Admissions Update

The College's Entrance Exams for admission in September 2021 will now take place on Saturday 23 January 2021 from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Over the summer our friendly Admissions Team has been kept busy with enquiries and registrations from prospective parents. The final deadline for registrations is now Friday 4 December, to allow the College time to seek references from junior schools.

There are plenty of opportunities for prospective pupils and their parents to visit the College before the Entrance Exams. The College's main Open Day will be on Sunday 4 October 2020 and is for parents and pupils looking for entry to the College in September 2021 only. The Open Day is by appointment only so please do register as soon as possible to secure your place.

The school is also running Taster Experiences for Year 6 pupils in early November, more details can be found in the Events section of this newsletter.

The Admissions Team will host a Virtual Year 6 Parents' Q & A session on Monday 16 November from 6.30pm to 7.30pm to answer any admissions and entrance examinations related questions in an informal forum.

Comments, Ed Hester, Headmaster, “We know the decision to push back the date for Entrance Exams has been welcomed by prospective parents and pupils. We are aware that many parents will be concerned about their child’s preparedness for the exams after this long period away from normal school life. By January we hope that families will have had the chance to visit the College in person and that candidates will have settled back into school life and be in a much better position to take the exams.”

More information on admissions is available from the College website here.

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

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 634201/262.

Princethorpe College is celebrating another year of excellent exam results.

This summer 47% of all A-level grades were A* or A and over 90% of grades were C or better; at GCSE pupils celebrated excellent GCSE results with 60% of all entries graded 9, 8 or 7 and 50 pupils achieving nine or more 9, 8 and 7 grades.

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

A-level summary:

• 97 candidates
• 28 students achieved 3 or more A* or A grades
• 47% A* and A
• 91% grade C or better

Ed Hester continued, "This year’s A-level results have been arrived at in a very different way to normal. Overall, we are pleased and feel that the results are generally fair and reflect the hard work and achievements of our Upper Sixth. Special mention must go to Hannah Porter who was awarded 5A*s."

At GCSE Princethorpe pupils performed well and there were many exceptional personal achievements.

GCSE summary:  

• 155 candidates
• 60% of all grades 9-7 
• 98% of grades 9-4 or better

Congratulations go to Caitlin Mason, Ciaran Smith, Ben Shipton and Ben Scares who were awarded an outstanding eleven or more grade 9s each.

Headmaster, Ed Hester, continued, “All credit goes to our pupils and staff for their commitment and hard work.  Our 20209 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."

Back in June Princethorpe College pupils took part in the 2020 UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Junior Challenge, a prestigious national problem-solving competition that recognises the best young mathematicians in the country. The Challenge involves answering multiple choice questions and this year it was sat online at home. The best performing pupils in the challenge are awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold Certificates.

The competition is aimed at pupils in Year 8 or below and 94 Princethorpe pupils were selected to take part. It is a demanding exercise designed to stretch and test pupils’ mathematical skills, so the College was delighted that this year, Princethorpe’s mathematicians achieved exceptional results. 

Congratulations to Zach Hawkins who was the best in Year 7 and was awarded a Gold certificate, he was also the best performing pupil in school. Joseph Simon was the best pupil in Year 8 and was awarded a Silver certificate.

Silver certificates were also awarded to: Anna Johnson, Ben Smith and Dylan Williams.

Bronze certificates were awarded to: Xander MacRae, Mia Samra, Jack Dando, Ollie Hutton, Thomas Leret, Olivia Monk, Noah Granfield, David Ikuomola, Ed Twyman, Samuel Divers, Anjola Okusanya, Priya Somel, Amaanya Bose, Eden Chaplow, Maria Lloyd, Evie Marston, Timothé Peyret, Thomas Smith, Robyn Shaw and Alex Beck.

Well done to all the pupils who took part, we know you enjoyed the challenge.

Would you like to take a tour of Princethorpe? Explore the serenity of the Chapel, see the iconic Tower and Quad, take in the vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows, wander the echoing tiled corridors, enjoy the peace of the Library, see the Refectory, the Sixth Form Centre, the light airy spaces of the Limes, the acres of sports pitches, the rolling green campus and the classrooms?

If so, you might just enjoy our Virtual Tour. Put together for College's summer online Open Evening, the Virtual Tour takes you on a trip around the College.

We are really looking forward to welcome visitors to the school in person but in the meantime if you would like to explore Princethorpe's historic buildings and rural campus then why not take the Virtual Tour.

Virtual Tour

Princethorpe College’s plans for a new Science Centre are underway with planning permission granted and the unveiling of further campus wide benefits.

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

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

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

Mr Hester continues, “This is a large, complex and exciting project. The next year will be critical as we prepare thoroughly for the tendering process.”

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

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

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

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

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

The College’s magazine, The Tower Review, is published annually.

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

The last edition celebrated the 2018/19 school year with its many wonderful and memorable moments. The Tower Review gives an excellent insight into life at the College and you can view a copy, on the school website here.

The latest editions of the Pinnacle and Minnacle were published in June.  Showcasing exceptional work by pupils from across the Foundation they are an inspiring read.

They celebrated the extraordinary 'home learning' that took place during the coronavirus lockdown and are a testament to the dedication of pupils and staff to continue with their studies in the face of the pandemic restrictions.

From the Spring Social Distance-Sing Concert and the Princethorpe At Home Recital to superb Art and DT, English competition winners, History projects, Bridging courses, EPQ and even an Online Bake Off, they showcased flair and ingenuity across a wide range of subjects and year groups.

The Minnacle included equally impressive work by the Foundation junior schools, Crackley Hall and Crescent School. It was wonderful to showcase their pupils' talents too!!

Click here to read The Pinnacle and here if you would like to see The Minnacle.

The Foundation’s junior school in Rugby, the Crescent School, has a new school film. It features their School Promise and is a celebration of their ethos and values.

The film cleverly combines live action with the school’s animated Crescent Promise characters to uniquely bring the different elements of the promise to life. Produced by the Foundation Marketing Team and award-winning Affixxius Films, the film was shot over the Lent Term and aims to communicate how the Crescent School Promise fosters and develops the qualities of kindness and tolerance in a safe and caring environment where staff and families work together to deliver an inspiring, challenging and varied education. ​

Comments, Headmaster, Joe Thackway, “The Crescent School Promise expresses our community’s shared values, it is a simple set of guidelines, developed and shared by all pupils and staff, that helps our pupils become Good Friends, Good Learners and Good Citizens."​

We think it is wonderful. Congratulations to Crescent School, Affixxius Films, Dam Design who created the Promise characters, and to all the pupils and staff who helped and took part in the film - what stars you are! ​

So roll out the red carpet, grab your popcorn, sit back and enjoy the film.

Click here to view the film.