Admissions Update

Headmaster's Welcome

Thank you for reading our Autumn Admissions Update which is designed to give you the latest information on the admissions process, as well as news and developments at Crackley Hall and Little Crackers. We also hope that the newsletter will convey a feel for the family atmosphere at Crackley and a taste of the many achievements of the children in our community, from academic to sporting and the arts.

Since our last edition we have continued to thrive in our 'outstanding in all areas' rating by the Independent School Inspectorate following their inspection in October 2017. The report was a real vote of confidence for everything we do at Crackley Hall and a recognition of the positive impact a Crackley education has on our pupils' lives. I would encourage you to read more about this in the News section or visit the ISI website for the full report.

As a result Crackley continues to be very popular, we have limited places available in certain year groups from current Reception to Junior 6. In September 2018 we opened a second Junior 4 class and are therefore now welcoming applications from current Junior 4 children. This allows us to maintain our small class sizes and the level of attention needed for each child at this critical time in their development.

Crackley retains the small-school feel that makes it so special, but with a wealth of opportunities, often delivered by larger schools, that stretch and challenge all. It's a place where the children are individuals who are known to every member of staff. Our children are very happy and this matters so much to us.

We look forward to welcoming you to Crackley Hall and Little Crackers Nursery soon.

Robert Duigan

Crackley Hall School is thrilled to have been shortlisted for the Independent School of the Year Awards in the much coveted Independent Prep School of the Year category. Crackley was selected ahead of hundreds of independent Prep schools from across the country who had entered the awards.

The Awards Scheme is in its inaugural year and has been introduced to celebrate the independent education sector, showcase excellence in student experience and recognise the varied and imaginative way in which independent schools prepare young people for their future lives.

Headmaster, Rob Duigan, comments, “I am delighted that the Awards committee have recognised our exceptional school. Our dedicated staff are committed to providing the very best experience for our pupils, supporting them as they grow into confident, resilient young people who are able to contribute to contemporary society. This is a testament to their hard work each and every day and we are very proud to have been shortlisted.”

The awards are being judged by a panel of distinguished educationalists, that include Headmasters and Headmistresses from some of the top schools in the country, so to have been shortlisted is recognition indeed. The decision on the final winner will be announced towards the end of the Year.

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. Last year’s Prize Giving took place on Friday 29 June 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 Father Kevin Hooper, Chair of Trustees, Mrs Liz Griffin, Trustees Mrs Mary O’Farrell and Bernard Warner and Senior Foundation Headmaster, 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 – PTA, teachers, support staff, parents and most of all the pupils who make Crackley Hall so much more than just a school. He challenged every boy and every girl to wake up every day and ask themselves what they can do differently and to then at the end of the day reflect and give thanks. He encouraged all the children to strive to do their best, to laugh loudly and a lot, to never settle for second best, to believe and have faith and to never let anyone shatter your dreams or break your spirit.

Crackley Hall’s outgoing Head Boy, Fynn Walker, and Head Girl, Dari Kotlarsky, also spoke movingly about their special Crackley journey, and the memories and friends they will take with them as they move on to secondary school.

And then there was the awards, book awards for progress, effort, achievement and school spirit and kindness. 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 the Special Awards as there were many worthy potential recipients and it was with great pride that Mr Duigan awarded the following:

St Joseph’s School Spirit Award – Alice Minshull
Scholarship Award – Kaena Wasley
Sister Mary Patrick Trophy for Caring – Pippa Cowdry
PTA Crackley Hall Shield – Hattie Underill

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 Mr Cottrill announced the new Head Boy, Joe McCullough, and Head Girl, Francesca Kelly, who proudly took to the stage to receive their badges of office from Mr Duigan.

Finally, both ceremonies closed with a stirring rendition of the Foundation Hymn, Here I Am Lord.

The National Finals of the Jaguar Primary Schools Challenge took place at the British Motor Museum on Wednesday 20 June. Over the last year thousands of primary school children from across the UK have taken part in the STEM challenge and Crackley Hall’s team ‘Speed Stingers’ had made it all the way through to the final.

The team, Junior 4’s Jimmy Loftus, Soren Wasley, Zach Rose and Cadie Hardwick, had been fiendishly busy preparing for the big day.

The challenge requires teams to research, design, manufacture, test, promote and race the fastest car possible using standard chassis and engine housing nets with a car body made only from card. It is a technical brief but one that has proven to really engage potential future engineers.

The final followed a similar format to the regional rounds and the children had a challenging but fantastic day. They had to race their car, talk about the engineering, discuss and explain their ‘Pit’ display and portfolio and give a verbal presentation to four judges.

The cars were raced down a special 20-metre-long track propelled using compressed air gas canisters and they travelled the distance in a matter of seconds. Crackley’s car finished seventh when including reaction times, but was third overall out of the 36 teams competing at the event – a super result.

In addition, the children had to complete an additional challenge to create a racing car powered by an electric motor, and this took up most of their spare time.

