Alumni associations and societies play a vital role in nurturing lifelong connections between former pupils and their alma mater. For The Princethorpe Foundation, our continued connection with former pupils, parents and staff of Princethorpe College, Crescent School, Crackley Hall and Little Crackers, and also our heritage schools, is vitally important. The Old Princethorpians Association is a rich source of history, tradition, friendship, mentorship, philanthropy, and advocacy - strengthening the Foundation's legacy while enriching its present and safeguarding its future. The Alumni and Development team takes this responsibility seriously, and our membership of professional organisastions such as AROPS ensures we stay at the forefront of developments and best practice in this sector.

AROPS has been running Regional Forum Meetings in member schools for a number of years, providing an opportunity for Alumni Relations professionals to share experiences, gain invaluable advice and sector insights, and generate new ideas and solutions in a supportive and collaborative environment. The Princethorpe Foundation's Alumni and Development Officer, Caroline Spencer, was delighted to host the meeting this year, which was held at the College in the historic and beautifully restored Nuns' Library.

Upon arrival, delegates who represented alumni associations from independent schools across the West Midlands, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Berkshire, were able to get to know each other over tea and coffee, before Princethorpe Headmaster, Grove du Toit, offered an official warm welcome. Mr du Toit reiterated the significance of the work of alumni relations associations, acknowledging the benefit that much of their unseen work brings to the whole school community.

AROPS representative, Alan Cooper, then updated members on current trends and issues impacting alumni engagement, such as meeting the needs of different stakeholders (past pupils, parents, staff, partners and families, etc.), balancing priorities and constraints within the individual and national context, and ensuring relevance and effectiveness of communications. This provided a foundation for delegates to take the reins of the discussion, sharing their own contexts and priorities, and learning from each other's successes.

Alan commented, "There was a great atmosphere, with plenty of collegiality and good advice being shared", and Gina Worboys, of the Old Bedfordian's Club at Bedford School, agreed: "We felt the discussion was really interesting and useful, and we have come away with a good number of great ideas to put into practice."

The stimulating conversations continued over lunch and during a tour of the campus, and it was clear that meaningful connections had been established as the delegates departed. Caroline Spencer reflected on the impact of the morning: "It was invigorating to be part of such open and forward-thinking discussions, and encouraging to discover the shared experiences that help us to identify best practice across all our settings. The continued connection with my AROPS colleagues remains invaluable as I continue to work with the OP Committee to serve the Old Princethorpian community."