The Flagpole

The College is preparing itself for its biggest ever Entrance Exams session tomorrow, Saturday 11 November, with over 300 children due to sit the exams across four age groups. 

Comments Melanie Butler, Assistant Head - Marketing, Admissions and Communications, "This year we have had particularly high levels of interest and following a successful Open Morning earlier in the month, the registrations have continued to flow in. We know that positive recommendations from current families will have played a large part in this success."

"We wish all the candidates the very best of luck, and look forward to seeing them bright and early in the morning!"

Arrangements for the Entrance Exams Day (11+, 12+, 13+ and 14+) are as follows:

Saturday 11 November 2017 - 9.30am to 3.45pm

Candidates are requested to report to the College between 8.45am and 9.30am; it is advisable that candidates should not arrive prior to 8.30am. Please enter the school via the Pupils’ Entrance in the playground. Candidates should wear their current school uniform and bring a pen, two pencils, eraser and ruler. Candidates for Years 9 and 10 (13+ and 14+) should bring a calculator, protractor and a relevant language dictionary. Candidates will have the opportunity to play outside at lunchtime, if the weather is kind to us. 

Candidates for Years 7, 8 and 9 are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the online test by visiting https://www.intuproject.org/CEMSelect/CSFamiliarisation.swf for a short demonstration.

The examinations will end at 3.45pm and parents are invited to tea with members of the Parent Teacher Association from 3.30pm onwards.

Another exceptional year of achievement, progress, creativity and contribution was celebrated at Princethorpe College’s prestigious annual Prize Giving Ceremony held at The Butterworth Hall, Warwick University Arts Centre last Friday 3 November.

This year the College was delighted to welcome a very special guest of honour, Old Princethorpian Jide Olanrewaju who was returning to the College for the very first time, accompanied by his family, to present the Biodun Olanrewaju Memorial Prize, which commemorates his father.

Before the ceremony the Old Princethorpians Committee hosted a special pre-prize-giving drinks reception for the returning Upper Sixth and their parents, providing a welcome opportunity for last year’s cohort to get together and catch up on their news since the summer.

New Chair of Trustees, Mrs Liz Griffin, opened the proceedings, warmly welcoming parents, friends of the College and Princethorpians old and new to the occasion.

In his formal address the Headmaster, Ed Hester, gave thanks to all those who make Princethorpe the special place it is - the Trustees, the MSCs, the staff, the senior team, the parents and most importantly the pupils. His warm words paid tribute to all that is done in support of the College, the kindness, the compassion and the values that underpin the success stories of so many of our pupils and not just those who received prizes on the evening. He reminded us all that a Princethorpe education can literally change the course of a young person’s life.

Mr Hester congratulated last year’s Year 11 and Upper Sixth on their examination results and reflected that the value added scores of this year’s A-level candidates were the best ever in the College’s history.

The atmosphere all evening was joyful and celebratory and there were superb musical interludes from the Year 7 Chorus, College Orchestra and College Jazz Band whose pieces, 'Lovely Day', 'We Are Family' and 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' fittingly emphasised the spirit of the occasion.

And then it was time for the presentation of the House Prizes for Progress and Achievement, the GCSE and A-level Examination Certificates and a myriad of trophies, cups and shields. Watching the stream of young people coming across the stage and shaking Mr Hester’s hand was truly inspiring and humbling. The talent in evidence, the grit and determination, the passion, enthusiasm and commitment were all applauded and honoured.

Some of the young people took to the Butterworth Hall stage with confidence, others more self-consciously, some made us laugh, some brought a tear to our eye as we listened to, Director of Studies, Michael Reddish’s poetic citations.

The poignancy of the occasion was perhaps best shown by the presentation of the Biodun Olanrewaju Memorial Prize. In making the presentation Jide talked about his family’s time here at the school, about the unstintinting care and support the College provided and how the family had set up the prize in memory of his late father who died tragically and who embodied the spirit and values of Princethorpe. The award which includes a £1,000 cash prize was this year presented to Lower Sixth Former James Fletcher.

And finally it was time for the main award, The Princethorpe Shield, the oldest and most prestigious College award presented annually to the student who is seen to embody the spirit and ethos of the College in many facets of their school life. It was a very popular decision, and with much hand shaking, back clapping and cheering Marcio Zheng was welcomed to the stage to receive the Shield.

Then to close the proceedings Head Girl, Miriam Issacs, and Head Boy, Tim Duffy, gave an eloquent vote of thanks before the evening finally came to an inspiring end with enthusiastic singing of the College Hymn, ‘Here I Am Lord’ by the assembled throng.

Prizewinners will shortly be sent a link to photographs of the occasion.

On Friday 10 November, at 11.00am, the whole College community gathered together to silently reflect on the sacrifices made by our brave service men and women. This year’s remembrance service was held outdoors on a cold and windy school playground.

