. He reflected on the encouragement, care and quiet generosity he received from staff and fellow pupils, and the sense of community that has stayed with him ever since.

To express his gratitude and give others the same opportunity, Tunde announced a personal gift of £100,000 to Princethorpe College.

"Because of how much Princethorpe has done for us and our family, we want to make a donation… to make sure that others can benefit from what we also had."

This landmark gift will support the Foundation’s vision to widen access, invest in the pupil experience, and strengthen our schools for the future. At a time when government policy has added VAT to independent school fees and removed business rate relief, gifts of this kind are even more important to the continued success of our Development programme, which aims to reduce reliance on fee income and ensure pupils from all backgrounds can flourish.

But this year’s success goes far beyond this one generous gift. Since September, the Foundation has seen a record-breaking wave of support from across the Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent communities. More than £500,000 has been pledged so far — the highest ever annual total — with over £300,000 to the Annual Fund alone. These figures reflect the growing strength of our culture of giving, and the combined effort of parents, former parents, alumni, and friends who are choosing to make a difference.

That support is already at work, funding bursaries and hardship support, enhancing facilities, and advancing key capital projects across our schools.

Recent fundraising income has:

• Helped over 100 pupils and families through bursaries and fee assistance
• Supported the Friends of Crescent with the funding of the Barnaby Friendship Garden at Crescent School
• Enabled the refurbishment of changing rooms on the playing fields at Crackley Hall
• Backed the final phase of funding for the Princethorpe Smallholding project
• Contributed to ongoing heritage restoration of our Grade II-listed buildings

Every gift — no matter the size — adds up to meaningful change. This momentum is being powered by the collective generosity of our community, and it’s clear that, together, we are achieving something extraordinary.

Development Director, Steve Kowal comments:
 "Tunde’s donation is a deeply meaningful gift. Not just because of its size, but because of what it represents — a belief in the power of a Princethorpe education to shape lives, and a desire to give something back. Philanthropy is increasingly essential to our future, and this gift, alongside so many others, will have a lasting impact."

Tunde’s gift joins a growing number of significant donations made in recent years, reflecting a renewed culture of giving across our Foundation. Whether through the Annual Fund, major gifts, or legacy pledges, each contribution supports our schools and pupils — now and in the years ahead.

If you would like to be part of this journey, visit www.princethorpe.co.uk/support-us, contact the Development Office directly at makingadifference@princethorpe.co.uk or call Steve Kowal on 01926 634265.

Huge congratulations to our Lower Sixth Formers who took on the challenge of walking 24 miles in 7 hours on Sunday 11 May. As always, our Sixth Form students were walking in aid of Mary’s Meals raising money to feed the children of Makalanga Primary School in Malawi. Remember just £19.15 feeds one child for a whole year and you can still support the students fundraising here.

We had a few tender feet in school the following day, after a really superhuman effort from them all. 30 students took on the challenge in very warm walking conditions. Henry was home first by a matter of minutes completing the distance in 7 hours and 30 minutes but he was quickly followed over the line by the rest of the group. A huge well done to them all, as everyone had completed the challenge by 4.30pm.

It was great to welcome Mary's Meals stalwart, former Assistant Head of Sixth Form, Rod Isaacs, to our challenge. He couldn't resist joining us for the day. Thanks to all the staff who made the event possible.

Please do consider supporting our walkers as they certainly all went the extra mile for our fundraising for Mary's Meals.

On Wednesday 14 May, the College welcomed visitors from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart [MSC] Generalate in Rome.  Fathers Chris and Gene were in the UK visiting members of the congregation and spent time at Princethorpe talking to members of the Chaplaincy Team, the Headmaster and the Foundation Principal. Both visitors were thankful for the warm welcome, the tasty lunch in the refectory, the impressive campus and the continued work of the College in preserving and enhancing the ethos and spirituality of the founder of the MSCs, Fr Jules Chevalier.

Our recent Religious Studies A-level Level interfaith trip to the Houses of Parliament in London, organised by the Interfaith Religions UK Initiative, was a unique and enriching experience. Students from various schools across Coventry and Warwickshire came together to meet with the Faith Minister, Lord Khan of Burnley and Coventry MP, Zarah Sultana. This unique gathering provided an invaluable opportunity to ask questions and reflect on how we can address social justice and interfaith issues within our own communities.

Zarah Sultana shared her personal experiences with Islamophobia and emphasised how her desire to serve, deeply rooted in her faith, drives her commitment to promoting peace, justice, and harmony in society. Her words were truly inspiring.

