The Stag Magazine, Issue 34

THE

STAG

Issue 34, Lent Term 2, 2026

'Perfect' Social Lives?

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The Stag

CONTENTS College News:

Sport:

The Battle of the Bands - pg 2 The Charity Revue - pg 4 Masterpieces Art Auction - pg 6 Holly Dawson Writers’ Workshop pg 21 Daniel Hay-Gordon Dance Workshop - pg 22 Lent Term Charity Report - pg 37

Winter Olympics 2026 - pg 23 The Premier League - pg 24 Eastbourne College Netball - pg 25 Eastbourne College Rugby - pg 26

International News: The Equality Act - pg 7 The Epstein Files - pg 8 Venezuelan Crisis - pg 8

Culture: International Women’s Day - pg 10 Superbowl - pg 11 The BAFTAs 2026 - pg 13 Bridgerton Series 4 - pg 15 London Fashion Week - pg 18 Glasgow Film Festival - pg 20

House Reports: Blackwater - pg 27 Craig - pg 28 Gonville - pg 29 Nugent - pg 30 Pennell - pg 31 Powell - pg 32 Reeves - pg 33 School - pg 34 Wargrave - pg 35 Watt - pg 36

This magazine is written for pupils by the pupils of Eastbourne College. It is not an official College publication and is not meant to be an accurate reflection of every activity or event across the College, nor (obviously) is every pupil mentioned. The magazine is for the Eastbourne College community only, so please do not send it on to friends or family. We hope you enjoy reading our magazine!

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The Stag

COLLEGE NEWS

THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS 2026

By Felix McAndrew This year’s Battle of the Bands competition was a great evening of live music which brought together performers from around the local area.

The evening opened with a performance of Valerie by Amy Winehouse from one of our own school bands, 9-10FM. All members of the band had excellent charisma and set an upbeat tone for the rest of the evening.

Next up, James Yee and his Disciples followed with Mr. Telephone Man by New Edition and The Winner Takes It All by ABBA, showcasing great musical flexibility from another Eastbourne band.

Representing Hailsham Academy, Photo Reference impressed all members of the audience with a rendition of Times Like These by Foo Fighters, before performing their original track, Give it Some, which highlighted their strong stage presence and was commended by the judges at the end of the show.

Big Fish followed this performance with their performance of No Surprises by Radiohead creating a more reflective atmosphere, alongside their own number Ferran’s Original. This song demonstrated great creativity and thoughtful song writing, which rightfully earned them welldeserved praise from the judges at the end of the evening. King then raised the energy with Money for Nothing by Dire Straits and Zombie by The Cranberries, which were both delivered with confidence and musical flair.

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After these amazing performances, Rockets from St. Catherine’s added a fun and upbeat vibe to the evening with Octopus’s Garden

by The Beatles and La Bamba by Ritchie Valens, which encouraged enthusiastic audience participation.

The Stag At the end of a very close competition, the judges faced many difficult decisions after such a high standard of performances from bands across the board. Big Fish were awarded Best Original in recognition of their creativity and strong song writing, and Tether’s End took home the Audience Favourite Award after successfully winning over the crowd with their energy and stage presence. The title of Overall Winners went to Photo Reference, who displayed a combination of skill, originality and confidence across their set.

However, the success of this year’s Battle of the Bands went past trophies, as the event revealed the willingness of local students to step onstage and show their talents. Every act contributed something unique to the competition, and there was a great variety of genres on show, from powerful rock anthems to thoughtful originals.

Tether’s End from Hailsham Academy increased the tempo even more with Can’t Stop by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and their original song Hysteria, which proved to be a exceptional crowd-pleaser.

The Battle of the Bands not only showcased the incredible musical ability within our schools, but also highlighted the supportive spirit of the audience and the judges. It was a night that will be remembered for its unforgettable performances and excellent teamwork from across the bands.

Although not part of the competition this year, the school’s biggest band Gifthorse performed three of their original tracks as part of an exhibition set, including Anaesthesia, Everybody Pretend To Be Normal and their greatest hit Sit Down, which got all the audience involved and singing along. Their excellent series of songs demonstrated the considerable depth of musical talent we have within the school.

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THE CHARITY REVUE

By Rosie Hoskinson This year’s Charity Revue was such a brilliant way to round off the first half of Lent Term. The JWA was packed with students from all different year groups, all coming together to show off their talents and support a great cause. Thanks to everyone who came along, we managed to raise over £300 for our chosen charity, Matthew 25. This charity works closely with our school community and supports people facing homelessness, hardship, or social isolation. They don’t just provide essentials like food, clothing, and household items.

They also offer a safe, friendly space where people can feel valued and rebuild their confidence. Their work is rooted in dignity and compassion, and it’s amazing to know that the money we raised will genuinely help people who need it.

The whole evening had such a positive atmosphere, and it was clear how much effort had gone into every single performance. All the students involved showed so much courage, literally stepping into the spotlight and performing with confidence, even if they were nervous.

There were 14 fantastic acts in total, with a mix of singing, dancing, and band performances, giving the night a really exciting variety.

We had several impressive singing solos from Caleb Pout, Tilly Lancaster, Harry Jorden, Edward Evans, Zach Perry, Lucy O’Hara and Erin Hillyer. They all showed real confidence getting up on stage, and their performances were genuinely moving.

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The Stag confidently delivered. The other soloists kept that high standard going, each bringing something different to the room, from ABBA to Bruno Mars.

There were also three duets from Jess Mattison & Anais Bosch, Isla Jourdain & Rosie Dale, and Ruth Boothby & Eva McKee. All six singers showed amazing vocal blend and balance, supporting each other with harmonies that sounded so well‑rehearsed.

Isla and Rosie performed while playing guitar too, which takes a huge amount of coordination and talent. Their Sabrina Carpenter number had the whole audience clapping along.

The dance section added even more variety to the night. Izzy Holden performed a confident and expressive dance solo with strong technique and great musicality. After that, Gigi Law, Maria Susidko and Gachecheh Kenyua performed a group dance that was full of energy and really well synchronised. Their teamwork and timing made the piece so enjoyable to watch.

We also had two brilliant band acts: Big Fish (James Yee, Sam Lee, Jake Knowles and Ferran Windfuhr) and Gifthorse (Elliot Hibbert, Tom Hibbert, Enzo Mace, Ray Bradley and Henry Freeland). Both bands brought a completely different kind of energy to the stage, the kind only live bands can create.

Caleb opened the show with It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve, accompanying himself on the piano with so much skill. His performance set the tone for the rest of the evening: controlled, expressive, and

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Lucy closed the show with Maybe Next Time from Cabaret, ending the evening on a powerful note. A huge thank‑you goes to Jessica Moore and Darcy Lewis for organising everything, and of course to Rev. Merceron, whose calm and encouraging presence helped every performer shine.

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COLLEGE NEWS

MASTERPIECES ART AUCTION

By Sophia Pennington Many art and textiles pupils have been very busy this term, recently creating piece for the annual online Art Auction at the end of the academic year. This will raise funds for the Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal, helping more children benefit from transformative education. Last year we raised almost £4,000 from the online Art Auction which went towards the appeal. The feedback has been really positive, and we are looking forward to holding our auction in the summer.

The artworks will be displayed in the Art Auction private view in the Birley Centre from Friday 12 June, and the auction will take place online in June 2026.

