The Flagpole

Please find below the Headmaster's letter posted to parents over Easter with the Lent calendar:

Dear parents

After the extraordinary past twelve months, it is incredibly exciting to think that the many events which we used to take for granted – clubs, practices, fixtures, trips, activities, shows and concerts – will (we hope) actually take place, with the majority not being in a virtual format.

Of course, we will keep our fingers crossed and must all keep our guards up and follow the COVID-related guidelines to maintain the positive momentum built up since the school’s return on Monday 8 March. To this end pupils should be continuing with their bi-weekly lateral flow tests to help identify any possible cases. With the easing of some restrictions on our return to school picnic benches will once again be available to pupils for al fresco eating and socialising. You may have seen the recent news that the government has not removed the requirement for masks in the classroom after the Easter holidays - hopefully it won’t be too long before this rule is also eased. With the continuing success of the national vaccination and COVID-testing programmes we have a lot to be optimistic about.

We are, in particular, looking forward to the Year 7 ‘Open Evening’ for parents on Wednesday 23 June. Assuming we can go ahead as planned, this will, of course be the first time that we have been able to welcome this year group’s parents into the school and we have plans to celebrate this in a special way. Although we are not anticipating as much disruption to the calendar as over the past three terms, I am sure there will be some amendments and these will be found on the on-line calendar, accessed via My School Portal or the website.

In normal times we would have finished the Lent Term with the Prefect and Ambassadors’ Inauguration and the House Awards Ceremony, and I am glad that we will be able to hold these at the start of next term. As the current prefects and subject ambassadors step down I must, on behalf of the whole Princethorpe community, thank them for all they have done for Princethorpe in such trying circumstances. Abbie and Jack have been wonderful heads of school and tremendous role models for us all. We thank them and all the outgoing prefects and ambassadors for their time, effort and dedication towards making Princethorpe a better place. 

As for our new prefects and ambassadors, we congratulate them on being selected for their roles and ask that they remember that there are many fine students who weren’t selected. They have been called upon to serve the school and we wish them all well for their term of office. As we think about the term ahead, our thoughts turn to all those involved in GCSEs and A-levels. On either Tuesday 10 or Thursday 12 August they will pick up an envelope with their results in; we wish them well as they prepare for their final assessments and hope they do themselves justice and achieve the results they deserve.

As you may be aware, following the end of the Lent Term we held two INSET days. INSET days allow us to undertake training for our staff and help prepare for the term ahead. As you can imagine the initial training for producing Teacher Assessed Grades for the GCSEs and A-levels, alongside preparing for the Final Internal Assessments across the years occupied a major part of the time. We are looking to recruit additional invigilators for the forthcoming assessment period; if this is of interest to you please you please check the details on our website. 

Another key aspect of our recent training was a session looking at the impact of pornography on the young people of today and how we, as a school community, can both react to this and be proactive in supporting families to manage internet access outside of school. We will be following this up with parents and pupils in the term ahead and will also be consulting on the new Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) policy which will be in place by September 2021 and needs to reflect statutory government guidelines and take into account the context of our school. 

A highlight of the Easter holidays was undoubtedly the College virtual production of the 1970s rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar. Those lucky enough to watch it, cannot fail to have been impressed by the hours of work that went into producing such a high-quality show remotely. Our thanks and appreciation go out to directors Gil Cowlishaw and Jessica Newborough for their vision and hard work in pulling it together digitally and to the fabulous cast and crew for all their talent and commitment.

Finally, I send our best wishes to all, but particularly to those who have only one more term left before they leave the College. Please do also keep in your thoughts and prayers all members of the Princethorpe family who are ill or in need of our support.

Yours sincerely

Ed Hester

Brothers Ben and Alex Pearson, leavers of 2014 and 2016 respectively, and their family have recently become the first donors to take up the opportunity to name a laboratory in Princethorpe’s proposed new Science Centre. The good news was communicated to the College recently at an opportune time for the fundraising campaign.

The new Science Centre, Princethorpe’s largest campus project to date, will cost £8 million and provide 10 brand-new, state-of-the-art science laboratories. The school is aiming to fundraise over £1 million towards the overall build cost and donors are being offered a variety of giving options including naming a laboratory ahead of work commencing. It is hoped that the centre will open its doors for teaching in autumn 2023.

The Pearson family’s major donation, given in memory of Ben and Alex’s late father and in thanks for the support given to the boys during their time at the school, is the first gift that the College has received to go towards naming one of the new Science labs – the Pearson Laboratory.

Commenting on the gift, Ed Hester said, “It’s wonderful that the Pearson family have been able to support Princethorpe so generously, and it’s exciting to see our first donors come forward to name one of the laboratories in the new Science Centre.”

“Both Ben and Alex contributed hugely to College life during their school years here and this is a wonderful tribute to their legacy and that of their late father.”

Since leaving Princethorpe Ben has completed a degree in Law at UCL and is now living and working in London as a solicitor for a City firm, working on investments into energy and infrastructure projects. Younger brother, Alex, studied Business at Liverpool John Moores University and is still based in the city, now working in the hospitality industry.

Ben and Alex Pearson commented, “We are delighted that our family have been able to support Princethorpe with this donation towards the Science Centre which we hope will benefit the learning of generations of pupils.”

“We both really enjoyed our time at Princethorpe and it’s fantastic to see the school going from strength to strength. We very much look forward to seeing the progress on the new Science Centre over the next year or so and visiting our named lab when it opens for teaching.”