Another remarkable highlight of the day was a visit to the public gallery in the Houses of Parliament, where we witnessed Ed Miliband in action during a live debate on green energy issues. This memorable day left us incredibly proud of our RS A-level students and their commitment to peace, justice and social responsibility.

My Reflection on the Interfaith Religious Studies Trip, by Isabella Price:  

Our day began with an early start at Blue Coat Church of England School in Coventry, where we boarded a coach to Westminster, London. We met students from various schools with different faiths and reconnected with speakers from Coventry University, whom we had previously heard at an interfaith workshop in November. It was wonderful to chat with students from other schools, learning about their beliefs and school ethos.

On the coach, the interfaith speakers handed out maps to all students, each school receiving a different map based on their location. This activity was designed to get us thinking about knife crime, preparing us for the afternoon talks. We identified places in our area where we feel safe to discuss our beliefs and shared these with students from other schools.

Upon arrival, we headed to the Gallery in Parliament to witness a debate on green and nuclear energy. Seeing the debate live was far more engaging than watching it online. The setup, the mics at every chair, and the public viewing area were fascinating. It was an honour to be there and gain insights into the topic and the debate process.

Next, we moved to a conference room for a talk by an interfaith speaker from the United Religions Initiative UK, followed by a PowerPoint presentation from teachers. The activities focused on knife crime, faith, and safety, encouraging us to think about community issues and solutions. Each school formulated a question for the faith minister and MP to address.

Before returning to Blue Coat School, we listened to the faith minister and Coventry MP discuss their roles and views on faith and safety in our community. Their passionate and personal insights were enlightening, and the Q&A session was very informative.

Overall, the trip was educational and interactive. I learned about the challenges people face in expressing their faith safely and the importance of creating an inclusive environment for all. My favourite part was witnessing the parliamentary debate, but I also enjoyed meeting new people and faith experts.

More pupils share their reflections and highlights from the day - 

Heloise:

Witnessing and learning about the diverse religions and cultures from various schools was truly enlightening. Meeting the faith minister, Lord Khan of Burnley, was a highlight; his enthusiasm and engagement for Religious Studies and Inter faith Issues which affect us all was truly inspiring. My favourite part of the day was observing the debate on green energy from the public gallery.

Andrea:

The most enjoyable aspect of this experience was watching the debate on green energy in the Houses of Parliament. It was incredibly informative, and I am eager to attend another debate in the future. It was a unique opportunity to enter Lord Khan’s chamber and hear him address questions about interfaith and youth involvement.

The latest edition of the Old Princethorpian, the Princethorpe Foundation’s termly alumni e-newsletter for past pupils, staff and parents has just been published. If you haven’t seen it yet then you can find it here.

The newsletter aims to keep our alumni in touch with each other and news, developments and events across the Foundation. It includes the latest Foundation and College news, and plenty of news and updates from OPs across the decades.

Upcoming exciting events open to our OPs include our popular annual Summer Supper Reunion as well as Princethorpe's first ever Summer Fest. Full details can be found in the Events section on Princethorpe Connect here.

We hope everyone enjoys reading the newsletter and finding out what is going on in the alumni community. Please do share it with any alumni you know.

The sun was shining and the bluebells were thankfully still in bloom, as we welcomed back a lovely mix of OPs, former and current staff, and former parents to the OPs Bluebells and Brunch on Saturday 10 May.

For some guests, it was their first return to the College since leaving as pupils. Amongst the gathering were pupils spanning every decade of Princethorpe College history, as well as current parents of Crescent and Crackley pupils. Babies and young children were also in tow!

With appetites well and truly satisfied after a delicious brunch in the Refectory, the group enjoyed a tour of the campus and the morning was topped off by a leisurely stroll along the Mile Walk.

For the full story and photos from the morning, visit Princethorpe Connect, here. 

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new celebration of Old Princethorpians - The Princethorpe Foundation Alumni Award.

This new annual honour will recognise exceptional former pupils from across all our Foundation schools who have made a real difference — in their careers, their communities, or through their continued support of the College and our wider Foundation.

Whether they’ve reached the heights of their profession, gone above and beyond to help others, or shown remarkable commitment to giving back, this award is all about celebrating the very best of what it means to be a Princethorpian.

