MEET OUR NEW HEADS OF SCHOOL Harry
Tell us about your time at Bede’s so far… I joined Bede’s in Year 7. Moving from Uganda during Covid to finally attending school in person, I threw myself into every opportunity. I loved joining different extra curricular activities like cricket and hockey - Bede’s has helped me grow my love for sport. Joining Bede’s has blessed me with the opportunity to meet such a special group of friends who I believe I will keep for life.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I am looking forward to meeting people I would not usually meet and helping as many of them as I can, and hopefully give them that sense of belonging that I got when I first joined. I am also looking forward to being someone who the younger pupils can look up to. Additionally, I am looking forward to working with the prefect team to make Bede’s an even better community.
If you could travel to any period of history, where would you go?
If I could travel to any period of time I would travel to the late 90s/early 2000s because in this period of time there was a perfect balance between emerging technology and uninterrupted physical social interaction which we don’t have much of these days.
Who is on your dream dinner party guest list?
My top picks for my party guest list would be Ruby Bridges - to listen to her sharing her wisdom and hearing her story first hand. Barack Obama - to hear about how he was able to overcome some difficult challenges. David Attenborough - I think he is such an interesting person and hearing about the most intriguing things he has seen or his favourite episode to narrate. Lastly, I would invite my grandmother because she never fails to make me laugh.
You have one book, one film and one album to take with you to a desert island - which do you pick?
If I had to pick one film, it would have to be the movie ‘Home’ because it never fails to entertain me even after watching it so many times. For my album of choice, it would be ‘The Art of Loving’ by Olivia Dean because her songs can fit any occasion. The one book I would take would be the Bible because if there is anything I need to learn about how to lead my life I can get it from there!
Tell us about your time at Bede’s so far… I joined Bede’s in the Sixth Form this year and I’ve enjoyed all the opportunities that have come my way. Whether it be playing on some amazing football pitches, experimenting in the lab or relaxing in house; Bede’s has welcomed me warmly, allowing me to make new friends and memories along the way. I’m really grateful for everyone in Deis and all the staff for helping me overcome challenges and fostering an enjoyable learning environment.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I’m really looking forward to working with the team of prefects to implement exciting ideas and to solve problems. Also, being a role model is important to me: I want to show other pupils that just because you don’t succeed at first, that doesn’t mean you will always fail. The most important thing is to put in the effort to give yourself the best opportunity. Finally, it will be interesting working with the new Year 7 & 8 pupils that will be joining the school after we leave. I hope we can show them how great Bede’s is!
If you could travel to any period of history, where would you go? If I could go to any period, I would go back to when I was in Year 5. For me, I miss the different types of fun and the idea of still being able to grow up. With the knowledge I have now, I would definitely do some things differently. However, I don’t have many regrets as the paths I chose to take have led me to where I am today. But, I still wished I lived in the moment more and appreciated being young.
Who is on your dream dinner party guest list?
I think I’ll have to pick Messi as my football idol; his work rate and desire to achieve his goal is second to none, he doesn’t let challenges get in the way, so talking to him and learning about his attitude would be interesting. Also having Roy Keane around is always entertaining as he always has something to say. On the same theme, having dinner with Tony Morriss would be funny and also to hear about his entrepreneurship journey as well. Finally I would invite Queen Elizabeth II as she lived a long and eventful life so I think she would have many stories to tell.
You have one book, one film and one album to take with you to a desert island - which do you pick?
If I could pick only one book I would pick ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’. The first time I read this book I couldn’t put it down so this should keep me busy reliving his adventures. For a film, I would pick ‘Oppenheimer’ as it is truly thought provoking. I’ve watched this a few times and it never fails to make me think after; I still don’t think I completely understand everything in the film so it’s ideal to kill some time! I’m a big Drake fan so I think I would have to choose something from him for my album of choice. ‘Thank Me Later’ is a good choice as I never get tired of listening to his older songs.
Ralph
Tell us about your time at Bede’s so far… I arrived at Bede’s in Year 9 and since then I feel I have changed out of recognition. The opportunities provided to me; whether that be on the cricket field, in the classroom or playing the trumpet. My journey I believe fully took place in my start to Sixth Form, where I was given the opportunity to give back to the school that has shaped my life so much.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
Providing others with the same sense of belonging I feel at Bede’s. Being able to make a positive impact on people’s lives and having the amazing prefect team to help me do this with, will be something really special. Something I will look back on later and be really proud to say I have done.
If you could travel to any period of history, where would you go?
The late 19th Century as this was the time period that William Morris’ Arts and Crafts design movement was most prominent. Not only would this be fascinating to witness first-hand but it would have the side benefit of making my Design and Technology coursework easier.
Who is on your dream dinner party guest list?
Joe Root, an inspiration of mine growing up. Not only England’s all time runscorer in cricket history, but also widely renowned as one of the nicest cricket players to play the game. An evening quizzing him on his career would be a dream come true.
You have one book, one film and one album to take with you to a desert island - which do you pick?
The book would be ‘How To Build A Boat’ by Elain Feeney. The film would be ‘Kon-Tiki’, a true story depicting the ancient techniques of navigation in a voyage across the pacific. My album of choice would be ‘Radical Optimism’ by Dua Lipa, something that I’m sure will deteriorate during my journey.
VirTell us about your time at Bede’s so far…
I joined Bede’s in Year 10. Before that, I lived in Spain. Joining Bede’s was also my first time living in England. Since I joined, I have always tried to take every opportunity that the School has offered me. Bede’s has always made me feel very welcomed and has helped me push myself outside my comfort zone. On top of that, I have met some great people that have supported me throughout my time here.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I am mostly looking forward to working with the school prefects to leave an impact on the School. I want to encourage everyone at the School to take every opportunity that they can. I will listen to opinions to see if we can improve things to make Bede’s an even better place.
If you could travel to any period of history, where would you go?
I think that if I could travel to one period of history, I would travel to Ancient Greece. I would want to see all the cool structures that they built and how they looked when they were first built. Also, I would like to see how they lived back then without technology.
Who is on your dream dinner party guest list?
First I would choose Almudena Cid. She was a Spanish gymnast that went to 4 different Olympics and is still involved in the gymnastics world in other ways. Since I was very young, she has been a role model for me. The second person that I would choose is Christina Koch. She went on the last Artemis mission, Artemis II, and she travelled the furthest away from Earth. I think it would be very interesting hearing her talk about her amazing experience.
You have one book, one film and one album to take with you to a desert island - which do you pick?
If I had to pick one film I would choose ‘Top Gun’. I watched it a couple years ago for the first time and I didn’t think I was even going to like it but I ended up really enjoying it. For a book, I would choose “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” by John Boyne. It is a very sad story but it shows how much people suffered during WW2 and it made me realise how lucky I am to live in the current day. As my album of choice, I would choose ‘Debi tirar mas fotos’ from a latinoamerican singer that I really like at the moment.
Leavers Ball
On Friday 22 May, Bede’s hosted their Summer Ball to celebrate the end of the Upper Sixth pupils’ time at the school. This year’s leavers were joined by nearly 150 parents, including some who had travelled from across the world, to join their children and mark this very special occasion.
We were blessed with beautiful weather and as guests arrived for welcome drinks and canapes, they were treated to music from our live band Equilibrium. Following a fabulous dinner and speeches from the Heads of School and Mr Adlam, it was time for the dancefloor, bar and casino to open. The evening closed with some magnificent fireworks. Thank you to all pupils and parents who attended, for making the night so memorable.
Prize Giving
On Friday 26 June, the Senior School held their annual prize giving ceremony. Unfortunately, due to a medical emergency we were unable to run the ceremony in its entirety, however, after a short pause in proceedings, we were able to resume the Prize Giving element, with the majority of recipients present to receive their awards (a little later than planned). Our Upper Sixth leavers also attended their leaving breakfast and service in the chapel, and were able to enjoy lunch on the lawn with their parents and staff. Thank you to all who attended the day and for your patience whilst we re-arranged proceedings.
A Symphony of Spectacle: A Term of Absolute Brilliance!
