As we approach the end of a very busy and productive year I write to thank you for your support over the last 12 months. Having attended end of year services and productions at all our schools over the last few weeks I continue to be inspired by the pupils, how much and how widely they have achieved, and their sense of purpose, joy and optimism. 

I would like to thank all the staff at our schools who work so hard and with such passion to ensure our pupils thrive and flourish. 

It was almost exactly a year ago that the Labour Party won the general election and followed up on their promise to tax our school fees and remove charitable business rate relief for independent schools. Whilst the national picture is one of independent school closures and a pupil exodus to the state sector, the Princethorpe Foundation is bucking this trend. Our long-term strategy of keeping the fees as affordable as possible whilst maintaining the highest standards of education for our pupils has been successful with numbers across all our schools being at optimum levels for September 2025. We know that parents make huge sacrifices to enable their children to attend our schools and we are committed to continue with this strategy over the years ahead. 

I would particularly like to thank all those parents who have supported the Annual Fund this year. Thanks to your generosity, we have secured over £500,000 in pledged donations across the Foundation—commitments that will be received over time and already making a tangible difference. But beyond the figures lies the true impact: new changing facilities, much-loved outdoor spaces, vital bursary support that is changing lives, and hardship funding that has kept pupils in our classrooms through times of real family challenge. Fundraising is now playing a central role in shaping the future of all our schools—helping us to grow, adapt and support every pupil. Whether you made a single gift or give regularly, your support is not only appreciated—it is powerful, and it is making a lasting difference. 

Foundation COP and Environmental Sustainability Report December 2025 

On the theme of optimism, I’m delighted to let you know that we are running our first Foundation COP next term at the start of December. This will mirror COP30 which takes place in Brazil two weeks earlier. 

The Foundation COP will feature our very first whole Foundation Assembly and Keynote address; our pupil environmental teams – Planet Princethorpe, The Crescent Green Team, and the Crackley Eco Committee – will spend a day collaborating in a range of tasks and activities, House Quizzes and Competitions, there will be focused lessons within the curriculum and the launch of the Eco Schools’ Award and Carbon Literacy Project across the Foundation. At the end of the COP Week we will be publishing our second Foundation Environmental Sustainability Report which will record progress on our aims and details of our future targets. 

I know that a significant number of parents work within the “environmental sustainability” industry, and I would be delighted if we could garner your expertise and support to help us meet our goals. With this in mind, I would be very grateful if any parent working in this field or with connections could fill in this brief form. 

And finally, on a more personal note, I am proud to say that in two weeks’ time my daughter Lizzie, an Old Princethorpian, is getting married in our beautiful College Chapel and so we are crossing our fingers that the sunny weather continues just a little bit longer… 

With all best wishes to you and your families for a very happy and safe summer break. 

Ed Hester
Foundation Principal 

Dear Parents and Friends of the School

At the end of another action-packed and fun filled term, I wish you all a happy summer break.  The late Easter and short term has meant lots has been concertinaed into the weeks that we have had, but there is so much to look back on and feel good about.  

I have enjoyed talking to the children over the last few days about their plans for the summer holidays and it sounds like lots of them have great adventures lined up. I am off cycling next week in France and hoping to watch a little of the Tour de France live along my route. I have planned this a couple of times before but it's never come off but this time I am determined. 

This year, thanks to the generous support of our Crescent community - through both The Annual Fund and the FoC - we were able to create Barnaby’s Friendship Garden, a wonderful new space that has quickly become a much-loved part of school life. Next year, we’ll be using funds raised through the Annual Fund to enhance our Forest School provision, and I look forward to sharing more details about this exciting development at the start of the new school year. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to contribute, or if you gave a one-off gift earlier in the year, we would warmly encourage you to consider supporting the Fund again. Every donation - large or small - makes a meaningful difference.

