Dear Parents 

What a superb final week of this half term! Although it’s been a short half term, school life has been absolutely buzzing with activity. 

We began the week on a high note as our U11A girls’ football team won the ISA Midlands Tournament on Monday—what a fantastic achievement! The team played brilliantly, and it’s always a great privilege to represent Crackley Hall at such events. A big thank you to the staff who accompanied and supported the team on the day. 

On Wednesday, Junior 1 enjoyed a wonderful trip to the MAD Museum (Mechanical Art and Design) in Stratford. This interactive venue is a fantastic place for young minds to explore, be inspired, and engage creatively with the world of mechanical art. Thank you to all the staff who supported our curious and enthusiastic Junior 1 pupils on this exciting outing. 

Today, we celebrated our First Holy Communion, at a truly beautiful and moving ceremony. Congratulations to our First Holy Communicants and well done to them on their superb reading. A special thank you to our readers, singers, soloists, Mrs Stokes for stepping in to accompanying our Chamber Choir, Mrs Horan and Mr M Duigan, the wonderful office team, Mrs Forino and the excellent classroom staff who helped prepare the church and function room and, of course, Father Kevin for making the occasion so special. I am so grateful to Fr Kevin for his guidance and support of our school over the 14 years that I have been here. 

We will be looking forward to welcoming everyone back after the break for the final half of the summer term. It promises to be an extremely busy few weeks, especially for our Junior 6 leavers. We will be embarking on the J6 residential trip to France, celebrating our annual Prize Giving ceremonies, enjoying the annual sports days and gathering for the annual Leavers’ Mass and Leavers’ Assembly, along with many other special events that celebrate hard work and achievement across school life. 

I am looking forward to seeing the results of the pupil assessments of the past two weeks. Our school, as a whole, is achieving above national standards and I look forward to this information being passed onto parents. We will be looking to ensure more frequent updates and communication to parents on their child’s academic progress over a school year. Their wonderful progress and levels of attainment needs to be celebrated. We initiate many early interventions to help our pupils, and this leads to accelerated or improved progress. Ensuring parents are involved in ongoing dialogue will further benefit the pupils. 

Please note that our school photography company will be in on the first day back after half term to take the summer sports photographs and any others that may have been missed. Further details can be found in the article.  

As we near the end of the academic year, we say a heartfelt farewell to Mrs Samantha Swann, who is stepping down from her role as Chef at Crackley Hall. Mrs Swann has been a cornerstone of our school community, serving delicious meals with warmth, care, and dedication. From everyday lunches to special events like Christmas dinner—where her turkey and trimmings were a highlight—her commitment has left a lasting impression on pupils, staff, and visitors alike. We are incredibly grateful to her. She will be greatly missed, and we wish her all the very best in her next chapter.  

Our two performers who opened this morning’s assembly were absolutely fantastic — Ryan (J2M) gave a wonderful piano performance and I am so pleased to see how much he has grown in confidence and ability; and Gracie (J4C) who impressed us all with her beautiful singing as she commanded the ‘stage’ with her confidence and control of emotion throughout her song. 

Congratulations to this week’s Stars of the Week: Nursery – Jemima; Rec – Amos and Eadie; J1 – Milo and James; J2 – Avni and Ralph; J3 – Reuven and Raya; J4 – Cameron and William; J5 – Sophia and Sophie; J6 – Lexi-Jean and Ava. Well done to all those who received Crackley Compass stars and Da Vinci certificates and to Jupiter House on winning the House Point trophy this week! It was also fantastic to be able to hand out so many ‘out of school’ awards and acknowledge the super achievements of so many of our pupils. Well done to all of you. 

Thank you to my fabulous staff for all they have done over the half term. I would like to wish you all a restful and enjoyable half term break. 

God bless, 
Rob Duigan

"Life is a journey. When we stop things don't go right.” — Pope Francis

Holiday Club is back this May Half Term! 

We are delighted to confirm that our ever-popular Holiday Club will be running during the May Half Term.

Our Holiday Club is something we’re incredibly proud of. It gives children the chance to enjoy time with their friends in a familiar environment, looked after by the professional and friendly staff they already know and trust.

We offer a fantastic range of planned activities, including:

• Sewing, cooking, and baking
• Arts and crafts
• Sports days with specialist coaches
• Music and dance workshops
• Trips to local nature reserves, parks, and woodlands

There’s something for everyone – and children really do have a wonderful time!

Early booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. Please email holidayclub@crackleyhall.co.uk to book your place.

We can’t wait to welcome everyone for another fun-filled week!

Holiday Club Programme

Gillman & Soame are attending school on Monday 2 June to take the summer sports teams photographs.

All children in Juniors 3 to 6 will need to wear their full summer sports kit, as below:

• White Polo Shirt
• Shorts/Skort
• White Socks
• Trainers

For children who have represented Crackley Hall in Hardball Cricket A Team (U10 or U11), they will need to wear their cricket whites and blazer, but also bring their summer sports kit in a named bag.

