Head's Review - 23 January 2026 – Issue 3

HEAD’S REVIEW

Head’s Introduction

Last night’s Dance Showcase was an astonishing display of exceptional dance – I was so impressed by the exciting choreography and the girls’ talent. They have all worked so hard for the show, and I also know the hours and hours of work they have put in over years to get to that level. Well done to everyone involved, the dancers, their teachers, and the Theatre team – the show ran so smoothly and it was just wonderful!

Congratulations to all the Year 11s who received the results of their early Maths GCSEs yesterday – I am delighted that they all did so well, and that their hard work paid off in this way. Particular congratulations go to Abbie, who achieved 100%, and also to Lois (98.5%) and Evelyn (98%) –outstanding! Well done also to two students who took French GCSE early, and achieved top grades.

Well done to all of our Netball teams who have been out in all weathers – it is lovely to read how well they are playing, and that their team spirit and determination to play well are developing with every game. Congratulations on some great results against Christ’s Hospital and Ardingly.

On Monday, we welcomed a representative from the Catalyst Foundation to Roedean. Ashleigh explained to the girls in Years 7-9 the massive difference our support is making to the three girls we sponsor in Zambia and Zimbabwe. I am sure that hearing about this first-hand will make this support so much more tangible for them.

I am pleased to hear that the Sixth Form creative writing residential to Sheppey was such a success, and I look forward to reading the anthology of work the girls wrote while there. I wish you all a lovely, restful weekend!

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.

Shermane (Yr11) – for playing Faure's Sicilienne so beautifully on the Double Bass in Chapel [Dr Barrand]

Unsung Staff hero in the spotlight

Mr Williams, Mr Vowles, and Mr Doyle – for helping to move and set up a Smart Board at the Somerset Centre [Mr Wilson]

Working Lunch – Applying for International Universities

Our series of Working Lunches connect students with professionals in the world of work or higher education, to help them rehearse key networking skills and empower them to feel confident in decision-making around their future pathways.

Recently, Year 11 and 12 students met with David Hawkins, founder and director of The

University Guys, to hear about strategy in making university applications overseas. Our students were excited to hear about the different educational models and affordability options, with some even discovering potential solutions to problems they had been struggling with in terms of choices around next steps.

Isle of Sheppey English Residential Creative Writing Trip

Last weekend, twenty-two intrepid creative souls retired to the Isle of Sheppey (technically the Isle of Harty, as we were separated from the main island by a narrow river), and the endless rain-sodden salt-marshes, unevenly scored with the ubiquitous swollen ditches and stagnant pools that reflect the biggest skies available anywhere, unencumbered by any high ground to break the flatlining horizons or to stymy the fecundity of imagination.

It was truly the perfect bleak-chic location for inspiration. Plenty of great writing was produced, fuelled by tea and chocolate (and instant noodles), and ghost stories told around the fire, with the gothic mood occasionally enlivened by a game of table tennis or some karaoke. Watch out for the anthology of student writing that will soon be published!

Spotlight on University Offers

Continuing from last week's celebrations of the wide range of excellent offers being received by our Year 13s, we would like to share a few more:

Esther

Congratulations to Esther, who has been made an unconditional offer to study Fashion at Kingston University. She is currently studying an Art, Design, and Media Foundation Diploma at Roedean, after having already achieved an A* for her Art A Level. Alongside her Art, she is also studying Chinese and Psychology at A Level. Esther prides herself on her originality in her art, particularly in her fashion projects, be they a plastic dress when she was in primary school, or her 're-imagining corsets' project. One of ten finalists representing the UK in 2025's global Junk Kouture competition, Esther's flair for design pushes the boundaries of traditional garment construction, and she is looking forward to taking this passion forward at university.

Lucy

Congratulations to Drama Scholar and Community Prefect, Lucy, who has been made not one, but two unconditional offers at McGill University, Canada, in their Faculties of Education and Arts. She is currently studying Drama, English Literature, and French for A Level, and strongly believes that literature matters in its capacity to illuminate human experience. She sees her bilingualism as an opportunity to find a conversation across languages and centuries within texts. Lucy is also a talented ice skater, winning a medal with her team in the British Ice Skating Championships in 2024.

Siyun

Congratulations to Sussex Scholar and Sixth Form Prefect, Siyun, who is already holding three offers to study Pharmacy at Bath, Manchester, and Nottingham universities. She is currently studying A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Further Mathematics, as well as completing an Extended Project Qualification on methylphenidate. Siyun cares deeply about the role of a pharmacist as part of the community, and looks forward to being able to pursue a STEM career, whilst still providing a trusted and personalised service that is patientcentred.

