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 2019.

Entrance Examinations, for entry to the school in September 2019, will take place on Saturday 10 November 2018 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 new Open Morning on Tuesday 20 March 2018, our summer Open Evening on Wednesday 6 June, Year 5 and 6 Taster Days in May, June and September, and a last chance to look round before the Entrance Exams at our Open Morning on Thursday 27 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 29 November 2018 and the acceptance deadline will be Monday 4 March 2019. The acceptance deadline for 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.

The latest school performance tables issued by the government confirm the substantial level of academic progress Princethorpe students make in Sixth Form.

Princethorpe is the top performing school in the local area and the only school to score ‘Well above average’ for Progress in A-level performance in 2017. The tables place Princethorpe in the top 5% of all schools or colleges in England.

Comments Ed Hester, Headmaster, “These progress measures indicate the “value-added” by the school, looking at where the young people started and where they end up. Princethorpe is not, and never will be, an academic hothouse, but these results reflect the tremendous progress our students make. This, combined with the array of co-curricular, careers and enrichment opportunities puts them in the best possible position to realise their future plans."

For GCSE the data analysed by the Government includes the new-style GCSEs in Maths and English, which Princethorpe pupils did not take in 2017, so the College’s results for IGCSE are not published in the tables.

To see the results click on this link https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

Two Princethorpe College Sixth Formers have just received offers for Oxford University. Nick Bonsall who completed his studies at the College last July, and is currently on a gap year, has received an unconditional offer to read English at St Anne’s College. Whilst Upper Sixth Academic Prefect, James Fletcher, has a conditional offer to read Law at Trinity College. Both students were surprised and delighted with the news which they received last week.

Following a rigorous application process, English scholar Nick explained, “I knew that already having good A-level grades put me in a strong position but I also knew that Oxford University would want more. The interview itself was challenging, but the support of Mr Kerrigan, my English teacher, was invaluable in preparing me for it. I am very grateful to him for all the time he dedicated to me and the support he continues to give others.”

James Fletcher shared a similar story about his application to Trinity College, “In the interview I had to think on my feet. Every statement I made was argued against, it was clear they wanted to know my opinions. My practice interviews with Director of Studies, Dr Reddish, proved very helpful.” He continued, “A place at Oxford is now within my reach, I am thrilled to have been given such a prestigious opportunity.”

Princethorpe College Head of Sixth Form, Ben Collie commented, “Applying to Oxford is, in itself, an extremely rigorous and character-testing experience and it seems to get tougher every year. Over their time at Princethorpe, Nick and James have applied themselves both to academic studies and to developing themselves as confident and mature young people. They have earned this success and we are exceptionally proud of their achievement.”

It's wedding night in the palace of King Shahrayar. By morning, the new queen, Shahrazad, is to be put to death like a thousand young brides before her. She has the one gift that can save her: the gift of storytelling. With a mischievous imagination and silver tongue, Queen Shahrazad paints a dazzling array of stories and characters, summoned forth from strange and magical worlds populated by talking birds, singing trees and crafty thieves.

Can the power of storytelling save her life?

So begins Dominic Cooke’s adaption of Arabian Nights, directed by Head of Drama Aileen Cefaliello and performed with verve and passion by our wonderful troupe of players. Over three nights this February, captivated audiences were transported to a colourful world of larger than life characters, tall stories and Eastern promise, what better way to combat this long cold winter we have had.

As an added treat on Saturday 10 February, we welcomed Old Princethorpian and professional actor, Emilio Doorgasingh, back to the College to officially open the Clarkson Theatre at the beginning of the final sell-out performance.

Fr Bill Clarkson MSC was the much loved and respected Headmaster of Princethorpe College from 1969 to 1981.

Princethorpe College’s biennial Careers Fair returns on Saturday 17 March 2018 and promises to be the biggest one yet.  James Hutcheson, Managing Director Finance & Administration of Aldi UK has kindly agreed to be the Keynote Speaker for the 2018 event.

