Dear Parents, Carers, Students, Governors, Staff and the Wider Stringer Community,
As we reach the end of another successful summer term, I hope this edition of The Stringer glimpse into life at our school. From academic accomplishments to creative and sporting tr celebrate – and I hope we ’ ve captured something of the spirit and values that define Stringe
This summer edition is filled with highlights - including classroom activities, trips, visits, an Particularly exciting was our first school musical in over a decade, Footloose, a resounding of our thriving music department, especially as we ’ ve recently been awarded Lead School s value of Creativity has really shone this term, with the wonderful GCSE Art, Photography and Textiles exhibition and a magical Lower School production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed in the woods
The commitment and enthusiasm of both students and staff continue to shape a dynamic and engaging learning environment. Our Year 11 students approached their exams with maturity and focus, and I’m confident their results will reflect their hard work. Just as impressive has been their wholehearted involvement in the extra-curricular life of the school; we wish them all the very best as they move on to sixth form and beyond
As always, the end of term brings some fond farewells. We say goodbye to a number of staff, including two longstanding colleagues who are retiring. Mr Brown, a truly inspirational coach, has been with us for 19 years, dedicating himself to nurturing sporting talent and always going above and beyond for his teams. His final season saw his team crowned league champions and winners of both the Brighton and Sussex cups – a fitting end to a remarkable career His presence at early morning football sessions and after school fixtures, as well as his trademark humour, will be greatly missed by staff and students alike
Deputy Headteacher Mrs Cumming also retires this year, after more than 24 years at Stringer. Starting as a Maths teacher, she went on to become Head of Department and later joined the leadership team. Her unwavering support for students - in the classroom, running weekend revision sessions or offering after-school help - has inspired many to pursue Maths further Her calm, strategic leadership in overseeing options, exams and timetabling for over 1,600 students has left a lasting legacy, and she will be much missed. On behalf of the whole school community, we thank Mr Brown and Mrs Cumming for their dedication, and wish them both a long and happy retirement.
We are also grateful to our parents and carers for your continued support, as well as to our wider staff and governors, whose commitment enables the school to flourish Over the summer, we’ll be improving our DT rooms, installing a new canopy area, refurbishing the sports hall floor, and fitting the unlocking stations ready for the introduction of phone pouches in the new academic year. You can see more about how the system works on our website: https://dorothy-stringer.co.uk/a-mobile-phone-free-school/
Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable summer We look forward to welcoming back current Years 7–10 in September along with our newest cohort
Matt Hillier
Dorothy Stringer open evening
Message from
Bridget Taylor
Chair of Governors
As we reach the end of another academic year it is a good time to reflect on how we are doing as a school and where our focus needs to be over the next few years.
The Governing Body met in May to spend time with the Senior Leadership Team to begin this conversation and, following that session, has set up a joint steering group to develop our teaching and learning strategy going forward. As a school we get good results, have a high retention rate amongst staff and have managed our budget well to cope with ever increasing costs. These factors are all important in running an effective organisation, but it requires continuous work to ensure that we are giving all of our students the best possible opportunity to learn and thrive whilst they are at Stringer. Our teaching and learning have to continually adapt to the range of need within our student body, with very little funding available to put more resources in where we might feel that we need it
Mr Hillier has highlighted the retirement of two senior members of staff at the end of the term. There are also some changes to the Governing Body taking place. My term as a Governor comes to an end in November, so we will be looking to elect a new Chair at our July meeting. We will also be joined in July by two newly recruited younger Governors, Alice Killip and Jessica Verdugo.
Our Clerk of 12 years, Teresa Dee, is also stepping down at that meeting. On behalf of the Governing Board, I would like to record our thanks and appreciation for all the work that Teresa has carried out in organising and supporting all the various Governor meetings and Panels. Her help to us all in fulfilling our roles effectively, given that we are all volunteers, has been invaluable. We would also like to welcome our new Clerk, Clare Doran.
Wishing you all a very good summer break.
Bridget Taylor
Yeargroup highlights - Year 11
The Year 11s have completed their final term at Stringer - and what a busy, productive and celebratory end it has been. All their hard work over the past five years came to fruition during the GCSE exam season, and we are very proud of the maturity, composure and determination they showed throughout
The exam breakfasts before whole cohort exams, with a team of teachers on hand to coach, support, and calm any last-minute nerves, were hugely well attended, a mark of the students’ determination to do their very best We have no doubt their efforts will pay off, and we look forward to welcoming them back to celebrate their achievements on Results Day on Thursday 21 August
Alongside exams, we thoroughly enjoyed celebrating the summer term with Year 11 They marked the end of their time at Stringer in style, with the key milestones of a fabulous prom and a moving Leavers’ Assembly. Prom night was a truly special occasion. Students arrived in style, looking smart, confident, and ready for their next steps. There were grand entrances, proud families, and more than a few misty eyes among staff and carers alike For a cohort who missed out on the usual transition into Year 7 due to the pandemic, this felt like a fitting and long-awaited celebration, and they made it one to remember The Leavers' Assembly was equally poignant. With heartfelt speeches from our Head Students and incredible performances from our talented Year 10 and 11 bands, it was a great celebration of what this year group has achieved They collected their yearbooks and the tradition of shirt-signing followed, with staff joining students to sign and wish them well.
Another long-standing, and much-anticipated, tradition was the staff vs Y11 students football and netball matches; bringing plenty of excitement and school spirit Both games were played with good humour, and impressive skill. In football, the students came out strong, but the staff team weren’t to be underestimated - especially when the Headteacher stole the show by scoring a memorable goal! On the netball court, the match was equally competitive, with fast-paced play and fantastic teamwork on both sides. These matches are always more than just a competition - they are a celebration of the sense of community and camaraderie that defines Stringer
Another highlight this term was the Year 11 Art Exhibition, which showcased an outstanding range of work from our Art, Photography, and Textiles students. Visitors were wowed by the professional quality and emotional depth of the work on display, and we couldn’t be prouder of the work the students produced A huge congratulations to all involved!
This year group has been a pleasure to work with and a real credit to the school as well as to their parents and carers As they now prepare for college and exciting futures ahead, we wish them all the very best for what comes next
Thank you, Year 11 - you will be missed!
Ms De Brun, Ms Smith, Mx King
Yeargroup highlights - Year 10
We’re writing to you again at the end of what has been another mammoth and whirlwind of a term - we hardly know where to begin!
First and foremost, we want to give the whole year group a well-deserved shout-out for their attitude and commitment towards the mock exams The way they rose to the challenge with maturity, hard work, and no small amount of gusto has been a joy to witness, and has made me especially proud We’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge well done to everyone.
We always say that mocks - and the results that follow - remind us why we do them: to give students a clear understanding of what revision and exams are like, and what they need to do in order to achieve the results they deserve come August 2026 We’re confident this year group will continue to rise to the challenge.
