The Flagpole

As we inch towards the Easter Holidays, it is uplifting to see a number of events return to the calendar after a lengthy absence, such as the First Team Dinner last Saturday, the Spring Concert this evening and our Prefect Inauguration on Tuesday.

House Cup

The end of the Lent Term also signals the end of the House Year and we await the final assembly to find out the overall House Cup winner with excitement. Huge thanks to Mrs Newborough and all the House Teams – not least the House Co-ordinators and the outgoing House Captains who have done such a great job over the past twelve months. The House challenges and competitions are such a key part of life in the College and we are really pleased to be introducing Junior House Leaders as an extra addition to the leadership teams within each house.

Public Exams this Summer and Study Leave

We particularly send our best wishes to the Year 11 and Upper Sixth who will be using the Easter break to help prepare for their summer exams. Getting the right balance between work, rest and play is crucial at this time. There is still ample time left to work to maximise their grades and plenty of support available from their teachers.

A reminder that the last formal day of teaching for Year 11 is Wednesday 11 May and for the Upper Sixth, Friday 13 May. They then move onto study leave and their examinations. When not in exams students have the option of working under supervision in school, or if they prefer, from home. Teachers’ support will continue during their study leave and throughout the exam period, with teachers being available to students via Teams at their normal lesson times through to Half Term and by arrangement after Half Term.  Maintaining good contact with teachers during this period is key.

Very best wishes to all students and we look forward to the post-exam celebrations in July.

Sleep

Just a reminder that we are continuing to keep good sleep habits and sleep hygiene on the agenda across the community and there will be more work done with pupils on this after Easter. The Parent Toolkit presentation I did with Paula Greig, our Senior Matron, can still be accessed on the Parent Toolkit section of My School Portal here and there was recently a very good programme on television by Dr Michael Mosely, How to Sleep Well, which is available on BBC iPlayer here.

Vaping

Following my notes about vaping in the last edition of the Flagpole, we held a whole school assembly on Vaping. Parents can watch this by clicking on the link here.  Princethorpe pupils are not immune from being attracted to this habit and I would ask all parents to be vigilant and talk to their children about this. Whilst some may see this as not as bad as smoking, there are serious health risks associated with vaping and it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to purchase a vape pen or equipment. Bringing a vape pen or vaping is absolutely forbidden in school with the sanction for breaking this rule being at least a suspension. If you have any concerns or would like support or guidance please do contact us directly at school.

COVID

Sadly, as is reflected in the national picture, we are seeing another increase in cases of COVID across the school for both pupils and staff. I have been affected myself and have spent a very frustrating week working from home. Somewhat ironically the governments new “living with COVID” phase starts today. We await guidance from the DfE regards any specific changes which will affect us and will communicate these with you before the start of the Trinity Term – we are not expecting any significant changes and the advice to stay at home if unwell will be retained.

Finally, to update you on the recruitment process for my successor, I hope to be able to announce full news on this on Monday.

With continued and heartfelt thanks for your support and very best wishes to you all for the Easter break,

Ed Hester

As we come towards the end of term, the new Science Centre project is well underway. So far 720 tonnes of earth have been excavated and removed, with a further 1400 tonnes to be distributed on site. 30% of the foundations and bases have also already been completed. Work has commenced offsite on the steels which are scheduled to be craned into place during May.

The hoardings surrounding the new Science Centre construction compound have been given a makeover with three brightly coloured information boards. They look amazing and share how we are making our dreams for Science a reality, how you can support the Science Centre and how to keep up to date on progress. You can't miss them as you walk up the Limes Walk to the Sports Fields and Astro.

To find out more about our new Science Centre visit: www.princethorpe.co.uk/science-centre

In March pupils from Princethorpe College took part in the 2022 UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Intermediate Pink and Grey Kangaroo Challenges, two prestigious national problem-solving competitions that recognise the best young mathematicians in the country. The Challenges involve answering multiple choice questions and are sat under normal school exam conditions. The papers are then marked by UKMT and all pupils in the country are awarded Merit and Qualification Certificates.

The competition is the follow on round of the Intermediate Mathematics Challenge and only the top scorers in the country, in Years 9, 10 and 11, can take part. It is a demanding exercise designed to stretch and test pupils’ mathematical skills, so the College is delighted that this year five Princethorpe’s mathematicians took part. Joseph Newborough, in Year 11, was the top performing pupil and achieved a Certificate of Merit. Year 10, Ed Twyman and Year 9s Zach Hawkins, Sophie Nicolle and Dylan Williams all achieved Certificates of Qualification.

Well done to them all for taking part, we hope they enjoyed the challenge.

Theo Scoutas
Post 16 Mathematics Co-ordinator

Foundation Bursar and OP, Eddie Tolcher, took time out of his busy schedule on Tuesday 29 March, to plant two new beech trees. Helped by Foundation Grounds Manager, Edd Robertson, the five-year-old trees were soon in the ground ready to be watered in.

The trees are replacements for two that Eddie originally helped to plant nearly fifty years ago when he was a pupil at Princethorpe College.

Running along the Coventry Road on the College’s sports field, the row of 10 beech trees were planted back in 1973 and 1974 by former Biology Teacher Richard Whittle and pupils attending the College at the time. They were part of the British Government sponsored scheme, ‘Plant A Tree In ‘73’, that encouraged the population to plant trees to replace loses across the country from a virulent new strain of Dutch Elm disease.

Eddie said, “Over the years I have watched these trees mature and always taken great pleasure from the sight of them. I wanted to replace the two that hadn’t survived and was delighted to personally donate the cost of purchasing the new trees. I hope they give future generations of pupils just as much pleasure as they have always given me.”

The termly Celebration of Achievement Lunch recognises pupils from across the College for contributions, commitments and achievements. This Lent Term, 80 pupils from across the year groups were nominated by members of staff and invited to the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre by Assistant Head - Co-Curricular, Neil McCollin, for an informal, celebratory lunch.