What a gob-smacking, phenomenal term it has been across the board! We have been absolutely bursting at the seams with performance opportunities for our pupils, and the energy has been nothing short of electric. Every single event has been incredibly well-attended by both our proud school community and wider audiences, proving once again that our Performing Arts Department is operating at a truly elite level. A success of this magnitude doesn’t just happen by accident. A massive, heartfelt thank you goes out to my incredible team, whose tireless dedication, passion, and behind-the-scenes magic make achievements like this possible.
As the curtain falls upon another glorious academic year in Drama, we find ourselves celebrating the work of our wonderful pupils. Our pupils have laboured mightily, holding a mirror up to nature and proving themselves masters of their craft. From the daunting pressures of public examinations to the excitement of international festivals, it has been a whirlwind.
Drama
Our GCSE and A Level Dramatists have officially completed their examinations. They marched into their written exams with bright confidence and perhaps a little bit of fear. Upon receiving them after the fray, both cohorts expressed relief and glee at the examined content. Hard on the heels of these academic triumphs came our public offering, a magnificent, hard hitting production of Tatty Hennessy’s Animal Farm. The cast and crew brought this political allegory to life with sharp physicality and inventive stage design, delivering excellent performances.
Our theatrical exploits could not be contained by school walls alone, and our pupils have journeyed far to feast upon the works of others. Our Lower Sixth Production Arts and A Level Drama pupils embarked on a grand pilgrimage across the seas to the Prague Fringe Festival, immersing themselves in cutting edge international theatre and returning with a wealth of inspiration for their own technical and performance crafts.
Closer to home, our cohorts have witnessed a rich variety of modern storytelling through professional productions of Noughts and Crosses, Equus, and The Hunger Games. The upcoming new term promises further theatrical offerings, with our own dynamic rendition of Shakespeare’s King Henry IV, Part One and for our Senior Years play, will begin developing ideas for Molly Taylor’s contemporary work Cacophony, an ensemble exploration of modern internet culture that will challenge our oldest performers.
Legat
What a busy, vibrant, and unforgettable term it has been for Legat! Our dancers and performers have poured their hearts, souls, and endless hours of rehearsal into the studio, and the results were nothing short of breathtaking.
The excitement kicked off with an intimate evening of storytelling and raw talent. Pupils within the BTEC Performing Arts course showcased their final devised pieces to an audience of proud friends and family in The Miles Studio. It was a wonderful evening of creativity, vulnerability, and immense talent that perfectly set the stage for the grand finale of the term.
That grand finale came in the form of our end-of-year spectacular, One Night Only, held at The Congress Theatre in Eastbourne on Friday 19 June. It was an evening dedicated to showcasing “everything musical,” and our performers certainly delivered on that promise, absolutely electrifying the crowded theatre.
The audience was treated to an incredible variety of world-class performances that highlighted the immense range of our pupils. We watched atmospheric Cats prowl the stage, while our Prep children brought a tear to many an eye with their deeply moving rendition of “When I Grow Up.” The Legat dancers masterfully managed rapid-fire quick changes, seamlessly pivoting from the elegant drama of The Phantom of the Opera to the high-octane, joyful energy of Hairspray.
In a moment of pure theatrical magic that left the audience gasping, Elphaba literally took to the air, flying above the stage while delivering a stunning performance of “Defying Gravity.”
Ultimately, it was a most wonderful celebration of joy, talent, and hard work. Beyond the flawless technique and theatrical spectacle, what shone brightest was the sense of community; the pupils represented Bede’s brilliantly, showing a true sense of belonging and mutual support. Congratulations to all the performers and the incredible crew behind the scenes who made this term such a resounding success.
Music
Reflecting the celebratory spirit of any summer term at Bede’s, this has been a highly successful and productive period of musicmaking. Our pupils and staff delivered an impressive variety of performances that highlighted the depth of musical talent across the Bede’s community.
The term opened in the Miles Theatre with the Musical Theatre Showcase, bringing to life the diverse repertoire from the world of music theatre. Curated by Mr Simonetti and Ms Ramm, the evening featured excellent vocal performances across all age groups. Notable highlights included Macarena Bragado’s assured rendition of “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” Isla Meaney’s engaging interpretation of “Part of Your World,” and a well-blended duet of “As Long as You’re Mine” by Brooke Castree and Tom Lilley.
This high standard of performance continued at the Bede’s Young Musician of the Year held in the Recital Room. Our gifted finalists, including Nina Hetherington, Eli McKinna, and Moon Ng, delivered technically accomplished and confident performances. The competition was adjudicated by classical soprano Ms Gillian Ramm and experienced guitarist Mr Andy Williams, reflecting the strong emphasis placed on individual musical excellence at Bede’s.
A particularly significant and poignant milestone was the Leavers’ Concert: our departing senior musicians took to the stage for a memorable final recital. Outstanding contributions included Ed Tinkler’s performance of “My Way,” a sensitive interpretation of Einaudi’s “Experience” by Alfie Burton and Jasmine Lee. Earlier in the term, our wider musical community flourished during the Prep Schools’ Choral Morning, a collaborative workshop that brought Year 4 and 5 pupils to the Senior School to rehearse and perform alongside our older musicians.
In June, the spotlight turned to our teaching team and scholars in the VMT/Teachers’ Concert. This evening integrated professional expertise with pupil collaboration, featuring Mr Kibble’s sophisticated cello solo, a vocal duet by Angel Yuen and Ms Ramm, and exceptional jazz sets from Mr Andy Williams, Mr Andy
Panayi and their ensemble. Our Music Scholars subsequently shared these talents during a dedicated assembly at the Prep School.
The term’s musical events culminated on Speech Day, where soloists, chamber trios, and quartets performed on the lawns overlooking the lake. These ensembles provided a sophisticated and uplifting soundtrack to the end-of-year celebrations across the Chapel, MPH, and grounds. The exceptional quality of music this term is a direct result of the dedication of our music staff, the hard work of our pupils, and the continued support of our parents. My thanks to them all for their hard work, commitment and dedication to Music at Bede’s, and especially thanks to Mr Aburn and Mr Hopkins for their tireless professionalism and high standards that continue to push our young musicians to achieve their best.
Visual Arts
Another wonderful creative year is drawing to a close, bringing with it a time of transition and reflection for our school community. For many of our departing pupils, this time marks the culmination of a remarkable five-year journey at Bede’s. It is a moment where our Upper Sixth experience a unique mix of immense excitement for the adventures ahead, alongside a touch of sadness as they prepare to leave a place they have loved.
The final few weeks were busy at Bede’s with The Creative Arts End of Year Show and Futures Week. Futures week provided pupils with invaluable insights into higher education and industry pathways, highlighted by inspiring presentations from visiting speakers including UAL (University of the Arts London).
During the visit, the UAL speaker talked about the true value of a creative education. They reminded us of an insightful philosophy noted by Nigel Carrington, the Vice-Chancellor of UAL, who highlighted that because art pupils learn directly through experimentation and failure, they develop a distinct mental resilience. This gives them a vital ability to deal with adversity and uncertainty, which is precisely what modern society needs most.
This outlook perfectly mirrors our core philosophy here at Bede’s. We firmly believe that nurturing creative thinking creates an adaptable mindset that serves pupils well, no matter what the future holds. Teaching them to embrace mistakes as learning opportunities—and to see possibilities where others see obstacles—is an essential life skill that will carry them forward into any environment.
True to form, a fantastic portion of this year’s cohort is moving on to pursue an incredibly diverse array of creative courses. Bede’s Creative Arts pupils have secured placements at some of the most prestigious art and design institutions across the country.
The next steps of their journeys take them in several exciting directions. Hollie Yeung is set to study Architecture at Kingston University London, while Lulu Xu will be diving into History of Art and Fine Art at University College London. Graphic Design remains a highly sought-after discipline, with Chloe Chung heading to the University of the Arts London and Alina Kholiavka joining Kingston University London. Meanwhile, Gigi Pitman will be undertaking an Art Foundation course in Eastbourne, and Monty Everett will pursue Interior Design at UAL. The creative reach extends further as Hannah Collopy-Smith ventures to the University of Gloucestershire for Animation, Bella Richards enters the Fashion Retail Academy for Fashion Marketing, Ismini Miserocchi takes up Fine Art at Kingston University London, and Ella Venables travels to Bristol to study Interior Design.
