The Flagpole

Princethorpe Year 9 pupil, Harriet Boyd, has been selected to ride for the England Pony Club team in the Home International Mounted Games Championships at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in early July.

Harriet will ride her pony, Mayzee, and is really looking forward to the event. Mounted Games is fast and furious and a hugely competitive sport. The ponies are ridden at speed, up and down the course, and riders have to be athletic, have lightning quick reactions and incredible hand to eye co-ordination.

Harriet was selected as a reserve for the England team in April but has just been called up to represent her country. She is absolutely thrilled to pieces to have been selected for the team.

It is a huge honour for Harriet – good luck from everyone here at Princethorpe, we will all be cheering you on!

Congratulations to all the Year 11 and Upper Sixth Princethorpe pupils who have completed their Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver and Gold Qualifying Expeditions in the last few weeks. An amazing achievement by them all.

Unaccompanied and self-sufficient they have trekked and camped across the Lake District (23 pupils for Gold) and the Peak District (54 pupils for Silver) working together in teams to achieve their expedition objectives.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is recognised as the world’s leading youth achievement award. It provides young people with the opportunity to get involved, explore new interests, discover talents and make new friends.

Will Bower, Head of Outdoor Education, commented, “I am proud that so many Princethorpe pupils continue to embrace the challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. They take the opportunity to develop skills and try new experiences, pushing themselves both mentally and physically to be the best they can be and all with such commitment and enthusiasm. Despite the disruption that Year 11 and the Upper Sixth have faced, we have had record numbers completing their awards. It says so much about the resilience and tenacity of these young people.”

Year 10 participants in the Silver Award are off to the Peak District this weekend for their Qualifying Expeditions, while the Year 9 Bronze groups will be walking through the countryside just north of Banbury in late June and early July. The Lower Sixth Gold students have their practice expeditions imminently in the Lake District as well.

Make sure you follow @PC_Outdoors on Twitter and the College Facebook to see regular updates on the walkers' progress.

Despite intermittent cloud, excited pupils and staff gathered at break on Thursday 10 June, to watch the partial eclipse of the sun.

Physics teacher, Sophie Rose was on hand with filters to ensure everyone could view the eclipse safely. The eclipse began just after 10.00am and by 11.00am had reached its maximum, with nearly 25% of the sun covered, and the small crescent shape was clearly visible to see.

The annular solar eclipse was visible across much of Europe, Asia and North America. Eclipses should never be viewed directly.

Lower Sixth Prefect, Mary Lomas, who took the image of the eclipse in the gallery said, "It was great to see!". Mrs Rose added, "It is so wonderful when nature gives us these rare opportunities to witness first hand the interplay of the Sun, planets and Moons in the Solar system. Viewing an eclipse is always such an exciting thing, it was great to see our pupils having this experience for the first time here at school."

It was an amazing solar spectacle that will be sure to have ignited pupils’ interest in Science.

On Wednesday 9 June Princethorpe welcomed prospective parents and pupils into school for the College’s Summer Open Evening. Bathed in sunshine the school and grounds looked at their best and it was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the school.

In two carefully planned and managed events, the pupils and their parents were welcomed by the Headmaster, Ed Hester, in the Sports Hall before undertaking a self-guided tour around key locations. Staff were of course on hand to point the visitors in the right direction, but everyone was provided with a printed tour guide to help them find their way around the route.

Starting in the Sixth Form, the tour took them to the Chapel and then the Quad, where the orchestra and choir were performing. Then it was on to the Refectory and Clarkson Theatre before exiting the Roundhouse and coming back in to the building through Science. Our visitors then visited Design Technology and Art admiring all the stunning work on display. Then it was on to The Limes to collect takeaway refreshments before exiting up at the top of the building to go on to see the outdoor learning facilities in Switzerland and the College’s many sports facilities. Many families chose to enjoy their picnic on the North Lawn and the Headmaster and members of the Senior Leadership Team were on hand to answer any questions before the visitors departed and staff prepared for the next arrivals.

Ed Hester, Headmaster, welcomed parents with an inspiring address, talking about the school, its plans for the future and the ‘Spirit of Family’ ethos that allows Princethorpe to help every child to succeed.

