We launched The Princethorpe Foundation Alumni Award last year, excited to establish a new tradition that will recognise exceptional former pupils from across all our schools who have made a real difference, in their careers, their communities, or through their continued support of the College and our wider Foundation. 

It seemed fitting to present this award at our annual Prize Giving ceremony, to celebrate our alumni community, which is full of incredible individuals quietly achieving amazing things, alongside current families and recent leavers. In doing so, we aim to inspire today’s pupils with stories of what is possible beyond the classroom.

Following the submission of several thoughtful nominations from our Foundation community, the OP Committee ultimately chose John Dawkins, Class of 1998, as the first ever recipient.

John attended Prize Giving with his parents, and Headmaster, Grove du Toit, invited him to the stage to receive his award with the following comments:

"What makes John stand out to our community is his generosity. He has returned to speak with pupils, offered genuine insight into the music business, and even judged our House Singing with his trademark good humour. We’re delighted to recognise his achievements and his continuing connection to the College."

As John said a few words of thanks, he gave a shout out to former pupil OP Zach Rose, who John has recently taken on as an intern at his London office, yet again demonstrating his continued commitment to supporting Princethorpe. He enthusiastically encouraged all the students and the leavers of 2025 in the audience with this message:

"If you’re passionate and you work hard, you can make remarkable things happen. And you’re in a school that will help you discover that 'thing' that makes you tick. Good luck - and if any of you start a band, you know where to find me!"

You can find out more about John and his career, and the Alumni Award, at Princethorpe Connect, here.

Look out for news about the 2026-27 Alumni Award season, which will be launched later this term. In the meantime, you can start thinking - who will you nominate?

New this year, the Alumni Spotlight Wall aims to raise awareness amongst the pupil body of our vibrant and dynamic Old Princethorpian community, of which they will one day be a part.

Situated in the Princethorpe College Sixth Form Centre, it features four alumni profiles per term, plus the winner of the new annual Alumni Award. The posters provide an eye-catching snapshot of the OPs' full profiles which can be found in the Princethorpe Connect OP Profiles Library here, also new this year.

Through these profiles, our Old Princethorpians share memories of their school days, details of their career paths and advice for pupils. They are a powerful tool for building connection, sharing inspiration and perpetuating the Foundation's Spirit of Family ethos. The hope is that it will inspire current pupils to discover and follow their own paths, confident that they remain a life-long member of the Princethorpe Foundation family.

Thank you to the first four OPs who featured for the duration of the Michaelmas Term:

• Javier Contreras (Spanish boarder 1988-1993): AI, Automation and Machine Vision Consultant
• Neil Simms (1997-2002): Lead Performance Physiotherapist for Southampton FC
• Zainah Darr (2011-2018): Children's Human Rights Paralegal
• Molly Geehan (2012-2019): Content Executive for AFC Bournemouth

We are now delighted to reveal our Lent Term alumni, which includes a former Crescent pupil, or Old Crescentian as they are affectionately known, and we thank them for sharing their stories too:

• Eqbal Samra (Princethorpe 1987-1994): Co-Founder and Director, Halcyon Provident
• Dr Owen O'Shea (Princethorpe 1992-1997): Founder, CEO & Principal Research Scientist, Centre for Ocean Research and Education (CORE)
• Melissa Scott (Crescent 2007-2009, Princethorpe 2009-2016): Associate Solicitor, HCR Law
• Kathryn Lavery (Princethorpe 2013-2016): Junior Commercial Manager, AtkinsRéalis

Why not visit the OP Profiles Library, and learn a bit more about some of your fellow OPs?

Would you like to complete an OP Profile? Please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk; we'd love to hear from you.

At the start of December, our Upper Sixth students were treated to a fresh and personal perspective on career pathways and job-readiness, from a former pupil who is not yet ten years out of school.

Old Princethorpian, Jacob Leng, attended the College from 2012 to 2017, and in eight short years he has established himself as Co-Founder and Managing Director of two consultancy companies - Eduwise Consulting and JF Kapital. Jacob shared how his post-Princethorpe journey did not follow a conventional pathway, but that the values instilled in him at the College helped him to make the most of opportunities and connections that came his way. The students listened attentively as Jacob advised them to start building their personal brand now, with tips on how to approach challenges, how to establish and grow their network, and how to use LinkedIn to market themselves and foster valuable relationships.

Then later that month, Princethorpe was delighted to welcome back James O'Regan, Class of 2007, to share his career insights and post-Princethorpe journey with our Year 11 pupils.

James is Director of Zone Cee Ltd, a Birmingham-based construction company for commercial, education, industrial and Local Authority clients. He talked with gratitude about his early years at Princethorpe and of how staff encouraged him to continue on to A-levels. He reminded pupils of the importance of being determined and of grabbing the opportunity to succeed. He peppered his talk with advice that spoke not just to those interested in a career in construction-related fields, but to all pupils, and they responded thoughtfully in an enthusiastic Q & A session. James' parting message to the pupils was clear, "Believe in yourself, be grateful, give it your all and be proud of your effort."

Huge thanks to both Jacob and James for taking the time to visit and for generously sharing their stories with our pupils. It is incredibly valuable and inspiring to hear from Old Princethorpians who have walked the same halls and can offer a personal glimpse into life beyond school. 

If you would you be happy to share your story or career insights with current pupils, do get in touch. Email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk; we'd love to hear from you.

Recent leaver and former Art Scholar, OP Genevieve Slater-Tucker's stunning picture Metamorphosis was awarded second place in the Painting Over 16 class at the Independent Schools Association’s prestigious National Art Competition.

Her painting had qualified for the competition after winning the local regional round and the judging for the nationals took place at the ISA's National Conference in November in Kenilworth.

The painting was part of her coursework for her A-level Art examination. It featured how humans and nature mirror each other in their development and journey from childhood to adulthood. It was a striking, life-like image and a well-deserved winner.

Genevieve was always a talented artist, back at GCSE she was one of the country's top scorers in her OCR GCSE Art and Design: Fine Art qualification. Her A-level work proved equally impressive.

A further four pupils had been awarded top honours in the Regional ISA Art Competition. 

Exceptional draughtsman, OP Hugo Sandilands, took first place for his brilliant work, Spirals, in the Over 16 Drawing class, this was created during a 15 hour externally set task timed examination and shows his dedication to realism; he is deserving of this public recognition.

OP, and former Art Scholar, Amaanya Bose’s compendium of drawings Fragmented took second place in the very competitive Over 16 Sketchbook class. Exploring themes about Fragmentation, OCD and ‘grounding techniques’, her Sketchbook submission showcased her preparations for her final piece that was also of an incredibly high standard.

Then, Lower Sixth Former, Cassia O'Hanlon took second place for her KS4 Sketchbook submission People and Places, which showed the development of her ideas for her final coursework for her GCSE Art NEA Portfolio.

Finally, talented photographer, Amelie Edge received a Highly Commended in the Photography Over 16 class for her stunning photo Watching and Waiting. The photo was an original unedited work, part of her personal investigations for her final A-level examination. It was first-rate work and worthy of its recognition in the competition.

We congratulate  them all.

Made up of representatives from across the schools of the Princethorpe Foundation, including its heritage schools, and spanning multiple generations, the OP Committee is a vibrant company of volunteers who deeply care about sustaining and enhancing the connection between the Foundation and its community of former pupils, parents and staff, and enriching the relationships within the Old Princethorpian network.

The committee meets termly to achieve these aims, formulating plans, establishing initiatives and tracking progress. January's meeting was highly encouraging as members reported back on some excellent progress made across the five foundational pillars. This included:

• Successful launch of the first ever Alumni Award - Winner, John Dawkins (see article in Alumni News section of this issue)
• OP Professional Profiles initiative is now established and receiving positive response
• Unprecedented success with Crackley Hall's 80th anniversary Open House event - over 165 former pupils and staff spanning eight decades
• Strongest year to date for money raised across appeals and funds pledged

There was enthusiastic discussion at the meeting as the committee determined its next steps, with members lending their own expertise and insights to aid decision-making. Some key next steps for you to be aware of:

• The College's Diamond Jubilee Year, 2026-27: Plans are underway to provide multiple opportunities for the wider community to help us mark and celebrate this milestone in the College's history (see details in the College News section of this issue).
• Launching a drive to recruit OPs who can offer Work Experience placements for current Year 10, 11 and 12 pupils (see article in College News section of this issue).
• Launch of the 2026-27 Alumni Award season - who will you nominate?

Our sincere appreciation goes to all members of the committee for their continued energy, insight and generosity. If you have any suggestions to put to the committee, or would like to get involved yourself, we would love to hear from you. Please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

Alan Stocker was a boarding pupil at Princethorpe College from 1989 to 1994, and had not been back to the College since then! He now resides in Melbourne, Australia, and reached out to the College to ask if he could visit with his children while he was in the UK for Christmas, commenting, "I would simply love to bring my children to see the school that I went to; I'm particularly keen to show them my Year photos!"

Alan and his children visited on January 9, and were given a guided tour by Alumni Relations and Development Officer, Caroline Spencer. Many memories were evoked during the visit, as they took in familiar spots such as his form room, where he spoke fondly of his form tutor, Alex Darkes. Alan kindly wrote some of these down to email us after the visit:

“Thanks so much for the tour; it was super special and brought back a lot of memories.

As we walked around the former boarding wing (now the pastoral corridor) I recalled the late-night pillow fights and the chaos of kids running between rooms, and then running back to their own rooms at the sight of the teachers' torches.

Seeing Father Whelan, who became Headmaster just before I left, I recalled activating the alarm in the computer room after-hours, which went off in his office. I had been entrusted with the key but had forgotten how to reactive the alarm. He was not too pleased when he came down - startled, thinking that the school was being burgled - only to find me instead! It was lovely to bump into him as we were leaving, and be able to laugh about this together.

The visit was amazing, and it is such a wonderful facility you offer to former pupils to reconnect with their past and see the transformation of the school. Please pass along my best to the Griffins and Mr Darkes."

We truly enjoy welcoming former pupils back to the College and hearing their stories. If you would like to arrange your own visit, please get in touch at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

It is a common occurrence that our schools receive enquiries from former pupils asking to visit the school for a look around, whether they're temporarily in the area or they just haven't been back for a long time and want to see how the school's developed. It is always a joy to welcome them back and hear their memories.

In January, we enjoyed catching up with OP Steve Doherty (Class of 1988). Steve's nostalgia was sparked by our social media Christmas countdown, The Twelve Doors of Princethorpe, which motivated him to try and identify a few of those Christmas doors in real life. It was a pleasure to hear Steve's stories as he wandered the school grounds, commenting, "The school clearly continues to do a very great job. The pupils I saw were all so polite and mannerly - admittedly, I wasn’t there for lunch break!"

Later that week, we welcomed multiple generations and branches of the Postlethwaite family. Brothers, Stephen and Rob Postlethwaite, were Princethorpe weekly boarders until the early 1970s, and included in the party was their nephew, Richard Wood, and Stephen's children, Sean and Michaela - all of whom also attended the College until the early 2000s. Michaela reflected afterwards, "We all really enjoyed the visit - it was a wonderful trip down memory lane and, for us former students, we enjoyed the memories it brought back."