We are incredibly proud of everything these creative pioneers have achieved during their time with us. Please join the entire department in celebrating their hard work and wishing the Class of 2026 the absolute best as they step out to shape the future of the creative industries!
To get a sense of the brilliant work produced please visit the online showcase here –
https://bedescreativeartsfaculty.org/2026-end-of-year-show
Space Education Quality Mark
The Space Education Quality Mark (SEQM) represents a measure as to how far the school has travelled to embrace this and is awarded in three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold. When we started the planning process in 2024, we ambitiously set out to achieve the Gold Award, which required us to demonstrate not only that we were including space-related topics across a wide spectrum of subjects, going on trips for example to NASA and ESA, but also that we established training for our own staff, pupils and parents and additionally other schools. Whilst the UKSDC and Galactic Challenge are obvious beacons in demonstrating these objectives, they are now just part of a range of space-related activities that the school carries out.
However, the SEQM requires commitment from the School to deliver a sustained programme over the next three years, and it is great to see the enthusiasm from not just our Science and Maths teachers but from right across the School. Some amazing lessons have been designed and delivered, which include an extraordinary Space Day drama performance, written and delivered by First Year pupils to some 250 primary and prep school pupils, a fabulous series of lessons in First Year Geography on the topic of space debris and sustainability and a project for the Pre-Sixth on the Business of Space.
To paraphrase the title of an excellent 1970’s rock song ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’! Space Science will have a place in the First Year carousel from September and Mrs Clark is additionally using Space to underpin the science being taught to the Pre-Sixth and further exciting lessons have been planned in the English, EAL and MFL courses, to name just a few.
Following our first visit to ESA in October last year, there are plans to now make this an annual trip and use it to inspire pupils to consider the space-related industry as somewhere they could find future employment. After all, when you visit a leading satellite antenna manufacturer and discover that they employ a fine-art and textile graduate to operate the knitting of their 3m-wide satellite dishes, you quickly realise that having a STEM-related degree is not necessarily a prerequisite for getting involved in Space!
Whilst we always hoped that we would achieve our objective, it was really thrilling to have confirmation that we are the recipient of the coveted SEQM Gold Award and that, in the words of the assessor “Overall, this application has been one of the best Gold SEQM submissions that I have ever had the pleasure of reading through and assessing. The work that has gone into this has been of an exceptional standard”.
All Life Depends on Plants: Exploring the Magic of Trees and Plants
On Tuesday 16 June the Lower Sixth A level Biologists spent a gloriously sunny, but very hot, day at Kew Gardens, exploring the plant collections in Kew’s magnificent Victorian glasshouses and grounds.
The pupils were tasked with producing a photo journal to document the plants they found including plants that had specialist adaptations, interesting relationships with other organisms and specific medicinal uses.
Their journey of discovery started in the Princess of Wales Conservatory where they were able to learn about carnivorous plants, stone plants and spot the giant carp which shared its watery home with the world’s smallest water lily.
In the Temperate glasshouse they were introduced to some of the world’s rarest and most critically endangered plants that Kew are instrumental in helping to save, including rare cycads, an ancient lineage of seed producing plants that evolved over 270 million years ago.
The treetop Walkway gave them a birds eye view of the canopy and amazing views across London. Going underground into the Badger set gave a glimpse of how Badger’s live. The log trail was an opportunity to walk on the fallen trees at Kew that continue to have an afterlife.
This explorative day gave Lower Sixth Biologists a reason to love plants and trees and appreciate their beauty, significance and ability to adapt and compete.
Bede’s pupils meet Holocaust Survivor
A group of Lower Sixth Bede’s pupils were delighted to host Tom van den Bergh, and his wife Betsey, at the end of last term. Tom, who is from the Netherlands, survived the Holocaust as a young boy, being separated from his wider family and staying with a number of host families until the end of the war, when he was reunited with his parents. Although his immediate family survived he lost many members of his extended family. Tom spoke movingly about his family’s experience, including about how his day-old baby sister was left on the doorstep of a medical centre to hide her Jewish identity and ensure her survival.
Moving into the next school year, a group of Sixth Form pupils will be interviewing Tom across the course of the Autumn Term, with a view to recording and publishing his memoirs. He will also be speaking to our Upper Fifth GCSE History and GCSE Religious Studies pupils about his experiences.
Lower Fifth visit Sussex University
This term some of our Lower Fifth Economics pupils were fortunate enough to visit Sussex University for an experience day. Hosted at the University of Sussex Business School’s Jubilee Building, the day offered pupils an immersive look into higher education and a fantastic opportunity to network with pupils from other local schools.
The day focussed on three interactive, university-style workshops. Firstly, in the Management, Strategy and Marketing seminar, pupils were challenged by Associate Professor Nicky Wells to analyse how modern brands fight for consumer attention in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Then in the Economics workshop, “Save the Bees”, pupils worked with Associate Professor Luca Rondina to explore the concept of diminishing marginal returns, in a hugely entertaining and practical activity!
At the end of the day, the focus shifted to corporate decisionmaking during the Accounting & Finance session, ‘Beyond the Numbers: Making Better Decisions’, led by Associate Professors Mark Fisher and Malgorzata Sulimierska, which demonstrated risk and rewards associated with Venture Capital in dynamic markets.
Throughout the day pupils were supported by current university ambassadors and given the opportunity to ask questions about what life is really like as an undergraduate and how to best prepare for life as a pupil. We are very grateful to Sussex University for hosting us so brilliantly!
Business and Economics Department: The National Year of Reading 2026
‘If you’re into it, read into it’. This charge by the National Year of Reading 2026 is one that the Business and Economics Department resonates with. Our subjects act as the lifeblood of countries, driving innovation and job creation and we believe that whatever careers our pupils choose, they cannot go wrong by reading about the Business and Economics of their various interests. This summer we invited Parmy Olson, Bloomberg Opinion Technology Columnist and author of the Financial Times Book of the Year Award 2024, Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race That Will Change the World, to speak to our pupils. This is what some had to say:
Larissa, Upper Sixth:
As a pupil looking to go into the world of work and specifically into a career that by its nature will be heavily impacted by AI, I found this talk both somewhat terrifying and hopeful. AI will inevitably become part of all our lives and certainly has its downfalls. Parmy Olsen herself outlined the problems of a singular body or person dictating the forms of different AIs, often with the incentive of profit rather than global welfare. She did however also highlight how certain countries are attempting to produce pupil friendly AI, that can assist learning rather than developing dependency or influencing young minds. I was completely unaware that the UK has one of the best funded facilities looking to improve AI safety. The hope, I suppose, comes in the very nature of this talk: pupils becoming more aware of the future of AI, receiving a balanced outlook from an informed professional. I hope this will continue and that artificial intelligence in all its forms will become a safe tool rather than a dangerous influence.
Immy, Upper Fifth:
I found Parmy Olson incredibly well-spoken, clear and knowledgeable on a subject which can often be very confusing and muddled with misinformation. Specifically, I found the stories of the humans behind AI models and the marketing and media around AI very interesting, as Olson said, AI systems are businesses first and foremost. As the role of AI in our lives grows, I think we need to listen to people like Olson who both understand the benefits of AI and the immensely corrupting money and power it can provide both for developers and users.
Joseph, Upper Fifth:
I thought that Parmy Olson was very down to earth, friendly and spoke about her topic with clear knowledge and made it very interesting. She highlighted the ideas surrounding AI that are very new and are especially important to our age demographic.
Missy, Upper Fifth:
I thought it was especially interesting hearing about AI in the context of education and how Estonian scientists are working to create a version of ChatGPT that prompts questions and ideas rather than giving straight facts. It has made me adjust my use of AI to ensure I’m still thinking for myself and building necessary neural connections in my brain.
Dr Edem Onofeghara
Business and Economics Reading Ambassador
Geographers Bring Classroom to Life
Field trip season in Geography has seen four trips go out this term. With the emphasis on hands-on learning, these trips are a vital part of the Geography curriculum and help to bring the classroom learning to life.
