Friday 8 May saw the joyful commemoration of the 125^th anniversary of the consecration of Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. The special service also marked the start of a year of celebrations for the 60^th anniversary of the founding of Princethorpe College. 

Princethorpe welcomed over 150 guests to the College including Fr Joe McGee, MSC Provincial Leader, Sr Mary Lucy from the Benedictine order, Dr Gerald Hyland of the Pugin Society, the Right Rev. Geoffrey Scott OSB, Librarian and Archivist of Douai Abbey, as well as three former College Headmasters, two former College Bursars, two former Deputy Heads and many Old Princethorpians, along with current trustees, staff, pupils, parents, Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC and parishioners for a truly uplifting concelebration of Mass.

The evening’s historic celebrations commenced with the Chapel’s bells ringing out across the campus and surrounding countryside playing Princethorpe (1871) by William Pitts. The first official sounding of the bells in many a year.  

The service reflected not only on the beauty of the magnificent building but also movingly the pivotal role the Chapel has played in the life of the College and in the personal lives of so many over the years.

Fr McGee led the Mass, joined on the dais by fellow MSCs Fr Alan Whelan, Fr Carl Tranter, Fr David Nixon, Fr Tony Horgan and the Rt Rev Geoffrey Scott OSB. 

In his homily, Fr McGee, gave thanks to all who have played a role in the history of the Chapel, from the Benedictine nuns who had the vision and courage to build Our Lady of the Angels, to the generations of Princethorpe communities who have gathered and worshipped within its walls. He reminded us that Our Lady of the Angels is a place where all faiths and none have been welcomed, bearing witness to innumerable gatherings from weddings to recitals, ordinations to assemblies, as well as masses over the years. Truly a place for all - keeping strong the Roman Catholic tradition of welcoming everyone.

During the service, the College’s Choir performed an anthem specially created for the occasion, The Mercies Of The Lord, with music by Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, and words by former staff member, Moira Weir. The piece was accompanied by Old Princethorpian and organist, Chris Beaumont.

The service was followed by a fascinating talk delivered by Foundation Archivist, Jo Wong, and former staff member, Peter Griffin, that delved into the long history of Our Lady of the Angels Chapel.

The evening finished with a reception in the Sixth Form Atrium where the guests mingled, reconnecting with former peers and friends and recalling with fondness their memories of the Chapel.

A huge thank you to all those who attended and made the evening such a success and also to all those involved in organising such a momentous and memorable event.

To watch the Mass click here and to watch the Archive presentation click here.

Alongside thousands of young people, Princethorpians (both current and old) have been celebrating their Duke of Edinburgh achievements this week with a special visit to Buckingham Palace.

Many were invited on Wednesday 20 May, when the charity’s Patron, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, a Gold Award achiever himself, was present. He congratulated all who had completed the challenging award, commending them on their perseverance, creativity and resilience.

Also attending was our Duke of Edinburgh Manager, Tamsin Frost, who commented, “It was fantastic to see so many Princethorpians attending this wonderful celebration. Completing your Gold Duke of Edinburgh takes real commitment and resolve, and the skills developed along the way benefit both the individual and their local community. All of these young people showed dedication and perseverance and their final expedition to Buckingham Palace was a really amazing reward.”

Pupils receiving their Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award in ceremonies this year include:

From the 2024/25 participants: Isabel Barnes, Samuel Brent, Amelia Chard, Topsie Egan, Emile Gibrat, Roxy Glenn, Lucy Lawton, Emilia Parmenter, Dylan Williams, Charlie Winter and Louis Yuen.

From the 2023/24 participants: Felix Batty, Archie Campbell, Ruby Clark, Ollie Farquharson, Luke Foster, Giorgio Kleinmann, Amelia Row, Mia Samra, Rory Sarkies, Benedict Smith, Jemima Teeton, Kaena Wasley, Tobias Wollaston and Krystina Yuen.

From older years: Elsa Isaacs, Joseph Newborough and Carys Nicolle.  

Do let us know if you are aware of any other students attending as we would want to congratulate them. 

Don’t forget that the maximum age limit for completing your awards is 25 years.
 

Two Princethorpe College teachers have been awarded Chartered Teacher Status, a formal accreditation of teaching expertise awarded by the Chartered College of Teaching. Teacher of Music and Head of PSHE, Alison Wakeley, and Teacher of Chemistry, Emilie Onyekwe, have both been recognised for their teaching knowledge and impact after completing a series of rigorous assessments to showcase their mastery.

Chartered Status recognises highly accomplished teachers and school leaders. To achieve the accolade, Alison and Emilie have honed their skills through a number of education research projects over the last three years.

Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning), Dr Liz Pyne, comments, “We are delighted that Alison and Emilie have been recognised as Chartered Teachers. It is an indication of their dedication to professional development and the development of their pedagogy in the classroom.”

Dr Onyekwe said, “Dr Pyne encouraged me to go on this journey and has supported along the way. The programme has developed me as a practitioner, which in turn has benefited the pupils I teach. I have also been able to share ideas and resources with colleagues.”

Mrs Wakeley, added, “The Chartered Teacher pathway has allowed me to strengthen my teaching expertise and ensured my teaching practice has remained research informed. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge.”

Many congratulations to Alison and Emilie. We look forward to celebrating the success of further staff who are currently taking part in the programme.

The U13 football girls have had an incredible journey this season. Just three weeks after finishing in second place in the Independent Schools Football Associations’ U13 National Cup, on Thursday 21 May, the team headed off to Lilleshall National Sports Centre to play in the Sisters n Sport National Cup Finals.

