Admissions Update

As the College looks forward to welcoming its new pupils to the school in September, the Admissions Team now turns its attention to entry for 2021.

Entrance Examinations, for entry to the school in September 2021, will take place on Saturday 7 November 2020 and we are already busy accepting registrations.

There are plenty of opportunities for prospective pupils and their parents to visit the College before the Entrance Exams take place; including our summer Open Evening on Wednesday 3 June, Year 5 and 6 Taster Days in April, May, June and September, and a last chance to look round before the Entrance Exams at our Open Morning on Thursday 24 September. 

Comments Melanie Butler, Assistant Head, Marketing, Admissions and Communications, "Parents and pupils will have plenty of time to prepare and opportunities to visit the College in the run up to the exams. The results will be sent out at the end of November, making for an exam-free Christmas holiday, which has got to be good news."

Following the entrance exams, offer letters will be sent out on Thursday 26 November 2020 and the acceptance deadlines will be Monday 14 December 2020 for Years 8, 9 and 10 and Thursday 4 March 2021 for Year 7. The acceptance deadline for Year 7 places is, by a nationally agreed code of practice, the same for all independent schools, allowing parents and children time to review all their options, including those from the maintained sector, before making a final decision.

If you have any questions about the admissions process please contact the Registrar, Vanessa Rooney, on 01926 634201 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

More Year 9 places are to be made available at the College for September 2020 entry, following a significant increase in demand.

Headmaster, Ed Hester comments, "Our current Year 8 has been full for some time and we have been looking at ways to accommodate a few more good children into the Year Group. Interest has grown sufficiently now to make providing more places a viable option for the start of the next academic year."

He continues, "To facilitate this we will add another teaching group into the year. This will reduce the average class sizes and give us more opportunities to fine-tune the teaching groups and setting. It also helps us to maintain a broad curriculum and provides better timetable options for all the pupils in the year group which will have further benefits as we move towards GCSEs."

A further Entrance Exams session will take place on Tuesday 31 March aimed at children currently in Year 8, who would like to join the College in September 2020. The registration deadline will be Friday 20 March.

Offers will be made on Friday 1 May, with an acceptance deadline of Friday 15 May 2020.

For more information please contact the Registrars at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk or call 01926 634201.

Princethorpe College’s plans for a new Science Centre have taken a major step forward with planning permission granted, the launch of a fundraising campaign and the unveiling of further campus wide benefits.

The state-of-the-art £8 million Science Centre, which will allow the College to redevelop and cluster several other departments, was granted planning permission in May last year.  The College has also revealed further plans for a new suite of Art studios, additional space for Maths and Technology, increased dining capacity and sporting facilities.

Comments, Foundation Headmaster, Ed Hester, “Princethorpe is situated at the heart of the UK’s automotive industry, where science and engineering meet art and design. We know that our pupils need the finest facilities to give them the best opportunities for their future and widening the scope of our Science Campaign to encompass all STEAM subjects enables us to provide these.”

The Science Centre is now entering the detailed ‘developed design’ stage with local RIBA members, AT Architects of Leamington, who designed The Limes 14-classroom wing in 2014. A cost plan will follow early in the new year, then a period of value engineering and technical design before a bill of quantities is prepared in the summer.

Mr Hester continues, “This is a large, complex and exciting project. The next six months will be critical as we prepare thoroughly for the tendering process in autumn 2020. If all goes to plan we should be appointing a main contractor this time next year, with construction starting early in 2021 and completion in summer 2022.”

A fundraising campaign has been launched to work hand in hand with the delivery of the project. The Science Plus Campaign outlines a menu of giving including engraved pavers and bricks, sponsorship of elements on a giant periodic table and personal and corporate naming opportunities.

Our Director of Development comments, “We’re determined to make sure that this project is funded and built as soon as possible. We hope that the many Friends of Princethorpe will be moved to support this project, as they have previous initiatives in the College’s history. Their support is vital in making our vision for Science Plus a reality.”

Those interested in supporting the Science Plus Campaign are invited to email makingadifference@princethorpe.co.uk or call 01926 634265 for a Science Campaign Plus brochure.

Pictured here alongside Mr Hester and Mr Lee are Head of Science, Emma Cooper, and some of the pupils who will reap the benefits of the new facilities at the College.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics.