Fr Alan Whelan’s opening prayer was followed by the sounding of the 'Last Post', the soft, melancholic and mournful notes played confidently by Year 8 trumpeter, Ben Murray.

The two-minute silence offered all a time for reflection, a shared moment to remember those who have given their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today.

Then came a selection of readings by pupils and the hymn 'Abide With Me' before a wreath was hung at the Pupils’ Entrance by two former servicemen, Groundsman, Sergeant Michael Luis and former navy officer, RS Teacher, Mr Cyprian Vella.

A final prayer from Mrs Beth Sharpe, Deputy Head Pastoral, brought the proceedings to a thoughtful close.

A much anticipated, logistically difficult and long awaited Princethorpe trip to Russia finally took place over the Michaelmas half term. Some 38 pupils and six staff headed off to Moscow and St Petersburg for six days of spectacular enlightenment, grand culture and pure adventure.

The pupils involved included Sixth Form historians and Soviet enthusiasts, Year 10 and 11 adventurers, looking for a more unusual travel experience and an independent Year 9 on a quest for knowledge and enrichment. All were to be enthralled by the unsurpassed scale of the enigmatic nation that is Russia.

The visit started in Moscow with a full city tour where amongst the many highlights the party took in the iconic Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, a tour around the Kremlin and the very impressive Armoury Chamber. The next day included a morning visit to the Red Army Museum, before a fascinating exploration of the history of the Russian space programme at the Cosmonaut Museum, where Belka and Strelka the first dogs to be launched into space and safely return, are preserved. And then there was the Moscow Metro at rush hour, where it was not just about getting from A to B safely, but also a visual testament to Stalin’s idea of ‘Palaces for the people’, with its ornate carvings, chandeliers and huge paintings on the walls.

The group travelled onto St Petersburg to explore the grandeur and opulence of the Tsars’ palaces, including the Grand Palace and gardens (often referred to as the Russian Versailles) and the Yusupov Palace, an elegant baroque building full of rooms of amber and gold and famously the site of the assassination of Grigory Rasputin.

The group also got to explore the State Hermitage, a complex of six buildings including the Winter Palace, the largest museum in the world and the War Museum, also known as ‘Heroic defenders of Leningrad’ museum, a melancholic and sombre place where the horrors of the siege of the city in World War II were explored. There 900 candle style lights, lit the room, one for each day the citizens were trapped.

The final night saw a feast of traditional Russian food, including a hearty bowl of borsch at local tavern Masha and the Bear. Theatrical entertainment including traditional song and dance topped off the evening with lots of participation from pupils and notable performances from Mr Hester and Mr McCollin.

The pupils returned to the UK with amazing memories and an incredible array of Russian memorabilia purchased in the cities’ flea markets, with everything from traditional Russian dolls to soviet army hats, belts and even a pair of pilot goggles!

Ed Hester, Headmaster, commented “Russia was a fascinating country to visit, one which has been shaped by tragedy and idealism and tyranny, and which itself has had such a profound effect on 20th-century history.”

During the October half term 20 invited Performing Arts pupils from Years 8 to 11 visited the Big Apple on an exciting adventure to explore and experience the ‘dramatic’ American way of life. The trip was billed as an opportunity to bring together the music and drama departments at Princethorpe, developing friendships, understanding and team spirit across the different disciplines.

On the six-day trip, pupils visited some of New York’s most iconic landmarks, took in a Broadway show and were lucky enough to take part in a performing arts masterclass that also explored Broadway’s historical significance and the training process of a Broadway performer.

Leaving early on the morning of Tuesday 17 October the group travelled to Heathrow to board the plane for JFK, New York. After a long flight, the party arrived in New York and headed straight to their accommodation in the basic but centrally located YMCA, overlooking Central Park and an easy walk away from the Theatre District and Times Square.

Just one of the very many highlights of the trip was the chance to see the revival of the epic Boublil and Schönberg musical Miss Saigon which returned to the Broadway Theatre last year. The performance with its story of heartbreak and stunning special effects that included a helicopter, didn’t disappoint. Neither did the chance to participate in a performance workshop hosted by Broadway Performers, where, in a specially organised masterclass, pupils worked together to develop a storyline for a musical and then sang their song to an existing musical score.

The six-day trip also included a tour of the famous Lincoln Center, one of the world’s leading performing arts hubs and home to the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic and many more. Then there was a meal at the famous Ellen's Stardust Diner, workplace of aspiring Broadway stars and home to the ‘singing waiters’, who take to the table-tops to whisk you off musical theatre heaven as you sit back and enjoy your favourite quintessential American diner food.

