Issue 39 | Autumn 2026 Showcasing exceptional work by pupils from Princethorpe College, Crackley Hall School and Crescent School
Welcome LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
ISSUE 39 - AUTUMN 2026
The College ethos theme for this academic year has been ‘The Power of Words’.
ENGLISH | YEAR 10
This summer, I set my third whole school da Vinci Challenge to reflect on this theme and, as I look back over the past three years, I am incredibly proud of the way that the pupils have responded to every new challenge in the classroom, co-curricular activities and supercurriculum enrichment. It is my privilege to present to you a snapshot of the work and passions of our pupils here at Princethorpe.
Year 10 pupils are currently enjoying creative writing workshops as they hone their skills in preparation for their last piece of coursework: original writing.
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Show, Don’t Tell
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Our cove r artwork is by Y9, R osie Russell
Year 9 students explored the artist Kehinde Wiley and created their own self-portraits inspired by his style of working. The used vibrant colour and pattern to explore how personality and identity can be expressed in art.
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Rosie achieved a highly accurate portrait working using coloured pencil with attention to detail and refinement. Using vibrant inks Rosie added a floral pattern to her background, reflecting the artwork of Kehinde Wiley and picking up natural elements from the pattern of the top she is wearing in the image. It is a worthy choice of front cover for this edition.
creative writing workshops
It is clear from this edition that our pupils have developed their abilities to produce highly creative responses demonstrating how they can use their words in a powerful and positive way. The wide range of writing, presentations, performances, and practical responses published here are testament to them.
Below is a piece written by Grace Symons during a creative writing workshop in lesson. Pupils were asked to convey a character through setting. To adhere to the principle ‘show, don’t tell’, Grace presents her character through a brilliantly conceived description of their bedroom.
The first thing to notice was the rack of swords and axes on the wall above the bed. There were longswords, rapiers and broadswords, all made to order. The drapes above the bed, hanging from the ceiling, were light and billowed in the slight breeze coming from the open window. The pillows in pale lilac and deep red were offset by the midnight black of the comforter adorning the dark wood bed. In the corner sat a copper basin filled with water atop a mahogany stool, carved with ancient scenes of a hunt, the story continuing around the back. The bookcase was overflowing - some were bound in leathers of red, blue, green or brown, their titles and authors picked out in dazzling gold leaf. Others were bound in paper. These were well-thumbed, worn and yellowed by constant use. Yet more were hard and hit the floor below the bed with a hearty thump as they were changed for another. There were books in Latin, such as the writings of Suetonius, some in Greek, like The Odyssey. Most, though, were in English. They held a musty, comforting smell, beloved by the beholder. The shelf beside the bookshelf harboured tinctures and mixtures designed to enhance the user. Their bottles refracting the light from the window. It was a handsome room. Grace Symons, Y10
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY | YEAR 7
The Green Salad Challenge
Ava Deas, Y7
During their DT Food rotation, Year 7 take on Ms Scott’s Green Salad Challenge. Pupils are tasked with creating a design in green salad and then making their design in their Food lesson. The challenge practises safe chopping and slicing skills, tests their creativity and helps them discover and explore the wide range of green vegetables and salads available. Pupils’ creativity is always impressive with lots of ingenious ideas. The class themselves choose the winners. ?’s turtle was a deserving winner.
ENGLISH | YEAR 8
I would Golf with My Shadow
Barney Williams wrote this poem as part of a literacy tuition group, applying a variety of language techniques to demonstrate his understanding of them and linking this to his love for golf (he's actually on the golf squad!)
I would Golf with My Shadow (A Quiet day on the Course) An early morning I woke with my shadow by my side, the bedroom light awakening it We slipped into golf gear And walk to the kitchen with the shadow close behind. Got the clubs out the utility down the side With a helping hand Cleaned them with care and 2x as fast We enter the clubhouse together. In the eery mist my shadow goes subtle, towards the first tee.
