Admissions Update

With just eight weeks to go the countdown to the College's Entrance Exams for admission in September 2018 has begun. This year the exams for Year 7 to 10 entry will take place on Saturday 11 November from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Our friendly Admissions Team has been kept busy over the summer accepting registrations from prospective parents. The deadline for registrations is ideally Friday 6 October, to enable the seeking of references from junior schools.

There are plenty of opportunities for prospective pupils and their parents to visit the College before the Entrance Exams, including our Open Afternoon on Sunday 24 September from 2.00pm to 5.00pm and Open Morning on Thursday 2 November from 10.30am to 12.30pm, when pupil tour guides will be available to show visitors around the school.  All our Year 6 Taster Days are now fully booked, but places are still available for a Year 7 and 8 Taster Day on Monday 2 October.

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

If you have any queries relating to admissions please feel free to email the Registrars at admissions@princethorpe.co.uk or call them on 01926 634201.

Princethorpe College is delighted and proud that its Head Girl and Upper Sixth Form student, Miriam Isaacs, has won the national finals of the Catenian Public Speaking Competition for Young People from Catholic schools.

The competition took place last weekend, Sunday 10 September, at the Manchester Conference Centre, and Miriam was one of 16 regional winners who travelled from all over the country to take part in this prestigious event.

Her win is an amazing achievement, standards were high and she was up against tough competition, but the judges stressed that it was a unanimous decision.  Miriam gave a four-minute presentation on the topic of ‘Should the law should always be obeyed?’ – or as per Miriam’s speech, perhaps not always obeyed!

Chris Kerrigan, Head of English, who has been working with Miriam developing her public speaking skills, said, “I knew Miriam had acquitted herself well, but when you've heard the speech so often, it is difficult to gauge the impact on fresh listeners so we were delighted when they announced the result.  It was well received by the audience too as so many people came up to congratulate her afterwards.  All the competitors gave incredible performances so Miriam’s victory is something that we are really proud of.”

17-year-old Miriam, who is studying A-levels in History, French and English Literature and Language commented, “I felt very privileged to be able to take part in this competition at a national level and talking about the law and justice reminded me how lucky we are to be able to speak our mind in public. And of course, winning was the icing on the cake!”

Competitors were marked by the judges, Wendy Sutcliffe, Lord Alton of Liverpool and the Bishop of Salford, Reverend John Arnold, on a variety of criteria from content, delivery, elocution and appearance. Points were deducted for excessive use of notes and over or under running.

Ed Hester, Headmaster, said, “This is absolutely super news, the College has won the regional rounds before, but this is the first time we have had a national winner.  It is fantastic that Princethorpe students have the opportunity and confidence to take part in such a prestigious competition as public speaking is such a useful skill for later life.”

The Catenian Association is an international body of Catholic laymen who meet monthly in local units called Circles.  Their Public Speaking Competition is run annually and is open to all catholic schools.

Princethorpe College is celebrating another year of excellent exam results.

This summer 25% of all A-level grades were A* or A and 80% of grades were C or better; at GCSE over 25% of pupils received at least seven A* or A grades and an impressive two thirds of all grades were the coveted A*, A or B.

Ed Hester, Headmaster, said, “Our students have worked so hard and we are incredibly proud of their achievements.”

A-level summary:

• 92 candidates
• 25% A* & A
• 80% grade C or better
• 100% pass rate

Amongst the high fliers were Head Girl Alana Eckland who achieved all A*s and As and will be studying medicine at university and Head Boy Lloyd Ellis who is going abroad to study History at Utrecht University. Charlotte Morton, Alistair Robinson, Nick Bonsall, Josh Horswill, Marcio Zheng, James Ireland and Jack Dennis also achieved all A* and A  A–level grades.

At GCSE there were many distinguished performances, the best individual results being from Mollie Dibb, Amy Field and Tom Warne who achieved 26 A*s and 8 A grades between them, a further 18 pupils achieved 9 or more A* or A grades.  

Princethorpe pupils performed well in all the core GCSE subjects but the College is particularly delighted with its best ever English results with 55% of pupils achieving A* or A grades.  Results were also strong in the creative subjects with 83% of Art entries graded A* or A.

GCSE summary:  

• 131 candidates
• two thirds of all grades A* to B
• over 25% achieved at least seven A* or A grades
• 55% of pupils achieved A* or A grades for English

Headmaster, Ed Hester, continued, “All credit goes to our pupils and staff for their commitment and hard work.  The College goes from strength to strength and our 2017 A-level and GCSE results are very strong indicators that the school’s academic achievements across the ability range continue to go from strength to strength.

Our Year 7 Princethorpe Pioneers returned happy, exhausted and just a little muddy from their residential trip to the Pioneer Centre at Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire back in May. They had all grown in confidence having approached new challenges with determination and enthusiasm and enjoyed a memorable three days of organised activities.

We took 100 pupils for a three-day programme that included caving, climbing, abseil and zip wire, the big bounce, raft building and initiative games. The group also got to participate in a challenging tropical reptile experience and enjoy a fabulous Saturday night disco.

They tested their nerves as they climbed the big wall, swooped down the zip wire and explored the depths of the caving systems with only a little light on their helmets to see by.

They developed leadership and team building skills as they built a raft to sail on the pond, and despite the mud all jumped in for a splash around in the cold. And the very brave overcame their fears as they got ‘hands on’ with snakes and lizards in a tropical animal session.