The Lower Sixth geographers managed to avoid the April showers when they toured the east end of London to observe for real the urban changes they had studied in the classroom. The trip began at Canary Wharf, where we witnessed some of the changes that have happened since the Covid pandemic altered the way that real estate is being used by businesses and residents. There followed a visit to the Museum of London Docklands, one of the best museums in London, and then we took to the skies to get a birds eye view of the changing landscape on the IFS Cloud Cable Car. Finally, a trip around the Olympic Park in Stratford enabled us to walk through a real-life case study that brought the textbook pages to life.
Picking up the clipboards in May were the Lower Fifth, with two days in Eastbourne, exploring two contrasting urban areas and observing and measuring how they differ, as well as measuring various characteristics of the beach at Holywell to try and determine how effective the groynes are at preventing erosion of the cliff.
In June the Lower Sixth had their second trip of the term to visit their ‘near place’ case study, Eastbourne. A walking tour of Old Town and various other locations helped them discover how the town has changed over time and what factors have influenced this.
Finally, at the end of term, the Lower Fifth geographers took the opportunity to visit the site of the new Wealden Community Sports Park to view the flood engineering schemes that have been put in to protect the site. It was a fascinating insight into the mechanics of how a large development has to deal with the concept of river and flood management, as well as an excellent local case study of soft engineering to complement what the pupils have been studying in their ‘rivers’ topic. The pupils were fascinated by this, but also were perhaps as interested in seeing the two new 3G astro pitches and two padel courts, amongst the other facilities soon to open to the public!
Elsewhere in the department, in a joint venture between the Geography and English departments, the First Years enjoyed an off-timetable curriculum day in June. Working in small groups, they were tasked with an elite mission: to design, and virtually build, a human civilisation inside an extreme desert ecosystem, without burning a single drop of fossil fuel. Split into subgroups of architects, engineers, agronomists, strategists and communications, with an overall elected president, the day required the pupils to research deeply before bringing their various ideas together into a Google video. These videos were presented to the year group, and a panel of judging ‘dragons’ at the end of the day. The winning group was the one that combined Geography’s spatial logic, alongside English’s rhetoric, but also displayed an excellent sovereign vision and teamwork skills. It was no easy task but the pupils engaged well with the day and hopefully learnt a great deal about themselves!
Inquiry Learning
BTEC Sports Coaching: Around the World in Six Sports:
Our Diversity Sports Unit
During the final weeks of the school year, our pupils took part in an exciting and innovative Diversity Sports Unit. This project brilliantly combined cultural research, public speaking, and physical education, requiring pupils to work in pairs to explore a unique sport from around the globe before teaching it to their peers.
To keep formatting fair and unpredictable, teams were assigned their sport via a spin of the digital wheel! The pupils then dived into researching the origins, rules, pitch dimensions, and governing bodies of six fantastic international sports:
• Jianzi
• Hobby Horsing
• Lagori
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Kin-Ball
• Sepak Takraw
Alongside the official regulations, pupils uncovered fascinating trivia about international tournaments, elite teams, and star players, presenting their findings creatively to the rest of the class.
From the Classroom to the Pitch
Once the research phase was complete, the real action began. Each pair stepped into the role of coach, leading a practical session to teach the rest of the group how to play their allocated sport. Every single lesson was high-energy, wonderfully competitive, and brilliant fun.
This unit was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to celebrate other cultures through the universal language of sport. Beyond the physical benefits, it allowed them to put crucial life skills into practice—including collaborative planning, public speaking, and peer leadership.
A huge well done to all of our pupils for making this unit such a thoroughly enjoyable success!
Sports Leaders: The Inclusion Games: Delivering Sport for Primary to Pensioner
At Bede’s, we believe sport has no limits when it comes to enriching lives. From physical fitness and mental well-being to building social cohesion, sport brings people together—which is exactly why sports leadership is at the heart of what we do. Our Sports Leaders Level 3 pupils embody this mission, designing local community events rooted in fun, kindness, and inclusivity The impact of their hard work was beautifully demonstrated in the events they hosted last term:
Inspiring the ‘Young at Heart’: Our leaders brought pure joy to older members of our community. Seeing them light up and share meaningful conversations through sport was unforgettable. This required our pupils to pivot their leadership styles, showcasing immense patience, active listening, and deep empathy.
The Primary School Four-Square Tournament: In contrast, this fastpaced, high-energy event tested our leaders’ organisational skills and focus. They did a magnificent job managing the boundless energy of 90 primary school children, keeping the atmosphere thrilling and perfectly structured.
This has been an outstanding year for an exceptional cohort. Well done to Oscar, Amelia, Franco, Ethan, Coby, and Sebi! You have done yourselves and the school proud.
Rain Can’t Dampen the Spirits: Year 10 Internationals Take on London!
Classic British weather wasn’t enough to stop 22 of our fantastic Year 10 international pupils from conquering the capital last week. Armed with umbrellas, hoods, and boundless enthusiasm, the group braved a relentlessly rainy day to experience some of the UK’s most iconic sights.
Despite the awful downpour, London’s skyline didn’t disappoint. The pupils proved to be ultimate sightseers, ticking off a spectacular checklist of world-famous landmarks. They took in the historic views of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, marvelled at The Monument, and caught glimpses of the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye looking atmospheric against the stormy skies.
To escape the worst of the deluge, the group headed to the sheltered vibrant hub of Covent Garden, where they enjoyed some welldeserved lunch, took shelter, and indulged in a bit of shopping.
With everyone warmed up and dry, it was time for a change of pace at the London Dungeon. The experience was a brilliant highlight, provoking a chaotic mix of ear-piercing screams and sudden jumps at the special effects coupled with roaring laughter as pupils (and staff!) faced the historic frights together.
The energy didn’t fade when the tour ended. With the excitement for the upcoming World Cup reaching fever pitch, the bus home was absolutely alive. The entire vehicle erupted into enthusiastic choruses of “Viva Mexico!”, keeping the team spirit buzzing all the way back to school.
It was a truly wonderful day out,proving that great company and a brilliant attitude can outshine even the greyest British skies. A huge well done to our Year 10s for being such fantastic ambassadors for the school!
Young MFL Translators Recognised in National Prize
Our keen linguists have once again distinguished themselves in the Anthea Bell translation competition run by Queen’s College, Oxford University!
U5th Miri Clarke and U6th Larissa Starkey have received commendations from the judges in French and Mandarin. This is the second year in a row that our linguists receive commendations and an extraordinary achievement for them.
To put this achievement into context, over 25,000 pupils participated in the competition this year, and over 5,400 entries were judged, so to be recognised within the top 30 is a fantastic achievement.
For the Prize, Mimi translated ‘A Aurore’ by George Sand, a poem exploring the relationship between humankind and nature. Not only did her translation stay faithful to the sentiment of the original French, but also maintained its metre and rhyme scheme
too. A superb feat for any translator. Larissa’s Mandarin piece, ‘Mani Stones Quietly Knock’, was a vividly drawn prose vignette combining wry humour and profound insights into human suffering. Mandarin teacher Mr Collins also praised younger pupils who had risen to the challenges of translation, especially Upper Fifth pupil Molly Simpson, whose ‘ Xiao Lin’s Letter’ really conveyed a sense of character with precision. Also in the Upper Fifth, Joseph Berry’s piece was commended by teachers for its ambition and mature tone.
Winners and commendees will receive a certificate in the post, and names of all winners and commendations will be published on Queen’s College’s website this month.
Well done to all participants and well done to our Commendees!
Henry V
This term, the English department has been greatly indebted to the immense talents of Mrs Lewis, the magic of the drama tech team, and to our sparky, fun-loving cast as we prepare to stage Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part I in the Miles Theatre in September.
Though this play is rarely performed in comparison to favourites like Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing, The play is blessed with so many great parts: the beleaguered king, young challenger Hotspur, the prodigal prince Hal, of course, unforgettable rake and raconteur, Falstaff.
Our production retains all the joys of the Elizabethan original - the fight scenes, the bar-room badinage and boasting, and, of course, the grand speeches. Yet our version brings the way well into the modern age with a 1990s Manchester and the rave scene. At the outset of the play, we open on Prince Hal and a band of revellers throwing shapes to the evocative sounds of the Happy Mondays and we carry this energy through all of Falstaff’s scenes in the ‘Boar’s Head’. It should be a huge amount of fun for the cast and audience alike.