The latest edition of the College’s magazine, The Tower Review, was published just before Christmas.

It tells the story of the school year, term by term, reflecting on the whole host of activities, achievements and successes that pupils from Year 7 through to Upper Sixth took part in.  It includes highlights such as Prize Giving and the College production as well as reviews of sporting events, House competitions and school trips. 

2018/19 was an incredible year with many wonderful and memorable moments and we hope this annual souvenir review will be treasured by pupils and parents alike.

You can view a copy, on the school website here.

If you would like to receive a copy please email marketing@princethorpe.co.uk with your name and address.

Three recent Princethorpe College Sixth Formers are thrilled to have received unconditional offers for places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Former Head Girl, Lizzie Carr, 19, will be reading English Language and Literature at Christ Church College, Oxford, she will be joined by Amy Field, 18, who has an Open Offer to read History at Oxford too, and Daisy Vucevic, 19, will read Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion at Selwyn College, Cambridge.

The high-flying girls all received outstanding A-level results last summer and on the back of that success made the decision to apply to the UK’s two most prestigious universities.

Oxbridge places are highly oversubscribed and increasingly competitive, the talented trio faced a tough selection process consisting of pre-tests, intensive scrutiny of their academic and personal achievements and rigorous interviews before receiving the good news. Throughout the process they were supported and encouraged by the Sixth Form team, Oxbridge Co-ordinator, Mrs Hester and their Princethorpe subject teachers, who provided individual guidance over the past few months.

Princethorpe College Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie, commented, “These three girls have earned this outstanding success. During their time at Princethorpe College they applied themselves not only to their academic studies, but also to developing themselves as confident and mature young people. Applying to Oxbridge is an extremely rigorous and character-testing experience that seems to get tougher every year.  We were delighted to support them with their applications and are exceptionally proud of all their achievements.”

What a kinda magic this year’s College production We Will Rock You was. Featuring a hilarious script, thrilling storyline and the Greatest Hits of Queen, the cast surpassed themselves as We Will Rock You Schools Edition blew our minds!

Set in a scarily accurate future, the production told the story of two revolutionaries as they try to save Rock in a post-apocalyptic world. It was packed full of much-loved classic Queen favourites including Another One Bites the Dust, Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, We Will Rock You, Somebody To Love, We Are The Champions, Don’t Stop Me Now to name just a few. Songs and melodies that parents and relatives grew up listening to and that are back in the limelight now following the success of the film Bohemian Rhapsody.

As always, audiences were treated to a spectacular performance full of rocking entertainment that had them all tap tapping along and whistling the hits long after they left.

They were the champions and they had a great run!

Princethorpe College was delighted to welcome back Old Princethorpian Murray Wells on Thursday 9 January to talk to Lower Sixth students and Design Technology pupils about the Bloodhound SSC (Supersonic Car) Project and plans for it to set a new world Land Speed Record.

Murray left Princethorpe in 2014 and went on to study Aerospace Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire.  He had always wanted to be an engineer, his choice of career reinforced by a video he saw explaining just how the Bloodhound was powered.  So he jumped at the chance to work on a placement with the project, amongst the UK’s best engineers, on what can only be described as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Murray explained that the Bloodhound SSC project has two objectives. To set a new Land Speed Record at or above 1,000mph, but also to address the shortage of engineers, by inspiring a whole new generation of enthusiasts.  He recounted the history of the Land Speed Record and of British involvement in it and how ex-RAF pilot Andy Green finally set the current record of 763 miles per hour in Thrust SSC in 1997.

He talked about the Bloodhound SSC Project and the design challenges it faces. How it took two years to design a new body shape, the search for the right engine, the challenges of developing fuel pumps, air brakes and even wheels. He explained that the car will weigh six tonnes, be three metres tall and larger than a bus and that the plan is to drive at 1,000 miles per hour over 12 miles of desert.  He explained about the work done to prepare the race site in Hakskeen Pan in the Mier area of the Northern Cape, South Africa and the positive impact the project has had on the local community.

Assistant Head of Sixth Form, Rod Isaacs and Head of Design and Technology, Paul Scopes both agreed that Murray’s talk was fascinating, saying, “The Bloodhound SSC is one of the most exciting engineering projects in the world, there really is nothing like UK engineering, it was incredible to hear about the project and its achievements so far.”

