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  

As we draw the academic year to a close, I find myself reflecting on the many moments that have made this year at Crackley Hall so special. It has been a year full of growth, celebration and community spirit whilst overcoming various challenges. We have done this together – thank you! 

As part of our 80th anniversary celebrations, Crackley Hall School marked a special moment in its history with the planting of an oak tree earlier this week, an enduring symbol of strength, growth and legacy. Gathered in the school grounds, pupils and staff joined in a short but meaningful ceremony to commemorate this milestone. The oak tree, chosen for its deep roots and long life, represents the values that have shaped Crackley Hall over the past eight decades: resilience, community and a commitment to nurturing young minds. The planting was a moment of reflection and pride, honouring all those who have been part of the school’s journey, from its founding to the vibrant, caring community it is today. As the tree grows, it will stand as a living reminder of our past, present, and future. Thank you to all of those who attended, The Mayor of Kenilworth and Foundation Senior Leadership who took time out of their busy schedules to join us. We look forward to watching it flourish alongside the generations of pupils still to come. Thank you to Mrs Van Zyl, Mrs Lammas, some Eco Club pupils and the Princethorpe Sixth Form students who attended. 

We were also delighted to welcome pupils from Princethorpe College during STEAM Week, including some familiar faces, former Crackley Hall pupils now thriving in their secondary years. It was a joy to see them return, full of enthusiasm and curiosity and to witness the inspiration they brought to our younger learners. 

Our End of Year Mass, celebrated by Father Kevin, was a beautiful and reflective occasion. It gave us the opportunity to pause, give thanks and celebrate the faith and fellowship that underpins our school life. 

Prizegiving was another highlight, two wonderful celebrations of our pupils’ achievements, not just in academics, but in effort, attitude, and character. My sincere thanks to Messrs Ed Hester and Richard Harcourt for joining us and helping to mark the occasion so meaningfully. Congratulations to all our prize winners and a special mention to our incoming head pupils and their deputies; we look forward to seeing you lead with pride and purpose. Thank you to our outgoing Head Boy, Felix, Head Girl, Jessie, Deputy Head Boy, Alexander and Deputy Head Girl, Grace for leading the pupil body so well. 

We also said a fond farewell to our Junior 6 leavers during their final assembly. It was a touching moment as we celebrated their journey and looked ahead to the exciting new chapter that awaits them. We also thanked Ms Sharon McAloon for her hard work, love and inspirational guidance throughout her time here. We wish her all the best for the next step in her professional career. We also say a fond farewell to Mrs Mary O’Brien, who has been a dedicated and much-loved member of our Nursery team for many years. Mary has been a constant source of care, kindness and support to so many of our Little Crackers pupils, we are truly grateful for all she has given to the school community. She leaves with our heartfelt thanks and very best wishes as she looks forward to spending more time with her family. Mary will be greatly missed, but always remembered with warmth and appreciation. 

We are incredibly grateful to all who have supported Crackley Hall’s fundraising this year. Your contributions helped us to install much-needed new changing facilities on the sports fields, an improvement that has already made a real difference to the pupils. Thanks to The Annual Fund, we’ll be able to upgrade these facilities further next year, alongside supporting additional projects that directly benefit our children. This will include utilities being installed in the change rooms and new benches being purchased for the change rooms, along with upgrading the outdoor space to make it more appealing to the pupils and our families. If you haven’t yet donated, or if you gave a one-off gift, we’d be so grateful if you would consider supporting the Fund again. Your generosity helps us provide the very best for our pupils, both now and in the years to come. 

To my wonderful staff - thank you. School life is rich, varied and often fast-paced. Behind every lesson, trip or performance is a team of dedicated professionals working tirelessly to make Crackley Hall a place where children succeed, achieve, are happy and safe. Your commitment does not go unnoticed, and I am deeply grateful. 

Finally, to our parents thank you for your continued support. School is a partnership, and your encouragement, trust and involvement are vital to everything we do. Together, we have built a community that is strong, nurturing and full of joy. 

Wishing you all a restful and happy summer. 
God bless 
Rob Duigan 

Dear Parents,

Please find below the Foundation Term Dates for the 2025–2026 academic year and 2026-2027 academic year. 

• Crackley Hall Term Dates 2025-26
• Crackley Hall Term Dates 2026-27

Please find information on the deposit refund process for parents whose children are moving on at the end of this academic year.