Team Manager, Mrs Cat Hardwick commented, “Although Crackley’s Speed Stingers didn’t win any of the awards on the day, they represented our school superbly, with dignity and grace, and showed everyone that they were confident, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We are immensely proud of them all and have thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow and develop over the past few months. I really hope we have one or two engineers in the making, taking their first steps along the road to becoming a real Engineer!”

Our thanks go to Mrs Hardwick and Mrs Spillane who have worked with the team over the last few months.

Crackley's spectacular summer production took place on Thursday 4 July at Leamington’s Spa Centre. It was another whistle-stop tour through three magical, much loved, musical classics; The Wizard Of Oz, The Little Mermaid and My Fair Lady. The children took to the stage like professionals and performed their numbers with passion and pizzazz.

The show opened with the story of The Wizard of Oz; when a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away to a magical land, there they meet the munchkins and en-route to the Emerald City a Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. Full of plenty of familiar singalong songs, such as Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead and Follow The Yellow Brick Road, bright costumes and snappy dance routines, Reception, Junior 4 and our principals from Junior 6 delivered an opening act that was a real crowd pleaser.

The Little Mermaid came next, the story of Ariel and her fascination with life on land. Ariel makes a dangerous deal with the sea witch Ursula to become human for three days but when plans go awry the king makes the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter. Full of fabulous characters such as Sebastian, Flounder, Scuttle and Ursula in yet more stunning, brightly coloured costumes, the leads from Junior 6 together with Junior 1, 2 and 3 delighted the audience with feel-good favourites such as Under The Sea, Part Of Your World and Kiss The Girl.

The finale My Fair Lady delighted the audience, a real roller coaster with all our favourites brought to life with Higgins, Pickering and of course Eliza sweeping across the stage to rapturous applause. The story told of the phonetics professor Henry Higgins that takes it upon himself to transform a Cockney working-class girl into someone who can pass for a cultured member of high society. Junior 5 and 6 delivered their toe-tapping, heart-warming songs with style and the audience really enjoyed Wouldn’t It Be Lovely, A Little Bit Of Luck and of course I’m Getting Married In The Morning. It was a fabulous finish.

All through the show the audience greeted each performance with applause and when the final number was complete the appreciative audience went wild, cheering and whistling. Mr Duigan looked on proudly, Mrs Wildey, Mrs Olden, Ms Kefalas and Mrs Goode with satisfied smiles for after all the endless, tireless rehearsing the show was a triumphant success.

Of course no show like this could happen without the help of many, many people. Our thanks go to all of the staff involved in whatever way, all the parents for providing costumes and props and most of all to the children for working so hard at their numbers.

31 Junior 5 and Junior 6 girls enjoyed a specialist netball coaching session in June with Wasps’ U19 Netball Coach, Lesley Blair.

Back in March the Crackley girls visited the Ricoh Arena to watch Wasps defeat Northumbria in a Superleague Match. They provided the guard of honour and were also lucky enough to go court-side to meet the players. PE Teachers, Mrs Kat Vaughan and Miss Lottie Jones organised this follow up training session to capitalise on the girls’ fascination with the professional Superleague game.

Lesley began the intensive coaching session with a series of netball drills that tested the girls’ physical skills as well as their ability to think tactically. The girls enjoyed playing games such as netball ‘noughts and crosses’ and netball ‘end zone’ that demanded quick thinking and quick feet. She encouraged the girls to keep moving, look after their team mates, stay focused and look for quick clear shots.

Lesley has been involved in netball for over 20 years and has played at county, regional and national league level. She has worked on the performance side of netball for 10 plus years and has coached girls up through the programme and on into the Super League – the highest level of the game.

After the training session the girls had the chance to ask questions. They were particularly fascinated to find out that the senior Super League players use all the same training drills.

Crackley Hall School in Kenilworth has introduced a second Year 4 class from September 2018. Two classes of initially between 12 and 14 pupils will move up through the school over the next three years.

The school’s recent ‘Excellent’ rating, in every area, in its inspection in October 2017 has ensured that interest in the school is at an all-time high so the independent school for boys and girls, aged four to eleven, decided to introduce the second Year 4 class, from September, to cater for demand.

Comments Headmaster, Rob Duigan, “Crackley Hall has always been a popular choice for parents. This extra capacity in Year 4 will afford more children the opportunity to benefit from a Crackley Hall education. A key factor for parents to consider is the school’s proven success in enabling children to transfer to their first choice secondary school, whether independent or local grammars. The move is good news for both prospective and current pupils, who will enjoy the smaller class sizes in what is a key school year, as the children start to prepare for 11+ and entrance examinations.”

Parents who are interested in availability in Year 4 and in other years should contact Jenny Vaughan, Admissions Secretary on 01926 514410 or by email jennyvaughan@crackleyhall.co.uk. 

Little Crackers Nursery in Kenilworth is one of only 40 pre-schools in Warwickshire to be awarded a WIncKS Kite-Mark. The Warwickshire Inclusion Kite-Marking Scheme celebrates Little Crackers’ excellent pre-school provision and also recognises the high standard of inclusive care provided by the nursery.

Through the Kite-Mark Scheme the County Council recognises pre-schools that deliver excellent and effective inclusion for children in their early years. The Kite-Mark scheme celebrates good practice and aims to raise the profile of pre-schools that can offer high-quality support.

