Three of our students had the astonishing opportunity this week to fly an aeroplane at RAF Boscombe Down. Mrs Pashley took six students from the RAF section of the Lancing CCF contingent, including Tiah, Sabrina, and Imogen. What an experience, and what a way to fire up your dreams!
Congratulations to our U16 Netballers, who came third in the Sisters n Sport National Finals in Loughborough – this is such an impressive achievement, and, although they might have had higher hopes, they deserve to be very proud of this success. This also comes just a week after they retained their Sussex Cup title. Our Netball teams across the age-range are finishing the term strongly, and I am very happy to hear about strong performances from many of our teams – well done!
Yesterday evening’s Art Exhibition was wonderful. It was such a pleasure to see the astonishing work of our Year 12 students, all so very different, and all so impressive in its execution. Congratulations to all twelve students, who are so talented, and also to the Art Department for teaching and guiding them to produce such lovely pieces.
It seems strange to think that the exchange students from Roedean South Africa only left last weekend. I am delighted that the exchange was such a success, and that the girls settled in so smoothly and got completely stuck in. I hope that the twelve girls have been able to get back into the routine after such an exciting and intense experience, and I would like to congratulate them on making it such a success. We look forward to next year’s exchange.
We have marked Neurodiversity Week this week at Roedean, and I was very proud to see a group of students in Key Stage 3 share their experiences in Assembly – well done! Six of our sailors had the exciting chance to sail from the Isle of Wight this week, and they had wonderful weather, so I look forward to hearing all about it. Congratulations go to our debaters, who have enjoyed even more success last weekend, and to those who entered the UK Linguistics Olympiad and performed so well. I am also pleased that Roedean musicians have done so well at the Springboard Festival, and good luck to those competing this weekend.
I wish you all a restful weekend, and hope that you are able to enjoy the Spring weather.
Light and Space – Year 12 Art and Photography Studio Show
International Competition for Young Debaters
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.
Roedean Diploma –Lydia Has Completed Every Element
Congratulations to Lydia in Year 12, who has completed every single element of the Roedean Diploma, which was launched in September. This is testament to her commitment to many aspects of school life, and underlines the genuinely holistic ethos at the School, which celebrates all-round excellence.
Pi Day 2025
Last Friday was Pi Day, and the results are now in from the competitions on that day.
We had a number of staff and student poets enter our PiKu competition. The top three as judged by Mr Woodhouse were by Clara (Yr12), Claire (Yr12), and Ezzie (Yr9) along with her South Africa exchange student friend, Hannah. The Pi-Kus are shown in the picture.
The winner of the Pi Recitation Challenge this year was Chloe in Year 11 – she managed to recite pi to 230 decimal places!
We also used Buffon's Needle experiment to gain an estimate for pi. This involved dropping a stick onto a piece of paper and recording the number of times the stick landed on a line. Students dropped a stick a total of 173 times, and, using Buffon's calculations, our estimate of pi came out as 3.105 to 4 significant places – not bad!
Celebrating Success at the UK Linguistics Olympiad!
We are thrilled to share that students from Year 11 and Year 12 took part in the annual UK Linguistics Olympiad once again this year, and achieved fantastic results! The Olympiad challenges students with two levels of highly demanding language puzzles, testing their problem-solving and analytical skills.
Our students rose to the occasion, earning an impressive collection of Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards. These results reflect their hard work, perseverance, and exceptional talent in tackling complex linguistic challenges.
Advanced Challenge
■ Andrea and Chloe (Yr11), and Athena, Candis, and Lydia (Yr12) – Participation Award
■ Claire (Yr12) – Silver Award
Intermediate Challenge
■ Chloe and Cartoon (Yr11) – Bronze Award
■ Andrea, Constance, Mary, and Natalie (Yr11), and Lydia (Yr12) – Silver Award
■ Athena and Claire (Yr12) – Gold Award
We would like to thank all the girls who participated for their enthusiasm and dedication, and we are incredibly proud of your achievements. Congratulations on your welldeserved success!
Finals Day Beckons to Rodean Public Speakers
Since entering the English Speaking Union’s Public Speaking Competition in October, Nathania, Audrey and Gabriella have managed to win three rounds consecutively. In their most recent round at Chailey School on Thursday 13 March, the team beat the host school and five other schools to be crowned as South East’s regional champions. The ESU received entries for 315 teams in October, and Roedean have battled their way to be one of the top 12 remaining teams who will take part in the
Grand Finals at Dartmouth House, London, on 30 May. This is the first time that Roedean has ever entered this prestigious competition. A super well done to Gabriella, whose speech on Ntombephi "Induna" Ntobela’s beadwork ‘Mother’s Power’, was a celebration of motherhood and female achievement. She won best speaker again, to much well-deserved applause!
