This has been a busy week at Roedean, with outstanding successes in a variety of areas of school life. I am delighted that Ellen was crowned the winner of the Sussex Superstars competition, playing the theme from Schindler’s List on the Violin. The event was the finale to a black tie charity event in the Metropole in Brighton, and her performance was astonishing. Congratulations also go to Charlie, who was one of the four performers in the Final, an impressive accolade in itself, and she danced brilliantly. Well done!
Last Saturday, a group of six Year 9s embarked upon the adventure of a lifetime, travelling to our sister school in South Africa. Sorcha, Saffron, Bella, Greta, Georgia, and Andrea are spending three weeks at Roedean South Africa, where they are throwing themselves into every opportunity. They are enjoying new sports, adapting to the heat of the South African summer, experiencing boarding, singing with the choir, and taking part in Zulu lessons, to name just a few. I am very proud of them all, and I look forward to hearing all about their experience when they return to Brighton with their exchange partners at the end of the month.
I am very pleased to hear of our students’ continuing success with Public Speaking and Debating – their performances this week were excellent, and well done to Gabriella who was named as the Best Speaker. It is also wonderful that the Guinness World Record attempt which the Year 7s undertook in October has been ratified – they officially took part in the world‘s largest online poetry lesson, and are now the World Record holders!
Well done to all of our sports teams who are enjoying outstanding success on the Netball courts, and particular congratulations go to the U16As, who have made it through to the National Plate Finals – I look forward to hearing how they perform. Well done also to those in the Cricket and Volleyball teams who have had fixtures this week.
Well done for a brilliant week, and I wish you all a restful weekend.
Sawubona from South Africa
Parent Journaling Workshop
It was lovely to welcome a group of parents to School at the end of January for a Journaling Workshop. We got creative whilst discussing intention setting, parenting tips and worries, and also sharing ideas and advice.
Thank you to our counselling team, Sophie and Ry, who ran the workshop and provided a supportive space for our parents. We had so much fun, that we are planning another workshop after half term, with a focus on Online Safety and questions. Watch this space for a date coming soon!
Miss Orrells
World Book Day –
Thursday 6 March
Coming soon! Thursday 6 March is World Book Day, and we will have our famous fancy dress competition and catwalk... dress up as your favourite book character and you could win a prize!
Ms Shillito and Mrs Bailey
Continuing Success for Public Speaking Team at Hove Town Club
There was much excitement, even more nerves, and an abundance of fantastic team spirit as Gabriella (Yr10) and Audrey and Nathania (Yr11) attended the second round of the ESU’s Public Speaking Competition at Hove Town Club this week.
Congratulations to Gabriella, who won 'Best Speaker'! Roy Stannard, one of the adjudicators, who is also a weekly broadcaster on Mid Sussex Radio 103.8FM, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, commended her highly. She was thrilled to hear that her speech was 'perfect, moving, and authentic, and a fresh change from the speeches by politicians we hear today'. He advised her to continue to be 'true to herself' in the way that she covered her topic about poverty and 'doing what is right'.
Audrey and Nathania, as Questioner and Chair, created some dissent in the judges, with one judge wanting to give them full marks. They both spoke with great energy, dynamism, and curiosity, and they won praise from the teams there too.
The next round will be in London in March. The girls were brilliant, and deserve to be thoroughly proud of their exceptional achievement and representing the School so well.
Ms Shahab
Ellen and Charlie Shine Brightly at Sussex Superstars Finals
We are incredibly proud of Ellen and Charlie for their dedication, passion, and hard work. From a pool of around 30 talented entries, they emerged as two of the four finalists in the prestigious Sussex Superstars competition, a showcase designed to highlight the remarkable abilities of young performers. The finalists of this exciting event provided the entertainment at the Focus Foundation’s Winter Ball, held at The Hilton in Brighton on 1 February. The event featured a panel of distinguished industry judges, including renowned choreographer Jacquie Brunjes, acclaimed actress Anita Dobson, and celebrated entertainer Christopher Biggins.
Charlie captivated the audience with a mesmerising dance performance, while Ellen delivered an extraordinary Violin rendition of the theme from the blockbuster film, Schindler’s List. Ellen’s exceptional performance earned her the title of winner in the competition – what an outstanding achievement!