Little Crackers Nursery, part of Crackley Hall School, was the only pre-school in Kenilworth to receive the Kite-Mark. Early Years Foundation Stage Teacher, Lisa O’Carroll Bailey, attended an award ceremony on Friday 18 February at The Shire Hall in Warwick where she was presented with a beautifully framed WIncKS certificate.

Lisa commented, “We are all thrilled to be the first setting in Kenilworth to earn this award. It recognises how inclusive our ethos here at Little Crackers is and our team’s daily commitment to the highest levels of care.”

On Saturday 16 June, Mrs Wildey, Miss Rod, children and parents gathered nervously at Dale Street Methodist Church in Leamington Spa to take part in the Leamington Spa Competitive Festival of Speech and Drama.

It was an absolutely cracking day and every pupil performed superbly and achieved excellent results.

Cadie Hardwick came 1st in the Under 9s Verse and Prose section and Megan Shipton came 2nd in the Under 11s. In the Humorous Poetry section Francesca Kelly, Jorja Parris and Martha Summers were placed in the much coveted 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions out of a huge field of 20 candidates! Jorja also came 3rd out of 14 candidates in the Under 9s Verse section and Alice Minshull rounded the day off with her winning prose piece ‘Miss Trunchball' from Matilda.

Well done Crackley, you certainly took centre stage!

On Thursday 8 March Junior 4 left modern day Britain behind to discover all about the Dark Ages. The children and staff came to school in Anglo-Saxon costumes, adopted Anglo-Saxon names and participated in everyday tasks in a ninth century Anglo-Saxon village.

Their day began gathered around the fire listening to their Chief. He told them of worrying news, that the Vikings under King Guthrum had invaded England, that the Saxon King, King Alfred, wanted his kingdom back and that rumours abounded of a forthcoming battle. He tasked them with completing their daily tasks, but also preparing for war.

In the village the children enjoyed exploring Dark Ages crafts that included carving runes for fortune telling, weaving cloth, candle making, pottery making, crafting amulets from metal for good luck, preparing ink for writing, practising the skill of illumination and working with the wise woman to make medicines and potions to heal themselves.

The children also prepared for battle. They trained to be warriors, learning the skills they would need to protect themselves from the invading Vikings. They listened to wonderful battle tales of King Alfred and then learnt about discipline and the organisation needed for battle. Then they had the chance to get hands-on practising Anglo-Saxon fighting drills and handling weapons and wearing armour.

When the Vikings were sighted, in this case Deputy Head, Charles Lamprecht, they lined up in formation and charged. After some vicious fighting the Anglo-Saxons successfully won the day only to discover that their King had made peace with the invaders.

Our Anglo Saxon day was led by History Off The Page a specialist company who help bring history to life in the classroom. It was an action packed hands on day full of fun and fantastic hands-on learning.

Last spring was a very egg-citing time for Junior 1. The egg incubator (kindly provided by Crackley’s PTA) was in full warming mode, the eggs provided by, Caretaker, Mr Rawlinson had been tended carefully and twenty-one days after their arrival the chicks began to hatch. Great excitement rippled across the school and many children found a reason to visit the Junior 1 classroom to see the new arrivals.

This year amongst the 21 eggs there were a number of different rare breeds including a cuckoo hen.

Hatching chicks has become a regular part of Junior 1’s curriculum. It is a lovely cross curricular topic that can be linked into many different parts of the curriculum - Science, English and even Geography and RE!

The younger children always really enjoy the topic. Junior 1 teacher, Mrs George, commented, “There’s always a great sense of anticipation and excitement attached to this learning project and the children produce fabulous work,” and added, “We are very grateful to Mr Steve for bringing us the eggs into school and the PTA who donated the incubator several years back.”

Once hatched the chicks were placed in a brooder and then after several further days in school they were returned to a carefree life on Farmer Steve’s property. 

On Wednesday 16 May Crackley Hall opened its doors for its very first Art Exhibition. Pupils from across the school, from Nursery up to Junior 6 revealed their amazing creative talents to stunned parents, friends and teachers.

Back in February pupils explored other faiths in the school’s fascinating ‘One World Week’. The topic proved so inspirational that Crackley’s Art Co-ordinator, Mrs Van Zyl chose it as the central theme for the schools inaugural Art Exhibition.

The children’s work on display featured 268 different paintings inspired by art styles and techniques from around the world. They included artwork inspired by the Maasai of Eastern Africa, designs based on the reverse-applique handwork of the Kuna of South America, paintings inspired by British botanical artists, experimental vibrant Amate bark paintings, stylised animal Tinga-Tinga pieces, paintings that reflected traditional Indian culture, designs inspired by Aboriginal art and art that explored the Far East.

Working on their pieces for the exhibition has given the children the opportunity to study different artists, to appreciate their work, inspirations and colour palettes. It has linked into topics from across the curriculum including Science and Geography.

Many parents and children attended the exhibition to view the framed art work mounted on display boards in the school hall. All were amazed at the talent on show with many remarking the pictures would grace any wall.

