The Flagpole

Princethorpe is celebrating after bringing home a haul of seven medals from the Independent Schools Association’s (ISA) National Track and Field Athletics Championships.

The National Championships took place on Wednesday 19 June at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on a thankfully dry day.  Princethorpe took a team of 17 athletes to the event; the pupils had all qualified for the Nationals at the Regional Championships earlier in the season. For all of the athletes this was an excellent opportunity to compete against some high calibre opposition.  In total, there were 700 pupils from 151 independent schools competing at this pre-eminent event.

Princethorpe’s medal haul included three Gold Medals.  Year 7 Kate Pomerleau finished first in the 1500m in a fantastic time of 5 minutes 30.82 seconds, Year 10 Molly Minshull took Gold in the 800m in a super time of 2 minutes 24.31 seconds and Year 9 Ben Hardy set a new national record in the 200m sprint in a supersonic time of 23.51 seconds.

Claiming a Silver Medal were Year 7, Sage Westbury who ran the 70m Hurdles in a time of 13.39 seconds and five pupils who competed in the Midlands relay teams. Ollie Farquharson ran for the Midlands in the Year 7 Boys 4 x 100m relay helping them finish in second place in a time of 55.36 seconds.  Then four Princethorpe Year 9 Girls, Eve Farquharson, Jess Mackenzie, Evie Phillips and Molly Wincott-Thomas, represented the Midlands in the Year 8/9  4 x 100m relay claiming the Silver Medal in a stunning time of 53.55 seconds.

Year 9, Ed Sharpe took the medal tally to seven when he won a Bronze in the 80m Hurdles in a time of 13.18 seconds.  He just missed out on a second medal with his jump of 1.50m which placed him 4th in the High Jump.  Evie Phillips also finished 4th in the 75m Hurdles as did Mollie Wincott-Thomas in the 100m sprint.

Teacher Peter Bucknall, who accompanied the athletes to the Nationals, commented, “A huge well done to all of our athletes for an excellent performance.  Our athletes responded so well to the competition they faced.  Their tenacity, determination, good humour and genuine camaraderie made for a real feel good experience for the whole team, not just those who came home with medals.”

For Year 11 Friday 21 June was an important day. With their public examinations finally completed, the pupils and their families returned to the College to celebrate the end of their GCSE year.

Over four hundred guests attended the Thanksgiving Service held in the College Chapel.  Father Alan Whelan MSC welcomed them all and opened the service with a hymn.  A number of staff, including Heads of House and members of the Senior Leadership Team, gave emotional readings that reflected the aspirations the College holds for their future.  The mood was one of celebration and optimism for the journey ahead. A plea for continuing kindness and generosity of spirit underpinned all the messages in the speeches.

In his reflection, Father Alan spoke of the infinite and lasting impact education has on our lives and challenged Year 11 to believe in themselves and to use their talents and qualities to make a difference.

Mrs Beth Sharpe, Pastoral Deputy Head, thanked the parents for their support of the College and read a moving extract from a Denis Waitley poem Roots and Wings.  Ed Hester, Headmaster, continued the thanks to the parents before inviting them to join with staff for refreshments after the service.

As friends, families and pupils trickled out of the Chapel to the Sixth Form Lawn to catch up, dish out hugs and enjoy a fine spread for lunch, there was a buzz of excitement ahead of next Monday evening’s all-important Year 11 Prom!

It was a wonderful day of celebration and we wish all the Year 11s a relaxing summer break before they move on to their next exciting chapter.

This year’s Summer Art, Photography and Design Show opened on Thursday 20 June with a special evening reception for the artists and their families, friends and guests. The displays will remain on show until Sunday 23 June allowing visitors to the College’s Summer Fête to enjoy the superb standard of work this year’s GCSE and A-level pupils have produced.

Those who know the College will be familiar with its formidable reputation for quality Art and Design. The walls of the College are adorned with exceptional examples and the work at this year’s show was no exception with striking portraiture and photography sitting alongside technically complex product design.

