The Bedian 2023

THE BEDIAN

2023

Photography by Alex Stead, Alumnus Dorms 2009-2014 1

WELCOME Welcome to another edition of The Bedian.

It brings me immense joy and pride to update you on yet another remarkable year at Bede’s. I am delighted to share the many accomplishments and exciting developments that have taken place since we last connected.

This year we enjoyed a wonderful occasion for the Leavers of 2020, many of whom had not seen one another since they abruptly left Bede’s with the onset of the first Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020. In addition we welcomed over three hundred alumni and former staff to our Back to Bede’s reunion; this provided a wonderful platform for reminiscing, and reconnecting with fellow alumni who share a common bond forged within the walls of Bede’s. It was heartening to witness the enthusiasm and camaraderie that these events inspired. I sincerely hope that these events will continue to strengthen the Bedian spirit and create lifelong connections.

First and foremost, I am thrilled to announce that Bede’s School has enjoyed yet another year of brilliant successes. Our dedicated staff and impressive pupils have enjoyed a very successful year, inside and outside of the classroom.

Bedians continue to excel academically, with impressive achievements in national examinations and university placements. We take great pride in nurturing well-rounded individuals, who value each other’s differences and support each other in a caring and kind manner. This year’s Upper Sixth has exemplified our commitment to holistic education, with pupils excelling in areas such as arts, sports, and community service.

As we embark on another exciting year, we encourage you, our valued alumni, to remain involved and actively participate in the life of our school.

Your continued support and engagement are invaluable in shaping the future of Bede’s and ensuring its ongoing success. Whether you choose to deliver workshops, seminars to current pupils, contribute financially, or share your accomplishments and experiences, your involvement is instrumental in the journey of Bede’s.

This year we have formally established the Bede’s Development Foundation for Transformational Bursaries. This initiative represents a major step forward in our ongoing commitment to ensuring that a Bede’s education remains accessible to pupils from diverse backgrounds regardless of their means.

In closing, I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every member of the Bedian community for your unwavering support and dedication to Bede’s School.

Through the generous contributions of our alumni, parents, and friends, the Bede’s Development Foundation has already made a tremendous impact. We welcomed our first two bursary recipients to Bede’s in September 2023, enabling these talented individuals who may not have had the financial means to attend Bede’s, to benefit from the exceptional education we provide.

I hope that this magazine serves as a reminder of the cherished memories we share, the remarkable progress we have made, and the bright future that lies ahead.

Peter Goodyer Headmaster & CEO

We firmly believe that every child deserves an opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their economic circumstances. The creation of the Foundation demonstrates our collective determination to uphold this ethos and make a lasting difference in the lives of future generations of Bedians In addition to the Foundation, we have also expanded our efforts to foster engagement and a sense of belonging among our alumni community. We understand the value of maintaining strong connections with our past pupils and the unique contributions they can make to our present and future.

The last year has been tremendously busy at Bede’s. It has been brilliant to start to see the number of alumni events we put on increase and welcome back Old Bedians to the Prep and Senior School to inspire the next generation. Whether that be through talks to the Sixth Form, at our Careers Fair, during Sixth Form Futures Week or mentoring our Sixth Formers.

If you would like to get in touch, please email alumni@bedes.org. You can also stay in touch with fellow Old Bedians through our Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram groups or by signing up to our mailing list.

We really hope to grow the presence of alumni as we look towards the next academic year, meeting more of you at reunions and catch ups and hearing more of your news. I really hope that you enjoy this latest issue of The Bedian and please don’t be strangers. It is always so lovely to hear from you all.

Charlotte Sutton Director of Advancement & Alumni Relations 2

MEET THE NEW HEAD OF BEDE’S PREP Welcome to Leigh-Anne Morris, Head of Bede’s Prep School What are all the ingredients to success in the classroom?

I have thoroughly enjoyed my first few terms as Head of Bede’s Prep School - it is truly a remarkable place! Below is a little insight into my journey and why Bede’s is so special.

Success in the classroom is learning that takes place beyond just four walls. Our teachers create a learning environment which is happy, safe and stimulating. We are lucky enough to have the beach and South Downs National Park in close proximity, which enables our pupils to regularly take their learning outdoors. This allows our children to develop confidence through hands-on learning experiences in a natural environment. Having practical learning experiences is at the heart of the pupil experience at Bede’s.

Our teachers provide a safe space where pupils feel confident to ask questions, throw themselves wholeheartedly into every endeavour, and inspire their peers to do the same.

Tell us about the co-curricular programme at Bede’s and what makes it important...

I believe in an all-round education where academic pursuits are supported by expansive co-curricular opportunities and where pupils learn lessons that books cannot give.

Bede’s runs a varied activities programme where pupils can try anything from debating to creative writing to music to chess. We have a high calibre of sports coaching and sports academies and these opportunities deepen year on year, exposing pupils to an expansive training and fixtures programme.

What makes Bede’s special?

At Bede’s, you will find a kind-hearted community underpinned by generosity of spirit, mutual respect, and warmth. Our core values of compassion, courage, conscientiousness and curiosity shape a pupil’s educational experience. Through small class sizes, innovative teaching methodologies and learning experiences beyond the classroom, we help pupils to grow into well rounded individuals and achieve their academic potential. We also link closely with our Senior School, in the heart of the idyllic countryside, to build a solid educational foundation for our children from 3 months old all the way through to Sixth Form.

What are the values that you hold dear as a Headteacher?

A kind-hearted community. It’s more than just thinking twice about what you might say that could be unkind; kindness looks for ways to make life better for others. Belonging. Because when children and staff feel a sense of belonging they can be emotionally strong, self-assured, and are able to deal with challenges and difficulties.

What was your journey to becoming Head of the Prep School?

And integrity! Because integrity is the practice of being honest, being respectful, adhering to our values, and consistently making positive decisions - even when no one else is looking. Integrity motivates social action. It is fundamental for social harmony and sustaining healthy communities.

Shortly after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce Accounting degree at the University of Natal, in South Africa, I relocated to the United Kingdom and worked as an accountant. Whilst working in the business sector, I developed a keen interest in the educational landscape training as a specialist Maths teacher at the University of Sussex under the Graduate teacher Programme.

My passion for education led to a very successful teaching career. I grew from being a Maths teacher to vice principal before joining Bede’s Prep, and enjoying three successful years, as the Director of studies in 2016. In 2019, I was promoted to Deputy Head Academic and in 2022, Senior Deputy Head at the Prep School. In January 2023, I was absolutely delighted to be appointed as Head of Bede’s Prep School. I feel privileged and incredibly proud to be leading such a forward thinking, innovative and inclusive school where pupils and staff feel a real sense of belonging.

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UPCOMING EVENTS Find out more about upcoming events and reunions for 2024/2025

Bede’s Universities and Careers Fair Bede’s Senior School

April 26th 2024

Class of 2021 Leavers’ Drinks The Lansdowne Club, Mayfair, London Bede’s Connects: Bermuda Bedian Reunion Bermuda

May 18th 2024

August 2024

Bede’s Connects: Hong Kong Bedian Reunion Hong Kong Alumni Christmas Drinks & Cabaret Bede’s Senior School, Upper Dicker

Spring 2025

April 2024

The 1990s Reunion Bede’s Senior School, Upper Dicker Alumni Sports Day Bede’s Senior School, Upper Dicker

October 2024

April 24th 2024

December 2024

130th Anniversary of Bede’s Prep School Bede’s Prep School, Eastbourne

To express your interest in any of the upcoming events please email alumni@bedes.org or fill out this Google Form.

PLEASE NOTE ALL EVENTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE 4

STAYING IN CONTACT WITH BEDE’S We love to hear from you, find out how to keep up to date with the Bede’s Community BENCHES A Memorial Bench can be a powerful way to celebrate the enduring bonds formed at Bede’s or to pay tribute to someone who played a significant role in your life. These benches not only enhance our beautiful campus but also serve as a place for reflection, relaxation, and shared moments with friends and family.

You have the option to purchase a bench with a personalised plaque, which can carry a heartfelt message, a name, or a dedication of your choice. It’s a meaningful way to leave a legacy that will be appreciated by generations to come.

Benches can be placed on site, in a location of your choosing, and these benches can be purchased for yourself, or as a gift, for the price of £500. With £40 from every bench being donated to the Bede’s Development Foundation.

Please email: development@bedes.org

We want to hear more of your news from Alumni marriages, memories, events and celebrate what you’re doing now, whether it’s a new job or a recent publication. We want to hear it all!

So please get in touch and keep us up to date to help make our Bedian Magazine and our social media all about you. You’ll always belong at Bede’s and we really want to celebrate you all.

To get in touch please use our Google form.

Stay connected with us! Follow our socials below for the latest updates in the Bedian community!

Join the Old Bedian Facebook group

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WELCOME TO THE NEW ALUMNI OF 2023 We are giving a warm welcome to the Bede’s Leavers of 2023, it’s so lovely to welcome you to the Old Bedians Community

Bloomsbury

Will Craggs, after a gap year, is heading to Reading for a Business and Management degree, Alex Hallett will study Real Estate at Oxford Brookes, and Gregor Leung goes all the way to Liverpool to do Communication and Media. He will be out-travelled by Chukwuemeka Itegbe, however, who has decided on Ontario as his home for the foreseeable future, studying Business and Management. Employment, rather than further study, beckons for three young men: Chris Burns will work in Sales and Marketing, Will Quebbell in Customer Service, and Max Lhermitte in Hospitality. Finally, one of Bede’s school’s leading students, Fearghus Beauchamp, will take a gap year as he considers a future which, whatever he chooses, will be every bit as successful as his time with us.

The Bloomsbury U6th leavers are heading for various illustrious locations.

Ella Doyle, one of our highest achievers, will be heading to the University of Warwick to read Classics and English. Grace Tuson and Kirstin Orr will both be going to the University of Manchester, Grace to study English and Kirstin to do a degree apprenticeship in Business Accounting with Coppers. Northumbria is the enviable destination of another Blooms pair, Graphic Designer Emily Scott (after a South East Asia gap year) and Fashion Designer Liv Shellard. India Piper-Dadswell has a place at Goldsmiths, University of London to study English and Amelia Tait has done equally brilliantly to secure a place to read Finance at Durham. Two of the south-west’s prestigious universities, Bath and Exeter, will be lucky enough to have Daisy Russell (Management) and Ruby Hall (Business and Management) amongst their numbers, while Pearl Christie has earned herself a place in Liverpool to study Criminology. Megs Wyatt will take her talents to Harper Adams University to do Veterinary Bioscience, while Lucie Morris is going to Reaseheath to become a Veterinary Nurse.

Millie Trenaman will begin a Psychology degree at Loughborough, while Issy Field embarks on a hockey scholarship in the US. Megan Linden, Georgie Howard and Rose Barnes will have gap years before confirming their future plans, and finally three of Blooms’ most outstanding young women - Poppy Eyre, Rhianna Hammonds and Sophia Titterton-Manos will go into employment: Poppy as an apprentice at MoneyCorp, Rhianna to work in a street dancing business, and Sophia working for Straightline Consulting.

Charleston

Charleston’s twins Mary and Millie Taylor will leave us to pursue their burgeoning cricketing careers, which we will watch with excitement.

Rebecca Saad will be reading Architecture at Leeds Beckett, and Grace Watkins will also be in Yorkshire, studying Music at Leeds.

Florence Moseley-Bangs will undertake a degree in Psychology at Northumbria University, Newcastle. Across the Pennines, Annie Cairns (Religion, Theology and Ethics), Isobel Abatan (Law) and Tabby Newton (English) will take their places at Manchester. Jenna Tulli will study Business Management and Marketing at Nottingham Trent, while London will be home to Ellie Abel (Materials Science and Engineering at Imperial).

Veronica Travers will study Biochemistry at the University of Sussex and, staying closer to home, Jana Irvine will continue her dancing career at The Brighton Academy, Lorrie Anderson will take Business Management at Brighton University, and Megan Hadland will study Primary Education at Sussex. Ayaka Amos will continue to flourish as an artist at Kingston, and Amelia Barker will study Pharmacology at Reading. Lizzie Morgan will gain a year’s clinical experience before a Nursing apprenticeship, Maddie Smith will take a gap year before a Policing apprenticeship, and Sophia Malik will take a year out travelling before applying in 2024. Gifted artist Flossie Wilson will also take a year out to consider her future, and finally, Francesca Bradley heads to Stirling, where she will study Sport and Exercise Science.

Camberlot

The excellent university of Loughborough is a popular location for the Camberlot leavers, with three young men - Jenson Eve (Psychology), Mitra Dhanraj (Business and Management) and Isaac Dixon (Sport Management) - beginning new chapters there. Three more will be in close proximity to each other, with Dougie Scragg (Business) and Kyran Tang (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) going to Bath University and Adam Khan studying Sport Management at Bath Spa. Faisal Atiku Abubakar takes his considerable abilities to Queen Mary University of London to read Politics and International Relations, and another of the House’s leading lights, Marcus Cheung, begins a Physiotherapy degree at Keele.

Physiotherapy is also the future career of Garen Lau, who begins his higher studies at Bristol UWE.

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WELCOME TO THE NEW ALUMNI OF 2023 We are giving a warm welcome to the Bede’s Leavers of 2023, it’s so lovely to welcome you to the Old Bedians Community

Crossways

Andrew Macsai heads to his family’s native Hungary to do a Business course, and finally Henry Olliff will take a well-deserved Sports Marketing Management place at Manchester Metropolitan.

Head Girl Milly Gibson takes up a richly deserved place at Oriel College, Oxford to read PPE. Chi Nguyen will study Nutrition at Oxford Brookes, while Davina Ifie-Sekibo starts a Business and Management Degree at Reading. Staying with Business, Mei Aliko will do Business with Digital Marketing at the University of West London, and Zenia Man has opted for Business Management with Marketing at Leeds. Elfie Day (English and Film Studies) will join Zenia in Leeds, while Lottie Flack will be in a different part of Yorkshire, taking Japanese Studies at Sheffield. Grace Wilson will study Child Nursing at De Montfort University. Lily Betts and Maya Babar will take the sports route, with Maya doing Sport Management at Bournemouth and Lily going to Lincoln for Sport Development and Coaching. Another top sportswoman, Matilda Collins, broadens her horizons in Davidson College, North Carolina on a Liberal Arts course with a Hockey scholarship, and yet another serious talent, Freya Kemp - already a full cricket international - will continue her exceptionally promising professional career. Evie McCabe will study Liberal Arts at Bristol, Alina Zhen is going to Lancaster to read Accounting and Finance, and Head of House Atlanta Woodhall will begin a Forensic Anthropology degree at John Moores, Liverpool. Gladys Chan and Kate Yurkova will both be studying in the capital: Gladys begins her Bioveterinary Sciences pathway at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London and Kate starts a Design of Art Direction course at UAL. Laura Babic is heading overseas, albeit only as far as Dublin, to begin a Psychology degree at the Institute of Art and Technology. Josie Tabb will remain much closer as she does a Music Production course at Bimm, in Brighton, and finally Eliza Robinson will take time out to consider her numerous offers to study Art.

Dorms

Talented actor Freddie Thompson will leave us for the MetFilm School in London, and he will be joined in the capital by Rami Hamid, who will read Law at Goldsmith’s. Daniel Gutierrez and Sam Bull will both be studying Sport and Exercise Science, at Bath and Brighton respectively.

A number of Dorms leavers will undertake various Business degrees: Max Henley at Oxford Brookes, George Marsh at Bournemouth studying Business & Management and Oliver Parker at Cardiff Metropolitan.

Adam Goulder, meanwhile, will take Accounting and Finance at Exeter.

Thibault Risbridger looks forward to an Ocean Science and Marine Conservation course at Plymouth, and Ginika Ihekweazu will be in Surrey, studying Medicinal Chemistry. Finally, outgoing Head of House Hang Mok will undoubtedly be a great success in Leeds, where a degree in Civil Engineering awaits him.

Deis

Head of House Eric Oxenden Rodriguez will take his exceptional abilities to Loughborough, where he is due to study Psychology. Xanda Foolhea is also heading west: he will be at Bristol UWE reading Banking and Finance. Just north of them both in Cardiff will be Oliver Hayes-Bradley, doing his degree in Computer Science. Outgoing Head Boy Nicolai de Freitas begins a degree apprenticeship in tax advice, and Erick Evison starts a career in the Army. Ted Carr will take a gap year in Australia, and Ollie Starkey will also take a year out before recommencing his studies at Oxford Brookes - he will do Sport, Coaching and Physical Education.

Another top sportsman, Will Buttress, will study Sport Rehabilitation at St Mary’s Twickenham. Jonjo Murphy will take a Professional Music course at Waterbear, Brighton, and finally Josh Swanepoel starts a Business Management and Marketing degree at Birmingham.

Dorter

No fewer than five Dorter leavers plan to study in London for the next few years. Amanda Chong will read Pharmacy at UCL, where she will be joined by Antonia Kovalenko who takes Political Science. Catalina Cepero Barton takes English and Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, and both Tilly Greenwood and Charlotte Chan will be at UAL, doing Ceramics and Commercial Photography respectively. Edie Carruthers takes up a well-deserved place at St Andrew’s, reading English, and she will be joined north of the border by Deborah Geisser, who is doing International Business with German at Edinburgh. The Midlands is the destination for Alana Painter (Childhood, Youth and Education Studies at Coventry) and Head of House Lianah Mirie (Business and Management at Leeds Beckett).

Verity Finden-Crofts goes to Westminster, London, for a Psychology and Criminology degree, while Anoushka Beardshaw also heads west (though not so far) to study Acting for Film in Chichester. Heather Gibb and Trinity Gott are northbound - Heather to Liverpool for Marketing and Trinity to York for Chemistry - while Anna Pleskun goes to the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in Woking. Giovanna Marzano will do Ceramics at Cardiff Metropolitan, and Olivia Barnett will be at Nottingham Trent, where she will study Equine Behaviour, Health and Welfare.

Dicker

Oxford Brookes has been a favourite destination of Dicker leavers down the years, and this year’s representative is Digital Media Production student Arthur Lambert. William Green will continue his exceptional academic progress at Exeter, where he will read History, and fellow workhorse Chen Wang will go to Leeds for his Economics and Mathematics degree.

Freddie Frame heads to Loughborough to do Business Analytics, and brilliant Head of House Josh Stockwell will pursue Digital Photography at Ravensbourne, London. Oliver Baxter will go into employment, and three other popular and talented young men - Flint Young, Charlie Jackson and Luca Hawes - will consider their options during a gap year.

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WELCOME TO THE NEW ALUMNI OF 2023 We are giving a warm welcome to the Bede’s Leavers of 2023, it’s so lovely to welcome you to the Old Bedians Community

Knights

Two of Knights’ top footballers are heading to the USA on football scholarships: Toby Brown will be at Davidson College, North Carolina and Dylan Connell at Wesleyan University, Tennessee. Another pair, Patrick White (Real Estate) and Ethan Collins (Sport, Coaching and Physical Education), will be closer to home at Oxford Brookes. Tom Hayes heads to Exeter to study Renewable Energy Engineering and Caspar Watson heads to Royal Agricultural University to study Rural Land Management, while both Josh Sudan and Robert Crook-Smith will both be reading History, in Nottingham and Loughborough respectively. Matthew Terry will be found in Kingston on a Computer Science degree, while Toby Clarke undertakes a MORSE degree at Warwick. Mathias Pavlides takes his Geography skills to Aberystwyth, and Will Jones transfers his artistic talents to Hartlepool, where he will do Costume Interpretation with Design. Fine Head of House Sam Craggs will spend a year as a Learning Mentor at Willingdon School before studying Primary Education, and talented cricketer Dylan Woolley will spend a gap year playing on a trades apprenticeship. Finally Seb Cooper will attend the University of Leeds, studying Natural Sciences.

Stud

Bath University has proved a popular choice for this year’s U6th cohort, and two Stud leavers are taking up places there: Gautam Girish will study Economics and Sam Hartley Sport Performance, after a gap year.

Top cricketers Kamario Grant and Freddie Freeman are heading for the Midlands, with Freddie doing Politics and International Relations at Nottingham and Kamario Life Sciences at Loughborough. Nicholas Bernhardsen will read Military History at the University of Kent, and Peter Moseley travels to Reading for a Finance degree. Sam Walton looks forward to studying Business Management in Sheffield, while Leo Steel moves along the south coast to Bournemouth for a degree in Computing.

Nat Blaker will take a gap year before continuing his studies, while Josh Willoughby, George Kidd and Barney Packard will combine work and travel once they leave us.

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REMEMBERING ANGELA MORGAN ‘MOSSI’ Angela Morgan ‘Mossi’, a much loved member of the Bede’s family sadly passed away on the 8th November 2022.

Angela was known by many names - Angela, Mrs Morgan, Mossi and even the Morginator. She was a form tutor, teacher, colleague, friend and confidant, touching so many people’s lives. Mossi was a much loved and popular member of the Bede’s family who leaves behind a legacy of memories. She worked across the Trust for nearly 40 years and was unwavering in the commitment she showed to the school.

She ran Sports Day and Cross Country with military precision for many years. She loved teaching Athletics and Netball, but was rather sniffy about Hockey - and would mutter a lot in the office if she felt it was given more teaching time than Netball. Latterly she helped Michelle Jebb with swimming matches.

Mossi taught French to Year 6 briefly when we had to redistribute lessons following a colleague’s departure. As always, Mossi loved being ‘the cavalry’ and coming to the rescue.

Angela started working for St.Bede’s in 1983 at the Senior School as a Science teacher, coach of the U14 Netball team and house tutor in Crossways before moving to the Prep School where she worked for nearly 30 years. Mossi started at the Prep as a year 6 form tutor and boarding house tutor in Meads End with nearly 60 girls before moving on to teach Maths, Science and Games until 2019 where more recently she was responsible for keeping in touch with Alumni and managing the archives.

She did the cover for years and helped Sally with the timetable when it was done the good old fashioned way- by paper. She had a mind like a Sudoku and could move around 6 or 7 lessons to make it work.

She refused point blank to take part in the annual pantomime and always insisted that she was better marshalling the children and she certainly was good at getting people to fall in line.

As you know she always threw herself into anything ‘Bedes.’ She was a maverick and reminded us all of the right way of doing things…her way of course and she had no problem telling colleagues if things were not up to scratch. Her ex colleagues fondly recalled the amazing fishtail/ french plait she had done whenever the school hairdresser dropped in and squeaky, wedge sandals she wore in the summer months. They remember her and Mrs Curling being a force to be reckoned with but Mossi really loved them all.

Mossi ran the Annual Science and General Knowledge teams and was in her element when in one of her last years the team went to the Tower of London to compete in the National Final.

She made chocolate and beetroot cake or courgette cake from the veg she grew in her garden and brought them in for staff. Sam baked the chocolate and beetroot recently in memory of Mossi - we spent that break time reminiscing and retelling the variety of stories we remembered laughing and crying!

She would often talk fondly of her early days at St Bede’s when Health and Safety wasn’t as rigid and taking the children on the Downs where they played the ‘Downs Game’ - some sort of treasure hunt, where you just kept your fingers crossed that all the children would return safely. Then there was the time some staff and pupils went tobogganing on the slope above school on metal trays from the dining room......

Mossi also organised all the exam timetables and invigilation schedules and woe betide any member of staff who didn’t follow the instructions for leaving or collecting exam papers - to the letter.

Mossi was the honorary member of the staff squash team and drove the minibus. The team consisted of the likes of Peter and Chris Pyemont and the headmaster from St Andrews! She used to organise and run the school ski trip. She even took one trip whilst she was in the midst of chemo. It was one of her early bouts of cancer. As many of you know, Mossi took all her responsibilities incredibly seriously.

She was an avid member of Hawk and fiercely competitive, particularly when it came to the Music Competition. It always amused us what a sore loser she was on the inside. There was always a reason why the winning section didn’t deserve to win.

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REMEMBERING ANGELA MORGAN ‘MOSSI’ Mossi took the children to the Regional and National Athletics matches every year and took great delight in their achievements. She could be a real softie when it came to the children and had genuine respect and care for our young people.

Many pupils will also remember her as the organiser and leader of the school ski trip. Here again, she did not let her fight with cancer dampen her spirit and even, one year, arranged the trip around her chemotherapy treatment schedule.

For someone who was so good at organisation, many colleagues will remember how unbelievably untidy she was. She shared an office with Sally for 15 years - and with endless science experiments, countless piles of paper, old registers, numerous bits of sports equipment and a huge cow bell, frighteningly, she still knew where everything was. And of course, the reason she had to keep all this was because she knew she would need it at some point.

It was not only in the field of Sport where she was fiercely competitive.

She was an avid member of Hawk and supported the section at every opportunity, none more so than at the annual Music Competition. She would admit to not being a natural musician, but for a few weeks she would become a musical expert and, if another section took the prize, was able to talk at length about why Hawk should have won!

She also enjoyed taking a variety of non-sporting activities, including working with the Science and General Knowledge teams and Cookery.

An experienced cook who enjoyed passing on her knowledge to pupils, she also delighted in experimenting with cake ingredients, using her homegrown vegetables. These vegetable cakes were generously shared in the staff room and it has to be said that there were several occasions when we did not delight quite as much in eating them!

Mossi always knew what was happening whether she was in school or not. She knew everybody and everything about them, often before they did themselves. She held all colleagues; the cleaning, kitchen, maintenance minibus, admin and teaching staff in high regard.

We are indebted to Mossi for her steadfast service to the school and she will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Mossi was one of the most courageous people we knew. She was the true meaning of strength. Even when she went through the trauma of several surgeries and chemo, she came out smiling. She taught us I can choose to be happy no matter what.

She took a keen interest in all her pupils, past and present and in spite of her strict demeanour, cared hugely about the children she taught. She was always delighted when she encountered a past pupil and relished her role running the Prep School reunions and working with the alumni office once she retired from full time teaching in 2019.

I’m sure heaven is clapping to receive her. We have so many wonderful memories that will bring us laughter and keep us comforted.

Leigh-Anne Morris Head of Bede’s Prep School

Over the years, Mrs Morgan taught hundreds of children and was a massive presence at the Prep School. Her death last November leaves a void that will be impossible to fill.

Sally Collins Director of Staffing at Bede’s Prep School

Angela Morgan, affectionately known to many colleagues as Mossi and to many pupils as ‘The Morganator,’ yes she did know about that one, joined Bede’s straight from university in 1983. The then Miss Moss joined the staff of the fledgling Senior School teaching Science and helping in Crossways, as well as running the U14 Netball team. After a year, she felt her strengths were better suited to younger children and she moved to the Prep School as a Science, Maths and English teacher. This also saw the beginning of her thirty-year career as a Year 6 Form Tutor, which she only relinquished due to illness in 2014.

For the first five years of her over 100 terms at the Prep School, “Miss Moss” was a boarding house tutor in Meads End, which at the time had about 60 girl boarders. I understand that she and the matron, Mrs Curling , were a force to be reckoned with. A trait I think we can safely say remained throughout her career!

From the moment she arrived at Bede’s, Mrs Morgan threw herself into every aspect of life at school. Her great love was Sport and she was an accomplished and knowledgeable teacher of Athletics, Netball and Rounders. She organised the Prep School Sports Day for many years with military precision and was an honorary member of the Staff Squash team.

She was herself a champion hammer and discus thrower who competed at the highest level both nationally and internationally.

In spite of suffering several bouts of cancer over a period of almost thirty years, she remained positive and determined, continuing to take part in competitions as recently as 2016.

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REMEMBERING KEITH GIBSON Keith Gibson, 1952 – 2023 Not religious in the formal sense, yet Keith displayed a veritable spirituality of which the Great Architect of the Universe would approve.

On his retirement he and Pat established a Kingston based enterprise distributing local ‘green’ produce to the community: their commitment in action.

It is with profound regret which leads me to announce the passing of Keith Gibson, a much admired and respected teacher in the Bede’s Community for nigh on 20 years from 1983, during the tenure of its first Headmaster, Roger Perrin.

We knew from the start that, as with all his appointments, Roger in true fashion had appointed someone who would be idiosyncratic, different, colourful, ‘interesting’, eclectic, yet deeply committed to the values upon which the school had been founded: a corporate sense, and appreciation, of individuality.

Several of his former colleagues in the Science Dept.: Paul Allison, Raymond Mutimba, John Glover, Isabelle Berryman, have recently testified to his strengths as faculty head. On a personal note I shall never forget the support he gave me when, years back, I was thrust, literally overnight, into becoming Acting Head of Dicker House. How valuable was his counsel and wisdom!: rewarded by his being subsequently appointed as a Substantive Housemaster.

We felt that Keith met all the criteria from the outset. On his first day with us in September 1983, the old Car Park played host to his mega decibel sports car, bright red, left hand drive, a GBZ sticker emblazoned at the rear, indicative of his previous employment as a teacher in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar.

Most importantly, the recent testimony of many of his students says it all. There are too many and it would be invidious to single each one out: “Humorous”, “I took a degree in Biology because of Keith”, “Inspirational”, “Unconventional”, “Took time with me”, “such fond memories of our Biology trip to the South of France led by Keith and Pat”, and more! One went so far as to suggest he was as much a friend as a teacher. A true egalitarian, Keith had no time for pomposity or self importance; never short of a word or two to parody such pretension, often over a pint or two of Harveys!

As Head of Biology and Head of Science during his time at the school, Keith brought into play the sheer qualities which had made him an outstanding teacher. A Scientist to the Core, but a person who had come through the ranks to share not just his subject knowledge, but himself as a person: not your stereotypical esoteric Oxbridge product so typical of lesser private school enterprises. Keith had risen through the ranks. A Sussex boy to the core, son of Joan and Don Gibson, a Commercial Artist, he had been educated in the state sector, at Westlain Grammar School in Brighton where he first met Pat, who were to become lifelong soul mates leading to marriage and bearing fruit with the arrival of their son Max, a professional musician of no mean talent.

Despite being ill for some time he was determined to live life to the full...

Keith enjoyed his sport: tennis, cricket, soccer. How gratifying that he lived to see his beloved Albion promoted to the Premier League and a place in Europe; that his love of music, notably Jazz, has been passed on genetically to his son, Max. His photographic talents have been on display at Gallery Uno in Seaford where we met, savouring his sensitive portrayal of the Sussex countryside; thus Keith’s legacy preserved for posterity.

Eschewing the conventional University Route so aggressively pushed and overegged in today’s sixth forms, he opted to pursue an ‘Apprenticeship’ route whereby he could develop his innate love of Science on the job, hands-on, from learned practitioners as a Lab and Research Assistant, immersed in the nitty gritty, at Sussex University, during the course of which he accompanied his professors on their tours of duty to Canada and Denmark, working towards the professional accreditation of ‘ M I Biol’ as an avenue to explore his scientific interests further. Recognising that he now had a calling to share the knowledge and experience thus gained, he then enrolled on a one year PGCE course at Sussex.

I’m sure you would like to join me in conveying our prayerful thoughts to Pat, Max and Beth at this time.

Appropriate that Keith has his final resting place in the beautiful setting of Clayton Memorial Ground overseen by the Jack and Jill Windmills...

Mother Nature has welcomed home one of her own.

John Berryman

This led to teaching in the state secondary sector at Hazelwick Crawley, Tideway Newhaven under Ken Saxby, Gibraltar Secondary, prior to Bede’s, after which he had a spell at The Beacon Crowborough, and then ‘retirement’.

Above all his love of the natural order and humanity’s responsibility to preserve it underpinned everything he did: a Greta Thunberg before her time. He was wont on occasion to cycle to work; he enriched our appreciation of Mother Nature in the course of our Downland Walks Activity; collecting specimens for the lab.; fishing in a manner that none of the captives felt pain or suffered; spotting the elusive birds and regaling us with a knowledge of their individual traits; his insistence on using only locally produced foods as far as possible, promoting ‘Real Ale’ produced in Sussex.

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REMEMBERING GRAHAM JAGGERS Graham Jaggers, 1938 - 2023 Graham Jaggers changed things. He changed fundamentally the way that the school supports those with learning difficulties; he changed and transformed the lives of countless individuals who passed through his care; in his own life he embraced change and moved around: before he came to St Bede’s he had worked in Africa, he had worked in Ireland, he had spent a considerable amount of time farming - in different places.

He then radically changed his final farm, Knockhatch, and transformed it into the successful theme park which it is today.

Dyslexia was always central in Graham’s life and there is no doubt that it shaped his character. When the people who teach you have no knowledge or understanding of learning difficulties they may well think that you are slow, lazy, or even awkward and rebellious. You are constantly criticised and regularly punished. It is very frustrating and it is easy to become despondent or stop trying. It takes great self-belief to keep on trying and learning. You develop high levels of determination, persistence and even stubbornness along the way. What you achieve in the end is by dint of your own efforts despite the obstacles that life and other people have put in your path. You learn to rely on yourself.

Mr. Graham Jaggers (third from the left) and his successful Young Farmers (pictured, left in their element), highly successful in ‘O’ level and G.C.S.E. courses and winners of the Young Farmers’ Cup Regional Public Speaking Competition (the farmer as orator! A new concept!)

When Graham first came to St Bede’s, he found a school which focussed more than most on individuals and their needs. Programmes were tailored to the talents, interests and ambitions of individual pupils. But the staff, in common with nearly all institutions at the time, had little understanding of learning difficulties and had not been trained either to recognise those who needed special help or to be able to support them.

Graham recognised straight away that there were pupils just like he had been and he started to help them. He was running farming activities at the time and took a number of pupils under his wing and gave them extra support alongside his farming and Agricultural Science sessions.

But there were others who needed help too and Graham could not fit them all under his wing, so with the support and encouragement of Roger Perrin, the founding head, Graham went on a course to learn how best to support those who needed it. He quickly recruited the best teachers from his course and came back to set up the Support Department at the school which has helped to transform the lives of countless young people ever since.

Roger Perrin Writes...