Head of Art, Paul Hubball, and Art Teacher, Susan Harris, from the Foundation’s senior school Princethorpe College were invited over to view the exhibition and awarded Certificates of Merit to the paintings that particularly impressed them.

Mrs Harris commented, “The standard of work on show is outstanding, a huge variety of approaches and styles that has given every child a chance to shine. The use of colour is exceptional and effective it has been a real pleasure to view them.”

Our thanks to Mrs Van Zyl for organising the exhibition, the standard was incredible and it was a joy to view. Well done to everyone!

Despite somewhat miserable weather outside the School Hall reverberated with friendly chatter and the clink of china tea cups as local parishioners and grandparents enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment and a very special Crackley Hall cream tea. Organised by Crackley Hall’s Minnie Vinnies, the junior arm of the St Vincent de Paul Society, plates piled high with scones, strawberries, jam and cream were served to a hall full of guests.

The special tea took place on the afternoon of Tuesday 24 April and along with their refreshments parishioners and grandparents had a full programme of entertainment to enjoy. Pupils from across the school took turns to perform. This year the entertainment included the talented Choral Speaking Group as well as the Orchestra, Chamber Choir and Choral Group, they all performed their pieces with confidence and panache much to the delight of the gathered guests. Then there were a number of individual solo performances with Chenchen Pan playing a simply stunning piano solo. The afternoon’s entertainment culminated with 90 children on stage and a stirring rendition of ‘The Rhythm of Life’.

After the entertainment came the cream tea and our Mini Vinnies carefully carried out laden trays, cake stands and pots of tea for the guests to enjoy. They approached the tables a little shyly at first, but were soon chatting happily with their guests.

Mr Rob Duigan, the Headmaster, popped in to welcome everyone to the school and to thank Mrs Dolores Simmonds for helping the Mini Vinnies organise the community event.

Mrs Simmonds, Mini Vinnies Co-ordinator, said, “The underlying purpose of the St Vincent de Paul ethos is to make a difference to people’s lives. Crackley Hall and our Mini Vinnies have laid on a wonderful afternoon for our local community which was clearly thoroughly enjoyed.”

Junior 2 left no stone unturned as they explored our local medieval fortress, Kenilworth Castle, at the end of May to round off their topic in History. The children had been busy studying castles in the classroom and had even built and fired their own catapult.

Their trip included a guided tour of the castle buildings including the Keep and the Great Hall, they got the chance to climb the towers and visit Leicester’s Gatehouse. The children clambered up the battlements, explored the ruins and re-enacted a pageant before settling down to enjoy a picnic in the beautiful castle grounds.

They learnt all about life in a castle and about the visit of Queen Elizabeth I.

Mrs Hardwick, Junior 2H teacher, said, “We have so enjoyed studying castles and this was such an incredible way to bring it all to life.”

Issue 24 of The Pinnacle, our school magazine that celebrates exceptional work from across the Foundation, has just been published. Full to bursting with fabulous examples of pupils who are determined to go that extra mile in their everyday school life.

Editor and da Vinci Programme Co-ordinator, Helen Pascoe-Williams says, “There are pages and pages of excellent work in this issue from across our expanding Foundation. It’s always a pleasure and a privilege to bring everything together in one place.”

The Pinnacle includes a double-sized Minnacle showcasing the impressive work produced by pupils at the Foundation Junior Schools’ Crackley Hall and Crescent.

You can view the latest edition here The Pinnacle and The Minnacle.

From drama and dance activities to hands on creative fun, and not to mention our fabulous Christmas party, there's guaranteed to be something for everyone at Little Crackers Stay 'n' Play, our friendly toddler group.

Our next visiting activity this term is Paint and Glaze who will be visting our Stay 'n' Players on Wednesday 21 November 2018.  A great opportunity to make lovely Christmas gifts.

Our Stay 'n' Play sessions run every Wednesday during term-time from 10.00am to 11.30am and are just £2, including refreshments. All are welcome, so why not bring a friend!

For more information, please visit: www.littlecrackers.co.uk/stay-n-play and check out the list of activities here. 

We look forward to seeing you.

Thursday 22 November - 7.00pm to 8.00pm

Crackley will also be holding a Nursery and Reception Open Evening on Thursday 22 November between 7.00pm and 8.00pm, which will give parents an insight into the Early Years at Crackley Hall and Little Crackers.  Mrs Susan Glen-Roots, the Assistant Head for Early Years, will be on hand, as well as the rest of the Reception and Little Crackers Team.

This is an opportunity to look around the school see examples of activities and chidlren's work and to meet the Headmaster, Rob Duigan.

All are welcome, no need to book.

If you can't make these open events but would like to look around the school, please call our Admissions Secretary, Mrs jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk and come on a day to suit you, we welcome visitors on most days.

For more information visit http://www.crackleyhall.co.uk/

Entrance Examinations for Year 7 to 10 entry to Princethorpe College in September 2019 will take place on Saturday 10 November 2018 from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

For more information on Entrance Examinations click here.

