18 September 2026 – Issue 3
HEAD’S REVIEW Head’s Introduction
The power of Roedean’s sisterhood and community is a key strength of the School, but our coastal advantage is also rightly worth celebrating. Whether the sea is flat and calm or stormy and rough, there is something magical about its constant presence, and it is great that the girls never take our wonderful location for granted.
Head Houseman Conquers the Great North Run
Charlotte’s a Qualified Rescue Diver
Inspired by Finya’s successful solo Channel crossing in August this year, a new cohort of sea-swimmers took to the water at Sea Lanes yesterday morning. But they are, in fact, following in a long line of Roedean sea-swimmers. As early as 1898, Penelope Lawrence went on the record as a contributor to a parliamentary inquiry to state that ‘every girl should learn to swim’. Supporting her statement, she went on to report that two Roedean girls of ‘exceptional physical vigour and good circulation' swam the distance between the Old Chain Pier and the West pier (1 mile and 50 yards) in 40 and 42 minutes respectively. When the School moved to its current site, it went to great lengths to help girls to swim in the sea. Before the tunnel existed, girls would go to Rottingdean and climb into covered wagons which were then drawn by horses into the sea. From there, the girls would step out into the sea with a rope tied around them to make sure they were not dragged away with the tide. Imagine how delighted the Lawrence sisters would be to know that Roedean girls now swim untethered in the sea, and that seven have successfully swum across the English Channel to France, either as part of a relay or solo! But Roedean’s connection with water today runs deeper. All our Year 7s and 8s learn to sail at Piddinghoe, and next Monday will see some Sixth Formers undertaking a 17-week NPLQ lifeguarding qualification, while others will be starting a 7-week Level 2 Powerboating course! Good luck also to Emmalynn, Faye, Lucy, and Natalie, from Year 12, who are representing Roedean at the Next Gen 27 five-day conference in Naples, run by the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit, alongside students from California, Australia, France, and New Zealand. The aim of the conference is to explore educational opportunities connected to the sea and maritime culture, such as sustainability and innovation, with its theme of ‘bringing the sea even where it does not reach’. We wish you all a restful exeat weekend, and, the next time you look at the sea, remember how ground-breaking the Lawrence sisters were in building our school on the cliffs looking out over the English Channel.
Wednesday Evening Life Drawing
U15A ISNC Netball
HEAD’S REVIEW
18 September 2026 – Issue 3
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. Michelle (Yr13) – for delivering a fascinating Academic Lecture on 'How are Airports and Runways Engineered for Passengers to Travel Safely' – really well done! [Ms Ibanez]
Unsung Staff hero in the spotlight Mr Ford – for working with and keeping the Year 7' engaged during their Enid Marx workshop on Open Day! [Ms Strachan]
Ms Earl – for stepping in to lead a Sixth Form trip to Naples next week [Dr Barrand]
Mr McGregor – for taking time out of his day to help me with some tech support! [Ms Strachan]
Head Houseman Conquers the Great North Run Congratulations to Mr Tester, our Senior Houseman, for running so well in the Great North Run at the weekend. He started to do the Couch to 5K on 10 November last year, and then completed what is the world's biggest Half Marathon event in an amazing time of 2 hours 15! He ran to raise funds for the Children With Cancer UK charity – well done!
Dr Hobbs
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HEAD’S REVIEW
Charlotte’s a Qualified Rescue Diver Over the summer, Charlotte (Yr13) achieved two significant milestones in her diving journey. Having already reached Advanced Open Water Diver level, and completing an online Rescue Diver course, she successfully completed a Rescue Diver assessment, and earned both an internationally recognised First Aid Responder qualification and her Rescue Diver certification, which also qualifies her to work as a beach lifeguard. The practical assessment took place in Bonaire, Caribbean, and was delivered entirely in Dutch. Over an intensive three-day programme, Charlotte undertook a series of challenging in-water and shore-based rescue scenarios, developing the skills needed to manage diving emergencies, prevent accidents, and respond effectively to both panicked and unresponsive divers. A passionate diver, Charlotte was motivated to gain her Rescue Diver qualification so that she can help support friends and family while diving. She is also excited about the possibility of working as a beach lifeguard or rescue diver in the future. For her, enjoying the sea goes hand in hand with understanding how to stay safe in and around the water. Living in Brighton, we are fortunate to enjoy a stunning coastline and the many opportunities it offers. However, it is equally important that young people understand how to keep themselves safe in the water. This was a topic we recently explored in our Year 13 Assembly, where students watched the RNLI's powerful Float to Live campaign video, and learned vital water safety advice. Charlotte's achievement is an excellent example of combining personal passion with practical skills that can help keep both herself and others safe – congratulations!
