Old Princethorpians

Janette Ratcliffe our fantastic Foundation Archivist for the past four and a half years has moved on to pastures new. Janette left us last week for a full-time post at De Montfort University as an Information Governance Officer

Janette has been with the Foundation since August 2017 during which time she has dealt with a vast range of internal and external archive enquiries from past pupils, teachers and people associated with all of the Foundation schools. She was instrumental in setting up Epexio, the Foundation’s online catalogue of archive resources and digitising parts of the collection to enable much wider access for the community.

Her outreach work included work for the 70th Anniversary of the Crescent School, Heritage Open Days (including building a pandemic lockdown new virtual tour), St Mary’s Priory reunions, virtual reunions with former pupils in the USA and North America, Hong Kong and the Far East and Spanish pupils and the upcoming 75th Anniversary Open House at Crackley Hall. Janette has worked with a number of departments - Outdoor Education, History and RS - supporting teaching and learning through the Archives and her input and support for Development and Marketing has been most valuable.

But perhaps what Janette will be remembered best for, is her Twitter feed, @PFdn_Archives, fascinating, absorbing, engaging, always full of interest and surprise. Many of us have enjoyed her wonderful forays into the photos, artefacts and history of the Foundation’s schools. Her Twitter ramblings have engaged and encouraged interest in the archives for us all.

We are enormously grateful to Janette for all the work she has done for us and wish her all the very best for the future and in her new role. She will be much missed but as with all who leave us, she now joins our alumni community and we look forward to engaging with her in new ways over the coming years. 

As for her Twitter feed well we plan to keep that going so do follow @PFdn_Archives for insights into the Foundation's past!

The very first edition of the Crackley Review was published just before Christmas.

The new yearbook records and reflects the school's last academic year. It gives a super insight into life in school and the wonderful learning that goes on day in day out at Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery.

It is wonderful memento for the children and parents, and we know they will have all enjoyed looking through the stories and photos.

Did you go to Crackley Hall School? Why not have a look through, and see what memories it brings back for you.

Thank you to all who have contributed their time and talents to help us put together this Review and who do so much to make this school such a vibrant, supportive and engaging place of learning.

A copy is attached here that you are welcome to download and share with family and friends.

The Crescent School in Bilton, Rugby, has received the highest possible ratings across all criteria from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) following an inspection in September 2021. The report, which was published in November, consists of two elements, a focused compliance inspection, encompassing statutory standards, and an educational quality inspection evaluating the achievement of pupils, including their academic and personal development.

Headmaster, Joe Thackway, comments “We are thrilled with the report, it is a real vote of confidence for everything we do here at Crescent School and reflects a huge team effort. Every single member of staff shares the same care and devotion to the education and wellbeing of the wonderful children entrusted to our care and I believe this sentiment shines through every word of the report.”

Mr Thackway continues, “Academic achievement and personal development are two key benchmarks for any successful school and being graded as excellent in both of these broad areas demonstrates the incredible talent, commitment and professionalism of our staff, the outstanding attitude and approach of our pupils and the support of our parents.”

During the inspection, the ISI inspectors observed that, ‘Pupils have excellent and positive attitudes to learning’, that ‘They are highly curious, resilient learners’, and that ‘Pupils’ excellent knowledge, skills and understanding are reflected in their achievements across the curriculum’. The report also says, ‘Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage attain well above national age-related expectations’, ‘Older pupils consistently exceed expectations for their age and abilities’, ‘Pupils are consistently successful in entrance examinations to their first-choice school’, and that ‘Many pupils win scholarships for music, drama, art, sport and academic achievement’.

Pupils’ personal development was also judged as ‘excellent’ with inspectors recognising that ‘behaviour is excellent’, that pupils ‘behave with empathy and care towards one another’ and that ‘the open and embedded culture of kindness underpinned by deep mutual respect ensures successful outcomes for all’.

The ISI Inspectors also noted that, parental feedback ‘praised the school’s preparation of former pupils who had successfully and easily transitioned into their new senior school’.

Mr Thackway concludes, “At Crescent School we are committed to providing our pupils with an outstanding all-round education, instilling in our children life-long learning skills while fostering the qualities of kindness, tolerance and mutual respect. I am very pleased that ISI Inspectors have so comprehensively recognised what we do.”

The ISI is the Government-approved body responsible for the inspection of independent schools and they consider every aspect of the provision. A copy of the full report is available from the Crescent School website here.