In terms of achievements, it’s been a busy and exciting term A group of students qualified as Mental Health Champions through the YMCA, another group became Roedean Scholars, several volunteered to support our Year 5 taster days, and we have now appointed our new team of Head Students Being involved in the interviews was a real honour, and witnessing the pride, commitment, work ethic, respect, creativity and resilience shown by all the candidates was amazing. It was so difficult to select a final three that we ended up with a final four - and truthfully, we could easily have chosen ten We’re very much looking forward to working with them and bringing their brilliant ideas to life
As ever, we really value communication from home Your insights help us to better support our students, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any concerns or updates. We also love hearing about achievements outside school; whether it’s playing for a professional sports club, securing a drama audition, or excelling in any other field If your child is involved in something like this, please do let us know
Of course, in a year group with over 300 students, there is always room for improvement too. We often talk about going back to basics: being in the right place at the right time, wearing the correct uniform, and treating everyone with kindness It would be a dream come true if we could strengthen this across the board, allowing us and all teachers to focus fully on the bigger picture - helping students to leave here well-rounded, well prepared for their next steps, and with an excellent set of GCSE results Your continued support in reinforcing these expectations at home is greatly appreciated
We’d like to wish you all a fantastic summer break. We’re excited to begin Year 11 with such a brilliant group of students Get some rest, have some fun, and come back ready to do yourselves, and us, proud
Mr Haddington and Miss Dodds
Yeargroup highlights - Year 9
As the long sunny days continue, our Year 9 students bring their Key Stage 3 journey to a close with real energy and flair It has been a pleasure to see them grow in confidence, maturity, and ambition throughout the year Now, with GCSE options chosen and Year 10 on the horizon, we look ahead to the exciting challenges of Key Stage 4.
Our students are already laying strong foundations for future success. The positive habits and high standards they are developing have been frequently recognised by staff, and it’s clear they are approaching this transition with a commendable sense of purpose I am very much looking forward to seeing the responsibility and resilience that I know they will continue to demonstrate as they move into the next phase of their education.
We also recognise that school life isn’t always straightforward for everyone, and we encourage all students to make use of the support available. The Pastoral Team, form tutors, Miss Alderson, Mr Harvey and myself, are always here to listen and help with any concerns
This term, we’ve enjoyed celebrating a wide range of student achievements. Many Year 9s have been recognised for demonstrating our school values of creativity, resilience, and respect Our popular Cake Days have continued to shine a spotlight on those making a positive impact within their tutor groups. Earlier in the term, we also held our annual awards ceremony, and it was wonderful to see so many of our students recognised for their hard work and contribution to school life
Well done to all of Year 9! I wish you and your families a restful, enjoyable summer break, and I look forward to welcoming everyone back in September, refreshed and ready for the exciting journey ahead in Key Stage 4
Mr Shilladay
Yeargroup highlights - Year 8
As we reach the end of a fantastic term, it’s a pleasure to reflect on the many achievements of our Year 8 students Their talent, enthusiasm and commitment across all areas of school life have been outstanding, and we are incredibly proud of them.
Sport has been a real highlight, with Year 8 students excelling in a range of events. Our Year 8 students dominated the recent Junior Town Sports, taking first place, and a special shoutout goes to Eddie S for earning the accolade for 'Best Male Performance of the Day ' Our boys’ and girls’ cricket teams enjoyed successful seasons, showing great teamwork and sportsmanship. Not to be outdone, our beach volleyball team claimed victory for the second year in a row at the Brighton and Hove Beach Volleyball competition – a fantastic achievement.
In the performing arts, at the time of writing, rehearsals for Footloose are well underway! and the energy and talent on display have been inspiring – it’s shaping up to be a brilliant show and I've loved popping in to rehearsals to see how talented our students are! Congratulations also to those Year 8s involved in the wonderful production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream – your creativity and hard work really shone through
This term, our students have also embraced the new RESET procedure remarkably well, resulting in a noticeable improvement in their Attitudes to Learning (AtL) It's heartening to see students engaging so positively and taking real ownership of their learning.
A group of students enjoyed a Geography field trip to the Wetland Centre in Arundel, gaining valuable hands-on experience and a deeper appreciation of the natural world – a fantastic opportunity to bring their classroom learning to life
We also enjoyed celebrating students’ successes at our annual Student Awards Ceremony, where families joined us to recognise both subject and form-time achievements. It was a joyful occasion, recognising nominees for both form time and subject awards. Seeing the pride on parents' faces was lovely and I knew the children were proud to be there too
Finally, thank you to all who attended Year 8 Parents’ Evening It was a real pleasure to meet so many of you and share in your children’s progress. We wish you a lovely summer and hope that all students come back refreshed and ready for another successful year.
Miss Leszniwskyj and Mr Harvey
Yeargroup highlights - Year 7
Congratulations to the Year 7 cohort!! They have almost finished their first year at secondary school and when we welcome Year 6 in for their transition day they will no longer be the youngest in the school The Year 6s will look to them to share their experiences and wisdom gained this year Ms Parmar and I have been so proud of the way that Year 7 have embraced school life, both in the classroom and also in participating in all the extra-curricular activities.
Notably this term we have had the Dolawen trips running and it has been wonderful to hear all the stories about the derring-do activities that took place up a mountain or down in the depths of a gorge Most groups have been lucky with the weather and for some an icy dip in the lake outside the accommodation has been on the cards. A massive thank you to all their tutors and the staff who have accompanied the trips this year, the trips would not happen without them volunteering
The Geography Department were impressed with the Year 7 behaviour on the Preston Park trip over two days this term What a wonderful experience exploring a natural local resource to help enhance their learning. It was also a great opportunity for tutors to spend some time with their tutor group in a beautiful setting. Thank you to all who participated.
The 'Stringer Scorers' won the trophy at the Sussex Schools FA ground in Lancing, despite the rain showers We cheered them on to victory - the same night as Spurs won the Europa cup in Bilbao It is not often that two of my teams win silverware on the same night! Our athletics teams have sailed through all the local and regional competitions and are reigning champions. The cricket teams have been inspired by Ben Duckett and have had some brilliant matches too Sports Day is on the horizon and I am sure that we will have some record breakers this year - the tutor groups and peer mentors have been hard at work making banners for their houses Thank you also to the Year 10 peer mentors who have supported our tutor groups each Thursday for the past year - we wish them well in their final year here.
A massive congratulations to the Year 7 actors who performed 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in the woods last week - not only for a public performance on Friday evening but also four matinees in front of their cohort It is no mean feat to act in front of your peers and they did so with aplomb The Year 7 audiences were entranced and respectful throughout. Just the performance of 'Footloose' from the Music Dept to go this year - break a leg to the Year 7s performing in that production.
Finally, I would like to thank you, the parents and carers, for your support throughout this first year Ms Parmar and I recognise that the shift from primary to secondary is huge and it is not just the students who have to adjust. It is always a pleasure to meet you and we look forward to getting to know you better throughout the next four years. We hope you have a wonderful summer break with your children and look forward to welcoming them back as Year 8s in September
Miss Poole and Ms Parmar
Fundraising
We were thrilled to run our very first online raffle at Dorothy Stringer this term, and what a success it was! Thanks to our community’s incredible support, we raised an amazing £1,663!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who bought a ticket – we hope our lucky winners are enjoying their prizes
We’re also incredibly grateful to our wonderful parents and local businesses for their generous prize donations We had a fantastic range of prizes up for grabs thanks to you
Check out the fantastic businesses who supported our raffle below!