Thank you all so much for your continued support of the school throughout this year. It means an enormous amount to us and we are always grateful for the fantastic parents and families who continue to send their children to our school. For those who are coming back next year, thank you once again for entrusting your children's education with us. For those who are departing, farewell and thank you for all of your contributions to our school. Special mention must be made of Julie Barnes, who is leaving us at the end of this term following 32 years of loyal and expert service. Julie deserves a long and happy retirement and will always have a special place at the heart of Crescent. 

I look forward to seeing the children return happy and ready for a new school year in September and in the meantime wish you all memory-making summer holidays and quality time together. 

With all my very best wishes.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Year 6 Leavers’ Speech 2025

Good afternoon, everyone - parents, carers, staff, and of course, our brilliant, bold, and occasionally, just occasionally, quite noisy Year 6 pupils. 

Now, Year 6, I have to say - what a journey. Many of you have been here since as long as you can remember, and it sometime seems as long as I can remember as well.  Whilst a number of you have been here since those dim and distant days of Reception a number of other great additions have been made along the way. You’ve grown taller, wiser, and definitely louder over the years. Some of you have mastered algebra, long division, river erosion, and modal verbs, whilst others have mastered the art of asking to go to the toilet just as the lesson starts after a long lunch break. All are impressive in their own way. 

Right at the beginning of the service today I wanted to say that although we have lost our great friend Barnaby along the way, he will never be forgotten. Barnaby is very much part of our service today. 

You’ve tackled entrance exams, school trips, sports days, and the great mystery of “Who stole my pencil?” (It rolled under the bookshelf). You’ve survived the frustrations of group projects, the drama of playground politics, and the horror of being picked last for sports teams on the playground. And, through it all, you’ve shown resilience, humour, and, in some cases, a worrying amount of knowledge of online games. 

You’ve explored continents, climates, and capital cities - I sincerely hope that after our inter-house geography quiz none of you will now think that the capital of Spain is France, or that Austria is a country with great sandy deserts and kangaroos, (I'm just looking along the line to see who's pulling a confused expression) and I would say at least half of you could spell the word Mediterranean, which is probably about 90% more than your parents could. And let’s not forget your map skills: we’ve studied coordinates and directions, four and six figure grid references, Ordnance Survey maps, yet some of you still find a way to get lost on the way to your lessons even when you’re going next door to Room 1. 

Today is a special day. It’s a day of celebration, reflection, and a little bit of letting go. It’s a big day. It’s the day we celebrate all that you’ve achieved, all that you’ve become, and all the times you’ve managed to avoid doing your homework by saying, “my dog ate it,” even when we all know you don’t actually have a dog. You're going to have to think of some new excuses now you will be working on laptops in your secondary schools. 

A week or so ago when I was planning this talk, I was trying to think of a good theme and I came up with the idea of ‘roots and wings’. Why roots and why wings you might be asking. You might not, but I’ll tell you anyway. 

As I think the children already know - and probably most of the parents as well - two of my great personal passions are birds and gardening. At different times over the years I've taught you in assemblies about my love of birds. You might remember when I spotted some choughs on the cliffs in Cornwall or when we had a buzzard visit us in the garden. I've told about how we can plant seeds, watch them grow and enjoy the produce and how they taste just that bit better when we've grown them ourselves.  

Here are some pictures on the screen or some assemblies I've done on the themes in the last few years. It would be really helpful if you could pretend you actually remember these Year 6. 

OK, so everyone knows Mr Thackway likes his birds and nature in general - but what's that got to do with you leaving school today? 

Well, I want you to think of it as a sort of symbol for everything that you've learned here and the preparations that you’ve made for your lives to come. 

So first, the roots. What happens to plants that don't have roots? Roisin might remember the parable of the sower when she came on to the stage at short notice and with some very unclear guidelines from me and had to act out the role of the sower in front of the school. Well, that parable tells us that plants without roots don't grow very well. They're not strong, they might look OK from the outside but get blown over when the winds get stronger. 