If you are interested in opportunities to donate towards the Science Centre or to the College’s Bursary Fund, please get in touch with the Development Team on 01926 634265 or email makingadifference@princethorpe.co.uk.

The countdown to the College's Entrance Exams for admission in September 2022 has officially begun and our friendly Admissions Team are already busy accepting registrations and answering enquiries from prospective families.

The Entrance Exams will take place on Saturday 6 November 2021 and with just five months until the registration deadline, Friday 1 October 2021, we have now opened bookings for our Open Events and Taster Experiences.

Our Summer Open Evening, Wednesday 9 June 2021, is by appointment only and will operate subject to government guidelines, in order for us to keep everyone safe. There are two sessions running from 6.30pm – 7.30pm and 8.00pm to 9.00pm. This event will give prospective families a chance to look around the school and to hear from Ed Hester, the Headmaster. Places are limited and filling up fast, so please book your place via our website.

In May and June, we are also able to offer our popular Year 5 Taster Experiences. These events are aimed at giving prospective pupils a taste of senior school life through a variety of sample lessons. Younger visitors will be welcomed by the Headmaster and get to enjoy refreshments, including the legendary Princethorpe cookies.

There are three Year 5 Taster Experience sessions, Saturday 22 May 9.00am to 12.15pm or Saturday 19 June, 9.00am to 12.15pm or 1.30pm to 4.45pm. These events will also be very carefully managed within government guidelines. To register please visit our website.

There will be further opportunities to visit in the Michaelmas Term, when we hope restrictions will be lifted and visitors can be welcomed as normal.

Our Open Afternoon on Sunday 19 September from 2.00pm to 5.00pm, will provide prospective families with a chance to meet members of staff and pupils, take part in activities around the different departments and tour the school and grounds.

The final opportunity to visit before the registration deadline for those wishing to join Years 7 to 10, is our Open Morning on Thursday 23 September from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Visitors will be able to look around the school on a normal working school day with our Year 8 and 9 pupils acting as tour guides.

If you are thinking of joining us for Sixth Form in 2022, we have a dedicated Sixth Form Open Evening on Wednesday 13 October 2021 from 6.30pm to 9.00pm. You will hear from Ed Hester, Headmaster and Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie regarding key events and dates in the Sixth Form application process. You will also receive specific A-level subject information and advice provided by the Heads of Departments and general information on the Sixth Form experience at Princethorpe.

For more information and to book your place at any of our Open Events or Taster Experiences please visit www.princethorpe.co.uk/visit or contact our friendly Admissions Team on 01926 634201/262/297 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk

Entrance Exams for 2022 entry will take place on Saturday 6 November 2021. All candidates must be registered by Friday 1 October 2021. For those wishing to join us for Sixth Form in September 2022 you must be registered by Monday 31 January 2022.

The new Princethorpe College Prefect Body for 2021-2022 was formally inaugurated into their roles on Thursday 29 April. The ceremony took place in the Sports Hall and was streamed to pupils watching in their form rooms across the school and to parents online.

Headmaster, Ed Hester began by thanking the 2020-2021 prefects and subject ambassadors for their support over the last year before the outgoing Head Girl and Head Boy, Abbie O’Carroll-Bailey and Jack Neale, opened the proceedings with a prayer. Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie then introduced the new prefects and Assistant Head, Dr Liz Pyne introduced the new subject ambassadors. Representatives of both bodies spoke about their plans for their new roles. The keys of office were formally handed over and the incoming Head Girl and Head Boy, Caitlin Mason and Anthony Convey, spoke of their excitement and hopes for the coming year.

The College wishes good luck to the new prefects and subject ambassadors for the year ahead and extends warm thanks to the outgoing prefects and ambassadors, they have given great service and we wish them all the best for their upcoming assessments and future endeavours.

Princethorpe College’s entirely virtual production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar School Production was a world first and the culmination of an astounding year of ingenuity for the Music and Performing Arts team.

Available for just eight days, over Easter, the powerful performance telling the story of Christ’s arrest and crucifixion was both moving and incredible. Together, Directors Jess Newborough and Gil Cowlishaw and their mighty team of Princethorpe players delivered a world first, a completely virtual production that simply took your breath away.

After the announcement of the lockdown in January, and in agreement with the rights holders, who also confirmed this had never been attempted before, pupils individually recorded virtual performances that were then edited together to produce a completely virtual show. Featuring all the classic rock musical numbers that everyone loves, including Gethsemane, I Don’t Know How To Love Him and the mighty anthem Superstar.

Gil Cowlishaw, Director of Music, explains, “In ‘normal’ times, we would have never been allowed to make a movie musical but the College has proved that virtual performances can work. It took a lot of determination and ‘can do’ Princethorpe spirit but the hours of rehearsing, performance and editing were certainly worth it.”

Huge congratulations to the cast and crew for their vision, tenacity and sheer effort in putting it all together and as feedback on the production enthusiastically said ‘You completely owned it’ and ‘We are absolutely astounded by you all!’

On Friday 23 April, Princethorpe College hosted its Spring Concert, thanks once again to the wonders of technology. Masterminded by our fantastic Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, it was another virtual recital for the school community to enjoy. It included a second Foundation-wide musical collaboration after last summer’s super performance of The Climb.