You may recall paying a deposit when your child first joined Crackley Hall School. Now that your child is leaving, we’d like to provide you with important information regarding the refund or donation of this deposit.

Deposit Refund Process

Leavers’ deposit refunds are processed at the end of September. Unfortunately, we are unable to process these any earlier because all children, including leavers, are invited to attend Holiday Club throughout the summer.

Holiday Club registers are received when school returns in September. Any charges from Holiday Club, along with any outstanding charges from the Trinity term, will be applied to the final leaver’s invoice. The deposit refund will also be applied to this invoice.

You will receive an email notification once your invoice is available to view via the Billing Portal.

If your child is progressing to Princethorpe, any credit balance may be:

• Offset against future invoices, or
• Refunded directly, if preferred.

To receive your refund via bank transfer, please log in to your My School Portal account and securely input your bank details:

Steps to Complete Deposit Return Form:

1. Visit My School Portal and log in
2. Go to ‘My Children’
3. Select the relevant child
4. Click on ‘Forms’
5. Next to ‘Princethorpe Foundation Leavers – Deposit Return Details’, click ‘View/Edit’
6. Complete and submit the form.

Support Future Pupils Through a Donation

We are proud to offer a transformative education to pupils from all backgrounds. For families who are in a position to do so, we invite you to consider donating your deposit to support our bursary programme.

Your donation can help open the doors of opportunity for deserving children who may not otherwise have access to this education. By selecting ‘Donate’ in the form linked above, you will directly support the academic and personal growth of future pupils.

Contact

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch:

 accounts@princethorpe.co.uk
 georginamalin@princethorpe.co.uk

Thank you for your continued support, and we wish your child every success in the next stage of their journey.

A gentle reminder to please complete and return the attached order form to the school office by Friday 25 July, to secure your copy of our Treachery at Traitors Quay summer production 2025 on USB.

Thank you for your support! 

Lost property will be available for collection during the summer holidays and will be displayed in the front foyer.

Any unclaimed items after this period will be donated to either the PTA Uniform Shop or a local charity.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us manage lost property efficiently.

Prize Giving at Crackley Hall is the culmination of the academic year, it is a chance to reflect, a chance to celebrate and a chance to give thanks. This year’s Prize Giving took place on Tuesday 1 July with the Lower School receiving their awards in the afternoon and Junior 5 and 6 in the evening.

Crackley was delighted to welcome a number of special guests to the celebrations including Deputy Chair of Trustees, Richard Harcourt and in the evening, Foundation Principal, Ed Hester.

Headmaster, Mr Duigan gave a thought-provoking speech, he gave thanks to the many who give so much to the school in so many ways. He challenged every boy and every girl to draw inspiration from those around them. He reminded pupils that those who succeed have to be brave enough to fail. He encouraged all the children to strive to do their best, to live in the moment, never limit themselves and to celebrate the success of others.

Crackley Hall’s pupil leaders gave their reports speaking movingly about their time in office and their Crackley journeys, and the memories and friends they will take with them as they move on to secondary school.

And then there were the awards, book awards for progress, effort and diligence, school spirit and kindness, contribution to school life and achievement. Followed by cups and shields and trophies galore, all recognising the diligence, effort and excellence that abounds at Crackley Hall.

It was difficult to pick winners for this year’s Special Awards as there were many worthy potential recipients, so it was with great pride that Mr Duigan announced the following:

St Joseph’s School Spirit Award – Jessie J

Zanyi Chalmers Award – Ben F

Scholarship Award – Eleanor W

Sister Mary Patrick Trophy for Caring – Gwen K

PTA Crackley Hall Shield – Grace A

As the ceremonies concluded, all Crackley pupils were encouraged to reflect on their achievements this year, as prize winner or not, all should be rightfully proud.

At the evening ceremony Mrs Horan announced the new Head Boy, Archie, and Head Girl, Gabby, and Deputy Head Boy, Hector, and Deputy Head Girl, Eloise, who proudly took to the stage to receive their badges of office from Mr Duigan.

The ceremony closed with a stirring rendition of the Foundation Hymn Here I Am Lord.

Photos from both Prize Givings will be shared with parents in the next few days.
 

Many congratulations and the very best of luck to all our Junior 6 pupils who finished at Crackley Hall School this week, ready to move on to a range of outstanding local independent and state schools in September. 

