28 February 2025 – Issue 7
HEAD’S REVIEW
Open Mic Night
Head’s Introduction
I hope that you all had a restful half-term, and were able to spend valuable time with family and friends. Very early on Monday morning, our six trail-blazing Year 9s landed back in the UK after three weeks at Roedean South Africa. They returned with their exchange partners and a member of staff, who have all been warmly welcomed into our community. It is difficult to believe that this is only the end of their first week, because they are already so wonderfully settled, and they are getting involved in all aspects of school life. We all look forward to making their experience here in Brighton an exciting one over the next two weeks. I am delighted and proud that the report of our ISI Inspection in January has now been published. The Inspectors saw very clearly what a wonderful school Roedean is, and the feedback is very positive indeed. Some of the many highlights are included in this review, and the full review can be found on the School’s website. I would like to thank everyone in the Roedean community for the part you played in this success – congratulations!
Roedean Hosts Exchange Students from Our Sister School
Over half-term, there were two residential trips, and I am pleased that both were great successes. The Art Department led a trip to London where they immersed themselves in the cultural and creative sides of our capital, and the Geography Department took forty students to Morocco, where they had a wonderful experience. I am very grateful to all my colleagues who gave up part of their holiday to give the students these wonderful opportunities – thank you. This week has seen Open Mic Night, which was great fun, with sixteen acts performing in the Theatre, and also the finale of this year’s Roedean Academy. The 90 students who took part, from Roedean and six other state schools in the area, really enjoyed working together and learning for the joy of it. I am very grateful to all those colleagues who taught Academy sessions over the last five weeks to inspire these students – you may have uncovered a lifelong passion in one of them! I am looking forward to our Festival Celebrating Inspiring Women, which takes place next Friday to mark International Women’s Day – we have 20 speakers taking part, and this should provide a wonderful opportunity for our students to hear from successful women in a range of fields. On the subject of inspiring women, OR Amber Anning, who came to Roedean in September, became British Indoor 400-metre Champion last weekend – congratulations! Monday was the third anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine, and, as a community, we have been supporting the Ukrainian students at Roedean, hoping for a timely resolution. I would also like to wish 'Ramadan Mubarak' to those in our community marking Ramadan this month. I hope that those in Years 11 and 13 have had a positive week of assessments so far, and I wish them good luck for those which remain early next week. I hope you all have a positive weekend!
Geography Morocco Trip 2025 Cross Country Championships