Sometime in the summer of 1985 I was paid a visit, unannounced, by a local farmer. He sat in my study and said his farm was local and called Knockhatch farm and that he had another farm in the Scottish Borders.

He told me many other things in an interesting and varied conversation.

He was paid handsomely for allowing builders’ waste to be dumped on his land and that eventually he would turn the huge piles that had been amassed into ski-slopes. He also told me that he was dyslexic and that aged eleven as a boy at Dulwich College Prep School, the one in Dulwich, he was unable to read a word and could hardly write but that the teachers did not realise this for when asked to read aloud in class he made a fuss, burst into tears and they told him not to bother. Whilst away from school with Scarlet Fever for three weeks he taught himself to read by deciphering Alice in Wonderland. He said that his son was dyslexic and he wanted him to come to the School. He also said that he would teach Agricultural Science and that our students could do practical work on his farm to back up the course. Prone to saying yes to any good idea that differentiated our school from the rest I asked him to start.

Graham was a powerful man, a farmer. He was positive and enthusiastic and irrepressible and had massive energy and his booming voice seemed to spread his positivity and energy around. He was extremely patient and would try all possible ways to help people to make the best of their talents.

He would keep going and going until all coursework was satisfactorily completed; reluctant students met their match - Graham was more determined than the most stubborn avoider of work. And in extreme cases, if, after weeks and months of encouragement and cajoling, satisfactory work was not forthcoming, there was always the booming voice. A welldirected blast of the booming voice could work wonders.

It was one of the most important appointments that I made in my 23 years as Head. Our students appeared in the local press disinfecting sheep, doing professional looking hedge laying, with their newly born day old chicks, little did they know that they would see them through until they appeared ready for the table at Hailsham Farmers’ Market! But most importantly of all he set up a new department to assist those with special educational needs, particularly those with Dyslexia.

Graham’s active relationship with the school lasted for some 20 years and though another 20 years have passed since he left, his influence on Bede’s has been deep and lasting. I am personally immensely grateful for his great generosity with his time, his wisdom, his advice and his friendship. There are countless former students and colleagues whose lives he touched, influenced or transformed. He will be remembered with great fondness.

In the 80’s the understanding of Dyslexia was not in the teacher’s armoury. Graham explained to a full Staff Meeting the various strategies, the dos and don’ts of assisting the dyslexic student to realise his or her potential, after all in every new intake the top ten IQ scores were always those of dyslexic students.

Derek Newton, Colleauge & Friend 12

REMEMBERING GRAHAM JAGGERS I told the Staff that any failure to follow Graham’s advice would be seen as a serious disciplinary offence. In the “T” classrooms Graham and his “T” Ladies worked wonders and the School became a centre of excellence in the field of “Special Needs” and our teachers became excellent as they realised that all their classes included those with “Special Needs” from those who could not handle numbers or language to the especially academically gifted. We cut out following the National Curriculum and there they were: great actors rather than atrocious Physicists, wonderful artists and potential farmers rather than appallingly poor manipulators of French.

These were developments that were led by Graham Jaggers and were important in the development of an enlightened and inclusive school that stood out from the traditional and somewhat static format that existed in much independent education. As a teacher Graham never gave up; he was there in his classroom in the second or third week of the “Holidays” ensuring that students completed their coursework. School refusers came to school because Graham drove to their houses and persuasively picked them up. He was a special teacher, his writing was dreadful, his spelling was dreadful too but he was dyslexic and his I.Q. was way ahead of the rest of us and Knockhatch, run outstandingly by his son, has splendid ski- slopes!!

REMBERING ANTHONY MEIER CB OBE Major General Anthony Meier CB OBE (1937-2022) A message from Peter Goodyer, CEO of the Trust: It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that former Chair of Governors, Major General Anthony Meier CB OBE, passed away on Saturday 17th September 2022.

Tony commenced his connections with St Bede’s in 1982 when he enrolled two of his children, Alexandra and Peter, in the Prep School. Tony joined the Board of Governors in 1994, he was Chair of Governors for ten years, until his retirement in June 2018. A role he fulfilled with distinction. We are indebted to Tony for the dedicated and significant contribution he made to the Trust over many years, including 24 years on the Board of Governors. Our thoughts and sincerest prayers are with his wife, Suzanne, his children and grandchildren, at this most difficult time.

Chair of Governance, Geraldine Watkins shared: Tony commenced his connections with St Bede’s in 1982 when he enrolled two of his children, Alexandra and Peter, in the Prep School. I first met Tony Meier in early 2013, at a meeting held by the then CEO, Dr Richard Maloney. I had been proposed to join the Board and heard a little about the range of duties I was likely to undertake as Governor. Tony made it clear that role encompassed Trustee of the Charity Commission, Director of St. Bede’s School Trust and School Governor. Quite a tall order!

Subsequently, I found that Tony had served in all three capacities for almost a quarter of a century! From as early as 1994, as Chairman of the Board at the Prep, Tony worked tirelessly to turn around the finances to achieve a break-even point at the Prep School. In 1999, Tony oversaw the merger of the Senior School and the Prep School Governing Boards and he became Deputy Chairman of the New Board.

Tony continued in his role as Chairman until June 2018. By that time I had worked with Tony for five years and I was appointed to take the role of Chair as of June 2018. I was deeply grateful to Tony for his meticulous handover manual, which I often refer to even now.

In 2001, Tony was instrumental in managing some difficult times financially, oversaw the hostile take-over of the previous Summer School and managed to placate some warring villagers with the “Stop St.Bede’s” campaign.

Tony was entirely dedicated to the Trust, he worked very hard to ensure that it prospered in every respect. He was a respected and knowledgeable Chairman, under whose leadership the Bede’s ethos was fully established and has continued to flourish ever since. I am sure that, like me, those who knew him valued his inestimable contribution to the Bede’s we have now in 2023.

In 2008, Tony was elected Chairman of Board and worked hard to bring a military style efficiency to the Governance of both schools, which were again facing very considerable financial challenges.

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REMEMBERING TERRY MURPHY Terry Antony Murphy, 1931 - 2011 Terry Murphy, a fond member of the Bede’s community, who died on 10th April 2011, a month short of his 80th Birthday. Our sympathy goes to Mary, his wife of 53 years and to his three children, Sean, Carmel and Brendan.

Terry thought the world of his children; they were his highest priority and never far from his thoughts. He very much enjoyed the time that he spent with them and did not skimp on the support and encouragement which he gave. He is sadly missed but has left an enduring legacy: he set a shining example for us all to follow.

Terry came to St Bede’s relatively late in his career from Hilton College in South Africa where he had been a housemaster and had taught French.

He took quickly to the new challenge, launched himself wholeheartedly into the life of the school and seemed to be captivated by it; he left a lasting mark on all he worked with whether in the classroom, the day house (he was a housemaster too), the tennis courts, the football pitch or in the staff common room. After his retirement he retained his links with the school and his interest in the people there; he would time his strolls through the village so as to ‘bump into’ and then chat with as many former students and colleagues as possible.

This year a memorial bench in Terry’s memory was placed at the Senior School near to the memorial garden.

A former colleague and friend, Nigel Hatton said “ Terry was the most learned, compassionate and honest colleague with whom I worked in my 36 years as a teacher. Terry and I always remembered that former student Frederic Urban had tipped us Michael Stich to win Wimbledon in 1991 before the tournament began!”

Taken from Terry Murphy’s Memoirs

He was a very gifted teacher, one of those rare individuals who is able to inspire and get the very best out of all students, whatever their ability.

A brilliantly talented Oxford Scholar (not to forget his ‘dark blue’ for soccer), Terry had come from a humble background and knew what it was like to struggle. He was firmly grounded in reality and was possessed of great inner strength which he had needed to sustain his studies despite both opposition from home and the disruption caused by his wartime evacuation at the age of 8 and his subsequent lodging with 22 different families in different places during his school years.

Terry had the great gift of empathy; he sensed what everyone needed and was able to pitch his teaching just right: he knew when to challenge and stretch and when to be supportive and sympathetic. Oxbridge candidates, at one end of the scale, and the linguistically challenged at the other, benefited hugely and equally. A natural and accomplished sportsman, Terry continued as a highly effective coach way beyond the point when most hand up their boots and seek out less demanding activities. Many will have fond memories of him on the tennis courts in ‘shorts’ down below his knees tirelessly and patiently inspiring young people some 50 years younger than he was.

As far as colleagues were concerned Terry provided a reliable touchstone, sound advice and invariably excellent company. He was a highly intelligent independent thinker who always kept his sense of perspective.

His deep humanity permeated everything he said and did. His views were deeply held but gently expressed. He was, in many ways, unworldly. If he disagreed with the status quo he would say so, politely but pithily. If someone had lost their sense of direction or proportion, Terry would gently nudge them back on course.

Many colleagues will remember the occasion when a member of staff had become rather too animated by the untidy state of the Staff Common Room (though he probably had a point!). This fellow was well into a diatribe when the entry of a dog into the Common Room seemed likely to cause him to effervesce still further and boil over. Terry’s deft intervention calmed the mood, restored a sense of perspective without any offence and left everyone laughing: “Don’t worry about the dog,” he said, “he always wipes his feet before he goes out.”

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ALUMNI NEWS Dreams Unleashed: Kola’s Journey from Dorms to International Fencer I left (St.) Bede’s when Dorms was still a prefab, and Dorter was our closest neighbour by a long shot - unless you count the wandering swans, geese, and ducks. Phyll and Glen were still managing the Village Shop.

(Theo) Kola Ayanwale (Dorms, 1983-1987)

Since leaving, I’ve moved around, currently finding myself settled in Kent.

As well as working in L&D as a Client Trainer, I’m also an international fencing referee (standing and wheelchair). I’ve also represented GBR as a fencer, most recently finishing 12/224 in the Veterans European Individual Fencing Championships in Thionville, France.

Catching Up with Munir Bello: A Journey of Success and Inspiration I attended Bede’s (or the Dicker as it was known in my time) from 19962000. I have lots of wonderful memories from my time there and I made some lifelong friends, some of whom I will be meeting at an overseas reunion later this year. Mr. Mutimba was my favourite teacher - one that taught me many life lessons I carry to this day.

Munir Bello (Raven, 1994-1996, Dicker 1996-2000)

Tell us about what life has been like since you left Bede’s?

I have done several different things, most notable was to write a book called, ‘The Break-Up Recipe’ which was moderately successful. Very interesting from entry level retail jobs, a few years in banking and then Enterprise sales in a variety of avenues, most recently tech which is great fun. Proudest professional achievement was writing the book and making a go of it to moderate success. Proudest personal achievement is my family. I now live in London with my wife and our two boys and work in software sales for a global consultancy.

How do you remember your time at Bede’s?

Very fondly. Plenty of laughs and mischief with some amazing people whom I am still in touch with to this day. In fact, I recently went away on holiday with six other old Bede’s boys. I wish I had stayed in closer contact with my teachers as I had some remarkable ones. Overall it was a remarkable way to spend my teenage years and it is a time I look back on with a big smile.

In my current role there is a significant amount of networking, global travel and negotiation and many things I learnt at Bede’s have been applicable on the journey and in my current professional situation.

Have you got any funny stories you are able to share?

The funniest stories are far from PG.

How has Bede’s helped you to get to where you are now?

It enhanced my self belief and conviction and also taught me many soft skills which I apply to this very day. Mixing with people from so many different parts of the world gave me a great education into different cultures.

Do you have a message for current pupils?

Good luck to you all and enjoy the time you are there. You will make some of the best friends you’ve ever had who will be with you through the course of your adult life. Also, enjoy the privilege of attending such a school and lastly have fun, lots of it.

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PROFILE: ALICE CAPSEY Alice Capsey (Crossways, 2020-2022)

Alumna Alice Capsey Paving the Way in England’s Women’s Cricket: A Trailblazer’s Journey One of England’s most exciting young cricketers, Alice Capsey first took up the game at the age of six when she joined Capel Cricket Club in Dorking.

Developing into a hugely talented all-rounder with the ability to score runs fast and take crucial wickets with her right-arm off-breaks, she was signed by Surrey and made her County Championship debut in 2019 when she was just 14.

Alice has many fond memories of her time at Bede’s but was most happy either playing in the girl’s cricket team with friends under the coaching leadership of the ever positive Petch Lenham or in the nets with the boys 1st X1, music from the speakers, working hard in an upbeat environment.

Her advice would always be to work hard and follow your dreams, don’t compromise or give up when the going gets tough as there will always be rough times in your journey but at all times, stay true to yourself.

Ever since that moment, Alice’s career has been on an upward trajectory.

On the domestic scene she has become a standout performer for both Surrey and the Oval Invincibles, as well as excelling overseas as part of the Melbourne Stars in Australia and with the Delhi Capitals in India.

Named the inaugural PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year in 2021, Alice’s exceptional displays with bat and ball helped her secure a call-up to the England squad in the summer of 2022. She made her debut in a WT20I against South Africa and claimed a wicket, before competing at the Commonwealth Games where she was England’s highest run-scorer.

Written by Bridget Capsey

Towards the end of 2022, Alice made her ODI debut and was then awarded an England central contract. She rewarded the management’s faith by excelling at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, playing in all five matches and producing a player of the match performance against Ireland. 2023 then saw Alice feature in six matches in the 2023 Women’s Ashes series as England drew the series, with her standout performance coming in the third T20I as she smashed 46 runs from just 23 deliveries. Still in her teens but already an established member of the England team and a key player for T20 franchises around the world, Alice is set to be a mustwatch player for many years to come.

We caught up with Bridget, Alice’s mum, and here is what she said about this last year for Alice: This past year since leaving Bede’s has been a whirlwind starting with the phone call from Heather Knight (England’s captain) asking Alice to join the England Team for the South Africa series and then the Commonwealth Games. This then led into the India series and then off to Australia for the WBBL. She was then back home for a quick changeover before heading off on the West Indies tour where unfortunately Alice sustained a nasty collar bone injury and was flown home for surgery. Following an eight week recovery she was back with the team in South Africa for the T20 World Cup which saw the side get through to the semi finals. Alice then flew directly on to India for the women’s IPL playing for Dehli Capitals where her team reached the finals. Alice was then home at the beginning of April to start the Regional domestic season for South East Stars before joining back up with the England team for the Ashes where the girls remarkably held the Australian women down to a series draw almost a year to the day from her England debut!

Alice thoroughly enjoyed her time at Bede’s and is especially grateful to all the staff for enaballing her to fulfill all of her external training, including a 6 week tour to Australia, whilst keeping up with her studies.

From the PE department constantly monitoring her progress so she didn’t fall behind to the selfless dedication of her phsycology teacher who spent hours during lunchtimes helping Alice with content she had missed through training! Without their dedication and support Alice would not have been able to acheive her academic aspirations. It was particularly helpful that there were several other pupils in her position, already on their professional pathways and as such it felt ‘normal’ to have such an effective work/study balance.

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ALUMNI NEWS Alumna Annabel Martirossian attends Bede’s Senior School Careers Fair 2023 In April 2023 we hosted our annual Bede’s University and Careers Fair with over forty organisations coming to the school to inspire and inform the Bede’s community. It was an excellent experience for pupils to engage with Universities and Employers to see where their next steps will take them.

It was fantastic to have so many alumni back including the lovely Annabel Martirossian to share her experiences in the world of work. Annabel is the former Head of Bloomsbury House, 2014 and is now doing vital work, championing women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Thank you Annabel, it was so great to have you back.

Thank you to the organisations who attended our Careers Fair and inspired pupils about the university sector and the employment opportunities.

It is important that our pupils are able to learn and hear directly from organisations.

If you would be interested in exhibiting at our Careers Fair or even giving a talk about careers - get in contact via alumni@bedes.org we love having our alumni back. Our next Careers Fair is on the 24th April 2024.

Annabel Martirossain (Bloomsbury, 2012-2014)

INTERNATIONAL CAREERS FAIR Bede’s was delighted to host its first International Universities Roadshow in partnership with The University Guys.

The event aimed to inform and guide our Sixth Formers who were keen to explore the world of international higher education, and the wealth of options available to them. Over 25 pupils took part in meeting representatives from universities and higher education institutes from the US, Canada, Switzerland, Spain, China, Dubai and Singapore, as well as The University Guys giving advice on studying around the globe. It was an inspiring afternoon to explore exciting opportunities for life after Bede’s.

Deborah Franks Head of Careers and Employability

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ALUMNI NEWS

FUTURES WEEK From the 19th - 23nd June 2023 we held Bede’s Futures Week for our Lower Sixth, so that they could enjoy and explore a vast wealth of information helping them to discover what they want to do beyond Bede’s, and what they need to get there.

This was in the form of classes, talks, Q&A’s with professionals and personal statement preparation, alongside a visit to the University of Sussex and much more. This week is designed to answer any questions or fears our Lower Sixth may have, so that they can feel prepared and supported as they get ready for their final year at Bede’s and beyond.

As part of Futures Week our most recent alumni are invited back for a Q&A with our current Year 12. This gives pupils the opportunity to ask them about the realities of leaving Bede’s and going into the world beyond Bede’s from university and apprenticeships to the gap years and the world of work. It was wonderful to see former pupils return so that they could give advice and reassurance to those who would soon be taking a similar journey.

“Bede’s has so many opportunities, from public speaking to helping the community. It has such a broad range and it is not just about going to your lessons then going home. It is really enriching, and that is what Uni is like. You have to throw yourself into the different opportunities and aspects available to you there.”

Tom Waring (Alumnus 2022) Pupils in the past have said that Futures Week was instrumental, not just regarding planning ahead, but also in relation to subject choices and the route they took beyond Bede’s. It is a very important time for our Lower Sixth as they finish their penultimate year at Bede’s, and we hope they made the most of what was available at Futures Week for them this year.

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ALUMNI TALKS Alumnus Mitchell Dennis finds himself back at Medic Mondays after completing his Degree in Medicine

Mitchell Dennis (Dicker, 201-2017)

Mitchell Dennis, an alumnus of Bede’s, returned in November 2022 to contribute to Medic Mondays to share insights into his personal experiences. Embarking on the journey into medical school was a decision Mitchell Dennis pondered for a long time. Despite initial uncertainties, he felt compelled to give back to the school that had supported him so much.

Mitchell waited until he had completed medical school, wanting to share his entire journey from start to finish.

After five years of medical education, Mitchell reconnected with Bede’s.

He aimed to provide valuable insights into the diverse courses, university life, and the reality of medical school. His intention was to dispel the notion that only a specific ‘type’ of person pursues this path. Mitchell attended UEA, Norwich Medical School, and later worked as a foundation doctor in Newcastle. During our conversation, he touched upon the importance of life stability and the support of his partner.

For Medic Mondays, Mitchell collaborated with Julia French to elucidate a typical day in the life of both medical students and junior doctors.

Together, they delved into the necessary qualities and experiences required for application, shedding light on the learning process and guiding individuals towards the medical or research paths that best suited them.

Mitchell passionately emphasised that medicine, while challenging, becomes more accessible with the right support and preparation.

During the session in November, conducted online, Mitchell addressed common misconceptions about medical studies, outlined the characteristics of a strong candidate, and highlighted the qualities essential for success in the profession. Expressing gratitude for the support he received, Mitchell found the online format easy to set up and flexible, encouraging others to create similar initiatives.

When asked the big question was he glad he gave back Mitchell gave a big thumbs up! If like Mitchell, you would like to give back to a programme or lecture series that you were part of here at Bede’s either in-person or online, please do not hesitate to contact us at alumni@bedes.org

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ALUMNI TALKS Bede’s Pupil Guillaume Boyer Organises a 42 Club with an Alumni Twist!

Senior School pupil Guillaume Boyer organised a talk for the 42 club in March 2022, inviting his brother Eymeric Boyer and uncle Xavier Van Hove, both Alumni of Bede’s to talk to current pupils.

Guillaume Boyer Upper Sixth, Stud

My uncle was able to share that he has a Doctorate in Physics but has worked within finance for over 20 years, showing the transferable skills gained from university.

Eymeric and Xavier were able to share personal experiences to the pupils about university and life after Bede’s, a truly enriching and informative talk led beautifully by the speakers.

Xavier was able to share that to ensure that you find yourself at the university of your dreams while grades are important they are not the only factor taken into account. Areas such as volunteering, languages and work experience are also considered important areas.

Guillaume went on to write: First my brother, Eymeric Boyer, gave us an idea of what a gap year offers.

He explained the positives and negatives that he had found when taking a gap year before university. Eymeric also suggested to the pupils to try and learn a new language at the same time as working in the “real world”, Eymeric had worked for a company in Berlin and Moscow while learning the local languages.

Additionally, the application includes a personal statement section where pupils are able to stand out and make themselves an individual. A piece of advice given by Xavier was to have work experience in the field that you would want to go into. Then he gave us some insights into his last 20 years in the finance industry.

I feel there was a gap within the talk as we were not able to hear from an individual who did not go down the university pathway but straight into industry work. My hope for the upcoming talks is to cover more topics and tackle different fields and profiles. I already have my sister lined up as a guest speaker to give her insights in medicine and volunteering in third world countries.”

An additional point in which Eymerics’ specified in his talk was that there is some leeway in the major you choose from your first year and there is the possibility to change your course.

I was able to ask the speakers to emphasise on the topic of university as I think this is something really important to understand before applying to university. As many pupils do not have older siblings or siblings who went to university, it was good to have input to learn from those who had.

If you would like to come back to Bede’s and share your experiences to current pupils, then we would love to hear from you. You can contact us through alumni@bedes. org.

My uncle, Xavier Van Hove was able to give the pupils an insight into his time at university, explaining the opportunities that university has to offer which is sometimes misunderstood through the pressures which come with university. Having gone to the University of Oxford, he shared his time in a prestigious university and the doors which were opened.

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PROFILE: CHLOE CASTREE Alumna Chloe Castree Spent her Autumn of 2022 volunteering in Guatemala Chloe, Dorter alumna, came back to Bede’s earlier this year to give us an insight into the time she spent volunteering for three months in Guatemala with Street Kids Direct, as part of her gap year. She was joined

by Duncan Dyason MBE founder of Street Kids Direct and together they described the aims of the charity and the work they carry out day to day in the streets of Guatemala City.

Chloe Castree Dorter 2020-2022

The volunteering programme was tailored to every individual’s strengths and experiences so that you never felt too far out of your comfort zone. I did not need to know Spanish, my language skills were something which I developed while volunteering . One thing which I experienced initially was a big dose of ‘culture shock’ but I know now that this is completely normal and something that over time you get your head around. Some things simply take more time to process, the nature of what you face when volunteering out on the streets is hard and sad, especially as you get to know the families and children more.

Their words transported our pupils and staff to the streets of Central America and gave a real insight into the harsh realities that these children face everyday and what we can all do to help support Street Kids Direct.

Chloe’s candid description of her three months volunteering as part of her gap year opened the pupils’ eyes in a way that only an alum can. Duncan’s stories about the journey he has been on to establish this charity and the work he has done to save the lives of children in Guatemala for over thirty years were nothing short of inspirational. But hearing the words of Danilo a young person Duncan has mentored for nearly ten years, really brought home the work of this charity and the difference that we can all make.

Never have our pupils been so captivated and asked so many questions.

Do you have any words of advice for current pupils?

Don’t feel like you are missing out if you take a gap year, I did it alone and do not regret doing it that way. I have made friends quickly and felt the team were kind and helpful. It went so well and I feel such a strong bond that I am going back in August. It was tough coming back and adjusting to reality. Be open to just googling about volunteering - research, working with kids.

We are so proud of you Chloe and so grateful to everyone at Street Kids Direct for sharing your story with us. And a special thanks must go out to Stephen Castree for helping to make this afternoon happen. Chloe plans to spend the rest of her gap year travelling and volunteering around South East Asia but we caught up with her about her time volunteering in Guatemala and here is what she said:

Reading: environmental management and sustainability at Reading next year and plans to volunteer in the holidays. Has volunteered in the past in Tanzania, volunteering works two ways - makes you happy and fills you with pride, help other people too so a win win.

“If I can do it, you can do it.”

What is your biggest piece of advice for those thinking of volunteering?

“Biggest piece of advice was to go in with an open mind, I thought the kids would just be sad but actually they were so full of life. It was completely different to how I imagined, the children were so grateful for everything, the families gave you gifts from the very little they had and shared so much with you.”

Can you tell us more on what was included when volunteering?

Volunteering includes home visits with Duncan the Head of the charity in developing slums and dumps and talking to the kids there, handing out packs and giving support. I was a Legat dancer and so used these skills to teach dance in the mentoring centre and also had the opportunity to teach swimming in the public swimming pool and helped children to go into a pool for the first time. It was a massive culture shock, the first few weeks away were really tough but after some time you don’t realise how much you have done and get into the groove of things. “It’s just the little things.”

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ALUMNI NEWS Frédéric Debuisne

Looking back with Frédéric Debuisne I Arrived at St Bede’s in September 1968 from France. I was 5 years and 9 months old. I believe I was the youngest boarder in those days. I could not speak a word of English when I arrived but soon caught on. I left after Common Entrance in 1976 and went to Sir Anthony Browne’s school in Brentwood, Essex (1976-1981).

of Dunkerque. All of which I have found fulfilling and interesting in different ways.

I now live in Northern France and have returned to St. Bede’s several times in the past but have only once met up with an old boy of my era.

My teachers and staff were: Peter Pyemont, Rex Lord, Frank Bagnall, John Cousin, Sam Gray, PE teacher A.V., Miss Hatter and so many now whom I cannot remember now! All these teachers were truly fantastic, not only in the subjects they taught but equally in developing our sports capacities, explaining what team spirit was all about as well as personal endurance when participating in individual sports such as running for the annual cross-country race towards Hollywell and the Downs.

In 1976 I did particularly well winning Sports Rewards in Rugby, Swimming the Choir Cup and also became Sports Boy of the Year - something to this day that has stayed with me. My name is engraved on some of the cups and I would love one day to come back and see these again.

While at the Prep School I made many friends, some of the names I remember include: Stephen Walley, Carl Smedley, David Pyemont, Gary Cunningham, Ross Murray, Anthony Lord, Harriet Vickers (whose mother married John Cousin), Joanna Faulkes, Sarah Gale and Candy Kobrak. I am still in contact with Stephen Walley and Carl Smedley and there are so many more whose names escape me now!

Over the years I have had a range of different occupations from Customs Clearance Manager, Transport Manager, Landlord, English language trainer for adults, Interpreter and translator for a private security company and Operation Dynamo 1940 Battlefield tourist guide for the Tourist Office

Bede’s Alumna, Laura Harling, awarded British Empire Medal

Laura Harling (Dicker Knights, Camberlot, 1999-2004)| Bede’s alumna, Laura Harling, was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List for her work supporting those with dementia. In 2016, she founded ‘The Dot Collective’, a charity that provides professional theatre in care environments and raises awareness of dementia.

The Dot Collective, founded by Laura is a charity named after her grandmother, Dorothy, who went into residential care. After speaking with Laura it is clear that she has worked tirelessly to fill a void in the care system, using not only her skills in drama but building on these by researching dementia care in depth to create an experience for those with this condition which will genuinely make a positive impact on their lives.

The Dot Collective produces open air Summer and Christmas care home tours annually and Laura hopes to build on this work further in the future.

In addition, Laura is part of and leads on a range of new writing projects that work directly with people living with dementia to help improve their quality of life.

On receiving the award, Laura said: “It was very unexpected and I am so very grateful for the recognition of this work, and thankful for the continued support of my peers and funders who allow The Dot Collective to revolutionise the way theatre is thought of in care and community settings and provide stimulation, shared excitement and joy for those who are most isolated. Very excited for our next projects.”

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PROFILE: LUCY ELLIS Lucy Ellis (Bloomsbury, 2009-2012)

Lucy Ellis shares her memories from her time at Bede’s Playing First Team Badminton for Bede’s: I attended Bede’s from first year, and for me that was 2009. From the initial start date, I was completely badminton mad and despite every activity from the ever-growing list of things you could choose, I always favoured badminton and the training surrounding it.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays were all practical sessions. Mixed badminton was on a Monday and Wednesday which included assisting those with a general interest in badminton, and Tuesdays was the first team training. Thursday saw us trained by a third-party from The David Lloyd (from what I remember) and we would have a spin class session to keep our fitness up and that would take place on the balcony overlooking the MPH Hall. So I was pretty much a permanent fixture in the MPH every afternoon!

We had various matches against local schools, both mixed and women’s badminton. We took on Roedean School, Moira House, and Eastbourne College to name a few, of which I believe us to have been victorious in all three meetings. I was the captain during Lower Fifth, and some of Upper Fifth (before the GCSE’s hit and I needed to study).

To begin my journey with badminton at Bede’s, I have always been competitive and keen to play, but our badminton coach was quick to notice improvements that needed to be made. I can remember thinking to myself I can’t hit the shuttle like that or I can’t make a return as well as somebody else on the team so what’s the point? And our trainer was absolutely brutal yet fantastic. Mr Richards quickly made me aware that this sort of behaviour and way of thinking simply wasn’t an option and there wouldn’t be places on the team for people who had this mindset, whilst equally assuring me the only process and path I was going to take was to practice, and learn.

With anything that I do now and it could be the simplest of household chores. From what I learnt at the school I will do anything and everything to the best of my ability to make sure I’m always the best version of myself and the school taught me to do that.

My house tutor was Mrs Michelle Martin, and whilst I wasn’t the most obedient of students, I knew she had genuine care and understanding for me and always wanted to make sure I was being the best version of myself. - Thank you Mrs Martin!

Mr Richards dedicated his time to analyse our performances, and create drills and manoeuvres to help us enhance our techniques. We would do these over and over again, not simply because he was a hard taskmaster but until we understood that in fact we could succeed. To do what we once thought was potentially out of reach or at the time what seemed to be “impossible.”

Life since Bede’s: I work for the Police force and live with my partner and three year old daughter Ella. She is particularly key to my connection with Bede’s because I feel she absolutely belongs at this school, and whatever she wants to thrive in, whatever she takes to as her passion, and whatever she wants to succeed in, I know that this school will support her like no other can.

What do you remeber about Bede’s: My family come from humble beginnings, so for me to attend this school really was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For example, I have two older siblings who would have thrived as would any other child in this environment, but due to financial circumstances growing up, it was decided that, they could afford to enroll me at this point in time.

The image above displays my daughter and I outside of Bloomsbury House on the alumni ‘Back to Bede’s Event’ earlier this year in May. This was such a surreal moment for me and from this, I really know it is my duty to make sure she comes here.

I left Bexhill high school to join Bede’s in October 2009 and when I first arrived I can tell you that I instantly knew that this was not a normal place to be.

Ella is going to be 4 in October. In June this year she entered her first ballet dance competition against 12 other children all aged 5 and with determination, confidence and from the Bede’s working hard ethos, Ella came second! Though so young and her passions may change overtime, we are currently aiming for Bede’s Legat School of Dance and following in my cousins footsteps who thrived in Legat here, Amy Horscroft.

Each teacher is a master in their chosen subject to teach and they are all self driven in genuine belief that every child really can succeed if they try.

I felt that from every subject that I took and from any teacher that taught me, even in the first year when you hadn’t picked your GCSE subjects.

Every teacher at this school have the same passions and desires which makes the school so special. It is one team, team Bede’s, and a team I hope to always be apart of.

It’s my dream to be able to offer Bede’s to Ella, and we certainly have a young Bedian in the making.

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ALUMNI NEWS Alumna Tallulah Napier donates 12 inches of hair to The Little Princess Trust In May 2023, one of our incredible alumna Tallulah Napier, Bloomsbury House, 2021 donated 12 inches of her hair to The Little Princess Trust.

Tallulah Napier (Bloomsbury, 2013-2021)|

The Little Princess Charity creates wigs from donated hair for children and young people who have lost their own hair and have been providing wigs since 2006. In 2016 the charity also started funding scientific research into paediatric cancer as well as research projects to try and find more effective treatments.

When we spoke to Tallulah, she said: “I was inspired by several friends affected by hair loss, so I chose to donate my hair to The Little Princess Trust having found out about the amazing work they do. I measured my hair and found that it was the perfect length for the charity to use despite some split ends!

The process was so easy, and the Trust even has a step by step guide on their website. I posted my hair and in return received a certificate. I really encourage more young people to donate their hair as it is stress free and changes many children and young peoples’ lives.

I feel honoured and proud to have done this, as it’s just one of the little things that I can do to help support children at one of the hardest times of their life.”

We are so proud of Tallulah and what an inspiring thing to do for others!

We want to hear more stories about your work with charity, if you have one to share please get in touch with us through alumni@bedes.org.

Will Page

Will Page bursts onto the Music Scene Will Page took some time to talk to us about his journey with his band the Noble Jacks who have been making a splash in the music industry over the past few years. Noble Jacks’ debut album “What the Hammer” released to much acclaim. A fiddle-driven thrill ride, the band set out to capture the raw energy of their notoriously hectic live shows. Achieving radio play internationally, including support from BBC Introducing and Radio Caroline, the riotous album has become a firm fan favourite.

Since this point, the band have toured relentlessly, with sold out shows across the UK on their headline tours, as well as shows at major festivals including Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Bestival, plus major European festivals.

Noble Jacks exploded into 2022 with the release of their much anticipated new (third) studio album, Last Of The Wild, celebrating with a UK & European Spring tour as the band welcomed back live shows. The new album, Last Of The Wild, charted straight into the Top 40 Official Americana Album Chart and the first single from the album, 'Never Been Here Before' has already been going down a storm: “Love this song, Noble Jacks build their unique British sensibility on a foundation of bluegrass and roots creating a sound all their own” - Baylen Leonard, ABSOLUTE RADIO COUNTRY.

‘A dashing alt-pop gem’ (CLASH Magazine) ‘Their music is just the kind of sonic elixir we need in these troubled times’ (Acoustic Magazine) ‘An Explosion of insurmountable energy and brilliantly catchy riffs’ (On The Beat)

Hailed as the finest purveyors of folk-influenced Americana, look out as Noble Jacks take the liveliest show around.