In rehearsals, we’ve had great fun staging fight scenes and giving modern interpretations to some of the play’s best known lines. We were also hugely fortunate to welcome in Bede’s English and Drama alumnus, Max Mason, who helped direct a crucial scene in which power is brokered between two proud rebel fighters. Given that Max now directs Opera and is soon to begin a residency in the US, we couldn’t think of a better alumnus to help give us a fresh take on the drama.
The English department believes in making sure our A-Level pupils see and experience their set texts in the flesh, otherwise the classroom experience is rather like reading a recipe book and never eating the food itself (....something Falstaff would never permit). This is only possible, of course, with the outstanding leadership, support, guidance and expertise of the Drama department who are absolutely unrivalled at what they do. As well as this, we’ve benefitted hugely from the talent of the actors, and the directorial talents of senior pupils, most notably our brilliantly playful Falstaff - Noah Van Herk.
Though The Guardian recently voted this play the best of Shakespeare’s plays to see live on stage, it is not performed as often as it should be, giving all the more reason for us to stage our own version in the Autumn. We can’t wait to bring our noisy, fresh and funny version of this great play to audiences in September!
First Year Trip to Bushy Wood
To celebrate the end of year assessments the First Years embarked on an action packed outdoor activities morning at the local Bushy Wood Activities Centre. Sadly, the weather was against us on the day but in the end this just added an extra dimension to the morning’s challenges.
Split into eight teams the groups did a variety of team building, physical, and accuracy based sessions. These involved navigating low ropes courses, and for the more daring - high ropes challenges. The pupils worked well together and it was great to witness them supporting and encouraging each other.
Some pupils had the opportunity to test their skills at archery Following a safety briefing they faced a series of target based challenges. The competitive element of this activity was enjoyed by all the participants.
Others went to the air rifle range with our in house shooting expert Mr Richards. Again it was great to witness the focus and concentration demonstrated throughout this challenge with excellent grouping from Clara Pearson and Harry Harding getting as close to within four points of the expert!
This is certainly an event that may become a regular occurrence on the Bede’s summer programmes in future years.
Fifth Form: The Summer of Revision
In the Fifth Form, the arrival of the summer term saw Upper Fifth pupils turn their hearts and minds towards revision. Firstly, PSHE lessons ended for Upper Fifth and those lessons became revision opportunities where Upper Fifth pupils activated their revision skills with support from tutors. We also ran subjectspecific revision sessions at different times during the school day (including lunchtimes) from 13 April right up to the start of exams, and throughout exams. The Upper Fifth cohort has shown true resilience and brilliance throughout this season and we look forward to celebrating with them on Results Day.
Sixth Form: Futures Week
During the penultimate week of the half term, Lower Sixth pupils engaged in three days of intensive preparation for their postSixth Form careers during Futures Week. The week began with presentations in the Recital Room and work with tutors, before launching into a series of webinars, seminars and talks from Universities, Gap Year companies, Apprenticeship providers and academics on Thursday. Across the year group pupils engaged with 50 different seminars on Thursday covering everything from Economics and Finance degrees through to First Aid, Car Maintenance and Preparing for University Freshers week!
Friday saw pupils make impressive progress on their personal statements, spending the morning en masse in the recital room with the Life Skills Company, crafting draft paragraphs, action plans and then finalising the first part of their applications in the afternoon.
The week was a great success with pupils leaving with lots of questions answered, more questions raised about courses and destinations, and with a clear plan for heading into the summer!
Sixth Form Aviators Take to the Skies
There are worse ways to spend a Monday afternoon than in the cockpit of an Airbus A320, and our Lower Sixth pupils discovered exactly that on their recent visit to Gate 20 in the heart of Brighton. The trip, designed for those curious about a career in aviation - as well as a few who simply fancied the thrill of flyingoffered an engaging, first-hand insight into life above the clouds.
The afternoon began with a candid careers talk from a commercial pilot, who shared both the highs and the inevitable lows of working in the aviation industry. It was a refreshingly honest introduction, grounding pupils in the reality of a profession often romanticised. From shifting schedules to the joy of seeing the world from 38,000 feet, this set the scene perfectly for what came next.
The pupils discovered that Gate 20’s Airbus A320 simulator was remarkable. Every dial, switch, and display is an accurate reproduction of a real cockpit and stepping into the flight deck felt uncannily like boarding the real thing. Pupils were given a video briefing and even had the chance to pose in the business jet lounge before settling into the cockpit.
Once airborne, each pupil took their turn taxiing, taking off, cruising, and landing at airports across the world - guided throughout by a professional pilot and accompanied by a real-time air traffic control.
Callum, who hopes one day to fly for Cathay Pacific, described the experience as “one of the best trips he’d ever had” and said it had inspired him to pursue his ambition. Judging by the smiles as pupils touched down back in Brighton, he certainly wasn’t alone
For our aspiring aviators, this was more than just a flight simulator – it was a glimpse of a possible future.
Ski Trip
In March, 30 pupils took the annual trip to France to hit the ski slopes on the Western Alps. We were blessed with blue skies and lots of fresh snow, presenting us with the best conditions we have experienced in recent years. As a result, pupils were pushed to the edge of their comfort zones with the harder runs becoming more accessible without those icy patches hiding to catch them out! It was a wonderful trip with blue skies, brilliant food and great camaraderie amongst the pupils.
Washington Trip
At the start of the Easter holidays we took a group of 12 pupils to Washington D.C for a 4 day trip exploring the USA’s capital. The primary focus on the trip was for pupils who study either A Level History and/or Government & Politics or GCSE History to deepen their understanding of the US political system and its history in terms of civil rights. During our visit we explored Congress, and even managed to step foot inside the inner workings of the Senate and House of Representatives. We also stopped by the White House and US Supreme Court.
Alongside visiting key pillars of the US political system, the pupils also explored the National History museum for Native Americans, Ford’s Theatre to look at the site of Lincoln’s assassination and the spectacular Museum on African American History and Culture. During our stay, we also visited the WWII, Lincoln, Jefferson and Martin Luther King memorials as well as the Washington Monument.
The pupils also enjoyed some downtime along the Wharf, dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and also visited Pentagon City to explore the city’s shopping. We finished our trip with a visit to Arlington Cemetery, including a visit to JFK’s eternal flame. My thanks go to the pupils for their fantastic behaviour. They were great ambassadors for the School!
Peace Trip
A Bede’s delegation of pupils had the incredible opportunity to attend a series of high-profile events in London on 21 May, offering us a first hand experience into the role of international law and the importance of paying tribute to the service, courage, and sacrifice of all military, police and civilian personnel who serve in UN peacekeeping missions. This was an extraordinary experience that left us deeply moved and inspired.
Our day first began with an incredible private visit to the House of Lords – thanks to Lord Magan, where we were offered the remarkable opportunity to sit in to witness a snippet of a live House of Lords debate. Observing the rapid-fire and sharp nature of parliamentary procedures that we are used to seeing on television gave us a completely new perspective towards the legislative process.
Following our time in Parliament, we had the gracious honour of attending a private meeting with Jane Kinninmont, the CEO of the United Nations Association in the UK. Our discussion was incredibly enriching, challenging us to think more deeply about modern global issues, with numerous pupils such as Lower Sixth Tobi Ayola had the chance to ask critical questions like the following: “Considering the fact that MNC’s are soon to be if not already as powerful as governments, what is the UNs stance on working with them to?” where she highlighted the vital role of international businesses in international affairs, and that corporate social responsibility can begin by simple actions such as improving recycling practices.
When asked about the role of international law in Jane’s work by Lower Sixth Pupil, Pippa Nunn, she provided a thought-provoking perspective, claiming that international law fails to catch up quickly to an ever-changing global landscape.
We ended our day by attending the deeply moving UN Peacekeeping Ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, standing alongside international representatives to honour those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, offering a reminder of the cost to global peace efforts.
All in all, this was a deeply rewarding experience where we left London not just with stories to reflect on, but a deeper understanding of the importance of leadership and diplomacy in our world, especially today more than ever.