The Sixth Form Centre and Lecture Theatre were transformed into an eclectic exhibition space, the light and airy atrium helping to showcase the work at its best.  The College’s exhibition is one of 131 venues across Coventry and Warwickshire taking part in Warwickshire Open Studios 2019.

On display was work from A-level and GCSE pupils exploring a diverse range of mediums and themes.  In the main hall fascinating portraiture sat alongside superb studies, imaginative illustrations and phenomenal photography.  In the Design and Technology studio, intricately stitched dresses and tutus showcased this year’s Textiles pieces.  Recycling or repurposing was a theme running through many Resistant Materials’ final products. Oil barrel chairs and BBQs sat alongside wooden recycling units and there was also plenty of multipurpose furniture.  From our Electronics pupils there was an interesting range of different sized and shaped scoring units.

Visitors were audibly impressed with what they saw, stopping to stare in wonder, exclaiming over the ingenuity and talent and enjoying the fine collection of work.

Our congratulations go to all our GCSE and A-level pupils for producing such a worthy display. Thanks go to the Art and Photography Department and the Design and Technology Department for all their support and inspiration to pupils this and every year and for putting together such an outstanding display.

Pupils from Year 7 were treated to an extra special drama workshop courtesy of international students from Warwick University on Wednesday 19 June.  They enjoyed a collaborative cross-cultural experience as the MA Drama students engaged them in an exciting morning of storytelling.

The MA students are researching the benefits of Drama in education and visited Princethorpe to explore the role that drama and theatre has as a means of encouraging creative learning. 

Joint Head of Drama, Aileen Cefaliello commented, “We were delighted to welcome Warwick University into school.  Our workshop included an interactive session where Year 7 worked with the students exploring the characters of the ancient Chinese story Lady White, followed by a participative performance.  Year 7 clearly enjoyed the hands on experience and the international students were impressed with our pupils’ imagination and engagement.”

Many thanks to the MA Drama Course Leader, Cheryl Cane, and to students Miow, Eileen and Rachel from Warwick University for their visit. 

On Tuesday 18 June Year 10 took time out of a hectic term filled full of preparations for Year 11 to think about their future post GCSEs.  In a special Year 10 Sixth Form Taster Day pupils sampled life in the Sixth Form and explored the subjects they might choose to study at A-level.

Welcomed by Headmaster Ed Hester and Head of Sixth Form Ben Collie, the day began with an informative session that looked at how the Sixth Form supports students' self-development, it included presentations on opportunities such as the Extended Project Qualification and the College’s Sixth Form Enrichment Programme.  

Pupils then attended five different subject-based lessons that provided an insight into potential A-level choices and the different approach to teaching at this level. It was pleasing to see how engaged the potential Sixth Formers were.

After a delicious BBQ on the Sixth Form lawn, the day culminated in a Futures Evening with parents invited along too, with a carousel of presentations from the Universities of Warwick and Loughborough, Princethorpe’s Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney and a Sixth Form Q&A session with Mr Collie.

The timetable was action-packed but the Year 10s clearly enjoyed trying out life in the Sixth Form. Feedback has been very positive, with many pupils commenting on how much they enjoyed the Taster Day. For many it really was the first time they have thought about life after GCSEs.

Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie, was very pleased, commenting, “The Sixth Form team really enjoyed working with the Year 10s.  They asked a range of good questions that will have helped with their decision making and we are looking forward to meeting them again with their parents at our Sixth Form Open Evening which takes place in the Michaelmas Term on Wednesday 16 October.”

Rain didn’t stop play last weekend when Year 8 enjoyed a wonderful three-day programme at Whitemoor Lakes Outdoor Residential Centre.  

80 pupils took part in activities that included archery, canoeing, climbing, high ropes and problem solving.  In small groups pupils rotated around the activities working together to complete the challenges they were set.  With no mobiles, Year 8 were off the grid and had time for plenty of old fashioned fun.  Pupils tackled all the activities with great energy and commitment and showed excellent team working skills. In the evenings they enjoyed playing team games and dancing at the fabulous Saturday night disco.

The rain over the weekend was at times atrocious so activities had to be tailored to fit in with conditions but, with true British spirit, Year 8 weathered the extra challenges and concentrated on having fun.

