Head's Review - Issue 9 - March 2025 by Roedean School

HEAD’S REVIEW

Head’s Introduction

This week has been British Science Week, and I am grateful to the Science Faculty for the range of different activities available to inspire the budding Scientist in every one of us! On Tuesday, we had an inflatable Planetarium in Centenary Hall for Years 7 and 8. On Wednesday, as part of the Admissions STEM Day, Dr Suzie Imber came to Roedean – she is Professor of Space Physics, and she spoke to our Year 11s, as well as to the Year 7s and 8s during the course of the day. On top of these large-scale events, there have been challenges to complete throughout the School and mini-activities every break in the Fireplace. What an excellent week!

It is hard to believe that our exchange students from Roedean South Africa are already coming to the end of their 3 weeks in Brighton! The time has passed very quickly, yet they also seem incredibly settled here, and they have got involved in everything that has been on offer. I am pleased that the entire exchange has been such a success, and this annual event will continue to strengthen the bonds between our two schools. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Hot on the heels of a brilliant Music Scholars’ Recital last week, this week’s Chamber Music Concert, featuring our own musicians, alongside three members of the Classical Kicks Ensemble, was outstanding. It was the culmination of a day of small workshops for chamber groups, and it was clear that everyone who took part has had a wonderful day. The sheer enjoyment and passion for music from the professionals was completely infectious, and the concert was great fun as well as being brilliant!

We celebrated International Women’s Day exactly a week ago, and we have received excellent feedback from the speakers who came – they were impressed by the calibre of questions the students asked, and the ambition of the day. I have no doubt that they have sown some seeds which may grow into lifelong passions and interests, or even solidified a university or career path. Yesterday’s Futures Fair, which brought together representatives of over 60 careers and universities provided another opportunity for our students in every year-group to find out more about what they might want to pursue later in life. Thank you to the Futures and Alumnae Departments for organising such a successful event.

Congratulations to our U16 Netballers, who have won the Sussex Knock-Out Cup, playing against the very best teams in the county. This is a brilliant achievement, and I know that they showed real grit to come out victorious in the final game – well done! I am also pleased that this week has highlighted the range of sports at Roedean, with fixtures in Volleyball, Badminton, and Swimming, along with many Netball matches.

Congratulations to Gabriella, Nathania, and Audrey, who have now made it through to the Finals of their Public Speaking Competition, which takes place in London, and Gabriella was again named the best speaker. Good luck also to Maria and Lydia, who will be debating in the Oxford Union tomorrow – we look forward to hearing all about it!

I wish you all a restful weekend, and a safe journey back to South Africa for our exchange visitors!

Inspirational Chamber Music Recital

Great Swims in The Bath Cup

Posters on Virtue

Year 9 have been studying ethics in RS this half term. Ahead of looking at Aristotle’s theory of the Golden Mean, some of our Year 9s created posters about their own virtues. Well done in particular to Ashika, Theodora, Sara, Alma, Lena, Luisa, and Janelle!

Ms Orrells

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.

Farah, Zaha, and Rida (Yr12), and Sana'a and Khadija (Yr10) – for sharing the significance of the

month of Ramadan for them – it was lovely to

Unsung Staff hero in the spotlight

Mr Major – for masterminding a team of IT trouble-shooters, ready to jump into action to support the International Women's Day speakers last Friday – thank you! [Dr Barrand]

holy

hear the beautiful verses from the Koran recited in Arabic [Dr Barrand]

Gargoyles for Year 7 on Open Day

Mr Ford's Year 7 class on Open Day experimented with making gargoyles, developing their sculpting skills to produce some terrifying faces –some would definitely not look out of place on a church tower or steeple!

Pi-kus for Pi Day

Today, Friday 14 March, is Pi-Day (3.14). To celebrate it, the Maths Department invited students to take part in one of the Pi-related activities. These included generating an approximation for Pi through the Buffon’s Needle experiment, the annual Pi recitation competition, and the writing of Pi-Kus.