Those wishing to register for Entrance Examinations should do so as soon as possible to facilitate the gathering of references from primary schools.

Registrations forms are available in our prospectus packs or you can download a registration form here.

Saturday 1 December 1.00pm - 4.00pm

You are very welcome to join us for Crackley Hall's annual Christmas Fayre.  Crackley's PTA will magically transform the school into a Winter Wonderland with plenty of festive stalls and Christmas activities to enjoy.

There will be seasonal refreshments and of the opportunity to visit the main man himself.  

It is another great opportunity to visit the school.

Sunday 2 December 2018 2.00pm-4.30pm

The Princethorpe College annual Christmas Fayre takes place on Sunday 2 December 2.00pm – 4.30pm.  It is a great opportunity to come and experience the magic of Princethorpe as well as stocking up on the perfect gift for that special someone.

Organised by the College's fantastic Parent Teacher Association the Fayre offers Christmas carols, mulled wine and a dazzling array of Christmas craft stalls.  Whether visiting Santa, touring the tower or simply stocking up on that all important reindeer food, the Fayre has something for all of the family.

All are most welcome!

We have great pleasure in unveiling the OPs' events calendar for the forthcoming academic year. By popular demand this year the programme of events has expanded to include more former parents events and the reintroduction of the Princethorpe Open at Stoneleigh Deer Park Golf Club, which will be open to OPs, current and former parents, staff and friends of the College.

The popular London and Leamington meets return with a spring pub meet in Leamington at the Royal Pug on Friday 1 March and an early summer gathering in London at the Bull Dog Bar, The Clarence, Whitehall on Friday 17 May.

The OPs' Summer Supper, a favourite event in the calendar, will take place on Friday 28 June 2019, this time celebrating the leavers of 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2009, although leavers of other years are also most welcome.

All OPs, past parents, staff and Friends of the College are welcome to participate in any or all of the events. Click here to download the calendar or visit the Old Princethorpians section at www.princethorpe.co.uk for more information on Old Princethorpians.

Most of our pupils enter at Nursery and progress through to Reception. Some pupils also join us at Reception and pupils are welcome at any age dependent on a place being available. Places in other years may be limited and, in years where there is no place available, we operate waiting groups.

We encourage prospective parents and pupils to visit us both formally and informally to get a true flavour of the school. We hold various Open Events throughout the year, including a specific Nursery and Reception Open Evening in November, which prospective parents and pupils are most welcome to attend. A meeting with Mr Robert Duigan, the Headmaster, is also a key part of the admissions process.

Our Admissions Secretary, Mrs Jenny Vaughan will be pleased to talk you through the admissions process and current availability, please contact her on 01926 514410/514444 or email her at admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk. To request a prospectus pack please click here.

To download our current Crackley Information Booklet click here.

Reception 2019
Those already attending Little Crackers in the pre-school year and siblings are given priority for places in Reception. External applicants interested in a place in Reception for September 2019 should register as soon as possible. You will be invited to bring your child in for a taster session in pre-school once we have received your completed Registration Form and accompanying fee of £50 (non-returnable). For further information see 'What To Expect From A Taster For Reception' in this newsletter. Subject to availability and a satisfactory taster session, offer letters will be sent out with a Confirmation of Acceptance Form, which we ask you to complete and return to us together with a deposit of £300 by the acceptance deadline of Monday 29 April 2019.

Current Reception to Junior 6
Applications for places in the current Reception to Junior 6 will be treated on an individual basis as places are limited.  Please contact Jenny Vaughan, our Admissions Secretary, to discuss these on an individual basis.

Should a potential place be available you will be invited in to meet with Mr Duigan, the Headmaster, then if appropriate you should complete a Registration Form and return it with the accompanying fee of £50 (non-returnable), after which time your child will be invited in for a taster day.

During the taster day children in Reception and Junior 1 will be assessed informally. Children in Junior 2 to 6 will be given assessments in Mathematics and English.

Once a taster day is arranged, we will contact you to advise that we plan to seek a reference from your child’s current school. Following the taster day, confirmation of a place being offered would be made in writing subject to a satisfactory reference being received. To secure your place return your completed Confirmation of Acceptance Form with a deposit of £300 within 14 days of the date of the offer being made.

The final deadline for applications and completed registration forms for entry in September 2019 is Friday 24 May 2019. All incoming pupils need to have completed the admissions process by Friday 14 June to enable the applicant to attend our Induction Morning at the end of that month. (Although a place at Crackley Hall may become available after this date, and applications will be processed, we cannot guarantee availability of places.)

Induction
New pupils are given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the school, staff and fellow pupils when they are invited to our Induction Morning in the Trinity Term, normally at the end of June. 

Bursaries
Bursaries are available for pupils wishing to join Crackley Hall although these are normally awarded to children from Junior 3 and above. Application forms are available from the Foundation Bursar’s office and from our website. Completed applications should be forwarded to the Foundation Bursar with supporting documentary evidence.

Note: Deposits are refunded after the end of the final term which the pupil spends at the school.

For more information and to download a registration form please click here.

We ask all prospective pupils for Crackley Hall to join us for a taster day which they will spend with their current year group participating in lessons and activities. 