We warm up together. I play alone but with my shadow, calm and alone with my thoughts. But not alone. My shadow is my future self, reminding me of things I don’t think I need. My shadow is my best partner. Barney Williams, Y8
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Isaac Fowle, Y10
Ranking Metals by Reactivity
CHEMISTRY | YEAR 10
Year 10 pupils have been engaged in a study of the chemical reactivity of metals, with the objective of arranging them into a reactivity series. The reactivity series serves as a predictive tool, enabling pupils to determine whether specific metal reactions are likely to occur. As part of this learning exercise, pupils were tasked with creating analogies to conceptualise and apply the principles of the reactivity series in a more accessible and memorable way. This activity encouraged both analytical thinking and creative expression, reinforcing their understanding of metal reactivity and reaction prediction.
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Martha Coburn, Y10
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Dami Ajagunna, Y10
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Richard III Essay
HISTORY | YEAR 10
To what extent was Richard III’s claim to the throne legitimate?
Richard III was crowned as King of England in 1483 after his nephews Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury were declared illegitimate by law, later revoked by Henry Tudor, in order to allow his own claim to the throne to be legitimised, by marriage with the House of York. Richard’s claim to the throne was seen with a reluctance at first by some. Dominic Mancini writing in 1483, the year Richard was crowned is an early account questioning Richard’s claim. He called it an ‘act of usurpation,’ in the Crowland Chronicle, demonstrating not everyone supported the coronation. As time passed it seems his reign became increasingly accepted by his subjects. However, after his death, the Tudor dynasty destroyed many contemporary documents including all but one copy of the Titulus Regius written as part of statute in 1484, confirming Richard’s title. This re-wrote READ the history of his claim to the throne. MO
Grace Symons,Y10, has independently entered The Richard III Society Essay Prize Competition this year. The Society usually takes A-level essays in the format of NEA (Coursework), EPQ or IB EEs of between 3,000 to 5,000 words from students under the age of 19. This year’s theme was on The Life and Times of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Richard III, 1452-1485. This essay on whether Richard’s claim to the throne was legitimate is all Grace’s original work, based on independent research and reading. Mrs Fretwell, Head of History, was very impressed with Grace’s essay. It demonstrates high calibre writing and referencing of historians’ interpretations well beyond GCSE level. Grace has a passion for History and her mature writing style is highly impressive. The Richard III Society acknowledged Grace’s work and, although she did not win a top prize, she was rewarded with a £50 book token.
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by Grace Symons, Y10
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Spanish Culture
SPANISH | YEAR 7
Alanah Fernando and Jessie Johnson, Y7
Henry Ferguson and JohnPaul Simon, Y7
The class has been investigating Hispanic festivals around the world, and many excellent examples were chosen. Did you know that there is a ‘Near Death’ Festival that takes place in July in Galicia, Spain? This was one of the festivals chosen to investigate by Henry Ferguson and JohnPaul Simon. Alanah Fernando and Jessie Johnson in 7P made their presentation creative and interactive with a ‘true or false’ quiz they prepared for the class to test their knowledge. Answers are below!
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F (Oct/Nov)
F (adults)
T
F (native South American traditions)
F (children) T
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by Miriam Lambe, Y8
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by Dami Ajagunna, Y10
Mummy Mi
Isaac in Y10 wrote about Clärenore Stinnes – a pioneer in car racing who dared to break 1920s social barriers to achieve the feat of being the first person to circumnavigate the globe in a car. Flossy chose to focus her independent research on the little know Hester Leggatt, a secretary in MI5 during WW2, who is gaining fame as one of the characters in the West End Musical, Operation Mincemeat. Dami’s inspiration was much closer to home, her mum, whose values inspire her daughters to make the most of their opportunities, and Miriam wrote about the Princess of Wales and why she admires her.