At the fair there will be over 40 speakers on a whole wealth of careers including accountancy to engineering, physiotherapy to dentistry, aviation to property, film design to the music industry, cyber security to entrepreneurship and many, many more.  Many employers will be both speaking and exhibiting including Rolls Royce, Severn Trent Water, IBM, JLR and Ernst and Young.  Over a dozen universities from across the country, such as Cardiff, Southampton, Loughborough and Surrey, will be present with stalls in the exhibition part of the fair.

As well as the keynote presentation, attendees will be able to participate in workshops depending on their personal interests and visit an exhibition zone, with stalls from many well-known companies, charities, institutions, universities and gap year organisations.

With such a wide range of speakers and organisations on hand to offer advice and guidance on careers, universities and gap year options, there really will be something to interest everyone.

On Wednesday 7 February 35 Foundation pupils from Princethorpe, Crackley and the Crescent swapped their normal lessons to ‘Rendezvous with a Comet’.  The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) based challenge took place in the Challenger Learning Centre which is part of the National Space Centre in Leicester.

For the challenge pupils took on the roles of scientists and engineers on a daring mission to take an up-close look at a comet as it streaks its way across the solar system. Their goal is to plot a successful course to rendezvous with the comet and launch a probe to collect important scientific data.  After a briefing by Space Centre Commanders Rob and Matt, the children started by constructing a space probe and then plotted the correct intercept course.  The routine mission quickly evolved as obstacles and problems emerged and all of the pupils worked together as a team to come up with solutions.

Foundation pupils took on various different roles, in both mission control and on the space shuttle.  They included working in the Navigation, Communication and Data, Isolation, Medical and Remote Teams. During the two and half hour mission our Year 6, 7 and 8 pupils had to communicate effectively, plot accurate co-ordinates, swap data, test chemicals, identify gases and colour spectrums.  A particularly memorable moment was when the Shuttle's Communication Officer reminded those back on Earth that they still needed the location of the CO₂ sponges if they were to avert a capsule failure and a mission catastrophe.

The teams got a heroes’ welcome home when they returned to Mission Control safely. Da Vinci Co-ordinator, Mrs Pascoe-Williams commented, “It was another excellent mission – this is the sixth time that we have taken pupils to the Space Centre and I was impressed with how well the pupils from our three schools worked together.  The atmosphere was fantastic and the enthusiasm boundless, all in all it was a great opportunity for cross-curricula learning.”

The mission-critical trip ended with a film in the 3D planetarium and that all-important visit to the gift shop to purchase some souvenirs to remind everyone of their rendezvous with the Comet Cre-ackleythorpe!

The latest edition of the Foundation's magazine the Pinnacle, which showcases exceptional work by pupils from Princethorpe College, Crackley Hall School and Crescent School, has just been published.

This edition features more outstanding GCSE and A-level Art, impressive language skills, success in the performing arts, sporting prowess and Science endeavours including a 'Rendezvous with a comet' at the National Space Centre.

The magazine includes The Minnacle insert with work from the Foundation's Junior Schools Crackley Hall and Crescent School.

Follow the links to view an electronic copy of The Pinnacle and The Minnacle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

KS5 Drawing: Highly Commended Tom Barnes

KS4 Painting: 2nd Alys McWilliams

KS4 Drawing: 1st Helena Lintott

KS4 Textiles (Art): 1st Lauren Hill

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

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

Many pupils at Princethorpe College take peripatetic lessons in the performing arts and for those who do, it is a labour of love. These committed individuals devote weekly additional time to the study of their chosen instrument or the dramatic arts. Their efforts are reflected in their progress through the grades and for twenty-four LAMDA (London Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts) pupils, there was great cause for celebration as they received the results of their most recent examinations this week.

In November pupils undertook examinations in a range of disciplines including: Mime, Reading for Performance, Acting, Verse and Prose and Public Speaking, the College candidates impressed the visiting examiner with the confidence they demonstrated from Grades 2 to 5. Twenty-two achieved a Distinction, seven with a score of 90 plus, and two, Anneliesa Douglas and Grace Isaacs, were judged as perfect, scoring 100.