Thank you to Mrs Bonheur who organised this trip and to Ms Webster who accompanied us as well. A huge thank you to Mrs Tess Nassau who made this whole day possible.
Salamanca
In March, pupils of Spanish of all levels, embarked on an unforgettable cultural and linguistic immersion trip to Salamanca, Spain, under the expert guidance of Ms Lopez, Mme Ganivet, and Mr Oliver. Travelling via Iberia flights from Gatwick to Madrid and settling into the historic Hotel Emperatriz I, our young ambassadors dived headfirst into an action-packed five days that perfectly balanced academic rigour with rich cultural exploration.
From intense morning language academy sessions with the LOLA team and historic guided city tours of the stunning Cathedral Towers, to high-energy afternoon Flamenco lessons and a lively karaoke celebration, the group embraced every single experience with boundless enthusiasm. A spectacular highlight of the journey was our excursion day into the rugged Sierra de Francia, where we visited La Alberca, a breathtaking medieval village nestled within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. While wandering its historic, half-timbered streets, the pupils discovered the town’s hauntingly beautiful Moza de Ánimas (Caretaker of Souls) tradition—a centuries-old custom where local women walk the evening streets ringing a bell and chanting prayers to remind villagers to remember lost souls. Immersing themselves in the local culture, the pupils sampled the region’s famous gastronomy, eagerly purchasing jars of authentic, locally produced honey and sweet almond turrón (traditional nougat) to bring home.
Above all, our pupils’ behaviour was absolutely exemplary
throughout the trip, remaining entirely true to themselves while showing immense courage as they stepped out of their comfort zones, particularly when using their Spanish skills to converse confidently with the locals during our authentic tapas nights, paella dinners, and market shopping trips. They represented Bede’s with outstanding maturity, returning home with sharper language skills, broadened horizons, and a collective pride in their incredible achievements.
International Study Year
Over the final weeks of the term, the International Study Year (BISY) community enjoyed several wonderful opportunities to come together and celebrate their time at Bede’s.
The festivities kicked off on Thursday, as the British summer finally arrived, with an exciting trip to London for 33 BISY pupils and four staff. From the moment the coach pulled away from school, the journey up was lively, filled with an infectious buzz of excitement as everyone anticipated the adventure ahead.
Arriving into a beautifully sunny and warm London, our first stop was Victoria station, where we boarded a classic tour bus. The city was alive with a fantastic, bustling energy, providing our pupils with the perfect vantage point from which to marvel at the magnificent London streets. Over the course of the morning, the group took in a spectacular checklist of the city’s top iconic landmarks.
We caught our first glimpses of the world-famous, 96-meter neo-Gothic clock tower of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, before admiring the London Eye spinning over the River Thames. The historic sights continued to amaze as we saw the striking twin towers of Tower Bridge and the 11th-century Tower of London. To top it all off, we made our way past Buckingham Palace, catching a view of the majestic official residence of the Monarch.
For lunch, the group was dropped off in the vibrant heart of theatre land at Covent Garden. The pupils loved having the freedom to explore the wonders of the market, grab some well-deserved food, and soak up the unique atmosphere. They returned to the bus absolutely beaming with excitement about their afternoon discoveries.
As we made our way back to school, the coach was filled with the quiet contentment of a thoroughly amazing day out. A huge well done to our BISY pupils for their enthusiasm and for being such fantastic ambassadors for the School.
On Friday, the adventure continued with a visit to Hever Castle, the historic childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Pupils explored the beautiful grounds and stunning Italian Gardens—many with an ice cream in hand! They also enjoyed an audio tour of the castle, discovering its unique mix of Tudor and 1940s history, and were fascinated to learn about Winston Churchill’s connections to the Astor family.
To wrap up the incredible BISY year, everyone gathered for a traditional British Afternoon Tea. It was a brand-new experience for some, who tasted a scone for the very first time! It was a beautiful way to celebrate the past year, cherish the friendships made, and reflect on the wonderful impact Bede’s has had on these fantastic pupils.
BE Day for New 7 & 8 Pupils
On 15 June, we hosted 55 children for the first Bede’s Experience Day for children applying for places to join our new Year 7 and 8 centre which will open at the Senior School in September 2027. Pupils joined us from our own Prep School as well as from schools throughout Kent, Sussex and beyond.
The day’s programme included a science masterclass, the opportunity to get to know some of our prefects and spend some time relaxing in Dorms House and the Hub. After the small matter of an interview and test, the pupils had certainly earned their lunch. In the afternoon, the children broke off into different groups to experience some of the wonderful activities that Bede’s has to offer before parents arrived to join staff and prefects for tea
Thank you to our prefect team and representatives from Her Voice who made our prospective new pupils very welcome and epitomised Bede’s values throughout the day.
Round the Houses Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury House has enjoyed another successful year with lots of house competition wins and excellent academic reports under our belts. This underpins the quality of the house. Yes, every girl is involved in something beyond the curriculum, from Legat to cricket, Les Mis to knit and natter, photography to netball, the girls in this house really do it all. They manage to sustain academic rigour and strive to do well with high expectations that they place upon themselves. They uphold the values of the School, conscientious in their academic approach, curious to explore opportunities and courageous to try new things, fail and try again or something different, and above all compassionate to each other, not afraid of difficult conversations and reflecting on their actions, working together to build a supportive house family where everyone can truly be themselves. We have seen the girls take lead roles in the drama productions, work in the local community with music projects and primary school links, develop leadership with sports coaching and school and house prefectships. As we say goodbye to the Upper Sixth, reflecting on what they have achieved and the hole they leave, we wish them well and truly hope that whilst they are flying the Bloomsbury family nest, that like any good home, they come back and visit often, always welcome.
Dorter
What an action-packed, incredibly fun term it has been in Dorter House! While the girls have been studying exceptionally hard, they still found plenty of time for friendship and laughter. A major highlight was the Lower Fifth, Pre-Sixth, and Lower Sixth tutor trips to Laser Tag, which brought out everyone’s competitive spirit! To top it all off, the term concluded with House Athletics and House Comps, where the Dorter girls performed brilliantly.
From traditional afternoon tea and ice-cream evenings to fire pits, s’mores, World Cup viewings, and water fights, our boarding community has been buzzing with activity. All this fun was balanced alongside serious academic focus, with our Upper
Fifth, Pre-Sixth, and Upper Sixth sitting their final exams and the rest of the house sitting end-of-year assessments. On top of that, our pupils have excelled in Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, LAMDA awards, ballet exams, and preparations for the final Legat show. Throughout it all, the most beautiful thing to witness was the unwavering support the girls showed one another—truly acting as each other’s biggest cheerleaders.
A centrepiece of our social calendar was the Leavers’ Afternoon Tea, where we gathered to celebrate our exceptional Upper Sixth girls and wish them the absolute best in their next chapters.
As the academic year draws to a close, we must say a fond goodbye to those leaving the Dorter family. It has been an absolute honor to have them with us, and they will be dearly missed. We warmly encourage all of our leavers to stay in touch. The Dorter Team is incredibly grateful to have shared in everyone’s journey this year, and we wish all of our pupils a wonderful, well-deserved summer!
Camberlot
It has been an incredibly busy, sunsoaked, and emotional Summer Term in Camberlot House, packed with unforgettable memories and milestones for all the boys.
We recently bid a fond, bittersweet farewell to our outgoing Upper Sixth pupils during a beautiful Leavers’ Lunch. We also shared some fantastic photos from the Leavers’ Ball just before the half-term break. This amazing group of lads will be sorely missed around the house, and we wish them the absolute best of luck as they embark on their new adventures this September! Looking ahead, a huge congratulations goes to our newly appointed 2026/27 pupil leadership team, led by Orlando and Zak. We look forward to seeing the positive mark they will undoubtedly leave on Camberlot over the coming year.
Meanwhile, house life and weekend fun have been in full swing. Football fever officially took over with the highly anticipated Camberlot World Cup Sweepstake, kicking off with a massive clash between Luis’ Mexico and Tobi’s South Africa. A huge thank you must go to Dorms House for hosting a fantastic opening match watch party! Teamwork, quick thinking, and plenty of creativity were also put to the test during a hilarious evening of Camberlot Taskmaster challenges.