Over the years, we’ve worked together to give you strong roots - roots that have helped you grow, stay grounded, and feel safe. And when I say we, I mean your teachers, the support staff in the school and of course your families as well. These roots are made of the friendships you’ve built, the lessons you’ve learned, the values you’ve embraced, and the memories you’ve made. 

They’re in the way you’ve learned to be kind, to be curious, to persevere when things were tough, and to celebrate when things go well. They’re in the laughter of the playground, the teamwork of sports day, the creativity of your projects, and the courage you’ve shown in every challenge. In short, to be good friends, good learners, and good citizens. 

And let’s not forget the important life skills you’ve mastered - like how to survive a whole day without losing your jumper (OK, so some of you haven't quite managed that yet), or how to look completely innocent when the teacher asks, “Who made that silly noise?” 

So the roots are there and they will keep you strong and steady for years to come. 

But now, it’s time for your wings. 

Your wings are your dreams, your talents, your hopes for the future. They’re the confidence to try new things, to meet new people, and to explore new places. They’re what will carry you forward into secondary school and beyond. 

With strong roots to ground you and wings to fly I wonder what many of you are thinking of as your life goals and ambitions. Now I’ve used the leavers yearbook before when I've written my speeches and there's normally quite a lot of comedy value in the responses that the children give. Somehow, and you’ll be surprised to hear this, you lot however have given very sensible answers. I'll give you some examples.  

• In ten years, I would like to be… A better person and a good sports person 
• I would like a career as… an athlete or, failing that, a rapper 
• I would like to be a lawyer, or engineer, or design specialist.
• I’d like to be in university trying to make it as a mathematician. 
• I’d like to be a footballer but that is not very likely so I would like to have a career as a mathematician counting numbers for Network Rail - a train company.
• A robotic and systems engineer, a zookeeper at Woburn Forest, an actor, to have my own my own landscaping business.
• Others said equally sensible things like being a doctor, a lawyer, a conservationist, or a boutique shop keeper. 

These are all great answers actually and I can only wish you all the very best of luck with them, although I'm slightly disappointed you didn’t provide any better material. I will however give you one that you might enjoy that I think you will all be able to guess. I have embellished it a tiny bit. 

‘To run a comedy empire and that the whole world greets each other in the mornings with amazing morning.’ 

So roots and wings it is. I hope it helps you today to think about your primary school years and what they mean for the rest of your life. When people get older, they don't always remember their primary school days and think that it's their secondary school experiences that really matter. But I would argue that the roots that you have put in place, although they may be below the ground, you can't always see them, but that's what stands you in good stead as you move forward. The roots you put down, here, with us. As for the wings, you have exercised them you have honed and refined them. You are ready to go you are ready to fly. 

Somewhere there is an unwritten rule of making inspirational speeches that says you have to include some amazing quotes from other people. Here's a couple for you 

 “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”   

— Nelson Mandela 

 “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”   

 — Eleanor Roosevelt 

“Don’t be afraid of change. You may lose something good, but you may gain something even better.”   

— Unknown 

To the parents and carers - thank you for trusting us with your children. It has been a privilege to watch them grow. 

To the staff - thank you for your dedication, your care, and your belief in every child. 

And to Year 6 - thank you for the joy, the energy, and the spirit you’ve brought to our school. You’ve made us proud every single day. So go forward with courage. Use your wings. And never forget your roots. 

And remember - secondary school may have bigger buildings, more homework, and scary looking Year 11s… but you’ve got this. After all, you’ve survived Year 6 entrance exams. You’re basically superheroes. 

Let’s hear a round of applause for them all. 

Click here to view the term dates for 2025/26.

Click here to view 2026/27.

Crescent School

Swimming and Outdoor Learning will now alternate half-termly for Years 1–6. This ensures continuous swimming practice throughout the year,  seasonal engagement with the outdoor environment and enhanced biodiversity exploration and environmental awareness.

