I have been incredibly proud of our community this week. Given the nature of the emergency situation in Jamaica, we gave the School a tight deadline to donate sanitary products for women and girls on the island. It is wonderful that we were able to collect over 600 packs of sanitary towels and tampons, which will be shipped this weekend. Well done and thank you! A group of girls in Year 12 went into Brighton on Wednesday to pack the boxes, alongside Althea Wolfe, one of our Trustees, whose family has been badly affected; she was delighted and incredibly grateful for both our compassion and our support. This is just one example of the many ways Roedean makes an impact, and I hope that you will be keen to read our annual impact report, included in this review, which celebrates all we do for the wider community, both locally and further afield.
Our annual Remembrance Service was a very moving occasion, with the whole school community gathered together in the Front Quad. As we fell silent on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month to remember those who have fought and died in wars, our CCF cadets stood to attention, and the Last Post sounded. Looking out to the horizon seemed to give my thoughts space, and I hope that we were all able to think about the very many people who have been tragically affected by war and conflict – lest we forget.
Last Friday’s House Dance and Tuesday’s Teatime Recital were lovely opportunities to enjoy and celebrate the wonderful performing arts talents of our students. Well done to House 2 who won overall, but everyone who performed deserves our congratulations. I am also looking forward to seeing next week’s performances of Blue Stockings – the cast has been working very hard, and I hope that many of you will be able to support them on Wednesday and Thursday.
Well done to our Year 13s who have finished their assessments now, and good luck to Year 11 for their remaining assessments at the start of next week. We are rounding off Anti-Bullying Week with a nonuniform day today to raise funds for Children in Need – I have enjoyed seeing the variety of spotty outfits around School. I wish you all a lovely weekend!
House Dance 2025
Jamaica Relief Drive
5th VII Hockey vs Hurst
Remembrance
at Roedean
Unsung heroes in the spotlight
Each week, many wonderful things happen at Roedean, about which many in the school are perhaps unaware; this section of the weekly review is dedicated to ‘unsung heroes’, in order to draw our attention to these people and remind us that our community is special.
Siyun (Yr13) – for playing the Last Post and the Rouse in our Remembrance Service so well – it was very atmospheric and evocative, complemented by the wind [Mr McGregor]
and Zaha (Yr13) – for representing Roedean at the Remembrance Sunday parade in Rottingdean [Dr Barrand]
Mary and Xena (Yr12), and Scarlett (Yr11) – for helping return two goats who had escaped from the paddock [Dr Barrand]
Unsung Staff hero in the spotlight
Mr Wilson – for dropping everything to join the group who went into Brighton on Wednesday to pack boxes for Jamaica – he always throws himself wholeheartedly into Roedean's charitable endeavours [Dr Barrand]
Spotty Clothes for Children in Need!
Roedean’s Making an Impact
At Roedean, we are incredibly proud of the impact we make, both inside and outside of School. Together, we most certainly make a difference, to a range of charities and to a variety of institutions. If you would like to find out more about some highlights of our philanthropic endeavours last year, please click here:
Lucy
Jamaica Relief Drive
Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica on 28 October, and the strongest recorded hurricane to ever hit the island had a devastating impact. It has a population of 2.8 million, of whom 1.5 million suffered terrible effects, with many losing everything they had. Some of these have a direct connection with Roedean – one of the School’s Trustees, Althea Wolfe, is from Jamaica, and her family have been very badly affected.
At the end of last week, the School made a request for donations of feminine hygiene products. In just a few short days, we collected 602 packs of sanitary towels and tampons.
On Wednesday, eight students in Year 12 and two members of staff went to Afrori Books, the official drop-off point for donations for Jamaica. They packed up boxes with the donated materials, ready to be shipped to Jamaica at the weekend.
Althea was incredibly grateful, and impressed by the girls' desire to help to make a difference: 'The Roedean donation will help to provide dignity and comfort for hundreds of women who are struggling to rebuild their lives. Access to these essential items is often overlooked in times of crisis, and your generosity has met a real and urgent need.
