The Flagpole

Further to the Parent Questionnaire that we conducted in February, it was really encouraging to see that a good number of parents would like to be more involved in supporting the school across a number of areas. 

Specific areas where we would welcome help include:

• Careers-related activities: interviews practice, doing presentations on a specific career or profession at the Careers Fair (which will take place on Saturday 21 March 2020) and Work Experience
• The Parent Teacher Association
• Co-curricular and sporting activities
• Parent focus groups

If you currently do help us in any way, or would like to think about offering your help in the future, I would be very grateful if you could fill in the brief on-line questionnaire which can be accessed here, by Friday 18 October please.

An enormous “thank you” to you all for your continued support of the College, it is hugely appreciated by both staff and the pupils.

E D Hester
Headmaster

Princethorpe College is delighted to announce that it has been recognised as an affiliated Arkwright School and so joins an elite group of schools, committed to inspiring future leaders in Engineering and Technical Design. 

Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are offered by The Smallpeice Trust, the UK’s leading STEM Education Charity, they are the most prestigious scholarships of their type in the UK.  Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are awarded to high-calibre Year 11 pupils through a rigorous selection process. The scholarships identify, inspire and nurture exceptional pupils in Engineering, Computing and Technical Design. 

Those lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship, receive a financial award and the support of a mentor who works with them throughout their time in Sixth Form. They are also given the opportunity to attend courses and events for Arkwright Scholars. They are then ideally positioned to pursue Engineering, Computing or Technical Design at university or through a higher-level apprenticeship and to pursue careers in the engineering field.

Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney, comments, “Arkwright Scholarships are highly sought after as they provide exceptional support.  Pupils who successfully obtain an award have access to unparalleled opportunities. Arkwright Engineering Scholars achieve excellent academic success and are known to make enviable career progress.  Princethorpe College has identified a small number of current Year 11 pupils who we believe have the skills and attitude to be successful in the scheme and they are preparing their applications now.”

One of Coventry’s oldest Air Cadet Squadrons, 84 (Coventry Airport) Squadron, formed 75 years ago in 1945 and based at Coventry Airport since 1963 has relocated to a new home, just five miles south of the city, at Princethorpe College.

84 Squadron’s much-loved home on the Baginton Airfield site is being demolished as part of Coventry and Warwickshire Development Partnership’s Gateway South Scheme, a project that is providing new industrial and warehouse space, new jobs and includes the creation of a community park just south of the Airport.

The old squadron building, named after Wing Commander A McKinlay who officially opened the building back in 1963 and has served the community well with generations of cadets parading through its doors.

Officer Commanding, Pilot Officer Kevin Fairhurst, explains, “Whilst we are incredibly sad to be losing our much-loved home and our long-standing connection to Coventry’s airport; the loss of our building has given us the opportunity to evaluate the facilities a modern 21st century cadet organisation needs. 

“We started looking for a new home earlier this year and when the chance to move to Princethorpe College arose it was almost too good to be true and very much an opportunity not to be missed.  At the College we will have access to modern, well equipped classrooms, a large purpose-built sports hall, a playground big enough to parade on all day and access to extensive grounds for outward bound activities.  The College will also be accommodating the Squadron’s state of the art flight simulator, the only one of its kind within the cadet force, hand built using a surviving downed aircraft and modelled on a Grob Tutor, the RAF elementary flying training plane.”

“Our unit is thriving, serving the young people of south Coventry, Leamington and surrounding areas and at Princethorpe we have the facilities we need to provide the challenge, excitement and adventure the RAF Air Cadets are known for.  We feel privileged to be able to continue working with young people in such an excellent location, with space to expand and grow, the future for the squadron is bright.”

Speaking for the College, Headmaster Ed Hester added, “We are delighted that 84 Squadron has chosen to make its new home here at the College.  Princethorpe has had previous connections to the cadet force having been home to a detached flight of another local squadron back in the early 1970s, so it is wonderful to have them back. I am sure many of our pupils, as well as young people from the local community will be interested in joining the squadron and we look forward to seeing them in action.”

The RAF Air Cadets is open to all young people aged 12 to 20 and will meet every Wednesday evening and Sunday morning at the College, for further information please see Mr McCollin, contact oc.84@aircadets.org or visit https://www.facebook.com/84SqnATC/

Visiting Roman Centurions invaded Princethorpe College on Tuesday 8 October armed with swords and scutums (shields) and ready to do battle. It was Year 7 Roman Day, a day when every pupil in the year enjoys lessons full of tales of blood and gore, as they learn about the Roman invasion and settlement of Britain.

The Centurions’ passion and knowledge of the period was vividly dramatised as the two men, dressed in full legionnaire’s costume, brought to life the strategic tactics and organisation of the Roman fighting machine. With replica costumes and equipment based on real archaeological finds, the sessions complemented the lessons Year 7 have been studying in History this half term.