A Pi-Ku is rather like the Japanese Haiku poetry form, which distils ideas down to their very essence, except that, instead of having 3 lines with 5 syllables, then 7, then 5 again, this poetic form with a mathematical connection has 3, 1, 4 syllables in each line. Here are some of ours – can you make up your own?

Mrs Hopper

I like a Pi(e): pastry circ’mf’rence Discovered By Archimedes Cannot sleep? Try Reciting Pi

And the (slightly dubious?)

IWD25 at Roedean

The world is changing. Women today have more opportunities in society. However, they still very often face inequality, and struggle for parity with men. The theme of International Women’s Day this year is #AccelerateAction, underlining this need for change.

Today, in 2025, more girls go to school than ever before. Nevertheless, a quarter of the way through the 21st century, more than 122 million girls worldwide are still denied an education because of their gender. Within the last six months, women in Afghanistan no longer have the right to speak outside the family home, and 1.5 million Afghan girls have deliberately been deprived of their right to any education. We are incredibly fortunate to be educated in the UK, so it is our responsibility to grab whatever opportunities we have with both hands. Education is a right, but it is also a gift, which should be cherished.

Roedean was founded by the Lawrence sisters to provide girls with an education at least as good as that available to boys, and this vision still underpins the School’s ethos. Despite the changes in society, young women need exposure to inspiring and successful female role-models to empower them and confirm their belief that they will make a difference in the world. Our students deserve to be encouraged, engaged, and empowered to use their voices to effect change.

To mark International Women’s Day 2025, Roedean was proud to hold its Festival Celebrating Inspiring Women on Friday 7 March. We welcomed a diverse group of twenty speakers to this event, all women, who addressed the students on topics ranging from law, Scandinavian crime writing, sculpture, and deep-sea palaeontology, to technology, fashion, investment banking, and Mayan archaeology. To hear from speakers who are at the forefront of the fields is exciting, enlightening, and, most of all, empowering.

The day is always a great success, and the feedback from the speakers has been incredibly positive.

Dr Barrand

'Thank you very much for inviting me! It's such a good idea for an event. The girls all seemed very enthusiastic and switched on, and I enjoyed speaking to some of them afterwards.'

Rebecca Mitchell

'Thank you so much for asking me to do this. It was a challenge well worth the input of wanting to make it relevant, useful, positive as well as hopefully guiding to the girls. They were great, with a range of questions I was impressed by, and what a joy to find Roedean so expanded in its care and breadth of nurturing for the girls.'

Claire Hawksbridge OR

'I was also impressed with the level of engagement from the girls – they had lots of thoughtful questions at the end of my talk. It said a lot to me that the school fosters a culture where the students are unafraid to speak out, challenge and question – to experience this first hand was a privilege.'

Lucy-May Tarafder

'It

was great to be part of your fabulous day and the girls and all who we met were lovely.'

Honour Mission

'I really enjoyed speaking at the Festival and was so impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and engagement. They were an excellent audience and asked such thoughtful questions, which made the experience all the more rewarding.'

Dr Anne Grydehoej

'It

was such a wonderful way to spend the day. I love how confident the girls were in posing their questions and it was also nice to see other students in the audience from the Roedean Academy.'

Doyin Abiola-Tobun

Two Fantastic Concerts in Two Weeks

On two consecutive Tuesdays, our wonderful Roedean musicians have been showcased in the Old Ref.

Last week, some of our talented Music Scholars performed pieces which included classical repertoire, such as a movement from Haydn’s Violin Concerto in G Major played with great energy by Amyra in Year 9, a Brahms Ballade played on Piano by Suraya in Year 13, and some fantastic Kreisler fireworks on Violin, played by Natalie in Year 10. Zyta and Sarah (Yr11) performed the slow movement from Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto – not only was it played beautifully on Piano and Cello, but it was lovely to hear another movement from the

concerto which Zyta performed with orchestra in last year's Brighton Festival Fringe Concert.

It was also lovely to hear two pieces which were very different in tempo, performed on the Double Bass, by Alice (Yr9) and Shermane (Yr10). We also had three classical vocal pieces: Jemima in Year 9 sang Franck’s Ave Maria, Ellen (Yr12) performed Les Roses d’Ispahan by Fauré, and Candis in Year 12 sang a Schumann Lied. Each demonstrated confident vocal control and sang well in a different language.

Contrasting the classical repertoire, the Scholars also showed their versatility by performing music from the late twentieth century: Sorcha (Yr9)

Chamber Music Day

This year, we were visited by an incredibly unique trio of musicians from the Classical Kicks Ensemble, who perform their own unique arrangements of classical and jazz music all over the world. They gave such an inspiring performance at the evening concert, please do watch video.

Our students chose some fantastic repertoire to work on with them during the day, and Classical Kicks were astounded at the high standards, the self-motivation of the girls, and the maturity of their performances. During the sessions, they worked on how to convey more expression in performance, how to connect and communicate as a group, and also picked up some invaluable tips about how to rehearse together. Thank you to every student involved, and I hope that you enjoyed this incredible experience working with musicians at the top of their industry.

Ms Bartlette

played Einaudi’s iconic I Giorni on Piano, Molly (Yr10) performed the Beatles’ Come Together on Drumkit, and Ella (Yr13) sang Sara Bareilles’ Shelley Used To Be Mine, a reprise of a fantastic piece she sang when she first came to Roedean in Year 10.

The whole evening was lovely, with our musicians demonstrating great talent, while showcasing a range of instruments and musical styles. Congratulations to everyone involved!

Dr Barrand

Baroque Group – Chaconne from The Fairy Queen – Henry Purcell

Florence, Claire, Elianna, Abby, and Elspeth

Navarra Violin Duo – Pablo de Sarasate

Natalie and Ellen

Piano Quartet Op. 47 3rd Movement –Robert Schumann

Anna, Candis, Sarah, and Zyta

String Quartet in F Major – Maurice

Ravel

Ellen, Charisse, Athena, and Sarah

Entr’acte from Carmen – Flute and Harp – Georges Bizet

Vanessa and Bernice

Gloria – Laudamus Te – Antonio Vivaldi

Ellen and Candis

Flute Quartet Movements 2 & 3 –

Eugène Bozza

Chloe, Lilia, Meghan, and Claire

Inspirational Chamber Music Recital

This week, some of our exceptional chamber musicians had the brilliant opportunity to work with members of the Classical Kicks Ensemble. Some of the chamber groups who had had masterclasses during the day were able to demonstrate what they had learnt in the first half of the evening recital. Lizzie, Miloš, and Gabriella were impressed with how much the girls had taken from their coaching, and they commented that it had actually transposed into their performances.

Vanessa and Bernice (Yr12) opened the recital on Harp and Flute, performing Entr’acte from Bizet’s Carmen, and this was followed by Laudamus Te from Vivaldi’s Gloria. This duet for two Sopranos was sung by Ellen and Candis (Yr12), and they were accompanied by the Strings. Next came Natalie and Ellen (Yr10), who played Sarasate’s Navarra for two Violins. The final piece was the third slow movement from Schumann’s Piano Quartet, performed by Anna, Candis, Sarah, and Zyta (Yrs11-12). What was evident in each of these performances

was the very close communication between the players – as chamber music can be very exposing, it is incredibly important that the players are watching each other and moving together. They should all be incredibly proud of themselves – their performances were full of confidence and skill. Well done!

The second half of the recital was brilliant! Lizzie (Violin), Miloš (Accordion), and Gabriella (Cello) treated us to a wonderful musical extravaganza. The ensemble specialises in performing music from different styles, and being able to improvise, and the pieces they played demonstrated exactly this. The first piece was Libertango by Piazzolla, which showcased the wonderful interplay between the Accordion and the Violin, and the folk influence in this piece continued into their performance of Bartók’s Six Romanian Folk Dances – each of dances allowed a different instrument or combination to shine, and they were light and evocative.