🌼 Kenilworth in Bloom is Coming! 🌼

We’re excited to welcome the judges from Kenilworth in Bloom to Crackley Hall School this July as they come to admire our beautiful grounds.

To help make our school shine, we’re inviting you to get creative and make a garden decoration or ornament using reused or recycled materials. Think eco-friendly, imaginative, and colourful!

🎨 Please bring your creations to Mrs O’Carroll–Bailey by Friday 6 June.
All entries will be proudly displayed in our Outdoor Classroom.

🏅Junior Da Vinci Awards will be awarded for outstanding and inventive designs.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Here are some ideas to get you started. 

As we prepare for our 2025 Prizegiving, a key event in the school calendar, we kindly remind all prize winners to return their awards.

A recent communication has been sent to those involved. The school office will be open during the half-term break from 9:00am to 4:00pm, should you wish to drop them off.

Please ensure all awards are returned by Monday 2 June.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

We are thrilled to announce that tickets for this year’s Summer Production are now on sale!

Our pupils have been working incredibly hard in rehearsals, and we can’t wait to share their talent, energy, and creativity with you. This year’s show promises to be a spectacular celebration of music, drama, and teamwork—an event not to be missed!

Performance Date:
📅Wednesday 11 June 
📍Spa Centre, Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa, CV32 4HN

• Box Office Phone:  01926 334418
• Website: royalspacentreandtownhall.co.uk

How to Book:
Tickets can be reserved via the Spa Centre link. Seating is limited, so we encourage families to book early to avoid disappointment.

We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a truly memorable evening of entertainment and celebration!

We have introduced a weekly calendar to keep you up to date with what is going on in school. It is a one stop shop for information.

Click here for the calendar for week beginning Monday 2 June.

Friday 23 May was an important day for eight Crackley Hall pupils as they celebrated their First Holy Communion Mass. Junior 3s Ted, Grace, Lucas, Matteo, Orla and Oscar, together with Mikaela from Junior 4 and Vincent from Junior 5, gathered together excitedly with friends, family and the Crackley Hall School community at St Francis of Assisi Church in Kenilworth.

The children have been preparing for this special day for a while, learning about their faith so that they understand what they are committing to. In March, they took the Sacrament of First Reconciliation.

This morning, in a joyful and celebratory Eucharist, Father Kevin Hooper spoke about the nourishing love of God that would sustain the young communicants throughout their lives before the children received the sacrament with the utmost sincerity and reverence. Following celebratory prayers, reflections and concluding hymns the recipients were presented with certificates and posed for proud parents and friends in front of the altar and then outside the church.

Special thanks were given to Mrs Horan and Mr M Duigan, and to all the other staff for their support of the children.

After the Eucharist the children were presented with gifts and enjoyed a celebratory lunch with a lovely First Holy Communion cake to mark the occasion. It was a very special day for all concerned.
 

Last Saturday 17 May our amazing PTA hosted their sensational Summer Fair. The school grounds were filled full of happy families having a fabulous time. As always, the tombola was popular as was the face painting, and there was plenty of fun to be had on the stalls. It was great to see everyone enjoying the outdoors, including the go-karts and the inflatables. On the refreshments front, Mr Duigan oversaw the barbeque and there was popcorn galore. The gin and beer tent proved popular with parents and to celebrate the school’s 80th birthday everyone was treated to a slice of cake. We enjoyed sensational entertainment from our incredible Choral Group however it was the live music from Mr and Mrs Vaughan that stole the show, their informal ‘sing off’ making for a wonderfully relaxed vibe that everyone really enjoyed.
Huge thanks to the parents and staff who volunteered their time, either by running a stall or with the organisation behind the scenes. It was a really successful event. We hope you all enjoyed this year’s PTA Summer Fair!

Our Foundation senior school, Princethorpe College has just received its first review from popular online platform, Muddy Stilettos.

An editor from Muddy visited the College in April, met with Grove du Toit, the Headmaster and was toured round school by two of their Lower Sixth Formers.

The very positive review describes the College as 'An idyllically-placed selective independent co-ed Catholic day school for 11-18s in rural Warwickshire with a family feel, excellent pastoral care and excellent academics.'

To read the Review in full click here.

The College's next Open Event is Open Evening on Wednesday 4 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, if you would like to visit and see the College for yourself, book your place here, all are welcome!

At this year’s Career Insights Event, we were honoured to welcome back Old Princethorpian Tunde Olanrewaju (Class of 1998) as our keynote speaker. Now a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and Managing Partner for McKinsey across Europe, Tunde spoke candidly about his path from Princethorpe to global leadership — and the profound impact the College had on him during a defining period in his life.

Tunde’s talk was hugely inspiring for the pupils but also for all the adults in the hall who had the privilege to hear him speak. 