They first faced a strong Guildford County School in the semi-finals, but delivered a fantastic performance, securing a brilliant 1-0 victory, their teamwork and determination shining through. That result earnt them a well-deserved place in the final and what a highly competitive and tense match that proved to be. Princethorpe’s girls gave their all, playing with spirit and composure, and were unlucky to be narrowly beaten 1-0 by a very strong Thomas Estley School side. They finished the tournament as rightly proud national runners-up for the second time in as many weeks. Recognising her superb contributions, Scarlett Moore was awarded player of the match.

That capped off an absolutely phenomenal season for the U13 Girls’ Football team, who have now reached a quarter final and two finals of the three national cup competitions that they were entered into this year.

Team coach, Dan White, said: “The girls have been a joy to coach, performing brilliantly on the pitch and showing breathtaking talent and dedication throughout what has been an exceptional season. Every single player has earned the right to be immensely proud of their achievements; I certainly am, as their coach. Well done girls!”

We cannot wait to see these girls take their footballing skills to the next level next year. Many congratulations to our amazing U13 Girls’ Football team.

Huge congratulations to Princethorpe’s talented coders, who achieved outstanding success in the second national UK Bebras Coding Challenge.

Among the school’s top performers were Sophie Nicolle (Best in Upper Sixth), Daniel Ovens-Gibbs (Best in Lower Sixth), Dami Ajagunna (Best in Year 10), Zack Darare and Harriet Reynolds (Joint Best in Year 9), Edward Fouracre (Best in Year 8) and Ben Fraser and Ollie Hill (Joint Best in Year 7).

In total, 21 Princethorpe pupils were awarded Gold Certificates, placing them in the top 10% of participants nationwide - an exceptional achievement in a highly competitive field.

The UK Bebras Coding Challenge is designed for pupils aged 10 to 19-years-old. During the 45-minute competition, pupils tackle a series of programming and problem-solving tasks tailored to their age group and experience level. The challenge encourages logical thinking, creativity, resilience and confidence in coding.

Head of Computer Science, Ed Musson, praised the pupils’ achievements, saying: “Computational thinking and algorithmic problem-solving are invaluable skills that help pupils approach challenges with logic, creativity and confidence. We are especially proud that Sophie, Dami and Dan have each been awarded Best in School for their year group for the second consecutive year. Their success, alongside the achievements of all 21 Gold Certificate winners, is a fantastic reflection of the talent, dedication and enthusiasm for Computer Science at Princethorpe.”

Some of the best in year award winners are pictured here.

Back in April, pupils from Princethorpe College showcased their mathematical talent by taking part in the 2026 UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Junior Mathematical Challenge. This prestigious national competition is designed to challenge and inspire young problem-solvers across the country.

Open to students in Years 7 and 8, the challenge requires participants to answer multiple-choice questions under formal exam conditions, with papers subsequently marked by the UKMT. The highest-achieving pupils are awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold Certificates in recognition of their exceptional mathematical ability.

This year, 89 talented Princethorpe students were selected to participate, demonstrating great aptitude and perseverance in tackling complex mathematical problems. The College is delighted to announce that pupils achieved outstanding results.

Special congratulations go to Year 7 pupil Ollie Hill, who not only secured a prestigious Gold Certificate but was also the highest-performing pupil in the school. Ollie achieved an exceptional score, placing him among the top performers nationally and earning qualification for the 2026 Junior Mathematical Olympiad. Zaman Haidary, Grace O’Connell and Jessica Parker also achieved Gold Certificates and attained scores high enough to qualify for the next stage of the competition, the highly challenging Junior Kangaroo round.

The full list of award recipients is as follows:

Gold Certificate:
Ollie Hill, Zaman Haidary, Grace O'Connell, Jessica Parker, Jessica Blythe, Allister Hamilton, Oliver Morgan, Sophie English, Matthew Lee, Darcey Wilcox-Smith and Mila Foulerton.

Silver Certificate: Ben Fraser, Zarah Chime, Jasper Robbins, Leela Blythe, Monty Lester, Alanah Fernando, Oakley Smith, Lucile Bell-Barth, Alex Tsang, Imogen Hogg, Elijah Raiseborough, Eloise Joyner, Jessie Johnson, Amelie Street, Isaac Walker, Oscar Bridge, Holly Cooper-Abbs, Darcey Carroll, Ted Nealon, Rohan Vatish, Benjamin Bruce, Felix Rack, Thabiso Mpofu, Annabelle Sparkes, Michael Perrier, Miriam Lambe and Arthur Hillman.

Bronze Certificate: Rory Gordon, Grace Aston, Patrick Beecham, Freya Eldred, Charlie Moreton, Charlotte Heckford, Ayesha Hanif, Roisin Capper, Simrit Nandhara, Aaryan Maindola, Harrison Pope, Evie Tomkinson, Ryan Muma, Chey Okpala, Eleanor Widnall, Zac Herring, Sally Warren, Isla Beecroft, Neriah Oseji, Jayant Palagani, Elliot Black and Sebastian Bollon.

The College extends its sincere thanks to all pupils who took part and congratulates them on their enthusiasm and commitment. We hope they found the experience both challenging and rewarding.

Theo Scoutas
Post-16 Mathematics Co-ordinator
 

Year 8 pupils enjoyed a character-building three-day bushcraft trip where they learned survival skills in the great outdoors. They visited Cuffley Active Learning Centre in Hertfordshire from Saturday 9 to Monday 11 May and took part in a range of activities including off ground and team challenges and target sports, as well as bushcraft and wilderness activities. The trip fostered their personal development skills such as resilience, independence and teamwork and gave an insight into the skills developed by our Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme which begins in Year 9. The forest-based experience proved the perfect blend of challenge, immersion and back to nature fun. 