All of the pupils had risen to the challenge of the College’s ethos; they had done their best in many different ways, both in and outside of school. Some had been nominated for academic perseverance; others invited along for their contribution to sport, drama or music; a number for voluntary and charity work and some for their dedication and contribution to school life. Mr McCollin congratulated every one of them and thanked them for the many ways that they enrich the College community. As always, the pupils seemed surprised by the attention they received and were modest when praised for the commitment, motivation and tenacity of effort - all qualities that the Celebration of Achievement Lunch recognises and rewards.

More information is available here.

Princethorpe College’s pupils achieved a stunning six top ten finishes in the Independent Schools Associations’ National Cross-Country Championships on Saturday 19 March.

Ten pupils had qualified to represent the Midlands team running in the Senior, Intermediate, Junior and Minor Boys events and the Intermediate, Junior and Minor Girls races against regional teams from all over the country.

Always a hotly contested competition, this year’s event took place at Worksop College in Nottinghamshire and attracted 636 runners from 168 schools.

Against a field of 28 runners, Year 10 pupil Felix Batty delivered Princethorpe’s best finish of the day running the U16 Boys 4.5km course superbly to finish in 17 minutes 56 seconds. He claimed third place and a well-deserved bronze medal. Hot on his heels was Year 11 Guy Dawkins who finished 6th in 18.27. In the U16 Girls race, Year 11 Grace Darcy just missed out on a medal after finishing the Girls 3.8km course in 4th place in 16.04 against a field of 31.

Running in the U14 Girls 3km race, Year 8 Lily Hunter also ran well against 43 runners to finish in 4th place in 12.42. In the U14 Boys race, Year 8, Toby Iley ran a good race to finish in 8th place in 14.55 and Year 8 Abbas Hazra-Omer ran solidly to finish the 3.8km course in 36th in time of 16.00 out of a total field of 45 runners.

For the U18 Open Boys, Year 11 Toby Convey ran the 5km course in 20.05 and finished in 9th place out of 11 competitors.

Both the U12 Girls and U12 Boys ran 2.7km. Year 7 Rosa Davis finished in 12.26 to finish in 11th place out of 47 while William Smith finished 12th in 11.29 and Ollie Hawkins finished 40th in 13.05 also out of 45.

Midlands Team Manager and Assistant Head Co-Curricular, Neil McCollin, was delighted, saying “Another really good day for the Princethorpe team, full of consistent sure-footed running. Six top ten places at the Nationals – what a great way to end the cross-country season.”

Saturday 19 March was a very busy day for our runners as Princethorpe College also sent four cross country experts to the English Schools Cross Country Championships to compete for the Warwickshire team. The event, which brings together the best athletes from England’s 46 counties to compete for the honour of being the best in the country, took place at Hop Farm in Kent.

The start of each race was particularly spectacular, with each county’s runners lining up in their pens in the order in which they qualified. The ground literally shook at the start of every race as around 350 runners took off en masse and jockeyed for the best position.

Year 10 Ben Smith ran in the Inter Boys 5.75km race finishing in 167th place while Year 10 Kate Pomerleau competed in the Inter Girls 3.875km race finishing in 209th place. Year 9 Jesse Esler took on the Junior Boys 4.395km race coming over the line in 208th place and Year 9 Martina Grace ran in the Junior Girls 3.19km race finishing in 209th place. It was the first time Ben, Martina and Jesse had been selected for the English Schools Championships, Kate had competed before. All of the team ran brilliantly and missed their peers Year 8 Charlie Atkins and Year 10 Ava Farren who had been selected but were unable to run on the day.

Congratulations to all our runners on a great day of running at both events. 

The College’s First Team Dinner took place on Saturday 26 March in the Sixth Form Centre. It was an opportunity for Director of Sport, Lee Cassell, and the PE and Games staff, to thank pupils for their longstanding commitment to sport here at Princethorpe College, to reflect on their many talents, to celebrate this year’s successes and to wish those moving on at the end of the year well.

Many thanks to the Games Prefects for organising such a lovely evening.

Photos from the event can be found here. 

On Friday 18 March, pupils from Year 7-13 performed Out Of Darkness, a Lenten reflection on the Stations of the Cross. The performance took place in Our Lady Of The Angels Chapel and included meditations through reflections, mime, music and singing.

The Stations of the Cross is a devotional commemoration of Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth as a man. The 14 stations, focus on specific events of his last day. The journey from station to station is often considered as a mini pilgrimage, and at each station there is the opportunity to reflect and meditate on a specific event from Christ’s last day.

The reflections and prayers used in the production were based on the words of Fr Slavko Barbaric who for many years served as parish priest in Medjugorje, Bosnia Hercegovina, a place of pilgrimage and devotion to Mary, Queen of Peace.

Feedback on the performance included:

"What a talented bunch of students. It was lovely to see the pride they had in performing the wonderful piece."

The dramatic interpretation provided a poignant and moving performance, with pupils rising superbly to the challenge of portraying the stations. Congratulations to them all and thank you to the staff who supported the event.

A collection was taken for Aid to the Church in Need for their work supporting refugees and for the Friends of the Holy Land for their work supporting Christians in the lands of the Bible. 

On Tuesday 22 March 35 A-level Politics, History and Law students visited the Houses of Parliament and the Supreme Court.

Lower Sixth Former, Tom Paling, describes their visit:

“Our day began with an early 6.30am start, and after a lengthy journey we arrived at 9.30am right outside the Houses of Parliament. We went through security and crowded through the corridors into the vast, open and historic Westminster Hall. The immense hall was once the largest of its kind in the world, witnessing events like the trial of Charles I, that played a huge role in shaping Britain and the world today.