Ms Shahab
Mrs Hopper
Mrs Ladouceur
Mrs Chamberlain
Mbali and Mancy (Yr13) – for leading an exceptional Boarding Assembly this week – their work as Boarding Prefects this year has been outstanding [Miss Hart]
Shakespeare Week 24-28 March
Next week is Roedean Shakespeare week! The theme is this year is ‘The Women Who Made Shakespeare’, and we will be celebrating iconic female Shakespearean characters throughout the week.
Look out for the following events:
■ Daily events in the fireplace at break-time (Scavenger hunts, biscuits, bookmark making, and more)
■ Year 7 -9 will be having Shakespeare-themed English and Drama lessons
■ Monday and Thursday – teacher-led Shakespeare monologues in the Cloisters (weather depending)
■ Friday – House Shakespeare recitation competition – Activity 1 in the Library – come along and support your House!
Mrs Bailey and Ms Shillito
RAF Cadets Take to the Skies at Boscombe Down
On Wednesday 19 March, I had the pleasure of taking six RAF cadets from Roedean and Lancing College for an unforgettable flight experience day at MOD Boscombe Down. Each cadet had the incredible opportunity to fly in a Tutor T1, a training aircraft known for its side-by-side seating, which enhances instructor-cadet interaction in the air.
Tiah, Imy, and Sabrina proved to be naturals in the cockpit. After a thorough safety briefing and suiting up in stylish flight suits, helmets, aviators, and gloves, they took to the skies with experienced RAF pilots Coomes and Reid, both of whom have previously flown Hawks and Typhoons.
The Tutor T1’s large cockpit canopy provided the cadets with an excellent view as they practised circuit flying and even experienced some air acrobatics over the iconic Stonehenge. It was a proud moment to award each cadet their First Flight Certificate, hopefully the first of many to come!
Mrs Pashley
Light and Space – Year 12 Art and Photography Studio Show
Congratulations to the Year 12s taking Art and Photography A Level, who produced stunning pieces for this show. Their stimulus theme for the year has been Light and Space, and they were free to interpret this however they wished.
Lily, Aishy, Melina, Athena, Tilly, Qiuqi, Fiona, Albertine, Karina, Cheryl, Jamie, and Agatha could choose whichever medium they wanted to use, after experimenting with materials and techniques. What is remarkable is how differently each interpreted the theme – they drew on a way of working at a process or a concept which they have explored earlier in their A Level course, and developed it. The pieces they presented are the product of a three-week independent project, but what is not clear from the photos is all of the work in their sketchbooks.
The immediacy of the feedback from those going around the show gives them great confidence in the next stage of the course, and it is fun and exciting to see the students’ personalities and interests come out in their work.
Our students’ work encompasses a range of different media and skills, and I would like to congratulate my colleagues, Mrs Alexander, Mr Ford, Mrs Silburn, Miss Good, and Miss Barber, for guiding and inspiring our Year 12 students to create such accomplished work.
Ms Strachan
Two Roedeans – Fantastic 6-Week Exchange in Brighton and South Africa
12 students from two schools, which are nearly 9000 kilometres apart, have loved finding out how similar the two Roedeans are, as well as identifying our differences.
Sorcha, Saffron, Bella, Greta, Georgia, and Andrea from Roedean in Brighton spent 3 weeks in Johannesburg, before returning to the UK with their exchange partners, Bibi, Hannah, Sophie, Maia, Imogen, and Olly, from Roedean South Africa.
They threw themselves into all aspects of school life, and then took every opportunity to see the sights at the weekends – they packed a lot in, and they are tired, but they have had a wonderful experience.
They have had an adventure, and this trailblazing trip is the first in what will become an annual exchange for Year 9 students.
Dr Barrand
'What
would surprise my friends most about Roedean Brighton is the boarding houses – we have one big boarding house for everyone at the bottom of the school, but here all the boarding houses are integrated into the school.'
Bibi
'The thing that surprised me most is that I didn't even miss hime, because I felt that I had made a family there with the people I met.'
Sorcha
'One lesson I have learnt is just to go up to people and have a conversation, because everyone is really nice – you just have to say hi!'
Hannah
'I would definitely recommend this to others because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.'
Sorcha
'One thing I've learnt is definitely to face any challenge head on!'
Andrea
'One
thing that Roedean Brighton girls found surprising is that lessons start at 7:30 in the morning!'
Andrea
'One of my highlights was definitely the marimba workshop, it was really fun and exciting.'
Georgia
'One thing I wish I could take back to South Africa is my exchange buddy,
Georgia.'