Curriculum Goals:

• Outdoor Learning fosters:
  • Curiosity, creativity, communication, collaboration and compassion
  • Skills in enquiry, critical thinking and reflection
  • Responsible citizenship and environmental appreciation
  • Crescent Outdoor Learning Awards (COLA)
• Swimming at Crescent School:
  • Exceeds National Curriculum standards
  • Includes water safety awards

  • Focuses on confident, competent and proficient swimming over sustained distances

     

Termly Rotation Schedule

Further details re uniform requirements for Outdoor Learning will be sent out before the start of term.

Mrs MCollin
Head of PE and Games

Appointments through the summer holidays are reserved for new starters through the booking system in the welcome pack. 

Uniform requirements for existing pupils can completed via the uniform form link, please note orders over the Summer holidays will need to be paid in full before they are dispatched, items are not able to be added to account.

Orders placed before Friday 22 August will ready for collection from Crescent School on Friday 29 August. Orders placed after this date will be available from the start of term. 

Barbara Bromwich
Foundation Shop Manager

Crescent School held its End of Term Celebration Assembly this morning on the last day of the school year. It was a chance to reflect on pupil achievements, a chance to celebrate their success and a chance to give thanks.

Headmaster, Joe Thackway, thanked everyone for their hard work and shared memories of the year gone by reminding the children of all of the wonderful learning that has gone on.

He gave a special mention to Director of Music, Julie Barnes, who played the piano for the final time in assembly and he also presented her with a book of memories from the children in the school. He also wished Miss Quirke the very best for her upcoming wedding and for the future.

Mrs Johnson was delighted to present the Green Team with certificates from the Eco Schools for all their hard work on sustainability this year. Then Mrs Barnes presented pupils with Promise Certificates, Promise Badges and House Point certificates.

The announcement of the House Cup caused much excitement and our congratulations go to St Andrew’s House who were the winners this year.

Then it was time for the main awards, recognising effort and diligence, contribution to school life and the excellence that abounds here at Crescent School.

Congratulations go to the award winners and well done also to every pupil for helping us have another excellent year here at Crescent School.

Crescent School's KS2 Summer Concert took place on Monday afternoon. Despite the heat, it was a well-attended event with the school hall packed with parents and family members eager to enjoy the end of term celebration of fine music and song.

Brass Group opened the concert confidently playing a rousing rendition of 500 Miles. That was followed by plenty of toe-tapping performances from the school’s music groups interspersed with lots of individual solos from the school's many talented musicians.

The concert concluded with a rousing performance by the Choir.  Pupils sang five pieces including the stirring Viva La Vida and finishing with the very appropriate Thank You For The Music.

It was a truly outstanding afternoon of music and song. Our thanks and congratulations go to all Crescent School's accomplished performers who took to the stage in front of their proud parents and, of course, to all their teachers and especially to Director of Music, Julie Barnes, who was given a standing ovation by the audience to thank her for her many years of dedication to music here at Crescent School.
 

It was wonderful to be able to celebrate the musical talents of our younger children in our Pre-Prep Summer Concert.

On Tuesday 1 July, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 took turns to perform for their parents and families. Everyone enthusiastically sang their songs which this year were themed around 'looking after yourself and others'. There was even an amazing recording of Mini Brass our very youngest brass players, who blew their very hardest to entertain us all.

The concert marked the last of, Director of Music, Julie Barnes' school performances.

It was so rewarding to see the children all enjoying themselves so much. Well done to everyone, you were incredible and an extra special thank you to Mrs Barnes!

As we come to the end of the school year, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported the work of the Development Office over the past year. Whether you’re a current parent, an Old Princethorpian, or part of our wider community of past families and friends, your generosity continues to shape the lives of our pupils in meaningful ways.

This year saw the launch of The Annual Fund to our current parent community – and the response has been hugely encouraging with the full impact of that support being felt from next year onwards. Our Annual Fund has, for many years, been sustained by Old Princethorpians and former families whose generosity has helped to fund essential bursaries and hardship support across the Foundation. Such support makes a profound difference to individual pupils and their families – and we are enormously grateful to all who contribute.

