The Flagpole

2018 has proved to be another exceptional year for the College – full of achievement, progress and success on so many levels. What better way to celebrate than at the annual Prize Giving Ceremony on Friday 16 November when Princethorpe was delighted to welcome pupils, parents, staff and Old Princethorpians to a wonderful new venue, the IXL Events Centre at Dallas Burston Polo Club.

Before the ceremony the Old Princethorpians Committee hosted a special drinks reception for the returning Upper Sixth, their parents and VIP guests, providing a welcome opportunity for the class of 2018 to get together and catch up on their news since the summer.

The evening began with a screening of the College’s new film Princethorpe College – What’s It All About, before Chair of Trustees, Mrs Liz Griffin, officially opened the proceedings, warmly welcoming parents, friends of the College and Princethorpians old and new to the special occasion.

In his formal address the Headmaster, Ed Hester, gave thanks to the Princethorpe family who make Princethorpe the special place it is - the staff, the pupils, the parents and the wider Old Princethorpian community.  He talked about the many special and amazing people who are a part of that community, reflecting especially on the support and guidance of the late Mrs Mary O’Farrell.  His warm words paid tribute to all that she had done in support of the College and he announced that a new prize would be awarded in her memory.

Mr Hester congratulated last year’s Year 11 and Upper Sixth on their exceptional examination results and reflected that the results were the best in the College’s history.

The atmosphere throughout the evening was joyful and celebratory and there were superb musical interludes from the Year 7 Chorus, College Orchestra and College Jazz Band.

At the ceremony Mr Hester presented GCSE and A-level Examination Certificates and then a myriad of well-deserved 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 stage with confidence, others more self-consciously, some made us laugh, and some brought a tear to our eye as we listened to, Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie’s citations.

The College was especially honoured to welcome on stage John O’Farrell to poignantly present the Mary O’Farrell Prize to Upper Sixth leaver, Daniel Dziurzynski.

And then it was time for the recipient of the final award, the Princethorpe Shield, the College’s oldest and most prestigious award to be revealed. The Shield is 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, as to resounding applause former Head Girl, Miriam Isaacs, was welcomed back to the stage to receive the Shield.

To close the proceedings Head Girl, Elizabeth Carr, and Head Boy, Tom Warne, gave an eloquent vote of thanks, before the evening finally came to an inspiring end with fervent 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.

Nearly fifty years on from when they boarded at the College, Professors Paul and Peter Cheung returned to Princethorpe last weekend to take 11 lucky GCSE Design Technology pupils on an amazing hands-on journey into the technological advanced world of 3D printing.

The twin brothers visited Princethorpe College, their old school, on Friday 9 to Saturday 10 November, to share their exceptional, engineering expertise.  Both are now professors at the University of Hong Kong and Imperial College London respectively and they were generously donating their time, and the printer technology, as a thank you for the opportunities, inspiration and support the College had provided them.

On the Friday afternoon Professor Peter Cheung gave a compelling presentation to pupils interested in a career in engineering.  He explained how engineers solve problems, the innovative opportunities his university students get involved in and the facilities Imperial has to offer.  He described time at University as ‘enabling’ and gave examples of where engineering careers could take you before finishing with the challenges engineers will face in the future.

On the Saturday Professor Paul Cheung hosted a full day workshop for 11 invited GCSE Design Technology pupils.  Helped by his brother Peter, cousin Patrick, and Head of Design Technology, Paul Scopes, the 11 pupils spent the day building three 3D printers completely from scratch.  After an initial briefing the pupils quickly got to work and the big build began.  Over the course of the day the new printers took shape, progress was swift, the pupils focussed and engaged and by mid-afternoon, incredibly, and thanks to a determined and tenacious effort, the first machine was already printing.   Pupils, parents and staff watched in amazement as the machine printed a perfect pair of miniature owls.

What was only recently an out of reach, expensive, industrial technique has, over the past few years, developed into accessible, new technology. Today anyone can print musical instruments, household items and, with easily available open source programmes, pretty much anything you can think of.  The new 3D printers are an amazing technological addition to Princethorpe’s Design Technology workshops that will develop new design skills and inspire the next generation of engineers.

Professor Paul Cheung was delighted with Princethorpe’s pupils’ enthusiasm, commenting, “Princethorpe’s pupils have beaten the record for the build time for the printers, beating even my university students.”  He added, “It has been really great to be back at Princethorpe College, we have been warmly welcomed and I would like to thank everyone for making our visit so enjoyable and memorable.”

Whilst visiting the school the brothers were also able to meet the former Director of Boarding, Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC.

At the end of the workshop Headmaster, Ed Hester, thanked Paul and Peter Cheung for their hugely generous donation and presented them and their cousin Patrick, who now lives locally, with a token gift, a much sought after, Old Princethorpians scarf.

A time lapse of the day can be found here.

It was all systems go on Saturday 10 November as Princethorpe welcomed over 300 children to take the Entrance Examinations for September 2019. 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 three 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 29 November. The deadline for acceptances is Monday 4 March 2019.