LAMDA Co-ordinator, Mrs Mary MacDonald, was thoroughly delighted with the combined outcome of all the pupils’ efforts, “These results reflect the hard work that pupils put into learning and rehearsing their pieces. We had a tremendous twenty-two Distinctions (the highest mark awarded), a Merit and a Pass. In the process of preparing for these exams, learners have developed their understanding of both literature and drama and consequently I can see how much they have blossomed as individual, confident public performers.”

Head Girl, Miriam Isaacs, has also had LAMDA success having just been awarded the Grade 8 Gold Medal. Miriam, who began studying for her LAMDA examinations when she was in Year 8, has consistently achieved high marks as she progressed through the grades. Miriam explained, “I am planning to read English Literature at university and studying for the LAMDA examinations and the Gold Medal has given me a deeper understanding and appreciation of different texts, which has been really valuable preparation for my UCAS application."  Her achievement is impressive as Gold is the highest medal awarded by LAMDA.

The College offers its congratulations to all of the pupils involved.

On Saturday 27 January eighty young singers from local primary schools joined Princethorpe's Director of Music, Mr Gil Cowlishaw, Mrs Felicity Coulson and 15 of the Princethorpe College Choir for a Choral Fun Day.

The Year 5 and 6 pupils tackled a variety of choral pieces from traditional works such as ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘When The Saints Go Marching In’ to popular favourites such as ‘Pure Imagination’ from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to ELO’s ‘Mr Blue Sky’ and the upbeat ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams.

As well as rehearsing furiously, the visiting children took part in a musical treasure hunt round the College and enjoyed lunch in the Sixth Form Centre.

The day culminated in an impressive gala performance of the pieces in front of an enthusiastic capacity audience of family and friends in the College's newly refurbished Clarkson Theatre.

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 five songs and then taking to the stage to perform is no mean feat, well done to them all!”

There was plenty of positive parental feedback too including comments such as, ‘Our son had an amazing day and loved every minute’, ‘She made friends, and clearly felt very welcomed and at ease’, and ‘Please could you pass on our gratitude and appreciation to everyone involved in organising such a fabulous day’.

A special thank you to all of the Princethorpe pupils and staff involved and to pupil technicians Daniel Hatfield and Ethan Smith for their help with the sound and lighting on the day.

Visiting Roman Centurions invaded Princethorpe College armed with swords and scutums (shields) 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 complimented 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. Oliver Alford 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. Oliver 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 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.”

Princethorpe College wove its wonderful spell on the muggles and wannabe wizards who came to the school's Saturday Morning Cinema showing of Happy Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.  The special screening for Year 6 who have been offered places for entry to Year 7 in September took place on Saturday 13 January. The College was delighted to welcome around 80 children into school for an early introduction to the magic of Princethorpe or perhaps just for that morning, after the reported sightings of owls on the campus, we could say Princewarts.

Next year's new starters will come from many different primary schools, so the morning was one of a number of opportunities the College is organising this year where future pupils can start to become a little more familiar with the College site and potential new friends. 

The spellbinding entertainment began with a warm welcome from our very own ‘Albus Dumbledore’, Headmaster, Ed Hester.  He spoke to the children about starting a new school, a theme reflected in the film, and about the College's house system, he even had a Sorting Hat to hand to help out with that.  Also on hand was Deputy Head, Beth Sharpe, aka Professor McGonagall, dressed for the part and waving her wand over affairs to help with the morning's wizarding adventures.

Midway through the screening there was an interval when the children visited the College's dining room to stock up on popcorn, cookies and even a sip of polyjuice!

At the end of the morning after more refreshments everyone went home having thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  The College looks forward to welcoming some of them back as pupils later in the year – although we do hope they won't be too disappointed when they find out that their new timetables will be limited to more traditional subjects rather than lessons in Potions, Transfigurations and Defence Against The Dark Arts!