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. They showed resilience and initiative and I know they have come back into school with new friends and better able to work together as a team.”

The Pioneer Centre is a superb purpose built activity holiday centre situated in stunning countryside on the edge of the Wyre Forest. Our pupils were a credit to themselves and to the school, the Pioneer staff commented on how well behaved they had been.

Ruby from ACW said, “I had a fabulous time, I loved the raft building and jumping backwards into the water.” Will, also from ACW, added, “It was a great trip, it developed your skills and experience.”

Robbie from FGC said, “Caving was really fun, I had never done it before.” And Neve, also from FGC, said, “I loved the disco, it was loud and great to spend time with everyone outside your dorm.”

Well done Year 7 Pioneers and a big thank you to all of the staff who supported the weekend it was a remarkable, although slightly muddy, residential!

Issue 22 of The Pinnacle, our school magazine that celebrates exceptional work from across the Foundation, has just been published. Full to bursting with fabulous examples of pupils who are determined to go that extra mile in their everyday school life.

Editor and da Vinci Programme Co-ordinator, Helen Pascoe-Williams says, “There are pages and pages of excellent work in this issue from across our expanding Foundation. It’s always a pleasure and a privilege to bring everything together in one place.”

Look out for Year 9 Geography Projects China in a Box, Year 8 History Spanish Armada Newspaper Reports and Slave Trade Presentations, details of Princethorpe’s production of Bugsy Malone, creative Old and New DT projects, the latest from our Elite Sports Programme, Seeing in Colour Science observations, a double page spread on Foundation pupils’ first Cross School Space Mission and much, much more.

The Pinnacle includes a double-sized Minnacle showcasing the impressive work produced by pupils at the Foundation Junior Schools’ Crackley Hall and Crescent.

You can view the latest edition here The Pinnacle and The Minnacle.

Over the summer of 2017 the College enjoyed a very successful 15 day sports tour to South Africa. Taking our largest squad ever, of some 88 pupils and 11 staff, and for the first time playing three sports, Rugby, Netball and Hockey, the tour travelled to Johannesburg and then on to Cape Town for a fortnight full of keenly contested matches and spectacular sight-seeing.

During the tour the rugby, netball and boys and girls’ hockey teams participated in six full days of good spirited and competitive training and matches against school and club teams.  Our South African hosts were so hospitable and the training and matches were great experiences for all, with valuable lessons learnt both on and off the field.

Away from the sports field, the tour offered participants the chance to broaden their horizons with sightseeing and educational experiences that included the history of South Africa with tours of Soweto and the Apartheid Museum and a visit to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. Pupils also had the opportunity to experience South Africa’s vibrant culture at Lesedi village and get up close and personal with the wildlife in game drives at Pilanesberg Game Reserve.  The tour party also enjoyed the spectacular scenery of Table Mountain in Cape Town and the most southern tip of Africa at Cape Point.

Peter Bucknall, Head of Rugby and leader of the tour, said, “South Africa is a truly stunning country, passionate and fiercely competitive in their sport. We have had an excellent trip and played some inspiring matches and I know that our Princethorpe pupils will have returned home with a truly wonderful set of memories.”

Our thanks go to all of the staff involved in putting together and running such an impressive trip.  We look forward to the experiences translating into positive results on the rugby, netball and hockey pitches over the coming season.

Princethorpe College pupils have excelled in this year’s United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Junior Challenge. This national competition recognises the best young mathematicians in the country. It is aimed at the top third of pupils in Year 8 or below and requires pupils to use all-round mathematical knowledge; pupils have to answer 25 multiple choice questions in one hour. The papers are marked by UKMT and the top scorers are awarded gold, silver or bronze certificates.

This is a difficult test designed to stretch and challenge pupils’ abilities so we are really delighted that 44 amazing Princethorpe mathematicians have been awarded 6 Gold, 14 Silver and 24 Bronze certificates.

Over 300,000 pupils from across the UK sit the Junior Maths Challenge and the College is incredibly proud that ‘Best in School’ Year 8 pupil Ben Shipton was placed in the top 1% in the country and qualified for the Junior Kangaroo, an invitation only event for the very best mathematicians.

Our successful gold certificate winners are:

In Year 8: Ben Shipton, Ciaran Smith, Mary Lomas and Jack Rochford.

In Year 7: Daniel Webb and Helaina Holt

Pictured here are Year 8 Ben Shipton, Best in School and Year, and Year 7 Daniel Webb, Best in Year.

Congratulations to all of our pupils who took part.

This year’s Art, Photography and Design Summer Exhibition opened on Thursday 22 June with a special evening reception for the artists and their families, friends and guests. The displays remained on show until Sunday 25 June allowing visitors to the College’s Summer Fête to also enjoy the superb standard of work this year’s GCSE and A-level pupils have produced.

Those who know the College will be familiar with its formidable reputation for quality art and design work. The walls of the College are adorned with exceptional examples and the work at this year’s show was always going to delight. It included a bonus, an added extra this Golden Jubilee year, a special display of work by Old Princethorpians, allowing visitors to enjoy the work of College artists both past and present.

The Sixth Form Centre and Lecture Theatre was transformed into an eclectic exhibition space, the light and airy atrium helping to showcase the work at its best. Visitors were audibly impressed with what they saw, stopping to stare in wonder, exclaiming over the ingenuity and talent and enjoying the fine collection of work.