'Just Brilliant' (BBC Introducing)

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PROFILE: TOM HUDSON Bede’s Embrace of 1990s IT Innovation Ignited Tom’s IT Career How do you remember your time at Bede’s?

My memories of Bede’s, or St Bede’s as it was known back then, are vivid and cherished. I can still recall my first day, arriving at Camberlot House with my father’s tuck box from his days at school. I was warmly welcomed by John Tuson, who gave us a tour and then introduced me to the Housemaster, Mark Rimmington and his wife Dawn. I was placed in a ground-floor dormitory with six other boys, many of whom remain close friends to this day.

Tom Hudson (Camberlot, 1995-2000)

What other endeavours have you been involved in since leaving Bede’s?

Since my departure from Bede’s, I have embarked on various endeavours.

Firstly, I have been married to Mia Hudson for nearly a decade. We are currently deciding where to celebrate this wonderful milestone, we might even go back to our wedding destination – Cook Islands, where we got married on an uninhabited island.

Camberlot Hall was home to some forty other boys, and while it was initially daunting as a first-year student, the welcoming atmosphere quickly eased my nerves. It didn’t take long to find a group of friends with shared interests. I was particularly drawn to the top-notch I.T facilities, which, unbeknownst to me at the time, would play a pivotal role in shaping my career. The first year flew by, and before I knew it, I was able to ditch the first-year jacket and move into the lower fifth and beyond.

Our lives became even more fulfilling three years ago with the birth of our son Dominic. He brings us so much joy and happiness. Luckily, he is also a great travel buddy, so we can carry on exploring the World together.

What is your fondest memory from Bede’s?

Tuesday and Thursday afternoons were a highlight, with a plethora of extra-curricular activities on offer. I developed a fondness for dry skiing and have fond memories of the sessions. Some afternoons were spent in the ‘chicken sheds’ (where the swimming pool is today) with Kevin Reed restoring an old Morris 1000 and working on Go-Karts.

Reflecting on my time at Bede’s, the memory that stands out the most is the school’s commitment to catering to everyone’s needs. While I was never a standout sportsman, there was always a wealth of other activities to engage in. The school’s inclusive ethos and diverse offerings not only enriched my school experience but also played a significant role in shaping the person I am today.

Do you have a message for current pupils?

Take full advantage of the incredible facilities and opportunities provided by the school. Enjoy every moment. We are only there for a short period of time, but the memories you will take away will be lifelong. Cherish the friendships you make there, I’m 40 now and still keep in contact with many people I met at Bede’s.

Is there a particular teacher who encouraged you while you were at Bede’s?

I am fortunate to have had a few teachers who played a crucial role in my personal and academic development, shaping the person I am today.

About the company I Co-Founded My career journey has led me to become co-founder of Adroit Cloud Consulting. Adroit are making significant strides in the tech industry.

We help customers provision and manage complex cloud solutions and enable developers to release their applications securely and at pace.

One such teacher was Mark Rimmington, who not only taught business studies, but was also the housemaster of Camberlot. I recall his ability to engage the entire class while explaining concepts. His teaching style was not only informative, but also captivating, ultimately contributing to my success in the subject. He was a fair housemaster too. I’m lucky to have such fond memories of him.

As co-founder of Adroit Cloud Consulting, my role is one of strategic oversight and hands-on management. I liaise with our clients and their Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), oversee procurement processes, and am not averse to rolling up my sleeves to help tackle complex engineering challenges. It’s a role that keeps me constantly engaged, allowing me to contribute to our mission of delivering top-tier cloud solutions whilst fostering strong, enduring relationships with our clients. It’s a journey that began after leaving BP, and I’m excited to see where it will take us next.

You can read more about us and what we’re up to at Adroit on our website https://adroitcc.io

Another influential figure was Graham Jaggers, whose unfortunate passing deeply saddened me. Mr Jaggers taught agricultural science, and I have cherished memories of our class discussions and enlightening day trips to a local farm. His passion for the subject was contagious, and it left a lasting impression on me.

Lastly, I must acknowledge Susan Drader, my English teacher. The attention she provided through one-to-one tuition was invaluable to my progress. Her guidance and support greatly assisted me, allowing me to excel in the subject. These teachers, among others, played a vital role in my educational journey at Bede’s. Their dedication and mentorship not only helped me achieve a good amount of academic success but also instilled in me a lifelong love for learning.

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ALUMNI NEWS Reconnecting with Alumnus Jonathan Scales: A Glimpse into His Business Ventures How do you remember your time at Bede’s?

My time at St. Bede’s was a remarkable chapter in my life. I resided in Dorms House under the guidance of Mr. Gough, who made diligent efforts to steer me in the right direction. It was during this period that I cultivated a deep passion for cricket, an affection that endures to this day, as I presently hold the esteemed position of Captain within the Chiang Mai, Thailand cricket team.

Johnathan Scales

Over time, the demands of the party lifestyle became overwhelming, prompting me to divest the business. Subsequently, I embarked on an extended journey through Asia, financed by the proceeds from the sale.

It was during this period that I made the life-altering decision not to return to the United Kingdom. Instead, I ventured into the realm of e-commerce, launching an online enterprise specialising in the sale of cat trees across Europe. This business has thrived and remains highly successful, affording me the opportunity to expand my investments into the realm of real estate. Notably, I constructed a luxurious villa in Chiang Mai with an estimated worth of one million pounds, which I currently offer as a holiday rental (visit https://palmvilla-chiangmai.com for details).

Last year, my architectural design for this villa earned me the esteemed accolade of “Best Villa Architecture Design” at the Property Guru Awards.

Mr. Perrin left an indelible mark on me, serving as a true source of inspiration. His educational philosophy prioritised nurturing students’ talents and interests, rather than enforcing subjects of little relevance in the future. In this regard, I can attest to this wisdom, as I still have no inclination to learn French and have not set foot in France for a quartercentury. Notably, Mr. Long served as my tutor, and despite my challenging nature as a student, he maintained unwavering belief in my potential.

I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to reconnect with him today, expressing my gratitude for his unwavering support during my time at St. Bede’s.

Today, at the age of 37, I am delighted to introduce my beautiful daughter, Savannah, into the world. Simultaneously, the sale of my cat tree business is nearing its final stages, paving the way for my forthcoming retirement in the upcoming year.

What have you been up to since you left Bede’s and any exciting news or event updates?

Following my departure from St. Bede’s, I pursued formal culinary training at Westminster Kingsway College. During my time in London, I became involved in the upscale nightclub scene, where I established a PR company offering guest list services to more than 30 exclusive venues.

Reflections on my Bede’s Journey: From Student to Alumnus How do you remember your time at Bede’s?

I remember my time at Bede’s being incredibly fun, I loved playing rugby and being a part of a team. On the other hand, the academic support was great, specifically in the form of Mr. Driver, Mr. Rimmington and Mr. D. I remember nearly everyday we would go to the local village shop for lunch.

Tom Stehmann (Stud, 2010-2013)

It was great having contact with people from all over the world as Bede’s is such an international school. I remember my roommate Sam Nanna from Nigeria and all of the funny moments and talks we shared over the course of three years. I also remember the trips into London were great fun.

What have you done since leaving Bede’s?

Since leaving Bede’s I have studied in the Netherlands, Germany and also China at Fudan University at the School of Social Development and Public Policy.

In 2018 I began work within the Real Estate sector, specifically real estate investment, at Quantum in Portfolio and Asset Management based in Hamburg. Then in 2019 I returned to Munich, my hometown, to enter the real estate development sector. I started with a short stay at a construction company doing site management before joining R&S Immobilienmanagement GmbH where I am to this day. We have a development volume of approximately 1.3 Mio. Square feet, which we are developing for the portfolio of the shareholders, Rohde & Schwarz, a large technology firm.

I am the project manager of a 215.000 square feet project, which sets a new standard in sustainable real estate development with its timberhybrid structure, LEED (Platinum) certificate. I started the project with a blank piece of paper and saw it through to what it is today. Seeing the project grow now at the site after a very complex planning and procurement process is what I really love about this job, giving me great job satisfaction.

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PROFILE: LOUISE LISTER Louise Lister (Eagle 1993-2001, Bloomsbury 2004-2006)

Louise Lister becomes Lead Nurse at Bede’s Senior School Alumna Louise Lister has recently become the Lead Nurse at Bede’s Senior School but Louise was already a part of the Bede’s community. Having started at the Prep School in year one right the way through to Bede’s Senior School, Bede’s has always been a part of Louise’s life with her mother being a matron in the Crossways boarding house when Louise was little, her father is still currently working at Bede’ as an electrician and her sisters also attended Bede’s.

Leaving the Senior School as a Dancer at Legat, Louise moved to London and danced at the London Studio Centre for a year then for various ballet and commercial companies travelling and dancing. Louise opened her own dance studio in South London named No Limit Dance and off the back of that company two more began. Carpe Deim, a contemporary and Ballet company and No Limit, a hip hop dance company which focuses on youth dancers from as young as four years old all the way through to professional dancers.

After the lease was up on Louise’s dance studio she had a re-evaluation of what she wanted to do. Lousie has always wanted to go into medicine so decided to follow her second passion, after applying to universities Louise was accepted into Kingston University in London from 2012 - 2015, where she completed her BSc (Hons) degree for Adult Nursing with her placement and training at St.George’s Hospital. Louise then went on to postgraduate study at King’s College London from 2016-2017 and was a health visitor for Lewisham.

After living in London, life brought Louise back to the Eastbourne area, and saw her working in Intensive Care at Brighton then onto Urgent Community Response in the Eastbourne community, caring for sick patients. Her next role brings us to the present day (2023) bringing Lousie back home as lead nurse at Bede’s Senior School. Lousie is completing another postgraduate course at the University of Brighton in Advanced Clinical Practice.

Working as a team, organisation and time management, it is all relevant.

I was a straight A-level student and I wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t have the education at Bede’s so that has stood me in really good stead.

When we spoke to Louise about her time as a pupil at Bede’s she recalled: “I had the best memories, I loved my education. I loved being at school and I am still best friends with people that I was in Year One with.

My fondest memories are always the Legat shows, the sports days gosh they were fun. Doing cross country round the hollow at the Prep School, turkey dinosaurs and smiley potato faces for lunch at the Prep School.

Always being able to sit in the summer and play by the lake at the Senior School. The Leavers Ball dinner and fireworks and always being encouraged to have a good time.

Bede’s is a lovely family environment, where people are encouraged to be who they want to be and Bede’s allowed me to be a dancer, my sister a swimmer and my other sister to be a hockey player and we became who we wanted to be as people rather than just fitting a mould.

As an academically non selective school you get children from a wide range of backgrounds and everybody has something wonderful to offer and I think Bede’s nurtures that, binds it and helps you become fantastic at something.

Bede’s has changed a lot in size and developed into an entity I could never have imagined. The properties, the buildings, the size of the faculty and the number of children has grown, and so a brilliant place like that should be developed. But it will always feel like home to me, I grew up here and it has completely made me who I am.”

Being a dancer enforced discipline, education, professionalism and that has all helped me in my career, all dancers were encouraged to study a lot and that fantastically echoes in any working environment especially medicine.

What is your message to current Pupils at Bede’s?

“My message to current pupils is to love every minute of it, take everything that Bede’s has to offer.”

What is your message to fellow alumni?

“To my fellow alumni, Bede’s really was the best days of our lives”.

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PROFILE: HOSSEIN NASSIRI Alumnus Hossein Nassiri selected to referee at Paris Olympics for Archery Hossein Nassiri, former student of Dorms 1984-1989 has been selected to referee at the Olympics in Paris next year for the Sport of Archery. He is also holding the title of Chairman of Judges Committee in the Asian Continent for Archery. We interviewed Hossein and here is what he said: Tell us about what life has been like since you left Bede’s?

I continued my education at Portsmouth Polytechnic and later returned to Iran. For approximately two decades, I managed the family business, which was a cinema complex. Subsequently, I embarked on a journey in archery, progressing to the highest level as a referee. This path has taken me to various corners of the globe for tournaments, and I’m proud to say I’ll be attending the Olympics in Paris next year. Currently, I hold the position of Chairman of the Referee Committee in Asia. I am happily married with a 20-year-old son. My wife specialises in teaching dance, and we are in the process of planning a move to the USA in the near future.

How do you remember your time at Bede’s?

The best time of my life, no other words can explain.

What is your fondest memory from Bede’s?

Athletics, being a part of the Rugby First Fifteen, weekend detentions, the village shop, and those memorable 50 pence sandwiches.

How has Bede’s helped you to get to where you are now?

During my time at St. Bede’s, I acquired the valuable skills of selfsufficiency, punctuality, and the ability to address a crowd during Sunday gatherings. These experiences were transformative, particularly in overcoming my shyness, and have proven to be immensely beneficial in my life.

Have you got any funny stories you are able to share?

The pillow fights we had from the chalets in Dorms were so fun and memorable.

Do you have a message for current pupils?

Enjoy as much as you can, you will miss Bede’s and the life there.

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Hossein Nassiri (Dorms, 1984 - 1989)

PROFILE: REZA NASSIRI Alumnus Reza Nassiri selected as Secretatry General for Kurash Reza Nassiri, former pupil and School Prefect of Dorms 1980-1986 has been selected by the International Kurash Association as Secretary General for the Sport Worldwide . When we caught up with Reza, here is what he said:

Reza Nassiri (Dorms, 1980 - 1986)

How has Bede’s helped you to get to where you are now?

Bede’s has played a pivotal role in shaping my journey to where I stand today. I initiated my involvement in Judo and various other sports at St. Bede’s, and I believe that my current standing in the world of sports is owed to those initial steps taken there. Over the past three decades, I’ve actively participated in numerous sports, and I take pride in acknowledging that all these beginnings trace back to my school time.

Tell us about what life has been like since you left Bede’s?

I believe that my time at Bede’s was the most wonderful period of my life. After leaving Bede’s, I returned to Iran and became a part of the Iran Judo Federation, where I began my career as a referee. Over time, I advanced to the position of Referee Director and subsequently obtained my International Refereeing Licence from the IJF (International Judo Federation), which represents the highest level of refereeing recognition.

I devoted myself to the study of Judo, earning a Seventh Dan, as well as achieving a Sixth Dan in Jujitsu and a Second Dan in Karate.

In 2019, I achieved the remarkable distinction of attaining the 3 Star and 5 Lines Grade in Kurash, and I’m proud to be the sole foreign individual in the world among the eight who hold this title. Currently, I serve as the General Secretary of the International Kurash Association and am based at the association’s headquarters in Uzbekistan. My entire life has been dedicated to the world of sports, from my school days and college years to the present.

How do you remember your time at Bede’s?

It remains the most wonderful period of my life, and I am deeply appreciative of the valuable lessons I gained from my friends, as well as the tremendous support provided by Mr. and Mrs. Perrin. I am still in search of Ahmad Omar, but the memories of my teachers, homework, and my overall experiences are etched in my heart.

What is your fondest memory from Bede’s?

The night I was made School Prefect and we borrowed the School van to venture into Eastbourne and celebrate!

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PROFILE: LILLIE SKERMAN Lillie Skerman (Bloomsbury, 2010 - 2017)

Lillie Skerman (Bloomsbury, 2010-2017) Looking back on my school years, I am filled with a profound appreciation for the incredible place and people who moulded me into who I am today.

My academic journey took a transformative turn when I received a bursary to attend Bedes, or as it was then, St Bedes Prep. This opportunity opened the doors to endless possibilities and instilled in me a profound sense of resilience, determination and drive. At Bede's, I didn't just receive an education. I gained confidence, a thirst for knowledge, empowerment and lifelong friendships that took me to where I am now.

One of the most profound aspects of my school experience was the sense of belonging within a diverse and inclusive community. I was blessed to form deep bonds with fellow students from various backgrounds and cultures, each contributing unique perspectives and life experiences to our collective growth. These friendships have stood the test of time! In June, my partner Sam Broyd (Knights) and I took a trip to Tokyo to be reunited with Anne Kato (Dorter). We had the most incredible time with Anne, exploring the city, eating the most delicious food and reminiscing about our time at Bede's over (perhaps a little too much) Sake! Thanks to the support of Ffion Kellegher (Charleston), I knew enough Japanese to get by, and I am now well on my way to taking my JLPT examination come December!

I was met with warmth, support, and encouragement from my first day at Bede's. The ever-patient staff, both academic and pastoral, imparted knowledge and nurtured a love for academia within me, which would never leave.

Moving up to the Senior School, I found myself in an environment that celebrated curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity, fostering a growth mindset that has become an invaluable asset in all aspects of my life.

I'm not sure Mr Oliver quite understood what terrible monster he awoke that one-afternoon pre-A Levels when I sat bawling my eyes out to him, and he told me, 'It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, it only matters that you prove to yourself that you can do it.' Despite having a global pandemic, a disability diagnosis, and a few hospitalisations launched my way, I managed to wrangle myself an Undergraduate Degree in English Literature, a fully funded Master's Degree in Global Media and Communications, and an unconditional offer for a PhD!

As I write this, I am filled with immense gratitude for Bede's lasting impact on me. The education and culture of the school quite literally changed my life's trajectory and instilled in me a profound appreciation for learning, service, and personal growth. The memories, experiences, and friendships formed during these years will forever hold a special place in my heart.

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PROFILE: REBECCA LOUISE SMITH Rebecca-Louise Smith (Bloomsbury 2004-2006)

Alumna Rebecca-Louise summits Mount Everest Alumna Rebecca-Louise summited Mount Everest on 15 May 2022 and has recently released a documentary on YouTube about her experience.

Rebecca-Louise, Bloomsbury, joined St Bede’s in 2004 until 2006 to do her A-Levels after receiving a wonderful scholarship which enabled her to attend Bede’s. Rebecca successfully obtained 4 A-Levels while excelling academically and in sports, being a hockey player and doing her A levels in History, Art, PE & Media Studies. Rebecca added: ‘’I loved playing in the 1st hockey team and was grateful for all the opportunities and resources I had at the school ‘’ Rebecca Louise is a global fitness NASM Certified Trainer, best-selling author of It Takes Grit, and founder of the BURN By Rebecca Fitness App. As an international fitness entrepreneur, Rebecca’s mission to help others overcome excuses and achieve lasting change has garnered her over 400 million views. Her podcast, It Takes Grit, crested 250,000 downloads and has featured influential names including Olympic Medalist Katie Hoff, Candy Valentino, Dr. Josh Axe, and Cassey Ho. Her success and insights have been highlighted in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Entrepreneur and many other publications. She’s served as the face for Le Coq Sportif and been an ambassador for globally recognized brands including Nike, Amazon, NordicTrack, GoPro and Disney. A continual content creator and empowerment-focused influencer, Rebecca strives to make fitness and success accessible to the masses through her numerous platforms and courses.

This incredible documentary has been a year in the making and comes from the heart. It reflects so many emotions and feelings that she experienced on her journey and we are proud parents that were honoured to be a part of her Everest experience.”

Rebecca’s Mission:

My mission is to help you feel like the best version of yourself every single day by bringing you exciting workouts and tasty recipes, as well as giving you the motivation to do it. Like a lot of people, it has taken me a while to be comfortable in my own skin. At the age of 17, I suffered from anorexia and a terrible complexion which led to depression. Discovering the proper balance of exercise and great nutrition set me on track to take control of my health, wellness, and life! After building knowledge about the importance of cellular nutrition from the number one nutrition company in the world, practising as a certified personal trainer, and being a qualified 200 hour yoga teacher, I am excited to share my experiences and help others reach their goals.

What motivated Rebecca to climb Mount Everest?

When Rebecca was writing her book It Takes Grit, she had realised she hadn’t done anything in such a long time that had got her out of her comfort zone. Something sparked in Rebecca and Mount Everest popped into her head; that is it, that is what she needed to do and with the support of her friends and family, that is exactly what she did.

Rebecca initially was supposed to climb Mount Everest in spring 2020 but just three weeks before going, the mountain was shut down due to Covid postponing Rebecca’s trip. Mentally and physically Rebecca was ready to go and to have that mindset and be ready to then in a moment have it ripped away made Rebecxa think ‘Is this ever going to happen? Am I ever going to get this done?’

Born in a small town in England called Eastbourne, I came to California in 2011 to get my commercial pilot’s licence. I have always participated in sports since a young age and was a South of England Field Hockey player; I was also the sports captain at my high school for the netball, soccer, and track teams. Even after earning my pilot’s licence, I discovered my true passion was in fitness and helping others to improve their lives through living a healthy, active lifestyle.

Two years later in 2022, her quest to climb Mount Everest reignited as the mountain had reopened. Rebecca faced highs and lows during the climb, finding out her loyal dog of 13 years had passed away when she was at Camp One on Everest and highs of climbing to ‘the top of the world’ and summiting Mount Everest. Rebecca became the 51st British woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and documented her journey through her Youtube channel.

Following your dreams is about taking it one step at a time, facing your fears and having the belief that you can do it. Follow Rebecca Louise in this feel good and thought provoking 8 part series as she aims to reach the top of the world. SUBSCRIBE for the full series - http://bit.ly/2voMxWO

Rebecca added: “I wanted to take people on a journey to feel what it’s like to climb up Everest, to walk all the way back down again and to see and experience what it would feel like to reach the top of the world. I wanted to do something to show that I had grit and to share my journey and experience so that other people can feel inspired and they too can go and find their own Everest.”

To find out more about Rebecca and her work, see the links below.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccalouisefitness/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalouisefitness TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccalouisefitness Website: http://rebecca-louise.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/s/rebeccalouisechannel Podcast Channel: http://bit.ly/2uyjy5h

Rebecca’s mum Joanne said: “Rebecca’s ‘Finding Everest’ documentary is a wonderful celebration of her summit to the top of the world in 2022.

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PROFILE: ALEX STEAD Capturing Success: A Spotlight on Our Photography and Videographer Alumnus Alex Stead Alex Stead is an accomplished London based professional photographer and videographer specialising in automotive, travel and lifestyle projects.

Throughout his childhood he pursued the arts and had a keen eye for photography, which he studied at school. From starting on film cameras and developing prints in the dark room to digital photography.

As well as quickly understanding the power of social media by the age of sixteen, Alex was reaching worldwide audiences across his social media channels and committed to creating great content for his growing audience.

Fast forward to twenty when Alex dropped out of university (where he was studying photography) to work full time and build his own branded business. He has since worked with numerous brands, models and fellow creatives from all over the world and has amassed an audience of over 1.1 million followers across social media channels including Bentley, Porsche and Nikon, including part of the Nikon Z50 launch.

Alex now works with a multitude of brands ranging from clothing and products to high end luxury hotels and tourism boards. These campaigns can range from social media activations and marketing photoshoots to video productions and projects.

During the Covid19 lockdown, in which Alex was unable to travel abroad, he found a renewed passion in automotive media and has since worked regularly with multiple brands to both drive and capture content extensively across the U.K. and in the last few years, across the rest of the world as well.

A highlight of his automotive work was a large production in which Alex was responsible for organising and managing an all season shoot for Bentley. This required hiring, producing and directing a team of 15 photographers, models and assistants, booking locations, securing permits and driving 8 different cars across Italy in a major marketing campaign.

Alex loves his work, but one particular aspect he enjoys throughout all types of shoot is the ability to travel all around the world and promote, not only the product or hotel, but also the destination and culture of the locations he visits. So far Alex has travelled to nearly 70 countries and all 7 continents in pursuit of his work. By travelling all across the world he has lessons learnt and a wealth of hints and tips for operating camera gear and organising trips in all types of climates.

Social media has become the way for Alex to share his work across the world, now with over 1 million followers across Youtube, Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook. He is one of the most followed UK photographers and having been on Instagram for over 10 years, he understands how to engage, connect and grow an audience.

You can also see Alex’s photography featured on the cover and back of this issue of The Bedian, thank you Alex! https://alexsteadphoto.com https://www.instagram.com/alex_stead/ https://www.tiktok.com/@beautifultravel info@alexstead.co.uk

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Alex Stead (Dorms 2009-2014)

PROFILE: MILLIE & MARY TAYLOR Breaking Boundaries: Celebrating Millie & Mary in Women’s Cricket In 2021 Mary and Millie Taylor (Upper Fifth) were selected for Regional Honours at the Southern Vipers Academy. Ian Cox, Senior Regional Talent Manager at Southern Vipers, said, “Both Millie and Mary had a taste of regional cricket last summer and they really impressed – not just in terms of their cricketing abilities but also how they embraced the whole process. Everybody involved at the Southern Vipers is extremely excited to be working with Mary and Millie in the Regional Academy.”

Millie & Mary Taylor (Charleston, 2018 - 2022)

Have you got any funny stories you are able to share?

The funniest memory I can think of was the first stage indoor softball under 15 game. The girl on the opposite team hit the ball so hard and it bounced off the basketball hoop about fives tims to the point where I had lost sight of the ball. I put my hands out and the ball just fell in and getting her out, completely unintentionally but I just found it so funny as it landed in my hands.

Mary and Millie also play for the Sussex CCC Ladies 1st team, alongside Sarah Taylor, Sports Development and Life Skills Coach at Bede’s and recent nominee of ICC’s Player of the Decade.

Do you have a message for current pupils?

Keep striding for your goals and never give up!

Next steps: My next steps are definitely to aim to reach the hundred and play senior domestic cricket. I wanted to shout out and thank Petch along with all the Btec staff for all they have done for me.

Alan Wells, Director of Cricket at Bede’s, adds, “I am very impressed with Mary and Millie’s performances and progression, and I look forward to seeing them both continue to flourish in their cricketing careers beyond Bede’s.”

When we caught up with Millie and Mary in September 2023, here is what they had to say…

Millie Taylor: Tell us about what life has been like since you left Bede’s last year?

Since leaving Bede’s I have gained my level 2 Coaching qualification where I now coach cricket for a local club for ages 4 to 10 and pathways for under 11s. I plan to continue coaching and keep up with training as I plan to reach the hundred next Summer and Winter.

When looking back at your time, how do you remember Bede’s?

I fondly remember the Girls Cricket Programme and the flexibility which Bede’s offered. Bede’s let us out for coaching and training sessions which many other schools do not offer. Bede’s pushed us and supported us to do a sport which we were good at, allowing me and my sister to get to where we are now.

Mary Taylor: Tell us about what life has been like since you left Bede’s last year?

Since leaving Bede’s, my time has been filled with lots of Cricket, I have now finished the season playing for the Southern Vipers. I plan to play again for the team and coach on the side.

When looking back at your time, what is your fondest memory from Bede’s?

When I look back at my time at Bede’s my fondest memories are of the Under 15s Tournament in Lourdes and the T20 Hardball national final.

How do you remember your time at Bede’s?

I look at my time at Bede’s being very full on with sport but I enjoyed every moment of it. I played so much Hockey and Cricket, the sports which I love.

How has Bede’s helped you to get to where you are now?

The flexibility of Bede’s has been great in letting us out for coaching. We were out of school a lot for cricket and the School helped us with online classes and academics supporting us from Year 9 when we joined until when we left.

What is your fondest memory from Bede’s?

One of my fondest memories from my time at Bede’s was in my first year at the School in Year 9 where I was a part of the team competing in the U15 nationals at Lords.

How has Bede’s helped you to get to where you are now?

Bede’s has always been so supportive, my BTEC teachers sent us work so that we did not miss out or fall behind. They helped us with the academic side and without them I wouldn’t have got the grades - Miss Newbury and Mrs Merchant in particular.

Do you have a message for current pupils?

Enjoy your time and create as many memories as possible as they will stay with you.

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PROFILE: ART VUDHIJAYA Art Vudhijaya (Camberlot, 1985-1987)

Wallking down memory lane with Art Vudhijaya In 1990 Art returned home to Bangkok, Thailand after living in England for just over six years. Art attended Bede’s in 1985 to 1987 in the 4th form and Lower 5th and a member of Camberlot House, before heading to Eastbourne College to study Hotel Management and Catering. When we interviewed Art about his time and memories from Bede’s, he said: “When I came over to England I couldn’t speak a word of English, St Bede’s really became my home. My parents met in Eastbourne both being from Thailand, so I felt a strong connection to the area.

Even though I was only at Bede’s for a few years, I am still in contact with some of those friends today. St Bede’s really was an international set up, and back in the 1990s and 2000s where social media wasn’t a big thing it was hard to keep in touch with fellow alumni. Before and after Covid there were more travellers over to Thailand and that is where more friends came over to stay and visit.

I don’t believe in coincidence but a friend from Bede’s moved next door to me, we share the same fence!

Bumping into Mr Roger Perrin. “I had come over to England to take my kids to St Bede’s to show them where their dad had studied. On the way back, I had dropped my son off at Ardingly College, as my daughter and I got off the train at Victoria Station, we bumped into Mr Perrin! I don’t believe in coincidences as I said earlier but it must have happened for a good reason. I recognised Mr Perrin’s walk and I was now with my little daughter and it was so great to see him again. I could spot him from miles away and I was obviously pleased and excited, I went over and said Mr Perrin. He turned and said, “Art Vudhijaya!” I was a naughty boy, almost every Saturday detention.”

When speaking with Art, we asked if he had any funny stories or memories to share. He said: “Oh there are too many! Too many memories. I pierced my own ears, that was at St Bede’s. People of those years remember me as Artie poo poo, I was so naughty. I would invite my friends to go to the island where the shed is when the lake was iced up. I would just slide myself along and I had gotten goose poop covered on my clothes and there formed my nickname. Hilarious it was and such a funny memory I played football and was Captain of the first 11 and I also played tennis.”

A message to current students: “Bede’s has changed, but it hasn’t lost its original charm so I think I can rightly say you are in a very very special place. The boarding school was brilliant - it was so much fun.”

Images to the right are from 1985 and 1986.

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PROFILE: JACK WILKINSON Alumnus Attends United Nations Commission on the Status of Women as a UK Delegate Alumnus Jack Wilkinson recently attended the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) as a UK delegate. This is the world’s largest annual meeting of gender equality advocates and presents an important opportunity to discuss a range of issues arising from gender inequality.

Jack Wilkinson (Stud, 2015-2017)

Jack attended Bede’s Sixth Form from 2015 to 2017 and was a member of Stud House. After leaving Bede’s, Jack attended the University of Bristol and completed a BSc (Hons) in Politics and Social Policy. Living in Brixton with fellow Bede’s alumni, Jack is completing a Law conversion course and Master of Laws through King’s College London and BPP. First hearing about the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Conference from a lecturer at King’s College, Jack was interested to apply as a delegate. When speaking about the importance of this conference, he said: “These conferences provide a valuable platform to discuss issues facing women and girls around the world and facilitate the sharing of knowledge and lived experience, in part due to the range of inspiring speakers and discussion panels hosted throughout. The conference afforded me a unique opportunity to hear from practitioners and academics in the spheres of gender-based violence. Having previously worked with academics in Uganda and Mozambique, I was especially interested to hear about the inspiring efforts of communities in East Africa who have committed themselves to eradicate gender based-violence through localised education and health programmes.”

Globally, 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. Violence against women disproportionately affects low- and lower-middle-income countries and regions. In a study of women politicians across the G7 countries (The G7 is an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union.), 82 per cent reported having experienced some form of psychological violence while serving their terms in office.

Jack said: “Each year the conference has a different theme, this year’s theme explored Innovation and Technological Change as a means for achieving gender equality. The conference examined the challenges and opportunities facing rural women and girls and explored routes to economic empowerment as well as the plight faced by disabled women and girls.

Drawing on my own experiences and interests, I felt best placed to contribute to discussions surrounding the challenges faced by women and girls with physical and learning disabilities. My attendance at the conference has equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to engage in further discussion and debate. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been allowed to serve as a UK delegate, especially given my privilege as a White man.

I was conscious to use the conference as a means to learn from and listen to others, whilst hopefully providing some considered contributions here and there! I look forward to continuing my involvement with the Commission on the Status of Women and will be mindful of my experiences as a delegate as I begin my career in law.”

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PROFILE: ANDREW PAVIOUR Andrew Paviour (Raven, 1977-1985)

Andrew’s Journey: How Bede’s Shaped Who He Is Today There is no doubt that going away to boarding school not only kept us together as a family, but is the foundation of my life. This isn’t a story I share very often, and generally am very careful about who I share it with.

I’m sensitive to what we went through as a family in those early years, and to the fact that my education was paid for by the Local Authority. I’m now in my early 50’s, and feel it’s time to share my St Bede’s story... I’d like to take you back to 1972. I became part of history, not just once, but twice. Firstly, by being born during the three-day working week, where the hospital I was born in (St Mary’s in Eastbourne) had an ice cream generator, keeping the electricity supply running in the ward! Secondly, the said hospital in which I was born, is now a housing estate! Those first few years were challenging for us as a family. I was born with a cleft lip, and so it was only a few weeks after I was born that I underwent my first operation at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. Amongst this, my parent’s marriage came to an end and by 1974 my dad had left us.

My mum was bringing up both myself, aged 2 and my sister aged 4. Mum struggled with the ending of her marriage, and it wasn’t long before we had an Educational Psychologist helping us as a family. Life was tough.

Add to that, that at one point we weren’t far from being further broken up as a family, with the potential of both my sister and I being taken into care. My aunt had the idea of the possibility of me going away to boarding school, in order to relieve the pressure at home, and it was put to the Local Authority, and approved.

I was 5 when I started at St Bede’s Prep School, taking a Special Educational Needs place. I still remember my first night at St Bede’s in September 1977. I can still remember that first night, trying to go sleep, and all I could hear was people’s voices outside, alongside the sound of car doors opening and closing. A new chapter in my life had begun.