We would love to see more entries from pupils. If you would like to be part of this fantastic auction, all you need to do is create your own A5 artwork whether that be in art or textiles, or whatever you choose.

You can collect the A5 card from the art department. The deadline to hand them in is 30th April and if you have any questions about it, please ask the art department.

Make your mark in the Masterpieces Art Auction!

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

THE FUTURE OF THE EQUALITY ACT: WHAT’S AT STAKE?

By Ivanna LopezFerreira Recently, there has been growing discussion about whether the Equality Act 2010 could be changed or even removed if Reform UK were to come into government. This has sparked debate because the Act plays a major role in protecting people from discrimination in Britain, and changing it could affect many areas of everyday life.

The Equality Act was passed in 2010 and was introduced to bring together different anti-discrimination laws into one system. It protects people from being treated unfairly because of things such as their race, gender, disability, religion, or age. These protections apply in workplaces, schools, housing, and other services. This Act helps ensure that everyone has the same basic rights and that society is fair.

However, some politicians argue that the law has become too complicated or restrictive. For example, comments from figures such as Suella Braverman have suggested that equality legislation should be reconsidered or updated to reflect current political and social debates.

Supporters of Reform UK make similar arguments, saying parts of the Act create unnecessary rules for businesses and public organisations.

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On the other hand, many people strongly oppose the idea of repealing the Act. Critics say that removing it could weaken protection for minority groups and make it harder to challenge discrimination. Without one clear law, the legal system could become confusing and increasingly difficult to interpret, with different rules applying in different situations.

Some also argue that equality legislation helps shape the values of the UK, showing a commitment to fairness and equal treatment.

In reality, even if the Act were repealed, it is unlikely that all protections would disappear overnight. Parliament would likely need to replace it with new legislation, which could take years and involve many political debates. This means the real question is not whether protections should exist, but what form they should take and how strong they should be compared to the Equality Act. Overall, the debate around the Equality Act shows a wider political divide. Some believe the law needs reform to reflect changing views. Others see it as a vital safeguard that should remain in place. As politics in Britain continues to change, discussions like this will likely play an important role in shaping how rights and freedoms are protected in the future.

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THE EPSTEIN FILES: A CRISIS OF OUR TIME

By Isla Heath Jeffery Epstein, a prominent business figure and socialite throughout the 1990s and 2000s was imprisoned as a sex trafficker and accused child molester in 2019 but died while awaiting his trial. This was after already being convicted in 2008 in Florida for soliciting prostitution from minor. He is famous for his associations with multiple celebrities and members of federal government. Over the course of his infamous career, he logged, wrote and saved all documents and interactions with all those famous people he did business with as a means of leverage should he ever encounter the law. As a result of his imprisonment and subsequent suicide in 2019, these documents have been compiled as what we now refer to as the Epstein Files.

Jeffery Epstein (second left) with unidentified companions

What are the Epstein files?

The Epstein files are thousands of pages of documents providing evidence of sex trafficking towards minors including travel logs, recordings and emails between Epstein, his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, and many extremely well-known figures. In 2008, parents of a 14-year-old girl came forward Lent Term 2 Edition | 2026

and reported to the police that Epstein had molested their daughter. After police investigation, images were uncovered of girls.

They were found throughout the house proving the parents’ claims. Subsequently, investigations took place that brought to light thousands of documents. Files included prosecutors working in federal government and images and videos of victims and other illegal child abuse materials.

Despite this all taking place well over a decade ago, people have recently become very interested in the Epstein files due to President Donald Trump’s involvement. After uncovering these documents, it became clear that Epstein and Trump had been friends for years.

Trump’s name was mentioned 38,000 times in the files which is more than Harry in all eight Harry Potter books and Jesus in the Bible.

The Transparency Act The Transparency Act was a law passed by the 119th US congress and signed by President Trump on 19th November 2025. It was published to make the Epstein files ‘publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format’ and to give ‘a list of all government officials and politically exposed persons’ named in the files. On the 12th of November, the petition received the minimum required number of signatures for congress to pass the act and on 19th December, the US Department of Justice released the ‘first wave’ of the files. However, this sparked a public outcry as the files contained significant Page 8

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redactions where hundreds of pages were entirely blacked out.

A second wave of the files was released on 30th of January 2026 and the department claimed it had ‘fulfilled its legal obligations’. A crucial part of the releasing of the Epstein files is that many victims’ names, people who wanted to remain anonymous, have been unredacted while the names of the criminals and sex offenders who assaulted these people have been redacted from the release of the files, which seems to be an attempt to ‘protect’ these people. Yet there was no attempt to protect the names of the actual victims of Jeffery Epstein’s activity. It has been said that the full Epstein files contain around six million pages, and only 3.5 million pages of documents have been released overall, indicating that important information is being kept private.

Who is in the files?

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) was one of the powerful men named in the documents. There are photos showing him ‘kneeling on all fours over a female lying on the ground’. He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and a few weeks ago he was seen being taken away by police in a disguised police car.

Despite all of this, he has denied any wrongdoing.

Another name in the files is former European Commissioner of Trade, Lord Mandelson. Bank Lent Term 2 Edition | 2026

The Stag statements of various payments of $75,000 from Jeffery Epstein have been connected to Mandelson. He has now stepped down from the House of Lords and resigned from the Labour party. At the end of February, he was arrested for his involvement.

It can be said these cases are significant as it proves the Epstein files are an international crisis and should not just be pinned on the US. Although other names in the files that should be noted are Bill Gates (Co-founder of Microsoft), Elon Musk (founder of Tesla and Space X) and Bill Clinton (former president of the United States), all powerful males who have, as of yet, faced no repercussions for their involvement and deny all involvement and even knowledge of the activity.

There is hard evidence of Donald Trump’s involvement with Jeffrey Epstein: his name is mentioned tens of thousands of times, yet he still denies any knowledge of Epstein’s sex trafficking and criminal activity and states that he did not know anything about it at the time. During the period of Trump’s close friendship with Epstein, he described Jeffrey as a ‘terrific guy’ and Epstein said ‘I was Donald’s closest friend for ten years’. In other words, the President of the United States’ alleged ‘closest friend’ was a convicted sex trafficker and accused child molester and rapist.

While the Epstein files are set to remain one of the biggest subjects of interest of our time, it is still unclear whether the remaining perpetrators of crimes outlined in the files will ever be tried for them. With Trump as the serving President of the United States, it is certainly not in his best interests to pursue the truth of the files any further. Doing so could prove to send shockwaves through America with certain trusted figures of power potentially meeting their match with the law.

It is starting to look like the full release of the Epstein files may never come to light.

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CULTURE

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

By Nancy Brown International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March the 8th every year, recognising the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women whilst advocating for gender equality. It is a reminder that achieving gender equality requires commitment and accountability to rebuild structures that create imbalance.

This year the theme is ‘balance the scales’ and it emphasises the urgent need for a fair and inclusive justice system for women and girls. It depicts how, despite progress, many barriers still remain including low conviction rates for sexual assault cases and overall discrimination. This theme concentrates on bringing down these barriers to ensure that every women and girl can be safe, heard and free to shape their own future.

