17 October 2025 – Issue 7
HEAD’S REVIEW
Spine-Chilling Halloween Maze
Head’s Introduction There was no slowing down at Roedean just because it is the last week before halfterm! It began with our chilling Halloween Maze in the Cloisters – I’m not sure who was enjoying it more, the Sixth Formers in terrifying make-up or the Year 7s and 8s who went round again, despite how scared they said they were! In stark contrast, it was such a pleasure to welcome the Year 7 parents into School on Tuesday. The Year 7s have negotiated the transition to senior school so smoothly, getting used to a much bigger school, a new timetable, different teachers for different subjects, and more, but they have done so brilliantly. I am so proud of what they have achieved in this, the longest halfterm in the year – well done! They enjoyed their Samba drumming during the day, and then were able to show off their new-found skills to their parents. Wednesday saw the grand finale to our Black History Month activities at Roedean, with a whole school lecture delivered by Dr Bashair Ahmed. Having completed research into communities migrating to Europe, she spoke about the importance of welcoming diversity into society, and the need to avoid ‘othering’ people who are different. The talk and its theme generated interesting questions in the Theatre and I have no doubt that discussions continued afterwards. The theme of being open to others’ ideas and traditions was also covered by Mr Halsey in Chapel. He spoke about Diwali, and being welcomed into this festival by his wife’s family, and I would like to paraphrase the final lines of his Chapel here: ‘At Roedean, our strength comes from a community where no culture feels distant, no story ignored, where we don’t just tolerate difference but celebrate it, where each of us carries a light for someone else.’ Yesterday’s New Scholars’ Evening was a lovely opportunity to celebrate and showcase the work of our Scholars at
Roedean. Students shared their experiences at School, and, in between the presentations of badges to new Scholars, we were treated to some wonderful performances, including Emily, who played the guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument, very beautifully indeed. I am grateful to Ms Reesink-Wells for masterminding this important event in our calendar. I am delighted to hear that our U16 Netballers have qualified for the regional round of the National Schools’ competition – they played brilliantly against tough opposition, and the next round will be in the first half of next term. The U14s also performed really well, but they were not able to make it through. There have been lots of Hockey fixtures over the last ten days, and it is great to see so many girls out on the Astro representing the School – well done! I am proud to hear that the RISE 8K run was such a success last weekend – congratulations to all those students and members of staff who ran for a charity which does vital work in our local community, and also to those who volunteered, supporting the event in a different way – they have already raised well over £1000!
U16As Qualify for National Schools!
Roedean South Africa Exchange
Congratulations to Amara, Charlotte, Ebun, Evelyn, Mahi, and Perla, who will be the six Year 9s going to our sister school in South Africa on exchange next term – what an exciting experience it will be! Well done to our Year 13s, a third of whom have submitted their university applications by the early deadline – it is great to have got this important stage out of the way already, and three have already received offers of places from top universities! Good luck to those who set off this morning to go to Naples – I hope you have a wonderful trip! And I wish you all a restful half-term break!
Roedean at the RISE 8K Undercliff Run