Teacher Louisa Fielding, said, “The residential was very wet but pupils still had great fun. There were lots of opportunities for them to develop their team working skills and the activities helped to encourage initiative and develop resilience and social awareness. The children also had the chance to demonstrate leadership skills and to get out of their comfort zones.  Pupils in Year 8 have established friendships groups but this cross-year activity, enabled them to mix with different groups and make new friends. They will have come back to school having gained in confidence and ready for the challenges that Year 9 will present.”

Well done all and a big thank you to all the staff who accompanied the trip and took on the activities and the weather too.

On Sunday 4 August, Science Teacher Dan White will be cycling 100 miles in the 2019 Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100 to raise money for the charity Bliss.  Bliss is a charity that champions and supports the needs of babies born premature or sick and it is a charity that is close to Dan’s heart.

Back in 2015 Dan’s sister gave birth to premature twins, tragically his nephew Alfie did not survive but despite facing many testing times his niece Evie did.  

Dan says, “Bliss are an amazing charity who have helped my family through some dark and difficult times.  I am very proud to have been accepted as a fundraiser for Bliss and I am looking forward to the 2019 Ride London-Surrey 100 challenge.  This is my chance to give something back.”

The 100 mile ride starts from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and then follows a 100-mile route out through the Surrey countryside, made famous by the world’s best cyclists at the London 2012 Olympics, before returning to central London to finish on The Mall.

Dan has been training hard over the last six months out on rollers in his garden shed.  He is aiming to raise £750.  He continues, “I still have a lot of training ahead but I’m really looking forward to completing the challenge.  I am dedicating it to the twins, in memory of Alfie and in celebration of Evie.”

If you would like to support Dan’s 100 mile cycling challenge visit his JustGiving fundraising page here.

Friday 13 September to Sunday 22 September from 9.00am - 5.00pm

St Anne’s church sits on a large fortified Iron Age settlement dating back to approximately 700BC known as the Wappenbury camp, the river Leam forming part of its defences.

An early Catholic directory mentions a Catholic Mission at Wappenbury in 1734 and therefore this implies that there was Catholic activity in the 1600s.

The first Diocesan records of the Mission start in 1744 with a record of baptisms. The priest at this time and recorded at Wappenbury was Fr W Walmsley OSF, 1744-1768.

The small chapel built by Lord Clifford is reliably assumed to be the current Sanctuary. The new chapel was built and completed in 1849 extending from the north side of the old Clifford chapel and opened by Bishop Nicholas Wiseman and dedicated to the Mother of Our Lady, St Anne. The church was the first Catholic parish church to be built in the diocese since the reformation.

The incumbent priest of St Anne’s would offer Mass for the nuns at St Mary’s Priory, which is now Princethorpe College.

St Anne’s was completely renovated and refurbished between January and September 2014. The re-dedication of St Anne’s took place on Saturday 18 June 2016. 

The church will be open from Friday 13 September to Sunday 22 September from 9.00am - 5.00pm. Refreshments will be served on Saturday 21 September between 10.00am and 12noon and on Sunday 22 September between 10.00am and 1.00pm.

For further information about the parish of St Anne's please click here

We would be delighted to see you!

Sunday 23 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

A celebration of our pupils GCSE and A-level Art, Photography and Design work will take place in the College's Sixth Form Centre on Sunday 23 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."

Added Head of Design and Technology, Paul Scopes, "We look forward to welcoming all the exam pupils and their families from across Design, Art and Photography to enjoy the fruit of their labours."

All are welcome. Admission will be £2 per car including entry to the College's Summer Fete and Motoring Festival. Light refreshments will be served.

Sunday 23 June 2019 from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

The Princethorpe College PTA Summer Fête and Annual Motoring Festival is this Sunday – we look forward to seeing you all from 2.00pm – 4.30pm.

As we’ve mentioned in the the previous Flagpole, there’s something for everyone with loads of stalls, fun and games including Zorbs, live music, BBQ food and refreshments etc.  We have over 30 stalls selling local wares, our usual raffle, tombola, book stall and bar!  We also have our very popular ‘Pre-loved Uniform Stall’.  Entry is only £2 per car so please do come along and support us.