Academic Lecture – ‘In Defence of Joy’

This lecture, entitled 'In Defence of Joy: Why Environmentalism Needs Pleasure, Not Just Alarm', argued that, while environmental crises are urgent and real, environmentalism cannot survive on fear and alarm alone. Our students were encouraged to see sustainability not as perfection or sacrifice, but as something that must be liveable, meaningful, and even joyful if it is to be sustained.

The talk explored major drivers of environmental harm, highlighted the hidden impacts of

everyday practices (such as digital use, banking, and fast fashion), and showed how small, realistic actions can have real cumulative power. It concluded that joy, attention, and care are not distractions from environmental responsibility, but essential to keeping people engaged, hopeful, and effective over time.

As the theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, reminds us, we need the serenity to accept what we cannot change, the courage to change what we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. The

key is experiment. Treat the world as a shared playground. When you see a problem and glimpse a solution, write a letter. Try something small. Most experiments fail, and that is fine. Drink tea. Start again. Environmental action works the same way. It’s not about one heroic act. It’s about enough people doing enough things, consistently enough, to push systems past their tipping points.

Ms Pashley

Dance Showcase –Truly Spectacular

Last night's Dance Showcase was fantastic! It was wonderful to see 53 dancers, performing twenty-four stunning pieces. The breadth of styles, from classical Ballet and Contemporary to Jazz and Lyrical, was so impressive, and the opening piece was choreographed by the girls themselves, working with the celebrated choreographer, Amy Morvell.

The calibre of the performances highlight the incredible strength in depth of the Dance department, and this is all the more impressive since some of the dancers performed in many pieces, demonstrating their mastery of different styles and aspects of dance.

The audience members left the Theatre saying that the shows get better and better every year, and it certainly felt like that –congratulations to everyone involved in this wonderful showcase!

Dr Barrand

Exceptional Early GCSE Maths Results!

Congratulations to our Year 11 Mathematicians! Last November, 41 took their GCSE early, and we are delighted that they all achieved one of the top grades – this is an outstanding achievement, and they will now build on this excellent foundation to be ready to sit the Level 2 Further Maths exams, which equate to another GCSE, in the summer.

Particular congratulations go to twelve candidates who achieved 94% or more,

which is outstanding: Ady, Athena, Claudia, Evelyn, Genevieve, Izzy, Liz, Lois, Miranda, Natalie, Regina, Scarlett, Sohana. If this string of top results were not impressive enough, Abbie achieved 100% in her GCSE, which is a genuinely astonishing achievement!

We are so proud of you – well done!

Catalyst Foundation Assembly for Key Stage 3

On Monday, it was our pleasure to welcome Ashleigh Fox from the Catalyst Foundation to Roedean.

She addressed our students in Years 7-9 in their Assembly, during which she explained the difference our school's support will make to the lives of Natasha, Esther, and Josephine, in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

It was very powerful for our students to hear first-hand how the funds we raise will help these girls to stay in education as long as possible, and how this will positively impact their future prospects.

House Maths

The annual House Maths competition was hotly-contested once again last Friday, with preparation and research proving to be the key factor in success this year. House 3 achieved a full house, having answered all problems correctly and got the make-up of their team perfected, including members from all year groups, diligently researched by Mr Wienekus in the days leading up to the competition. That said, all Houses performed admirably given the mix of mathematical problems on offer.

House 1 came a close second place, House 2 were not far behind, but struggled with a tricky probability problem which would have seen them leapfrog House 1 into second place, and House 4 suffered from the points system favouring an even spread of team members, but they were mathematically hugely competitive.

As usual, both the Maths department and students had tremendous fun indulging in some competitive mathematics and logic problems. Roll on next year, and maybe something fresh being thrown in to the mix!

Final scores: House 3

Mr Halsey

St Margaret’s – Junior Roedean Academy

Weekend Trip – Go Karting

To start off the new term, girls were raring to go, fully kitted out with race suits and helmets with a need for speed, as they headed to Go Karting in Lancing! The enthusiastic group weren't scared of the accelerator pedal, cruising through every corner and darting down the home straight.

The competition was lively, with only a few bumps into the sides along the way. As they finished their laps, the girls couldn't wait to see the leaderboard and compare race times. Who knows, maybe the next 'Lando Norris' is amongst these girls!

Miss Barnett

St Margaret's (along with the Year 3 students at Rudyard Kipling School) are participating in our Junior Roedean Academy on Wednesday afternoons this term, which is part of our Year 12 CAP Programme.