Ellen said, 'I’m so happy I had the opportunity to participate in the Sussex Superstars. It was an unforgettable experience, and I am deeply grateful for all the support I’ve received. This is just the beginning – there is always more to achieve!'
Their success serves as an inspiration to the Roedean community, and we look forward to seeing all they will accomplish in the future. Huge congratulations go to all the participants, and a special thank you to the organisers for providing such a wonderful platform for young talent!
‘I loved
Sussex superstars, I had so much fun being on stage and meeting famous(ish) people :)'
Charlie
Poetry World Record at Roedean!
Congratulations to our Year 7 English students who are Guinness World Record holders!
Led by acclaimed children’s author and poet, Laura Mucha, with support from National Poetry Day, 43,516 children in schools across the UK and around the world have broken the Guinness World Record for the Largest Poetry Lesson (Multi Venue)! And our wonderful Year 7 English students are part of that!
They took up the task brilliantly last October, and, as Tabitha said in the YouTube video about the process, they all felt part of a really big community. We are so proud of them and, if you would like to hear the poem, you can go to the link and see the YouTube video!
Congratulations!
Ms Shillito
Sawubona from South Africa
Last Saturday, six Year 9s travelled to Johannesburg to spend three weeks at our sister school, Roedean South Africa. With a heady mix of excitement and nerves, Sorcha, Saffron, Bella, Greta, Georgia, and Andrea arrived at the boarding house which would be their home for the next 21 days. We were met by warm, smiling faces, and a few hours after they had settled in, they met their exchange partners and families. They had been communicating through social media since October, but it was wonderful to see the instant connections between them, and the buzz was amazing.
While there are so many similarities between our two schools, it is the differences which are most interesting and exciting. The school day starts with first lesson at 07:30, and sports practices start at 05:45! The uniform is a blue jibbah over a white blouse, brown socks and shoes, and the Head Girl wears a green blazer. The outside is so much more a part of school life – the school is green and lush, providing a feeling of calm, and there are secluded hide-aways where the students work out of the heat.
Sorcha wrote, ‘I think that our schools are similar in their underlying ethos and beliefs in every girl standing out and being appreciated and celebrated as individuals’, and this is very evident in the warm interactions between students and staff. With genuine interest, every single student you pass smiles and greets you –the feeling of collegiality is palpable.
Traditions are central to school life, and a statue of the school emblem is a focal point. The Roedean deer standing on a hill is transposed into a springbok standing on a kopje, a rocky outcrop. At the heart of the school is Bears’ Lawn, and only the Matrics (our Year 13s) are permitted to walk across it. Roedean South Africa also does ‘hand-shaking’, and the bell, which can only be rung by Matrics, is rung 22 times at the start and end of every day, a nod to the number of students who first attended the school. And on the first and last day of every term, it is rung once for every student in the school – currently about 700!
Greta wrote, ‘This is such an incredible experience and I can't wait to make many more memories here in South Africa! This week has been one of the best weeks I think I have ever had!’ No doubt, they will have a wonderful time over the next two weeks, before they return to Brighton with their exchange partners for the reciprocal leg of this, our first exchange with our sister school.
Dr Barrand
‘My partner,exchange Hannah, is so sweet and a bit crazy like me!’ Bella
‘It is lovely how kind everyone is! When we pass girls in the corridors, they always stop and wave with a nice welcoming smile.’
Georgia
‘A group of lovely South African boarders came to help us with our suitcases, and I realised how kind and welcoming everyone was.’
Sorcha
‘There is so much greenery and lovely vibrant flowers.’
Andrea
‘Bibi and I are so alike – it’s great!’
Andrea
‘There is a strong sense of community and house spirit running at the heart of both schools.’
Sorcha
‘The school is very peaceful and very connected.’
Georgia
‘The most unexpected discovery I have made in South Africa is learning how to play squash with Sophie and the other girls – I love it!’
Saffron
‘The spirit and sense of confidence at the school is fantastic.’
Sorcha
‘The most surprising aspect is how friendly everyone is especially when we are walking around the site everyone waves and says hi to us.’