Who’s eligible?
Any former pupil of Princethorpe College, Crackley Hall or Crescent School, or our heritage schools – St Joseph’s Convent School, Abbotsford, St Bede’s College, or St Mary’s Priory – can be nominated.

What are we looking for?
We want to hear about OPs who:

• Have achieved something outstanding in their chosen field
• Are making a difference in their local , national or global community
• Continue to embody the ethos of the Princethorpe Foundation and give back in meaningful ways

Why now?
Our alumni community is full of incredible individuals quietly achieving amazing things. This award gives us the chance to recognise and celebrate that brilliance - and, in doing so, inspire today’s pupils with stories of what’s possible beyond the classroom.

When can I nominate someone?
Nominations will open on Monday 16 June 2025 and close on Monday 8 September. During this nine week window, you’ll be able to nominate someone else, or even yourself, via a quick and easy form on Princethorpe Connect. The winner will be celebrated at Prize Giving in November.

We’ll be sharing more in the coming weeks, including details of how to submit a nomination. For now, start thinking: who do you know that deserves to be recognised?

We hope this new award becomes a proud tradition for the Princethorpe Foundation – one that reflects the talent, generosity and spirit that makes our OP community so special.

For more information or to ask a question, email us at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

On Friday 10 May, Princethorpe College hosted Peeps of Princethorpe – a special evening held in appreciation of those who so generously support the work of the Princethorpe Foundation.

Organised by the Development Team, the event welcomed supporters from across the Foundation community, including Old Princethorpians, current and former parents, and staff past and present.

Guests were treated to a memorable evening that began with a warm welcome from Foundation Principal, Ed Hester. Drawing on excerpts from historic editions of Peeps of Princethorpe – the magazine of our heritage school, St Mary’s Priory – Ed reflected on VE Day in 1945 and the inauguration of Pope Pius X in 1904, offering a poignant link between past and present.

Foundation Archivist, Jo Wong, then delivered a fascinating presentation, opening a window into the hidden history of the College and sparking lively discussion among attendees.

An exclusive guided tour followed, giving guests the rare opportunity to explore parts of the College not usually accessible to pupils or parents. These included the Organ Loft, the Cellar and historic Cider Cellar, Little Switzerland, the Nun’s Library, the main Library, and the iconic Quad – each full of stories and heritage.

The evening concluded with a relaxed buffet and drinks reception, where conversation and connection flourished.

Development Director, Steve Kowal, shares his thanks with donors, saying:

“We were thrilled to welcome so many supporters to this year’s Peeps of Princethorpe. The generosity of our donors continues to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of our pupils across all three Foundation schools – these donations are shaping experiences and opportunities every day. We are deeply grateful.

Thank you for being part of our community, and for all you do to ensure our schools remain places of inspiration, opportunity and care.”

The event was a great success, with many guests leaving with a renewed appreciation for the Foundation’s story – and the impact of their giving. The College looks forward to hosting similar events in the future.

To learn more about the work of the Development Team and the difference your support makes, visit connect.princethorpe.co.uk/supportus or email makingadifference@princethorpe.co.uk.

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

Primary School Sport Liaison Teacher, Hannah Carminati, masterminded the event which had all the teams out on four pitches playing a round robin of 12-minute, one-way matches.  Organsied and refereed by Princethorpe Sixth Form Sports Leaders, the mixed teams of girls and boys threw themselves into each game enjoying the opportunity of putting their skills into practice in a competitive environment.  

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

Congratulations go to overall winners Crescent School who won six of their seven games and scored an incredible 24 goals. Well done to Milverton who finished second and Grange Farm who came third.

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

Taking part in the tournament this year were teams from Barford St Peter's CofE Primary School, Bishops Itchington Primary School, Bilton CofE Junior School, Claverdon Primary School, Crescent School, Grange Farm Primary School, Long Itchington Primary School and Milverton Primary School.

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

Saturday 24 May and Sunday 25 May 2025

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

This year’s event includes classes at 70cm, 80cm, 90cm and 100cm for school and riding club teams. The best performing school will be awarded the Winner's Cup and ISA member school teams will also compete for ISA rosettes.

The two day event takes place across the weekend of 24 to 25 May, organised in conjunction with Stoneleigh Riding Club and now in its tenth year on the College estate, the Saturday programme features Dressage and Show Jumping and the Sunday Cross Country. 

There is usually a food van, an ice cream van and a few trade stands or visitors can bring a picnic.