Pupils from Years 9 and 10, studying Drama, or who will be studying it next year, took a trip to the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry on Wednesday 13 May, to watch Malory Towers, an adaption by Emma Rice of the Enid Blyton classic.

Pupils enjoyed an exciting evening of theatre, with a brisk plot, that revelled in the potential of young women. The production was lively, following the girls' experiences as they navigate friendships and hardships. It had plenty of high jinks, high drama and high spirits, as well as the essential midnight feasts.

The show was invaluable preparation for the live theatre element of pupils’ GCSE Drama studies and provided insights that will support the creation of their own scripted and devising work.

An excellent evening of cultural capital that complemented pupils’ studies.

Former Princethorpe College pupils, Pablo Scopes and George Crean, are part of a team from the Loughborough University School of Design & Creative Arts that has won a prestigious international iF Design Award for their final-year group project.

Pablo and George, who are both in their final year at Loughborough University, studied A-level Product Design at Princethorpe College before leaving in 2022. Their award-winning project focused on designing a system to better connect farmers with conservationists, creating a more streamlined process for collaboration on environmental regeneration initiatives and government funding applications. A key aim of the project was to support efforts to help prevent flooding across Britain.

The iF Design Award is one of the world’s most respected and recognised design competitions, celebrating excellence across product design, digital experiences, architecture, branding, packaging, and more. Pablo and George's project was selected from more than 7,000 entries submitted from around the world.

Paul Scopes, Head of Design & Technology at Princethorpe College, comments, “It is always brilliant to see what our Design students achieve after they have left the College. Both George and Pablo were Subject Ambassadors for Product Design, and it was clear from an early stage that they were passionate about the subject. To achieve such recognition for their work on such an international scale is incredible.”

Congratulations to Pablo and George, and to their team. We were delighted to hear of their success.

Princethorpe’s U10s football tournament was well attended with 11 teams from local primary schools taking part. The youngsters all more than delighted to play friendly 5-aside football on the College’s all-weather pitch.

Primary School Sport Liaison Teacher, Hannah Carminati, masterminded the outreach event which had all the teams on four pitches playing a round robin of matches.  Refereed by Princethorpe's 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 Grange Farm Primary School from Coventry. Well done also to St Augustine’s A who finished second and Milverton A 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 Long Itchington CofE Academy, Knightlow CofE Primary, Grange Farm Primary, St Augustine's RC Primary, Dunchurch Boughton CofE Junior Academy, MIlverton Primary, St Marie's RC Primary, St Lawrence CofE Primary and Clapham Terrace Community Primary. 

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. We hope you enjoyed your visit to Princethorpe!

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 the PTA's 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.

Wednesday 3 June - 6.30pm to 8.30pm

The College's annual Summer Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 3 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. This is a perfect opportunity for prospective families looking for a place in September 2027 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. 

2026 Entry

Due to significant continued interest, we are planning a final Summer Entrance Exams session on Monday 8 June for candidates still looking for a place in Years 7 to 10 for September 2026. The Entrance Exams have been scheduled to take place after our Open Evening on Wednesday 3 June, so candidates can visit the school before they take the exams.

Please click here for more information.

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!

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

Camps are priced at £39 per day. 

Sibling discounts and flexible booking options available!

Click here to book your Team Super Sports camps 

Thursday 4 June 2026  - 7.00pm to 8.30pm

We are pleased to advise that there will be a Music Recital Evening at Princethorpe College in the Clarkson Theatre on Thursday 4 June at 7.00pm.

It will be a friendly and informal evening, and a great chance to experience some of the vast talent shown by our pupils. There will be a combination of solo and small group performances on the evening, and an opportunity after the event to meet up with your child’s peripatetic teacher for a chat if you would like.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Doors will open at 6.40pm and there will be light refreshments served before the event. Free tickets can be booked through My School Portal by clicking here.

Gil Cowlishaw
Head of Music

Sunday 7 June 2026 - 11.30am to 1.00pm, Royal Museums Greenwich

We are excited to offer all OPs - former parents, staff and pupils - a unique opportunity brought about by a generous offer from Old Princethorpian, Aaron Jaffer.

Aaron was a pupil at Princethorpe from 1997 to 2002, heavily involved in Drama and Music throughout his time at the College. He has remained a close friend of the College, supporting many OP events, and we are delighted and humbled that he has offered to create a unique event especially for his fellow Old Princethorpians, a bespoke and private tour of Royal Museums Greenwich.

Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) is a family of four museums in South London, covering a huge range of subjects across its four sites. Its 2.5+ million items include everything from Titanic relics to Tongan clubs!

Aaron has worked at RMG for over ten years and will be selecting some weird and wonderful things especially for us! On this tour, you will see some of the Museum’s most famous objects, including Nelson’s Battle of Trafalgar coat with a bullet hole in the shoulder, but also many hidden gems! 

Here's everything you need to know:

Arrivals:

We ask that guests make their own travel arrangements and meet Aaron and the tour group at the entrance of the National Maritime Museum at 11.15am, so that we can begin the tour promptly at 11.30am.

The tour will last approximately 70 minutes, followed by a chance to explore the nearby majestic tea clipper, Cutty Sark.

Afterwards, you are warmly invited to join Aaron and the Alumni and Development team in a nearby pub for an informal catch up and a bite to eat.

Travel and Costs:

The tour and Aaron’s time are offered free of charge. Optional lunch afterwards to be paid individually.

You can find detailed information about getting to Royal Museums Greenwich on their website: Getting to Royal Museums Greenwich

Crucially, please sign up for the event on Princethorpe Connect, here, so that we know to expect you and can include you in any updates about the event.

