16 January 2026 – Issue 2
HEAD’S REVIEW
1st VII Netball vs Brighton College
Head’s Introduction
Roedean’s sports teams have been out in force this week, and I am delighted that so many girls are able to represent the School. Lots of the teams have been victorious, but the recurring theme in the match reports is our students’ grit and determination. Well done to all the teams, but the U13 Hockey 1st VII deserve special mention, as they won the Sussex Schools’ Plate competition – congratulations!
Flesh Creep!
This is a key point in the year for our Year 13s, who are in their final year of secondary education, and also looking ahead to the next stage of their lives. While some joined Roedean in the Sixth Form, many have been at the School since Year 7, and I am proud to read about the excellent offers they are receiving from top universities. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will profile a number of students to highlight the broad range of courses they are applying for – well done to all of Year 13. It was such a pleasure to welcome two of last year’s Year 13s back to School this week, to speak to the MeDeVet+ Society. Kaitlin and Hannah are in their first year, studying Veterinary Medicine at the RVC and Medicine at Sheffield, and they came to talk to our aspiring Medics about their experiences at university. It is notoriously difficult to get into courses in this field, so I have no doubt that their tips and insights will be invaluable – thank you.
University Offers for Year 13 Are Streaming In
Congratulations to Scarlett in Year 11, who was featured in the local press this week for her charity work. Over the last few years, she has raised over £10,000 for charities supporting the homeless in our area, alongside campaigning to make use of small plots of land for housing for those who need it. What a brilliant cause! Good luck to all those working so hard to prepare for next week’s Dance Showcase – it is always a spectacular event, so I hope that many of you will be able to see it. I hope that the English trip to the Isle of Sheppey goes well, and I wish you all a restful weekend.
U16D Netball vs Brighton College
HEAD’S REVIEW
16 January 2026 – Issue 2
Year 12 CAP Programme – Students at Raystede Our Year 12 CAP students visiting Raystede were pleased to start off the New Year with a visit to the kennels last week. During this visit, they met a couple of very lively and energetic puppies who are waiting to be re-homed, and a gentle giant who loved a tennis ball! All of Year 12 are engaged in valuable community projects on Wednesday afternoons, and it is a great opportunity to develop interpersonal skills and make a positive impact within the local community. Whilst many of our community groups support Primary School children and are people-focused, Raystede is our highly popular community group that supports animals. The weekly visits are enjoyed by animal lovers and those with aspirations to pursue careers in Veterinary Medicine. Our Raystede group will be undertaking some fundraising to support the charity work that Raystede do and their Animal Welfare Programme over the coming weeks. Animal lovers can also support Raystede, which has an Amazon Wishlist of essential items and treats that are needed to support the animals in their care. If you would like to make a donation, the link to their page is here and all donations, however small, are very gratefully received. https://www.raystede.org/support-us/amazonwishlist/
Miss Kelsey
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HEAD’S REVIEW
16 January 2026 – Issue 2
Year 8s at OLOL Well done to Cecile, Marvel, and Summer (Yr8), who enjoyed getting stuck in with the children in the Reception class at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary in Rottingdean – this week they were recreating elements of the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, with stickle bricks, plastercene, white boards, and puppets, and they were having a great time.
ORs at MeDeVet+ Society We were delighted to welcome back recent Roedean leavers, Kaitlin, now studying Veterinary Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College, and Hannah, now reading Medicine at the University of Sheffield, who returned to School speak to our student-led MeDeVet+ Society about their first term at university. Sharing honest insights into academic life and the realities of being a first-year student, they offered our students a valuable perspective and inspiration as they begin to consider their own next steps. Experiences like this form a key part of our Sixth Form Pathways Programmes, which support students pursuing specific routes (such as our STEM Clinical Course Pathway Programme) through tailored academic and co-curricular opportunities, university application support, and guest speakers like Hannah and Kaitlin, as they plan their next steps after Roedean. It was wonderful to see you back at Roedean, and good luck for the rest of the year!
Mrs Andrew Page 3
Dr Barrand
16 January 2026 – Issue 2
HEAD’S REVIEW
University Offers for Year 13 Are Streaming In Congratulations to our Year 13s, who are receiving excellent offers from a wide variety of courses at a range of institutions, both in the UK and abroad. The breadth of our students' interests is certainly reflected in the courses they are hoping to pursue, and offers are coming in thick and fast – we look forward to hearing more news in the coming weeks, with offers from Cambridge University being made at the end of January and hopefully some clinical offers too.