In the main hall fascinating portraiture sat alongside superb studies, imaginative illustrations and phenomenal photography. In the Design and Technology studio, intricately stitched dresses and swooping skirts showcased this year’s Textiles pieces, whilst fine furniture fit to grace any home was on offer from our Resistant Materials pupils.

Our congratulations go to all our GCSE and A-level pupils for producing such a worthy display. Thanks go to the Art Department and the Design and Technology Department for all their support and inspiration to pupils this and every year and for putting together such an outstanding show. Finally thanks also go to all the Old Princethorpians who submitted work for the Golden Jubilee display, it was a real bonus to be able to see and share some of your recent work.

In the making for a little over two years, the final instalment of Princethorpe College’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, the much anticipated Golden Jubilee Ball, took place on Saturday 1 July.

Over 400 guests joined together to mark the College’s first 50 years at a black tie event which saw the whole of the Princethorpe community represented. The College’s trustees, current and former parents, staff and pupils from across the decades were all in attendance. Special mention was made of a VSOP (Very Special Old Princethorpian) Mary Wheildon, an old girl of St Mary’s Priory, the school on the site before Princethorpe was founded, and Andrew Chan who left the College in the 1980s, and had travelled all the way from Canada to join in the festivities. The College also welcomed back OPs Tom Pilling, who was videoing the night, and Nick Bond who entertained guests with his wonderful piano playing during the welcome drinks reception.

The school’s North Lawn was transformed for the occasion into a sumptuous marquee village by Pukkah Tents. Guests were treated to views of the rolling Warwickshire countryside and the College’s recently-restored lake and woodland, Switzerland. Three courses of fine-dining and drinks were provided by local caterers, the Chopping Block. The celebrations continued into the early hours with live music from local band Astella.

Headmaster Ed Hester commented, “The Jubilee Ball was a truly magical evening and epitomised Princethorpe’s ‘spirit of family’. It was fantastic to be joined by members of the Princethorpe community from across the generations who travelled from far and wide to celebrate the occasion together.”

He continued, “My thanks go to all who made the evening such a success and I’m delighted that we have marked this milestone in Princethorpe’s rich history in such a memorable way.”

The College’s annual Summer Fete and Motoring Festival is always a delightful afternoon with plenty for families to see and do. So much hard work goes into organising the event and the College is hugely grateful to our dedicated PTA who do such an excellent job every year.

Sunday 25 June was no exception. The Orchard was transformed thanks to plenty of enthusiasm, gazebos and bunting and the British weather blessed us with dry, cloudy but warm weather, allowing organisers and visitors to relax and enjoy themselves and their ice creams.

At the bottom of the Orchard there was line upon line of classic and unusual cars on show. Polished to perfection by loving owners, proud to show off their much loved vehicles, Hillman Imps sat alongside Morris Minors, Maseratis and TVRs and visitors wandered slowly in between, stopping to ask questions and admire their favourites.

An array of over 30 stalls offered all sorts of entertainment, goods and services, including homemade food, arts and crafts, gifts ideas including designer dog wear, fundraising activities, tombolas and much, much more.

Around the perimeter there was a whole lot of fun to be had in the shape of inflatables, bouncy castles, sumo wrestling and wipeout. And for those wanting to have a go at archery, Mr Dexter and his Year 7s were on hand to give advice and coaching.

A monumental number of burgers and sausages were barbequed and jugs full of Pimms poured. And the highlight of the event for many was the chance to taste the limited edition range of cheeses Old Princethorpian Melvin Glynn had brought along for the day, including Princethorpe Blue, and special cheddars for Crackley Hall and Crescent accompanied by Little Crackers cheese biscuits.

The Fete was a wonderful entertaining family event, a great British way to spend a Sunday afternoon and best of all, on the day, it also raised an outstanding £3,952, money that will be spent improving the learning of every pupil in the school. What can we say except thank you to all the organisers and visitors alike!

Congratulations to the 161 Princethorpe pupils who have completed their Duke of Edinburgh Qualifying Expeditions in the last two weeks. An outstanding effort and an amazing achievement!

Unaccompanied and self-sufficient they have trekked and camped their way across Snowdonia (14 pupils for Gold), the Dark Peak (38 pupils for Silver) and the Cotswolds (109 for Bronze), working together in teams to achieve their expedition objectives.

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards are recognised as the world’s leading youth achievement award. They provide young people with the opportunity to get involved, explore new interests, discover talents and make new friends.

Will Bower, Head of Outdoor Education, said, “This year record numbers of Princethorpe pupils have embraced the challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. We are particularly pleased that pretty much equal numbers of girls and boys took part. They have all taken the opportunity to develop skills and try new experiences, pushing themselves both mentally and physically to be the best they can be. We are delighted with their commitment and enthusiasm, and very proud that so many have completed their expeditions. I was especially pleased that the assessors commented specifically on how well our pupils worked together and on how well they behaved.”

Mr Bower is planning a big celebration evening early next year when pupils who have completed all of the sections of their Award will be presented with their certificates (so make sure you get all of your paperwork submitted by October). The Gold Award winners (pictured above) will also receive an invitation to visit St James Palace, in London, for an official presentation.

It was so close there was a recount and every result, every event, every single participation point really mattered. Friday 16 June was the College’s annual Sports Day - a fantastic afternoon of friendly, but fiercely competitive sport. In the end it was Benet that just snatched victory, followed very closely by More, then Austin and Fisher.