Lucky class ‘volunteers’ dressed up in full body armour and attempted to carry a soldier’s kit, as Roman Tours expert, Centurion Ocratius Maximii, captivated the new recruits with graphic stories of life in the Roman Army and fascinating facts about all things Roman. Ethan Peachey was just one of the lucky pupils who donned the Roman Tunica, Lorica (armour) and Galea (helmet) and then picked up his soldier’s kit and prepared to march. Ethan and his classmates were also treated to lessons in sword skills and battle tactics from the greatest army of the time.

Peter Bucknall, Head of History said, “The Year 7s have learnt all about the life of a Roman soldier, his training and his clothing and armour, but they have also discovered lots of interesting background information about Roman times. The Centurions’ visit has left pupils buzzing with curiosity and keen to find out more, it was a fantastic day’s learning for all who took part.”

Year 7 were lucky with the weather last weekend as they enjoyed a wonderful three-day programme at Whitemoor Lakes Outdoor Residential Centre. 

135 pupils took part in an itinerary that included archery, canoeing, climbing, high ropes and problem solving.  In small groups they rotated around the different activities working together to complete the challenges they were set. In the evenings they enjoyed team games and dancing at the fabulous Saturday night disco. With no mobiles, Year 7 were off the grid and had time for plenty of old-fashioned fun.

There were lots of opportunities for pupils to develop their team working skills and the activities all helped to encourage initiative and develop resilience and social awareness. Over the weekend Year 7 all grew in confidence having approached new challenges with determination and enthusiasm and enjoyed a memorable three days.

Deputy Head – Pastoral, Beth Sharpe said, “This was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 7 pupils to bond together as a year group. They had an amazing time and were really supportive of one another as they worked together.  I know they have come back into school with new friends and better able to work together as a team.”

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

Princethorpe’s pupils joined in the celebration of all things poetical on National Poetry Day.   Held this year on Thursday 3 October, the College Library and English department marked the day with a series of different events that encouraged pupils to express themselves in rhyme, verse and even iambic pentameter. 

Mrs Baker took one of her Year 7 English class out onto the playground to chalk poems on the theme of ‘Truth’. The class had researched different ideas associated with the theme and composed their own works before individually writing them out.  It was hard work for cold fingers but the playground looked amazing when they had finished.  Another Year 7 English group wrote their poems onto coloured paper and at lunchtime stuck them to the floor of the Limes providing a further surprise.

In the Refectory, Warwickshire’s Young Poet Laureate, Academic Prefect, Hannah Owens, led an ‘Open Mic’ session with pupils and staff queuing up to recite poetry to their peers.  Lots of pupils volunteered and everyone who took part earned house-points.  

Around the College the walls were decorated with different poems so every time you turned a corner you were presented with a new opportunity to discover, enjoy and share poetry.

Poetry can unlock imaginations and help children be creative and here at the College, on National Poetry Day everyone joined in and had a little bit of poetry fun.

Princethorpe College pupils and staff marked World Porridge Day by raising money for the Scottish charity Mary’s Meals. Championed by Sixth Form students and Assistant Head of Sixth Form, Mr Rod Isaacs, pupils participated in a posse of Scottish and porridge fundraising fun.

At break time Princethorpe pupils were invited to dig deep and purchase a traditional Scottish breakfast, a pot of porridge, from the refectory. Thanks to Holland & Barrett, who had kindly donated 12kg of porridge, and Holroyd Howe, who did a sterling job of stirring, huge, steaming pots were lined up all along the counter.

The Scottish theme continued at lunchtime out on the school fields where only the brave participated in the William Wallace Welly Wanging Challenge. Sixth Form House Captains, dressed as Goldilocks and the Bears enthusiastically organised and encouraged pupils and staff. This year the winning throw came from Fisher House when none other than Headmaster, Ed Hester, welly wanged a whopping throw of 30.8m. Lawrence Whalley was a close second for Benet with a terrific throw of 30.3m.  Special mention must go to Austin’s Tom Parker whose extraordinary 31.2m throw was disallowed. Final House standings placed 1st More, 2nd Fisher, 3rd Benet and 4th Austin.  Well done to all the pupils who participated.

Rod Isaacs explained, “We have had a lot of fun and laughter today.  Many thanks to all the Sixth Form students who helped to organise all of the events.  We raised £227.58 and that equates to over 2,000 meals for the College’s ongoing feeding programme at Makalanga Primary School in Malawi.”

World Porridge Day, held annually on 10 October, is a fundraising event organised by Mary’s Meals in aid of starving children in the developing world. The charity provides daily meals in a place of learning addressing both the immediate needs of hungry children whilst encouraging them to go to school where they can gain an education that, in the future, can help them out of poverty. Through their school feeding programmes in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean they feed over 1.3 million children every year. It costs just £13.90 to feed a child for a year.