The first session took place last week and was focused on team-building. Led by our Year 12 students, the primary school children had to make structures from spaghetti with the objective of achieving the tallest free-standing tower with a marshmallow on the top!

Subsequent sessions will include a range of enrichment, such as STEM sessions, Humanities, and Bushcraft, with a visit to our school Farm later this term. All sessions are organised and delivered by our Year 12 students, who get a valuable insight into teaching and use this as an opportunity to gain interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership.

Weekend Trip – Tubing

On Sunday, our junior boarders went to Knockhatch Adventure Park near Hailsham, to take part in 'tubing'. This is an outdoor activity where students started off descending a mini ski slope in an inflatable ring, before progressing to a more challenging toboggan run. Students had great fun learning to gain some control, such as turning, especially once they started to descend in pairs. Great fun was had by all – it was an exhilarating experience!

Mr Homer

Chapel – Intentional Positive Behaviour vs Blue Monday

Dr Barrand led this week's Chapel services, following the theme of 'Engage':

My alarm goes off at 5:50 every morning, and I am out of the house five minutes later with my dog to head to the beach. It’s a great way to start the day, even when it’s cold and wet – the fresh air and the smell of the sea wake me up and get me going.

But on Monday this week, getting out of bed was a struggle. I was tired and grumpy, and if Charlie hadn’t been waiting for me downstairs with his tail wagging, I could easily have decided to stay in bed for another half an hour. Maybe that was because Monday this week was Blue Monday. The third Monday in January is apparently the most depressing day of the year. It has been just long enough since Christmas for the festive cheer to have faded, people are already ditching their new year’s resolutions, and the weather is pretty awful. All in all, it’s a bit of a rubbish day.

You may well have had a wonderful day on Monday, and I hope you did. The truth is, no one can be happy all of the time – the human brain works on contrast – you know when you are happy because you know what the alternative feels like. It is important to have a point of comparison: if you have nothing to which to compare happiness, would you really feel it?

We are surrounded by messaging that tells us we should be happy, and this can sometimes have the opposite effect, making us question why we aren’t always happy. But it turns out

that around 50% of our happiness is genetic, and happier people recover from adversity more quickly, they don’t dwell on their unhappiness when it occurs, and they have a more optimistic view of life in general.

So 50% of happiness is genetic, and another 10% of our overall happiness is a result of our work, social standing, income, and so on. But what about the rest. Psychological studies consistently show that 40% of our happiness comes from what is called ‘intentional behaviour’ – that means that you can do things to make yourself happier. Focusing on something bigger than ourselves, be it our community, our faith or values, or a charity project, is a good way to make a difference and sometimes forget our own problems.

You know that this term’s theme is ‘engage’, and this is where the topic of this Chapel fits in. ‘Intentional behaviour’ means that you can choose to engage positively with activities to promote your own happiness. Get outside! Close your eyes and smile – it makes you feel better! Run as fast as you can for twenty metres just for fun! Go and talk to the goats! Ask someone a question and actually be interested in their answer! Set yourself a goal that is just about attainable. Make a cake to donate to the next bake sale. Obviously, these are frivolous suggestions, but try to think what you can do to make sure that the 40% is positive for you as an individual.

That said, I realise that trying to identify what those things might be for you could be hard, without some sort of framework. The American

social psychologist, Jonathan Haidt, has concluded that people who are happiest in the long term tend to focus on three things – not consciously, not perfectly, but gradually, over time.

The first is connection. Not popularity. Not being impressive. Just connection. People are happier when they feel genuinely known by someone else. When they feel they belong. When they have at least one place where they don’t have to perform or pretend. It also works both ways –supporting others, by listening, helping, noticing, doesn’t drain happiness; it builds it. We are, it turns out, not designed to thrive on our own.

The second thing is purpose. Pleasure is enjoyable, but it fades quickly. Purpose lasts longer. Purpose doesn’t have to be dramatic or impressive. It can be as simple as feeling useful, working towards something, improving at something you care about, or knowing that what you do matters to someone else.

The third thing is balance. We are often told that happiness means having everything just right – perfect results, perfect friendships, perfect bodies, perfect futures. But research suggests the opposite. Too much pressure, too much comparison, too much stimulation make life harder. Haidt talks about the importance of the middle ground: enough challenge, enough rest, enough connection, enough time away from screens and noise to hear yourself think.