Spaces are strictly limited so please sign up as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. You may book for up to three additional guests in your party.

This is a unique opportunity for Old Princethorpians and promises to be a fantastic way to spend a Sunday in London.

We hope you’ll be able to join us!

Princethorpe College Music Department is proud to present our KS3 production of Legally Blonde The Musical Jr, playing at the Clarkson Theatre from Thursday 11 June through Saturday 13 June 2026. The Princethorpe cast includes 45 pupils from Years 7-9, and it promises to be an amazing show packed with young talent. 

Based on the award-winning Broadway musical and the smash hit motion picture, Legally Blonde Jr. is a fabulously fun journey of self-empowerment and expanding horizons. The show's instantly recognisable songs are filled with humour, wit and sass — leaving cast members and audiences alike seeing pink!

Legally Blonde Jr. features large, energetic dance numbers with an expandable cast of sorority sisters, law school students, hairdressers and more.

Tickets are available to book via Eventbrite here. 

The Clarkson Theatre has a limited number of seats, 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.

Accessible seating is available, please book this directly with our main Reception. Please call 01926 643200 or email post@princethorpe.co.uk

Legally Blonde Jr. is presented through special arrangement and all materials are provided by Music Theatre International.

Year 5 Taster Days - Limited Places Available
Wednesday 17 June 2026

There are a final few places remaining for our final Year 5 Taster Day on Wednesday 17 June. 

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Please click here to book your child's place.

Year 6 Taster Days - Tuesday 15, Thursday 17 and Wednesday 23 September 2026.

Our Year 6 Taster Days are aimed at Year 6 pupils who wish to join the College in September 2027 and who have not already attended a Year 5 Taster Day. 

Taster Days are available on:

• Tuesday 15 September 2026
• Thursday 17 September 2026
• Wednesday 23 September 2026

Taster Days typically involve lessons, a question and answer session with some of our current pupils and a chance to talk to the Headmaster, Mr du Toit. They run from 9.30am to 3.00pm. Snacks and lunch are provided and there is no charge for the day.

To book your place click here.

Crackley Hall and Crescent School Year 5 pupils and their parents have already attended school specific Taster Days and Parents' Information Sessions at the beginning of the Trinity Term. 

For further information on admissions and entry to the College in 2027 or beyond visit our school website or speak to the Admissions Team on 01926 634201/297 or by email at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Friday 19 June 2026 - 6.00pm Optional tour, 7.00pm Drinks Reception, 7.45pm Supper

We are looking forward to welcoming back, once again, alumni who are marking significant anniversaries of leaving the College this year. In addition to OPs who left the College in 1976, 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016 (or those who were in the equivalent year groups), we are delighted to extend the invitation even further. As the College is preparing to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee anniversary, marking 60 years since opening its doors, we will also be joined by those who arrived at Princethorpe in 1966 and former pupils of St Mary's Priory, to honour all those who played a vital part in Princethorpe's early history. Former members of staff and long-serving current staff will also be present to share in the celebrations.

The evening commences with a Drinks Reception at 7.00pm, but guests are welcome to arrive at the earlier time of 6.00pm for an optional tour of the school campus. Supper is served at 7.45pm, during which the school and OP Committee will thank long-standing members of staff for their ongoing service, and bid farewell to any staff leaving the College. Some photos of last year's event are attached, and you can read about it on Princethorpe Connect, here.

Numbers are limited to around 100 guests and we already have OPs booking onto the event, so if you know an OP who would like to attend, please share the link to the event page on Princethorpe Connect. Bookings will close on Wednesday 10 June.

Sunday 21 June - 12.00pm to 5.00pm

Summer Fest returns this year on Father's Day, bringing a full afternoon of family fun!

Running from 12.00pm to 5.00pm, the event will feature great food and a welcoming atmosphere.

The Tower Stage returns with performances from pupils, local dance acts and community artists.

Visitors can also enjoy a Fun Zone, Vintage Car Rally, Art Exhibition, pre-loved Uniform Stall, Inflatables and a range of additional activities for all ages.

It promises to be one of the highlights of our summer calendar and we look forward to welcoming families and the wider community!

Princethorpe PTA

Friday 4 September 2026 - 4.30pm to 8.00pm, Princethorpe College

To help us kick off the College’s Diamond Jubilee anniversary celebrations, marking 60 years since the College opened its doors, we are excited to invite all parents, staff and Old Princethorpians to a first of its kind, the OPs vs College Friday Night Lights, taking place at Princethorpe on Friday 4 September.

We are merging our 15th annual OPs vs College Sports Day - which is the first opportunity for Upper Sixth Leavers to socialise with the Old Princethorpian community - with the Games Department’s popular Friday Night Lights, making it bigger and better than ever before. It is the perfect opportunity to bring the whole Princethorpe community together, not only to herald in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, but also to officially open the resurfaced Astroturf, which will have been laid during the Summer Holidays. Could your child be one of the first pupils or OPs to play on this new surface in the OPs vs College 1st XI Hockey fixture?

It's a wonderful occasion, whether you’re there as a participant or a spectator, where pupils and OPs of all ages can come together in friendly competition and celebration of a diverse and extensive community. You don't want to miss out! Family and friends are most welcome too, and there will be BBQ food available and a bar. Anyone who participates in a fixture will receive a voucher for a complimentary food and drink item.