Princethorpe Upper Sixth Former Autumn Wells has beaten off the competition to land a prestigious degree apprenticeship with Rolls Royce. Autumn is to be especially commended for her amazing achievement as competition for places on the apprenticeship scheme was hugely oversubscribed, with some 7,000 applicants for just four commercial roles.

Autumn, who is studying A-levels in Maths, Psychology and Law, is thoroughly looking forward to starting the programme later this year. She underwent a rigorous selection procedure; after completing an online application, eligibility and psychometric tests and a video interview she was one of just 30 applicants invited to an Assessment Centre. There she was put through her paces further with competency and technical interviews, group tasks and a presentation.

Asked to comment on the apprenticeship programme, Autumn said, “I am really looking forward to the mix of university and on the job study. Over the four years I will have eight placements in department such as Finance, Contracts, Sales and Marketing. I will have the chance to meet and work with a wide range of people and put many of my classroom skills into practice.”

She continued, “Rolls Royce is a very prestigious company with a strong global presence. I am hoping to take advantage of the international opportunities, as I very much enjoy travelling.”

Comments Jacqui Quinney, Princethorpe Head of Careers, “We are absolutely delighted for Autumn. Apprenticeships are an excellent career choice for many young people. A degree apprenticeship may take longer to complete than a traditional degree at university but Autumn will be paid a salary, incur no tuition fees and will not need a student loan. On completion of her apprenticeship she will not only be awarded her degree, she will also have years of relevant on the job experience.”

On Monday 29 January Princethorpe College’s U16 Boys' Hockey team travelled to Cannock Hockey Club in Staffordshire to compete in the Independent Schools Association’s (ISA) Regional Boys' Hockey Championships.

Playing for the team were Toby Bower, Luke Brotherton, Oscar Bunting-Ralph, Tom Crowfoot (Captain), Will Crowfoot, Ross Curtis, Dominic Doyle, Allister Edmonds, Jesus Fuster, William Hoggarth, Angus Potter, Toby Rigg, George Saunders and Oli Thomas.

On the day it proved to be an easy win for our more than competent side. The boys controlled the final against Lucton expertly, playing a smooth and flowing game and easily taking the title.

Toby Bower, Ross Curtis and Oli Thomas together with Alex Whitelaw are seasoned hockey players.  They are all on Warwickshire Hockey’s Player Pathway and have been selected for the Regional Performance Centre. That means they are all now training and playing at above County level.

Then on Saturday 3 February the U13 Girls' Hockey Team travelled to Bablake School to play in the Warwickshire Schools’ County Championships.  Playing against Bablake, King Henry's, King’s High and Stratford Girls’ Grammar the girls were unbeaten in every game and were worthy winners of the title.

Head of Hockey, Kat Berns, commented, “This was a great win for the team, we had some superb hockey played and great leadership and determination from our Captain Evie Phillips.”

The team included Lucia Bell, Issy Bunting, Eve Farquharson, Molly Harper, Zara Hendy, Mia Johnson, Mia Lambeth, Jess Mackenzie, Evie Phillips (Captain), Jasmin Rose, Grace Thomas, Lara Tripp-Smith (Vice-Captain), Molly Wincott-Thomas and Zoe Wallis.

Then on Thursday 15 February the U13 Girls' Hockey Team were crowned county champions in 7-a-side hockey as well. In three exciting matches they beat Stratford Girls Grammar 3-0, King’s High 2-0 and Bablake 2-0. The girls have now qualified for the regional finals which will take place later in March.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eight Princethorpe runners have qualified for the National ISA Cross Country Championships following the Midlands Regional Finals which took place on Wednesday 31 January at Bedstone College in Shropshire. The ‘great eight’ were part of a 34-strong squad who took on the challenging course in tricky conditions.

Princethorpe College’s runners have a tradition of success at this competition, many have competed at Bedstone before, and after recent County cross country success hopes were high as the plucky runners battled for one of the coveted top ten National qualifying places.