"Princethorpe was a very, very big piece of why I could make it through that period of my life," he said. He reflected on the encouragement, care and quiet generosity he received from staff and fellow pupils, and the sense of community that has stayed with him ever since.

To express his gratitude and give others the same opportunity, Tunde announced a personal gift of £100,000 to Princethorpe College.

"Because of how much Princethorpe has done for us and our family, we want to make a donation… to make sure that others can benefit from what we also had."

This landmark gift will support the Foundation’s vision to widen access, invest in the pupil experience, and strengthen our schools for the future. At a time when government policy has added VAT to independent school fees and removed business rate relief, gifts of this kind are even more important to the continued success of our Development programme, which aims to reduce reliance on fee income and ensure pupils from all backgrounds can flourish.

But this year’s success goes far beyond this one generous gift. Since September, the Foundation has seen a record-breaking wave of support from across the Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent communities. More than £500,000 has been pledged so far — the highest ever annual total — with over £300,000 to the Annual Fund alone. These figures reflect the growing strength of our culture of giving, and the combined effort of parents, former parents, alumni, and friends who are choosing to make a difference.

That support is already at work, funding bursaries and hardship support, enhancing facilities, and advancing key capital projects across our schools.

Recent fundraising income has:

• Helped over 100 pupils and families through bursaries and fee assistance
• Supported the Friends of Crescent with the funding of the Barnaby Friendship Garden at Crescent School
• Enabled the refurbishment of changing rooms on the playing fields at Crackley Hall
• Backed the final phase of funding for the Princethorpe Smallholding project
• Contributed to ongoing heritage restoration of our Grade II-listed buildings

Every gift — no matter the size — adds up to meaningful change. This momentum is being powered by the collective generosity of our community, and it’s clear that, together, we are achieving something extraordinary.

Development Director, Steve Kowal comments:
 "Tunde’s donation is a deeply meaningful gift. Not just because of its size, but because of what it represents — a belief in the power of a Princethorpe education to shape lives, and a desire to give something back. Philanthropy is increasingly essential to our future, and this gift, alongside so many others, will have a lasting impact."

Tunde’s gift joins a growing number of significant donations made in recent years, reflecting a renewed culture of giving across our Foundation. Whether through the Annual Fund, major gifts, or legacy pledges, each contribution supports our schools and pupils — now and in the years ahead.

If you would like to be part of this journey, visit www.princethorpe.co.uk/support-us, contact the Development Office directly at makingadifference@princethorpe.co.uk or call Steve Kowal on 01926 634265.

On Friday 10 May, Princethorpe College hosted Peeps of Princethorpe – a special evening held in appreciation of those who so generously support the work of the Princethorpe Foundation.

Organised by the Development Team, the event welcomed supporters from across the Foundation community, including Old Princethorpians, current and former parents, and staff past and present.

Guests were treated to a memorable evening that began with a warm welcome from Foundation Principal, Ed Hester. Drawing on excerpts from historic editions of Peeps of Princethorpe – the magazine of our heritage school, St Mary’s Priory – Ed reflected on VE Day in 1945 and the inauguration of Pope Pius X in 1904, offering a poignant link between past and present.

Foundation Archivist, Jo Wong, then delivered a fascinating presentation, opening a window into the hidden history of the College and sparking lively discussion among attendees.

An exclusive guided tour followed, giving guests the rare opportunity to explore parts of the College not usually accessible to pupils or parents. These included the Organ Loft, the Cellar and historic Cider Cellar, Little Switzerland, the Nun’s Library, the main Library, and the iconic Quad – each full of stories and heritage.

The evening concluded with a relaxed buffet and drinks reception, where conversation and connection flourished.

Development Director, Steve Kowal, shares his thanks with donors, saying:

“We were thrilled to welcome so many supporters to this year’s Peeps of Princethorpe. The generosity of our donors continues to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of our pupils across all three Foundation schools – these donations are shaping experiences and opportunities every day. We are deeply grateful.

Thank you for being part of our community, and for all you do to ensure our schools remain places of inspiration, opportunity and care.”

The event was a great success, with many guests leaving with a renewed appreciation for the Foundation’s story – and the impact of their giving. The College looks forward to hosting similar events in the future.

To learn more about the work of the Development Team and the difference your support makes, visit connect.princethorpe.co.uk/supportus or email makingadifference@princethorpe.co.uk.

The latest edition of the Old Princethorpian, the Princethorpe Foundation’s termly alumni e-newsletter for past pupils, staff and parents has just been published. If you haven’t seen it yet then you can find it here.

The newsletter aims to keep our alumni in touch with each other and news, developments and events across the Foundation. It includes the latest Foundation and College news, and plenty of news and updates from OPs across the decades.

Upcoming exciting events open to our OPs include our popular annual Summer Supper Reunion as well as Princethorpe's first ever Summer Fest. Full details can be found in the Events section on Princethorpe Connect here.