One of the many questions around this event is how did it start? Originally, it grew out of the labour movement. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City, demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote. A year later the Socialist Party of America declared the First National Woman’s Day. The idea to make it an international event came from a communist activist and advocate for women’s rights, Clara Zetkin. In 1910, she raised it at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen where her suggestion was backed by 100 women from 17 countries. Officially, the United Nations

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started marking the event in 1975.

In many countries, International Women’s Day is a national holiday. For example, in China many women are given a half-day of work as advised by the State Council. In Italy the day is marked as ‘Festa della Donna’ and mimosa blossoms are a popular gift.

Furthermore, in Russia flower sales typically double around the day. Other events that take place globally include marches, talks, concerts, exhibitions and debates.

On March the 8th, lots of people attending events may be wearing green, white and purple. Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, who ran the publication Votes for Women came up with this colour scheme. She states that “purple is the royal colour, stands for the royal blood that flows in the veins of every suffragette, the instinct of freedom and dignity… White stands for purity in private and public life… and green is the colour of hope and the emblem of spring”.

International Women’s Day is very important because it provides an opportunity to mark progress made, but also to highlight the erosion of women’s rights across the world.

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CULTURE

SUPERBOWL LX CULTURAL CHAOS

By Mark McKie On the 8th of February, across the Atlantic the NFL celebrated its 60th anniversary of the Superbowl, with the ‘Superbowl LX’. It was held at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California (the home of the San Francisco 49ers), and the match consisted of the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. This was a high-stakes rematch of a famous 2015 match (Superbowl XLIX), where the Seahawks were seeking revenge while the Patriots wanted to extend their legacy as one of the greatest teams ever. Unusually however, this year the main talking point wasn’t the match itself, but rather the controversy around the half-time show and its performer, Bad Bunny.

The Match The final score ended 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks, giving them the sought-after revenge they were looking for. It was a defensive battle for the first three quarters of the game, where both teams were so good at stopping each other that very few points were scored, making it tense till the very end. However, in the final quarter the game opened up, with Seattle managing to break through the Patriots' defence to score multiple times, securing a comfortable lead.

Despite being a ‘slugfest’ (a tough, physical game), the stadium was packed with over 70,000 fans and an electric atmosphere for the Seahawks’ second ever title.

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The Music Legendary punk band Green Day opened the events running, playing their iconic American Idiot, setting a loud and rebellious tone for the event as they are well known for doing. The world-famous halftime show was headlined by Puerto-Rican artist Bad Bunny, statistically the biggest artist in the world on Spotify. He was joined by cameos from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, and the event consisted of a ‘casita’ on stage (a traditional Puerto-Rican home). It was a historic moment, as it was the first halftime show performed almost entirely in Spanish.

The show consisted of his biggest hits and displayed a wholesome message of continental unity despite the culture conflict brewing in the US.

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The Controversy The NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for the performance sparked a culture war protest among MAGA, led by the group Turning Point USA who had been led by late Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Critics claimed that the ‘American’ Superbowl should be performed in English, and that a show in Spanish would be ‘Unamerican’, despite the US being the country with the second highest Spanish speakers in the world, higher than Spain itself. They also had an issue with the fact “he wasn’t American” despite Puerto Rico being a US territory. Bad Bunny is a vocal critic of certain U.S. immigration policies, specifically his "ICE out" comments at the Grammy’s, which perhaps sparked this resentment. TPUSA launched the ‘AllAmerican Halftime Show’, aiming to provide a ‘patriotic’ alternative to the main show. The numbers don’t lie, however. The official show drew a massive 124.9 million US TV viewers and over 4.1 billion global views in 24 hours.

The alternative, however, peaked at roughly 5 million viewers on streaming platforms.

Despite all the hate received, Bad Bunny’s show can very much be considered a success, with the fourth highest halftime show viewership ever.

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Super Bowl LX will be remembered as much for the debate over ‘American identity’ rather than the football itself. Despite the boycotts and the rival show, the NFL proved its global reach, with Bad Bunny’s performance becoming one of the mostwatched musical events in history.

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THE BAFTAS: JUST THE BRITISH VERSION OF THE OSCARS?

By Polly Hecks The 2026 BAFTA awards recently unfolded at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where the film industry gathered to celebrate one of its biggest events of the year.

With Paul Thomas Anderson’s dark comedy, One Battle After Another, winning six of its 14 nominations, the film was this year’s biggest winner. Many were surprised to see 33-year-old from Hull, Robert Aramayo, win Best Actor for his role in I Swear, over the likes of big stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet. Jessie Buckley came away as the first Irish actress to win Best Actress thanks to her role in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, which also won Outstanding British Film.

The Baftas may be one of the leading and most sought-after awards, but are they just the British version of the Oscars? The BAFTA (which stands for British Academy of Film and Television Arts) was founded in 1947, 20 years after the Oscars, by well-respected figures of the British Film Industry. Both fall towards the start of the year making them a key part of the awards season and some would also say that their timings align almost perfectly so that the BAFTAs predict the Oscar outcomes. However, they differ as the BAFTAs aim to champion British talent while staying relevant globally – a balance the Oscars don’t have to negotiate. Overall, the BAFTAs are considered an opportunity to celebrate British achievements as well as offering a lens into how British critics and industry professionals interpret global cinema. Whether these interpretations align with Hollywood or not, this is what sets the two awards apart.

Robert Aramayo has won BAFTAs for both Leading Actor as well as the Rising Star award for the film ‘I Swear’, based on the true story of John Davidson, a man with severe Tourette’s syndrome

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whose career has recently been marked by her emotionally demanding role in Hamnet.

Having just won a Golden Globe, a BAFTA award and a nomination for an Oscar, there are speculations that the project was chosen with awards recognition in mind.

However, Buckley’s public comments demonstrate her emotional readiness and personal connection to the character.

Therefore, we should not be prone to assuming this, but we should be aware of the impact that winning awards may have on future roles.

‘I share this with my daughter': Jessie Buckley wins best actress at 2026 Baftas

In an industry increasingly shaped by visibility and longevity, more begin to question whether actors choose roles which may gain them an award. Firstly, Oscars and similar awards are important to actors, not only for acceptance by the industry, but also for them to use them as signposts for others to hire them. As their careers begin to develop, actors start to think about establishing their brand as an actor.

Ultimately, they’re selling a product, and an award means high sales of their brand.

Therefore, it is understandable as to why they often go for the roles that appear to be ‘Oscar Bait’.

But this is not a simple calculation. Actors will assess material with strong writing, respected collaborators and a character that allows vulnerability. This discussion arises when looking at actors like Jessie Buckley, Lent Term 2 Edition | 2026

Lastly, we begin to question whether the BAFTAs has lost its actual meaning due to the increased focus on fashion and celebrity over film as well as the predictability of winners. We should recognise how the awards honour the best British and international film contributions and not just the popularity contest created by social media. And so, we’re left wondering whether awards celebrate cinema – or simply rank it.

Winners of the Best Film Award: One Battle After Another's Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Paul Thomas Anderson, Sara Murphy, Chase Infiniti Page 14

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BRIDGERTON SEASON 4: CINDERELLA IN MAYFAIR

By Frankie Gill At the end of January, the well-loved romantic drama Bridgerton returned, moving slightly away from the aesthetic we’ve all grown used to; the pink-and-green palette, bonbon buffets, empire-waist dresses, and string-quartet covers of pop songs. Bridgerton as a novel series is not just about individual couples: it’s a whole social constellation thanks to its framing device of Lady Whistledown’s gossip pamphlets, which positions the ton’s families into a world of betrayals, social climbers, hypercompetitive class signals, and aristocratic hierarchy. We may still revel in the frills, the golden ballrooms, high-piled hairstyles, and the ever‑yearning Bridgerton brothers, this season wastes no time pulling us somewhere far less polished.