We then were taken on a comprehensive tour through the halls and the division lobby, with some of us being able to see the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, opening the session of parliament for the day. The historic and ornate architecture was impressive. We were also fortunate enough to sit and watch the proceedings of parliament, witnessing debates on justice reform and the postmaster scandal.

We spotted MPs like Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, former Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson and even the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock. We then met with our local MP, Jeremy Wright, and we asked him a number of topical questions related to our studies such as ‘What influence do ordinary members of political parties have over their MP?’ and ‘What role do you think social media plays in modern politics?’.

The rest of our day consisted of a walking tour around Westminster and St James’s Park, seeing famous sites like Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade. We also enjoyed a tour of the beautiful Middlesex Guildhall, home to the UK Supreme Court. We heard about the wide range of cases previously brought to the court, everything from Human Rights to Boris Johnson’s wrongful prorogation of Parliament. It was fascinating end to a day that proved to be both informative for our A-level studies and a great experience.”

Three Princethorpe Year 7 pupils travelled to Market Harborough Showground in Leicestershire, to compete in the National Primary School and Year 7 Cross Country Championships. The event took place on Saturday 26 March, with competitors from across the country. It was a great opportunity for the young runners to gain experience against some of the UK’s very best.

Representing Warwickshire, the runners faced a traditional undulating course that was 3km long.  The weather was perfect and the going underfoot good, but with average fields of over 100 runners in each race pupils needed their wits about them as all the runners pushed and jostled to gain positions at the start.

Rosa Davis was fifth home for the Warwickshire team placing 63rd in a field of 118, in a time of 12 minutes and 20 seconds.

For the boys Will Smith also finished fifth for Warwickshire in 80th place out of a field of 115, running the course in 11.29 while Louis Reynolds finished 110th in 12.18.

PE Teacher, Will Bower, was pleased with their performance saying, “Well done on an excellent run.  It was fantastic to see the College so well represented at the UK National Championships. This was a really good experience for these young runners who were up against club teams.  I am sure this bodes well for the summer athletics season on the track.”

We were delighted to welcome parents and friends to our spring LAMDA Showcase in the Clarkson Theatre on Monday 28 March. The informal performance was a wonderful opportunity for families to see a range of examination pieces performed by our LAMDA pupils.

Including pieces for Acting (Solo and Duo), Speaking Verse and Prose and Reading for Performance, from Grades 3 to 7, performed by pupils from across the school, it proved to be a super celebration of their talent, much appreciated by all.

Congratulations to all the performers involved:

Year 7 pupils - Emme Edge, Charlotte Gower, Annabelle Kuhnert, Ellie Maffey, Clea Roach, Joseph Sheeran and Thomas Zanyi

Year 8 pupils - Isla Farrelly, Orla Fleming, Abbas Hazra-Omer, Charlie Miller and Jorja Parris

Year 9 pupils - Issy Farrow, Anna Johnson, Isabella Price and Andrea Zanyi

Year 10 pupils - Alexandra Bonsall and Finley Shields

Lower Sixth Former - James Maclean

With special thanks to Year 8 pupil, Euan Nelson, who stepped in at the very last minute to operate the lighting for the event.

On Tuesday 22 March, our Year 10 Scientists visited Birmingham’s Symphony Hall to attend GCSE Science Live! - a nationwide tour providing pupils with an exciting, fast-moving and thought-provoking opportunity to see and hear from five of Britain’s top scientists, all working at the cutting edge of their specialisms.

All leaders in their field and publishers or broadcasters, the speakers showed that most cutting-edge research is based on the principles learnt at GCSE, in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The speakers all used key words and scientific ideas, in thought-provoking and relevant contexts.

The presenters included, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Prof Andrea Sella, Prof Robert Winston, and Prof Alice Roberts. Dr Aderin-Pocock spoke about space travel and how the new James Webb space telescope was launched; Prof Andreas Sella demonstrated how amazing water is and how its chemical properties make it so unique; Prof Robert Winston talked about reproduction and how an egg travels through the fallopian tubes to get to the uterus; and Prof Alice Roberts explained the latest research on archaeological biology.

The day also included a very useful session from a GCSE Principal Examiner, with many tips on how to improve examination performance, most of which will have been also applicable to other GCSE subjects.

It was a very useful and informative day.

The latest edition of the College's Admissions Update e-newsletter has just been published and can be found here. 

It is full of articles and news to give prospective parents and pupils a feel for College life, information on forthcoming open days and events and helpful advice about the admissions process. It will be of particular interest to those looking at entry to the school in September 2023, in Years 7 to 10 and Sixth Form.

The newsletter is issued twice a year to coincide with key admissions periods, and the next edition will be published in Autumn 2022, just prior to our Entrance Exams on Saturday 5 November 2022.

For further information on admissions please do contact the admissions team at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk or call 01926 634201.

More than half of the Elements for Princethorpe’s new Science Centre have already been snapped up by generous benefactors, who will now see their name engraved on an element in the striking Periodic Table display situated upstairs on the first floor.

At a projected cost of £8 million, the College is committed to raising a proportion of the funds needed for the new Science Centre through fundraising. There are many ways for individuals to get involved, from smaller donations for names on a Brick, Periodic Element or Paver to more significant donations for naming equipment and laboratories. The aim is for the Princethorpe community to join together to make the vision for Science a reality, regardless of the size of your support.

The Periodic Table Elements are proving to be a popular choice, but there are still plenty available. Why not choose one for your family? Or a Brick or a Paver to leave your mark on Princethorpe College for generations to come.

For more information, and to take advantage of this one-off opportunity, please visit the school website here or contact the Development office at makingadifference@princethorpe.co.uk. Donations can be paid over a period of months please contact the Development Office for more information.

Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC invites the Princethorpe Community to any or all of the Lenten and Easter services at either St Anne's, Wappenbury or the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels, Princethorpe College.

