The Flagpole

Tuesday 3 March 2020 - 6.00pm

We warmly welcome you to an informal evening of scripted and devised work from KS4 and KS5 Drama and Theatre Studies pupils.

Our Year 11s are busy in the throes of preparing their two extracts for their GCSE exam the week after and Year 10 and Lower Sixth will be presenting their original devised pieces.

Please come and support them as they would love to hear your feedback.

Please note that this evening is recommended for 14+ as there are themes and language of strong content.

Tickets are not required for this event, but to help us cater efficiently please reserve places by clicking here no later than 10am, Monday 2 March.

Aileen Cefaleillo and Vicky Roberts
Joint Heads of Drama

If you know someone who might be interested in finding out more about teaching at Princethorpe College why not encourage them to come along to our next A Taste of Teaching at Princethorpe Event on Wednesday 4 March 2020 from 4.30pm to 6.00pm.

They'll get a tour of the College with some of our Sixth Formers, a chance to visit their subject area and meet the Head of Department, followed by a short presentation by the Headmaster and the opportunity to ask questions of our senior team. Light refreshments will be available.

We have recently become a training school through the School Direct Scheme in partnership with the Lion Alliance and we are actively encouraging applications from those just entering the profession too.

We are currently recruiting for a Teacher of Computer Science and a Teacher of Physics, click here for details, teachers of other subjects are most welcome to attend too.

To book onto the Taste of Teaching at Princethorpe event and to download our new Teaching at Princethorpe brochure please click here by Monday 2 March 2020.  Further information on the event will be confirmed nearer the date.

Any other questions about recruitment should be directed to recruitment@princethorpe.co.uk or call 01926 634269.

Thursday 5 March 2020 - 6.30pm to 9.30pm 

The Princethorpe Oscars VII – The Heptalogy will take place on Thursday 5 March, when the red carpet will be rolled out for another fantastic evening of Hollywood fun. 

This year's theme is the number 7 and entries so far include: 

• The 7 ‘Sebs’
• The 7 Cups Challenge
• 7 top video editing tips
• 1-7 in 7 different languages

Pupils wishing to submit film entries must send a link to Mr Hubball by Monday 2 March at paulhubball@princethorpe.co.uk. 

If you wish to join us for popcorn, pick’n’mix and an entertaining set of entries, please book free tickets for this event using My School Portal. 

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

Friday 6 March 2020 - 6.30pm to 10.30pm

The OPs annual Pub Meet will take place next Friday at Inside the 22, on Lawrence Sheriff Street in Rugby.

The OPs Commitee will be laying on a delicious, complimentary hot and cold buffet and welcome drink, so do let us know if you can join us by visiting Princethorpe Connect or email us at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk. 

Partners and friends are most welcome. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Spring Open Morning
Saturday 7 March 2020 - 10.30am to 12.30pm

Crackley Hall and Little Crackers, Princethorpe's junior school and nursery in Kenilworth, is opening its doors for a Spring Open Morning on Saturday 7 March from 10.30am to 12.30pm. 

This is a great chance to look around the school and nursery at the weekend and to chat to staff and pupils. Junior 5 and 6 pupils will act as tour guides and there will be music and sport activities on display. Light refreshments will be available.

Registrations are now being taken for Nursery, Reception and Year 3 for September 2020 admissions, limited places are available in other Years. The nursery is open 51 weeks a year and is carefully structured for two-year olds, three-year olds and pre-school.

All are welcome to look round the school, and to meet staff and pupils. No need to book.

Please email Mrs Jenny Vaughan, Admissions Secretary at admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk or call her on 01926 514410 for more information on the Open Morning and admissions process.

For more information visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk.

Wednesday 11 March 7.00pm - 8.30pm

Princethorpe College is pleased to be hosting a lecture on Exo-planets by Dr Dimitri Veras in the Clarkson theatre.  Please click here if you would like to attend.

The field of exo-planetary science is now a quarter of a century old, and its prominence was heightened last year with the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physics to two pioneers in this subject. In this talk, Dr Veras will provide an overview of the mounting discoveries of these exo-planets, their smaller cousins exo-asteroids and exo-comets, and the theories which explain their formation, evolution and fate. He will highlight noteworthy exo-planets which, for example, may harbour life or are in the process of breaking up and will conclude by detailing how both the UK and West Midlands will provide significant contributions to this field in the upcoming decades.

Dr Dimitri Veras

Dimitri Veras is an Astrophysicist in the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick who researches the contents of exo-planetary systems in a wide variety of contexts, across both time and space. He has published academic articles about forming, destroying and evolving exo-planets, exo-asteroids, exo-moons and exo-comets while they interact with their parent star or stars. His most significant current research focus is on the future and fate of exo-asteroids, exo-comets, exo-moons and exo-planets: how they traverse the violent giant branch stellar evolution phases and “pollute” their host stars after they become “white dwarfs”.

