27 February 2026 – Issue 6
HEAD’S REVIEW Head’s Introduction
It was lovely to welcome the girls and staff back to School after half-term, including our six Year 9s who have been in Johannesburg for three weeks. We have enjoyed glorious weather in the first half of the week, and there are definite signs that Spring has sprung! The warm conditions were perfect on Wednesday when we hosted ten other schools for the U12 and U13 SISNA tournaments – it was a great day for sport! Well done to all those in Years 11 and 13, who have been sitting assessments this week. I hope that the process has been a positive one, highlighting both areas of strength and topics which need more attention ahead of the summer. I am also pleased that some of our Year 13s have now received all of their university offers – well done.
Northern Iceland Adventure
Esther at the Junk Kouture World Finals
Over half-term, there were two cold and snowy residential trips. A group of Year 11 and 12 Art students went to a boarding school in Denmark which specialises in Art and Design, followed by time exploring galleries in Copenhagen. At the same time, a group of forty intrepid students went off the beaten track in the north of Iceland, where they saw the Northern lights and whales. Both trips were huge successes and wonderful experiences for the girls, and I am grateful to those colleagues who went, and particularly to Mrs Alexander and Mr Carter for leading them. Congratulations to Esther in Year 13, who spent the start of this week in Dublin, having won a place in the global finals of the Junk Kouture Challenge. This event brought together the most talented designers from around the world, and I have no doubt it was a remarkable experience for her, and for Ellery, her runway model – well done. Good luck to those staff and students from Roedean who are taking part in this weekend’s Brighton Half Marathon. If you are in the area, please do come down to cheer the runners on. We also have a water station at the point where the runners turn back towards the city near Roedean, as well as a tent on Hove Lawns where they finish the race. Good luck and thank you to everyone involved. It has been our pleasure to welcome back to Roedean Dorit OliverWolff, one of a dwindling number of survivors of the Holocaust. She spoke to students in Years 9 and 10, and they were also joined by students from other years and members of staff. Her presentation was powerfully and evocative, and we should be reminded that, as time passes, there will be fewer and fewer opportunities to hear firsthand accounts of the Holocaust. Thank you also to Sana’a in Year 11 for presenting an academic lecture this week on the significance of Ramadan, and this will also be the focus of next week’s Chapel services. I am looking forward to welcoming an array of successful and inspiring women to Roedean to mark International Women's Day next Friday, and to the Futures Fair which will follow it in the afternoon. Good luck to Year 11 for the last two days of their assessments. I wish you all a restful weekend!
Back From the Roedean South Africa Exchange
SISNA at Roedean