Thursday 14 April             
7.00pm  Mass of the Last Supper, Princethorpe College

Friday 15 April                 
3.00pm  Commemoration of the Passion of Christ, Princethorpe College

Saturday 16 April             
8.00pm Vigil Mass for Easter, St Anne's, Wappenbury
                                                            
Sunday 17 April               
8.30am  Easter Mass, St Anne's, Wappenbury
10.30am  Easter Mass, Princethorpe College

For an update on the weekly news in the parish bulletin please use the link here

If you would like to receive a copy of the Parish Newsletter directly to your email address please contact Fr Teddy here

Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 8.30am at St Anne's, Wappenbury and in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels, Princethorpe College at 10.30am.

On the first Sunday of each month Mass is offered for the deceased members of our families. Please join us if you can.

Fr Teddy looks forward to meeting you all.

Saturday 23 April 2022, 9.00am - 4.30pm

The new prefect body is reminded that the Prefect Training Day will take place on Saturday 23 April 2022. We are delighted to have an external trainer with us for the day, Victor Allen. Victor will be working with our prefects to develop their skills in line with their new areas of responsibility as well as helping them to develop employability and life skills.

The session will help the students to develop a greater understanding of:

• The role of a prefect and a leader and be able to recognise how to lead and manage others as well as oneself.
• Setting a personal vision and understanding one’s own values.
• The difference between management and leadership.
• Styles of leadership.
• What makes an emotional intelligent leader.
• Working effectively within a team.
• Taking on roles of responsibility effectively, delegation and time management.  
• Managing a difficult situation - areas to consider.
• Listening skills.
• Negotiation, communication and mediation skills with a range of people.

You will also discuss projects for the year ahead, learn how to chair a meeting and, hopefully, have lots of fun!

I look forward to seeing you all there. Remember that the dress code is informal and comfortable.

Ben Collie
Head of Sixth Form

Wednesday 27 April - 7.00pm

At our last meeting we discussed The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak. Views were divided on this. Certainly the narrative drive behind the book could have been stronger and the narrative pace was sometimes lost in a plethora of detail. Nevertheless the descriptions were often very evocative and the rich history of Istanbul viewed at least in part through its glorious architecture was rewarding to learn about. We will be meeting again next term on Wednesday 27 April when we shall be discussing Lily’s Promise – How I survived Auschwitz written by Lily Ebert in collaboration with her grandson Dov Forman. It is some time since we read any non-fiction and this comes recommended. We will also be looking at the award-winning short novel Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson. The meeting will be at 7.00pm in the library. Please join us whether or not you have read these books. It has been a pleasure to welcome new faces recently and we are always keen to sample new recommendations and fresh reading interests from others

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Wednesday 4 May,  Tuesday 14 June, Thursday 16 June or Wednesday 22 June 2022

Aimed at prospective pupils, our Year 5 Taster Days are a great way for your child to experience Princethorpe during a normal school day. Typically the day will involve four lessons, a question and answer session, with some of our current pupils, and the chance to talk to the Headmaster, Mr Hester. 

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

• Wednesday 4 May
• Tuesday 14 June
• Thursday 16 June
• Wednesday 22 June

To attend please register your child here.

Crackley Hall and Crescent School Year 5 pupils have already been invited to school specific Taster Days in May.

Year 6 Taster Days will be available in September 2022.

Tuesday 10 May - 5.00pm to 7.00pm

Crescent School will be hosting an Open Evening on Tuesday 10 May from 5.00pm to 7.00pm for prospective families and pupils.

Come and find out why Crescent School has been judged 'Excellent' in all areas by the ISI at our Open Evening on Tuesday 10 Mary 2022. This is a great opportunity for prospective families to get a feel for the school and to meet, Mr Thackway, Headmaster.

To book your place please click here. 

For more information please contact our Registrar Mrs Helen Morley on 01788 523851 or by email admissions@crescentschool.co.uk.

Please note: 

We have had very high levels of interest in places for Reception and our Year 3 class for September 2022 entry at the Early Bird Application deadline stage. As a result, we have already allocated all of the available places in these year groups for September 2022. We are now operating waiting groups in these year groups for families who are still interested in a place, should a suitable one become available.

We are currently operating waiting groups in most other years apart from our current Reception and Year 1 classes (Year 1 and 2 for September 2022 entry) where we do have some places available as these year groups each have two classes.

We are already taking registrations for places in Reception and Year 3 starting in September 2023. 

To find out more please click here.

Saturday 14 May 2022 10.30am - 12.30pm

We are once again offering OPs, former parents and former staff the opportunity to visit the College and catch up over a full English or a croissant or two. As well enjoying a leisurely complimentary brunch (served until 12.00 noon) visitors will be able to watch Saturday sports fixtures, and take an optional tour of the school campus.  

Former parents will have spent a considerable amount of time at Princethorpe over the years supporting their children, and may be missing their involvement in school life. The Old Princethorpians' Association organises the brunch as an opportunity for all to reconnect with both the College and each other in an informal, friendly environment.

If you would like to attend please register on Princethorpe Connect by Monday 2 May 2022.

Please do spread the word!

Thursday 19 May 2022 - 5.00pm to 7.30pm

Prospective pupils and their parents are warmly invited to Crackley Hall and Little Cracker's Open Evening on Thursday 19 May from 5.00pm.

Come and find out more about what a Crackley education can do for your child. This is a great opportunity for prospective families to get a feel for the school and to meet, Mr Duigan, Headmaster and speak to key members of staff.

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.

Wednesday 8 June 2022 - 6.30pm to 8.30pm

The College Summer Open Evening will be a great opportunity for prospective families, for Year 7 to 10 September 2023 entry to look around the school and to meet members of staff and pupils. There will be two opportunities to hear from Ed Hester, Headmaster, 6.45pm or 7.30pm, allowing families to explore the College before and after. So, families do not miss out, we are encouraging visitors to book their place and time slot. 