In the next piece, La Vie en Rose, made famous by Edith Piaf, the music conjured up perfectly the lightness of post-War Paris, but the audience was amazed when Lizzie began to sing in the middle of the piece, before taking up her Violin again – it was wonderful! The following piece was also a crowd-pleaser – the trio played Summer from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, arranged for different instruments by Max Richter, and this again showed how conventional repertoire can be re-imagined for other instruments and coloured by a different style. Their final piece was a Cuban classic, Hasta Siempre, which had the audience cheering and whooping at the end.

It was the perfect conclusion to what must have been a brilliant day, and one which must have inspired our musicians to approach their playing a little differently, and perhaps to think a little outside the classical musical box! Thank you to Ms Bartlette and the Music Department for hosting our fantastic visitors, and to our musicians for engaging with the day and the evening recital.

Dr Barrand

Chapel – the Significance of Ramadan for Muslims

Dr Barrand: Good morning. Today marks significant and popular festival in the Hindu calendar, Holi. It is well-known as a fun religious festival, when people throw water and coloured paint on each other. This stems from the fact that Hindu Gods are usually depicted with blue skin, and when the God, Krishna, fell in love with a woman, her skin was fair, so he painted it with bright colours, so that his was not different. This is why Holi is celebrated as the Festival of Colours, Love, and Spring, and it also represents the triumph of good over evil.

As many of you will know, each year, the Dance Department organises a fantastic Bollywood Dance Workshop for Year 8, and, this year, this will be combined on Thursday 27 March, with a celebration of Holi, which will take place in the Front Quad – it will be great fun, so keep an eye out for it.

Now, I am sure that many of you are aware that some students in our community are fasting at the moment, and I am delighted that this week’s Chapel services will be led by a group of students from Years 10 and 12, who will speak to you about the importance of the month of Ramadan for Muslims around the world. Coming from Pakistan and Palestine, Oman, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and South Africa, Farah, Zaha, Rida, Sana'a, and Khadija represent the global community of Muslims. As some of you know, I lived for 12 years in 4 countries in the Middle East as a child, so I have been lucky enough to observe Ramadan first hand – I hope that this service will help you to have a deeper insight into this very important religious month.

Farah: Today marks the 14th day of Ramadan, a significant and spiritual time for Muslims around the world. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed by fasting from dawn until sunset. But beyond abstaining from food and drink, Ramadan is a time for selfreflection, spiritual growth, and strengthening one’s connection with God.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The essence of Ramadan lies in self-restraint from materialistic things, and from negative thoughts and actions. It is a time to practise patience, gratitude, and compassion.

Ramadan is also the month when the Qur'an was revealed, guiding humanity towards compassion, justice, and mercy.

In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 183, it reads

"The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it."

Zaha: Before the fast begins at dawn, Muslims wake for Suhoor, a meal that provides strength for the day ahead. It is a moment of quiet reflection, where we prepare not just our bodies, but also our hearts and minds, for the day’s fast.

At sunset, we break our fast with Iftar, a time of gratitude and togetherness. It is a moment that reminds us of the many blessings we have and the importance of sharing them with others. These daily rituals of Ramadan bring people together, strengthening bonds of faith and community. Surah Al-Baqarah verse 184 states:

"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous."

This verse reminds us that fasting is a path to spiritual growth, helping us to develop mindfulness and closeness to God.

Rida: Fasting during Ramadan is a reminder of our dependence on God and an opportunity to detach from worldly distractions, focusing instead on faith and gratitude.

But Ramadan is more than just fasting. It is a time of increased devotion, where Muslims engage in extra prayers, including Tarawih, the special night prayers. In these moments of stillness, we seek closeness to God, asking for forgiveness and guidance.

Ramadan also teaches the importance of generosity. Acts of charity, both big and small, are highly encouraged during this month. Giving to those in need, whether through Zakat (obligatory charity) or simple kindness, reminds us that our blessings are meant to be shared.

Sana’a: Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a day of joy and gratitude. It’s a celebration of the spiritual journey completed and a reminder to carry its lessons forward.

On this day, Muslims give Zakat al-Fitr, a special form of charity that ensures that those in need can also share in the joy of Eid. This act of giving reinforces the values of kindness and generosity that Ramadan teaches us. Eid is not just a celebration – it is a continuation of the spirit of Ramadan, carrying its lessons of compassion and gratitude forward.

Khadija: At its core, Ramadan is about the heart – purifying it, softening it, and filling it with love and kindness.

Whether or not we observe Ramadan, its lessons of empathy, patience, and gratitude can touch all of us, inspiring us to be more compassionate and mindful in our daily lives.

While Zaha plays the qanun, a traditional instrument from the Middle East, we invite you to reflect on what you have heard today

Farah: Ramadan is not just about a temporary change in habits – it is about transformation. It is about seeking kindness over anger, generosity over selfishness, and faith over fear.

Whether through fasting, prayer, or simply acts of kindness, Ramadan teaches us that our hearts are capable of compassion and generosity. May we carry this spirit beyond this month, spreading peace and compassion in all that we do.

The Roedean Community Copse

Earlier in the term, Mr Wilson applied to the Woodland Trust for some trees and the School was awarded 105 saplings by the charity. He then had the idea to build a community event around the planting of the trees.

This week, pupils from St Mark’s Primary and Downs View School joined us, along with members of The Somerset Centre and two representatives from Roedean South Africa, to plant the saplings in the south-west corner of the site, in the lee of the wind. We called the site the Roedean Community Copse, because the group of trees represent different parts of the wider Roedean community.

Although trees sometimes struggle to grow here because of the wind, we hope that they will flourish, particularly as they will be looked after by our amazing Grounds team –thank you to Tom, Cath, and John, who prepared the holes and provided the tools we needed. Thank you also to Mrs Quirk, who prepared the sign and made the personalised tags to go on each tree.

Dr Barrand

Year 12 'Improv' Their Skillset

A group of Year 12s opted to take an improv workshop during their Lifeskills session this week. AndAlso is one of the largest providers of improv training in the UK, with almost a hundred students in Brighton classes alone. They also run online classes with a global student base and regular retreats.

The improv workshop involved a set of exercises that gradually increased in challenge, slowly allowing our students to do things they did not think they could. And I also believe that the skills improv can teach can be lifechanging, especially when entering higher education or the job market. They want to help equip young people with the ability to think on their feet and build strong interpersonal bonds.

The Year 12s were complimented on their willingness to take themselves out of their comfort zone and their enthusiasm to try new things.

Mrs Chamberlain

'I have really enjoyed how there was no bad answers, and we could just be fully creative.'

Albertine

'The experience was freeing and allowed me to be creative and experiment with new things!'

Lucy

'Jen and Jules created such a lovely experience to relax and have fun, where it was okay to make mistakes. The environment really put you at ease and simultaneously pushed me out of my comfort zone. I would love to take part in another workshop soon!'

Angelica

'I really

loved that Jen and Jules made the environment so relaxed because

I

'It was a new experience to act without a script, I loved how we all made a fun environment without judgement!'

Tegan

think people often feel quite nervous about improv. They made us feel like we didn't have to worry about getting things wrong because doing anything at all was right! I had loads of fun!'

Alfie

'I really enjoyed being able to explore our different ideas in a warm environment where there are no mistakes to be made. It was very encouraging to know that any creative choice was the right one.'

Zaha

Fantastic Futures Fair

This week, we hosted our biggest ever Futures Fair, with 64 presenters from across a range of industries and universities coming to share their wisdom, expertise, and, in some cases, branded merchandise (!) with students from Years 7-13.

It was wonderful to witness the full spectrum of conversations: from the Year 7 politely asking what Civil Engineering involves, to the Year 13 student negotiating her strategy for getting the best out of her university offers. All of our presenters were generous with their time and expertise, but it was particularly wonderful to see so many recent ORs coming along to talk about their studies at university and early career steps, demonstrating that, despite the importance of the future, there is still very much an affection for the recent past too.

Our presenters spoke warmly afterwards of how our students were a credit to the School in their focus, thoughtful questioning, and thirst for knowledge. Here's what some of our students said about the event:

Farah (Yr12) – 'The Futures Fair was very insightful and the presenters very informative. I was offered some work experience as well in Dentistry, which was unexpected, but really great news!'

Lucy (Yr12) – 'An extremely enriching opportunity, allowing us to broaden out mindsets into what our Futures could look like. We could talk to people in careers we were already interested in, as well as looking at new opportunities.'

Darcy (Yr8) – 'It was very inspiring. There was such a big a variety of presenters and I was really interested by the drones.'

Mabel (Yr8) – 'It was an amazing way of helping me look into many possibilities for my future. I was excited to hear about Norwich University of the Creative Arts, which doesn’t have exams and I did not know that was a possibility.'

Mahi (Yr8) – 'It was really good to hear from so many universities as we do not get a lot of exposure to them in Year 8!'

If anyone has further questions or queries for our presenters, or just wants to follow up on the experience with a 1:1 with our Futures team, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Boobis (hbo@roedean.co.uk) or Mr Homer (cho@ roedean.co.uk) to arrange a conversation.

Ms Boobis

This Week in Boarding...

House 1 celebrated Pancake Day and tested out their flipping skills, then covered their pancakes in an array of delicious toppings! Girls had a wonderful time at their House social, which saw them take a trip to the Marina to go bowling! The boarders enjoyed a relaxing evening with Nacho Night, devouring yummy nachos smothered in cheese, salsa, and guacamole, whilst chatting with friends.

House 2 hosted a very competitive evening of dodgeball, with all houses wanting win! Well done to House 3, who were the overall winners, and thank you to Charlie and Athena for organising it. Girls were rewarded with ice pops to cool down afterwards! A classic evening of Bingo was popular with boarders from all year groups, and House 2 are definitely looking forward to Spring, making springtime crafts to decorate the house. Boarders enjoyed a relaxed evening making keyrings and bracelets with scoobies, and baking homemade cookies, which didn't last long after they were done!

House 3 held a Jellycat cake decorating competition, judged by star baker Mrs Wilson! Girls had fun making meatballs by hand, a very messy process, to enjoy with a pasta bar. Over the weekend, boarders made the most of the sunshine and ventured down for a walk along the undercliff walk, complete with an ice-cream pitstop! Relaxing evenings in House 3 are always a favourite, including PJs, doggy cuddles, and plenty of toasties and bagels to share!

House 4 celebrated National Oreo Day with some Oreo biscuits and Oreo spread toasties – perhaps a new favourite toastie filling! Over the weekend, the girls settled in for a comfy movie night (with snacks, of course), after spending International Women's Day doing a wordsearch in the sunny weather! Homemade cookies were a big hit, and didn't last long once out of the oven! Girls put a twist on classic pancake night, and made Japanese pancakes, which were incredibly fluffy and enjoyed by all!

Keswick made Banoffee Mess (a twist on the classic Eton Mess) which went down a treat. Some

boarders even tried meringues for the first time!

Lawrence had a lovely evening admiring their sheep neighbours whilst making some delicious bagels! Boarders had a wonderful time celebrating International Women's Day with a delightful afternoon tea together!

Miss Barnett

U12A Netball vs Mayfield

U13Ds Maintain Unbeaten Run

The U13Ds rolled into another great clash and stormed Mayfield early in the game with a 7-0 lead. The girls, doing the basics well and putting together some lovely passing sequences towards the post, found it comfortable to focus on their own game.

We then decided to make it a little harder by rotating players into different positions and playing with 6 players, meaning they needed to work harder to maintain possession and win possession back. They did this brilliantly and kept the scoring going, while limiting Mayfield to a couple attacking opportunities the entire match.

The end score was 15-3 to Roedean, and the Ds remain unbeaten heading into their final match against Hurstpierpoint next week!

Mr Campleman

U12A

'On Wednesday, the under 12As played Mayfield in a Netball match. At the end of the first quarter the score was 6-2 to us, with Sara shooting well!