As always we will be holding a raffle, this year with a 1st Prize of £250, 2nd Prize of a Fortnum and Mason Hamper, 3rd Prize of £100 and many more fabulous items to be won. Completed tickets can be returned on the day to at the PTA Stall and also purchased on the day. The raffle will be drawn towards the end of the event so don't miss out! 

We are always on the lookout for volunteers, so if you can help in any way on the day, even for half an hour, we would really like to hear from you! Please email us at pta@princethorpe.co.uk.

We do hope that you are able to come along to this fun, family event.

Many thanks
Princethorpe PTA 

Friday 28 June 2019 - 6.00pm optional tour, 7.00pm drinks reception, 7.30pm supper

OPs who left the College in 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2009 (or those who were in the same year groups) are cordially invited back to the OPs annual Summer Supper on Friday 28 June to celebrate their respective 50th, 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries of leaving.

Comments OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, "We know many OPs are keener to come to these events if they can be sure of seeing some familiar faces.  By focusing on these year groups we hope to get a critical mass of attendees, although OPs from other years will of course be welcome too!"

The Summer Supper is an established event in the OPs calendar, attracting a large number of OPs, former and current members of staff. The supper is preceded by an optional tour and drinks in the Quad. Every year the OPs recognise long-standing members of staff and say farewell to any staff leaving the College.

Numbers are limited to around 100 guests, so if you would like to attend please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk, message Old Princethorpians on Facebook or call Melanie Butler on 01926 634284 by Monday 24 June to reserve your place.

On Tuesday 2 July 2019 at 7.30pm in the Chapel Tim Campain will play a wide variety of pieces from various genres. This year promises a special programme to mark twenty-five years of the popular Hugh Page Memorial Organ Recitals.

The renowned Princethorpe Binns’ organ of 1901 was built by James J Binns, Bramley Organ Works, Leeds. It was restored by Hugh Page in 1984.

From our archives we have a fascinating insight into the numerous letters that were written between Peter Paul Pugin and Sister Procurator of the Priory regarding the organ and the delay in placing the organ. An extract from one of the letters:

March 30th 1901 

...."it is all nonsense Binns saying the organ would be finished long ago if he had has a design for case. I sent him the design for case with full working drawings which he never acknowledged. He could have worked on it at once. The console is quite a separate affair. When I see Binns I will give him a bit of my mind. I was not at all extravagant in the design for the case and a tracing of it is now enclosed which you will kindly return after M Prioress has seen it. I will send on details of console as soon as I can!"

Please click here for a booking form. 

Tickets - £5.00 for each of the events including refreshments. All Foundation pupils free of charge.

The main image shows the original position of the organ console - it was moved to the gallery in approximately 1908 to make way for a statue of St Peter. This statue was taken by the nuns to Fernham when they left St Mary's Priory 1965. 

Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC and the parishioners of St Anne's R C Church, Wappenbury, invite you to celebrate the summer holiday Sunday Masses at 8.30am and 10.15am in St Anne's from Sunday 28 July to Sunday 25 August inclusive.

Please note there will be no 10.15am Mass on Sundays during this period in Princethorpe College chapel.

For further information about the parish of St Anne's please click here

Wednesday 11 September 2019 - 7.30pm

In our last meeting we discussed City of Sinners by A A Dhand. It was quite refreshing to read something as undemanding as this – a crime novel with numerous twists and turns exploring crime in the Asian communities of Bradford.  Dhand certainly knows the city and its inhabitants well.   At the heart of the novel is the extreme suspicion and antagonism between Muslim and Sikh communities within the city.  These racial issues are explored with some insight and sensitivity as the backdrop to some engaging and sometimes shocking crime detecting. 