If you’d like to further support our fundraising, we invite you to help by making a regular or one-time donation Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant difference You can download our Gift Aid Form here and return it to office@dorothy-stringer.co.uk FAO Sarah Norris, Finance Manager Alternatively, you can donate to The Dorothy Stringer School Fund via the PayPal link on our fundraising page.
Fundraising - Bake Off
At Dorothy Stringer, if there’s one thing we love, it’s a good bake sale – and this term, we took it to the next level with our very own in-school Bake Off competition! The event was part of our fundraising efforts to support our lunchtime provision, and it was a huge success.
We had an amazing time creating our showstopper bakes and were blown away by the talent on display. The standard was incredibly high - we only wish we could have tasted every single cake!
A huge well done to everyone who took part, and congratulations to Evie, Haridu and Eliza for being crowned our winners!
Thank you to everyone who supported us by buying cakes on the final day of term - we’ll share the total amount raised next term!
Lower School Production
This term a small cast of Year 7, 8 and 9s spent many evenings in the woods, rehearsing for the Lower School Production. A trimmed version of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ to make it shorter, sharper and accessible to an audience of all ages. The beautiful language remained with all its poetry, humour and wonderwith the ensemble showing a thorough understanding of Shakespeare's syntax and wit. We are beyond proud of their resilience and creativity in creating an engaging, dynamic performance that brought to life, the world of Elizabethan Theatre. A truly special experience that we know will stay with these students for years to come!
Footloose
We were delighted to present Footloose this term, Dorothy Stringer’s first musical theatre production in over 10 years!
Featuring an ensemble of over 50 of our students, Footloose told the tale of Ren McCormack (Phoenix B) moving from Chicago to small-town Bomont, where the change in pace and atmosphere is hard to accept. Ren’s rebellious ways get him onto the wrong side of preacher Reverend Moore (Hiro H) – but will his daughter Ariel (Mabel L) feel as horrified of his rebellious ways? In a town where dancing is illegal, will Ren be able to convince his newfound friend, Willard (Harriet H) that there is something worth fighting for – or will he be forced to settle down to a quiet life in Bomont?
Filled to the brim with hilarity, heartbreak, romance and jeopardy – the songs had us tapping our feet and the dancing was simply criminal!
A huge thank you to our director Jesinta Murphy and our incredible Music department for all of their hard work, as well as the cast, crew and everyone backstage. Footloose was an absolute triumph and we can’t wait for our next musical!
Sussex Music Hub
We are delighted to share that Dorothy Stringer is now a member of the Sussex Music Hub Lead Schools for Music: Development Group!
The aim of this group is to enhance collaboration with all primary, secondary, and special schools across the region, shaping the development of our Local Plan for Music Education by providing strategic input, sharing best practice, and supporting the design and delivery of programmes for schools.
Together, group members will collaborate with schools across the region, Sussex Music Hub and hub partners to co-develop CPD opportunities, local projects and peer support; and to collectively advocate for high-quality music education.
We look forward to working together with local schools to develop Music education across our local area!
Y10 artist visit
In May, our Year 10 Fine Art and Graphics students were visited by renowned artist Carne Griffith. Carne spoke to our students about his artwork and journey to becoming an illustrator with worldwide exhibitions. He also led a workshop with our students, guiding them through the techniques that he uses in his work Thank you so much to Carne for visiting us – our students and staff were truly inspired!
Children’s Parade
On 3 May, Dorothy Stringer proudly took part in the Brighton Children's Parade, one of the city’s most loved annual events.
The Art department wowed the crowds with a stunning display, showcasing the incredible talent and hard work of our students and staff, and our fantastic samba band brought rhythm and energy to the streets.
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who made the day such a success. Special thanks to Ms De Brun and Ms Shevlin for joining us on the parade, and to Ms Brown and Ms Wass for their outstanding organisation. A big shout-out as well to Ms Dale for expertly driving the lorry!
It was a wonderful day of community, creativity, and celebration - a great testament to the talent and teamwork at Dorothy Stringer.
Photography Competition 2025
We were excited to announce the winners of our 2025 Photography Competition in the final week of term. Once again, the entries displayed an impressive range of styles and creativity, and we were amazed by the overall quality of the work. This year’s winners were awarded a framed print of their photo, along with a custom tote bag featuring their winning image. We’d like to thank everyone for their submissions and congratulate our winners and runners up!
The full list of winners are:
Animals and Nature
Winner: Adrian G-S
Runner up: Foster centre students
Black and White
Winner: Charlie F
Runner up: Mateo C
Brighton and Hove
Winner: Alfie O M
Runner up: Tyson E
Colour
Winner: Sofia C
Runner up: Edith W
Magical Places
Winner: Olivia S
Runner up: Ben B
Shape + Structure
Winner: Daisy T
Runner up: Betty W
Ben B
Foster Centre
Edith W
Betty W
Tyson E
Matteo C
Photography Competition 2025
Adrian G-S
Charlie F
Olivia S
Sofia C
Alfie O M Daisy T
Royal Academy Young Artist’s Summer Show
We are delighted to share that Dorothy Stringer will be represented at the Royal Academy Young Artist’s Summer Show for the third year in a row! This year Woody and Ammar will see their artwork included in the show, which runs from 17 July – 10 August
Woody’s work will be featured in the online exhibition and at the Royal Academy. His work is entitled Teatime and features guinea pigs Wavy and Buttercup.
Meet Wavy and Buttercup They were the first pets I can remember and they needed a new home so we decided they could come and live with us I like the way they sometimes eat the same dandelion leaf together. This drawing captures them at their happiest.... when they are eating!
Ammar’s artwork will be featured in the online exhibition and is entitled Bright Brighton.
In my piece I have tried to showcase the colour and excitement of living in Brighton with a different colour on each storefront to show the quirky charm of the North Laine
MFL GCSEs
We are proud to have a growing multilingual community in our school and I wanted to acknowledge the hard work and efforts put in by both our multilingual students and Ms Meyer. This year she has mentored and guided nearly 30 students throughout the year, and they have all taken a GCSE in their mother tongue. This year, students at Stringer have taken GCSE exams in 13 different languages: French, Spanish, German, Italian, Polish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Turkish, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Persian and Portuguese.
Some of our students have had to learn English in order to access their education at Stringer We are very fortunate to have a fantastic team of teachers and support staff who work closely with our multilingual students to help ensure they get the most out of their time here. So, another big thank you goes to them too!
For many years we have encouraged our multilingual students to take GCSEs in their Mother Language. None of this would be possible without the help of the wider Stringer community. Thank you to staff, present and past, and parents who have given up their time to help with the speaking exams, without their generosity we would not be able to offer this opportunity to so many students.
If your child has a good level of fluency in a language other than English and you would like them to be considered for a GCSE in that language, please contact me so we can look into it. Additionally, if you speak another language other than English and would be prepared to conduct speaking exams in your language in the future, please contact me. (rvt@dorothystringer.co.uk).