We're delighted these OPs paid us a visit and look forward to more OPs getting in touch to arrange their own visits, at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk.

We are on the lookout for Old Crescentians who would be willing to come back to Crescent School to talk to our Year 6 pupils about their careers and the pathway they took from Crescent to where they are now. It could be someone who has recently embarked on their career or someone who is more established. What’s important is that they would be happy to spend half an hour sharing their experiences with our pupils.

To take part, you would need to be able to come into school during Year 6’s community week, which takes place this year from Monday 22 June to Friday 26 June 2026. 

For more information, please email Deputy Head Academic, Bryony Forth, at bryonyforth@crescentschool.co.uk

Bryony Syrotiuk, former St Joseph's pupil and OP Class of 1998, was the lucky recipient of this year's Princethorpe Connect Christmas Prize Draw, winning a Virginia Hayward Mistletoe Hamper.

Bryony attended St Joseph's Convent School, now Crackley Hall, from 1990 to 1996, and went on to complete her A-levels at Princethorpe in 1998. Her connection to Princethorpe has continued as her children now attend the school. 

Bryony was surprised and delighted to learn that her engagement with our Old Princethorpian community platform, Princethorpe Connect, resulted in her winning the Christmas Prize Draw. Upon hearing the news, she exclaimed 'I never win anything!'

Bryony told us about her long history with the Foundation:

"I'm a former pupil of both St Joseph’s and Princethorpe College, and when I saw the post on the Old Princethorpians Instagram about joining Princethorpe Connect, I thought it was such a lovely way to reconnect with old school friends and the school itself. I’m really glad I signed up - especially because I ended up winning this amazing festive hamper! I have so many great memories from my time at Princethorpe, and it’s even more special now that two of my children go there too. Every time I drive up the driveway to drop them off or pick them up, I still get that same feeling of home and happiness that I had as a pupil!"

We hope Bryony and her family enjoyed tucking into the collection of tasty treats.

Stuck for a gift idea for the OPs in your life? Look no further as items from our alumni range of merchandise make the perfect present for birthdays, anniversaries or even just a treat for yourself!

We have our Heritage Buildings Trio fine art print and cards as well as all the other popular items:

• Socks with the distinctive Tower design on dark blue background with thin diagonal stripe - priced £9.00 + postage
• A university-style scarf (in 100% wool with navy blue, red and gold stripes) - priced  £31 + postage
• T-bar cufflinks with a gold Tower design - priced £26 + postage
• The Old Princethorpian tie. A classic 100% silk tie with a repetitive gold Tower design and thin red diagonal stripes on a dark blue background - priced £19 + postage and packing.
• Tower pin badge. The 2cm high badge in nickel with recessed metal detail is based on the Tower logo - priced £11 + postage
• A Spirit Of Family: The First Fifty Years Of Princethorpe College - produced to mark the College's Golden Jubilee, this beautiful keepsake is a reflection on the first fifty years of Princethorpe College. Written by Nick Baker and Alex Darkes, it was published on 1 September 2016 - now reduced to £10 + postage.
• The Soaring Redbrick Tower Fine Art prints and cards sized at A2 for £40, A3 for £25 and as an A5 greetings card for £3.
• St. Joseph's Convent and School Fine Art print for £12.

Stocks are available to order online from Princethorpe Connect, please click here.

Princethorpe College has unveiled exciting plans for its Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2026-27.

Planning for a programme of events is now well underway, with a wealth of opportunities for the wider school community to get involved in celebrating the school’s 60^th anniversary.

Some of the highlights will include:

• A special event marking the 125^th anniversary of the Consecration of Princethorpe’s beautiful Our Lady of the Angels Chapel on Friday 8 May 2026. Members of the parish and invited guests will attend a special Mass, led by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, with music created and performed for the occasion, and a talk on the historic grade 2 listed Chapel.
   
• The popular OPs vs College Sports Day will get a revamp and feature as part of a special Jubilee Friday Night Lights on Friday 4 September 2026, with OP teams and College teams pitched against each other and local rivals in Football, Netball, Hockey and Rugby.  A BBQ and Bar will be available. This will also see the unveiling of our newly refurbished Astro.
   
• On Saturday 5 September 2026 the College’s grounds will be transformed for a glittering black-tie Diamond Jubilee Ball. Some 300 plus guests will be able to partake in fine dining and dancing to live music in a beautiful marquee in the College’s stunning grounds before carriages at midnight.
   
• During the Summer Half Term of 2027 we are considering a three-day 40-Mile Jubilee Walking Pilgrimage in either Somerset or Norfolk for parents, former parents, staff and former staff, taking in historic religious sites, beautiful countryside and fine local hostelries, all in aid of Mary’s Meals.
   
• Bringing the anniversary year to a happy conclusion, Princefest II, the College’s big festival weekend, will return over Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 June 2027 with on-site camping, music, entertainment, stalls and food aplenty, plus our very own funfair in the playground and a fireworks finale on the Saturday, with a more relaxed day including Mass on the Sunday.

Comments Grove du Toit, Headmaster, “We are beyond excited and buzzing about our plans for the College’s Diamond Jubilee next year. It promises to be a wonderful celebration of the College and its ‘spirit of family’, filled with memory-making fun and friendship and we look forward to welcoming all those connected with the College and Foundation, past and present, to our events over the course of the year.

More detailed information and how to book will be shared later in the year. If you are a musician or performer and would like to be involved in Princefest II please email oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk. 

The Old Princethorpians Committee is excited to be working closely with Princethorpe College to establish a bank of Work Experience placement opportunities, representing as many career sectors as possible, for our Year 10, 11 and Lower Sixth pupils.

Placements will occur during the school holidays, in person, and the duration can be anything from one day up to five; the key principle is quality over quantity.

In addition to enriching the College’s Careers Programme, it is hoped that many of these placements will be offered by OPs so as to strengthen the bonds between current and former Princethorpians and cement the Old Princethorpian Association as the vibrant, supportive and engaged community we know it to be.

The OP Committee is leading by example, having already offered placements of their own and begun to spread the word and engage OP networks. We invite you to partner with us in growing this bank of placements and establishing a community of OP Work Experience providers.

Are you able to offer a placement to one of our pupils, or do you work for a company who could? Perhaps you have a contact you think would be interested?

If you think you could help, or if you would simply like to find out more, please complete our short, no-commitment form, via the link below or by scanning the attached QR code, to submit your expression of interest. A member of the Careers team will be in touch with you directly to provide further information and answer any questions. Please also feel free to share this link with your contacts - OP or otherwise.

Work Experience Expression Of Interest

We are excited to see this initiative develop and, on behalf of all Princethorpe pupils, we thank you in advance for your support, whatever form that takes.

Warmest regards,

The OP Committee

Back in October, the College was delighted to receive its latest assessment from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). Princethorpe was judged to have fully met all the standards in every area following a visit in September 2025.

The report follows a new framework which examines standards in five key areas: 

• leadership and management and governance
• the quality of education, training and recreation
• pupils’ physical and mental health and emotional well being
• pupils’ social and economic education and contribution to society
• safeguarding 

Headmaster, Grove du Toit, commented “We were thrilled with this report, and with the inspectors’ feedback, it was a ringing endorsement for everything we do here at Princethorpe College and reflects a huge team effort.

He continued, “We are particularly proud that the inspectors recognised the strength of our school’s values and purpose, our school rules ‘Be kind and do your best’ and the powerful impact these have on pupils and their learning, ‘As a result, pupils are able to be themselves and to develop their own personalities’. Alongside pupils’ wellbeing, pupil achievement is always a key benchmark for any successful school, and I am very pleased that the inspectors commended the quality of our teaching and learning, commenting that pupils make ‘good progress over time, feel supported and challenged in their learning, and gain the confidence and competence needed to thrive’.”

During the inspection, the ISI inspectors also observed that, ‘Teaching is characterised by effective planning, responsive classroom practice and the use of varied strategies that promote engagement and skill development’, that ‘Teaching is closely monitored and consequently all pupils have the opportunity to make good progress’, and that ‘Pupils are offered a broad curriculum which prepares them for a wide range of opportunities in their next steps in education or employment’.

Referencing the College’s extensive co-curricular programme, the inspectors commented that, ‘The curriculum is complemented by a well-resourced co-curricular programme, which benefits pupils of all ages’, and that ‘The programme of recreational activities is broad, inclusive and purposefully designed to support the development of a wide range of pupil skills beyond the academic curriculum, including for pupils in the sixth form’.

The inspectors also recognised that ‘The school environment is calm and purposeful. Pupils benefit from a supportive learning environment where behaviour is well managed’, that ‘High expectations across the school are underpinned by the school’s aim’. The College’s vertical house tutoring system was also highlighted, ‘The arrangement of having tutor groups consisting of pupils of all ages promotes a family and community spirit in the school, which contributes positively to pupils’ personal development’.

Looking outwards to the wider world the inspectors found that pupils ‘take responsibility through initiatives they lead themselves, such as volunteering for environmental groups, sixth form mentoring and fundraising activities’, that ‘These encourage pupils to take responsibility for their actions and contribute to the school and wider society’, and that ‘The school fosters pupils’ understanding of human and social issues …informed by the Catholic values of the school which pupils link with positive behaviour and respect for others’.

The ISI Inspectors also noted that, ‘Leaders have a clear vision for school development based on effective monitoring and self-evaluation’, and that ‘Governors assure themselves that the standards are met by effective scrutiny’.

Mr du Toit concluded, “At Princethorpe nothing matters more to us than providing every single pupil with the very best opportunities to flourish and to enable them to move on to their next pathway of choice. We are a school where pupils can develop to become well-educated, articulate young people, ready to take their place in society, with a true sense of values and purpose. I am delighted that the ISI Inspectors have so comprehensively recognised this in their report.”

Foundation Principal, Ed Hester, added, “As a Foundation we are committed to making our schools' environments a place where every child can thrive, both academically and personally and it is affirming to have this recognised by the ISI. Within the last year, all three of the Foundation’s schools have been inspected by the ISI and all have been recognised for their commitment to the individual success of every pupil. It is a tremendous endorsement of the Foundation’s approach.”

A copy of the report is available to read here and is also available on the ISI’s website.

The ISI is the Government-approved body responsible for the inspection of independent schools and they consider every aspect of the provision.

Another exceptional year of achievement, progress, creativity and contribution was celebrated at Princethorpe College’s annual Prize Giving Ceremony at the Butterworth Hall, at Warwick University Arts Centre on Friday 28 November. Before the ceremony, the Old Princethorpians Committee hosted a special Drinks Reception for the returning Class of 2025 and their parents, providing a welcome opportunity for last year’s cohort to get together and catch up.

Chair of Trustees, John Fisher, opened the proceedings, warmly welcoming parents, friends of the College and Princethorpians old and new to the occasion and then Father Alan Whelan MSC then led the assembled community in an opening prayer.

In his formal address, the Headmaster, Grove du Toit, gave thanks to all those who make Princethorpe the special place it is. He reflected on all that has happened this last year and encouraged us to celebrate and appreciate the journey of our pupils. He reminded pupils that they are, and always will be, a part of the Old Princethorpian family and encouraged them to stay in touch.