The fixture schedule is as follows:

4.30pm: Rugby - OP 2026 Leavers vs OP Veterans (Class of 2025 + Prior)

4.50pm: Rugby – PC vs. Barr’s Hill

5.00pm: Football - OPs vs Princethorpe College 1st XI

5.10pm: Cutting of the ribbon to open the new astroturf

5.15pm: Hockey - OPs (Mixed) vs Princethorpe College 1st XI Boys

5.30pm: Netball - OPs (Mixed) vs College Select

5.30pm: Rugby – Barr's Hill vs Trent College

6.10pm: Rugby – PC vs Trent College

6.15pm: Hockey – PC Girls 1^st vs Trent College

6.30pm: OP After Match Awards by the BBQ – Alex Wallis Shield

6.45pm: Netball – PC 1^st vs Trent College

We would like as many 2026 leavers and OPs from across the generations as possible to take part in one or more of the matches, so if you are able to come, please complete the participants' form via this link, where details of the fixtures are included, by Monday 31 August at the latest.

You can view full details on the event page, and register as a spectator, on Princethorpe Connect, here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday 5 September 2026 - 6.30pm to 1.00am

Join us for a magical evening celebrating 60 years of Princethorpe College. Our Diamond Jubilee Ball will take place on Saturday 5 September from 6.30pm to 1.00am in a beautiful marquee in the College’s glorious parkland.

Guests will enjoy a welcome drink and delicious three course meal with wine followed by live music, dancing and late-night snack. A full bar will also be available. 

The deadline for purchasing tickets is Friday 26 June. To purchase your tickets and for more information, visit Princethorpe Connect. Tickets are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. It is possible to purchase individual tickets and a table of ten. In addition to the full Dinner and Dancing tickets at £100 a head, a small number of After Dinner tickets are available at £35 a head. After Dinner ticket holders will have entry from 9.00pm and will receive a welcome drink, before joining in the festivities and enjoying a delicious late-night snack.

If you and your friends are interested in booking a table, please nominate one person as the organiser, they will need to have all names, emails and any special dietary requirements for your party to hand when booking. 

The event is aimed at over 18s only and is not open to Princethorpe students attending the College in 2026/2027, so current Upper Sixth can attend.

If you have any queries about the Diamond Jubilee Ball or any of our other Jubilee celebrations, please contact diamondjubilee@princethorpe.co.uk. 

Tuesday 16 June 2026

Parents of Year 11 pupils should have received an invite from the Headmaster, with a RSVP link, for the Year 11 Thanksgiving Service, which will be followed by a buffet supper on Tuesday 16 June 2026, at 6.30pm in school.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone there. Please RSVP by Tuesday 9 June.

Last week, 11 May to 17 May 2026, was Mental Health Awareness Week and our Sixth Form Enrichment Group put together a video to promote it around the College and to our followers on Instagram. 

They interviewed some of our staff, asking what they did to look after their mental health or what they recommended to support with exam stress. You can see the video on our Instagram account @princethorpelibrary. 

We also keep a wide range of books that are dedicated to supporting our young people’s mental health that are accessible from our Library, please see the link to our poster here which shows a handful of the resources that we keep.

Nicola Treadwell
Head Librarian

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in the College Chapel in the Lent Term 2027.

We are waiting for the Bishop to confirm the exact date.

Confirmation Preparation will begin in September 2026. The preparation takes place during lunch break. There will be four sessions in the Michaelmas Term and four in the Lent Term. Each 20-minute session will be offered twice during the week to avoid clashes with other activities.

If you would like further information, please email marybenham@princethorpe.co.uk.

Please complete the enrolment form here if you would like to register a pupil for Confirmation by Friday 26 June. 

Mary Benham
Chaplaincy Co-ordinator

As we enter the final half-term of the academic year, please see below for the topics which each year group will be exploring in their PSHE lessons. 

Year 7 will be developing their basic first aid skills, using resources from St John Ambulance. 

Year 8 will be considering how relationships are portrayed in the media and any potentially harmful impacts, using resources from BBFC (British Board of Film Classification). 

Year 9 will be looking at committed relationships and family life, using resources from PSHE Association. 

Year 10 will be looking at Careers, using resources put together by Mrs Jacqui Quinney, Head of Careers, from the Unifrog platform. 

In addition to these topics, all pupils in Years 7-10 will have the opportunity to use their pupil voices to feedback about the PSHE programme (which is run during lessons) and the P3D programme (which is run during tutor times). 

Alison Wakeley
Teacher of Music and Head of PSHE

Princethorpe College is pleased to publicly launch our AI Principles, which can be seen on the document linked here.

With the advances in AI technology over recent years, and ease of access to a wide range of AI tools online, it is important to address AI use with pupils, both in terms of the potential benefits of AI, as well as the dangers of AI use. With AI answers being top of a simple Google search, as well as free and unrestricted access to tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot, it is vital that young people are able to engage in thought and debate around the use of AI. It is far from a simple topic, with clear benefits when used effectively, but also the possibility for misuse, cognitive offloading and environmental and safety concerns. 

The AI Principles are designed to support our pupils in understanding the considerations around AI use, while taking into account the importance of prioritising their cognitive, social and emotional development. We want our pupils to engage with the principles of AI use that are shared in the document, and we believe that if these principles are considered when AI is used, both now and in the future, then our pupils are more likely to use AI in ways that are positive and safe. The principles have already begun to be shared with pupils through assemblies, tutor time and PSHE lessons, and will continue to be woven through the curriculum, both through specific delivery on the topic and as part of subject lessons. 

Key to the principles are that AI:

✓  is used in a way which protects and enhances cognitive, social and emotional development

✓ enhances, not removes, challenge, curiosity or the ‘Productive Struggle/Desirable Difficulty

✓ allows pupils to develop their thinking, not offload it

We would also invite parents to talk to their children about AI use, and the attached AI Principles document can be a great tool to begin the conversation and provide a structure to family discussions on the topic.