Princess of Wales
Women you admire
In the March Challenge Calendar, pupils were encouraged to send me a profile on a woman they admired.
by Flossy Adams, Y7
Hester Legatt
by Isaac Frith, Y10
Clärenore Stinnes
Clärenore Stinnes is a German race car driver who dared to break 1920s social barriers to achieve the feat of being the first person to circumnavigate the globe in a car. Born into a wealthy family of industrialists, she opted for a life on the track instead of one of luxury and wealth, winning seventeen races before she turned 26. In May 1927, Stinnes began one of her most daring adventures—a global tour in an Adler Standard 6 automobile, accompanied by a cinematographer named Axel Söderström and two car mechanics. The team braved the Siberian cold, the Gobi Desert, and the Andes Mountains. The tour was not easy, and when the car mechanics dropped out, Stinnes and Söderström went on to complete the tour themselves. After traveling 48,000 kilometres in two years, she returned to Berlin in 1929 as a hero. In addition to her determination, I think Stinnes should be commended for her autonomy. She was not willing to allow others to dictate her potential and set limits to her goals. She saw every challenge as a puzzle to be solved. She demonstrated that gender was not a limitation to technical brilliance and exploration. Her legacy is a testament to the power of the human will.
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Centre Performing Arts has well and truly taken centre stage at the College this year, with two musicals, a play, a cabaret night, two large-scale concerts, a county dance show, a talent show, and even a European theatre festival! My name is Liv, and this is a roundup of just how brilliant the opportunities provided by the Arts Departments are here at Princethorpe and why you should come and join us next year. There’s too much to talk about for one article, so I’ll be covering the Musical Theatre side of things here and the rest of the arts in the next edition of our fabulous, new school newspaper! In terms of Musical Theatre, our year began with the whole-school cast of Our House: The Musical, bringing to life some of the quintessentially British band’s greatest hits. Featuring the music of Madness, the production told a heartfelt story about following your values and staying true to the people you love most. I had the honour of playing the lead female role, Sarah, and as a newcomer to Princethorpe, it was such a positive and eye-opening experience. I made some of my closest friends through the production and the kindness of the entire cast and crew. The performances themselves were outstanding, with the whole team working like clockwork to turn a script into something magical through dazzling sets, costumes and choreography. Everyone involved should be incredibly proud of what they achieved. But we didn’t stop there! The week Our House closed its curtains, auditions began for Legally Blonde. In just 11 weeks, the cast created a double award-winning production that travelled to MTI’s Junior Theatre Festival, an event that brings together performers from more than 12 countries to celebrate their work and receive feedback from West End and Broadway professionals on a 15-minute excerpt of their show. The cast performed some of the musical’s biggest numbers, including an energetic and sassy rendition of What You Want and a heartfelt performance of the title song, Legally Blonde, by Micah Wiratunga (Year 9) and Eleanor Brown (Year 8). The judges praised their beautiful harmonies and the chemistry between the performers.
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Stage I was fortunate enough to be part of the creative team as Student Choreographer, working alongside Princethorpe’s talented Teacher of Dance, Rachel Fox. Without a doubt, we are incredibly proud of the cast for winning the award for Most Achieved in Dance. I was also honoured to receive the Student Creative Team Award, which would not have been possible without the cast’s unbelievable dedication and commitment. The performances themselves had us all thinking pink, with catchy songs, vibrant energy and stunning visuals. A huge thank you goes to the entire team for giving up so much of their time to provide these fantastic opportunities for us as students. Additionally this year, the College saw its first-ever Cabaret Night take to the stage, featuring performers from Year 7 right through to the Upper Sixth, and even a few staff acts. The event was entirely studentled and hosted by myself, with support from one of my fellow Performing Arts Prefects, Jorja Parris. The evening combined music, dance and drama in an uplifting celebration of creativity and talent. It provided an opportunity for pupils who may not have the time to commit to one of our large-scale productions to showcase their abilities in a relaxed, non-competitive environment. Performances included contributions from several of the school’s ensembles, including the String Quartet, the Dance Team and the Year 10 BTEC Dance group, alongside a variety of solo, duet and trio performances. Many of these featured mixed year groups and were devised by the pupils themselves. We’re already excited about bringing Cabaret Night back in March 2027! We finished the year with an incredible music tour to Paris where we showcased pupils’ talent on a European stage. If you’re thinking, “I wish there was something more I could do,” then come and get involved! Rehearsals for Macbeth are underway and preparations for Guys and Dolls auditions have already begun. So why not make next academic year the year you take to the stage?