Our huge thanks go to Murray for taking the time to come into school to talk about the project and his involvement with it.

Princethorpe College school heat winners, Year 8, Rosie Reeve, and Year 7, Francesca Kelly, took part in the Springboard Futurechef Local Finals on Monday 13 January. The competition was hosted by Caludon Castle School in Coventry and saw ten school heat qualifiers battling for a place in the Midlands Regional Final which will take place on Monday 10 February at Coventry College.

The competitors were challenged to cook a two-course meal, a main and a dessert, for two people in 90 minutes for a budget of up to £7, under the scrutiny of two professional chefs who were the judges for the competition.

Rosie’s menu featured a main course of her own home-reared lamb in a redcurrant and red wine jus served with fondant potatoes, accompanied by a rich chocolate tartlet with vanilla cream quenelle and sesame crisp. Whilst Francesca chose a menu of salmon and dill fish cakes with pea puree followed by a dessert of shortcake stack with raspberry and vanilla cream.

Both girls were nervous but had put a lot of effort into practising to prepare for the competition. They produced beautiful dishes against strong competition from their fellow finalists including older pupils from Year 10.  As a Year 7, Francesca was by far the youngest competitor taking part.

The organisers of the competition, Springboard, provide opportunities for young people aged 12-16 to explore food and develop their culinary skills.  Each year over 8,000 young chefs take part in their national competition.

Announcing the winners, the judges commented that they were impressed with the talent shown throughout the morning. They praised the contestants for the high standard of the dishes produced and agreed that the competitors had displayed good technique and execution.

Princethorpe’s Rosie cooked up a storm and was judged the overall winner.  She will now go forward to represent Coventry and Warwickshire at the Regional Final in Coventry next month.  Rosie was delighted to be presented with a certificate and a cookbook.

Rosie said, “The standard of the other competitors was amazing. I was so pleased to be given the opportunity to take part and never expected to win”.

Princethorpe’s Food and Nutrition Teacher, Jacqui Scott, commented, “I was extremely proud of both of our Princethorpe competitors who put a lot of time and effort into menu planning and practising. The food they produced was of the highest standard and was beautifully presented. Both meals could have been served at a restaurant table. They were calm and collected throughout the tense 90 minutes and the professional chefs gave very positive feedback saying it was a very difficult decision. It was such a great experience for our pupils and I am really delighted that we won the Local Final and that one of our Year 8 pupils has taken the title for the second year running.”

14 Princethorpe runners have qualified for the National ISA Cross Country Championships after competing in the Midlands regional competition at Bedstone College, Shropshire on Wednesday 5 February. In addition the U15 Boys, U15 Girls, U13 Boys and U13 Girls teams all placed first, the icing on the cake for the College.

Princethorpe College runners have a long tradition of success at this competition, many have competed at Bedstone before, so hopes were high as they set off to do battle for a place at the National competition.

Both the U13 Girls' and Boys' teams ran well and with so many College pupils finishing in the top 20, both Princethorpe teams bagged the top spot and the team trophy for their age group. Qualifying for the Nationals for the U13 Girls were Kate Pomerleau, Ava Farren and Hannah Wildey who ran superbly to come 1st, 3rd and 5th position respectively. For the U13 Boys Ben Smith, Oscar Reynolds and Ollie Farquharson were just as determined to qualify, finishing their race in 3rd, 5th and 9th.

For the U15 Girls Grace Darcy and Jess Evans had excellent runs to finish in 3rd and 6th place. Whilst for the U15 Boys Zac Johnson, Toby Collett and Jamie Smith came home in quick succession in 5th, 6th and 7th place. They all qualified for the Nationals too.

The U18 Boys team ran swiftly with the Crowfoot twins in excellent form, Tom finished 1st and brother Will 2nd, reversing the results of last year, both qualify for the Nationals, and with a solid team performance the U18 Boys also claimed second position overall for their age group.

In the U18 Girls, Molly Minshull had an excellent race taking 3rd place in a competitive field, she qualified for the Nationals too.

Head of Outdoor Education and PE Teacher, Will Bower, said, “It was a fantastic team performance and I am delighted with the results. You never quite know what you’re going to get with cross country as conditions can be difficult, but today we had red vest after red vest crossing the line at the front of the field; our runners took on the arduous terrain and did very well.”