The concert included solo performances from a number of extremely talented Princethorpe musicians from Year 8 upwards, alongside the Princethorpe Orchestra, the cast of this year’s incredible virtual Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, and a rousing finale from the, 90-strong, Foundation Virtual Music Group. Together they performed You Will Be Found from the musical Dear Evan Hansen. This latest ‘Big Sing’ once again brought together the talents of our community playing and singing from the safety of their own homes. Its message of hope was both inspiring and uplifting for us all and serves as a reminder to anyone who feels lost or uncertain that, as the song says - you are not alone.

A huge thank you to Gil and the wonderful Princethorpe Foundation vocalists and musicians for providing such wonderful entertainment for a Friday night.

If you haven’t yet seen the performance you can watch the finale here: https://vimeo.com/540681358

Princethorpe College has just launched a new online interactive map that allows visitors and prospective parents to take a mini-tour around the school. Especially now, when on-site visits are limited, the virtual map provides a wonderful window into the school, its buildings and grounds and all those iconic places that are such a part of daily life here at Princethorpe.

The new College map is a good place for prospective parents to start exploring the school and getting a feel for the College before registering to visit the school. It is also great for prospective pupils helping them to imagine life here at Princethorpe amongst all their new friends.

The map will also be of interest to all Old Princethorpians allowing them to wander down the corridors of their yesteryears and will be sure to spark a host of memories of their time at the school.

If you would like to take a look at the new College map then you can find it here: www.princethorpe.co.uk/collegemap

The College’s Anatomical Art competition has been won by, Year 8 pupil, Amelia Chard. Her stunning specimen drawing of a wolf, amazed Head of Biology, Faye Roberts and Head of Art, Paul Hubball and as you can see from the image, is very deserving of its win.

The co-curricular competition encouraged pupils to bring together their artistic skills and knowledge of Biology in an anatomical drawing on a subject of their choice. Entrants could choose any subject and submit their work in any style.

Amelia’s drawing was impressive, demonstrating both her artistic skill and biological knowledge, and her work will now be submitted into the Royal Society of Biology’s national competition, ‘The Nancy Rothwell Award’.

Congratulations also go to, Year 8, Dylan Williams who took second place with his drawing of coral and to, Year 8, Roxy Glenn and, Year 7, Hetty Frost who both received a Highly Commended for their drawings of a chameleon and guinea pig respectively.

Combining Art and Science in a co-curricular competition is part of the College’s ongoing promotion of STEAM. An approach that builds links between the subjects and helps to cement learning and encourage pupil creativity.

It was great to hear that last weekend Year 10 pupil Zander Hammond was on standby for the England U15s football squad’s three-day camp at St George’s Park. It was fantastic news for Zander and bodes well for his future selection and the College was delighted for him.

Zander plays in goal for Aston Villa Academy and has regularly played for the College and for the ISFA (Independent Schools Football Association). He is a talented, determined player and we were all delighted to hear his news!

This time he wasn’t called up but it’s a real honour for him to have been selected. A huge well done from all of us here at Princethorpe - we have our fingers crossed that he gets to play next time!

Upper Sixth Former, Charlotte Fitzpatrick is celebrating after securing a place at the much sought-after Read College. Read College provides Foundation training for students wishing to pursue a career in the Performing Arts and is incredibly difficult to get into. Their course provides an introduction to degree courses in acting and helps to prepare students for the incredibly competitive drama school audition process.

To secure her place at Read, Charlotte completed three rounds of auditions performing a contemporary monologue, a classical monologue and then a final demanding interview and, as an added extra challenge, this year the whole process took place online. She is delighted that she will be attending Read College and to be taking the next step on the path to achieving her dreams.

Charlotte auditioned for a number of Foundation courses and was pleased to also receive offers from East 15 Acting School, The Performance Preparation Academy, The MGA Academy and the Oxford School of Drama.

Charlotte comments, “I am really looking forward to starting at Read College as their training is of a very high standard. Their patron is Judi Dench and they only take 15 students a year and work with them intensively. I am very excited and grateful to have been given such an opportunity.”

Over the years Charlotte has taken part in many school performances and productions and we are delighted that she now has the oportunity to train professionally. It’s fantastic news and we congratulate her on her success.

The College's equestrian teams have had a great start to the season.

Some notable performances include Year 7 Rosie Moreton placing 5th at the Schools Equestrian Games Competition at Calmsden near Cirencester. Her super result secures Rosie and Mountain a place in the Schools Equestrian Games Championships in September. Rosie was proud to represent Princethorpe College and is already working hard in order to prepare for the Championships.

Meanwhile Lower Sixth Former Robyn Field has been out at Dallas Burston NSEA Arena Eventing and took a 4th place in the 100cm class – sadly just a rolled pole away from a victory, but that is the nature of the sport!

Then other amazing equestrian news includes Year 9 Harriet Boyd's selection as reserve for this year's England Pony Club mounted games team. Mounted games requires athletic ability, great hand-eye co-ordination and plenty of competitive spirit. It's a fast and exciting sport and last Sunday Harriet rode against riders from all over the country in the selection trials. She is delighted and incredibly proud to have been chosen as reserve for the national team. Huge congratulations to Harriet!

All our eventers are now busy preparing and looking forward to competing on home turf at our own two-day-event that takes place at the end of May.

Louisa Fielding
Senior Head of House and Head of Fisher House 

On Saturday 24 April, 11 Lower Sixth students completed an Emergency First Aid At Work course and all passed with flying colours.