Life at St Bede’s started as a boarder in School House. As a boarder, it was certainly a character-building experience. The boy’s dormitories were situated near the top of the school. Iron beds, no carpets, and no heating, meant that in the winter, we could wear our school jumper and socks to bed, with maybe just the addition of something like a Calorgas heater placed in the corner of the room when it was really cold!! Unfortunately, the names of all the dormitories escape me. Corfe, Tomlinson, Disbrow, Kendall…that’s as far as I get, but each was named I think after a previous headmaster. Daytime at the weekends in the pre-prep were spent with a visiting female student from nearby Chelsea College (Now University of Brighton), who used to come and look after the boarders, with walks on the beach, the Downs, or a hot chocolate back in their university room! This was another indication of Mr and Mrs Pyemont’s evident pastoral care of the boarders, as they were keen to know we were looked after.

By Form 1 (Now Year 4 in new money!), sport came onto my agenda as I represented the school in football and cricket. This would be an area where I would, I think, excel. Going home initially was just fortnightly, and as I went up through the school, it was generally after a match on Saturday teatime, and back on the school bus on Monday morning. From the 2nd Form (Year 5), when there were no matches, I went home at lunchtime after lessons. Mum didn’t drive so I would sometimes get a lift with a friend who lived near to us, and time to time my mum would make them a chocolate cake, in order to say thank you. On the Saturdays that I wasn’t able to get a lift, I would walk to Eastbourne station, about a 30 minute walk, buy my ticket (30p) and get on the train. When I look back at this now, I can’t believe I did this! Up until about the age of 10, I remember a few occasions going to a friend’s house or having someone home with me for a weekend. I remember on one occasion going home with a friend to London, and when we arrived, I hadn’t got any ‘home clothes’ with me. Probably because I only really had one outfit at home.

I’d like to add at this point that with interest I watch the ongoing debate of uniform vs no uniform at school which appears from time to time in the news, but for me, it meant that I was no different to any other student.

I have found that that is the beauty of the school experience I had. It didn’t matter what the background, in the classroom, or on the sports pitch over at Hide Hollow, we all looked the same. Oh unless of course one had forgotten their white rugby shirt and had to play for the white team in skins! Character building it certainly was in January.

Forward wind to the spring of 1977. Liverpool were about to win the European Cup for the first time, the Queen about to celebrate 25 years as our monarch, and Elvis would sadly soon be leaving the building for the last time. Mum and I visited St Bede’s for an appointment with Mr Pyemont, and to view the school. This appointment I think it’s fair to say, would change my life, indeed our lives as a family. During our time at St Bede’s that Saturday morning, Mr Pyemont offered to give me a tour. We left his study, turned left, and he took my right hand. In recent years mum said that when she saw this, her mind was made up that this was to be the school for me to attend.

As I moved up the years, I gradually slipped down the classes, and with that, sport was becoming the area of school life in which I felt I flourished. I can still hear the endless energy of coaching instructions reaching across every part of the school field as the Colts football team was moulded into action. There was something special about playing football on the school field. In the fourth form I was introduced to the highly disciplined sports teams run by Mr P Pyemont (Known affectionately as PP).

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PROFILE: ANDREW PAVIOUR Andrew’s Journey: How Bede’s Shaped Who He Is Today Never have I played in a sports team that literally worked like clockworkhighly disciplined, everyone knew their role, everyone had a part to play.

This was teamwork. The 2nd XI hockey team of 1984 hadn’t lost in four years under the coaching of PP. Unfortunately, that season we lost one game 1-0, but to this day it is the most disciplined sports team I ever played in. Experiences like this have stayed with me. In the Fifth Form (Year 8), I played 1st XI football with Mr C Pyemont (Known affectionately as CP) as our coach, again a very disciplined team ethic. I would be blessed to have two football seasons in the ‘Firsts’ as I stayed on for an extra term in the autumn of 1985, in order to ensure I was ready to pass my Common Entrance to Eastbourne College. I may not have been academic, but on the sports fields of St Bede’s I learnt so many skills that stay with me to this day-discipline, teamwork, and those freezing cold afternoons on the Hollow would enable me to thrive in my early working career as a groundsman.

I remember vividly the day I left St Bede’s. December 1985, eight years and three months later, aged 13, I said goodbye to Mr and Mrs (C) Pyemont at Holywell Mount, walking down the stairs and out of St Bede’s for the last time. Everyone else had left and as I walked down those stairs, I could hear the building come to life with all the sounds of every-day hustle and bustle of the school day. It was a season of my life that was drawing to a close. In my hand was my wooden model plane that I had painstakingly put together over a period of what seemed like forever in Thursday afternoon aero-modelling plane club. Like this model plane, the foundation of my life had been bit by bit woven together at St Bede’s. I started St Bede’s unable to tie my football boot laces. I remember running around on School Field on that first Monday afternoon in the warm sunshine, with my boot laces going everywhere. I left St Bede’s honoured to have been asked to be Captain of Football, a School Prefect, and Head of my House, Raven.

I have treasured away my 1st XI football colours, my School Prefect’s badge, and my green Raven House Captain badge. I know exactly where they are to this day. This is no modest display of what I achieved, but an illustration of how, having arrived at school with a difficult start to life, I became under the careful nurturing of Mr Pyemont and the amazing school staff, the person I am today. Thank you, St Bede’s.

As mentioned, I wasn’t particularly academic, but I did enjoy the subject of Art, an environment where I learnt to draw and paint. I was blessed with two inspiring art teachers throughout my school days, creating an environment of tremendous encouragement for me. I would regularly use the art room throughout my school years, and indeed it would also be an environment where I would spend hours during my time at Eastbourne College as I really struggled in the classroom.

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IN CONVERSATION WITH MR BEVINGTON Former Head of Bede’s Preparatory School, 2007-2013 At the exact moment he stepped behind the wings at the curtain call, I entered the back of the theatre dressed back in my normal teacher attire clapping and congratulating the staff. Never before or since have so many children looked at me in such abject amazement. I never said how the illusion was created and this is the first time I have shared the secret publicly.

Nicholas Bevington was head of Bede’s Prep School from September 2007 to July 2013. His appointment signified a new era and generational shift, after over 40 years with the legendary Pyemont brothers at the helm. It was Nick’s first Headship, aged only 35.

Twelve years earlier, Nick had graduated from Keele University with First Class honours and begun his career on the British Airways Graduate Programme. As the months passed, he remembered how much he had enjoyed working with younger children at US summer camps as a student and realised that however prestigious his current role seemed, a career in education was where his heart lay. He followed this calling and enrolled for a PGCE at Newcastle University in 1996, specialising in secondary maths alongside general primary.

Other great memories were running with U9 rugby players to Hollow, attending amazing fireworks parties, laughing with Ms Corbett in the matron’s room and a camping trip with the boarders to Hampshire. There were sad times too, notably when a much-loved colleague passed away suddenly and we mourned her loss in the chapel.

When it finally came to recruiting my successor, I had to give each of the shortlisted candidates a tour. We had two corn snakes in the science lab and whenever I gave a tour of the school these would always be a firm favourite for potential pupils. Without thinking I got one of the snakes out from its enclosure when showing one candidate around, then put it in his hands so I could get the other out. It didn’t occur to me that he might have any issue with this until he told me months later how petrified he had been, unable to say at the time as he wanted to make a good impression.

That moment has always bonded us since.”

His first teaching position saw him undertaking an increasing amount of Modern Foreign Language teaching, having worked in France during his gap year. On the back of this, he was appointed Head of French when the post holder in his first school retired. A significant jump in French CE and scholarship French results ensued and this success led to him being appointed Deputy Head of Abercorn School in London in 2003.

It was in London where he met his wife Catherine, a hospital registrar at the time. She qualified as a consultant and was looking for a post outside London in 2006, the same time Christopher Pyemont’s retirement was announced. Nick contacted Steve Cole, Head of the Senior School, to find out about the role and whether he might put himself forward.

Steve encouraged him to apply and the selection process started in October 2006, with Nick flying back from a school trip in New York to take part in final interviews. Still not sure who to choose, Steve went to visit Nick’s school in London. The first person he saw at the entrance was the caretaker. Steve asked him about Nick and was struck by his warm response. Steve went on to say that “someone who has such strong support from the people who take care of the building they work in will always be the right person for me” and Nick was duly appointed head of Bede’s Prep in 2007.

During his time at Bede’s, Nick taught a variety of subjects, including PSHE, U9 rugby and Year 8 maths. When speaking to Nick, we asked what his fondest memories from his time at Bede’s were. He said: “There were many; I met inspiring people and we went on an exciting journey together.

What do you miss the most about Bede’s?

“Bedes was a school that embraced alternative thinkers and children with a range of different talents in a way that a lot of more traditional and selective schools don’t. I remember one boy joining us who had experienced considerable challenges with reading and writing. He was clearly very bright and made stunning progress while at the Prep School.

At the end of his first day, I was on changing room duty and asked him how his first day had been.

One particularly fond memory was a staff pantomime, written by my talented colleague Penelope, that following a loose tradition of these occurring every so often. Her creation was a cross between Cinderella and Strictly Come Dancing, with judges, a string of dance couples and Cinderella looking for her partner.

It was billed as normal assembly, until Julie from the office burst in as planned and announced to everyone’s amazement that I needed to check what was in the wings. There waiting, dressed in full ugly sister costume, was my twin brother none of the children knew about. To them, it was me who reappeared instantly in a different costume and then changed in a flash numerous times as the storyline unfolded. He had learnt his lines diligently with a few “ad-libbed” comments about children to help convince them he was me.

“Brilliant thank you,” he replied, “This school does exactly what my old school motto said.”

This pricked my interest considerably. “That’s very interesting,” I replied, “Tell me what your old school motto was?”

“Dare to be different,” he said, “But the funny thing is, they actually wanted us to all be the same.”

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IN CONVERSATION WITH MR BEVINGTON Former Head of Bede’s Preparatory School, 2007-2013 It is one of the most amazing and perceptive comments I have heard from someone so young and I have always remembered it. He was one of many incredible pupils I came to meet over my years at the school and was exactly what I was talking about when I referred frequently to a school for many talents. For me, that is the Bede’s difference.”

You were head of Bede’s Prep for 6 years, how has that time influenced where you are now?

“I was a young head and had seen the school through a lot of change, It reached a point where the school needed someone else who would take all that change for granted and look towards the next steps with fresh eyes.

So I think it was the right time to go. It was a launching pad for me as much as for the students I led.

I left to become Head of a standalone school, with all the responsibility and experience which that entails. I was moving to a school that was bigger and had its own different context.

After leaving Bede’s as Head of the Prep School, Nick was appointed Head of Town Close School, Norwich in 2013, leading the re-development of facilities and implementation of educational technology. Under Nick’s leadership the school won the prestigious Times Education Supplement Pre Prep/Prep School of the year 2020 in recognition of pupil voice, wellbeing initiatives, engineering successes and outstanding academic results.

When we asked Nick to share a message with the Bede’s pupils, here is what he said: It can seem amazing when you are in Year 13 and have just graduated.

You are at the end of what has been a life-long journey and it is so easy to look back and think you have made it. In fact, what you have achieved so far in your exams and achievements beyond the classroom have just got you to the start line. Now is the time to apply everything you have learnt and make a meaningful difference. Trust me, that a lot of that will go way beyond what you covered in the taught curriculum. Things will not always come easily and there may be times when the road ahead does not seem clear. Try to be ambitious and resilient. Take every opportunity you can and where there is no obvious opportunity, see if you can create it. And if you can find an occupation you love, as the famous saying goes, you will never do a day’s work in your life. That ultimately is why I was your Head of Prep School all those years ago.

From Norwich, Nick was keen to expand his horizons beyond UK education and joined Dulwich College (Singapore) as Head of Junior School in August 2021, leading nearly 1000 students. Dulwich College (Singapore ) is part of a portfolio of the international schools that are affiliated to the London independent school, and aims to be one of the world’s leading schools.

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IN CONVERSATION WITH MR HAMMOND Anthony Hammond, Bede’s Staff 1994 - 2022 We sat down to chat to Anthony Hammond (Staff 1994-2022) about his time at Bede’s, what his roles were, and what the School means to him:

Then Richard Frame and myself started working with Brighton University on mentoring projects. We did that for about four years, bringing in teachers who would mentor other teachers. This led to me becoming Head of Teacher Development, so I was made responsible for continuing the mentoring programme, training teachers and working with newly qualified teachers. I’ve found that if you want to have job satisfaction, supporting others can really do that. My biggest mentor was David Graham who was Head of Art and Dorms at the time, and I learned so much from him because he supported me and cared for me throughout those first few years at Bede’s. So, I knew firsthand the impact it could have.

“On April 1st 1994 I went into WHSmiths and opened up the Times Educational Supplement, because there was no internet in those days, and I saw something saying ‘ceramics teacher’. I was at that time studying my Masters at Cardiff University for ceramics, and thought that you don’t often see ceramics teachers being asked for. So, I applied. I went for the interview and thought as I left, “I really hope I get this job.”

The next day, I was having an interview at a different school. I was talking to the Headmistress of this school and the phone rang. She answered and then said “it’s for you”. I was confused thinking that no-one knew where I was, but found out that my friends in Cardiff had been hunting me down because Roger Perrin, founding headmaster of Bede’s Senior School, had constantly been calling to get a hold of me. So, I rushed to the Ascott train station and found a phone box, because there were no mobile phones, and called Roger Perrin and he then offered me the job. And that was the beginning.

That desire to be a supportive person that David Graham ingrained in me has been so important. The pastoral side is really important to me, and working with teachers was another way for me to express that throughout my teaching career.

I am so grateful to Roger Perrin for seeing something in me that made him want to hire me, and for David Graham for believing in me.

My predecessor, Roger Whitmore, did 10 years at Bede’s as a ceramics teacher. So I was told “just do 10 years, that’s the life expectancy of a ceramics teacher here.” Well, I ended up doing a little bit more than that…. I loved my time there, and of course I miss it.”

I was Head of Ceramics for 28 years, I was initially the second teacher in Dorms, and then for a short time I was third in Camberlot. I then became joint Head of Dicker, alongside Giles Perrin, Roger Perrin’s son. You could tell which side of the room mine was, because it was neat, and then Giles’ looked like a bomb had gone off. Dicker was then split in half to form Deis and Knights, so I became the sole Head of Deis. I did that for five years, and then became Assistant Head of School for four years.

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IN CONVERSATION WITH MR ROHMER Henrik Rohmer, Teacher of German and former Head of Department, 2008 - 2023 I joined Bede’s after nine formative years at a mixed comprehensive and it is fair to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my 15 years working at the School.

The funniest things happen in everyday boarding life and on school trips (often not funny at the time), such as the entire travel group’s luggage not arriving in Iceland, managing to lock yourself in a Chinese youth hostel toilet in the short time between headcount and coach departure, feeling sick on Alexander Square from too much Bratwurst or the House of Dorter getting all hysterical about a mouse gorging itself on desiccated food that had fallen out of the day-boarder lockers.

Bede’s is a brilliant school. The campus is stunning, the people - both colleagues and students - are great to work with, and that’s mainly because the entire teaching climate is that of mutual support and fostering of individual strengths. Discipline is always good, students are polite and in the vast majority respectful. You get to try out things that are out-of-the-box, especially as part of the co-curricular programme, such as when a good friend and colleague and I ran a trip to Cologne with the sole purpose of watching three games at the ice hockey world championships (with a token gallery visit chucked in for good measure).

We have also taken boarders to Guildford over the years to watch the Flames play and go ice skating ourselves, bringing everyone back fully intact.

When I started out, Bede’s used to be that quirky school for students who did not quite fit in elsewhere. Things have changed under the current and previous Headmasters, yet the School still instils this feeling of belonging into all sorts of individuals, so that everyone amongst the student body feels appreciated and supported. I know from parents of my native country Germany that they are regularly wowed by the individual attention, goodwill-time, dedication and care their daughters and sons receive. It is important that Bede’s does not lose that despite the challenges that lay ahead. It’s the School’s DNA, the sense of belonging and support needs to continue to be extended to all stakeholders.

In my time at Bede’s, I was Head of Department, Out-Tutor, E-Learning coordinator introducing the VLE to the School, 8 times formal dinner speaker, and annual organiser of the Oktoberfest. I was teacher and parent at the same time, at one point writing my son’s reports for my wife. Amongst the best things I have done at Bede’s are the two German language theatre plays (subtitled live performances of Kafka and the story of the White Rose resistance group), involving Sixth Formers who would otherwise not have knocked on the Drama department’s door. I have been to most dance and theatre performances throughout my time here, and I cannot thank the Performing Arts faculty enough for letting me have a go myself.

I, myself, am going back to Germany to be a Housemaster and English/ German teacher at a private school. I was once advised by a role-model pedagogue at the beginning of my teaching career that you should professionally reinvent yourself every 7 years. If not by changing jobs entirely, then at least by redefining one’s role within your organisation. At 54, I feel I need to take this opportunity having done more than twice the recommended time at this place. After 25 years in Britain, I am hoping my English is going to be just fine for that. I will definitely stay in contact with Bede’s. I will miss everyone, especially the amazing, funny and stunning MFL department and the well-gelled Dorter House team. All the best to the Bede’s community for the next academic year.

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MR MILLS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS AT BEDE’S Richard Mills is celebrating 25 years at Bede’s How would you describe Bede’s?

Bede’s has its values but for me it is a really kind, warm, caring and fun school. I love that we have such a mixture of pupils and parents always ask me what is a typical Bedian? Well there isn’t one, we can instil the right values but everyone is an individual with their own paths.

Registrar Richard Mills is celebrating 25 years at Bede’s. Here is what he said when we asked Richard about the memories made so far.

Tell us about your journey to Bede’s: I am from the North West - born in Manchester, hence a United fan! I went to Bolton School, and then Merchant Taylors’, Crosby. I read Economics at university (Bangor) and then worked in the City for NatWest. After three years, I took a gap year, travelled the world, and on my return went into teaching. My first teaching post was at a highly selective all Boys School, QE Boys, Barnet.

I love the fact that the people who maybe find academic work a bit of a struggle and have succeeded have been some of my biggest highlights.

It may have been a bit of a battle and they have gotten a C or level 4 or 5 in Maths and English, and it always makes me think I know what you have been through to get that, it’s a major achievement but that’s what I love about this school.

I joined Bede’s in 1998 as an Economics Teacher, a few years later I was appointed Head of Sixth Form. In the early naughties I became Head of Dicker house roughly 2006/2007. I then became Senior Housemaster as well roughly around 2013. Then in Easter of 2015 I became Registrar who oversees the recruitment at 13+, 14+, 16+ and Pre-Sixth entry and here we are today.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Never complain about being old - it means you haven’t died!

Have you got a message to current pupils?

Always be true to yourself. Enjoy school and you will be making lifelong friendships as you go along.

This was never the plan but I am quite glad that it worked out and it’s been very varied with the beginning of my career mainly academic with the teaching and Head of Sixth Form. Then it kind of shifted towards the pastoral side and now a completely different role now looking after the admissions.

Have you got a message to alumni?

Absolutely wonderful memories, being in charge of Dicker has and always will be the best time I have ever had at Bede’s because of the boys and the boys who went through the house. Absolutely brilliant, they kept me on my toes but I love them to bits.

What are your fondest memories while working at Bede’s?

The most rewarding job was being Housemaster, being in charge of Dicker House was brilliant. We won five House Cups on the trot which was amazing, we also won three House Music Competitions in a row which had never been done before. But you know some of the individuals in there were fantastic highlights, great Heads of Houses which were all unique and special in their own way. The likes of Rob Leary, Pat Murray, Andrew Horsfall-Turner, Jay Spicer, Ollie Calleghan, Ed Cuddlip.

Why is Bede’s such a special place to you?

I believe very strongly in its ethos, I think it has got the right ethos for a school. I have been very lucky in doing the jobs that I have done, I have absolutely loved all of them, I have been very lucky with the people I work with. It is a fantastic environment to work in in the East Sussex countryside you can’t beat it. It is a healthy environment. I just feel incredibly lucky.

I never thought I would be here for 25 plus years when I arrived but they have absolutely flown by and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

What would you say have been your biggest achievements while working at Bede’s?

There are some things that I am really proud of, when I was Housemaster I introduced Make a Difference Day to Dicker House for Year 9’s and 10’s.

I do believe that they are in a privileged position attending this school so it was just a day for them to reflect on that and give something back to whoever, just do something good for the day, could be your next door neighbour, could be the charity shop, could be another school. I did that one year then all the other Hms saw it and wanted to do that as well. Make a difference day became a fixture in the school calendar for every Year 9 and Year 10, and that has been going on for 10/12 years. This year Make a Difference Day has been picked up and become a Trust wide event which I am extremely proud of.

Another achievement is when I took over my most recent role as Registrar, Bede’s hadn’t really got an admissions process as such, so introducing the Bede’s Experience Day for Year 9s for example which was a completely unique admissions process in the independent school sector, very different to everybody else. So I think those two are my most memorable achievements.

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DOWN MEMORY LANE Memories from John Graham, contemporary of Peter Pyemont She also says that I was learning to write in Ink (with a Fountain pen...no Biros then!).

At the age of 6 years eleven months, in mid-January 1947, my mother took me from Oxford to London, then from Paddington to Victoria station and handed me to the Guard of a train going from Victoria to Eastbourne, to be handed to the Matron of St Bede’s on arrival.

Mr Candlin, the Headmaster, writes encouragingly that I was making excellent progress.

This was because I had had a chest infection after Christmas, so was not well enough to take the normal train to St Bede’s with the rest of the pupils, when term started. St Bede’s had been evacuated from Eastbourne at the start of the war, because of the risk of German invasion, and taken in at a school in Oxford with St Edwards, Oxford. When the war ended St Bede’s moved back to the foot of the Downs in Eastbourne.

The following year, Rex Lord, whom I respected, suggests that I’d made ‘very satisfactory progress’. In the Fifth form the teacher (Can’t tell what his initials are) says “I do not like his writing, a major issue so far as his English is concerned….his knowledge is good but - I say this emphatically- useless if the examiner cannot decipher what is written”. The same term I started Greek, with the Rev C O Bevan, whom I still remember. Previously a teacher at Eton, I think, who had retired to Eastbourne.

My Father, a Maxillofacial Surgeon in London, had joined the Army Medical corps when the War broke out and was posted to Oxford to work with the Head Injury unit with Sir Hugh Cairns, based at St Hugh’s college. The college itself was closed. When the war ended he decided to stay in Oxford and rented a house at 33 Beaumont Street, rented from St John’s College, through the Bursar, whom he had met, and we lived in the flat above his practice.

I do still remember my first appearance on Stage, for the ‘Dramatic Entertainment’ in which I was Liza and J C Hughes was Georgie in ‘There’s a Hole in my Bucket, dear Liza dear Liza’.

At some event in Oxford he met the Head teacher of St Bede’s and decided to send me there, though there are at least two excellent Prep schools in Oxford! I found myself among strangers in Miss Barnards’s class. She was kind, though strict.

I left St Bede’s at the end of the summer term 1953 with quite a complimentary report. And went on to Uppingham, another boarding school some distance from Oxford.

I still have my school reports, (which I won’t lay out here in detail…). I started in Miss Elsie Barnard’s class. Her report for my first term is clearly meant to be encouraging to my parents!

Charles Spanner (Former Director of Music, 1979-1982)

A Short Story by Charles Spanner We caught up with Charles Spanner and he had a short story to share: “The prospective title for this narrative could aptly be ‘Seeing is Believing.’

During the early 1980s, I held the position of Director of Music at Bede’s, also known as St. Bede’s during that period. Each school day began with a gathering in the Village Chapel, which served as the School Chapel.

The choir and the entire school community were already assembled and seated.

In every service, a member of the staff would take the lead. On one particular occasion, Mr. Hannah entered the chapel, holding a daffodil.

With deliberate steps, he proceeded down the aisle, in full view of the assembled audience, and then consumed the daffodil before exiting.

This unconventional act marked the conclusion of the school address, delivering a remarkably potent message in its own unique way.

I am curious if anyone can recall this memorable incident.

Thank you for taking the time to read this account.”

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DOWN MEMORY LANE Memories from St Bede’s Prep School 1967-1970, 1977-1980 by Sally Marchant, Katharine Cutts & Stuart Ayers.

Sally Marchant (née Ayers): 1967-1970 I arrived at St Bede’s on my first day to discover that I was the only girl in the Main School! I was quite a shy girl and this was a bit of a shock! The Pyemonts took me under their wing and were so kind, especially when my sister and I boarded for a few weeks. I was part of the Raven House and my school number was 114.

Fortunately I was still living at home as the hours were long! I was privileged to be asked by Piers Robinson to type out the script for his new musical ‘Peter Pan’. I employed my Mum (Pearl Ayers) as a minibus driver, from when she took on various roles (Swimming Club coordinator, Archivist, Secretary) Then the Senior School was started and I worked for a year for PP and Roger Perrin, as they began with two classrooms in what was the garage below my office. I remember dating several members of staff during my 3 years!

There were things that were definitely out of bounds for me, as they were deemed too dangerous for girls – namely cricket, football and rugby! As sports took place every day, I was frequently put with the off games boys (helping Matron, Miss Hatter, sorting socks into pairs and putting them into boys’ pigeon holes; washing hair brushes and other mundane tasks).

When John Cousins (Science) was in charge of those off games boys, I joined him for a ramble over the Downs, often to the Hollow or to the beach; thus began my love of the outdoors, nature, the sea and walking.

I remember taking tennis lessons and Judo and I did learn how to score at cricket!

PP and RP were true pioneers and risk takers – having girls in a Prep School was unheard of in the late 1960s, as was starting a new school from two classes. My days at St Bede’s were indeed informative and gave me a good start in life. I am indebted to Peter and Elspeth as well as all the wonderful staff who helped me on my way.

I have cherished various recollections and standout moments during my time at Bede’s. Among them, I can recall my participation in the inaugural play, “The Boy with a Cart,” where once again, I found myself as the sole female performer. I also have vivid memories of singing in the All Saints’ Chapel Choir and the outdoor gym displays featuring tableaus, all under the guidance of Mr. Verrall.

1980 onwards From working at St Bede’s I moved to Lee Abbey in North Devon where I was a volunteer community member, as I was exploring the possibility of a future in full-time Christian work. Married, had two children. My career then took a different turn into Personnel (now HR) and worked for 9 years at Dulwich College, employing teachers. From there I trained for Ministry in the Church of England and became a priest in 2010. I am now retired, living near Plymouth, but still taking occasional services.

Inside the classroom, I was notably competitive, and it was an unwritten rule that no one wanted to be outperformed by a girl during the Fortnightly Orders. My fond memories also include the excitement of sports day, featuring classic games like the egg and spoon race, the three-legged race, the wheelbarrow race, and many more entertaining activities. It was always a bit awkward passing by the open boys’ changing rooms after sports, and I quickly averted my eyes.

Katharine Cutts (née Ayers) known as Dotty: St Bede’s memories My reminiscences from my time at Bede’s include being the sole female student in my class. I also have fond memories of a period of boarding with my sister Sally, where we were the only girl boarders, and we received exceptional care from the Pyemonts.

I cherish the moments spent in science lessons with Mr. John Cousins, during which we had the opportunity to hold newly hatched chicks, as well as the Latin lessons with Rex Lord. Engaging in the English reading of “The Kon-Tiki Expedition” with Mr. Peter Pyemont was a memorable experience. I particularly recall the excitement of selecting a book at the bookshop as a potential form prize.

The Chef, who also happened to be a dedicated lifeboat man, had a knack for preparing my favourite dessert – a scrumptious chocolate sponge with custard. However, I must admit that my least favourite culinary experience was undoubtedly fish Fridays. Additional cherished moments include the Roll Call held in the Big School Room, engaging in the game of ‘splits’ on the field using a pair of compasses, and instances where we ignited leaves using a magnifying glass. On one occasion, I unintentionally damaged a basin while playing with hair brushes that we were cleaning for Matron.

Playing the clarinet in the school band for the production of “The Mikado” and portraying the role of the third Apparition in the school production of “Macbeth” (I can still recall my lines!) were standout experiences.

I also hold dear the pleasant recollections of my father, Derek Ayers, as a part of the fathers’ cricket team. Furthermore, certain phrases still echo in my mind, such as Frank Bagnall (maths) saying, “Maths is what you need, by Jingo!” and Rex Lord (Classics) remarking, “Can’t you grasp plain English?”

The sight of the entire school participating in outdoor exercises during break times is etched in my memory. Engaging in French skipping with the other girls during breaks was a common pastime. The annual athletics and sports days on the school field were events I eagerly anticipated. I also remember the gymnastics lessons with Mr. Verrill, where we would practise vaulting over the box.

1977-1980 I was interviewed for the post of PA to Peter Pyemont and School Secretary, as Miss Wise was retiring. Having done an intensive PA’s training, at the age of 19, again PP took a risk and appointed me. I remember the days (before computers) where everything was typed with carbon copies or printed off from a stencil or on the Gestetner, including endless and ever changing form lists and school rolls. Typing Reports termly on those tiny slips of paper, organising travel arrangements for boarders, keeping and administering the boys’ pocket money, and anything and everything else!

Lastly, I can’t forget the brisk, wintry mornings waiting for the school minibus to transport us to school, and my steadfast refusal to wear the school’s green beret.

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DOWN MEMORY LANE Stuart Ayers St. Bede’s Memories I was a pupil right the way through from Pre-Prep to the 6th Form before going on to Eastbourne College. (1967-1977). I then came back to work at the school in my Gap year before going to University, when I taught French, Latin and took Games. I was also a Scout Leader and did the lighting for the school summer production. During my University years I came back in the Summer Term to help with lighting for subsequent summer productions.

I have fond recollections of playing fanfares for various events, including the inauguration of the tennis courts by Maria Bueno, or singing “Zadock the Priest” on the school field. Above all, being cast as a Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music ‘’ was an extraordinary highlight and even travelling back from the Congress Theatre the boot of PP’s MGBGT!!

During my Gap year working on the staff Autumn 1982-Summer 1983 I was deeply touched by the kindness and support I received from my former teachers, who were now my colleagues. They extended their generosity not only to me but also to Justine Judd, who was working as a gap teacher alongside me. I would like to express my gratitude to individuals such as Gavin Coventry, Val Sedge, Frank Bagnall, John Cousin, PP, CP, John Barclay, and numerous others. It was quite a challenge to dodge Frank Bagnall and his clipboard, as he was often on the lookout for cover teachers and would inquire, “Stuart, are you available right now?”

1967-1977: My time as a pupil at Bede’s School spanned from 1967 to 1977, and it is a period rich with memories, especially the teachers who left a lasting impression on me. Teachers like Mrs. Prysor-Jones and Mrs. FosterBlood, who would gather us before lunch to recite the Lord’s Prayer. Miss Kavanagh introduced me to the world of learning French and in my early years at the Prep School, Miss Lamb and Mrs. Henley were my dedicated educators. I can’t forget Miss Hatter, the Matron, who was a formidable lady.

My recollections also encompass my participation in accompanying the French Exchange to the Caousou school in Toulouse, engaging in Scout Camps and Events. I have fond memories of singing Evensong at Littlington Church during the summer, as well as fulfilling my duties during Holywell Mount Evening. Additionally, I recall my involvement in managing various teams and serving as a referee, as well as actively participating in school productions, which included memorable shows such as Bugsy Malone, Stalky and Co, The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner, The Royal Hunt of the Sun. All of these experiences culminated with the Leavers’ Camp.

One particular memory is the ride home in an old minibus along Paradise Drive. I also recall the walks to the Hollow for Games, and sometimes going on a “ramble” with John Cousins when we had a break from sports activities. Gym class with Mr. Verrall, who ensured our safety during activities like vaulting horse exercises with neck-rolls and flying angels. Later on, Mr. Smith took our gym classes and became known for his signature phrase, “St Bede’s, I’m waiting!” In my final year, during the Sixth Form review, I dressed in an oversized orange tracksuit and delivered an impersonation of Mr. Smith.

It was wonderful to be a part of the school for so many years. In retrospect I can see how it prepared me to train and become a Secondary school teacher, from which I have now retired after 32 years in the profession. I always benefited from the breadth of opportunity available at St. Bede’s and at Eastbourne College and this was down to the encouragement of my parents and teachers to get stuck in and to make the most of the place!

This is something that I have encouraged students to do throughout my teaching life. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my parents for enabling me to have the opportunities that St. Bede’s offered and for their support and encouragement.

There was a time where we were evacuated from the school because the Oil Tanker Sitakund was about to explode off Beach Head! (1968?).

Additional cherished reminiscences encompass the daily gathering in the assembly hall and studying Latin with Mr. Rex Lord. Enjoying biscuits during the morning break and indulging in buns during the afternoons was a delightful routine. I have fond memories of attending chapel, with a special appreciation for the Bible readings from David Kossof’s rendition of the biblical stories, as well as participating in Carol Services at All Saints Hospital Chapel. Finally, my affiliation with Raven House (School Number 20) holds a special place in my heart.

I always looked up to PP as my Headmaster and later as my boss and finally as a friend. He was an excellent School Master and a kind man and a major influence on my younger years. He created and sustained a positive atmosphere at the school, which I shall always remember. He and Elspeth were a great support to our family, especially as our parents grew older and we have appreciated their love and kindness for many years.

The most cherished sporting moments from my tenure at Bede’s include engaging in football matches both on the school field and at All Saints, embarking on an exciting outing to watch Brighton and Hove Albion face off against Huddersfield (a reward for our undefeated Colts Football team), participating in swimming galas in the school pool, and serving as the captain of the 2nd XI cricket team.

Some standout memories from my past involve playing the role of an Urchin in the musical “Oliver!” and dedicating weekends to learn the songs and attend rehearsals. I also cherished my time in the Orchestra and Choir, led by Mr. Woodcock and Mr. Savary, as well as participating in the joint school’s choir with Eastbourne College and performing with the Symphony Orchestra in “Belshazzar’s Feast” at the Congress Theatre.