This year marked the introduction of a new award, the Princethorpe Foundation Alumni Award, to recognise alumni who have made an exceptional contribution in their field. It was with great pleasure that Foundation Principal, Ed Hester, presented John Dawkins, Class of 1998, and Managing Director of Various Artists Management, with the award.

All evening the atmosphere was joyful and celebratory and there were superb musical interludes from the school String Orchestra, Concert Band and the Year 7 Chorus.

Listening to the citations for the awards was truly inspiring and humbling. The talent in evidence, the grit and determination, the passion, enthusiasm and commitment were all applauded and honoured.

We were particularly delighted to welcome Jide Olanrewaju and his son, Timi, to this year's Prize Giving to present the Biodun Olanrewaju Memorial Prize to Lower Sixth Former, Joe McCullough.

The final award, the Princethorpe Shield, presented annually to the student who is seen to embody the spirit and ethos of the College, was presented to Jemima Teeton. It was a very popular decision, with the audience cheering as a delighted and surprised Jemima came up to receive the Shield.

Foundation Principal, Ed Hester then spoke echoing Mr du Toit’s congratulations, before the current Heads of School, Francesca Kelly and Will Gower, gave an eloquent vote of thanks.

The evening came to a close with the singing of the College Hymn, Here I Am Lord.

More photos from the event are available on Princethorpe Connect here.

Princethorpe College has been awarded Microsoft Showcase School status and is delighted to join an elite group of schools from across the world recognised for their digital expertise and innovative and effective approach to technology innovation in teaching and learning.

As a Showcase School, the College now works closely with Microsoft to lead innovation in education, by harnessing the power of technology to promote a technological education transformation vision and by mentoring and supporting other schools.

Princethorpe’s recognition follows an extensive application process that evaluated how technology is used in teaching and in the classroom and in how the school fosters creative and innovative digital developments across all areas of school life. It also reflects the College’s commitment to digital up-skilling with three resident ‘Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts’ amongst our staff body and a further 60 staff currently completing digital professional development.

Foundation Director of Digital Strategy, Andy Compton, comments, “Achieving Microsoft Showcase School status has been a key focus of our Digital Development Strategy which is focused on leveraging technology to ensure pupils develop the digital skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological world. As a Microsoft Showcase School, the College will continue to drive and develop tailored and personalised learning for pupils by embedding technology into the school’s teaching across the curriculum. This award helps us to continue to empower teachers and leaders to develop the teaching and learning in their subject areas, using digital tools in conjunction with our focus on challenge, creativity and curiosity in the classroom.” 

The ESAA Cross Country Cup Final was a truly outstanding day of sport, full of tenacious performances on a seriously challenging course that looped across the fields and up through the woods; steep inclines, technical descents and plenty of gloriously, squelchy mud. The College was honoured to host this prestigious national event and to welcome over 1,000 competitors from some 120 schools from all across the country. It was the fourth time the Schools’ Cross Country Cup Nationals has come to Princethorpe in the event's long history, and we were especially pleased to be able to host the event this year, the ESAA 100th anniversary year, and the very last time our much-loved former Director of Sport, Gwil Price, was a part of the organising team.

Teams had battled hard to qualify to compete on the national stage, through local and regional rounds, and just after midday the races kicked off with the top Junior Girl teams heading off around the course. Next up were the Junior Boys and Princethorpe’s first competitors taking on a course of 2,650 metres. They were raring to go, ready to embrace the experience. 

The Inter Girls and Inter Boys races went well although the course conditions were increasingly muddy but the weather turned as the Senior Girls, and Princethorpe’s second team, headed into the start pens. Freezing, squally rain drenched the competitors as they prepared to set off on their 3,400 metres race. Our Senior Girls never fail to do us proud; great sportswomen and brilliant competitors who gave everything to gain the very best result possible for their team, an incredible 13th overall nationally. 

Huge thanks to all our staff and student helpers and to all the ESAA volunteers without whom the event could not have taken place, but particular thanks had to go to our incredible Foundation Facilities team led by our Foundation Director of Facilities, Rob Heath. 

We congratulated the winning runners at the after-event awards ceremony.

You can find highlights of the races on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@vinco_sport 

Pupils and staff at Princethorpe College are celebrating the news that the school’s all-weather pitch will be resurfaced along with other improvements to the facility, in readiness for the start of term in September.

Nottingham-based SIS Pitches have been appointed as the main contractor for the project and will move their team onto the College campus to start work in late June. The old surface will be removed and fully recycled before work begins to install the new FIH Category 3 sand-dressed surface along with new training areas and covered dug outs for players and officials.

Grove du Toit, Headmaster, comments, “This new project builds on our recent campus developments and is the first exciting step in our Vision for Sport at Princethorpe. A key investment in our sporting facilities, it has been kindly supported by the fundraising of our Parent Teacher Association and through generous donations to our Annual Fund by parents and former pupils.”

The state-of-the-art pitch, which will be suitable for local and national competitions, will primarily be used for hockey training and the College’s busy schedule of fixtures. It will also be available for multi-sport hire by external clubs and organisations outside of school hours.

Lee Cassell, Foundation Director of Sport, adds, “The new surface will dramatically enhance the playing experience for all our students, and I have no doubt that it will inspire and transform the development and performance of our teams over the years to come.”

Joe Shaw, Commercial Director of SIS Pitches, concludes, “We are looking forward to working in partnership with Princethorpe College to deliver what promises to be an exceptional addition to their sporting facilities.”

SIS Pitches are globally recognised industry leaders in pitch technology, having worked for organisations such as the International Hockey Federation (FIH), FIFA and World Rugby.

The latest edition of the College’s magazine, The Tower Review, is now available. Telling the story of the last school year, term by term, it celebrates the adventures, achievements and successes of pupils from Year 7 through to Upper Sixth. It includes highlights such as Prize Giving and the College's productions as well as reviews of sporting events and House competitions. 2024/25 was an incredible year filled full of wonderful and memorable moments. 

A keepsake copy of the magazine has been mailed to the leavers of 2025. You can also read The Tower Review here.

We have had plenty of dark, damp mornings this winter so we know you will all enjoy these stunning winter sunrise photos captured by Dekk Brain, Site Supervisor, on one of his many early starts here at Princethorpe College. The colours are so vibrant and the reflections in the window of G5, once the playroom, then for a long time a science lab and now the staff room, just incredible. Scroll through the gallery and enjoy them all. 

Thinking of becoming a teacher? Then why not consider training at Princethorpe College. 

Whether you are a new graduate or contemplating a career change, we have opportunities available across the subjects but particularly for those with a degree relating to STEAM.

Through our association with the Lion Alliance, we offer a year’s training as part of the School Led Route, leading to Qualified Teacher Status. Placements would be at Princethorpe and also at other schools within the Lion Alliance. Our training via the Lion Alliance is supported by Warwick University. 

Teacher training at Princethorpe is a popular and successful scheme, we have trained over 60 teachers with our programme now in its seventh year.

Bursaries from the government of between £10,000 and £28,000 are available to support those training in Chemistry, Computing, Maths, Physics, Languages, Geography, Biology, Design Technology, Art and design, English, Music and Religious Studies.

Our Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning, Dr Liz Pyne is happy to offer advice about the different routes into teaching and what Princethorpe can offer you. Please email: lizpyne@princethorpe.co.uk

Further information about the Lion Alliance can be found here: www.thelionalliance.co.uk

Information about Getting into Teaching and possible bursaries can be found here: getintoteaching.education.gov.uk

At The Princethorpe Foundation, philanthropy has always played a quiet but vital role in shaping pupil experience.

The Annual Fund is how our community comes together, year after year, to support what matters most, widening access through bursaries and hardship support, enhancing facilities, and ensuring the schools continue to offer an outstanding all-round education.

What is the Annual Fund?

The Annual Fund is our core fundraising programme. Rather than supporting one single project, it allows the Foundation to respond flexibly to need and opportunity across the schools.

Gifts to the Annual Fund help to:

• support pupils whose families need help with fees;
• enhance learning, pastoral care and co-curricular provision; and
• invest in facilities that enrich day-to-day school life.

Why participation matters more than size

One of the most important measures of a healthy Annual Fund is participation.

When many alumni and former parents choose to give, even at a modest level, it:

• creates sustainable, predictable support;
• demonstrates belief in the school’s mission; and
• allows the Foundation to plan with confidence.

Regular monthly gifts, in particular, have a powerful cumulative effect. Over time, they quietly make a very real difference to pupils’ lives.

A track record of impact

Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Annual Fund has:

• supported pupils through bursaries and fee-remission;
• contributed to improvements in learning and pastoral environments; and
• strengthened our school’s ability to look after pupils when families face unexpected difficulty.

This impact is not the result of a few large gifts alone, but of many people choosing to stay connected and give what they can.

How you can help

If Princethorpe College, Crackley Hall or Crescent School played a positive role in your life, or in your family’s, the Annual Fund is a simple way to give something back. This could be:

• A regular gift of £5 or £10 a month
• A one-off donation, if that suits you better

Every gift counts. Every supporter matters.

Together, small acts of generosity create lasting opportunity.

Click here to donate. Thank you.

Thanks to the generosity and encouragement of the wider community, the smallholding is moving from idea into reality and will soon begin playing a practical role in school life, supporting outdoor learning, sustainability, land-based skills and a real understanding of food, farming and stewardship among our pupils.

As we begin setting things up, we wondered whether some within our farming community might be able to help in a very practical way. We are currently looking for items such as:

• Wooden sleepers suitable for raised beds
• Water butts and associated fittings
• Polytunnels (or materials suitable for building them)
• Any surplus equipment or materials that could support early planting and cultivation

If you have items you’d be willing to donate, or advice you’d be happy to share, it would be hugely appreciated.

There’s absolutely no expectation, but if this is something you’d like to discuss, please do get in touch. I will be very happy to chat or arrange a visit to show you what we’re building.

Thank you, as always, for the support you show the College and the wider Foundation, and for the role you play in the life of our community.

With warmest regards,

Steve Kowal
Director of Development

After sixteen years of outstanding leadership, Ed Hester has decided to retire as Foundation Principal at the end of the Summer Term 2027. 

Ed will be well known to many Foundation families, having joined Princethorpe College as Headmaster and Senior Foundation Head in September 2009. Following the appointment of Grove du Toit as Headmaster at the College in January 2023 he has been able to focus solely on the role of Foundation Principal. 

Under Ed’s ambitious and strategic leadership, the Foundation has gone from strength to strength. During his tenure, he has overseen significant capital investment across the schools, guided successful mergers with Abbotsford School in 2010 and Crescent School in 2016, and provided clear, steady leadership through the challenges of Covid and more recent economic pressures. 

Throughout his time in office, Ed has been a consistent champion of the Foundation’s distinctive ethos and spirit of family, fostering an environment in which academic excellence, outstanding pastoral care and a rich co-curricular life enable young people to flourish. 