Both the U14 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 U14 Girls were Julia Loftus and Jess Evans who ran determinedly to finish 8th and 9th respectively. Grace Darcy came home 11th and will act as reserve. For the U14 Boys’ Mark Dunkley finished 6th, so also qualifies. Ed Mitchell just missed out despite a brilliant race where he finished 13th.

For the U16 Girls’ Molly Minshull had an outstanding race taking 2nd place and the silver medal, despite the hare (a pace-setter) taking the wrong turn and adding an extra mile to her route. She was followed over the line by a sea of Princethorpe red vests as Eve Howard finished in 5th, Erin Darcy 9th and Luisa Garcia-Stokes 10th. All these girls qualify for the Nationals too.

The U16 Boys’ team ran bravely with the Crowfoot twins in excellent form, Will finished 9th to qualify with brother Tom just missing out in 11th. The pair were closely followed by George Dunkley in 12th. Tom will act as reserve.

Head of Girls’ Games, Mrs Debs Brookes, was delighted with the results, “You never quite know what you’re going to get with cross country as the variables are so great. Despite the difficult conditions today we still had red vest after red vest crossing the line; our runners took on the arduous terrain and did very well.”

Our qualifying runners will have home advantage in the ISA National Cross Country championships which will place at Princethorpe College later in the Spring on Saturday 3 March 2018.

The College is having a successful cross country season with Year 7 girls Julia Loftus, Jess Evans and Grace Darcy having for a Year 7 English Schools’ race at Prestwold Hall in Leicestershire on Saturday 24 March 2018. Older runners Molly Minshull and George Dunkley have also qualified for the English School Nationals which will be held in Leeds on Saturday 17 March, with Tom and Will Crowfoot as reserves.

Open Morning
Saturday 10 March 2018 - 10.30am to 12.30pm

Crackley Hall, the Foundation's junior school and nursery in Kenilworth, is opening its doors for an Open Morning on Saturday 10 March from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

This is an opportunity for parents and children to visit the school and nursery.  Visitors will have the chance to tour the school, see the facilities and meet pupils and staff including the Headmaster, Mr Duigan. All are welcome, no need to book.

Registrations are now being taken for Nursery, Reception and Year 3 for September 2018 admissions, limited places are available in other Years. The nursery is open 51 weeks a year and is carefully structured for two-year olds, three-year olds and pre-school.

Open Evening
Tuesday 8 May 2018 - 5.00pm to 7.30pm

Another chance to look around the school and nursery and meet staff and pupils.

If you can't make either of these open events but would like to look around the school, please call our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan 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/

Tuesday 20 March 2018 - 10.30am - 12.30pm

We are pleased to announce a new Open Event date for your diaries.  Princethorpe is holding an Open Morning on Tuesday 20 March 2018 from 10.30am to 12.30pm. This is an excellent opportunity for families to visit the College on a normal working day.  Pupils from Years 7 and 8 will be acting as tour guides. 

The next Open Event after the March Open Morning will be College's Summer Open Evening on Wednesday 6 June from 6.00pm - 8.30pm. This is an informal opportunity to look around the school and to meet members of staff and pupils. There will be activities in each department for children to participate in, and the Headmaster will also address visitors in the Chapel during the evening. Light refreshments are available.

There is no need to book for these events.

For further information please contact the Registrar, Mrs Vanessa Rooney, on 01926 634201 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk.

Princethorpe College’s Arts Society meets regularly with lectures and performances on interesting and diverse topics.  The Society will be meeting on the following dates and parents and children are welcome to attend.   

Wednesday 21 March 2018 - 7.30pm
Sixth Form Lecture Theatre

Art History lecture on Women In Van Gogh’s Life And Art presented by Margaret-Louise O'Keeffe.

Wednesday 16 May 2018 -  7.30pm
Sixth Form Lecture Theatre

Art History lecture on The Woman In Picasso’s Life And Art:1932  presented by Margaret-Louise O’Keeffe. 

Tuesday 3 July 2018 -  7.30pm
The Chapel

The 24th Annual Hugh Page Memorial Organ Recital where Tim Campain, Director of Music at Warwick Road United Reformed Church, Coventry, will play a wide variety of pieces from various genres on the renowned Princethorpe Binns’ organ of 1901.