Sophie
'I thoroughly enjoyed all the time that I spent in South Africa, but my highlights were definitely hanging out at the school pool and going to the Apartheid Museum – this in particular really connected with me and I will undoubtedly remember it for a long time to come.'
Saffron
'My highlight was visiting the Apartheid Museum and learning all about South Africa's history.'
Greta
'My first impression of Roedean South Africa was definitely all the greenery and the amount of flowers around school.'
Andrea
'I would recommend this exchange 100% because I have made life-long friends.'
Sophie
'My biggest culture shock was definitely the weather – the rain the moment we landed was unexpected, and it really does feel like we have all the seasons in one day.'
Maia
'The biggest culture shock for me was the amazing spirit at Roedean South Africa – their commitment to war-cries was fantastic.'
Bella
'House 2 made our first boarding experience so amazing – we are true House 2 members and our hearts beat yellow!'
Sophie and Bibi
International Competition for Young Debaters
On Sunday 23 February, six Roedean debaters in Years 9 and 10 competed against 114 other debaters from the UK and abroad, including St Paul’s, The Grammar School at Leeds, King Edward’s Upper, St George’s British International School in Rome, the British School at Caracas and 15 other schools.
The competition was run this year by the Cambridge Union. Each debater was in a team of two, and had to take part in three 40 minute debates during the day, with only 15 minutes of preparation time!
Our teams performed with confidence, enthusiasm and passion on three different motions: ‘This House Believes That, from the age of 16, the education system should be divided into an academic stream and a vocational stream’, ‘This House Would pay all elected politicians the median wage in their country’, ‘This House Would legalise performanceenhancing drugs in professional sports’
It is no surprise that Team A – Alex and Scarlett – came first twice on the day (despite having to change team members three times in the lead up to the competition). Team B – Alma and Diya – scored six points overall –tying with nine other teams on the day for third position overall. Team C –Gabriella and Emily – also won the first debate on the day.
All students have been really keen and motivated in the lead up to the competition, and their team spirit was second to none. Our newest debater, Scarlett, felt that the day ‘helped develop my adaptability, teamwork and public speaking skills, and challenged me to think about topics I don't have much knowledge on, and was overall a good challenge’.
Well done to everyone!
Ms Shahab
Conductors’ Workshop and Concert
On Thursday 27 March, there will be workshops for groups of students run throughout the day by the wonderful conductor, Natalia Luis-Bassa. To round off what will be a wonderful day, our students will then be playing Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals, with different movements conducted by some of the students.
Ms Bartlette
Oxford Schools’ Competition Finals Day
After winning the regional finals in February, Lydia and Maria bravely represented Roedean on the Finals Day at the Oxford Union, on Saturday 15th March. They had prepared extensively with the help of the ICYD debaters, as well as teachers willing to engage in verbal combat – Ms Boobis, Mr Marchant, Mr Woodhouse and Ms Shahab. Finals Day was an extraordinary gathering of international debaters, with just over 200 contestants gathered from the UK and around the world, from China, Canada, Kenya, Tunisia, and Spain,
to name a few. The standard of debating was exceptionally high, and Lydia and Maria confidently developed their skills in offering points of information, teamwork and preparing a complex argument in just 15 minutes for each of the four debates they took part in. They prepared for motions on sport, religion, science and politics, such as ‘This House Would allow political parties to designate some of their electoral promises as binding’, one that Maria in particular excelled in. The girls came second in two of the four debates, and also had time to take lots of photos with the sun shining down on the ‘dreaming spires of Oxford’.
Lydia: 'Oxford Schools Finals Day was an incredible experience and a fantastic opportunity to debate with the best of the best from around the world. The atmosphere was electric, and my ability to think critically was certainly challenged! Beyond the debates, it was so much fun to meet like-minded people, especially those who had come from across the world. The experience has not only sharpened my debating skills but also left me with unforgettable memories and a deeper appreciation for public speaking, strategising and improvisation. Thanks to Maria and Ms Shahab, but also everyone who helped us prepare leading up to the competition!'
Maria: 'I truly enjoyed the whole experience of Oxford Schools Debating Competition, from the very start of our preparation for the regional round to the national final day. Not only did it hone my skills for communication and critical thinking, but also greatly increased my confidence. Most importantly, it has brought me a valuable friendship with my debating partner Lydia. All this cannot be achieved without the tireless effort and endless patience Ms Shahab has made and given, to whom we will always be grateful for such an amazing experience!'
Roedean Success at the Springboard Festival
Congratulations to Roedean's extremely talented musicians for taking part in the Brighton Springboard Festival, and for achieving such wonderful results. It is outstanding to see the variety of classes entered and the music that was performed.