I was especially moved by the care, compassion, and teamwork shown by the Roedean girls who packed and delivered the donations. Their enthusiasm, respect, and sense of responsibility reflect the finest values of your school. It was evident that they were driven not only by a desire to help but by genuine empathy and understanding.'
Thank you and well done to Cherry, Elspeth, Farwa, Jody, Lennie, Michelle, Poppy, and Rhea. We hope that the School's donations will make a difference in Jamaica.
Dr Barrand
Roedean Art and NHS Collaboration
We were delighted this week to welcome Rev Dr David Knight and Kristy Howell from the Spiritual Care Team at the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust to the Roedean Art Department for their first visit as part of our Community Arts Project (CAP).
During their visit, Rev Dr Knight and Kristy shared inspiring insights into the essential work carried out by the Spiritual Care Team within the NHS. We were fascinated to learn that their ethos, ensuring that every person is seen, known, and heard, closely mirrors our own values here at Roedean.
They spoke about how their team creates opportunities for individuals within the NHS to be supported, to reflect, and to share their personal stories. This resonated deeply with us, as we begin an exciting new visual arts project that aims to tell the stories of NHS staff from all areas of Brighton General Hospital.
Our project takes inspiration from Michael Rosen’s poem These Are The Hands, which beautifully captures the compassion and dedication of NHS staff. This initial meeting with the Spiritual Care Team was both uplifting and thought-provoking, leaving us full of enthusiasm and creative energy for the work ahead of us.
We cannot wait to see how this collaboration develops – watch this space for updates on our journey as we celebrate the stories, and hands, behind our NHS.
Through to the Regionals of the ESU Debating Boarding Academic Lectures
This week, our boarding students enjoyed their first academic lecture of the year. A huge thank you to Miss Alam for delivering a fascinating and unique talk on the science and economics of pet ownership, and well done to all our girls who participated.
We’re looking forward to an exciting year ahead, with our next lecture exploring black female singers and their impact on the Civil Rights Movement. It looks set to be another interesting and thoughtprovoking evening!
Miss Sinton
A huge congratulations to Scarlett (Yr11), and Jasmine and Farwa (Yr12) for their outstanding performance at the English-Speaking Union Schools’ Mace Debate Competition on Wednesday 12 November.
Special thanks also go to Hable and Maggie (Yr12) for their excellent research, which helped strengthen our team’s arguments. We were given the proposition: This House would ban dating and relationship-based reality TV.
It was a highly competitive evening, with impressive performances from schools across the country, but we are delighted to announce that Roedean has made it through to the regional rounds!
Miss Joslyn
Ms Strachan
Teatime Recital
Our first Teatime Recital of the year was a lovely event, giving our students the opportunity to play and sing in front of an audience and hone their performances. The Old Ref is the perfect venue for this – the acoustic is lovely, and the audience is always warm and generous.
Candis (Yr13) opened the recital, with an exquisite performance of a Mozart aria from The Marriage of Figaro. She showcased an impressive vocal range, with fantastic control and intonation, in both the top and lower registers.
We were treated to not one but two talented harpists – Charlotte (Yr9) performed a piece by the 17th century blind harpist, O'Carolan, on Lever Harp, and her piece highlighted something unmistakably Celtic; her namesake, Charlotte (Yr11), performed a lovely arrangement of My Favourite Things by Rodgers from Mary Poppins, demonstrating her impressive dexterity and confident playing.
The audience enjoyed performances by three pianists in this recital. Sohana in Year 11 played
a challenging piece by Rameau, Les Cyclopes, and she negotiated the running quavers and strong dynamic range very well. Although we more often hear amazing performances on the Violin from her, Ellen (Yr11) played La catédrale engloutie by Debussy on Piano. Her piece was so atmospheric, and the thick chords definitely evoked the word 'swamped' from the piece's title. The third pianist was Miss Ono, who wowed the audience with her remarkable rendition of Chopin's Ballade No3 – her lyrical line was wonderful, and how inspiring for our students to see and hear the impressive talents of one of our visiting teachers.
