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Stringer Press AUTUMN TERM

Contents Page Message from Matt Hillier Message from Sarah Bakhtiari Messages from Pastoral teams Fundraising Abseil for Dolawen Foodbank Collection Open Evening 2025 Carol Concert Footloose Brighton Dome trip Samba Workshops Glyndebourne trip Drama department news School film The Stringer Big Christmas Read Year 7 English work Library update Maths Challenge Green Flag Award Brighton Energy Co-op Woodland Working Day Normandy International Youth Summit ITV Meridian News feature The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Culture Day 2025 Anti-bullying Week 2025 MFL French trip Design Museum trip Much Ado About Numbers trip General Knowledge Quiz Clubs Fair Art GCSE mock exams Art club Graphic Design workshop Transition Awards GCSE Results 2025 History trips Geography fieldwork Student Voice beach clean Post-16 Evening Forest School Year 7 Disco PE write up Robbie Fitzgibbon Stringer Run Dorothy Stringer Donatello Shield Student news Feedback Upcoming Key Dates

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Dorothy Stringer open -evening Message from Mr Hillier HEADTEACHER'S MESSAGE A REVIEW BY LIZ UREN MATT HILLIER

Headteacher

As we approach the end of the Autumn term, I would like to reflect on what has been a busy few months for our school community. The start of the academic year gave us chance to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our former Year 11 students. Their exceptional results are a true testament to both the high quality of teaching and the determination and resilience of that year group. We were especially proud to be recognised as the top-performing state school in the city. We began this term with an excellent series of tours and open events as we welcomed prospective families and started preparing our next cohort to aim for similar success. The last thirteen weeks in school have been filled with hard work and some exceptional opportunities and I am incredibly proud of all our students and staff for their dedication and achievements. This term, our students have excelled in a variety of areas, from Maths Challenges and the Stringer General Knowledge Quiz to a host of sporting successes. We have seen many of our teams perform exceptionally well and I would like to say a huge thank you to the staff who have given up their evenings (and early mornings!) to support them in pursuing their passions. Under the guidance of Mr Buchan, students have also begun preparations for this year’s school film project, and we are very much looking forward to seeing its progress over the coming months. As always, I would also like to extend my gratitude to our parent community for your ongoing support. Your involvement in school life, whether through attending fixtures, parents’ evenings, supporting fundraising events, or simply keeping in touch with tutors, plays a vital role in creating the positive, thriving environment we are so proud of here at Stringer. We continue to explore ways to enhance our school environment. Following the successful installation of our new canopy, our next fundraising focus will be on providing additional seating around the school site; an idea that came directly from our students. In addition, we are excited to be taking part in the Amaze Story Trail next year. This wonderful city-wide sculpture trail will celebrate diversity, inclusion and storytelling through a series of beautifully decorated Book Bench sculptures, and we are delighted to be creating one of our own in support of this excellent cause. As we break for the Christmas holidays, I hope you are all able to relax and enjoy time with friends and family. We look forward to welcoming our students back in the new year, ready for the exciting opportunities and challenges of the Spring term. Wishing you and your families a very merry Christmas, and a peaceful and joyful new year. Kind regards,

Matt Hillier

Dorothy open evening MessageStringer from Sarah Bakhtiari A REVIEW BY LIZ UREN

Chair of Governors As the new Chair of Governors, I would like to begin by thanking Bridget Taylor for her dedicated leadership of the Governing Board over recent years. Bridget has guided the Board with wisdom, expertise and care, and has been generous with her time and talents. We are very grateful for her service. I would also like to welcome our new Clerk to Governors, Clare Doran, whose experience and attention to detail will be invaluable in supporting our work. It is a privilege to take on the role of Chair, and I am very much looking forward to working closely with Mr Hillier, staff, students and the wider school community to support the continued success of Dorothy Stringer. Together with my fellow governors, I am committed to ensuring that every student continues to thrive in a school that is ambitious, inclusive and forward-looking. We were delighted with the strong GCSE results achieved in the summer of 2025 and warmly congratulate the students and staff on their success. These outcomes reflect hard work, determination and the supportive environment that defines Dorothy Stringer. Following the recent consultation and adjudicator ruling, the Governing Board is pleased that the school’s Published Admission Number (PAN) will remain unchanged, allowing us to continue meeting the needs of local families. The revised catchment area has now been approved and will come into effect as planned from next September. We hope all those who have applied are successful and we look forward to hearing the outcomes in the Spring. Of course, a school is about much more than examination results. This edition of the Stringer Press captures just some of the creativity, achievement and opportunity that characterise life at Dorothy Stringer. I hope you enjoy reading about the many ways our students contribute to and benefit from such a vibrant community. Kind regards, Sarah Bakhtiari

DRAMA DEPARTMENT

Yeargroup highlights - Year 11 We’re pleased to share another positive update after a successful term here with Year 11 at Dorothy Stringer. First and foremost, we want to congratulate the whole year group on their attitude and commitment during the mock exams. Their maturity, hard work and no little gusto have been wonderful to see, and we’re incredibly proud of the way they conducted themselves - their behaviour was exemplary and drew praise from SLT. As ever, the mocks have shown their value in helping students understand what revision and exams truly involve, and what they need to do next in order to get the results they hope for in August next year. We’re confident this year group will keep rising to the challenge: there have been improvements in the last two sets of mocks, which is great to see. There have also been many achievements to celebrate. Our Head Students have represented the school brilliantly at events such as Open Evening; sports teams continue to perform strongly; Year 11s were heavily involved in the success of Culture Day, and we’ve got many students involved in everything extra-curricular you can think of - as has been the case since I started working with them in Year 8. It’s brilliant to see. On my regular lesson visits, I’m often struck by the quality of the work and discussion - one English class especially has the atmosphere of a university seminar, with thoughtful debate and genuine mutual respect on display. This is a real perk of the job: well done to all concerned. As ever, we really value communication from home. Your insights can help us better support our students, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any concerns or updates. We love hearing about achievements outside school too - whether it’s playing for professional sports clubs, securing drama auditions, BRIT School applications or excelling in completely different areas. If your child is involved in something you’d like to share, please let us know. We’ve even had a jazz quartet, Orbit, emerge through the New Generation Jazz program in the city, and they are already performing locally. We’re excited to follow their progress. Please do keep sharing these successes with us. Naturally, with a year group of over 300 dynamic young people, there are always areas to refine. We’re continuing to reinforce the basics: punctuality, correct uniform, and simple kindness. Consistency in these areas enables staff to focus on the bigger picture, and your support in this is greatly appreciated. We’d like to wish you all a fantastic Christmas break and we can’t wait to start 2026 with such a fantastic group of students. Year 11: get some rest, have some fun, and come back ready to do yourselves proud. Mr Haddington and Miss Dodds

Yeargroup highlights - Year 10 We are so pleased with the way Year 10 have begun their journey towards their first formal exams in the summer of 2027 and whatever comes next in their ‘Education for Life’. Now settled into new routines and timetables, students are showing real maturity as they embrace their option subjects and begin to take important steps towards independence. This term, Year 10 have been active in Student Voice, and getting involved in areas across the school. We also have an excellent team of Peer Mentors helping Year 7 to settle in. Students have also enjoyed participating in our annual Culture Day and supported Anti-Bullying Week by wearing odd socks and carrying out acts of kindness. Over the coming months, students will begin preparing for their work experience placement at the end of the academic year. Conversations about possible placements should now be taking place at home and with tutors, and the process should be underway by January. Researching future pathways early means that decisions made now can support a wider plan. By this time next year, students will be applying to colleges, preparing for interviews and developing their CVs. A key milestone will be the Year 10 exams, scheduled for the week beginning 18 June 2026. More information will be shared closer to the time, but we know our students will meet this challenge with the support of both home and school. They will also sit two sets of mock exams in Year 11 before the main exam window. We would like to celebrate the dedication shown by our Duke of Edinburgh participants. Many have completed their Bronze Award, with certificates already being issued, and several have now started their Silver. And this is just the tip of the iceberg of the achievements we have seen across sport, music, drama and the wider curriculum! At the end of last half term, we held our first Year 10 Cake Day - a lovely opportunity to recognise students’ successes. We were pleased to award the following tutor group certificates: • Attendance Awards: 10JNS, 10HGT, 10MAT • Achievement Awards: 10MOR, 10HGT, 10NVT • Conduct Awards (individual): Ava May, Yse and Gil Thank you for your continued support - please do keep up the positive and active approach and remember; community is our superpower. Mr Shilladay and Ms Smith