Ms Sturgeon
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18 September 2026 – Issue 3
18 September 2026 – Issue 3
HEAD’S REVIEW
House 1 Trip to Yellowave House 1 went to Yellowave on Tuesday evening. It was fantastic to see every single House 1 boarder come along and get involved in our volleyball social. With all year groups mixing together, the atmosphere was brilliant from start to finish. There was so much laughter, plenty of competitive spirit, and, most importantly, an incredible sense of togetherness. The support and encouragement the boarders showed one another was wonderful to see. Whether they were playing on court or cheering from the sidelines, everyone was encouraging, celebrating each other's successes, and making sure nobody felt left out. Then it was back to House 1 for some well-earned pizza! What a fantastic evening of fun, friendship, and House Spirit.
Miss Smith
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HEAD’S REVIEW
18 September 2026 – Issue 3
Chapel – Prefects This week's Chapel services were led entirely by the Prefect team. Charlie: 'I am Charlie, and I am one of your Heads of School this academic year. I hope you have had a great start to this term, and I am looking forward to getting to know each of you. It is lovely to see both old and new faces around the School and, if we haven’t met, don’t be shy to stop me in the corridor, I’m always up for a chat. I know it can be quite scary talking to the older years, especially us Year 13s, but we have all been in your position before and we are here to better your Roedean experience. So, if there are any concerns or changes that you would like to see in our school, please come and tell us – we love to hear your ideas and try our best to make them possible.' Farwa: 'I am Farwa, and I am your Head of Academic and Enrichment this year. It has only been a term in which my incredibly talented team have been working on big ideas, but we have already achieved so much, and we are looking forward to continuing that into the next two terms. We would also like to express our gratitude to the our Junior Prefects: for Academic, Phoebe, Sport, Scarlett, and Co-Curricular, Ianthe. Their support will be invaluable to us. Two weeks ago, our passionate Co-Curricular and Events Prefect, Megs, supported our Co-Curricular Fair, which was a great success, and I hope you all have found clubs which you will enjoy. Watch out for the long-awaited Staff Panto this December, which Megs and her carefully curated team are already working enthusiastically on, and I am sure the staff are really looking forward to! At the end of June, Rhea and Athena, our two amazing Academic Prefects, organised the Revision Note Swap – we would like to say thank you to everyone who came along and donated notes, and the new Year 10s for helping us! In a few weeks, we will also be launching the student newspaper, the Student Chronicle, so look at the posters dotted around for more information on how you can get involved!
Katie, our energetic Sports Prefect, was involved in the running of the very successful Sports Dinner at the end of last year. And this term we will see our Staff vs Student games kick off, starting off with Football on 29th – so please come along and cheer!'
Melissa: 'I am Melissa, your Head of School Team: Community. A special welcome to all new members of our school community. Community is about belonging and we are here to ensure that there’s always a place for you to connect, share, and contribute.
Lennie: 'I am Lennie and I am your Head of School Team: Pastoral. This is the area in which we look out for your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing, we get to do this through big events and initiatives such as the Big Sister programme, but also on a smaller scale by being able to get to know all of you personally. However I am just one part this brilliant team who have all been working hard the past term and are ready to carry this energy into the new year.
I would like to take this opportunity to share some highlights of the amazing things my team has already been working on: Millie, our Boarding Prefect, wants to make boarding a welcoming, fun, and supportive community, where you can feel that your House is truly your home away from home, especially if you’re new to boarding. After last term’s boarding assembly, and already this year’s water fight and outdoor film watching, she is planning even more socials and events, using the ideas from your survey. House Shout in the first week has also set us going on an exciting year of House competitions, so whether you are a day girl or a boarder, make sure you get involved and show your House spirit!
Firstly, Ellie is your Lower School Prefect. After getting to know you last term, she hopes to continue to create chances to build your confidence. To achieve this she will be starting discussion on important topics that affect each of us to foster an atmosphere of personal growth and the space to be heard. Lilli is your Upper School Prefect, and she is keen to give the breaks each of you deserve. As she knows how hard each of you work, she is excited to announce a variety of socials across the year which she hopes you all enjoy. Valerie is your Sixth Form Prefect, and is thrilled to welcome the new Year 12s! As a direct peer, she understands how busy things get in the Sixth Form, so she aims for us to come together as a collective through socials, clubs, and a couple of treats across the year. I am very proud of what our team has achieved this past term, and we promise to continue to focus on student integration and your journey at Roedean. We hope our efforts will allow you to feel empowered, so eventually you may lead and leave Roedean as your most confident selves. Finally, our Junior Pastoral Prefect is Bella, and we are very excited to see what she does in this role.'
