The Flagpole

Princethorpe College Art Scholar, Helena Lintott, has been awarded a first place in the Independent Schools’ Association’s prestigious National Art Competition. Her entry, Self Portrait, won the Key Stage 4 Drawing class.  She is the latest in a long line of gifted College artists to have had their work recognised in this way.

Her lifelike piece a stunning, photo-realistic, drawn self-portrait was part of her coursework for her GCSE Art examination. Helena comes from an artistic family as her father trained as an illustrator and Helena has clearly inherited his skills.  She is now in Lower Sixth and is studying Art at A-level.

Helena was not the only College prize-winner in this year’s competition.  Also receiving national recognition were recent Upper Sixth leavers Tom Barnes - Runner-up in the Key Stage 5 Sketchbook class and Oliver Mottershead - Runner-up in the Key Stage 5 2D Art Individual class with his piece Memory, Isolation, Decay. Former Year 11 Lauren Hill also received Highly Commended for her entry, A Day at the Beach, in the Key Stage 4 Textiles Individual class.

Former Crackley Hall pupil, Charlie Ferguson, who is now in Year 7 at the College, was also successful with his piece, Humming Birds, judged Runner-up, in the Key Stage 2 2D Art Individual class.

The National competition followed on from the Regional Midlands competition which took place back in September where the College received the following results:

KS5 Painting: 1st Oliver Mottershead, 2nd Tom Barnes, Highly Commended Nicola Sykes

KS5 Drawing: Highly Commended Tom Barnes

KS4 Painting: 2nd Alys McWilliams

KS4 Drawing: 1st Helena Lintott

KS4 Textiles (Art): 1st Lauren Hill

Readers will be familiar with Alys’ striking painting which was used as the front cover of last summer’s edition of The Pinnacle magazine.

Princethorpe College Head of Art, Paul Hubball, applauded the winners, “These prizes are a reflection of the talent we have within our school. This is the first time that we have won the Key Stage 4 Drawing category and Helena’s work is exceptional, it reflects the hours of work she put into it. We are looking forward to seeing the work she produces this year.”

All of the artists are to be congratulated on their success.

Image shows Alys McWilliams (left) and Helen Lintott with her winning drawing (right).

It was all systems go on Saturday 11 November as Princethorpe welcomed some 300 children to take the Entrance Examinations for September 2018. Seamless organisation made the day run smoothly with candidates being efficiently organised into eighteen colour coded groups when receiving their day’s timetable.

Headmaster, Ed Hester welcomed girls, boys and parents before members of staff and Sixth Formers ushered the prospective pupils to their respective ‘base camp’ classrooms for the day.

Papers were sat in English, Maths and Free Writing alongside an online CEM test of verbal, non-verbal and numerical reasoning.

With regular comfort breaks (involving Princethorpe’s legendary cookies), as well as a hot meal provided in the middle of the day, the prospective pupils were well supported at every stage before being reunited with their parents at 3.45pm.

Comments, Melanie Butler, Assistant Head - Marketing, Admissions and Communications, "We played host to over 300 prospective pupils across four year groups which made it our largest ever exam session. Feedback from parents and candidates alike has been very favourable indeed, which bodes very well for next year's intake."

"The marking machine swung into action, even before candidates had left the building on Saturday and the Admissions Panel sat last week to decide on who will be joining us in September."

Over the last few days the top achieving academic scholars have been invited back to interview with the Headmaster and Assistant Head - Co-Curricular, Greg Hunter, has also been interviewing selected all-rounder scholars.

Results will be posted, first class on Thursday 30 November. The deadline for acceptances is Monday 5 March 2018.

Our thanks go to all the pupils, prefects, parents and staff who helped in the run up to the exams, on the day and, last but by no means least, those who helped mark the papers so efficiently.

Princethorpe College swimmers were making waves at the start of the month when they took part in the Midlands ISA Swimming Championships. Held at Walsall Baths on Thursday 2 November the super squad swam well across all the different disciplines. Competing against twenty schools from across the region, many of whom have their own dedicated school pool, the Girls’ team were delighted to finish in first place and win the Midlands Championships, the Boys’ team finished not far behind in a very creditable third place overall. These results mean that the College has qualified for the National Championships which will take place early next year, in January, at the prestigious London Aquatics Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The boys put in a solid performance across all the year groups with highlights that included Year 7 Harry Kelly coming 2nd in 25m Butterfly, the Year 7 boys taking 2nd in the Freestyle Relay and Year 8 Edward Sharpe coming 2nd in 25m Breaststroke. The Year 9/10 boys swam strongly to place second overall as a team, with Year 10 Toby Rigg taking 1st in 50m Freestyle in a time of 29.97 and Year 10 George Ward coming 2nd in 50m Breaststroke. The Year 9/10 boys also claimed 2nd in the Freestyle Relay and Medley Relay races.