Some 126 families attended the evening, many completely new to the school.  For all it was a great chance to soak up the special Princethorpe atmosphere and to get a flavour of day-to-day life.  

Feedbank from the families has been very positive, including:

"I just wanted to pass on my thanks to you and your colleagues for a great open evening at the College this evening."

"We enjoyed seeing the facilities and meeting staff and pupils. The event was really well organised and we appreciate the time everyone took to make sure we got the most out of our visit."

"Just wanted to say thank you for this evening, I thought the way you had set up the open evening was very well thought through and incredibly well organised."

A huge thank you to all the staff, prefects and pupils who helped on the evening and to those involved in the preparations. The school looked amazing and the feedback from our visitors as they left was very positive.

For more information on entry to Princethorpe in September 2022, visit our website here or email our friendly Admissions Team at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

This year Sports Day was due to take place in year groups in the week before half term, and there had been much excitement during Games lessons as pupils organised their teams. Sadly, torrential rain put paid to the Year 10 and Year 9 events but the sun finally came out and the Year 8 and Year 7 events duly went ahead.

Field and track events took place simultaneously so the playing fields were action-packed from the moment the starting gun fired. College staff were kept busy measuring, timing and recording all the running, jumping and throwing taking place. After a week of internal examinations pupils were more than ready for the chance to let off a bit of athletic steam.

On the Field pupils took part in the Long Jump, High Jump, Javelin, Discus and Shot Put while for the Track they had the challenge of the 1500m (Year 8), 800m, 300m (Year 8), the 200m, 100m and of course the very competitive Relay.

There was plenty of great competition, with excellent effort from everyone involved. Yes, there were the winners, who are to be commended for their exhilarating performances, but there were also the moments of camaraderie where pupils pulled together and willed along those who were finding the going tough.

Lee Cassell, Foundation Director of Sport, has collated the results which have been shared with pupils in Tutor Time. The College Sports Day Athletics records are attached below. A special shout out for Year 8 André who simply sailed over the bar in the High Jump to set a new Junior Boys school record that beat the standing Senior Boys record as well!

Mr Cassell, said, “We had two fantastic afternoons of friendly, but fiercely competitive sport. The atmosphere was incredible, and pupils were very supportive of each other, appreciating every individual effort and there was very little in it at the end.”

After all the scores were checked and verified the final House results were: Year 7 - 1st More (261 points), 2nd Austin (257 points), 3rd Fisher (245 points) and 4th Benet (234 points) and Year 8 - 1st Austin (336 points), 2nd Fisher (314 points), 3rd Benet (293 points) and 4th More (289 points).

Huge thanks to all involved in organising and supporting the events.

Photos from the events can be seen in the gallery.

Year 7&8 Boys Sports Day Records 2021

Year 7&8 Girls Sports Day Records 2021

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 May, Princethorpe College played host to the 2021 National Schools and Riding Clubs Two-Day Event.

Run in conjunction with Stoneleigh Riding Club, some 260 competitors took part in the two-day competition, the only ‘long format’ event open to schools and riding clubs in the UK. It included dressage and show-jumping on the Saturday and roads and tracks, steeplechase and cross-country on the Sunday.

This was the seventh year the College has hosted the event on the Princethorpe estate and the course looked magnificent against the backdrop of the Princethorpe Tower. Returning once again and causing much excitement was the challenging permanent cross-country water jump generously built by one of the event’s main sponsors, The Wigley Group. As well as being a fantastic enhancement to the course, the deep pools within the water jump are also used by pupils year-round supporting environmental and wildlife curriculum studies.

The competition takes a huge amount of organisation, so our thanks go to the school staff and Stoneleigh Riding Club who, together with an army of volunteers, ensured the event was such a success.

Representing the College in the 80cm class were Sophie Glover on Laddie who was awarded the ISA Gold medal, Claudia Newman on Beechmount Shadow who took ISA Silver medal, Grace Paybody on Extravagant Edition and Crackley Hall’s Jaz Staveley on Rowhill Quaizzical. Also competing hors concours was Rosie Moreton on Long Story Short. In the 90cm class riding as individuals were Lottie Paybody on Laragh Cracker, Lottie took the ISA Silver medal and was Best Warwickshire School competitor and Harriet Boyd on Clonea Daisie. Riding in the 100cm class was Lucy Watts on Cornascriebe Mermaid who also took the ISA Gold medal. Congratulations to the all the riders.