■ Ellen (Yr10) – Violin – First Place in the Post Grade 8 Class
■ Amyra (Yr9) – Violin – First Place in the Concerto Class
■ Florence (Yr10) – Flute – Commended in the Grade 4-5 Woodwind Class
■ Bernice (Yr12) – Flute – Winner, with Honours, in the French Music Class, and Commended in the Senior Woodwind Recital Class
■ Meghan (Yr11) – Flute – Commended in the Senior Woodwind Recital Class
■ Ellen (Yr10) – Piano – Second Place, with Honours, in the Grade 6-7 Piano Class
Thank you to our instrumental teachers for preparing the students so well, and entering them into this prestigious festival. Good luck to those taking part this weekend!
Ms Bartlette
Year 8 Explore the Impact of Alcohol in PHSE
As part of this term’s PSHE topic on Substance Abuse and Healthy Lifestyles, Year 8 students have been learning about the short- and longterm effects of alcohol, the laws surrounding its use, and its physiological impact on the body.
To bring these lessons to life, students took part in interactive activities using alcohol impairment goggles, which simulate the effects of intoxication by distorting vision, balance, coordination, and reaction time. By experiencing symptoms such as blurred or double vision, depth perception issues, and delayed motor responses, students gained a deeper understanding of the risks associated with alcohol impairment – all within a safe and controlled environment.
This engaging session helped students reflect on the consequences of alcohol consumption and reinforced the importance of making informed, responsible choices.
Mrs Chamberlain
‘I think the best part of the lesson was trying the challenges because they were fun and an interesting way to learn why not to drink.’
Elodie
'In PSHE today we learnt about the short and longtime effects of alcohol. We did this by being in teams and doing activities with goggles that show the sight of a drunk, disoriented person. The activities were to walk in a straight line, throw a ball and catch it, and give the cashier an accurate amount of money from your wallet/purse. This was a really hard thing to do as everything was blurry with the goggles. It was also a great experience and gave us a chance to understand what it would feel like. The sight was really blurry and there was two of everything in your sight. Almost everyone was dizzy at the end.'
Mabel
'I really enjoyed today's lesson :) I learnt that doing lots of simple tasks are actually really difficult to complete if someone is drunk. I enjoyed how we actually got a perspective of a drunk person :) '
Cynthia
'I liked how we experienced what being drunk was like somewhere safe and how we had to complete different tasks. It was really funny watching everyone try and catch a ball with the goggles on! I was also surprised how intense it was.'
Amara
'It was exciting to try the ‘drunk’ goggles and see how alcohol affects people. This was an amazing experience, and I think we all enjoyed it and learnt a lot about how having a couple of drinks and spirits can change how you see the world.'
Dixie
'I learnt the effect of alcohol on our body and why it is important to not get drunk or do drugs. The glasses and tasks were very fun!'
Phoebe
Political and Scientific Minds Combined
Earlier this week some Year 13 Chemists joined forces with the PolSoc Politics students to discuss ideas to submit to the government’s Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee.
The students came up with some thoughtprovoking suggestions to put forward for consideration by the Committee, including the use of AI in education, the ethics of space exploration, renewable energy, and environmental regulations.
Neurodiversity Party
On Tuesday, students joined the Learning Support Department to celebrate Neurodiversity Week, following on from our neurodiversitythemed Key Stage 3 Assembly.
As part of the festivities, students shared their hopes and aspirations, by writing them on tags
Thank you to Mr Marchant for hosting the session. I look forward to seeing the Science students collaborating with the Politics students again.
and hanging them on our wishing tree. They also contributed to a special board, proudly showcasing their unique 'superpowers'. The celebration was filled with music, delicious cakes, and the chance to collect a variety of themed neurodiversity stickers.
It was wonderful to see students from all year groups coming together, embracing differences, and celebrating the strengths and talents that make everyone unique.
Mrs Barker
Mrs Marks
Neurodiversity Assembly
In this week's Key Stage 3 Assembly, some students made a presentation to mark Neurodiversity Week.
Georgia, Beth, and Maddie (Yr9): Today we are celebrating something special, neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is a community of people whose brains work differently.
Tabitha (Yr7): Today, I want to talk to you about something really important to me –autism. Some of you might already know that I have autism, and I think it’s important to share what that means for me and how we can all understand each other better.
Autism isn’t an illness or something that needs to be fixed. It’s just a different way of seeing and experiencing the world. Imagine looking through a different lens – things might be louder, brighter, or more detailed. I notice things that others might miss. I remember small details, I think deeply about things, and I can be really passionate about topics I love. These are some of my strengths.