Sparkling in silver head to toe at Violet Bridgerton's masquerade ball, servant Sophie Baek manages to sneak into the lavish elite entertainment unnoticed. As the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, forced into servitude as a maid, she returns to her bleak reality under the watch of a cruel stepmother and her eccentric stepsisters.

Her life is rooted in the well-oiled machine of the servant's quarters, where she supposedly belongs. Benedict, one of the

Where previous seasons romanticised longing or duty, this one confronts the cost of desire itself, not yearning but consequence. We’re thrown under the stairs, into the world the ton rarely sees: the servant's quarters, thrumming with quiet, unspoken coordination. Benedict sets his eyes on a captivating woman in silver, her beauty sharpened by mystery - a figure who is revealed as nothing more and nothing less than a maid seeking one night of what is usually out of her reach.

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most sought-after bachelors in London, partly for his looks but also the wealth his family name entails, becomes captivated the moment their gazes lock. His infatuation only deepens after she disappears, mysteriously leaving all but a pearly white glove. The story leans into a full Cinderella retelling as Sophie slips away from the ball, returning to the life she cannot escape.

Instead of a benevolent and enchanting fairy godmother, Sophie has a footman, steady handed and devoted, who finds her shoes, adjusts her dress and fashions her mask with care. He loyally accompanies her to the ball, not in an enchanted pumpkin but the Penwoods' spare carriage, unremarkable and humble to anyone else, but for this one night, perfect.

This season finally confronts the class system that has always existed beneath Bridgerton's dazzling surface. Instead of treating the servants as background decoration, the show draws directly into their world, the seamless execution of baking, cleaning, dressing and arranging secret rendezvous that keeps the ton functioning. Sophie's storyline makes these dynamics impossible to ignore. Her romance with Benedict isn't just a matter of secrets or misunderstandings, Sophie moves through a society bound by rigid regency hierarchies, a world where class and labour quietly govern what she may reach and also dictating what will forever remain just beyond her grasp. In a poignant scene while her and Benedict are stuck in a cottage together, halted by a storm and injury, Mrs Crabtree, a maid, cheerlessly states "It is important for all of us to remember our place" a line that harshly but realistically shuts down Sophie's momentary hope as she reflects on his charm and familiarity.

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The Stag However, in the later episodes, there is a quietly unfolding shift as society loosens, where the Queen abandons rigid rules in favour of thrill of gossip and scandal, turning a blind eye to Sophie's bastard-child status, meaning society no longer holds the same power to keep Sophie and Benedict apart.

This season finally confronts the class system that has always existed beneath Bridgerton's dazzling surface Around her the subplots echo the same tensions. The Featheringtons’ housekeeper Varley enters a salary dispute, Lady Danbury pushes against the social prison of being the Queen's permanent subordinate, trusted companion and the Mondriches navigate the uncomfortable reality of status that comes with strings attached. Even Eloise's contemplation of spinsterhood is reframed through a class-based lens, revealing what independence would actually cost her. When one household

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them. Their worlds collide rather than merge, leaving the viewers with a bittersweet sense that the fairy tale has limits, and that the season’s most powerful moments come from acknowledging them.

begins poaching new servants, Lady Whistledown dubs the chaos "the maid wars" sending fashionable society aflutter.

For the first time, Bridgerton acknowledges that its fairy tale world is built on the labour of people who rarely get to attend the excessive balls and that crossing those boundaries carries real consequences. The season ends gently full-circle, as Varley returns to the Featherington’s household and is greeted with an apology, saying her wages should have been more, and her gift of some out-of-season dresses was all but sufficient.

Their love finally settles into something like a fairy tale, now that the old rules have fallen away and their future lies freely before them.

In the credits of the last episode, the story ultimately finds its resolution in a quiet, deeply personal wedding held outside the Cottage where they first shared a sunstreaked two weeks, the place that had once been a refuge from society and now becomes the setting for their beginning.

Benedict wears a small image of a kite on a broach securing his shirt, a private nod to the first memory they have together. Their love finally settles into something like a fairy tale, now that the old rules have fallen away and their future lies freely before them.

Bridgerton acknowledges that its fairy tale world is built on the labour of people who rarely get to attend the excessive balls and that crossing those boundaries carries real consequences The first-half of the season ends by trailing back to the problems made apparent with their affection in the first episode. Benedict and Sophie's story starts by refusing to grant an effortless happily-ever-after, instead highlighting the social and emotional risks that continue to loom over

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CULTURE

LONDON FASHION WEEK 2026 London Fashion Week demonstrated once again that London is one of the key fashion centres worldwide. Part of the global ‘Big Four’, which includes New York, Milan and Paris, London Fashion Week reunited designers, models, writers and others who are passionate about fashion from around the world.

Taking place over the course of a week, London Fashion Week launched the 2026 Autumn/Winter collections and demonstrated British fashion’s creativity, diversity and innovation. London Fashion Week in 2026 showcased British fashion’s heritage as well as its bright and innovative future through boldness of thought, cultural representation and sustainability of process and product.

A noteworthy feature of London Fashion Week is that it presents many opportunities for emerging designers to present themselves. While the event features wellestablished designers with their international recognition, the newly emerging designers will also have the opportunity to showcase their work.

By Valerie Law

London. As an encouragement to upcoming designers, the London Fashion Week environment provides an avenue for those designers to be noticed and assist in shaping the future of fashion.

Britain’s most iconic fashion names along with emerging and young designers contributed significantly to the success of London Fashion Week 2026. The shows of famous British designers such as Simone Rocha, Richard Quinn, and others attracted great attention due to the creative and innovative qualities of their collections. In addition, heritage fashion houses within the UK displayed how they continue to develop traditional British sartorial items, especially trench coats and formalwear.

A significant development from London Fashion Week 2026 was the emergence of new fashion trends occurring in the season of the show. British fashion designers used oversized silhouettes and bold textures to

Many of the collections at London Fashion Week 2026 were created by newly emerging designers who balance tradition and modernism in partnership with one another. The collections of newly emerging designers illustrated the inventive spirit of Lent Term 2 Edition | 2026

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reinvent traditional British clothing, including tailored coats and formalwear. The themes of romance and drama were among the most frequently used by designers at the event. Another key trend in fashion is sustainability, both in terms of creating physical products and reducing waste.

Apart from the runway shows, London Fashion Week also had a cultural influence on the city. It created a vibrant atmosphere in London, promoting creativity in fashion, as fashion exhibitions, networking, and street-style photo shoots took place throughout the week. Celebrities, influencers, and writers met to socialise and share the latest fashion trends with the world using digital media. Thus, apart from designers and buyers, London Fashion Week also had a significant influence on the way fashion is talked about and consumed around the world.

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The Stag To conclude, London Fashion Week 2026 has once again proved the significance and prominence of London in the fashion world globally. It has brought together renowned designers, new talent, and innovative ideas, thus promoting diversity and creativity in fashion, which is characteristic of Britain.