Importantly, this year has also seen the Annual Fund – together with personal philanthropy from generous families past and present – make possible a number of exciting capital projects. At Crescent School, the Barnaby Friendship Garden has been created as a thoughtful and welcoming outdoor space for pupils. At Crackley Hall, new changing facilities on the sports fields are now in place, improving the experience for pupils all year round.

Looking ahead, the Annual Fund continues next year – as the name suggests, it is an annual opportunity to support projects that directly benefit pupils. Every gift, no matter the size, contributes to the kind of enriching, rounded education we believe in. With your support, there’s so much more we can achieve together.

At the beginning of next year, we are also excited to be launching the first phase of our smallholding project. With your support, this space will grow into a unique outdoor learning environment – one that promotes sustainability, supports hands-on learning, and strengthens the connection between pupils and the natural world. It’s a project we’re incredibly proud of, and one that will evolve and grow over time.

Finally, we are now preparing for a longer-term fundraising campaign that will support a transformational programme of development at the College. These plans are ambitious – and rightly so. They aim to ensure that our facilities meet the standard of our educational ambitions and provide every pupil with the best possible environment in which to thrive.

We’ll be sharing more in due course, but for now, thank you again. Your support – past, present and future – is helping us to remain a truly special school.

Wishing you and your family a happy and restful summer,

Steve Kowal
Director of Development

Team Super Sports Camps are back this Summer! The camps will be held at Princethorpe College from Monday 7 July until Friday 22 August, the Holiday Camps will run from 8.00am to 5.00pm.

Summer Holiday Camp at Princethorpe College:

📆 Monday 7 July - Friday 22 August

⏰ Drop off 8.00am to 9.00am / Pick up 4.00pm to 5.00pm

😁 Ages 5-16

🏅 Rugby / Football / Gymnastics / Netball / Tennis / Cricket / Hockey - Children choose their sports!

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

Camps are priced at £38 per day. 

Sibling discounts and flexible booking options available!

Click here to book your Team Super Sports camps.

Sunday 14 September 2025 - 2.00pm to 5.00pm

Princethorpe will be holding its annual Open Afternoon on Sunday 14 September from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. All are welcome to visit the College and for younger visitors, there will be many fun subject related activities organised by the departments.

The Headmaster will address visitors during the afternoon and refreshments will be available. 

Click here to book your place.

Tuesday 30 September 2025 - 6.00pm to 7.00pm

We are opening our doors for a dedicated Reception and Year 3 Open Evening on Tuesday 30 September 2025 from 6.00pm.

This Open Evening is for prospective families wishing to join Reception or Year 3 in September 2026 and beyond.

The evening will include presentations as well as opportunities to look around the school and visit specialist classrooms. There will be a chance to speak to key members of staff. Joe Thackway, Headmaster, will be available to answer any questions you may have about the school.   

To book your place please click here.

If you can't make the Open Evening but would like to visit the school, please call our Registrar, Mrs Becky Witcomb on 01788 521595 or email admissions@crescentschool.co.uk and come on a day to suit you.

Our early bird deadline for registrations for September 2026 is Friday 17 October. 

For more information visit www.crescentschool.co.uk

In our Assembly this morning we awarded School Promise certificates to recognise the children’s excellent behaviour as Good Friends, Good Learners or Good Citizens. 

Well done to:

• RP - Annabell and Isabella
• 1Q - Eve and Sanvika
• 2E - Evie and Kiaan
• 3LS - Siara and Sophie
• 3SS - Oore and Summer
• 4C - Alice and Eve
• 4W - Anaya and Feranmi
• 5F - Amber and Nimeeta
• 6W - Ed and Maya

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

We were delighted, in our final celebration assembly of the year, to award our Promise Badges. They are very special and are awarded at the end of each term to one child in Pre-Prep (PP) and one child in the Upper School (US) for each of the three promise strands: Good Friends, Good Learners, Good Citizens.