Yeargroup highlights - Year 9 After what now feels like a distant summer, I hope you all returned refreshed and are back into the routines of school life. It’s hard to believe that our Year 9s, who only recently began their Stringer journeys, are already approaching the halfway point! They’ve made a strong start, settling well into new classes and throwing themselves into a busy term. Remembrance Day, Anti-Bullying Week, Culture Day, Odd Socks Day, and the Maths Challenge have all added real energy to the start of the year. At Open Evening we had lots of volunteers from Year 9, and it was fantastic to walk around and feel the buzz in the air as our students celebrated our school so vibrantly. Students have now selected their practical option subjects and are diving into them with enthusiasm. This can be seen in extra-curricular activities where we have 15 Year 9s in Big Band and 13 in Choir, all gearing up to perform in the upcoming carol concert and audition for solos. It’s also been a term full of trips, including a visit to Glyndebourne to see the opera, a Rugby Trip to watch England V Australia, and the Ypres History trip. Sporting achievements have been just as impressive. Makia and Olive represented our year group and were placed first in table tennis and are off to regionals; swimming galas have begun strongly, and rugby, netball and football fixtures are taking place across the year group. A special shoutout to the Girls’ U14 Football team who’ve reached the final 32 of the National Cup. Outside school, Millie J has been selected for the Junior Premier League; Phoenix B, a black belt in karate since Year 6, continues to support younger students through weekly volunteering at Stanford Infants, and Ellie-Mai W will represent us at the Cheer Sport Nationals in Atlanta this February, competing with teams from around the world after winning the All-Star Worlds and the Youth Summit in Florida last year. We’re also proud to have over 35 students taking early GCSEs in their heritage languages, including 15 from Year 9. Seven have already sat mock exams in French and Spanish alongside our Year 11 cohort, and they did brilliantly. We wish all candidates the very best and commend them for their hard work and organisation. We’re looking forward to celebrating your success at the end of this academic year. A final note goes to Theo K in 9PTC, who has taken the initiative to set up a Dungeons and Dragons club in the library after spotting a gap in our extracurricular offer. More details will be out soon. We look forward to supporting Year 9 as they continue to grow and take on new challenges. There’s much to come in the following terms for the year group, and we look forward to reporting back next term! Keep working hard, Year 9! Miss Leszniwskyj and Mr Harvey

Yeargroup highlights - Year 8 We are very proud of our Year 8 students this term for their hard work and dedication. It is no mean feat to come back to school after the summer holidays and adjust to new classes, teachers, and timetables. They have shown great resilience in adapting to the pace of Year 8 and have been fantastic ambassadors for our new Year 7s who arrived in September. Our recent Open Day was a wonderful opportunity for future students to visit, and it was heartening to see so many of our Year 8 students volunteering to help on the evening, showcasing their year group with pride. Ms Parmar and I always feel a swell of pride on these occasions as we witness how far they have come in just a year. October brought us our Culture Day, which was a resounding success, featuring a vibrant fashion show and exciting events such as karaoke in different languages and the Stringer Bake Off. We had a fantastic turnout of Year 8 entrants, and their cakes were simply delightful. A huge thank you to all who baked, sang, strutted their stuff on the catwalk, and supported the day with such enthusiasm. We are also delighted to see our students continuing their love for sports, dedicating themselves to training and representing the school in various activities, from football and rugby to netball and cross country. I thoroughly enjoyed attending the Sports Awards last year and am already looking forward to celebrating their successes later this term. Their teamwork and dedication are commendable, and our Year group’s participation and performance in the great tradition of the Stringer Run was impressive! Congratulations to all who took part. A big well done also to all who participate in our extracurricular clubs. We are excited to see Year 8 represented in the Carol Concert at the end of term, which is always a lovely way to conclude the calendar year and ease into the winter break. Wishing you all a fantastic festive season filled with joy and celebration! Miss Poole and Ms Parmar

Yeargroup highlights - Year 7 Year 7 have made an amazing start to secondary school. As a year group they are enthusiastic and hard-working, and have truly embraced our school values of creativity, resilience and respect. They engage politely in conversations and are already building positive relationships within our school community. Our students are bonding well with their form tutors and communicating confidently. They are also forming strong, positive friendships with one another. There is a great deal of learning taking place, with students receiving praise for their hard work and commitment from their specialist teachers. During Anti-Bullying Week, Year 7 took part with great enthusiasm, proudly wearing odd socks to show their support. Throughout the week, we celebrated acts of kindness, with students earning stickers for thoughtful gestures, and form tutors nominated particularly kind individuals for a special certificate from the Head of Year. Culture Day/Wear Red Day saw fantastic outfits and a successful cake sale that helped raise money for charity. Many Year 7 students also showcased their musical talents by performing in the school’s very own Samba band. A large number of our year group’s students are attending extra-curricular clubs, from Art to IT, and from Football to Trampolining. We are also very grateful for the contributions that have begun coming in for our foodbank collection at the time of writing this; thank you for your continued support. Looking ahead, we’re all eagerly anticipating the Christmas Carol Concert, a much-loved event that always brings festive cheer. There is also a real buzz in the air about the Year 7 Winter Disco - students are very excited, and we are looking forward to hosting it. Overall - well done, Year 7 – a great start! Both Mr Harvey and I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas, and we look forward to welcoming our students back in the New Year on Monday 5th January 2026. Mrs De Brun and Mr Harvey

Photos by Emma Bailey

Fundraising We are delighted to announce that Dorothy Stringer School will be participating in the upcoming Story Trail organised by Amaze in Brighton & Hove. Amaze is a charity that gives information, advice and support to families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex:https://amazesussex.org.uk/. The Story Trail is an exciting, city-wide public art initiative that will transform streets, parks and open spaces into a giant storybook - featuring more than 30 large “BookBench” sculptures. Each sculpture will be designed and painted by talented artists. Also on display will be a series of smaller benches decorated by community groups and local schools – and that’s where we come in! Over the coming months, our Art department will be running a design competition for students to design and decorate Dorothy Stringer’s very own little BookBench. Once complete, our bench will be installed alongside the other sculptures in Brighton & Hove for the autumn 2026 trail. After the event, our BookBench will be returned to school and take pride of place in our library! In the Spring term we will be fundraising towards our participation in The Story Trail, with proceeds going to Amaze. Anything over our target will then go towards additional benches for our school site. Keep an eye out for our fundraising events next term!

A big thank you to all the local businesses who have kindly donated prizes this year to support our student rewards programme. You can see the names of these businesses on the banner on the front page of our website and on the fundraising page of our website. If you own a local business and would like to support our rewards programme and/or our summer term fundraising raffle, we’d love to hear from you – email us at communications@dorothy–stringer.co.uk.

Foodbank Collection 2026 This term, we once again undertook our annual foodbank collection, with all donations supporting the St Richard’s Community Café and Brightstore, a community-led grocery store, both based in Hollingdean. We’d like to extend a huge thank-you to our wonderful school community for their generosity. The foodbank teams were incredibly appreciative of the donations, and our students thoroughly enjoyed helping to deliver and sort the items. A special well done goes to our Senior Students, who did an excellent job distributing boxes to form groups and assisting with the deliveries. We’d also like to thank our drivers, Mr Kipling and Mr Filiata, for their help loading the minibuses and transporting the goods. Together, we made a real difference - thank you to everyone who contributed!

