News

Princethorpe College Celebrates 2020 A-Level Results

In spite of the unprecedented challenges that 2020 presented, Princethorpe College celebrated an excellent set of A-level results.

Out of a cohort of 97 students who completed their A-levels, BTEC and Extended Project Qualification this year, at the top end 47% of all A-level grades were A* or A and 91% were A* to C. Impressively, 28 high-flyers achieved three or more A* or A grades. Special mention must go to Hannah Porter who was awarded 5A*s.

Whilst some students received their grades online, it was lovely to see many back in school for the first time since the lockdown began to collect their results in person.

Ed Hester, Headmaster, said: "This year’s A-level results have been arrived at in a very different way to normal. Overall, we are pleased and feel that the results are generally fair and reflect the hard work and achievements of our Upper Sixth."

He continued, "Our Upper Sixth have remained resilient during the many weeks of lockdown. It has been an anxious time but happily the overwhelming majority have been accepted to study at their university of choice. I would like to thank our dedicated teaching staff who worked with immense professionalism and rigorous attention to detail to submit the grades on their behalf."

He concluded, "We are proud of our Upper Sixth’s academic achievements but these students all have many other fine qualities: kindness, respect and a strong sense of right and wrong, which will be tremendously important for them as they move on to the next phase of their lives. We congratulate them all on their well-deserved success and wish them all the very best for the future."

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Princethorpe College Pupils Celebrate GCSE Results

Princethorpe College pupils celebrated their long-awaited GCSE results.

From a cohort of 155 pupils over 60% of all entries were graded 9, 8 or 7 and 50 Year 11 pupils received nine or more 9, 8 or 7 grades.

There were many exceptional personal achievements, special congratulations go to Caitlin Mason, Ciaran Smith, Ben Shipton and Ben Scares who were awarded an outstanding eleven or more grade 9s each.

Overall 98% of the grades achieved were levels 9 - 4.

Whilst some pupils chose to receive their grades online, many came into school for the first time since the lockdown began to collect their results in person.

Ed Hester, Headmaster, commented, "After the uncertainty of recent weeks, we are delighted that these grades are based on the assessments of the teachers who know our pupils so well. We feel the results are well-deserved and reflect the hard work and commitment of this year group."

He continued, "I would like to congratulate all of our Year 11 pupils. They have shown resilience and focus during the many weeks of lockdown and made great strides in their learning with our on-line A-level and BTEC bridging courses which have prepared them well for their next steps. It has been an anxious time for many but we now look forward to welcoming the vast majority of them back into Sixth Form, alongside a good number of new entrants who are joining us from other local schools."

He concluded, "We are of course delighted with the high number of top grades, but we are proud of all our pupils who have worked hard and done their very best over the course of their GCSE studies. Whilst their results are important, this year group have also demonstrated many fine qualities worth celebrating, such as kindness, respect, determination and friendship. Lastly I would like to thank our dedicated teaching staff who worked with immense professionalism and rigorous attention to detail to support pupils and submit the grades on their behalf."

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Princethorpe Pupils Rise To The Junior Mathematics Challenge

Back in June Princethorpe College pupils took part in the 2020 UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Junior Challenge, a prestigious national problem-solving competition that recognises the best young mathematicians in the country. The Challenge involves answering multiple choice questions and this year it was sat online at home. The best performing pupils in the challenge are awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold Certificates.

The competition is aimed at pupils in Year 8 or below and 94 Princethorpe pupils were selected to take part. It is a demanding exercise designed to stretch and test pupils’ mathematical skills, so the College was delighted that this year, Princethorpe’s mathematicians achieved exceptional results.

Congratulations to Zach Hawkins who was the best in Year 7 and was awarded a Gold certificate, he was also the best performing pupil in school. Joseph Simon was the best pupil in Year 8 and was awarded a Silver certificate.

Silver certificates were also awarded to: Anna Johnson, Ben Smith and Dylan Williams.