A taster day can be arranged with Mrs Jenny Vaughan, our Admissions Secretary, or another member of the office staff at Crackley Hall.  We are flexible about when we can offer taster days and will look to find a mutually convenient date.  Where possible, we will choose a day when the timetable includes a child’s favourite subjects so that they get the most out of the day and we can see them at their best.

If parents have not already met with Mr Duigan, the Headmaster, we will ask them to do this prior to arranging a taster day.  This is an important step in our admissions process as it gives us an opportunity to find out more about individual children so that we can pass on information to the form tutor should they go on to join us for a taster.

Taster days typically run from 9.00am to 3.00pm for applicants for Years 1 to 6.  For those children who will be entering Reception the following academic year, we arrange taster sessions of two hours in our nursery so that we can see them with their peer group – see 'What to expect on a taster for future Reception Applicants'.

Children in Years 2 and above will be asked to take a paper in maths and another in English, although we take care that this is done in a low-key manner so that they do not feel that they are sitting an exam. In Reception to Year 1, the teacher will ask children to produce some written or number work so that we can gauge their levels.

In offering a place, we take the child’s performance on these papers into consideration, however we look at the results together with feedback from the class teacher regarding the child’s behaviour, involvement in class and willingness to learn. 

Occasionally we may ask a child to join us for a second taster in order to gain additional feedback from the class teacher if we felt that the first day did not give us sufficient information. 

Children participating in a taster day should wear their current school uniform and may bring either a packed lunch or choose a hot lunch from the menu on arrival. In the current Reception class and above children should also bring a water bottle and a snack for break time. They may also require a games kit including trainers for outside use and football boots.

We ask that you let us have a completed registration form and accompanying £50.00 registration fee ahead of a planned taster. Please include any medical and dietary information of which we should be aware and any information regarding specific learning needs. 

Mr Duigan, the Headmaster, will provide feedback as soon as possible following a taster day.  We may wait to receive references from the child’s current school or nursery setting before deciding on the offer of a place.

We ask all external applicants for the following year’s Reception to join us for a taster as it helps to give us some information to pass on to the Reception team for September and to flag up any areas where we may need to provide additional support.

The taster takes place in our Little Crackers Nursery as we feel that it is best for the child to be with his or her peer group.  Taster sessions are much shorter than for other year groups and are typically in the morning for no more than two hours.  As soon as a child is settled, parents may leave for the duration of the session although, should they prefer to stay near, they are very welcome to remain in the foyer outside the nursery. 

During a taster applicants join in with a normal session at Little Crackers which will be play-led and may include listening to stories and playing outside in our external nursery area.

The areas that the staff will look at are:

• How do they respond to instructions?
• How do they communicate with peers/adults?
• Are there any concerns for joining Reception the following year?
• Can a child toilet independently?

Following the taster, we will contact you to provide feedback, although formal offer letters will be sent out on the offer date. See the left hand column for Key Dates for Applications.

The Crackley Hall community is enriched by the inclusion of children from many different countries and we are happy to assist parents relocating from overseas with their applications. The Crackley family currently includes children who have joined us from the USA, China, Brazil, Spain, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Korea.

If parents are visiting the UK we ask them to meet with Mr Duigan, the Headmaster.  Where a taster day is not possible and where children are English-speaking and in Year 2 or above, we can arrange for assessment papers in English and Maths to be sent to the child’s current school for them to administer and send back to us for marking.

Where children do not speak English as a first language or are too young to take assessment papers, we ask for school reports and a reference from the current school prior to offering a place.

We work closely at Crackley with a trusted partner who is experienced in English Language teaching and who can tailor a programme to meet the individual needs of children joining us.  This normally focuses on an initial intensive period of English Language support, tailing off as the child becomes more proficient and settles into life at Crackley Hall.

Our Admissions Secretary, Jenny Vaughan will always be happy to answer any questions regarding applications from overseas and to ensure that the admissions process runs as smoothly as possible.

You can email Jenny at jennyvaughan@crackleyhall.co.uk or telephone her direct line on 01926 514444.

We understand that prospective parents may have many questions that they would like to ask ahead of applying for a place for their child at Crackley Hall.  We have included those most frequently asked, but should you have a query that isn’t covered here, please call Jenny Vaughan (pictured), our Admissions Secretary, on 01926 514410.

Q: Will my child need to take an entrance exam for Crackley Hall?

A: Whilst we do not have a formal entrance examination for Crackley, we wish to ensure that every child will fit into school life and engage with our stimulating and varied range of activities and our ethos.  We ask prospective parents to meet with Mr Duigan, the Headmaster, and for children to join us on a taster day which can be arranged for a mutually convenient date. During the course of a taster day, we ask children in years 2 and above to take papers in English and Maths although we will look at the taster day as a whole when offering a place. For more information see the section in this update about What to expect on a taster day.

Q: Are there set joining points within the school year?

A: No, where places exist, we take children throughout the school year according to the preference of parents.

Q: What is the average class size at Crackley Hall?