The whole day course covered everything from the Recovery position to CPR, from helping someone with a head injury to responding to someone who is choking - essential first aid skills that could make a critical difference.

Knowing what to do when faced with an emergency is a hugely valuable life skill, and completing first aid training gives students the confidence to put their skills into practice if ever needed in the future.

Many thanks to Carla Burlington from Mini First Aid who led the course.

The Science Faculty were asked to visit Our Lady’s Primary School to give a talk on the topic of ‘Forces’ as part of their celebration of British Science Week for 2021.

The magic of Physics (the best Science) was brought alive with demonstrations lead by Lower Sixth student and recently appointed Head Girl, Caitlin Mason.

Levitation, flight, momentum and high voltages provided by the ever-popular Van de Graaff generator were used to demonstrate forces such as magnetic, lift, contact and electrostatic force.

The pupils were inquisitive, enthusiastic and were even kind enough to laugh at some of my jokes.

Mr Dan Lee
Head of Physics

Just before Easter, Princethorpe Connect, the Foundation’s online alumni community, passed another amazing milestone with membership numbers reaching 700. Our congratulations went to OP Zainah Darr whose name was pulled out of the hat and became our latest membership prize draw winner.

Zainah was delighted to hear the news and to receive a lovely spring bouquet of flowers from the Foundation. She left Princethorpe back in 2018 and gave us an update on what she has been doing.

She said, "Since leaving Princethorpe, I have been studying Neuroscience at Queen Mary University of London. I have thoroughly enjoyed my degree and it has been fascinating to explore an area of science where so little is understood. Studying in such a dynamic and exciting city has also been amazing and I couldn’t think of a better place to be! With my university being in one of the most multicultural areas of London, I have formed friendships with people from all walks of life. Alongside my studies, I work part time at Selfridges on Oxford Street, which again, has allowed me to interact with a diverse range of people and even serve the odd celebrity! Over the past three years, I have also occasionally helped out at Save the Children in Leamington Spa on the weekends when I have come back home."

"As fascinating as my degree has been, I have decided to pursue a career in law and have been accepted to study the GDL Law Conversion Course at the University of Law, starting this September - I will be studying at the Moorgate Campus so will be continuing my education in London. I am extremely passionate about child safeguarding and wish to specialise in family law, specifically, child protection as I believe all children deserve to excel towards a thriving future."

It was lovely to hear from Zainah and to hear of her future plans. The Foundation is keen to engage with all former pupils, parents and staff and build a thriving alumni community so please do encourage all those you know to register.

Over the Easter holidays Princethorpe Connect has seen a further boost to its membership as a result of the Easter Telethon campaign. Numbers have now reached 773, so it looks like it won't be too long before we have our next membership milestone prize draw winner!

Marking Earth Day last week pupils at Princethorpe enjoyed two visiting speakers on the topics of recycling and sustainability. Organised by the Planet Princethorpe team the talks took place on Tuesday and Thursday in Tutor Time and the College was delighted to welcome Victoria Head from Tony Team and Hannah Irvine of Holroyd Howe to inspire and engage our pupils on topics relating to this year’s Earth Day theme ‘Restore Our Earth’. Their presentations were inspiring and informative and they spoke about how we can all do our bit to reduce, reuse and recycle and how we all have to take responsibility.

As part of the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and the environment, the Estates team have installed two new machines to help the College more effectively manage its waste. Installed over the Easter holiday, by Tony Team, both machines are already in use and, the new Baler for cardboard and Compactor for general waste and mixed recycling, will help to reduce landfill use and improve the College’s carbon footprint. The installation of the new machines was filmed to share with pupils as part of Victoria's presentation.

More news on the sustainability front includes the introduction of recycling of food waste which featured in Hannah’s talk. Food waste recycling has commenced this term and will also play its part in reducing the College’s wider impact on the environment.

Princethorpe College is committed to leading by example, embedding sustainability in everything that we do, making changes, individual small actions, that can come together, alongside others, to make a difference to the world we live in.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition season is underway albeit taking account of the current Covid restrictions. A key part of the award, the expeditions provide an unforgettable experience that develops team and leadership skills and builds independence and confidence and it really was wonderful to see pupils taking part in them again.

It was especially poignant and appropriate to have pupils out on expedition on Saturday 17 April, when along with the nation, pupils observed a minute’s silence to remember His Royal Highness Prince Philip.

Both Silver and Bronze participants have been out over recent weekends and they were blessed with beautiful sunshine and near perfect walking conditions.

45 Silver pupils walked a route around Upper Boddington and Cropedy on the borders of Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire while 140 Bronze pupils walked a circular route down to Long Itchington and back.

Will Bower, Head of Outdoor Education, said, “I was really pleased with how the expeditions went and that our pupils were able to pay their respects to the Duke Of Edinburgh while out on their expeditions. The positive impact of the Award Scheme on young people has rightly been recognised as one of his greatest achievements.” He continued, “The expeditions went well and pupils certainly all worked hard showing good navigation and camp-craft skills and there were plenty of happy, tired faces at the end.”

Pupils now need to start planning for their qualifying expeditions that take place later in the term when, if all goes to plan with the lifting of restrictions, they will also be able to take part in overnight camping once again.

Before the Easter holidays, the Drama Department were in full flow as they held bubbled year group auditions for their exciting autumn production, Louis Sachar's Holes!