Click here to book your place.

Prospective pupils can also come and experience Princethorpe at one of our Taster Days. Click here for more information.

If you have any questions or would like to book a Taster Day please contact the Admissions Team on 01926 643201/262 or 297 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Thursday 23 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 26 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

A celebration of our pupils' GCSE and A-level Art, Photography, Design and Textiles work will take place in the Chapel and cloister corridor on Thursday 23 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 26 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, Textiles, 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 in the Quad.

Sunday 26 June 2022 from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

The Princethorpe College PTA Summer Fête and Annual Motoring Festival is back this year!

We are always on the lookout for volunteers, so if you can help in any way on the day, even for half an hour, we would really like to hear from you! Please email us at pta@princethorpe.co.uk.

So save the date and we look forward to seeing you at this fun, family event.

Many thanks
Princethorpe PTA 

If you missed the Year 11 Parents' Sixth Form Q & A Session on Thursday 31 March, which was designed to answer any questions you might have relating to final preparation for the exams, the exam season, study leave, GCSE Results Day and transition to Sixth Form, you can watch a recording of the online event by clicking here.

Alternatively you can download the slides here.

This question is on the minds of all our Year 11 and U6 pupils. It is important that pupils find a method that works for them, and they will have been introduced to a variety of activities with their subject teachers. Some pupils can get overwhelmed but small steps and study periods can be the answer to alleviate stress rather than create it. To help revision over the holidays, please look at a short video to support both parents and pupils with inspiration and guidance: How to Revise.

Please find below, a copy of an email that was sent to all Year 10 parents this week:

As we approach the Easter holidays, we want to bring to your attention some of the key events next term for Year 10 which form part of the preparation for their GCSE year and next steps thereafter. 

As in previous years, Year 10 will be having a full week of internal exams immediately before Half Term from Monday 23 to Friday 27 May. These will enable both the pupils and teachers to assess their progress over the first half of their GCSE courses and help with planning for Year 11. The exam timetable will be published next term and whilst some of the exams will be taken in their classrooms, Year 10 pupils will also sit some papers in the examination hall (unless they have access arrangements) so they have experience of this environment in advance of the Year 11 mocks. Teachers will spend dedicated time focusing on revision and preparation for these exams next term and we are recommending that pupils put some time aside over the Easter break to start their revision plans as directed by their teachers. Next term we have a REAL Time session planned for Thursday 5 May specifically to focus on revision skills - pupils have already spent some time on this and have access to their Learning Skills Team which includes revision support. If you would like to watch a short Revision Guidance Presentation, please click on the link. 

Of course, our Year 10 will very soon become Year 11 and as they mature, we want to grow them into senior leaders and role models for the younger pupils, not least within their vertical tutor groups. With this in mind, once the internal exams are over, we will be taking Year 10 pupils off timetable on Wednesday 15 June to undertake some specific training on developing their leadership skills. This will bring great benefit to both them and their tutor groups next year and they will immediately have the opportunity to put these skills into practice on House Activities Day at the end of this term. 

Whilst the GCSEs will rightly be a major focus for the pupils over the year ahead, pupils and parents will also be starting to gather their thoughts on post-GCSE studies. All pupils will have had a careers interview with Mrs Quinney, our Head of Careers, during Year 10 and they will have a follow up in Year 11 which parents are welcome to attend. In addition, another key event we will be running for all Year 10 pupils is the Sixth Form Taster Day on Tuesday 28 June. In addition to finding out more about what Sixth Form life entails, they will be able to choose five subjects to have a taste of what A-level or BTEC studies are like. Further details of the Sixth Form Taster Day will be sent out next term. 

To help with your own planning, there is a summary of key dates below, the first of which is the 360 Review Evening in school on Thursday 28 April where you will meet with your child's tutor to discuss overall progress and set some targets. The booking arrangements for this evening will be sent to you directly by email. 

Year 10 will be having an assembly on all the above tomorrow, Thursday 31 March, and we would encourage you to discuss the term ahead with them and contact us at school if you have any queries or concerns. 

With all best wishes for the Easter break, 

Ed Hester - Headmaster

Michael Spencer – Deputy Head - Academic

Ben Collie – Head of Sixth Form

In the week before May half-term (May 23–27) we will be conducting an internal examination week. For this period pupils will not be in normal lessons but will instead be using the time to revise and to take a series of assessments across their subjects. All year groups will continue to have their Games afternoon during this period.

For Lower Sixth students and Year 10 pupils we will be using the opportunity to begin preparations for public examinations next summer, helping them to become familiar with the formality of examinations and to have a taste of an examination hall environment, alongside any individual exam access arrangements. In order to allow for multiple papers, Lower Sixth will start examinations on Friday 10 May.

For Years 7 to 9 the experience will be less formal and papers will be shorter in length, with pupils working in classrooms throughout and engaging in practical Art and Technology sessions. Their assessments will provide the chance to revisit content and to demonstrate how much they have learnt this year.

All pupils should plan to revise in preparation for these assessments and will receive generic advice from the school alongside specific guidance from each subject. After half-term we will publish results and give feedback so that all pupils know how to improve in their future studies.

Does your child need a new laptop? Are you looking to purchase a device with 3 years insurance and warranty, so you don’t need to worry about faults, accidents or theft? Do you want to be able to pay for the device via monthly direct debits rather than upfront?

If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, then you will be pleased to know that the next deployment of the College’s Digital Device Scheme will be open for orders after the Easter holidays. We are delighted to be able to now offer the scheme with the option of paying for the device over 36 monthly payments, with insurance and extended warranty included. Or if preferable, you can still purchase the device via upfront payment and access the insurance and warranty.