Those rehearsals, guided by John Walker from the College, and my trumpet lessons with Piers Robinson were particularly memorable.

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LEAVERS OF 2020 REUNION On Friday 21 April, we were delighted to celebrate the Leavers of 2020 at the Lansdowne Club in Mayfair.

It was incredible to see the 2020 Leavers at the Lansdowne Club in Mayfair on Friday 21 April for their three year reunion. Leaving in 2020 they got no Leavers’ Ball or chance to celebrate their time with us, say goodbye or to celebrate their successes, so to see them all back together and looking so well was lovely.

Many came away from the event with fond memories to be able to get the celebration they had so deserved.

“I really loved the Bede’s Reunion, although three hours went by far too quickly but it was an absolute blast to see everyone again. It felt like no time had passed and we’d only seen each other yesterday. It’s amazing how quickly you just feel at home again. The connection you build with the people at Bede’s is like no other. I missed everyone so much.”

India Parks, Dorter 2020

And what a fantastic event it was, it is safe to say that staff and pupils alike had a fantastic evening catching up over drinks and some incredible food. Although three years had passed there was still a strong connection back to Bede’s.

It was so great to see the year group of 2020.

Alumni were able to look through their yearbooks at the event, lots of laughing and looking back at their time at Bede’s. Over 60 people attended the event, from Munich and Geneva to Manchester and it was so great to have them all there.

If you have any reunion ideas for your year group please let us know by email: development@bedes.org

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LEAVERS OF 2O2O REUNION

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BACK TO BEDE’S REUNION In May 2023, Bede’s hosted a ‘Back to Bede’s’ reunion at the Senior School.

Thank you all so very much for putting on an excellent afternoon.

It was so lovely to meet up with so many people. Your grounds looked very good and the refreshments were fantastic. Please thank Mr Goodyer for me. Congratulations to you All. Kind Regards ~ Lesley Raven (Alumni Staff, Prep School, 1977 - 2009)

Former and current pupils, staff, and governors of Bede’s Prep and Senior School gathered to celebrate, reminisce and reunite with old classmates and staff at the Back to Bede’s Reunion on Saturday 13th May 2023.

Over 300 alumni and guests attended the reunion from far and wide and were serenaded by Violinist Lizzie Roberts as they filled the lawns overlooking the lake at the Senior School with beautifully manicured grounds and magnificent scenery all drowned in sunshine.

Amazing event! Great to meet staff and former pupils again and to reminisce about beautiful times together. ~ Junes Banat (Alumni Pupil, Senior School, 2019 - 2020)

With many familiar faces attending the event, past and present, such as current CEO and Head of the Senior School, Peter Goodyer, current Head of Bede’s Prep School, Leigh-Anne Morris and also Founding Head of the Senior School Roger Perrin. Peter Goodyear gave a wonderful welcome speech before afternoon tea was served on the lawns.

Thank you for such a great afternoon, we had a great time. ~ Natalie Morey Burrows (Alumni Pupil, Senior School, 2011) Wonderful to see so many of us, back together, in a place we know so well. Super afternoon and the sun shone, glorious. ~ Mark Rimmington (Alumni Staff, Senior School, 1990 - 2020)

Prefects led tours around the grounds visiting Boarding and Day Houses, classrooms, the Chapel, watched some Cricket and even visited the zoo, allowing alumni to take a step back in time while also seeing how the Senior School has grown. Alumni also had the opportunity to take a quiet moment to reflect in the memorial garden and to remember those who are no longer with us and to delve into the Trust’s archives which were on display in the Recital Room.

For me to come back and see the new buildings after having been at St Bedes since 1979 when there were only 78 students. There is a huge transformation. The visit was mind blowing for me and I was nearly totally speechless. It is really wonderful to see the School’s growth. Best wishes to you all for the future ~ Charles Spanner (Alumni Staff, Senior School, 1978 - 1982)

The afternoon was a wonderful occasion for all who attended with alumni commenting: ‘Walking through the unforgettable school gates of St Bede’s School, you are instantly transported back down memory lane no matter which year you left. Having not returned for over 20 years, the fundamental structure of the School I knew was still there. The new additions added over the years are remarkable and show a clear understanding and commitment to the pupils and staff. The emphasis on diversity, equality and camaraderie are clearly a high priority for all within those gates and a clear testament to that ethos is the multitude of long serving staff. It was a wonderful opportunity to be involved in the reunion and to see such familiar faces among the crowd. Thank you ‘ ~ Louise A Shaw (Alumni Pupil, Senior School, 1995)

Thank you for putting on such a lovely event. It was great to meet up with so many old friends and colleagues. ~ Paddy Green (Alumni Staff, Senior School, 2007 - 2017)

Charlotte Sutton Director of Advancment & Alumni Relations 13 May 2023

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BACK TO BEDE’S REUNION

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PUBLICATIONS Publications by John Tuson In early 2022, John Tuson published a book entitled The Zoos of Britain and Irealnd; those who have been taught by him over the years will appreciate that animals in general and zoos in particular have always been his primary interest.

“One of the nicest things about producing the book was that a number of Old Bedians got in touch, and even bought copies,” says John. “It was great to hear from them, and I was hugely grateful for their support.” “...the need for zoos has never been greater than it is today. And, in Great Britain and Ireland, we are fortunate indeed that our small islands hold so many very good zoos from which we can benefit so much.” From the introduction to The Zoos of Britain and Ireland.

The book has now sold out, although reprinted copies may be available; more information is available at www. britishzoobook.co.uk.

Meanwhile, John is now working on a follow-up, focussing on the history of the zoos of Germany.

John Tuson

Publications by Louise A Shaw Louise has published a set of modernised fairy stories focused around current social topics. Not another Fairy Story! Well…..it depends on what you define fairy stories as.

The books are not only filled with wonderful stories about life in the woods, but they have also been written in such a way that they aid conversations that may be difficult to start and have been considered a game changer in raising these social topics in a subliminal, child friendly way for both listener and reader. The creators have created two different book series with the age ranges from early readers (0-5yrs) and young readers (7yrs12yrs).

Are you immediately drawn to thinking of Disney’s fairy stories, where the prince finally gets the princess? Or maybe you think of the wicked stepmother, evil fighting good?

Either way the similarities of those fairy stories and the stories in Tawny Owl Wood, is the fact that they both carry relevant social topics, but with a clear difference. Tawny Owl Wood is in the here and now.

Louise started creating Tawny Owl Wood back in 2007 but never had the confidence to showcase them to the world. Now, sixteen years on and having the full support of her family, she is able to follow her dream and bring to life the world of Tawny Owl Wood. Louise then approached Sarah at Happydesigner in 2021, to help take the concept to the next stage. Now two years on, the creators are getting ready to launching in Autumn 2023.

When Walt Disney created all those wonderful films, he used the social topics of those times. However, fast forward 100 years and we have very different social topics which we need to address and sometimes find it too hard to start the conversation.

Tawny Owl Wood will be releasing the first of six books, with further releases next year.

Tawny Owl Wood has been lovingly created through the vision of Louise A Shaw and Sarah-Leigh Wills from Happydesigner. Louise has used her very personal stories to help cover a wide range of social topics, with Sarah using her many years of expertise to design and develop the Tawny Owl Wood brand, characters and books to look, feel and represent the vision and ethos of the Tawny Owl Wood concept.

A world where diversity and inclusion are key and where there is a place for everyone. To find out more about the books, the creator and to meet the characters why not visit www.tawnyowlwood.co.uk Come along and get lost in one of the stories, who knows, you may even find yourself within the pages.

Don’t forget to find us on social media, Tawny Owl Wood is on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and more.

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PUBLICATIONS Publications by John Berryman ‘The Apapa Six: West Africa from a Sixties Perspective’, published by Balboa Press.

This is a reflexion of the pivotal decade as West African States evolved into independence based upon my period of study at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and travels in the region. It looks at the political perspective and the challenges faced by the new nations in the light of their historical context: Pre-Colonial, the Slave Trade, the ‘Scramble for Africa’ in the Nineteenth Century, the Independence Movement, and National Sovereignty. There are several references to the Bede’s connexion and would be of interest to students of Africa and its modern day place in the world.

‘The Church: Defining Moments in its Western Tradition’, published by Xlibris.

Our western era is defined by the birth of Christianity The Church is the physical expression of its pervasive influence. The book examines twenty defining moments in its evolution from both the religious and secular perspective: from its birth in Palestine, through Constantine, Augustine, Benedict, the Crusades, the Reformation, the gender debate. It would be of interest to anyone interested in European History and the impact the force of Christianity upon it.

‘The Bible: A Helping Hand’, published by The Book Guild Ltd. Essentially a Study Guide to the Old and New Testaments. Its aim is to help the interested reader to navigate through the complexities of the Scriptures in an accessible format, along with pertinent and thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter. Appropriate passages for study are clearly indicated. If you are interested in any of John’s books please email us at alumni@bedes.org and we will be happy to put you in touch with him.

John Berryman The Butterfly Inside, Jessica L Rose Life is never black and white, although many people believe it should be.

Jessica was pleased that her now brother had come to this realisation but she was unable to forgive his vile treatment of her. In Jessica’s own motherhood, she would see one of her own children go through gender reassignment and while her brother’s transition was handled in one way, Jessica chose to handle the transition of her son in another.

Can you imagine that a person might wake up each morning not feeling happy with themselves? Of feeling unhappy with themselves to the point of hating the person looking back at them? Most people will never have to think about this and most people don’t understand it.

Her memoir presents these two very different stories and leaves the reader to decide on their own route to becoming the person they were meant to be.

Jessica L Rose learnt the hard way that transgender is like an onion, you have to slowly peel back the different layers to be able to understand it all. But once you do, then how do you deal with it and with those around you?

Jessica L Rose

On the day she was born, Jessica’s mother brought her home to meet a sister who had not been prepared in any way to have her central place in the family usurped and she would spend the next forty years making Jessica’s life a complete misery and turning her family against her. It wasn’t until early adulthood that Jessica’s sister discovered the root of her own unhappiness – she had been born the wrong gender.

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I BELONG BOOK LAUNCH We would like to introduce you to the launch of our very own publication, I BELONG is now available.

It is an Anthology of poetry, prose, stories and Artwork on belonging, from our pupil body across the Trust. Copies are available via the GoFundMe page associated with KRAN, our chosen charity, which is supporting young separated and unaccompanied asylum seekers.

Here is the link to the GoFundMe page. h t t p s : / / w w w. g o f u n d m e . c o m / f / i - b e l o n g - a n - a n t h o l o g y - o n belonging?member=27479091&utm_campaign=p_cp+sharesheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_location=undefined&utm_ medium The idea of the book started with pupils studying about refugees and expressing thoughts about how important it is to enjoy a sense of belonging, whoever you are, wherever you come from. The proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to KRAN, a charity working with young unaccompanied refugees and asylum seekers. For a donation of £8.50 or more, you can receive a copy of the anthology. (NB Please do not select the ‘Gift Aid’ option as we are not able to collect Gift Aid when providing a book.) Once you have donated, please email annie.bonheur@ bedes.org to receive your copy.

Please see photos below from our launch evening in June.

Annie Bonheur

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THE BEDE’S DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION In 2023 Bede’s launched its own Foundation, find out more about this here.

Bede’s transforms all who live, work, study and seek to fulfil their passions there because its culture, environment and raison d’etre is about enabling each and every member of the community to flourish. Bede’s is transformational because it offers the time, space, commitment and wisdom to encourage, challenge and support everyone in their joyful pursuit of brilliance. The single aim of the Bede’s Development Foundation is to open up the opportunity of a Bede’s education to those who would most benefit from it but without a transformational bursary would never be able to attend.

My motivation for being a Governor at Bede’s was twofold. Firstly, to help Bede’s to grow and continue to be an outstanding place of learning - known and respected around the world for its pupils’ achievements. And secondly because its values of compassion, courage, conscientiousness and curiosity resonated with my own personal and professional values. I could only be a Governor at a school that prioritises the community and its pupils’ wellbeing and development in the way that Bede’s does.

In my role as a Trustee I wanted to go beyond my role as a Governor in making a difference to the lives of those who have not yet joined Bede’s but wish to. I want Bede’s to be a place with a global reputation for excellence but more importantly a local reputation for generosity. I want to help make a difference which will be felt for years to come.

Education, at Bede’s, is about equipping children with the tools to change the world and instilling an ambition to do so. By supporting the Bede’s Development Foundation you will be not just enabling individuals with limitless opportunities to fulfil their ambitions here at Bede’s and then beyond, but positively impact upon their community whilst enriching our own.

A rather well known Department Store once said “because some gifts are more than just a gift.” Your gift will make a difference in ways which cannot be measured, not now nor in the future but for which they and we will be eternally thankful. Thank you to all of those who have already joined us and given so much whether it be through a financial donation, their time or expertise. In particular, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Trustees of the Foundation, without whom we would not have made the rapid progress we have in our first year.

Simon Smith Chair & Trustee of the Bede’s Development Foundation The Bede’s Trust together with the Bede’s Development Foundation is committed to providing educational opportunities for pupils, irrespective of their financial circumstances. Bede’s has long been a school recognised for its commitment to supporting children from a diverse range of backgrounds with a range of different talents and needs. We firmly believe that these transformational bursaries will not only transform the lives of their recipients but also increase the diversity of Bede’s, thus enriching every member of our community. We want to make a difference to the lives of young children who never ever thought they would be able to access a Bede’s education.

Unlike many independent schools, Bede’s does not benefit from historic endowments or legacy funds. Large projects, such as the building of our new Dorms Boarding House, have only been possible as a result of careful financial planning. We rely on the fees paid by parents every year to run the School, fund improvements across the campuses and provide a limited number of bursaries.

Despite this, Bede’s has worked hard to carve out a strong reputation for helping those most in need, providing a place where every member of our community feels a strong sense of belonging and is thus able to flourish and succeed. For over a decade now we have awarded in excess of 20 transformational bursaries at Bede’s, working with a range of partnerships. This programme has had a significant, positive impact, not only on the recipients of these bursaries but on pupils and staff across our community. Through the establishment of the Bede’s Development Foundation we aim to build on this success, increasing the number of transformational bursaries we provide for pupils who are most in need.

As we look towards the 50th anniversary of the Senior School our aim is to provide 110% transformational bursaries for five pupils in each year of the Sixth Form by 2029. Through the establishment of our Development Office and the Bede’s Development Foundation we aim to sustainably provide future transformational bursaries by securing an endowment fund, legacies and through gaining donations and commitments from members of the Bede’s community and its friends. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have supported us as we begin this journey and would ask those who are interested in giving to take a moment to look back on everything you and your family has gained from your Bede’s journey, whatever stage you are at and to consider helping us reach our goal.

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Peter Goodyer Head, CEO & Trustee

ESTABLISHING A CHARITY Establishing the Bede’s Development Foundation We established the Bede’s Development Foundation with a very clear vision and goal. One which is focused on transformational bursaries offered solely to those in need using a rigorous eligibility criteria which takes into account the circumstances of the applicant and their family. Our aim is to make a real difference to those whom without support would not be able to attend Bede’s and benefit from its vast resources from co-curricular activities to pastoral support and thus expand their horizons in a way they never dreamed was possible.

Bede’s has long proven itself to be a school which puts the individual at the very centre and has a reputation for the very highest level of pastoral care.

It is this reputation which attracts parents to Bede’s and it is this care and focus on the individual which means that Bedians feel a true sense of belonging. This coupled with a wide array of challenging but supportive academic courses and a co-curricular programme offering over 100 different activities makes Bede’s a place where pupils are truly offered a festival of opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.

In addition, Bede’s national reputation for its Looked After Children programme meant the Trust felt it’s next natural step was to establish a Foundation whose primary aim was to offer a Bede’s education to pupils who would highly benefit but for whom without financial assistance would never be able to access a Bede’s education.

The Foundation’s Board is formed of members who have a strong level of expertise and experience across a variety of fields from finance to the legal sector. Each trustee brings a unique set of skills and rigour to the Foundation. What unites our trustees is their steadfast commitment to the Bede’s Development Foundation and providing an opportunity of a Bede’s education to those who would most benefit but do not have the financial means. All of our trustees have a personal connection to the School and as you will read and grateful for the way that their families or they personally have been positively impacted by the School.

Charlotte Sutton Director of Advancement & Alumni Relations

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VISION 2029 Our Aim: Five 110% transformational bursary holders starting each academic year in the Sixth Form by 2029.

• • •

This will include a mixture of day and boarding pupils Recipients of transformational bursaries will be from both the local area A 110% transformational bursary ensures a pupil faces no barrier to every opportunity avaliable at Bede’s and includes the pupil’s fees, transport, uniform and co-curricular programme.

Achieving Our Goal: The Trust needs to raise £1.6 million by 2029.

This will enable us to increase our number of transformational bursaries year on year as follows:

2023

Number of Year 12 Bursary Recipients 2

Number of Year 13 Bursary Recipients 0

2024

3

2

2025

3

3

2026

4

3

2027

4

4

2028

5

4

2029

5

5

Year

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BEDE’S FOUNDATION LAUNCH In September 2022 we created the Bede’s Development Foundation and launched our Bede’s Transformational Bursary Fund, showing that we are a school that puts its values into action. Then, on Wednesday 21st June we also celebrated the launch of the Bede’s Development Foundation. Here is Simon Smith talking about the launch evening: I am very proud to act as the Chair of the Foundation, and it was an absolute pleasure to present the Development Foundation Launch on Wednesday 21st of June to those who attended so that they could learn more about our newly established charity is about.

This evening presented a unique opportunity for those who attended to hear about the aims and work of the Foundation from the Trustees themselves.

The evening included a presentation on the origins of the Foundation, what it has already achieved, and its overall goals for the future. Alongside this, we heard from current pupils, staff, alumni and Trustees of the Foundation, who all explained why they feel passionate about the Foundation, and the impact they believe it will have. Following these talks, we ended on a Q&A with Head & CEO Pete Goodyer, Director of Advancement Charlotte Sutton, Bursar & COO Jonathan Northway and parents and Trustees Warwick Booth and Simon Cloke; with myself, the Chair of the Bede’s Development Foundation, presiding over the event, relaying the questions from the audience.

It was an amazing occasion to really explore what the Foundation can achieve, and discuss not only our goals, but how we intend to get there with those who have an interest in learning more about our Foundation.

Simon Smith Chair & Trustee of the Bede’s Development Foundation

“

It was a real privilege to attend the launch of the Foundation and to hear directly from current pupils and alumni and their parents about how their Bede’s experience has shaped their lives. A recurring theme was how Bede’s goes beyond a classic education to enable pupils to find and follow their passions in whatever field is right for them. Being able to provide this unique opportunity to more families through the Bede’s Foundation will make a real impact on communities across our local community.

Nicholas Mercer Governor 56

”

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY Bede’s Make a Difference Day, 21st-22nd June 2023 Since our school began, Bede’s has had philanthropy rooted at its very core and many pupils have benefit from transformational bursaries, demonstrating that our core ethos of Compassion, Courage, Conscientiousness and Curiosity is a living and breathing part of everything that we do. On 21st - 22nd June 2023, over 36 hours we celebrated Bede’s first ever Giving Day. During this time, our focus was on making a difference to the lives of others in our local community. Every single member of the Bede’s community, from the pupils in our Nursery to our Sixth Form, our teaching and support staff and our Governors worked together, volunteering across our local community at over 40 different projects, completing in excess of 5,000 hours of voluntary work. We have also received some lovely feedback from various schools and organisations.

“Just go for it. It’s really about having fun while helping others around you so we can all make a positive difference to our local community.”

Crossways

“Thank you so much for yesterday. It was such a pleasure to have the Bede’s pupils come in and be part of our Bevern view community, what a lovely bunch and our home looks fantastic thanks to their hard work.” - Bevern Trust “I just wanted to say a huge thank you for today. The class absolutely loved it and I’m sure they will be speaking about it tomorrow.” - Hellingly Primary School

“Small tasks inspire massive differences. No question about it, volunteering can appeal to anyone and be suited to their abilities and strengths.”

Deis

“I wanted to pass my thanks on to your wonderful pupils for their hard work last week. Having caught up with the volunteers over the last few days, they expressed how grateful we are for getting stuck in, being so mature and trying their hand at all the different jobs. We got a lot done thanks for them and it made a huge difference to us as we are a small team” Our Community Garden, Lewes

These volunteering projects were focused on a whole host of different areas from the environment, helping in local primary schools or those with disabilities; supporting people from overseas, the elderly and local food banks.

“Thank you so much for arranging for the Bede’s pupils to join us here at CHF yesterday. They were lovely and worked very hard all day in the hot weather. We really appreciate your support and I hope they found the day interesting too” - Chailey Heritage Foundation

The goal of our very first Giving Day was to inspire the Bede’s community and its friends to support the Bede’s Development Foundation and raise vital funds for our Transformational Bursary Fund. This was to enable the Foundation to increase the number of 110% transformational bursaries on offer at Bede’s, with the goal of offering in excess of 20 x 110% bursaries by 2029.

Mary Leggett Head of Partnerships and Social Responsibility

The Bede’s community response was nothing short of overwhelming and an extraordinary £155,542 from 398 donors. Every single challenge was met and many surpassed as a result of every part of our community joining together in support of the Foundation from parents past and present, to pupils, alumni, governors, staff and friends of the School. All inspired to give as a result of the volunteering work of our Bedians. This was truly an incredible event to be a part of and one which impacted so many lives in so many different ways. We could not be more proud of the work of our community and cannot thank our generous donors enough.

Phil Wise Deputy Head Operations

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DONOR MESSAGES On our Giving Day, those who donated had the opportunity to leave a message to say why they were supporting the Bede’s Development Foundation and what the School has meant to them. It has been truly inspiring to read through these and to hear the impact Bede’s has had on so many over the years. We would like to share with you just a few of the lovely message which we received:

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DONOR MESSAGES

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MONEY RAISED TO DATE

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MONEY RAISED TO DATE

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A ROUND UP OF SCHOOL NEWS 2022-2023 Bede’s win ESFA National U18s Cup Commenting on the victory, Bede’s Director of Football, David Caryer said, “I am so proud of the players, again they showed the hard work and determination they have demonstrated all season. They fully deserve this title and I am so happy they will have this lifelong memory.

Bede’s boys won their second ESFA National U18s Cup Final with a thrilling victory over Thomas Telford School at the bet365 Stadium, home of Stoke City. The travelling fans had faced a great deal, with last-minute equalisers and extra time winners in previous rounds and the final did not disappoint!

I would like to thank Dan, Olly and Tony in particular for all the help they have given the players over the course of the season and all the Bede’s community for the support they have shown us.”

Despite a four hour journey, Bede’s started the stronger with Corey Smart and Sam Bull combining well on the left to send in some teasing crosses which just evaded the Bede’s strikers. On five minutes, Josh Sudan thought he had scored the opening goal with a pile-driver from 25 yards which was heading into the top corner until the Telford keeper pulled off the save of his life to tip it over the bar. Telford began to settle and had most of the possession with Bede’s content to soak up pressure and counter on the break. Half chances fell to both sides but the game remained in deadlock at half time.

Captain of the Bede’s team, Tarun Rohilla, couldn’t be prouder of his team. He comments, “We are finishing on such a high after a long season which has been full of ups and downs. As a team, we stuck together and used all of our Team Bede’s values to help us to win this cup. It was a close game but we remained on top for most of it, had the most chances, and got a goal after half time which helped us to see it out and get the win.

Whatever, David Caryer, Director of Football, said at half time, worked, as Bede’s again started the stronger. In the 48th minute they won a corner and the clearance fell to Charlie Yeates, who smashed it through a crowd of players into the bottom right corner. 1-0! Bede’s began to take control and should have gone two up moments later when Harry Mills shot just wide from a tight angle. The Bede’s defence, led superbly by Tarun Rohilla, coped with anything the Telford strikers threw at them and continued to look dangerous on the break. Hayden Beaconsfield was immense holding the ball up and Michael Blight was tackling everything that moved!

Unfortunately, the elusive second goal didn’t come and as the game opened up players from both sides began to go down with cramp.

I am very thankful to everyone who has helped us to get here - Mr Caryer, Mr Byrne, all of our coaches, the transport team who take us to fixtures and everyone who has shown support for us. Winning this cup was the best way to end my time at Bede’s, and one of the best days of my life!”

David Caryer, Director of Football 11 May 2022

With ten minutes remaining the frustration of the Telford players got the better of them with one of their midfielders being sent off for a late challenge. This should have been game over but in a frantic five minutes of injury time, Telford threw everything at Bede’s and even hit the post with the last kick of the match! But the boys held on and thoroughly deserved their victory with their performance over the ninety minutes. It was truly a team effort with every player giving their all. The travelling fans were delirious!

Ellie and the UK team win the final of the International Space Settlement Design Competition

Bill Richards, Maths Teacher and Activities Director, 16 August 2022 Ellie Abel was a member of the UK team that competed at the final of the International Space Settlement Design Competition held at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center between 29 July – 1 August 2022.

In Ellie’s own words, she had an incredible and life-changing experience, made friends for life, receiving some incredible feedback and offers for international work experience and connections with the NASA judges!

Being on the winning team was the icing on the cake. The UK competition starts afresh in the autumn, with Bede’s holding a Regional round, as we did last year, on Saturday November 12th. It will be great to have Ellie back to inspire the next generation of students to get involved in the unique and rewarding competition. https://uksdc.org/

This was the first in-person final since 2019 and since Ellie was supposed to go in 2020 but Covid intervened, her involvement this year was a good reward for all the work she has put into the competition over the last three years.

Similar to the UK competition, Ellie’s team was combined with others from around the world, including India and they were required to produce a proposal for a settlement on the planet of Mercury to be constructed starting in the year 2092 for some 20,000 people. An impossible task, set 80 years in the future, which they had to produce with insufficient knowledge and resources - basically what the competition is all about!

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS Bede’s Pupil receives an invitation to International Space Conference How are you managing to balance your studies with these incredible opportunities outside of school?

It can be very difficult. In the past, I have had to rearrange some things as my schedule both inside and outside of school is busy and things clash.

Sometimes, it gets too much and you have to prioritise tasks. So what I like to do is create lots of lists and calendars in order of priority. If some things do not get done, I will push them into next month, rearrange them or (if I can) leave them for a different time.

Bede’s Upper Sixth pupil, Ellie Abel, has been invited to the IAC (International Astronautical Congress) in Paris later this month, following her success at this year’s ISSDC (International Space Settlement Design Competition) which was held at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center this summer.

We interviewed Ellie to find out more about the conference itself, as well as how she is finding balancing her studies...

How have Bede’s helped you with your studies and with other opportunities outside of school?

Bede’s have helped me dramatically, simply because I was not even interested in Science before Year 10. I was purely interested in Sport and Drama - which was why I originally was attracted to Bede’s. I had an operation, which meant I was out for six months so I had to shift my focus to academics. Bede’s provided me with opportunities like the UK Space Design Competition and the Chemistry Founders Festival as well as extracurricular activities involved in STEM and opened my eyes to a side of academics that I hadn’t seen before. As a result, I studied harder and with my teachers encouragement, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in STEM. Bede has provided me with the opportunity to gain qualifications I need to make my CV stand out - including competitions and opportunities for work experience. I have always taken advantage of catch up sessions, enabling me to teach myself Astronomy GCSE, alongside writing an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) as well as studying for my A Levels.

Hi Ellie! So I understand that following the ISSDC (International Space Settlement Design Competition) in the summer, you were approached by Kevin Simmonds, the CEO of Bluecube Aerospace who invited you to participate in a conference in Paris later this month. Can you tell me a bit who Bluecube Aerospace are and what they do?

Bluecube Aerospace provides incredible opportunities for pupils aged 10 to 18 to design, build, test and fly CubeSats (miniaturised satellites) before they reach university. But, you have to go through a strict interview process in order to be selected for their experiences. But they are trying to branch out to Europe and the UK so they’re trying to get on board pupils who have participated in the ISSDC. Bluecube Aerospace allows students to create large-scale space projects, like how you would if you were in NASA for example. One of the Bluecube Aerospace projects that I am going to be partaking in is building a Lunar Rover in 2025. At the moment, I am just designing the chassis out of CubeSats. Another project we are working on is creating a satellite for bacteria that can digest nonbiodegradable plastic and seeing how it handles a low-earth orbit.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What are your hopes for the future?

My hopes for the future would be being part of a programme which might involve aerospace engineering from a structural, material science aspect.

Or I would love to be an F1 Engineer! I love the thought of designing the chassis and the livery of the car. I’d love to be the person in the background who says “if we just make these simple adjustments and make this a bit more streamlined then the car would improve by 0.2 of a second!”

Can you tell me about the conference that you will be attending and what are you most looking forward to about it?

I am going to be attending the IAC (International Astronautical Congress) in Paris. It will provide a fantastic networking opportunity, to meet lots of different people. I am hoping to gain some inspiration on presenting to people at a conference as this is something that hopefully may be in my near future. I am currently submitting a paper to HICE (Hawaii International Conference on Education). If it gets accepted, then I will be going to Hawaii in January to perform my own presentation. I have never presented before - so being invited to the IAC to see what the atmosphere is like and meet like minded people my age as well as professionals.

I’d also love to come back to Bede’s to inspire younger pupils, specifically girls, because there is a distinct lack of exposure for aerospace and engineering opportunities within youth, let alone younger girls. I’d love to tell my story and hopefully be able to inspire young people, like myself.

What are you hoping to gain out of participating in the conference later this month?

I am hoping that the conference will connect me to professionals who may offer some material science opportunities. On top of my ongoing projects with Bluecube Aerospace, I aspire to partake in a number of projects to that I can apply my knowledge to. I would love to gain internship opportunities with some experienced professionals.

Bill Richards Maths Teacher & Chair of Galactic Challenge & UKSDC 20 September 2022

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Bede’s Prep Pupils Receive Certificates at Seaford Beacon Public Art Show Ceremony Pupils visited the Seaford Beacon Public Art Show where they received their certificate in a ceremony on Thursday 15 September. It was wonderful to see their artwork enlarged and displayed publicly on Seaford seafront. Congratulations to the following: Mason, Nina, Woo, Jasper, and Luca and Evie who were highly commended. The Beacon Show received nearly 500 entries of artwork to be submitted into the Summer show. They were so impressed by Bede’s artwork that seven of our pupils’ work was exhibited.

Evie said ‘The sea kelp was a breeding and feeding ground for all types of sea creatures’ Nina added, ‘ I had no idea that we had sharks in our Channel, and the paper insulation was very creative’. The Shark Trust has a website which provides lots of interesting facts, and logs findings of mermaid purses on our coastal shores. Why not become a member?

For more information on all these organisations, please visit their websites: The Shark Trust: www.sharktrust.org Wild Coast Sussex: www.wildcoastsussex.org.uk Sussex Contemporary Illustrators and Printmakers: SCIP - Seaford www.wearescip.co.uk

Ms Armitage, Head of Art

We then visited the Sea Climate Hub, Down in the Deep; an extraordinary display of paper marine life created by the Sussex community, SCIP and paper artist @laurenhayespaper. This paper installation exhibition was created during summer holiday workshops and features beautifully crafted paper sea creatures, fishes and kelps that represent our local sea life. The pupils were taught how the kelp is trying to recover now that trawler fishermen are banned from fishing too close to our beaches. The pupils learnt that, although it will take 15 years to recover, this will give our shores a richer sea life for inhabitants.

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Eco Schools Green Flag Award The dynamic Prep School Eco Committee worked tirelessly over the course of last academic year; organising events, campaigns, awareness weeks, and taking part in various activities. A passionate band of Eco Warriors, they continually challenged themselves and our school community to improve our green credentials.

It clearly demonstrates that the committee’s hard work is appreciated, and it provides them with the confidence and motivation needed to continue actively engaging with environmental issues throughout their lifetimes.

The application process was painstaking, long and extremely rigorous.

The standard and expectation for pupils and schools was high, which makes the award a wonderful reflection of the progress which has been made by all pupils and members of staff at the school.

Whilst our curriculum offer has expanded year on year to deliver forward thinking, environmental education, the Eco Committee’s primary goal has been to achieve the Eco School Green Flag, a prestigious award which acknowledges, rewards and celebrates the ecological achievements of young people.

This term, we will be looking forward to beginning our journey towards the Eco School Silver Award!

I am delighted to say that, during the summer holiday, I was informed that we had successfully been awarded with the prestigious Green Flag (with Distinction!).

Miss McDonell Eco Committee Lead

Year 3 Roald Dahl Day

Mrs Barrett, Year 3 Teacher

On 13 September, Year 3 enjoyed celebrating National Roald Dahl Day. The day provided an opportunity for the children to explore some of Roald Dahl’s books through a variety of creative and practical tasks.

Throughout the morning, the children enjoyed a carousel of activities.

These included making turtles using biscuits and grapes (Esio Trot), creating dream jars (BFG), fractions with chocolate, designing sweets (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and creating fact files about crocodiles (The Enormous Crocodile). Tom and his team in the kitchen treated the children to an incredible feast for lunch, the highlight of which had to be Bruce Bogtrotter’s infamous chocolate cake!

Roald Dahl day was also a springboard to learning in the weeks that followed. The children wrote some thoughtful dreams for our display in the classroom. They enjoyed listening to George’s Marvellous Medicine; creating George’s fizzing potion in the science lab was a fun end to our Roald Dahl work.

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Congratulations to the Modern and Tap pupils for taking part in their dance exams on Sunday 9 October 2022 All pupils involved showed such courage while performing their work to the examiner. It has been a long time since pupils have been able to take part in Modern and Tap exams, so there was a lot of nervous and excited energy. All the pupils did themselves proud and conducted themselves in such a professional manner.

They have all been working very hard towards their exams, not only in class, but at home as well. I also wanted to extend my thanks for all the support from parents too. I am sure the pupils will be looking forward to moving on to new and more challenging work!