For the girls, Year 8 Jess Mackenzie outclassed the competition winning both the Individual 25m Freestyle and 25m Butterfly races. Year 9 Lucia McCosker-New took 1st place by just 0.04 of a second in the Year 9/10 50m Freestyle and then claimed 2nd in the Year 9/10 Individual Medley. Year 10 Evie Nicholas was blisteringly fast to finish a clear three seconds ahead in the 50m Backstroke. The Year 9/10 girls also claimed 2nd overall for the Freestyle Relay and Medley Relay. For the Senior Girls Caitlin Newport was a clear 1st in the 50m Breaststroke whilst Jasmine Rigg took 2nd in the Individual Medley. The Year 11, 12 and 13 girls also finished 2nd in the Freestyle and Medley Relays. The Senior Girls and the Year 9/10 girls both won their groups overall.

Director of Sport, Neil McCollin commented, “These results are a fantastic achievement, the result of many long hours of training for our pupils with their swimming clubs. The ISA Championships are a superb opportunity for our swimmers to showcase their skills in the competitive school environment. Princethorpe is always a force in the water and I am looking forward to the National Championships early next year.”

Qualifying for the Nationals and pictured in the images are left to right:

Caitlin Newport, Jess Mackenzie, Toby Rigg

Lucia McCosker-New, Evie Nicholas

Princethorpe’s Youth Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) committee, who champion charitable efforts at the College, got the chance to meet inspiring Mary’s Meals founder, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow OBE face to face in London on Thursday 9 November. The committee of Sixth Formers, accompanied by Rod Isaacs, Assistant Head of Sixth Form, travelled to Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church in Kensington for an evening celebrating the Catholic Truth Society’s 150th year of publishing, where Mr MacFarlane-Barrow was the keynote speaker.

During the evening the committee were given the opportunity to speak to Magnus and to tell him about the fundraising undertaken by the College. They were also lucky enough to listen to his speech, where Mr MacFarlane-Barrow explained how the life-changing charity came to be founded. He explained that he never set out or planned to create a charity, but how the idea just gradually came upon him.

Mary’s Meals has a mission to provide children with a meal every day and by so doing, to benefit their education. One of the main messages in Mr MacFarlane-Barrow’s speech was that measuring success should never just be purely based on statistics, that instead it’s really about helping as many people as possible, across the globe, that are in desperate need of food, to improve their education.

In his speech Mr MacFarlane-Barrow also talked about getting younger people involved, about trying to plant a seed in the minds of young people to encourage them to help organisations, like Mary’s Meals, continue their amazing work. It was a point that particularly resonated with the SVP committee who were then really delighted and honoured to receive a special mention from Magnus for the SVP’s and College’s fundraising efforts.

Sixth Former Erin Dunn-Morgan said, “All the SVP committee agreed this was an inspiring evening that helped to solidify why we fundraise for this incredible charity. We hope to continue the good work for the rest of this academic year and on in to our future as well.”

A link to the SVP committee’s fundraising page, where you can find out more about the work of the charity, is here:

https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/

Princethorpe College pupils Toby Convey and Tom Lomas, who are both in Year 7, are in final rehearsals for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s seasonal stage show A Christmas Carol which opens on Monday 27 November in Stratford-upon-Avon.

In the production Toby plays Bob Cratchit’s oldest son Peter, along with two other minor parts, and Tom plays his brother, Joe Cratchit, and a Caroller.

There has been no ‘bah humbug’ in the run up to the opening night, as excitement has been building for both boys. Toby Convey says, “Rehearsals have been great, to start with we had to travel to London twice a week and now we are rehearsing daily in Stratford.” Tom added, “I am really enjoying it and can’t wait for the shows to start.”

The production of Charles Dickens’ festive tale of redemption, compassion and charity features a number of well-known stars including Phil Davis (Quadrophenia, Vera Drake, Poldark and Riviera) who takes the lead as Scrooge and Gerard Carey (who has just finished Half a Sixpence in the West End) who plays the boys’ father, Bob Cratchit.