Year 8 and 9 delighted Ms Cefaliello and Miss Roberts with their initial responses to the play. They took on rapping and Latvian clog dancing as well as impressing with their Texan drawls! It was the turn on Year 7 on Monday 19 April and the department is now casting parts and confirming bubbles before they begin to rehearse.

Meanwhile Key Stage 4 and 5 performed both non-examined assessments and exam pieces.

Year 10s original devised work comprised of Roots a moving and visual piece ensemble full of pathos exploring the theme of dementia. We Shall Be Seen And Heard was a powerful political narrative exposing the injustices of discrimination. The duet explored Rosa Parks and the bus boycott of the American Civil Rights movement.

Year 11 performed a range of monologues and small group pieces from Shakespeare's Hamlet to Phil Porter's Blink.

Year 12 examined Tim Berners-Lee's creation of a monster and confronted spectators with a hopeful vision of our uses and abuses of the internet in their kaleidoscopic political piece WWW The Web.

Year 13 performed scenes from Martin McDonagh's Beauty Queen Of Leenane and Laura Wade's local play Colder Than Here as well as Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream taking us from the west coast of Ireland to an enchanted forest in one fell swoop!

We were extremely impressed by the level of commitment and professionalism of all our pupils and students and congratulate them on their performances on the day.

Aileen Cefaliello and Vicky Roberts
Joint Heads of Drama 

Saturday 22 May 2021 and Saturday 19 June 2021

Our Year 5 Taster Experiences are a great way for your child to really experience Princethorpe. Each session will involve a welcome introduction from Mr Hester, Headmaster and two taster lessons. The sessions will be carefully managed to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

We have three sessions available in May and June. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Saturday 22 May 2021 – 9.00am to 12.15pm
Saturday 19 June 2021 – 9.00am to 12.15pm and 1.30pm to 4.45pm

To attend please register your child here.

Crackley Hall and Crescent School Year 5 pupils have been invited to a specific Taster Experience and Open Afternoon on the afternoon of Saturday 22 May. 

Year 6 Taster Experiences will be available in September 2021.

Wednesday 26 May - 5.00pm to 7.30pm

Prospective pupils and their parents are warmly invited to Crackley Hall and Little Crackers' Open Evening on Wednesday 26 May from 5.00pm.

The evening will consist of a welcome from our Headmaster, Rob Duigan, and a guided tour around the school. Families will also have an opportunity to ask our Senior Leadership Team questions at the end of the visit. 

The evening will be split into two, hour-long sessions, so that we can manage numbers and adhere to government guidelines. A maximum of two family members will be able to attend with the prospective pupils.

To book your place, please click here.

For more information on admission to Crackley Hall and Little Crackers please email Jenny Vaughan at admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk or call 01926 514410.

Thursday 27 May - 5.00pm to 7.30pm

Crescent School will be hosting an Open Evening on Thursday 27 May from 5.00pm to 7.30pm for prosepective families and pupils.

On arrival families will be greeted by the Head Boy and Head Girl before taking a guided tour of the school with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.  Joe Thackway, the Headmaster, will be available at the end of the tour to talk to parents and answer any questions they may have.

In order to adhere to government guidelines, the evening will be by appointment only. A maximum of two family members will be able to attend with the prospective pupils.

To register your interest please click here.

For more information on admission to the Crescent please email Helen Morley at admissions@crescentschool.co.uk or call 01788 523851.

Wednesday 9 June 2021 - 6.30pm to 9.00pm

The College Summer Open Evening will be a great opportunity for prospective families, for Year 7 to 10 September 2022 entry, to hear a welcome address from Ed Hester, the Headmaster and to follow a guided tour route around the school.

This Open Evening will consist of two sessions which will be carefully managed within government guidelines and will operate on an appointment only basis. Places will be strictly limited.

Our 6.30pm to 7.30pm session is now fully booked. We still have places available for the second session from 8.00pm to 9.00pm.

Click here to book your place.

If you have any questions about the Taster Experiences please contact the Admissions Team on 01926 643201/262 or 297 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Thursday 24 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 27 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

A celebration of our pupils' GCSE and A-level Art, Photography and Design work will take place in the College's Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 24 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 27 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

A range of design and technology projects, from resistant materials to textiles, will be showcased alongside the stunning art and photography work the College is renowned for.

Comments, Paul Hubball, Head of Art, "This is a great opportunity to share our pupils' fantastic creativity with a wider audience and to welcome more art and design lovers to Princethorpe."

Added Head of Design and Technology, Paul Scopes, "We look forward to welcoming all the exam pupils and their families from across Design, Art and Photography to enjoy the fruit of their labours."

All are welcome. On Thursday evening admission is free, on the Sunday admission will be £2 per car including entry to the College's Summer Fête and Motoring Festival. Light refreshments will be served.

Friday 25 June 2021 - 6.00pm optional tour, 7.00pm drinks reception, 7.30pm supper

OPs who left the College in 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 (or those who were in the same year groups) are cordially invited back to the OPs annual Summer Supper on Friday 25 June to celebrate their respective 50th, 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries of leaving.

Leavers of year groups ending in a 0, who missed out last year, and other year groups are also most welcome. 

Comments OPs Secretary, Melanie Butler, "We know many OPs are keener to come to these events if they can be sure of seeing some familiar faces.  By focusing on year groups ending in a 1 and a 0 we hope to get a critical mass of attendees, although OPs from other years will of course be welcome too!"