The action packed trip also included a trip up the Empire State Building, where pupils were graced with some mesmerising views of the city’s imposing skyline, a trip to the arresting and humbling Ground Zero Memorial and a visit to the renowned American Museum of Natural History. There was even time for a ‘picnic in the park’ on a visit to the Strawberry Fields Memorial, which is dedicated to the former Beatle, John Lennon, who lived the latter part of his life in New York, close to Central Park.

Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, said, “You can’t have a bad trip to New York, there is simply so much to do. We had an unforgettable, fun-filled six days and despite walking what felt like a thousand miles, we had an amazing time - the laughter and smiles just never stopped.”

Our thanks go to the four staff who accompanied the trip: Gil Cowlishaw, Aileen Cefaliello, Jess Newborough and Digby Carrington-Howell.

Pupils and staff at Princethorpe College gathered together on Monday 30 October for a whole school assembly. It was a chance to regroup and refocus after a productive start to the academic year and, for the many who went on school trips, a busy half term break.  It was also a chance to celebrate.

Ed Hester, Headmaster, led the assembly in practising Abide With Me, the hymn which will feature in services and in school remembrance ceremonies during the month of November. 

He also spoke to pupils about the critical role nutrition, exercise and sleep play in developing intelligence, physical and emotional maturity and the increasingly important impact of each individual’s digital footprint, a subject matter that will be discussed and developed further, within the College community, this half term.

Deputy Head Pastoral, Beth Sharpe, then took to the stage to announce the results of the 2016-2017 Merit Awards. She invited the top pupils in each House, Year Group and in the school overall to come forward and be presented with certificates to recognise their achievement. The College congratulates all of them for their commitment to the school’s values and ethos.  Well done to all.

Full details and photos of the award winners can be found on the school website www.princethorpe.co.uk.

Interviews are often seen as daunting and stressful, so in a bid to better equip our Upper Sixth Formers for the challenge, the Princethorpe’s Careers Team organised a mock Interview Day on Thursday 12 October. Designed to perfect their interview technique, sharpen their communication skills, presentational qualities and their ability to respond to feedback, each of our Sixth Form students took part in a thirty-minute mock interview with a professional whose field of expertise matched their future study and career interests.

Some 31 professionals from backgrounds such as: Law, Medicine, Television, Engineering, Architecture, Accountancy and Business kindly volunteered their time. Some were Old Princethorpians, some past or present parents, but all had responded to a request to support our pupils, in this, the most critical year of their school career.

In readiness for their one-to-one interviews pupils had submitted their curriculum vitae or personal statement to be scrutinised beforehand. Exactly like in a real interview these documents formed the basis of questions that were discussed. At the end of their interview our professionals provided valuable feedback with constructive suggestions for improvement.

Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney, commented, “Our students were encouraged to prepare well for these interviews. Our aim was to provide them with a head start in developing their interview technique. It was an extremely important day for them all as they face the looming reality of university and workplace interviews. The skills practised today will benefit all of our students and we are immensely grateful to the parents and Old Princethorpians who have given up their time to take part in the day.”

Just before half term an intrepid 47 Year 11 Geography pupils visited Preston Montford, one of the Field Studies Council’s specialist outdoor centres. Lying close to the Welsh border to the west of Shrewsbury in Shropshire, the field centre is a fantastic outdoor classroom where pupils can put into practise the key geographical skills they have studied in lessons. The two-day trip supported the geographical investigations modules that pupils undertake within their Geography GCSE.

Pupils spent one day exploring human geography topics, comparing the quality of life in the Castlefields and Radbrook Green districts of the county town of Shrewsbury. As part of their investigations they completed questionnaires and took photographs which they will put together with secondary data sources to complete their analysis. They then spent the second day investigating physical geography topics in Carding Mill Valley, near the Long Mynd. There they surveyed the rivers, undertaking measurements and investigating the changes downstream.

Mike Taylor, Head of Geography, said, “Preston Montford is an excellent Field Centre. We had a very busy two days and the trip has given pupils an excellent head start in component 3 of their GCSE, Geographical Investigations: Fieldwork and UK Challenges.”

As many of you may be aware, Princethorpe's Student Support Officer Julie Satchwell was heading to the Far East over October half-term to take on an epic fundraising challenge in aid of Ovarian Cancer Action. 

Julie continues her story below:

Well after eleven months planning, fundraising and training I finally completed my Great Wall of China trek challenge in aid of Ovarian Cancer Action during half-term! And what an unbelievable experience it was.

There were 42 of us that took on the challenge between the 14 and 22 October and collectively, we raised over £100,000 for numerous charities. Our group ranged from 23 to 60 years old (me being classed as one of the ‘oldies’) with the majority of trekkers being females and just two males! We trekked consecutively for five days which included two days on the tourist stretches of the Great Wall, Huangyaguan and Mutianyu, culminating with the ascent of the 'Heavenly Ladder' and 1,000 steps to the Wall and then a toboggan back down!