We hope everyone enjoys reading the newsletter and finding out what is going on in the alumni community. Please do share it with any alumni you know.

Saturday 24 May and Sunday 25 May 2025

The National Schools And Riding Clubs Two Day Event is once again taking place on the magnificent Princethorpe estate.

This year’s event includes classes at 70cm, 80cm, 90cm and 100cm for school and riding club teams. The best performing school will be awarded the Winners Cup and ISA member school teams will also compete for ISA rosettes.

The two day event takes place across the weekend of 24 to 25 May at Princethorpe College, near Rugby.

Entry to the event is free and spectators are most welcome to come along and enjoy a wonderful weekend of exciting equestrian sport.

To find out more click here.

Team Super Sports Camps are back for May Half Term. The camps are held at Princethorpe College from Tuesday 27 May to Friday 29 May and will run 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!

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 

Crackley Hall’s Holiday Club will be running as normal.

Wednesday 4 June - 6.30pm to 8.30pm

Princethorpe College invites prospective families to the College's annual Summer Open Evening which will take place on Wednesday 4 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. This is a perfect opportunity for families looking for a secondary school place in September 2026 and beyond to visit the school, for children to take part in departmental activities and for parents to meet and chat to members of staff and pupils.

The Headmaster, Grove du Toit, will also address visitors during the evening. Light refreshments will be available.

Please click here to book your place. 

Sunday 29 June 2025 - 11.00am to 7.00pm

Princethorpe’s PTA are joining forces with the Foundation’s Commercial Enterprises Team to host a new exciting event – Princethorpe Summer Fest.

Join us for an unforgettable day building on the success of the Princethorpe PTA's Summer Fête and Motoring Festival!

Mark your calendars for Sunday 29 June, from 11.00am to 7.00pm, and get ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration featuring:

• Live Music
• Performances from local groups
• Stunning Vintage Car Display
• Craft and Beauty stalls selling lots of amazing products
• Exquisite Art Exhibition
• Fun-filled Activities, Games, and Crafts for all ages!

And that's not all! 

For £10 enjoy an array of large-scale inflatables and games at the PTA Fun Zone! 

Indulge in a delightful array of food and drink including: 

• 🍟 The Rollin Bowls
• 🍕 Santina’s Wood Fired Pizza Co
• 🍪 Mils Cookies
• 🌮 Tapas Zampa
• 🍔 Moo Hatch
• 🌮 Taco Lab  
• ☕ No13 Coffee Roasters 

Don't miss out on this spectacular event—bring your friends and family for a day of entertainment, creativity, and delicious treats!

Entry is £5 per car to be paid on the day. To get your tickets click here. 

With thanks to our generous sponsor, Carter and King.

Our Stars of the Week this week are: 

• Nursery - Jemima
• Reception A - Amos
• Reception OC - Eadie
• J1R - Milo
• J1H - James
• J2M - Avni
• J2V - Ralph
• J3C - Reuven
• J3W - Raya
• J4A - Cameron
• J4C - William
• J5L - Sophia
• J5S - Sophie
• J6H - Lexi-Jean
• J6V -  Ava

Congratulations to them all!

Congratulations to all our Junior da Vinci award winners this week.

Religious Education

• Autumn, Clement, Edison, Eli, Georgia M, Imogen F, Sebastian B, Sebastian M, Orla and Tianna.

Geography

• Marie

English

• Oliver B, Evelyn B, Stephanie, Freya, Nico, Lyla, Sophia MI, Layla, Reeyan, Jeea, Eva S and Amos. 

Our Junior 6 scientists bravely delved into the world of bacteria, viruses and fungi this week in their Science lessons! They now know that micro-organisms have different shapes and can be identified with a microscope. They learnt how viruses can mutate and how vaccinations help to prevent illnesses such as Covid. They were equally amazed by the size of some honey mushroom fungi and disgusted by the damage caused by athlete’s foot fungi! They also learnt that they share their beds with millions of microscopic bed bugs!

Also, this week, Charlie T kindly brought in some of his family medals from the First and the Second World War. It was fascinating to see real pieces of history and hear stories of such bravery.

Rehearsals are continuing; we are impressed with how Junior 6 have learnt their lines and are listening to feedback. Keep up the great work J6!

This half-term Junior 5 have been challenging themselves to produce ideas for their very own dragon’s eye. They have designed their dragon’s eyes, thinking about what colours they should use, based on what type of dragon they are constructing. In Junior 5L there are a range of different dragons such as thunder dragons, fire dragons, ice dragons and night dragons. The children will be making their creative designs using air-dried clay and paint. This week they have created the irises of their dragon’s eye using colour pencils, drafting film, and glass cabochon. We look forward to seeing their completed unique dragon’s eyes!