By Liv Davey, L6 Performing Arts Prefect
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Fast fashion impact
TEXTILES | YEAR 9
Bebe Hesketh-Reynolds, Y9
Year 9 Textiles’ project was to research what fast fashion is and the impact it has on the environment, then pupils could also make a bag out of upcycled denim. Mrs Morrish has highlighted the creativity and excellent work produced by Bebe Hesketh-Reynolds, Sofia Green, Jessie Shepton and Laila Singh. Well done on your outstanding work!
Jessie Nelson-Sephton, Y9
Laila Singh, Y9
Sofia Green, Y9
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Short Story da Vinci Challenge Flossy Adams, Y7, wrote this incredible short story and used AI to create cover artwork in response to the da Vinci task on the February Challenge Calendar to write short Love Story. An emotional rollercoaster in four chapters, it demonstrates Flossy’s mature writing. CHAPTER 1.
The Man at the Coffee Shop I walk through the wet and windy narrow streets of the city, barely holding on to my red umbrella as it tries to escape from my grasp. My black boots are soaked from accidentally treading in puddles on my way home. My hair is damp as well. I think of having a shower when I get home, but I know the water bill is already not realistic for me to pay this month. I get to my apartment, sighing with relief as I shut the door behind me, I take of my soaking wet raincoat and put it on the heater to dry. I throw myself onto my tiny bed and look at my phone. 23:50. Ten more minutes until I’m 20, ten more minutes until I stop being rejected for proper job interviews because I’m too young. I close my eyes as my phone says 00:00. I had done it. The next morning, I wake up to the sound of birds chirping; a sound that only rarely gets heard in the city. I get out of bed and put on some clothes that aren’t too worn out and hop downstairs to get my morning coffee before school. lt’s a three-minute walk from my apartment to the coffee shop. Zoe meets me at the door with a warm smile drawn across her face; the kind of smile that someone who has just woken up and drunk three cups of coffee wears. “Hi Ella!” she shouts, her smile growing bigger by the second. “You alright Zoe?” I ask almost laughing at the state of her.
Flossy Adams, Y7
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Dami Ajagunna, Y10, wrote her short story on a different type of love, it is clearly well researched and carefully crafted.