Mrs Ullah Head of Prep School Dance

Year 6 Battle Abbey History Trip There was much excitement amongst Year 6 for their first school trip of the year. We set off in the morning to spend the day at Battle Abbey where we began by taking a walk around the grounds, discovering the different locations of the famous 1066 Battle.

After walking around the Castle and the Abbey grounds, where the children found out more about the Benedictine monks who lived there, finally, Year 6 took to the battlefield to re-enact the armies of King Harold and William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings using replica weapons. Many pupils also took part in re-enacting the famous story of the 1066 Battle wearing costumes and battle armour during their brilliant workshop!

To the excitement of the pupils, we ended our trip at the 1066 Battle Abbey shop and the medieval themed park before we headed back to school.

Miss Byrne Year 6 Form Tutor

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Hockey Going into IAPS the girls were confident in their ability and what they could potentially achieve on the day.

Group stage finished and unfortunately due to the narrow loss at the beginning of the day, this took us through to the Bowl competition. After a 0-0 draw against Westbourne House, 5 minutes of golden goal extra time we got to penalty flicks. A 2-0 win on flicks took us through to the semi final. Another close game ending 1-1 against Hazelwood School, took us to golden goal where Bede’s got a late goal which won us the game and sent us through to the final. In the final, although we made it all the way to penalty flicks we came out on the wrong side losing 2-1 to Brambletye after being 1-1 throughout the whole game.

With a tough group including Cumnor House and Great Walstead, the girls started off the day against Feltonfleet School, losing the first game narrowly 2-1 after being 1-0 up in the early stages. Moving straight on, the girls did really well losing narrowly 2-1 again; although they controlled most of the game, unfortunately they conceded a late goal. The girls recorded their first win of the day against Orwell Park 2-0.

Mr Francis, Prep School Hockey Lead

Football: Boys Reach National Finals!

A fantastic footballing display by the 10 players selected for the IAPS tournament on 28 September. The afternoon was successful both in terms of our hosting of the tournament and our performance on the pitch.

We remained unbeaten right until the final, facing the likes of St Andrew’s, Cumnor House and St Michael’s in the group stage. A nerve wracking penalty shoot-out victory in the quarter finals meant we were one win away from qualifying for the Nationals - an achievement reached in the previous two years. A late goal from James C in the dying moments of the semi final led us into the final and, in fine fashion, we secured our spot at the Nationals for a third consecutive year.

We were unfortunate to lose the IAPS final on penalties after a 0-0 draw with Hazelwood, a very strong side who were well matched to our group of players. I would like to congratulate all of the players involved for showing the school in such a positive light and for their successes in the tournament.

Miss Larkin Prep School Football Lead

P.E Curriculum: Basketball Basketball is always a very popular sport across all the age groups and this term has been no exception.

Players of the tournament were: Reuben, Sefton, Amelia and Will. We look forward to completing the competitions this week! Well done everyone.

Pupils have been dynamic and energetic as they got to grips with the transferable skills required, as well as learning the different rules of court play. The standard was incredibly high as we worked towards our Intersection Competition’s in the final week of term. Elijah has led by example alongside the very talented Himson, Alexa, Ben and Daniel.

Ms Towner, Head of Games and PE

At the time of going to press, our mixed Year 5 and 6 competition has just been completed with the results as follows with only a point separating 1st and 2nd place: 1st: Falcon

2nd: Raven

3rd: Hawk

4th: Eagle

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Forrest School Adventures in Friston Forrest This half term, all year groups from Year 1 to Year 6 have enjoyed an Outdoor Experience Day in Friston Forest.

The introductory sessions to the Forest School programme were very much led by the children and their interests and they had all day to select the activities they wished to participate in at their own pace. Some watched their peers take part first, some dived straight in and some were able to use previously learned Forest School skills to teach their friends. The activities ranged from fire lighting, sawing, drilling and axe work to den building, crafts using clay, wool and knots to meeting, climbing and hugging different types of trees! We even cooked marshmallows and chocolate bananas on the campfire and used our sense of smell, like badgers, to lead us to the treats in a tracking game!

The staff were very impressed with the children’s curiosity around the woodland animals, experiential learning and the skills they could learn and the children showed great compassion towards each other and were always willing to assist their peers with skills or activities. We look forward to the children building on these skills as the year progresses.

Many staff accompanied us on these trips including Ms Armitage, Mr Brewer and Mrs Barrett who all have vast amounts of knowledge and experience in the woodland area. This enabled the children to take their learning one step further and delve deeper into areas of interest at their leisure.

Miss Brodie Year 4 Teacher

Eastbourne Junior Enterprise Workshop On 3 October, a team of Year 4 children were invited to participate in the Junior Enterprise Workshop at the Eastbourne Town Hall.

The team consisted of Miron, Bethany, Ranveer, Toby, Phoenix and Xanthe. All of whom had to take on various roles within a company such as manager, finance, sales, purchasing and marketing. The aim of their task and workshop was to create a radio advert, flyer, logo, poster and a 5 minute presentation based on the Eastbourne Carnival. The theme of ‘masks’ was the main focus of their workshop and even involved having to make a prototype mask to be sold with the profits going to charity.

The team worked really hard and hand to make big decisions regarding costs of materials, overheads and quality control. There were 8 other teams at the event and it was all very tense. Our team, “Team Bede’s”, handled their presentation very well in front of the judges and gave a good account of themselves. The whole day was a busy working one including having to make the choice of having a ‘working lunch’ or a proper break. It was great watching the team work really effectively together and learn so much. They were a credit to the school. Role on the next challenge.

Mr Gisby, Curriculum Enhancement Coordinator

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Holywell The Song of Sounds phonics scheme has been launched in Reception Class! Mrs Gallagher and Mrs Woodward have been joined by Glob the Puppet and Felicity the Phoneme Fairy to deliver this exciting new scheme.

We are very proud of all of our Holywell pupils, who have settled into their new classes beautifully.

Mrs Woodward Head of Pre-Prep & EYFS

The children have done tremendously well already, and have learned several of their sounds and the corresponding actions. Reception Class has never been so musical and we cannot wait to meet all the new ‘visitors’ who will be helping Reception Class learn to read and write in the upcoming months.

Nursery This half term, there has been a strong focus on getting children settled into the nursery. The children have been engaged in some super activities which have supported and promoted this process. The children have jumped into Swimming, Dance, Music, Tennis and Ballet lessons with great enthusiasm and shown us how caring they can be with our new Guinea Pigs, Dave and Tam. The new healthy eating tree programme has been launched this Autumn term, children from Pre-School and Rainbow Fish will start collecting leaves to add to the tree as they complete each of their healthy eating challenges. Next half term, the focus will be to ‘Eat the Rainbow!’

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS Boarding Schools Association CEO Officially Opens New Boarding House at Bede’s School

Lisa Martin-Smith, Head of External Communications 12 October 2022

Robin Fletcher, CEO of the Boarding Schools Association (BSA) officially opened the new boarding house at Bede’s Senior School this morning.

Although the new boarding accommodation, Dorms House, opened its doors to the very first students at the start of this term, Bede’s were delighted to welcome Mr Fletcher to the official ribbon-cutting event. The grand opening welcomed both current and alumni pupils from old Dorms House, contractors, Sunninghill, Bede’s Estates team, Governors and house staff for this very memorable occasion.

Bede’s has a reputation for its outstanding boarding provision – boasting five stunning boarding houses, two of which have been recognised by the Institute of Chartered Surveyors for their Outstanding Design and Innovation. The latest addition to the boarding portfolio was a project started before the pandemic and whilst delayed, the finished result is testament to the hard work and dedication of both external contractors and Bede’s own Estates team.

The stunning new development features inspiration from its location next to the South Downs and includes modern facilities, accommodating 70 beds with scope for higher capacity, as well as a 170 square meter atrium, learning spaces, flexible spaces for meetings and conferences, offices, kitchen facilities, and storage areas. It also uses an eco-friendly heat source as part of the Trust’s pledge to reduce its carbon footprint and create a greener environment for their community. There is a focus of nature and the environment throughout the house, featuring wood finishes and floor to ceiling windows.

Guests to the opening event heard emotional speeches from Bede’s Chair of Governors, Mrs Watkins and Headmaster and CEO, Peter Goodyer, before the official ribbon cutting after which guests were invited to tour the facilities, now very much home to the boarders.

This opening event recognised all of the hard work that has gone into the 3-year plan and build of the stunning new boarding house. It also marks the beginning of a new chapter for Bede’s pupils – particularly those in Dorms house who have a new home from home.

Robin Fletcher, CEO from the BSA remarked: “It was an honour and privilege to be invited to open Bede’s new boarding house, Dorms, see such excellent facilities, meet the dedicated members of the house boarding team and some of the boarders. Dorms is a great example of first-class, 21st century boarding accommodation which I am sure will be appreciated by all current and future students.”

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS The Opening of Bede’s New Boarding House - Dorms: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Q6PqJlbv52E

Bede’s Pupils awarded first England Women cricket central contracts for 2022-23 Bede’s recent alumna Alice Capsey, and current Upper Sixth pupil Freya Kemp, have both been awarded first England Women central contracts for 2022-23 from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Alice and Freya are two of just 18 players awarded contracts.

Alice completed her two-year studies at Bede’s in 2021, arriving in 2020 for her Sixth Form years. She has had an incredible couple of years, having completed a tour with the England Women’s A Squad, accompanying the Women’s Ashes Squad in Australia. In 2021, Alice was honoured as the first recipient of the PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year. Alice is currently competing in the Big Bash Australia for the Melbourne Stars.

The news comes following the ECB announcement that it would be funding 80 professional domestic women’s cricketers from February next year, with the awarding of the 18 central contracts bringing the total number of professional female cricketers in England and Wales up to 98.

This is the first time that the England Women central contracts have run from 1 November, to align with the professional contracts in the women’s regional game.

Freya Kemp has recently become the second successive teenager to win the Emerging Cricketer award, the second successive teenager to win the award after Alice Capsey. Freya is currently going through her final year at Bede’s and is balancing her Sixth Form studies alongside playing cricket.

Alan Wells, Director of Cricket at Bede’s, whose 21-year cricket career included captaining for Sussex and an England Lions tour to India, comments on Alice and Freya’s success, “We are extremely proud as a school of both Freya and Alice for receiving England central contracts.

They have worked incredibly hard to achieve this and I have little doubt they have huge international careers ahead of them. To have been awarded contracts and such young ages is testament to their determination, ability and work ethic. We will be following them with a keen eye and wish them all the very best on their cricket journey.”

Both Alice and Freya have had an incredible year - making their international debuts this summer and putting on some outstanding performances for England in the Commonwealth Games, T20 Internationals and The Hundred.

Alan Wells Director of Cricket 11 November 2022

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS Bede’s Pupils Shine in ‘Into the Spotlight’ Cabaret Event After a three-year hiatus, Cabaret, one of Bede’s muchanticipated blue-chip events was held at the School in Upper Dicker on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 December 2022. Bede’s Multi-Purpose Hall, which was transformed into a glittering dinner-and-dance concert venue, welcomed over 700 guests over the course of the two nights. Guests included parents, staff, alumni and members of the local community.

Cabaret had a cast and crew of well over 100 pupils showcasing their talents – musicians, dancers, singers, compères and behind the scenes crew. The entire production astounded audiences and as said on the night by Robert Scamardella, Bede’s Director of Music, “this performance hopefully rivals that of, not only any other school, but of any other professional establishment too.”

This year’s Cabaret theme ‘Into the Spotlight’ saw the space transform into a glamorous, elegant venue; adorned with beautiful draping, a proscenium arch stage, stunning table decorations and a bold redcarpet entrance. Guests enjoyed a sumptuous 3-course meal, each course presented intermittently between a number of breath-taking performances.

The performances truly transported audiences to another world, with numbers including ‘Lola’s Theme’, ‘The Best of Bruno Mars’ and ‘Waltz of the Flowers’ from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. The set list covered a wide range of genres from musical theatre to pop to jazz and orchestral.

This year was the first time that pupils at Bede’s Prep School have been involved too – with many of their musicians and dancers taking to the stage.

This year, audiences were treated to performances from Bede’s notable music alumni pupils – Ed Stokes (music arranger and producer); GeorgiaMae Ellis (soprano and rising star in the opera world); Rosa Parris-Witts (choral singer, director and music arranger) and Alice Auer (solo artist who has headlined major pop events). They blew audiences away with their superb performances alongside current Bede’s pupils featuring hits such as ‘Turn Back Time’, ‘Songbird’ and ‘Habanera’ from Bizet’s ‘Carmen’.

To end the evening, guests were invited to the dance floor to dance the night away accompanied by Bede’s jazz band with numbers such as ‘Dancin’ Fool’, ‘Man in the Mirror’ and ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’. Cabaret was a great success and enjoyed by all, with one guest commenting, “It was such a fantastic night full of inspirational talent. I enjoyed every minute!”

Robert Scamardella, Director of Music, comments, “It is wonderful to see Cabaret back after a long three years! It remains the biggest combined event in the performing arts calendar and celebrates all aspects of the Bede’s community. It couldn’t go ahead without the dedication of teachers, support staff and of course, our pupils who have worked incredibly hard to put on such a spectacular evening of entertainment. Thank you and congratulations – our pupils should be very proud!”

Robert Scamardella Director of Music 16 December 2022 72

PREP SCHOOL NEWS Dress to Express Place2Be’s aim is to help to ensure that every child has easy access to mental health support whenever they need it, something that Bede’s is very passionate about!

To introduce Place2Be Children’s Mental Health week the Bede’s community supported this wonderful charity with a Dress to Express Day. Children and staff expressed themselves by wearing their favourite colour, a range of colours or a whole unique outfit to express how they were feeling. We had unicorns, superheroes, princesses, footballers, Disney characters as well as some glamour alongside onesies and pyjamas! The variety of styles and colour around the school was truly wonderful and made everyone smile.

This was an opportunity for self expression as well as celebrating a diverse range of emotions. As a school we wanted to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health and support this amazing charity.

We raised an amazing £427! We could not be more thankful for everyone’s support.

Mrs Howell Head of Learning Enhancement, Charities Champion

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Prep School’s STEM Week This term saw our first ever Bede’s Prep STEM Week! And what a week it was, with lots of fun and exciting new learning opportunities.

The middle years explored robotics and coding with a chance to code, design, engineer and build their own robots using Lego robotic resources.

The children thoroughly enjoyed first building and customising their robots, and then using the coding interface to program their robots to follow a route. The Year 6 pupils were also introduced to the use of sensors in robots, which can help the machines make autonomous decisions. We may well have inspired some future NASA engineers!

The week started with an Engineering Day at Bede’s Senior School for our Year 7 pupils. Here, teams of pupils were challenged to engineer and build a bridge out of spaghetti to span a 30cm gap, and have it withstand the most weight on its central structure. There were quite a variety of approaches, from size, density and shape perspectives, with the winning design able to hold over 3kg in weight! Well done to ‘The Breadcrumbs’ team (Ollie, Inari, Lucy L and Mikey) as the overall prize-winners.

Our senior pupils had the chance to gain valuable teaching input from our expert colleagues from Bede’s Senior School, with masterclasses in Physics and Coding; children enjoyed the challenge of using a programming interface to instruct on-screen robots and in the Physics session, pupils explored, designed and launched various forms of rockets! We were also delighted to welcome back former Prep School pupil Ellie, who spoke to Year 8 about her successes in international STEM competitions, and whose talk about her adventures with NASA and Formula One racing teams was highly inspirational. At the end of the week, this cohort also joined an online presentation and Q&A session with a structural engineer, currently working in London using innovative sustainable concrete solutions. This insight into potential STEM careers was hopefully very valuable to the children.

There was a STEM focus across the school throughout the week, with Minecraft Education used in Geography and History to enhance the study of volcanoes and Roman villages, and the break time STEM Gaming challenge testing the pupils on a number of fun STEM-themed games! The Maths, Science and Computing departments combined efforts to deliver a code-breaking challenge for Year 7, and the daily inter-form STEM Quiz proved a popular and challenging early morning brain workout!

Pupils were also treated to an Eco-themed Virtual Reality session later in the week. Using a set of networked VR goggles incorporating 3D visuals, this activity followed the journey of aliens visiting earth over a number of years and seeing the destruction due to global warming and reliance on fossil fuels. It delivered a powerful message that helped the children see how they can help to make a change.

All in all, it was a highly successful week of rich learning in what is becoming an ever-more important area of our lives. Well done to all pupils for further developing their confidence in STEM disciplines!

Mr Barclay Head of Faculty - STEM

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Girls Football Success On Wednesday 26 January we had the privilege of inviting in Kelly Lindsey (Head of Performance at Lewes Women’s FC) alongside her team to run a football masterclass for our Year 5-8 girls at Bede’s Senior School.

The girls took part in a range of fun activities, which focused on team building, skills and match play. All of the girls had a fantastic time, some of our girls were so inspired that they attended one of Lewes’s home games on the Sunday!

We have had plenty of fixtures during this term for our Senior and Junior girls. The teams have had a lot of fun and enjoyment and the progression since the start of term has been fantastic to see. We had a tournament against Skippers and Lingfield in which both Bede’s A and B teams came out on top winning the tournament.

The Junior girls have had some promising matches and are really showing their potential as footballers, many of whom have now joined local clubs outside of School. Our Year 3 and 4 girls have also loved our Thursday afternoon matches against Vinehall and Skippers Hill and are looking forward to more football matches in the future - this is just the start for them.

Miss Larkin Prep School Football Lead

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Colour Run Our end of term sponsored celebration was an amazing Colour Run which raised over £700 for Parenting Mental Health. Staff had the opportunity to throw safe, non-toxic powders in the air covering their pupils in a spectacular array of colours. Our dedicated minibus drivers joined in the fun by using water pistols to playfully spray the pupils before they crossed the line ensuring the paint stuck to their clothes. All the pupils were given sunglasses to protect their eyes in keeping with the colourful theme. Some of the pupils also had the opportunity to get revenge on their teachers too!

Additionally, to further delight our pupils, we arranged an ice cream van to arrive later during the event. The appearance of the ice cream van was met with sheer joy and excitement, as everyone was able to indulge in delicious frozen treats to beat the summer heat served to them by Mrs Morris.

It really was a wonderful way to end the academic year, the laughter and joy was heard and seen by all.

Miss Napper-Page and Mrs Howell Charity Champions

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Hoodwinked (Year 3 and Year 4) The performance of ‘Hoodwinked’ by Year 3 and 4 was a delightful showcase of talent and teamwork. The incredible singing, dancing and acting skills left the audience in awe.

Their voices harmonised as they confidently sang in parts, effortlessly mastering challenging words and melodies. All of the children worked incredibly hard but some performances deserve a special mention. Sean as the Sheriff of Nottingham had a huge amount of lines to learn and delivered them with such maturity. He really worked the audience into a frenzy with a captivating performance whilst his Deputy, played by Toby kept the audience entertained with his funny jokes. Similarly, Xanthe as Robin Hood delivered a massive amount of lines with great confidence and Maid Marian sang a tear-jerking solo. The remarkable teamwork among the young performers was praiseworthy as they seamlessly supported each other throughout the show.

Overall, ‘Hoodwinked’ was a charming and memorable showcase of remarkable talent, dedication and collaborative spirit of the Year 3 and 4 children. Well done to everyone involved!

Mrs Barrett Year 3 Teacher

Senior School Maths Challenge Year 8 set 1 attended Bede’s Senior School for a Maths Challenge organised by Mr Manos, Head of Maths. A group of twenty Year 9 children from the Senior School also participated.

The teams accumulated points over the three rounds. The two Bede’s Prep students on the winning team were Oscar and Martha, who each received a copy of the book ‘Maths Tricks to Blow Your Mind’.

The children were divided into ten teams, consisting of both Year 8 and 9 children. Children participated in three challenge rounds, each of a slightly different nature and forty minutes long. In the second round, for example, each answer obtained was used as input in the subsequent problem.

Well done to all who attended.

Mrs Dorish Teacher of Mathematics

All questions were from prior UK Mathematics Trust Challenges, the standard in UKl Maths Competitions. Although some children found some of the questions complex, they enjoyed applying their skills in new ways, as well as the opportunity of working with Year 9 Pupils.

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Dentaid Visit to Pre-School and Reception On Thursday 12 January, the children from Pre-School and Reception had a lively and interactive presentation delivered by a volunteer from the charity Dentaid. The children covered a range of areas relating to oral health including toothbrushing, teeth names and functions, sugar awareness and the importance of regular dental appointments.

The children impressed us with their knowledge of healthy and unhealthy foods and under the enthusiastic guidance of the volunteer and the Nursery teachers, the children were able to demonstrate a full two minutes of their best toothbrushing skills!

Thanks to the generosity of Dentaid the children finished the event with bright smiles and a toothbrush, toothpaste and plenty of stickers to take home. The Dentaid presentation allowed us to introduce the subject of oral hygiene to our Pre-School and Reception children in an engaging and age-appropriate way, and has led us nicely into the exciting introduction of toothbrushing which will now feature within the Pre-School and Reception day.

Mrs Leigh-Hill Nursery Manager

Galactic Challenge Activity at Bede’s Senior School Nine volunteers from Years 7 and 8 took part in the annual Galactic Challenge at Bede’s Senior School.

Their mission this year was to design the holiday of a lifetime on the moon.

The year was 2073 and bases had been set up around the solar system inspired by last year’s Artemis rocket launch. The teams had to think about marketing, human elements, automation, materials and resources. The teams were composed of children from various other schools, competed against each other to come up with the best concept to wow the judges.

After a day of design, discussion and deliberation each corporation had to prepare a 10 minute presentation to the judges. Our nine volunteers were split into two corporate teams, Solaris and Astrodyne. It was a close run event with the eventual winners being ‘Astrodyne’. Well done to everyone who took part and gave up their Saturday for this. There was a huge buzz around the corporations as the children used all their 21st century skills to good effect.

Mr Gisby Curriculum Enrichment Lead

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS Bede’s Hosts Galactic Challenge 2023 On Saturday 28 January, Bede’s had the privilege to host the unveiling of Artemis VII… ‘The holiday of a lifetime Lunar resort’. Once again we witnessed the return of the beloved Galactic challenge, a space design competition for Year groups 5-8 which simulates an engineering industry style environment. The competition is designed to give the pupils the chance to experience what it would be like to work in big organisations such as NASA.

Over the course of the day we saw many incredible ideas pitched which truly wowed the judges and were testament to the hardwork and talent of the young engineers. It was amazing to see their skills advance as they developed imaginative concepts whilst ensuring they were (at least mostly!) scientifically viable. These included solutions for renewable energy, recycling, cleverly repurposing materials whilst ensuring their structures could be protected from outer space. With some of my favourites being alcohol dispensing robots, reusable transportation robots, sustainable food and power supplies that incorporated aquaponics and fish breeding, luxury holiday packages, space golf and robo spiders.

This year we hosted 120 children from 12 schools who were divided into 5 mixed companies. They started off the day with a short briefing and introduction before splitting into their individual companies and departments. The students faced their first challenge of the day by electing a company president, vice president of engineering, vice president of marketing as well as a head of structural, operational, human, automation and business department.

Whilst the children themselves learnt plenty, many of the volunteers also gained a great deal from the experience themselves when learning how to encourage and give guidance to the pupils. One of my personal highlights was when I and another volunteer were explaining the concepts of biofuels to a young boy and seeing how innovative thoughts and curiosity drove him to a renewable solution. All of which brought a smile to my face.

Throughout the day the children were tasked with answering a detailed RFP (request for proposal) detailing what the judges were looking for in terms of their luxury space holiday resort. Whilst doing so, they were given guidance by budding Bede’s Senior school pupils, posing as technical advisors and CEOs, on how to go about creating a ‘winning’ presentation.

Finally, the day culminated with the children battling it out to present their space settlement design proposals to the ‘Foundation Society’, a fierce panel of judges. Whilst the plethora of innovative, creative and truly talented ideas astounded the judges, unfortunately only one proposal could come out victorious. And after a tough few rounds of witty, humorous and eloquently pitched presentations, Astrodyne Delta (comprised of students from Bede’s Prep, Cardinal Newman, Rose Hill and Skippers Hill) came out victorious with their design. What particularly captivated the judges was their use of advanced and creative ideas when maximising revenue through luxury holiday packages. All in all the day was incredibly successful and clearly sparked a burning desire to collaboratively innovate and create large scale projects.

During the competition, the students faced challenges such as protecting their space settlement from harsh space environments, incorporating mechanisms to counteract low moon gravity, ways to effectively pitch their ideas and developing methods to generate profit, despite an inevitably expensive cost of building. The young students gained a valuable insight into how demanding and exciting the engineering business/industry can be.

Ellie Abel Upper Sixth Pupil 1 Feburary 2023

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS Bede’s Zoo plays key role in protecting endangered mammal It’s not every day a school is asked to help safeguard the future of a rare species of carnivore from Madagascar. But then again, it’s not every school that has a zoo. Pupils at Bede’s in Sussex are central to a European programme designed to protect the Grandidier’s Vontsira, a little-known species of mongoose which lives in a small south-western area of the Indian Ocean island.

“I was slightly worried they might not settle, but they’ve been absolutely at home since the day they arrived,” said Mr Tuson. “Like all carnivores they sleep quite a lot, but they also enjoy looking for food and they are interested in what’s going on around them. They’re incredibly chilled.”

Bede’s Zoo was set up 10 years ago on a shoestring but has since grown to include 16 separate enclosures with 70 different species of mammal, reptile, amphibian and bird. About 18 sixth formers every year study BTEC Animal Management at the school – a course usually only available at specialist colleges.

With just 1,000 remaining, it is feared a single typhoon could wipe them out. As part of a drive to save the species, nine are now being held in captivity in Europe with the hope that they will breed. Four are at Chester Zoo, a further two at Magdeburg Zoo in Germany – and three are living at Bede’s.

The zoo became a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2020 and is situated at the heart of Bede’s 100-acre campus. It also hosts one of the school’s most popular activities – the Zoological Society - and often welcomes visits from local primary schools.

The 820-pupil school was chosen because it is one of the only schools in the UK to have a zoo on site with its own zookeeper, a specialist team of assistants and pupils training in animal management.

“It is a truly unique facility,” said Mr Tuson, who has just written a definitive guide to the zoos of Great Britain and Ireland. “It’s a zoo which is not only a teaching resource, but also allows pupils to participate in national and international programmes which benefit wildlife.”

“For the children who are involved in this very special project, it is an extraordinary privilege to look after these animals and work with them,” said deputy head John Tuson, who has overseen the development of Bede’s Zoo.

John Tuson Deputy Head 15 March 2023

“Bede’s is an ideal location for the Grandidier’s Vontsira because it’s quiet and they are not disturbed very much. We are really hoping that they will breed over the coming year.”

Head zookeeper Hannah Spurgeon has taken in specialist advice to make sure the school is doing everything they can to keep the Grandidier’s Vontsiras healthy and happy. So far, they have proved to be quite easy customers.

Named Ricky, Tripod and Timmy, the animals have two indoor enclosures and also two outdoors, paid for by the family of a pupil who enjoyed working with animals at the school.

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SCHOOL PREFECTS’ CHARITY WORK 22-23 Prefects 2022 - 2023 As we come to the end of our tenure we have been reflecting on our aims and what we have achieved. One key focus that we have had in our sights this year has been supporting the launch of the brand new Bede’s Development Foundation. The Foundation’s goal is to increase the number of transformational bursaries the Trust offers to pupils who would not otherwise be able to come to Bede’s, specifically targeting pupils from deprived backgrounds across our local community. These bursaries are priceless for the pupils receiving them, but the opportunities are only available thanks to the generous donations of others.

We are all so grateful to have had the privilege to come to Bede’s and the idea that we could help to give those same opportunities to those who would not normally be able to attend Bede’s seemed too good an opportunity to pass up. We have all benefited in so many ways from being here, whether it be the incredible trips, sporting opportunities, creative arts outlets or academic offerings. We are all who we are today because of Bede’s.

The Bede’s Development Foundation is a cause that is very close to our hearts, and as a result this year we made it the School Prefects’ chosen charity.

To raise awareness and funds for the Foundation we have been running the School Tuck Shop, Sixth Form socials such as a Casino and Curry Night and also organised and carried out a Prefects’ Raffle. All of this has raised vital funds for the Foundation, something that we are all incredibly proud of.

The School Prefect Team 2022 - 2023

“There is no place better than Bede’s in encouraging pupils to get involved in so many different aspects of school life, whilst providing a comprehensive system that supports each pupil in doing so! Personally, I have found it was the only place where I could really throw myself into my academics whilst being supported with my music, but also enjoy myself on the football pitch two or three times a week.

I would encourage everyone to give back to this incredible Foundation, so that we can support others to benefit from the same opportunities and diverse range of activities that every Bede’s pupil has been offered. I am so proud to have been a part of the Foundation from its very inception and want to thank all of those who have supported and donated to the cause, especially those spearheaded by the School Prefects.”

Fearghus Beauchamp, Deputy Head of School & Pupil Head of the Foundation, 2022 81

SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS Year 13 go back to where they started

Earlier this year, a group of our Year 13 pupils were able to take some time from their revision and travel down to the beautiful coastline of Eastbourne to visit the Bede’s Prep School, which they had attended themselves.

The pupils came away from the day with a feeling of joy and happiness to relive a day of their youth, When asked “What have you found great about today?” there was a lot of cheer in their memories: “The nostalgia, seeing all of my old classrooms making the memories flood back. Bringing back the memories from my childhood helped me realise how good my childhood was.”

The pupils were able to have a trip down memory lane by touring the School and taking footsteps in their younger years. Upon arrival pupils were taken to the Dining Hall which had been set up and displayed beautifully with menus provided and food to cater for all and it’s fair to say that the food and all of the trouble the Prep School had gone to welcome them back went down a storm!

“It was really nice to be able to see all the rooms and look back on all the memories I made here fondly” “I’ve enjoyed coming back and experiencing deja vu, seeing old teachers was both scary and sentimental”

Year 13 sat down with their teachers who had taught them years before to have lunch together, catch up and talk about their journey from the Prep School into the Senior School, discovering what has changed since they had last seen each other and about the pupils future endeavours. It was a positive and sentimental day for both pupils and teachers, with many “I remember when…” phrases being said.

Overall, the day was a positive experience and a lovely chance for the pupils to keep their strong connection between the two schools and the members of staff who have helped them on their own journeys.

Following a lovely lunch, the pupils were taken around the Prep School and visited their old classrooms, tutor rooms and much more by walking the halls they used to follow. The pupils were able to go to the Prep School theatre and were reminiscing about their play of ‘Romeo and Julie’ and even the ‘BLUE STAIRS’.

The Year 13 pupils were also able to see the next generation of Bedians and see that they were once those children playing cricket.

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LEAVERS BALL Leavers Ball, Friday 26 May 2023 On Friday 26 May, Bede’s hosted their Summer Ball to celebrate the end of the Upper Sixth pupils’ time at the school. Over 200 pupils, parents and staff gathered on the lawn to enjoy an evening of entertainment including a magician, funfair stalls, a karaoke booth and a delicious three-course meal.

There were speeches from the Headmaster, Peter Goodyer, Heads and Deputy Heads of School: Milly, Nicolai, Poppy and Fearghus, and Head of Sixth Form Engagement: Justin Sealey.

Everyone enjoyed a delicious three course meal followed by plenty of fun and entertainment: a live band, casino tables and an ice cream van. Pupils, parents and staff were able to raise a toast to celebrate the Upper Sixths’ time at Bede’s, before gathering on the lawn for a spectacular firework display over the lake.

It was wonderful to see many parents, including some who travelled from overseas, joining their children to mark this special occasion. It was an incredible event that we hope the Leavers will never forget.

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS Meet our new Heads of School 2023/2024 Our new Heads of School have been appointed for the academic year 2023/2024! Mareike Noon and Max Samland take on the roles of Heads of School, while Mandy Zhang and Charlie Bennett are our new Deputy Heads of School. Here, we ask them a few questions to get to know them as they start their new roles...

Mareike - Head of School

Max - Head of School

Tell us about your time at Bede’s so far...

Well, I joined Bede’s in the Lower Fifth in the middle of covid so it was quite strange joining a new school along with having all of the other restrictions like masks. But since then I would say that I have had so much fun at school meeting new people and trying out lots of new things, especially in activities.

Tell us about your time at Bede’s so far...

Although I have been at Bede’s since Lower Fifth, it feels like time has flown by so quickly and I had just arrived yesterday. The support and the kindness that was shown to me has been unmatched.

Especially during the time it took for me to settle in as a full boarder from Germany. No matter the circumstances, such as online learning during Covid or exam season, it has always been a pleasure and a gift being able to attend this school. I am truly enjoying my time here and I can confidently say that I am making the most out of every opportunity, whether that be sporting activities, trips or academic masterclasses.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I would say that I am most looking forward to working together as a team with the prefect team to continue improving pupil voice and getting more feedback from the students, to get a better idea of what they would like to improve and change in the school.

Who is on your dream dinner party guest list?

I would definitely want to invite Emma Thomson for her great sense of humour and to learn more about her life as an actress and writer. Malala Yousafazi to hear more about her activism and charity work. Jane Austen because so much of her literature has been adapted to the modern audience and still remains relevant today. Mo Farah to find out more about his life as an athlete and the struggles he went through to get there.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I am looking forward to every aspect that comes with it. I cannot wait to work together with Mareike, Charlie, Mandy and this year’s school prefect team to ensure we leave behind a memorable legacy. Although we have a long list of objectives we are only given one year to have as big of an impact as possible. Therefore I will be looking to mainly focus on improving the transition period for international students, offering additional extra- curricular education, expanding the current school tuck shop, as well as establishing a more inclusive and diverse education.

You have one book, one film and one album to take with you to a desert island - which do you pick?