Junior 4 had an unforgettable adventure at Princethorpe this week, taking part in the brilliant Eco Explorers workshop! The morning was packed with exciting hands-on activities, from orienteering around the sports field, to discovering a hidden world of microscopic life through pond dipping as well as learning all about bee-keeping and the importance bees have for pollination. The exploration continued with a fascinating mini-beast hunt along the Mile Walk, where the children uncovered all sorts of creatures in their natural habitats. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with nature and learn in the most engaging way possible!

What a busy and exciting week it’s been in Junior 3! Many of our pupils have been preparing for their First Holy Communion, with a special visit from Fr Kevin, who kindly came into school to lead Reconciliation ahead of the big day. It was a joy and privilege to support our Junior 3 Holy Communicants by attending their Mass on Friday. We hope this has been a truly special and memorable occasion for them and their families.

Meanwhile, back in the classroom, the children have been showing off their amazing angle work and writing skills. They’ve crafted vivid descriptions of Theseus entering the labyrinth, using a fantastic variety of sentence starters and rich, descriptive vocabulary—what imaginative storytellers they are! In Maths, they have been working hard, identifying angles and turns, including direction, as well as measuring with accuracy.

In History, our learning about The Trojan War has had the whole class gripped. There were audible gasps when the children discovered Achilles' heel was his only weakness—and even more so when they found out what was hidden inside the Trojan horse!

On top of all this, Junior 3 have been completing their assessments. We are incredibly proud of how mature and positive their approach has been. Well done, Junior 3 - you’ve had a brilliant week!

This week Junior 2 have been fantastically busy completing end of year assessments and finishing projects. As our Rainforest topic draws to a close, we have assembled all the component parts of our collaged ‘Tiger’ pictures, inspired by the artist Henri Rousseau. We hope you like them - we think they are ‘roarsome’. We even chose titles – just like Henri did for his painting.

We have also been authors, writing our own stories set in a desolate and polluted setting. Our stories were inspired by our core-text ‘The Tin Forest’ which tells the tale of a little, old man who lives all alone in a place that has been ruined by pollution and neglect. As well as putting all our amazing writing skills into practice, our stories have an important message - that we need to be aware of the dangers of pollution and be responsive as to what we can do. Junior 2 have also been exploring this important theme in our PSHE lessons, where we have come up with our own acrostic poem promising to protect our planet.  

Junior 1 read the hilarious poem 'I Don't Like Custard' by Michael Rosen, and after much debating about the foods we liked and disliked, two new rhyming poems were written. The topic of fractions was continued in Maths this week, finding a quarter of a shape or number, along with using their newfound skills to solve simple word problems. As the weather is quite changeable at the moment, we took time in Geography to look at the way weather symbols are represented and drew our own versions of them. Of course, the highlight of the week was visiting the MAD museum in Stratford, where everybody had so much fun pressing buttons, pulling leavers, clapping at sound activated machines and building a giant marble run. It took us quite a while to convince them that it was time to leave, but with the promise of a picnic in the park and a play in the play area, we were eventually able to prise them away from the museum.

This week we have been really busy with our observational skills.  We had a real rainbow trout from the fishmonger on Monday, and we drew pictures of the fish - noticing it's colourful shiny scales, its tiny sharp teeth and the gills. The fish triggered some fantastic conversations, which then led into some fantastic 'under the sea' writing.  We created our own story plans at the start of the week, and have now written our own stories.  It has been a super busy few days - but it is fabulous to see the confident writers our Reception children have become.  

Please see link below for this week's mission.

Weekly Mission

Weekly and daily Masses are held at St. Francis RC Church, Warwick Road, and St Augustine RC Church, Beehive Hill, Kenilworth.  

For dates and times follow the link above and scroll through.

Ms McAloon led a beautiful assembly on Monday focusing on Mary and the Rosary. She warmly reminded us that our school is a loving family where we learn, love, and grow together as a school every day.

She shared the story of 'The Annunciation,' when Mary said "yes" to God's calling with her strong faith. The children were encouraged to think about how we can all bring God's love into the world by following Mary's wonderful example. The children reflected on times they've shown courage like Mary - from raising their hands in assembly, to tackling challenging tests, and trying new experiences. 

Mary's humility was highlighted as another special quality for us to nurture. Her gentle nature and ability to listen deeply to others teaches us the importance of taking time to be with those around us.

Ms McAloon reminded everyone that Mary showed us the greatest gift we can give is our love. When discussing resilience, the children thoughtfully shared who helps them when times get difficult, recognising that, like Mary, we all need support sometimes.

The Rosary itself was explained as a meaningful form of prayer that helps us reflect on the lives of Mary and Jesus. The children were asked this week if they could all try to follow Mary's example by:

• Showing faith and courage in their daily lives.
• Practising humility in their words and actions.
• Being generous with their time and showing kindness.
• Building resilience when facing challenges.
• Taking moments for quiet reflection.
• Praying the Rosary to strengthen our connection with Mary and Jesus.