We then had three, tough long trekking days, on original parts of the Wall that linked three famous sections (Gubeikou-Jinshanling-Simatei). The Wall stretched miles into the distance, where we saw ruined watch towers, collapsed parts of the Wall and dirt tracks. One day we covered 27 watchtowers over the old brick-made steps. The terrain was varied from smooth flat sections to rugged, rocky old sections which included some extremely steep climbs with shear drops on either side. Not very good for those who suffer from vertigo…!

The trek also took us on some of the most beautiful parts of the Great Wall, along mountain ridges which gave a real flavour of the enormity of the task undertaken in building this incredible structure. We encountered lots of steps, with countless ascents and descents as we trekked along the Wall. However, the vista of the Great Wall disappearing over the mountains is a truly memorable sight which made every step worthwhile and will stay with me forever.

I have wonderful memories to cherish for a lifetime of this challenge for Ovarian Cancer Action and it was the best thing I have ever experienced in my whole life (apart from having my son). However, this challenge wouldn't have been possible without the support and generosity of my family, friends, staff and parents at Princethorpe College.

My fundraising currently stands at £4,500 which is truly amazing knowing my target was £2,800. Ovarian Cancer Action campaigns to ensure women and healthcare providers know the risk factors, symptoms and treatment options to enable informed and rapid action.

Once again thank you for your kindness and support.
Julie Satchwell

If you would like to support Julie's incredible fundraising mission, there is still chance to do so as her fundraising page will be open until the end of December. Please click here to donate: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/juliesatchwell

Tuesday 14 November 2017 at 7.30pm

Our October book A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee, was enjoyed by the group. This is a slow paced murder mystery which focuses a good deal on scene setting in Calcutta and it has a rather old-fashioned feel to it - but was nonetheless a very engaging read. It is easy to see the potential here for future books with the same characters and Mukherjee has already written a sequel which should be worth trying.

We meet again in the library at 7.30pm on Tuesday 14 November. Please note that as this is a Tuesday which is a change from our usual Wednesday slot. We will be discussing Holding by Graham Norton. This is his first novel and has had very good reviews. It is always a pleasure to see new faces, so please come along whether or not you have had time to read this book. We offer a warm welcome and are always interested in sampling different kinds of books so new recommendations for reading are always much appreciated.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English 

Friday 24 November 7.00pm - 9.30pm

The House Talent Show is taking place after half term and is shaping up to be another fun and entertaining night.  Last year’s winner Roualeyn Alford from Fisher House set the bar incredibly high with his funny and skilful ventriloquism act, so we’re excited to see what hidden talents emerge this year too.

As well as being a good night out, all the proceeds from tickets and refreshments go towards our nominated House Charity for 2017-2018 ‘Headway’, who’s aim is to promote understanding of brain injury and provide information, support and services to survivors, their families and carers.

Soap opera fans: we are also very fortunate to have a fantastic sign from the iconic Albert Square, autographed on set personally by all of the current Eastenders cast.  This unique item has been organised by Elsie Kelley from Benet House, whose mother works on the Eastenders production. To add to our fundraising total we are putting the sign up for silent auction with the successful bid announced at the end of the show.  If you would like to make a bid, you can do so on the night, or if you can’t attend the talent show, bids can be made in advance by emailing aliciaogorman@princethorpe.co.uk with the following information;

• Parent Name
• Pupil name
• Pupil tutor group
• Contact number
• Amount Bid

Deadline for email bids is Wednesday 22 November. 

Talent Show tickets are £3.50 for adults and £2 for children. Pupils can purchase these from the biology office F6 at break or lunchtimes after half term. 

Monday 27 November - 7.00pm

Advances In Medical Imaging

This talk will look at some of the recent advances in medical imaging, in both research and clinical work and will have examples from some of the leading centres in the UK.

Dr Amy McDowell is a research physicist, using cutting edge MRI techniques to investigate childhood diseases at Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College, London.

Dr David Towey is a clinical physicist at Northampton General Hospital, optimising diagnostic and therapeutic radio-isotope techniques in clinical practice

The lecture will be held in the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre and there will be refreshments and a chance to chat with David and Amy after the talk. All parents and pupils are welcome.

This is a free event but to help us cater efficiently please reserve places with Lisa Gardner by clicking here no later than Wednesday 22 November.

Gill Smith
Head of Science

Tuesday 28 November, 6.30pm - 7.30pm - Theatre

Do you have a son or daughter planning got go to university in 2018? If so then it is likely they will be applying for student finance to support them through their studies, whether to pay for tuition fees or to support their living expenses, or both. 

