Old Princethorpians

The College now has a new facebook page, it has been slowing growing in terms of number of likes.

The page can be found by facebook users by going to the following address: https://www.facebook.com/princethorpecollege

We are planning more activity over the coming weeks, so if you havent already please get liking the page.

The College is also embarking into the world of Twitter, we have set up a new Twitter account so please follow us. We are planning to start tweeting very soon!

Find us on Twitter @PrincethorpeCol

The Old Princethorpians have added to their range of corporate merchandise with a new Tower inspired pin badge. The 2cm high badge in nickel with recessed metal detail is based on the Tower logo. 

Priced at £8 including postage and packing (UK only, other destinations please enquire), it is hoped that the badge will appeal to both male and female OPs.

Stocks are available now to order your pin please use the attached order form.

OP ties, cufflinks and scarves are also still available, contact Old Princethorpians for an order form.

OP Pin Order p+p.doc

The College has recently unveiled a ten-year capital expenditure building programme to equip the school with thirteen further classrooms, two IT suites, a state-of-the-art Technology Centre, additional sports pitches, a new theatre and more science laboratories.

Comments, Alex Darkes, “We are dedicated to a programme of development which will improve our facilities, enrich the campus and enhance the experience of our pupils as we continue to take Princethorpe College to the top of its game.

"Our proposals enable us to get rid of eight temporary classrooms which have served us well, but our plans show elegant buildings in their place which will enhance the local environment and make the experience for our pupils and the school community so much better. We also have ambitious plans to improve rugby, cricket and netball with new pitches and additional courts; feedback from parents, pupils, staff and neighbours has been very favourable, which bodes well as we await the outcome of our planning application”.

In March Princethorpe announced that Headmaster, Ed Hester, had been elected to membership of The Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC). HMC has about 250 members, which are generally considered to be the top independent schools in the country.

Ed Hester, who has been in post for three years, previous to which he was Assistant Head at Rugby School, said that he was delighted to have been elected to membership. “This achievement recognises Princethorpe’s exceptionally high standards of teaching and learning, our superb staff and broad extra-curricular programme. We are up there with the very best schools in the country”.

To become a member of HMC, a school must demonstrate very high standards in all areas of its educational provision including public examination results. The school was inspected last autumn as the final stage in the application process. Mr Hester added “We received an extremely uplifting report from the inspection team, members of which were heads of HMC schools. They commented that although we have grown quickly to just over 800 pupils, we have remained true to our founding ethos, where the gospel values of love, service and forgiveness are central to everything which we do.”

Picture shows from left to right, Ian Power, Admissions Secretary for HMC; Ed Hester and Chris Ramsay, Headmaster at The King’s School, Chester.

Princethorpe's inaugural Careers Fair on Saturday 28 April was a resounding success, according to feedback from pupils, parents, staff, presenters and exhibitors. Success which Old Princethorpians played a large part in, making up around half of the presenters on the day.

An audience of over 700 listened to Sainsbury’s CEO Mr Justin King open the event with an inspirational keynote speech about stepping into the world of work. His message was clear, "Work hard and seize opportunities when they arise".

Pupils from Year 9 to Upper Sixth enjoyed a series of presentations given by parents and Old Princethorpians who represented over 50 careers and professions. Fields on show ranged from medicine and nanotechnology to record producing and entrepreneurialism. With a further 12 stalls exhibiting in the College’s Sixth Form Centre offering advice and information on Gap Years, Universities and major business companies there was a tangible buzz as plenty of informal chat took place answering those all important career questions.

Princethorpe College Head of Sixth Form and Careers, Mrs Margaret Robinson was impressed with the slick organisation and quality of advice offered by the guest speakers.

"With the world of careers becoming increasingly tough it is vital that Princethorpe pupils feel well informed about the choices they make. The feedback from pupils has been overwhelmingly positive with many having been offered work experience placements with our guest presenters. It was wonderful to see all elements of the Princethorpe community working together dedicating their time to benefit the future of our young people and the involvement of so many OPs was critical to the success of the event"

Our sincere thanks go to: Kevin Cahill, Finbarr Roche-Kelly, Chris Hobley, Rebecca Andrews, Ruth Dyke, Andy Dorward, Oli Perry, Ciaran Murtagh, Peter Rollason, Adam Watts, Paul Cluett, Nick Cahill, St John White, Marc Marot, Paul Yeung, Helen Robinson, Lauren Robinson and Melissa Symonds.