If your child is in need of a new device for their study then now is a great time to purchase through the next deployment of the Digital Device Scheme. We will be offering the Surface Go 3, with i3 processor, 8GB Ram, 128GB SSD and Windows 11, as well as a keyboard, rugged case, stylus and 36 month insurance and extended warranty. The Surface Go 2 has been an extremely popular choice through previous deployments and we can now offer the newer, more powerful Surface Go 3.

Full Information, with pricing and options, will be sent to all parents on week beginning 25 April, with the online portal open for orders from Monday 2 May until Friday 20 May. We will then distribute the devices to pupils once these arrive in school, which we anticipate to be in mid-June. This deployment is open to pupils in all year groups.

Please look out for the information on this after Easter.

Carnegie Awards Shadowing is up and running!

The Carnegie Medal is the UK’s longest running and best-loved book award recognising life-affirming reading experiences created through outstanding writing. Each year The Carnegie Medal is awarded for an outstanding book written in English for young people.

Unique in that they are judged solely by librarians, the roll-call of past winners includes: Arthur Ransome, C.S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman, Noel Streatfeild, Sally Gardner, Jason Reynolds and Elizabeth Acevedo.

A national (and international) reading for pleasure initiative, the Carnegie Awards Shadowing Scheme engages young people in reading the books on the shortlist via reading groups, and Princethorpe College has been involved in this initiative led by Librarian Celia Scott for the past 14 years. 

Each year pupils from Years 7-13 who take part in the scheme are invited to vote for their favourite books to win the Shadowers’ Choice Awards, which are announced alongside the Medal winners at the annual winners’ ceremony. They are challenged with having to read eight books in three months. The winners are announced on 16 June.

The eight books shortlisted this year celebrate the power of friendship, to create empathy, connection and hope. Six of the eight Carnegie shortlisted books are based on real-world events – from Tacky’s War to WWII; the legacy of the Troubles to the refugee crisis; the 2011 Japanese tsunami to the Central Park Exonerated Five case – with many demonstrating the power of friendship to help young people overcome challenges and celebrate difference.

The Awards mission is: To champion librarians to inspire and empower the next generation to create a better world through books and reading.

The 2022 Carnegie Medal shortlist (alphabetical by author surname):

October, October by Katya Balen, illustrated by Angela Harding (Bloomsbury)
Guard Your Heart by Sue Divin (Macmillan Children’s Books)
When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle (Andersen Press)
Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock (Faber)
The Crossing by Manjeet Mann (Penguin Children’s Books)
Tsunami Girl by Julian Sedgwick, illustrated by Chie Kutsuwada (Guppy Books)
Cane Warriors by Alex Wheatle (Andersen Press)
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Thursday 28 April 2022 - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

To support the progress of our Year 7 and 10s we will be offering face to face meetings in the Sports Hall with your child’s tutor to discuss progress and future targets. It will be an opportunity for you to discuss all subjects and overall study skills. Importantly, targets will be made for further improvement and therefore it is expected that pupils will also attend the meeting.

Parents will be given the opportunity to electronically book a 15 minute slot with their child’s tutor. Parents will also be able to attend a series of workshops on how best to support their child whilst at Princethorpe. An email will be sent out to parents with more information and booking details during the Easter break.

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head – Academic

Please click for here the Easter holiday homework expectations.

Thank you 

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

Exams Summer 2022

Individual exam timetables can now be viewed on My School Portal by parents and pupils under the heading Exam Timetable; room allocations will appear nearer the time.

Exam clashes have been adjusted for most pupils and these are now showing on the portals. For any questions about your summer exams please email examinations@princethorpe.co.uk or pupils can come and speak to the Exams Office staff in Room S38 on Upper Pugin.

Shellagh Dodds
Examination and Assessment Manager

The Immunisation Service will be in school on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 May to offer all Year 8 pupils the 1st dose of the HPV vaccination, consent forms have been emailed out to parents this week. Please note the link to the consent form expires on 24 April.

Year 9 pupils will also be offered their second dose. In addition a number of Year 10 pupils that missed their second dose due to the pandemic have been emailed and will also have the opportunity to receive the second dose.

Pupils will be notified of appointment times nearer the date.

The 'Together with Autism' conference takes place on Saturday 2 April from 10.00am until 4.00pm at Myton School.

This conference will launch the autism strategy and bring services together to share advice and information for Coventry and Warwickshire residents only. This event is funded by Warwickshire County Council, Coventry and Warwickshire CCG and Coventry City Council and is for Warwickshire parents/carers of autistic adults and children and professionals wanting to better understand autism. It will include speakers, workships and stalls.

Free Refreshments (but not lunch) provided. Please follow this link for more information and for tickets.

Our wonderful Chaplaincy team have provided the following prayers and blessings for the upcoming Easter Weekend.

A prayer for Good Friday:

A prayer for Easter Sunday

The most recent Parent Toolkit webinar, entitled Eating Disorders And Poor Eating Habits took place on Wednesday 30 March. Senior Matron Paula Greig shared information on a range of eating disorders, guidance on how to spot the signs of an eating disorder and advice on how to support your child and get help if this is affecting someone in your family. The recording of the webinar can be found on the Parent Toolkit section of My School Portal or directly via this link.

The next webinar RSHE Relationship and Sex and Health Education - What we do at Princethorpe, takes place on Tuesday 17 May at 6.30pm. The link to the webinar is here and the programme of all future webinars and links to access them, can be found on My School Portal here.

Please send any suggestions for future webinar topics that we have not already planned to cover to Mrs Beth Sharpe at BethSharpe@Princethorpe.co.uk

Andy Compton
Assistant Head - Director of Digital Strategy

The Lent Term has always historically been dominated by examination preparation, for the Upper Sixth, this term has been no exception. As ever, with these preparations come great stresses and strains and I know that each student has felt these pressures in some way. The Easter holiday is well placed to allow time for the Sixth Form to recuperate and for both Upper and Lower Sixth students to start to focus on revision before the Trinity Term starts. 
 