This year the weather was kind and the sun shone brightly as tutor groups gathered on the main field, banners at the ready, war paint on, friendships put to one side. In the heat of the afternoon our Sixth Form Youth SVP Group and Charity Prefects helped to keep pupils cool selling close to 700 ice popsicles in aid of Mary’s Meals.

Foundation Director of Sport, Neil McCollin, said, “This was one of the best Sports Days ever, we had some excellent performances and there was an amazing atmosphere. Pupils were very supportive of each other, appreciating every individual effort and there was very little in it at the end.”

With just a point between first and second place every single performance truly did matter whether sprint, middle distance or field but some notable ones worthy of mention include:

Year 7

Toby Collett - 1500m, Millie Giffin - Shot, Jess Mackenzie - 200m, Evie Phillips - 800m, Ed Sharpe - Hurdles and Lara Tripp-Smith - Javelin and Hurdles.

Year 8

Charlotte Brotherton - High Jump, Charlie Bracken - Shot, Remo Volpe - High Jump, Molly Minshull - Hurdles and Ben Shipton - Javelin.

Year 9

Charlie Marshall - High Jump, Boldi Kordas - 200m, Ellis Chaplow - 800m and Emelia Tubb - Long Jump.

Year 10

Harry Smith - Shot and 100m, Juliette Carter - 200m, Callum Cooke - Discus, Tom Parker - Discus, Aaron Pressley - 100m and Sam Whittaker - 400m.

Monday 2 October 2017 - 9.30am to 3.00pm

For current Year 7 and 8 pupils (children born between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2006 and 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2005 respectively), who are interested in admission to the College in September 2018, a Taster Day will be available on Monday 2 October.

The Year 6 Taster Days in September and October are now fully booked. 

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To book your child's place please click here to complete a booking form.

Year 5 Taster Days will be available in the Trinity Term, if you would like to register your interest in these, please contact Helen Morgan on 01926 634262 or email helenmorgan@princethorpe.co.uk

Thursday 5 October - 10.00am to 3.00pm

Crackley Hall, the Foundation's junior school and nursery in Kenilworth, is opening its doors for an Open Day on Thursday 5 October from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school and to meet staff and pupils on a normal working day. All are welcome, no need to book.

Crackley will also be holding a Nursery and Reception Open Evening on Wednesday 22 November between 7.00pm and 8.00pm, which will give parents an insight into the Early Years at Crackley Hall and Little Crackers.  Mrs Susan Glen-Roots, our new Assistant Head for Early Years, will be on hand, as well as the rest of the Reception and Little Crackers Team.

If you can't make these open events but would like to look around the school, please call our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Angela Barnard on 01926 514410 and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit http://www.crackleyhall.co.uk/

Friday 6 October - 10.00am to 3.00pm

The Crescent School, the Foundation's junior school for 4 to 11 year olds in Bilton, Rugby, is opening its doors for an Open Day on Friday 6 October from 10.00am - 3.00pm.

This is an opportunity to look around the school on a normal working day, to meet the school's new Headmaster, Joe Thackway and see the improvements that have been made to the facilities over the summer. All are welcome, no need to book.

The Crescent is also holding a Reception Open Evening on Tuesday 21 November between 7.00pm and 8.00pm, which will give parents an insight into the Early Years at Crescent and the firm foundation the school gives children for their future learning. Nature Trails, the on-site partner nursery, which has been rated ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED, will also be open on the evening should parents wish to visit.

If you can't make the open events but would like to visit the school, please call the Registrar, Mrs Helen Morley on 01788 523851 and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit http://www.crescentschool.co.uk/

Wednesday 11 October 2017- 6.30pm to 9.00pm

Year 11 pupils (Princethorpe and external) and their parents are warmly invited to the Sixth Form Open Evening on Wednesday 11 October from 6.30pm - 9.00pm. 

The evening will focus on the key events and dates in the Sixth Form application process, specific A-level subject information and advice provided by the Heads of Departments and more general information on the Sixth Form experience at Princethorpe.

The evening will include brief talks from Ed Hester, Headmaster, our Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie, and current members of the Sixth Form. These sessions will run twice during the evening in the Theatre at 7.00pm and 8.00pm. In addition, there will be short presentations in each of the departments and the chance to talk to staff and current Sixth Formers throughout the evening.

Please do spread the word amongst friends and family, all are very welcome.

For further information please visit www.princethorpe.co.uk

There are plenty of opportunities for prospective pupils and their parents to visit the College.

Sunday 24 September 2017 - 2.00pm - 5.00pm

The annual College Open Afternoon takes place on Sunday 24 September from 2.00pm - 5.00pm. This is an informal opportunity to look around the school and to meet members of staff and pupils. There will be fun activities in each department for children to participate in.

The Headmaster will address visitors during the afternoon and refreshments will be available. 

Thursday 2 November 2017 - 10.30am - 12.30pm

The College is holding an Open Morning on Thursday 2 November from 10.30am to 12.30pm.  Pupil tour guides will be available to show visitors around the school. 

Please do spread the word amongst friends and family, all are very welcome.

Tuesday 12 December 2017 or Tuesday 16 January 2018 - 9.15am to 4.15pm

The College is offering specific Sixth Form Taster Days on Tuesday 12 December or Tuesday 16 January to external Year 11 pupils who might be interested in joining us for Sixth Form in September 2018.