Sometimes, things can be challenging. Social situations can be confusing. Small talk doesn’t always come naturally to me. I might take things literally, or I might need extra time to process what someone is saying. Loud noises or changes in routine can feel overwhelming. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be included or understood – it just means I experience things differently.
What I’d love for everyone to understand is that autism isn’t a bad thing – it’s just a different way of thinking. The world needs different minds to solve problems, create new ideas, and see things in ways others might not. Some of the greatest inventors, scientists, and artists in history were autistic, and their way of thinking changed the world.
The best thing anyone can do is be understanding. If someone like me seems quiet or doesn’t make eye contact, it doesn’t mean we don’t care. If we’re passionate about something and talk a lot about it, it’s because we love it! If we need a little space or time to adjust, just being patient and kind makes a huge difference.
Autism isn’t something to be afraid of – it’s something to embrace. Everyone has their own strengths and challenges, and when we work together, we make the world a better place for everyone. I am proud of what I can do and achieve.
Cleo (Yr7): I've written a children's book about autism, and I wrote it because, when I was in primary school, if I was wearing my headphones or ear defenders, then often the younger children would come up and ask me why I was wearing them. I didn't mind explaining, but
it got a bit annoying because I was having to explain every day.
So, I thought that if they were to read my book, then maybe they'd understand better. Tabitha and I are going to act it out for you.
Cleo: I am Autistic. It’s not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. Sometimes I wear headphones
Tabitha: But why, Cleo? Why do you wear headphones?
Cleo: Because it’s too loud!
Cleo: Sometimes, I’ll have a toy!
Tabitha: But why Cleo? Why do you have a toy?
Cleo: Because he helps me stay calm!
Cleo: Sometimes, I wear a chewy necklace.
Tabitha: But why Cleo? Why do you wear a chewy necklace?
Cleo: Because otherwise I bite my nails.
Cleo: Sometimes, I wear sunglasses, even if it’s cloudy.
Tabitha: But why Cleo? Why do you wear sunglasses even when it’s cloudy?
Cleo: Because it’s still too bright.
Cleo: I am autistic, It’s not a bad thing, it’s a GREAT thing!
Josie (Y7): A day in my life….
6.30 – I jolt up, the morning alarm piercing my ears. I hit snooze, although my anxiety is telling me it's a bad idea.
6.45 – My brain is exhausted, but my restless legs are whirring.
7.00 – Now I must get up
7.10 – I'm only just making my bed. I know that I'm going to be late for breakfast.
7.15 – I barely made it downstairs and it's already almost time to go. Not even dressed yet. I've not eaten breakfast or put my shoes on. I need to brush my teeth and comb my hair. I know this morning is going to be rough. I throw my clothes on and frantically pack my bag as I forgot to do that the night before. I also shove a snack in my bag as I forgot to do that as well and rushed downstairs to put my shoes on and realised that my lodger is already walking up to the car and I remember something...I forgot to brush my teeth. I put some water on my toothbrush, grab the toothpaste and run out the door. In the car, I'm frantically scrubbing away
at my teeth while the lodger who takes me, is going on about how I forgot to unload the dishwasher last night as one of my chores.
8.19 – I arrived at school almost too late I rushed into my form room , worried that I'm going to be told off. I put my phone in the box and then run to my seat and sit down. I carry on as if nothing has happened. My restless legs are getting even worse than this morning and my eyes are twitching . And then I remembered something. I forgot to do my history homework!!! My breathing becomes shorter, and I can feel my palms sweating. History was in period 4 and even after 15 minutes of frantic writing at break time, I still haven't done half. I tried to come up with an excuse, but there's no use. I arrived in my history lesson with my heart in my throat. Then I hear a voice call out,'Girls, bring your prep up to the front and we're going to mark it in the lesson.' I gingerly walked over to her desk, 'I'm so sorry miss, but I just had no time this week and I'm, I'm, I'm sorry, but I just didn't have time. I heard a voice call out;
'SIT
DOWN, FOCUS POINT!!'
As you can probably guess from my Day in a Life, I have ADHD. Sometimes it’s a struggle, as I can forget things, such as my History homework or brushing my teeth. However, in other ways it’s such a superpower as I can hyper focus on stuff that I like things such as History and get it done super quickly and super well. Thank you.
Maddie and Georgie (Yr9): Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty that affects a person’s ability to understand and work with numbers. It’s often compared to dyslexia — but instead of struggling with words, people with dyscalculia struggle with numbers.
But it’s not just about math. Dyscalculia can make it hard to read a clock, handle money, follow directions, or even remember phone numbers. Imagine being in your Maths class and the teacher asks a simple maths question like 7 times 8. For most people, the banswer comes easily.
But for someone with dyscalculia, their brain might freeze — the numbers just don’t make sense, no matter how hard they try. And it’s not because they’re not smart. Their brain just works differently when it comes to numbers.