Netball vs Brighton College

U12I Season Debut

The U12I side had a great game against Brighton College. This was the girls’ first opportunity to play together, and they all showed great potential through their resilience and ambition. Although we did not come out on top this time, they kept fighting until the final whistle. Arianna was named Defensive Player of the Game and Bella was Attacking Player of the Game. I am looking forward to seeing this group grow in confidence and continue to develop together.

Mr Williams

U13E Netballers Win Again

The U13E team secured a hard-fought 6–5 victory against Brighton Girls in a tight and scrappy encounter.

The team started brightly, picking up where they left off last week and racing into an impressive 4–1 lead by the end of the first quarter. Sharp attacking play and good intensity set the tone early on. However, as the weather worsened and Brighton grew into the game, the contest became more challenging. Despite this, the U13Es continued to battle, reaching half-time with a 6–2 advantage.

The second half proved to be a real test of character. With conditions making fluid play difficult and Brighton applying sustained pressure, the game turned into a physical and closely-fought contest. The team showed great resilience and determination, digging deep to defend their lead and hold on, as Brighton closed the gap late on, for the full time result of 6-5 to Roedean.

While not the prettiest performance, it was an important win and demonstrated the team’s grit and teamwork under pressure. Two wins from two is a great start for the U13Es, who will look to carry this momentum into their next fixture away at Seaford next Wednesday.

Mr Foggoa

U13I Team Effort

On Wednesday, the U13I team had a tough match against Brighton Girls, during which they showed great perseverance and teamwork. It was a cold and windy day, but this did not stop the team from intercepting passes and scoring goals. Each and every player worked extremely hard throughout the game, and all deserve recognition.

A special mention goes to Grace for her excellent attacking play and for scoring two goals for the team, as well as to Kenza, who did an amazing job in defence. Despite playing in a different position, this did not stop her from helping the team fight off the opposition. Both girls were awarded Player of the Match.

As we continue through the season, the team is growing, and I am excited to see where their hard work takes them.

Mr Williams

U15D vs Brighton College U15E

The U15D team unfortunately lost 4-24 to Brighton College, but the scoreline was not representative of the effort and hard work the girls put in. Despite the number of goals scored against them, they were determined and carried on putting shots up, making crucial intercepts, and they played brilliantly. The girls battled from beginning to end, and should be proud of their effort, regardless of the final result.

Miss Webster

U16C vs Brighton College U16D

The U16Cs played incredibly well against a strong Brighton College side. The girls battled in the cold to an unfortunate 13-23 loss in their first game back of the season, however they put their all into every second of the match.

Despite the loss, the girls were resilient throughout, providing a great challenge to BC consistently in each quarter. Regardless of the score, the girls showed up with determination and teamwork; it was a great start to the season.

U13C Netball vs Brighton Girls U12A

Roedean U13C hosted Brighton Girls U12A in a tough fixture. Our opposition dominated from the outset, with Roedean finding it challenging to maintain consistency down court and adapt to the windy conditions.

Despite the pressure, there were positive moments for Roedean, including some good oncourt connections and two well-taken goals from Wren. Audrey put in a determined performance, and she was voted Player of the Match by the opposition.

Brighton Girls secured a 25–2 victory, but the match provided valuable experience and learning opportunities for the Roedean girls.

Netball vs Christ’s Hospital

First Fixtures for 3rd Team

The 3rd Netball team travelled to Christ's Hospital for their first fixture of the term, and the team featured a few girls who were new to Netball.

The team's target for the match was maintaining possession and not rushing their passes, and getting used to the intensity at which the game needs to be played. The girls struggled early on, with Christ's Hospital's shooters not missing much. However, the girls gained more and more confidence each quarter and managed to improve their points every time, while reducing the Christ's Hospital points as well, meaning they were improving throughout the match.

Christ's Hospital took the win and the Roedean girls were pleased with the time spent on the court competing against another school – for some girls it was the first time in a match which is what its all about. The match was played with excellent sportsmanship and competitiveness, and all the girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Mr Campleman

U18A 1st VII

Christ’s Hospital hosted Roedean’s 1st team, and the home side delivered a strong and well-rehearsed performance to secure a 34–8 victory. Christ’s Hospital dominated from the outset, leading 13–0 after the first quarter and extending their advantage at each break. Despite the physical nature of the opposition, Roedean’s mixed Year 11, 12, and 13 side showed resilience and teamwork throughout. There were several excellent passages of play as the girls worked hard together against a very strong side. Clara and Megs were named Players of the Match by the opposition.

Ms Hutchings

U15D Comeback Victory!