27 of the cohort will be moving to the Foundation’s senior school, Princethorpe College, 13 on scholarships. We also have pupils going to a number of other independent schools as well as local grammar and state schools. 

Headmaster, Rob Duigan, said, “Our aim is always to do our best to help our pupils reach the destination secondary school of their choice and we are particularly pleased with the range of scholarship offers this group has received, including academic, art, drama, musical theatre and sport. It’s an excellent outcome and everyone here is thrilled for them.”

Congratulations to all the children on their achievements – Crackley Hall School is really proud of you all.

Venus House has claimed this year's House Trophy after a fiercely competitive season. Yesterday, House Captains, Harrison and Amelia, proudly accepted the house shield at the start of the Leavers' Assembly.  Well done to all the Houses and their Captains this year. 

Father Kevin led his last Junior 6 Leavers' Mass on Tuesday, supported by Junior 6. He dedicated the Mass to all the Junior 6 pupils who are moving onto the next stage of their life and to the staff of Crackley Hall School. Father Kevin spoke about how change can sometimes be challenging and exciting, but how it can also make us feel anxious. He reminded pupils that with support from family and friends and spiritual guidance, we are more able to embrace change. He mentioned Isaiah from the Bible, who said, 'Do not be afraid, for I am always with you,' and he asked the pupils to always try and remember God's promises to us. Father Kevin spoke about how 'Goodbye' is a prayer which means 'God Be With You'. He referred to the quote which expresses gratitude for the past and a hopeful acceptance of the future: "For all that has been, thanks. For all that shall be , yes," which was said by Dag Hammarskjöld, a Swedish diplomat and the second Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The Mass ended with the poem Footprints In The Sand, recited by some of the Junior 6 pupils, which reminds us all how God will carry each of us without us knowing it. The poem uses the imagery of a person walking with God along a beach to illustrate the concept of God's unwavering presence and support, especially during difficult and challenging times.

Our Leavers' Assembly on Thursday afternoon began with a touching tribute when Mr Duigan addressed the whole school and parents with deeply moving words about Ms McAloon's departure. Ms McAloon is taking up a new position as Deputy Head (Head of Prep) at an international school in Jakarta.

In his address, Mr Duigan spoke warmly of Ms McAloon's invaluable contribution as his deputy, emphasising her exceptional talent and dedication to her role. He described her work as phenomenal, highlighting the remarkable impact she has made during her time at the school.

The heartfelt tribute concluded with the entire assembly rising to their feet in a spontaneous standing ovation. Ms McAloon was then presented with cards and gifts from both staff and pupils, marking a memorable send-off for a beloved member of the school as she embarks on her new adventure in Jakarta. We wish Ms McAloon all the very best for the future.

During Thursday morning's school assembly, the Captains and Stewards for the upcoming academic year were announced. Mr Duigan explained that their badges of office will be presented to them at a special assembly in September, to which parents will be warmly invited to attend.

Pupil Leadership 2025-2026

Head  Boy and Girl Pupils: 

Archie J, Gaby A

Deputy Head Boy and Girl Pupils: 

Hector G-C, Eloise B

Ethos and RE Captains:

Una B, Ethan M

Stewards:

Vincent A (French), Patrick BW (Forest School), Arlan M (Sport), Zac S (Computing)

House Captains:

Leyton H - Jupiter

Sophia C - Jupiter

Thomas K - Mars

Isabel A-J - Mars

Charlotte J - Saturn

Teo Farrow - Saturn

Hugo R - Venus

Will H - Venus

Eco Captains:

Beatrice C, Alfie F-K

Digital Captains:

Will C, Alfie R

Form Prefects:

Casper B, Thomas D, Zach M, 

Aaryan L, Niamh B, Sophie K, 

Harry W, Himmy L, Tristan C,

Sara Y, Francesca L, Gabriella F

Oscar, Remy A

Games and Activities Captains:

Will M, Emily F

Performing Arts Captains:

Edward B, Angelica L

Library Captain:

Thea L

Congratulations to them all.

This term, our Junior 5 high performance learners took on the challenge of the Warwickshire Schools Library Service’s Junior Book Award. The children had to read four books before attending the award ceremony which took place last Friday 27 June.

The pupils enjoyed reading the books and especially attending the awards where they had the chance to hear from and meet the authors, ask questions and celebrate all the shortlisted books. They were all delighted to discover that the winning book this year was Bird Boy by Catherine Burton, which Crackley Hall’s pupils had really enjoyed.