Rachel Revéreault, Head of Modern Languages
Maths challenge
On 1st May, all students in our Newton and Ursell classes across Years 7 and 8 took part in the Junior Maths Challenge. The students approached the day with great enthusiasm and focus, demonstrating resilience and determination as they tackled a range of challenging problems – working hard right up to the final moments.
Well done especially to our Year 7 students, many of whom experienced exam conditions for the very first time They rose to the occasion admirably, and we are extremely proud of their efforts.
We are delighted to share that our students achieved some outstanding results:
56 Bronze Awards
37 Silver Awards
12 Gold Awards
Congratulations to Benjamin P and Max S M who achieved joint Best in School, and to Jack S, who was awarded Best in Year 7! We are also thrilled that seven students have qualified for the next round of the competition. We wish them the very best of luck and look forward to seeing how they progress.
The day was a great success, and students left with a strong sense of accomplishment. Well done to all who took part - you should be very proud of your hard work and achievements.
Maclaurin Mathematical Olympiad Achievement
Congratulations also to Kit R, who earned a Bronze Award in the Maclaurin Mathematical Olympiad – this is a an extremely challenging paper reserved for the topperforming students nationally, and Kit is the first student in several years from Dorothy Stringer to reach this level
Well done Kit!
BEBRAS Physics Olympiad
A number of our students have recently taken part in a coding challenge, a follow up to the Bebras Challenge.
Seven of our students achieved maximum scores in the challenge, and a further two students also managed to achieve a Gold Award!
Very well done to Year 7 students Alex, Tom, Jonas, Edrees and Lukas, as well as Year 8 students Mia, Sonny, John, and Max.
This was the first time that we have taken part in this challenge, so we were delighted that so many of our students enjoyed taking part and achieved such high scores.
Eight of our Year 10 students recently took part in the British Physics Olympiad Junior Challenge. This is a national competition designed to encourage the enjoyment of solving physics problems and involved completing two 25-minute online test papers after school. The questions tested their application of knowledge from the Science curriculum and beyond.
Six of the students scored above the national average, and all achieved an award: 2 Bronze, 4 Silver, and congratulations to Alfie and Emeric who were awarded the Gold award! Well done to all who participated.
Young Speakers Challenge
Congratulations to Polina, our finalist in the Brighton & Hove Young Speakers Challenge. The final took place back in April and it was an extremely tough competition, with hundreds of spectators in attendance Despite this, Polina gave an absolutely incredible speech and placed second in the competition!
Well done Polina, we are all incredibly proud! Well done also to all our other students who took part in the Young Speakers Challenge and thank you for coming to support Polina on the evening, it was lovely to see all of you there A huge thank you to Mr Buchan and Ms McMahon for supporting Polina with her speech. Well done all!
Cyber Explorers Cup
On 1st April some of our Year 9 Students entered the Cyber Explorers Cup to compete against 498 other teams in the UK. This is the first time Dorothy Stringer has entered a team into the competition Sylvie, Harvey, Mathias and Noah teamed up to represent Stringer and solve cyber security puzzles in a race against the clock. They managed to finish in the top 20%, placing 86th with a score of 412. Congratulations to the team for doing so well!
Elle Dillon Reams visit
On 23rd April (fittingly Shakespeare’s birthday!), we were delighted to welcome an alumnus of Dorothy Stringer to the stage in the Middleton Theatre: the poet, actor, writer and performance artist Elle Dillon-Reams. Elle was in the middle of her one-woman tour and performed a selection of her thought-provoking, funny and moving poetry for an engaged and awed Year 10 audience.
Elle also spoke of her time at Stringer and paid tribute to her English teacher, Ms Richards, for initiating her life-long love of poetry, and to Ms Uren and Ms Ettinger for encouraging her to perform, starting her on a successful and rewarding career path She stayed to talk to students afterwards and signed copies of her poetry collection, Maladaptive.
Thanks for dropping in, Elle!
Y10 Geography fieldwork
This May, Year 10 geographers got out in the field to investigate how the discharge (volume of water) of the river changes over time. Over the course of 5 days, the different classes measured the width and depth of the channel, they then measured the surface speed of the water and used this to calculate the overall discharge. Back in the classroom, students will analyse the collective data to see how the river discharge changes day to day. They will use secondary data such as rainfall volumes and historic discharge records to look at how the river discharge is influenced by the weather and any human interference.
The river we used for our investigations was the River Cuckmere, an iconic river in the Sussex landscape. Surrounded by chalk hills and pasture, the site is a great place to explore the interplay of geology and land use in the context of river discharge and flooding/flood management. It was great for the students to learn a little more about the area they live in and to be able to admire local landscapes, not only for their aesthetics but for the underlying processes that have shaped them over millions of years.
Many students were brave enough to get into the water:
Students measuring the width of the river, to enable them to determine the cross-sectional area of the channel.
Y7 Geography fieldwork
Year 7 geographers took half a day off timetable to take part in a series of fieldwork activities around Preston Park. The students took part in an orienteering exercise where they competed against other teams to locate a series of key words that were hidden throughout the park. This activity aims to develop their map reading skills within a familiar area and practice navigation between different locations, as well as working together as a team.
The students took in the Rose Gardens and wrote Haikus centred around what they were experiencing on a sensory level, encouraging creativity and a mindful attitude towards the natural environment. We also took time to investigate the pond and look at what is below the surface
Finally, the students conducted a traffic survey, looking at the different types of transport and numbers of vehicles on the road to develop their data collection techniques. Back in the classroom students will evaluate the experience and interpret the data they have collected. The students worked extremely well and enjoyed learning more about both the physical and human geography of their local area; it was a lovely opportunity for them to thrive outside of the classroom environment and get back into nature.
Ducklings
The Science department welcomed some adorable new arrivals this term – a brand new brood of ducklings! Following the successful hatching of Quark, Beaker, and Cress last year, we were excited to meet our newest feathered friends. We asked our students to help name them, and they came up with some fantastic suggestions. After much deliberation, we finally chose the names: Chip, Muesli, Quackamole, and Jean.
Here they are enjoying their very first trip to the pond! Following a successful hatching, we will be saying farewell to the ducklings soon as they head off to their home on the farm.
Eco news
Well done to our Stringer Climate Leaders who met with the Brighton & Hove transport team this term.
They took part in a thoughtful and in-depth discussion about the city’s future transport plans, ahead of the launch of the public transport consultation at the Jubilee Gallery on 1st July.
It’s fantastic to see our students actively engaging in important conversations and making their voices heard in shaping the future of Brighton & Hove.
In other news, our Butterfly Haven has set a new record! This term we had the first sighting this year of the Small Skipper butterfly in Sussex and the earliest ever recorded sighting in Sussex.
This is testament to the welcoming environment that has been created for butterflies in our haven. Thank you to everyone who gives up their time to make this possible.
Photo credit: Tony Gould, Friends of the Liz Williams Butterfly Haven
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Congratulations to our Year 9 students, who this term rose to the challenge of not one, but two expedition weekends as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.
Both expeditions took place in exceptionally hot weather, but our students coped admirably - supporting one another, showing maturity in managing the conditions, and doing it all with smiles on their faces. Their resilience and teamwork were outstanding, and they’ve certainly made memories that will last for years to come.
