The Flagpole

Tuesday 1 October 2019 - 10.00am to 3.00pm

Crackley Hall, Princethorpe's junior school and nursery in Kenilworth, is opening its doors for an Open Day on Tuesday 1 October 2019 from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, no need to book.

There are some places available across the school and they are recruiting for places in Reception 2020. Please speak to their Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan for availability.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to look around the school, please call their Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk and come on a day to suit you.

For more information visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk

Friday 4 October 2019

The College had a very successful Open Morning with some 120 prospective families enjoying a tour of the school's facilities. Our Year 8 and 9 pupils acted as tour guides and there was plenty of positive feedback on what a super job they did.

Parents now wishing to register for the upcoming Entrance Examinations are reminded that they should do so by the deadline of Friday 4 October to facilitate the gathering of references from junior schools.  The Registration Form is available here or from the Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney on 01926 634201 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Entrance Examinations for Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 will take place on Saturday 9 November 2019 from 9.30am to 3.30pm. More information is available on our website, click here.

There is also plenty of helpful advice and information in the College's latest Admissions Newsletter which can be found here. 

Friday 4 October 2019 - 10.00am to 3.00pm

The Crescent School, the Foundation's junior school for 4 to 11 year olds in Bilton, Rugby, is opening its doors for an Open Day on Friday 4 October from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, no need to book.

They have a limited number of places available and are now accepting registrations for admission to Reception in September 2020.

If you can't make the Open Day but would like to visit the school, please call their Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley on 01788 521595 or email admissions@crescentschool.co.uk and come on a day to suit you.

For more information visit www.crescentschool.co.uk

Wednesday 9 October 2019 - 7.30pm

Our Parents’ Book Club got off to a great start this term and it was a pleasure to welcome new members.  We discussed Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, an entirely different book from the dystopian fiction she is most well-known for, and Force of Nature by Jane Harper.  These are two very different books, of course.  Alias Grace can be a little difficult to get into, but is totally gripping once the voice of Grace emerges as we speculate to what extent she is guilty of the murder for which she has been incarcerated, in this imaginative reconstruction of the events surrounding a real nineteenth century case.  Force of Nature is a lighter read, a crime novel of a very different sort, engaging enough and with some depths which some readers were able to explore. 

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 9 October.  We will be discussing The Shepherd’s Hut by Tim Winton, the latest novel by an author we have enjoyed in the past.  We meet at 7.30pm in the library and would very much like to see some more new faces if you are able to join us.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Thursday 10 October 2019 - 12.15pm

On behalf of Austin House, it is my pleasure to invite you to our House Eucharist which takes place on Thursday 10 October in the College Chapel.

The service will be a celebration of our House community and will begin at 12.15pm.  If you are able to join us, I would recommend you aim to arrive at midday to be seated in the Chapel before the arrival of the pupils.

There will be signage to indicate where to park on the day.

We would be delighted if you could also stay at College after the service to join us for lunch. So that we can cater efficiently, please reserve places here by no later than Wednesday 9 October 2019.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Mr Adam Rickart
Head of House – Austin

Saturday 12 October 2019 10.30am - 12.30pm

The OPs and Former Parents Brunch is back by popular demand this autumn.

The brunch is set to take place on Saturday 12 October 2019 from 10.30am to 12.30pm in the College's Main Dining Room. In addition to catching up over a leisurely complimentary brunch (served until 12.00 noon), visitors will be able watch some Rugby against RGS Worcester and Girls Hockey against KEHS, and take an optional tour of the school campus.

We are aware that a lot of former parents will have spent a considerable amount of time at Princethorpe over the years, supporting their children in many different ways and may be missing the involvement in school life. The Old Princethorpians' Association hope that this will be an opportunity for them to reconnect with both the College and each other in an informal, friendly environment.

If you would like to attend please register at Princethorpe Connect or RSVP with your name and/or the name of your child/children, the number in your party and any special dietary requirements to oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk or call Melanie Butler on 01926 634284 by Friday 4 October.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please spread the word amongst OPs and former parents!! 

Monday 14 October 6.00pm

We are holding a special event on Monday 14 October at 6.00pm in the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre of Princethorpe College.

We are very pleased to welcome John Simpson to speak to our community. John is a speaker and author who has Asperger’s Syndrome. He will reflect on being a young person on the Autism Spectrum and will share his knowledge and understanding of the lives of others with an Autism Spectrum Condition.  He is an inspirational and at times entertaining speaker. We think it would be thought provoking for many in our community, not just young people who have an ASC.

John will be presenting to our staff earlier in the evening. We very much hope that you and your child will be able to join us for what promises to be a very useful and thought-provoking evening, please click here to confirm your attendance.

John will speak for approximately 60 minutes and light refreshments will be offered during the interval. 

Lorna Prestage - Coordinator of SEND/Learning Support
Dr Liz Pyne - Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning)

Who Was Dante Anyway?

In advance of the 700th anniversary in 2021 of Dante’s death in exile, this illustrated talk, by Margaret Louise O'Keeffe, which is the first of three lectures, will provide an introduction to Dante Alighieri, the greatest Italian writer of them all, an extraordinary personality who lived a remarkable life in particularly turbulent times.

Dante was a passionate human being who can inspire, entertain, educate and profoundly move us with the beauty of his language and imagery, the power of his imagination, the control of his material, the intensity of his emotions and the magnificent array of his characters and stories.

Active in the literary and political life of his beloved home city of Florence, Dante's heart was captured by Beatrice Portinari who died young in 1290. His enduring love for Beatrice became the bedrock of La Vita Nuova, (The New Life), and perhaps the main inspiration for his masterpiece La Commedia, (now known as The Divine Comedy).

The talk will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 15 October 2019 in the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre followed by wine and light refreshments in The Atrium.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door; but advance notice helps catering, please. Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent School pupils free of charge. We are happy to receive provisional bookings by e-mail, please, at alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk

For a booking form please click here

The other illustrated talks will take place on Tuesday 21 January 2020 and Tuesday 12 May 2020 - please save the dates.

Friday 22 November 2019

Plans are well advanced for our annual Prize Giving ceremony which will take place on Friday 22 November.  This year the ceremony is returning to Warwick University Art Centre's Butterworth Hall, commencing at 7.30pm.

Traditionally, the vast majority of last year’s Upper Sixth return to collect their A-level examination certificates.  Most will have embarked on their first year at university, apprenticeship or employment and this is a good opportunity for them to catch up.

GCSE examination certificates will be presented to last year’s Year 11, as well as a number of other awards and prizes, including our most prestigious, The Princethorpe Shield.  The Year 7 Chorus will be singing, and the Jazz Band and Orchestra performing. 

Attendance at Prize Giving is by invitation only and invitations will be posted out shortly along with instructions on how to RSVP.