At the awards, pupils also enjoyed meeting the current Warwickshire Young Poet Laureate who shared some of her amazing poetry with them all. Then, everyone was pleased that during the ceremony Edward was presented with a prize for his drawings!

The children taking part all agreed that they had had a fantastic time and would really recommend it to other pupils. Meeting the authors and listening to them talking about their books was a real treat.

Over 25 schools took part in the book award challenge this year, exciting and engaging their top readers. The book award was a great opportunity to encourage reading for pleasure and to celebrate the power of stories.

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

The judges from Kenilworth in Bloom visited the school on Wednesday to have a look at our Forest School as well as our lovely trees, outdoor learning area and the recycled bottle garden created by the Student Council.  The team were very impressed with what they saw, and they were particularly impressed with the way they were greeted by our Student Council representatives: Felix, Grace and Jude and Olivia.  The children answered questions about the school environment and shared some of their favourite Forest School activities with the judges - who left with a smile, and the urge to find out more about the fantastic variety of trees in our super grounds.

The Junior 6 Leavers' Assembly was a heartfelt blend of humour and emotion as the pupils took charge of their own farewell celebration. The Junior 6 pupils shared memories and stories from their years at Crackley Hall School, creating a touching tribute to their time together. The assembly ended with in a procession as all of Junior 6 made their final journey through the hall as a group, marking the end of an important chapter in their school lives.

Holiday Club is back this summer holidays!

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

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:

• Arts and crafts
• Sports days with specialist coaches
• Music and dance workshops
• Trips to local nature reserves, parks and woodlands
• Cinema and soft play visits
• Cookery days

There’s something for everyone – and children really do have a wonderful time! Click here to view the scheduled activities.

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!

Team Super Sports Camps are back this Summer! 

The camps are 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. 

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

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.

Thursday 25 September 2025 - 6.30pm to 8.00pm

We are hosting a dedicated Nursery, Reception and Junior 3 Open Evening on Thursday 25 September from 6.30pm.

This Open Evening is for prospective families wishing to join Little Crackers Nursery or Crackley Hall's Reception or Junior 3 class in September 2026 and beyond. It is also perfectly timed for those wishing to take advantage of the early bird registration deadline of Friday 17 October 2025. 

Come and see the school and talk to key members of staff who will be teaching and supporting your child. 

To book your place please click here. 

If you can't make the Open Evening but would like to look around the school, you can book a personal tour buy contacting our Registrar, Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk and come on a day to suit you.

For more information visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk

We love to celebrate our pupils' talents so every week, in Celebration Assembly, we hear of the children's successes and achievements and we watch performances by some of our pupils. Here are some photos from this morning.

A huge well done to all!

The English National Curriculum requires children to achieve specific swimming competencies: including completing 25 metres using various strokes such as front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke, plus demonstrating safe self-rescue skills in water environments. These requirements prepare children for confident and safe participation in water-based activities throughout their lives.

Mr Vaughan, Head of Swimming, was pleased to award Junior 4 pupils with their National Curriculum and Self Rescue certificates, marking the successful completion of their primary school swimming programme. 

Congratulations to all the Junior 4 children on reaching this important milestone!

Congratulations to our additional Junior da Vinci award winners this week:-

• RE - Charlie T
• PSHE- Arabella
• Mathematics - Jai

• English (Additional) - Hendrix, Jasper, Michael, Mikaeel, Maya, Leonardo, Tamara and Austin.

   

This week marked our annual STEAM Week, where children from Nursery to Junior 6 immersed themselves in hands-on learning experiences spanning Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.

As you can see from the photos pupils had an amazing time exploring, creating and developing skills in many different areas. Some examples of the activities that took place were:

Science - Static butterflies - making butterflies fly using static electricity and making elephant toothpaste, which was hilarious to watch.

Technology - Making nest, moon craters and making things fly.

Engineering - Building bridges and towers, building structures to save teddy bears from 'lava'.

Art - Reflective art and graffiti art.

Maths - Cipher Wheels, Waldorf Inspired Multiplication Crafts and Maths challenges.

The pupils have all enjoyed an exciting and hectic but educational final week, filled full of learning activities alongside many other exciting tasks.

Please see link below for this week's edition:

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.

Entries are now open for the ISA National Indoor Ski Championships 2025/26, taking place on Monday 29 September 2025 at the Hemel Hempstead Snow Centre.