Careers Update 
Students are continuing to receive offers from universities in what is proving to be the most competitive year we have seen for some time. Over half of our students have heard back from all their choices and a great many have several offers to choose from. Most students will need to reply to their offers by Thursday 9 June at the latest, but most will wish to do so well before that date. 
 
There are also a few students seeking degree apprenticeships and we are delighted that at least two have secured offers from employers so far.  
 
For advice on replying to university offers or anything careers related please contact Mrs Quinney directly by email.
 
Celebration of Achievement Awards 
On Thursday 31 March we held the end of term assembly where tutors reward pupils in their tutor groups for either their academic achievement or for following the Princethorpe ethos, 32 students received an Easter treat. Other students were praised for going ‘above and beyond’ what is expected of them in a variety of areas, often helping others, both staff and younger students. 
 
Last Saturday was the First Team Dinner to thank all our First Team sports players for their commitment to Princethorpe sport and acknowledge their many achievements. This was a great evening celebrating our sporting stars and our thanks go to the Games Prefects for their hand in organising the event. 
  
Prefect and Subject Ambassador Update 
As mentioned in the last Flagpole we are now in a position to announce the Student Ambassadors for 2022-23, well done to all who have been appointed to these roles, the names of which can be found here. The Prefect Inauguration Ceremony will take place on Tuesday 5 April and the Subject Ambassadors will receive their badges at the ceremony too. 
 
The Prefect Training Day will take place on Saturday 23 April and the date for Subject Ambassador Training will be confirmed soon.

List of Subject Ambassadors for 2022-23 here.
 
Social Updates 
The votes are in for the Lower Sixth Social on Friday 20 May and the winning theme is ‘James Bond’. It promises to be a stylish evening that we hope the whole year group will support. 
 
Voting is still taking place for the Upper Sixth Leavers’ Ball colour theme and we will share this with you after the holidays. 
 
Coventry Way Walk 
I would like to wish all the Upper Sixth students and staff who are taking part in the 40-mile Coventry Way Walk good luck on Sunday. This is undeniably a huge challenge all in aid of a very good cause, Mary’s Meals. If you would like to support them please click here. 
 
Wishing you a very Happy Easter from the Sixth Form Team.   
 
Ben Collie 
Head of Sixth Form 
 
 
 

We are delighted to confirm the dates for the end of year celebrations:

Friday 20 May Lower Sixth Social - James Bond theme, Sixth Form Centre

Wednesday 29 June Upper Sixth Leavers' Ball - Coombe Abbey

A reminder that the Lower Sixth UCAS Information Evening will take place online on Wednesday 27 April from 6.30pm to 7.15pm. A link will be emailed shortly before the event.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers

Sunday 3 April 2022 

Bold Walkers take on 40 miles in a day!

Princethorpe College has not participated since 2019 in the Coventry Way Challenge, a 40-mile long distance countryside route, circumnavigating the city of Coventry. 

This year a courageous team of nine Upper Sixth students and three staff, plus a relay team of six staff and students are taking part, aiming to raise sponsorship to support our longstanding commitment to providing a daily meal in school to the 675 children at Makalanga School in Malawi. 

Please follow this link to support them in providing for this most basic of human needs - that also helps gain children an education https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/princethorpe40

Please don’t forget that Princethorpe College PTA is registered with easyfundraising. So, although we’ve been unable to get together and hold fundraising events in person for a while, 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.

Our friendly PTA here at Princethorpe College are keen to welcome new members. 

By joining our PTA community, you are not committing to volunteer, but just to joining our community and if you do wish to volunteer you will receive emails when we require help to run our events.

For more information about the PTA and how to join please email pta@princethorpe.co.uk

Princethorpe PTA

It is always great to be able to share news of pupils' co-curricular successes outside of school.

This week we were impressed to hear that Year 10 pupil, Raul Camargo-Jones, has qualified to represent Coventry in climbing in this summer’s International Children's Games, an International Olympic Committee-sanctioned event where children from around the world between the ages of 12 and 15 participate in a variety of sports and cultural activities. Raul was one of just two boys selected from 50 to represent Coventry. He placed first in a two-hour session in which he completed a number of different graded top rope climbs, along with a Bouldering challenge and he was also assessed on his technique as well. Raul will now be coached at Warwick University where the International Games climbing will be held this August. Raul currently trains three times a week and has excelled in his sport through hard work and commitment. He has also been climbing in school in Year 10 Games. Climbing is a challenging and exciting sport that featured in last year’s Olympics. We wish him the very best of luck in the summer; a huge well done to Raul!

In the Trinity Term Year 9 pupils have the opportunity to take part in Princethorpe's popular Forensic Science Club.

Starting Monday 25 April until Monday 13 June, Mrs Curtis and Mr White will be running weekly lunchtime sessions teaching six different forensic techniques before pupils will be faced with applying their skills to a Princethorpe Crime Scene.

The club will run from 12.10pm to 12.35pm in G5 (accessed through G4's corridor) and the final crime scene challenge will take place on Thursday 16 June from 4.00pm to 6.00pm.

There are 5 spaces; please email samcurtis@princethorpe.co.uk or Teams message Sam Curtis to reserve a spot.

Well done to all who have completed the programme planners and are logging hours for the volunteering, physical and skill sections. Some participants have even completed and signed off sections, a fantastic effort!

If you haven’t started yet, don’t worry, there is still time. Consider utilising the DofE temporary changes.  These options were created to help participants to complete despite the pandemic and are valid until December 2022. I recommend that you get things organised over the Easter holiday.

https://www.dofe.org/dofewithadifference/activities

Bronze

Please refer to your emails for full information regarding the upcoming practice expeditions. Groups are displayed on the Limes noticeboards.