The celebration of artistry, sustainability, and cultural diversity has again made London Fashion Week a trendsetter in the fashion world, while also maintaining its reputation as one of the most exciting and influential weeks in fashion.

In addition to providing runway shows, London Fashion Week had an impact on culture. London experienced a lively atmosphere during London Fashion Week that encouraged creative expression through fashion; this was accomplished by showcasing different types of fashion exhibits as well as providing an opportunity to have networking events and opportunities for street style photography.

Besides designers and buyers, London Fashion Week served to connect many celebrities, influencers, and authors to each other in order for them to socialise, network, share their knowledge of fashion trends, and promote said trends to the rest of the world digitally.

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CULTURE

GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL

By Ede Edwards Glasgow Film Festival is Scotland’s largest film festival and runs from 25th of February to 8th of March. It showcases 126 films from 44 countries across 12 days.

The theme for this year is ‘Truth to Power’.

They have selected ten classic films spanning from the 1960s to the present, all centred around cinematic resistance: characters pushing back against entrenched power structures. This year’s key country focus is Sweden, under the banner ‘Take a Chance on Me: Swedish Cinema’. This spotlights contemporary Swedish filming.

Some of the most major premieres and notable films include Everybody to Kenmure Street, which is set to open the festival, a Scottish documentary by Felipe Bustos Sierra. James McAvoy’s directorial debut, California Schemin’, a story that follows two Scottish rappers who fake an American identity to land a record deal, is set to close the festival with a red-carpet premiere on 8th March.

GFF has built a reputation for being one of the UK’s most welcoming film festivals, prioritising audience experience over industry deals. It makes filmmakers actually want to show their work because the crowd is engaged and the atmosphere is famously down-to-earth.

Since 2024, the festival has bestowed the Cinema City Honorary Award, which recognises filmmakers who have had outstanding contribution to cinema.

Previously winners have been Viggo Mortensen (2024) and James McAvoy (2025). There are no nominees for the award: it is a single-recipient honorary prize and is directly chosen by the GFF team each year.

Although there are no nominees, there are rumours of who could win, including Tilda Swinton, Lynne Ramsay and Peter Mullan.

GFF consistently attracts high-profile filmmakers, and 2026 is no exception. James McAvoy will return to present his directorial debut. Mark Jenkin, BAFTA award winning director, attends with his new film Rose of Nevada.

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COLLEGE NEWS

The Stag

WRITERS’ WORKSHOP WITH HOLLY DAWSON

By The Stag In February, a group of Year 10 and 11 pupils attended a creative writing workshop in the English Department run by visiting writer Holly Dawson.

During the afternoon, they learnt how to follow a process of writing which was used by modernist writers such as Virginia Woolf to create characters for their novels and also to create imagist poetry, and later by other artists such as David Bowie. Below is an anonymous example of the work the pupils produced.

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Holly Dawson, writer

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COLLEGE NEWS

DANCE WORKSHOP WITH DANIEL HAYGORDON

By Jessica Moore Recently, we were fortunate to take part in an unforgettable workshop with Daniel HayGordon. We learned a piece of choreography inspired by the poem Sigh by Stéphane Mallarmé, which allowed us to explore the richness and depth of his choreographic masterpiece. The solo was deeply thought-provoking, evoking themes of nature, melancholy, holiness, and longing.

Working with Danny was an honour, particularly due to his work with Thick & Tight Dance Theatre, a company renowned for its inclusive approach to dance. His wealth of knowledge was truly inspirational, and he brought out the best in us as performers throughout the workshop.

The workshop encouraged us to focus on using our bodies and movement to create atmosphere and meaning, rather than performing movement for its own sake. We were guided to explore the symbolism and emotional depth behind both the poem and the choreography, enhancing the overall choreographic intent.

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SPORT

The Stag

WINTER OLYMPICS 2026

By Alfie Eastall Every four years, athletes from across the world gather to compete in sports on snow and ice.

The Winter Olympics, first held in 1924 in Chamonix, France, have grown from a small international event into one of the most watched competitions in global sport.

Originally created to showcase winter sports such as skiing, skating and ice hockey, the Games now feature athletes from more than ninety nations. Participation has increased 10x since the first edition, reflecting both the expansion of winter sport and the global reach of the Olympic movement.

Unlike the Summer Olympics, the Winter Games focus on precision and endurance in extreme conditions. Events range from alpine skiing and snowboarding to figure skating, speed skating and bobsleigh. Success often depends on fractions of a second, where technique and control matter as much as strength.

The most recent Winter Olympics took place in 2026 across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. Over sixteen days, nearly three thousand athletes competed in more than one hundred events. The Games continued a trend toward greater global participation and gender balance, with women making up close to half of all competitors.

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Several performances defined the tournament.

Norway once again dominated the medal table, setting new records for gold medals at a single Winter Olympics. Individual athletes also produced historic moments, including breakthrough victories in skiing and skeleton events, showing how new generations are beginning to shape the future of winter sport.

Host nation Italy enjoyed strong support throughout the Games, while countries outside the traditional winter sport powers also celebrated milestones, proving how the Olympics continue to expand beyond their European origins. For many smaller nations, simply qualifying remains an achievement equal to winning a medal.

Beyond competition, the Winter Olympics remain a symbol of international unity. Athletes compete for national pride, but they also share the same villages, venues and experiences. For two weeks, political and cultural differences give way to sport.

As the closing ceremony ended in Italy, attention quickly turned toward the next Olympics in 2028. Records were broken, new champions emerged, and young athletes announced themselves on the world stage. Like every Winter Olympics before it, the Games left behind more than medals. They left stories that will shape the next four years of competition.

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SPORT

DRAMA IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

By Lexi Whitfield The 2025/26 Premier League season has been one of the most exciting in recent years, packed with surprise results, intense title battles, and a fierce relegation fight. As we move into the final stretch of the season, every match feels crucial whether its for lifting the trophy, qualifying for Europe or simply staying in the league.

At the top of the table, Arsenal FC are currently leading the way. With strong attacking performances and impressive consistency they have built a points gap and look determined to secure the title.

Close behind are Manchester City, who remain serious challengers. City have the experience of winning big trophies and are known for going on winning runs late in the season. In third place, Manchester United are also having a strong campaign, staying within reach of the top two and comfortably inside the Champions League spots.

Just outside the top three, teams like Aston Villa and Liverpool FC are pushing hard for European qualification. The race for the top four is tight and even a couple of dropped points could change everything.

At the other end of the table, the pressure is building. Wolverhampton Wanderers currently sit at the bottom of the league and are fighting to avoid relegation. Just above them are Burnley FC and West Ham Lent Term 2 Edition | 2026

United, who are also in serious danger. With only a handful of matches left, every point matters. A single win could lift a team out of the relegation zone, while one bad result could push them closer to the drop.

Players in the Spotlight?

The race for individual awards is just as exciting as the league table. The battle for the Golden Boot is heating up, with top strikers delivering goals week after week. Big name forwards have stepped up in crucial matches, often deciding games with moments of brilliance.

The Player of the Month Award This award recently went to a standout performer who delivered important goals and assists throughout February helping his team climb the table. Meanwhile the latest Player of the Week award recognised a midfielder who controlled the game, created chances and scored in a key victory for his side.

What Makes This Season Special?