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’s Junior Girls Cross Country Team can congratulate themselves after qualifying for the English Schools’ Athletics Association’s National Final. The event, to be held on Saturday 24 November, at Woodbridge School in Suffolk, will see the top three schools from nine regional finals competing for the National Championship title.

Princethorpe’s Junior Girls’ eight strong cross country team includes: Grace Darcy, Amelie Edge, Jess Evans, Ava Farren, Julia Loftus, Kate Pomerleau, Olivia Sarkies and Sage Westbury.

The girls had already won the inter-district Warwickshire County Cup that took place back on Monday 8 October at Princethorpe College, before five of them travelled to Chetwynd Deer Park, near Newport in Shropshire, on Saturday 10 November, to take part in the second regional round.

The regional final saw a field of over eighty runners from fourteen qualifying schools take on a challenging 2,300m course.  The course was hilly, but running conditions were good, the mild and dry autumn a blessing for those more use to the driving rain and slippy mud.

Kate and Ava both ran well, at the finish line Kate just outsprinted her team mate to come home first for Princethorpe in 7th place, with Ava finishing just behind her in 9th. They were closely followed by Jess who made good progress round the course to finish 17th.  Sage and Amelie ran solidly, knowing that every runner’s position could count towards the final team qualification tally.  Sage finished 36th and Amelie brought the team home coming over the line in 48th place.

All the girls were surprised and excited to discover that they had come third overall and therefore earned automatic qualification for the ESAA National Championships.

Head of Outdoor Education, Will Bower, was delighted and commented, “We have a strong team of girls who support each other and never give in.  They ran well against tough competition taking on the hills tenaciously.” He added, “We have a brilliant turnout every Wednesday morning at 7.30am for our breakfast cross country club.  Week in week out, we always have 25 runners and their hard work and discipline is clearly paying dividends for us all.”

Huge thanks go to Mrs Pomerleau who kindly took the team to the regional event.

Put together 92 Sixth Formers, 16 professionals and one day, Monday 12 November, and you get a very successful Sixth Form Interview Day.

To better equip our Upper Sixth for the future, the Princethorpe’s Careers Team organised a special mock Interview Day.   Designed to perfect interview technique, sharpen communication skills, presentational qualities and the ability to respond to feedback, each of our Upper Sixth students took part in a thirty-minute mock interview.

Taking the role of interviewer were some 16 senior professionals including Chief Executives, Managing Directors, HR Directors, Sales Directors and Consultants from a variety of different business backgrounds. Some were past or present parents, many had 20-30 years of experience out in the working world, and all were happy to support our students, in this, the most critical year of their school career.

In readiness for their one-to-one interviews students had submitted their curriculum vitaes to be scrutinised beforehand. Exactly like in a real interview these documents formed the basis of questions that were discussed. Then at the end of the interview the professionals provided valuable feedback with constructive suggestions for improvement.

Before half term this year’s Upper Sixth had also benefited from an interview skills workshop and an unforgettable masterclass in ‘How not to Interview’ courtesy of Head of Sixth Form, Mr Collie and Headmaster, Mr Hester.  No one will ever quite forget the lessons to be learnt from their classic performance.

Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney, commented, “Our Upper Sixth 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 volunteer interviewers who have given up their time to take part in the day.”

If you trod the corridors of Crackley Hall on Tuesday 6 November and listened carefully at the door of any classroom you would have been treated to the sound of a Saint recounting their life's work and good deeds.  For that day was no ordinary one; as Crackley Hall RE Co-ordinator, Susanne Jackson-Mayne, and Princethorpe College's Joint Head of Drama, Aileen Cefaliello, had hatched a clever plan to inspire and delight the junior school’s pupils.

To help bring RE lessons to life six Princethorpe Year 10 Drama pupils took on a very special role, they each played a different saint and shared the story of their vocations.  Dressed in costume they visited the classrooms in turn bringing vividly to life their saint’s spiritual journeys.  Their super saintly performances were packed to the brim with detail, they handled tricky questions well, whilst sharing their knowledge and wisdom.

It was a very special morning for everyone, the children were clearly inspired by the saints walking amongst them and they all developed their knowledge of St Joseph, St Therese of Liseux, St Francis, Mother Teresa, St Peter and St Oscar Romero.

Huge thanks to the pupils for their excellent research and incredible performances: Mary Lomas as St Therese of Lisieux, Lauren Taylor as St Joseph, Greg Burford as St Oscar Romero, Fern Boston as St Peter, Carys Burchell as Mother Teresa and last but by no means least, Jenny Brown as St Francis.

Matt Dickinson, award-winning author and Mount Everest summiteer re-visited Princethorpe College on Friday 16 November. A successful writer and film maker Matt has worked for production companies including the BBC, National Geographic Television and the Discovery Channel and is one of the very few cameramen to ever film at the summit of Everest.

Matt spoke to Year 8 Geography pupils and some Y7 English classes about his experiences climbing the tallest mountains in the world and coping in extreme climates. He talked about the risks involved in mountaineering and his personal experiences of dangers such as frostbite. He shared breath-taking images and film clips of towering icebergs, fathomless ice crevices and gigantic glaciers and discussed the wider geographic impact humans are having on the world.