The Summer Supper is an established event in the OPs calendar, attracting a large number of OPs, former and current members of staff. The supper is preceded by an optional tour and drinks in the Quad. Every year the OPs recognise long-standing members of staff and say farewell to any staff leaving the College.

Numbers are limited to around 100 guests, so if you would like to attend please go to Princethorpe Connect or email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk by Friday 11 June to reserve your place.

Sunday 27 June 2021 - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

The Motoring Festival always coincides with the College Summer Fête, which takes place on the last Sunday in June. This year's event is on Sunday 27 June 2021.

The Festival is open to anyone keen to bring any sort of classic, vintage, veteran or interesting vehicle along for the afternoon. There are rally plaques for all vehicles pre-booked by 1 June 2021 and there are awards for self-judged competitions.

The Festival is preceded by an informal morning road run of about 30 miles through the Warwickshire countryside. Vehicles taking part in the run need to arrive at Princethorpe for 11.00am. There is no charge for classic vehicles entering the festival or taking part in the road run.

Barbecued food is available for a nominal charge on return to Princethorpe at lunchtime, or feel free to bring a picnic.

On-line registration for the 2021 event is open now! Please use the link - click here.

Further details from Alex Darkes on 01926 634207 or email alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk.

Thursday 1 July and Monday 5 July 2021

We can now confirm that the Headmaster’s Thanksgiving Service and Buffet Lunch will be held on Thursday 1 July and the Year 11 Prom will be held on Monday 5 July at Coombe Abbey in Coventry. We sincerely hope that these events can take place - we have our fingers crossed.  

The Parents' Reading Group has been running for many years now. A group of parents get together once a month to discuss a book we have all previously agreed on. It's an opportunity for readers to share their reading interests with others and to pick up suggestions to broaden their own reading. We are very eclectic in our tastes and completely unpretentious. We'd welcome newcomers and can guarantee all a warm and friendly welcome when we are once again able to meet.

As circumstances will not permit us to meet at present many of us have kept in touch about books via email.  Please let me know if you’d like to be on the reading group emailing list (chriskerrigan@princethorpe.co.uk) and I’ll add you to it. We look forward to welcoming a few new faces when permitted to meet, but until then we’ll continue to share reading suggestions via email.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Individual timetables for the Final Internal Assessments have been sent to students and their families via email. Please do keep an eye out for this and contact me should you have any queries.

We wish them the very best of luck with the assessments.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic 

Reports for Year 10 will be published on Friday 7 May 2021. They will also be available to view on My School Portal.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

To further support our Year 11 pupils with their transition to post-16 studies, we are delighted to be able to offer a Bridging Course programme which will run from Monday 7 June until Tuesday 29 June. This will involve pupils being in school every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the above period (normal school hours).

A major component of this programme is that the pupils will attend lessons in their chosen A-level and BTEC courses. Our experience from last year showed that these sessions supported the transition to A-level studies very successfully and that the pupils felt more prepared for their start in the Sixth Form. In addition, the programme will also include career guidance - including individual interviews, EPQ lessons, games afternoons and other fun activities with their Houses.

On the Thursday and Friday of each week, pupils will be expected to engage in independent learning tasks set by their teachers and will be able to access study skills materials and activities on-line. These two days can also be usefully used to further any opportunities with regards work experience using any contacts you may have.

Those pupils who are not continuing into our Sixth Form may wish to access bridging courses at their new schools or colleges. Alternatively, they can attend our bridging courses when lessons are appropriate and we can provide supervised independent study during the day. They are of course welcome to join in with all the other activities offered during the time of the bridging courses and we will try to accommodate any additional needs.

Pupils will be given a full timetable for the bridging courses nearer the time. We hope the above information will help with your planning of the Trinity Term.

As you will be aware, following the bridging courses we will celebrate the end of the year with the Headmaster’s Thanksgiving Service and Buffet Lunch on Thursday 1 July. This will be followed by the Year 11 Prom on Monday 5 July at Coombe Abbey.

Pupils and parents in Year 8 are reminded that the following textbook needs to be returned to their science teacher by Friday, 11 June 2021:

Year 8 - 'Smart Science' textbook.

If a textbook has been lost a charge will be made for this book.   

Faye Roberts
Acting Head of Science

Pupils and parents are reminded that text books and locker keys are to be returned to school on Thursday 20 May 2021.  They should be brought into school in a bag together with the Return Form and taken to Marquee 2 after the last Final Internal Aassessment (Mathematics).

For those pupils not taking the Mathematics exam, text books and locker keys should be returned to Reception during the period Wednesday 19 May to Friday 21 May 2021.

If a text book has been lost, please enter ‘LOST’ in the staff signature column on the Return Form and a charge will be made for this book.

If locker keys are not returned or are left damaged or unclean then charges will be applied to the pupil account.

Any queries please contact Heather Aston in Reception.

Dr Michael Reddish 
Deputy Head - Academic 

Members of the Lower Sixth will be able to park at school from Monday 7 June 2021.

To receive permission the Sixth Former must:

• have the consent of their parents and the Head of Sixth Form
• provide their full driving licence and their current insurance certificate and photo copies
• agree to abide by the required Code of Conduct

There is an administration fee of £30 for the provision of a parking permit which provides access to parking, an electronic fob and a parking permit until the end of Upper Sixth. The charge for lost fobs is £18 and for lost discs £2.  Please note that there will be a refund of £10 for electronic fobs returned to the School Shop at the end of Upper Sixth.