As John Fisher, Chair of Trustees, noted in his message to parents last week, Ed will leave the Foundation “in a very strong position, with fine Heads and senior leadership, a committed staff body and full rolls of high-achieving pupils, ready for the next stage of its strategic development.” 

The Trustees have begun the process of identifying Ed’s successor, with the aim of appointing an exceptional leader who will embody the Foundation’s values and continue to shape a bold vision for the years ahead. Ed will, of course, remain firmly at the helm for the next 18 months. 

We thank Ed for all he has given to the Foundation and the wider Princethorpe community, and we know current families will join us in wishing him well as he looks ahead to his retirement. 

To hear a message from Ed about his news, please click here.

On Saturday 4 October, Crackley Hall was delighted to welcome back former pupils and staff for a special Open House, marking 80 years since the school moved to its current site in Kenilworth.

The morning's celebratory tone was set with a fantastic opening performance by Crackley Hall's Chamber Choir and Choral Group, led by Director of Music, Susan Olden, a former St Joseph's pupil herself. Headmaster, Rob Duigan, offered a formal welcome, expressing the school's deep gratitude for those present, saying: "We are who we are because of who went before us". He made special mention of Sister Philomena, whose continued connection with the school since her tenure as Headmistress has been one of the highlights of his time at Crackley over the past 15 years.

Sister Philomena then joined Rob on stage, along with other much-loved former members of staff - Rachel Taylor, Anna Bond and Susanne Jackson-Mayne, for an informal conversation to share anecdotes and insights from years past.

This was followed by three former pupils who shared their memories; between them, spanning 40 years of the school's history. There was much laughter, nods of recognition and the occasional watery eye as their stories triggered memories throughout the room.

To close the formal portion of the morning, guests heard from Foundation Principal, Ed Hester. He spoke of the historic relationship between the Sisters of Mercy and Princethorpe College and acknowledged their shared vision and values, commenting: "The values that were taught by the Sisters of Mercy, not least to have a sense of humour and to enjoy life, are the same values that Crackley Hall and the wider Foundation espouses today; we want to educate people because we want good people in our world."

During the morning, guests also had the opportunity to explore the school and peruse the archives display, specially curated by Foundation Archivist Jo Wong.

It was a privilege to welcome back so many former pupils and staff from across the decades, and witness the strong sense of community that endures today. You can read more about this special celebration, and view all photos from the morning, on Princethorpe Connect, here.

After a rigorous selection process, The Princethorpe Foundation was delighted to announce the appointment of Matt Aston as the new Head of Crescent School with effect from September 2026. He will take over the headship from Joe Thackway who retires at the end of this academic year after nine years of outstanding service. Matt will also become a member of the Foundation’s Executive Committee.

Matt is a very experienced prep school Head, with a strong track record of success in school leadership and management. A Psychology graduate with 23 years’ experience in education, he has taught in both the state and independent sectors. His early career was based around the West Midlands, but he has recently returned to the UK after ten years overseas, latterly in Saudi Arabia as Head of Aldenham Prep in Riyadh and prior to that in Kazakhstan as Head of Junior School at Haileybury Almaty.

Committed to a clear educational vision focused on providing a happy, nurturing environment where quality learning takes place and the needs of each child are fulfilled, Matt will be responsible for the management and strategic direction of Crescent School as part of the wider Princethorpe Foundation.

Married with four children, Matt is also a committed endurance athlete, having completed Ironman triathlons and marathons in his spare time.

Commenting on the appointment Ed Hester, Foundation Principal said, “We had a very strong field of candidates for the post and Matt impressed us all with his enthusiasm, knowledge and insight, his fine educational credentials and swift rapport with the children. We are confident that he is the right person to take the Crescent to new heights and we will also value his contribution to the overall Foundation.”

He continued, “Our sincere thanks go to Joe Thackway who has led the Crescent from strength to strength over the last nine years. Under his headship the school has grown in reputation and pupil numbers, there have been major improvements to its facilities and resources and the school has passed two ISI inspections with flying colours.”

In accepting the position Matt commented, “I am excited and honoured to take on the Headship of Crescent School and lead it into the next stage of its development, building on the exceptional work of Joe Thackway. I recognise and fully appreciate what a special community Crescent School is and upholding its values and building on its success will be central to my role. I am really looking forward to meeting and building relationships with staff, pupils and parents over the coming months.”

Long standing Crescent School Assistant Head and OP Sarah Webb (formerly known as Mrs Lowe and née Mitchell) has decided that after 25 years the time is right for her to bid farewell to Crescent and have more time for herself and to spend with her grandchildren.

Sarah's connections with the Foundation are strong and wide. Generations of the Mitchell family have passed through the school with Sarah herself attending the College's Sixth Form from 1987 to 1989 and her children subsequently attended both schools.

Sarah joined the Crescent School in Bilton Rugby as a teacher in 2001, when her son Jim was in Year 1 and daughter Evie started Reception. She has been a familiar figure to generations of Crescent pupils and families, having held many roles over her time at the school, not least as Year 6 teacher, supporting children in their transition on to senior school. As a specialist teacher, she has also shared her love of English and History and her other responsibilities have included overseeing Crescent's co-curricular programme, open events and last but not least educational visits, including of course, the Year 6 Residential Trip to Slapton Sands, a rite of passage for all Year 6 leavers. Sarah has always enjoyed organising school events, pouring countless cups of tea and coffee for visitors as she welcomed parents into school.

Everyone in the Foundation wishes Sarah well for the future and we will find a suitable way to thank her properly for her contributions later in the year.

Friday 16 January is Founder’s Day at Crescent School, and this year the school celebrated its 78th anniversary. During the week, pupils came together for a special Founder’s Day assembly where the children enjoyed a fascinating Q&A with Crescent School’s past, present and future headteachers.

In a light-hearted and amusing role-play, children confidently took on the roles of Mrs Mortimer, Mrs Barrett, Mr Wren, Mrs Vickers and Mr Marshall respectively while current headmaster, Mr Thackway, and Mr Aston, who will take over as headteacher in September, were themselves. Interviewed in turn by the very excellent Q&A organiser and host, Mrs Dewes, the headteachers from across the decades shared their key achievements and proudest moments, and the watching pupils were interested and surprised to discover the similarities and differences between life at the school then and now.

Mr Thackway was given a particularly warm welcome when he stepped up on stage. He shared just how proud he is of the lasting impact of the Crescent School Promise, which was reviewed and relaunched after he joined Crescent, eight years ago.

Mr Aston was the last to be interviewed and warmly greeted all the children. Crescent’s pupils had all been given the chance to submit questions for Mr Aston and, in turn, a representative from each class, stepped forward to ask one. The school community was impressed to find out that Mr Aston is a triathlete, that he speaks some Russian, that he has taught most primary year groups, has four children and can even tell funny jokes!

The children all enjoyed meeting Mr Aston and learning a little more about him alongside the history of their school. It was an engaging and enjoyable way to celebrate the history of Crescent School.

Little Crackers Nursery’s new Ladybirds Room, for babies and toddlers, from 9 months to 2 years old, is now open and has begun to welcome new little ones starting their exciting Little Crackers learning journey.

The Nursery, which is based at the Foundation's Prep School, Crackley Hall, on the Coventry Road in Kenilworth, now caters for babies from 9-months-old up to pre-school children, providing flexible, dedicated year-round (51-week) care for busy and working families. Nursery sessions run from 7.45pm to 6.00pm, with mornings, afternoons, long days and full weeks available.

The new Ladybirds room is a small setting, taking up to nine babies only, with a team of three dedicated staff members delivering tailored, individual care and attention in the natural nursery setting. Situated at the heart of Crackley Hall School, the light, airy nursery rooms and outdoor spaces, including Windmill Wood, are designed to give children a blank canvas to experiment, create, explore and learn.

A recent survey of current parents rated the overall provision at Little Crackers as 4.7 out of 5, with parents particularly valuing the high standards of care, the learning and progress made by their children and the friendly and welcoming staff.

Families are invited to explore the nursery and meet the friendly team. For more information email Jenny Vaughan at admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk or call 01926 514410. 

Our OPs' events calendar details all our events for our alumni community for 2025-2026.

This year's OPs Local Meet will take place in Rugby, on Friday 6 March at The Aviary, 25 High Street, Rugby, CV21 3BG. So, pop the date in your diary and visit the Events page on Princethorpe Connect for further details.

Please note the slightly earlier date of our Bluebells and Brunch this year, in an effort to catch the bluebells at their best - they seem to be blossoming earlier each year! This family-friendly event will take place on Saturday 25 April and is the perfect opportunity to walk off a delicious brunch whilst taking in the views of the iconic Mile Walk with family and friends.

The annual Summer Supper Reunion takes place at the College on Friday 19 June, celebrating the joiners of 1966 and the leavers of 1976, 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016, although leavers of other years are, as ever, most welcome.

All OPs, past parents and staff are welcome to participate in any or all of the events. Visit Princethorpe Connect, our online alumni community, to register and book onto events.

We're looking forward to another fabulous year and look out for more details on our Diamond Jubilee Year 2026-2027 events soon!

Team Super Sports Camps run every school holiday and are back for February Half Term! The camps will be held at Princethorpe College from Monday 16 February to Friday 20 February, from 8.00am to 5.00pm.

Children aged 7 to 16 can choose from a variety of sports to create their own personalised sports camp! For our younger campers (ages 5 to 7), along with sport we’ve got arts, crafts, and dance activities to keep them engaged and having a blast!

Checkout this video of the Super Sports Camp at Princethorpe to see what they get up to. 

Camps are priced at £39 per day. 

Sibling discounts and flexible booking options available!

Click here to book your Team Super Sports camps 

Friday 6 March 2026 - 6.00pm to 10.30pm - The Aviary, 25 High Street, Rugby, CV21 3BG

Our annual OPs Local Meet is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with your schoolmates, former teachers and the wider OP community in a relaxed and sociable setting. It is open to all former pupils, past parents and former staff from across the Princethorpe Foundation. Why not come along? Whether by yourself or with a group, you can rest assured you'll be warmly welcomed and well looked after.

You will be greeted by Foundation staff, and a welcome drink or two will be provided, courtesy of the OP Committee, to help you settle into the evening.

Included in the ticket price will be a tasty buffet and there will be a dedicated bar service provided by the venue's friendly staff. You can relax in the comfortable surroundings and enjoy catching up with friends, and perhaps even make some new connections. Alumni, past parents and staff of all our Foundation schools are warmly invited to join us, and we usually have a good number of long-serving members of staff whom you may enjoy reminiscing with! Partners are also welcome.

If you would like to attend, please click here to book your ticket* by Friday 27 February at the latest. You may book for up to three additional guests and please indicate any special dietary requirements when you sign up, to help us cater accordingly.

We look forward to seeing you there!

*We will require a small donation in support of bursaries upon booking. Bursaries are vital in providing financial support to pupils who demonstrate both academic promise and financial need. By fostering an inclusive educational environment, these bursaries ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to thrive and succeed. Click here for more details.