The Princethorpe schoolboys have worked together before, they were last seen playing Oliver and the Artful Dodger in their junior school, Crackley Hall’s Summer Spectacular at the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington in June this year. 

Tickets for their performance are still available from https://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/

Crackley Hall School Celebrates ISI Inspection Report

Crackley Hall School in Kenilworth has received the highest possible ratings across all criteria from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) following an inspection in October 2017. The report, published today on the ISI website, consists of two elements, a focused compliance inspection, encompassing statutory standards, and an educational quality inspection evaluating pupils’ achievement, including their academic and personal development.

Headmaster, Robert Duigan, comments “We are thrilled with the report which is a real vote of confidence for everything we do at Crackley Hall. I am delighted that the hard work of pupils, teachers, support staff, parents and the wider school community has been so resoundingly acknowledged and the positive impact that a Crackley education has on our children’s lives has been recognised.”

Mr Duigan continues, “Being rated as ‘excellent’ in terms of both pupil achievement and personal development shows we are a leading prep school and demonstrates the incredible talent, commitment and professionalism of our staff and the outstanding attitude and approach of our pupils.”

During the inspection, the ISI inspectors observed that, ‘Pupils’ attitudes to learning are exceptionally positive. They are enthusiastic, curious and very supportive of each other’. The report also comments that, ‘Pupils from the Nursery onwards make excellent progress’, and ‘Pupils achieve excellent results’ in entrance exams for senior schools and ‘a high proportion gain scholarships for academic success, music, drama and sport’.

The contribution of a wide range of curricular and extra-curricular provision was also recognised with the inspectors impressed that, ‘Pupils achieve at a high level in sport, music, drama and art as a result of making the most of the very rich range of opportunities available to them.’

Pupils’ personal development was also judged as ‘excellent’ with inspectors recognising that ‘From an early age, pupils demonstrate a strong sense of right and wrong’. They judged that, ’The pupils’ social skills are exceptionally strong’, ‘behaviour in the school is exemplary’ and ‘At all levels they display genuine care and concern for each other’.

The ISI Inspectors also noted that, ‘As pupils leave the school, they are well-prepared for the next stage of their education and ready to take on their future challenges as capable, resilient and confident young people’.

Mr Duigan concludes, “At Crackley Hall we are committed to providing our pupils with an outstanding all-round education, instilling in our children life-long learning skills in addition to offering them excellent academic, sporting and creative opportunities. I am very proud that ISI Inspectors have so comprehensively recognised what we do.”

The ISI is the Government-approved body responsible for the inspection of independent schools and they consider every aspect of the provision. A copy of the full report is available from the ISI and the school websites.

Over the Michaelmas half term Princethorpe’s U15 Boys and U14 Girls hockey teams travelled to the Netherlands for the first leg of this year’s annual Hockey Tour. The exchange trip, organised by hockey coach Mr Dexter, is a regular item in the school’s calendar and over the years thousands of pupils have participated in this celebration of hockey, and enjoyed each other’s country, culture and company. 

The six-day tour had an early start on Saturday 14 October but that allowed for a stop off en route in the beautiful city of Bruges in Belgium, where pupils had the chance to explore the sights, wander along the river and of course taste the chocolate!  Then it was on to the De Hopbel Hockey Club where the tour party were greeted warmly and whisked away by their Dutch hosts to enjoy such family delights as traditional ‘sprinkle sandwiches’.

In addition to four days full of training and tour matches the pupils and their hosts managed to squeeze in plenty of fun. Highlights included, a six-man bike race around a local woodland, tasting local Dutch ‘croquet’ cuisine and a visit to explore the cobbled streets of local town Den Bosch.  

All the practice proved profitable, with the boys remaining unbeaten on tour, with results of 6-0, 7-2 and 7-0, and the girls’ team doing just as well with match results of 2-0, 0-2, 3-0 and 2-1. Princethorpe College was delighted to retain the Boys’ Cup and this time to win back the Girls’ Cup and, at the end of tour presentation, the team captains Alex Whitelaw and Anneliesa Douglas were pleased to accept them on behalf of all of the players.

Year 10, Oli Thomas said, “I will certainly remember this school trip for all the amazing memories it has given me. We all thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I would like to thank the coaches and our Dutch hosts who helped us have such a fantastic time full of wonderful experiences.”