Tickets

Tickets may be purchased at the door, (adults £5.00, children free) but advance notice helps catering, please. Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent School pupils are free of charge.

More information on these events is available at: www.princethorpe.co.uk/news/events/arts-society-events-1 

Open Morning
Saturday 24 March - 9.30am to 12.30pm

Crescent School, the Foundation's junior school for 4 to 11 year olds in Bilton, Rugby, is holding an Open Morning on Saturday 24 March 2018. Visitors will be able to tour the school, see our new facilities and meet the Headmaster, Joe Thackway.  There will be performances and activities to showcase the school. 

Open Evening
Thursday 10 May 2018 - 5.00pm to 7.30pm

The school will also be holding an Open Evening in May where parents will be able to tour the school and speak to the Headmaster.

All are most welcome and there is no need to book for either event.

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/

Saturday 28 April 2018 9.30am to 12.00pm

If you'd love to give hockey a try, why not come along to the Princethorpe College 'Year 4 and 5 Say Hello To Hockey' taster session!

A morning of free hockey training on our astroturf, you'll learn new skills, make friends and have fun.  Aimed at girls and boys, the morning will finish with a mini tournament, beginners most welcome!

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

May and June 2018

During the summer term Princethorpe College offers taster days for children currently in Year 5 (children born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008), who are interested in admission to the College in September 2019.

These days involve a number of classroom sessions, a tour of the school, lunch and other activities such as a question and answer session with current pupils. The days run from 9.30am to 3.00pm.

The College will be hosting taster days on Wednesday 9 May, Thursday 24 May, Tuesday 12 June and Thursday 21 June.

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

Friday 8 and Saturday 9 June 2018

Princethorpe College is looking forward to welcoming back the Sudden Impulse Theatre Company in June for two outdoor performances of William Shakespeare's play, The Comedy of Errors.

The Comedy of Errors is believed to be one of Shakespeare's earlier written plays; a true farce ahead of its time. The story involves two sets of twins, separated at birth, being thrown together in a tale of mistaken identity.

The performances are open to the public and will take place on the Sixth Form Lawn as follows:

Friday 8 June - 6.30pm to 10.00pm

Saturday 9 June - 3.30pm to 7.00pm

The College PTA will operate a bar, so bring a picnic, settle down in your camping chair and enjoy some perfect summer entertainment.

Tickets will be available soon from www.suddenimpulse.co.uk and will be priced at £12 or £10 for concessions. 

Saturday 9 June 2018

Both Princethorpe College and Crackley Hall School will be out in force at the Kenilworth Show on Saturday 9 June 2018.

A great day out for all the family, there is so much to see and do. Returning for 2018 will be the infamous Bolddog Lings, The Sheep Show, Grand Parade of Livestock plus the Countryside Arena and displays of farm machinery to name just a few of the exciting activities that visitors can enjoy.

There will also be over 100 trade stands from arts and crafts, jewellery, homewares, through to artisan breads and pies in the indoor trade marquee (where you can also find us!), with clothing stalls, garden furniture, plants and local club stands outside.

Visitors to the show can come and find out about our upcoming open events, admissions for September 2019 and beyond, and we would love to say hello to any former St Joseph School pupils and Old Princethorpians!

Tickets are just £10 and under 16s go free! For more information about the event and to buy tickets, please visit: https://www.kenilworthshow.co.uk/

We hope to see you there.

Sunday 24 June - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

The Summer Art, Photography and Design Show  

A celebration of our pupils GCSE, AS and A2 Art, Photography and Design work will take place in the College's Sixth Form Centre.  A range of design technology projects, from resistant materials to textiles, will be showcased alongside the stunning art and photography work the College is renowned for. Comments, Paul Hubball, Head of Art, "This is a great opportunity to share our students' fantastic creativity with a wider audience and to welcome more art and design lovers to Princethorpe."