Andrea
‘I have found their campus the most surprising! There is lots of greenery everywhere and they have lots of separate buildings rather than one whole one!’
Bella
'When we arrived at Roedean, I was completely blown away at how stunning the school is!’
Greta
‘We had spoken before by texting, but nothing compared to meeting someone in the flesh that you thought you already knew.’
Sorcha
‘I think my highlight of the first week has been the big energy and confidence everyone has, the casual dance breaks they have in the middle of class and in the lunch hall is great.’
Georgia
Roedean Academy Artists
This week, our Roedean Academy artists were introduced to the basic screen-printing technique.
During the workshop, students discovered how to craft vibrant, dual-layered colour patterns, using stencils and screens, created by exposing
photosensitive emulsion to photographic imagery. They worked with good humour, particularly finding the quirky name of the squeegee tool amusing.
They embraced the opportunity to work collaboratively, resulting in some striking
outcomes. The session not only enhanced their technical skills, but also left them inspired to explore this artistic medium further.
Shakespeare Week at Roedean
We have exciting news! From 24-30 March, we will be hosting Roedean's first ever Shakespeare Week, with lots of fabulous activities for us all to get involved in. Keep your eyes
Mrs Silburn
peeled and ask your English teachers for more information.
Ms Shillito and Mrs Bailey
House Swimming
The highly anticipated annual House Swimming competition took place on 31 January 2025, with four spirited Houses competing fiercely for the prestigious title of House Swimming Champion.
The event was an unforgettable celebration of athleticism, teamwork, and school spirit, as swimmers from all age groups showcased their skills in a variety of challenging swimming disciplines. From the first splash to the final stroke, the atmosphere was electric with excitement and anticipation.
The competition was split into three categories – juniors, intermediates, and seniors – allowing swimmers of all ages to shine in their respective events. The dedication and effort put forth by each competitor was truly impressive, with many athletes pushing themselves to new limits.
The viewing benches were packed with enthusiastic supporters, including fellow students and teachers, who were all eagerly cheering on their housemates. Huge congratulations go to all those who participated, and for their dedication and hard work leading up to the event. Everyone played an integral role in making the event a success. The results below reflect the outstanding performances across all categories. Well done to every swimmer, and a special shoutout to the winning House for their exceptional effort in securing the coveted title.
Let’s keep this competitive spirit alive, and we look forward to next year’s event!
Mr Perry
This Fortnight in Boarding...
House 1 have been on an incredible adventure, completing a scavenger hunt for Draco the Dragon, House 1's mascot, to celebrate his birthday! Winners struck gold...almost! But they did receive prizes for their good sleuthing skills! To celebrate Lunar New Year, the boarders came together as a House 1 family and made a delicious hotpot and rice cakes!
House 2 got crafty, making various creations with Hama beads and baking a very tasty apple cake – it was so delicious that the girls were eager to make it again! The boarders made paper lanterns and decorated the House ready for Lunar New Year. To honour the Year of the Snake, the girls enjoyed themed cupcakes, alongside a hotpot which fed the whole house! House 2 hosted an excellent Just Dance party for all of the boarders, which brought all houses together to show off their best dance moves! The girls also supported their House Captain, Charlie, in the final of Sussex Superstars – well done!
House 3 hosted a pancake party, complete with all the toppings, for all boarders – what a great evening! The boarders celebrated the Year of the Snake by creating a 'snake of hands', which included a hand print from each member of the House. They also came together to support a fellow member of House 3, Ellen, watching the streamed final of Sussex Superstars – they were delighted when she won! On a chilled evening, the girls created mini air-dry clay creations, accompanied with some sweet treats!
House 4 celebrated lots of 'days' in various ways, including Burns Night with shortbread and Irn Bru, National Chocolate Cake Day with, of course, homemade chocolate cakes, and Australia Day with mini pavlovas! The boarders devoured chocolate milkshakes and waffles whilst making Lunar New Year-themed scratch art. To celebrate Lunar New Year, the girls came together to teach and learn how to make dumplings, and were treated with a fortune scratch card to mark the Year of the Snake! Over the weekend, the girls designed personal tote bags, perfect for carrying all of their books.
Keswick girls enjoyed spending time with each other to celebrate the Lunar New Year and taking over the Keswick kitchen to create a delicious hotpot for all to share!