The assembly ended with the Ave Maria hymn - which in Latin means Hail Mary.

Crackley Hall’s U11 Girls travelled to Malvern on Monday 19 May to take part in the ISA Midlands Cricket Tournament.

The girls started with two group games and some fine batting and bowling delivered two super wins. They faced Wellow House School first, winning by 272 runs to 229 runs, and then overcame Malvern St James by 269 runs to 230 runs.

With the team on excellent form, they sailed through the semi-final against Edenhurst Prep School easily too, winning by 261 runs to 210 runs.

In the final, they faced Malvern St James again, they had also won their semi-final. Another competitive team performance saw the girls confidently win 251 runs to 228 runs and finish as ISA Midlands Champions.

The girls were outstanding all day and there were plenty of highlights to enjoy. Special mention goes to Charlotte (J5) who scored a six off her first ball followed by several fours – she was Crackley’s top batter on the day. Congratulations also to Jessie for taking her first wicket and to Lexi for getting two batters out in the final, one catch immediately followed on the next ball by a tremendous run-out.

Player of the day: Charlotte T
Most improved: Lexi-Jean E

Playing for Crackley Hall were: Jessie J, Lexi-Jean E, Charlotte T, Eleanor W ©, Mahnoor B, Grace A, Millie M, Scarlett M.
 

On Friday 9 May, the U11 Girls Football Team took part in the ISFA Midlands tournament. They faced talented footballers from across the region and had the chance to really challenge themselves. The whole team played excellently throughout the competition, narrowly missing out on a semi-final spot. They were even described as ‘easily the best team in the tournament’ by one of the schools who reached the final. Unfortunately, on the day, it was a case of playing extremely well but not quite finishing the many scoring opportunities they created for themselves. We are however really proud of their development as a team. A huge well done to them all!

Fun and adventure were on the horizon this week in Lego Club when we re-created the thrill of the ocean waves with speedboat racing, sailing and even a party boat to cater for those seeking seashore fun.  We discussed how boats really work, whilst mastering the tactics of world-class sailing.  We talked about why we should angle the sails for the ultimate racing position and raising and lowering the dagger boards to maximise stability, whilst using the rudder to steer at the same time – all very complex, but what engineering skills we were all learning in how boats work!   It really was all hands-on deck to solve the mysteries of life on the waves!

As you are aware, the children will be involved in performing Treachery At Traitor's Quay for our summer production, which is a story about Evacuees discovering a spy and saving the day.

All children in the school are invited and encouraged to design a programme for the two shows drawing inspiration from WW2.

The following information needs to be on the design:

Crackley Hall Presents Treachery At Traitor's Quay

Wednesday 11 June 2025

The design needs to be on an A4 piece of paper with no glitter or reflective stickers as these do not photocopy well.

Designs need to be handed into the office no later than Wednesday 4 June. Mr Duigan and the Performing Arts department will select a winner and some runners up.

Each entry will earn 3hps for their house, with the runner ups earning 5hps and the winner earning 10 hps.

We look forward to seeing what the children come up with.

Good luck!

This week, the Dormice have been fully immersed in a transport-themed adventure! The children have been busy exploring different modes of transport and learning how to categorise them into land, air and water vehicles. Through hands-on sorting activities, they’ve been developing their understanding of how various vehicles move and where they belong.

We also played a fun version of Kim’s Game using transport-related items. The children loved testing their memory and observation skills as they tried to remember which vehicles had been taken away. It was a great way to encourage focus and recall in a playful setting.

Our water tray turned into a mini harbour as the children enjoyed water play with boats, experimenting with floating and sinking and even creating little boat races. This sensory play sparked lots of imaginative conversations and teamwork.

To top it all off, we’ve been singing and moving along to some of our favourite transport-themed action songs, including The Wheels on the Bus and Row, Row, Row Your Boat. These songs not only brought lots of smiles and giggles but also helped reinforce vocabulary and rhythm through music and movement.

It’s been a joyful and educational week full of discovery and fun!

We know that not everyone has been able to join us for our recent events, so we thought we’d bring a little slice of school life to you! Here are a couple of photos to showcase some of the wonderful displays brightening up our corridors and classrooms.

As you stroll down the main school corridor, you’ll be greeted by our Wordsworth Daffodil display—a poetic burst of yellow that celebrates both creativity and springtime beauty. It’s a cheerful nod to classic literature and the children’s artistic flair.

Meanwhile, over in one of Badgers and Hedgehogs classroom, the Happy Toothbrushing display is stealing the spotlight with its riot of colour and fun. It’s not just eye-catching—it’s also a playful reminder of the importance of healthy habits, brought to life with the children’s imaginative touches.

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE day, our Dormice created beautiful Poppy Fields using their fingers and paint. This hands-on activity not only helped them connect with an important historical event in a meaningful way, but also supported their physical development by strengthening fine motor skills through finger painting. The vibrant display serves as a touching tribute and a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn about remembrance and peace.