Xena is our Diversity & Inclusion Prefect, and she wants to make sure everyone feels welcome and confident being themselves. After last term’s PRIME month activities, including Bake Sale and Non-Uniform Day, she’s excited to bring new elements to Culture Day this year, and create more opportunities for you to share and celebrate your cultures, traditions, and experiences. Elspeth is our Charity Prefect, who wants to make fundraising collaborative, creative, and meaningful. Last year, she raised money for Moldova through sweet sales at Roechella and car washing on Sports Day. This year, alongside traditions like Candy Cane Secret Santa and Christmas Fair stalls, she is planning charity events for each year group, and encouraging new ideas that everyone can get involved in. We’re proud of the momentum we’ve built, and even more excited about what’s still to come. We’re also thrilled to welcome our Junior Prefects: Amanda for Boarding, Shalom for Diversity, and Arianna for Charity, who will bring fresh energy and ideas to the team. This is our community and your voice matters.'
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HEAD’S REVIEW
Wednesday Evening Life Drawing Weekly life drawing sessions, led by Mr Scotcher, are already underway – this is such a wonderful opportunity for Roedean students to develop their artistic skills.
Miss Good
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18 September 2026 – Issue 3
HEAD’S REVIEW
House Maths – Victory for House 3 The annual carnage that is House Maths was hotly contested once again, as House 3 triumphed, closely followed by House 1, then House 2 and finally House 4. The key to their success was mainly due to the diversity of the year groups in their team, as well as being the first House to complete the relay, although House 1 were relatively hot on their heels. This now traditional annual event creates much excitement up the Maths corridor, to the extent that Mr Wriglesworth was deployed to ensure the safety of all the competitors as they hurtled towards the Conference Room, coloured card in hand, hoping that their answer was correct. Once again, Roedean's community spirit was there for all to see and thank you to all those who participated!
Mr Lutwyche
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18 September 2026 – Issue 3
18 September 2026 – Issue 3
HEAD’S REVIEW
U15A ISNC Netball On Tuesday, the U15A Netball team took part in the first round of the Independent Schools' National Cup against Brighton College. In the first quarter, we came out strongly and took a two-goal lead, but, just before the first quarter time, Brighton managed to respond and get it back to level. Both teams battled throughout the second quarter and none of the shooters missed. The score at half time was 1114 to Brighton. We then had a very wobbly third quarter, allowing Brighton to take a substantial lead. Despite some excellent defence and Roedean winning the last quarter, it was unfortunately not enough to recover from the third quarter loss. The final score was 23-37 to Brighton. Well done to all who played, and special mention must go to Chloe, who was named Coach's Player, and Isabella, who was the Opposition's Player. We are now into the plate and looking forward to our next match.
Mrs Hammond
U13E vs Handcross Park On Wednesday, the U13E played indoor hockey versus Handcross. As we hadn't played an indoor match before, it took a while for us to get used to the speed the ball travels and the different tactics we could use. This lead to us being 5-1 down at half-time. However, the second half showed how quickly the squad are learning new skills and we went out with real determination! The second half score was 5-4 after a hat-trick from Lome. The final score was 10-5 to Handcross. Well done to all who played!
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Mrs Hammond
18 September 2026 – Issue 3
HEAD’S REVIEW
A Cup Space, Speed, & Goals: Battle Full 1st XI Hockey Secure a 5-1 Win of Heart and Determination The 1st XI Hockey team produced an excellent team performance to secure a convincing 5-1 victory over Eastbourne College 2nd XI.
Roedean 1st XI 2–5 Wimbledon High School Round 1 ISHC Cup Match – Away
The 1st XI Hockey produced a brilliant performance away from home in their Round 1 ISHC Cup match against Wimbledon High School, battling hard from the first whistle in a competitive and closely-fought contest. The opening quarter was evenly matched, with both teams creating opportunities. The team defended brilliantly, working together as a unit and showing excellent determination to keep Wimbledon at bay. At the other end, the girls were a constant threat on attack, creating chances and showing real intent going forward. The quarter finished 1-1. The girls continued to compete strongly in the second quarter. Their defensive organisation and commitment were excellent, while their attacking play continued to cause problems for the opposition. Despite Wimbledon edging ahead, Roedean responded positively and remained firmly in the contest, going into half-time 2-3 down.
From the start, the girls looked to play positive hockey, moving the ball well and creating space through quick and purposeful passing. The team attacked through space effectively, using width and intelligent movement to stretch the Eastbourne defence and create opportunities in the attacking third. We managed to take control of the game and found the breakthrough, before adding a second goal to establish a 2-0 lead. Eastbourne responded with a goal of their own before halftime, making it 2-1 at half-time and setting up an exciting second half. The second half saw the entire team step up their intensity in all areas. The girls continued to move the ball with confidence, combining well,
The U13A team took part in an exciting triangular against Windlesham House School and Handcross Park Brighton College, producing two very different but equally valuable performances.