Assistant Head, Alex Darkes, Princethorpe’s equestrian event organiser, said, “The College was delighted to welcome school and riding club competitors to the Princethorpe estate for this year’s two-day event. It was great to see such a strong presence of school participants, many of whom had travelled long distances to take part in the competition. Our congratulations go to Bloxham School who took The Wigley Cup. The water jump was an exciting attraction in the cross-country course and we enjoyed seeing competitors tackle it enthusiastically. Our thanks go to members of Stoneleigh Riding Club, the events key sponsors The Wigley Group and Howkins & Harrison, and our Grounds and Estates Teams and all the volunteers, without whom we would have been unable to stage such a busy event.”

There will be more equestrian action taking place at Princethorpe shortly - the Inter-Schools’ Dressage Competition is scheduled for Saturday 3 July and spectators are most welcome.

We are pleased to confirm that the Headmaster's Outgoing Ambassador and Prefect Dinner on 21 June will go ahead. Although we are waiting for further guidance to be updated, we can continue with this prestigious event with socially distanced measures in place if required.

14 - 19 June 2021

The Autism Show has gone digital again to offer you over thirty hours of new online learning.

Over six days in June, you will have the opportunity to watch a huge range of live webinars providing the latest autism news and views, practical strategies and approaches, and direct insights from adults on the spectrum. You’ll be able to learn from the experiences of other attendees and have the opportunity to quiz the speakers for personalised advice via the in-webinar chat box.

For further information or to book tickets please click here.

Lorna Prestage
Learning Support

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 two sessions available in June. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

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 were invited to a specific Taster Experience and Open Afternoon which took place on the afternoon of Saturday 22 May. 

Year 6 Taster Experiences will be available in September 2021.

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 PTA Summer Fête and Motoring Festival. Light refreshments will be served.

This event is part of the Warwickshire Open Studios Summer Art Weeks 2021 and more information on their full programme of events is available here.

Sunday 27 June 2021 from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

We are pleased to confirm that this year's PTA Summer Fête will take place on Sunday 27 June 2021 between 2.00pm and 4.30pm in the Orchard and promises to be an afternoon of traditional summer fun.

Raffle tickets have been posted out to all families and hopefully you have received them. You can return your completed tickets (and any unsold tickets) with payment in an envelope marked “for the attention of Julie Jennings, PTA Treasurer”. The envelopes can be dropped into the special PTA Post Box at the Student Hub. Further tickets are available from the Student Hub if required.

We would also be grateful for any donations of bottles for the tombola and good quality, second hand books and uniform, which can also be dropped at the Student Hub.

The Fête always offers visitors a lovely selection of stalls, so if you would be interested in having one then please email the PTA at stalls@princethorpe.co.uk. 

If you have any ideas or queries regarding the Fête or the PTA, or would be able to spare an hour to help out then please do contact them at pta@princethorpe.co.uk. 

Sunday 27 June 2021 - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

The Motoring Festival always coincides with the College PTA 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.

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

Thursday 1 July and Monday 5 July 2021

We are still hoping the Headmaster’s Thanksgiving Service and Buffet Lunch, planned for Thursday 1 July and the Year 11 Prom, planned for Monday 5 July at Coombe Abbey can go ahead. Further information will be shared with parents early next week when updated guidance becomes available from the Government and from Coombe Abbey regarding the Prom.

We are still hoping the Headmaster’s Thanksgiving Eucharist and Buffet Supper, planned for Monday 28 June can go ahead, and further information will be shared with parents early next week when updated guidance becomes available.  

This year’s Year 8 and Year 10 Academic Review meetings will take place on-line.  The meetings will follow a very similar format to what would normally occur at our Academic Review Evenings on site. For those of you that are new to these appointments, it is a nine minute meeting with your child’s tutor to discuss their academic progress and future targets. Year 8 Academic Review meetings will take place the week commencing 14 June and Year 10 the week commencing 21 June. Information on how to book has been sent to parents.