The Princethorpe PTA Summer Fete 

The event is held in the Orchard with lots of entertainment for both children and adults. There will be many and varied attractions including a ‘real-ale’ tent, a Dog Show with plenty of summjer fete stalls, activities and competitions.

Please keep an eye on the PTA section of the Princethorpe website for updates and for more details of what’s on offer, including the chance to register your interest in helping on the day. 

22nd Annual Motoring Festival

The 22nd Annual Motoring Festival is open to anyone keen to bring any sort of classic, vintage, veteran or interesting vehicle along for the afternoon. There will be rally plaques for all pre-booked vehicles and awards for self-judged competitions.

The Festival is preceded by an informal morning road run of about 30 miles through the Warwickshire countryside. Vehicles taking part in the run need to arrive at Princethorpe for 11.00am. There is no charge for classic vehicles entering the festival or taking part in the road run.
Barbecued food is available for a nominal charge on return to Princethorpe at lunchtime, or feel free to bring a picnic.

On-line registration for the 2018 event will open shortly and will be available from the Events section of the Princethorpe Website.

Legends Hockey Camps will again be returning to Princethorpe this summer.  There will be two camps running on:

Camp 1 - Tuesday 24 July 2018 - Friday 27 July 2018

Camp 2 - Tuesday 31 July 2018 - Friday 3 August 2018

Please see https://www.legendshockeycamps.co.uk for information or email dex@legendshockeycamps.co.uk with any questions.

Entrance Examinations for Year 7 to 10 entry in September 2019 will take place on Saturday 10 November 2018 from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

More information on the Entrance Examinations is available in the Admissions section of this newsletter or from the school website please click here.

All candidates must be registered before sitting the entrance examinations. Registrations, bursary and scholarship applications must be received by the deadline of Friday 5 October 2018 to allow us to process the registration and contact schools for references

Following receipt of the registration form, any candidate with a learning need will have an assessment with Lorna Prestage, our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator, prior to the entrance examination. In this instance, early submission of the registration form is advised in order that this appointment can be made in good time. 

Children who want to come to Princethorpe College, the Foundation's senior school, 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 10 November 2018 from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

All candidates must be registered before sitting the entrance examinations. Registrations, bursary and scholarship applications must be received by the deadline of Friday 5 October 2018 to allow us to process the registration and contact schools for references.

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

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 and the relevant language dictionary.

Candidates sit papers in English and Maths and for those looking at Year 9 and 10 a language paper.The papers vary in length from 45 minutes to 1 hour. All candidates also sit a 50 minute online assessment which includes Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning, appropriate to their age and year of entry. More information is available under the relevant age group information.

The online assessment is provided by Durham University’s Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM). The test is designed to enable all children to demonstrate their academic potential without the need for excessive preparation.

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

(If you experience difficulties opening this link please try Internet Explorer.)

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.

A copy of a past English paper is included in the prospectus pack

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 29 November 2018. 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 4 March 2019. 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.

We are still accepting external applications for admission to Sixth Form in September 2018.

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 for entry to Princethorpe Sixth Form is six GCSE grades at A*-C, including at least three grade Bs or equivalent. Under the new numerical grading system, that will equate to three ‘5’s and three ‘6’s. Candidates are normally expected to have at least grade B/6 in the subjects to be studied to A-level, however for Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages, Latin 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/6 grades in both Mathematics and English Language. If you wish to study Computer Science at A-level, you must have taken it at GCSE. If you wish to study Psychology at A-level you will need a minimum of a 5 grade in English and Mathematics, plus a B/6 grade is highly recommended in a Science subject (ideally Biology).

Click here to download our Sixth Form Information Booklet 2018/2019.

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.

Sixth Form offers and Scholarship offers will be made week commencing Monday 26 March 2018.

Confirmation of acceptance from a parent with a £300 deposit is then required to secure the place. This deposit is refunded after the end of the final term which the student spends at Princethorpe.

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

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.

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

Sixth Form Induction Day will take place on Friday 31 August 2018 from 8.45am to 3.30pm.