Ms Boobis
Claire
Ellen
Marija
Congratulations to Claire, our Newnham Scholar, who has been offered a place to study Classics and English at St Anne’s College, Oxford. Alongside her A Levels in Classical Civilisation, English Literature and Latin, Claire is independently studying for the Greek A Level, after having already achieved an A in the AS Level. She has a deep interest in the links between cultures and literary traditions, and is looking forward to tracing and challenging various tropes and archetypes at undergraduate level. Claire is also an extremely talented and highly accomplished dancer.
Congratulations to Ellen, a Music and Drama Scholar, who has been made four fantastic offers of two Es at A Level at prestigious conservatoires, including a BMus in Vocal Studies at The Royal Northern College of Music. She is currently studying French, Music, and Politics at A Level, and consistently sees links between her studies and music, a medium that she recognises as having the power to drive social and political change. Ellen will be familiar to Roedean audiences for her role as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, and her duet section in Boulanger’s Du fond de l’abime as part of the Brighton Fringe concert, among other performances.
Congratulations to Marija, one of our HMC Project Scholars from North Macedonia, who has been made offers at Kings College London and Bristol universities so far to study Mathematics and Computer Science. She is part of a strong tradition of Roedean students entering traditionally male-dominated STEM degrees. She is currently studying Computer Science, Maths, Further Maths, and Physics for A Level, and last year won Best in School in the UK Bebras Challenge. Marija is looking forward to applying her excellent problem-solving skills at university, and positioning herself to contribute positively to her home country’s technological development.
Scarlett's Raised £10K+ for Homeless Charities Congratulations to Scarlett (Yr11), who has launched Mission:HOME, a campaign fighting for permanent housing in Brighton and Hove, and she has raised a staggering total of over £10,000 for charities supporting the homeless in the local area. She said, 'Having a home gives children stability and a sense of belonging. We have a real
opportunity to show Brighton that the way families are living in temporary accommodation just isn’t right, and that we can do better.' Scarlett's campaign is pushing the Brighton and Hove City Council to make use of unused plots of land, by turning them into permanent homes for the estimated 2,900 parents and children in the area who need them. If you would like to Page 4
find out more about the work of her campaign, check out her website, missionhome.org.uk. Well done, Scarlett – what you're doing is making an difference to so many!
Dr Barrand
16 January 2026 – Issue 2
HEAD’S REVIEW
This Week in Boarding! Welcome back, everyone! Week 2 is here and everyone has settled into the swing of things, dusting off the holiday blues, and the students have been kept busy.
The team in House 1 prepared an ‘end of 2025’ quiz to round up the year on Monday night. They have also held a colouring and mindfulness night with soft music; the girls were, of course, most excited by their favourite activity, Pancake Night, with some students opting for bagels, switching things up a little. The students also looked forward to making their own nachos!
The students got competitive in House 3 on Monday night with a game of SPOONS, a faced paced card game, that kept us all on our toes. Tuesday night was another exhilarating game night with the girls playing a game called ‘sneaky goose’. Wednesday night brought some calm vibes – the students all made friendship bracelets, and they were asked to gift them to another student. On Thursday, House 3’s favourite night, The Pasat Bar reopened for business following the holidays! In House 4 this week the girls have been creative, making vision boards and collages, with the aim to inspire and motivate themselves in 2026. The house had a mochi evening with everything made from scratch, the girls also had an evening creating door signs for their new rooms! The whole house also enjoyed a movie night complete with popcorn to watch Zootropolis.
The Keswick Y13s have hit the ground running since returning to School, and have settled back into routines with enthusiasm and focus. Alongside all the hard work, there’s always time to enjoy the little moments that make our community so special. This week, the girls have loved making toasties, including being introduced to the amazing concept of a marshmallow toastie! We’ve also enjoyed our weekly Bingo session, knitting lessons, and time spent planning meaningful New Year resolutions, with a strong focus on connection and wellbeing.
House 2 kicked this week off with a spicy evening, nachos and vegetarian chilli on Monday night, and on Tuesday they tucked into pizza bagels. An interhouse event was hosted on Wednesday with House 1 and 2 battling it out over a game of uno, with a side of pancakes. The students are looking forward to a DnD (Dungeons and Dragons) beginner tutorial and a blind snack taste-testing activity!