Claire (Yr11) gave the most evocative performance of Debussy's Syrinx. She played this iconic piece on the Flute, unaccompanied, and her playing absolutely conjured up woodland nymphs and sprites, darting and hiding amongst the trees. The last player, Zsofia in Year 11, played Double Trouble, by John Williams, and it was wonderful to hear a Trombonist, who started playing as part of the Year 7 Instrumental Project. This performance, alongside Siyun (Yr13) playing the Last Post
at our Remembrance Service, highlights the undeniable value in exposing every Roedean Year 7 student to learning an instrument for a year, and seeing where it takes them.
Thank you to Mr Rous and Mr McGregor for accompanying our students – I know that they are very proud of our players and singers.
Dr Barrand
House Dance 2025
Last week saw the much anticipated annual House Dance Competition, and it was nothing short of spectacular. Each House was challenged to create a lively 70s disco routine, followed by a second performance inspired by a decade of their choice. The energy was high, the costumes were vibrant, and every House brought something unique to the stage.
All the Houses performed exceptionally well, showcasing creativity, teamwork, and impressive choreography. Huge congratulations go to House 2 for taking home the overall trophy! Prizes were awarded as follows:
Well done to all the dancers and choreographers for making this year’s competition unforgettable!
Miss Abaza
Power for Good: The Power Party That Lit Up Period 5!
Ms Orrells and Mrs Chamberlain brought some serious positive energy to Roedean this week with their Power Party – it was a lively celebration to mark Anti-Bullying Week and its inspiring theme: Power for Good!
The room was buzzing with laughter, music, and meaningful reflection, as students came together to spread kindness and strengthen our community. The Power Party gave everyone a chance to use their power for good in all sorts of creative ways.
The students could write heartfelt ‘Make it Right’ letters to peers, little notes to mend fences or simply remind someone that they matter. Others chose to send a compliment or thank-you card to brighten a friend’s day. The room filled with colour, smiles, and the hum of pens scribbling uplifting messages.
Next up came the Intention Pledges, where students reflected on how they could make
Roedean an even kinder, more supportive place. Some of the beautiful promises included:
■ Include someone new
■ Speak up or get help if I see bullying
■ Listen before I speak
■ Use kind words online
As if that wasn’t enough to lift spirits, the students got to decorate delicious treats with “power words”, from courage and kindness to respect and joy, all while a Power Playlist of upbeat tunes kept the positive vibes flowing!
It was a wonderful reminder that our words and actions really do have power, the power to make others feel seen, valued, and supported.
As Anti-Bullying Week reminds us, kindness isn’t just for one week, it’s a value we carry with us all year long at Roedean. So let’s keep using our Power for Good, every day, in every way!
Ingrid's Winning Switch Off Campaign Poster
Congratulations to Ingrid (Yr9), for winning the Switch Off Campaign Poster Competition. I am delighted to share her design which captured the importance of conserving energy and caring for our environment. Thank you to all the students who took part and showed such enthusiasm for sustainability; your efforts remind us that our school community is full of inspiring young people ready to lead the way in protecting our planet.
Mrs Pashley
Weekend Trip – SeaLife Centre
Our boarding trip to the SeaLife Centre was a great success this weekend! The girls really enjoyed seeing all the different fish and were in awe of seeing the sharks, turtles, and jellyfish up close.
It was lovely to watch them bond and create wonderful memories together. The boarders made the most of the last sunny day of the season by strolling along the seafront and exploring the local shops. What a perfect end to a fantastic weekend!
Miss De Jesus
Remembrance at Roedean
On Remembrance Sunday, Lucy and Zaha (Yr13) represented the School at the Rottingdean Parade, laying a wreath at the memorial along with many other to show our collective gratitude for those who fought and died in battles to guarantee the freedom we have today.
On Tuesday, to mark Remembrance Day itself, the School attended a service in the Front Quad. It was clear but windy, and the School stood silently, looking out to sea. We heard the McCrae poem In Flanders fields, wreaths were presented by Ines, the youngest in the School, and Noelle Chase, President of the Old Roedeanians' Association, and Siyun played the Last Post and the Rouse, to introduce and break the traditional two-minute silence. On the 80th anniversary of World War II, the Kohima Epitaph was read, When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today, reminding us of the sacrifice of all those who died in war.