The days will run from 9.15am to 4.15pm. The dress code will be smart casual.

Prospective Sixth Formers will get the chance to attend four lessons over the course of the day (sitting in on current Lower Sixth lessons), plus have time for an informal Question and Answer session with current students, a tour of the College, a short interview with Ben Collie, our Head of Sixth Form, along with time in the Sixth Form Centre for lunch and breaks. 

There will be approximately 12-16 prospective Sixth Formers from a range of schools attending the day and they will be placed in a group with 3 to 4 other current Year 11s.

If you would be interested in joining us for one of these days, please email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Sunday 3 December 2017 2.00pm-4.30pm

The Princethorpe College annual Christmas Fayre takes place on Sunday 3 December 2.00pm – 4.30pm. It is a great opportunity to come and experience the magic of Princethorpe as well as stocking up on the perfect gift for that special someone.

Organised by the College's fantastic Parent Teacher Association the Fayre offers Christmas carols, mulled wine and a dazzling array of Christmas craft stalls.  Whether visiting Santa, touring the tower or simply stocking up on that all important reindeer food, the Fayre has something for all of the family.

All are most welcome!

Entrance Examinations for Year 7 to 10 entry in September 2018 will take place on Saturday 11 November 2017 from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

For more information on Entrance Examinations click here.

Those wishing to register for Entrance Examinations should do so at least a week beforehand to facilitate the gathering of references from primary schools, but ideally by Friday 6 October.

Registrations forms are available in our prospectus packs or you can download a registration form here.

Children who want to come to Princethorpe, the Foundation's senior school, now sit an entrance examination in the November prior to the year of entry, mainly at 11 and 13, and at other ages as space allows. A significant number also join us for Sixth Form at age 16.

We welcome children of all faiths and backgrounds, from our junior schools, Crackley Hall and Crescent School, and many other maintained and independent primary schools from around a radius of about thirty miles.

Competition for places is high, as are standards, but the school also looks for young people who will contribute to the wider life of the school.

Our Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney and her assistants, Miss Helen Morgan and Mrs Catherine Rogers, will be pleased to talk you through the admissions process; contact them on 01926 634201/634262.

Entrance Examinations Day

Entrance Examinations for all age groups (except Sixth Form) will take place on Saturday 11 November 2017 from 9.30am to 3.30pm.  

All candidates must be registered at least a week before sitting the Entrance Examination, but ideally by Friday 6 October 2017, to facilitate the gathering of references from primary schools.

Click here to download a Registration Form and Art and Music Scholarship Forms.

Following receipt of the registration form any candidate with a learning need will have an assessment with a Special Educational Needs professional.

On The Day

Candidates are requested to report to the college for 9.30am and entry to the building will be from no earlier than 9.00am. Candidates should wear their current school uniform and should bring a pen, two pencils, eraser and ruler. Candidates for Years 9 and 10 (13+ and 14+) should bring a calculator and protractor.

Candidates for Years 7 and 8 take three tests, English, Mathematics and a CEM online test covering Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning. There is also a piece of free writing required.

Candidates for Years 9 and 10 also sit a Language Paper, for Year 9 French and for Year 10 their choice of French, German or Spanish.

The papers/assessment vary in length from 45 minutes to 1 hour. A copy of a past English paper is included in the prospectus pack or can be downloaded below.

English Test Paper for incoming Year 7 and 8.

English Test Paper for incoming Year 9 and 10.

For more information on the online assessment please visit the CEM website at https://www.intuproject.org/CEMSelect/CSFamiliarisation.swf

(note - this link should be viewed in Internet Explorer if possible as there are sometimes problems viewing it in Google Chrome or on Apple Devices)

The following practice papers may prove helpful:

• Bond How to do 11+ Verbal Reasoning published by Nelson Thornes (ISBN 9 7801920742292 )

• Bond How to do 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning published by Nelson Thornes (ISBN 9 780192 742285)

• Bond How to do 11+ Maths published by Nelson Thornes (ISBN 9 780192 742278)

These are available from Waterstones, 1 Priorsgate, Warwick Street, Leamington Spa CV32 4QG, Tel 01926 883804.

For more information visit the Entrance Examinations Day section on our website.

Please contact the Registrars if you have any queries or concerns.

After the Entrance Examinations are marked, the Admissions Panel sits to discuss applications. The Panel will take into consideration the Entrance Examinations results, references from feeder schools and, for those with learning support needs, the assessment by the Special Educational Needs professional, prior to the Entrance Examinations.

Those entering Years 8, 9 and 10 will also have their personal interviews considered.

Offers Made

Exam results will be posted, first class, on Thursday 30 November 2017. No information will be available before hand.

For those offered a place confirmation of acceptance with £300 deposit is then required to secure the place by Monday 5 March 2018. This deposit is refunded after the end of the final term which the pupil spends at Princethorpe.

Once you have confirmed your acceptance of a place and sent your £300 deposit you will receive an acknowledgement and a reciept.  A Joining Pack will then be sent to you during the Easter holidays. These include details of Term Dates, Induction Afternoon, the School Day, Medical Questionnaire, Uniform, Buses, Catering, Locker Keys, Stationery, Parents’ Evenings and the Parent Teacher Association.