For any feedback on the AI Principles, please contact Andy Compton at AndyCompton@Princethorpe.co.uk

Andy Compton
Foundation Director of Digital Strategy

The College is excited to introduce a new Digital Device Provision model for all pupils which is designed to streamline and simplify the process for parents, while ensuring high quality devices that are managed, filtered, safe and insured both in and out of the College site.

As you may be aware, the College has previously provided digital devices through a partnership with Easy4U, whereby parents either purchase or rent a device, with assurance package, directly from Easy4U. For new devices from September 2026, we are adapting our partnership with Easy4U to a new model, which we believe will provide significantly more benefits.

In the new model, parents can simply complete a form to opt-in for their child to be provided with a brand-new, fully-managed Windows 11, 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop, with the full Microsoft Office suite, online safety and learning management software, and a 2, 3, or 4-year assurance package. Rather than parents renting or purchasing from Easy4U, the cost of the device will be invoiced as an item alongside termly fees, rather than through a separate private finance agreement, as has previously been the case. This arrangement both reduces the cost to parents and ensures that the device can be fully managed and protected at all times.

To opt-in to this new Digital Device Provision for your child, so they receive the device in September 2026, please complete the form on My School Portal.

This can be found under ‘My Children’, then ‘Forms’ or under ‘Forms’ on the homepage of the My School Portal app. The form pack is called Digital Device Provision for Current Pupils - Princethorpe College 2026

Please complete the form by Monday 1 June to opt-in to Digital Device Provision

Digital Device Provision 2026 Opt-in Form

We believe that there are numerous advantages to this new model, which provides the school laptop as a learning-first device, as outlined on the attached document.

For more information on the Digital Device Provision model, please see the email that was sent to current parents on Tuesday 5 May.

Andy Compton
Foundation Director of Digital Strategy

The Year 10 Subject Progress Evening will take place online on Wednesday 17 June, from 5.00pm to 8.30pm. 

Details of how to book appointments will be emailed week commencing Monday 8 June 2025.

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

We are pleased to share with you our Literacy Road for the Trinity term here, which highlights some of the events that our Library celebrates. We can’t wait to put together some fabulous displays to promote our books and share some great reads with our pupils that are linked with these occasions. 

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @princethorpelibrary to keep up with what is going on in our College Library. 

We have put together some great read suggestions here for our pupils to enjoy over half term. These feature some of our new books that have just arrived in our library and some of the books that our pupils have given 5 stars for! 

Also don’t forget to check out your local library and send us some recommendations of books to buy!

Nicola Treadwell
Head Librarian

Warwickshire Library have just launched their Teen Book Bingo Challenge. Please see here for further details.

Once pupils have completed the challenge they will be able to collect their badge and will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 book token.

Nicola Treadwell
Head Librarian

Our Sixth Form continues to be busy. Over the past week, students have embraced academic challenges and prepared well for their mock exams. 

Our Upper Sixth students are now fully immersed in the A-level examination season. We have been extremely impressed by the calm determination and focus they have shown in recent weeks. We wish all students every success as examinations continue over the coming weeks.

Some of our Lower Sixth students also completed their First Aid qualification this month. The course provided students with valuable practical skills and important training that will undoubtedly benefit them in future employment, university life, and wider personal development. It was particularly encouraging to see the professionalism and engagement shown throughout the programme.

Work experience preparations are now entering their final stages, with Lower Sixth students confirming placements across a wide range of professional sectors. This remains an extremely valuable part of Sixth Form development, allowing students to gain first-hand experience of the workplace while developing independence, communication, and organisational skills. We thank parents and employers for their continued support in helping facilitate these opportunities.

Meanwhile, preparations continue for the Mary’s Meals 24/7 Walk, which will take place next month. Student enthusiasm for this important charitable initiative has been exceptional, and we are proud of the commitment shown in supporting such a worthwhile cause. Events such as these continue to reflect the compassion and sense of service that are central to Sixth Form life.

24/7 Walk for Mary’s Meals combined with the Y7 Mini Mary – Sunday 14 June 2026
Students and staff will once again come together to support Mary’s Meals through the annual 24/7 Walk. This important event continues to be a highlight of the Sixth Form calendar, combining challenge, teamwork, and fundraising in support of children around the world.

Tower Abseil - (dependent on the nesting of the peregrine falcons)
Unfortunately, the Tower Abseil is postponed until further notice.

Work Experience (Lower Sixth) - Summer 2026
Lower Sixth students will shortly begin their work experience placements, gaining valuable insight into professional environments and developing important transferable skills ahead of future applications and career decisions.

Other key dates for your calendar.

• Grangers Club Visit - Tuesday 16 June 2026
• Lower Sixth UCAS Trip (Birmingham) - 23 June 2026
• Upper Sixth Leavers' Eucharist - 25 June 2026
• Leavers' Ball - Monday 29 June 2026
• Make A Difference Day (MAD) - 29 June 2026
• A-level Results Day - Thursday 13 August 2026

As always, we remain extremely grateful for the continued support of parents and guardians in helping students make the very most of the opportunities available to them throughout Sixth Form life.

Ben Collie 
Head of Sixth Form

Thursday 25 June 2026

Parents of Upper Sixth students should have received an invite from the Headmaster, with a RSVP link, for the Upper Sixth Thanksgiving Service, which will be followed by a buffet supper on Thursday 25 June 2026, at 6.30pm in school.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone there. Please RSVP by Thursday 18 June.

The Lower Sixth Subject Progress Evening will take place online on Tuesday 9 June from 5.00pm to 8.30pm. Appointments will be available to book on SchoolCloud from 6.00pm on Wednesday 3 June 2025. 