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Miss Frank-Keyes
HEAD’S REVIEW
Flesh Creep! This winter break I experienced a career first when I played the Villain, Flesh Creep, in the Brighton Family community panto, Jack and The Beanstalk at the Brighton Metropole Hilton Hotel. I remembered the joy of panto as it was one of my first experiences of seeing live theatre. I must have been 7 years old, and I remember seeing Jack and The Beanstalk, with a standout performance from the panto cow! Rehearsals started on the Monday after the end of term, and the cast and ensemble were incredible from day one, as we only had six days to rehearse for 16 shows. Learning lines, dance routines, and songs in such a short space of time meant that the first night was both exhilarating and terrifying. It really made me appreciate all the hard work our students have put into the many wonderful shows I have had the honour to direct here at Roedean. It was reminded how nerve-wracking it is to perform in front of 700 people, as I experienced a few butterflies because Flesh Creep opened every performance with a cackle and an invitation for the audience to boo me! As the run continued, the nerves were replaced with an opportunity to hone in on performance technique and to have fun, as the audience participation really allowed me to feed off the energy. The reviews were fantastic and this celebrated the achievement of the creative team, cast, and crew. Finally, it was a real highlight to meet the audience after the show in costume (which you never do in plays normally!) It was great to see some of my Drama students, and other members of Roedean staff there, as well as meet the many children who were sometimes a little too scared to take a photo with the villainous Flesh Creep! So, although I’m sad to not hear the boos and the hisses and the “She’s behind you” . I’m happy to get back to the directing and teaching, fully appreciating the focus that is needed from our students when performing in GCSE, A Level, LAMDA, and school productions. I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming production of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory on 10-12 February.
Mrs Woodbridge
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16 January 2026 – Issue 2
HEAD’S REVIEW
16 January 2026 – Issue 2
1st VII Hockey Roedean 1st VII Hockey Are Knocked Out U13 Sussex Schools' Plate in Round 3 of Champions the ISHC Plate The 1st VII Hockey team played in the 3rd round of the Plate competition, the furthest a Roedean junior side has ever reached. We were therefore always going to be up against strong opposition in Eltham College from London. The girls started slightly slowly, with the Christmas break in between their last fixture and this. We, however, came into the game more and more, and entered the D on a couple occasions, just not managing to get shots away at the goal keeper. Eltham had quick ball pace, and exploited a few gaps in our defence, finishing well at the back post to score a few past our defenders. After a brief discussion at halftime on what to focus on to improve our play, we started well and determined to get back into the game. Lottie got onto the ball more, and Scarlett up front seemed to be finding some space to exploit amongst a robust and physical defence. However, as the game went on, Eltham managed to continue scoring and they ended comfortable winners. The girls would use this game as practice for their triangular as they attempt to reach the area finals in Sussex against Bishop Luffa and Burgess Hill.
The 1st VII Hockey team hosted Bishop Luffa and Burgess Hill at Roedean for the U13 Sussex Schools' Plate Competition on Tuesday. The weather was going to make play very difficult, with consistent rain forecasted all day. The girls however set to work against Burgess Hill in the first game, and took an early 2-0 lead through some excellent attacking and finishing by the midfield and forwards. Burgess Hill had some opportunities to get back into the game, but Izzy, Ze, and Fifi kept the ball out of our goal for the majority of the match. After half-time, we scored a few more to go 5-0 up and the win was sealed for sure. We then managed the game in the second half, to ensure that all on pitch were still enjoying the opportunity and being challenged to improve and make progress. Burgess Hill scored a late consolation goal and Roedean took a 5-1 win. In the second game, it was going to be a tougher challenge against Bishop Luffa. After 5 attacking opportunities with no goal, it was clear that their goal keeper was formidable, stopping everything that came near her. On our side, Izzy was doing exactly that and more, making some brilliant saves to keep us in the game in the first half. We managed to take the lead through some fantastic carrying and passing of the ball down the right through Ze, Lottie, and Ines. Bishop Luffa then responded just before the break and made it 1-1 at half-time. In the second half, a response was needed from the players and we focused on moving the goal keeper around more, and attempting to get the ball onto the baseline and into the penalty spot and far post to increase our success. The girls executed it brilliantly, scoring 2 goals through Maisie and Ines. There was a very proud coach on the side, as they displayed excellent teamwork and fearlessness to go and take the win by relying on each other and pushing each other. The girls became Sussex Schools' Plate Champions, the first time Roedean has achieved this – they deserve to be very proud of themselves.