Saturday 7 March - 10.30am to 12.30pm

Crackley Hall School in Kenilworth is holding a Nursery and whole school Open Morning on Saturday 7 March. The Open Morning is a great opportunity for prospective families considering Crackley Hall School or Little Crackers Nursery to come and have a look around and get a feel for the school and Nursery. There will also be opportunities to speak to pupils, key members of staff and to meet Mr Duigan, the Headmaster.

To find out more and to book your visit to Crackley Hall and Little Crackers Nursery visit our website here.

Most pupils enter at Nursery and Reception, though pupils are welcome at any age, dependent on a place being available. The school is still accepting registrations for entry to Reception in September 2026 as well as current Reception, Junior 2 and Junior 5. 

Applications for places in the current Reception to Junior 6 are treated on an individual basis as places are limited. Click here to find out more about mid-year and mid-term admissions. 

The Ladybirds Room in Little Crackers Nursery is now up and running, and we are delighted to be accepting babies from 9-months-old! If you are planning a return to work, do get in touch to book a look around our Nursery. You can also join us at our friendly Stay ’n’ Play Toddler Group, held on Wednesday mornings during term time. Click here to find out more. 

Please do share this information with family and friends.  . 

Saturday 14 March - 10.00am to 12.00pm

Crescent School in Bilton Rugby, is holding its Spring Open Morning on Saturday 14 March. This is a great opportunity for prospective families considering Crescent School to have a look around and get a feel for the school. There will also be opportunities to see sport and music in action, speak to pupils, key members of staff and to meet Mr Thackway, the current Headmaster and Mr Aston, who will be the Headmaster from September.

The school is still accepting registrations for the last few places in Reception for September 2026 and has limited places in current Reception, Year 4 and Year 5.

To find out more and to book your visit to Crescent School visit their website here.

Applications for places in the current Reception to Year 6 are treated on an individual basis as there are limited places. Please get in touch with their Registrar, Mrs Becky Witcomb, at admissions@crescentschool.co.uk, regarding availability for September 2026. To find out more about mid-year and mid-term admissions click here. 

Thursday 19 March 2026 - 2.00pm to 3.00pm

To mark St Joseph's Day, Crackley Hall School - formerly St. Joseph's Convent School - will hold a special Mass, attended by the whole school community.

Crackley Hall warmly extends an invitation for former St Joseph's and Crackley Hall pupils, parents and staff to join them for the service. It is a lovely opportunity to return to the site of St Joseph's Convent School and connect with the wider Crackley Hall community.

Mass will commence at 2.00pm, led by Father Ryan Service and supported by some of the pupils. The service will conclude at approximately 3.00pm.

This is not a ticketed event, but space is limited, so if you would like to attend, we encourage you please to register your interest via the event page on Princethorpe Connect, here. We appreciate your doing so by Monday 16 March at the latest.

For all enquiries, please contact Jenny Vaughan, Crackley Hall Registrar, at jennyvaughan@crackleyhall.co.uk or on 01926 514410.

We hope you'll be able to join the Crackley Hall community for this special service.

Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC invites all of the Princethorpe Community to the Easter services at either St Anne's, Wappenbury, or the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels, Princethorpe College.

Dates and times of services at both of these locations will be available on the St Anne's Parish website shortly. Please see stanneswappenbury.wordpress.com

For any enquiries, please email Loretta Curtis, Parish Secretary, at stanne.wappenbury@racob.org.uk

Fr Teddy looks forward to seeing you all.

Thursday 23 April 2026 - 10.30am - 12.30pm 

The College's Spring Open Morning will give prospective families a chance to visit the school on a normal working day, with Year 8 and 9 pupils acting as tour guides. 

As the next admissions cycle begins, this is the perfect opportunity for those looking to join the College in September 2027 to get a feel for our special community and the all-round education and outstanding pastoral care we provide for our young people. Light refreshments will be available.

To book your place click here.

Please do put the date in your diary and spread the word amongst friends and family, all are very welcome! 

Saturday 25 April 2026 - 10.30am to 1.00pm

Our popular annual OPs Bluebells and Brunch is a great way to herald in the warmer weather and celebrate our vibrant Old Princethorpian community.

A delicious brunch, consisting of a Full English, pastries and fresh fruit, will be served at 10.30am but you can arrive earlier to catch the Saturday sports fixtures if you wish. After brunch, there is an optional guided tour of the campus and a chance to wander around the Mile Walk to admire the bluebells.

This is a lovely opportunity for OPs, former parents and former staff, from across the Foundation schools, to visit the College and catch up with each other. All the family are welcome. Why not read about last year's Bluebells and Brunch to get a taste of what to expect? Click here.

To book your ticket, please visit the event page on Princethorpe Connect and sign up by Friday 17 April 2026. Tickets are priced at £5 and you can book for up to three additional guests. Please provide their names when booking.

Please do spread the word! We'd love to see as many OPs from across the generations and Foundation schools as possible.

Saturday 23 May to Sunday 24 May 2026

The National Schools’ and Riding Clubs' Two Day Event will once again take place on the Princethorpe estate.

Organised and run by Stoneleight Riding Club, the event includes classes at 70cm, 80cm, 90cm and 100cm for Riding Club and School teams and individual competitors. There are also Independent Schools' Association Classes.

Show Jumping and Dressage take place on the Saturday with Roads and Tracks, Steeplechase and Cross Country on the Sunday. 

For more information and to enter please visit www.stoneleighridingclub.com

The only event of its kind in the UK, the two-day event regularly attracts up to 300 riders.

Spectators are most welcome to come along and enjoy a wonderful weekend of equestrian competition.

Thursday 18 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 21 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm  

As part of Warwickshire Open Studios, a celebration of our pupils' GCSE and A-level Art, Photography, Design and Textiles work will take place on Thursday 18 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 21 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

A range of design and 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 pupils' fantastic creativity with a wider audience and to welcome more art and design lovers to Princethorpe."

All are welcome. On Thursday evening admission is free, on the Sunday admission will be £5 per car including entry to the College’s Summer Fest.

Friday 19 June 2026 - 6.00pm Optional Tour, 7.00pm Drinks Reception, 7.45pm Supper

OPs who left the College in 1976, 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016 are warmly invited back to the College for the OPs Annual Summer Supper Reunion, to celebrate their respective 50th, 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries of leaving.

Excitingly, the College is preparing to celebrate its own special anniversary - the Diamond Jubilee - marking 60 years since opening its doors in 1966. We will therefore also be inviting to the supper alumni who joined Princethorpe in 1966, helping us launch a year of anniversary celebrations.

OPs from other year groups are also welcome to attend and share in the celebrations, as are former members of staff and partners.

The evening commences with Welcome Drinks in the Quad at 7.00pm, but you can arrive at the earlier time of 6.00pm to join an optional guided tour of the school campus. After the official welcome, guests will be ushered inside to enjoy a delicious meal with wine and settle into an evening of nostalgia and connection. Every year, the OPs also take a moment to recognise long-serving members of staff and bid farewell to any staff leaving the College.

Tickets are priced at £15 and we ask that you inform us of any special dietary requirements upon booking to help us cater accordingly.

Please secure your ticket(s) via the event page, here, by Friday 12 June at the latest. You may book for up to three additional guests.

We know many OPs are keener to come to these events if they can be sure of seeing some familiar faces. You can view the list of attendees on the event page, and we encourage you to spread the word as we sadly do not hold contact details for everyone we'd like to invite.

It is a truly special occasion - an opportunity to catch up or reunite with old friends, and celebrate being part of a school with a rich history and diverse family. You can see photos and read about last year's reunion on Princethorpe Connect, here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Bit of background, where you live, what you do for a living:

Mexican and Spanish citizen, based in Mexico City. Director at CitiBanamex, one of Mexico's leading financial institutions.

Age: 63

Years at Princethorpe:

I was a full boarding pupil from September 1976 to June 1977. At that time, I was 13 years old and in C Form (C3).

What was the school like in your day?

We had a very active schedule. We woke up when the bell rang across the dorm corridor at 7.00am. My dorm mates were Noel Ruddy and John Relton. Breakfast was served from 7:30am to 8:00am. I still remember the Weetabix, toast and boiled eggs. Father Clarkson was always walking around the tables, making sure there was no fighting amongst students for the toast! Then we had classes until 3:30pm and Tea from 3:30pm to 4:00pm; great sandwiches! We gathered at 6:00pm in the Study Hall (today's Library) for homework. Dinner was served at 7:30pm and lights were out at 9:30pm. We had some free time before lights out.

Weekends were great. The boarding pupils, under the full programme, had all the school facilities to enjoy. Sports were practised both days - Rugby, Badminton, Tennis (Summer), Swimming (Summer), plus walking in the woods and by the lake. Some Saturdays we were taken out by one of the priests to Leamington Spa for a spot of shopping.

My brother, Victor, and I also had the privilege of being invited to spend weekends with some of our peers and their families. I'd like to mention Paul G. Cluett and family (Coventry) and Norman Barrett and family (Welford-On-Avon).

How did Princethorpe affect the person you are today?

Princethorpe has been amongst my best life experiences. Moving abroad at that age (13 years old), attending a full boarding school with limited contact with my parents and no Spanish-speaking friends at all - just my brother Victor - was a great challenge. At that time there was no iPhone, no Zoom, no email; just mailed letters that were exchanged with my parents and friends once a month. Study and sports (representing Benet House) was the name of the game. It was great!

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

Enjoy every minute and take advantage of your age. Pursue learning, activities and sports. Stay away from friendships that do not add anything of value to your life.

Who or what has been the greatest influence on your life?

My parents!

What keeps you awake at night?

Opportunities that I need to develop to continue growing on all fronts, personally and professionally.

What has been your proudest moment/greatest achievement so far?

I have three: Building a family (three great children), my professional career built at Citi for over 40 years (starting as a trainee in 1985 and reaching a Senior Executive position within the bank today), and being able to look after my parents and be close to them until the last day of their lives.

What’s your biggest indulgence?

Golf, hamburgers, fish and chips, tequila and red wine.

If you had to have one last meal, what would it be?

Hamburgers.

What is your favourite TV Show and why?

Top Of The Pops and Faulty Towers. These were the most popular TV shows back in 1976. We gathered in the TV room on Thursday nights to watch them. I do not have any favourite TV show nowadays, in fact I do not watch TV!

If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be and who would be with you?

Playing Golf at St. Andrews Old Course and traveling across Europe with my parents (RIP) and family.

Lasting memories of Princethorpe:

There are many. Teachers: Father Clarkson, Mr O'Grady (Maths teacher who lived next door to Princethorpe), and Mr Moroney (Biology teacher and Rugby coach); winning the Badminton championship at Princethorpe for Warwickshire schools; school day-trip to France; school day-trip to Wimbledon; Rugby matches at Princethorpe; Sunday masses at the Chapel, Sean O'Brien (good friend and sharp guy from C1), Seamus Edney (he was my 'Best Man' during my Catholic Confirmation at Princethorpe); the famous Nurse - a very scary and tough woman!

Are you in touch with any other Old Princethorpians, if so whom?

Steve Evans, Paul Cluett (I also recall his great parents, Gonzalo and Rosemary), and Paul St. Aubyn; he spent his honeymoon in Mexico back in 1990, and I took him and his wife to see the pyramids, bullfights and Mariachis, and to sample various tequilas!