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 17 October 2018 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.

Following the Sixth Form Open Evening external Year 11 candidates can attend a Sixth Form Taster Day, which are offered in December and January. These are informal opportunities for small groups 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, lunch, a tour of school and a chance to meet the Head of Sixth Form.

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/6 grades in both Mathematics and English Language. If you wish to study Computer Science at A-level, you must have taken it at GCSE. If you wish to study Psychology at A-level you will need a minimum of a 5 grade in English and Mathematics, plus a B/6 grade is highly recommended in a Science subject (ideally Biology).

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.

A range of Sixth Form scholarships are available, from Academic to Art, Music (including Organ) and Sports Scholarships, click here to visit the relevant page on our website.

The deadline for Sixth Form registrations and Sixth Form Scholarship applications is yet to be confirmed, but will be around mid February 2019.

Sixth Form offers and Scholarship offers, along with confirmation of subject choices will be made towards the end of March 2019, with an acceptance deadline approximately three weeks later.

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 including Academic, Art, Music and All-Rounder. Additionally for the Sixth Form there are Academic, Art, Music (including Organ) and Sport Scholarships available, see the Sixth Form Scholarships article.

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, Art Scholarship Form  and Music Scholarship Form.

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 before the close of registrations for the Entrance Examinations on Friday 5 October 2018.

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 14 November 2018. Only those being considered for these awards will be contacted.

The interviews will take place on Saturday 17 November 2018 and during week commencing Monday 19 November 2018.

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 5 October 2018. 

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

At Sixth Form level there are a range of scholarships available, from Academic to Art, Music (including Organ) and Sport Scholarships.  The Scholarships process for 2018 is in mid train, however applications from strong candidates will still be considered, please speak to the Registrar.

For 2019 key deadline and assesment day dates have yet to be confirmed.

Sixth Form Academic Scholarships 

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 the deadline date and if appropriate will be invited to attend the Sixth Form Acadamic Scholarship Day. The Academic Scholarship Day will comprise a Verbal Reasoning examination, an interview with 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 the deadline date. Following a review of the portfolios, as appropriate, candidates will be invited to the Sports Scholarship Assessment Day.

Sixth Form Art Scholarships

A Sixth Form Art Scholarship is available to internal or external candidates entering the Sixth Form. There will be a deadline for applications followed by an Art Scholarship Assessment Day.

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 tbc and Scholarship Auditions will take place a few weeks later. Successful candidates will be expected to pursue the A-level Music course.

Requirements

• A standard of Grade 7 ABRSM or equivalent in any instrument.
• A second instrument, which will probably be at a lower standard than the first. 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 the deadline date.

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 towards the end of March 2019.

The deadline for acceptances of Sixth Form places and Scholarship offers will be a few weeks later, date tbc.

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

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 evidence and references from coaches and activity leaders outlining the child’s enthusiasm, commitment and ability.  This information should be collated and submitted by the registration deadline.  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. 

What sizes are the classes at Princethorpe?

The maximum class size is 24 but we anticipate next year's Year 7 classes mostly being around 20 pupils. Design and Technology groups tend to be smaller, normally around 14. Maths and English sets vary according to need – pupils in lower sets will be in slightly smaller groups – usually around 16 or 17.  Students in top sets work very well in slightly larger groups, up to 23/24. 

How are the children allocated to a House?

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. Otherwise 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.

How do we find out what is happening at school?

The College has a bi-weekly electronic newsletter, The Flagpole, that includes news articles, events, important information and advice.  We start sending it to new parents towards the end of the summer term and it is the best place to find out what is happening in school.    

Do you offer before and after school care?

The school is open from 7.30am each day with breakfast available in the Sixth Form Centre for early birds.  Period 1 and registration is at 8.40am.  School finishes at 3.45pm with buses departing at 3.55pm.  Extended day is available for pupils until 6.00pm. 

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. Children will need to buy food from the Refectory or bring a packed lunch.  We use a fingerprint system so money does not need to be brought into school. 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 here

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.

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.