This evening presentation will aim to equip you with all the advice you need for supporting your son/daughter through this process, as well as informing you of the role that you might need to play. A Student Funding Advisor from the University of Warwick will be leading the presentation and will cover tuition and maintenance loan systems, other forms of financial support and will also give parents some guidance on student costs and budgeting. 

The students will receive a similar presentation on Thursday 16 November so there is no need for them to attend the evening event - this is for parents to be informed. 

We do hope that you will be able to attend what promises to be a very informative evening. Please click here to advise your availability to attend.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

Wednesday 6 December 2017 at 7.00pm in the College Theatre

The Music Department extends a warm invitation to all parents and friends to join us in a Christmas celebration of music and poetry.

This will be an informal evening offering pupils the opportunity to perform a range of out of the ordinary Christmas pieces.  Pupils from the GCSE music group, LAMDA lessons, as well as individual music recitals and the popular Jazz Band, Choir and our Vocalize group will be taking part in the evening.  Please feel free to enter into the spirit of the occasion by wearing a Christmas jumper or similarly festive outfit.  There will be an award for the finest example of Christmas knitwear!

This promises to be an enjoyable and memorable introduction to the festive period. If you would like to join us then please note that due to our restrictions on numbers this will be a ticket only event. To apply for and print tickets please click here and complete your details.

We hope that you will partake in a little festive mulled wine and mince pies following the performance in the beautifully restored Roundhouse. Please note that tickets are free of charge.

With thanks for your continuing support.

Gil Cowlishaw
Director of Music

Monday 18 December at 7.00pm

Parents and friends of the College are invited to a special Carol Service in the College Chapel on Monday 18 December at 7.00pm.

The service will follow the traditional form, with the College Choir leading our singing. Seasonal refreshments will be offered after the service in the Sixth Form Centre.

Due to the popularity of this event, seats must be reserved in advance. You will understand that the Chapel can only hold a finite number of people and for health and safety reasons we need to limit numbers. Seats are available on a first come first served basis.  Please click here to reserve places. Please reply by Wednesday 13 December 2017.

Mary Benham
Chaplaincy Co-ordinator

Pupils will be having an Internal Assessment Week on the following dates: 

27 November 2017 - Year 9, 10 and L6 Internal Assessment Week

4 December 2017 – Year 7, 8 and U6 Internal Assessment Week

We would ask parents that, wherever possible, they avoid having to take pupils out of school during those weeks.

Digby Carrington-Howell
Deputy Head (Staffing and Assessment)

Individual exam timetables will be provided to all exam candidates after our entries are finalised next February. In the meantime I have produced a Princethorpe whole season timetable for both Year 11 and Year 13 candidates, which can be downloaded by clicking on the links below.

• Year 11 Exam Timetable
• U6 Exam Timetable

For anyone looking to buy revision guides, the document below lists the exam specifications being followed by our students together with the exam board name.

• Year 11 and U6 Subjects and Specifications 2017-18

Shellagh Dodds
Examinations Officer

Work Experience Placements at Princethorpe College, as part of our Careers programme, take place at the end of Year 11.  We believe that all pupils can gain immeasurable benefits from their placements; not only can a good placement teach a pupil a lot about an area of work that he or she may be interested in, but it can also develop communication skills, self-confidence, initiative and teamwork.

Work Experience takes place after the GCSE examinations, generally starting from the last week of June, at any time that is convenient during the holidays, for a minimum of one week. It is perfectly feasible for pupils to undertake more than one placement if desired. It is usual for pupils to find a placement through family/friends contacts at this stage.

So that I can complete the necessary paperwork, possible references and so on, I'd be grateful if you could you let me know the company name and contact details, for the placement(s) you have arranged either by return of the slip attached to the letter sent to you in June, or by email to me miketaylor@princethorpe.co.uk. 

If you need a hard copy of the original letter, please could you ask your son or daughter to ask me for one at school.

Mike Taylor
Work Experience Co-ordinator

The Careers team are about halfway through interviewing all the Year 11 pupils and will aim to have completed this by the end of this term. There will be the chance for pupils to have follow up appointments next term where required. 

Unifrog: this Thursday, during Life Skills, pupils were introduced to an online progression platform called Unifrog. This platform is already being used extensively to support Sixth Form students through the process of planning their next steps after A-levels. We have launched it with Year 11 pupils to encourage and enable them to become better informed when choosing their A-levels or deciding on their futures and also better prepared when it comes to making any future applications. 

Unifrog has many tools and, as well as providing an easy solution to searching for university course requirements and apprenticeships, it also provides an opportunity for pupils to record their activities and evidence for later applications to universities and employers. The pupils have been encouraged to use these tools and have been given an outline of when they should have completed each stage.  The same timeline document is attached here.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

The internal deadline for applications to university through UCAS is Friday 17 November. By this date, students should have completed all sections of the UCAS form. They should also 'pay and send'.