For those who like to plan ahead the Foundation Term Dates for 2018-2019 are:

Michaelmas Term 2018

Monday 3 September to Tuesday 18 December

Half Term

Saturday 20 October to Sunday 4 November

Lent Term 2019 

Monday 7 January to Wednesday 10 April

Half Term

Saturday 16 February to Sunday 24 February

Trinity Term 2019

Monday 29 April to Wednesday 3 July 

Half Term

Saturday 25 May to Sunday 2 June

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.

Sixth Formers at Princethorpe are fortunate to have a dedicated Sixth Form Centre, featuring a Dining Room, Lecture Theatre, Common Room and a new Sixth Form Resource Area and Library for their use.

Admissions for Sixth Form continue to be focused in the spring term following GCSE mocks, though we would encourage all prospective Sixth Formers and their parents to visit our Sixth Form Open Evening on Wednesday 11 October 2017 from 6.30pm to 9.00pm.

This is an ideal opportunity to get a feel for the breadth of Sixth Form life at Princethorpe and to meet and talk with members of staff and current Sixth Formers about A-level subject choices.

Sixth Form Taster Days for Year 11 pupils who are interested in a place at Princethorpe are now offered in December and January as part of the admissions process.

Admission to the Sixth Form is based on satisfactory GCSE results, with the addition of an informal interview for external candidates. The minimum academic requirement is six GCSE grades at A* - C (9-4 in the new number grades), including at least three grade Bs (5s) or equivalent. Candidates are normally expected to have at least grade B (5) in the subjects to be studied to A-level. For Mathematics, Modern Languages and the Sciences a grade A (7) at GCSE is required.

If you wish to begin Economics or Law in Sixth Form, you will be expected to have achieved at least B (5) grades in both Mathematics and English Language. If you wish to study Computer Science at A-level, you must have taken it at GCSE.

External candidates should get in touch with the Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney to arrange an informal interview, with the Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie or one of his assistants, after which a formal registration along with provisional options for A-level should be made.

Following satisfactory references from the student’s current school, the Admission Panel will meet and, if appropriate, a conditional offer will be made subject to actual GCSE grades. Confirmation of acceptance from a parent with £300 deposit is then required to secure the place. This deposit is refunded after the end of the final term which the pupil spends at Princethorpe.

The deadline for Sixth Form registrations and Sixth Form Scholarship applications is ideally Friday 16 February 2018.

Sixth Form offers and Scholarship offers, along with confirmation of subject choices will be made week commencing Monday 26 March 2018.

The deadline for acceptances of Sixth Form places and Scholarship offers will be Friday 20 April 2018.

Once actual GCSE grades have been advised to the Registrar by telephone in August, a confirmed offer will be made.

There is a variety of Scholarships available for particularly able or talented candidates ranging from Academic, Art and Music to All-Rounder. Additionally for the Sixth Form there are Academic, Art, Music (including Organ) and Sport Scholarships available, see the Sixth Form Scholarships article below.

Scholarships to a maximum reduction of 50% of tuition fees are available and are awarded at point of entry.

Click here to download our Registration Form and Art and Music Scholarship Forms.

Academic Scholarships

Candidates applying for entry in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 will be considered automatically for an academic scholarship when taking the Entrance Examination.

All Rounder Scholarships

Sometimes there are pupils who are both academically able and gifted in a variety of areas and the most outstanding of these can be awarded an All Rounder Scholarship. Supportive evidence is required, such as references from team coaches or activity leaders. This information should be collated and submitted to the Registrars by Friday 6 October 2017.

Click here for more information on Art Scholarships.

Click here for more information on Music Scholarships.

Scholarship Interviews

Prospective Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 pupils who are being considered for either major Academic or major All Rounder Scholarships will be invited to an interview with the Headmaster or the Assistant Head - Co-Curricular following the entrance examinations. The parents/guardians of these candidates will be contacted by telephone from Wednesday 15 November 2017. Only those being considered for these awards will be contacted.

The interviews will take place on Saturday 18 November 2017 and during week commencing Monday 20 November 2017.

Bursaries

Bursaries are available up to 100% of tuition fees. Application forms are available from the Foundation Bursar's office and from our website. Completed applications should be forwarded to the Foundation Bursar with supporting documentary evidence. Applications for bursaries are means-tested and reviewed by external consultants. The deadline for bursary applications is Friday 6 October 2017. 

Click here for more information on Bursaries and the means-tested Thomas More Scholarship aimed at Catholic children who attend a Catholic school.

Sixth Form Academic Scholarships For September 2018 Entry

External Candidates

Sixth Form Academic Scholarships are available to external candidates who are expected to achieve A* and A grades at GCSE. 

Those who wish to be considered should make an application by Friday 16 February 2018 and if appropriate will be invited to attend the Sixth Form Acadamic Scholarship Day on Tuesday 13 March 2018. The Academic Scholarship Day will comprise a Verbal Reasoning examination, an interview witht the Headmaster and Head of Sixth Form, taster lessons in two A-level option subjects, lunch and a tour of school.

Internal Candidates

Internal candidates do not have to apply for Sixth Form Academic Scholarships. They are automatically awarded to a small number of the highest achieving internal candidates in August by the Headmaster based on their performance in GCSE examinations.

Sixth Form Sport Scholarships
Sport Scholarships may be awarded to internal or external candidates entering the Sixth Form.

The candidates should submit a portfolio and detailed account of their reasons for the application supported by references from their coach/activity leaders.

The final document should be forwarded to our Registrar by Friday 16 February 2018. Following a review of the portfolios, as appropriate, candidates will be invited to the Sports Scholarship Assessment Day on Friday 9 March 2018.