The lighter evenings have seen “Cambo” out in full force, making the most of the weather with football, basketball, weekend lawn cricket, and a lively house quiz. Even when the classic British rain inevitably arrived, it couldn’t spoil the fun—we simply headed indoors to whip up delicious s’mores. Other major highlights included an outdoor cinema night on the lawns watching The Avengers, a house BBQ with incredible steaks cooked by our resident pupil chefs, and a brilliant Star Wars Day feast featuring Blue Milk and Sarlacc Cake.
Dorms
It has been an exceptionally vibrant Summer term, filled with moments that have truly strengthened our House spirit during a busy exam season. Since the boys returned, the lovely weather has allowed us to make the most of our House Wellbeing Wednesdays, where we have been alternating between Frisbee, Cricket, and Football.
This has been a wonderful way for the boys to enjoy the sunshine and get a well-deserved break from revision. The sporting excitement kicked off early on our second Wednesday back when we teamed up with Stud to run a round robin football tournament, which was a lovely afternoon of friendly competition on the fields.
Following on from the preparations before the Easter holidays, we have officially welcomed our new pupil leadership team into their roles. A massive congratulations goes to our new Head of House, Kiyan, and our Deputy, Harrison, who alongside our new cohort of prefects are already doing a fantastic job guiding the house community.
Back at the House, downtime reached an exciting new gear when we were treated by Mr Hickman to a brand-new Racing Rig setup in Dorms. The simulator has proved to be an absolute hit, with the boys thoroughly enjoying the chance to test their driving skills during their breaks.
It was also a lovely end to the half term with the Leavers Ball on Friday, 2d2 May. All 18 of our Class of 2026 were in attendance
and it was a wonderful evening filled with fun, memories, and nostalgia. We will miss our Class of 2026, who have been such brilliant members of the Dorms community. It was certainly a night to remember, and we will never forget Boris’ brilliant roulette ability which won Mr Farebrother the night’s prize!
Charleston
What an extraordinary, vibrant term it has been for the wonderful girls of Charleston House! As we reach the end of this Summer term, looking back reveals a community full of energy, where the girls have consistently matched their highest aspirations with tireless hard work.
Our year was defined by a seamless blend of creativity, adventure, and dedication. Under the spotlight, the girls delivered a breathtaking Legat performance, One Night Only, at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne, which beautifully complemented the spectacular Animal Farm Junior production. That same creative spirit shone brightly during the private viewing of the GCSE and A-Level art exhibition, where we celebrated a stunning array of portfolios.
Charleston’s energy extended far beyond the stage. We made a spectacular splash paddleboarding and kayaking at Bodiam, and carried that magnificent teamwork right into our House competitions, showing immense determination throughout the House athletics. Amidst this packed schedule, the girls looked outward, proudly celebrating Diversity Month and Pride Month to ensure our House remained an inclusive space where everyone could thrive.
On the global stage, we cheered on remarkable individual successes in both international dance competitions and international football. Crucially, the girls balanced these triumphs by tackling their GCSE and A-Level public exams with superb focus and resilience.
Through every triumph and challenge this year, the Charleston girls have conducted themselves with true excellence. They have brought an infectious sense of joy to everything they do, while remaining entirely authentic and grounded in who they are. Seeing them match their big ambitions with such genuine hard work has been a joy to watch, and I could not be prouder of the incredible House spirit they have built.
Stud
This term has been short but action packed. Where do I start? Three years ago we won the inaugural House Dance Competition. This year, the boys and staff told the story of ‘Just the Way You Are’ by Bruno Mars and we await the placings with trepidation rather than hope! We also go into House Athletics as the reigning champions two years running(!) so we shall see if we improve on our haul of individual winners from last year.
We’ve had lots of trips out this year to give the boys a treat. The Lower Sixth have been to the golf driving range and a famous fast food restaurant, as have the Upper Sixth. All of the boys will be involved in either Futures Week (Lower Sixth), enrichment days (First Year), or Sixth Form Taster Week (Lower Fifth), and obviously the Upper Sixth, PreSixth and Upper Fifth slogged their way through the GCSE, BTEC, and A Level exams. This year’s exam pupils have really put in the hours with their revision and we all hope their hard work will pay off when the results come out in August.
We said our usual sad goodbyes to the Upper Fifth, Pre-Sixth and Upper Sixth leavers (the Leaver’s Ball was spectacular) but we also waved farewell to a few boys who were only here for a year. Our loss will be the gain of schools throughout Germany, Mexico and Spain. We will be waving goodbye to Ms Francesca Getty who has been appointed Deputy Housemistress in Crossways House, and Mrs Robyn Ferreira who has taken up the post of Deputy Housemistress in Dicker House. We wish them both the best of luck in their new roles. Luckily, we will continue to see them both around the School.
We at Stud wish all who are associated with the House a happy summer break and we look forward to the new academic year with new and returning pupils.
Knights
It has been a spectacularly vibrant and creative term for Knights House, filled with artistic triumphs, culinary adventures, and unforgettable farewells.
The annual Dance Competition brought immense energy to the house, with this year’s routine set to Bruno Mars’ delightful hit “Uptown Funk.” While ten core dancers brought the routine to life, special mentions go to Jed Mudie, Dan Braime, Charlie Osmond, Aswin Lathuraj, Pearce Donoghue, and Felix Findlay for their fantastic performances. Monty Bennett stole the show with a brilliant solo, while Saul Lewis deserves a huge thank you for his tireless work in creating the final video edit.
In the kitchen, our Lower Sixth pupils took part in a high-energy culinary exercise, preparing butter chicken under the expert supervision of Mr. Choithramani. The activity was designed to foster teamwork and essential life skills. Coby Callaway and Monty Bennett demonstrated exceptional cooking skills, while George Wainford and Arty Verrall earned the prize for the messiest workspace—though their final dish was absolutely delicious! After a strict blind taste test conducted by Rocky Shergold, the novice pairing of George Sowerby and Adam Ibrahim were declared the overall winners.
A huge congratulations to all our young thespians for a thoroughly enjoyable drama performance. Having staff and pupils in the audience was the perfect way to celebrate the tireless effort put in both on stage and behind the scenes. Knights pupils, please come back and say hello anytime!
Finally, the Leavers’ Ball was a truly delightful evening, made incredibly personal by Mr. McKeefry, who wrote moving letters for his tutor group. He has done a wonderful job preparing these fine young adults to make a difference in their communities. The night was capped off by Ernie Tuppen and Elliot Varndell’s band playing one final, memorable set for the year group.
Dicker
The last term of the year has been a super one for Dicker House We said goodbye to our brilliant leaders - George Davenport and Jack Coughlan, who have been ably followed by Tom Lilley, Rupert Anderson-Holmes and MacKenzie Johnson. Academically, a huge well done and good luck to those that took their public exams this term: the calmness and diligence of the house during this period was excellent, and we hope that you all have a brilliant set of results.
In the arts, we were very well represented, as always: in drama by Tom Lilley, Ronnie Packham and Harry Braime. In music by Tom Lilley, Jack Tyrell and Finn Leatherdale; and in art by Ben Ribbens, Jack Tyrrell and Finn Leatherdale, along with Max Collins, Austin Bigwood, Rishi Lobo, Max Edwards, Harry Bentley-Williams and Monty Everett. In sport we contributed well to the 1st XI cricket squad with Rupert Anderson-Holmes, Jack Coughlan, Ethan Van Niekerk, Shaun Van Niekerk all playing games. Elsewhere in sport we congratulate Fraser Widdop who has gained a contract with Brighton and Hove Albion FC, as well as playing for the England U17’s this year. And also to Max Collins who has gained a contract at Wycombe Wanderers. Good luck guys in your future footballing journey, We will follow you with pride and interest. Dan Ribbens won national recognition in rowingamazing stuff Dan! This year also saw charity endeavours that raised over £2,000 for prostate cancer, so well done to all who helped to raise money.
We also say goodbye to a number of Dickerites at this time of year - good luck to you all, and do stay in touch. A few changes will now be occurring in Dicker - first, we are very excited about our refurbishment which is happening over the summer, including a newly fashioned outside space for the house, which will be lovely.