Please note that there is a limit to the number of parking permits that can be issued.  Permits are issued on a first-come first-served basis but only where the requirements detailed above are met in full.

The forms to apply for a permit are available from the Sixth From Administrators in the Sixth Form Resource Centre. When completed, including the signature of a parent and the Head of Sixth Form, the Sixth Former should take them, together with their full driving licence, (both the card and the paper section - if applicable) and current insurance certificate, plus photocopies, to the School Shop.

Members of the Lower Sixth are welcome to provide the paperwork to the School Shop from the 4 June but permits will only be issued from Monday 7 June.

If the contract is broken then the permission to drive to school will be withdrawn by the school.  Please note that Sixth Formers park at their own risk and that the school does not accept liability for accidents, damage or loss incurred.

Please note that if a Sixth Former drives to school without a permit they will be given a warning on the first occasion and will be denied parking on the second occasion.  We would appreciate the support of parents in this matter, this is so we can discharge our responsibilities to everyone on school premises as well as to individual drivers.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar 

Pupils and parents are reminded that text books and locker keys are to be returned to school between Tuesday 18 and Friday 21 May 2021. Books should be brought in a bag with a copy of the Return Form and returned to the Sixth Form Resource Centre. 

Students who use a Laptop Locker should return their key to Mrs McKenzie.

Car parking fobs are to be returned to the Uniform and School Shop no later than Friday 25 June 2021. Upon return of the electronic fob, which must be in good condition, a £10 refund will be applied to the leavers bill. Lost or unreturned fobs will be charged at £18, this will be added to the leavers bill.

If a text book has been lost, please enter ‘LOST’ in the staff signature column on the Return Form and a charge will be made for this book.

If locker keys are not returned or are left damaged or unclean then charges will be applied to the pupil account.

Any queries please contact Heather Aston in Reception. 

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

We are delighted to announce that plans are well underway for the end of year celebrations:

Tuesday 29 June Upper Sixth Leavers' Ball - Warwick House

Thursday 1 July Lower Sixth Formal Social - Coombe Abbey

On Wednesday 12 May from 5.00pm - 6.30pm an 'Insight into Careers in Property Development' with the FTSE 100 company Berkeley St Edward will take place. 

During the evening they will be take you through the main components of their business which includes property development, construction, architecture and interior design. 

Berkeley St Edward have built more than 19,200 homes in the last five years, across London, Birmingham and the South of England.

If you are interested in joining this event please register here.

Allied Healthcare Mentor is offering you the chance to take part in an event which will introduce you to the world of healthcare careers.

It is live, giving you the chance to interact will healthcare professionals, but from the comfort and safety of your own home.

During the work experience day, you will follow two patients from their initial presentation to recovery. You will observe the healthcare professionals as they interact with the patients and also each other.

Each work experience day is completely different and you will be able to build on your knowledge of NHS careers as you will see different patient cases and the healthcare professionals work in a variety of settings, such as in a hospital and out in the community.

It is recommended that you attend one work experience day each month for six months, to not only gain a deeper knowledge of multidisciplinary teams in general but also the variety of careers available.

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity you can learn more and register here. 

What’s it like to be accused of murder? If you were a barrister whose client was alleged to have committed the most serious of crimes, how would you construct your defence? And in the courtroom battle that ensues, how do we ensure that justice prevails?

If you’re thinking of applying for Law at university, are keen to explore what a fast-paced career in the courtroom could involve, or have an interest in studying a forensics-related degree like Psychology, then this is the event for you.

You are invited to join a 'Live Mock Murder Trial' on Saturday 8 May to uncover the answers to these questions and many more.

Register for this event here.

The 'Step In, Step Up' programme is an introductory one-day programme designed for Year 12 and Year 13 female students.

The day will give an oversight into the different technology programmes Morgan Stanley offers, as well as giving participants the opportunity to take part in interactive challenges, panel sessions and career workshops.

This event will be held on Friday 30 July and applications close on Thursday 6 June. Find out more here.

Looking to get a head-start in your future career? 

Completing some relevant work experience placements, while you’re still at school, can offer a host of benefits that help you discover and get started in your future career faster.

This is a fabulous opportunity to gain experience with the top employers in the UK and take advantage of free and live programmes in the most sought after industries. It is also a great way to meet influential people and industry leaders, enabling you to build and grow your professional network.

Find out more about the exctiing range of options here.

We are still hoping that Year 11 pupils can undertake some work experience this year.

I know that this is a very challenging time, and that getting some work experience could be less easy for the next few months, but as things start to open up, it could be possible.

Placements can be done at any time after the Final Internal Assessments and Bridging courses have been completed as well as during the two week May half term break. They can also be undertaken during the early part of Lower Sixth, for example October half term 2021.

I would also suggest looking at the website Springpod which offers a virtual work experience programme which has been highly recommended by our Careers Advisor.

Many thanks to those who already have managed to help their son/daughter obtain a placement; in the meantime please could you let me know if you have managed to arrange something by emailing miketaylor@princethorpe.co.uk

Mike Taylor
Work Experience Co-ordinator

Please don’t forget that Princethorpe College PTA is registered with easyfundraising. So, although we’re unable to get together and hold fundraising events in person, we can continue to raise free funds, at no extra cost to you.

