Hello from Nigeria! Last night, I hosted an event for alumnae from 1983 to 2025 in Lagos, and it was wonderful to re-connect and forge even stronger links with the OR community here. Mrs Wienekus and I are also meeting prospective families from Nigeria at a number of events.
Congratulations to Amber Anning OR, who is officially the fifth fastest in the world over 400 metres! Yesterday afternoon, Amber ran in the Final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and crossed the line in fifth place. It was wonderful for some members of staff and students to be able to watch this together, after hearing about it in Chapel this week. This amazing run comes on the back of recent successes which saw Amber crowned World Indoor Champion and British Champion over 400 metres, after also winning two Bronze medals in the Paris Olympics. I hope that her success will inspire some in our community to work incredibly hard and chase their dreams.
A week ago, nine students and three members of staff braved the elements to sleep out in the Chapel Cloisters, to raise valuable funds for the local homeless charity we support, Off The Fence. Our relationship with this charity is wellestablished, and it was lovely to have recently received a card signed by some of those it supports, to say how much they appreciate what our school community does for them. It was also wonderful to see pupils from St Mark’s Primary back at Roedean – this term, the Year 4 cohort are enjoying their sporting and academic enrichment every Thursday, and other year-groups will come after Christmas.
Last weekend, a group of students with an interest in engineering had the exciting chance to race the F24 electric car they have been working on. They travelled to Dunsford, where they raced the car against other schools and university teams – they were delighted to come 37th out of over fifty teams. Congratulations!
Well done on another action-packed week, and I wish you all a restful exeat weekend.
Amber –5th Fastest in the World
Braving the Elements: Year 11 Sleep Out to Help Out
Racing the F24 Electric Car
Unsung heroes in the spotlight
Each week, many wonderful things happen at Roedean, about which many in the school are perhaps unaware; this section of the weekly review is dedicated to ‘unsung heroes’, in order to draw our attention to these people and remind us that our community is special.
(Yr12), and Sam and Clara (Yr13) – for their thoughtful contributions to this week's Chapel services [Dr Barrand]
Maisa (Yr9) – for singing 'Hopelessly Devoted to You' from Grease in the Open Day presentation with such wonderful composure [Mrs Wienekus]
Amber – 5th Fastest in the World
Congratulations to Amber Anning, who came fifth in the Final of the Women's 400 metres in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo yesterday. Despite only being 24, she has enjoyed fantastic successes recently, including becoming World Indoor Champion last year, British Champion this year, and winning two Bronze medals at the Paris Olympics. In her post-race interview, she said that she is still learning, and she will, no doubt, be even more successful over the next few years. Watch this space – we all wish Amber the best of luck in the 4 x 400 metres Relay at the weekend!
Braving the Elements: Year 11 Sleep Out to Help Out
Nine dedicated Year 11 pupils swapped their warm beds for cardboard, sleeping bags and tarpaulin, spending a night under the cloisters as part of our “Sleep Out to Help Out” fundraiser. The experience offered a powerful glimpse of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness, while raising vital funds for a very worthy cause.
True to British weather, the cloisters provided mixed blessings: the “West Wing” team remained smugly dry all night, while the “East Wing” crew woke up a little wiser and a lot wetter. Spirits stayed high though, with plenty of laughter (and some very damp socks).
A huge thank you to these pupils for their resilience, good humour and impressive fundraising – you’ve raised awareness as well as money, and shown what compassion looks like in action. We’re also enormously grateful to Dr Barrand and Mr Wilson for also sleeping out; especially with Open Day the following day, as well as to the grounds and catering teams for their invaluable support behind the scenes.
Mr Halsey
Nathania
Georgie's Stunning SeaThemed Photographs
Year 10 Art and Photography students have been working on the overarching theme of 'Collections', and this term they are looking at how this can be connected to the sea.
Georgie found some pieces on the beach, and her sea-themed photography is so lovely that the Learning Support team have asked if they can have her pieces on the walls of their department.
Created as part of her GCSE project, Georgie’s work shows real creativity, with striking use of composition and texture.
