Head’s Introduction
It has been lovely to welcome the students back to Roedean this week, and I hope that the holidays were restful.
The theme for this term is Inspiration, and we strive for our students to be inspired in so many ways; this term that might be to play well on the cricket pitch, or to perform well in the next week’s Fringe concert, or, of course, to tackle exams and assessments with confidence. In our First Chapel services this week, I spoke about Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. As an example of selflessness and humility, there can be no doubt that he was a remarkable inspiration.
It has been a great pleasure to introduce the Prefect team for the next year to the students and staff in Chapel this week. With Lydia and Chaya as Heads of School, the team of twenty Prefects will lead, guide, and support the student body, and I wish them all the very best of luck in this endeavour.
There were two large-scale trips during the holidays, and I am pleased that both were great successes. The Ski trip to Italy saw skiers of all abilities developing their skills and talking to the slopes, and the trip to Fuerteventura gave the students the chance to surf in the waters of the Atlantic. I am very grateful to my colleagues who accompanied these trips to give the students such wonderful opportunities.
I am looking forward to next week’s Brighton Festival Fringe concert at All Saints Church, and I hope that many of you can be there for what will be a spectacular showcase of musical talent. Five soloists will perform solo movements with full orchestra, on Recorder, Violin, Piano, and Cello, and the Choir and Orchestra will also perform Lili Boulanger’s exciting Psalm 130. This will also be the first opportunity to hear the wonderful Harpsichord which has been generously donated to the School by a current parent, for which we are hugely grateful. Good luck to everyone involved, and tickets are still available here: https://w3u.uk/roedean-brighton-fringe
We look forward to welcoming ORs back to School tomorrow to play in the OR versus Student Netball match – I'm sure it will be a great game! Good luck to those who have A Level and GCSE examinations next week, and I hope the first day of the Textiles and Photography exams went well today. I wish you all a restful weekend and a great Summer term.
Harpsichord Donated to Roedean
Roedean Skiers Take to the Italian Slopes
Prefect Team 2025-2026
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 Fringe Festival Concert
Prefect Team 2025-2026
Congratulations to the new Prefect team, who were introduced to the School in our First Chapel services. We look forward to their hard work and leadership over the coming year.
Congratulations, and good luck!
2 May 2025 at 19:00 All Saints Church, Hove
Roedean's Brighton Festival Fringe Concert
Next Friday, Roedean is hosting its annual Brighton Festival Fringe Concert, at All Saints Church in Hove. This is a highlight of the School's musical calendar every year, which provides some of our top musicians with the wonderful opportunity to play a solo with a full orchestra, and it is one not to miss!
Tickets can be bought here: https://w3u.uk/roedean-brighton-fringe
Mrs Green
■ Head of School Lydia
■ Head of School Chaya
Pastoral
■ Head of School Team Angelica
■ Lower School Olivia
■ Middle School Farah
■ Sixth Form Siyun
Co-Curricular
■ Head of School Team Rosa
■ Charity Samantha
■ Co-Curricular & Events Candis
■ Sport Clara
Academic and Enrichment
■ Head of School Team Rida
■ Academic Anna & Emma
■ Futures Irina
■ The Arts Bernice
Community
■ Head of School Team Lucy
■ Boarding Mila & Zaha
■ Diversity & Inclusion Aishwarrya
■ Sustainability Ellen
BSA Sleep Champion School
Spearheaded by the wonderful Mrs Arnall in Keswick House, we have conducted a sleep audit across boarding. This involved surveying boarders’ sleep habits, discussing obstacles to good sleep, and coming up with ideas that promote increased well-being, with sleep being a vital component to this. With rising pressure from examinations at this time of year, from social media and wider technology usage, the boarders and boarding staff are keenly aware that to stay healthy the whole person needs to be considered: what we eat, how we move, what we consume online, our study habits, and, more than ever, our sleep hygiene. Even the staff are learning to practise what they preach on this topic too!
Based on these surveys and discussions, the boarding team are putting together a toolkit with practical tips to promote quality sleep, implementing new ideas in boarding, and the boarders themselves are championing this approach to influence future boarders in these positive habits. Together we hope to continue to raise awareness around well-being, and positive
mental and physical health. Our work has been accredited by the BSA and we are proud that we are now a ‘Sleep Champion’ recognised school.