Details of how to book appointments will be emailed to the parents of our Lower Sixth students on Monday 1 June 2026.  

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

Work Experience - Summer Placements Now Available For Our Sixth Formers

The value of work experience in shaping young people's career choices and future ambitions simply cannot be overstated. Even a few days in a professional environment can provide powerful insights - helping students to understand what different roles involve and the skills and qualities needed to succeed.

With this in mind the Careers Team has been working closely with our community of Old Princethorpians, parents, and wider contacts to create a range of exciting placement opportunities tailored specifically for our students. We are thrilled to announce that these placements are now live and open for applications.

Lower Sixth students can find details of the placements and how to apply by scanning the QR code in the photos or clicking on the link below.

Princethorpe College - Work Experience Placements

Placements will be added regularly as soon as they become available, and the vision is to offer many placements within a variety of different sectors, including Accounting, Investment Banking, Management Consultancy, Engineering, Business Management, Teaching, Medicine, Sport, and many more.

We are always looking for new placement opportunities as we continue to grow this programme so if you feel you can offer a placement to our students, then please email me at jacquiquinney@princethorpe.co.uk.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers

Lloyds Banking Group - May Half Term Virtual Work Experience

Join us for the Lloyds Banking Group Virtual May Half Term Work Experience for a fast-paced afternoon of challenges, real-world scenarios and networking with professionals from across the industry. Lloyds Banking Group are one of the largest banks in the UK and offers so many fantastic opportunities to students across the UK. This hands-on experience is designed to help you build the skills employers are looking for within the industry.

What will you take part in?

• Hands-on practical workshops developing your problem-solving, teamwork, and decision-making skills
• Network with Lloyds Banking Group team members
• How to spot financial crime and how banks spot these threats
• Live panel and Q&A

Why join?

• Build confidence in real-world situations
• Develop skills employers value
• Learn how to spot opportunities whilst at school/college
• Something great to add to your CV

What to get out of it?

This is a high energy, interactive virtual experience built to boost your skills, confidence and career awareness! Upskill yourself, learn new things and build your network.

Key event details

When: Friday 29 May 2026
Time: 1.00pm - 3.45pm
Where: Online live-streamed via YouTube
Who: Open to all students in school/college

To sign up for this event, please click on the booking form here.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers

Mott MacDonald Birmingham - Summer Work Experience 2026

Our inclusive summer work experience programme gives students a real insight into the world of work at Mott MacDonald. You'll discover how we partner with clients and experience collaborative teamwork. The programme welcomes students from all backgrounds; enthusiasm is all you need!

During your placement, you'll explore life at a global engineering, management, and development consultancy. This placement is designed to give students a first-hand look at what it's like to work in the world of engineering, design and infrastructure. No prior experience is required, just curiosity and a desire to learn.

You'll participate in our Finding Your Future programme, working on a mini-project and earning an Industrial Cadet Silver Award.

If you are interested in this opportunity please complete the form by scanning the QR code or clicking here to tell us about yourself, your interests, and why you'd like to join us. This helps to ensure the placement is a good fit and gives you the best possible experience. Please note, due to a high amount of application being anticipated, we are unable to provide feedback for unsuccessful applications. 

Places are very limited. Before applying, ensure you can commit to your chosen week, as changes may not be possible. If your preferred week is full you'll be placed on a waiting list.

Applications are open until Friday 12 June but may close earlier if we reach capacity. We strongly encourage early applications to avoid disappointment.

InvestIN Summer Schools

Since 2012, InvestIN has equipped over 70,000 students from across the UK and 100+ countries with an immersive experience of their dream career. Today, InvestIN delivers immersive work experience programmes across 15 competitive industries, including medicine, engineering, architecture and entrepreneurship.

What is an InvestIN Summer School?

During the summer holidays, we deliver comprehensive summer schools designed to give students a 360-degree experience of their dream career. Delivered by top professionals, our Summer Experiences enable students to gain up to 65 hours of hands-on experience, featuring excursions to real workplaces, professional development coaching and private networking.

Programmes are based on UCL campus in central London. Students can choose to attend a one-week, two-week or two-week Premium Summer Experience, with or without accommodation.

By taking part in our Summer School Experiences you will have the following opportunities.

• Work with top professionals - explore a range of industry specialisms through hands-on career simulations
• Explore real workplaces - step into the shoes of a professional and work in real firms and headquarters
• Stand out from the crowd - gain first-hand experience, a certificate and industry reference letter to boost university and job applications
• Gain UCAS points - have your work assessed to receive a Level 3 Award in Work Experience and Career Planning, equating to 8 UCAS points

To explore programme timetables and find out much more, please click on the links below.

• Young Investment Banker Summer Experience
• Young Doctor Summer Experience
• Young Engineer Summer Experience
• Young Lawyer Summer Experience
• Young Entrepreneur Summer Experience
• Young Psychologist Summer Experience
• Young Architect Summer Experience
• Young Art and Design Summer Experience
• Young Computer Scientist Summer Experience
• Young Dentist Summer Experience
• Young TV and Filmmaker Summer Experience
• Young Forensic Scientist Summer Experience
• Young International Politics Summer Experience
• Young Media Manager Summer Experience
• Young Vet Summer Experience

On Saturday 9 May, George Bruce (Year 10) and his dad James climbed the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise funds for the Pacuare Reserve Turtle Project in Costa Rica, which the school will be visiting during the upcoming trip in July. 