His anecdotes helped pupils understand the preparation and practice, the determination and resilience required to be an adventurer, but also how it is possible for anyone to get out there and get involved in the natural world. Matt has met some amazing and inspirational people on his travels and his love of adventure and extreme environments has given him plenty of story lines for his writing. He is the author of the ‘Mortal Chaos’ series, fast-paced action adventure stories for teenagers, and the crime drama series ‘The Everest Files’. He has also written ‘Death Zone’, a factual book based on his climb to the summit of Everest during a devastating killer storm.

Matt Dickinson was clearly delighted with his enthusiastic audience and said, “I have had a great day at Princethorpe College, with some superb questions from the pupils. Their knowledge of the natural world is impressive, they were able to talk about alternative energy sources and global warming and appreciate the impact of tourism on natural environments.”

On Tuesday 13 November Princethorpe College’s Year 10 and 11 Drama pupils were treated to a full day of theatre experimentation with Michelle Edwards from the world acclaimed theatre company, Frantic Assembly. The company’s work includes collaboration with both the Australian State and the National Theatre including productions such as The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time and Othello.

Frantic Assembly are at the cutting edge of the industry, with their bewitching blend of physicality, design and sound-tracking.  Their distinctive creative approach has influenced contemporary theatre-making prioritising the use of movement directors and choreographers in new dramatic works. 

Practitioner, Michelle worked the pupils physically and intensely and took them through a variety of devising techniques for creating original performances.

Aileen Cefaliello, Joint Head of Drama, commented, “The day started with the signature Frantic Assembly warm up condensed to 20 minutes rather than 90! Pupils then learned a variety of lifts before breaking into dynamic devising.”

Frantic’s approach is accessible, their techniques empower and inspire people to participate and the results make thrilling work.

Aileen continued,"‘The stakes are high!’ was the quote of the day.  You could see pupils pushing themselves in terms of choreography and muscle memory.  It was a wonderful and productive workshop for the Drama Department!”

On Friday 9 November a group of 18 Princethorpe pupils from Years 10 and 11 visited Rugby School to take part in an academic conference on the theme of Conflict and Co-operation.  They joined pupils from Rugby School, Lawrence Sheriff School, Ashlawn School and Harris Church of England Academy.

Over the course of the day pupils heard from four thought-provoking keynote speakers, including the MP for South Leicestershire, a barrister, a campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis and a journalist.  Their talks punctuated the day and in between the pupils broke out into seminar groups where they each presented a paper, they had written, on the conference topic of Conflict and Co-operation.

Religious Studies Teacher, Cyp Vella, explained, “We wanted to stretch and challenge our top performing students and allow them the freedom to look into a broad issue and explore a particular element, that was particularly interesting or important to them.”  He continued, “This was the first time Rugby School have run this conference and it proved to be a fantastic day, a really good opportunity to be immersed in an intellectually challenging environment, and where pupils could be exposed to the interests and work produced by their peers.  Everyone delivered a presentation and I was really proud of the way our students conducted themselves and the high standards of their participation.”

Abbie O'Carroll-Bailey described the day saying, “Rugby School’s conference was a brilliant day enjoyed by all. It was extremely interesting to hear everyone’s interpretations of the main topic Conflict and Co-operation. There was such a wide range of paper titles, for example some people did essays on the effect of weapons on war, whereas others did essays on how the brain copes with conflict. As well as listening to the presentations we also had multiple talks from keynote speakers. The talks varied from Julian Matthews talking about conflict and co-operation within the law, Robin Scott giving us a controversial talk on alcohol and cannabis, Alberto Costa talking to us about the conflict in his role as an MP, and finally my favourite talk, Tony Birtley speaking to us about his experience as a journalist travelling across the world and reporting on conflicts. For example, he went to Afghanistan to report on the devastation bought about by the war. These talks were extremely inspiring and sparked a lot of discussions amongst the pupils. I want to say thank you to everyone involved in this trip especially Mr Vella and Mrs Scott who gave up their time to take us. It was an extremely engaging day and a wonderful experience.” 

Police are appealing for any witnesses, anyone who followed any vehicles or local residents that may have CCTV of an incident which took place at approximately 08.40 hours on Tuesday 16 October 2018 at the junction of Leamington Road and Oxford Road, Ryton on Dunsmore. 

If you were witness to this incident please contact DS 960 Henry Scutt via 101 on extension 6107 or e-mail henry.scutt@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk

Princethorpe Cemetery war memorial is benefitting from a grant of £3,750, towards the total cost of £6,000, from the Grants for War Memorials scheme supported by the First World War Memorials Programme and Historic England.  The grant has enabled the war memorial to be deconstructed, allowing the corpus and plaque to be cleaned and preserved, providing a new oak cross and has covered the re-pointing and re-instating of the surrounding mound, which signifies Calvary.

On Sunday 11 November, following a Mass in Our Lady of the Angels' Chapel, over 100 parishioners, Princethorpe villagers and friends processed down the College drive to the cemetery. Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC conducted a re-dedication and blessing service assisted by Luke and Sean O'Kelly. The service was very moving with Fr Teddy offering prayers, Paul Waddoups, a St Anne's parishioner, reading the poem For the Fallen by Robert Laurence Binyon and everyone standing together for the national two minute silence. The playing of the Last Post echoed around the cemetery with everyone thinking of the four soldiers named on the memorial.