We were incredibly impressed by their determination and commitment. Students should feel very proud of their effortsnot just during the expeditions, but across all areas of the award. It’s been wonderful to see the variety of activities they’ve taken on in the volunteering, physical and skills sections too.
With over 150 students in Year 9 currently enrolled on the Bronze Award - and more than 200 in Years 10 and 11 - the programme continues to thrive. We look forward to welcoming our new Year 9 cohort (current Year 8s) in the autumn term, so please keep an eye out for further details.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a truly life-changing opportunity. Open to all young people aged 14–24, doing their ‘D of E’ is a brilliant way for students to discover just how much they are capable of. It gives them a chance to make new friends, follow their passions, learn new skills and make a difference to their community. It is a non-competitive and powerful way for every young person to build belief in themselves, whatever their background, interests and abilities - and it’s a fantastic way to stand out to future employers too.
For further info please visit our DofE page: https://dorothystringer.co.uk/duke-of-edinburgh/
Mrs Welsh & Mr Freeman DofE Co-ordinators
PE Summer Term report
The summer term at Dorothy Stringer has been full of energy and enthusiasm in PE and Sport! It's been a joy to see how much the students have loved getting involved and competing in a variety of sports, and the staff had just as much fun as the students! This term, we've had a great mix of activities, including Athletics, Cricket and Rounders, as well as our annual Sports Day
Alongside our curriculum sports, students had the opportunity to represent the school in a number of competitive fixtures, enjoying tremendous success. We now look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 cohort in September, creating new teams, embracing new opportunities, and returning to our much-loved Winter Sports.
Netball
Our U12 Girls Netball team enjoyed a brilliant debut season, winning the Brighton and Hove Schools Netball Tournament and progressing to the Sussex State Schools Finals. They made a strong start, winning three matches and facing some tough opposition, ultimately finishing a superb third overall – a fantastic achievement.
The team has gone from strength to strength throughout the year, and we’re excited to see what lies ahead for them next season. Outstanding performances from Grace F in the centre, great shooting from Grace E and Layla while Evie kept it strong in defence.
Football
The U12 Girls finished a fantastic first season of football at Stringer by playing Patcham in the District Cup Final at Lancing. Despite missing a few regulars, the girls showed great determination and delivered an outstanding team performance to win the game 6-2 and lift the cup in their first season. Player of the match was Lema Q with 4 goals, Mr Feltham is already looking forward to next season and seeing what the girls can achieve next year
The U16 Boys team were chasing a historic treble, having already secured the league title earlier in the year This term saw them play in the County Cup and District Cup Finals. A 3-0 win against Steyning Grammar saw them lift the County Cup so the season treble all hung on the District Cup final against Blatchington Mill. A hard fought contest saw the game finish 0-0 but a crucial Jake R save in the penalty shootout sealed the win. A fantastic final season of football from these young men, and Mr Brown – along with the entire PE Department – could not be prouder of all they’ve achieved.
Rugby League
The Year 7 Boys Rugby team competed in The Sussex Schools Rugby League 9s competition. A new rugby experience for all our students but some excellent rugby played. Narrow victories against St Oscar Romero and Cardinal Newman saw them face Newman again in the final. A close contest ended with a Dorothy Stringer win by just one try and so they were crowned Sussex RL 9s champions for 2025. This saw them progress to the Southern Schools Finals at Hemel Stags Rugby League Club, but unfortunately this tournament had to be cancelled.
Our Year 8 boys, reigning Sussex champions from last year, returned determined to retain their title – and did so in style. Convincing wins over St Oscar Romero, Lewes Priory, and Cardinal Newman earned them a place at the Southern Finals in Hemel. Despite extreme conditions – sweltering heat followed by torrential rain – the boys displayed outstanding teamwork and resilience. In a dominant final, they defeated Cleves School 32–0 with a performance that was both disciplined in defence and electric in attack. A true team effort, capped by Barley G being named Player of the Tournament. An incredible achievement – well done, boys!
Cricket
The U12 Boys and the U12 Girls teams travelled to Blatchington Mill to play in the Brighton Schools Street20 Competition - a fastpaced format where everyone bats, bowls and fields. Both teams played with great energy and team spirit. It was particularly rewarding to see several students trying cricket for the first time. The U12 Girls finished in 1st place, with Grace E named Player of the Tournament, while the Boys came 2nd, with Ted G also earning Player of the Tournament.
The U13 Boys made a strong start to their County Cup campaign with a convincing victory against Downlands; both Magnus B and Beau H scored 25 retired and Ben P bowled a wicket maiden. Unfortunately, we were knocked out in the next round to a strong Warden Park side, but the boys bounced back well in the Brighton Schools League with a victory against rivals Varndean, including a standout spell from Eyaan K (3 for 9). Over 20 students represented the team this year, a great sign of growing participation and development.
The U15 Boys cricket team showed great commitment and flexibility competing across the National Cup, County Cup, and Brighton Schools League. Although we lost our opening game to a strong Bedes side, the team responded well with wins over Patcham and Varndean. Competitive, supportive, and always up for the challenge – it’s been a pleasure to watch them grow as a squad. The team have worked well together, playing competitively but not forgetting to have fun and enjoy themselves. Thanks boys!
It has also been great to see some new faces joining the U15 Girls team this year alongside those who have been involved over the past few years. The girls have made noticeable progress (hitting more 4s and 6s than in the last two years combined!) After a tough start, they showed real determination with narrow losses followed by well-earned victories later in the season. A huge thank you to all who took part and to those who stepped up at the last minute to ensure games could go ahead – your commitment really made the difference.
Athletics
It’s been a packed and exciting summer term for Athletics at Stringer, with students taking part in a wide range of events including Junior and Senior Town Sports, Year 7–9 Super 6s, District Trials, and of course, our much-anticipated Sports Day. It’s also been brilliant to see Athletics Club growing in popularity, offering students the chance to develop new skills and be considered for team selection.
At Junior Town Sports, our Year 7 and 8 team achieved a fantastic overall 1st place finish. There were some great individual performances, lots of students too gold in their disciplines, Evie P and Max C in the 75m hurdles, Millie JW in the 300m, Jack B in the 800m and both the Year 7 Girls and Year 8 Boys took 1st in the 4x100m relay. Special mention goes to Eddie S who won Best Male Performance of the Day for his win in the 100m.
Senior Town Sports was another superb event, with strong performances across the board leading to a 3rd place overall for XX. Special congratulations to Louis A, who set a new Senior 300m record of 38.5s, and Jaiten B, who broke the Triple Jump record with a leap of 11.49m. Both have qualified for the English Schools Championships later this summer – a fantastic achievement.
The Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 Super 6 events were a lot of fun, mixed teams of six boys and six girls representing each year group. The Year 9s finished 5th overall with several solid individual performances. Year 8s secured an excellent 2nd place, with standout wins from Eddie S (100m), Stella G (800m), and Beau H (200m).