Entry to the event is free and spectators are most welcome to come along and enjoy a wonderful weekend of exciting equestrian sport. There is usually a food van, an ice cream van and a few trade stands or you can bring a picnic.

To find out more click here.

Team Super Sports Camps are back for May Half Term! The camps are held at Princethorpe College from Tuesday 27 May to Friday 29 May, 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!

Check out this video of the Super Sports Camp at Princethorpe to see what they get up to. 

Camps are priced at £38 per day. 

Sibling discounts and flexible booking options available!

Click here to book your Team Super Sports camps 

Wednesday 4 June - 6.30pm to 8.30pm

The College's annual Summer Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 4 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. This is a perfect opportunity for prospective families looking for a place in September 2026 and beyond to visit the school, for children to take part in departmental activities and for parents to meet and chat to members of staff and pupils.

The Headmaster, Grove du Toit, will also address visitors during the evening. Light refreshments will be available.

Please click here to book your place. 

2025 Entry

Due to significant continued interest we are planning a final Summer Entrance Exams session on Monday 9 June for candidates still looking for a place in Years 7 to 10 for September 2025. The Entrance Exams have been scheduled to take place after our Open Evening on Wednesday 4 June, so candidates can visit the school before they take the exams.

Please click here for more information

Year 5 Taster Day

Thursday 19 June 2025

Last few places remaining on our final Year 5 Taster Day on Thursday 19 June. 

To book your place click here.

Booking for Year 6 Taster Days in September 2025 will open shortly.

Following on from the sell-out production of School of Rock, and in our first ever Musical Theatre production cast entirely using KS3 performers pupils, Disney’s Newsies JR. is playing at the Clarkson Theatre from Thursday 12 June to Saturday 14 June. The inspiring one-act musical, designed for Key Stage 3 performers, is based on the 1992 Disney film Newsies and the 2012 Broadway production of the same name, both of which were inspired by real-life events. The Princethorpe cast includes 40 students from Y7-9, and it promises to be an amazing show packed with young talent.

It’s time to carry the banner with Disney’s Newsies JR.! You’ll be doing flips for the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of young newsies in Manhattan. When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsies’ expense, Jack rallies young workers from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right! Adapted especially for young performers, this musical features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, and includes rousing songs like “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “King of New York.” Newsies JR. is packed with nonstop thrills and a timeless message perfect for the whole family and every audience. 

For information on purchasing tickets please visit the link here.  The Clarkson Theatre has a limited number of seats, so if you can no longer make the performance you have booked, please cancel your booking through Eventbrite so that other families are able to book.

Disney’s Newsies JR. is presented through special arrangement with, and all materials are provided by, Music Theatre International.

Thursday 26 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 29 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

A celebration of the College pupils' GCSE and A-level Art, Photography, Textile and Design work will take place in the Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 26 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 29 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

A range of design and technology projects, from resistant materials to textiles, will be showcased alongside the stunning art and photography work the College is renowned for.

Comments, Paul Hubball, Head of Art, "This is a great opportunity to share our pupils' fantastic creativity with a wider audience and to welcome more art and design lovers to Princethorpe."

All are welcome. On Thursday evening admission is free, on the Sunday admission will be £5 per car including entry to the College's Summer Fest. 

Sunday 29 June - 11.00am to 7.00pm

Princethorpe’s PTA are joining forces with the Foundation’s Commercial Enterprises Team to host a new exciting event – Princethorpe Summer Fest.

Join us for an unforgettable day building on the success of the PTA's Summer Fête and Motoring Festival!

Mark your calendars for Sunday 29 June, from 11.00am to 7.00pm, and get ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration featuring:

• Live Music
• Performances from local groups
• Stunning Vintage Car Display
• Craft and Beauty stalls selling lots of amazing products
• Exquisite Art Exhibition
• Fun-filled Activities, Games, and Crafts for all ages!

And that's not all! 

For £10 enjoy an array of large-scale inflatables and games at the PTA Fun Zone! 

Indulge in a delightful array of food and drink including: 

• 🍟 The Rollin Bowls
• 🍕 Santina’s Wood Fired Pizza Co
• 🍪 Mils Cookies
• 🇪🇸 Tapas Zampa
• 🍔 Moo Hatch
• 🌮 Taco Lab  
• ☕ No13 Coffee Roasters 

Don't miss out on this spectacular event—bring your friends and family for a day of entertainment, creativity, and delicious treats!

Entry is £5 per car to be paid on the day. To get your tickets click here. 