After the service the College hosted a gathering for all in the Sixth Form Centre including Princethorpe villagers, who had dedicated their own memorial, with light refreshments, music and readings prepared by the children from Our Lady's School, Princethorpe and villagers. It was a very fitting, memorable and uplifting event for such a special occasion.

Frances Moreton, Director, War Memorials Trust said, “War memorials are a tangible connection to our shared past creating a link between the fallen and today. It is vital we ensure all our war memorials are in the best possible condition for their age and the charity is delighted to support this project. The centenary of World War 1 is a wonderful opportunity for local communities across the country to protect and conserve their war memorials. If anyone knows of any other war memorials in need of help please contact us.”

Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC added, “As Parish Priest responsible for the cemetery and the war memorial in it, I am delighted and grateful to receive this grant from the War Memorial Trust. This makes possible the restoration of the memorial in time for a re-dedication ceremony at 10.45am on Sunday 11 November 2018. This ceremony will mirror that which was composed for the dedication of the memorial in 1922 and will serve as a reminder of the values that underpinned the erection of the memorial in the first place.”

Please visit the St Anne's, Wappenbury website click here to learn more about the restoration project.

Images are attributed to John O'Kelly, parishioner of St Anne's, Wappenbury with Our Lady of the Angels' Chapel, Princethorpe College.

Friday 23 November: 6.30pm - 10.30pm - The Merchants Inn

Join us for this evening (Friday 23 November) for the Old Crescentians inaugural pub meet at the Merchants Inn as part of Crescent School’s 70th Anniversary celebrations.

A pub famed for its collection of real-ale and love of rugby, The Merchants Inn is nestled on Little Church Street in the heart of Rugby town centre.

We will be meeting in the pub's back room and the OCs Commitee will be laying on a delicious buffet.

A great chance to get together in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere – all are welcome including partners and friends.

Friday 30 November: 7.00pm - 9.30pm 

At the end of November we will be hosting another scintillating evening showcasing the wonderful, and sometimes unusual, talents of our pupils here at Princethorpe College. Auditions have already taken place and the contestants selected from these earlier rounds will take their place centre stage in the Clarkson Theatre.

Honour and glory is at stake to win the coveted House Talent Show places which, of course, contribute to the highly competitive and desired House Trophy. Acts from all houses will be taking part so if you want an "X-Factor" night showing that "Princethorpe has got talent" get your tickets as soon as possible as seats are limited.

Tickets are on sale from LF06 (break times or Thursday lunchtime) and outside the refectory (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtime). Tickets are priced at £3.50 for adults and £2 for children.

The proceeds from ticket sales and refreshments will go towards this year's house charity, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. For more details of this wonderful charity, please visit their website: www.jdrf.org.uk

Come along and support your house and your friends on a night to remember and don’t forget, "The noblest art is that of making others happy."

Sunday 2 December at 2.00pm - 4.30pm

With only one week to go before the PTA Christmas Fayre, activity is ramping up.  We would welcome any bottle and chocolate donations for our tombola – please drop off at the Student Hub.  Hopefully you should have received two books of raffle tickets for the Christmas Draw.  The prizes are fantastic - £250.00 for 1st prize, a Fortnam & Mason Hamper for 2nd Prize, £100.00 cash for 3rd price plus many more!  Please return your completed tickets (and any unsold tickets) with payment to the Student Hub, for the attention of Anne O’Rourke, PTA Treasurer.

We have over 50 venders signed up for the Christmas Market with stalls selling a wide range of goods including; jewellery, Christmas gifts, flowers and Christmas wreaths, candles, bird houses, cushions, hand knits, rustic reindeer, vintage products,  crafts, fabric gifts, Neals Yard, nursery products, home décor, Charles Dickens Houses, Parisian Chic, knitted nativity figures plus many more.  Santa and his helpers are making an appearance so get there early.  Entry is £2 per car, refreshments are available including mulled wine and mince pies or beer and bratwurst!

And finally, we need more volunteers to help make the event a success. If you can offer even just half an hour, every little helps. Please sign up here.

The Princethorpe PTA

Wednesday 5 December 2018 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

Friday 7 December

College Feast Day is fast approaching and will take place on Friday 7 December. This is a celebration involving the whole of the College community, marking the day back in 1854 that the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart were founded and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. To celebrate, the whole school will come together in the afternoon to take part in the hotly contested House Singing Competition, as well as to hand out awards to those pupils receiving House Progress and Achievement Prizes from the last academic year.

Pupils will be asked to wear their house shirts on the day, along with their normal school trousers or skirts.  

Christmas Jumper Day and Christmas Lunch will both take place on the last day of term, Tuesday 18 December 2018.

Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

Thursday 11 December and Thursday 17 January from 9.00am - 5.00pm

For those of you who have children in Year 11 who are not currently studying at Princethorpe or who have friends with Year 11 children, our upcoming Sixth Form Taster Days for external candidates may be of interest. 