Hopelessly Unromantic “I don’t believe in true love.” I flicked at the whiteflies flitting around my head – while they were giving ‘lazy summer’ vibes, they were pests nonetheless. The sunset – a stunning phenomenon which humans have tried (and failed) to bring true justice to in words – raged like a fireball low on the horizon, as night began to pull its hood overhead in the west. I sat on a frankly uncomfortable picnic blanket, dozing in the shade of the sprawling oak tree overlooking my street. My friend was lying next to me, her legs draped across the hulking roots surrounding us, and we talked nonsense and all-sense without a care in the world. We watched cars roar past while people sluggishly walked their scarily energetic dogs. Everything was basked in the fierce orange glow of this warm midsummer’s eve. “Why not?” my friend replied, gazing up into the lush green labyrinth above us. “Well,” I began, propping myself up against the tree trunk, “the commercialised true love our generation fantasises about seems to depend on finding the ‘right person.’ But that could be literally anyone! The ‘right person’ for you could be living in Malaysia and if you never go there, you won’t ever meet them.” “I’m adding that trip to my bucket list then,” my friend said promptly, before we both collapsed into pointless giggles. It’s good to laugh. The words of another friend of mine came to mind suddenly, and I gazed into the pastel sky, wondering where he was now. It pained me, not knowing. I’d learned that the people you grow close to may only be in your life for a spell, before everyone moves on, and it’s like you never met. But you did, because they changed you. “If you marry someone you love,” I continued, “you might fall out of love, and then you go through a ruthless strife that turns your life upside down. But if you marry someone you don’t love, you may fall in love eventually, but the first years will be painfully awkward, pretending your insides aren’t shrivelling from the sheer weirdness of it all.” “You’ve been reading too much John Green,” my friend decided. I grinned, knowing she was probably right. This year had brought a truly lazy summer – so reading beneath the sun as it sliced through summer skies became my favourite pastime. I read about adventures I could only dream of; nail-biting, brain-wracking mysteries; and sidesplitting comedies that reminded me of my good friend from long ago. But I also read about love – the real kind I did believe in. I was never a fan of heartbreaking romantic novels, so I read the Bible: about Jesus’ love, the kind of agape compassion that made me feel I really belonged, and that I had a bright - and viable - future. So, I read and read and slept and woke up and walked and biked and played and laughed and remembered. And I never stopped thinking about love.
Dami Ajagunna, Y10
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HISTORY | YEAR 9
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
Year 9 History “Meanwhile, elsewhere...” Independent Projects Pupils in Year 9 select their own independent research topic after studying the development of Women’s suffrage and the development of Civil Rights in the USA during the 1950s and 60s.
Ava Panther and Bella Davies, Y9
They are then encouraged to look at a different country in the 20th Century and see how life changed ‘elsewhere’. The broad scope often returns many different project titles, which the pupils have to write themselves before conducting their own research and presenting their findings, including primary sources, to their peers. Some of the best of this year’s projects were these which concern Apartheid in South Africa, the treatment of native people in Australia, how women’s rights SCAN the QR co continued to develop and the events in on page 2 de Vietnam.
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Selen Konuralp, Y9
Leani Du Toit and Sisa Simela, Y9
Izzy Coates, Y9
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Drama Writing I watched Frantic Assembly's production Love Song by Abi Morgan. The plot follows the story of a couple called William and Maggie in two different timelines. The production is started with the couple as octogenarians remembering their past, the troubles and fantasies they shared together. The themes and period of the play were communicated through elegant acting skills being shown on stage. At the moment where they are intimately interacting, they use the sequencing round to communicate lovemaking through excellent visuals. The lighting on stage in the sequence is dimmed, and a spotlight is put on the two to create tension between the couple and bring out their true intentions. William is shown in the background of the scene, silently watching the couple as tension starts to grow. This is done to show how he is recollecting his memories that have built up and scaffolded his entire life. Him watching in awe shows how he truly loves and cares for his wife. This section of the production made me feel overwhelmed and a bit guilty for William as he is remembering when life was enjoyable but now, he is old and everything he once did when he was younger and priceless time filled with enjoyment he can no longer have due to his older age.
Alex Hawtin, Y9
Discuss the use of multi-role play in the production. I watched the National Theatre's Production of Peter Pan on the Olivier Stage.
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY | YEAR 10
DT spotlight
DRAMA | YEAR 8 & 9
Alfred started his GCSE in Design Technology this year and throughout the year he has worked diligently on all aspects of the course. It is on the practical activities that he has really shown his enthusiasm, skill and ability. At the beginning of Year 10 the class were given the task of designing and making a clock of their own choice. He took the initiative of 3D printing many of the components at home on his own 3D printer allowing him to manufacture a fantastic high-quality clock. As the year progressed Alfred has worked on other practical projects producing outstanding work. He produced a fantastic bottle emperor with hardwood handle and high-quality precision jaws. During the photo frame project Alfred learned about frame joints and produced an accurately manufactured product. He was then one of few to progress to the completion of the box project in which he mastered complex box joints.
