The Flagpole

There must have been something special in the Princethorpe waters recently as we are delighted to announce a host of new babies here and on the way. Mrs Galano, Mrs Hunton and Mrs Baxter are all imminently expecting and Mrs Munford, Mr Holtom and Mr Robertson have also recently been blessed with new babies. We wish them all every happiness with their growing families.

As maternity leaves commence, we are delighted to welcome some wonderful new colleagues to the College. Miss Anna Fennell-McLoughlin is joining the Modern Foreign Languages department in a full-time position and taking on Mrs Baxter’s tutor group. Miss Charlotte Verleure will be taking on more MFL classes and Mrs Finola Coy and Mrs Suzy Ellis will take on Year 11 German and French respectively. Mrs Hester and Mrs Gane will be looking after Mrs Galano’s and Mrs Hunton’s tutor groups.

In the Maths department, Mrs Rachael Beasley will take on Mrs Munford’s classes and Mrs Shirley Thomas and Mrs Stephanie Kent-Smith will take on Mrs Baxter’s classes.

All timetables have been updated and are available on the Pupil and Parent Portals with the exception of Mrs Baxter’s classes which will be updated this weekend.

We are delighted to have our new colleagues on board and wish them every success. I’m sure you will all make them very welcome.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic 

Pictured left to right: Mrs Shirley Thomas, Miss Anna Fennell-McLoughlin, Mrs Stephanie Kent-Smith and Mrs Rachael Beasley.

This year we have introduced two significant improvements to the assessment system at Princethorpe: a change to the November assessments and the addition of a second set of formal mocks for our Year 11 pupils.

We have moved away from a specific ‘exam week’ in November and instead each Department chooses the best time, according to their particular curriculum, to assess the pupils in class. These assessments happen within an appropriate window to inform relevant reports. We hope the change will reduce the pressure on the pupils and dissipate the stress that many used to feel in the run up to and during the exam week. It will also allow departments to craft their assessments in a way which is most helpful to the pupils in their particular subjects. Please note that the end of year Exam Week remains in the same format as previous years and will take place in the week prior to Whitsun half term break, the week commencing Monday 20 May 2019.

As many of you may know, Year 11 pupils traditionally have mock exams at the beginning of the Lent Term, usually over seven days. This year we will be refining and building on that model by giving the pupils two mock weeks – firstly in the week commencing 7 January and then again in the week commencing 25 February, over five days in each week.

This will give the pupils two opportunities to really test themselves and learn from their successes and difficulties, supported by their teachers, before sitting the real exams from 13 May onwards. It will also allow us to spread out the exams a little more within each week to ease the strain on the pupils and make the experience that much more realistic as well as give them that bit more experience of what it is like to work in proper examination conditions. We hope this will be another important step in giving our pupils the best possible support for academic success.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Progress Reports for Year 9 were published last Friday, 16 November 2018 and are available to view on the Pupil and Parent Portals.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Monday 26 November 2018 - 6.00pm to 7.30pm

We look forward to welcoming you to our Year 11 Parents' GCSE Revision Evening on Monday 26 November between 6.00pm and 7.30pm.

It will be presented by Martin Griffin who has worked with more than sixty schools to develop effective character education systems and is the co-author of The GCSE Mindset (Crown House, 2017).  

If you wish to attend, please complete the form here before 9.00am on Monday 26 November. 

Please remember that this event is for parents of Year 11 pupils only - Year 11 pupils will attend sessions in school separately.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or Mrs Fionnuala Schofield. 

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Reports for Upper Sixth will be posted out on Friday 30 November 2018. They will also be available to view on the Pupil and Parent Portals.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Progress Reports for Years 7 and 10 will be published on Friday 30 November 2018 and will be available to view on the Pupil and Parent Portals.  

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic 

Thursday 6 December 2018 - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

We will continue with the new system introduced successfully last year and offer the option of a two course supper to you and your family, at a cost of £2.00 per head and served across three sittings, 5.30pm to 6.00pm, 6.00pm to 6.30pm and 6.30pm to 7.00pm. Supper will be served in the Refectory.

We will also provide two supervised areas where pupils and their siblings can wait whilst you meet with the teaching staff. There will be a film screening in one room and for those looking for a quieter environment a second area will be provided where they can relax.

To help us with the smooth running of Parents’ Evening and so that we can cater efficiently we would be grateful if everyone who would like to book for supper could complete the RSVP form by clicking here no later than 10.00am on Monday 3 December 2018.

Here is some additional information that you may find helpful:

• Parking will be available on the school playground
• Please enter the Limes building through the main entrance only
• Please ensure you sign in and collect your name badge from the reception desk before entering the Sports Hall
• There is no appointment system. You should allow approximately five minutes per teacher – a timer will sound every five minutes to assist with keeping discussions within this timeframe – please do organise a further meeting if you feel you need a longer discussion
• Plan strategically – decide which teachers you really need or want to see and target them first. We suggest you have a list of your child’s teachers and subjects - found on the Parent Portal
• On leaving the building please sign out at the reception desk

We look forward to seeing you.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Progress Reports for Year 8 and Lower Sixth will be published on Friday 7 December 2018 and will be available to view on the Pupil and Parent Portals.  

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic