Head’s Introduction
It has been a wonderfully busy week, truly showcasing our students’ depth of skill and talents, and Roedean’s focus on the future for our students. The Art Exhibition was hugely impressive, and the first summer fête organised by the Parents’ Guild on Roedean Day was a great success, and these were followed by Sports Day on the hottest day of the year. Despite the heat, there were some excellent performances down on the fields, and House 3 ran away with the points towards the House Cup.
Two days later, prizes were awarded on Speech Day in the Dome, and we were lucky enough to hear the wise words of the Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover. Hearing Bishop Rose speak, and listening to the range of destinations and chosen courses of the leaving Year 13s must have been so inspiring for the younger students. That evening, they enjoyed their Leavers’ Ball with bubbles on the i360 and dinner in The Grand – it was a lovely occasion to round off their careers at Roedean and see them move into the next phase of their lives.
While Years 7 and 8 were enjoying an exciting 3-day residential after Speech Day, Years 9, 10, and 12 were taking part in our Futures Festival at School, overseen by Ms Boobis. Through a variety of workshops, talks, and taster lessons, they looked at the skills they need to build and develop to be successful in the next stage of their education, to provide access to their chosen next steps, and to be ready to take on the world of work. It was an empowering festival, timed perfectly to round off one academic year and sow the seeds for success in the year to come – well done to everyone involved.
I am incredibly proud that, as a community, we have raised over £40,000 for a range of charities, both locally and further afield. The direct impact of this fund-raising is powerful, and Year 9 saw this on their visit to the Raystede Animal Sanctuary this week. Well done, and thank you to everyone who has contributed to this area which is central to school life at Roedean.
Good luck to our musicians who have already set off for Belgium, and to those going to Moldova on Sunday. As a community, we have enjoyed a number of events and activities to mark Pride Month, and happy National Pride Day for those celebrating tomorrow. I wish you all, students, staff, and parents, a wonderful holiday over the summer!
Year 7 and 8 Residential
House 4 Win the House Language Quiz
Congratulations to House 4, the proud winners of this year’s House Language Quiz! After a close and exciting contest, they claimed the top spot with impressive teamwork and sharp thinking.
The race for second place was especially tight, and we originally considered naming two joint runners-up. However, Yujin (Yr12) from House 1 pointed out that Thai has no direct verb “to be”! Thanks to this, House 1 secured the runner-up position, followed by House 3 in third place and House 2 in fourth.
Throughout the quiz, the students showed fantastic collaboration and applied their language-learning skills in creative ways. A real highlight was watching teams work together to decipher Georgian words, using logic, and a shared love of languages.
Bravo to everyone involved!
Unsung heroes in the spotlight
Thank You from the Parents’ Guild
Miss De Jesus A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported both our Summer Fête and the After Speech Day gathering. These two events were such special moments, full of energy, warmth, and community spirit.
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.
Emily (Yr10) – for assisting the Admissions team by translating beautifully for a visiting family [Mrs Shelver]
Unsung Staff hero in the spotlight
Dr Mistry, Mrs Diplos, and Ms Romani – for being fantastic in stepping in to cover boarding house duties when needed [Miss Hart]
The Summer Fête was a fantastic day, made possible by our brilliant parent volunteers, from cake bakers and ticket sellers to stall holders and set-up helpers. Your enthusiasm and generosity helped us raise funds for our chosen charities and brought so much joy to the girls.
Our After Speech Day event was equally special. It was lovely to unwind together, and we’re so pleased this will continue to be a regular tradition to round off the school year.
On a personal note, this is my final year helping to organise these events, although Christmas is the last event to plan, so for now I want to thank
you all sincerely for the kindness, support, and teamwork you have shown over the years before we enter the summer break. Knowing how busy life is, it’s genuinely appreciated that so many of you find the time to help make these moments happen, and this is very touching.
Going forward, Alix Duff plans to take over officially for all 2026 events, to keep the momentum going, and we look forward to seeing many of you in September as we begin preparations for our next Christmas event.
Please keep an eye out for meeting dates if you’d like to get involved.
I wish you all a relaxing and joyful summer.
Excellent Biology Olympiad Results
Just after their end-of-year exams, some of our Year 12s took on the Intermediate Biology Olympiad.
Particular congratulations go to Charlotte, who ranked among the top 5% nationally with an amazing Gold. She was followed closely by Rosa, Claire, Isabella, and Emma with a Silver. Sophia, Irina, Vanessa, Natalie, Clara, and Siyun also did
themselves proud, and were awarded Bronze. Seven further students were Highly Commended and two Commended.
Well done to all for these amazing results – the Biology Department is extremely proud of this year's cohort!
Maria Del Mar Jones Chair of the Roedean Parents' Guild
Mrs Andrew
Roedean Day
The last Saturday of term brought together the wider school community of students, staff, and parents, with over 200 Old Roedeanians for Roedean Day.
Parents and ORs had an opportunity to see the remarkable work produced by our A Level and GCSE artists, look into departments to see some of the work which goes on, visit the Parents'
Guild stalls at their Summer Fête, and then maybe join in with the Golden Mile at the end of Sports Day!
It was a wonderful day, very warm, but full of laughter, camaraderie, and fun!
Dr Barrand
Highlights of the Year 2024-2025
So much goes on at Roedean that it can sometimes all become a blur – here are some of the students' highlights which were included in the Speech Day booklet earlier in the week:
The charity Netball match against Tonbridge Boys
Alice (Yr13)
Taking part in DofE and Cricket
Chiara (Yr9)
The Bollywood workshop
Maisie (Yr8)
Winning the Esports event at Cottesmore School
Perla (Yr8)
Starting up the F24 project again
Clara (Yr12)
Learning how to sail – just another reason to look forward to Fridays
Tabitha (Yr7)
Meeting Amber Anning, an Olympic medallist and Old Roedeanian
Matilda (Yr10)
Cooking for House for Chinese New Year
Daisy (Yr11)
Having a snowball fight with my friends
Alyssa (Yr11)
Doing a reading in the Carol Service
Desire (Yr7)
Being selected as a soloist at the Fringe concert
Ellen (Yr10)
I enjoyed listening to the speakers on International Women's Day
Ruby (Yr8)
Archaeology Club run by Year 11s and 12s
Evelyn (Yr8)
The Sound of Music and Alice By Heart
Fleur (Yr13)
Dissecting a frog in Dissection Club
Emma (Yr12)
The History trip to the National Archives
Hannah (Yr13)
Being part of the Roedean South Africa Exchange
Bella (Yr9)
Visiting Yellowave and the Surfing trip
Emma Lynn (Yr10)
Land yachting with my friends in Wild Fridays
Zé (Yr7)
My Head of Year's inspirational quotes
Mancy (Yr13)
Being David Tennant in the Year 11 Ceilidh
Xena (Yr11)
Getting 50 runs in a Cricket match
Maddie (Yr8)
Ringing the Chapel bell for the first time
Olivia (Yr13)
Going on sunset walks with my friends in boarding
Isla (Yr9)
Learning about Catullus in Latin lessons
Sky (Yr11)
Having fun during Wild Fridays with my friends
Farhana (Yr7)
Fun classes with great teachers
Paloma (Yr9)
Going to Morocco
Sorrel (Yr10)
Going to my friend's K-Pop Club
Twinkie (Yr13)
Getting locked in Chapel
Zaha (Yr12)
Cheering at House Netball
Amelie (Yr7)
Seeing my tutor every morning
Bea (Yr9)
Speech Day 2025
Speech Day this year was a wonderful celebration in the Dome of our entire community: there were 202 prizes awarded to students, along with a number of performances including LAMDA spotlights, musical pieces, a House Dance mash-up, and heart-felt and impactful speeches.
It was such a pleasure to welcome the Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, as our Guest Speaker. Having been Roedean's Honorary Chaplain for a number of years, she knows the School and its ethos very well, and her speech captured perfectly what the School aspires to offer every student: the opportunity to be engaged, compassionate, happy, curious, confident, creative, and independent.
Well done to everyone involved, and for all of the work which goes on behind the scenes to bring such an event to fruition.
Dr Barrand
Raystede Trip for Year 9
The Year 9s enjoyed a visit to the Raystede Animal Sanctuary this week, and it was great for them to see first-hand the organisation for which they have been raising funds over the course of the year.
They had the chance to see how the sanctuary works, the care the animals receive when they
arrive, and how they are prepared to be rehomed. They saw loads of animals, including goats, alpacas, cats, dogs, chickens, rabbits, and a massive turkey called Gregory Peck!
Not only was it a wonderful day, but It was great for them to see the impact of their fundraising at Roedean.
Thank you to the members of staff who accompanied the trip, and to Mrs Howson, who organised it.
The Road Less Travelled – Roedeanians Carving Their Own Path
A few weeks ago, we shared with you the UCAS and international degree destinations of our Year 13s. We are also exceptionally proud, though, of those Roedeanians who choose a slightly different path, one that demonstrates a real knowledge of, and confidence in, what their passions are and who they want to become. These students have sat in on sessions where it is clear that the majority of their year group are applying to university for an academic degree and are doing so through UCAS, and have had the strength of their convictions to choose something else.
This year, we are particularly celebrating:
■ Galina – who has a place at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama to study a Bachelors in Music
■ Cleo – who is beginning a degree apprenticeship with Mercedes Benz in the autumn
■ Maria – who is starting a BA in Musical Theatre at Guildford School of Acting
■ Milla – who will be starting a BA in Culinary Arts at the Culinary Arts School in Switzerland
Roedean's students consistently prove that they are confident, capable, and determined. I feel both proud and privileged to be a part of their journey.
Miss Orrells
Ms Boobis
Oracy – A Year of Competitions and Success
This year has seen Roedean students rise to the challenges of four key competitions: the ESU Mace, the ESU Public Speaking Competition, the International Competition for Young Debaters, and the Oxford Schools’ Debating Competition. Despite never having entered these competitions before, Lydia and Maria made it to Finals Day in Oxford, and Gabriella, Nathania and Audrey to Finals Day at Dartmouth House, London. Both teams beat thousands of students, internationally and nationally, to earn their place as finalists.
Needless to say, there have been many spectacular speeches produced by so many brilliant minds. I would like to thank all the students, in Years 9-12, who helped and made the competitions an enjoyable, exciting and most of all, a learning experience: Rhea, Freya, Claire, Andrea, Sana’a, Farwa, Lennie, Emily, Scarlett, Diya, Alma, Alex, Athena, Anya, Nathania, Audrey, Gabriella, Maria, and Lydia.
Here is what Gabriella had to say about taking part in the ESU Public Speaking Competition’s Finals Day, where Roedean students gained an honourable mention, and medals to confirm their titles as the Regional Champions of the South East:
'On Friday 30 May, I had the incredible opportunity to compete in the Grand Final of the English Speaking Union’s Public Speaking Competition. It was a truly unforgettable experience that allowed me to connect with passionate students from all across the country.
Each speaker brought fresh perspectives and unique ideas, inspiring me to be part of conversations that touched on a wide range of important global and social issues. For my speech, I chose to explore John Everett Millais’ painting of Ophelia, using it as a gateway to discuss the stigma surrounding mental health issues and youth suicide. I wanted to express how art can reflect real human struggles, and how, centuries later, the issues portrayed in Millais’ work remain deeply relevant.
I’m truly grateful to have been able to experience this opportunity with two amazing teammates. Audrey was our questioner; she was curious, engaged, and always eager to learn more about the speeches being presented. She helped me further explore my own speech, encouraging me to consider different angles on mental health and where the stigma stemmed from. Her
support and enthusiasm lifted our whole team, both in practice sessions and during the competition itself.
Nathania, our chairperson, was absolutely perfect for her role. She brought a bright and confident presence to the stage, while also taking control of the room. She introduced and concluded speeches with clarity and thoughtfulness, creating a welcoming and respectful space for each speaker to be heard. Her constant encouragement had a real impact on our team, and I’m so grateful to have had such a great teammate.
Through this experience, I developed my public speaking skills significantly and gained a new level of confidence. I also sharpened my critical thinking, particularly when learning how to respond to challenging questions on the spot and engage with complex ideas. Most of all, I left feeling inspired by the talented young people I met and the powerful conversations we had.
It was an experience I will always remember, and feel truly thankful to have been a part of. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing team mates, and I look forward to participating in further competitions in the future.'
Well done to everyone involved in Public Speaking and Debating this year!
Ms Shahab
Leavers’ Ball
After Speech Day, the Leavers' Ball was the icing on the cake for the Year 13s. The girls changed quickly into their finery and dashed to the i360 for their pre-dinner drink. It was wonderful to see everyone in their beautiful outfits, and it really was a special occasion. The dinner was served in The Grand, after which everyone danced until carriages at 11:00!
Year 12 Bowling Social Year 12 Bowling Social
Forty-seven Year 12s spent a lovely afternoon at Megabowl in the Marina, testing their bowling skills while spending some valuable time together before the holidays.
Mrs Newman
This Week in Boarding...
All of our boarders came together for National Boarding Week with a campfire and singalong dance party on the quad! There were many delicious s'mores devoured by all, and lots of dancing in the sunshine. It's lovely to see all the boarders come together and having lots of fun!
House 1 have been busy baking the perfect summer sweet treats to fuel all of the fun-planned for the final week of term. All of the competitiveness on Sports Day didn't wear down the boarders, as they geared up for an evening of board games – we wonder who was the final champion of a classic evening? The karaoke cafe returned for a summer party with the girls singing their favourite songs together to end the year!
House 2 made the most of the elderflower season before it was over and brewed some deliciously refreshing elderflower cordial to enjoy in the summer sun! Girls were in the spirit to bake, with a hand from Mrs Burns, of course! There were plenty of fresh cinnamon buns and miniature cupcakes to share with everyone. The famous taste-test returned, this time with sweets – a fun way to have an evening treat! Making the most of the sunshine before the holidays, the boarders have been loving going for evening walks and playing outdoor games, before coming inside for warm bagels and cuddles with resident canine, Penny!
House 3 celebrated National Strawberry Shortcake Day with yummy sundaes... on a Saturday! The perfect treat for the middle of a heatwave! Boarders put a special twist on a classic, by creating House 3 pancakes, with blue food colouring and fancy shapes. The girls have been making the most of the lovely weather, spending lots of time outdoors and taking trips into town together! Huge congratulations go to House 3, the reigning champions of Sports Day – the celebrations were welldeserved and continued for the whole weekend!
House 4 got busy baking at the weekend, making delicious cupcakes for all to share! To mark the rare Strawberry Moon, girls enjoyed a midweek treat of a chocolate fountain, complete with fresh British strawberries (and some marshmallows and Oreos too!). It wouldn't be House 4 without a pizza party! The boarders enjoyed a final get-together in House with all of their favourite pizza toppings, and, of course, Miss Romani's help to perfect the best Italian meal! Fuelled by good food, the girls had a blast on Just Dance, with all their favourite songs and best dance moves!
Keswick had a huge hot pot night, with, not one but two hot pots, as the girls couldn't decide on just one flavour! The dishes were packed with sliced beef, pak choi, sweet potato noodles, and Korean rice cakes. Some of our wonderful students from the Far East taught others how to prepare and cook the hot pots, before everyone tucked into the delicious bowls together!
Lawrence hosted a chess tournament, which, after a series of matches, left a tense final battle between Haewon and her Housemistress! To the delight of her fellow housemates cheering her on, she clinched victory in each round. The final game was especially intense, stretching close to an hour and testing both players to their limits. It was a tricky battle, but, in the end, Haewon came out on top. It was a fantastic showdown full of strategy, suspense, and good sportsmanship!
After a busy year with lots of fun, games, laughter, baking, and so much more, we wish everyone a relaxing summer holiday!
Miss Barnett
Year 7 and 8 Residential
106 students in Years 7 and 8 enjoyed a brilliant three-day two-night residential this week, accompanied by 12 members of staff. The best thing was the kayaking, and quite a few of the girls also enjoyed a bit of a swim in the lake at the same time. They also did abseiling, a teambuilding activity building towers with crates (the winning team piled up 17!). They also loved singing around the camp-fire, and taking on the challenge of a blindfolded obstacle course. Overall, they all had a brilliant time, but they are ready for a break!
Miss Bamford
Roedean Mission
This year’s third Roedean Mission meeting saw the Sixth Form committee once again allocate funds to charities supporting children under 16. Run by Year 12 and Year 13 students, the Mission quietly upholds Roedean’s commitment to community and philanthropy, encouraging students to develop values they will carry into the future.
The third meeting saw the allocation of funds totalling just under £8000 as below:
Warwickshire Young Carers: funds were awarded to fund the support of 3 young carers for a year
Youth Space: funds were awarded to help the Bushcraft Breakthrough Camp, which helps young people who have experienced trauma, social exclusion, and other esteem-crushing challenges
Cerebral Palsy Plus: funds were awarded to help with the funding of the Saturday morning swimming club for children with disabilities
The Happy and Healthy Trust: funds were awarded to support physical, educational, and emotional activities to help disadvantaged young people
Inspire a Teen: funds were awarded to support programmes such as sports, leisure, annual camp retreats, 1:1 mentoring and support, and nature walks, which are aimed a providing socially and economically disadvantaged boys a pathway to a healthy lifestyle and an improved quality of life
Life Education Wessex & Thames Valley: funds were awarded to help with the costs of providing an education programme which inspires children and young people to make healthy choices and avoid risky behaviours
Drama Expressions: funds were awarded to help finance residential camps with activities which are fun and help build confidence for disadvantaged young people.
The students and staff are proud to support such a wide range of charities across the country, knowing that their decisions have helped hundreds, if not thousands, of children this year alone. As this year’s committee concludes its work, we look forward to welcoming the new cohort of Year 12 students who will continue the important work of the Roedean Mission next year.
Miss Carragher
Roedean's Got Talent... It Really Has!
Congratulations to the twentytwo performers who took to the stage on Tuesday this week for Roedean's Got Talent. It was lovely to see a variety of performances and styles, as well as performers from a range of different yeargroups.
There were performances of A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman,Taylor Swift, ABBA, Selena Gomez, and more, and even some Beatles from the Staff Band. There were also two brilliant dance pieces, which were packed full of energy.
Well done to everyone involved, to the indefatigable Theatre team, to the event's compères, Anna and Ellen, and to Candis, Sam, and Bernice for all the organisation and planning!
Dr Barrand
Charity Fund-Raising Round-Up – £40,043
Congratulations to everyone who has been involved in charity fund-raising this year – as a community, we have raised an astonishing £40,043
This total includes our year-group charities, as well as other charitable causes connected to particular dates or events:
Year 7 have raised £4,544 for Rockinghorse, which supports children with life-limiting conditions at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton
Year 8 have raised £7,674 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association
Year 9 have raised £5,943 for the Raystede Animal Sanctuary near Lewes, caring for animals in need in Sussex
Year 10 have raised £2,767 for Off The Fence, the charity based in Hove, which supports many of the large number of homeless people in our city
Years 11-13 have raised £7,854 for Project 125 Moldova, which will make a huge impact on the lives of the children in the Rainbow of Hope Orphanage, which our students wil be visiting next week
Well done – together, we can make a difference to people's lives!
Dr Barrand
Charity Abseil Off Peacehaven Cliffs
42 Year 7s took on the challenge of abseiling 50 metres down Peacehaven Cliffs last Friday – it was wonderful to see some of them step back over the edge enjoying the view, while others conquered their fears with steely determination.
Through this event, they have raised £3001, and overall £4518 for their year-group charity, Rockinghorse, which supports children at the Royal Alex Hospital in Brighton.
What a brilliant achievement, and what a great total for Rockinghorse!
Miss Bamford
Sports Day
Sports Day was hot this year, but our athletes were out in force, representing their Houses and having a great time!
Particular congratulations go to those who won the four cups which are awarded every year:
■ 100m Anana Nwuba Cup – awarded to Eva (Yr12), who clocked a time of 13.36 seconds at the Diamond League!
■ The Morlock Cup, which is awarded to the fastest 800m athlete this season, Sophie (Yr10), who ran 2 min 37 seconds at the Track and Field Cup
■ The Field Events Trophy – awarded to Poppy (Yr10), the athlete who has made excellent progress in field events, particularly in the Long and Triple Jumps
■ The Carter Cup, which is awarded to the the most improved all-round athlete of the year, Georgia (Yr9)
In the House competition, House 3 swept the board, winning Years 7, 8, 9, and 12, but House 1 were victorious in Year 10. The overall placings were: 4th
Congratulatons
Mrs Hammond
Roedean at Graduate Fashion Week
Our Year 10 and 12 Art students had an incredible experience at Graduate Fashion Week in London, where they were immersed in the vibrant world of fashion design.
They enjoyed dynamic catwalk shows, featuring collections from universities such as the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts, Coventry, Derby, and Leeds Arts University.
The day continued with an impressive exhibition of final collections and portfolios from a wide range of universities, showcasing innovation, creativity, and flair.
This inspiring trip offered our budding designers a look at first-hand at the fashion industry, sparking conversations about future studies and careers. For many, it was their first time experiencing a live fashion show; we are excited to see how this experience shapes their future in fashion!
Mrs Silburn
Futures Festival at Roedean
On Tuesday, Years 9, 10, and 12 participated in separate immersive workshops that helped develop employability skills in a fun and interactive way.
Year 9 had a Sustainable Careers Day, facilitated by Elev8. During the day, they worked in teams to complete an Escape Room, develop a social enterprise challenge pitch, and speed network with 15 visiting professionals from across a range of sectors, including theatre, NHS, finance, and more. The students were full of energy and had a great day. Feedback from the visitors and providers was full of enthusiasm for their confidence and creativity. The students reported that the best things about the day were:
practising my networking skills learning how to work with others being able to talk to people in areas of work I would not otherwise know about
performing to everyone and pitching ideas
finding out that there are a lot more jobs out there than I thought!
Years 10 and 12 each completed their own Assessment Centre with InvestIN. Throughout the day, students completed psychometric tests and in-tray tasks, practised interview skills, and developed a new product and pitch within a tight budget. The groups definitely learned a lot, including how fast-paced and interdisciplinary the world of work can be, but they will each receive their individualised feedback by email to process the experience in their own time. Students' highlights were:
'The psychometric testing –it gave me a really helpful insight into the different things recruiters are looking for and what I need to practise.' 13 October 2023
'Task prioritisation and organisation, as it gave me a view into how busy a day at work can be and how many unexpected tasks can suddenly be thrown at you, and how not to become overwhelmed.'
'The in-tray task, which was the most valuable as it helped develop my teamwork skills and helped me figure out which role I play within a team.'
'Overall, the Assessment Centre was very informative, yet fun and interactive. I really enjoyed the group project at the end as it made me improve my creativity skills.'
'Having the opportunity to solve a problem using teamwork, leadership and creative thinking skills.'
Students currently in Year 9 or Year 11 will have the opportunity to join The Career School next year, and more information will be shared at the beginning of next term!
Ms Boobis