In another exciting project, Dormice explored Journeys Through Land, Sky, and Sea, crafting vehicles using a variety of materials. From cars and trains to boats and aeroplanes, they discussed where each vehicle travels—on roads, tracks, water or in the sky. This activity encouraged rich communication and language development as children shared their ideas and stories. It also nurtured their expressive arts and design skills, allowing them to experiment with textures, shapes, and construction techniques.

We hope these glimpses bring a smile to your face and a sense of connection to the vibrant learning happening every day!

Badgers and Hedgehogs have been utterly amazing this week as they showed off their Listening and Speaking skills whilst completing our Summer term, Wellcomm Language Assessment. As parents will recall from our meetings during the Autumn and Spring, this termly assessment monitors receptive language processing and listening skills, as well as tracking speaking, to identify which parts of speech and grammar are secure. This type of assessment helps staff to plan next steps for each child and to inform some of the activities and learning opportunities which we choose to offer.

The children have also been demonstrating their prowess during Maths challenges this week as we begin to look ahead to the final half term of Nursery for our preschoolers. How fast time flies and how far they have come on their individual Learning Journeys!

We had a fabulous time in Forest School, fashioning tree spirits from terracotta clay and using treasures gathered from the forest floor to craft facial features. The recycled pipes were also a big hit during the session this week, with some children building channels and others singing down the lengths to make each other laugh as their voices travelled and echoed.

Enjoy a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend!

A huge thank you from the PTA for donations received, these flew off of the rails at the Summer Fair, stocks have been depleted! 

 We now need more! So please have a look, sort through any uniform or kit that is no longer needed and your donations will be greatly appreciated. 

• All uniform for KS1 excluding trousers, shorts and shirts
• Good quality book bags
• Good quality backpacks
• Ties - clip and standard
• Blazers
• Tracksuit bottoms
• Blazers
• Jumpers -  size 26 or 28
• Summer dresses - size 22 or 24
• Sports tops, zip ups or fleeces -  Age 7-8 or 9-10
• Winter coats - Age 5-6 

Thank you all very much for your support. 

🌞 Summer Fair – A Huge Thank You!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Summer Fair - through donations, time, energy, and enthusiasm, we’re thrilled to share that we raised an incredible £6,600 for the school!

This fantastic achievement was only possible thanks to our wonderful school community.

🌟 Special Thanks

A huge thank you goes to our amazing Summer Fair Committee:
Jen Robinson, Leigh Dumighan, Lauren Gautier-Ollerenshaw, Geraldine Higginbotham, Sarah Brighton-Phillips, Anna Weeks, Josh Crockford, and Jo Ward, all brilliantly led by Aimee Clark.

Planning began early in the year - long before the sunshine and BBQs arrived - and the team’s dedication and teamwork truly paid off. Weekly meetings, endless organisation, and great humour led to a day that was not only successful but also full of joy for everyone.

🍔 Food Heroes

A special shout-out to Dan and Jen Robinson, who once again led the food efforts at the fair. From sourcing at cost to minimising waste and ensuring everyone had tasty options, their work behind the scenes was extraordinary. Jen’s delicious cakes - lovingly baked and generously donated—were a hit once again. Dan and Jen, your commitment to the PTA goes above and beyond, and we’re so grateful.

🙌 Volunteer Power

To all the incredible volunteers, caretakers, teaching and office staff, nursery team, and Mr and Mrs Duigan - thank you for helping with set-up, running activities, and clearing down. Your support made the day possible and truly special.

A special mention to Johanna (Reception), Craig, Josh, and Kasime for their tireless efforts from dawn to dusk. You went above and beyond, and your dedication did not go unnoticed!

🎟️ Raffle Round-Up

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we didn’t need to purchase a single raffle prize this year! This helped us raise even more - and we’re so thankful to the families and businesses who contributed:

1. The Rose Wine Company (The Robinson Family)
2. Bloom with Kiki (The Swindell Family)
3. Team Super Sports
4. Dianne’s Cake House (The Mitchell Family)
5. Toniebox UK (The Seddon Family)
6. The Barn at Berryfields (The Barber Family)
7. Oil Drum (The Ridley Family)
8. Coal (The Gordon Family)
9. Raspberry Hair (The Andrews Family)
10. Hay Bales (The Grimes Family) 

Your support made a real difference - thank you all!

🍔The McDonald lunch for 4 went down very well with the winners! 

🎄 Looking Ahead: Christmas Raffle & PTA Ball Auction

We’re already looking ahead to our next events! If you or your business would like to donate a prize for the Christmas Raffle or the PTA Ball Auction, we’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s a voucher, a product, or a showstopper like that amazing giant tiger (a crowd favourite!), every donation helps us continue providing fantastic opportunities for our children.