The College looks forward to once again welcoming our Dutch friends back to Princethorpe next May for the return leg of the tour.

Our thanks go to Mr Dexter and all of the staff involved in supporting and running the trip.

Please click on the team photo and scroll to the next image to view a short video from their tour. 

To read a tour report by Oli Tomas click here.

On Tuesday 14 November Princethorpe College’s Year 10 and 11 Drama pupils were treated to a day of devising with Sean Holland from the world acclaimed touring Theatre Company, Frantic Assembly. The company’s work includes collaboration with The National Theatre's acclaimed play, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time.

Frantic Assembly are at the cutting edge of the industry, with their bewitching blend of physicality, design and sound-tracking. The workshop followed on from pupils' recent enrichment visit to see the company’s latest production (a joint venture with the Australian State Theatre) Things I Know To Be True by Andrew Bovell.

Aileen Cefaliello, Head of Drama, commented, “Sean worked the pupils hard physically and mentally. He pushed and challenged them to the very maximum, they used muscles I'm not sure they even knew existed!”

The workshop included devising techniques in creating stage imagery, stunning technical lifts and building narrative sequences.

Aileen continued, “It was heartening for the pupils to grasp that even professional theatre companies and actors venture on a journey of the unknown when devising and that the destination does not always need to be known when you are in the early stages of creating new original work. Trust, support, contact and human connection were the words of the day, there truly was nowhere to hide, I was even lifted to the heavens myself at one point!”

"It's great to work with young people that throw themselves (quite literally) into something new," Sean enthused, "each individual had a moment beyond their comfort zone and pushed through it to make some real gems of physical material. I look forward to coming back to work with the pupils again."

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 a chance to chat with David and Amy after the talk. All parents and pupils are welcome.

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

Sunday 3 December 2.00pm - 4.30pm

Meet Santa and his special guest, Thunder the reindeer at the Princethorpe Christmas Fair, Sunday 3 December 2.00pm - 4.30pm.

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. Visit our Beer and Bratwurst or Mulled Wine stalls to keep your energy levels up while you browse and there’ll be plenty of cake and hot drinks to keep you warm. Keep your eyes peeled, there may 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 incorrectly 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 of bottles, chocolate and secondhand books. They will all be gratefully received.

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

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

Wednesday 13 December 2017 at 7.30pm

At our last meeting we discussed Holding by Graham Norton.  We all agreed that this book was a pleasant surprise.  The narrative is relatively undemanding but it evokes small town Irish life very compellingly.  On one level it is a murder mystery, but it explores the lives of the characters with some sensitivity and achieves pathos at times.  We all found it a rewarding read and would recommend it to others.

Our next meeting will be in the library at 7.30pm on Wednesday 13 December.  We will be discussing The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley, a first novel which has had superbly positive reviews, “A masterful excursion in terror”.  As such, it will be something new for us. Please come along whether or not you have read this book.  We always welcome new faces and are keen to hear of others’ reading interests, and we guarantee you a warm welcome.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English 

Wednesday 21 March 2018 - 7.30pm

Sixth Form Lecture Theatre

Followed by wine and light refreshments in the Atrium

Vincent Van Gogh created dozens of memorable images of women during his brief painting career: peasant women in the fields; the prostitute with whom he lived for a while; café owners; his postman-friend’s wife rocking a cradle in Arles; the wife of a warder in the St Remy asylum where he lived for a year, and finally, Doctor Gachet’s daughter in Auvers-sur-Oise where he committed suicide in July 1890.

This slide-illustrated talk will examine these striking, colourful and unconventional images of the women he knew and it will also focus on the most important woman in his life and art… someone he met only three times. It is to this little-known woman that all who love Van Gogh are immeasurably indebted. All will be revealed!

Tickets may also be purchased at the door, (adults £5.00, children free) but advance notice helps catering, please. Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent School pupils free of charge. Please complete the booking form here. We are happy to receive provisional bookings by e-mail, please, to alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk. 

Wednesday 16 May 2018 - 7.30pm

Sixth Form Lecture Theatre

Followed by wine and light refreshments in the Atrium

From 8 March until 9 September 2018, the first solo exhibition of Picasso’s work at Tate Modern, London, will be held. Entitled The EY Exhibition Picasso 1932-Love, Fame, Tragedy, it will focus on one year in the prolific artist’s life when he was passionately absorbed in his love for Marie-Thérèse Walter, his young mistress, also an inspirational muse. Picasso created dozens of images of her blond, sensual beauty in different media during a time often called his ‘year of wonders’ when the artist was at the height of his powers.