Bronze certificates were awarded to: Xander MacRae, Mia Samra, Jack Dando, Ollie Hutton, Thomas Leret, Olivia Monk, Noah Granfield, David Ikuomola, Ed Twyman, Samuel Divers, Anjola Okusanya, Priya Somel, Amaanya Bose, Eden Chaplow, Maria Lloyd, Evie Marston, Timothé Peyret, Thomas Smith, Robyn Shaw and Alex Beck.

Well done all and many thanks to all the pupils who took part, we hope you enjoyed the challenge.

Theo Scoutas
Post 16 Mathematics Co-ordinator

Princethorpe Welcomes New Year 7s For An Action Packed Activity Day

Friday 28 August was an exciting day for 116 Year 7 pupils who are joining Princethorpe College this academic year.

For this latest generation of Princethorpians, the Activity Day was a chance for them to finally meet their new classmates, familiarise themselves with the layout of the school, get a feel for the sorts of lessons they can expect and to generally ask questions, allay any fears and ease the transition to secondary school.

Our incoming Year 7s arrived looking excited and a little bit nervous in readiness for an action-packed day. Head of Transition, Susan Harris greeted them warmly and soon had them organised into teaching groups before their friendly Sixth Form helpers led them off to try a variety of sample lessons.

They participated in fun team building activities including a scavenger hunt, took part in an informative Q&A with their new Head of House and enjoyed an afternoon Games lesson.

During the day we saw plenty of smiling faces and it was clear that everyone was making new friends. It was a flying start to secondary school that will have helped them get ready for the start of the Michaelmas Term.

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A Warm Welcome To New College Staff

Princethorpe College is welcoming plenty of new faces this Michaelmas Term, as in addition to its new pupils the school also has a number of new staff members starting.

They are pictured here on their Induction Day earlier this week, alongside other recent joiners. Our new starters bring a wealth of new experience to the school and we extend a warm welcome to them all.

Joining the College are:

Lee Cassell - Foundation Director of Sport

Helen Essery - Head of Law, Teacher of Business Studies

Laura Rindler - Joint Head of Classics

Dan Lee - Head of Physics

Helen Dean - Teacher of Music (maternity leave)

Becky Forde - Teacher of English

Sophie Jones - Teacher of Mathematics

Peter McLeish - Teacher of Physics

Will O'Hara - Teacher of Design Technology

Emilie Onyekwe - Teacher of Chemistry

Alex Phillips - Teacher of Mathematics

Helen Plenderleith - Teacher of Art

Supporting teaching are:

Jack Forsythe - Graduate Teaching Assistant

Laura Baskerville - Teaching Assistant

Will Cooper-Harris - Teaching Assistant

Katie Shorten - Teaching Assistant

Joining as trainee teachers are:

Pete Harris - Trainee Teacher

Megan Lewis - Trainee Teacher

Alice Reed - Trainee Teacher

Sophie Rejali - Trainee Teacher

Working for the Foundation are:

Louise Eaton - Foundation Data Manager (joined in January)

Heather Aston - Receptionist\Administrator (joined in August)

Tom Crowton - Groundsman (joined in May)

Nuno Dos Santos Alves - Decorator (joined in February)

Lamorna McNevin - Events and Estates Co-ordinator (joined in February)







 

 

 

Picnics Help Facilitate Pupils' Return To Princethorpe

During the last week of the summer holidays, pupils who hadn’t been back in school since the lockdown began back in March, had the opportunity to visit the College to help facilitate their return to school. Conscious that they would have had different experiences of lockdown and that understandably many would be feeling anxious, nervous or just uncertain, the College hosted three picnics for pupils who are moving into Years 8, 9 and 10. Within their Year group bubble the children came into school to enjoy a picnic in the sunshine or for Year 10 – Storm Francis!

The picnics gave pupils the chance to meet up with their friends here at school and to absorb some of the many changes the College has made. In small groups, Mrs Sharpe took them for a tour of the school site and ran through many of the measures that have been put in place to keep us all safe.

Everyone was clearly excited but Princethorpe’s young people all behaved impeccably adapting easily to the new distance rules and asking sensible questions about how the changes would work.

It is a transition for us all, but working together we can help ensure we all stay safe and it really was wonderful to have pupils back here at Princethorpe again.

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