The service was very moving, and the sound of Siyun's playing, blown around by the wind, was highly evocative.
Dr Barrand
This Week in Boarding!
A big welcome back to our wonderful boarders these past two weeks! Since their return, we have heard wonderful stories from all the places our girls have travelled during their time off. From Hong Kong, France, and Spain, to the sunny beaches of Brighton, everyone has come back feeling refreshed and ready for the last half term of 2025. This half term will bring lots of excitement, including the Christmas Fair, a Sixth Form production, the boarders' Christmas decorating competition, and lots more festive activities.
In House 1, there have been yummy pancakes made on Monday, a fan favourite, a House Bingo Game played on Tuesday, and, of course, House Dance rehearsals on Wednesday, with Thursday Hot Chocolates and more rehearsals, as the girls were on the home stretch to the House Dance competition! The weekend saw Smores and karaoke events, plus puzzles and fun.
House 2 – this week started with a BOO in House 2; the team threw the girls an amazing Halloween party on their first night back. Cornflake cupcakes and air-fry smores were made and devoured on Tuesday night, followed H2 Families quiz night and a moon lit campus walk on Wednesday evening, with Thursday dedicated to making glow stick people!
House 3 celebrated National Sandwich Day on Monday by making toasties that the whole house enjoyed. Tuesday was spent baking some cookies and cupcakes, which were also wolfed down at lightning speed. On Wednesday, rehearsals were held for House Dance, and while most were in attendance, some star bakers prepared some deliciously tasty cinnamon buns for their return.
House 3 were also on Farm Duty this weekend and spent some time with the friendly goats and sheep!
This week, House 4 have been busy redecorating pumpkins and they held their famous Hot Pot evening, hosted by Alice, Yoyo, and Amber – it was all delicious. House 4 girls have shown their full support for the Jamaica emergency relief drive, making a big dent in the School's target total of feminine
hygiene products for girls and women in Jamaica. A big thank you to everyone who donated various items.
Keswick – on Sunday, our boarders enjoyed a lovely Remembrance Afternoon Tea, featuring delicious shortbread and French tea. The tea table was decorated with poppies of different colours (red, white, purple, and black) along with information about their meanings. The afternoon provided a thoughtful opportunity to reflect on the significance of each poppy and the importance of Remembrance itself. Keswick houses our Year 13 students and, this week, they have begun their mock assessments for their A Levels, so lots of studying has been taking place.
Miss Frank-Keyes
1st XI Knocked Out of National Cup by Worth
The 1st XI travelled to Worth School for their Round 2 National Plate match. It was going to be a very tough match for the team, and they started very well, scoring the first goal. The next 15 minutes saw another 5 goals being scored by both teams, with short corners working well and both teams attacking with purpose and pace. The half-time score was 3-3 in a very tightly-fought match.
After the break, it was neck and neck as both teams had ample opportunities, but the keepers were formidable in their saves and the defence worked tirelessly to clear the ball. It fell to a well-executed flick from a short corner for Worth to take the lead with 15 minutes to play. It was all Roedean in those 15 minutes, with chances hitting the cross-bar and the keeper making excellent saves to deny a fair few chances.
The final whistle sounded and Worth took the game 4-3. Well done to all the girls on the pitch, their work-rate and tireless effort was incredibly entertaining to watch for all the spectators and coaches.
Mr Campleman
6th VII
Hockey Secure a Big Win vs Hurst!
On Wednesday, the 6th VII played some brilliant hockey against Hurst. We started strongly, scoring an early goal in the 3rd minute. We battled hard, and both schools broke through and had some promising chances on goal. At half-time, it was 2-1 to Roedean.
Our work on our fitness paid off in the second half, where we were out-running our opponents and beating them to the ball. This allowed us to maintain possession and score lots of goals. The final score was 5-1 to Roedean. Congratulations to Florence for scoring 3 goals, and Ianthe for scoring 2! Well done everyone for a fantastic game of Hockey.
Mrs Hammond
2nd VII Hockey vs Hurst
The 2nd VII Hockey team produced their best performance of the season in a thrilling 4–4 draw against Hurst.