Mr Campleman
Mr Campleman
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16 January 2026 – Issue 2
HEAD’S REVIEW
Netball vs Brighton College U13F Resilience Beats Brighton College The U13F team had their 2nd match of the term against a Brighton College team that has been training since November. The girls were up for it and buzzing to get stuck in, and they did exactly that! After a frenetic first few minutes Roedean managed to settle and get to the post relatively easily, and they were able to take a 1-point lead after the first quarter. In the 2nd quarter, the girls focused on adding 2nd phase drives to their game and not remaining still when receiving a pass, as well as maintaining possession by taking their time with passes and not rushing. This helped us maintain a lead at half-time of 1 point, and Brighton weren't able to score any due to the outstanding defence of Dao, Lexi, and Matilda. In the 3rd quarter, we aimed to try and take the game away from Brighton and extend our lead by as many as possible, while maintaining our defensive steadfastness. We created a great deal of scoring opportunities, but just couldn't convert as many as required, but that saw us still maintain a 1-point lead into the final quarter. This now would test the girls' resilience and perseverance. The girls started the quarter well, scoring 3 unanswered points which took the game away from Brighton, despite a late attempt at closing the gap. The girls performed brilliantly under pressure and extended their lead to win 10-7! ■ ■
Attacker of the Match – Natasha Defender of the Match – Dao
Mr Campleman
U14B
U14B On a cold Friday night, the U14B Netball team took to the court to face a strong Brighton College side. The girls made an excellent start, with captain Hen at Centre and Amara at Wing Attack feeding the ball smoothly into the attacking circle. Dixie and Isabella worked brilliantly together, showing great composure to get their shots away and convert them, giving the team a deserved 4–2 lead at the end of the first quarter. As the game went on, Brighton College began to apply more pressure, pushing the score in
their favour. However, the defence remained determined, with Milana, Isabella, and Hester working tirelessly to make interceptions and slow the opposition’s attacks. Gracie also showed great energy, switching between GA and WA, and supporting the team at both ends of the court. Despite the 15–9 final score, it was a spirited performance, with Player of the Match awarded to Dixie and Issy.
Miss Hayman
U13E Victory
U14F
The U13E Netball team produced an outstanding performance to secure a convincing 27–0 victory. The team started their season in impressive style, showing strength and confidence across the entire court, from solid defensive work to sharp attacking play.
On Friday, the U14F team played their first Netball fixture of the year against Brighton College. The team took a little while to settle into their flow, but, by the third quarter, they were matching Brighton College's energy and moving the ball down court into goal. Lacie and Elsa put up some excellent shots to bring the score up, and Marion had a fantastic game in defence. Well done to Indira for being awarded Player of the Match by Brighton College.
Standout performances came from Mattie, Shalom, and Anya, who all played key roles in maintaining the team’s momentum throughout the match. Desire was named Player of the Match after an exceptional shooting display, converting her chances with great accuracy and composure. The team will be back in action next week against local rival, Brighton Girls. Well done to all involved on a fantastic team performance!
Mr Foggoa
U14D The U14D played a hard-fought but very scrappy game against Brighton College, with limited scoring opportunities at both ends. Despite the result, the team produced a huge amount of turnovers in our defensive end and through the middle third, showing great anticipation and a high work rate. The girls never stopped competing and should be proud of their defensive effort and persistence throughout the match.
U13F
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Ms Hutchings
Miss Agnew
16 January 2026 – Issue 2
HEAD’S REVIEW
Netball vs Brighton College U15B Despite a tough 2–14 loss, the U15B team showed great resilience and determination throughout the match against a strong and incredibly fast Brighton College side. The girls battled hard from start to finish, and never gave up, even when the result wasn’t going their way. Although disappointed with the scoreline, the team demonstrated clear improvement each quarter, and showed maturity by setting personal and team targets to work towards for future matches. They go again this weekend against Christ’s Hospital, hoping for a more positive outcome. Player of the Match was Janelle for her excellent defensive performance. Well done to the whole team for their effort and commitment.