The form which doesn't, at this stage, go to UCAS, will then be checked thoroughly by College staff before the reference is added and the application is sent to UCAS. Please be aware that this checking and reference writing stage can take up to two weeks.

Please feel free to email me with any queries regarding this process.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

18-19 November 2017

The National Healthcare Weekend on 18 and 19 November is taking place in London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Nottingham and Lancaster.

Over 30 conferences on different specialties on the same day! Eight hundred healthcare professionals from across the United Kingdom will be volunteering to present and network pupils who are interested in:

• Medicine
• Veterinary Medicine
• Nursing & Midwifery
• Dentistry
• Pharmacy
• Biomedical Sciences
• Psychology

These conferences provide a valuable opportunity for pupils to network with a variety of healthcare professions, learn about work experience opportunities and how to make a successful application.

Registration is £25 for pupils on the Saturday conferences and there is an optional UCAS lecture available on Sunday for each specialty.  Please note that these events are likely to fill up quickly!

Pupils can register on the Medic Mentor website and find out more about events here.

All proceeds from the weekend will be used to support UK's healthcare students with scholarships, elective bursaries, free training and educational initiatives.

The careers team are keen to involve parents as much as possible in assisting with the decisions your children will be making when choosing a career and their next step. As such, I will be passing on information that might be useful to you.

Please see the articles below for information regarding the following:

• Studying Medicine in Europe
• A Career as a Doctor - Medical Insight Course
• Loud Higher Education E-Magazine
• New Model in Technology and Engineering University, Hereford
• Law Apprenticeships
• Details of New Degree Apprenticeships
• Nurse Apprenticeships at Nine More Universities

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Coordinator

If you are considering studying medicine in Europe, Medical Doorway have two open days planned for 11 November and 12 November in Manchester and London.  Click here for details.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

Monday 5 February to Wednesday 7 February 2018

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust are running a three day course for Sixth Form students to help them to decide if medicine is for them and to improve any application they make. 

Click here for details.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

I am delighted to share with you details of a new e-magazine edition of Loud which has just launched.

Loud is an informative and supportive guide for sixteen to nineteen year olds, to assist them with their next stage in higher education.

The quarterly magazine contains vital information written by students to help students make the right choices about which university course or apprenticeship to take.

Please click here to view the current edition.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

NMiTE, the New Model in Technology and Engineering University is being created to offer a new model of world quality, high value technology and engineering education. NMiTE will start to recruit students in 2018 for 2019 entry. Click here for further details.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

If you are considering a law career but feel university is not for you or you are put off by the tuition fees, then a law apprenticeship may be the answer. Click here for details.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

Twenty-seven new degree apprenticeships which will support up to four thousand, five-hundred apprentices have been announced, involving sixty-three universities and colleges. Click here for further details.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

Nurse apprenticeships are to be offered by nine further universities in England from September 2018, following a national funding announcement. Click here to read more.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

The College Careers Fair 2018 will be held on the morning of Saturday 17 March. The Fair is open to Year 10 to Sixth Form pupils and their parents. It will provide a ‘one stop careers shop’ with a wide range of speakers and organisations on hand to offer advice and guidance on careers, universities, apprenticeships, internships and gap year options.

The event will run from 10.00am to 1.00pm and, as before, will include a keynote speaker and career path workshops with presentations and Q and A sessions from parents and Old Princethorpians. Attendees will be able to attend up to three workshops depending on their personal interests.

The Fair will also include an A-Z career zone with stalls from many well-known companies, charities, institutions, universities and gap year advisers for pupils and their parents to explore.

Comments, Jacqui Quinney, Head of Careers, “This is a really key event for our senior pupils. It will provide important information and advice to help them develop their career choices. Please do make a note of the date now, so as to not miss out on this very valuable opportunity.”

More details of the event will be published after Christmas.

This year Princethorpe’s Chaplaincy Team has again supported the Parish Shoe Box Appeal, to provide gifts for children overseas who would not otherwise receive a Christmas present.

A grand total of 45 boxes were assembled and shipped out last week ready to bring happiness and joy at this special time of year. They were packed full of little gifts but also included educational and hygiene essentials such as toothbrushes, hairbrushes, paper and pens, every day, ordinary items to us but of great value to those who receive the gift.

The boxes will be distributed by Teams4U in Romania and will be given to a vulnerable child, or family, through schools, nurseries, hospitals and orphanages. T4U share the shoeboxes through relationships with local communities as part of a long-term commitment to their children. They also provide financing for pre-school programmes to support education and development.

Thanks goes out to our Chaplaincy prefects, Matthew Duigan and Luke Dunkley, for promoting the appeal and supervising the sorting and packing of the boxes. Also to Mary Benham, Chaplaincy Co-Ordinator, and Parish member Loretta Curtis for managing the process.