Sixth Form Taster Days are an opportunity for a small group of prospective Sixth Formers to visit the College for a selection of A-level subject taster lessons, a Q&A session with current Sixth Formers and Year 11, lunch, a tour of school and a chance to meet the Headmaster and Head of Sixth Form.

These days will run from 9.00am to 4.15pm when parents are invited back to join an informal Sixth Form information session which will finish around 5.00pm.

The Sixth Form at Princethorpe offers great choice, quality teaching in small classes, a vast array of sporting, co-curricular, leadership and service opportunities coupled with excellent pastoral care and guidance, tailored to the needs of today’s young adults. Our staff give outstanding individual support to all students and this remains an essential feature of Sixth Form life.

These events are for external candidates who are interested in attending Princethorpe College Sixth Form. Our own Year 11 pupils had Sixth Form taster experiences last summer and further opportunities will arise during the course of this year. Places are limited. To register your interest in attending one of our upcoming Sixth Form Taster Days at Princethorpe College, please click here.

For more information on Sixth Form admissions please contact the Registrars on 01926 634201 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Wednesday 12 December 2018 at 7.30pm

At our November meeting we discussed The Heart’s Internal Furies by John Boyne.  All agreed that this is a moving text which addressed the impact of both homophobic prejudice and sexual repression on the lives of individuals in Ireland from 1945 to the present day.  Despite some heavy use of coincidence we found the text convincing and engaging. 

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 12 December in the Library at 7.30pm.  We will be discussing This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay.  This is a light read which has been well reviewed as an engaging reflection of the state of the NHS from the perspective of a young doctor.  Please join us whether or not you have read this book.  We always welcome newcomers and enjoy sharing a range of reading interests.

Chris Kerrigan
Head of English

Friday 14 December at 7.00pm

Parents and friends of the College are invited to a special Carol Service in the College Chapel on Friday 14 December at 7.00pm.

The service will follow the traditional form, with the College Choir leading our singing.

There will be seasonal refreshments after the service in the Sixth Form Centre.

Due to the popularity of this event, seats need to 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 and seats are available on a first come first served basis.  Please click here to reserve places and reply by Monday 10 December 2018.

Mary Benham
Chaplaincy Co-ordinator

Parents, pupils and staff would be very welcome at the December Christmas and New Year Masses in the College Chapel and at St Anne’s Catholic Church, Wappenbury, CV33 9DW.

Details are as follows:

Monday 24 December 2018:

• Our Lady of the Angels' Chapel, Princethorpe College 5.00pm Family Mass for Christmas
• Our Lady of the Angels' Chapel, Princethorpe College 10.00pm First Mass of Christmas. 
• Please note there will be no Midnight Mass.

Tuesday 25 December 2018:

• St Anne’s, Wappenbury 9.00am Mass
• St Anne’s, Wappenbury 10.30am Mass
• Please note there will be no Mass at Our Lady of the Angels' Chapel, Princethorpe College

Sunday 30 December 2018:

• St Anne’s, Wappenbury 8.30am Mass
• St Anne’s, Wappenbury 10.15am Mass
• Please note there will be no Mass at Our Lady of the Angels' Chapel, Princethorpe College

Sunday 6 January 2019:

• St Anne’s, Wappenbury 8.30am Mass
• St Anne’s, Wappenbury 10.15am Mass
  Please note there will be no Mass at Our Lady of the Angels' Chapel, Princethorpe College

Further information about St Anne's, Wappenbury please use the link

Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC

There must have been something special in the Princethorpe waters recently as we are delighted to announce a host of new babies here and on the way. Mrs Galano, Mrs Hunton and Mrs Baxter are all imminently expecting and Mrs Munford, Mr Holtom and Mr Robertson have also recently been blessed with new babies. We wish them all every happiness with their growing families.

As maternity leaves commence, we are delighted to welcome some wonderful new colleagues to the College. Miss Anna Fennell-McLoughlin is joining the Modern Foreign Languages department in a full-time position and taking on Mrs Baxter’s tutor group. Miss Charlotte Verleure will be taking on more MFL classes and Mrs Finola Coy and Mrs Suzy Ellis will take on Year 11 German and French respectively. Mrs Hester and Mrs Gane will be looking after Mrs Galano’s and Mrs Hunton’s tutor groups.

In the Maths department, Mrs Rachael Beasley will take on Mrs Munford’s classes and Mrs Shirley Thomas and Mrs Stephanie Kent-Smith will take on Mrs Baxter’s classes.

All timetables have been updated and are available on the Pupil and Parent Portals with the exception of Mrs Baxter’s classes which will be updated this weekend.

We are delighted to have our new colleagues on board and wish them every success. I’m sure you will all make them very welcome.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic 

Pictured left to right: Mrs Shirley Thomas, Miss Anna Fennell-McLoughlin, Mrs Stephanie Kent-Smith and Mrs Rachael Beasley.

This year we have introduced two significant improvements to the assessment system at Princethorpe: a change to the November assessments and the addition of a second set of formal mocks for our Year 11 pupils.