Sixth Form Art Scholarships

A Sixth Form Art Scholarship is available to internal or external candidates entering the Sixth Form. The deadline for applications is Friday 16 February 2018 and the Art Scholarship Assessment Day will take place on Wednesday 14 March 2018.
Successful candidates will be expected to pursue the A-level Art Course.

Requirements:

• Candidates should have achieved high standards in their GCSE courses (predicted A/A*).
• Portfolio work would also be expected to contain evidence of creative endeavours outside the confines of school GCSE coursework and be supported by a reference from their Head of Art.
• The candidates will be expected to have excellent observational drawing skills and be able to draw from a still life during the interview day.
• A CD with up to 20 images of artwork, in JPEG format, must be included with the application and sent to Princethorpe College by the application deadline.
• Candidates will also be expected to bring a portfolio showing work from their previous two years. 3D work should not be brought, photographic evidence of 3D work being sufficient, or as images on the CD.

Art Scholarship Assessment Day:

• Candidates will undertake some drawing and design exercises in the art studios and will also be interviewed by the Head of Art with their portfolios of artwork (portfolios should include recent GCSE coursework and evidence of work created outside school).

Internal Candidates for Art Scholarships

Internal candidates are not required to submit a portfolio, however they will be required to attend the Art Scholarship Assessment Day. They will be considered by the Headmaster based on their performance in the GCSE examinations and feedback from the Head of Art.

Sixth Form Music Scholarships

A Sixth Form Music Scholarship is available to external candidates entering the Sixth Form. The deadline for applications is Friday 16 February 2018  and Scholarship Auditions will take place during week commencing Monday 12 March 2018. Successful candidates will be expected to pursue the A-level Music course.

Requirements

• A standard of Grade 7 in any instrument.
• A second instrument, which will probably be at a lower standard than the first, will be an additional recommendation. In certain cases it may be possible to begin a second instrument on entry.

The Audition

All candidates must attend a practical examination. At the audition they will be required to:

• Perform 2 pieces on the instrument of their first choice.
• Perform 1 piece on the instrument of their second choice.
• Sing a song of their own choice.
• Play the panel’s selection of scales and arpeggios from the ABRSM grade that best reflects their current standard and undertake an aural test of the same standard.
• Participate in a viva voce, where they will be asked about their music-making, hobbies, etc.

Piano accompaniments should be brought to the audition. An accompanist will be provided unless a candidate prefers to be accompanied by an external accompanist they elect to bring with them. Candidates are advised to perform music with which they are comfortable, rather than playing music which is technically beyond them.

Names and addresses of two referees must be supplied, one of which should be the school music teacher or conductor of a choir or orchestra in which the candidate regularly performs.

Sixth Form Organ Scholarship

A Sixth Form Organ Scholarship of up to 50% of tuition fees is available to candidates who have a high level of ability and are committed and enthusiastic performers; the successful candidate will be expected to play in the College Chapel on Sunday at 10.15am Mass during term time and other functions. Applications, addressed to the Registrar should be received by Friday 16 February 2018.

Candidates will be required to perform a short piece and be interviewed by the Director of Music and Headmaster as part of the selection process.

Internal Candidates for Music and Organ Scholarships

Internal candidates do not have to apply for Sixth Form Music and Organ Scholarships. They will be considered by the Headmaster based on their performance in the GCSE examinations and feedback from the Director of Music.

Sixth Form and Scholarship offers

Sixth Form offers and Scholarship offers, along with confirmation of option subject choices, will be made week commencing Monday 26 March 2018.

The deadline for acceptances of Sixth Form places and Scholarship offers will be Friday 20 April 2018.

Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney, Assistant Registrar, Miss Helen Morgan, and Admissions Administrator, Mrs Catherine Rogers, deal with many enquiries from prospective parents, here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about the admissions process, with their responses.

If you have a query that isn't covered here, please feel free to contact Vanessa, Helen or Catherine on 01926 634201/634262.

How are places offered?

Places are considered based on the results from the Entrance Examinations, the reference which the College requests from the current school and any other information which is contained on the registration form. The Admissions Panel looks at each individual at length before a decision is made regarding the offer of a place. The decision making process runs over three days.

How many places are offered each year?

The cohort each year is different in number and ability so it depends upon the examination results and the references from the current school.  We usually offer slightly more places than we have space for because we recognise that some children may take entrance examinations for more than one school and some live in areas which still use the 11+ examination.

How can I prepare my child for the exams?

For more information on the online assessment please visit the CEM website at

https://www.intuproject.org/CEMSelect/CSFamiliarisation.swf

(NB - swf file formats may not function properly on Apple devices.)

There are no practice papers available for the online assessment. CEM advises parents that children can best prepare for their online assessment by learning to work quietly on their own, completing homework set by their school, and by reading and making sure they understand all the words in any books they read. Children should also, wherever possible, be encouraged to try to solve problems by looking things up for themselves. Children should be familiar with using a keyboard and a mouse including the ability to click, drag and slide with a mouse.

The following practice papers may prove helpful:

• Bond How to do 11+ Verbal Reasoning published by Nelson Thornes (ISBN 9 780192 742292)
• Bond How to do 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning published by Nelson Thornes (ISBN 9 780192 742285) 
• Bond How to do 11+ Maths published by Nelson Thornes (ISBN 9 780192 742278)

They can be ordered from Waterstones, 1 Priorsgate, Warwick Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 4QG, Tel 01926 883804.