They set off at 6.17am in the morning from the base of Pen-Y-Ghent and reached the peak 57 minutes later. Then came a long 18km walk to Whernside where it rained most of the way. The rain finally stopped when they reached the railway at the base of Whernside. It was a long, gradual climb up this peak. However, they could see the top of Ingleborough (the last peak) when they summited the second hill. After they had made it up the last peak and completed 40km of walking, their celebrations were short lived as they realised they had another few kms to get back to the starting point and end of the route. George and his dad had aimed to complete the 45km journey in 12 hours but actually achieved their challenge in 9 hours and 12 minutes.

They have set up a JustGiving page for any Princethorpe families who may wish to donate to the turtle sanctuary. Please click here.

Educational and co-curricular visits have long been a central part of life at Princethorpe College. These experiences enrich pupils’ lives, enhance their learning, and help them develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world around them. We are very grateful for the continued support of Princethorpe parents in enabling these opportunities. Having a clear overview of planned trips also allows families to discuss and consider which experiences are most appropriate for their individual circumstances.

We would like to remind you of the provisional major trips plan as it currently stands. Please note that this does not include academic department day trips or the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. You can view the planned trips here.

When information about individual trips is released, we ask that you read the details carefully, particularly in relation to consent, cancellation, and insurance. We will always endeavour to keep costs as low as possible so that as many pupils as possible can benefit from these valuable experiences.

Thank you for your continued support.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head  - Co-curricular and Operations
 

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our PTA Online Raffle and joined us for the Rugby Distillery Gin Tasting Evening! 

Your generosity, enthusiasm and brilliant company helped us raise nearly £1,000 towards the Sixth Form trip to Malawi with Mary’s Meals — a fantastic boost for the partner schools and the porridge kitchen our students will be supporting.

A special thank you goes to Richard and Emma from Rugby Distillery, who were absolutely fantastic hosts. Their passion for their craft shone through, and guests loved hearing the story behind their business, the distilling process and the care that goes into every bottle. Their talk added something really special to the evening.

We’re so grateful to everyone who bought raffle tickets, donated prizes, spread the word or simply came along and enjoyed the night with us. Your support genuinely makes a difference and helps our students make a meaningful impact in Malawi this summer.

Princethorpe PTA

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

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 a thank you for shopping with the retailer and free money in the PTA pot to spend on the much needed extras in the school. Last term we raised £350! 

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!

Thank you.

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

Changes to school fees refund scheme insurance

We have been notified by our insurers that the way our school fee refund insurance is applied will be changing from September 2026.

The fee refund scheme insurance is an optional extra cost and is currently applied to your termly bill. Any claims are raised through us as a school directly with the insurance company. This scheme will close on 31 August 2026.

From September 2026 we will be offering Pupil Absence Insurance and Personal Effects Insurance. These can be bought individually or together. This will be offered directly with the insurance company Markel (UK) Ltd. The cover will be an optional cost for you as a parent and you will be able to receive a quote on their portal and select a payment option to continue this cover for your school fees. Any insurance claims will be dealt with between yourself and the insurer.

Once we have received the documents from our insurer, we will be issuing a leaflet to all parents to consider. The information will be available to set this up in time for September 2026.

Please note, due to the change in insurer, all parents of existing pupils currently insured under the Fees Refund scheme will need to complete the online quote and purchase process with the new insurer.

For pupils currently covered under the Fees Refund scheme, the original joining date will carry over to the new policy. This means any pre-existing exclusions will apply from the date the pupil first joined the original scheme, not from the start date of the new Pupils Absence policy with Markel.

Claire Alcock
Foundation Director of Finance

In the last couple of weeks all Year 11 pupils and Upper Sixth students 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 to the Library after their last exam (pupils can drop the relevant book off after each exam to make it easier if they wish).  

All textbooks for Year 11 need to be handed back to the library by Monday 15 June 2026 at the very latest.  

All Upper Sixth textbooks need to be handed back to the library by Monday 22 June 2026 at the very latest.  

Pupils must not hand any of the books listed on the email to their teachers, these need to be returned to the Library to avoid them getting lost and incurring charges.

In addition, all Year 11 must return their locker keys to The Pupil Hub before Monday 15 June 2026. 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 over 900 books this year, so assistance with this is much appreciated.

Thank you.

Nicola Treadwell
Head Librarian

Parents are reminded of the notice requirements according to our terms and conditions.

A term's notice is required if a pupil will not be returning to the school. Notice must be in writing, addressed to the Headmaster, via the Registrar, Mrs Catherine Rogers by the first day of term.

All letters are acknowledged within seven days; if you do not receive an acknowledgement then please contact admissions@princethorpe.co.uk immediately. 

Claire Alcock
Foundation Director of Finance

Please see below our current vacancies:

Princethorpe College

• Teacher of Business
• Learning Support Assistant 
• School Nurse / Health Practitioner
• Science Technician

Crescent School

• 1 to 1 Learning Support Assistant (15 to 18 hours per week)
• 1 to 1 Learning Support Assistant (2 days per week)

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.

Please find below the Term Dates for 2025-26, 2026-27, including Diamond Jubilee events, and 2027-28

2025-2026

2026-2027- Key dates added February 2026 

2027-2028

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:

Admissions - admissions@princethorpe.co.uk

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.

As part of Princethorpe Enterprises, we’re delighted to be opening up the Princethorpe College tennis courts this summer for the very first time. Whether you’d like a relaxed knock-about with a friend or family member or something more competitive, you can now hire one of our well-maintained tennis courts for just £12 per hour per court (including VAT).

• Term Time
  • Monday to Friday: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
  • Saturday: 1.30pm – 8.30pm
  • Sunday: 8.30am – 8.30pm
• School Holidays
  • Monday to Friday: 5.30pm – 8.30pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: 8.30am – 8.30pm

To book your court click here