Our next meeting will be on 11 September in the library at 7.30pm and we hope to welcome some newcomers to the first meeting of the new academic year.   We are using the long summer break for quite a challenging read and hope to get through Atwood’s Alias Grace.  We will also be discussing Force of Nature by Jane Harper and, as a piece of award winning non-fiction, we’ll be looking at Wilding by Isabella Tree.  Obviously not everyone will be reading all of these, but we hope there is something here for everybody so please come along in September and tell us what you thought of one or more of these books.  We are a small but friendly group of readers with broad tastes, always willing to try the recommendations of others.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

I hope you were able to attend the Year 7 and 8 Academic Review Evening on Monday 17 June and that you found it informative and helpful.

Presentations from the Academic Review Evening are available below:

• Princethorpe’s Future – Plans for Campus Development: Ed Hester
• Managing Your Child's Screen Time: Andy Compton
• Managing Your Child's Screen Time Handout
• Learning Skills: Helen Pascoe-Williams
• Learning Skills - Coaching with VESPA Handout
• An Introduction to the Careers Department – Busting Careers Myths: Jacqui Quinney
• Protective Behaviours and Safeguarding your Child: Lisa Challinor
• Protective Behaviors and Safeguarding your Child Handout
• Supporting reading for pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia: Lorna Prestage

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic 

Reports for Year 9 and Lower Sixth will be posted out today, Friday 21 June 2019.  They will also be available to view on the Parent Portal.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic
 

Pupils and parents in year 8 and 9 are reminded that the following textbooks need to be returned to their teacher by Friday, 21 June 2019:

Year 8 - 'Smart Science' textbook

Year 9 - CGP revision guide

If a textbook has been lost a charge will be made for this book. 

Emma Cooper
Head of Science

Thursday 15 August 2019 – A-level and AS results

Upper Sixth students - school will open at 7.00am. Results will be distributed in the Sixth Form Centre; teaching staff and careers advisors will be on hand to provide support where required.

Results will be published to the portals at 9.00am. Please click here for instructions on accessing your results via the portal.

Lower Sixth students – please access your results via the pupil portal at 9.00am, a statement of your results will be posted home that day.

Thursday 22 August 2019 – GCSE and Latin L1 and L2 results

Year 11 pupils - school will open at 9.00am. Results will be distributed in the Sixth Form Centre; teaching staff and careers advisors will be on hand to provide support where required.

Results will be published to the portal at 10.00am. Please click here for instructions on accessing your results via the portal.

All other year groups – please access your results via the pupil portal from 10.00am, a statement of your results will be posted home that day.

Results cannot be given out over the phone. If a student is unable to collect their results in person and wishes to nominate a third party, the Examinations Officer must be informed before the end of July. The student must email: examinations@princethope.co.uk from their school email address. Information to be included is:

·         Full name of third party

·         Full address

·         Relationship to student

In order to collect the results, photographic ID must be provided.

Shellagh Dodds
Examinations Officer

Pupils and parents are reminded that the Textbook Return Forms, which are available to download here are due to be completed and returned by Wednesday 26 June 2019.

Books should be handed to a member of staff from the relevant department with staff signing the form to confirm receipt of the correct number of books.

If a textbook has been lost, ‘LOST’ should be entered in the staff signature column on the Return Form and a charge will be made for this book. When all subjects are complete, pupils should take the form to their Head of House to sign off. Any incomplete or unreturned forms will result a charge for unreturned books.

There is a huge amount of lost property at the Student Hub (drinks containers/glasses/jewellery/winter coats etc.) the majority is un-named.  Please ask your child to pop along to the Student Hub and have a look, even if they are adamant that they haven’t lost anything.  All unclaimed (un-named) items will be donated to charity at the end of the term.

Mrs Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

21 - 22 June 2019 

The Autism Show is the national event for people with autism, for parents and families of people with autism as well as professionals – including families who want to find out more before diagnosis who will have lots of questions.

It is a reasonably priced and dynamic event and this year conveniently it is local to us. There is a wide programme of seminars in three theatres that you can book including lots of talks by people with autism themselves that are often hugely inspiring.

For further information or to book tickets please click here.

Lorna Prestage
Learning Support

Monday 1 July, 6.00pm - 8.00pm

All Lower Sixth students and their families are invited to join the Sixth Form team for a summer BBQ. A time to be able to socialise, relax, have some fun and raise money for Mary's Meals.