When you shop via the easyfundraising website or app, with over 4,100 of your favourite retailers, including John Lewis & Partners, eBay, Amazon and many more, you will raise FREE donations for the school.  

If you’re not already registered, please visit our easyfundraising page here:

This will really make a difference to our school! Thank you for your support.

Lots of pupils have shown initiative and tenacity towards completing their Duke of Edinburgh's Awards this year including, Year 10 pupils Amelie and Julia who are working towards their Silver Award.

The girls have been busy fundraising for local charities and supporting them in their work. Together, they chose to help Waverley Day Centre which provides a day-care service and activities for older people in Kenilworth and the surrounding area. In October last year, the girls completed the 'Two Castles' sponsored walk from Kenilworth Castle to Warwick Castle, as part of the 'Walk for Waverley' fundraising campaign. They have also posted leaflets in the local area to raise awareness of the Centre, and made and distributed posters for the annual Waverley bottle tombola, which should have taken place last December.  Unfortunately, due to local Covid-19 restrictions, the bottle tombola could not go ahead as planned and the Waverley Day Centre had to temporarily close its doors. Undeterred and in preparation for the Centre’s re-opening this April, Julia created an Irish dance video to entertain the Centre’s clients safely.

Amelie has also been fundraising for Rugby Foodbank (part of the Trussell Trust). Having carried out various activities over the last six months, including a sponsored 50km bike ride, she used the funds raised to make and decorate 48 Christmas gift bags and 101 Easter gift bags filled with mainly toiletries and food treats, which have been distributed to children of clients visiting the foodbank. Foodbanks have played an increasingly important role during the Covid-19 period and Rugby Foodbank has supported over 100 clients per week and anticipates a continuing high number of people accessing their services in the Rugby area. 

Amelie said, “I had already decided to help the Foodbank before Covid-19, but it then became even more important. It was great that I could continue to fundraise during lockdown and I am so pleased that the gift bags were helpful. On the same day that we dropped off the Easter giftbags I received an email from John Hemmings, the Foodbank Engagement Officer who I had been dealing with, saying that they really valued the giftbags and that they had already started distributing them. I’m now planning Christmas giftbags!”

The girls’ initiative and proactive approach to completing the volunteering section of the Silver Award is commendable and they are well on their way to completing their award.

Well done to everyone on completing your practice expedition over the last couple of weeks. All being well as we progress to the next stage of the government roadmap, the qualifying trips will include overnight camping. The next step is for all participants to plan their qualifying expedition routes.

Y9 Bronze 

The Bronze Review and Route Planning takes place on Sunday 9 May in the Limes. 

Group A - 9.00am - 12 noon   

Group B – 1.00pm – 4.00pm 

This important element of the expedition section is mandatory for all participants. Please arrive promptly; bring a pen, notebook, your DofE folder and a facemask. You should wear appropriate casual clothing. In the meantime, all participants should aim to log hours, collect evidence and sign off their physical, volunteering and skill sections.   

Y10 Silver 

The Silver Review and Route Planning takes place on Sunday 9 May 9.00am - 4.00pm in the Limes.

This important element of the expedition section is mandatory for all participants. Please arrive promptly; bring a pen, notebook, your DofE folder and a facemask. You should wear appropriate casual clothing. The additional time will help consolidate your menu planning, rucksack packing and first aid skills in preparation for your 3-day overnight expedition. We may finish slightly earlier; the exact timing will reflect the endeavour of each group. In the meantime, please continue to log hours, collect evidence and sign off your physical, volunteering and skill sections. 

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education – DofE Manager

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you about the wide variety of Co-curricular activities and clubs that are on offer during lunch time and after school.

The summer programme is always very different to the activities offered through the winter with staff trying to make the most of the outdoor spaces and the beautiful weather.

Already this term we have seen Art Club drawing outside, huge numbers at tennis, cricket and rounders and the outdoor classroom getting lots of use. 

A list of all the Co-curricular activites can be found at the front of the Trinity 2021 Termly Calendar which you will have received by post over the Easter holidays. Alternatively, click here to view an electronic version. 

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

I am delighted we are able to offer Archery as one of our after school Sporting Clubs. 

There are two sessions for the Trinity 2021 term:

Wednesday 4.00pm - 5.15pm - beginners

Thursday 4.00pm - 5.15pm - advanced

If you are interested in joining either of these archery sessions please contact Mr Southern beforehand by email to ensure the correct equipment is available in these covid times.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

Thank you to all the parents who turn off their engines when they are waiting for pupils to come out of school. As a community we are striving to reduce the impact that we have on our world and turning of engines reduces our carbon impact and the emission of smelly exhaust fumes.

Eddie Tolcher 
Foundation Bursar

Please see below our current vacancies:

• Teacher of Politics and History - maternity cover - Princethorpe College
• IT Engineer - Princethorpe College
• Teacher of Art - part-time, 0.2fte - Crescent School
• Key Stage 1 Teaching Assistant - Crescent School
• Key Stage 2 Teaching Assistant - Crescent School
• Exam Invigilators - Princethorpe College

Full details and how to apply are available via the following link: Join Us

Should you know anyone who might be interested in this post, please do share this information with them.

Please find below the Term Dates for 2020-21 and 2021-22.

2020-21 (two page document) - updated 20 November 2020

2021-22 (two page document) - updated 30 April 2021

Bank Holiday Monday 3 May 2021 - school closed