Is there anyone you would like to track down?

Anyone who recalls me! Get in touch with the Alumni team at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk and they have my consent to pass on my contact information.

See, also, the Missing and Found section of this issue for José's school photo; maybe you can spot yourself or a friend!

James O'Regan, Class of 2007, who kindly returned to Princethorpe in December 2025 to share his career insights with pupils, is expecting life to get even busier as he announces the imminent arrival of his second child. He tells us:

"Exciting times ahead! I am delighted to share this amazing news; our little girl is soon to become a big sister, and the Zone CEE Ltd. family continues to grow! 

Sleepless nights ahead, but I cannot wait to meet our new arrival! We feel very blessed and look forward to the next chapter of our lives. We are over the moon!"

Congratulations to James and family.

Congratulations to former Crescent and Princethorpe pupil (Class of 2013), Evie Green (née Lowe), who is delighted to announce the birth of her first child.

Etta Dorothy Green was born 22 October 2025 and mother and daughter are doing well.

First-time parents, Anne-Marie Thomas (Class of 2011) and her fiancé, Chris, are pleased to announce the arrival of their little girl, Elsie.

New mum, Anne-Marie, says:

"I am pleased to announce the birth of my daughter, Elsie Thomas, on 4 July 2025. Elsie was born 6 weeks early at Coventry Hospital and was then transferred to Warwick Hospital for a long five week stay until she was ready to come home. Elsie is growing and learning every day and has recently had her first taste of food, which she thoroughly enjoyed!"

Welcome to the world Elsie and congratulations to Anne-Marie and Chris.

Very sad news has reached the Old Princethorpians that James Baker (Class of 1999) passed away on Saturday 13 December in Myton Hospice.

His mother, Jill, wanted to share the news with James' friends and former teachers. Anyone wishing to get in touch with Jill and James' family can do so by contacting oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk and we will pass on the message.

Former Deputy Head of Princethorpe College, Margaret-Louise O'Keeffe, remembers James fondly as "a lovely gentle character who was a pleasure to chat to". In her copy of the Summer 1997 issue of a school publication, Mrs O'Keeffe found this mention of him:

'James Baker (9J) has become the first winner of an award provided by previous Junior School Prefects, David North and Paul Madia. This is for the Junior School pupil of the year and is awarded to the pupil who shows academic effort but, more importantly, who is reliable, helpful and courteous.'

We send deepest condolences to James' family and friends; he is in our thoughts and prayers.

Sad news has reached us that former member of staff, Jane Middleton, who worked at the College between 1987 and 2001, sadly passed away on Sunday 28 December 2025.  Our sincere condolences go out to all Jane’s family and friends. 

Jane was one of the College’s most dedicated and long-serving members of staff and was instrumental in setting up in-house support for special needs and supporting those who coped with Dyslexia. She also played a very full part in school life and was in every way a true Princethorpian. 

Early days of special needs were fairly basic, with a Portakabin accessed from the playground, a couple of desks, a whiteboard and a few chairs. Jane built the department up with enormous enthusiasm, adding to teaching resources and was there when technology started to play an important part in the learning process. Jane occasionally found that some of her charges were more familiar with computers than she was! Later she was joined by the late Mary Jaffer, who was equally passionate about the cause and together they made a wonderfully supportive team, working with pupils in the classroom and also in their own unit.  

Jane was never one for half measures and she supported all school activities as well many of her charges in their extra-curricular interests, frequently travelling to sporting matches or motor racing meetings to cheer them on. Additionally, she helped out weekly at Helen Ley House at Blackdown, the care home which had been named after her mother. She helped those who stayed there and nearly always had a fund-raising scheme in which she was actively involved. 

Jane grew up locally and had not strayed far from her roots; her father Doug worked for GEC in Coventry. For many years she and husband, Jim, lived in Stretton-on-Dunsmore, where they had a smallholding, then in retirement they moved to a smaller house in Rugby. Jim predeceased Jane by a few months. 

Jane will be remembered as someone who was immensely kind, considerate and helpful with a keen sense of purpose and a wonderful sense of humour. 

Her funeral will be held on Tuesday 10 February at 1.00pm at Rainsbrook Cemetery & Crematorium, Ashlawn Road, Rugby, CV22 5QQ. All are welcome. 

Jane is pictured in 2001 with Registrar, Loretta Curtis and Deputy Head – Pastoral, Margaret-Louise O’Keeffe. 

We are deeply saddened to share the news that former Hockey Coach, Colin Dexter, or Dex as he was fondly known, passed away in December.

Our sincere condolences and prayers go out to Colin's wife, Jane, his children, Simon and Holly, and family and friends.

Dex coached at the College between 2005 and 2018 and really put Hockey on the map at Princethorpe, inspiring generations of young players through his knowledge and enthusiasm for the game. Until recently, he still attended the annual OPs vs College Sports Day and was always sought out by former pupils and members of staff who were keen to catch up with him and swap stories.

Fellow coach and friend, Paul Whitehead, warmly reflected: "Dex had many great strengths. He was a great facilitator of everyone having fun and was so passionate about hockey. I will always remember him as the person who made everyone fall in love with hockey, and nothing made him happier than making that happen. He is sadly missed from the hockey pitches of Warwickshire."

Dex's funeral took place on Tuesday 16 December at Rainsbrook Crematorium, Rugby, and was followed by a reception at the Old Kings Head in Long Buckby. Many former colleagues and pupils attended and paid their respects.

The Foundation Archive recently gained an exciting new item for its collections, thanks to the eagle eye of Assistant Clerk to the Trustees and former Foundation Bursar, Eddie Tolcher. Eddie spotted this wonderful print for sale online and passed the details on to the Archive. 

The print is a very high-quality copy of a drawing which originally appeared in The Building News, 23 December 1892. It depicts the new oak stalls, screen and gallery designed by architect Joseph Stanislaus Hansom for the first chapel of St Mary’s Priory; the work was carried out by Jones & Willis, a well-established Birmingham firm who had provided furniture and fittings for churches around the country and even for Christ Church Cathedral in New Zealand.

The accompanying article in The Building News, accessed during our recent research visit to Birmingham (see article on Hardman & Co records), records the changes made to the chapel, including ‘the removal of a dark and clumsy antechapel […] and a deep gallery where the organ formerly stood’, which were replaced by the ornately carved screen and smaller gallery. The organ was moved to a new side gallery, and ‘by this rearrangement seats have been obtained for twenty-five more students from the high-class school conducted by the nuns’.

1892 was a particularly significant year for the nuns of St Mary’s Priory, as it marked the centenary of their community’s arrival in England after escaping the perils of the French Revolution. It is likely that this special anniversary influenced their decision to improve upon the chapel’s original design and embellish it with the beautiful details seen in the drawing.

Following the purchase of St Mary’s Priory by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, the first chapel was deconsecrated in 1968 and divided to form the College Gymnasium downstairs and Study Hall upstairs, which later became the Theatre and Library respectively. However, the stalls in the drawing will no doubt look familiar to OPs of all ages, as these were moved into the new chapel before it opened in 1901 (another wonderful example of sustainable practices in our Foundation’s heritage!)

This print gives us a fascinating insight into the care and craftsmanship that went into designing and building the sacred spaces of the Priory, and we very much look forward to using it in future displays to help uncover the hidden history of our College buildings.

Images

1. Print from The Building News, 23 December 1892, depicting recently completed work on the first chapel of St Mary’s Priory.

2. Interior of the first chapel, c. late 1890s; by this time, the Pippet mural had also been added (archive ref. SMP.24.2.96)

You may remember from our Michaelmas issue of the newsletter that the 2025/26 school year marks the 30th anniversary of Princethorpe College becoming fully co-educational. This term we are celebrating this important milestone with a special archives display and event to help our students discover more about the College’s transition to co-ed.

Foundation Archivist Jo Wong has put together a display in the Cloisters which explores the College’s journey towards co-education, and looks at the background to the 1995 transition. Starting at the beginning with the boarding school for girls run by St Mary’s Priory from 1835 to 1965, the display traces the site’s transformation to a boys’ school when the College opened in 1966, followed by the gradual move to co-education which started as early as the mid-1970s.

The display illustrates how the transition to co-ed began in the Sixth Form with just one female student in 1976, and numbers gradually rising over the years; in 1989, the College was proud to form its first female hockey team. Through local newspaper articles and extracts from the College magazine, the display then explores the key moment of transition when the College opened all year groups to girls in September 1995, setting its path as the successful co-educational school we know today.

As part of School Archives Day on 12 March, we will be holding a special event for current students to learn more about this significant milestone in the College’s history. Were you one of the first girls to join the College in the 1995/96 school year, or one of the boys who welcomed girls into your year group during the transition? We would love to share your memories with the students – please do send them through to archives@princethorpe.co.uk. And if you are visiting the College this term, make sure to stop by the archives display to trace our school’s co-education journey through the decades!
Images
1. St Mary’s Priory pupils in the Lime Walk, c. 1900 (archive ref. SMP.24.2.32)
2. Pupils in the Lime Walk, c. 1966 (archive ref. SB.26.04)
3. First girls' hockey team, 1989 (archive ref. PC.PP.1.6.7.11)
4. Update on the first term of co-education, The Tribune September 1995 (archive ref. PC.27.3.1.31)
 

Last November, Crackley Hall was delighted to welcome back a painting which had been donated to St Joseph’s School almost exactly 55 years earlier. During preparations for the St Joseph’s and Crackley Hall 80th anniversary event, Foundation Archivist Jo Wong had been in touch with the Archivist at the Union of Sisters of Mercy GB, Jenny Smith, regarding photographs for the anniversary display and souvenir booklet. As well as helpfully providing scans of some wonderful St Joseph’s photographs from the Sisters of Mercy archive collections, Jenny also mentioned that there was a painting in their holdings which had originally been presented to the school, and that the Sisters would be happy for it to be transferred to Crackley Hall.

The painting has an interesting history, as it was the work of Bishop Bardsley of Coventry, who visited St Joseph’s on 26 November 1970 to present the prizes at the school’s prizegiving ceremony. Bishop Bardsley generously donated the painting in aid of the school’s Building Fund; this had been established the previous year with the aim of building a new school hall in memory of Mother Magdalen, formerly Mother Superior of St Joseph’s Convent. In due course plans for the hall went ahead, and it was officially opened and blessed by Archbishop Dwyer in November 1972.

The painting is now hanging in one of the corridors at Crackley, where it can be enjoyed by pupils, staff and visitors; look out for it next time you are visiting the school. Our thanks to Jenny Smith and the Sisters of Mercy at Handsworth for kindly transferring the painting from their collections.
 

One of the most exciting aspects of archives work is the fact that there are always new discoveries waiting to be made, and this is certainly true of our Foundation schools.

While undertaking research for the upcoming 125^th anniversary of the consecration of the Chapel of Our Lady of Angels, Foundation Archivist Jo Wong identified a number of items held at Birmingham Museums and the Library of Birmingham which could shed further light on the story of our buildings. The Museum and Library both hold extensive collections relating to the influential Birmingham firm John Hardman and Company, which was one of the country’s leading stained glass and metalwork manufacturers in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Hardman & Co worked very closely with the Pugin family, and was the natural choice to work on numerous features of the new Chapel at St Mary’s Priory after Peter Paul Pugin was appointed as architect.