It was the Year 7 team, however, who truly stole the show. With incredible performances including Amelia D winning the 800m, Anthony D taking first in the Long Jump, and both boys’ and girls’ relay teams storming to victory in the 4x100m, they claimed 1st place overall –and went on to be crowned Sussex School Games Champions at the K2. An extraordinary result from a hugely talented group – we can’t wait to see how they progress in the coming years.
Sports Day
Monday 7 July saw the annual Dorothy Stringer Sports Day take place at Withdean Stadium for all KS3 students. A wet and gloomy start didn’t dampen spirits on the day and the sun finally shone through. Over 500 students proudly represented their form groups across a range of events, all striving to win valuable points towards the coveted Addis Shield
It was a day of both participation and performance, with 11 school records broken. Highlights included Rosco J smashing the Year 9 Boys’ 100m record, Stella G setting a new Year 8 Girls’ 800m record, and Louis A breaking the Year 9 Boys’ 200m record. A huge well done to all students who competed, and thank you to the staff, Sports Captains and Withdean Stadium for helping make the event such a success.
Congratulations to 7RDS, 8WEB, and 9MFT for winning their year group competitions—and a special mention to Beaconsfield House, proud winners of the Addis Shield for 2025!
Sports Captains
We are very proud of our Sports Captain programme here and the many opportunities it provides for student leadership, thanks to strong links within our local community.
This term, 20 enthusiastic Year 9 students were selected as our new Sports Captains following a successful application process They’ve already made a fantastic start supporting events such as a Primary Athletics meet at Withdean, a local Primary Sports Day, and the KS2 Swimming Galas at Prince Regent We’re excited to see them grow into their roles in Year 10
Our current Year 10 Sports Captains have also continued to show their commitment, even through Mock exams, and represented the school brilliantly at a Cricket DiscoverABILITY event where they worked with children and adults with disabilities and at a KS2 School Games Netball Finals where they umpired and officiated the event fantastically, receiving high praise for their professionalism and positivity
Sadly, we say goodbye this year to our Year 11 Sports Captains who have helped and supported the PE department with multiple events in their 2 years in the role It was great to celebrate and say THANK YOU with them all with an afternoon of Beach Volleyball at Yellowave They have been a credit to themselves and the school and will be missed We also want to share just a few comments from partner schools that highlight the impact our Sports Captains have had this term:
“The Netball Leaders from Dorothy Stringer have been fantastic ambassadors for Dorothy Stringer, working with over 29 B&H primary schools and enabling 350-year 5/6 students to take part in primary netball tournaments. The event yesterday involved schools from across Sussex and I've received this morning 2 lovely emails from schools saying how brilliant the girls were umpiring and supporting the students yesterday.”
“Dorothy Stringer provided over 20 leaders on Wednesday and Thursday this week who were just fantastic! They were all great ambassadors for the school and many primary school teachers commented how helpful and supportive the leaders were with their students I really appreciate all of the support from the Dorothy Stringer PE department not just with this event but many throughout the year, so thank you again.”
“Just to say the Sports Leaders this afternoon were OUTSTANDING! I could have left them to run it all by themselves! �� They are a real credit to Stringer.”
Thanks to all involved!
Staff vs Students
Congratulations to all staff who participated in staff sports events this year To see the Year 11s off, staff participated in a Staff V Student Netball and Football game The Year 11s put up a good fight in the netball game, but in the end the staff took the win 15-6 In the Football match, the Year 11's rotated three separate squads and after goals from Mr Hillier and Mr Haggart, the score ended in a very fair 2-2 draw
Finally, well done and thank you to all 28 staff who put themselves forward for the staff relay at Sports Day A convincing win from Mr Baker, Dr Smith, Miss Leszniwskyj and Mr Keast saw them crowned the 2025 champions - thank you to all of the students who clapped and cheered to show their support on the day!
PE, Sport and Dance Awards @ Donatello
Our annual PE, Sport and Dance Awards Evenings at Donatello were a wonderful way to celebrate an amazing year of student success With students from Years 7 to 10 in attendance, the evenings were full of laughter, memories, and welldeserved recognition
A huge congratulations to our Sports Star of the Year winners:
Year 7: Amelia D & Marley Y
Year 8: Stella G & Jimmy M
Year 9: Ndana L & Louis A
Year 10: Isla G & Fynn P-J
Well done to all of our award winners -you should be incredibly proud And a big thank you to Donatello for generously hosting the evenings and for their continued support and sponsorship of the PE Department
Looking ahead
A big shout-out to all the students who have participated in the PE department's extracurricular activities this year! Your enthusiasm has been incredible. Looking ahead, we're eager to expand on what we've already offered and introduce some fresh, exciting opportunities for next year (so watch this space). We can’t wait to welcome everyone back in September including some fresh faces and to build on this year’s momentum. Until then, have a well-deserved and restful summer. t, and Dance at Dorothy Stringer!
Dolawen 2025
As we come to the end of another year, we also come to the end of another fantastic run of Dolawen trips!
Year 7 trips to our outdoor centre, Dolawen, offer Dorothy Stringer students a fantastic opportunity to challenge themselves in a supportive environment. Through a range of outdoor activities, students build confidence, develop resilience, and strengthen friendships. The experience fosters teamwork, independence, and a true sense of adventure - helping students grow both personally and socially as they begin their journey at secondary school.
For many of our Year 7 students, Dolawen is a true rite of passage, and our Summer Term Stringer Press wouldn’t feel complete without showcasing a selection of photos capturing some of their many adventures - scaling mountains, exploring gorges, or simply enjoying evenings along the stunning Welsh coastline.
A huge well done to all the students who took part this year for making it such a success, and a big thank you to our staff and instructors for helping our students create memories they’ll cherish forever!
If you'd like to help ensure Dolawen remains a special place for our students and others to explore, please consider supporting the Dolawen Charitable Trust. Your donation will go towards our current project to replace the roof at Dolawen.
You can make a one-off payment or set up regular donations by completing the Dolawen Gift Aid form and returning it to accounts@dorothy-stringer.co.uk FAO Sarah Norris. Alternatively, donations can be made via the PayPal link on this webpage.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Dolawen 2025
Dolawen 2025
Dolawen 2025
Enrichment Week
Enrichment Week has once again been a highlight of our Summer term!
It’s a fantastic chance for our lower school students to step outside their comfort zones, try something new, and build friendships along the way. This year was no exception - the week was as exciting and diverse as ever
Students took part in a wide range of activities, including for example: creative writing, graffiti workshops, water sports, Marvel Academy, silversmithing, stadium tours, war gaming, and outdoor adventure and camping at Blacklands Farm.
We’re incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and energy our students brought to every activity. A huge thank you to all the staff who supported throughout the week - and a special shoutout to the Enrichment Week team for making it all happen Well done, everyone!
Enrichment Week
Year 6 Transition Day
We had a fantastic time welcoming next year’s Year 7 students to Dorothy Stringer on Friday, 4 July. It was a great opportunity to meet everyone, show the new students around the school site, and give them a sneak peek of what’s in store next year with some exciting taster lessons. To top it off, we treated them to a delicious fish and chip lunch, which was a big hit! We hope you all enjoyed your day with us and are now even more excited to join us in September!
Have a great summer ��
Year 6 students, look out for a postcard heading your way this Summer!