Open Evening 2025 A huge thank you to all the students who volunteered to help showcase our school during this year’s Open Evening, and to everyone who supported them at this event. Our students were full of enthusiasm as they shared their experiences at Stringer and spoke passionately about the subjects they enjoy studying and the extra-curricular clubs and events they have participated in. It was especially heartwarming to see our new Year 7s proudly guiding Year 6 families around the school, already feeling such a strong sense of belonging within our community. We are also grateful to our dedicated staff, who created a vibrant and engaging atmosphere with exciting activities and displays, from explosive science experiments and impressive sports demonstrations to marshmallow toasting at Forest School! A special thank you goes to our Head Students, Aisha, Daniel, Ionie, and Max, and to Liam and Frida from Year 7, who delivered confident and heartfelt speeches to prospective students and their parent/carers, alongside Mr. Hillier. You all represented the school brilliantly - well done!

Carol Concert As the dust settles on this year’s Carol Concert, we are increasingly certain that this was the best one ever! The Music Department were proud to coordinate with St John’s Church again this year for an evening of festive hits that ranged from hymns to 70s chart toppers to gospel favourites. The audience were treated to multiple performances from our Big Band and Vox Choir. With over 100 students between the two extra-curricular clubs, the church was filled with wintery joy as hits like Step Into Christmas, Sleigh Ride and Christmas Baby (Please Come Home) were performed. In addition, we enjoyed smaller ensembles that were prepped and planned solely by students. Special congratulations to Felix, Emma, Aysha, Gino, Charlotte, Sophie, Louis, Ndana (Year 10), Klara, Mia, Oliver, Liv, Georgia, Phoenix, Lyra, Matilda, David (Year 9) and Ben (Year 8) who all aced their auditions to grab one of the performance slots! Their contributions added a wonderful variety to the programme. We also had our usual traditional hymns and carols – particular mention goes out to Emmet who opened the concert with the Year 7 solo in Once in Royal David’s City, and to Ndana, Rosie, Hiro, Victor, Charlotte and Sophie who shared the traditional Upper Schol solo for In the Bleak Midwinter. We’re really looking forward to the rest of the musical year and are pleased to announce that, after a student vote, our Spring and Summer concert themes have been decided! Grab your bell bottom flares and platform boots, we’re going Back to the 70s for our Spring Concert. We’ll finish off the year strong with The Greatest Hits of All Time, as well as our much anticipated first ever music tour to Belgium. Follow our Instagram @dorothystringermusic to see regular updates!

Footloose Dorothy Stringer hosted Y5 and 6 students from local primary schools last term in exclusive matinee performances of our school musical Footloose. The Middleton Theatre was full of excited young audience members, some of whom were watching their first ever live musical. As well as 90 minutes of singing and dancing, the students enjoyed shortbread and squash under D-tree at the interval. Lots of students from Balfour Primary and Downs Junior attend Stringer when they reach Year 7, so this opportunity allowed them to have their first experience of a secondary school as well as a taste of the extracurricular activities that they could get involved in. Cast and band members commented on what a brilliant audience they were, energetic and singing along to all the main songs. Thank you to Balfour and Downs for coming along – Dorothy Stringer will be putting on our next musical in Summer 2027!

Brighton Dome trip In November, twenty of our Year 10 and Year 11 students had the exciting opportunity to take part in a halfday workshop at Brighton Dome, called Backstage Pass. This event formed part of Discover Creative Careers Month 2025, a national initiative designed to open young people’s eyes to the wide range of opportunities within the creative industries. The workshop offered a fascinating insight into how live events are produced, covering everything from technical production and marketing to visitor services and programming. Students were able to step behind the scenes of one of our city’s most iconic venues and gain deeper understanding of the creative sector and the diverse career pathways it offers. The trip linked directly to both our GCSE and NCFE courses, enriching classroom learning with practical, real-world context.

Samba workshops This term the Music department were pleased to host Ollie Tunmer, a multi-instrumentalist and the founder of The Beat Goes On, which is an organisation that delivers STOMP style body percussion and samba workshops. Ollie delivered high energy workshops to members of our Samba Band and Big Band, that developed rhythmic musicality in preparation for concerts and events in the future. Year 7 students were also involved in a taster session which explored Afro-Brazilian culture and linked to our Ostinatos & Rhythm topic studied at the start of Year 7 Music. The workshops were an enjoyable celebration of rhythm and culture, leaving our students inspired and eager to bring their new skills to future performances.

Glyndebourne Trip The Music department were fortunate to take 30 students to see The Railway Children at Glyndebourne Opera House this half term. All students offered this opportunity are regular attenders at our Vox Choir and Big Band extra-curricular clubs. They were treated to a much-loved children’s classic that has been converted into a thrilling new opera, focusing on three siblings forging a new life in the rural countryside. Students and staff thoroughly enjoyed the day out and we look forward to more collaborations with Glyndebourne to further enrich our singing and orchestral music curriculum.

Drama Department The Drama Department has had an interesting term with a lot of change. Miss Grout has gone on her sabbatical year to India and Ms Ettinger has taken early retirement. We would like to thank Ms Ettinger for all her hard work over her years here and for directing the best plays that Brighton schools have ever seen. We miss her and wish her well in the future. We have still had a busy term despite not having a school play this February. We have joined forces with Mr Buchan and have helped with casting (and in some cases acting) in this year's school film, 'New Mutiny' based on the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. Our wonderful Drama prefects have helped out with Open Evening, running games and warm-ups with our Year 6 students, and they are regulars in our extra-curricular clubs. Sian Hutchinson, who teaches both A level and BTEC Drama at Varndean College, came to visit our whole GCSE Drama cohort in October. She had a lively Q&A session with our students and gave them valuable advice about the next steps in their journey. Year 11, together with some of our Year 10s, had a recent trip to the Theatre Royal Brighton to see the terrifying 'Woman in Black'. We came out enthused and exhilarated and have been making some brilliant notes about all the technical aspects of the play as well as the acting. Next up will be a trip for Lower School students to see the RSC production of 'The BFG' in Chichester just before Easter - keep your eyes peeled for more details and information on how to apply for tickets. Our Year 10s end the year performing their extracts of DNA to the Y9 Drama students and they are currently rehearsing all hours to get their performances right. These will be their first practical pieces, so we hope they 'break a leg'. Wishing you all a very festive holiday, Katy Poole and Eleanor Evans

School Film We’re thrilled to introduce the incredible cast and crew of our upcoming school film! This production is a fresh and exciting adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, and we can’t wait to see how our students bring new life to this timeless story. Our cast recently gathered for their first table read, and hearing the characters come to life was an unforgettable moment. Over the past few weeks, we’ve also been hard at work with rehearsals, costume fittings, set design, special effects and stunt preparation, equipment testing, and all the other essential parts of pre-production. We’re counting down the days until filming begins next term – stay tuned for updates!

The Stringer Big Christmas Read We would like to introduce the first ever Stringer Big Christmas Read where all students, teachers and staff read the same book over the Christmas holidays. Feel free to join in! Everyone is invited to read the classic Christmas tale of the March sisters, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. During the holidays, our school community are encouraged email a picture of themselves and friends/family reading the book in farflung places (or even in your back yard or local park) to communications@dorothy-stringer.co.uk. There will be a prize for the most original student submission in each year group in January! Happy reading!

Year 7 English work Last half-term our wonderful year 7 cohort were introduced to a new and exciting seven-week autobiography writing project. Inspired by their Summer read, My Name is Book, they were tasked with writing from the perspective of an object of their choice, designing a publishing logo and producing a blurb. It has been great to see the students so enthusiastic and engaged with their chosen topics. Many have now finished their final drafts, and the English department have been blown away by the imaginative and creative ideas we have seen. Here are just some examples of the excellent work from our students!

Library update We have had another busy term in the library, with lots of new additions to our library collection. These were mostly recommended by students, who have been especially helpful in adding to our graphic novel and book series collections, which now include the ‘Dogman’, ‘Dork Diaries’ and ‘Babysitter’s Club’ series. We also have some exciting new fantasy and sci-fi novels, including Skyward by Brandon Sanderson and Skandar by A.F Steadman. Secondly, a large number of students entered our Christmas bookmark competition with a chance to win a YA novel of their choice. The winner and 3 runners-up would also have their designs turned into real bookmarks for all students to take away. Congratulations go to Molly in 7EST with her winning design, along with Leila (8MTC), Cleo (8BND) and Francesca (7CLR) who were our runners-up. And finally… after Christmas we will be administering some ‘Fiction Prescription’ to get us through the January blues. Need a dose of courage or a prescription for joy? We’ve got the medicine for you!

