Admissions Update

A very warm welcome to our Admissions Update e-newsletter, designed to give you an insight into Crescent School and a feel for the richness of school life here. You will also find lots of practical information that will help you through the admissions process.

The first thing that strikes visitors to our school is the special sense of purpose that there is here, combined with a genuinely caring and nurturing atmosphere. Every child here is unique and everyone has their place in our shared community. The word that visitors use most frequently to describe the atmosphere is a simple one; happy. 

Our wonderful teaching staff are determined to go the extra mile to help children achieve everything they are capable of. This was noted in our most recent ISI 'outstanding in all areas' inspection, where the parental feedback ‘praised the school’s preparation of former pupils who had successfully and easily transitioned into their new senior school’. You can read the full report in full here.

We live by the School Promise, which asks us all to be Good Friends, Good Learners and Good Citizens in all we do. Our philosophy applies equally inside the classroom, on the sports field and in all of our extra-curricular pursuits as well.

We look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful school in the near future.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Congratulations to all our Year 6 leavers who moved on this September to a range of outstanding local independent and state schools. 

Nine of the 23-strong class are now at the Foundation’s senior school, Princethorpe College, while five children chose local grammar schools. We also had pupils going to a number of other independent schools. We were especially delighted that 12 of our Year 6 pupils were awarded scholarships this year, including all-rounder, academic, art, sports, music and drama awards.

Sarah Webb, Assistant Head and Year 6 Teacher, said, “It’s lovely to see the children enjoying such success. 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. It’s an excellent outcome and everyone here is thrilled for them.”

Congratulations to all the children on their achievements – Crescent School is really proud of them all. 

Crescent School in Bilton, Rugby has been recognised for its work to create a sustainable environment.

The school has been awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction in recognition of its environmental consciousness and commitment to sustainable practices. The award is given to schools that work through a seven-step framework outlined in the Eco-Schools programme.

The school has also had its sustainability efforts recognised by the Independent Schools Association (ISA) in its annual national awards, with the school shortlisted for the Sustainability Award, which will be voted on later this year.

Last school year, pupils from Year 2 to Year 6 formed a Green Team, and identified three key focus areas for sustainability improvements: Biodiversity, Waste and Water. Across the year, the committee launched numerous activities and campaigns, including 'Cut Your Carbon Month', a ‘Paper Free Day’, and the 'The Big Plastic Count'. Pupils also took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and held their own school mini COP 28.

During the year, pupils also worked together to construct a bug hotel and pollinator bed, installed rainwater harvesting water butts, completed a biodiversity survey, organised a book swap and pen recycling, installed bird boxes, planted trees and herbs, made wildflower seed bombs and much more. 

The Green Team also developed a Crescent Eco Code that encourages everyone to ‘Go Green and Stay Green’.

Jacqui Johnson, the teacher leading the Green Team at Crescent School, said: "We are thrilled that our environmental efforts have been recognised. We are proud of the enthusiasm of our pupils to make real changes for the benefit of our planet. Their mature and inspirational attitude aligns with our school and the wider Foundation’s sustainability ethos, and our shared goal to make the world a better and brighter place.”

Headmaster, Joe Thackway, added: “It has been wonderful to see our school community working together to improve our sustainability. The dedication and passion of the children has been inspiring, and they deserve their recognition at the highest level by the Eco School Awards and also by the ISA."

The Eco Schools Award team said: “Your school has truly gone above and beyond to make environmental education engaging for young people. It has been an absolute joy assessing your application and learning about the impact you’ve had, not only on our planet but also on the young people you work with every day.” 

Back in June, Crescent School was delighted to feature as BBC CWR‘s Star School and to hear our amazing pupils being interviewed by BBC Reporter Dan Sambell.

Year 5 pupils, Max T, Toni O, Maya T and Patrick B, and School Caretaker, Mr Knowles, confidently answered all his questions, sharing their views on the news, taking him on a tour of the school, and even teaching him a thing or two.

It was amazing to be chosen to feature on the programme and we were proud to showcase our amazing school.

The school took a team of 18 athletes from Years 4 and 5 to Saffron Lane Stadium in Leicester in May to compete against schools from across the Midlands in the Regional ISA Athletics.

