Head’s Introduction
The girls have been welcomed back to School by fantastic weather, and it is wonderful to see the girls outside enjoying the grounds. Hearing snippets of excited conversations as the girls share their holiday news with friends going past my office reminds me of the power of sisterhood here at Roedean. This term’s theme for our Chapels is ‘encouraged’, and I spoke in Chapel this week about the value and importance of supporting each other, particularly at a time when levels of stress can be high because of public exams – look after each other!
The new Prefect team for 2026-2027 was introduced to the school body formally in Chapel, and they were presented with their cherry-red gowns. I would like to thank the outgoing Prefects, led by Lydia and Chaya, for an excellent year – they have made a considerable impact in so many different ways.
GCSE and A Level exams have already started, with Photography A Level and speaking exams, so I would like to wish all those taking public exams the very best for the coming weeks. Good luck also to those performing in our Brighton Fringe concert which is next Friday – the programme looks wonderful, and I have no doubt that the girls will raise the roof of the Chapel! Don't forget to book your tickets!
Over the holidays, we heard about some wonderful successes in LAMDA, in the Pink and Grey Kangaroo Maths Challenges, in Ballet, and Ms Friedman was awarded her doctorate so is now Dr Friedman – well done to all. However, particular congratulations go to Claire and Abby in Year 13, who have both achieved Distinctions in RAD Advanced 2 Ballet – this is equivalent to the standard required at the end of a first year university degree in Dance, and is a truly remarkable achievement.
Brighton Festival Fringe Concert
Over the holidays, 47 girls enjoyed the Ski Trip to France –the photos look great, and I have heard what a great time they had. Thank you to my colleagues who accompanied the trip, but particularly to Mr Foggoa for leading it so well.
Hot on the heels of last term’s ‘Cycle to Harare’ challenge, our annual overnight charity challenge is already underway – good luck to the Year 8s who will be walking through the night to raise funds for their charity, the Motor Neurone Disease Association. I hope that some of you will be able to take part to boost the distance we cover collectively as a community. They have already raised well over £3500, but I have no doubt that this total will grow. Good luck!
Ski Trip to France
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.
Irina (Yr13) – for playing the Gramophone Waltz, by a contemporary Moldovan compser, on the Piano in Chapel this week – well done! [Dr Barrand]
Stellar Ballerinas
Congratulations to Claire and Abby (Yr13), who have both passed their RAD Advanced 2 Ballet examinations, and with Distinction. Well done also to Isabella (Yr13) and Megs (Yr12), who have achieved Advanced 1 Ballet and Grade 8, respectively, both with Distinction.
Claire and Abby's achievement is truly exceptional, and one which is incredibly unusual in a mainstream school, given the commitment and time required to be successful. Remarkably, this level is equivalent to what is required for an end of year recital for a first year undergraduate student of dance, so this achievement for these two ballerinas is remarkable.
While they are exceptionally talented, these dancers are also multi-faceted: Megs is also the 1st XI Hockey Captain, Isabella is holding university offers to read Biology, Abby is choosing between taking a degree in Sport and Exercise Medical Services at UCL or King's and a place to study for a degree in Dance at the London School of Contemporary Dance, and Claire has won a place to read Classics and English at St Anne's College, Oxford.
Congratulations – we are so proud of you!
Miss Abaza
More Remarkable LAMDA Results!
Congratulations to all those who took LAMDA examinations in March, across Acting, Musical Theatre, and Verse and Prose – every single student achieved an outstanding result, including 22 Distinctions and 3 Merits out of 25 entrants!
Grade 3
■ Charlotte, Ianthe, Arianna, and Kenza (Yr7)
Grade 4
■ Eve, Isabelle, and Holly (Yr8), Charlotte, India, and Lara (Yr9), and Joyce (Yr12)
Grade 5
■ Desire (Yr8), Emily, and May (Yr9), and Livvy (Yr10)
Grade 6
■ Isabelle (Yr9), Astrid (Yr10), Blaize, Sasha, Stella, and Claudia (Yr11)
Grade 7
■ Lyla (Yr11)
Grade 8
■ Bella (Yr11), and Lucy and Rida (Yr13)
Amongst these remarkable results, it is particularly noteworthy that three students were awarded a Distinction at Grade 8, which is an exceptional achievement.
Well done – we are so proud of you!
Top 3% for Roedean
Mathematicians
Congratulations to twelve students, who took part in the Grey and Pink Kangaroo competitions recently.
Only those who are successful in the Intermediate Maths Challenge earn the right to progress to the Kangaroos, underlining how impressive their achievements are. Four out of twelve students were awarded Silver, and these students are among the top 3% of all those who entered the Intermediate Maths Challenge:
Silver award
■ Ariana, Claudia, Emily, and Liz
Bronze award
■ Abbie, Natalie, Athena, and Ady
Well done!
Mrs Hopper
Mrs Sellers
Brighton Festival Fringe Concert
Next Friday evening will see the return of the opening concert of the Brighton Festival Fringe to Roedean's Chapel. The concert will bring together choral performances with concerto movements. To play an accomplished solo, accompanied by the orchestra, is an outstanding achievement –well done to the following:
First movement from Cello Concerto in E minor, by Elgar Charlie (Yr12), Cello
Final movement from Harp Concerto in E-flat major, by Glière Vanessa (Yr13), Harp
Final movement from Violin Concerto in D minor, by Sibelius Anna (Yr13), Violin
‘Va! Laisse couler mes larmes’ from Werther, by Massenet Ellen (Yr13), Mezzo-Soprano
Second movement from Piano Concerto no.2 in C minor, by Rachmaninov Bernice (Yr13), Piano
‘Song to the Moon’ from Rusalka, by Dvořák Candis (Yr13), Soprano
Carmen Fantasie, by Waxman Ellen (Yr11), Violin
Don't miss your chance to secure your ticket for this wonderful event!
MNDA 24-Hour Challenge Underway!
Year 8's third overnight challenge to raise funds for their year-group charity, MNDA, started today –over the course of 24 hours, until tomorrow at noon, students and staff from across the School will walk or run around a 1-kilometre course, to cover as much distance as possible.
So far, the girls have raised £3531
– no doubt, by the time they have walked for 24 hours, the total will be even more impressive!
Miss Bamford
Mr Rous
Ski Trip to France
At the start of the Easter holidays, 47 girls went to Les Carroz in France on our annual ski trip. They had an amazing time, and the skiing was brilliant – every single skier, from beginners to advanced skiers, made excellent progress and enjoyed the slopes and the stunning alpine
scenery. After the skiing was done for the day, the girls enjoyed an exciting entertainment programme, The trip was a great success – well done to everyone involved.
Mr Foggoa
New Prefect Team for 2026-2027
Following the announcement of the two Heads of School at the end of last term, the new Prefect team has been introduced to the School in this week's Chapel services. They donned their Prefect gowns, and will have leadership training in the next few week's, as well as learning how to ring the Chapel bell!
Thank you to the outgoing Prefects, who have now passed on the mantle to the new cohort –they have lots of ideas and are raring to go, so we look forward to the year ahead.