Well done, Georgie!
Mrs Silburn
Year 9 Street Dance Workshop with JP Omari
This week, our Year 9 students had the exciting opportunity to take part in a dynamic Street Dance workshop led by award-winning dancer and choreographer JP Omari.
The sessions pushed students out of their comfort zones, challenged their coordination and creativity, and inspired confidence through movement. Every student rose to the occasion, performing with energy, focus, and enthusiasm. It was a fantastic experience for all involved!
Miss Abaza
Racing the F24 Electric Car
Last weekend, nine students travelled to Dunsford Park, to race their F24 electric car in an event organised by the Greenpower Education Trust.
They have been working on the car, developing its design and honing its power and efficiency. The car raced well, but, as the team was up against university teams, they were delighted to come 37th out of 50 teams.
Derin (Yr13) said: 'F24 was such an amazing experience, I learned so much, and driving the car was so fun. I especially loved racing in our bright pink car, and representing women in STEM as an all-girls' school among so many male-led teams.'
There is more to work on, but these budding engineers have made the most of this experience!
Mr Hawthorne
Sustainability in Wild Fridays
As part of our Wild Friday programme, some Year 8s have been working on the theme of sustainability, with a special focus on Earth and Biodiversity here on our school site. Last week, the students put their learning into action by designing and building moth traps from safe, recycled materials.
This activity not only encouraged creativity and problem-solving, but also deepened our students’ understanding of the vital role insects play in our ecosystem. By constructing moth traps, they explored ways of monitoring local
species, while reflecting on the importance of protecting habitats and supporting biodiversity.
Particular congratulations go to the winning team: Ayase, Nkem, and Kosi. All the Year 8 teams showed excellent enthusiasm and teamwork, which was inspiring. I am proud of how the Year 8s continue to connect their learning to real-world environmental issues, making a positive impact on our campus and beyond!
Ms Pashley
Talented Percussionists Perform in Chapel
In Chapel this week, the School was lucky to hear Hollywood Dream Trip by Syrinx, performed by Hayley, Natalie, Molly, and Mr Chambers, on Vibraphone, Marimba, Vibraphonette, and Kit. It was beautifully atmospheric – you can watch the clip here.
Dr Barrand
An Unusual Beginning for 'Martin'
On their way to House Shout rehearsal in the first week of term, members of House 4 spotted a young House Martin that had tumbled from its nest. Luckily unhurt, but too young to fly, the little bird was brought to me, and, along with Ms Walker and Mrs Barker, we rigged up a temporary home. Since the RSPCA no longer accepts wild birds due to bird flu risks, “Martin,” as he was quickly named, went home with me, and I fed him waxworms and mealworms until he was strong enough to fledge.
Now ready for the next chapter, Martin faces a challenge: he must find a flock of fellow House Martins to guide him on the long migration to Africa. With sightings dwindling as the weather cools, Martin has been entrusted to the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service, who will help him find his companions for the journey south.
On behalf of Martin, thank you to the caring girls in House 4, Ms Walker, Mrs Baker, and Mrs Wilson – and a special thank you goes to Lisa, our lovely bus driver, for kindly transporting Martin to the wildlife centre.
Mrs Finn
Board Games and Bubble Tea in Keswick
Our Sixth Formers brightened up a dreary Thursday afternoon by staying warm indoors, enjoying a variety of board games, and sipping on delicious bubble tea.
Chapel – Empowering Others
Dr Barrand: Welcome to this week’s Chapel service. Following this term’s theme of ‘empowerment’, I recently heard the analogy of a relay baton being handed over from one person to another, to illustrate how we are all connected to each other, and how we can pass on knowledge and experience.
This is particularly relevant now because we are in the middle of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, so, if you love athletics as much as I do, you will no doubt have been glued to the coverage. Not only is it great to watch top-class athletes, but it is even more exciting because Amber Anning, an old girl of the school, is competing. She won two relay Bronze medals at the Paris Olympics last year and hopefully she will do well at these championships too. A year ago, after Paris, she came to School to speak to all of us, proudly holding her medals, which were the product of all training and sacrifices over the last five years. She could have spoken all about herself and her amazing successes, but it was wonderful to hear her focusing more on those around her who had helped her to begin to realise her dreams – she spoke about everyone behind the scenes who had supported her and given her the belief that she can be a world-class athlete.
Not only is a relay baton analogy relevant to Amber’s story, as an athlete, but it can also be applied to other situations. In July, twelve students who are now in Year 12 and 13 travelled to Moldova, where they taught English to Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan young people. By teaching them English, they were helping them to develop valuable skills, broadening their horizons and empowering them to see their futures beyond Moldova. It was a challenging but hugely rewarding experience:
Nathania: ‘Mary and I were teaching in a pair – we had planned our lessons and were quite confident. When we met our class, we had a group of 11 students, and some of them were older than us! They weren’t focusing very well, and were on their phones and messing around, and I didn’t know what to do, so I was suddenly nervous. Dr Barrand and Mrs Howson gave us a bit of a pep talk at the break, and we went back in with clear expectations and made them hand in their phones so that they were more focused. I realised that they just needed to know where
they stood, and that we wanted them to do well. By the end of the week, our class had achieved so much and I was shocked at the pride I felt for them. It made me realise that teaching isn’t about drilling knowledge into students, it’s about encouraging perseverance, fostering a growth mindset, and ultimately making the students feel seen and heard.’
Dr Barrand: We also visited the Rainbow of Hope Orphanage, which we have supported financially since July 2023. The children are loved and cared for by the staff, but they have very little and their view of the future is probably quite narrow. The money we raise for the orphanage each year makes a huge difference, improving the children’s day-to-day experience, but also helping to provide them with wider opportunities, and hopefully to encourage them to think big.
Sometimes, you need to challenge yourself to try something you don’t really believe you can do – you might not always achieve it, and that’s okay, as long as you feel supported in an environment which fosters confidence and self-belief. After swimming from England to France as part of a Roedean relay team of six swimmers in 2022, Clara in Year 13 set herself a remarkable challenge. She decided that she was going to complete the crossing solo. After months and months of training and preparation, in the first week of July this year, she set off in the middle of the night from Dover, and less than 13 hours later she climbed out of the water in France. What an astonishing achievement, from an idea which had developed years before:
Clara: ‘I have always loved sports, especially netball and swimming, but I discovered seaswimming at Roedean. When I joined the School in Year 7, I was lucky that Dr Hobbs started up a sea-swimming club and came up with the idea of a team crossing the Channel. I loved it, and my enthusiasm for it started there. I really enjoyed crossing the Channel the first time we did it as a school team – I loved the training and the team-work, and the challenge and really pushing myself. But I felt like it wasn’t enough for me to do it as a relay, so I decided to tackle it alone. It felt absolutely amazing to actually do it, and I was so relieved that all my hard work paid off.’
Dr Barrand: Sometimes we all just need a spark or a gentle push – without that, Clara might never have attempted the Channel swim. Returning to the idea of not always being successful, it is important to remember that failure, or not succeeding, is also part of a process – you can draw huge positives from failure. Following on from Clara’s swim, you may know that another relay team attempted to cross the Channel in 2024. They made it a long way across the Channel to France before the weather changed and they had to abandon the challenge – they didn’t make it all the way to France, but they had all successfully swum so far, so it’s about how you view things. One member of the team, Finya, took that experience as a positive, and two weeks ago she successfully completed the relay challenge. Congratulations!
Thinking again about the idea of passing a baton on to others, to share experience and to inspire them to build their future, I am delighted to let you know that the Roedean community is now sponsoring three girls in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Sam: ‘Esther, Josephine, and Natasha all have big dreams, to become doctors and a nurse. They need our support to stay in education. Our sponsorship will provide meals for them at school, and the books and materials they need to learn. If we can raise even more for them, we can buy each of them a bike. While it might sound like fun to give them a bike, this is actually for their safety – Natasha is 9 and travels 5 kilometres to school every day, and Josephine is 12 and walks 4.5 kilometres to school. Unfortunately, girls in Zimbabwe and Zambia are often attacked on the roads on their way to school, so some are too scared to go – if we can buy them a bike, they will get there more quickly, but also safely. Look out for fund-raising events so that we can help keep these girls in education!’
Dr Barrand: Please bow your heads for prayer or reflection:
Let us always remember the power of a positive mindset, and that we each have a role to play. Our relay of life is a collective endeavour – we are all working together, and each of us is passing something on to the next person. Each one of us has a responsibility to build others up, to champion their successes, to guide them through difficulties, and to support their development. Therefore, let us always embrace opportunities to make others stronger, more confident, and more empowered. Amen.
St Mark’s at Roedean
It has been wonderful to welcome pupils form St Mark's to Roedean again after the summer holidays.
This term, 21 pupils in Year 4 are coming every Thursday, for their programme of sporting and academic enrichment. In their academic lessons, they will be looking at diverse topics such as Drama Improvisation, learning about Europe, Classics, and Print-Making, and this week they had a great time learning Russian.
Next term, it will be the turn of the Year 5s, and the Year 6s come in the summer.
Dr Barrand
Weekend Trip to The Grand
Over the weekend, some of our boarders visited the iconic Grand Hotel on the Brighton seafront, for a fancy afternoon tea. The interior was as it was back in Victorian times, but the scones, sandwiches, and cakes were most definitely 21st century and absolutely delicious!
Ms Hine
This Week in Boarding...
Boarding this week has been getting cozy, as autumn rolls in and our new boarders experience Roedean hair, for the first time, from the wild winds, blowing off the sea. Each House has been a hive of activity, from quiz nights, sewing competitions, chocolate fountains, and more!
The Roedean Chapel was busy on Sunday evening, with the Reverends Roe holding a service, where the boarders and staff were encouraged to write prayers down on paper which was hung in the Chapel. If you are interested in Boarders' Chapel, it is scheduled every 3 weeks.
However, the thing on every boarder’s mind has been the announcement to appoint our new House Captains and Deputies – it was almost too much to bear, but we are very excited to declare the results:
House 1:
Captain – Hunny
Deputies – Aminata and Nisreen
House 2:
Captain – Charlie
Deputy – Emmalynn
House 3:
Captain – Chloe
Deputies – Lucy and Gabriella
House 4:
Captain – Athena
Deputy – Almen
Keswick:
Captain – Lucy
Deputy – Anna
House 1 this week have kept their boarders busy as bees, with a Monday game of Bingo, pancakes on Tuesday with all the toppings, which the girls are always extremely excited about. The House 1 team got the girls to be crafty and creative, making signs for themselves and their favourite teachers! And the junior boarders had the chance to go shopping in Brighton on Saturday, with the rest of the junior boarders across the Houses; despite the weather, the girls loved it!
House 2 started the week with a competitive evening of ‘games night’ hosted by their very own Double Ws, Mrs Waller and Mr Williams. Cheese scones were prepared, and the girls got to utilise their baking skills. On Wednesday, House 2 had a movie night in the GDR, where the night sky was projected around the room so the girls could reminisce on summer nights! Rounding off the week, House 2 created some fantastically wonderful house décor.
This week, House 3 has been celebrating the mid-Autumn festival, and the girls kicked off the week by making some spectacular lanterns which are now proudly on display! The spirit of crafting stuck around, because the girls were fully invested when they had to continue their teddy bear production company. Mr Wienekus treated the girls to the first soup of the season, and it was hoovered down in mere minutes! The foodies of House 3 also enjoyed a pasta bar, an old classic, which was also gone in seconds. House 3’s resident cats also got to explore the gardens this week!
The House 4 boarders loved the chocolate fountain this week – the House 4 team had prepared bowls of strawberries, sliced bananas, and marshmallows to dunk into the melted chocolate. The girls were busy creating some brilliant tote bags one evening, which saw the House 4 girls working on their projects on any flat surface available to them. The arts and crafts didn’t stop there, with friendship bracelet making too!