Year 5 Outreach Days
This term, we were pleased to host Year 5 classes from Balfour Primary for our Outreach Mornings at Dorothy Stringer.
The sessions kicked off with a fun mystery — the case of the missing tombola — which led students through a series of engaging, clue-based activities. Working in groups, they took part in interactive lessons led by our Science, English, and Maths departments, piecing together evidence to solve the puzzle.
After some excellent detective work, the mystery was solved: Ms Dale, Miss Taylor, and our school dog Broccoli were revealed as the culprits! Well done to the students for cracking the case.
A huge thank you to our Year 10 peer mentors, whose support helped everything run smoothly and made our guests feel welcome.
To wrap up each morning, three names were drawn from the returned tombola, and the winners received Dorothy Stringer tote bags filled with mystery prizes - a perfect end to the day
We were also delighted to welcome some of Balfour’s Year 5 students to a fun event in our library this half term. The students had a great time trying to free Dobby in our Hogwarts-themed escape room, run by Mrs Bowen!
We hope our Balfour visitors had a great experience and look forward to seeing many of them again at our Open Evening in September. Many thanks to all staff who helped make both events such a success.
Student news
Well done to Evie P and Grace F who recently took part in the London Pulse ‘Road to the Copper Box’ tournament finals at the Copper Box Arena with 5Ways Netball The girls had a fantastic time competing at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and went home as winners of the competition! Congratulations to the whole team!
Huge congratulations to Jaiten who competed in the Sussex Indoor Championships earlier this term, placing 1st in the U17 Women’s Triple Jump. She also competed in Scotland, jumping a huge 12.17m. Since then, she has increased her PB to 12 20m! This is not only a personal best, but is also the new Brighton & Hove club record for U17, U20 and senior triple jump! Jaiten now also holds the Sussex County record and is ranked 1st in the whole of the UK for U17 triple jump. Best of luck for the future, Jaiten, we look forward to following your future successes!
The Drama department are proud to an Stringer Drama student, Johnny Sanph offered a place on the BAActing course of the most prestigious acting schools.
Johnny was heavily involved in Drama including The Wooden Frock and PEAK unfortunately cancelled due to COVID.
Post Stringer, he went on to gain a plac strand at The Brit School.
We wish him lots of joy and luck in purs career
Congratulations are also in order for Lorien, who has signed a 2-year contract with Southampton Womens U21s from next season! We are so looking forward to following Lorien’s future success and would like to wish her the best of luck for her football career and studies at BHASVIC
A massive well do
‘Play your way to Wimbledon’ U14 Grass tournament at West Worthing Tennis Club in June! River has now secured her place in the National Final at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon at the beginning of August. We wish you the best of luck with this incredible opportunity, River!
Congratulations to Abbi E, who was recently crowned the U21 Southern Girls Inter-Counties Darts Champion! Abbi has been competing across the South East and has shown incredible skill and determination to earn this well-deserved title. Well done, Abbi!
We’re always so proud to hear about what our students have achieved outside of school and really enjoy celebrating these successes with them. If your child has been dedicating themselves to activities outside of school, no matter how big or small, we would love to know about it – just email us at communications@dorothy-stringer.co.uk.
Work Experience
Well done to our Year 10 students who completed their Work Experience placements from 7–11 July. This valuable opportunity gave them insight into the skills, behaviours, and attitudes needed in the workplace, while also encouraging them to consider potential career paths for the future.
We’ve had some incredible feedback from their employers, and we are so proud of our students for embracing this opportunity.
Work Experience
Billy has been amazing and great fun. He is getting stuck in with the jobs, including marinating chicken! We don’t want him to leave and will write him a great review after his week with us.
Emeric is having a fab time, he has learnt a lot and is a credit to your school
I just wanted to say a massive well done to Kip on his work experience placement with us. He has been attentive, positive, helpful, fully engaging with all feedback and experiences offered to him. He has been absolutely amazing with the children and they've thoroughly enjoyed his time with us.
Work Experience
Eddie has been absolutely amazing and such an asset to have in the setting for the week. He has been truly wonderful with the children and they adore him.
Could you offer a student a work experience placement? If you’re interested in providing a placement for one of our students next year, please get in contact with workexperience@dorothy-stringer.co.uk and they will send you all the details.
We had the pleasure of hosting Eva G to our Temporary Workforce team It was a delight to have her with us, and we’d like to commend her for her positive attitude and strong work ethic She approached every task- big or small - with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn What particularly stood out was her curiosity and genuine interest in our work She asked thoughtful questions, engaged well with team members, and clearly took an active interest in understanding the different aspects of our roles
In addition to her professional approach, Eva was an absolute pleasure to work with- polite, friendly, and respectful at all times. She quickly integrated into the team and left a very positive impression on everyone she worked with.
Goodbye, Year 11!
This term has been a whirlwind for our Year 11 students, who faced their GCSEs in May and June. We couldn't be prouder of how they tackled the challenge - showing up early for revision breakfasts and even coming in for some subjects on Saturdays! A huge thank you to our teachers for running these extra revision sessions, and to our exams team and invigilators for ensuring everything went smoothly throughout the exam period.
After the intensity of the GCSE season, it was great to see our students in a more relaxed setting during the Leaver’s Assembly. A big thank you to everyone who performed, and to our Head Students for their heartfelt speeches
We then wrapped up the year with our 2025 prom! The setting at Pangdean Barn was beautiful, the atmosphere was electric, and it was fantastic to see so many of you there A special thanks to all the staff who joined in on the evening, and to Ms Dale, Ms De Brun, and Ms Smith for organising such a memorable event
As our Year 11 students head off to their next adventures, we want to wish you all the very best of luck for the future We have no doubt you’ll excel at whatever you set your sights on, and you will be greatly missed by all of us here at Stringer. Take care, Class of 2025!
A fond farewell... A fond farewell...
After nearly 25 years working at Dorothy Stringer, I have decided that the time has come to retire Having moved into teaching from a previous career, I can honestly say I have never once regretted that decision has been an immense privilege to work with so many wonderful young people over the years
I’ve had the pleasure over the years of seeing our students grow in confidence and ability, leaving us ready to embrace whatever their futures may hold- be it my Add Maths students who have gone on to Oxbridge and other universities, or those I’ve supported through their exams who have gone on to pursue their dreams in other directions
There is something very special about the Stringer family, and I will miss it more than I can say I’m looking forward to keeping in touch with colleagues and hearing from former students in the years ahead - it’s always a pleasure to learn where life has taken you.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send such kind messages over the past few weeks; they have been very much appreciated
With very best wishes to all, Andrea Cumming
... and a warm welcome! ... and a warm welcome!
I’m really excited to be joining the Dorothy Stringer team as Assistant Head with a focus on data and progress. I’ve spent the last 14 years teaching in a mix of state, grammar and independent schools, taking on roles like Head of Year and Director of Learning for Middle School along the way
I’m a Geography teacher at heart and have always loved taking learning beyond the classroom — especially on fieldtrips! Most recently, I led a trip to Fuerteventura where we swapped books for surfboards and explored the island’s incredible landscapes.