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

Progress Reports for Year 7, Year 8 and Year 10 will be published on Wednesday 16 June 2021, and will be available to view on My School Portal.  

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic 

Reports for Year 9 and Lower Sixth will be published on Friday 25 June 2021, and will be available to view on My School Portal.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic
 

At the end of the day, please can parents ensure that pupils are collected from inside the playground. We have had a number of dangerous moments where parents have parked on the lane or outside the student hub and waited for their children. The pupils are then at risk of harm when trying to cross the lines of traffic to reach them. 

Please can parents also take care to let pedstrians cross the zebra crossing during these busy times. 

Thank you for your help and support. 

Warwickshire County Council together with Barnado's and Compass are raising awareness of exploitation and substance misuse.  Please see the attached flyer here if you would like to book a free place on their webinar on Tuesday 6 July.

We have a terrific amount of lost property at the Student Hub, including personal items of jewellery and glasses.

If your child has mislaid any items, please email lostproperty@princethorpe.co.uk or ask your child to pop along to the Student Hub to check.

Any unclaimed, un-named items of lost property will be donated to charity at the end of the Trinity term.

Where at all possible, can all items be named to enable us to return them to the rightful owner.

We are delighted to share a photo of this year's Sixth Form prefects. After a few false starts we finally managed to get everyone together yesterday, in their smart blue uniforms for their formal prefect body shot.

Many thanks to Head Boy, Anthony for organising and co-ordinating the event! 

On Monday 28 June 2021 Glasgow University is hosting an event aimed at introducing girls to the Geosciences; a diverse subject that incorporates aspects of geography, biology, chemistry and physics in which hazards, the evolution of life and our planet, and natural resources can be studied.

This event brings together women from industry, government bodies and academia in order to highlight and promote the role Geoscience has in our society and its potential to be an exciting and worthwhile subject and career to pursue for women.

The event has a mixture of activities taking place, ranging from a mini lecture, career talks from those who have gone into Geoscience careers as well as labs and workshops where participants are able to get hands on with Geoscience concepts.

GiG 2021 is now open for booking. Click here for further information.

An Arkwright Engineering Scholarship is the most esteemed scholarship of its type in the UK, designed to inspire students to pursue their dreams and change the world as a future leader in engineering.

The Scholarships are awarded to hard-working 16 year-old students through a rigorous selection process, supporting them through their A-levels onto a career in engineering.

Every Scholarship is sponsored by a commercial company.

To be awarded an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, student applicants must go through a three-stage selection process including an online application, a two hour design based exam and interview. We will prepare students for each of these stages

The application process is now open for Year 10 pupils who are interested in a career in engineering. For more details please contact Mr Scopes at paulscopes@princethorpe.co.uk

Springpod are now offering their summer work experience programmes, so if you missed out at Easter or would like to try a different one sign up here.

Opportunites include banking, journalism, graphic design, social media and many more. Specific companies offering opportunties include Airbus, Siemens and Fujitsu.

Fusion are running a twilight Session from 4.30pm - 6.30pm on Tuesday 22 June 2021.

Fusion are a joint venture of three major construction companies, currently working with HS2 on their enabling works. These works include civil engineering, archaeology, ecology and lots more.

This evening session is for female students with an interest in engineering, maths, physics, geography or the environment. It's a great chance for you to hear from female experts in the construction industry - an engineer and a sustainability advisor. You will hear about their career journeys and their job role, and also have the opportunity to ask questions and to take part in an activity.

If you are interested please click here to find out more. The deadline for applications is Sunday 13 June.

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 Bridging courses have been completed. 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

Student Finance applications for students starting their university study later this year are open now.

Please see below some top application tips.

Gather together the right information
To apply, students will need to gather the following information:

·         Passport (or original birth/adoption certificate)

·         University and course details

·         National Insurance number

·         Bank details

Parents who are supporting the application may find it helpful to have their P60 for 2019/20 and any other income information to hand.

Apply early
Students should apply early to ensure that you receive your loan payments in time for the start of the university term. You can do this by visiting www.gov.uk/student-finance

If you are planning to take a gap year, then you don’t need to apply now; you will need to make your application at this time next year.