With thanks to our generous sponsor, Carter and King.

Warwickshire Libraries are delighted to announce that the competition to become Young Poet Laureate 2025/26 is now open. The search is on for the county's eleventh Young Poet Laureate, who will succeed Ananditha Venkatramanan in the role for 2025/26.

The competition is open to anyone aged between 13 and 17 who lives and is educated in Warwickshire and who would like to perform their own poetry to an audience. The Young Poet Laureate will take part in events and activities across the county and is offered the mentorship of a professional poet. Past Warwickshire Young Poet Laureates have performed on the radio, on film, at festivals and led their own poetry workshops.

For further information please click here.

Nicola Treadwell
Head Librarian

As we head into the Trinity term, the library is excited to share our Literacy Road, which marks the events we will be celebrating and promoting this term with our excellent range of related reads.

Please click here for details.

Nicola Treadwell
Head Librarian

As we have now passed the half-way stage of GCSEs I wanted to congratulate Year 11 on all their hard work and the mature manner with which they have approached the examination season. I have encouraged them to take one full day off over the half-term week, and have also cautioned them against complacency in the latter weeks of exams. 

Please continue to keep us informed of any issues that arise and thank you for your continued support from home. 

Michael Spencer 
Deputy Head – Academic 

This week pupils have completed their internal examinations, and we have been hugely impressed by their maturity and focus, in what is a potentially stressful week.  

We have asked teachers not to share any results until after the half-term holiday and so pupils can focus on relaxing, reading and enjoying time with family and friends.   

After half-term pupils will begin to receive feedback on their assessments and grades will go home in reports in the weeks that follow. As I have emphasised to pupils in my assemblies recently, it is important to remember that these results do not ‘count’ for anything in themselves but provide useful information about how to improve going forwards. 

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic 
 

The Year 10 Subject Progress Evening will take place online on Wednesday 18 June, from 5.00pm to 8.30pm. Details of how to book appointments will be emailed week commencing Monday 9 June 2025.

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

As we reach the half-term break, we would like to take this opportunity to remind all families of the importance of regularly checking your child’s school uniform and Games/PE kit to ensure that it remains in good condition and continues to meet our dress code expectations.

We are aware that pupils can experience significant growth over the academic year, and as such, items such as shirts and skirts can quickly become ill-fitting. In particular, we have noticed instances where shirts are too short in the body and are no longer able to remain neatly tucked in, and skirts have become too short as a result of recent growth.

We are also aware that some pupils are choosing to roll their skirts at the waistband, which gives the impression that the skirts are shorter than they actually are. We are keen to avoid asking parents to replace items of uniform that are still appropriate but are not being worn correctly. We therefore ask for your support in reinforcing expectations at home, reminding your child that skirts must be worn at the knee and unaltered.

As an alternative to wearing a skirt, girls may choose to wear the school trousers, which are a fully acceptable and smart option in line with our uniform policy.

With the weather continuing to improve and the days becoming warmer, we recommend that jumpers be left at home. However, blazers remain a compulsory part of the school uniform and must be worn at all times unless permission is given by a member of staff to remove them.

Please also be reminded that jewellery should be kept to a minimum and must consist of only one small stud earring per ear. False nails and false eyelashes are not part of our school uniform and should not be worn. If your child requires any adjustments to the uniform for medical reasons, please contact matron via matron@princethorpe.co.uk in advance so we can support accordingly.

Additionally, please note that any ripped or damaged uniform or kit must be mended or replaced to maintain a smart and tidy appearance.

We ask that you take some time over the half-term to review your child’s uniform and, if needed, contact the uniform shop via uniform@princethorpe.co.uk to arrange for any necessary replacements.

After the half-term break, we will be conducting uniform checks to ensure all pupils are dressed in line with our policy. As a reminder:

• Skirts must be knee-length and unaltered
• Shirts should be of a suitable length to remain tucked in throughout the school day
• Ripped or damaged uniform or kit should be repaired or replaced promptly
• Shoes and socks should be black in colour
• Trainers are not permitted as a substitute for school shoes
• Blazers must be worn at all times unless directed otherwise by a member of staff
• Jumpers are optional but may be unnecessary in warmer weather
• Jewellery must be limited to one small stud earring per ear
• False nails and false eyelashes are not permitted
• Uniform should be clean, well-fitted, and worn smartly at all times

For your convenience, our Princethorpe College Parent and Pupil Information Booklet 2024-25 can be found here. 

