13 February 2026 – Issue 5
HEAD’S REVIEW
Young Pastoral Leaders’ Conference
Head’s Introduction
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been outstanding this week, and the four shows have all been great successes, with over 1000 in the audiences! It is so impressive to have had 63 students involved in the show, and not just on stage but as Deputy Stage Manager, in the band, and on the follow-spots. The performers’ characterisation was excellent, and the audiences loved the pairings of the Golden Ticket winners and their parents. Well done in particular to Sylvia in Year 7, who played Charlie, and to Rosa in Year 13, who was Willy Wonka, but every single person involved in the show deserves our congratulations! Yesterday we held our annual Founders’ Day Commemoration Service, in which we give thanks to the Lawrence sisters, and it was such a pleasure to welcome thirty-two guests to the School for this special event in our calendar. After the service, our visitors had the opportunity to chat with others and reminisce about Roedean, and some also stayed for the evening performance of Charlie.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
We were also joined at Discovery Day yesterday by 46 prospective students, and they got stuck into their chocolate-themed day! History, French, and Ethics lessons in the morning led up to the matinée performance of Charlie. The Admissions team organised a wonderful day, and 28 girls also stayed last night for a boarding taster – I am pleased that they all had such a lovely time throughout. This week has also seen academic successes and a number of trips, including Sixth Form Chemists in a competition in Cambridge, 13 Golds in the Intermediate Maths Challenge, Prefects attending a Pastoral Leaders’ Conference, and a university visit to two Cambridge colleges – well done to everyone involved in these.
Culture Day 2026
Following our players’ recent success winning the U16 SISNA tournament, I am pleased that the U14s won the SISNA Plate, and the U15s were runners-up in their Plate competition. I continue to be impressed by the number of girls who are representing Roedean in a range of sports – well done! It has been wonderful to see so many girls and staff marking our Culture Day 2026 today, and we have seen an array of truly wonderful outfits. I hope that the Geography trip to Iceland and the Art exchange to Denmark go well over half-term, and I wish you all a wonderful break.
Roedean Hosts the County Badminton Championships