Lastly, a huge thank you from me to our Dicker parents who have been so supportive of the house and of our community. So for one last time from me… ‘GO DICKER’! Onwards and upwards!
Crossways
It seems only yesterday we welcomed new faces to Crossways last September; we blinked, and now we are saying farewell. Sandwiched in between has been a plethora of wonderful moments shaping this memorable year. While I wish I could mention everyone, here is a snapshot of our wonderful community.
We were brilliantly led by Flo, Morgan, Emilia, and Izzy, who gave so much energy to us all. They are succeeded by Mesha (Head of School), Jemima (Head of House), and Juhi and Taleen as deputies. Thank you to them and our prefects for making Crossways such a happy place.
Sporting achievements have abounded. Libby represented Great
Britain in wakeboarding—an amazing feat! In cricket, Meha scored her first century, Martha continues to thrive, and Mesha scored a hat-trick and took three wickets in one match. Darcy captained the first netball team, while Mariella, Anto G, Anto V, and Camila L were crucial to the football season. Morgan and Maddie were prolific on the tennis court, and Morgan also secured a fantastic apprenticeship at Pfizer for next year.
Off the pitch, Maca starred as Fantine in Les Misérables, and Camila Ruanova won the Contemporary Dance category at the Solo Legat Awards. Juhi balanced Legat Associates with leading our Wednesday night mindfulness activities. Emilia was a highly respected lead for Her Voice and a key member of MUN along with Bea; Taleen has now taken up the Her Voice mantle alongside her Welfare Committee work. Meanwhile, Yovana and Maca starred in Animal Farm, and Katy is busy rehearsing for Henry IV.
Our co-curricular life thrived as Brooke, Sally, and Clara pushed themselves to learn sailing in challenging weather. Sadie and Sophie braved the elements to complete their Gold DofE, while Emily, Isla, and Claudia worked hard on their own awards.
Academically, the Upper Sixth and Upper Fifth showed immense dedication. Auden and Niyah were rarely away from their desks, and Bay was the last Upper Fifth to leave. We will miss Bay terribly as she moves to New York, alongside our departing Upper Sixth who embody everything we hold dear.
This year signals the end of an era as we say Goodbye to Mr Turner. Crossways has been so lucky to have had Mr Turner’s support, undeniable pride in and loyalty for Crossways’ community. We all wish to say good luck at Repton and the biggest thank you to him, his family and not to forget Barney who will leave a very bereft Myla, wondering where her best friend has gone.
A big thank you and goodbye also goes to Geoff, our incredibly caring Housekeeper who looks after us all. He is retiring, though takes on Grandparent duties so will still have his hands full! Thank you to our wonderful tutors and matrons. Remember: ‘Once a Crossways Girl, always a Crossways girl.’
Deis
Deis has continued to thrive this summer, with not only our charity week, which included a goal-shooting competition, cake stall, car wash and Deis Active, but also visiting the Chailey Heritage site to see where the money was going and what was being accomplished in the form of new developments there.
We completed and submitted our pirate-themed video, and though it did not come top place it was an excellent endeavour with a lot of entertainment value!
House council meetings have continued and have had an impact on how the house is run, with issues raised going to our prefect team for further action.
Sadly we have to say goodbye to our previous house leadership and whole Upper Sixth who now go on to university and beyond, having left a very distinctive and positive mark on the house (and in some cases the school) as a whole. Below is an image from our School’s Leavers Ball.
We are heading into the end of this term with a very strong position among the house rankings and a real hope that there is everything to play for in the House Athletics and final round of House Competitions!
This year Bede’s cricket had one of its most successful seasons as teams and individuals in recent times. Both the boys and girls teams won honours in the County competitions and produced some fantastic performances and results in the National Cups.
The U18 boys team played 16 fixtures and won a remarkable 14. This included the Langdale County Cup and Regional Champions in the National Cup. Unfortunately, they lost in a tightly fought semi-final, a match of the highest quality at this level. To reach the last four in a competition made up of 170 of the best cricketing schools in the country was a brilliant achievement.
The U17’s also made the last 16 in the country, which was another fantastic achievement. The U15’s won 10 out of tier 14 matches, the highlight being beating Brighton in the final of the Blackshaw to win the Cup.
The girls were runners up in the National U17 plate. The U18 girls won the Prideaux Cup for the seventh year out of the eight in the Cup’s existence, another excellent achievement and the girls U13’s also reached the National Finals.
Individually Jake Vosloo was selected for the England disability team touring India. He is the youngest player ever to represent an England adult team in history. Sophie Beck also debuted for the
Sports Day
On the afternoon of 22 June the Senior School held its annual Sports Day. The weather was glorious, and the pupils excelled, showing great technique and performance levels on the track and field events. The two new events of high jump and Nerf throw were well received by pupils with some brilliant heights and distances achieved. The popular Tug of War contest was won by Dorms for the boys, and Crossways for the girls. The finale of the mixed staff and pupils 4x100 relay saw no pulled hamstrings and wins for Camberlot in the boys event and Blooms in the girls event. The overall standings were that Stud dominated the boys competition, whilst Bloomsbury won a tight contest in the girls competition
full Sussex team and Rudy Northcott was selected for Sussex’s Academy. Matthew Miller represented the West Indies for the U19 World Cup and Gadson Bowens has been selected as captain of the Barbados U19 team.
We continue to be proud of our ex Bedians. Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp starred for England, Ryana MacDonald-Gay broke the domestic T20 bowling record. Also, Henry Crocombe was selected for the England second Test Squad against New Zealand. These and many other of our alumni playing professional cricket around the world are a joy to follow.
Bede’s cricket continues to display excellence on the cricket field and prides itself on the continued development of pupils pursuing professional cricket pathways.
Tennis
The summer finished on an absolute high for tennis! Both the girls’ and boys’ teams made it to Nationals (out of 320 schools entered across the UK). We were one of only five schools in the country to have both our boys and girls reach the last 16.
The boys won three out of their four matches, reaching the Quarter Finals and beating Millfield to finish 5th nationally in an epic championship tie-break, with Harrison and Jack winning the decider. The girls won two out of their four matches and finished 12th.
Closer to home, the Bede’s girls won every Sussex County Championship (U14, U15, U16, and U18), and the boys won the U14, U16, and U18 titles, alongside numerous other tournaments within Sussex. Additionally, the U15 boys and girls have qualified for the regional stages of the Nationals, which will be played this September.
Football
Ben Loetz, Upper Fifth from Deis captained the ISFA (Independent Schools Football Association) U16 national side for their fixture against Wales earlier this term and received his first international cap.
The ISFA U16 National Team represents the pinnacle of football for Year 11 pupils attending independent schools in the UK and players who make it to the national team undergo a multistage trialling process. The national team is called up to attend training camps during school holiday and also involves an elite fixture programme which includes academy teams from Premier and EFL academies.
Ben has also been a member of the Bede’s U18A this season, a teriffic achievement for an U16 player who has had an excellent season.
Golf
Will and Oli Hart, Ethan Brophy and Seb Howlett, Ben Abell and Elijah Morris, Boris Bland and Sam Davies took on Hurst at Royal Eastbourne, with Oli Hart scoring a hole in one.
In the run up to the end of term there were two National Golf competitions and we are delighted to say Mackenzie Johnson won at Fulwell Golf Club, shooting an excellent 77 in hot and breezy conditions. Beating a field of over 60 players. Bede’s Team B of Oli Hart, Alfie Loveday and Will Hart won the Team Stableford, well done!
Oscar Cramp ended his great season coming 8th at Sonning, in a field of over 70 players, shooting 76. Jack Wills won the Bede’s Championship held at the National, shooting 1 over whilst Sam Trott won the Stableford.
We send Jack all our best wishes as he plays in the England U18 National Finals held in Leeds. Qualifying in the top 60 in the country in this age group.
Athletics
Imran Bashir (200m and long jump), Samir Bashir (100m), Fraser Caffyn (shot put), Yashv Singh (800m) and George Wainford (100m) qualified to represent the district area of South Downs at the Sussex trials in June. Imran came 1st in the 100m final for Intermediate boys and gained a place to represent Sussex at the Nationals. Fraser came 3rd in the senior boys shot put.