This event is organised in partnership with the National Schools Snowsports Association (NSSA) and it is a great opportunity for young skiers to test their skills in a national competition setting.

Pupils must be able to:

• Ski the main slope in control
• Use the drag lift independently

Optional training sessions will be available the day before the event - a great chance for participants to build confidence and get race-ready!

If you would be interested in your child taking part then please speak to Mr Stedeford or you can register for the competition here:  Skiing

The ISA National Sailing Regatta will take place on Thursday 2 October 2025 at Draycote Water Sailing Club (CV23 8AB).

Hosted by Draycote Water Sailing Club, this event welcomes students from U9 to U18 to compete in a day of skill, teamwork and fun on the water. 

Whether you're an experienced sailor or just beginning your journey, this competition offers the opportunity to represent the school.

For more information please speak to Mr Stedeford or you can visit here: ISA National Regatta | Draycote Water Sailing Club

This week, the Dormice have been full of songs and sunshine! They've loved singing Rock-a-bye Baby and Row, Row, Row Your Boat while having great fun in the barrel boat and spinning top. With the sun shining, they also got creative outside - using water to make marks on the wall and finding fun ways to stay cool!

Indoors, we’ve been busy matching shells to the right number buckets, which was a great way to practise our counting skills. We also enjoyed the lovely story Sharing a Shell by Julia Donaldson, which helped us think about kindness and sharing with our friends.

For our creative activity, we got a little messy and a lot imaginative - using our handprints and paper plates to make our very own snails!

‘Bonkers about Butterflies’ best sums up the final week for Badgers and Hedgehogs.

We gently caught all the Cabbage White butterflies who had flown from the woods directly into our Garden Room, through our big, bifold windows. We took the opportunity to take a closer look at these beautiful and most delicate insects, by transferring them into a special net butterfly enclosure. We collected brambles and nettles from the woods which the butterflies use for nectar, and upon which they lay their eggs, because we learned that it’s important to make an artificial enclosure feel like home. There were no bramble flowers within reach so to ensure that there was a source of fructose sugars readily available for the butterflies to drink, we added half a satsuma into the net garden. It was fun to watch the butterflies sucking up the sweet liquid using their long proboscis which they normal keep curled up under their chin. They were very thirsty on such a hot day and so were we! At the end of the day, we thanked the butterflies for visiting us and let them flutter free, back to their home in the woods.

Our Science experiment for ‘Steam Week’ also had a butterfly theme. The challenge was to make the butterfly wings flap by rubbing balloons across cushions to create friction and a static charge, which would lift the wings of a tissue paper butterfly. Please check out the main Steam week article for more information.

On behalf of all the Nursery Team, we would like to wish you a relaxing and joyful summer with your loved ones. Thank you for all your support this year, as well as your kind words and gifts. Bon voyage to all our families who plan to travel over the vacation. And the final word has to be reserved for our ‘big, beautiful Badger’ cohort: it’s been absolutely lovely to teach you this year and we wish you lots of love and luck as you embark upon your new Reception adventure.

We’ve got some exciting events planned for the year ahead - here are the key dates to save:

• Welcome Back Family Picnic - Saturday 30 August - 10:00am to 2:00pm
  Join us on the sports field for a fun and informal family event. Bring picnic blankets and food - we’ll provide a bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks, plus games like football, rounders and cricket. A great way to reconnect with friends, old and new!
• PTA Ball - Friday 10 October
  Early bird tickets available until the last day of term – limited tickets, so grab yours soon! Click here for tickets.
• Christmas Fair - Saturday 29 November - 12:00pm to 3:00pm
• Summer Fair 2026 - Saturday 16 May - 12:00pm to 3:00pm

We hope that by sharing these dates in advance, you’ll be able to join us throughout the year.

What an incredible year it’s been for our PTA! Thanks to the amazing generosity and support from our school community, over £15,000 has been raised through a variety of fun and engaging events. This phenomenal total has made a huge impact on enriching our students’ school experience.

Highlights from Our Fundraising Events

This year’s calendar was packed with exciting activities, including:

• McMillan Coffee Morning
• Welcome Back Event
• Headmaster’s Quiz
• Christmas Cards & Xmas Fair
• Book Sale
• Bingo  
• Summer Fair

Each event was not only a fundraising triumph but also a wonderful opportunity to bring the school community together.