The hardest part is that many people don’t understand dyscalculia. They think struggling with math means you’re lazy or not trying hard enough — but that’s not true.
So what can we do? First, be patient. If someone is struggling with numbers, don’t make fun of them. Instead, offer help and be understanding. And remember – someone with dyscalculia isn’t less intelligent. They just need a different way
of learning, and with the right support, they can achieve just as much as anyone else.
Tabitha (Yr7): We are now going to read a poem that was written by Amelia in Year 13. who Amelia has autism. Among many talents, as you will hear, she has a talent for writing poetry. Amelia won a poetry writing competition and had her poem read out by Michael Rosen in London at the SEND show.
The Glass Wall
There is a wall A big glass wall. It's been there since I was really small. It keeps others out and me inside, And I just couldn't break it, no matter how hard I tried.
So I'd bang on the walls, but they just got thicker, And all the other kids would laugh and snicker. They didn't have a wall of their own, So it was just me who was all alone.
It was there at home, it was there at school, Everything was under its rule, I couldn't climb over and I couldn't dig below, And what it was like without one I'd never really know.
Only I could see my wall, until one day it broke, Because someone had walked over and decided to give it a poke, I never knew my wall could break if someone reached inside, I probably still would not if just one person hadn't tried.
No-one else had bothered to look pat my big glass wall, No-one else had said 'I see you, and I don't mind at all,' To the people who saw through it, even though you didn't have to, For showing me that kindness, I just want to say thank you.
Here are some quotations about neurodivergence:
'Being autistic means I miss what others catch and I catch what others miss.'
'Don’t try to fix me, I’m not broken.'
'All of us are different, none of us are less.'
'Everyone is a genius” but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing that it’s stupid.'
'When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.'
'Neurodiversity means my brain is beautiful and yours is too.'
'Make someone’s day by being kind and understanding.'
'You have the power to make a positive difference to someone who may be having a difficult time.'
'Dyslexia means I can read your mind, just not your handwriting.'
U15Cs Fight for a Draw vs Bede's U14As
The U15Cs had a busy week with a match at the weekend and another on Tuesday, this time against a Bede's U14A, which would prove a tough battle all afternoon. Bede's managed to pull ahead by 3 after the first quarter, with our shooters struggling in the breeze and defenders getting to grips with two shooters who didn't seem to miss. In the second quarter, Bella stepped into GA and worked tirelessly with Claudia to finish off some incredible plays towards the post, managing to be 2 up after the second quarter. That was a 5-point swing in one quarter, well done!
In the third quarter, it was a tight game as both sides defended well and only five points were scored by both teams, so Roedean was 1 point up going into the final quarter. It was all to play for and Roedean seemed to have the better start, going 3 points up with about 5 minutes to go. Bede's however came out with nothing to lose and managed some excellent attacking moves towards the post, accompanied by shooters who didn't miss.
Roedean seemed to be down by 1, came back to draw, down by one again, and in the final few moments of the match brought it back to a draw of 1414. It was a sensational ending, with both sides thinking they should have done better. Credit goes to the team for fighting back from being down at the end, holding their nerve, and persevering to manage a draw.
Mr Campleman
This Week in Boarding...
House 2 held a baby photo quiz, with a total of 33 babies to match to students and staff! Girls were treated to a midweek loaded nacho bar, complete with sour cream, guacamole, chilli, and cheese. Over the weekend, girls baked some incredible 'home' themed biscuits, which tasted as good as they looked! The boarders bade farewell to their South African exchange students, who departed with some small gifts to remind them of their time in House 2. The girls got crafty, making spring wreaths and tissue flowers to decorate the house.
House 3 decorated plant pots, ready to plant sunflower seeds – whose will be the tallest? Girls came together to celebrate Holi festival by creating colourful paintings. House 3 did an excellent job hosting an evening of party games, including Twister and Pass the Parcel, for boarding, with girls from all the Houses getting involved and having fun! Over the weekend, boarders enjoyed a milkshake bar, and Miss FordSenior got the girls cheering on her local team, Newcastle United, in a cup final! For National Panda Day, the bakers of House 3 decorated panda cupcakes for all to enjoy.
House 4 had a week full of birthdays: girls celebrated with friends, music, their favourite takeaways, and some very fancy cakes! To mark the end of mock week, the Year 11s had a pizza party, complete with their favourite toppings and fresh basil. During the week, some keen bakers made some delicious homemade donuts... which were devoured in seconds! Over the weekend, House 4 said goodbye to their South African exchange students, Hannah and Olly, who departed with some small gifts, and lots of hugs.