The children put in fantastic performances and were proud to achieve personal bests with five Crescent School pupils finishing in first place and qualifying for the National Championships. 

Head of Games, Rachel McCollin praised the outstanding attitude adopted by the Crescent team who as always behaved impeccably despite the mixed weather conditions.

“We had an absolutely fabulous day,” commented Mrs McCollin, “I was very pleased with our results, there were many excellent individual performances. The children well and truly rose to the challenge of our ‘little school big ambitions’ motto!”

Gold Medal: 

• Maxi E - Year 5 Long Jump 
• Ava L - Year 4 Long Jump 
• Sam, Zac, Maxi, Alex - Year 5 Boys Relay

Silver Medal:

• Akaal R - Year 5 Boys 70m 
• Theo Mc, Kian, Tomisin, Thomas - Year 4 Boys Relay  

Bronze Medal:

• Alex B - Year 5 Boys 150m 
• Lilah W - Year 4 Girls Rounders Ball Throw 
• Tomisin - Year 4 Boys Long Jump 
• Roisin C - Year 5 Girls Long Jump 

Other great results:  

• Kian G - final of Year 4 Boys 60m - 5th 
• Amber M - Year 4 Girls 600m - 4th 
• Thomas - Year 4 Boys 600m - 6th 
• Zac J - Year 5 Boys Cricketball Throw - 4th 

The Nationals took place in June at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham and Crescent's five young athletes had a super day representing the Midlands team at the event. 

Crescent’s Year 6 were simply magnificent when they performed Shakespeare’s classic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In their final end-of-school production, they superbly portrayed the comedic story of fairy folk. Their rendition wowing their parents and teachers.

On the big night pupils were a little nervous but mainly just excited having really enjoyed their dress rehearsal in front of the school earlier in the week.

The children had worked incredibly hard with Drama teacher, Lizzie Bowdige, and Director of Music, Julie Barnes, to prepare the special performance and the talented cast rose admirably to the challenge.

Of course the audience really enjoyed the show, their thunderous applause a testament to another super example of the school’s broad provision for the arts.

Headmaster, Joe Thackway said, "Huge congratulations to all the cast for learning their lines so well and delivering them with meaning, expression and great timing, what a multi-talented group of young people they all are."

Many thanks to all the staff and parents who helped with the production.

Crescent School’s annual House Geography competition took place at the end of April and it was a hotly contested affair. Pupils in Year 6 had been working hard in their lessons, learning the mountains, seas, rivers, countries and capitals of the world. They had participated in regular quizzes to test their knowledge with the highest scorers earning themselves the right to represent their House in the final.

In front of an audience of parents and the Upper School, teams of four pupils took on eight rounds of challenging questions. It proved a closely fought competition with the three Houses neck and neck throughout and hardly a mark dropped between them all. Their geography knowledge incredible to behold.

This year it was St David’s House (Maisie [Captain], Timi, Emily and Grace) that just pipped St George’s (Roisin [Captain], Shayla, Alex and Alice) and St Andrew’s (James [Captain], Harriet, Maggie and Shiv) in the final round. The yellows were delighted to be crowned champions, reclaiming the trophy their House last won in 2021. However, all the teams should be proud of what was an outstanding performance.

Many congratulations to all, it was a super event, and the best of luck to Year 5 when your turn comes around next year!

In May, Sam Melia, from Bwengu Projects Malawi, visited the Crescent School to receive a cheque for £2,036. The cheque was presented by Year 4 pupils, Evelyn and Albert, in assembly in front of the whole school.

The Crescent School has been supporting the work of Bwengu Projects for fifteen years. Every year the Year 4s study Bwengu as a less economically developed area, comparing and contrasting it to their local town of Rugby. At the end of their topic the children organise fundraising activities to support the work of the charity. This year, the Year 4s raised money in a number of enterprising ways including a very successful charity day. Then, Evelyn, Albert, Taran and Lilah all managed to raise over £100 in the class’s sponsored silence. Evelyn and her family also took on the challenge of a sponsored mud run raising a further £530 for this year’s Bwengu fundraising.