Maths Challenge In October and November, our Year 11 Advanced Maths students took part in two prestigious national competitions: the Mathematical Competition for Girls and the Senior Maths Challenge. All students worked incredibly hard on these challenges, which are aimed at A-Level students. In late November, we were delighted to receive their excellent results. In the Mathematical Competition for Girls, more than half the girls earned a Merit or higher. Of these, Nora P achieved a Distinction, alongside Flo W, who also received the award for Best in School. Congratulations to both and well done to all the girls who qualified and took part – a fantastic achievement! Our students also excelled in the Senior Maths Challenge, securing 10 Bronze awards, 2 Silver awards and 1 Gold award – an exceptional set of results. Special congratulations go to Daniel S, who achieved an excellent score of 73 and was recognised as Best in School. Well done to all who participated in these challenges; we are incredibly proud of your hard work and success.

Green Flag Award We are proud to announce that Dorothy Stringer School has been awarded the Green Flag Award for the 25th year in a row, recognising its outstanding commitment to sustainability and environmental education. This achievement reflects the school’s ongoing dedication to fostering a culture of environmental stewardship both internally and across the wider community. This year, the school’s greatest success has been its collaboration with the city-wide network of Secondary Schools for a Sustainable Future. Through shared goals, collective action, and student-led initiatives, Dorothy Stringer has played a leading role in promoting sustainability that extends beyond individual schools. Our school has also been celebrated for our impressive Eco-Committee, which includes 30 passionate students committed to driving positive change. From planting and composting to campaigning and educating others, this team has become a powerful force for creating a greener, more sustainable school. In a significant step forward, Dorothy Stringer secured a pledge from headteachers to eliminate single-use plastics across their school sites. This ambitious initiative will reduce landfill waste and help prevent plastic pollution from entering waterways, safeguarding marine ecosystems for the future. The school’s innovative approach to learning was also highlighted, particularly its unique science-based environmental course for Year 7 students. This cross-curricular programme combines English, Maths, and Science through hands-on exploration of the school pond, managed and unmanaged woodland, and a chalk grassland butterfly haven. Students write observational notes, record and interpret data, and express their discoveries through creative writing and discussion. Whether identifying pond life or calculating CO₂ levels, students apply literacy and numeracy skills in meaningful and memorable ways, while developing a deep appreciation for nature. This Green Flag Award is a testament to Dorothy Stringer School’s vision, ambition, and commitment to environmental education. Through collaboration, creativity, and student leadership, the school continues to inspire students and the wider community to take action for a sustainable future.

Brighton energy co-op We were delighted to welcome Brighton Energy Co-op into school on Friday 7th November to lead an engaging and informative workshop. During the session, students explored renewable energy technologies, considered practical ways to reduce both their own and the school’s carbon footprint, and worked together to identify some immediate actions they could take. The workshop concluded with a hands-on activity, where students worked as a team to build and test a model solar-powered car, putting their learning into action in a fun and inspiring way.

Woodland Working Day The sun shone on Saturday 8th November as students and their families helped to coppice a hazel stool and build a beautiful new woven fence using the branches they had just cut. Coppicing doesn’t harm the tree – it’s more like giving it a grade one haircut. The tree grows back more vigorously, while the extra sunlight reaching the woodland floor encourages a range of other plants to flourish. This in turn creates a richer microclimate, which is great for insects and birds. We were also delighted to host the Friends of Hollingbury and Bursted Woods AGM in our Library. Many of our students and families enjoy using or walking through these woods and benefit from the fantastic work this group has done to maintain and protect them. If you’d like to get involved, please visit their website at http://www.fhbw.org.uk/ During the event, Jen Eneke from CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) gave an inspiring talk about her love of trees and shared information about the Postcode Project, where local groups can get help in planting trees on their street or local area. For more information go to: Homepage - CPRE Sussex

Normandy International Youth Summit We were delighted to be able to support three of our students to attend the Normandy International Youth Summit this year! The summit is an annual gathering in Le Havre, France, that brings together students from around the world to discuss major global issues and collaborate on meaningful youth-driven solutions. Delegations participate in conferences, workshops, cultural exchanges, and project-planning sessions focused on topics such as peace, the environment, education, and international cooperation. With participants representing many countries and backgrounds, the summit provides a unique opportunity for young people to share perspectives, build leadership skills, and develop concrete ideas for creating positive change. Our students raised money to be able to take advantage of this incredible opportunity, and here is what they had to say about it: Peggy: ‘After walking over 150 miles to raise money for our trip we were lucky enough to go to the Normandy International Youth leadership Summit hosted at Institute Saint Joseph in Le Havre. We went to thought-provoking workshops that challenged our perceptions of other cultures of the world around us. It was an amazing experience meeting students from far away countries such as South Africa, China, the United States. Talking to the students from across the globe made us more optimistic for our future.’ Sammy: ‘Before I left for my host family, I felt quite nervous to go to somewhere that I haven’t gone to before but when I arrived and met the family, I felt much safer annual comfortable than I thought I would, and I didn’t get the feeling of being homesick’. George: ‘We will try and stay in contact with some of the people we met for example the host students who looked after us and the South Africans.’

Normandy International Youth Summit Mr Sandercock: ‘It was a pleasure being able to escort these three mature and self-confident students that looked after each other and embraced the experience wholeheartedly. Thanks to Cantell School, Southampton who were our travel companions and fellow delegates.’ Mr Demeillers, Principal St Joseph: ‘ As we come to the end of this 12th NIYLS International Summit, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you. Over the past week, Saint Joseph has been more than a school - it has been a crossroads of cultures, ideas, and friendships. You arrived as 27 delegations from 17 countries, and today you leave as one global community. Together, you have debated, dreamed, and dared to imagine a future without borders. Every conversation, every smile, every shared moment reminded us of the extraordinary power of dialogue and education. This summit was not just about sharing knowledge; it was about building bridges. And those bridges will remain strong because they are made of respect, curiosity, and solidarity. To our incredible student organizers, to Mrs. Clément and Mrs. Morisse, and to all the host families who opened their homes and hearts: thank you. Your generosity and commitment turned this vision into reality. As you return home, carry with you the spirit of NIYLS - the courage to listen, the openness to learn, and the belief that diversity is our greatest strength. The world needs leaders like you: leaders who unite rather than divide, who inspire rather than impose. Thank you for making this summit unforgettable. Safe travels, and until we meet again let us keep building that world without borders, together.’

Phone Pouches - ITV Meridian This term, a number of our students and Deputy Head Cassie Dale were featured on ITV News Meridian, sharing their insights on the positive impact of our new phone pouch system. During the segment, students spoke thoughtfully about how the initiative has helped them stay more focused during the school day and engage more fully with both their learning and friendships. They also shared considered opinions on the wider issue of smartphone use among young people, providing some thoughtful insight to the current debate. The feature highlighted the school’s proactive approach to promoting wellbeing and balance in an increasingly digital world, and we are so proud of all the students who took part. If you missed the broadcast, you can still watch the full piece on the ITV News Meridian website: https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2025-09-29/council-urgesparents-not-to-buy-dangerous-smartphones-for-under-14s

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Congratulations to some of our Year 10 students who were awarded their Bronze DofE Award this term during a special tutor time celebration. These students have worked incredibly hard and should be very proud of their achievements! The award involves 4 key areas: Volunteering, learning or developing a New Skill, challenging yourself with a Physical activity, and of course, completing an Expedition. The Duke of Edinburgh award is a life-changing adventure for young people, and it helps them develop skills for their future life and work. We are really proud of the commitment and determination our students have shown whilst undertaking each part of the award. They have thoroughly demonstrated the creativity, resilience and respect we strive for here at Stringer! Well done to all those students who received their award. We know there are many others who are close to finishing too, and we will hold another celebration ceremony in the Spring Term.