Keswick House has fully embraced its ‘grandma era’ this week, with mindful colouring, knitting, and baking bringing calm and creativity to our days. Over the weekend, the girls became culinary stars, whipping up jam biscuits (beautifully packaged and shared with the house), fruit tarts, crispy fried chicken, and handmade dumplings. What a wonderful blend of relaxation, skill and community spirit!
Miss Frank-Keyes
Hockey vs Eastbourne Hockey vs Bede’s
U13 Hockey – Victory over Bede’s 2nd VII
The Roedean 2nd VII produced a strong performance last week to claim a 3-1 victory over Bede’s in what proved to be a thrilling encounter. Roedean took control from the start, dominating possession and moving the ball with confidence. Their efforts were rewarded with a 2-0 lead at half time, thanks to well-taken goals from Harrie and Lara.
Bede’s came out fighting after the break, pulling a goal back early in the second half to put the pressure on. However, Roedean showed composure and resilience, regaining control of the game. A late strike from Bethany sealed the win and ensured there was no way back for the opposition.
U13A Hockey Battle Hard
It was a fantastic all-round display from the squad, with Nkem earning the well-deserved title of Player of the Match for her outstanding contribution.
Mr Foggoa
The U13 Hockey 1st VII had a tough first game against Bede's Prep. Roedean started well with a few circle entries on the right side of the pitch, just narrowly missing the final pass, but promising a lot going forward.
The girls were rewarded eventually with a super goal to go 1-0 up. Bede's threw everything at us, and were soon rewarded with their own goal, and they followed up with another soon after, which shocked the girls slightly going in to halftime.
At the break, the team regrouped and looked at getting the next goal to get back into the match. Bede's controlled possession well and, with some man-marking mistakes at times, they were able to score a few more before the end of the match. There are lots of lessons to learn from, and more effort required in training to get playing at a higher tempo and speed, and the match ended 5-1.
Mr Campleman
Fantastic Win for U14B
On Saturday, the U14B team had a fantastic game of hockey against Eastbourne. Despite heavy rain, the girls battled through and applied all their hard work in training into this fixture. They opened up the pitch, driving the ball down the right side, and made great leads to link up play.
Defensively we were calm with our outletting and put in some key tackles to keep a clean sheet. The final score was 2-0 to Roedean. It has been a joy to see how much progress this team has made in such a short space of time, and I am looking forward to seeing this continue over the course of the season.
This team thoroughly deserve the title of Team of the Week, and special mention goes to Emily and Elsa for their Player of the Match awards. Well done!
Mrs Hammond
2nd XI Hockey Battle at Stormy Eastbourne
The 2nd XI played against Eastbourne on a stormy day. The match started furiously, with Eastbourne attacking with determination and pace, while Roedean were just managing to hang on and get the ball out of their circle.
Roedean played well to outlet the ball to wider players, and started making in-roads into the Eastbourne half more and more. A quick counter attack however meant Eastbourne were soon 1-0 up. The 1st half carried on like this for a while, with Ellie picking up the ball brilliantly in attacking areas, but the final pass needed to be better for the move to be finished off.
At half-time, Eastbourne were 3-0 up, with Roedean needing some positive and determined play in the second half. This was exactly what happened, and Roedean managed to get higher up the pitch more often, but on occasion they left gaps for Eastbourne to exploit and attack through.
The match ended 6-0 to Eastbourne, with the home team having a little more quality on the ball and high tempo attacking play, which caused trouble for the Roedean defenders.
Mr Campleman
U15A Narrowly Lose in 9-Goal Thriller
The U15A started the game excellently and with purpose, soon going 1-0 up, with some superb attacking play down the right hand side of the pitch. Eastbourne responded however, and threatened the goal on occasion, managing to draw level soon after.