Thank you for your continued support in helping us uphold the high standards and values of our school community.

Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

We hope our Year 11 pupils are looking forward to their End of Year Celebration to celebrate the end of their GCSE courses and exams before their transition to Sixth Form.

As a reminder, this celebration will be held on the evening of Friday 20 June 2025 from 7.00pm until 11.00pm and the venue will be the stunning Walton Hall Hotel in Wellesbourne, Warwickshire. This is a special occasion, and the formal evening wear dress code will reflect that - dress to impress is certainly the order of the day!

A photographer and photobooth will be on hand to record the event for posterity. Photographs will be available to purchase on the evening, so pupils attending will require a payment card or other cashless payment method available to them.

We feel this will be a memorable evening for all involved and it will offer pupils an opportunity to celebrate the end of exams with all of their peers.

Beth Sharpe 
Deputy Head - Pastoral

As we reach the half term break, it's a great moment to reflect on the achievements of the past few weeks. Students have worked with energy and determination, whether preparing for exams, contributing to school events, or continuing with their studies and enrichment activities.

Well done to all our Sixth Formers for their resilience during exams - they have approached them with maturity and a positive attitude, and they should be proud of their efforts.

We wish you a restful and enjoyable half term holiday. Take this time to relax and enjoy a well-earned break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for the final part of the academic year.

24/7 Challenge For Mary's Meals - Fundraising In Action

A huge shout out to all those who took part in the annual 24/7 walk - all 30 who started, finished and we are incredibly proud of their dedication! The participants have been fundraising for Mary's Meals, a charity that provides life-changing school meals to children in some of the world's poorest communities. If you would like to support the students with their fundraising please donate here.

Lower Sixth BBQ - Monday 23 June 2025

All Lower Sixth students, parents and families are invited to join the Sixth Form team for a summer BBQ where there will be food, drinks, a tombola, fun and games, and entertainment from our talented students! Tickets are now on sale and all monies raised will be going to the homelessness charity Shelter, which has been chosen by our students.

Lower Sixth Charity BBQ - Prizes Needed

Our Lower Sixth charity BBQ is fast approaching and we are on the lookout for prize donations to make the event even more special. If you are able to contribute a prize - large or small - please get in touch. Your support will help raise funds for worthy causes and add excitement to this much-loved event.

We also have several exciting events planned for this term.

• First Aid Training – 14 June 2025
• Grangers Event – 17 June 2025
• Lower Sixth BBQ – 23 June 2025
• Lower Sixth UCAS Trip (Birmingham) – 24 June 2025
• Upper Sixth Eucharist – 24 June 2025
• Orange Day – 26 June 2025
• Summer Fest – 29 June 2025
• Leavers’ Ball – 30 June 2025
• Make A Difference Day (MAD) - 30 June 2025
• A-level Results Day - 14 August 2025

Let's make the most of this final term - working hard, supporting each other, and celebrating all that we've achieved together.

Ben Collie 
Head of Sixth Form

Soon-To-Be Old Princethorpian, Archie Campbell, is the lucky winner of the College’s Upper Sixth Leavers' Princethorpe Connect Prize Draw, winning a £25 Amazon Voucher and a Magnum Of Fizz for him and his table at the Leavers’ Ball, which takes place on Monday 30 June.

All the Upper Sixth were encouraged to join Princethorpe Connect over the last few weeks, giving them access to our online Old Princethorpians network, careers and mentoring advice, the termly OP e-newsletter and OP Friendly Faces scheme - our initiative to match new undergraduates with OPs at universities around the country. They will also be able to view their Leavers’ Ball photos on the platform after the event.

Any of the Upper Sixth who have yet to join can do so by going to connect.princethorpe.co.uk and creating a profile as an Upper Sixth Leaver.

All the Upper Sixth leavers profiles will be activated after their exams end.

Parents of Upper Sixth leavers, for whom this is their last year in the Foundation, are also considered Old Princethorpians, and are warmly invited to join Princethorpe Connect. They can do so be going to connect.princethorpe.co.uk and creating a profile as a Former Parent.

Parents might also like to take a look at the Princethorpe Connect Online Shop and purchase some of our souvenir items which include the OP Tie, Tower Pin, Scarf, Foundation Pen and the Heritage Buildings Trio Fine Art Print. Items will also be available to purchase at the Upper Sixth Thanksgiving Eucharist and Buffet on Tuesday 24 June.

connect.princethorpe.co.uk/shop

Wishing all our Upper Sixth leavers well as they complete their time at Princethorpe College and begin their journey as an Old Princethorpian!