Alia and Nkem worked tirelessly in the circle, getting lots of tips and turnovers. In the second quarter, it was 9-6 to us. The opposition’s attack was much stronger as they won this quarter. We stretched our lead in the second half, with Tilly and Chloe pairing well as a shooting combination. Harrie and Lara moved the ball down court very well, with Ze feeding the circle with great precision.

The final score was 22-14 to Roedean. The opposition's players were Chloe and Lara – well done!'

Match report written by Chloe

U13As Take 3rd at SISNA

On Wednesday, Roedean hosted the U12 and U13 SISNA.

The U13 had two pools and had to qualify first or second in their pool to qualify for the semi-finals. Our first game in the group was against Brighton Girls. We had a slow start, and were therefore trailing 5-4 at half time. However, we stepped up in the second half, and took the win 11-7.

In the next matches in the group versus Ardingly, v, Burgess Hill, and Windlesham House, we took convincing wins. This meant we topped our group and faced Seaford in the SemiFinal. We struggled to get going in the first half, so were 10-4 down at half time – despite us pushing hard and winning the second half, it wasn’t enough to take the overall win.

As a result, we faced Brighton Girls again in the 3rd and 4th play off. We got a strong win to secure 3rd place. Congratulations to all the players – it was a great day and they all played brilliantly.

Mrs Hammond

U12D Netball Victory vs Brighton College

In what was arguably their best performance of the season so far, the U12D Netball team delivered a composed and confident display to secure a comfortable victory over Brighton College.

From the first whistle, the team demonstrated excellent control in possession, moving fluidly through the court. Tabitha, Marion, and Hannah were outstanding in the shooting circle, converting their chances with impressive accuracy. Their high shooting percentages proved pivotal in maintaining the team's lead throughout the match.

Defensively, Elva, Cara, and Isabella were relentless, disrupting Brighton’s attack with crucial interceptions, tips, and forced turnovers. Their determination and awareness ensured the opposition struggled to build any consistent attacking momentum.

The centre court duo of Holly and Anya epitomised the team’s positive approach, linking defence to attack seamlessly. Their energy and vision in both defensive and attacking transitions played a key role in the team's success.

With a blend of sharp attacking play, disciplined defending, and a strong team spirit, the U12D squad can take great confidence from this impressive performance as they look ahead to their next fixture.

Mr Foggoa

The Roedean U12A Netball team took part in the SISNA Netball Tournament, facing off against some of the toughest competition in the area.

U13C Netball vs Brighton College U12 SISNA

Despite the challenging matches, the team finished 7th overall, a testament to their grit, determination, and outstanding team spirit.

From the outset, the team showed great resilience as they took on skilled opponents. Although the competition was fierce, the players quickly adapted to the different playing styles, demonstrating marked improvements throughout the day. Each game was an opportunity to refine tactics, build on strengths, and work through any challenges that arose.

The team’s spirit was one of the highlights of the day. Throughout the tournament, there was a noticeable sense of camaraderie, with players supporting each other both on and off the court. Whether it was in moments of victory or during tough losses, the team displayed unwavering unity and a collective drive to keep improving.

As the day progressed, their performance evolved. By the end of the tournament, the team had become more cohesive, with each player showing growth in their skills. Their defensive efforts became sharper, attacking moves more precise, and their court awareness noticeably improved. These individual and team advancements were crucial in helping the team hold their own against some of the best teams in the competition.

Miss Walsh

On a bright and sunny Wednesday afternoon, the U13C Netball team took on Brighton College in an exciting and hard-fought match.

Right from the first whistle, both teams showed determination, and, after a tightly contested opening quarter, the score stood level at 2-2.

In defence, Cindy, Shahdi, and Evelyn worked seamlessly as a unit, marking their players tightly and making crucial intercepts to keep Brighton College at bay.

The second quarter saw Roedean step up their intensity, with the mid-court players making strong drives and using space effectively. Lily and Amara delivered accurate feeds into the shooting circle, allowing Roedean to take a commanding 6-2 lead at half-time.