The opening ten minutes saw Roedean settle confidently into the game, with Daisy commanding the midfield and distributing the ball superbly to both flanks. After 15 minutes, Harrie showcased her skill and composure, eliminating the Hurst defence and slotting home the opening goal. Moments later, Scarlett doubled the lead with a blistering run down the right wing, before finishing neatly to make it 2–0 at half-time.
Hurst came out strongly after the break, scoring twice within six minutes to level the score. However, Roedean’s defence – led by Tabitha and
Nkem – stood firm, making crucial tackles and applying relentless pressure. Eve was outstanding in goal, clearing danger confidently, while Fifi impressed with her timely interceptions. Lara added Roedean’s third with an excellent strike from the left midfield, capping off a fine all-round display.
The final minutes were end-to-end, with both teams battling fiercely. Hurst managed to equalise late on, leaving the final score at 4–4. It was an exciting and hard-fought contest, showcasing teamwork, determination, and skill throughout. The Players’ Player was Scarlett. Well played, everyone!
Miss Hayman
1st VII Go Ahead Early But
Are Hauled
Back by Hurst
The 1st VII started well in the first half against Hurstpierpoint College. Both teams narrowly missed the goal and the goalkeepers made some crucial early saves. Roedean managed to go ahead first, through a great carry by Ze on the right out of our half, connecting with Lottie up the right channel, who then carried the ball strongly towards goal and fired the ball into a dangerous area in front of the keeper, where it deflected into the goal. The girls were bouncing with positivity and went to work to stop the Hurst attackers. Towards the end of the first half, Hurst managed a few counter-attacks and, with some sleepy marking in the circle, they converted some attacking opportunities, leaving us trailing by two at halftime.
After the break, the girls were determined to get back into the game and managed quite a few chances, just narrowly missing the goal and missing that final composed pass. Hurst settled and came through a few more times towards the end. The moment of the match was an Izzy save, using her stick to stop a shot that was deflected up into the air at goal, where she managed to push the ball wide with her stick, a testament to her training and commitment to her position. The match ended 6-1, and the girls worked tirelessly. Well done in particular to Izzy, for making consistent and outstanding saves all the way through the game.
Mr Campleman
5th VII Hockey vs Hurst
This Wednesday, the 5ths took on Hurst, coming in on a high after their fun and successful tournament last week. The girls were determined to keep up their momentum and get results.
We had Matilda in goal, making countless wonderful saves, clearing the ball with confidence and to our own players to take up the pitch. Mattie and Amelie showed great composure at the back, distributing the ball wide, making strong tackles, and setting up attacks with confidence. In midfield, Sela, Veera, Nikola, and Holly were outstanding. Their composure on the ball, clever movement to find space, and tireless work-rate allowed the team to transition smoothly from defence to attack. Up front, Hannah made excellent leads, finding dangerous pockets of space and driving toward goal with intent.
The girls’ efforts were rewarded with a 1–1 scoreline at half-time, and they came out for the second half determined to find a winner. Despite immense pressure on the opposition’s goalkeeper, who made several impressive saves, the game ended in a 2–2 draw, a very respectable result in a well-matched contest.
Special mention goes to Defender of the Match, Mattie, for her composure and strength at the back, and Attacker of the Match, Hannah, for her movement and attacking threat throughout the game.
It was a great team effort and another strong performance from the Fiery Fives! They’re ready and raring to face Lingfield in two weeks’ time.
Miss Bamford
1st VII
5th VII
U13 Fight to the Final Whistle
On Friday, the U13A Netball team played Brighton College in the Sister In Sport Plate competition. It was a fiercely competitive game that saw us battling right up until the final whistle. Although a few early errors put us on the back foot in the first quarter, the girls showed outstanding grit and determination throughout. As the game went on, they grew in confidence, tightening up in defence and producing an impressive number of turnovers. Unfortunately, time wasn’t on our side, and the match ended 25–26 to Brighton College. Well done!
Mrs Hammond
We welcome contributions from all parts of the Roedean community. If you have something you would like featured in the Head’s Weekly Review, please email: aws@roedean.co.uk