The children listed below have embodied the qualities of the promise this term and can wear their new badges with pride.

PP

• Anna (RP) - Good Friend for always doing what she is asked kindly and with thought for others.
• Clementine (1Q) - Good Learner as she is always focused, ready to learn and always tries her best.
• Florence (2E) - Good Citizen for always offering to help, staying behind to tidy the classroom and resources without being asked, holds door open for people, lovely manners.

US

• Thato (3SS) - Good Citizen for his attitude and advocacy of the Green Team this year which has been commendable and for taking responsibility in educating the class and being an all round good person.
• Penelope (4C) - Good friend as she is always a resilient friend who consistently tries to do the best she can with a smile on her face.
• Matthew (6W) - Good Learner for achieving an amazingly high standard on the recorder through sheer hard work and performing to great effect in the Year 6 production. He was only willing to perform in public this year.

Mr Webb
Assistant Head

In our Celebration Assembly on today the house point winners for each class were rewarded with a book token. Congratulations to the following children:

House Point Cup Winners - Trinity Term

• St Andrew - 1st with 7,169
• St George - 2nd 6,891
• St David - 3rd with 6,678

Congratulations St Andrew - Blue House.

Whole Year:

• St Andrew - 24,395
• St David - 22,220
• St George - 23,649

Congratulations St Andrew - Blue House.

Ms Forth
Deputy Head

Garage and Gigs are the most important games to show your progress. Pupils who have reached landmark % for JDVs for Maths Practice this week and will be recorded in September:

• Max 1Q completed 48% of the training course.
• Austin 2E completed 24% of the training course.
• Josiah 3SS completed 72% and 100% of the training course.
• Jed 3SS completed 48%, 72% and 100% of the training course.
• Tara 3SS completed 48% of the training course.
• Uma 4W completed 100% of the training course.
• Sophia 3SS completed 72% of the training course.
• Aria 5F completed 100% of the training course.
• Walter 4W completed 48% of the training course.

Battle Results 25 June - 2 July 2025 (Y1 - 6 average score per class member)

• 1st 3SS 746
• 2nd 1Q 319
• 3rd 2E 45

Most valuable players in the whole competition:

• 1st Max 1Q
• 2nd Summer 3SS
• 3rd Josiah 3SS

Well done, 3SS, thats 4 in a row! 🏆

Most improved speedsters in the studio are:

3SS

• Jed- Rock Star!
• Jonelle - Rock Star!

No Battles over the holidays - but all the gigs, studio and fluency data will carry on and everything is saved. TT Rockstars can be played continuously the summer and awards will be collected in September.

Stay cool and enjoy the Summer!

Art Frizzmeister 
Deputy Head

We were thrilled to welcome families to a joyful and energetic Pre-Prep Sports Day, where our youngest athletes from Reception to Year 2 showcased their enthusiasm, teamwork, and growing sporting skills.

The afternoon kicked off with a series of sprint races, where children dashed down the track with determination and big smiles. This was followed by a crowd-favourite: the Wimbledon-themed fun race, complete with tennis rackets and plenty of laughter.

Next came the egg and spoon race, testing balance and focus, and the obstacle race, where agility and perseverance were on full display. The track events concluded with exciting shuttle relays, where teamwork and encouragement were the stars of the show.

Over on the field, pupils rotated through a variety of engaging activities including:

• Standing long jump – showcasing explosive power and coordination
• Speed bounce – testing rhythm and stamina
• Foam javelin throw – developing throwing technique in a fun and safe way
• Bean bag challenges – encouraging accuracy and control

It was a fantastic celebration of movement, fun, and sportsmanship. A huge thank you to all the staff, parents, and pupils who made the day so special!

Mrs McCollin

Head of PE and Games