The BBQ will be held outside the Sixth Form Centre from 6pm to 8pm and tickets will cost £12 per parent/Lower Sixth student and £6 for children under twelve, children under 5 go free. The cost of the ticket will include food, a drink on arrival (prosecco for the adults, a soft drink for everyone else), live music, ice cream and games. There will be a paying bar available too.

We hope you will be able to join us for our parent/student summer social. Please contact Amanda Mackenzie via email to book your place as soon as possible.

Ben Collie
Head of Sixth Form

Students and parents are reminded that the Textbook Return Forms, which are available to download here, are due to be completed and returned by Friday 21 June 2019.

Books should be handed to a member of staff from the relevant department with staff signing the form to confirm receipt of the correct number of books.

If a textbook has been lost, ‘LOST’ should be entered in the staff signature column on the Return Form and a charge will be made for this book. When all subjects are complete, students should take the form to the Head of Sixth Form to sign off. Any incomplete or unreturned forms will result a charge for unreturned books.

Work Experience Placements at Princethorpe College, as part of our Careers programme, take place at the end of Year 11.  We believe that all pupils can gain immeasurable benefits from their placements; not only can a good placement teach a pupil a lot about an area of work that he or she may be interested in, but it can also develop communication skills, self-confidence, initiative and teamwork.

Many thanks to all Year 11 parents for helping your son/daughter to find a work placement. These can be done at any time after the last GCSE exams, at any point in the summer holidays to fit in with family plans. We normally expect at least one week, although historically we have had many undertake more than this, often in more than one placement. Such experience is invaluable for considering a future career path, getting used to the world of work, and for references.

So that I can complete the necessary paperwork, possible references and so on, I'd be grateful if you could you let me know the company name and contact details, for the placement(s) you have arranged either by return of the slip attached to the letter sent to you in June, or by email to me at miketaylor@princethorpe.co.uk.

If you need a hard copy of the original letter, please could you ask your son or daughter to ask me for one at school.

Mike Taylor
Work Experience Co-ordinator

This is a busy time for students who should be preparing for making their university applications next term. We have lots of events to support them before the end of term.

Thursday 27 June – Interview Practice Day – Students will be interviewed by one of 14 business people attending the College during the morning to put them through their paces and give them a realistic work-style interview.

Monday 1 July – UCAS Day – a day full of useful talks and workshops to get students started writing their personal statements and getting registered with UCAS.

Students should also be using Unifrog to search for university courses, create shortlists and record their key competencies in readiness for making applications to UCAS next term. All students will be offered a one-to-one meeting with me this term and then myself and the Sixth Form team will guide them through the process of application. Further advice on personal statements will follow after exam week but they can be started at any time – drafts should be written in the Personal Statement tool in Unifrog.

Tips:
• Open Days are mostly in June and July – these should be booked now.
• Make sure you follow the link on Unifrog shortlists to the course pages and check the details of the courses – not all courses are the same.
• Check out the Careers, Subject and Know-how libraries on Unifrog for information on different careers, help with choosing which subject to study and a wealth of videos on various aspects of the process.
• The UCAS website is also a wealth of information and has a specific page for parents.  Click here to access it. 
• Any parents who wish to use Unifrog themselves can set up their own login by visiting the site here and entering the Form Code ‘princethorpeparent’.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

Since the half term break the current Year 10 pupils are permitted to wear our senior sports kit which is coveted by our pupils as it sets them apart from the rest of the school, the range includes:

Boys

Senior Training Top £25.00

Senior Hoodie £38.00 (must not be worn for contact sports i.e. Rugby)

Senior Socks £8.00

Girls

Senior Girls Games Top £30.00

Senior Hoodie £38.00

Senior Socks £8.00

Tracksuit Bottoms £30.00 (Limited number available)

Please note that all pupils are expected to wear Princethorpe crested sports kit for Wednesday afternoon Games.  All senior boys need the top and socks for fixtures.  Senior girls must have the senior top and hoodie for all fixtures with the additon of socks for hockey matches.