As we approach the half term break, we would like to take this opportunity to remind Sixth Form students and families of the importance of maintaining high standards of dress in line with our Sixth Form Dress Code.

We understand that students may have grown or changed their wardrobes since the beginning of the academic year, and we encourage all students to review their clothing to ensure it remains appropriate, smart, and aligned with our expectations. Particular attention should be given to the fit and length of items, as well as their overall condition.

We have recently observed a number of cases where outfits are no longer suitable for a professional learning environment, particularly where clothing is too tight, too short, or excessively casual. As a reminder, Sixth Formers are expected to dress in a manner that reflects the standards of a workplace or business environment.

Please note that:

• Skirts and dresses must be of an appropriate length for a professional setting
• Tops should not be low-cut, sheer, or cropped, and shoulders should be covered
• Trousers and skirts should be tailored and not made from denim, leather, or other casual materials
• Hoodies, sweatshirts, and sportswear are not permitted as part of day-to-day Sixth Form dress
• Footwear should be smart and clean; trainers, flip-flops, and excessively casual shoes are not acceptable
• Ripped, frayed, or damaged clothing must be replaced or repaired to ensure a tidy appearance

As we move into warmer months, we understand students want to dress for comfort; however, this must not compromise the smart, purposeful atmosphere we seek to maintain in our Sixth Form. A smart appearance also supports the positive example we expect Sixth Form students to set for the rest of the school community.

We will be carrying out routine dress code checks after the half term break and appreciate your support in ensuring your child is meeting expectations. For your convenience, our full Sixth Form Dress Code is available here.

Thank you for your continued support in maintaining the high standards of our Sixth Form community.

Ben Collie
Head of Sixth Form 

The Lower Sixth Subject Progress Evening will take place online on Tuesday 10 June from 5.00pm to 8.30pm. Appointments will be available to book on SchoolCloud from 6.00pm on Wednesday 4 June 2025. 

Details of how to book appointments have been emailed to the parents of our Lower Sixth students this week.  

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

Our weekly Food Bank collection returns after the half term holiday. 

We would like to ask for donations of dry or tinned food which will be donated to local food banks at the end of term. Donations can be handed to the Chaplaincy prefects, in the Limes, during tutor time on Fridays. 

House points given for each donation.

Thank you

Meg O'Gorman
House Activities Co-ordinator 

We have been running our annual Book Bingo House Competition since January and the final day was Friday 9 May.

The results are now in!

In first place …

BENET with an amazing 93 tokens (including 1 golden token).

Second place was Austin with 73 tokens (including 3 golden tokens – 2 of these from the same pupil!).

Third place was Fisher with 32 tokens (including 1 golden token).

Fourth place was More with 19 tokens.

Across all houses pupils earned 167 merits and 4 pupils earned themselves a Da Vinci for their completed bingo card.

A special well done goes to Mrs White from Benet, who was running around all the Benet tutor groups and encouraging pupils to get their books read and reviews handed in!

To take part, pupils had to read a book that was loosely related to a subject category. Once they had completed the book, they wrote a review and marked that subject off their bingo card. When they handed in their review they earned themselves a merit and could put a coloured token in their House box. If they completed all 9 categories on their Bingo Card they would earn a gold token worth 10 points for their house.

We can’t wait for next year’s challenge!

The Library Team

It’s fantastic to see Princethorpe pupils achieving in climbing inside and outside of school. 

Year 7 Tilly Picking is a very keen climber and currently climbs for Warwick at Warwick University.  She recently completed the Midlands Youth Climbing Series and came 10th out of 45 competitors. She also won the Under 12 Girls category at a climbing competition in Leeds called 'The Lab Test' where she was scored on 25 separate climbs. Tilly is a regular at Princethorpe’s climbing club, supporting club activities including helping to reset the bouldering routes.

Year 7 Allister Hamilton recently came 3rd overall in his age group in the Midland Youth Climbing Series. He really enjoyed the competition, his first experience of competition climbing, and is now very motivated to continue to improve. Allister has done some climbing with the school club and took part in the University of Warwick Climbing Trip in December but he mainly climbs outside of school. 

Climbing is a very popular co-curricular activity at Princethorpe with the club running regular after school sessions as well as offering climbing trips. 