We have moved away from a specific ‘exam week’ in November and instead each Department chooses the best time, according to their particular curriculum, to assess the pupils in class. These assessments happen within an appropriate window to inform relevant reports. We hope the change will reduce the pressure on the pupils and dissipate the stress that many used to feel in the run up to and during the exam week. It will also allow departments to craft their assessments in a way which is most helpful to the pupils in their particular subjects. Please note that the end of year Exam Week remains in the same format as previous years and will take place in the week prior to Whitsun half term break, the week commencing Monday 20 May 2019.

As many of you may know, Year 11 pupils traditionally have mock exams at the beginning of the Lent Term, usually over seven days. This year we will be refining and building on that model by giving the pupils two mock weeks – firstly in the week commencing 7 January and then again in the week commencing 25 February, over five days in each week.

This will give the pupils two opportunities to really test themselves and learn from their successes and difficulties, supported by their teachers, before sitting the real exams from 13 May onwards. It will also allow us to spread out the exams a little more within each week to ease the strain on the pupils and make the experience that much more realistic as well as give them that bit more experience of what it is like to work in proper examination conditions. We hope this will be another important step in giving our pupils the best possible support for academic success.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Progress Reports for Year 9 were published last Friday, 16 November 2018 and are available to view on the Pupil and Parent Portals.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Monday 26 November 2018 - 6.00pm to 7.30pm

We look forward to welcoming you to our Year 11 Parents' GCSE Revision Evening on Monday 26 November between 6.00pm and 7.30pm.

It will be presented by Martin Griffin who has worked with more than sixty schools to develop effective character education systems and is the co-author of The GCSE Mindset (Crown House, 2017).  

If you wish to attend, please complete the form here before 9.00am on Monday 26 November. 

Please remember that this event is for parents of Year 11 pupils only - Year 11 pupils will attend sessions in school separately.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or Mrs Fionnuala Schofield. 

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Reports for Upper Sixth will be posted out on Friday 30 November 2018. They will also be available to view on the Pupil and Parent Portals.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Progress Reports for Years 7 and 10 will be published on Friday 30 November 2018 and will be available to view on the Pupil and Parent Portals.  

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic 

Thursday 6 December 2018 - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

We will continue with the new system introduced successfully last year and offer the option of a two course supper to you and your family, at a cost of £2.00 per head and served across three sittings, 5.30pm to 6.00pm, 6.00pm to 6.30pm and 6.30pm to 7.00pm. Supper will be served in the Refectory.

We will also provide two supervised areas where pupils and their siblings can wait whilst you meet with the teaching staff. There will be a film screening in one room and for those looking for a quieter environment a second area will be provided where they can relax.

To help us with the smooth running of Parents’ Evening and so that we can cater efficiently we would be grateful if everyone who would like to book for supper could complete the RSVP form by clicking here no later than 10.00am on Monday 3 December 2018.

Here is some additional information that you may find helpful:

• Parking will be available on the school playground
• Please enter the Limes building through the main entrance only
• Please ensure you sign in and collect your name badge from the reception desk before entering the Sports Hall
• There is no appointment system. You should allow approximately five minutes per teacher – a timer will sound every five minutes to assist with keeping discussions within this timeframe – please do organise a further meeting if you feel you need a longer discussion
• Plan strategically – decide which teachers you really need or want to see and target them first. We suggest you have a list of your child’s teachers and subjects - found on the Parent Portal
• On leaving the building please sign out at the reception desk

We look forward to seeing you.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Progress Reports for Year 8 and Lower Sixth will be published on Friday 7 December 2018 and will be available to view on the Pupil and Parent Portals.  

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic 

Reporting absence via Email
Please note the new email address regarding emailing pupil absences:
attendance@princethorpe.co.uk

Requesting pupil absence
Parents are strongly discouraged from taking their children out of school. Family holidays should always be taken in the school holiday period which is published over a year in advance. Permission for leave of absence for valid reasons, such as a family funeral, should be sought in writing and in advance from the Headmaster or by using the online form found in the Parental Portal under VLE/Forms&Surveys or email attendance@princethorpe.co.uk.

We ask that, where possible, all pupil appointments (e.g. medical or dental) are made out of school hours, to avoid disruption to learning.

Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

We encourage pupils to stay after school for sports practices, co-curricular activities and supervised study but for health and safety reasons we must know who is still at school and where everyone is.

By 4.00pm all pupils still in school, but not involved in a sports activity or co-curricular club, must go to 'Extended Day’ where they are expected to complete independent work and private study.  Extended Day is not a social club.  School rules still apply and parents will be notified if pupils do not have adequate work.

Extended day ends at 6.00pm.  After 6.00pm pupils are handed into the care of our residential staff and moved to the main building.  There will be a charge for this service of £10 per half-hour or any part thereof.  This will be added to the next term's bill.  

Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

There are a number of outdoor coats in lost property at present, all unnamed.  When purchasing new outdoor coats for school please can I reiterate that they should be dark in colour, preferably black, no leather or denim and clearly labelled.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs Beth Sharpe
Deputy Head - Pastoral

Do you work for a company that offers higher and degree apprenticeships?