A: The average class size is 18 pupils.  Where class sizes exceed this we provide additional teaching support to ensure the same high standards and level of personal attention for each child. Our teacher to pupil ratio is 1:11 and our adult to child ratio is 1:8.

Q: Do you have to be Catholic to join Crackley Hall?

A: No. We welcome children from all faiths and cultural backgrounds.  The Catholic ethos of the Princethorpe Foundation underpins the school and is central to its character as a caring and friendly environment where children are encouraged to be the best that they can be.  The Crackley community includes Catholic children whose families wish their children to be educated within a Catholic setting but also other Christian denominations and children of other faiths or no faith.

Q: What makes Crackley Hall special?

A:  We talk a lot about the ethos of the Princethorpe Foundation and it is not just talk; it really is the basis of all that we do at Crackley Hall and parents often comment on the friendly atmosphere when they visit.  We encourage the children to be kind to each other and to show respect for their peers and teachers, which in turn creates an environment where they are free to try their best and to develop their talents. The school has grown in recent years, but the family feel where each child is known as an individual remains.  This combines with the highest standards of teaching and tuition from specialist teachers in Music, Drama, French, Sports, RE, and Mandarin. 

Q: My child is a high achiever; how will Crackley benefit him/her? 

A: Children who demonstrate a high standard academically will be supported to further develop their abilities. A structured Able, Gifted and Talented programme operates through the school, ensuring that we meet the needs of children not just academically but also in other areas such as sports and performing arts. Sometimes parents worry that because their child is quiet or falls in the middle ground, they will be overlooked – this is not the case at Crackley as we strive to develop the potential of all children and to develop their talents.

Last year, with the support of our senior school, Princethorpe College, we introduced the Junior da Vinci Programme to stretch children and to engender the idea that any child can be a gifted or talented student if they work hard. The programme encourages children to develop a growth mind-set and to take an active part in their own learning.

Q: My child may need additional support – what can Crackley Hall offer?

A: Our learning support team, which includes a Speech and Language therapist, works with children providing extra help at whatever level they need from 1:1 support to inclusion in small groups to hone their skills in specific areas, such as communication and language, numeracy and co-ordination.  

We are quick to recognise children who may need extra support and we try to “catch” them before they begin to struggle. This means that class teachers refer children to our Learning Support Co-ordinator as soon as they are concerned. In this way we try not to miss anyone and to keep all children’s self-esteem high. We welcome input from parents and are very happy to discuss any concerns they may have.

When a child needs support that is additional to, or different from that provided for other children of their age, then we follow the Special Needs Code of Practice fully. This includes the process of applying for an Education, Health and Care Plan where required, so that parents are fully involved and children get the support they need.

Support for a child may entail 1:1 teaching for which there is a termly charge. Children who require this teaching will receive a structured, cumulative, multi-sensory learning programme tailored to their individual needs.

Should your child need any additional learning support, please indicate this on the registration form.  He/she will then spend some time with our SENCo during the taster day.

Q: What extra-curricular clubs do you offer?

A: We offer over 47 different lunch-time and after school clubs that cater for all interests – see the section on clubs, sport and music within this update. 

Q: I am a working parent – do you offer wrap around care and holiday provision?

A:  We offer free ‘early bird’ supervision from 7.45am and paid-for after-care until 6pm.  We run a holiday club subject to demand, usually both weeks of the autumn half-term, a week at Easter and the first two weeks of the summer holiday.

Q: If I have two or more children joining, will I get a discount?

A: Yes, families with more than one child at either Princethorpe College or Crackley Hall School receive a discount of 5% for a second or third child or 10% for a fourth or subsequent child. The discount does not apply to Little Crackers although children in our Nursery may qualify for Nursery Education Funding.

Q: Do you accept childcare vouchers?

A: Yes, we take vouchers from most of the major schemes, which may be used against after-school care or holiday club.

Q: Do you operate a bus service to Crackley?

We do not currently operate a bus service, however should you accept a place we are happy to pass your details on to current parents in your post-code so that you can explore lift-share opportunities.

Q: When do I need to apply for a place in September?

A: The sooner, the better.  For children in our Little Crackers Nursery priority is given when registering by the end of November for entry into Reception the following September. For external applicants for Reception the deadline for 2019 entry is Monday 4 February 2019. For other year groups all children need to be registered by Friday 24 May 2019 in order for their application to be progressed for our Induction Morning in June. Our prospectus pack includes a registration form and once you return it to us with the registration fee, we can start the admissions process.

Q: If I apply, when will I hear about a place?

A: Once you have completed and returned a registration form, we will contact you and, if you have already met with Mr Duigan, arrange a taster day.  Following a taster day, we aim to provide feedback promptly and, once we have had time to source a reference from your child’s current school, we will advise whether we will offer a place.  For applications made in advance for September entry, all applicants will be held on a waiting list until a taster can be arranged in the spring or summer term in the year of entry.  

For Reception applicants, offer letters are sent out at the start of December for children attending Little Crackers Nursery whilst, for those children joining us from other nurseries, the offer date is Friday 2 March 2018.

Q: Will joining Crackley Hall give my child priority for joining Princethorpe?