A number of pupils have received full Da Vinci merits for passing their climbing competency test so they can belay and climb unsupervised on the school climbing wall 

• Sophie Nicolle - Lower Sixth
• Ro Somerset - Year 9
• Alfred Cowell - Year 9
• Amalia Lee - Year 8

The club will once again be running its popular climbing trip in October and already has 30 pupil signed up to go.
 

It is always great to hear about our pupils' successes that take place outside of school; please do keep us updated if your child has won a competition, raised money for charity, is performing in a show or competing at a high level with a sporting team outside of school.

We would like to invite parents to submit this information to us via a nomination form by clicking here so we might celebrate these achievements in school too.  

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular and Operations

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. The qualifying expeditions all take place next half term which means Bronze and Silver participants can finish all elements by the end of this academic year.

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)

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

We are delighted at the number of people who volunteer to help us out on events. If you and fellow parents have any spare time we always welcome the help and support. 

If you can help with the following events please complete the form linked here.  Any help offered will be gratefully received. 

• Open Evening – Wednesday 4 June
• Induction Day – Wednesday 25 June 3.00-5.00pm
• Princethorpe College Summer Musical Theatre Production – Thursday 12 June, Friday 13 June, Saturday 14 June
• Summer Fest - Sunday 29 June 11.00am-7.00pm (time slots will be allocated so you can enjoy the festival).

We are looking for helpers to support with the following stalls at Summer Fest:

• Pre-loved uniform
• Raffle
• Bar
• Summer tea
• Festival goodies
• Tombola
• Popcorn and Candy Floss

Please get in touch with our PTA secretary, Melanie Flegg via ptassociation@princethorpe.co.uk or alternatively message us via Instagram or Facebook and share any ideas of events you would like to see us putting on and getting involved with. 

Yes it’s true, if you sign up to Princethorpe College Easyfundraising, when you shop online the retailer will give us a percentage of your spend at no extra cost to you. It is a reward and thank you for shopping with the retailer and free money in the PTA pot to spend on the much needed extras in the school.

We DO keep reminding you about Easyfundraising, however we have raised £715 so far this school year with 79 supporters including parents, family and friends. Just think of what this amount could be with a fraction more of you signed up!

It is incredibly easy! If you are not already registered, please visit the link here or search for Easyfundraising and find Princethorpe PTA. Once registered you can set automatic tracking or go through the Easyfundraising App to purchase and the PTA will receive a percentage of what you spend!

We are hoping 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.

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.

We aim to fly the flag on the Tower during term-time to signify that school is 'in-session' however, we have been unable to do so this term as peregrine falcons have chosen to nest on top of the tower. 

We have taken advice and been informed that they are likely to be new parents as it is late in the season and not an ideal location but we do not want to spook them in any way so we have kept our distance and will continue to do so. All being well, the chicks will begin to fly around the end of June but this obviously puts the top of the Tower out of bounds to everyone until the end of term at the earliest which will disappoint all the tutors and tutees who like to take in the spectacular views during the Trinity Term. It also meant that we were unable to fly the Union flag for VE Day which was disappointing, but we felt the right thing to do. 

We haven't announced this until now as we wanted to keep the information low-key in order to protect the eggs, but by now they should have hatched and we are excited to share this with you. Please can we request that you do not share this news outside of the Princethorpe family.

Rob Heath
Director of Facilities

Over the Easter holidays pupils will have received an email on their College Outlook account detailing all the textbooks that they currently have on loan from the Library. These books will need returning after their last exam (pupils can drop the relevant book off after each exam to make it easier if they wish).  

All textbooks need to be handed back to the library by 30 June 2025 at the very latest.  Pupils must not hand any of the books listed on the email to their teachers but must be returned to the library.

In addition, all Year 11 and Upper Sixth pupils must return their locker keys to The Pupil Hub before 23 June 2025. Pupils will be reminded on Teams and on Pupil Briefing. 

Any textbooks that are still outstanding after this date will be added to the final bill and there will be a £5 charge for any keys lost or not returned.

It may be that pupils have other books that have been given to them directly by their teachers that are not listed on the email, these will need to be handed back the relevant subject teacher.

We are expecting back around 800 books, so assistance with this is much appreciated.

Thank you.

Nicola Treadwell
Head Librarian

Please see below our current vacancies:

Princethorpe College

• Foundation Office PA

Crescent School

• Teaching Assistant Key Stage 1

Crackley Hall School

• Class Teacher Key Stage 1 or 2
• Estates Operative

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.