For the first time since they were created over just five days, Nude, Green Leaves and Bust, Nude in a Black Armchair and The Mirror will be shown together with around a hundred other sensational works.

This slide-illustrated talk will examine Picasso’s relationship with Marie-Thérèse, its impact on his long-suffering wife, Olga, and its tragic outcome.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door; but advance notice helps catering, please. Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent School pupils free of charge. Please complete the booking form here. We are happy to receive provisional bookings by e-mail, please, to alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk.

Tuesday 3 July 2018 at 7.30pm in the Chapel

Followed by refreshments in the Atrium

Once again, Tim Campain, Director of Music at Warwick Road United Reformed Church, Coventry, will play a wide variety of pieces from various genres on the renowned Princethorpe Binns’ organ of 1901.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door; but advance notice helps catering, please. Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent School pupils free of charge. Please complete the booking form here. We are happy to receive provisional bookings by e-mail, please, to alexdarkes@princethorpe.co.uk

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)

We are delighted with our students' applications to university so far this year. The students have applied for a very wide range of courses and many have received some excellent offers, with more coming in every day. Some have even been lucky enough to receive unconditional offers for their chosen courses.

There is lots of useful information for students and parents on the UCAS website but this link is to specific information about how to reply to offers.

Please do get in touch with me via email if you have concerns or queries about any aspect of the university application process. I will also be available to answer individual queries at the Upper Sixth Parents' Student Finance Evening this Tuesday, 28 November.  I hope to see you there.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

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 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:

• A Career as a Doctor - Medical Insight Course
• Degree Apprenticeships at Pearson College, London
• Apply now for the Year in Industry
• Study Liberal Arts in the Netherlands
• A Star Future - What's new in International Higher Education

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Coordinator

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

Sign up for vacancy alerts at Pearson College in London who offer a range of degree apprenticeships with companies such as L’Oreal, the BBC and Unilever.  Read more here.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

The Year in Industry (YINI) are the UK’s leading student placement experts, providing high quality, paid placements for students in a gap year before or during their degree.  Click here to read more.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

Liberal Arts offer a large and up-to-date range of subjects. Why not consider studying in Holland – the hub of liberal arts education taught in English in Europe?  Read more here.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

Interested in studying abroad? If so, why not subscribe to A Star Future's newsletter which contains the latest information regarding international study?  Click here to subscribe.

This is their current top five news articles:

1. Can you study biology in English in The Netherlands? Yes, you can!
   This is the most common example of a question we could never answer. Fortunately, that is no longer the case. The University of Groningen will start a BSc in Biology from 2018. Read more.
2. French Grandes Ecoles increase their English-taught provision.  While there is still almost no provision of Bachelor’s degrees in English at French public universities, the elite Grandes Ecoles are expanding their range of suitable international degrees at an increasing rate. Read more.
3. Is Croatia the new Bulgaria? We feel that it could replace Bulgaria as one of the destinations of choice for good British students looking to study medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. Read more.
4. It is now possible to study eSports!
   Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK) has launched the first degree in eSports Business anywhere in Europe and it is taught in English. For many years, KAMK has been at the forefront of game and simulator education and application development. Read more.
5. Are British students starting to look farther afield for English-taught degrees? Clearly, English-speaking destinations such as USA and Australia have always been popular with British students. However, our research now reveals that Asian destinations could be the next major growth area for British students looking to go abroad. Read more.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

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

This year in the build up to Christmas each tutor group will receive an advent calendar designed to help us think of others and spread some Christmas cheer.

Along with a tasty treat, each pocket contains a simple "good deed" for the pupils to complete during their day.  From phoning a relative for a chat, doing the washing up or donating an unused toy to charity; they are just little things that could have a really positive impact on someone else’s day.

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.

Lockwoods Ski Shop in Leamington have kindly offered all students on the trip a 10% discount, valid until until 28 March 2018, on all products. To take advantage of this offer, please print this voucher and show it at the till.

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

We have seen a large increase in pupils not purchasing bus tickets or forgetting their passes, resulting in queues forming for signing the emergency bus sheets.  This can lead to a delay in the departure of buses in the evening.