All purchases must have written permission from home either by a note in the school planner, a text, email or verbally from parents.

We carry a full range of sizes in the School Shop for pupils to try on.

Neil McCollin
Foundation Director of Sport

Thursday 12 September 2019
Sixth Form Centre Dining Room - 7.00pm

The PTA extend a warm welcome to all, and hope you will to join us for cheese and wine at the PTA AGM.

This will give new and current parents an opportunity to find out what the PTA does for the school, and how you could help us by supporting activities such as Open Days, Christmas and summer fairs.

There will be an opportunity to meet other parents, those who are new to the PTA and existing members. We have a number of parents who are involved in the PTA and as well as meeting those parents who may wish to join us on the committee – we also very much welcome parents who may be able to spare an hour supporting the fairs or welcoming visitors to the schools on Open Days. It really is an excellent way to get involved with school life, and you can offer as little or as much of your time as you feel is possible.

Our main aim is to provide the ‘extras’ for the school which are very much appreciated by pupils and staff alike; we support events such as Activities Week and one of our largest donations recently has been to improve the area of the school known as Switzerland.

If you have any queries please contact us at pta@princethorpe.co.uk. 

We hope you will be able to join us on the night and very much look forward to meeting you.

Princethorpe PTA

This summer, students have the opportunity to represent Princethorpe College in orienteering events around Warwickshire. Below is a list of events taking place in the second half of the Trinity term:

• Brueton Park, Solihull - Wednesday 12 June from 6.00pm 
• Hartshill Hayes Country Park, Nuneaton - Wednesday 19 June from 6.00pm
• Coundon Hall Park, Coventry - Wednesday 3 July from 6.00pm

There is no obligation to take part in all of the events. Simply choose any you are able to make. I hope this will be an exciting opportunity for pupils to get outside and try something different this summer. If you would like more information, please email adamrickart@princethorpe.co.uk.

Adam Rickart
Head of Psychology

Unfortunately there are no available places on the ski trip next Easter. Pupils who are already on the waiting list will be contacted as soon as a place becomes available.

Information regarding the trip has been emailed to all parents of pupils who have been offered a place. Please could the behaviour contract form be signed and returned to me as soon as possible.

I will be in touch shortly with confirmed dates of the parents meetings and practice ski trips. For further information or if you have any questions please contact me at catherinewarne@princethorpe.co.uk.

Catherine Warne
Trip Co-ordinator

The School Shop will close from 4.30pm on Wednesday 3 July.  The shop is open during the summer holidays on an appointment only basis.  if you would like an appointment please contact the shop directly on 01926 634272 to check availability.

If you require any items of new or freshly laundered sports kit to be initialled, please bring it to the shop during the week prior to the end of term in time for us to send them off.

Nicola Browne
Foundation Shop Managar

If your child has lost a pair of glasses we may have them at the Student Hub.  Please see the photo of the glasses that we currently have waiting to be reclaimed.

To help us return glasses or any other item of property back to its rightful owner can we please ask that you put the name of the child on them.

If one of the pairs of glasses belongs to your child please email us at lostproperty@princethorpe.co.uk to reclaim.

All lost property will be given to charity if it is not reclaimed by the end of the Summer term.  Please feel free to come along to Student Hub from 3.30pm every weekday, if you think that an item that is lost may be with us.

Nicola Browne
Foundation Shop Manager

We are really fortunate to have two well stocked Libraries and we would like your help to keep it that way.

We are having a book amnesty and hope that you can dig out any long forgotten Library books that have not been returned, and let us have them back, with no questions asked.

We are particularly keen to have any A-level books returned.

You can place returned items into the labelled box positioned outside of the main Library or they can be handed directly to the Librarians Mrs Scott or Mrs O’Connor.

Thank you for your support with this.

Mrs Scott
College Librarian

Further to the recent Government announcement that the May bank holiday in 2020 will move from Monday 4 May to Friday 8 May to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, please find below our updated Term Dates and Key Dates document for 2019-20, along with the dates for 2020-2021.

2019-20 updated (Two-page document)

2020-21 (two page document)