The image shows pupils from MSL helping to load the completed boxes ready for transport.

As keen supporters of Mary's Meals, we are delighted to share the news that every amount pledged to Mary’s Meals between now and the end of 2017 will be matched by three amazing donors, up to a total of £1.9 million.  Read more about this exciting initiative here.

This year Princethorpe College aim to raise enough money to feed six hundred and thirty-six children for a whole school year at Makalanga Primary School in Malawi - £8,841 in total. Parents and pupils are invited to sponsor a child for a year. Normally, a donation of £13.90 is all it costs to feed a child for a whole school year but by donating that amount now you will be feeding two children for a whole school year.  Please help us to achieve our target by donating during this 'Double The Love' period.

UK taxpayers can also increase the amount they donate by 25p for every £1 donated at no extra cost by completing a Gift Aid declaration. Donate today and double your impact!  To sign up to Gift Aid, simply tick the Gift Aid box on our online donation page here. 

Rod Isaacs
Assistant Head of Sixth Form

Over the half term the annual south coast sports tour travelled what has become a familiar route taking in Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Southampton along the way. Now in its thirteenth year, the tour took 42 Year 8 and Year 9 pupils together with four staff, on a four-day trip that included three matches and plenty of off pitch visits, activities and fun.

The Year 9 boys comfortably won all three rugby matches, their hard work in training paying off against experienced teams. They even almost managed to keep a clean score sheet, with results of 58-0 against Portsmouth Junior Rugby Club, an amazing 43-0 against the heavyweights of Canford School and 50-14 against St John’s College. Boy of the tour was awarded to George Evans a great player and a character in a good way!

The Year 8 netball girls had a mix of results but their games included some scintillating ball handling and individual play. Fielding A, B and even a C team the girls faced steely opposition. Against Portsmouth High School the A team lost 12-19 whilst the B team won 17-6. The girls then split into three teams for their matches against Talbot Heath School, where they recorded two losses and a win. Their final matches against St John’s College saw the A team winning a hard and close fought game by one point 18-17 and the B team going down 5-20. Girl of the tour was Jess Mackenzie for her inspirational attitude and fabulous personality.

On tour off the pitch is always a great chance to build team spirit through lots of different activities. Pupils visited Splashdown, the all-action, flume filled waterpark, went ten pin bowling, had some time for shopping, enjoyed costal walks and of course a competitive morning of games on the beach.

Our thanks go to the dedicated sports staff who accompanied the tour Debs Brookes, Hannah Carminati, Ross Holtom and Mike Turns.

For all involved, both boys and girls, the tour was a great success.

Come along to the  PTA Christmas Fair on Sunday 3 December, 2.00pm - 4.30pm, to meet Santa before he flies off to the North Pole!

There will be an excellent array of artisan products and gifts for the discerning shopper and plenty of activities for all ages, including the ever popular bottle tombola and a children’s Christmas craft room. Festive food and drink will also be available to keep your energy levels up while you browse the stalls and activities and there may even be a few extra surprises too.

As always, our raffle offers a great selection of prizes including the the main cash prize of £250. Our apologies that this amount was incorrecltly stated as £350 in the recent letter posted out to parents.

Envelopes containing completed tickets and payments should be marked “FAO Anne O’Rourke, PTA treasurer” and dropped into the PTA post box in the student hub. Cheques should be made out to "Princethorpe College PTA". If you require further tickets they are available from the student hub and can also be purchased at the Fair.

Please don’t forget to send in your donations for our bottle and chocolate tombolas.

Help Needed
The Fair is our biggest fundraiser and we greatly appreciate any help, even if you can only spare half an hour. If you would like to know more, or volunteer, please email pta@princethorpe.co.uk.

Make a date in your diary now so you don’t miss this special Christmas treat for all the family.

Judith McCoy
PTA Secretary

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you, particularly those new to Princethorpe College, about the wide variety of Co-curricular activities and clubs that are on offer during lunch time and after school.  Not only is it a good way to try new activities but it is also a great way to make new friends.

A list of all the Co-curricular activites can be found at the front of the Michaelmas 2017 Termly Calendar which you will have received by post during the summer.  Alternatively, click here to view an electronic version which can also be found on the Princethorpe College website in the section titled 'Outside Class'.

Greg Hunter
Assitant Head - Co-Curricular

Please click here for the planned school trips in the coming years. This document will be updated each term, but it should allow you to make an informed decision when deciding on trips for your child to attend.  For any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Greg Hunter
Assistant Head - Co-curricular

Please could all parents complete and return the forms given out at the first parents meeting by Thursday 16 November.

Evolve emails have now been sent regarding the two practice ski trips. If you would like your son or daughter to attend either/both trips please give consent by Friday 24 November.