Our qualifying runners will now compete in the ISA National Cross-Country championships that will take place at Worksop College on Friday 20 March.

Following success in the Regional ISA Art competition the College is delighted to announce that recent Upper Sixth Leaver, Helena Lintott, has just been awarded first place in the prestigious Independent Schools’ Association’s National Art Competition.

Helena’s stunning painting ‘The Gift’ was awarded first place in the coveted Over 16 Painting category. ‘The Gift’ refers to the Three Graces who in Greek mythology are the personifications of beauty, charm, and grace; they were the daughters of Zeus and given these ‘gifts’ by him to bestow on the world. Her work is a superb, striking painting and a well-deserving winner. The piece will be instantly recognisable to anyone connected to the College as it has featured on the cover of the school’s Pinnacle magazine.  This is not the first time Helena has received recognition for her work as she also took first place two years ago in the Key Stage 4 Drawing Category.

We are also pleased to tell you that Lower Sixth Former, Sophie Cheshire’s GCSE design project, that won the Midlands Regional Key Stage 4 Textiles class received a Highly Commended in the National competition.

In the ISA Midlands Regional Art Competition the College was delighted that pupils received the following recognition:

Helena Lintott - first place in the Over 16 Painting category

Fleur Street - first place in the Over 16 Photography category

Sophie Cheshire - first place in the Key Stage 4 Textiles class and a Highly Commended in the Key Stage 4 3D category.

Damien Cowie - second place in the Key Stage 4 Drawing category

Abbie O’Carroll Bailey - second in place the Key Stage 4 Sketchbook class.

Princethorpe College Head of Art, Paul Hubball, applauded the winners, “These prizes reflect the talent we have within our school. There were plenty of excellent entries for the competition so we are very pleased to have so many winners.”

Princethorpe College's U14 Boys Football team have finished as runners up after a sensational performance at the Independent Schools Association (ISA) National Football Championships.

The six-a-side competition took place on Tuesday 28 January at Nottingham University. 20 teams had travelled from across the country to take part in the prestigious event.

The boys stormed through the group stages finishing top of their pool without conceding a single goal. Their opening match was played against Lucton School and confident play led to an easy 1-0 win. They then faced Trinity School Teignmouth, who were dispatched just as quickly 2-0. Next came Huddersfield Grammar School who put up more of a fight, the match was fast paced but Princethorpe’s boys held on for a 0-0 draw.  They finished the initial round with another good 2-0 win against Leighton Park School.

In the semi-final the team faced Red House School but Princethorpe’s boys capitalised on every opportunity.  Superb goals from Dawson Barnett (2) and Joseph Bird ensured the match finished in a fantastic 3-0 win.

In the final Princethorpe went up against a strong and experienced team from the Priory School.  It was a much tougher game, both sides played well and the U14s were unlucky to lose out just going down 0-2 at the end.

Assistant Head of Co-curricular, Neil McCollin, was delighted and commented, "The boys played fantastic football today and the silver medal is a brilliant reward for their commitment and tenacity on the pitch. I am very proud of them all, they were incredible."

Princethorpe College is delighted to announce that it has been recognised as an affiliated Arkwright School and so joins an elite group of schools, committed to inspiring future leaders in Engineering and Technical Design. 

Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are offered by The Smallpeice Trust, the UK’s leading STEM Education Charity, they are the most prestigious scholarships of their type in the UK.  Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are awarded to high-calibre Year 11 pupils through a rigorous selection process. The scholarships identify, inspire and nurture exceptional pupils in Engineering, Computing and Technical Design. 

Those lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship, receive a financial award and the support of a mentor who works with them throughout their time in Sixth Form. They are also given the opportunity to attend courses and events for Arkwright Scholars. They are then ideally positioned to pursue Engineering, Computing or Technical Design at university or through a higher-level apprenticeship and to pursue careers in the engineering field.

Head of Careers, Jacqui Quinney, comments, “Arkwright Scholarships are highly sought after as they provide exceptional support.  Pupils who successfully obtain an award have access to unparalleled opportunities. Arkwright Engineering Scholars achieve excellent academic success and are known to make enviable career progress.  Princethorpe College has identified a small number of current Year 11 pupils who we believe have the skills and attitude to be successful in the scheme and they are preparing their applications now.”