What makes this season so exciting is how unpredictable it has been. Top teams have dropped unexpected points, lower table teams have pulled off shock wins and the title race is still alive heading into the final months. The competition between the top three is intense while the battle at the bottom is equally dramatic.

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SPORT

EASTBOURNE COLLEGE NETBALL

By Emma Valks It has been a great start to the season for the girls. We are so proud to have so many teams representing the College week in, week out.

A interview with captain Pheobe Wearne goes into more details: 1. What have been the biggest achievements of the netball teams so far this season?

On the 5th of February, the 1st team and U16As travelled to Hurst for SISNA. The 1st team came an impressive 3rd overall and the U16As came 7th.

2. How has the season been going for the girls in general?

All the girls have been working hard this season and have displayed great performances in weekend matches. The 1st team have won seven matches this season, performing particularly well against Worth.

The U14As have also won seven matches this season! Well done to all the teams for their dedication to training and matches.

Ardingly. Our final match is away against Mayfield, which should be a fun challenge to round off the season.

4. What has it been like captaining the side?

It’s been great! The team get on very well and there is a great atmosphere in training.

Everyone works hard and has the drive to win.

5.What do you think are the strengths of the side?

The team work together well and know each others’ playing styles inside and out. We have a very talented array of shooters and an equally strong defence!

We wish the best of luck to the girls for the rest of the season, and look forward to hearing about even more success across the teams!

3.What are the girls most looking forward to for the rest of the season/ what is coming up?

There are not many matches left of the season but we’re looking forward to our triangular this weekend against Reigate and

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SPORT

The Stag

EASTBOURNE COLLEGE RUGBY

By Tom Robins The Eastbourne College rugby club has strode into the second term of the year. The club has trodden new ground, with new players from Year 11 along with sixth formers showing the club’s adaptability in the face of injuries and positional changes. This second term of rugby is ideal for honing skills and crafting new tactics outside of the first half of the season.

The club has faced challenges in opposition and from the elements but has persevered in the first half of term, this being Rugby Union. As the weather very gradually improves over half term, the club now faces the shift into Rugby Sevens, a much more intense and faster-paced version of the game.

In the weeks leading up to the end of term, the team is preparing to take part in the Rosslyn Park 7s tournament.

This competition is the largest school rugby tournament in the world, with over 800 teams competing every year. The boys will continue to train hard and we are eager to see their results.

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HOUSE REPORTS

The Stag

BLACKWATER HOUSE REPORT

By Emma Valks

It has been a good Lent Term in Blackwater.

It has been very busy with House Netball kicking off the term. All the girls played very well and gave it their all - thank you also goes to everyone who went down to support!

Eastbourne’s Got Talent takes place in two weeks, and we are delighted to announce that after some auditions in house and many great contestants our judging panel made up of Year 13s decided to put the Year 9 Dance group through, made up of Katie R, Charlotte S and Maddie S. The best of luck to the girls.

The annual Charity Revue took place a couple of weeks ago, and we congratulate Tilly Lancaster and Rosie Dale for their involvement with that. It was a great night which raised a lot of money for our chosen school charity.

On the sports pitch, we are really proud of all the girls in Blackwater for their continued involvement in sport in the school. Congratulations in particular go to Georgie Pedley, Ava Ripley, Aless Kasar and Stuti Vasdev for gaining silver and bronze medals respectively in the regional fives tournament.

This is a great achievement and shows the breadth of talent in the house.

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In drama, good luck to Hermione Compton, Sophie Benson and Rosie Dale who are all in the Dell Play at the end of this term - we are sure you will smash it.

The half term surf trip was a success, and a few girls in the house took up this opportunity and had an amazing time. This is an example of one of the many great opportunities open to the girls.

The girls are all looking forward to our House Dinner on Saturday with Gonville. The theme is Apres-Ski/ Winter Olympics and it is set to be a great night.

The Battle of the Bands was also a success, and well done to all the girls involved and thank you to those who went to support!

The A Capella Competition is fast approaching, and the girls have been practising hard so we look forward to hearing about how they do! Good luck to them all.

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CRAIG HOUSE REPORT

By Harry Jordan The second half of the Lent Term is already drawing to a close, yet it feels like we’ve only just come back from half-term! A week of mocks for the Year 13s brought a busy half-term of revision to an end, and I hope that all the exams went well and were successful. Just before half-term, Craig saw a very rare academic achievement in the form of an offer from Cambridge for James Dunlop to study classics. This is an incredible achievement: Oxbridge places are notorious for being extremely competitive, and this offer makes James the first Cronkite in over ten years to get an offer from either Oxford or Cambridge!

Sticking with the academic side of school, Matthew Murray, Miles Howlett, Sujan Satish and Jack Kirtley have been representing Craig in the interhouse debating competition, with some tough matchups against two strong Watt and Powell sides. Well done for representing the house and we wish you the best of luck!

In sport, the hockey 1st XI are enjoying an excellent season, with the highlight being a 4-way tournament at RGS Wycombe. The team, consisting of Ollie K (vice-captain) Nic B, Harry J, Jack J, Tommy L, and Ed E played incredibly well, topping the day off by coming back from 4-2 down in the last 2 minutes to draw against Kings Wimbledon, progressing to the next round of the National Plate on goal difference. After beating Tonbridge 5-2, they progress to the quarterfinals, an excellent achievement.

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In football, Dan Clark, James Dunlop and Theo Hazelwood have all represented the first XI, with the team gaining their first win of the season last weekend. Wilf Medlycott and Matthew Murray have both represented the school fives team, so well done to them as well.

In creatives, Battle of the Bands was a huge success, and well done to Freddie Easter for performing in that. With house a Capella fast approaching, we hope that Craig will be able to take home the trophy one last time, having come a close second last year, with our famous victory two years ago with Billie Jean under Herbie Sleep’s leadership. Craig is working extremely hard to get their final house concert ready, and we hope to see as many people as possible coming to watch.

The concert will include an excellent Year 13 video, some interesting dance moves from the lower sixth, an all-new production of ‘Locked in Craig’ with the Year 11s edited by Ben ‘Spielberg’ Jeffrey, and a mystery Year 10 act. As well as this, there will be solo performances from some pupils, a band performing Uptown Funk and Don’t Stop Believing, as well as our house song, Come Together. We are looking forward to showcasing Craig’s talent one last time.

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HOUSE REPORTS

GONVILLE HOUSE REPORT The house has returned from half term with passion as many Gonvillians took part in activities across the school. Ferran Windfuhr and Sam Lee took to the stage for the renowned Battle of the Bands. The two, and their band of four called Big Fish won the prestigious best original song award with their single Faces.

By Tom Robins

Also to celebrate Lunar New Year, the house took part in its annual Lunar New Year meal, involving some delicious Chinese cuisine and the house eating together in the Games Room. Despite the short amount of time since the last house report, the house has been busy and productive and will continue to be so heading further into 2026.

Gonville’s talent lies not only in the studio but also on the racetrack….. Gonville took part in the Go-Karting at Brighton Karting with Hamilton (not Lewis) Cridge and Nazarii Dmyterchuk taking 1st and 2nd respectively in the heated racing, not that it’s a competition of course. Hamilton also played the drums for two separate bands in the Battle of the Bands! He’s clearly had lots of practice putting his foot down.

In other news, Happy Lunar New Year! The Year of the Horse rolled around on the 17th of February during half term. Following this, the house sold lucky red envelopes for the school charity of choice this term which was Mathew 25, an organisation that feeds, clothes and supports anyone and everyone who needs their help right here in our very own town of Eastbourne. From the sale of the envelopes on two lunchtime periods alone, the house has raised £208 for the organisation.

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HOUSE REPORTS

NUGENT HOUSE REPORT

By Nancy Brown The Nugent girls have returned from the half term break feeling rested, reenergised, and ready to take on what promises to be a short but incredibly busy four weeks ahead.

Even though it was the holidays, our Year 13s spent much of their time working tirelessly towards their mock exams, and we wish them luck as they await their results over the coming weeks but whatever the result we are extremely proud of them.

Looking back at the previous half term, one of the standout moments for many was House Netball. The atmosphere was brilliant - full of cheering, encouragement, and team spirit from everyone on the side-lines. While the final results may not have fallen in our favour (although the 1st Senior team secured an impressive 2nd place!), Nugent certainly shone in enthusiasm, determination, and heart. Not to mention for many of the girls taking part in their first netball game.

Looking ahead, one of the most important events this next half of term is the Nugent Review. Each year group has been rehearsing for hours, perfecting their performances for Saturday, and the acts are already looking fantastic. We can’t wait to share some Nugent joy with everyone and showcase the amazing talent we have within the house.

House A Cappella has also been a popular activity this term, with many girls getting involved. They will be performing I Saw Your Face Again by Shenhim, and with so much musical talent in the group, it’s sounding wonderful. The girls have fully embraced their inner Pitch Perfect energy, and we’re excited to see it all come together.

Over the break, several pupils from the house also had the exciting opportunity to travel with the school to sunny Morocco for the surf trip. They returned glowing, describing it as the best trip ! Their days were packed with morning surf lessons, sandboarding activities, and evenings spent exploring the markets and watching the sunset.

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HOUSE REPORTS

PENNELL HOUSE REPORT

By Lexi Whitfield The biggest highlight of the term was without a doubt the Pennell House Concert. The atmosphere on the night was incredible with a real sense of excitement and pride throughout the audience. The concert was a brilliant showcase of the talent running through our house.

As a house, we all came together to perform our house song, This Is Me from The Greatest Showman.

Singing it together was a powerful moment. The lyrics perfectly represent Pennel’s confidence, individuality and determination to stand out. Hearing everyone’s voices combine created a real sense of unity and house spirit it was definitely one of those moments that will stick in our memories.

Each year group then took to the stage with their own act Year 10 delivered an impressive gloving performance. The lights, timing and coordination were spot on, and it was something completely different that really grabbed everyone’s attention.

Year 11 showed off their creativity and humour with a hilarious video. It had the whole room laughing and proved that comedy is definitely one of Pennell’s strengths! Year 12 brought amazing energy to the stage with a dance performance that was both entertaining and confident. Their enthusiasm was infectious and got the crowd cheering. Overall, the concert was a massive success.

Another highlight of the term was our meal at Kali Fusion. It was fantastic to have all the boys in the house together outside of school for a relaxed evening. The food was excellent, but what really made the night special was the chance to chat laugh and enjoy each other’s company. It strengthened the sense of community within Pennell and reminded us that being part of a house is about more than just competitions.

A huge well done must go to Year 13, who have now completed their mocks. It’s been a challenging and important period for them, and finishing mocks is a big achievement. With exams on the horizon we are all behind them and wishing them the best as they continue preparing. Their hard work and resilience set a strong example for the rest of the house.

This term has perfectly captured what Pennell House is all about with talent, humour, determination and togetherness. From lighting up the stage at the house concert to sharing a meal at Kali Fusion to preparing for upcoming competitions, the house spirit has been stronger than ever. If the rest of the year continues like this, there’s no doubt Pennell will keep making memories and hopefully collecting a few more victories along the way.

Looking ahead we have House A Cappella coming up where the boys will take part in a singing competition. There's already a real buzz building around it. With the musical talent we’ve seen at the concert there’s every reason to believe Pennell will put on a strong performance. It’s another great opportunity to show our house spirit and teamwork, and it promises to be an exciting event for both performers and supporters.

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HOUSE REPORTS

POWELL HOUSE REPORT A busy few weeks for Powell have seen many successes and accolades.

This term has been a great term for musicians; The informal concert saw Caleb Pout (Year 12) play piano and Dimitry Bikov (Year 13) play the glockenspiel. This was followed by the Battle of the Bands, which was participated by Henry Potter (Year 9), Zach Perry (Year 12), Ethan Harrison, (Year 10) and Jake Knowles (Year 10). This event was organised by Dimitry Bikov, with one of the compares being Caleb Pout. A great effort from everyone involved.

By Charlie Hawkins

wishes its swimmers the best of luck.

Congratulations to the Powell interhouse debating team for passing through to the second round of the tournament and good luck in the next debate.

A big well done to Dylan Fry (Year 9) for receiving a part in the Junior Glyndebourne Opera. He will be a part of the chorus in the opera Toska for the Glyndebourne festival.

As the days become brighter and longer, Powell House is looking forward to a welldeserved Easter break and a warm summer term.

The Charity Revue was yet another musical event, with Caleb Pout performing again alongside Zach Perry, both singing and playing piano. Also, on the subject of music, we applauded Edward Duncumb (Year 12) after he played the organ in chapel last week.

In football, Ethan Simmonds (Year 11) won the Sussex cup alongside the Eastbourne Borough U16s. In hockey, Tobias Bristowe (Year 11) has continued to play every game for the 1st XI this term, the first 1st XI hockey player in Powell for quite some time.

Congratulations to both.

Dylan Fry and Mimi Johnson (School), above, have won parts in the Junior Glyndebourne Opera

Yesterday, Tom Coleman (Year 12), Jack Highlands (Year 13) and Matt Clark (Year 13) departed to attend the Bath Cup, Powell

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HOUSE REPORTS

REEVES HOUSE REPORT It’s certainly been an eventful second half of term for Reeves House. Our endeavors have been musically dominated, with our pupils taking part in multiple concerts and events across the half term. One of those events was the Battle of the Bands, where we congratulated Felix M and Hector L for their performances in the competition, as well as Elliot and Tom H, Enzo M and Ray B in their band Gifthorse for their exhibition performance there as last year’s winners.

Those last four were also involved in the Charity Revue, providing the audience with impressive covers. Well done also to Felix H and Soren M for their several performances over the half-term.

Special congratulations must go to the whole of the Upper Sixth for completing a busy and intense week of mock exams in preparation for their A-levels next term. We hope sufficient preparation was made, and they achieve the results they were hoping for. Reeves House looks ahead to the upcoming Eastbourne’s Got Talent competition, where we are aiming to defend our crown from last year, held by now departed James K. We have our very own Reeves band entering the competition, and we wish them the very best of luck as they do the house justice.

By Mark McKie

and Matthew MW faced up against Pennell, and although we didn’t come out victorious on that occasion, the whole team showed resilience and flair as they conducted themselves. Our esports team on the other hand enjoyed high levels of success, with the side not conceding a single goal so far in the Rocket League tournament. As the weeks and days count down till the end of term, our House a Capella group has entered its annual stage of excited panic, this year led by Louis P. Morale and enthusiasm in Reeves is as high as ever, everywhere you look people volunteer for every and any event regardless of obstacles. No matter the result good or bad, Reeves always gives it a go. This half-term has been a joy, and we look forward to the last few days, and the warm weather that follows the upcoming summer term.