Pre-Loved Uniform Sales – A Fantastic Boost

A big thank you to everyone who donated and supported our Pre-Loved Uniform initiative. We’re delighted to share that this effort alone raised just over £5,000! Not only did this help many families, but it also contributed significantly to our overall fundraising success.

Where Your Donations Go – PTA Funded Projects

Thanks to your support, the PTA was able to fund a wide range of fantastic resources and experiences for the children, including:

• Changing rooms upgrades
• Cricket kit and gymnastics mats
• New playground equipment for early years
• A special Author Day (with hot chocolate treats!)
• Ice cream treats, a school disco, and an Easter hunt
• Microphones for drama productions
• New library books
• Beautiful school murals

These additions have enhanced both the learning environment and the joy of school life for all students.

Looking Ahead – Upcoming Events

We’re already excited for what’s to come in the next term. Mark your calendars for:

• Welcome Back Event – 30 August
• PTA Ball – 10 October
• Quidditch Day (Whole School) – 16 October  

Let’s keep the momentum going and continue building a strong, fun, and supportive community for our children.

THANK YOU to everyone who participated, donated, and volunteered. You’ve made a real difference!

Many thanks for all the donations that have been sent in this year - without these we literally could not operate! 

Please continue to use the containers in the foyer to drop off any donations. We are especially grateful to receive good quality sports items - particularly tracksuit bottoms!

Please email us at: uniform@pta.crackleyhall.co.uk stating your child’s name and class and the PTA will get all orders sent home for you.

Crackley Hall has two uniform options, simply named 'Uniform Option 1' and 'Uniform Option 2'.  Children and families choose which of the two options is right for them.

With this in mind, please see below for some additional information.

Junior 2 to Junior 3 Uniform Changes

Children moving up to Junior 3 will need to have the following items of uniform:

• School Backpack
• Drawstring Bag (for swimming)
• Sports Bag
• Standard Tie (not clip on)
• Games Top (for winter sports)
• Long Maroon Sports Socks (for winter sports)
• Silver Crackley Hall Swim Hat
• Plain Black Swimming Costume or Trunks

All items, apart from the swimming costume and trunks, are available from the Uniform Shop.

Junior 5 and 6

Junior 5 and 6 pupils have the option of wearing the tartan skirt and white revere collar blouse in the first half of Michaelmas Term and in Trinity Term (Uniform Option 2). If wearing the skirt, it must be with the revere collar blouse and no tie, and black school socks.  Junior 5 pupils can still opt to wear the Summer dress, with white school socks, in these terms if they choose to.  If they choose Uniform Option 1, they wear black trousers or knee length black school shorts (NOT cargo style) with a standard white shirt and tie, and black school socks.

For the second half of Michaelmas and into Lent Term, pupils in Junior 5 can choose to wear the tartan skirt or black school trousers, with the standard white shirt with school tie, and black school socks or tights.  Pupils in Junior 6 can wear the tartan skirt or black school trousers, with the standard white shirt with school tie, and black school socks or tights.

Online Uniform Ordering Form

Please see the new electronic uniform ordering system.

This link will be in the weekly Chronicle for your ease and convenience. 

New Uniform Order

Dear Parents

The school has been contacted by Warwickshire Police and the road safety education team, regarding unsafe and inconsiderate parking at school drop off and collection particularly when there is an event on at the school. 

We would like to remind all parents of Crackley Hall School that the parking restrictions outside of the school are there to help keep you and your child/ren safe.

Yellow Zig Zag Markings

The School Keep Clear Markings outside of your child’s school create areas that must be kept clear so that children and young people can see clearly when crossing the road.

These markings indicate the part of the road where drivers should not wait, stop, or park their vehicle.

Vehicles must not be parked, even for a few minutes, on the School Keep Clear/Yellow Zig Zag markings.

Junctions

Vehicles must not be parked within ten metres (25 feet) of a junction. 

White Zig Zag lines 

Vehicles that park on WHITE ZIG ZAG lines are liable to get a fine of £100 and three points. 

Park and Stride – The Field 

The school is lucky to have use of the Field as an overflow car park as a park and stride location when events are held at the school.

Please do use this car park and help make the area near and around the school a safer place for your child/ren.

To help keep your children safe, the police will be conducting patrols around the school sites focusing on parking. They can issue tickets for parking which causes an obstruction to other drivers or pedestrians.

Let us all work together to keep our children safe.