Apply even if you don’t have a confirmed place
It doesn’t matter if you haven't yet decided where it is you want to study. Just apply using your current first choice and this can be updated easily later through your online account.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers

UCAS.com has a wealth of information to help you make sense of the application process, as well as a monthly parents’ newsletter. Sign up here to receive all their latest news.

Also, if you’re confused about what loans are available for students and how much you’ll be expected to pay then visit this link at MoneySavingExpert.com for plenty of helpful advice.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers

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.

Thursday 16 September 2021
Sixth Form Centre Dining Room - 7.00pm

The PTA extend a warm welcome to all, and hope you will be able to join us for cheese and wine at the PTA AGM on Thursday 16 September at 7.00pm.

The AGM will give new and current parents an opportunity to find out what the PTA does for the school, and how you could help us by supporting activities such as Open Days and the Christmas Fair and Summer Fête.

There will be an opportunity to meet other parents, those who are new to the PTA and existing members. We have a number of parents who are involved in the PTA to differing degrees. As well as welcoming those parents who may wish to join us on the committee – we also very much welcome parents who may be able to spare an hour supporting the fairs or welcoming visitors to the school on Open Days. It really is an excellent way to get involved with school life, and you can offer as little or as much of your time as you feel is possible.

Our main aim is to provide the ‘extras’ for the school which are very much appreciated by pupils and staff alike; we support events such as Trips, House Activities Day, Planet Princethorpe, the Library and hopefully the proms which the children missed out on last year. 

If you are interested and would like to discuss what is involved in being on the PTA please feel free contact the Committee at pta@princethorpe.co.uk. 

We hope you will be able to join us on the night and very much look forward to meeting you.

Princethorpe PTA

The selection process for Activities Day has gone incredibly well with over 500 pupils making their selections inside the first 36 hours. The final few are being contacted for their options and then Evolve emails will be sent to families to give the full information for the day and gain consent for the activities. 

Overview of the day - Monday 5 July

Pupils arrive wearing their own clothes, the items they need for their activity and packed lunch if they are travelling off site. Pupils should go straight to their form rooms to be registered and join a brief live meeting from myself. Activities start at 9.00am and will conclude at 4.30pm stopping for breaks and lunch as appropriate. Pupils can depart from 4.45pm with College buses departing at 5.00pm.

The activities which have been selected this year are: 

Climbing, Go Ape

Fashion Academy/Jewellery Workshop

Fishing

Football - Association and Bubble 101 

Golf

Laser Quest

Sailing 

Wateraid and The Wave

Mindfulness and Well-being

Aqua Park, Cliff Lakes

Football - Association and Footgolf 

Net and Wall

Striking Balls

Dungeones & Dragons (TBC) 

Embroidery (TBC) 

DofE Bronze Expedition 

We now look forward to the day which will be a great conclusion to the academic year. 

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular 

Year 9 Bronze    

Thank you for attending the qualifying expedition meeting today. An email will be sent out to all participants and parents confirming the final details. If, due to concerns regarding Covid, you would prefer to have an individual tent, please contact Mr Robertson to let him know.  Good luck in your final preparations for the trips.  

Year 10 Silver 

Good luck in your final preparations for the trip; full details have been sent to you via email. Please meet in the Sports Hall at 7.00 am Saturday 12 June.   

Year 11 Silver  

Well done on completing your qualifying expedition. An outstanding effort in difficult weather conditions. Please keep an eye on your eDofE account to check whether your award has been approved and if there are any queries. Should you find any school or Peak kit, please label and return to the student hub.  

Lower Sixth Gold    

Thank you for attending the practice expedition meeting on Wednesday. Please check your emails for a reminder of the full details. I will also send out the homework preparation materials over the next couple of days. Good luck in your final preparations for the trip.  

Upper Sixth Gold    

Well done on completing your gold qualifying expedition. An outstanding effort 21 months after you first signed up to the award scheme. Please contact me via Teams to book your completion meeting.   

Will Bower 
Head of Outdoor Education – DofE Manager 

Update - 17 June 2021

Apologies that the 2021-22 booking system for our bus services has yet to go live, there has been a slight delay with the updated website and we will notify parents as soon as the booking system goes live. Many thanks.