A reminder of how you can prepare for the trip:

1. Read, complete and return the forms
    - Peak Medical Consent
    - Princethorpe Code of Conduct
    - Kit request form
2. Check the kit lists in advance
3. Study the weather forecast
4. Meet with your group - discuss food and your roles 

Silver

Please refer to your emails for full information regarding the upcoming practice expedition 22-24 April 2022. Any outstanding forms should please be returned before we break up.

Gold

Following our meeting please complete the training assignment by Monday 4 April 2022. Please refer to your emails for the full details regarding the upcoming training day and practice expedition 6–10 April 2022.

Will Bower 
Head of Outdoor Education – DofE Manager 

Tuesday 26 April at 6.15pm 

We will be holding a Parents’ Information Evening on Tuesday 26 April at 6.15pm for all pupils taking part in the weekend away to Whitemoor Lakes from Friday 13 May to Sunday 15 May 2022.

The link to the online meeting will be sent out in due course.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-curricular

Co-curricular trips and educational visits have always been a major part of life at Princethorpe. These experiences for pupils enrich their lives, enhance their learning and develop their understanding and appreciation of the world around. It has been great for us to be able to successfully run the Year 7 residential to Whitemoor Lakes and the Lower Sixth residential as year group bubble trips this year. Supporting the curriculum, we have had Maths Challenge to Warwick University, Geography field trips for Year 11 and Upper Sixth, as well at the Fashion and Design Technology trip to London.

We would like to update you with the provisional major trips and visits plans as they currently stand (this does not include academic department day trips or Duke of Edinburgh's Award). Please see here for the planned school trips in the coming years.

Please also ensure that you read the information about individual trips with care when they are released, in particular in relation to consent, cancellation and insurance.

Neil McCollin
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

Our Review of the College Bus Services is making good progress and we would like to thank all the current and incoming families who participated in the recent survey for their feedback.

The aim of the review is to optimise the services we provide for families and where possible improve routes and journey times.

We had over 450 responses, which is particularly high and a good sample of the school population. Overall the feedback on the service and routes is very positive with current users ranking it 4.2 out of 5.

Looking at the map with current and incoming family locations, the routes broadly serve all the areas where our current and incoming pupils live. 

Areas raised for improvement include the length of some journeys and a wish for more direct services, the desire for late buses after co-curricular activities, comments on cost and thoughts on the environmental impact of moving more pupils onto the buses. 

Of course making routes more direct may result in fewer stops, but a faster service. Putting additional late buses on does come at a significant price and we are always balancing the service provision with demand and price sensitivity.

On the positive front users commented on the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers, that the service is reliable, timings generally work well and the vehicles are of good quality.

We have also had a high number or requests for new stops, which will be considered.

We have met with Vectare to discuss their initial thoughts and findings and the next step will be for members of Vectare staff to travel on the routes after Easter. Bus users will be notified when this is to happen on their child's route.

Once the review is completed Vectare will present their findings to the College and work on revised routes and timetables which will be completed and published by early June.

Many thanks

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

To assist us with our planning of teaching sets and timetabling, please could you let us know in writing to Mr Hester, via the Registrar, Mrs Rooney by Wednesday 27 April 2022, if you do not wish to take up the offered Sixth Form place. 

This would meet the term’s notice of withdrawal as set out in our terms and conditions.

If a decision is made subsequently not to take up the offered Sixth Form place and a term’s notice has not been given, you will be liable for the term's fees.

Eddie Tolcher 
Foundation Bursar

Parents are reminded of the notice requirements according to our terms and conditions.

A term’s notice is required if a pupil will not be returning to the school. Notice must be in writing, addressed to the Headmaster, via the Registrar, Mrs Rooney by the first day of term.

All letters are acknowledged within seven days; if you do not receive an acknowledgement then please contact the Registrar immediately. 

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

Please note that half a term's notice is required if a pupil no longer needs to use the bus service provided by the school. 

This is particularly relevant for pupils in Year 11 and Upper Sixth who have exams in the Trinity term and for members of Upper Sixth who pass their driving test. For example, we need to be advised in writing before the start of the Trinity Term if the bus service is not required after half term in May. Parents wishing to give notice should write to Barbara Bromwich in the Bursary or email buses@princethorpe.co.uk.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

Please see below our current vacancies: 

Princethorpe College

•  Foundation Compliance Manager
•  Lead Examinations Invigilator 
•  Examinations Invigilator 

 Crescent School

• Lunchtime Supervisor

 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.

We have received complaints and concerns from parents, neighbours and the general public about lengthy queues on the drive backing down onto the Leamington Road. This seems to be a particular problem in the afternoon and more specifically on a Friday.

To help improve the situation we would ask that parents do not arrive at the College to pick up their children before 3.30pm. The playground gates are kept closed until this time for the safety and safeguarding of children and queuing traffic on the drive impedes normal traffic on site including visitors with appointments at the school. In emergencies and exceptional circumstances, the gates may need to open early or remain closed beyond 3.30pm to enable us to respond effectively to the situation.

The queues on the road cause a significant problem for local traffic and on occasions vehicles have been known to overtake dangerously in both directions simultaneously.

The College has worked for many years with the local authority and parish council regarding safety on this stretch of road and paid for the addition of double white lines a few years ago.

We want to do our utmost to avoid any accidents or indeed a situation where we are faced with sanctions being imposed on traffic near the College or the police becoming involved.

As an alternative to collecting your child you may wish to consider using the school bus service after school, individual tickets as well as pass bookings can be made using the Bus Services website here. There is currently good availability on all buses for the evening journeys. You need to create an account on the website before making your booking.

We will be monitoring the situation closely and would appreciate your co-operation in this most important matter.

Rob Heath
Director of Estates

Please find below the Term Dates for 2021-22 and 2022-23, including the forthcoming Bank Holidays.

2021-22 (two page document)

2022-23 (two page document)