Reeves also got a chance to flex its intellectual muscles in the house debating competition. Our team of Louis P, Seb C, Lent Term 2 Edition | 2026

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SCHOOL HOUSE REPORT

The Stag

By Valerie Law

The School House girls have continued to work hard especially the Year 13s who recently sat their mock exams. We wish them tremendous luck as we know how much they have been working towards it. The girls have also been working hard selling roses for our house charity for Valentine’s Day which turned out to be a huge success. All girls helped throughout the process by labelling the roses and the Year 12s and 13s who helped sell them. A tremendous thank you to Polly and Darcy for helping organise the whole thing! The night ended with a Valentine’s Day themed party with a lot of treats and a jelly cat bingo which the girls all enjoyed.

Our girls have also participated in house netball which was also huge success. The junior girls A and B team won! We love to win but we also do love the house spirit. School House and Reeves House also had their house dinner which was themed Back to the 80s. The night was fun and filled with laugher. There were activities such as a costume competition and quizzes on the table to complete. Everyone looked like they had time travelled! The girls also enjoyed a night celebrating Chinese New Year with a Chinese takeout which was delicious. Many thanks to Ms. Gordon for organising it all. Of course, we had a jelly cat bingo which was won by Isla, and we also had scratch cards to win a box of Maltesers. The girls really enjoyed the night especially the food.

Now that the weather is gradually getting warmer, the girls are looking forward to the Summer Term and are happy that the gloomy days are over. As always, we are so proud of the girls and what they have achieved so far. The constant kindness being shown in house really shows how School House truly is the best!

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HOUSE REPORTS

WARGRAVE HOUSE REPORT

By Vincent Marten

Wargrave have recently held our annual 24hour Rowathon where there was a member of the house rowing for every second of those 24 hours. This year’s charity was Mind UK which aims to help men with their mental health. The boys put in maximum effort with everyone wanting to be on the leader board by rowing the furthest in their year group. The winners included: Year 9 Paddington Lewis 2280m Year 10 Tom Hecks 2568m Year 11 Stanley Yeats 2815m Year 12 Tim Dodard 2615m Year 13 Will Plimsoll 2645m A special mention goes to Stanley Yeats who rowed the furthest out of anyone ever to partake in the Rowathon with a huge 2815m.

All the boys did very well in participating in the annual Rowathon but a big thank you goes to the Rowathon committee which contained Aman Shah, Will Plimsol, Fin Bulkely, Elliot Freeborough and Harry Bishop who stayed up for the majority of those 24 hours making the event run smoothly.

In total we raised £16,569 for Mind UK which is the highest amount of money that Wargrave has ever raised from the event so thank you

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very much to everyone who donated. A huge achievement.

We raised £16,569 for Mind UK which is the highest amount of money that Wargrave has ever raised from the event The boys in Wargrave continue their run in the House Rocket League with the finals being this week. The team includes a range of boys from all year groups including Will Plimsoll, James BG, Elliot F, Barnaby Eden, Ed BG, and Ed Jones. We wish them the best of luck in the final.

We also celebrated Chinese New Year with pupils from Hong Kong and mainland China.

They went to Xing Fu where the boys enjoyed authentic, modern Chinese cuisine to celebrate this fantastic event.

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WATT HOUSE REPORT

By Nikol Saveleva It has been another successful half term for Watt, filled with lots of commitment and house spirit.

We ended last half term on a real high with the Watt Revue, which went excellently. The girls performed superbly, showcasing an impressive range of talents and demonstrating true teamwork and confidence. It was a fantastic celebration of the energy within the house and a brilliant way to conclude the term.

Many girls also took part in the Charity Revue, contributing enthusiastically to an event for such an important cause. Isla, Erin and Ruth sang beautifully, Izzy delivered a confident dance performance, and Rosie did an excellent job compering. It was wonderful to see them getting involved and really showing the Watt spirit. An honourable mention also goes to Georgia who sang beautifully in the Informal Concert. Her

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performance was beautiful, and it was wonderful to see her get involved.

Academically, our Year 13 students have now completed their mock examinations.

They worked incredibly hard in preparation and approached their exams excellently. We are very proud of their efforts. Meanwhile, Year 12 are busily preparing for the International Dinner, and excitement is already building for what promises to be a fantastic and memorable evening including Mexican, Greek and Chinese dishes.

With the recent few days of sunny weather, many girls have also been making the most of the Watt garden, enjoying the space during breaks and playing badminton.

At the same time, rehearsals are well underway for House A Cappella, taking place at the end of this half term. The commitment and teamwork shown by everyone involved has been brilliant to see.

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COLLEGE NEWS

CHARITY REPORT LENT TERM 2026

By Father Daniel Following the Blackwater Revue and candy cane sales, money is still coming in and £1,000 has already been raised for the breast cancer charity, The Pink Ribbon Foundation. At the Pennell Revue several hundred pounds was raised in cash and donations online. Monies went to EduKids, a charity working for children in the conflict in Ukraine. Fedya Kryuchkov was instrumental in the choice of this charity and gave an incredibly moving speech on the night!

Gonville raised over £200 in their ‘red envelope’ fundraiser in the dining hall. This went towards Matthew 25, the current chapel charity, based in Eastbourne, not far from the school. Meanwhile, Watt continued this year to support The Chaseley Trust, with £350 raised at their House Revue.

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Nugent raised money for Dementia UK with their annual fundraiser, selling Easter eggs, and the Reeves House Concert raised £380 for The Wave Project. The latter charity combines the therapeutic elements of the ocean with the adventure of surfing, supporting young people with low selfesteem, anxiety and friendship and trust issues.

Once again, the jewel in the charity calendar was the Wargrave Rowathon, which this year raised close to £17,000 – a new record! All proceeds this year went to Mind UK, the mental health charity.

Finally, a group of current and past pupils ran 10K in the Rachael Ward’s London Winter Run for Cancer Research Fund. This group included Will Fellows, Polly Hecks, Tom Stoner and Poppy Ward, as well as OEs Tillie Ward, Catherine Fellows and Noah Price. A great effort - so far they have raised over £2600!

Page 37

The Stag

HOROSCOPES

By Mystic Maud

Aquarius

Pisces

Aries

Taurus

(Jan 20th - Feb 18th)

(Feb 19th- March20th) (March 21st-April 19th)

Avoid wearing green in the second half of the month

Creativity flows—capture it before it fades

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

(May 21st - June 20th)

(June 21st - July 22nd)

(July 23rd - Aug 22nd)

(Aug 23rd-Sep 22nd)

A quick conversation opens new doors

Protect your energy; clarity follows

Confidence wins support you didn’t expect

Small details reveal big opportunities

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

(Sep 23rd - Oct 22nd)

(Oct 23rd - Nov 21st)

(Nov 22nd - Dec 21st)

(Dec 22nd-Jan 19th)

Balance returns through one simple decision

Trust your intuition—it’s unusually sharp now

Adventure calls; follow the spark

Discipline pays off sooner than expected

Lent Term 1 Edition | 2026

Bold choices spark unexpected progress this weekend

(April 20th-May 20th) Steady effort brings a pleasant surprise