Mrs Waller
BSA Sleep Champion 2025
Roedean School
Imi (Yr9) – for her wonderful performance of Adele's When We Were Young in the First Chapel services of the term [Dr Barrand]
Harpsichord Donated to Roedean
Roedean is delighted that a current parent, Dr Dawson-Bowling, has donated a beautiful harpsichord to the School. The instrument was commissioned by his mother in 1976 from David Rubio, who was, at the time, a leading figure in building early keyboard and stringed instruments. It is an accurate copy of an 18th century French double manual instrument, and, by shifting the keyboard sideways, it can be played at either baroque or modern pitch. Due to the fact that it can be played with up to three sets of strings sounding simultaneously, it also lends itself equally well to solo, small group or larger ensemble playing.
Dr Dawson-Bowling's mother was a highlyregarded pianist, and, in the 1960s, she discovered that she had a developing passion for Baroque music. She therefore studied the harpsichord at the Royal College of Music, and became one of the first people to build a successful career as a performing harpsichordist. He said, 'My mother's passion for playing was matched by her passion for teaching and for enthusing future generations with a passion for music, early music especially. She would have absolutely loved the idea of our family bequeathing this beautiful harpsichord, one of three she owned, to Roedean in her memory. We hope that in many ways it will continue her legacy by enabling many generations of students to develop their a love for this wonderful repertoire.'
Not only is this a wonderful gift for the School and its musicians, but its significance is brought into sharp focus by the fact that the instrument will be used in the performance of a Baroque piece in next week's Brighton Festival Fringe concert, where the original owner's granddaughter, Elspeth, will be the Recorder soloist in Sammartini's Concerto in F.
Dr Barrand
Physics Challenge Success
Many congratulations to all the students in Years 11 and 12, who participated in the written Senior and Intermediate Physics Challenges at the end of last term.
Congratulations to four Year 12 participants, who achieved Bronze Awards: well done to Sihu, Lily, Jolie, and Ellie.
Thirteen talented Year 11 students also took part, and special congratulations go to Natalie, who achieved an incredible Gold Award. Constance and Michelle also both achieved Silver Awards, and the remaining ten participants all secured a Bronze Award.
Well done to you all!
Dr Mistry
Maths Kangaroo Results
Congratulations to three students who qualified for and took part in the UKMT Pink and Grey Kangaroo competitions last term.
■ Charisse (Yr9) achieved a Bronze award in the Grey Kangaroo
■ Michelle (Yr11) won a Bronze award in the Pink Kangaroo, and Chloe received a participation award.
These results are all the more impressive because students can only take part if they have qualified to do so because they have been successful in earlier rounds.
Well done!
Mrs Hopper
Surf and Serenity in Fuerteventura: Roedean Students Embrace Wellbeing on the Waves
At the start of the Easter Holidays, 25 adventurous Roedean students swapped their classrooms for the coastlines of Fuerteventura, embarking on an unforgettable Surf and Wellbeing Trip. Set against the backdrop of sun-soaked beaches and crystal-clear waters, the trip focused on physical activity, mindfulness, and personal growth.
The students took to the waves each day for expert-led surf lessons, building confidence and resilience in the Atlantic swell. The trip offered time to relax, reflect, and recharge though the yoga and jewellery-making classes. A highlight of the trip was a catamaran cruise to the stunning Lobos island, where we had the opportunity to snorkel in vibrant waters, discovering the island's diverse marine life.
The combination of adventure, connection with nature, and a focus on wellbeing made this a truly memorable experience for all involved – it was a perfect embodiment of Roedean's commitment to holistic education.
Mr Bond
This Week in Boarding... (Rewind Edition)
To mark the end of the Spring term, the Boarding Prefects did a fabulous job at hosting Boarding X Factor, a chance for all to come together and see the array of talent we have at Roedean! It was a wonderful evening, filled with beautiful singing and incredible dancing! Life was so busy and full of Easter fun before the holidays, so let's have a look and see what the Houses were up to before the break!