We are holding a Higher Education and Apprenticeship Fair on 28 March 2019 and are offering the opportunity for companies to come and take a stand in the exhibition space.

An increasing number of students are looking at Apprenticeships as an alternative to university, and we are keen to inform them about as many options as possible. This is also a fabulous opportunity for employers to meet many talented young people in one place.

If you think your company would like to be involved then please contact me at jacquiquinney@Princethorpe.co.uk

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers

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.

Many thanks to all Year 11 parents for helping your son/daughter to find a work placement. These can be done at any time after the last GCSE exams, at any point in the summer holidays to fit in with family plans. We normally expect at least one week, although historically we have had many undertake more than this, often in more than one placement. Such experience is invaluable for considering a future career path, getting used to the world of work, and for references.

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 at 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

Have you been away for your summer holidays? Maybe you have some left over foreign currency? Maybe there are a few old coins or notes lurking in the back of a drawer, a pocket or a handbag? Why not round them up and put them to good use? All donations would be gratefully received and all money raised will support the work of Youth SVP in the UK of which our Youth SVP group is a part. Click here to discover what the SVP organisation is about and how your donation can help.

The money can be current or out of date, British or foreign; anything is welcome! We already have 8kg, but we need more!!

Click here and watch the video to see how cash4coins works. This is what you can donate:

All foreign coins and banknotes
Current UK coins and banknotes
Any old British and Irish money
Even obsolete currency!
Please send in money in a strong envelope labelled ‘Rod Isaacs - Cash4Coins’.

Many thanks

Rod Isaacs
Assistant Head of Sixth Form

The William Powell Schools Clay Shooting Competition took place on Wednesday 14 November at the Oxfordshire Shooting School in Chipping Norton.  Taking part were ten schools in the Senior (U18) and Junior (U15) competitions.  Princethorpe took a team of four, Harry Bagshaw, Rupert Hatton, Ben Killian and Jonti Spilman, to compete in the U15 Junior competition.  The event was a 60 bird sporting layout so the boys each shot 60 clays shot over eight stands.

With some experienced guns in the team the Princethorpe boys shot well to finish on individual scores of Harry Bagshaw 25, Rupert Hatton 43, Ben Killian 45 and Jonti Spilman 51.  That gave them a team total of 164 and first place in the Junior competition, comfortably seeing off the runners up Bloxham School on 155 and Millfield School also on 155.

Jonti Spillman also took the Junior High Gun award for his impressive score of 51 out of 60 clays, dropping only nine shots over the eight stands. 

It was a super day of skilful shooting.  Congratulations boys on an impressive win.

Football is a growing sport at Princethorpe, with commitment strong across the year groups, so the College was delighted to hear that three Princethorpe footballers have this year been selected for representative honours and will be playing in Warwickshire and Independent Schools Football Association teams.

Year 10, George Dunkley has been invited to represent Warwickshire Schools Football Association this season in their Under 15 team.  Over the summer months George took part in three trials to earn his place in the squad.  George missed the team’s first game after breaking his thumb but was back in action on Monday 22 October when he helped Warwickshire beat Worcestershire 4-0.

Year 8's Finn Osborn, and Year's 9 Mark Dunkley, have both been selected to represent the National Independent Schools Football Association at U14 level. After playing in Regional Tournaments at Shrewsbury and Harrow Schools, they will next face Chelsea FC Academy and Brighton & Hove Albion Academy in December.

The College also has boys playing football at academy level including, Year 8 pupils, Finn Osborn (West Bromwich Albion) and Jamie Robinson (Birmingham City) and Year 10 pupil, Freddie Draper (Derby County).

PE Teacher, Ross Holtom, said, “I am delighted that the boys’ dedication and hard work is being rewarded.  It is great to see Princethorpe pupils earning this recognition.  The selection process for these teams is tough and very competitive so being chosen is an honour of which they should be rightly proud.” 

Thursday 13 December at 6.45pm

In support of the South Africa Tour fundraising effort, Mrs Harrison is organising a Christmas Wreath making evening for Thursday 13 December in the Sixth Form Centre.   

It is open to all Princethorpe parents, staff and friends.  In order to book your seat(s) please click here to complete the form and return to Mrs Harrison, or email the information to louiseharrison@princethorpe.co.uk.

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 2018 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
Assistant Head - Co-Curricular

The Bronze, Silver and Gold welcome packs have been handed out at meetings this week.  If you missed the meeting, please seek out your DofE Leader to collect your folder.

All participants are required to complete the following by Tuesday 18 December:

1. Login to eDofE website and update personal details
2. Set timescales for your award (for example at bronze physical 6, volunteering 3 and skill 3 months)
3. Complete the ‘programme planners’ for physical, volunteering and skill sections. This includes:

• selecting the activity
• inputting start dates
• setting a goal to achieve
• recording your assessor details

They must then be submitted online to your DofE Leader for approval.

I hope this information proves useful in the short term.  I will contact all participants and parents by email shortly to confirm further details.