Thursday 12 March 2020 - 12.15pm

On behalf of Benet House, it is my pleasure to invite you to our House Eucharist, which takes place on Thursday 12 March 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 by completing the form here no later than Tuesday 10 March 2020.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Lisa Challinor
Head of House – Benet

Friday 13 March 2020 

Mental health awareness has never been greater, and as a society, we are beginning to feel more confident in seeking help when we’re struggling in our lives. However while around 25% of the population will experience mental health issues at some point, studies have shown that autistic people are three times more likely to be affected, with stress, anxiety and depression common place.

Growing up is hard enough if you’re neurotypical but for autistic children, the school years, adolescence and the transition into adulthood is a particularly vulnerable time. Their communication and social interaction difficulties, can both contribute to, and cloak, a decline in mental health.

This learning day will equip parents, family carers and professionals with the tools to maintain good mental health in autistic children and young adults. Plus the knowledge to recognise and deal with any difficulties as soon as they arise.  We would encourage parents of children with ASD and anyone else who is interested to attend.  There are reduced tickets available for parents/families.

Click here for further information and to book tickets.

Lorna Prestage
Learning Support

Saturday 14 March - 7.30pm onwards

Don’t miss this fabulous night out in support of our Malawi 2020 project with an Irish dancing display, live Ceilidh band and auction. There will be a two course meal and drink included in the ticket price. Tickets are still available for £25 per person or a table of ten for £220.

Amazing raffle with superb prizes and cash bar all evening. 

Please reserve tickets with Marion Mitchell at marionmitchell@princethorpe.co.uk

See our JustGiving page to find out more about the Classrooms for Malawi project at Lauderdale School here.

Tuesday 17 March 2020 - 10.30am to 12.30pm

Our Spring Open Morning will take place on Tuesday 17 March, giving prospective families a chance to visit the school on a normal working day, with Year 7 and 8 pupils acting as tour guides. Light refreshments will be available.

All are welcome and there is no need to book. For further information, please contact our Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney on 01926 634201 or at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.  

Our next Open Event after the March Open Morning will be our Summer Open Evening on Wednesday 3 June 2020 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Please do spread the word amongst family and friends.

Wednesday 18 March at 7.00pm

All GCSE Music pupils in Years 10 and 11 will be performing in the GCSE Music Recital, on Wednesday, 18 March at 7.00pm. This is one of the regular opportunities given to our talented GCSE pupils to perform solo and ensemble pieces in public, as well as to record these performances for use as assessment material for their GCSE qualification.

As ever, it will be a friendly and informal evening, and a great chance to experience some of the vast talent shown by our pupils.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and the event will take place in the Clarkson theatre.  Please click here to book tickets.

Gil Cowlishaw 
Director of Music

Wednesday 18 March 2020 at 7.00pm

At our last meeting we discussed Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.  Whilst some were greater enthusiasts than others, all agreed on the qualities of this reflective, humorous but also poignant look at the tragedies of life in a small town community as seen through the eyes of Olive Kitteridge herself, towards whom the reader feels both empathy and frustration in almost equal measure. 

We will be meeting again in the library on Wednesday 18 March and have moved our meeting time forward to 7.00pm.  Our book this month is My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal.  This was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and comes very well reviewed.  Newcomers always most welcome so please join us to share thoughts on this book or to get ideas for future reading.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Thursday 19 March at 7.00pm

All of our highly talented A-level Music pupils will be performing in the A-level Music Recital, on Thursday 19 March at 7.00pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear our most senior musicians give an intimate public performance as part of their A-Level study.

As ever, it will be a friendly and informal evening, and a great chance to experience some of the vast talent shown by our pupils.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and the event will take place in the Roundhouse.  Please click here to book tickets.

Gil Cowlishaw 
Director of Music

Saturday 21 March 2020 - 9.30am to 1.00pm

The College’s Careers Fair is now only three weeks away on Saturday 21 March. The bi-annual event is open to Year 10 to Sixth Form pupils and their parents. It provides a ‘one stop careers shop’ with a wide range of speakers and organisations on hand to offer advice and guidance.

The Careers Fair will run from 9.30am to 1.00pm and, as well as a keynote presentation, attendees will be able to attend up to three workshops depending on their personal interests and visit an exhibition zone, with stalls from many well-known companies, charities, institutions, universities and gap year organisations.

Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney comments, “Do put Saturday 21 March in your diary, registrations will open in mid February and there will be plenty to interest and inform our pupils and their parents."

Parents of pupils from Year 10 to Sixth Form have been emailed further information on the sessions and a link to register. The registration deadline has been extended to Monday 2 March, don't miss out!

Dr Nick Baker, former archivist of Princethorpe College will give a presentation on the life and times of Sir Wilfred Thesiger. A quintessential English explorer, Sir Wilfred Thesiger was the last and greatest of that small band of travellers who sought out the secrets of the desert in the years before Arabia was transformed forever by the oil beneath her sands.

The talk will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 2 June 2020 in the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre followed by wine and light refreshments in the Atrium.

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

The annual Huge Page Organ Recital (Huge Page at 100) will take place on Tuesday 30 June 2020 - please save the date.