Old Princethorpian Rod Griffin went the extra mile when he travelled from the other side of the world to offer advice to the College's Gifted and Talented Sportsmen and Women earlier this term.

Rod has been based in Australia for the past 40+ years and works at Ballarat University. In his spare time he coaches middle and distance runners to Olympic standard and after school on Monday 30 April he shared his experiences with the GTSS pupils and their parents, whilst on a seven week trip to the UK with his wife Sandra and friends.

Rod, who attended the College in the late 60s, gave an inspiring talk on his life and work as an athletics coach. Since emigrating he has been closely involved with the development and coaching of many Junior and Senior Cross Country and Middle Distance track runners. Highlights of his career include working with the 5k runner Collis Birmingham who competed at the Beijing Olympics and will be competing again at London 2012, as well as 3k steeple chaser Victoria Mitchell, who has distinctive pink hair.

As a Level 3 Australian Athletics Coach he passed on valuable advice to Princethorpe and Crackley Hall’s promising athletes. He reminded them of the importance of training hard and listening to advice. He talked about goal setting and having a specific focus to enable you to monitor your progress. Rod’s easy manner and cheerful anecdotes went down well with listening parents and pupils.

With London 2012 just around the corner his words had perhaps more relevance than ever with many of us thinking about the GB hopefuls waiting to see if their hard work will reap medal rewards.

Rod was given an Old Princethorpian tie to wear with pride once he is back in Oz. He was delighted to be able to revisit the school and see the changes that had taken place since he was a boy here over 40 years ago.

Old Princethorpian, Matt Parsons, struck just the right chord when he spoke at the recent OPs Festival Day.

Matt, who left in 2002, described the College as a supportive family, which gave him the confidence to overcome a condition called Erbs Palsy which has affected his left arm.

Told he would never play sport beyond a basic level, his determination proved the doctors wrong with him playing cricket for Northamptonshire. He has also become an accomplished guitarist, with his own indie record label, aptly called Leftarm records.

Matt spoke fondly of his teachers and fellow pupils and how his experiences at the school created the foundations for who he is today. A self starter, with a strong work ethic, he believes in setting himself tough targets in order to achieve his dreams.

Matt, who is based in Rugby, has recently become a Brit Mentor for the British Inspiration Trust, inspiring other young people faced by adversity to discover self worth, self belief and self confidence.

It is hoped that we can encourage Matt back into school again soon to talk to our Sixth Formers and perhaps to help with a bit of cricket too!

Click here to find out more about The British Inspiration Trust.

The Festival Day attracted an enthusiastic bunch of OPs, who enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch, trips up the Tower and a good look round school. It was particularly nice to see OPs returning with their young families including Adam White and his wife and twin daughters and Ben Parker, his wife and their three youngsters.

Our thanks go to Fr Teddy O'Brien and Fr Alan Whelan for conducting the Mass and to all those involved in organising the day.

Princethorpe College Year 7 pupils, Henry Lewis, Miriam Isaacs, JJ Van Wyk and Imogen Butler, hoisted the Union Flag up the school’s flagpole in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The flag will fly proudly from the school’s tower throughout the Jubilee celebrations.

The Diamond Jubilee has been the focus of assemblies this week at the school, with celebratory music, prayers and singing of The National Anthem.  

We echo the prayer that will be said at St Paul's on Tuesday 5 June.

God of time and eternity, whose Son reigns as servant, not master; we give you thanks and praise that you have blessed this Nation, the Realms and Territories with Elizabeth, our beloved and glorious Queen.

In this year of Jubilee, grant her your gifts of love and joy and peace as she continues in faithful obedience to you, her Lord and God and in devoted service to her lands and peoples, and those of the Commonwealth, now and all the days of her life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May God bless Queen Elizabeth II.