The deadline date for Christmas orders from "SnowUnion" ski clothing and accessories, hire and purchase, is Sunday 26 November. Orders will arrive at school by Friday 8 December. Please click here for their contact information.

The second parents meeting is on Thursday 1 March 2018 at 6.00pm-7.00pm in the Theatre.

Please contact me at catherinewarne@princethorpe.co.uk if you have any questions regarding the trip.

Catherine Warne
Trip Co-ordinator

Ideally starting in January 2018, we have an exciting role within the IT Infrastructure Team for an experienced IT professional as a Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer (Windows Server, Active Directory, SCCM, Hyper-V, AV & Backup Solutions, Cloud, Office 365 and Azure). Working as part of a team you will be responsible for the design, development, testing, implementation, documentation and high-level support of a variety of network and server infrastructure products and solutions internally.

The successful candidate will also be expected to help design tailored solutions to meet the needs of internal projects including sourcing and introducing new products and services where required.

This is a Foundation wide role, based at Princethorpe College with duties at Crescent School and Crackley Hall School.

This is an excellent opportunity to join the fast growing Foundation that values its staff and offers a rewarding benefits package including discounted places for staff, a pension scheme, child care vouchers and a cycle to work scheme.

Application: To apply for this vacancy applicants must submit a Princethorpe College application form, together with a CV and covering letter detailing your personal qualities, experience and how you meet the person specification for the role. Applicants must ensure the application form is fully completed, including a detailed career history with specific dates.

Closing date: Monday 27 November 2017 at 9.00am, and interviews are likely to be held on Thursday 30 November at Princethorpe.

Further details and an application form are available from the College website www.princethorpe.co.uk/employment-opportunities.

Required from November 2017, we are recruiting an Administrator\Receptionist to work all year round, within our busy reception area, the successful candidate will have good organisational skills; will be articulate, friendly, professional and well presented.

The position involves a mixture of administrative support, reception duties, and liaising with pupils and parents; the post holder will need to balance general duties with providing comprehensive administrative support to members of senior management.

Interested candidates should ideally have experience in a similar position and will have excellent communication skills, good organisational skills, excellent customer service skills and the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.  Strong IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Office, are essential. This role may be offered on a full time or part time basis; candidates are asked to specify in their application on which basis they wish to be considered.

The working pattern for a full time role would be Monday to Friday 8.00am – 4.30pm (with an hour for lunch).  If offered on a part time basis as part of a job share– the working pattern would be Thursday and Friday 8.00am – 4.30pm (with an hour for lunch), 2 days per week (15 hours per week) required to work all year round.

This is an excellent opportunity to join the fast growing Foundation that values its staff and offers a rewarding benefits package including discounted places for staff, 25 holiday per annum plus bank holidays (both pro-rata) to be taken during school holidays, a pension scheme, child care vouchers and a cycle to work scheme.

Application: To apply for this vacancy applicants must submit a Princethorpe College application form, together with a CV and covering letter detailing your personal qualities, experience and how you meet the person specification for the role. Applicants must ensure the application form is fully completed, including a detailed career history with specific dates.

Closing date: Monday 13 November 2017, at 9.00am. Candidates are advised to apply immediately as applications will be reviewed as they are received and the closing date may be brought forward.

Further details and an application form are available from the College website www.princethorpe.co.uk/employment-opportunities

The English department has welcomed Patrick Higgins as a new part-time teacher.  Patrick comes to Princethorpe having been a Head of Year and English teacher at Trinity Catholic School in Leamington Spa for 26 years - Patrick remembers teaching Mrs Challinor and Mrs Cefaliello as model pupils at Trinity!

Patrick graduated from Liverpool University and also taught at Arnold Hill School in Nottingham.  He enjoys theatre, cinema, tennis and swimming and in his spare time Patrick has recently begun to put together his family tree: Patrick's great grandfather Peter Higgins was involved in the Easter Uprising in Dublin 1916 and his name is remembered at the General Post Office on O'Connell Street.     

We would like to remind parents about parking at school when dropping off or collecting pupils.

All pupils arriving and leaving school at the normal time must be dropped off and picked up in the playground area adjacent to the pupils’ entrance and tennis courts. This is the only designated area for parents at the beginning and end of the school day.  Please do not drop off pupils at the end of the drive or in the bus bay. Furthermore, for the safety of all pupils, parents are asked not to drive through the North Car Park and drop off or pick up from the Sixth Form Centre. 

The playground is closed to traffic from 9.00am to 3.30pm. Parents arriving within this time period are asked to park in a visitor’s parking space and go to reception or the student hub.

Mrs Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head, Pastoral

Please click on the links below to access the Term Dates:

2017-18 (Two-page document)

2018-19