Culture Day 2025 We were delighted to celebrate our school’s vibrant diversity and inclusive spirit during our third annual Culture Day/Wear Red Day – a special occasion dedicated to honouring the many cultures that make up our wonderful school community. Inspired by our students a few years ago, this event was created to promote greater representation, understanding, and connection through fashion, music, and food. It has since grown to become a muchloved tradition across Brighton & Hove, with each school bringing its own unique touch. To make the day even more impactful, our Culture Day also coincides with Wear Red Day, supporting the national anti-racist charity Show Racism the Red Card. Founded in 1996, the charity works to challenge racism and promote equality through education and the power of sport. By taking part, we stand proudly with schools nationwide in affirming that racism has no place in our society. The day was filled with colour, creativity, and energy. Highlights included the Music Department’s samba band and open mic session, the ever-popular Dorothy Stringer Bake Off, and creative displays from the RS, MFL and English Departments, celebrating global festivals, the range of countries our community originates from, and diverse literature. We were also privileged to welcome an inspiring Role Model Panel of guest speakers - John Lynch, Anita Grant, Sade Orija, J. J. Baiden-Amissah, Lyndon Lynch, and Aflo the Poet - all leaders in their fields who generously shared their experiences and insights with our students. The grand finale, our Culture Day/Wear Red Day Fashion Show, brought everyone together in a joyful celebration of identity and style, with both students and staff taking to the catwalk. Alongside the show, an international food stall featuring delicious dishes shared by members from our community. It was truly a day to remember – a wonderful celebration of the diversity, unity, and inclusivity that define our school. A huge well done and thank you to everyone who took part – and especially to Ms Parmar and Miss Dodds for all their organising!

Culture Day 2025

As part of this year’s Culture Day, the MFL department created a new display for the atrium. We asked our Stringer community - students and staff - where they originate from, and we cover a over 90 countries all around the world. It is wonderful to have a display that celebrates our heritages. The countries are listed below and we are sure there are more as we know not everyone managed to respond in time : Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,Iran ,Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine State, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Scotland, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,United States of America, Vietnam, Wales, Zimbabwe.

Anti-bullying Week 2025 Students celebrated Anti-Bullying Week with a range of activities this year. The theme was ‘Power for Good’ and we focused on the importance of using power responsibly. The definition of bullying involves a power imbalance, where one person uses their power to control or harm another. The key message for students is to understand that where we may have power and/or influence, we have a choice and responsibility to use that positively, encouraging kindness, support, and standing up for others. On Monday 10th November, staff and students were encouraged to wear odd socks to celebrate their individuality and what makes us all unique. Through the week, staff awarded stickers to students for acts of kindness to demonstrate using power for good, and form tutors delivered activities to students on other ways they can use their power for good. Assemblies throughout the week promoted this message as well. Throughout the year, kindness certificates are given out to students by Heads of Year, ensuring that the values highlighted during Anti-Bullying Week are recognised, celebrated, and embedded in our school community.

La France, here we come! In the early hours of Monday 15th December, forty of our students headed off to spend five jam-packed days in France. It was a fantastic way to finish the term! On arrival, they went straight into activities, kicking off the first day by meeting their French penpals, having ‘goûter’ – afternoon snack – together, followed by a visit to a chocolate factory. On Day 2, they returned to the French school for activities with their French penpals, had lunch at the school canteen, followed by a visit to Nausicàa (a massive sealife centre), a visit to a hypermarket, dinner in a restaurant and a game of bowling. Day 3 included a trip to a goat’s cheese farm, with demonstations and cheese tasting, and then a trip to a Christmas market. A trip to a market began the morning of Day 4, where the students were given a small budget to buy ingredients for their own lunch. They then competed in groups to prepare the ‘best’ market lunch. In the afternoon, they met up again with thier penpals for a scavenger hunt and shopping in Le Touquet, and after dinner there was a farewell party with the French students. The final day wasn’t just about travelling home, as there was a quiz with their penpals and a visit to a Boulangerie, with demonstrations before getting the ferry back home for a welldeserved Christmas holiday !

Design Museum trip The Year 11 Design and Technology trip to the Design Museum in London was an inspiring and thought-provoking experience, full of discovery and hands-on learning. Students had the opportunity to explore the museum’s permanent displays, which showcase a wide array of innovative designs that have shaped the world we live in. A highlight of the visit was the Designer Maker User gallery, where students were introduced to nearly 1,000 groundbreaking objects. This collection gave them a deeper understanding of how Designers, Manufacturers, and Users work together to influence and transform our surroundings. Throughout the day, students engaged in school-led activities designed to encourage critical thinking and creativity. These tasks challenged them to reflect on design principles, problemsolving techniques, and the role of functionality in the development of products. The activities also directly contributed to their ongoing GCSE coursework. Before heading back, students had the chance to browse the museum’s Atrium shop, offering a variety of design-led products. We hope the day was inspiring and left everyone creatively motivated and eager to apply new insights into their own designs!

Much Ado About Numbers trip On 9 October, Mr Mason and Miss McMahon accompanied a group of twenty Year 10 students to the Old Market Theatre to see Much Ado About Numbers, an engaging and interactive show by renowned author and mathematician, Rob Eastaway. The performance explored the fascinating mathematical connections between Shakespeare’s works and the world he lived in, revealing amongst other fascinating snippets, how the Tudors multiplied, and where yards and feet came from. Students and staff were invited on stage to take part in lively games and friendly competitions against other schools, making for an entertaining and memorable experience for all.

General Knowledge quiz Well done to all who took part in our school General Knowledge Quiz this term – an annual event that always sees lots of participants, staff as well as students. From the staff competitors, this year Mr Ellis deserves special mention for scoring 100%! From the students, a huge congratulations go to Diggory, Dolly, Finn and Peggy, who have earned their places in our upcoming student Mastermind competition after impressing in the general knowledge quiz! Their strong performances and confident participation set them apart, and we are delighted to see them move forward to the next stage. The finalists will now prepare to take on the challenge of answering questions on both their specialist subjects and their general knowledge when the Mastermind competition takes place in February. We wish all four competitors the very best of luck and look forward to an exciting event!

Clubs Fair In September, we hosted our annual Clubs Fair - an exciting opportunity for our Year 7 students to discover the wide range of extracurricular activities available at our school. The event allowed them to meet current club members, ask questions, and sign up for any clubs that sparked their interest. Joining a club is a fantastic way for students to explore new hobbies, develop valuable skills, and build lasting friendships - and all our internally-run clubs are free to join! A full list of our extracurricular clubs is available on the SLG

Art GCSE mock exams The first round of Year 11 mocks has produced a high standard of work this year. Over two full days, students from these two classes have worked extremely hard, and we're very proud of the dedication of our art and textile students! We look forward to seeing their creativity continue to flourish as they move into the next stage of their GCSE preparations.

Art GCSE mock exams

Art club There has been such a joyful buzz with alot of laughter in Art Club this term as students created their papiermâché food sculptures. They loved the whole process - from shaping to painting - and we are very proud of their life-like creations!

Shadric Toop Graphic Design workshop Year 10 and 11 Graphic Design Students enjoyed an inspiring talk and workshop delivered by Brightonbased Graphic Designer Shadric Toop from Toop Studios. His visit provided an exciting opportunity for our young designers to explore new ways of working and broaden their creative thinking. Shadric began with a presentation showcasing a wide range of his work. He brought along an extensive portfolio, allowing students to see the full journey of a design project - from initial doodles and sketchbook notes, through hand-rendered artwork such as lino cuts and collage, all the way to refined digital pieces. Following the presentation, students were challenged to design a music cover for a fictional band. Throughout the workshop, Shadric offered advice and individual guidance, helping students to refine their ideas and develop their visual communication skills. They will continue working on their designs in class and later send their final outcomes to Shadric for feedback. A massive thank you to Shadric for giving up his time to inspire and support our young designers. His passion and expertise made this an unforgettable learning experience.