The U15D team had an amazing match on Saturday against Christ's Hospital. The opposition was strong and fast, but the girls kept fighting and found their own pace, resulting in a late comeback and a 15–13 victory. The players supported each other throughout the game, and this was reflected in their growing confidence and teamwork. Serena and Dhiya were both outstanding, showing real fearlessness through their constant pressure on the opposition and intelligent off-the-ball movement into open space.

Mr Williams

U14C Success over Christ’s Hospital U15C

The U14Cs beat Christ’s Hospital U15C team with an 18-10 win – their performance was dominant throughout. During the first quarter, the defence prevented CH scoring any of their shots. The rest of the match saw Roedean take control of the game, with great interceptions and multiple goals in quick succession, often turning over the ball during CH centres as well. This was a well-played and competitive game of netball!

Miss Webster

U14A

This match was a great start to our Saturday fixtures, with an excellent win for the U14A team. The girls showed great maturity in their play, moving the ball down the court extremely well. All the players demonstrated their versatility by playing a number of positions, while continuing to work together effectively to maintain a strong lead throughout the match. I am extremely proud of the girls; they were a fantastic representation of Roedean.

U14B

The U14B Netball team put in an impressive performance against Christ’s Hospital, securing a confident 24-5 victory. The first quarter was a little panicked, with some rushed decisions on court, but the girls quickly settled and began to move the ball down the court with increasing confidence and control.

The team was captained by Hester, who led calmly from goal defence and organised the defence well. India made her debut as GK and delivered an outstanding performance, making several flying intercepts and strong rebounds that shut down the opposition’s attacking options.

In the mid-court, Amara applied relentless pressure on the opposition WA with excellent stage 2 defence, while Valerie ran her socks off at Centre, linking defence to attack seamlessly. In the shooting circle, Maisa and Dixie worked as a dream team, finishing accurately and consistently. It was a fantastic all-round team effort from Roedean.

Netball vs Ardingly

4th VII Victory

It was a cold Wednesday afternoon when the 4th VII Netball team set out to face Ardingly. Captained by Cara as Goal Keeper, the team began the match slightly shakily, as both sides adjusted to the conditions. However, it didn’t take long for the girls to settle and find their rhythm on court.

In defence, Cara (GK) and Daisy (GD) worked tirelessly, reading the play well and making several crucial interceptions that turned the momentum in our favour. Through the centre court, Veera, Scarlett, and Florence linked up confidently, moving the ball smoothly and creating strong attacking opportunities. Their accurate feeds into the shooting circle allowed Tabitha (GS) and Hannah (GA) to work effectively together, converting chances with composure and consistency.

As the match progressed, the team’s confidence grew, resulting in a dominant performance. Excellent teamwork and determination led to a well-deserved 18–5 victory against Ardingly.

Miss Hayman

U13C Success

Roedean U13C Netballers travelled to Ardingly for an away fixture and secured a strong 9–4 victory. The girls showed fantastic teamwork across all areas of the court throughout the match.

Alia, Juno, and Maisie were outstanding in defence, with Juno applying constant pressure to win crucial turnovers.

Audrey and Meadow dominated the centre court, creating numerous opportunities for the team, whilst in the shooting circle Bethany, Deema, and particularly Wren displayed accurate and confident shooting.

Congratulations to Wren, who was voted the opposition’s Player of the Match.

Ms Hutchings

U15 Quarter Final vs St Swithun’s

Wow, what a run! The girls played absolutely brilliantly, with every single player contributing to the performance. It was a tightly-contested game, which saw St Swithun’s take a marginal lead. Despite fighting hard throughout the match and creating numerous turnovers, we were unable to make up the deficit. Nevertheless, this is a performance the girls should be extremely proud of.

Miss Agnew

Sport Stars of the Week

Maisie (Yr8) – for showing fearlessness in hockey matches last week

Sophie (Yr10) – for displaying perseverance in her all her netball this year

Phoebe (Yr7) – for displaying excellent resilience in all her netball this term

Hester (Yr9) – for demonstrating maturity in her teamwork skills in sport this term

Holly (Yr8) – for demonstrating excellent team work and leadership in netball training and matches

Akshara (Yr10) – for showing true commitment and desire to improve in her sport this term

Cecile (Yr8) – for showing outstanding commitment to netball training sessions this term

Ebun (Yr9) – for displaying excellent perseverance to improve in netball this term

Well done to the sporting stars of the last two weeks: Mr Campleman

– for demonstrating lots of ambition to improve and move up

– for showing pure fearlessness in her approach to batting this year

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