Liv’s stage 2 defence was exceptional, applying constant pressure on the opposition and disrupting their attacking plays. Meanwhile, Mabel, Cora, and Eden showcased great teamwork in the shooting circle, making dynamic moves, and supporting each other to convert crucial goals.

Brighton College fought back in the final quarter, closing the gap to just one goal, but Roedean held their nerve to secure a thrilling 10-9 victory. It was a fantastic performance from the whole team in an exciting and closely contested match!

Miss Hayman

U13C

U15A Netball vs Seaford

On Monday, the U15A team played in the Semi-Final of the County Cup against Seaford College.

The first quarter was very close, with both teams leading some great passages of play and drawing 10-10. In the second and third quarter, Seaford started to pull away, but Roedean made some vital turnovers, and the score was 30-28 to Seaford.

In the final quarter, both teams worked very hard, but Seaford capitalised on some silly mistakes and won the match 42-37.

Well done to Poppy and Izzy, who were named Opposition's Players of the Match.

Volleyball Victory over Buckswood

In an exciting Volleyball match, our team triumphed over Buckswood School with a solid 2-1 victory.

The match consisted of three intense games, and, while the competition was fierce, our team managed to secure the win by smashing two out of the three sets.

Game 1: The first game was a close and hard-fought battle. Both teams displayed impressive skills, but our side edged out Buckswood with strong serving and precise attacks. The team kept their composure and closed the set with a well-executed spike, winning the game.

Game 2: Buckswood rallied in the second game, determined to make a comeback. The game was closely contested, but with fatigue setting in, the opposing team struggled to maintain their momentum. Although we lost this set 21-25, the team’s performance energy did not drop.

Game 3: This game went very well, and the team showed resilience, improving their communication on the court. Despite their efforts, our team remained dominant, maintaining consistent defence and strong offensive plays. We took control of the match with a 25-19 victory, thanks to well-timed blocks and powerful serves.

Players of the Match were awarded to Natalie and Hayley for their amazing teamwork, resilience and exceptional skills. Overall, it was a fantastic team effort, and the win was well deserved. Congratulations to everyone involved!

Miss Walsh

U18A Badminton: Convincing Victory Over Lancing College

In a highly anticipated fixture against a strong Lancing College side, the Roedean U18A Badminton team delivered an impressive performance, securing a dominant 14-6 victory in the round-robin doubles competition.

The pairing of Athena and Jolie was outstanding, winning all five of their matches with a combination of precision, power, and tactical awareness. Meanwhile, the other partnerships – Mancy and Alicia, Faye and Natalie, and Alice and Twinkie – each secured three wins from five, demonstrating resilience and sharp decision-making under pressure.

Throughout the competition, the team displayed both ruthlessness and composure, executing well-placed shots and controlling the pace of play. Their strong communication and strategic play proved too much for the opposition, resulting in a well-earned victory.

It was a fantastic team effort – congratulations to all!

Mr Foggoa

U18A Netball vs Colyton Grammar

The U18As had their semi-final of the Sisters in Sport competition on Monday. It was possibly the furthest we have gone for a netball fixture –Devon is 4 hours away! So it was a long old day for everyone, but this is the furthest we have got in the competition in a few years, so it was worth travelling for.

It was a tough match, against a very strong team. We are very good defensively as a team, throughout the court, and this was our main strength from the match. We turned the ball over a lot, but struggled to get free from our players when attacking. However, shooting accuracy was excellent when we did get the ball down and our second half of the match was better than the first.

The final score was 32-16 to them, which means we lost each quarter by 4 goals, not a bad result at all. The girls never gave up, even when we lose, they make me proud – they worked hard until the end. The opposing umpire also commented on how polite and well-mannered we were as a team.

■ Player of the Match – Saffron (GK)

■ Coach’s player – Solari (GD)

Great Swims in The Bath Cup

Sports Stars of the Week

Well done to this week's sporting stars!

Year 7

Harrie – for her excellent progress and performances in Netball this term

Year 8

Hester (Yr8) – for always showing an outstanding attitude and brilliant effort in Netball

Year 9

Matilda (Yr9) – for her fantastic effort and performances in Netball

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