Transition Awards Starting at secondary school can be quite daunting, which is why during the first six weeks of the year, our Year 7 students took part in a Transition Award. The purpose of this award is to help students throw themselves into life at secondary school and it looks at topics such as our school values (Creativity, Resilience and Respect), lessons and extra-curricular activities. Over the first half term, students completed activities as a form group to support their transition, as well as helping them get to know their tutor groups. This year, we also completed a similar award with Year 8 to help with the move between year groups. Feedback from our students about the Transition Award has been hugely positive. For the majority of students, it seems to have helped them settle in and feel part of the school community really quickly. At the end of the half term, all students were awarded with a certificate, achievement points and a congratulatory email home. The year group celebrated their success in form time and should be very proud of their efforts so far this year. Thank you to the Year 7 and 8 form tutors and pastoral teams for all their support over this transition period.

GCSE Results 2025 In August, we celebrated an outstanding set of results for our 2025 Year 11 cohort. We are immensely proud of their dedication and resilience throughout their five years at Dorothy Stringer. Their commitment to learning - supported by the exceptional teaching and guidance of our staff - helped make Dorothy Stringer the top-performing state school in Brighton & Hove this year. Some of this year’s highlights include: Over 80% of grades awarded were grade 4 or higher One third of all grades were grade 7 or higher 20% of students achieved 8 or more GCSEs at grade 7 or higher Over 75% of students earned two Science GCSEs at grade 4 or higher Over 60% achieved a GCSE in a language Over 90% of those taking Level 3 Additional Maths attained the top grade of A These results reflect not only the talent and hard work of our students but also the strength of our school community and the high standards we continue to uphold.

History trips In November, the History Department, (and Mr Feltham from the PE dept), took a lovely group of Year 9 students to Ypres, Belgium, to explore the battlefields and stories of the First World War. We spent two days investigating different individuals who displayed bravery and selflessness during the Great War, learned about soldiers’ leisure activities at places like Talbot House in Poperinge, and experienced the trenches firsthand, gaining a real sense of life during wartime. All of our students were exceptionally respectful and well behaved throughout the trip. A special shout out goes to Stringer’s very own World War One soldier, Jimmy M, who bravely agreed to dress up in period uniform. We also all got to witness a very special moment when Samko B, Anya S and Kayli C laid a wreath on behalf of Dorothy Stringer, in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, pausing for a moment of reflection for those who gave their lives in both World Wars. The trip concluded with a visit to a local chocolate shop, where students enjoyed choosing gifts – and plenty of treats for themselves. This enriching experience supported our Year 9 enquiry on World War One, with a special focus on women and Empire troops. We hope to return to Ypres again in 2026 for another memorable learning experience.

History trips In October, the History Department took a group of Year 8 students to explore the rich heritage of Brighton with a visit to the Royal Pavilion. We enjoyed a lovely autumnal walk there, during which all students demonstrated excellent behaviour. At the Pavilion, students heard an engaging talk on the contributions of Indian soldiers during the Great War, learning how they served on the front-line trenches in Belgium and France as part of the wider British Empire. We then explored the Pavilion itself and its gardens, where pictures, artefacts and interactive displays helped bring this aspect of history vividly to life, including the building’s role as a hospital for Indian soldiers. The students thoroughly enjoyed the day, and the trip provides a link to our Year 8 enquiries into women who challenged the patriarchy particularly our study of Sophia Duleep Singh and the British Empire and force, which students will study later in the academic year.

Geography Fieldwork This November, Year 10 geographers explored our city centre to investigate key themes relating to ‘change over time’ and ‘sphere of influence’. Prior to these trips, classes have been planning and preparing, developing their knowledge regarding the setting of a hypothesis, as well as their understanding of a variety of data collection methods and data types. In class groups, they spent a day developing their fieldwork skills by completing pedestrian and traffic surveys, land use maps and questionnaires. Back in the classroom, students will analyse the collective data and draw conclusions. They will also use secondary data to help the draw conclusions. An important part of our fieldwork scheme of work is to encourage students to think critically and evaluate their investigations, considering reliability and validity. All in all, the trip was a great opportunity for some learning outside of the classroom! Year 11 have been working hard studying Tectonics and considering how places and people can be more vulnerable to tectonic events. This has been followed by the study of Extreme Weather, leading into topical learning and future discussion about Climate Change. In addition, they have completed their first Year 11 Mock Exam and are reflecting upon revision strategies and exam skills in class with their teachers.

Student Voice beach clean This term, a group of students from the Dorothy Stringer Student Voice team spent the afternoon making a positive impact on our local environment with a beach litter-pick. Our Student Voice team, made up of 96 elected representatives from across the school, is committed to living out our school values of Creativity, Resilience and Respect through meaningful social change projects, both in school and in the wider community. This beach clean was a great first step, showcasing the enthusiasm, leadership and social responsibility of our students. The team are already planning a range of student-led initiatives throughout the year to support and uplift their communities, and we look forward to seeing what they do next!

Post-16 Evening This term, Careers@Stringer have worked hard to give Year 11 students as much access as possible to a wide range of Post-16 providers. As well as a series of assemblies—where representatives have presented about the opportunities, courses and learning environments at their colleges—we also hosted a highly successful Post-16 Progression Evening on 16 October. During the event, held in the school hall, students, parents and carers were able to circulate between information stalls and speak face-to-face with representatives from many different establishments. Providers such as BHASVIC, Varndean College, Plumpton, Newman College, DV8, Roedean, Lancing College, Brighton College and many more were present. The evening was extremely well attended and there was a real buzz in the air as students explored their options for life after Stringer. Many left with plenty to think about, and the visiting colleges were already impressed with our students. A big thank you to Mrs Lloyd and Mrs Shevlin for coordinating the evening, and to everyone involved.

Forest School After launching our Forest School last year, we were delighted to extend the programme this term so that every Year 7 student could take part. Students enjoyed a wide range of outdoor activities, including constructing shelters, navigating rope bridges, taking part in orienteering challenges and preparing a snack over the campfire. These shared experiences have proved incredibly beneficial, helping students to develop teamwork and confidence while strengthening the sense of belonging within their form groups. Thank you to our Forest School team for putting together this exciting programme for our students!

Year 7 Disco In our final week of term we held our Year 7 Winter Disco! It was lovely to see so many students on the dancefloor and we hope you all had a wonderful time! The disco was part of our Year 7 fundraising for Dolawen and we are delighted to share that we raised just over £1000! This money will go towards replacing the centre’s roof, and will ensure that Dolawen remains as a place for our students to enjoy for years to come! Thank you to Ms Dale and the Student Voice team for organising the disco, to all the staff who helped on the evening, and to our Year 10 student helpers who did a wonderful job of DJing and manning the tuck shop.

PE Autumn Term report It has been wonderful to welcome both new and returning students at the start of the academic year. Our PE and Dance extra-curricular clubs continue to be extremely well attended, with a wide range of opportunities available for absolutely everyone. Whether students wish to compete as part of our sports teams or simply stay active and enjoy being involved, there is something to suit all interests. It is fantastic to see so many students taking part in Football, Dance, Badminton, Trampolining, Swimming, Fitness, Rugby, Netball and more. Please speak to your PE teacher for further information and thank you to all students who regularly support our extra-curricular provision and those who represent the school. Netball The U12 netball team have made a near-perfect start to the season! The girls have been committed to training and games, and it is lovely to have a mix of experienced and non-experienced players joining us weekly. So far, the year 7 team have played 3 games (Cardinal Newman, Blatchington Mill and Longhill) and have won all three! The team have scored 56 goals and conceded just 9, which shows their superb attacking and defending abilities. Miss Leszniwskyj is thrilled with how the girls have started the season and is looking forward to more games and tournaments in the New Year. The U13 Netball team have also made an impressive start to the year, entering the Sisters in Sport National Shield competition and progressing confidently through the rounds. They opened with a comfortable win against Seaford College, followed by a hard-fought 28–23 victory against Claremont Fan Court School team, this was a tighter game but a pleasing win with some outstanding performances in the centre court; Ada and Grace E shooting and Evie and Skye keeping things tight in the defensive end. This took the team to the last 16 in the South where they played Reigate Grammar School, away. Stringer quickly took the lead and blew Reigate away with an emphatic 34-19 victory, taking us into the last 8 in the South where we will take on The Fitzwimarc school in Essex in the new year. They have also begun the Sussex Cup positively, winning a tight first-round match 25–20 against Brighton Girls School, and now await their next opponents in the new year. Well done to the U15 Netball team who have continued with their Stringer Netball journey. The girls have played 3 competitive games so far this year - winning one, drawing one and losing one. The girls are dedicated to their training and continue to represent the school brilliantly at fixtures. Football We are extremely fortunate at Stringer to have such strong support for girls’ football. It has been great to welcome new faces into our well-established teams, and we are very grateful for the continued support of the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation in delivering our girls’ extra-curricular provision. The U12 Girls have shown fantastic commitment this season, with many players regularly attending training and developing their skills each week whatever the weather. Their hard work paid off with an impressive 7–1 victory over Hove Park, a match that highlighted both their improving teamwork and growing confidence on the pitch.

