BEST OF THE REST

• QUEEN’S GAMBIT

Brentwood School, Essex

Chess captain Nina Pert has earned the title of Women’s Candidate Master, an o cial lifetime achievement awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) exclusively to women chess players. The year 10 student is the seventh highest ranking female player in the world for her age.

• EASY RIDER

St Swithun’s School, Hampshire

Holding the reins of her beloved Mountain Moorland pony Hugo, 11-year-old pupil Izzy Williams took on the adults at Birmingham’s Horse of the Year Show and incredibly came within one mark of the winner in the Working Hunter Pony competition.

• ASSESS ACCESS

Wetherby School, London

From the autumn, all senior candidates will undertake the school’s new adaptive entrance assessment, run in partnership with industry leaders, ATOM Learning. This online test will include English, maths, and reasoning, as well as innovative content designed to assess a candidate’s ability to form connections, synthesise unfamiliar information, and think creatively.

• IN THE BAG

Downsend School, Surrey

A huge donation of more than 120 school bags, along with uniforms and sports kit, has arrived in a fishing village on the outskirts of Accra, Ghana. The generous donation was organised when the school updated its uniform, and was gratefully received by community charity, Kokrobite Chiltern Centre.

Who runs the world? Girls!

Hanford School, Dorset

Two lower sixth students, Sachini and Emily, returned from Mini Model United Nations (MUN) with Best Delegation award medals for their resolution argument, during a discussion on sustainable energy as part of the Environment Committee. Three teams of delegates from Hanford – six girls in total – were sent to the MUN event at Bryanston School.

International relations

Abbey College, Manchester

The student council’s diversity sub-committee arranged for the college to host its inaugural Culture Day. O ering an authentic experience, the campus was adorned with decorations to represent the heritage of as many sta and students as possible. The attendees shared stories and insights into their cultures and traditions over a feast of Iranian khoresh badamjan, Turkish tea, Danish salted liquorice and Welsh cakes.

Sing along

Dauntsey’s School, Wiltshire

This year saw the introduction of the Festival of Voices: a week spent exploring, studying and celebrating the human voice. Sessions focused on free group sound improvisation, voice release, singing in a foreign language, vocal health and microphone use. Vocal professionals from the West End and opera companies ran workshops and helped pupils understand some of the skills required to make the most of their voices.

Highs and lows

Felsted School, Essex

Eighty sixth form students took part in an investment banking simulation competition run by the Economics and Business Society in the school’s new Marshall Centre for Learning. The event was made possible through a collaboration with AmplifyME, a specialised investment banking simulator The session trained students in the workings of investment banking, introducing them to skills used in the finance world.

A leading co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18 years. Set in 120 acres of the idyllic Sussex countryside within easy reach of London.

Extensive co-curricular programme

Award-winning boarding facilities including a new boarding house (opened summer 2022)

International standard sporting facilities and coaching

Outstanding pastoral care

HMC - Day, weekly and full boarding

For further information, to arrange a personal visit or register for an Open Morning, please email: admissions@bedes.org or call 01323 356609

Where every child finds joy in their pursuit of brilliance

bedes.org

Bede’s Senior School Upper Dicker East Sussex BN27 3QH