Alfred Cowell, Y10
Peter Pan follows the story of a young, immature boy who can never grow up, who ends up in the Darling household, bringing the Darling children with him to Neverland. In the National Theatre's production of Peter Pan, an incredible amount of multi-role play is featured, resulting from the production's comedic aspect. For example, one of the most striking scenes of multi-role play is through the actress Anna Francdoni. Francdoni performed in the contrasting roles of Mrs Darling and Captain Hook. Her transformation was made immediately clear through distinct costume and makeup choices: as Mrs Darling wore a soft leek pastel-coloured Edwardian dress with a delicate lace detailing, paired with natural makeup and neat pompadour hair that reinforced her gentle, maternal presence. On the other hand, as Captain Hook, she appeared in a bold, theatrical pirate costume- a three-quarter, midnight black military-style coat, wide brimmed tricorn hat with a tropical magenta feather (which is considered as unlucky in the theatre industry) and the iconic blood stained hook. This was supported by heavy stage makeup and design, including: an Edwardian powdered complexion, metal silver bared teeth, and a dramatic wig which developed her menacing silhouette. These various visual choices worked harmoniously with her performance choices.
Ayesha Hanif, Y8
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Rohan Vatish, Y7
BIOLOGY | YEAR 7
Cells Projects These photos show outstanding examples from Dr Onyekwe’s 7P class and Miss Cooper’s 7M class from their independent research project on specialised cells as part of their 7B1 Cells topic. They each made a model of their chosen specialised cell and carried out some research about it which they then presented to their peers in class. From Miss Cooper’s class, Ollie researched the different structures of a neurone and related them to their function, including GCSE level detail. He presented with confidence and ease. Dan researched how the palisade cells within the leaf are well adapted to help with photosynthesis and explained this well to the group. Rohan gave a confident presentation of sperm cells and their role in reproduction. Evie’s project provided a thorough look into red blood cell functions and how they travel around the body in blood vessels and Lily took a very creative approach to the task with more than one red blood cell modelled and its adaptations clearly explained.
Ollie Hill, Y7 Dan Ledson, Y7
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Will Shay, Y7 Lily Bayliff, Y7
Alanah Fernando, Y7
Holly Hughes, Y7
Orla Buckland, Y7
Tahlia Petre, Y7
Evie Tomkinson, Y7
Patrick Beecham, Y7
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DESIGN TECHNOLOGY | YEAR 7
Fantastic bedroom designs
ota, Y7 h a S i n a Sukhm
Sophia Taffs, Y7
We featured some of Year 7’s fantastic bedroom designs in the last edition of the Pinnacle and here are some more from the later Textiles rotation groups this year. Teacher of Design and Technology, Mrs Morrish, sets the bedroom design project as part of pupils’ DT Textiles studies. She has been blown away by pupils' responses, that have explored the different design movements before creating their own designs and eventually constructing a small scale shoebox model. Pictured here are Sally Warren, Sophia Taffs, Tom Ward, Max Thomas and Sukhmani Sahota with their models. Incredible work everyone!
Tom Ward, Y7
Sally Wa
rren, Y7
as, Y7
National UK BEBRAS Coding Challenge
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Huge congratulations to Princethorpe’s talented coders, who achieved outstanding success in the second national UK Bebras Coding Challenge.
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Among the school’s top performers were Sophie Nicolle (Best in Upper Sixth), Daniel Ovens-Gibbs (Best in Lower Sixth), Dami Ajagunna (Best in Year 10), Zack Darare and Harriet Reynolds (Joint Best in Year 9), Edward Fouracre (Best in Year 8) and Ben Fraser and Ollie Hill (Joint Best in Year 7). In total, 21 Princethorpe pupils were awarded Gold Certificates, placing them in the top 10% of participants nationwide - an exceptional achievement in a highly competitive field (over 500,000 students took part in the competition in the UK in 2025). The UK Bebras Coding Challenge is organised by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and is designed for pupils aged 10 to 19-years-old. During the 45-minute competition, pupils tackle a series of programming and problem-solving tasks tailored to their age group and experience level. The challenge encourages logical thinking, creativity, resilience and confidence in coding.