Please email: chair@pta.crackleyhall.co.uk
Or simply drop donations to the Front Reception Area.

With heartfelt thanks
Sara and Sandrine

🎉 Save the Date! 🎉

PTA Family Fun Event - Saturday 30 August 2025

Get ready for a day full of laughter, games and unforgettable memories.
More details coming soon - don’t miss it!

🎉 You're Invited! 🎉

Crackley Hall School 80th Anniversary Ball

Join us as we celebrate 80 wonderful years of Crackley Hall School at a very special evening of elegance, community, and celebration.

•  Friday 10 October 2025
• Arrival from 7.00 pm
• Dinner served at 7.30 pm
• Celebrations continue until late 

It's been five years since our last anniversary ball and we can't wait to bring everyone together again. This promises to be a memorable night full of fun, laughter and purpose - raising funds for charity and our dedicated PTA.

Let’s make it a night to remember!

Book your tickets here: https://square.link/u/7FWfS9Z1?src=sheet

📢 Important Update: Aftercare & Extended Day Provision

Aftercare bookings must now be made through My School Portal. This system allows you to book sessions in advance and cancel them if needed, giving you greater flexibility and control.

✅ How to Book Aftercare:

1. Log in to My School Portal
2. Select your child’s profile
3. Scroll down to Clubs and Activities
4. Choose the CH Aftercare Session
5. Select one of the three available options
6. Add it to your basket and confirm your booking

🕒 Available Sessions:

• Session 1: 3:30pm – 5:00pm (includes drink and biscuit)
• Session 2: 5:00pm – 6:00pm (includes tea)
• Both Sessions: 3:30pm – 6:00pm (includes drink, biscuit, and tea)

📌 If your child requires tea, bookings must be made by 1:00pm on the day.

❌ How to Cancel an Aftercare Booking

Should you need to cancel a booking, please follow the instructions below.
Please note: You cannot cancel Aftercare if it is within 24 hours of the booking time.

Cancelling a Booking:

1. Go to Bookings (Clubs and Activities)
2. Open the Drop-down Menu – Upcoming Bookings
3. Locate your booking (e.g., CH Aftercare Michaelmas Term)
4. Click View Booking Details
5. Confirm Cancellation of Booking
6. Under Cancellation Type, select from the dropdown:
   • 1) Cancel all eligible sessions
   • 2) Cancel sessions between specific dates
   • 3) Cancel specific sessions only
7. Choose the date(s) you want to cancel
8. Click Confirm

The Crackley Hall Junior Da Vinci programme encourages all pupils to be inspired to be the best that they can be. The Junior Da Vinci programme embraces three adapted principles - Creativity, Practice and Mastery - that the children demonstrate in their learning.

This year we are ensuring that all pupils in the school have opportunities to achieve Junior Da Vinci awards. The Da Vinci leaflet gives more information about this programme. 

We have moved away from termly and half termly JDV challenges and are using a monthly theme to suggest activities to challenge and interest pupils. Each month different activities will be suggested. Pupils do not have to complete all, or any of these activities. They are available to all pupils in all years, so pupils can choose to investigate something that they are interested in. Bring any examples of activities that have been completed to Mrs Cowlishaw to share with the whole school.

Please see here for May's challenge. 

Look out for news of the children achieving Junior Da Vinci's in the Awards section of the Chronicle over the year.

Below is a letter containing all the important logistical information for the Summer Production - please ensure that you read through this carefully, and diarise the important relevant information.

Summer Production Final Details Letter

Costume Letter - Junior 6

Costume Letter - Reception to Junior 5

Notice from HS2:

A429 Kenilworth  - June 2025

We will be closing the existing A429 as we will be finishing embankments, reinstating and resurfacing the footpaths, positioning final utilities and completing highway drainage works.  From Monday 2 June 2025 to Saturday 28 June 2025, and from Monday 30 June 2025 to Sunday 20 July 2025.

For further details please click here

All the school’s publications can also be found on My School Portal under School Information and will be updated during the year as necessary.

Please see below some useful links to our documentation. 

• Absences And Leave Requests - Lost Property
• Administration Of Medication Form
• After Care
• Contact Information
• Medical Links
• Expression of Interest For Individual Music Tuition
• School Day Timings
• Uniform Order Form
• Trinity Clubs Timetable 

Please see the attached menus for the Trinity Term. These rotate on a four weekly basis.

We will start back on week 2 menu. 

Week 1 Lunch Menu 

Week 2 Lunch Menu

Week 3 Lunch Menu 

Week 4 Lunch Menu 

We regularly recruit for a variety of roles, please do share news of the vacancies with interested friends and family. Current vacancies include:

Princethorpe College 

• Foundation Office PA

 Crescent School

• Teaching Assistant Key Stage 1

Crackley Hall School

• Class Teacher Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2
• Estates Operative

For further information please refer to the link below 

Full details and how to apply are available via the following link: Join Us