Keswick girls in Year 12 had a wonderful time getting ready together and enjoying a fantastic evening social with the Tonbridge boys, before returning to the House to share stories and laughter from their night. It was a truly special experience as they built lasting friendships and memories!
Lawrence had fun celebrating St Patrick's day, complete with shamrock temporary tattoos! Boarders successfully made their own tapioca pearls for bubble tea, which was enjoyed on a very chatty evening with friends. Even the Lawrence mascot got involved with the BSA Early Night initiative, and was tucked up in bed before lights out!
Miss Barnett
A Nail-Biting Affair for the U14As
In a thrilling match, the U14A team secured a narrow 31-30 victory after a tense, neck-and-neck battle. Trailing 9-6 at the end of the first quarter, Roedean fought back in the second and took the lead 17-15 at half-time.
The third quarter was a tense affair, marked by strong contests for possession, but Seaford were unable to pull ahead, thanks to solid defensive work and clinical shooting.
As the season has progressed, this team has grown in confidence, and this victory is undoubtedly one of their finest performances to date. The final quarter saw both teams go goal for goal, with Roedean maintaining a slight advantage. In the dying moments, a decisive goal gave us a one-goal lead, and despite a late push from the opposition, we held on to win 31-30.
The match was a testament to the girls' resilience, teamwork, and determination, with standout performances from all players in both attack and defence.
U15D Victorious vs Seaford U15C
On Saturday, our U15D team played a triangular versus Seaford U15C and Roedean U15C. We had some very closely contested matches against our C team which ended on a draw – the squad should be very proud of themselves for that.
Against Seaford, we took the lead early with some excellent shooting, despite the windy weather! We turned over the ball on numerous occasions in defence, which allowed ample opportunity for the attack to capitalise off them. The attack used their speed to outwit their opponents and land circle edge to feed the shooters.
It was an extremely impressive performance and a well-deserved 13-6 win. Well done team!
Miss Kirby-Jones
Mrs Hammond
U15D
U15C Celebrate Win against Seaford College in Triangular
The U15C team took to the court against a seemingly tough Seaford side, and started the game brilliantly, going up and not letting Seaford near the post. The attack was working well together, with Anya and Claudia having to cope with the wind that was testing their accuracy. Lily, Athena, and Sorrel worked tirelessly in defence, sticking tight to their players and getting important intercepts to go back the other way with success.
In the second half, it was much of the same – Sana'a worked incredibly hard and put in so much effort up and down the court in attack and defence. We managed to extend our lead and allow Seaford only one goal in the entire match. Well done team for an excellent effort and determination in this triangular against Seaford and the Roedean D team.
Mr Campleman
U13D
Unbeaten Season Achieved!
The U13D team took to the court with an unbeaten season still on the cards, but the challenge against a Hurst 5th VII was going to be considerable. Roedean started brilliantly by defending well, staying tight to players, and disrupting the ball going to the post – Zara had an unbelievable match! Stella and Emma formed a formidable bond in attack and scored some vital points in the first quarter, taking it 4-2 to Roedean.
The second half started with a Roedean centre and the possibility of going 5-2 up, which would be difficult for Hurst to come back from. Unfortunately, Hurst managed to turnover the ball and go to post, and they managed a strong first few minutes with our girls under all sorts of pressure. In the final few moments, we were down and needed to get the ball to Stella or Emma, who is a long-range shooting specialist, burying the ball into the hoop. Perla and Zara stepped up to defend brilliantly, and turned over the ball with one last attack, but there was not enough time left and the match ended 6-6.
The U13D team then played the Hurst 6th VII in a rematch, after beating them 10-2 earlier in the term. They went in with confidence, and defended brilliantly, with no goals going in and scoring two of their own, Stella showed her skills in the circle, and Perla and Hailey defended well. In the second half, Roedean stepped it up and, with excellent feeds from Jess and Alexa, managed to score a couple goals on the trot to finish with a flurry. The match ended 8-1 to Roedean, and the player of the day was Zara in defence, challenging everything and not letting any easy balls into the circle.
Well done to the entire team – they scored 12 points and only conceded 7 in reply all day.
Mr Campleman
Seaford Triangular for the U14D&E Teams
On a crisp Saturday morning, the U14D and E teams from Roedean faced off against the U14D team from Seaford in an exciting triangular Netball match.
The game was fast-paced and full of energy, with all teams playing three action-packed quarters. Despite the frantic pace, the match showcased some impressive shooting skills and remarkable perseverance from every player on the court.
Both teams from Roedean demonstrated good court coverage and interceptions. The frenetic nature of the match provided ample opportunities for all teams to capitalise on quick breaks and take advantage of the chaotic pace.