Head of Computer Science, Ed Musson, praised the pupils’ achievements, saying: “Computational thinking and algorithmic problem-solving are invaluable skills that help pupils approach challenges with logic, creativity and confidence. We are especially proud that Sophie, Dami and Dan have each been awarded Best in School for their year group for the second consecutive year. Their success, alongside the achievements of all 21 Gold Certificate winners, is a fantastic reflection of the talent, dedication and enthusiasm for Computer Science at Princethorpe.”
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Public Speaking
Catenians Public Speaking
ISA Public Speaking
Competitors were marked by the judging panel on a variety of criteria from content, delivery, elocution and appearance. Lola spoke with tremendous flair, presenting a compelling and well-argued case in a challenging and thought-provoking competition. Lola delivered a 4-minute speech on the English criminal system arguing succinctly that it is not fit for purpose. She clearly impressed the judges with her speech and her second place finish against strong competition was a real achievement. Well done also to her support team, Martha Summers, Jonjo Boyle, Bella Ward and Amber Sandhu who helped her script, refine and rehearse the speech.
Two Princethorpe College pupils ventured to Gonville and Caius College at the University of Cambridge in March to take part in the ISA Public Speaking finals. Having been shortlisted from numerous entries, Year 8, Ayesha Hanif, and Year 7, Oscar Bridge, exemplified incredible talent in drafting their respective speeches on ‘The conflict of nature and nurture on educational outcomes’ and ‘The role of technological advancement in modern society’. The shortlist for the finals had selected the top twelve pupils from all entries from students in Years 7 to 9, a challenging demand for our Year 7 and Year 8 pupils.
Lower Sixth Former, Lola Foulerton, celebrated after finishing in second place at the Midlands round of the 2026 Catenian Association’s Public Speaking Competition. The contest took place at Newman University in March, with students representing Catholic schools from across the region.
Lola Foulerton, L6
Ayesha and Oscar delivered their speeches in the Bateman Auditorium, both speaking with confidence and clarity despite inevitable nerves. With clear projection, articulation and enthusiasm, they maintained the interest of the audience throughout, receiving individual congratulations even from some of their competitors and their families. The event, sponsored by the English-Speaking Union, was designed to showcase talents in oracy, speaking and listening. Our candidates were commended on the organisation and prioritisation of information within their speeches, their expression and delivery and their reasoning and evidence skills. Whilst they did not place in the top two on the day, both were awarded medals for their outstanding speeches and for making it to the final twelve. They exemplified the school’s values by striving to do their best, courageously placing themselves outside of their comfort zones and speaking with maturity and articulation beyond their ages. We were very proud of them both.