Towards the end of Michaelmas Term, Jo and College Site Supervisor, Dekk Brain, visited Birmingham to consult the items and find out what new information could be gleaned about the building of the Chapel. Their first stop was the Museum Collection Centre, where staff had kindly brought out a number of stained glass designs created by Hardman for the Priory. These initial designs would have been presented to the Prioress for approval or suggested alterations before the window orders were confirmed. 

It was fascinating to see not just the early stages in the design process for familiar features including the Chapel’s West window and side chapel windows, but also designs for windows which were never created. One such design for the Strangers’ Chapel (now the Prayer Room) depicted the journey of the St Mary’s Priory community from their Benedictine roots in Monte Cassino, where the first Benedictine Abbey was founded c. 529, all the way to their arrival in Princethorpe in 1835. The Museum is currently part way through an extensive project to catalogue and digitise the Hardman stained glass designs; some of the Princethorpe designs can already be accessed via their online images resource here, with more to be added in the future.

After the Museum visit, a very busy afternoon was spent at the Library of Birmingham, which holds the business records of Hardman & Co in its archive collections. Jo and Dekk were able to consult materials including order books, receipts, correspondence, sketches and building trade journals, all of which provided a wealth of details about the work carried out on the Chapel and other parts of the Priory over a span of many decades. Dekk had recently photographed all the Chapel windows in detail, and this enabled the information in the stained glass sales records – including the subjects depicted in the windows, the inscriptions, dates and prices – to be matched up with specific windows, giving valuable insights into each window’s story.

The correspondence files also shed new light on some of the other features of the Chapel – and, in some cases, provided a clear reminder that even in the most sacred spaces, aesthetics have to take second place to practical considerations. Letters from 1932-1933 showed that the nuns had initially hoped to commemorate the foundation of the Chapel by having an inscription etched directly onto the foundation stone, but were advised that the small pieces of stone inside the letter shapes would be likely to fall out. A compromise was found by inscribing a brass plaque which was fixed onto the stone, and in a letter of November 1933 the Prioress stated that the plaque ‘looks very well in the Church, and we are most satisfied with it’.

Over the years, Hardman continued to carry out further work and repairs for the Priory as and when necessary. A particularly interesting example was recorded in correspondence from 1946, which revealed that a blast from a bomb in the Coventry Blitz had caused bulging and cracking in the Chapel’s West window, and blown a hole in the East window of the first chapel (later the College’s Study Hall and now the Library). Although the damage was described as ‘not very extensive’, the repairs were not straightforward; the West window required five days’ work, while the damaged section of the East window had to be removed and taken to the Hardman studios to be worked on before finally being refixed in the old chapel in summer 1947.

The research visit enabled us to gain invaluable knowledge about the work and decision-making processes that went into designing, building and maintaining the Chapel and other areas of the original Priory site, and we are very grateful to the staff of Birmingham Museums and the Library of Birmingham for their assistance. We look forward to sharing more of the Chapel’s stories with our whole Foundation community as we approach the anniversary of its consecration on 8 May.

Images

1. Hardman design for west side window of Sacred Heart side chapel, showing Our Lady appearing to Bernadette. Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust, licensed under CC0 (ref. 1970M238.2883)

2. Photograph of west side window of Sacred Heart side chapel, showing Our Lady appearing to Bernadette; a good example of how details could change from the initial design to the final window.

3. Hardman design for Strangers’ Chapel window which was never created. Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust, licensed under CC0 (ref. 1970M238.2885)

4. The foundation plaque in the Chapel, recording the laying of the foundation stone by Bishop Ilsley on 24 May 1898

5. Interior of the Chapel, looking towards the West window, early 1900s (archive ref. SMP.24.2.53)

As part of our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability at The Princethorpe Foundation, our first ever COP Week  was a wonderful opportunity for our whole Foundation community to reflect on the sustainability progress we have made so far and challenge ourselves to achieve new targets. To highlight our long history of sustainable practices and eco action, Foundation Archivist Jo Wong created a virtual archives display which was presented on the display screens at all our schools during COP Week.

The display encouraged pupils, staff and visitors to see COP as a step in our ongoing sustainability journey, which has its roots in our schools’ very beginnings. The nuns of St Mary’s Priory and St Joseph’s lived a very sustainable lifestyle in order not to waste God’s gifts, and these principles were instilled in the pupils they taught. Crescent School opened shortly after the end of the Second World War, and ongoing rationing meant that staff and pupils had to take great care with resources.

Examples of eco action from each of our schools over the decades were also included, inspiring our school communities to see their sustainability activities as part of a bigger picture. These highlighted some exciting moments in our schools’ histories: in 1991, for example, Princethorpe College was one of the first schools locally to start a recycling scheme. However, being a ground breaker proved to be far from straightforward, as initially the College was unable to find a company which would take its paper for recycling!

At St Joseph’s, Junior 3 won a competition to represent the UK at the 1995 international Children’s Summit for the Environment, held in Paris. Together with children from 25 other countries, they discussed their hopes and concerns for the environment before presenting their environmental action pledges to the Director-General of UNESCO.

And when Crescent School needed to move to a new site in 1988, it did so in the most environmentally sustainable way possible – by reusing an entire school building! The purchase of the former St Mark’s Primary School in Bilton saved the building from demolition and ensured that resources could be used wisely by adapting what was already there.

The display gave us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our shared sustainable past at the Foundation, while we work towards a brighter future. We look forward to seeing what new developments come out of COP Week now and in years to come – and keeping a record of them in the archives for future generations to discover!

Images
1. COP logo 
2. COP Week virtual archives display title slide 
3. Princethorpe College recycling scheme logo designed by a student, Princethorpe Magazine 1990-91 (archive ref. PC.27.3.1.16)
4. Members of St Joseph’s Junior 3 present their artwork at UNESCO during the Children’s Summit for the Environment, 1995 (archive ref. 25.TMP.06)
5. Crescent School in its new Bilton premises, c. early 1990s (archive ref. CS.24.02.02)
6. Prizewinning artwork created from recycled materials by St Joseph’s Junior 3, 1995 (archive ref. 25.TMP.06)
 

In this term’s Snippets from the Archives, we look back at the halcyon days of the Study Hall at Princethorpe College, evaluate lunch options at Crescent School, and encounter some exotic beasts at St Joseph’s!

If these items spark any memories for you, we would be fascinated to hear them – do get in touch at archives@princethorpe.co.uk.
 

Studying Hard (perhaps!) at Princethorpe College

A recent post about the College Library on our Old Princethorpians social media channels sparked several memories of its earlier incarnation as the Study Hall and inspired us to share a few photos from the archives.

The Study Hall had originally been the upper part of the old chapel at St Mary’s Priory, which was deconsecrated and divided into two floors in 1968 as it was no longer needed for parish worship. The lower section was initially used as the College gymnasium before becoming the Theatre in 1979. Many of you will no doubt remember prep time in the Study Hall, or events such as the music performance in photo 5 – we’ve heard the occasional disco may have been held in there too! 

In 2001-2, extensive redevelopment and restoration work was carried out on the Study Hall to convert it to the current Library; since its opening in 2002, it has provided a stunning environment for Princethorpe students to enjoy studying and relaxing with a good book amongst the beautiful original features (for some reason, though, those rather fetching 1970s curtains were not retained.) 

We would love to hear your memories of the Study Hall / Library from your schooldays – and if you can help with further details about any of the photos, do let us know!

See the image gallery for the Study Hall photos:

1. Study Hall, c. 1970-1975 (archive ref. PC.24.02.110)

2 and 3. Study Hall, c. 1975-1979 (archive refs. PC.24.02.111-2)

4. Study Hall, c. 1980s (archive ref. PC.24.02.109)

5. Music performance in Study Hall, c. 1980s (archive ref. PC.24.02.170)

6. Restoration work in new Library conversion, 2001 (archive ref. PC.24.02.180 (2))
 

Early Research Skills At Crescent 

Next, we turn to a bit of cutting-edge research from Crescent pupils in 2003.

The young researchers set out to answer the vital question of ‘what some children like to eat in Crescent School’, and (presumably after peer review) published their findings exclusively in the very first issue of The Crescent pupil magazine, July 2003.

Pizza emerged as the clear favourite, with a close contest between chips and sausage rolls for second place. Perhaps surprisingly, fish fingers hardly got a look-in.

Which of these menu choices was top of your list? Were you part of the intrepid research team? We’d love to hear your memories.

See the image gallery for the research findings.
 

A Menagerie At St Joseph’s School

The Biology department’s report in the 1979-80 issue of Peeper’s Pie magazine reveals quite an array of exotic creatures at St Joseph’s.

The Biology lab was home to not just one, but three types of stick insects – the report describes varying success with breeding from the different species (apparently the Spiny stick insects weren’t too well adapted to the realities of a Kenilworth winter).

The report also shows that green lizards and African clawed toads formed part of the menagerie at various points, while the sight of a boa constrictor swallowing whole (thankfully already dead) pigeons no doubt provided some entertainment in lessons. When the report was written in May 1980, a chameleon was also under consideration for adding to the department’s already quite extensive zoo – we wonder if any St Jo’s alumnae remember whether this plan went ahead?

The magazine notes that ‘the army of "helpers" in the biology laboratory continues to increase in both numbers and enthusiasm’ – which is probably not surprising, given the exciting creatures they were able to help look after.

Do you remember the Biology lab menagerie from your time at school? Were you one of the Biology helpers? Do let us know if you have any memories to share. 

See the image gallery for the Biology report.

"I was a pupil at St Bede's College in Leamington Spa, from circa 1960 to 1966. Having taken my O-levels in the Summer of 1966, I helped staff move all manner of things over to Princethorpe College prior to its opening that Autumn. Being able to drive, I was particularly handy until I was needed for the harvest around August time!

I wonder if any Old Boys recall me from that era and are interested in catching up? Those I can recall from this era are Johnathon Rickard, Donald Tyndall, John Baines, Phillip Bellamy and Anthony Ramsby."

If you remember Steve and would like to reconnect with him, or if you are a former St Bede's pupil who would like to connect with fellow alumni, please email the Alumni and Development team at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk; we'd be happy to help.

José Quintanal is this issue's Old Princethorpian Interviewee, and he's keen to connect with any OPs who may remember him.

Perhaps you recognise him or the others in this photo? José is the pupil in the eye-catching yellow shirt!

Why not check out the Old Princethorpian Interview section to hear his story, and if you would like to reach out to him, please email the Alumni and Development team in the first instance, at oldprincethorpians@princethorpe.co.uk. We'd be happy to help!

A career milestone has been reached for OP Sean Bostrom, pupil of Princethorpe College from 1982 to 1987.

Sean has enjoyed a long career in the Fire Service, but 2026 marks the beginning of a new chapter, as Sean takes a tentative step towards retirement.