Bryony Forth, Deputy Head, said, “The children worked incredibly hard organising lots of events. They have smashed their fundraising target, having raised an amazing £2,036. The money will be used to renovate the buildings at Nachiphu Early Learning Centre in Malawi with plenty left over to help with other projects too. ”

What a fantastic effort from Year 4!

Crescent School's Summer Concert took place on Monday 1 July and it was well attended, with the school hall packed with parents and family members eager to enjoy the end of term celebration of music and song.

Rock Ensemble opened the show and they were followed by the first of many instrumental solos. Orchestra, Brass Group, Wacky Music, Flute Group and Choir all gave rousing performances. It was a truly fabulous afternoon of music and song.

Our enormous thanks and congratulations go to all Crescent School's accomplished performers who took to the stage in front of their proud parents, and of course to all their teachers and, Director of Music, Julie Barnes who have helped them achieve so much.

In June, and as a finale to their History studies, Year 3 brought World War 2 vividly to life when they performed Julia Donaldson’s children’s play, Bombs and Blackberries. Parents were treated to a heartfelt and at time humorous retelling of a story of evacuees, their adventures in the countryside and the escapades of their families.

The children had all worked hard to learn their lines and songs, and they delivered a fabulous performance. It was a super way to explore history and to build their intepersonal skills; a huge well done to them all.

Year 5 welcomed pupils from Princethorpe College to their lessons on Monday 10 June for an interactive MFL workshop. Mrs Day had organised for the Year 10 Language Ambassadors, supported by Lower Sixth prefects and their MFL teachers to visit Cresent School to inspire and engage pupils in their learning. Working in four groups the Year 10 pupils delivered four exciting French and Spanish activities on the topics of dates, sports, food and the weather.

Year 5 were excited to work with the Year 10s and really enjoyed the structured, interactive sessions that built on and practised the vocabulary they have been learning in their specialist MFL lessons with Mrs Day. There were plenty of smiles all round as the youngsters enthusiastically engaged with the Language Ambassadors, answering their questions and playing matching games.

It was a fantastic learning experience for them all. A huge thank you to the Princethorpe pupils and their staff for visiting us.

This summer, Tthe Princethorpe Foundation partnered with Team Super Sports to offer Holiday Camps for children aged 5 to 16 years. The six-week programme of camps was open to all and took advantage of Princethorpe College’s extensive grounds and sporting facilities to offer a wide variety of sporting activities, 

Youngsters aged 7 to 16 took their pick of rugby, cricket, football, gymnastics, netball, hockey and tennis to create their own sports programme. While for the younger children, aged 5 to 7, in addition to sports, dance and games there was the choice of arts and crafts activities. It was great to see pupils from Crescent School enjoying the camps.

The initiative was part of the Foundation’s new Commercial Enterprise activity aimed at generating additional sources of income and was in response to feedback and demand from parents. The summer camps proved to be very successful with Princethorpe’s beautiful campus proving a popular choice for families in the area.

Commented, Gemma Cullinane, Princethorpe Commercial Enterprise Manager, “Team Super Sports are an experienced provider of sport and multi-activity holiday camps with a fantastic reputation for top-level coaching for children of all abilities. They have delivered an excellent first summer programme of activities and we are looking forward to working with them in the future.”

The latest issue of The Minnacle has just been published, showcasing our pupils' work. The Minnacle celebrates our pupils at their best and this latest edition includes plenty of amazing examples, from fabulous art and design work, to super descriptive writing and fabulous language skills. Why not have a read yourself - you can download a copy from our school website here.

Take a look at The Pinnacle too, it celebrates the work of pupils at our Foundation's senior school, Princethorpe College, you can find a copy on their website here. 

We are working hard on the 2024 edition of The Circular, Crescent School’s annual review for pupils, parents and staff. It will be published in October and it is always a fabulous celebration of the school year.

The magazine includes stories and photos and gives a wonderful insight into the life of the school and the learning that takes place, day in day out, here at the Crescent. 

The 2023 edition is still available to read and you can find an electronic copy of the magazine on the school website. If you would like to have a read follow the link below:

https://www.theprincethorpefoundation.co.uk/publications-crescent