Re-Booking

In readiness for the 2021-22 academic year, we will shortly be re-booking the bus services on behalf of those pupils who already hold an annual bus pass. We will assume the same route and stop will be required next year, unless you tell us of a change, or we receive the required half term’s notice. This does not apply to those leaving the College. 

If you wish to inform us of a change or give notice on the bus services, please email buses@princethorpe.co.uk by Tuesday 1 June 2021.

For those continuing with the service please ensure that your child keeps their swipe card safe in readiness for September. Replacement swipe cards can be issued at the cost of £10.

As usual the cost of the termly bus pass will be added to your termly invoice.

New Bookings

New joiners or current pupils wishing now to purchase a bus pass will be able to book via https://princethorpe.vectare.co.uk/ from Monday 14 June to Friday 2 July. All new users need to set up an account before booking. Swipe cards will be issued to all new bus pass holders at the start of the Michaelmas Term.

Parents purchasing a bus pass for their child are reminded that bus passes are issued on an annual basis and we require half a term’s notice if you no longer wish to use the service.

Ad hoc users

All ad hoc tickets must be purchased in advance. Journeys that are not pre-booked are charged at a flat rate of £10.

Those wishing to purchase ad hoc tickets for next year, will be able to do so from Monday 23 August via https://princethorpe.vectare.co.uk/. It is now possible to make multiple ad hoc bookings at the same time. All ad hoc users will also be issued with a swipe card, though it is still possible to show a mobile confirmation. 

The swipe cards enable us to monitor bus usage and capacity on a day-by-day basis, alert parents to delays and will help us improve the service going forward.

An updated Bus Briefing Booklet will be sent to all bus users prior to the start of term in September and will be available at https://princethorpe.vectare.co.uk/ and on the first Flagpole of the new academic year.

If you have any queries regarding the bus services, please call Gill Price on 01926 634275, any queries regarding billing for the bus services, please call Barbara Bromwich on 01926 634263 or email them both at buses@princethorpe.co.uk.

Current bus users (who have not given notice or who are not leaving the school this summer) will shortly receive an email confirming their bus booking for 2021-22.

The renewed booking will be based on the same service, stop and type of pass used for the Trinity Term.   

Bus passes are booked on an annual basis and are invoiced termly, starting with the Michaelmas Term fees. Payment must be made by the start of each term in order to guarantee the place. 

Those wishing to book a new single or return bus pass will be able to do so from Monday 14 June to Friday 2 July initially from our bus website here. Please be sure to select the 2021-22 service.

Ad hoc journeys for the next academic year will be available to book from the bus website from 23 August 2021. All ad hoc users must pre-book a seat to travel. A £10 penalty fare will be charged per journey for those who fail to do so.

Should you have any queries please email buses@princethorpe.co.uk.

The IT department welcomed James Munsey as an IT Engineer this week. James left Leicester College in 2015, and has since completed an Advanced Apprenticeship in IT. He has over five years experience of working in IT positions in schools in Leicestershire.

He is an avid reader and enjoys learning about Roman and Medieval English History. He has had an enjoyable first week and wants to thank the staff at Princethorpe for making him so welcome.

We are really fortunate to have two well stocked Libraries and we would like your help to keep it that way.

We are having a Book Amnesty and hope that you can dig out any long forgotten Library books that have not been returned, and let us have them back, with no questions asked.

We are particularly keen to have any A-level books returned.

You can place returned items into the labelled box positioned outside of the main Library or they can be handed directly to the Librarians, Mrs Scott or Mrs O’Connor.

Thank you for your support with this.

Mrs Scott
College Librarian

Please see below our current vacancies:

• IT Infrastructure Engineer 
• Teaching Assistant - Princethorpe College
• Summer Estates Assistants
• Estates Assistant (Lates)
• Teaching Assistant - KS2 maternity cover - Crackley Hall
• Teaching Assistant - Crackley Hall - EYFS - Reception - Crackley Hall
• Early Years Assistant - Little Crackers

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.

Parents may recall paying a deposit when their son or daughter first started at the College. We will write to the parents of pupils in the Upper Sixth regarding instructions for the return of deposits this term and return them in the summer holidays.

We will write to parents of Year 11 pupils who do not return to the Sixth Form in early September. Deposits will be returned at the end of September/beginning of October.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

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