A:  Crackley children do not automatically gain entry to Princethorpe and in the November of Year 6 take the Princethorpe examination paper.  However, they are well prepared for the examination and have a high success rate as a result.

Music and Drama

Music is an integral part of life at Crackley Hall and at Little Crackers Nursery where children benefit from a music and movement class each week.

Mrs Olden is our specialist music teacher and every class has one hour of music a week.  In Junior 1, every child learns to play the recorder and to read music and to play with others. 

In addition, children are encouraged to take part in private lessons with our experienced peripatetic teachers. 

We have a thriving choral group, chamber choir and orchestra and there are many opportunities to sing and play at school and at external events such as Young Voices in which the school has participated for many years.

Drama is also a core part of life at Crackley Hall where children develop their skills in choral speaking, improvisation, public speaking and performance.  From the annual LAMDA Communication and Drama Exams to local drama festivals and in-house performances, there are many opportunities for children to develop their confidence and poise through drama. Some of our children have taken part in professional productions at the RSC and in the West End.

Our end of year music and drama production is unmissable and gives the children the opportunity to participate in a show of professional quality in a real theatre.

Sports

Our success in competitive sports is testament to the importance of physical education and the promotion of an active lifestyle at Crackley Hall. 

Whether children want to take part in an individual pursuit such as athletics or swimming or a team game such as netball or rugby, they will be encouraged by our enthusiastic and committed staff led by Mrs Vaughan, Head of Sport, to find an activity in which they can develop their skills and confidence. 

Our curriculum and programme of clubs take in a wide range of activities including dance and gymnastics.  We are lucky to have spacious playing fields with plans to further develop our facilities.  We also use the sports facilities at Princethorpe College and The University of Warwick.

Clubs

Our extra-curricular programme is extremely popular at Crackley Hall and we encourage children to find something that they will enjoy. From sports to singing to creative arts, with more than 35 different clubs, there is something for every taste.

Our current clubs include rugby, netball, climbing, chamber choir, cookery, yoga and midfulness, lego, chess, ballet, karate, Irish dancing, Mad Science, football, silk painting and orchestra and homework club. Some of these clubs are run by teachers and are free of charge whilst some are from external providers.

Uniform is compulsory for Crackley Hall pupils and helps to create a sense of shared identity, community spirit and a pride in oneself and in the College.

Uniform can be purchased from the School Shop located at Princethorpe College.

The Uniform Shop is open from 3.30pm to 4.30pm Monday to Friday during term time. Additionally during the summer holidays the shop is open on selected dates on an appointment only basis.

To make an appointment please call Miss Nicola Browne on 01926 634272 or email nicolabrowne@princethorpe.co.uk.

Click here to download a copy of the uniform list.

For those who like to plan ahead the Foundation Term Dates for 2019-2020 are:

Michaelmas Term 2019

Monday 2 September to Wednesday 18 December

Half Term

Saturday 19 October to Sunday 3 November

Lent Term 2020 

Monday 6 January to Friday 27 March

Half Term

Saturday 15 February to Sunday 23 February

Trinity Term 2020

Monday 20 April to Wednesday 1 July 

Half Term

Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 

We take children from age two through to pre-school as space allows. The nursery day currently runs from 7.45am to 6.00pm, 51 weeks a year, to cater for the needs of working parents.

Places are available on a term-time only basis or all year round.  Flexible morning and afternoon sessions are available and government nursery and employer childcare vouchers are accepted.

We have dedicated nursery staff for the Terrific Twos and Thrilling Threes and Fabulous Fours Rooms. Each room has its own Room Leader and staff dedicated to that room so they and the children get to know each other well.

A minimum of two sessions a week is recommended for two-year olds and four sessions for over three-year olds.

It is a good idea to register your child well in advance as places get booked up early.

Arrange a visit and register for your preferred sessions

If you are interested in your child attending Little Crackers we would recommend that you contact Mrs Jenny Vaughan, our Admissions Secretary, who will make an appointment for you and your child to meet with Mrs Clare Bird, the Nursery Manager and discuss availability.

Alternatively come to one of our regular Open Events or join us at our Stay ‘n’ Play toddler group, which takes place on Wednesdays in term-time from 10.00am to 11.30am, to get a feel for the Nursery and chat with the staff informally.

To secure a place, simply complete a Registration Form with your required sessions and preferred start date and return this with the accompanying fee of £50 to the Admissions Secretary. You will then receive confirmation in writing that we can offer a nursery place with an acceptance form for you to sign. If the sessions you require are not available your fee will be returned.

Prior to starting, you and your child can attend a number of short settling in sessions, typically two or three, where you will meet your child’s key worker. A start date, from which point sessions are billable, will be agreed with Nursery staff at the settling-in sessions. 

We currently have availability across all sessions for three and four-year-olds on both a term-time only basis and all year round, although mornings are filling up quickly. 

In our two-year-old room, we have limited availability in the mornings until January 2019, after which all sessions are likely to be available. 

For further details on the sessions available, please call our Nursery Manager, Mrs Clare Bird, on 01926 514456 or email cbird@crackleyhall.co.uk