Better marking and game awareness was needed by the midfield and back four, to negate any easy balls forward for Eastbourne. Towards halftime, both teams were working hard to get the upper hand, and, at 3-3, nothing separated the two teams at the break. A good start in the second half was required and not what happened, with Eastbourne carrying the ball through the Roedean press and finishing it before we'd even woken up for the half. That really did wake the girls up, and they soon found themselves on the attack consistently, and just unable to find the finishing touch – Alex went very close in a 1 on 1 with the keeper, and Erin narrowly missed a deflection of a Bella shot at goal.
Eastbourne managed to extend their lead to 5-3 with 10 minutes left to go, meaning it was all or nothing for the girls. They showed tremendous spirit and determination, and were rewarded with a superb goal finished off by Erin at the post to make it 5-4 – Roedean were chasing the next goal to draw. The final 5 minutes were epic, with both teams leaving nothing on the pitch and end to end hockey, which was really enjoyed by all spectators. But the final whistle came and Eastbourne took the win 5-4 in a truly entertaining match of hockey.
Mr Campleman
Cup Drama for U15
Roedean U15s secured their place in the next round of the cup after a dramatic clash with Eastbourne that finished 2-2 in normal time, before Roedean triumphed 1-0 in the penalty flicks.
From the first whistle, Roedean showed real determination and quality, dominating large spells of the game. Their pressure paid off with goals from Erin and Kayla, giving them a well-deserved lead. In a tense finish, Eastbourne refused to give in, striking twice in the final two minutes to level the score and force the match to penalty flicks.
With the pressure on, goalkeeper Mia stood tall between the posts, forcing two misses and making a crucial save to keep Roedean ahead. Kayla kept her composure to bury the opening flick, which proved decisive and ensured the game didn’t reach sudden death.
It was a fantastic all-round team performance, full of resilience and spirit, and the girls can be proud of the way they handled the challenge. Roedean march on to the next round of the cup – well done to all involved!
Mr Foggoa
U13 Hockey Triangular
The 2nd VII competed in a triangular fixture against Handcross Park and Windlesham House, showing resilience and determination throughout both matches.
Their opening game against Handcross Park was a tough test, with the opposition starting strongly and applying pressure early. Nkem and Daisy worked tirelessly in defence, breaking down attacks and finding Tilly and Kosi in midfield to build play. Despite their efforts, Roedean trailed 3-0 at half time. The second half saw much more composure, with improved link-up play and promising opportunities in attack, but the side were eventually defeated 4-0.
The second match against Windlesham House proved much closer. The midfield unit worked hard to supply the forwards, Scarlett and Harrie, while Lara distributed the ball with accuracy. With five minutes to go, Harrie calmly finished to level the score at 1-1. Lexi produced some fine saves, but a late Windlesham strike secured them a narrow 2-1 win.
Sports Stars of the Week
Week Commencing 8 September:
Team of the Week – U14A hockey team for their fantastic performance against Ardingly
Year 10
Erin, for a superb performance in Hockey against Brighton College
Week Commencing 15 September:
Team of the Week – U15A for their impressive performance against Eastbourne College in the National Cup Round 1 Match.
Year 10
Bea, for a brilliant attitude in Hockey this term
Congratulations to the sporting stars of the last two weeks! Mr
Year 7
Ines, for fantastic all-round effort in PE
Year 11
Sorrel, for an outstanding performance in Hockey against Brighton College.
Year 7
Charlotte, for a superb Hockey performance against Bede's Prep
Year 11
Natalie, for outstanding effort and performances in Badminton
We welcome contributions from all parts of the Roedean community. If you have something you would like featured in the Head’s Weekly Review, please email: aws@roedean.co.uk
Year 8
Chloe, for her excellent attitude in PE lessons
Year 12
Katie, for excellent effort in Games lessons this term
Year 8
Zé, for outstanding effort and performances in Hockey matches
Year 12
Chloe, for dedication and effort on the Hockey pitch in training and matches
Year 9
Amber, for a great start to the Hockey term
Year 13
Izzy, for a terrific attitude and effort in Hockey
Year 9
Ruby, for excellent effort and performances in the U14A and U15A Hockey teams
Year 13
Lydia, for a terrific attitude in Hockey lessons and matches this term