You can also work with your child on a copy of a past English paper which is included in the prospectus pack.

As a general rule on the paper tests advise your son/daughter to answer the easy questions first on the paper and then go back and work on the more tricky ones. Practice at timing themselves while they are working is important too, as they often run out of time. None of the questions on any of the papers need to be answered in order. If the child thinks a question is difficult leave it and go onto the next one and then go back and try again if there is enough time.

Do you take children with a Special Educational Need or Disability?

If your child has a special educational need or disability (SEND), please indicate this on the registration form. He/she will then be invited in for an assessment with a member of our Learning Support department before the entrance examination takes place. The findings from this assessment then go forward to the Admissions Panel together with the entrance exam results, current school reference and, where appropriate, an up to date specialist report from, for example, an Educational Psychologist or Occupational Therapist.

Are children with a SEND entitled to access arrangements in the exam?

Children with a special educational need or disability may be considered for access arrangements in the entrance examinations. Any access arrangements will usually be based on the child's normal way of working in their current educational environment, for which evidence will be required.  We would ask that any Educational Psychologist reports or other supporting information, are forwarded to the Registrars at the earliest opportunity. 

All children with a SEND should see a member of our Learning Support department, prior to the entrance exams taking place, who will be happy to discuss their needs.  Please ensure that you register in good time, to enable us to arrange this meeting.

How many scholarships are offered each year?

The number of scholarships offered each year depends on the funds allocated by the trustees.  Academic scholarships awarded vary between 10% and 50%.  Art and Music can be from 10% to 25%.  All-Rounder scholarships are generally from 10% to 25%.  All awards are at the discretion of the Headmaster.

What does an All-Rounder Scholarship mean?

The All-Rounder scholarship is for a child with a good academic ability who is involved with activities outside of school.  This can be a sport, music, drama, art, cubs, brownies etc.  If you wish to apply for this scholarship we ask you to collect references from coaches and activity leaders outlining the child’s enthusiasm, commitment and ability.  These references should be sent to Princethorpe as and when you receive them and need to be in by the time the children take the entrance exam. The Admissions Panel frequently sees applications for All-Rounder scholarships which have minimal supporting paperwork. Please make sure that we have sufficient evidence to consider.

How are the children put in the new form groups?

At Princethorpe new pupils to the school will join an existing house tutor group comprising pupils from Years 7 to 11. They will stay with this 'family' and form tutor up until Year 11. The Sixth Form have form tutor groups which consist of both Lower and Upper Sixth students.

The Y7 to Y11 house tutor groups have approximately the same number of children from every year group, a mix of girls and boys and ability. Houses are allocated by the Deputy Head - Pastoral. Where there is an existing connection with the school pupils usually go into the same house as a sibling or the same house if the parent is an Old Princethorpian and following this the houses are allocated to ensure that the boys and girls are evenly distributed across all four houses.

Will my child get lost when they come to Princethorpe?

Princethorpe has an excellent induction programme that is offered in two separate ways. We have an Induction Day in June for all the new Year 7s when they spend a day in class and get to meet their Head of House and other members of the Princethorpe community. We also have a Year 7 Activity Day which takes place at the end of the summer holidays. This is a fun day with all the new Year 7 children taking part in games, treasure hunts and activities in and out of the classroom. This is another opportunity to find their way around and meet more staff and children in their House just before they begin school, in September.

Years 8, 9 and 10 have a Twilight Induction Session on the first Tuesday in July.

What extra charges, apart from the school fees are there likely to be?

When your child first joins Princethorpe there will be the cost of the school uniform and the initial pack of exercise books.  All text books are loaned to the child and there is no charge unless one is lost or badly damaged. There are school trips, usually for each year group and these are always connected to the curriculum.  Princethorpe takes great care to ensure that costs are kept to a minimum and are always good value.

A comprehensive private bus service brings pupils into the College from a wide area, extending as far afield as Nuneaton and Coventry to the north, Lutterworth and Daventry to the east, Stratford-upon-Avon and Banbury to the south and Solihull to the west.

The two coach operators are Catterall's of Southam and Ridley's of Leamington Spa.

All buses leave from the front of school at 3.55pm at the end of the school day. Arrangements need to be made for the collection of those children staying on for extra-curricular activities until 5.15pm or extended day until 6.00pm. We are also looking into facilitating lift shares after activities for families living close to each other.

The current bus timetable is available on the school website http://www.princethorpe.co.uk.

Uniform is compulsory for College pupils and helps to create a sense of shared identity, community spirit and a pride in oneself and in the College.

Uniform can be purchased from the School Shop.

The School Shop is open from 3.30pm to 4.30pm Monday to Friday during term time. Additionally during the summer holidays the shop is open on selected dates on an appointment only basis.

To make an appointment please call Miss Nicola Browne on 01926 634272 or email uniform@princethorpe.co.uk.

Click here to download the girls' uniform list 2016-2017

Click here to download the boys' uniform list 2016-2017

Sixth Form Dress Code

Although College uniform is not required we expect Sixth Formers to set an example by smartness of dress and appearance. Smart clothes suitable for a work environment, including a jacket are compulsory.

High standards of personal appearance and presentation are expected of pupils at all times.

Click here to download the updated Sixth Form dress code for 2017-18