Year 7 were lucky with the weather when they enjoyed a wonderful three-day programme at Whitemoor Lakes Outdoor Residential Centre. 

135 pupils took part in an itinerary that included archery, canoeing, climbing, high ropes and problem solving.  In small groups they rotated around the different activities working together to complete the challenges they were set. In the evenings they enjoyed team games and dancing at the fabulous Saturday night disco. With no mobiles, Year 7 were off the grid and had time for plenty of old-fashioned fun.

There were lots of opportunities for pupils to develop their team working skills and the activities all helped to encourage initiative and develop resilience and social awareness. Over the weekend Year 7 all grew in confidence having approached new challenges with determination and enthusiasm and enjoyed a memorable three days.

Deputy Head – Pastoral, Beth Sharpe said, “This was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 7 pupils to bond together as a year group. They had an amazing time and were really supportive of one another as they worked together.  I know they have come back into school with new friends and better able to work together as a team.”

Well done to everyone and a big thank you to all the staff who supported the trip and took on the activities too.

Visiting Roman Centurions invaded Princethorpe College on Tuesday 8 October armed with swords and scutums (shields) and ready to do battle. It was Year 7 Roman Day, a day when every pupil in the year enjoys lessons full of tales of blood and gore, as they learn about the Roman invasion and settlement of Britain.

The Centurions’ passion and knowledge of the period was vividly dramatised as the two men, dressed in full legionnaire’s costume, brought to life the strategic tactics and organisation of the Roman fighting machine. With replica costumes and equipment based on real archaeological finds, the sessions complemented the lessons Year 7 have been studying in History this half term.

Lucky class ‘volunteers’ dressed up in full body armour and attempted to carry a soldier’s kit, as Roman Tours expert, Centurion Ocratius Maximii, captivated the new recruits with graphic stories of life in the Roman Army and fascinating facts about all things Roman. Ethan Peachey was just one of the lucky pupils who donned the Roman Tunica, Lorica (armour) and Galea (helmet) and then picked up his soldier’s kit and prepared to march. Ethan and his classmates were also treated to lessons in sword skills and battle tactics from the greatest army of the time.

Peter Bucknall, Head of History said, “The Year 7s have learnt all about the life of a Roman soldier, his training and his clothing and armour, but they have also discovered lots of interesting background information about Roman times. The Centurions’ visit has left pupils buzzing with curiosity and keen to find out more, it was a fantastic day’s learning for all who took part.”

Some 70 young singers from local primary schools enjoyed a super day of singing when they joined Princethorpe's Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, Music Teacher, Alison Wakeley, Peripatetic Music Co-ordinator, Felicity Coulson, and members of the Princethorpe College Choir for a fabulous Choral Fun Day.

The Year 5 and 6 pupils tackled a variety of choral pieces from popular favourites such as Bruno Mars' Count on Me, traditional works such as Siyahamba and Canon, to the inspirational High Hopes by Panic at the Disco.

As well as rehearsing furiously, the visiting children took part in a musical team scavenger hunt and enjoyed lunch in the Refectory.

The day culminated in an impressive gala performance of their newly learnt pieces in front of an enthusiastic capacity audience of family and friends in the College's Clarkson theatre, followed by afternoon tea for all.

Commenting on the day, Gil Cowlishaw said, "We were really impressed by the children. They achieved such a lot in just a few hours, learning so many songs and then taking to the stage to perform in front of an audience is no mean feat, a huge well done to them all!”

And a special thank you to all of the fantastic Princethorpe pupils and staff who came along to support the Choral Fun Day.

The latest editions of the Pinnacle and Minnacle magazines have just been published.  Showcasing exceptional work by pupils from across the Foundation it is certainly an inspiring read.

In the Pinnacle there is news of the College's STEAM initiative and Oxbridge success plus examples of linguistic flair, technological triumphs and exquisite English.

A double-sided Minnacle is included too, with equally impressive work by Crackley Hall pupils from Nursery to Junior 6 and Crescent pupils from Reception to Class VI. It's wonderful to showcase their talents too!!

Click here if you would like to download a copy of The Pinnacle and here if you would like to see The Minnacle.