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!