You can find out more about Princethorpe’s fundraising for Makalanga or make a donation here. 

On Monday 30 September 2019, 62 intrepid Year 11 Geography GCSE pupils travelled to Preston Montford, one of the Field Studies Council’s specialist outdoor centres. Lying close to the Welsh border, to the west of Shrewsbury in Shropshire, the field centre is a fantastic outdoor classroom where the pupils were able to put into practise the geographical field skills they have been studying in the classroom.  The two-day trip supported the geographical investigations modules that pupils undertake within their Geography GCSE.

Pupils spent one day exploring human geography topics, investigating urban dynamic areas by comparing the quality of life in the Castlefields and Radbrook Green districts of the county town of Shrewsbury. As part of their investigations they completed questionnaires and took photographs which they will put together with secondary data sources to complete their analysis. They then spent a rainy second day investigating physical geography topics in Carding Mill Valley, near the Long Mynd. There they surveyed the rivers, undertaking measurements and investigating the changes downstream.

Mike Taylor, Head of Geography, said, “Preston Montford is an excellent Field Centre. We had a very busy two days and the trip has given pupils an excellent head start in component 3 of their GCSE, Geographical Investigations: Fieldwork and UK Challenges.”

Teams from Loxley Church of England Community Primary School took first and joint third place in the inaugural Princethorpe College Year 5 Maths Challenge. 

The competition took place on Monday 7 October 2019 and was run by Douglas Buchanan of DCBEAGLE Challenges who specialises in organising exciting and innovative maths activities for primary school aged children.

Competing against 28 pairs of enthusiastic and talented mathematicians from 15 local schools, the pupils took part in a series of puzzles against the clock.  In six eight-minute rounds the children tackled Tangram Triangles, Broken Calculators, Domino Jigsaws, Catch The Train, Card Order and Curly’s Cycling Circuits, before finishing with a bonus round of five final mathematics questions.

Ably supported and marked by a team of Princethorpe’s Year 10 pupils, the competition stretched and challenged the children with mathematical activities that required both reasoning skills and mathematical knowledge.

The event was huge fun for all who took part.  The final results were:

1st place: Loxley Church of England Community Primary School (near Wellesbourne)

2nd place: Clapham Terrace Community Primary School (Leamington Spa)

Joint 3rd place: Loxley Church of England Community Primary School, Brookhurst Primary School (Leamington Spa) and Crackley Hall School (Kenilworth)

The winning teams all received mathematical prizes and everyone who participated received a certificate and a special Princethorpe cookie.

It was a great opportunity for all to put their maths skills to the test.  Local schools wishing to take part in next year’s challenge should visit www.dcbeagle.com or email Douglas Buchanan at dcbeagleb@gmail.com for more information.

The Development Team at Princethorpe is getting ready for the next phase of our Capital Campaign which will be lifting off in early November.

In the last few weeks we have had a meeting of our volunteer-led Science Campaign Board, made up of friends from across the Princethorpe Community, who are driving the fundraising objectives of the campaign. The Campaign Board has appointed two parent ambassadors: Rachel Jeffries – who will be linking in with parents from Years 7, 8 and 9 and James Hutcheson – who will be doing the same with parents of Years 10, 11 and Sixth Form.  We hope you will get to meet with Rachel and James in the next few months to speak to them about the campaign.

The Development Focus Group met recently too and have helped guide decisions on fundraising options for the Capital Campaign.

There will be some fantastic, unique fundraising options available, offered for the first time ever at Princethorpe including; engrave a paver or brick with your or a family name or sponsoring an element on our giant periodic table. More details on how to secure your option will be coming soon.

We are also working hard to link in with local businesses on partnership work around the new Science Building – if you have any contacts in business or industry that you think we should be speaking to please let us know by emailing makingadifference@princethorpe.co.uk

The Science building will not only secure the future of science at Princethorpe it will also transform and modernise Art, Geography, Maths, Business Studies and our dining facilities.

Click here to access the thirty-second issue of the Old Princethorpian e-newsletter which was published on Friday 4 October.

This issue includes the latest Foundation and College news, including the launch of our exciting new online alumni community, Princethorpe Connect, plus plenty of news and updates from OPs across the decades.

If you are an OP or know an OP who would like to share their news or pictures with us for the next issue due out in mid February please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk by early February.

If you would like to be added to the distribution list please email Old Princethorpians' Secretary Melanie Butler.

On a bright and sunny autumnal day Princethorpe College were delighted to welcome a number of Development staff from schools across the country to the inaugural training day run by Toucan Tech, our alumni database software provider.

Subjects covered included reporting, mass communications, filters and query builders. It was also a great opportunity for networking with other Toucan Tech users!

Toucan Tech provide software to schools not only in the UK but also around the world.

For further information contact makingadifference@princethorpe.co.uk