House 1 was full of fun, laughter, as the junior boarders enjoyed a much-anticipated shopping spree in Brighton – bags were filled, treats were bought, and spirits were high. The girls got cosy with rich hot chocolates while packing for the holidays, turning a usually boring task into a sweet send-off. Sunday was all about chill vibes and popcorn, with an epic movie marathon, where everyone got to relax and enjoy some of their favourite films. And of course, no House 1 week would be complete without Bingo night, a timeless tradition that never fails to bring out their competitive (and slightly silly) sides.
House 2 brought the competition at game night, including a hilarious game of Herd Mentality, which included mooing at others to hurry their answers! To celebrate Mothers' Day, the girls made cards to send home from an array of craft materials including feathers and pom poms, as well as beautiful drawings. Delicious food was enjoyed together, including an ice cream bar complete with sauces and sprinkles galore, and a bagel evening with different fillings of choice. A few mischievous boarders got to work hiding lots of little yellow chicks around House 2, which staff and students had fun discovering each day!
House 3 had a successful shopping trip, coming back with bags filled with treats, and some to take home to their families over the holidays – how kind! The girls enjoyed an evening making Korean corn dogs, a great snack to fuel their packing! Junior boarders had a wonderful time making the most of the sunshine on a walk to the beach, of course, with an ice cream along the way! To challenge their cooking skills, they had a
go at making homemade ravioli, which was a great success and shared with the whole house. To mark St Patrick's Day, there was a House-wide hunt for little pots of gold which could be traded in for a little prize!
House 4 welcomed Spring with themed marshmallows – what wonderful creations! The Year 11s loved getting ready together and dancing the night away at their Ceilidh social, a lovely way to get together before exam season. House 4 hosted a brilliant night of karaoke, fuelled with Belgian-style waffles, which was a fun evening for everyone to let their hair down! With Easter around the corner, the girls got baking some delicious Easter treats, complete with Mini Eggs! House 4 teamed up with House 3 for a massive Easter bunny hunt, and the winners collected an impressive 184 bunnies and won some yummy Easter eggs. Big congratulations go to House 4 on their House Music win with a beautiful combination of orchestra, choir, and band!
Keswick had a gardening lesson with Miss Smith, and had fun getting green-fingered! The girls got creative and made affogato to keep them fuelled in their studies! To make the most of the Spring sunshine, they had a game of rounders on the field outside and enjoyed ice lollies to cool down!
Lawrence hosted a gender reveal for Mrs Ali – there were themed cupcakes, gender guessing games, and baby name games! Congratulations to Mrs Ali, who found out, thanks to confetti-filled balloons, that she is expecting a baby boy this summer! The girls were kept busy with Easter-themed activities, including dying eggs, having an egg hunt, and indulging in an Easter afternoon tea!
We're already looking forward to what evening activities the Summer will bring!
Miss Barnett
Roedean Skiers Take to the Italian Slopes
50 students travelled to Sestriere in Italy at the start of the Easter break to take part in an exciting ski trip at the heart of one of Europe’s largest ski areas, the so-called Milky Way. They had the opportunity to develop their skills or learn how to ski, and then to explore the stunning alpine terrain as they carved their way down the slopes.
Experiences like these help students to build confidence, resilience, and independence, all of which benefit their overall wellbeing – it was wonderful to watch the progress they all made over the course of the trip, and they were excellent ambassadors for Roedean.
Mr Campleman
Summer Summits Snowdon
Well done to Summer in Year 7, who took on the challenge over the Easter holidays of climbing Mount Snowdon in Wales, to raise funds for Rockinghorse, the Year 7 charity.
Snowdon, at 3560ft above sea level, is both the highest mountain in Wales and the highest in the British Isles south of the Scottish Highlands! The weather proved to be very challenging on the day, with very high winds, but she made it to the top!
Well done, Summer!
Mr Bond
Congratulations to Aimee in Year 11, who has just completed her season with the U16 Girls’ England Developing Player Pathway. She represented Sussex in three matches, winning against Kent and Buckinghamshire, and narrowly losing to Hampshire.
Her hard work and dedication have now earned her an invitation to the U18 England Rugby pathway assessment this September.
Well done, Aimee – we’re so proud of you!
Miss Adeyemi
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