The film I would take would either have to be Wild Child because it is full of hilarious moments or Pride and Prejudice (2005) as I love a good period drama. If I could bring a series of books it would probably have to be the Harry Potter series as I never seem to get tired of reading them but if I had to choose one book I would go for “A good girl’s guide to murder” as it is full of plot twists. I would also need something to cheer me up and Abba’s album “Voulez-vous” seems to do the trick.

Who is on your dream dinner party guest list?

I would invite Roger Federer, arguably the best tennis player of all time, for his remarkable sportsmanship both on and off the court. Michael Burry, the hedge fund manager who spotted the 2008 Financial crises early, would bring his unique insights into financial markets and his unconventional thinking. Lastly, Marie Curie, the pioneering scientist, would inspire the table with her groundbreaking work in radioactivity.

Together I believe that this diverse group of individuals would provide a very interesting and enriching conversation throughout the evening.

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS Meet our new Heads of School 2023/2024 You have one book, one film and one album to take with you to a desert island - which do you pick?

For the movie choice I would have to go with the Harry Potter series, simply because this takes me back to my childhood, where I used to be deeply invested into learning every spell. My book choice would be “A song of Ice and Fire”, even though I have been patiently waiting for the sequel book for years, the unbelievable story telling is what keeps me waiting. As for my Album choice I would take Queen’s “Greatest Hits”, as that would always successfully distract me from the fact that I am on a desert island by myself.

You have one book, one film and one album to take with you to a desert island - which do you pick?

Book: A brief history of humanity by Yuval Noah Harari, because it’s really long and the chance of me forgetting the first few pages from decades ago when I finish the last page is really high. But it’s just a book that will amaze you everytime you pick it up.

Film: The Shawshank Redemption 1994, it’s just a fantastic film that makes you learn so much about life!

Album: ‘Happier Than Ever’ by Billie Eilish

Mandy - Deputy Head of School

Charlie - Deputy Head of School

Tell us about your time at Bede’s so far...

I joined Bede’s in Year 5 and grew up in this compassionate, caring environment. Over the years, I have experienced a series of opportunities and overcome many challenges.

If there’s one word that best describes my journey at Bede’s, it’s definitely going to be “resilience.” Bede has helped me develop the ability to endure hardship and overcome difficulties. From the beginning to the present, every decision I make, every path I choose, has the support of teachers, classmates and staff, which gives me the courage to move on. Even now, I still remember the first trip abroad with the school back in Year 7, we went to Spain and had a great time during the week. Life at Bede’s was full and exciting, and every little bit of my teenage years will be etched in my mind throughout my life.

Tell us about your time at Bede’s so far...

My time at Bede’s up until this point has been so enriching not just for my classwork but for my personal growth. Bede’s has nurtured and grown me into the person I am today, whilst in any life there are ups and downs, I know I can look back at all my memories and know that so far I have had so much fun with so many amazing people.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I always hear a saying from students in previous years at Bedes: “Be sure to leave this place better than it was when you came” and I wanted to continue this initiative this year. I’m looking forward to working with all three of my partners to achieve all of the positive changes and initiatives that will make Bede’s a better version of itself. I would like to raise large amounts of money for Bede’s Foundation with Charlie and am looking forward to the Bede’s Promise Auction at the end of this year. At the same time, I would like to work with Max and Mareike for our new school tuck shops this year. Furthermore, I’m looking forward to introducing the idea of ‘Be more passionate and curious about current affairs and global events’ into our community.

Who is on your dream dinner party guest list?

At my dinner I would be surrounded by my favourite visionary in the arts the late Virgil Abloh, and would soak in the wisdom and experience of Henry Kissinger, John Kerry and John Simpson whilst being entertained by the comedian Hassan Minhaj.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

Within my role, helping with The Bede’s Foundation with my counterpart Mandy Zhang would have to be what I am looking forward to the most.

Whilst I have been fortunate to attend Bede’s, I am hoping to unlock the doors to Bede’s to as many children as possible through The Bede’s Foundation.

You have one book, one film and one album to take with you to a desert island - which do you pick?

To read I would bring Greenlights by Matthew Mcconaughey to keep me grounded and to make sure I just keep living L- I - V - I - N - G. To watch I would choose Point Break ft Patrick Swasey and Keanu Reeves. To listen to, I would choose Born in the USA by Bruce Sprigsteen.

Who is on your dream dinner party guest list?

My first guest is definitely going to be Catherine the Great. At the same time I’d love to talk to Genghis Khan and if it could be possible then I really want to meet with Mao Zedong, who’s responsible for the disastrous policies of the ‘Great Leap Forward’ and the ‘Cultural Revolution’ in China.

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Residential Trip: FRANCE In April, Year 7 and 8 had the opportunity to taker part in a school trip to the Château de la Baudonniere in Normandy.

This trip was an incredible opportunity for the children to experience a new culture, try out new activities, and build relationships with their peers.

During their stay at the Château de la Baudonniere, the children participated in a variety of activities such as rock climbing, archery, fencing, team building exercises, muddy assault course and bread making that challenged them both mentally and physically.

As well as the adventure activities, the children had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local French culture. They visited a local market where they could practise their language skills. The trip to the Château de la Baudonniere was a memorable experience for the pupils.

Madame Allirot Boarding Housemistress

Residential Trip: SPAIN In April, Year 7 and 8 pupils took part in a residential trip to Spain.

We visited Madrid, where we did a walking tour of the city centre and enjoyed a delicious dinner in a restaurant.

Afterwards, we went to our hostel in Jaén. In Jaén, pupils met their Spanish pen pals and did activities with them such as speed meetings, bowling, a scavenger hunt and a farewell party.

They also visited the castle in Jaén, an Oleoteca, and went shopping at the food market where they bought their ingredients for the Masterchef lunch competition. They went to Granada, where they visited La Alhambra and the Science Park. Throughout the experience, pupils immersed themselves in Spanish culture and tasted Spanish gastronomy in different restaurants. It has been an enriching experience where pupils have made life-long memories.

Señora Carzorla Year 7 Teacher

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Hindleap Warren Trip (Years 2, 3 and 4) Bags were packed and waterproofs were at the ready as we headed out on our trip to Hindleap Warren! Excitement was buzzing from all year groups on the coach as we headed to the Ashdown Forest for our trip.

Year 2 enjoyed a day trip to the centre where they took part in many wild and wonderful activities, including a muddy adventure, an Earth walk and some rock climbing. We all enjoyed swapping stories over lunch time!

Year 3 and 4 had some housekeeping to do before they commenced their activities and making the beds was the first challenge! Once they had wrestled their duvet into its covers and ensured their cuddly toys were happily settled in, it was time to let the mud commence!

The children tackled the obstacle course first, and the mud was not optional! We couldn’t go over it, we couldn’t go under it, so we all went through it! There was a lot of ‘squilching’ and ‘squelching’ going on as the children climbed, crawled and clambered their way around the course.

Some even enjoyed crawling through dark tunnels to find each other!

We then headed deeper into the forest to find out who the ‘Sherwood Sureshot’ would be in the Archery competition. There were many 180s scored and it was a tense competition to find who would win the fair Lady Marian! After the excitement, we had worked up an appetite so we were greeted with a delicious macaroni and cheese to fill us up before joining together for a campfire, singsong and marshmallows! After all the fresh air, everyone was ready for bed and, after a few reminders(!), the lights went out and before we knew it, it was time for breakfast!

We enjoyed building shelters the next morning and ensuring they were ‘hurricane proof’! It was then time for the ultimate activity... the high ropes! We had to climb up, along, then up again, then along, then up a bit more before reaching a seesaw at the top! The children were incredibly brave and really challenged themselves to quite literally reach new heights!

We had a wonderful time at Hindleap Warren and many, lovely memories were made!

Miss Brodie Year 4 Teacher

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS King’s Coronation Picnic The bunting went up, flags were flying and His Royal Highness Prince Charles arrived on time, ready for his Coronation celebration.

On Friday 5 May, Bede’s Prep celebrated in style! During the morning, lessons focused on the Coronation and various themes around the Royal Family. We then joined together for a whole school picnic as the sun shone down on the astro. Red, white and blue flowers were planted in pots around the school, there was cake decorating, pebble painting, chalk drawing and a photo booth to record this momentous occasion. Mrs Morris and Ms Jackson have been entered into the Olympics following their efforts in the ladder run. Mr Garnham perfected his juggling skills whilst Ms Maynard choreographed the dancing activities. A fun filled afternoon was had by all staff and pupils.

Miss Napper-Page and Mrs Howell Charity Champions

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Year 4 Beach Community Project On the Friday before half term, Motcombe Infant School were invited to spend a day at the beach with Year 4.

Year 4 pupils worked hard to prepare different activities for the children to get involved in, including sandcastle building, rock painting, shell necklaces, treasure hunts and talked to the Motcombe pupils about water safety when paddling in the sea. The sun shone and a wonderful time was had by all! It was lovely to see the children from the two schools get along so well together.

Miss Brodie Year 4 Teacher Escape Room Workshop Year 4 and Year 5, and some pupils from Year 6, enjoyed an Escape Room workshop as part of their transition. A crime had happened and the children had to work quickly to identify the suspect!

They had to work through the evidence to identify codes to unlock padlocks to take them further on their investigation. First, a crossword had to be solved to give the children clues for the padlocks on their case, once these had been identified, the case, quite literally, was opened and a timer was revealed! The race against the clock began and the children put their mathematical, geographical and scientific skills to good use throughout the process. Maps were followed, coordinates were translated and DNA was analysed, each step leading the children closer to the suspect!

Everyone showed great teamwork to crack codes and solve puzzles to cut the wire before the time was up!

Miss Brodie Year 4 Teacher

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PREP SCHOOL NEWS Year 7 Fieldwork and Creative Writing Session on the Downs On Thursday 15 June, on what certainly felt like the hottest day of the year so far, Year 7 classes were taken onto the Downs to carry out some Geography fieldwork.

The fanning branches of a tree offer me shade from the harsh but lifegiving sun. On the horizon, beautiful trees morph into mountains that span across the eyeline. The gentle whirr of cars echo in my ear. The breeze whispers how beautiful the world is.”

They were investigating visitor impact on the Downs and how this is managed by the National Park Authority. As soon as we had left the school gate at Holywell, Mr Brewer pointed out several basic management strategies, such as the information panels, the South Downs Way signage and the bicycle rails. After a brief discussion about the purpose and effectiveness of such measures, we began the daunting task of climbing the slope to the first junction in the path that leads to Beachy Head. The sight of the grazing ponies, which were having a good old gallop in the afternoon session, really helped to get us all up the hill!

Mr Brewer and Mrs Wilson

The groups were split into those lucky enough to be in the shade of a holm oak tree with Mrs Wilson (with Mrs Wise in the morning and Señora Cazorla in the afternoon), and those who had to hike a short distance further with Mr Brewer. The latter group were shown how to sample for the number of ground species of vegetation, vegetation height, ground hardness and trampling scale then set off to record this data every three metres, in each direction, from the middle of the footpath. This was quite challenging but the groups soon had a better sense of how repeated trampling affects the vegetation sward, species diversity and what the impacts of such footpaths are.

Once they had completed their transects, they swapped with Mrs Wilson’s group and were soon very glad for the shade. There they carried out individual public pressure impact evaluations where they had to complete a bi-polar index on their thoughts about a range of features of the landscape and people’s impact on it. They also had to explain the various management strategies we had seen earlier. All in all these were enjoyable sessions outside of the classroom and it was wonderful to see two Adonis Blue butterflies, unusual caterpillar colonies, a breeding pair of pheasants, the oh-so-cute ponies and all the grasses and flowers in full bloom. I am glad to report that nobody seemed to suffer any ill-effects from hay-fever and nobody found out if the electric fence was live or not!

In between Geography fieldwork and industrious investigations, the group took a moment of calm and reflection to write about the beautiful environment around us. Using the work of nature writer, Robert MacFarlane, as creative inspiration, the pupils used freestyle writing to capture a moment on the Downs. They observed nature around them, slowing their writing to focus closely on detail. Many were courageous enough to read aloud their creative writing to the group, and it was a lovely moment for the children to sit under the shade of the oak tree, appreciating each others’ thoughts and sharing these sensitive compositions. One group member reflected, ‘the scenery makes you feel warm-hearted, like you belong.’ Such lovely connections with the glorious South Downs!

Here are Nithil’s thoughtful observations: “The satisfying crunch of grass and felled leaves calm my ear. A clock tower rings in the distance muffled by the rapid calls of the seagulls that soar over the endless blue ocean, dotted with the occasional sailboat. Flowers of all kinds spring joyfully from the soft earth, shining in a jungle of weeds. A bee emerges near a neatly organised clump of trees.

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS First Year pupils take on Swimathon 2023 As part of the First Year Flourish project, Pippa entered the Swimathon 2023 and recruited a team of swimmers from Bloomsbury.

On 16 May, Pippa, Abbigail, Erin and Amelie swam 4km (1km each which is 40 lengths of the swimming pool) in a phenomenal time of 2 hours!

They are raising money for Cancer Research and Marie Curie. They have already incredibly passed their target of funds raised but they would love to raise as much as possible for these amazing charities. Click here to donate!

Mary-Jane Newbery, Bloomsbury House Mistress 22 MAY 2023

Bede’s Model UN team took a trip to Suffolk for the annual Royal Hospital School Model UN Conference After having prepared fast-track resolutions for the event, the first day saw current affairs and issues being discussed in each of the delegate’s respective committees. A day of chaos, companionship and compromise, the second day was based on a crisis: the AI uprising and its implications on global governance. It’s fair to say that Bede’s had a tricky task up their sleeve, sending delegations of Iran, Russia and India, but all did well to defend or attack resolutions, and offer amendments, based on the perspective of the country they were representing. The result of this was an impressive batch of awards for the Bede’s cohort at the end of the conference. Huge thanks to Mr McIntosh and Miss Webster for coordinating the trip: a fantastic activity which has brought knowledge, public speaking, debating skills and diplomacy to a whole new level amongst all that participated.

Charlie Swan Lower Sixth Pupil 23 MAY 2023

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PREP SPORTS DAY Bede’s Prep School Sports Day 2023 It may have been one our hottest Sports Days on record but I think I speak for all when I say that it was also one of the best!

As one of our biggest school events, it was so fantastic to see the pupils coming together to compete for their Sections and display all of our most cherished sporting values: Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Leadership. The camaraderie on show as I moved through our section stations, the mighty Raven, Eagle, Hawk and Falcon rendered the end result almost negligible because every child won that day in their coming together for each other in celebration of every participant, no matter what position they crossed the line, threw the javelin or jumped a distance. Of course, the results were important and everyone wanted to win their own race and the overall title.

As the morning progressed and the score updates kept coming in, it was anyone’s guess. Each section had strong contenders both in the track and in the field events and the placings were changing almost moment by moment but in the end there could only be one winner and this year it was Falcon! A long overdue return to glory!

Ms Towner Head of Prep Sport

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NURSERY & PRE-PREP SPORTS DAY Bede’s Nursery & Pre-Prep Sports Day 2023

NURSERY SPORTS DAY The morning of Tuesday 13 June dawned hot and so, when Rainbow Fish and Pre-School Nursery group took to the astro for their annual Sports Day, the array of sun hats was fantastic!

The atmosphere had a summer festival theme and nursery staff outdid themselves in encouraging their charges to compete over a variety of obstacles as well as the more traditional sprints. Teacher Bubbles was there to start the races off with Mrs Morris, and Ms Jackson was on hand to give out stickers and congratulations. Prep Football Lead, Mr Cobbett was also on hand at the finish line keeping an eagle eye out for prospective football talent as one of the races involved kicking a football into the goal at the finish line - there were some very strong right and left feet on display! The pupils were absolutely brilliant and it was wonderful to conclude the morning with a pupils and family relay to round off our inclusive sporting experience with just the right amounts of competitive spirit and enjoyment! It was such a pleasure to commentate for everyone and I can’t wait to see them in action again this time next year.

Ms Towner Head of Prep Sport

PRE-PREP SPORTS DAY By the afternoon of June 13, temperatures were soaring, but so were the competitive spirits of Reception, Year 1 and 2 as they headed for the track for their annual athletics event.

What an array of talent and tenacity! The pupils gave each race their all, from the coordination required for the egg and spoon, to the agility of the hurdles and the crazy bouncability needed to get the space hopper steeds down the track, each and every pupil was leaving it all on the track to compete for their section. The sprints for all were blistering in speed as well as heat, and Year 2 took us to the finish line with their stamina.

Sports Day would not be complete without a pupils and family relay and my goodness, we could see where the pupils get their competitive drive!

What a fantastic atmosphere for everyone, it was an absolute pleasure to commentate on the races and see all of the pupils’ hard work and training in PE in evidence on the track. We can’t wait for the next one!

Ms Towner Head of Prep Sport

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS Bede’s Sixth Formers Celebrate Their Results It was a pleasure today to welcome back to Bede’s, this year’s Upper Sixth leavers and their teachers to celebrate the announcement of their A level and BTEC results.

Amongst the success stories are Fearghus Beauchamp who has achieved a clean sweep of A*s in Economics, Maths, Further Maths and French and Grace Tuson who has also achieved the top grades in Maths, English and History. Flossie Wilson gained A*s in English, Fine Art and Graphic Communications and outgoing Head of School, Milly Gibson’s strong set of results will see her taking up her offer to study PPE at Oxford.

Some of our top sportspeople have also enjoyed considerable academic success; notably twins Millie and Mary Taylor, who will be pursuing their cricketing careers next year, both achieved the equivalent of straight A*s in their subjects and Freya Kemp, who also balanced a busy year playing cricket professionally with her studies, gained the equivalent of two A*s and an A in her subjects.

Some notable subject performances included Art where 100% of pupils gained A*-B grades and Economics and Maths where 92% and 86% of pupils gained A*-B grades respectively.

Bede’s Deputy Head, John Tuson commented “As has been widely covered in the press, grade distributions have returned to pre-pandemic levels. The authorities took the decision to not offer any concessions in recognition of the disruption that this cohort of pupils have experienced, but I think it is right that as we celebrate these excellent results, we also acknowledge that these pupils absolutely have had to overcome some significant challenges during their school careers and their achievements are therefore all the more impressive as a result.”

Bede’s Headmaster, Peter Goodyer praised this year’s Upper Sixth, commenting “A great deal of hard work, by pupils and their teachers, has been rewarded with these results but I take equal pleasure in reflecting on the broader achievements of this dedicated and diverse year group, as well as the enduring friendships which have been formed. They have contributed so much in myriad ways - on the stage, in the sporting arena and in service to their school and wider community - and I wish them every success for the future.”

Peter Goodyer CEO & Head 17 AUG 2023

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BEDE’S TREE PLANTING INITIATIVE Bede’s Pupils to Plant 2,022 Trees in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (March 2022) Bede’s School has pledged to plant 1,200 trees by the end of term (25 March) at the Senior School site in Upper Dicker with a further planting of some 800 trees will take place later in autumn.

The tree-planting initiative is the result of a generous donation from a former parent at the School. This is one of the many environmental initiatives that Bede’s School is currently involved in. From biomass boilers, to carbon reduction plans, avoiding single-use plastics, energy monitoring and wildlife conservation through their zoo, Bede’s is doing everything they can to make the school greener and more sustainable. The trees are being planted as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative as a celebration of the Platinum Jubilee this year. The initiative invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

The 2,000 trees being planted at the Senior School represent every pupil and staff member within the Trust, with the first 1,200 representing the pupils.

There has also been a further 250 trees donated by parents within the Bede’s community. This initiative provides both Senior School and Prep School pupils with the opportunity to contribute to a greener landscape, and leave behind something that will be a part of the Upper Dicker village forever.

The initial 1,200 trees are being delivered in several batches and include Field Maple, Wild Cherry, Silver Birch and Rowan. These specific trees were carefully selected after consulting with a local environmental services contractor. They provided a list of native Sussex trees that encourage birds, wildlife and berries. The bare root trees were acquired directly from English Woodlands.

This project has been brought to life by the Grounds team at Bede’s, who have thought carefully about the placement of the trees. They have ensured a 3-metre radius for each tree to guarantee no overshadowing and the trees have all of the sunlight and space they need to grow. There has been a 12-metre island left in the centre of the trees which will eventually be home to a plaque to commemorate the tree planting experience of 2022.

The trees are being planted in batches of 400 at a time, giving every pupil the opportunity to plant a tree. The pupils have been writing their names and attaching them to their planted tree. They have been planted alongside biodegradable rabbit spirals. Already over the course of the last few weeks, the trees are coming into bud and bloom.

Bede’s Senior School Headmaster, Peter Goodyer comments, “I am very proud of our community for putting this initiative into action. It has not been an easy task but as always, our community’s enthusiasm and determination remain unwavering. Every tree that is being planted makes a difference in the fight against climate change. Our newly planted trees will be enjoyed for many future generations to come.”

Peter Goodyer Headmaster & CEO

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BEDE’S TREE PLANTING INITIATIVE Bede’s Complete Pledge To Plant 2,000 Trees On Their School Site (Feburary 2023) Bede’s School has successfully completed its pledge to plant 2,000 trees on its Senior School site. The initial 1,200 trees were planted last spring and the Grounds team, alongside pupils and members of the Bede’s community, have been busy planting the final 800 over the last two months.

The tree-planting initiative is the result of a generous donation from a former parent at the School. This is one of the many environmental initiatives that Bede’s School is currently involved in. From biomass boilers, to carbon reduction plans, avoiding single-use plastics, energy monitoring and wildlife conservation through their zoo, Bede’s are doing everything they can to make the school greener and more sustainable.

The trees that have been planted include Field Maple, Wild Cherry, Silver Birch and Rowan. These specific trees were carefully selected to ensure they are native Sussex trees that encourage birds, wildlife and berries. The bare root trees were acquired directly from English Woodlands.

This project has been brought to life by the Grounds team at Bede’s, who have thought carefully about the placement of the trees. They have ensured a 3-metre radius for each tree to guarantee no overshadowing and the trees have all of the sunlight and space they need to grow. There has been a 12-metre island left in the centre of the trees which will eventually be home to a plaque to commemorate the tree planting experience.

The Grounds team, made up of Leigh, Adam, Ashley and Jason, has played a part in planting every single tree, and they couldn’t be prouder of how the project has come together. One member of the team, Jason, comments, “It is quite a vision, seeing all of the trees planted finally. It has come such a long way! Being a part of this eco-initiative and seeing the pupils get involved has been great. It was a lot of work but will be so worth it in years to come, once the trees have bloomed.”

A beautiful stone is installed to commemorate the 2,022 trees planted at our Senior School site as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative (August 2023) In August of 2023, we had a beautiful stone installed to commemorate the 2,022 trees planted at our Senior School site as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. The stone is set in the very centre of the native Sussex trees, pointing south towards the South Downs and reads “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

We hope that this beautiful space and the stone’s message will inspire our community to keep the environment and our commitment to it at the very centre of everything that we do here at Bede’s.

Thank you to our dedicated Grounds team and the 95 donors who helped bring this project to life

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS My experience with the 2023 Orwell Youth Prize We are incredibly proud of Hau Tak, Upper Fifth, who recently got through to the final 43 entrants shortlisted for The Orwell Youth Prize! He has written an account about his experience: The Orwell Youth Prize is an annual writing contest organised by the Orwell Foundation - named after famed author, essayist and social critic Eric Arthur Blair, who wrote under the far-better-known alias George Orwell (and created such famed works as Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four). Drawing on Orwell’s style of activism through writing, participants are encouraged to write on topical social issues and crises, to expound their thoughts and opinions, and to boldly use their voice in creating literature that will help promote and exchange ideas and foster change and progress. This year, I had the privilege of entering the Prize alongside several friends, and I shall briefly summarise my experience in this article.

It came as a shocking surprise to me when I discovered that I had been shortlisted for the prize - one of 43 young writers shortlisted out of all 570 entrants. This provided me with a major boost to my confidence in my writing, something that I am very grateful for. I was also able to make it to the Orwell Youth Prize Celebration Day in London, where I was able to meet with other talented writers and learn from their unique styles of writing.

The fact that there were so many entrants there who were younger than me in age and yet possessed exceptional skill and talent - which I repeatedly identified and noticed during the read-aloud sessions - also alerted me to how much room I have for improvement, which was a necessary and constructive enlightenment for me. My entry, the unwieldy-titled The Dandelion Shall Never Return to the Sea of Flowers, was a piece of writing inspired by my own experiences as a migrant and someone who had long grappled with the concepts of belonging, inclusivity and home; though it unfortunately did not emerge victorious, I still am very proud of the personal viewpoints and experiences that I imbued into it nonetheless.

I must say that I have thoroughly relished participating in the 2023 Orwell Youth Prize, and would recommend it to all who are interested in writing for pleasure, activism and change.

I first heard of the prize after Easter break from our knowledgeable Mr Gibbs here at Bede’s, and was invited to join the Orwell Youth Prize writing activity on Thursdays in order to have a designated amount of time every week reserved solely for writing and perfecting my submission. It was here that I met fellow prize entrants Skye Coetser (from Charleston) and Harrison Tradewell (from Deis). Despite having never met me before, both Skye and Harrison were very instrumental in fostering a very welcoming and creative atmosphere during our weekly activity time together, and we were able to explore a wide range of potential ideas for our entries, ranging from mystical and religious concepts like cyclicality and samsaras to concrete socio-political problems such as wealth inequality and corporate social control. It was thanks to this robust exchange of views and concepts that we were able to bounce off each other’s creativity and share in the joys of literary creation. I cannot thank Skye and Harrison enough for helping me work through my own insecurities towards writing, reviewing my long drafts, and giving some feedback on choice of wording as well.

Hau Tak Ng Upper Fifth pupil 23 AUG 2023

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS Bede’s Senior School Pupils Achieve Remarkable Success in GCSE Results Bede’s Senior School is pleased to announce exceptional success in this year’s GCSE results, demonstrating an improvement from the prepandemic results of 2019. These results not only showcase the dedication and hard work of both pupils and teachers, but they also reinforce the School’s commitment to academic excellence and holistic development.

Scout Allen from Brighton and Rafe Coetser from Forest Row gained 12 and 10 GCSEs respectively, including 9 results at grade 9 level. Amelia Burden from Buxted gained 13 GCSEs, including 9 results at grades 9-8.

Other achievements of note include Anna Scott from Haywards Heath who gained 10 GCSEs including 7 at the very top grade and Megan Lilley from Laughton who gained 11 GCSEs, including 8 at grades 8-9, Delphi Callen Dickens from Seaford who gained 10 grades at 9-8 level and Josh Ting from Hong Kong who gained 9 GCSEs including 7 at grades 9-8.

Deputy Head, John Tuson commented, “It is such a delight to be able to congratulate those who have scored massively well across the board with a third of all pupils gaining five or more grades at 9-7 (the equivalent of A*-A) there are so many real success stories. But as always this is only part of the picture, and the success of young people cannot always be seen from such headline figures. For many this year, those who have achieved fewer GCSEs, or maybe less obviously spectacular grades, their results still represent an absolute triumph.”

Headmaster, Peter Goodyer commented, “By tailoring education to individual strengths, fostering critical thinking, and instilling a lifelong love for learning, our teachers have empowered pupils to exceed their potential and these results are testament to that. I could not be more proud of our pupils’ achievements and of the well rounded young people that they have become.”

Peter Goodyer CEO & Head 24 AUG 2023

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PRIZE GIVING AT THE SENIOR SCHOOL Senior School Prize Giving, 31 June 2023 On Friday 30 June we congratulated this year’s prize winners and marked the last day at Bede’s for our Upper Sixth leavers. The morning began with a welcome from Bede’s Chair of Governors, Mrs Geraldine Watkins, ahead of the Headmaster’s review of the year. We were delighted to welcome the high-performance and leadership expert, Floyd Woodrow, to Bede’s as our guest speaker and before giving his thought-provoking address, he presented awards to this year’s prize winners.

There were some wonderful musical performances from Charlie Swan, who performed his version of Try a Little Tenderness before Veronica Travers sang As If We Never Said Goodbye, from Sunset Boulevard. Trinity Gott gave another stunning performance of Time to Say Goodbye, which she first performed at this year’s Cabaret. Thank you to Sam French who opened and closed this year’s Prize Giving with some wonderful piano playing.

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PRIZE GIVING AT THE PREP SCHOOL Prep School Prize Giving, 1 July 2023 On Saturday 1 July we congratulated this year’s prize winners and marked the last day at Bede’s Prep School for our Year 8 Leavers. The morning began with a welcome from Bede’s Chair of Governors, Mrs Geraldine Watkins, ahead of the Head of Bede’s Prep, Leigh-Anne Morris’, review of the year. We were delighted to welcome Ben Smith, who inspired pupils, parents and staff alike with his incredible story of running 401 marathons in 401 days to raise awareness of the devastating impact of bullying, before presenting some awards to this year’s prize winners.

There were some wonderful performances from some of our accomplished pianists including Charlie, Katie, Jessie, Iman, Anya and Ona, a wonderful solo performance of “A Thousand Years” from Jersey, before our Heads of School, Serena and Joseph spoke so beautifully about their time at Bede’s Prep with poignant messages to their peers. Next, Bede’s Legat Dance Academy featuring Anya-Sofia, Jeannie, Lacey, Lucy C, Millie, Katie, Rosie, Nina, Anya, Lucy L, Claudia and Clara took to the stage with their breathtaking performance of “Caged” before Oscar and Elijah entertained us with their LAMDA performance. Prize Giving concluded with all our Year 8 Leavers and their families enjoying lunch on the Lawn overlooking the lake for one last time together ahead of the summer break.

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WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD LEGAT Showcase of ‘What a Wonderful World’ at the Congress Theatre For those that were lucky enough to come and see the production of What A Wonderful World at the Congress Theatre on Friday 23 June, I am sure you were also blown away by the talent of every single person on the stage.

It was a testament to the hard work of the pupils involved but also to the fantastic Legat and Performing Arts faculty who work tirelessly to enable our pupils to have these wonderful opportunities that will last with them a lifetime.

Audience members were left enthralled by the athleticism and level of professionalism of the Legat dancers in numbers such as Paint It Black choreographed by Amira Kendall and the thrilling Grand Tarantelle with 30 ballet dancers leaping on stage cleverly put together by Emma Manes.

They were mesmerised by the beautiful PreAssociate children in their rendition of Somewhere Only We Know sung exquisitely by Tom Lilley and Brooke Castree as well as our Associate pupils dancing to Jerusalem. It was wonderful to see the Prep dancers shining in their rendition of Jai Ho as well as joining the Senior School pupils in a fantastic tap dance.

And the finale of Chasing Cars danced so beautifully by Heather Gibb and the Legat dancers which moved seamlessly into the bows moved many audience members as the whole show culminated in 73 children smiling in excitement on this iconic stage.

The inclusivity and diversity of the show was truly outstanding and we are very excited to see what we can do next year!

Sherrie Pennington Head of Legat Dance Academy

This year the Prep pupils had the fantastic opportunity to perform alongside the Senior School Legat pupils in their annual dance performance. This year’s performance of “What a Wonderful World” was a fantastic celebration of the world that we live in, displayed through dance and musical theatre. Th performance took place at the Congress theatre in Eastbourne, giving the pupils the opportunity to perform in a professional working theatre.

Prep pupils from Year 2 to 8 were involved and did themselves proud. They performed beautifully and professionally and most importantly of all, they had so much fun! They had been working very hard in lessons and all that hard work really paid off in a simply stunning performance by all. Huge congratulations to all that took part - you were amazing!

Mrs Ullah Head of Dance Watch Bede’s Legat Dance Academy’s performance of What a Wonderful World https://youtu.be/sXGI50kuTFU 102

PERFORMING ARTS Music, Summer 2023 What a wonderful term of music making - as I write, the rain has come, but the sun is shining and the Music department is buzzing with ensembles and music lessons on a beautiful summer’s afternoon! The Summer Term has seen a huge variety of concerts and events from the Bede’s Young Musician, to a one-day workshop and masterclass from Professor Paul Mealor, the world-renowned choral and Coronation composer to the leavers’ recital at All Saints’ Hove, a curriculum day for Year 9 exploring songs from the 1940s, and finishing with an array of Speech Day performances to finish the term off in style.

Our first concert of the term was the much-celebrated leavers’ recital at All Saints’ Hove where parents, staff and pupils were serenaded by performances from Grace Watkins, Flossie Wilson, Elfie Day, Sam French, Jonjo Murphy amongst others. All Saints’ Hove proved to be a beautiful and new venue for us: exploring exciting places to perform in and trying out other performance spaces, enhancing the performances of our own pupils.

Bede’s Young Musician of the Year was another opportunity to showcase the talents of our fantastically talented pupils. Esther Bloom, Maya Goswami, Sam French, Charlie Swan, Josh Ting, Anoushka Beardshaw and Lucy Rose serenaded us with amazing performances of all styles and genres. The evening was adjudicated by Mr Riccardo Simonetti and Ms Jennifer Baillie, both esteemed colleagues on our visiting music teacher team. In the end, the Young Musician was awarded to Sam French for his performance of Mozart’s Adagio in B minor and Liszt’s Sonetto del Petraca 104.

On Thursday 18 May, a group of enthusiastic pianists went up to London to hear French/Canadian pianist Helene Grimaud at the Barbican Hall in London, in what was an amazing programme consisting of Brahms, Beethoven and Bach/Busoni.

As I write, we are deep in preparation for Speech Day, where ensembles will perform on the festival stage on the lawn, and pupils Veronica Travers, Charlie Swan and Trinity Gott will sing a captivating programme of solo repertoire during the speech itself.

We look forward to welcoming everyone at all our concerts next year - next year’s musical is Guys & Dolls in January 2024, and as ever, we are very much looking forward to celebrating the musical achievements of the fantastic pupils at Bede’s.

Robert Scamardella Director of Music

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PERFORMING ARTS Drama, Summer 2023 We are thrilled to be returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with our Year 12 Drama pupils! It will be an incredible experience, showcasing their talent and dedication on an international stage. This year an abridged version of Shakepares’s Twelfth Night will be presented. Well done to all those involved thus far, including the actors and production team.