"Well, folks, that’s the end of another chapter. I’ve worked with hundreds of amazing people, in three fire services (West Midlands, Warwickshire and Isle of Man). I’ve learned so much from so many. Thank you, everyone. In January 2026 I am making the transition to be a Retained (on call) Firefighter with another incredible team, and will be looking for a ‘proper job’ too!

Our best wishes to Sean for a smooth transition and a fulfilling 2026.

OP Emily Scrivens, Class of 2022, is in her final year at Exeter University, and has just accepted an offer from leading British multinational professional services firm, Ernst & Young, to join their Audit Graduate Programme. Emily takes up the story:

"After leaving Princethorpe in 2022 with three A-levels and an Extended Project qualification under my belt, I took a gap year, during which I travelled before applying to university. In September 2023, I began studying Accounting and Finance at the University of Exeter.

I am now currently in my final year of study and have accepted a graduate offer within the Assurance service line at Ernst & Young (EY), where I will begin my Chartered Accountancy qualification with the ICAEW in September 2026. This offer followed my experience working as a Summer Intern at EY during my penultimate year of study.

I am extremely grateful for the foundations laid during my time at Princethorpe, and excited to be starting my career with a Big Four firm. I look forward to applying what I have learned so far as I begin this next stage of my professional journey."

Our congratulations to Emily and best wishes for the completion of her studies and the start of this new chapter.

Our congratulations to Jake Wilson, former Crackley Hall pupil and Princethorpe College Class of 2019.

After completing his A-levels at Princethorpe, Jake went on to achieve a Bachelor of Laws LLB from the University of Kent. He then embarked on a Master of Science at Birmingham City University, and is now excited to share that he has graduated with a First Class MSc. in Quantity Surveying.

Jake has been in post as Assistant Commercial Manager for MCS Group Ltd. since 2023, and he comments, "A huge thank you to all at MCS Group Ltd. for their support during my studies. An incredibly difficult task to manage work and studies; it would not be possible without their encouragement and understanding."

It's a very exciting time for Lydia Harper (Class of 2010), who has been working for the past three years as Artistic Director for Cirque du Soleil's new show, OVO. She is now enjoying the fruits of her labour as the show has begun its run at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Lydia takes us back to where it all started and gives us a rare insight into the creative processes of the largest contemporary circus producer in the world.

"I graduated from Princethorpe in 2010 and set off on my road to work in Circus. I was the slightly unusual one in my year; as we all packed up for university, I instead went to Circus School - gaining a BA (Hons) in Circus Arts. Following graduation I worked on all sorts of different projects, creating my own company and my own shows before joining Cirque du Soleil as an acrobat in 2015. I toured the world for four years with the show TORUK - The First Flight, which was inspired by the Avatar movie. During that time, I became an Artist Coach and realised I had a need to create my own work. I started working as a Circus Director for my own company, LEAP, as well as for Tangled Feet, Cirque Bijou, Extraordinary Bodies, Metta Theatre, National Centre for Circus Arts and MSC Cruises. I went back to university to do an MA in Theatre Directing at East15 Drama School, before rejoining Cirque du Soleil as Assistant Director on their show, Alegria.

I joined OVO 3 years ago as Artistic Director and have been overseeing a huge restaging of the show - creating new acts, new set design, new music and new characters - ready to premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in January 2026. 

This role is a blend of everything in my life up until now - acrobatics, direction, design and leadership. It's a far cry from the days when I convinced the PE department at Princethorpe to let me go and train in circus instead of running The Mile! But I'm loving every moment."

We wish Lydia and the company every success with OVO.

For more information about the show and the company, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com

In the Trinity 2025 issue of The Old Princethorpian, we shared news of OP Mac Wood's debut single release, and we were delighted to receive this follow up from Mac, and an invitation to attend his upcoming London gig, as his career continues to blossom.

"A lot has happened since I released my first single in May 2025. I have now released three singles, with an EP on the way in March 2026. I have been gigging a lot in cities like London, Manchester and Birmingham, and have even partnered with War Child and raised £1,100 for the charity.

Although tiring, gigging is really what I enjoy most. I remember in my Princethorpe yearbook, when asked “where do you see yourself in 10 years”, I wrote “Main Stage, Glastonbury”. Maybe I was a bit optimistic, but hopefully I can keep chipping away and playing at bigger and bigger venues.

My next gig is at the famous Phoenix Club in Soho, London, on the 13 February 2026. If any OPs want something to do on a Friday night, come and check me and the band out! Follow the link for details and tickets."

HOT VOX, a music management, promotion and production company, describe Mac as one of the city’s most exciting emerging artists. "Blending intricate and personal lyricism with powerful, anthemic indie melodies, Mac Wood brings back the raw sound of late 1990s and early 2000s Indie Rock to the age of social media."

For information and tickets, visit Ticketool: Mac Wood Gig info

Louise Gusterson arrived at Princethorpe College to begin her A-levels in 1981. She was joined by her younger brother, Simon. Louise's cohort was one of the earliest that included girls, since the College had only recently transitioned to co-ed in 1976.

Louise now resides in New Zealand, but it was a pleasure to see Louise and Simon at the OPs London Meet back in September while she was visiting the UK. We were delighted to hear that Louise has recently completed her Graduate Diploma in Arts, in Philosophy, for which she has been studying part-time alongside her work. She comments:

"Never too late to learn! I was recently awarded my PG Diploma in Arts, Philosophy, from Massey University. I semi-retired from my Deputy Principal teaching role, and I am now part-time teaching Philosophy for children. After 25 years of teaching P4C I thought it was time to actually get the equivalent of a philosophy degree. It was a challenge returning to essay-writing after so long, but I have been a far more diligent student in my 60s than I was in my teens!"

Our congratulations to Louise, and best wishes for this next chapter.

Abbie completed her A-levels at Princethorpe College in 2021, having been a Princethorpe pupil since Year 7. She went on to earn a Masters degree in Geophysics at the University of Leeds, and is now a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer at Geotechnics Ltd. Abbie kindly gave us an insight into what this role entails and her hopes for the future.

"I work mostly on sites developing my logging skills as well as organisation capabilities. Graduating last summer with a Masters in Geophysics gave me the opportunity to develop my hands-on skills and gain real experience into how sites function.

I’ve now been at Geotechnics for over three months, and I’m really grateful for such a strong start to my career. During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience across a wide range of activities, from working with cable percussion rigs to presenting my experiences back to the company.

I’ve met some fantastic people along the way, and I’m looking forward to a bright future where I can continue developing my logging skills, as well as expanding my knowledge in project management, site work, and report preparation. Thank you to everyone at Geotechnics who has supported me so far."

Congratulations to Old Crescentian and Old Princethorpian, Maddie Pomfrett, who was recently announced a 2026 Hitched Wedding Awards Winner for the West Midlands for her photography skills, see Wedding Awards - hitched.co.uk

Awarded to UK businesses who have been highly rated and recommended by couples, Hitched honours these vendors for their professionalism, quality of work, flexibility and customer service.

Maddie was delighted to hear the news, commenting, "I didn’t even know I was in the running for this, so to have received the email saying I was a winner was a massive shock. Thank you to all of my beautiful couples who have trusted me to capture the memories of their big days; it means the world to me. To all my future couples, I can’t wait to shoot with you! 2026 is off to an amazing start!"

You can visit Maddie's website here: www.maphotos.co.uk 

The question now is, will Maddie be doing the photography for her own wedding? She is engaged to be married to fellow OP, her Sixth Form sweetheart, Ben Rose, in August this year. More on that in the next issue of The Old Princethorpian! Congratulations, Maddie!

Dina Parmenter left Princethorpe, having completed her A-levels, just eighteen months ago, and is already making waves in the music industry. She has released her debut single, entitled At Nineteen. Dina updates us on her journey so far:

"Since leaving Princethorpe in 2024, I have been studying Music at the University of Surrey. I have been writing songs since 2023 and decided to begin recording them last year alongside my studies. I released my first single, At Nineteen, at the end of January and my second single, Rooting For Me, comes out on the 13 February.

I have been working with Francis Hartgrove who has been recording, producing, mixing and mastering my songs, and I have also been working with fellow Old Princethorpian, Kyran Vaughan, who edited the cover art for At Nineteen. The song is a love letter to my best friend, reminding her that she’s not running out of time at such a young age and that I’ll be there for her whenever she’s feeling like she’s not doing enough. I hope you have a listen and enjoy the song as much as I do!"

Congratulations to Dina, and we wish her every success as she pursues her passion.

You can check out her music at Dina Grace | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree

Anne-Marie Thomas has been on quite the journey since leaving Princethorpe in 2011. As she shared with us the news of the birth of her first child (see the Births, Deaths and Marriages section of this issue), we were delighted to hear a bit more about the winding path she's taken over the last fifteen years to reach this point.

"I attended Princethorpe College from 2004 to 2011 and give credit to many of my teachers for my successes and aspirations since. I would particularly like to thank Mr Hubball for supporting and guiding my passion for Art, Mr Kerrigan for fostering and encouraging my love of Literature, and my Year 8 Form teacher, Mrs Taylor, for her kindness and care.

Following Sixth Form, I studied English and American Literature at Keele University and then studied Canadian Literature and the Philosophy of Religion at Dalhousie University. I completed a Masters in English Literature at the University of Warwick and, after a gap year spent travelling in Australia and South East Asia, I returned to Warwick to qualify with a PGCE in Primary Education.

Upon completing my PGCE, I accepted a teaching role in Qatar. I lived and worked in Qatar for six years where I harnessed my passion for Art and became Head of Art for the academy. We entered national competitions and won the Sheikha Mosa Art prize, and displayed art work in the Qatar National Gallery.

After my time in Qatar and travelling as much as I could, I returned to England with my dog, Toby, and completed a degree in Product Management. Following this, I started a new career at National Grid, bought my first home, met my fiancé and had my beautiful daughter, Elsie."

During her time at Princethorpe, Fern Boston (2015 to 2020) was a dedicated Drama student, her passion and hard work ultimately earning her a place at the highly reputable drama school, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Fern has just completed her first term, and kindly gives us an insight into life at Mountview:

"Reflecting on my time at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts so far, I am amazed by how much I've learnt and developed as a director.
Being taught by professionals at the top of the theatre industry has helped me gain an in-depth understanding of how the industry is evolving and where I fit into it. Leading a workshop for two professional actors on the ethics behind verbatim theatre was a particular highlight of Term One.

At the moment, I am developing my showcase play, which is shaping up to be a verbatim play about rural and farming communities. Working closely with the Producing and Writing MA students on the project has made me realise the joy of collaboration, and it is a dynamic I wish to carry into my professional career.

I am also currently in rehearsals with the MA Acting students, where we are working on Rory Mullarkey's 'Pity'; a particular challenge, as I have been set the constraint of using no costume, set or tech. It is a challenge I am deeply enjoying as it is pushing me out of my comfort zone, as the show is unlike any I have worked on before.

I look forward to the rest of the course and developing further as an artist. I am so grateful to all my teachers and coursemates for supporting and encouraging me."

We wish Fern all the best with her showcase play and continued studies.

Photograph: Wikimedia Commons, By Voicegeeks - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Source Page