The game ended with both teams having showcased their energy, determination, and sportsmanship. Congratulations to Roxanne, Dayspring, Bea, and Cheryl for being named Opposition's Players of the Match.
Final Scores:
■ Roedean U14D vs Seaford U14D: 8-2
■ Roedean U14E vs Seaford U14D: 4-5
U18A vs Seaford U18B
The U18As came up against a very physical Seaford team on Saturday, but they put up a good fight. In the first half, there was often only 1 goal between each team, and it was truly neck and neck.
Seaford kept managing to just go up a few goals by the end of each quarter, but we would then catch them up. The 1st quarter was 9-6 to Seaford, and the 2nd was 16-12. Seaford had a very strong shooter who didn’t seem to miss! And they were body-on-body defending all the way down the court, making it difficult for us to get free from them. However, we didn’t give up and worked hard throughout. There were lots of turnovers in defence, providing us with opportunities to get back, but we struggled to feed the ball into the shooters, as they were very tightly marked.
As a team, we did lots of driving forwards to get free from our players, and we were great at sticking tight to our players and getting tips and intercepts. The final score was 33-22 to Seaford.
■ Players of the Match – Alice (GS) and Saffron (GA)
■ Coach’s Player – Elodie (C)
Mrs Patching-Jones
Miss Kirby-Jones
Netball vs Mayfield
U13B Win
The U13B team won 19-9 last Wednesday against Mayfield, demonstrating good progress from recent training.
They started strongly, with a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks to solid defence and a fluid attack. Players switched positions throughout the match, with some trying new roles, and they adapted well. The opposition put up more of a fight in the later quarters, but the team maintained control with strong defence and excellent teamwork.
Everyone contributed to the victory, and it was a positive result that reflected their improvement. Standout performances came from Emily and Valerie, who were both given the Opposition's MVP award.
Miss Kirby-Jones
U12C
It was a chilly start to our U12C Netball match, as, shortly after we arrived, it started to snow! Fortunately, the snow stopped as we were about to start our match. We got off to a good start and found it quite easy to get the ball down the court and into the D, where our shooters, Desire and Tabitha were getting the goals in.
The Mayfield team were quite inexperienced, so we were able to turn the ball over frequently and get it back down our attacking end. We went 4-0 up in the first quarter. We then continued this good form and went up 12-0 in the 2nd quarter. In defence, Lexi and Daisy weren’t really getting a chance to even touch the ball as we were intercepting it before it even got down there. However, the couple of times they did, we were able to get the rebound from their shot and pass it back down to our end of the court. Deema (C) and Emma (WD) were tight on defence in the mid-court and stopping any balls getting past them. Mattie (WA) was playing steady netball, and making some lovely feeds into our shooters.
We then moved everyone around in the 3rd and 4th quarter to even up the match, so some of the girls who don’t normally shoot had a go at scoring. This also allowed Mayfield to get the ball down into their attacking third and have some attempts at goal. They had more chances to score, but they weren't able to capitalise, so the final score was 15-0 to us.
■ Player of the Match: Daisy
■ Coach’s Player: Tabitha
Mrs Patching-Jones
Congratulations to our U16 Netball team for securing third place and winning bronze in the Sisters n Sport National Finals at Loughborough University. They delivered an exceptional performance against formidable competition, and they have played brilliantly at a national tournament – well done!
Mrs Hammond
U12C
U16A Retain their Sussex Cup Title!
Last week, the U16A played in the Sussex Cup finals against Brighton College. Roedean had a nervous start to the match for the first 5 minutes – they managed to regain composure towards the end of the quarter to narrow the gap, but we were trailing 10-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Brighton College kept pushing in the second, and extended their lead by a wide margin, and, unfortunately, we were not able to respond. They were leading 23-16 at half- time. The squad knew we had a big second half ahead of us – we had made enough turnovers in the match, but we were struggling to link our defence and attack. We went on feeling positive and determined to turn this game around, and we fought hard in the third quarter to reduce the gap to 25-30 to Brighton College going into the final 15 minutes.
We worked tirelessly in defence and drove hard in attack, and, with 3 minutes to go, we were only down by 1 goal. It was their centre pass, and Ruby got a two-handed strong intercept which we efficiently transferred through court to goal, taking it to a draw. Next, we scored our centre pass, taking the lead by 1 with 90 seconds to play. It was Brighton’s centre pass, and Romey put in excellent stage 2 defence which caused a turnover. We then moved the ball around the court effectively, maintaining possession until the final whistle.
It was truly an amazing come back to snatch the win 38-37. Excellent netball was played by all to make this outstanding achievement a reality. The coach's players were Ruby and Harriet, for their composed and efficient play from start to finish.