Exciting news for the upcoming year as we prepare to launch our new Production Arts course. This course will provide pupils with the opportunity to explore various aspects of backstage work, including set design, lighting, sound, and stage management. We are thrilled to expand our curriculum and offer this exciting new avenue for pupils to pursue their passion for theatre.

In other news, we recently celebrated the achievements of our departing Year 13 A-level pupils. Their hard work and dedication was put to the final test in the recent exams, and as they lay down their quills at Bede’s we are proud to see them embark on the next chapter of their lives. A special mention goes to our Year 12 pupils, whose recent monologue and duologue performance were exceptional. Their performances were a testament to their talent, research, rehearsal and the supporting Drama faculty.

As we look ahead to the next academic year, we are excited to continue nurturing creativity, talent, and a love for the performing arts.

Congratulations once again to all our pupils and teachers for their outstanding accomplishments!

Will Rennison Head of Academic Drama ‘THROUGH THE WARDROBE’ Junior Show Through the Wardrobe was a wonderful experience from start to finish and the cast and crew responded to our experimental approach to rehearsals with energy and creativity. Our audiences were treated to a promenade view of the piece that asked them to move around the performance spaces and find the very best angle possible to experience the work. Noah Van Herk shares his thoughts…

“Through the Wardrobe was a thrilling experience that tested what I know as an actor. When I first showed up to rehearsals, I was expecting the ordinary, learning the lines, practicing the movement, but I was very, VERY wrong. Through the wardrobe was a promenade style play, which means that the audience will be moving around, something that can be quite the challenge to actors and directors alike. At the beginning of almost every rehearsal we were forced to move as if we were our characters, improvise as our characters, and even interact as our characters, which afterwards left us exhausted, but as stupid as it seemed, it played a vital role later on in the production stages. In my opinion, I believe Through the Wardrobe was my favourite play I have ever performed in, the play was far from ordinary; from the script (written and adapted by Mrs Lewis), the scenes (which we had complete control over what stayed and what went) and even the mak up!

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PERFORMING ARTS When it came to the start of the third term, that’s when everything really picked up, we got first glimpses of what set would look like, as-well as costume, music and lights, walking into the Miles studio, it was almost as if you were behind the stage of a professional Broadway play, which is definitely the right way to put it, with the running of cast members to give doubles certain props, and the elegant OR hurried makeup artists. I guess what I am trying to say is that this play far outweighs my past experiences, and with the level of effort, dedication and general hard work from the cast, directors, and back stage crew, this play made it clear of what people are capable of when we work together, which is what I think separates this play, from the average, run of the mill junior school play.”

Noah Van Herk First Year pupil (Mr Tumnus)

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LEGAT On Monday 17th April we were delighted to welcome back to Bede’s former Legat ballet teacher and Prima Ballerina with the Royal Ballet Fiona Chadwick.

Having performed in many ballet productions across the world and creating roles with Sir Matthew Bourne we are privileged that Fiona still brings her wealth of experience to assist our dancers on their journey.

Final Goodbyes On Monday 26th June we enjoyed our final company meal at The Plough.

It was such a lovely opportunity to be together to celebrate the many achievements throughout the year and to say a proper ‘Legat goodbye’ to our leavers.

On Friday 21st May we held our Performing Arts Celebration in the Miles Studio. This special evening was an opportunity for us to reflect on the incredible year within our departments, to thank all those in dance, music and drama but also recognise the students who show amazing effort and excellence in their classes.

Poignant speeches were made by our Upper Sixth students and it allowed us to reflect on the wonderful memories we have made over the last year.

We were entertained with songs, recitals and poetry and it was a lovely way to be together before the exam season kicked into full swing.

Congratulations to the following Legat students for their well deserved awards : Lower Sixth Award - Caitlin Bentman First Year Award - Alexa Pettett Upper Sixth Award - Heather Gibb Lower Fifth Award - Angel Yuen Upper Fifth Award - Hannah Millen Senior Dance Cup - Ayaka Amos Junior Dance Cup - Hannah Millen

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PERFORMING ARTS LEGAT, Summer 2023 What an incredible year our dancers have had in Legat!

We have seen our dancers shine at Cabaret, Move It, Let’s Dance, Legat Solo Awards and of course What A Wonderful World held at The Congress Theatre on Friday 23rd June. They have taken exams in RAD Ballet and ISTD Contemporary as well as academic exams and assessments throughout the year. The dedication and hard work exuded by the dancers is a testament to their characters and we are incredibly proud of every single pupil.

Veronica Travers has a place at King’s College London to study Medicine. We hope she will continue to sing and dance and share her extraordinary talent.

On top of this we have had theatre trips to see Rambert’s Peaky Blinders, Wicked the Musical and ZooNations Mixtape as well as dance workshops with industry professionals Alastair Postlethwaite, Fiona Chadwick, Katyjo Murfin, Eugenio Contenti and Winifred Burnet-Smith.

Our annual photo shoot with Drew Tommons from Virtuoso Dance Photography provided our pupils with phenomenal pictures and keepsakes of their time in Legat and Drew commented on the professionalism of every dancer.

A message from this year’s Dance Captain - Heather Gibb:

We say goodbye to our four graduates who will no doubt continue to shine in their own right and we look forward to following their progress and exciting futures.

Ayaka Amos will be undertaking an Art Foundation at Kingston University whilst continuing her dance training on the Rambert pre-vocational programme.

Heather Gibb will be at University of Liverpool studying Marketing. As this years Dance Captain she has supported the company and we are thankful for her guidance and excellent leadership skills.

Jana Irvine has been awarded a place at the Brighton Academy for a degree in Commercial Dance Performance and we will keep our eyes peeled on her continued success and journey within the performing arts.

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you to every single one of you for being so supportive, dedicated and positive throughout this whole year.

I feel as a company we have all achieved so much together and made so many unforgettable memories that I will cherish forever. A couple of my favourite moments from this year have been Move it, Cabaret and of course the June show but my top memory was without a doubt the yoga ball competitions which brought out an uncontrollable competitive side of me. I will never forget all the laughs, hysteria and different emotions we have all gone through together as a team. You are all such a talented bunch and every single one of you brings something different that makes Legat so unique and special. I also want to thank all of the teachers for helping bring my passion for dance back and making my final two years of dancing such an unforgettable experience.

A special shout out to Miss Kendall for putting up with me in tap. If it wasn’t for you I never would have had the confidence to perform in a ttap number on stage again but I am so glad that I did. A very special thank you to Miss Pennington for supporting me through every good and bad day and making Legat feel like such a safe place for me. You really are all like a second family to me and I’m so glad to have met every single one of you.

I wish you all the best for the future and I can’t wait to come back and support Legat in every show. A massive thank you to everyone.”

Sherrie Pennington Head of Legat Dance Academy 107

CREATIVE ARTS As this year draws to a close, we see another cohort of talented artists and creatives producing exceptional work and 15 more Bede’s pupils heading off to study Architecture, Fashion, Costume Design, Fine Art and Photography at some of the leading Art schools. In addition, it has been recently announced Jack White (L6th Deis) has won the PhotoFrome predegree Pupil Award for his photographs on the theme of Decolonising Environments.

Several key events have celebrated the pupils’ success throughout the year. The return of Bede’s Oscars Night saw the Media Department showcase excellent work including pieces by Jack White and Megan Lilley.

Available to see here - https://bedescreativeartsfaculty.org/media On 22 June we saw the Creative Arts Faculty End of year show including DT, Photography, Graphics, Media and Fine Art. The standard of work was breathtaking and this was the first year of normal exams since 2019. Pupils have been exceptional during the exam period and risen to the challenge – they should be very proud. The selection of work on these pages highlights the quality of work produced. Beautiful delicate drawings, installation pieces, films, stunning wooden benches, steam punk costumes, modernist ceramics, surrealist paintings, and degree standard photography.

Back in February we were visited by Matt Jacques. Matt has worked on the visual effects on films like ‘Inception’, ‘The Harry Potter’ and the Marvel films. It was a great opportunity to listen to somebody working in the industry and get inspired. At the end I took the chance to ask if pupils should be concerned by Artificial Intelligence in relation to the creative industries. Matt said no – it is a new too. He has experimented with a piece of AI software and ‘taught it’ to create an effect in three days what would have taken him three weeks. It is the human aspect and knowledge that will use AI to create things of worth. It is at one scary and fascinating.

David Hockney, the great British Painter, has always been quick to experiment with new approaches – Polaroid Cameras, Photo copiers, IPads etc. These experiments are often about the nature of images – a deconstruction of what an image is. So, it is no surprise that at Glastonbury 2023 Hockney unveiled his first experiment with AI technology – the artist is still the Ghost in the machine.

The elements that make Art, Film, people, places, books beautiful are the flaws – the handmade gesture, the crackle on a record, the wrinkle on the face – they are the elements that give something soul. Embracing mistake and recognising their potential is one of the secret ingredients of great art. It is humans who have the sensitivity to recognise and develop these subtleties, for example, the feedback noise at the start of The Beatles ‘I Feel Fine’ is an element that makes the classic record. We should only truly be afraid if 1, we refuse to use it as the tool it is and 2.Once the machines realise the element that makes us human is our flaws and the recognition and inspiration that come from mistakes.

It is that soul that was evident in the work of the Bede’s pupils work showcased in the end of year show. I think the creatives of the future are quite safe – their work showed the human touch, exceptional skill, unusual juxtapositions and developments and the ability to curate and intertwine their ideas, so they all had a personal response and a pupil voice. A Brave new world indeed.

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Jonathan Turner Head of Creative Arts

CREATIVE ARTS

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CREATIVE ARTS Media & Film Studies, Summer 2023 2022-2023 got off to a great start in August with the announcement of some of the best results in the history of the department. Special mention goes to Eleanor Ffinch-Mitchell and Ella Ballard for their D* grades on the BTEC course in Creative Production. At A2 Level, the pupils also did tremendously well, with 77% gaining A* to B and at GCSE level 70% gained grades 9 to 6 with five pupils (Jack White, Hugh Vickerman, Alicia Yiu, Patrick Flamman and Alfie Kennedy) gaining A* grades. Alfie gained particular recognition from the examiner for his beautiful and sophisticated web design and Jack’s film sequence was commended for its subtle use of lighting, sound design and sci-fi conventions.

Creatively, this has proven to be an exceptional year, with a wonderful array of short films, tv advertisements, film sequences and music videos being produced. The purchase of three new high spec GH5 MK2 cameras, in addition to our very popular Ronin Stabilisers, has allowed the pupils to really experiment with fluid camera moves and shoot in super slow high definition. Emily Scott used our studio lighting and animation software to brilliant effect in her food advertisement and Arthur Lambert, Anoushka Kates and Jonjo Murphy ensured we will never feel quite the same way about isolated country houses again with their beautifully constructed short horror film. Special mention also goes to Josie Tabb for her exuberant music video, Megan Lilley for her powerful and provocative piece about the control of women and Joseph Beesley for his lovingly detailed, genuinely touching and artfully nostalgic television ad. It has been great to see how the pupils have really embraced the potential of the creative sides of our courses and the energy and desire to excel has really shone through.

It was also wonderful to finally be able to stage our traditional end of year Oscar Show for the first time in several years. This year, Miss Logan ran the event and she ensured that it was far glitzier and more glamorous than ever before! It was great to see the pupils dressed up so smartly and also to see how they supported each other and celebrated their success together.

This year also saw a host of visiting speakers and masterclasses, allowing our pupils to get fantastic experience of how the media industries function. We have had inspiring talks about CGI and Visual Effects, making and marketing animated films and how to score films and television shows. The pupils have also really benefited from the launch of our Monday afternoon Film Academy and have used the time to delve more deeply into the technical possibilities of our studio space, cameras and edit software. Next term, we shall be visiting Pinewood Studios whilst also making further plans for the return of our Bi-annual trip to New York in Dec 2024. There are now so many opportunities for media pupils to explore their interests across a wide range of industries and next term will also see the addition of a new activity that offers the chance to delve into the creative possibilities of artificial intelligence.

2022-2023 was another terrific year in the Media Department. Thanks very much to Mr Hickman, Mr Hopkins and Miss Logan for their priceless hard work, shrewd advice and great ideas and a very warm welcome to our new signing Mrs Niketeas who has run our popular Year 9 programme and brought a great deal of expertise and energy to her GCSE class. But most of all, thanks to all the pupils at Year 9, GCSE, BTEC and A-Level for the seemingly never-ending fountain of ideas and creativity!

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Rick Williams Head of Media & Film Studies

ACADEMIC Bede’s Academic Update It has been a rapidly evolving landscape, however in a short space of time, the impact of artificial intelligence on education has been truly profound. In the past 6 months I wonder how many pupils, parents or guardians reading this article will have used ChatGTP – whether to ‘try it out’ or have begun to use it more regularly in their day-to-day lives.

The emergence of ChatGPT and other AI software has sparked both excitement and concerns. However, education is an area that has the potential to be one of the most significantly affected. Pupils can use AI to help them compose essays, answer maths problems and even tackle complex coursework assignments. Will we, in the coming years, need to completely reassess our approach to teaching and learning?

While some schools have opted to ban AI tools like ChatGPT due to concerns about plagiarism, others (including Bede’s) have cautiously embraced the potential of AI to enhance learning. Pupils at Bede’s have been experimenting with ChatGPT over the past few months, and they fully believe that AI is more than simply a method of cheating. They have recognised the importance of preparing for a future where AI is integrated into various aspects of life and work.

While AI tools have demonstrated positive outcomes, there are also significant concerns for the future. Many are fearful about a decline in essential literacy and numeracy skills due to over reliance on AI for dayto-day lessons. Pupils need to be fully aware of both the benefits and disadvantages of utilising AI as part of the learning process and care needs to be taken in ensuring that this powerful tool is used in the right way.

The widespread adoption of ChatGPT since its launch has been astonishing. Today, ChatGPT has begun to be tested and used across various industries. Creating code, writing legal cases, customer service, writing copy for websites/newspapers, creating presentations and summarising documents, are just the tip of the iceberg for ChatGPT’s potential.

The path forward requires a delicate balance. We must carefully navigate the pathways between the benefits and limitations of AI in the future. AI is going to be a tool in the future so learning how to effectively use it is crucial to helping pupils prepare for life beyond school.

Universities and schools have also faced a crucial decision when confronted with ChatGPT’s popularity among pupils. While some universities have opted to ban the technology, many universities have acknowledged the futility of doing this and instead sought to establish fair use guidelines. Pupils at university now increasingly rely on ChatGPT to complete their studies, contributing to their degrees and even plan to use it during exams. Many schools are also starting to encourage pupils to use AI software for assignments and projects, recognising that technology is an integral part of pupils’ learning experiences.

Nicholas Abrams Assistant Head: Teaching & Learning

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ROUND THE HOUSES In Camberlot, we’ve had some epic nerf battles, with adrenalinefilled safe fun! Our common areas were transformed into a nerf battleground with everyone joining in. Stud House were invited one evening and it was great to see pupils in our boarding commnity mixing together.

The exam term has led to an atmosphere of study in Deis alongside the heartfelt goodbyes to our current Upper Sixth group.

We held our charity week with a number of different events running in house (details below), raising £774 for Chailey Heritage.

Mouth-watering barbecues have been very popular this term, with our leavers’ and parents’ barbecues and parent quiz as well as our farewell barbecue for Mr Adlam! Our talented chefs fired up the grills to serve a delectable array of grilled treats.

Our Make a Difference Day focussed on visits to Chailey Heritage itself, working with the Matthew 25 Mission in their care for the homeless, St Peter’s and St James’ Hospice and a host of other places such as the Bevern Trust.

Some words from Jack, our new Head of House:

As the academic year comes to a close, it’s time to bid farewell to Mr Adlam who is moving on to new adventures. He’s been with us for five years and will be greatly missed.

“It’s been a busy Summer Term in Deis House, with various competitions being held and our charity week in support of Chailey Heritage Foundation including car washes, bake sales and an in-house pool tournament. As the academic year comes to its end we wish leaving members of our house a successful onward journey and we are excited to welcome new additions to the house in September.” - Jack White

On Friday 19th May we had a delightful Parent BBQ and quiz night that we shared with Dorter House. All enjoyed a scrumptious meal, connecting with fellow parents, and put their knowledge to the test in an entertaining quiz session, which was online thus allowing international parents to join in. It was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the bond between the boarding house and our supportive families.

It has been a productive term in Dorter as the pupils in each year, but especially the external exam years, have really embraced their revision and exams, and worked so hard. We are very proud of them already for the effort they have put in.

Pupils have tried to beat the heat with some thrilling water fun in our beautiful garden! We’ve set up an exhilarating slip and slideand paddling pool for everyone to enjoy.

This has been my last term in Crossways and the girls have continued to impress me with their hard work with their academics and their dedication to their activities. This has been one of the gruelling exam seasons, with many clashes in exams and the girls have done so well in order to cope with this. The highlight of the term was Make a Difference Day - where the juniors visited Downs View School and seniors helped entertain East Hoathly Primary School. The compassion that the girls showed here was amazing - I was ever so proud of them.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of the Crossways Family - who help to look after the girls on a daily basis. Our wonderful and hardworking Housekeepers: Samira and Jeff, who make us smile and laugh every day. Our caring Matrons: Sally, Julie and Kym - who are so fantastic and patient in looking after the girls. All of the tutors, who go above and beyond for the girls every day. Last but not least - our Resident Staff: Mr Turner and Mrs Hopkins, who help me run this fabulous house thank you for all that you do.

I will be very sad to say goodbye to my Crossways Family at the end of the term - it has been the most wonderful four years and this has been my dream job. It is lovely to see the love and friendship that you have for each other - which is, ultimately, what Crossways is all about. Once a Crossways Girl - always a Crossways Girl.

We have tried to ensure there is a relaxing balance in House and have made good use of the lovely garden in the sunshine whether it be for an impromptu mini barbecue, game of badminton or full on water fight.

We said goodbye to our Upper Sixth leavers with an afternoon tea in the garden on a very sunny June afternoon and had a lovely time with them, sharing stories of their highs, lows and funny moments from the last few years.

For Make a Difference Day the girls were involved in events ranging from a Ukrainian Awareness day for children from a local school, to educate about the country itself, rather than focus on the war, beach cleans and a clean-up of the church and village green gardens, and a documentary filming project around Beachy Head.

The Dorter family wishes everyone a happy holidays.

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ROUND THE HOUSES I thoroughly enjoyed spending an evening with the wonderful Upper Sixth at the Leavers’ Ball, hearing about their future plans and aspirations. We said goodbye to them at an end of term lunch where they were presented with their leavers tie.

The Giving Day was delightful to see and I was pleased with the excellent spirit and generosity of the pupils. We spent a morning picking up litter on the Cuckoo Trail and also by helping at Permaculture in Brighton. Both of these endeavours meant that pupils could engage with the environment and make an impact on making our planet a better place to live.

In the last week of term Knights gave everything in the house competitions to try and retain our House Champions reign. We ran hard in the cross country even though it was tough, and went from strength to strength in the Tug of War. At the time of writing I am uncertain if our efforts have secured top spot, but more importantly I am so impressed with the camaraderie and spirit that each Knight has shown to others this term.

It is safe to say Dorms is now well established in its new location. The Summer Term has really shown us to be in the best spot in the school.

Evenings spent having BBQs on the lawn by the lake whilst the ducks looked on and then playing volleyball or foot tennis (look it up!) on the lawn until we couldn’t see the ball anymore. Idyllic!

Eurovision and Mocktail night gave us the opportunity to join together and celebrate the wonderful cultures that we have in light hearted rivalry. We also had the opportunity to bond over the paella pan gathering together to cook up a feast for 50!

It hasn’t all been fun and games and our exam years had to hold their nerve through a very warm and hay fever ridden exam season. I am immensely proud of the GCSE and A-level pupils’ dedication and perseverance and hope they get the results they deserve in August.

Recently the spirit of healthy competition has united us in the house competitions, cross country race and athletics events. The message has been “do your best, whatever that might be” and the sight of boys crashing to the floor, breathless as they finished the crosscountry was testimony to them taking that message to heart.

As the Summer Term comes to an end, we reflect on the incredible moments we have shared together, cherishing the friendships we’ve formed and the growth we’ve experienced. I wish all Dorms families a warm and harmonious summer.

Whilst the pupils in Knights have primarily been focussed on assessments and exams this term, they have still found wonderful ways to contribute to co-curricular programs. There have been junior plays to take part in with some excellent performances from the pupils, in ‘Through the Wardrobe’.

Sport has also been part of this term with a large number of pupils contributing significantly to the success of our program. Thank you to all the players who represented Bede’s this term.

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ROUND THE HOUSES This term has been short but action packed. Where do I start? Well let’s go with the inaugural Bede’s House Dance Competition – Stud won! Our boys were seen throughout the day rehearsing their steps to Jerusalema and when it was all filmed by a drone, it did look fantastic. As for the other House comps this term, we won the Cross Country and we won the House Athletics so, all in all, a great sporting term.

What an incredibly busy term it has been in Bloomsbury House. Charity and volunteering has been a focus this term with some of our First years taking part in a swimathon for Cancer Research – thanks to Pippa Nunn, Erin Murphy, Abbi Lester and Amelie Hargrave and their sponsors. As a house we have supported the charity Family Matters who provide support to families and young people who have suffered trauma. Only last week Poppy Eyre took part in a sky dive to raise money, which was filmed for the BBC documentary about her story and subsequent charity work. So far as a house we have raised over £1000 For Family Matters.

We’ve had a few trips out this term to give the boys a treat. Tutor group trips to get a coffee, the new House Prefects Laser tag and burgers are a couple of them. We said our usual sad goodbyes to the leavers (the Leaver’s Ball was spectacular) but we also waved farewell to a few boys who were only here for a year. Our loss will be the gain of schools throughout Germany and Spain.

On the volunteering front, we supported the Mohair Centre with gardening and maintenance tasks, including white-washing a wall, weeding and working on the guinea pig village. We also visited Polegate Primary School to help the Year 3 pupils with science. The Bloomsbury pupils demonstrated exceptional care and consideration for the younger children. Thank you to Polegate Primary teachers and pupils for sharing the experience with us.

Lara Wheatcroft also supported local primary school pupils with learning French, whilst Meredith Cottam and Ada Grieve went to the Bevan Trust to work with young people with disabilities. Josie Venables went to the Matthew 25 project to help cater for the homeless whilst other pupils were involved in a Greek production to primary pupils whilst others were busy with an art project. Amelia Butler-Byram and Elsa Olliff were developing their skills ready for trekking in Nepal next year but hiking over the South Downs.

The girls have also performed well in the field of sport; Kirstin Orr, Milly Trenaman, Georgie Howard and Erin Wooldridge were busy competing in the Eastbourne Netball League and there were some extraordinary cricket performances, including from Romilly Smith who made history as the first lady to score 100 for Hailsham Cricket Club. There were some superb horse riding results from Matilda Jackson-Clutton, who was selected to represent GB twice this year and Chloe Bremer who took the title of National Champion in the Novice Arena Eventing Finals.

We ‘Made A Difference’ on our day out at Park Mead Primary School. All of the boys were involved in teaching the 5 to 11 year old pupils about the different nationalities we represent from the American Gold Rush to the Spanish celebration of ‘Sant Jordi’, from German football to the Lantern Festival in Hong Kong.

We say goodbye to our lovely Upper Sixth pupils. I will miss your tenacity and academic drive. Thank you for all your care and kindness to Blooms.

Head of House Sophia and Deputy Daisy, thank you for your drive and passion to make change and seek involvement.

We at Stud wish all who are associated with the House a Happy Summer break and we look forward to the new academic year with new and returning pupils.

As another academic year draws to a close I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on the more than 3,000 Nominations awarded to Dicker for their good deeds across their school life: from kindness to sporting excellence, it has been great to acknowledge and celebrate some wonderful achievements. The categories this year were: Citizenship; Resilience; Integrity; The 4’c’s school values; Physical and mental wellbeing and Creativity and the Arts.

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ROUND THE HOUSES Each week a member of each tutor group presented to the house the achievements of their tutor group, which allowed us all to learn about our collective achievements.

This year saw us revisit our annual 24 hour football challenge - once again, with huge success - raising over £3,000 for our charity this year, Matthew 25, a homeless charity in Eastbourne. Again, I was in awe and so proud of the effort and dedication that the boys showed to achieve our common goal.

This year also saw our second house Creative Challenge, in which every member of the house created something which was presented to the whole house. It was a remarkable effort for everyone to throw themselves into the challenge and put themselves outside their comfort zones.

Highlights included short films, piano renditions, baking and magic tricks. Congratulations to everyone who spent the hours required to achieve their goal.

Well done to everyone in Dicker - they have all contributed to a very successful and enjoyable year in house.

The Summer Term commenced with the highly successful inaugural Charleston’s Got Talent, leaving an indelible impression. Who could forget Mrs Johnson and her talented tutees—Amelia Parsons, Skye Coetser, Mabel Young, and Catalina Pinchen Morales—delivering a memorable rendition of Eminem? Gratitude goes to Jolie Phillips for organising this event, and we eagerly anticipate its continuation for years to come.

Amidst the fervour of exams, we cherished one final major event— the Leavers Ball with our Upper Sixth pupils. This group epitomises resilience and determination and is destined for greatness. Milly and Mary Taylor, among others, are surely future stars of English cricket.

The term also saw remarkable events like Oscars Night, D of E expeditions, Model UN, Bedes Parts awards, and the awe-inspiring Legat show, “Once Upon a Time.” To all involved, we express profound gratitude for your dedication. You make us immensely proud.

The term culminated with the conclusion of the year-long House Competitions. The delayed Cross Country added suspense, but we emerged victorious, retaining the trophy for the second time in three years.

Moreover, we secured the Coleman Cup for the third consecutive term, celebrating the House with the best effort grades. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Charleston community—tutors, parents, and the girls themselves.

Congratulations, and here’s to another successful year ahead!

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SPORT: CRICKET There is lots to report from a very successful Summer Term of cricket at Bede’s. The boys’ U14s won the Holdsworthy Cup (the Sussex independent schools’ cup) beating Hurst. The U14s also won the county rounds of the Lord Taverner’s Cup which means that Bede’s go through to the National Cup next summer. The boys’ U15s won the Blackshaw Cup (the Sussex independent schools’ cup) and the County T20 Cup. The U17s reached the quarter finals of the national cup losing to The Forest School and the U18s reached the finals of the Blackshaw Cup. The girls made the quarter-finals national T20 and reached the semifinals of the national 100 ball competition. Bede’s bowled out Millfield for 62 in the semi final, unfortunately rain the prevented the Finals day from being finished and it will now be held in September.

Finally, in terms of individual accomplishments, Zach Webb broke the School’s batting record scoring 190 runs not out against Ardingly. The previous record was 178 not out, also against Ardingly, scored by one Shai Hope!

As we move into the summer break, we know that many families will be watching Sussex and seeing some of our alumni in action as they continue their professional careers. Alumni Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp, who is returning from injury, will also be in action in the 100 ball and potentially international fixtures for England.

Summing up the season, Director of Cricket, Alan Wells said “It’s been a really successful season, winning four cups and reaching the national quarter finals. Hopefully there will be further success next year for the U14s when they represent Sussex in the Nationals. The girls teams continue to compete at the highest level with an opportunity for national success in September.”

Alan Wells Director of Cricket

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SPORT: EQUESTRIAN The equestrian team have been working hard this season and have had great results in show jumping, arena Eventing and dressage. After qualifying for the county finals in show jumping and the arena Eventing finals, both held at the Hickstead show ground, the team of Chloe Bremer, Lara Bath, Lola Woollard, Issi Drake, Nina Sheppard and Bea Crawford preformed well with great results coming second over all nationally in the intermediate arena evening finals.

Chloe Bremer had an amazing time at the championships winning the novice Arena Eventing championships and becoming national champion at this level - the third year in a row that Team Bede’s have retained this title under different riders.

We have also had success in the dressage with Issi Drake qualifying for the dressage championships in October. The team are fortunate to have the use of Golden Cross Equestrian Centre with a competition size show jumping arena and indoor school where we have training sessions every Tuesday.

Katy McKeogh Equestrian Team Manager

SPORT: SWIMMING Bede’s swim team have all focused on the task and have produced a series of good results this last school year, whereby swimmers have picked up a number of gold, silver and bronze medals at meets In The Sussex league.

Our men’s side recently won the open Brighton college meet with a high points total. In practical terms we have 10 swimmers that compete. Tabby Reed and myself coach the swimmers for the three activity sessions plus we offer three additional swim workouts throughout the week, two mornings and a Wednesday afternoon after school.

We have also had four of then team swim at the Sussex County Championships this year with Matt Metcalfe gaining 3 Gold medals in backstroke plus a relay Gold. All four swimmers swam personal best times.

I am pleased to announce that we will have a school record board commissioned and placed in the pool with the school record times and pool record on display in September

Phil Osborn Performance Swimming Coach 117

SPORT: HOCKEY

Throughout the Summer Term Bede’s has hosted a summer 6’s tournament with local schools and clubs entering. Bede’s had two teams entered in this tournament and both teams scored over 26 goals with Amelia Tait finishing top goalscorer with 9 goals. Third place game was between Eastbourne Hockey Club & Eas bourne College, with the hockey club finishing on top with a score of 6 - 3 to the hockey club. In the first place game, Bede’s Bobcats faced off against Bede’s Bengals. This was a close game with Mr Redhead’s Bobcats finishing as winners with a score of 6 - 4.

The boy’s 1XI have participated in the Eastbourne 6s Summer League down at the Saffrons. The League has been a great success for all involved, with a high standard of hockey on show. The boy’s played four games, picking up wins against an Eastbourne Hockey Club men’s side and Eastbourne College side. This opportunity allowed some of the younger boys within the squad to gain some valuable experience, playing against some well organised men’s sides. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the boys who are leaving us this year and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours.

Chris Borsoi Director of Hockey

SPORT: FOOTBALL It has been another fantastic season for Bede’s football with over 250 matches played and some outstanding individual and team successes.

The 1st XI reached the county cup final and gave a great account of themselves in battling 1-0 defeat to Bexhill in the final, whilst in there first season the 14A did amazingly well to reach the Elgin League Final and whilst they were not crowned champions, to be competing at that level already is very promising for the years ahead.

Individually Sam Bull and Nicolai de Freitas receiving full ISFA international caps for U18 team is an outstanding achievement whilst many others have also represented ISFA and County representative sides.

Lastly the progression and performance of the participation teams has been fantastic to see with 14B,14C, 15B, and 15C teams in particular having cracking seasons.

David Caryer Director of Footbal

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WAYS TO SUPPORT BEDE’S If you would like to support Bede’s, please see information on how below Any gift, no matter its nature or size, will have a life-changing impact on pupils who without financial support could not attend and experience the vast opportunities on offer at Bede’s. A one-time donation will have an immediate impact on our fundraising, whereas a regular gift can allow us to plan for the future. Every gift matters, every gift makes a difference.

DONATE ONLINE: One off or regular gifts can be made by Direct Debit on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis. Please scan the QR code to set up your regular or one-off gift. You can make a one-off donation using a credit or debit card.

LEGACIES: The Bede’s Development Foundation is a registered charity (charity number: 1203152), meaning that all legacies made to the Foundation are exempt from UK Inheritance and Capital Gains Taxes. Under current rules, if you leave 10% or more of your chargeable net estate to charity, the Inheritance Tax (IHT) rate on the whole of your taxable estate is reduced from 40% to 36%.

If you have already included, or intend to include the Bede’s Development Foundation in your Will, we would be grateful if you would let us know.

MATCHED GIVING: Many companies support charities through matched giving initiatives. Some will match pound for pound while others will double match donations which employees make to registered charities. Please check with your Payroll as to whether your company operates such a scheme as this could increase the size and impact of your donation.

ASSETS: Bede’s Development Foundation is able to accept gifts of assets such as property or land which is not subject to Capital Gains Tax or Capital Transfer Tax. Donors may consider making a bequest of cash or other assets, all of which would be free of Capital Transfer Tax on death.

EASYFUNDRAISING: Easyfundraising is an organisation which allows you to raise donations for the Bede’s Development Foundation every time you shop online. Over 7,000 brands including all the big names such as eBay, John Lewis & Partners, Argos, ASOS, Expedia, M&S, Just Eat, Uswitch and many more, will donate, at no extra cost to yourself. All you need to do is sign up and remember to use Easyfundraising whenever you shop online.

Once signed up, simply start your shopping journey at the Easyfundraising website, use the donation reminder or app (information will be provided when you register) and the retailer you shop with will send us a donation based on how much you spend.

BENCHES It is also possible to purchase a bench that will be placed on site (SPECIFIC LOCATION), with personalisation choices regarding what you would like it to say. These can be purchased for yourself, or as a gift, for the price of £500. With £40 from every bench being donated the the Bede’s Development Foundation. Please email: development@bedes.org Barclays Bank Plc, Barclays Corporate, Level 27, 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP Account Name: St Bede’s Foundation Sort Code: 20-06-05 Account Number: 70469122 Reference: Bursary Fund IBAN: GB58 BARC 2006 0570 4691 22 SWIFTBIC: BARCGB22

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Bede’s Development Foundation. Every donation is greatly appreciated and each gift leaves a legacy, helping Bede’s continue to offer a unique learning experience for all our pupils; helping to nurture individual lives both now and in the future. Please scan the QR code to find out more on how to donate.

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BEDE’S

Photography by Alex Stead, Alumnus Dorms 2009-2014

Bede’s Senior School Upper Dicker, Hailsham East Sussex BN27 3QH T 01323 843252 bedes.org 120

Bede’s Prep School Duke’s Drive, Eastbourne East Sussex BN20 7XL T 01323 734222 bedes.org