Mr Foggoa
U16D
1st VII
U14A
U16D 19-10 Winners
Last Friday, the first team hosted Brighton College for their first Netball fixture of the year. The girls had a strong defence set-up in Clara and Michelle, and secured a first quarter lead. Fabulous shooting from Megs and Poppy kept us ahead going into the third quarter. However, Brighton College made a strong comeback and edged ahead to secure the win 14-11. It was a shame to have lost, but the girls played a great game against a physical Brighton College team. Well done to Megs for being the Opposition's Player. A special mention goes to Izzy for playng whilst unwell.
The U14A faced a challenging match against Brighton College in very wet and windy conditions. After a competitive first half, a wobbly third quarter proved costly, but the girls showed excellent resilience and adaptability in the fourth quarter. New combinations were trialled with real promise, and the final quarter highlighted clear progress, teamwork, and determination to keep developing as a squad.
In an excellent netballing performance, our U16D team played with real class and control throughout the match. The damage was done early, with the girls racing into a commanding 9–1 lead in the first quarter.
The U16Bs had their first match of the Netball season against Brighton College on a chilly Friday night at Jubilee.
Anya was named Attacking Player of the Match for her outstanding shooting percentage, while Hannah earned Defensive Player of the Match for her strong interceptions and marking.
Ms Hutchings
Miss Agnew
Excellent U16B Win
Roedean started well, having better conversion initially before Brighton managed to pull a 2-point lead at the end of the first quarter. We needed to decrease the deficit in the next quarter and had a lot of chances to do so, but were shooting from too far and not getting sufficient rebounds. After the 2nd quarter, we were still only down by two and well in reach of Brighton for the remainder of the match. In the 3rd quarter we focused on landing closer to circle edge and shooting from closer, and the girls did brilliantly to take a 2-point lead. A strong last quarter was required and they did just that, extending their lead to 5 points, and Brighton only managed to pull two back at the end of the quarter. The final score was 16-13 to Roedean! ■ ■
1st VII
Defender of the Match – Amarah Attacker of the Match – Mia
Mr Campleman Page 9
From there, the team showed great composure, managing the game well and maintaining their advantage to secure a convincing 9-goal victory.
Well done to the whole team on a fantastic start to the year!
Mr Foggoa
U15C The first match for the U15C team was against Brighton College. They played a really strong first quarter, with lots of energy on the court from all players – Brighton were only ahead by 2 goals. As we went through the quarters, we flagged a little and saw the impact of having no subs. Both Ezzie and Rainah held their nerve when they received the ball and scored some good goals, meaning we managed a healthy 8 goals in total, but Brighton ran away with a 23-8 win.
Mrs Baker
16 13 January October 2026 2023 – Issue 62
HEAD’S HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW REVIEW
Brilliant Badminton Battle vs Sevenoaks The Badminton team secured a hard-fought victory away at Sevenoaks School, winning the fixture 9–7 in a closely contested match. Several games proved pivotal, particularly the pairings of Almen and Koi, as well as Genevieve and her partner, whose performances helped swing the overall result in our favour. The first pairing of Athena and Jolie proved too strong for the Sevenoaks pairings, and Faye and Natalie won two out of their four matches. The team showed great determination and teamwork throughout the fixture, continuing to push each other and thrive competitively. Winning nine out of the twelve games played, the squad have achieved an impressive 75% win ratio so far this year. Next up, the team face Benenden on 31 January, while our Key Stage 3/4 Badminton players will compete in the Sussex County Round as part of the National Schools' Competition. Best of luck to all involved!
Mr Foggoa
U13A Netball Tournament & Walstead Fixture The U13A had a demanding tournament, finishing with four losses, but they showed fantastic character to secure two wins in the final games where everything finally clicked. Confidence grew, combinations improved, and the girls were rewarded for their perseverance. Earlier in the week, they also played an excellent match against Great Walstead. After a slow first quarter, the team dominated the remainder of the game, with players successfully rotating through a variety of positions and showing impressive adaptability and teamwork.
Miss Agnew
Tennis Triumphs for Betsy! Betsy had a very busy and successful Christmas period on the tennis courts, achieving some excellent results: inner of two club competitions W (Singles & Doubles)
Runner-up in an U18s competition Doubles runner-up She’s now ranked 105th nationally, and 4th in Sussex for her age group.
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
She has big goals for 2026, including breaking into the top 75 nationally and top 2 in the county, and we can’t wait to see what’s next! Well done, Betsy!
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