For me, school life is just as much about what happens beyond the classroom. I’ve coached a range of school basketball teams over the years and have really enjoyed seeing students grow in confidence, teamwork and resilience through sport. I’m hoping to get involved with extracurricular life at Stringer, both on and off the court!
I’m passionate about using data to support every student’s progress and potential, and I’ve already felt the warmth and energy that makes Stringer such a special place. I can’t wait to get started.
Finally, I’d like to wish Mrs Cumming a very happy and well-deserved retirement. Although I didn’t have the chance to work with her, I know she has been a valued part of the school community for many years and leaves behind an impressive legacy
Tim Bond
Assistant Headteacher
Key dates
In memory of Andy Marchant
Born 15.11.1950 – Died June 2025
Dorothy Stringer Staff Member: 1978–2013
Dorothy Stringer Student: 1962–1967
We are saddened to share the n long-serving member of staff at D more than five decades.
Andy attended Dorothy Stringer sportsman, he made his debut fo them on his 18th birthday in 1969 r a further three years. Alongside f and represented Brighton in crick
In October 1973, Andy sustained Guildford City. Although he return avoid relegation - he left the club
Andy retrained as a PE teacher a Sussex University. He began his returning to Dorothy Stringer in 1 e years, he was appointed Head of PE, a role he held with pride until his retirement in 2013
One of his proudest legacies was helping the school acquire Dolawen, our outdoor centre in Snowdonia, in 1987 He understood the transformative power of outdoor education in fostering resilience and adventure. Thanks to his efforts, every Year 7 student continues to have the opportunity to visit Dolawen today
Andy took great care in mentoring new teachers, believing that teaching was a vocation like no other Known as the life and soul of the Stringer PE Department, Andy was instrumental in shaping our school’s sporting culture. Under his leadership, Dorothy Stringer became a leading school for sport; every student took a PE-related qualification, and participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award reached record levels In 1992, the school represented England at the Nations Cup in the USA – and won.
Andy led the successful application to become a specialist Sports College in 2001 and played a key role in the development of our sports hall in 2002 (as well as running the London marathon for Sussex Sport for Peace). In 2002 Dorothy Stringer became the hub for the School Sport Partnership across Brighton and Hove, hosting many of the city’s major school sporting events Andy was the Partnership Development Manager for this and led the growth in participatory and competitive PE and school sport across the city for both primary and Secondary schools, including compering Let’s Dance, now the UK’s largest celebration of school and youth dance, at Brighton Dome from 2004 to 2022,. He was also instrumental in shaping the local schools’ sports festival - the TAKEPART Brighton & Hove Festival of Sport, later receiving a special recognition award for his lifelong contribution to youth sport.
Even in retirement, Andy remained deeply involved in sport He was an active member of the Wimbledon Old Players Association (WOPA), attending AFC Wimbledon matches at Plough Lane whenever possible Also during retirement he taught English and PE and helped to train teachers at the Nirvana High School in Pondicherry, India, and organised educational visits to the UK.
Andy was always immensely proud of his son Chris, who attended Dorothy Stringer and now teaches here and coaches hockey locally, regionally and nationally, including with the Scottish team. Like his father, Chris continues to inspire passion for sport through education.
Andy also had a deep love of poetry, studying for a Batchelor of Arts in English with a focus on poetry in his ‘spare’ time, and leaves Stringer another legacy in the donation of his personal collection of poetry books to the Stringer library.
Andy will be remembered not only for his many achievements, but for his warmth, humour, and unwavering support for colleagues and students alike As Andy’s former colleague Liz Uren put it: “The world was a better place when he was in it.”
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
Dolawenfeedback
THANK YOU so much for giving my son and his Y7 peers such a wonderful experience on the trip to Dolawen I have been filled with endless stories of what activities they did and how much fun they had – he also enjoyed getting to know people he didn’t really have a relationship with prior to this trip. So much work must go into arranging this trip to ensure its smooth running and so many people have given up their valuable time to make it happen, I would be grateful if you could pass on my thanks to everyone involved.
The Netball Leaders from Dorothy Stringer have been fantastic ambassadors for Dorothy Stringer this year, working with over 29 B&H primary schools and enabling 350-year 5/6 students to take part in primary netball tournaments I've received lovely emails from schools saying how brilliant the girls were umpiring and supporting the younger students A big thank you to Stringer for all of their help with these events,
Our daughter’s been so happy at Stringer, both socially and academically, and she really feels supported and recognised for her activities and talents. It means a lot to see her thriving in an environment that values and encourages her interests. Thank you again for your help and for everything the school does to support its students.
Teachertraining feedback
On behalf of all our Bolashak Scholars, I would like to thank you all for providing us all with such an enjoyable, enriching and truly memorable experience. We really appreciated how well organised our day was - every lesson was so fascinating, we learnt so much and the Scholars gained an enormous amount in terms of how the Secondary system works in the UK and about all the things that make Dorothy Stringer so special.
Dolawenfeedback
We just wanted to express our gratitude to you and the rest of the team for giving our daughter such a fantastic experience on the Dolawen trip. She genuinely has not stopped talking about it and we are thrilled that she has had such a great time. All the activities sounded fantastic and completing them has brought her more confidence.
Thank you so much for all the help, encouragement and patience you’ve extended to our son over his time at Stringer. Although he is lovely, we know how challenging it can be to keep him focussed. We have also really appreciated all the updates - it’s helped to keep us focussed Hope you have a lovely summer and thank you again for being such a critical contributor to (our son)’s learning and our journey as parents
I’d like to say a massive thank you for the fantastic work you're doing in the school library, and what a big impact it’s had on my daughter’s transition to Stringer and her overall enjoyment of school, and above all reading. We were a bit worried about how well she’d settle in as she can struggle with focus and motivation, but from day one she’s come home full of enthusiasm about time spent in library, the new friends she’s made there, the books she’s discovered, and the little jobs she’s been able to do now and then. It’s really given her focus for her first year at Stringer (and hopefully well beyond that) and we are so grateful that you’ve created such a lovely environment for them all
Lib
Key dates
Upcoming key dates - 2025/26
Back to school dates
Thursday 4 September
Friday 5 Septemer
Click here to view our Parent Key Dates booklet 2025/2026
School open to Y7 and Y10 Peer Mentors only
School open to all students - timetable week 2
Autumn term dates
Thursday 4 September
School photos - Year 7
Wednesday 10 September Year 7 Clubs Fair
Thursday 25 September Open Evening - early closure 12.15pm
Friday 26 September Late start - 9 40am
Thursday 2 October Y7 parents virtual check-in
Wednesday 8 October
Online safety webinar for parents
Thursday 16 October Y11 post-16 pathways evening
Friday 17 October
Culture Day
Wednesday 22 October Y10 prepare your child for GCSEs webinar
Friday 24 October General knowledge quiz
Monday 27 October
- Friday 31 October
Friday 5 December
Half term
Inset Day - school closed to students
Thursday 11 December Y10 parents’ evening - early closure 3pm
Thursday 18 December
Carol concert
Friday 19 December Last day of term - early closure 12.15pm
Social media photos
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’.
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