We aim to promote independence in all our pupils and remembering to bring your pass or tickets is good preparation for the future.

Parents can help by encouraging their children to be organised and have everything needed for school, including their bus pass or tickets as appropriate.

It is cheaper to order and pay for tickets in advance as after a pupil has signed four times in a term, then the cost increases by £1 per ticket.  Tickets can be purchased from the School Shop by either cash or cheque with written permission from home.  Alternatively, the purchase can be added to the school fee account.

Eddie Tolcher
Foundation Bursar

Tuesday 18 December

Staff and pupils in the main refectory and Sixth Form dining room will be able to enjoy a festive Christmas lunch on the last day of term, Tuesday 18 December.

More information on how to purchase tickets will be available in the next Flagpole.

Maureen Kennedy
Catering Manager

On the 15 November we held our very first "Shake It Up" day where pupils had the opportunitiy to try a variety of interesting juice recipes, all freshly made. The event was a great success and the drinks will continue to be available in the Sixth Form dining room at breakfast and throughout the day.

Maureen Kennedy
Catering Manager

To view photos of this year's Prizegiving please follow the link to the Flickr Album below.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/theprincethorpefoundation/r98Cu8

With the cold weather setting in, just a reminder that school jumpers are available from the School Shop.  The school jumper for girls is red in Years 7 and 8 and green for Years 9 to 11.  The boys' school jumper is black.  Sixth Form students wear a plain dark coloured jumper.

All of the above are readily available at between £25 and £33 dependant on size.  Written permission from home is needed to add items to the school fee account.  Cash, cheque or card payments are of course welcome.

Nicola Brown
Shop Manager

Coats worn by pupils should be of a plain and dark, preferably black, material.

Coats are not permitted to be worn inside any school building and we recommend wearing a school jumper instead.

Nicola Browne
Shop Manager

Required for September 2018 a dynamic, innovative and well-qualified graduate to lead Mathematics in this flourishing school.

Candidates should have strong leadership and management skills, be visionary in their approach, have a proven track record of success in the classroom and be effective team players. An enthusiasm to become involved with the co-curricular life of the school is essential.

Single accommodation may be available. Princethorpe has its own pay scale which is above national scales.

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 11 December 2017, at 9.00am and interviews are likely to be held on Thursday 14 December at Princethorpe.

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

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 to start as soon as possible, we are recruiting a full-time 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.

The working hours are Monday to Friday 8.00am – 4.30pm, with an hour for lunch.

Early applications are highly recommended as candidates may be invited for interview prior to the closing date, which could be brought forward.

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, 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: Tuesday 5 December 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

Ideally starting in January 2018, we are recruiting Estates Assistants to work as part of the Estates team, providing support services to all of the Foundation schools - Princethorpe College, Crescent School in Rugby and Crackley Hall School in Kenilworth.

The duties will primarily involve maintenance work internally and externally, security, traffic management, porterage and some cleaning. Applicants with some carpentry, plumbing or decorating skills would be most welcome. This is a ‘hands-on’ role facilitating the proper functioning of the schools to ensure a safe and satisfactory working, learning and recreational environment.

The successful applicant will need to be able to provide a high quality service to staff, pupils and visitors and be enthusiastic as well as honest, trustworthy and reliable, able to lift and to work on his/her own as well as part of a team.

Working hours: We have a variety of part-time shifts available, from as little as two hours and up to eight hours, in the afternoons and evenings or on Saturday and Sundays.  We would be happy to consider applications for working evenings and weekends only or with other shifts on a rota basis.

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.

To discuss the post in more detail please contact Michael Small, Foundation Estates Manager - 01926 634267 or Pete Wilkes, Estates Manager – 01926 634200.

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 4 December 2017 at 9.00am and interviews are likely to be held on Thursday 7 December 2017, at Princethorpe.

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

Required for September 2018, for one year, a well-qualified graduate to teach Biology or Chemistry up to A-level in a lively, successful and growing department.  An enthusiasm to become involved with the extra-curricular life of the school is essential.  Candidates should be able to demonstrate success in the classroom and be effective team players.  The role could be offered on a full-time or significant part-time basis.

NQTs are also welcome to apply; the College has a comprehensive induction programme leading to full QTS status. Single accommodation may be available.  Princethorpe has its own pay scale which is above national scales.

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 4 December 2017, at 9.00am, although candidates are advised to apply immediately. Interviews are likely to be held on Thursday 7 December

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