Oscar Bridge, Y7
Ayesha Hani, Y8
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U13 Girls’ Football Success
The U13 Girls’ Football team had a truly incredible 2025/26 season. Playing 19 matches, winning 17 and scoring an impressive 78 goals along the way. They earned their first trophy in early October when their slick passing and resolute defence ensured they confidently won the ISA Girls’ Football Nationals. They sailed through the early rounds of the English Schools’ Football Association, Independent Schools’ Football Association and the Sisters n Sport Cups, claiming victory after victory. In February, they just missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the ESFA Cup placing them as one of the top eight U13 Girls teams in the country. They continued determinedly in both the ISFA Cup and the SnS Cup, conducting themselves brilliantly and representing the College with aplomb. At the start of May, the girls travelled to Letchworth Garden City to take on Surbiton High School in the ISFA Cup Final. In a closely contested match, the girls narrowly lost 1-0, but what a performance they produced, and how near they came – hitting the woodwork on more than one occasion. Their outstanding second half showed incredible dedication, teamwork and resilience, and they truly left everything on the pitch. Then just three weeks later, on Thursday 21 May, the team headed off to Lilleshall National Sports Centre to play in the Sisters n Sport National Cup Finals. They first faced a strong Guildford County School in the semis, where a fantastic performance, secured a brilliant 1-0 victory. That result earnt them a well-deserved place in the final and what a competitive and tense match that proved to be. Princethorpe’s girls gave their all, playing with spirit and composure, and were unlucky to be narrowly beaten 1-0 by a very strong Thomas Estley School side. They finished the tournament as rightly proud national runners-up for the second time in as many weeks. That capped off an absolutely phenomenal season for the U13 Girls’ Football team. Team coach, Dan White, said: “The girls were a joy to coach, performing brilliantly on the pitch and showing breathtaking talent and dedication throughout what has truly been an exceptional season. They have played with tremendous spirit, tenacity and composure and we could not be prouder of all they have accomplished. This talented team has an exciting future ahead, their camaraderie, resilience and talent shines through, and we cannot wait to see what they go on to accomplish.” Recognising their success across the year, the U13 Girls’ Football team were well deservedly recognised in the College’s Sports Awards as the Girls Sports' Team of the Season.
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“The girls were a joy to coach, performing brilliantly on the pitch and showing breathtaking talent and dedication throughout what has truly been an exceptional season.“
Chemistry Designed to challenge and inspire, the UK Chemistry Olympiad is a national chemistry competition run by the Royal Society Of Chemistry.
Olympiads
Hosted annually, it is aimed at students in the Sixth Form and offers a unique opportunity for chemistry students to develop their thinking and problem-solving skills and test their existing knowledge of chemistry in situations from the realworld. In this year’s competition, all our Upper Sixth students received certificates. Congratulations to everyone who took part but especially to Evie Marston and Zak Neves who were awarded Gold Certificates.
Physics One of the most challenging Physics’ tests available to Sixth Form students is set by the British Physics Olympiad. It is based on the curriculum and features questions that relate to A-level topics. The Senior Physics Challenge stretches and develops the students’ thinking in the application of Physics. A very capable Upper Sixth cohort delivered the College’s best ever scores. Congratulations to them all, but a special mention to Oliver Dyke, Zach Hawkins, Sophie Nicolle, Alex Lawrence and Emmi Parmenter who achieved the highest possible accolade of a Merit.
Biology Our Upper Sixth Biologists took part in this year’s British Biology Olympiad, organised by the Royal Society of Biology. It offers Biology students the opportunity to develop their thinking and problem-solving skills and to test their knowledge of biology across and beyond the A-level Biology specification. All 27 students who participated received certificates but congratulations to the six students who received Gold awards, Amelia Chard, Roxy Glenn, Noah Granfield, Evie Marston, Zak Neves and Ava Parker.
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Tensegrity
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY | YEAR 10
Isaac Frith , Y10, produced this independent project in response to the DT Task on the June Challenge Calendar. Pupils had to watch this video Tensegrity Structures in Lightweighting Design and create their own design.
Market Research I started by looking at previously existing tensegrity structures and found examples such as these: (all found on Google images)
My plan I then proceeded to think about what I would use a tensegrity model for and made a mind map of ideas – I plan to model and then 3D print this so it will need to be simple enough so that it is within my capabilities
The model For my model I have decided to go with a Rubik’s cube stand. I designed this model in tinkerCAD. I then set it off to print on my 3D printer.
Evaluation WWW:
Results Print worked well first time – these are the results;
❱ Works well and looks good ❱ Strings have printed very well, even in midair EBI:
❱ Slightly wobbly as shown in video ❱ Slight bit of stringing/failure on 3D print What I will change for next time:
❱ Double check print settings to avoid stringing/failure
❱ Print in a way that allows other items to be displayed on it
Overall, I think that this mini project has been a great success.
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