While the team also faced two defeats, these matches offered important learning experiences. The coaches and players have been working hard to build cohesion, and it’s been great to see how the squad is really coming together. With so many enthusiastic players, giving everyone fair match time has at times been challenging, but the girls have shown maturity, support for each other, and a real team spirit, and more fixtures are planned for the New Year. The U13 Girls have had a challenging start with a County Cup defeat to Hazelwick, but they remain competitive in the Brighton League and will now compete in the County Shield. Several players are also supporting the U14s in National Cup fixtures, which will be valuable experience ahead of their own District Cup later in the year. The U14 Girls have had a very busy and successful start, competing in the ESFA National Cup, County Cup and Brighton League., and we are very much hoping that they will qualify for the Brighton District Cup as well later in the year. They progressed comfortably through the early National Cup rounds, including a 9–1 win against St Bede’s School 9-1 to progress to Round 5 and the last 32 of the competition, a terrific achievement. They now travel to Glenmoor and Winton Academies in Bournemouth for a place in the last 16. They have also reached Round 3 of the County Cup and are due to play Oathall in the New Year. We wish them all the best in their competitions in the New Year. The U16 Girls put in an impressive first display of the season with an 8-2 win against BACA in the County Cup. They wait to play the winners of Oathall and Lancing College in the next round after Christmas. They also face Longhill in the 2nd Round of the District Cup this week, so good luck to the girls.

A highly impressive start to football for the U12 Boys, with over 80 different students attending after school training on a Wednesday afternoon since September. Selecting a settled team has been difficult, and therefore performances and results have been mixed. However, the strong attendance has greatly supported these students’ integration into life at Stringer. Very good numbers and commitment to training this year so far from the U13 Boys! The A Team have had a mixed start to the season, with 1 win and 2 losses, including a narrow County Cup defeat away at Regis, however it was a very tight game which could have gone either way. We will be in the Shield competition after Christmas. The team keeps developing and getting more used to 11-a-side every game and there will be plenty of opportunities for players to show this in the upcoming games. The U14 A Boys football had a slow start to the season with the absence of Mr Schooley, however their season did get underway in the County Cup against Shoreham Academy. A close game throughout that eventually ended in defeat, however there were promising performances from a number of the team. They continue in the Sussex Shield in the New Year. They have also had a thrilling Brighton League opener against Cardinal Newman, producing an exciting 5-4 win. More league games to come. The U14 B Boys have had a mixed start in the Brighton League, losing 2 games and winning 1. There have been some very good individual performances and several players earning opportunities with the A Team.

The U15 Boys have made a solid start this year, with good numbers at training and strong league form. Following one of the team’s best performances in a 7-1 against Steyning, we have progressed into the 3rd round of the County Cup (to be played in January) where we look to beat Uckfield, who we lost to on penalties a couple of years ago. We have played 5 league games, winning three, losing one and a draw. The team has used a wide squad and shown real consistency across fixtures. A mixed start to the season so far for the U16 Boys, with decent performances not reflected in results. Early elimination from both Brighton and National cups, and a restructured league program from the BHSDA (for only Year 11's) has only added to various frustrations. On a more positive note, several players have made outstanding progress, and competition for places remains high as they look ahead to the remainder of the season. Basketball Numbers to Basketball club have been good at the start of the year with coach Tom from Brighton Cougars taking the session. There has never been more Basketball across the city to be involved in with 3v3 Tournaments for every age group and the creation of the Brighton Schools 5v5 league. The U12, U13 and U14 teams have all played in their 3v3 Tournaments, with a standout performance from the U12A Team who finished 2nd overall, a fantastic achievement. The U16s played their League fixture last week with wins against Longhill and Cardinal Newman but a defeat to Varndean. Plenty more fixtures after the break with either the 3v3 Tournaments to play in or Brighton League fixtures.

Rugby Union It has been great to welcome back students to rugby club, with many new faces attending training. The U12 Boys started the year with a friendly fixture against Patcham, and for many was their first experience of contact rugby. The boys were terrific and showed great promise with the game ending in a 10-10 draw. They recently played a very good Kings School team in the County Cup, the boys were competitive throughout and showed great progress from their first game, unfortunately the game ended in a 40-20 defeat but there were standout performances from George J, Seb C and Daire D. They play Cardinal Newman in the County Cup after Christmas. After a positive first year of rugby at Dorothy Stringer, the U13 Boys rugby team looked to go one step further this year and make the County Cup Final. Their season started with a friendly against local rivals Varndean, lots of new faces playing their first games of competitive rugby. Some good attacking play and solid defence meant the game ended in a convincing victory for Stringer. They have also had County Cup fixtures against Brighton College, Varndean and Downlands. A fantastic afternoon of rugby saw the Stringer boys beat Brighton College 25-15, beat Varndean 35-0 and draw with Downlands 0-0. These fantastic results see them top their County Cup pool and progress to the quarter finals. The U14 team have won the County Cup for two years in a row and look to continue in the same vein this season. They started the year with a friendly fixture away to Brighton College, a great experience for the boys and its great to see new faces representing the team year on year. An impressive first display saw the boys win 22-5. They have had other impressive victories in the County Cup against Patcham, winning 52-0 and against Seaford Head winning 57-0. They play Cardinal Newman in the final week of the year to see who tops their County Cup group. The boys’ entry into the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s competition is now confirmed and we look forward to taking part in March.

The U15 Boys have had a mixed start to the year, a good performance against Patcham unfortunately resulted in a narrow defeat, however, it has been great to see some new faces represent the team at the start of the year. Their County Cup journey continues in the New Year. Big thanks to those students who have played up this year and supported the U16 team in their County Cup fixtures. The U16 Boys had their first County Cup fixture against Seaford Head. A great team performance and a hat trick of tries from Freddie K saw the boys to an impressive victory. They continue in the Cup against Newman in the New Year and are also entered in the Sussex 7s competition in the Spring. The Girls Rugby squad has grown into a committed and determined group, showing real passion for the sport and a strong willingness to learn and develop each week. Their enthusiasm for matches has been clear throughout the term, and they’ve approached every training session with great energy and teamwork. We welcome any students who want to give rugby a try to come to rugby club on Tuesdays at 3.30. In their recent tournament—their first real taste of competitive rugby—the U14 girls gained invaluable experience. Although the early games tested them, they learned quickly, grew in confidence, and finished on a high by winning their final match. We hope to arrange more matches in the New Year, giving the girls further opportunities to build their skills, strengthen their game awareness, and continue their impressive growth as a team. The future looks very bright for this enthusiastic squad. Rugby League Rugby League has been developing within Schools in the Southeast and last year the U13 Boys made it into the last 16 of the National Cup. This year both the U13 and U14 boys’ teams won their area tournaments convincingly and progressed again to the London & Southeast Regional Festival. This is a day of tough competition with some of the best rugby schools from across the Southeast in attendance. The U13s, many of whom are new to Rugby League put in some impressive performances on the day, winning 3 and losing 2 of their games resulting in a final position of third, narrowly missing out at a place in the Regional Final. The U14s, however, finished the day undefeated and so progress to the Regional Final at Chiswick Rugby Club in January. The winners of this will represent the Southeast in the National Cup. Come on STRINGER!! Dance Preparations for the annual Dance Show at the Dome Theatre are well underway. Dance clubs have been well attended by students both before school, during lunchtimes and after school. Students have had the chance to participate in a range of genres and styles and are looking forward to being able to perform their pieces at the Dance Show in March. A big thank you to our amazing Dance Captains who continue to support clubs and help to develop the skills of the younger students. Table Tennis Table tennis club has been well attended since the start of the year, especially by students in KS3. We have some extremely talented young Table Tennis players at Stringer and as a result regularly do well in local, regional, and national competitions. For the first year ever, all four of our teams won the Brighton Schools Finals, the U13 Girls (Saskia, Leila and Harley), the U16 Girls (Sienna, Olive and Makia) and the U16 Boys (Ryan, Daniel, Finley and Hamza) have all progressed to the regional rounds in February. The U13 Boys (Seb, Albie, George and Sid) travelled to St Andrews Prep in Eastbourne to play in the East Sussex Finals, where they faced some very stiff competition. The boys battled well but finished 3rd, just missing out at a place in the regional round. We wish all three of our teams good luck at regionals and hope they can progress to the National Finals in Wolverhampton later in the year.