The final quarter saw the girls give everything they had. They continued to chase, compete, and create attacking opportunities right until the final whistle. Wimbledon added a fifth goal, but the team never stopped fighting, finishing the match with a 5-2 defeat.
Roedean started the triangular with an excellent 1-0 victory. The girls created plenty of chances throughout the match and showed real attacking intent, but unfortunately couldn't quite find the clinical finishing needed to add to their score.
It was a difficult cup result, but a performance that demonstrated the character and determination of the team. We look forward to our next Cup match in the weeks to come, as the girls head into the Plate competition in the ISHC.
Mr Campleman
Defensively, we worked incredibly hard as a unit. The girls defended as a team, applying pressure to the ball while protecting the middle of the pitch and supporting one another throughout. This collective effort limited Eastbourne's opportunities and allowed us to regain possession and quickly transition back into attack. The final whistle confirmed a well-deserved 5-1 victory, with the 1st XI showing excellent teamwork, composure, and attacking intent. It was a fantastic performance that demonstrated the value of moving the ball well, attacking space, and defending together as a team.
Mr Campleman
U13A Triangular: Determination, Resilience, & Plenty to Build On
The third quarter was another hard-fought period of hockey. The team continued to defend with real courage and commitment, while looking dangerous whenever they moved forward. Wimbledon managed to extend their lead to 4-2, but every single player was putting in tremendous effort and kept fighting.
Despite the result, there was so much to be proud of. Every girl put everything into the performance, showing resilience, teamwork, and a fantastic attitude throughout. The defensive effort was outstanding, and the 1st XI remained a constant attacking threat against a strong opponent.
and making good decisions when progressing forward. Their ability to attack through space created several excellent chances, with three further goals following to put the result beyond doubt.
Roedean U13A 1-0 Windlesham House
At the other end of the pitch, the team demonstrated excellent defensive capabilities. They worked incredibly hard for one another, defended as a unit, and showed great determination to protect their lead. Despite continued pressure, the girls remained composed and secured a well-deserved clean sheet and victory.
Roedean 2-7 Handcross Park Brighton College
The second match proved to be a much tougher challenge against a very strong Handcross side, particularly with two outstanding individual Page 9
players causing Roedean some problems. The girls found themselves 3-0 down at half-time, but the response in the second half was excellent. Rather than allowing the scoreline to affect their performance, the girls showed fantastic resilience and raised their level. They scored twice to bring the game to 4-2 in the second half, demonstrating that they could compete with good opposition when they played with confidence, worked together, and maintained their intensity. Although Handcross eventually extended their lead to 7–2, the second-half response was a real positive. The girls showed that they were willing to keep fighting, adapt to the challenge, and never give up. Across both matches, there were plenty of positives to take forward. The U13A girls demonstrated hard work, defensive organisation, attacking intent and, most importantly, resilience. With greater composure in front of goal and continued development against strong opposition, there is plenty for this group to be excited about as the season progresses.
Mr Campleman
18 13 September October 2026 2023 – Issue 36
HEAD’S HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW REVIEW
U13D Play well in entertaining triangular The U13D team enjoyed an entertaining triangular fixture against Windlesham House School and Handcross Park, Brighton College. In their opening game against Windlesham House, Roedean made an excellent start, playing some really impressive hockey, particularly considering this was only the second game in a Roedean shirt for many of the students. The team showed great energy, confidence and teamwork from the outset, creating plenty of opportunities, and controlling much of the game.
Florence led the scoring with an impressive four goals, while Sahra added a fifth to complete a fantastic 5–0 victory. The defence were equally impressive, standing strong throughout the game and not conceding a single shot on goal. There were also some excellent tackles and strong defensive contributions from across the team. In the second game against Handcross Park, the team faced a much higher level of intensity and pressure and unfortunately found it difficult to settle into their rhythm, eventually losing 7–0. Despite the result, there were some excellent individual performances, particularly from Luna
in goal, who made several strong saves, alongside a determined defensive display from Amanda, Bella, and Sahra. Overall, it was a valuable experience for the U13D team, providing plenty of opportunities to learn and develop against two different styles of opposition. Well done to everyone involved, a fantastic effort from the team!
Mr Foggoa
U18 Badminton vs Epsom College The U18 Badminton team travelled to Epsom College in Surrey for the first of two fixtures against them this year, with a larger squad making the journey for the opening match of the season. In a highly competitive fixture, the girls played
some excellent badminton throughout. With games played to 20 points, Roedean battled hard across the matches and narrowly missed out, eventually losing 12–8. There were plenty of encouraging performances and some excellent rallies, providing a strong start to the season and valuable match experience for the wider squad.
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
The U18s will be back in action next week when they host Ardingly, looking to build on this week's performance. Well done to everyone involved!
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