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education, DofE Manager

Year 9 pupils now participate in outdoor education lessons as a part of the curriculum.  The lessons provide essential life skills and are especially important for pupils who are just about to embark on their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.  Over the course of the term they learn skills in route planning and navigation, core camp craft, such as erecting tents and using trangia stoves, first aid and emergency procedures.

This week pupils were busy cooking in the outdoor classroom.  Having mastered the camp stoves in a previous session the challenge this time was to successfully cook a pasta dish.  They all had great fun rustling up a hot meal, cooking the pasta with a tomato sauce, with some even preparing adventurous extras such as spicy chorizo, and they all rounded the lesson off with a mug of warming hot chocolate.

110 of the Year 9 year group have signed up to undertake the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh this year and will shortly be starting their skill, physical and volunteering sections.

Many of the 173 Princethorpe pupils who took part in the Duke of Edinburgh awards last year, Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, have now signed off all of the different elements and they will be invited to a celebration evening on Thursday 7 March where they will be presented with their award by guest speaker and adventurer, Squash Falconer.  Those still to do the paperwork are encouraged to submit it as soon as possible.

The College is ranked third in Warwickshire in terms of successful participants and was recently delighted to be awarded a certificate by Duke of Edinbugh Central Office in recognition of the huge number of volunteer hours (over 2,500) that Princethorpe pupils completed under the Duke of Edinburgh scheme last year. 

Will Bower, Head of Outdoor Education, commented, “Good luck to this year’s participants at the start of their Duke of Edinburgh adventure.  It is challenging and often hard work but will provide unforgettable memories and a unique opportunity for learning outside of the classroom.” 

I am delighted to announce that the DofE Certificate Presentation Evening will take place on Thursday 7 March 2019 from 6.30pm-8.30pm.  Our guest speaker will be adventurer Squash Falconer. 

Invitations will be sent out in the New Year to all who have completed everything on the eDofE website.  Those who attended the cycling and rock climbing trips in the summer will also be invited.

A number of those who took part in the scheme last year have yet to complete their award.  Please follow the instructions provided in this guide to complete your sections and guarantee your invite to this exciting event.

Will Bower
Head of Outdoor Education, DofE Manager

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 Monday 26 November.

An Evolve email has now been sent regarding the second practice ski trip to the Ackers. If you would like your son or daughter to attend this trip please give consent by 26 November.

A reminder too that Snowunion will also need your tour hoody size. Please order on the Snowunion website, see the attached flyer here for more information and how to order.

Lockwoods Ski Shop in Leamington have kindly offered all students on the trip a 10% discount, valid until until 28 March 2019, 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 Wednesday 6 March 2019 at 6.00pm-7.00pm in the Theatre.

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

Kind Regards

Catherine Warne

Reporting to the Foundation Estates Manager, we are seeking to appoint an Electrician to maintain and service all electrical engineering plant and equipment at Princethorpe College, Crackley Hall and Crescent School sites. They will carry out technical duties in the College Theatre and assist in the supervision of electrical contractors. A flexible and pro-active attitude to duties and additional working hours will be required.

The successful candidate should have an appreciation of the priorities of a school environment and have the ability to appropriately interact with pupils of all ages, especially when providing technical support in the Theatre.

This role is working 40 hours a week, on a 7 days’ contract. The working pattern will include evenings and occasional weekends on a flexible basis, according to the needs of the school, with core hours Monday to Friday.

The salary for this role is £25,000 to £32,000 (full-time equivalent) – depending on experience.

This is an excellent opportunity to join the fast growing Foundation that values their 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 suitability for the role.  Applicants must ensure the application form is fully completed, including a detailed career history with specific dates.

Closing date: Monday 26 November 2018 at 9.00am, and interviews are likely to be held on Friday 30 November 2018.

Further details are available from the College website www.princethorpe.co.uk/employment opportunities

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 dependent 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

As the days get shorter parents are asked to consider the safety of their children as they travel to and from school. 

The College has updated its risk assessment on the bus service to and from school which you will find here.  It now includes a section on safety to and from the bus stop.  Parents are asked to review this document and to discuss with their children, how to keep safe.

Eddie Tolcher
The Foundation Bursar

Thanks to everyone who has completed an online survey about the College bus services, if you haven't done so already there's still time to give us your views. 

Comments, Eddie Tolcher, Foundation Bursar, "We are interested in hearing from both regular and occasional bus users and non-bus users. Your feedback will help us shape and improve the service for September 2019 and possibly before, so we would encourage all parents to take part."

The two surveys can be accessed below:

Bus Users

Non Bus Users

Please complete the relevant survey by Friday 23 November.

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 issue of the Flagpole.

Maureen Kennedy
Catering Manager

Our catering team are proud to introduce their new menus this term, with a range of healthy meal options served in both the main dining room and Sixth Form on a three-week rotation. Each term the menus will be reviewed and updated. To see the Michaelmas Term menus, just use the link below:

Michaelmas Term Menu

If you have any questions regarding the selection of food we have on offer here at Princethorpe College, especially if related to any allergies or specific food requirements, please feel free to email maureenkennedy@princethorpe.co.uk as we aim to cater for all needs.

Maureen Kennedy
Catering Manager