Swimming Swimming clubs since the start of the year have been well attended with many new students joining to improve their water confidence and their technique or to train to represent one of our swim teams. The first swimming event of the year starts with the Swimming Super League, this is a league made up of 27 schools, both private and state. There have been 2 rounds to date and the Dorothy Stringer students have put in some impressive team and individual swims. They have had galas at Eastbourne College and City of London Freemen’s School, placing 3rd in both. We currently sit 18th in the League table with 2 rounds of galas to complete. We next swim at Hurstpierpoint College in January in Round 3, hoping that we can maintain our league position and qualify for finals day later in the year. Athletics The Athletics season kicked off with Cross Country, and our boys' and girls' teams put in strong performances at the English Schools Cross Country Cup. In Round 1, held at Waterhall, all our teams impressed, particularly the Junior Boys and Junior Girls, who both qualified for the Regional Round. Special congratulations to Ada G in Year 7, who won her race. At the Regional Rounds at the Judd school in Tonbridge all the best qualifying schools from the Southeast were in attendance so competition was fierce, but the Junior Girls delivered an outstanding team performance, placing 3rd and qualifying for the National Round in Birmingham. Well done to Ada, Amelia, Amelie, Florence, Skye, and Madeleine on this fantastic achievement! The Sussex School Games Indoor Athletics tournament saw our Year 7 and 8 students excel, with the winning boys' and girls' teams progressing to the Sussex finals in April. The Year 7 Girls, Year 8 Girls, and Year 8 Boys all won their competitions out of 7 competing schools. Notable performances came from Ada G (fastest 6-lap time), Ben M (4-lap race winner), Marley G (2-lap race winner), and Amelia D (4-lap and 6-lap race winner). Good luck in the next round the PE department are very excited for the Summer Athletics meets with the talent on show in Dorothy Stringer. It has been a fantastic term of PE and extra-curricular sport and dance. A huge thank you to all students who continue to support our extra-curricular programme, the PE department hope to see old and new faces attending clubs in the Spring Term. Wishing all the students and their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Robbie Fitzgibbon Stringer Run In November, we held the annual Robbie Fitzgibbon Stringer Run, in honour of former Dorothy Stringer student and GB athlete Robbie Fitzgibbon. The event featured a 2km cross-country route around the school site, and this year saw over 300 Year 7 and 8 students take part, helped along by a beautifully sunny day. Congratulations to our 2025 winners: Ada G and Jack B from Year 7, and Amelia D and Jack K from Year 8. Every participant also earned valuable points for their house, contributing to the ongoing Inter House competition and the race for the Addis Shield. Well done to all involved for their enthusiasm and determination.

Dorothy Stringer Donatello Shield This term we were proud to host the second Dorothy Stringer Donatello Shield, welcoming pupils from our local primary schools for an exciting day of sport. Football and netball competitions took place at the same time, with results combined to determine the overall winner of the shield. Teams from Downs, St Luke’s and Stanford primary schools put on an excellent display, showing impressive ability, teamwork and respect for one another throughout the day. With scores so close across both sports, the competition kept everyone engaged until the end, and congratulations go to Downs for emerging as this year’s winners. A big well done to all of the pupils involved. We would also like to thank our PE department and KS4 Sports Leaders for their hard work in delivering the event, and Donatello for their continued and much-appreciated support.

Student news Abbi had a fantastic weekend at the England Classic Darts Tournament in Selsey, back in October. Showcasing her skill and determination throughout, she made it all the way to the England Classic Girls Youth Final, which was streamed live on YouTube on the Sunday evening. In the final, Abbi faced the world number one, putting up a strong and impressive performance despite missing out on the title. Her hard work and composure on stage were truly commendable. Thanks to her success at the event, Abbi is now ranked number 12 in the UK and 55 in the world - an incredible achievement that reflects her dedication and talent in the sport. Congratulations, Abbi, on your continued progress in your darts career.

The summer of 2025 has been an extraordinary one for River, filled with remarkable tennis achievements and personal growth. After winning the Storrington U14 Girls Singles ‘Play Your Way to Wimbledon’ competition and competing on the iconic Aorangi courts, River went on to have a standout performance at the Sussex County Championships, reaching two finals and earning praise for her determination and resilience. Highlights included saving multiple match points in dramatic comebacks, competing fiercely in both singles and doubles events, and earning recognition from top coach Martin Reeves, who described River as having “huge potential”, and natural power comparable to professional player Aryna Sabalenka. River also helped the U12 Girls County Cup team win Division 2 for the first time in years and has since been selected for the U14 County Training Squad. With support from the Starr Trust, The Merry Men, and the Sussex Youth Partnership, she will soon train at the JC Ferrero Academy in Spain. Well done River on all your hard work and resilience!

Positive feedback WHOLE SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FOOD BANK COLLECTION

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send us feedback and kind words this term; it is always appreciated. We've been really delighted to receive some lovely feedback from parents and carers recently, so we thought we'd share some of the comments with you. If you would like to leave us any feedback please email office@dorothy-stringer.co.uk

I just wanted to say thank you for making my son’s transition to Stringer so great; he is absolutely loving it and we have been so impressed by how engaged and confident and comfortable he is with lessons. He feels such a sense of belonging which is down to everyone there.

My children are very lucky to have been taught by so many excellent teachers, and I have been really pleased with their academic progress.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you, and all of the staff at Stringer for your hard work and dedication to the students.

We just wanted to thank all the music teachers for their incredible dedication and hard work this year. Our son has absolutely loved being in the school band. We want to convey how important it’s been for him and his development. His musical ability has grown as well as his confidence and personal happiness.

I wanted to email you regarding [my child’s form tutor]. I’m sure you’re already aware of what an incredible teacher he is. However, I just wanted to give my personal thanks, and praise, to him for what an incredible tutor he’s been for my daughter throughout her time at Dorothy Stringer.

Upcoming Key dates key dates - Spring Term

12 January 15 January 22 January 5 February 5 February 10 February 12 February 23 February – 3 March 4 March 19 March 21 March 25 March 26 March

Click here to view our Parent Key Dates booklet 2025/2026

Year 11 Help Your Child Prepare for GCSEs online presentation Year 11 Parents’ Evening - early closure 3pm Options Evening Mastermind final Year 9 Parents’ Evening - early closure 3pm Year 9 photos Year 11 photos and hoodies Year 11 mock exams Dolawen trips information webinar Year 7 Parents’ Evening - early closure 3pm Dorothy Stringer Dance Show Year 11 Virtual Parents’ Evening Spring Concert

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Share Your News We are always interested in hearing about our students’ achievements outside of school as well, and would love to celebrate them in our termly news and on social accounts. Please share them with us by emailing communications@dorothy-stringer.co.uk. Weekly News Updates Remember to keep an eye out for our weekly news update from the Headteacher in your email inbox! It can also be viewed by logging onto the SLG, where you will find it under ‘Newsletter’. Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Instagram to keep up to date with current news, school events and student achievements.

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