Lawrence have had plenty of recent events to inspire their, now famous, themed afternoon teas! The girls were treated to a Burns Night afternoon tea, complete with poetry and bagpipes, an Australia Day afternoon tea featuring an Aussie style hat so that everyone, including the Lawrence House mascot, was dressed for the occasion, and a Lunar New Year afternoon tea featuring traditional snacks from home! The boarders also came together on the Lunar New Year and held a dumpling making masterclass!
Miss Barnett
Netball vs Ardingly
1st VII – U18A vs Ardingly U18B
It was a beautiful crisp day for a Thursday afternoon Netball match against Ardingly. We were out there for the win, after narrowly losing to Christ’s Hospital last week. It turned out to be a close game for the first half, and then the tide turned in Roedean’ s favour in the second half of the match. We had Gabi stepping in for Solari at GK, and what an amazing job she did, learning quickly how to work with Clara at GD.
They turned the ball over repeatedly and got lots of rebounds, setting us up for quite a few goals! The first quarter was 7-5 to Roedean, and the second 13-10, so it was still all to play for. It was about this time that everything clicked, and we were playing good quality Netball. Elodie, at Centre, was feeding the pocket ball to Mbali and then straight in to either Alice (GS) or Saffron (GA), who were working around each other. Clara, Gabi, and Zara at WD were moving the ball nicely from goal third to mid-court, and creating back up options when needed.
The third quarter saw us go ahead 25-12! What a lead –the shooters were getting every shot in, but we were also really slowing them down by being defensively strong and forcing the shooters to pass the ball around the edge of the D. They then picked up in the 4th quarter and started to bring it back a bit, but we had a good enough lead and kept it, to win overall 33-22.
I was a very proud coach to see the things we have been working on in practice transferring to the match.
■ Player of the Match – Saffron
■ Coach’s Player – Mbali
U15B vs Ardingly
U15Bs played a fantastic game against Ardingly on Tuesday last week! The first quarter was a tight contest with excellent hustles through the middle by Abbie, leading to many chances and goals. In the 3rd quarter no goals were conceded due to great pressure and defending from both Amarah and Flo. Genevieve, Ines, and Iris had fantastic passing in the centre through the whole game, and combined with exceptional shooting from both Mia and Sophie caused the U15Bs to have one of our best games so far. 28-14 win.
U15C Dominate
The U15C team took on Ardingly in a midweek fixture at Ardingly. The girls started strongly after a good warm-up and took the lead by 7 points in the first quarter.
We then switched positions up slightly to try out new and different options for the remainder of the season, and it was promising to see the girls being able to adapt to different positions in gameplay.
The second and third quarters were dominated by Roedean, but in the final quarter Ardingly stepped it up and drew it 6-6. The match ended 30-12 to Roedean, with an impressive performance from the girls who will feel super-confident going into Mayfield at the weekend.
Mr Campleman
2nd VII
The 2nd team had a narrow loss in a brilliant game against Ardingly. The visitors got off to a fast start and led 3-0 quickly, but Roedean found their feet and the game began to take shape. Following an end-to-end first two quarters, the game was 10-10 at half-time.
The second half of the match was also keenly contested, but Ardingly just managed to keep their noses in front and ran out 17-21 winners. Ellie was outstanding at Centre, Mancy had her best game to date at GD, and there was some superb link-up play between Liv, Aisling, Jasmine, Holly, and Trinity. This was the best performance of the season so far, which offered a real insight into the potential of this group.
U16A Netball Through to the National Plate Finals in Loughborough!
On Tuesday, the U16A had the semi-final of the SNS National Plate vs Portsmouth High.
We started off extremely strongly and were leading by 9 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, we continued to push on, with excellent through-court defensive pressure forcing errors and allowing us to take interceptions. We were 14 up by half-time.
Portsmouth High came back fighting in the third quarter, and they won that quarter by 1, so the gap was narrowed to 13. All the squad pushed hard in the final quarter, with lots of impact substitutions, and we extended our lead to take the win 39-23!
We are all so impressed with the performance this squad put out – they deserve huge congratulations on a well-deserved win. Keep up the hard work, and we can’t see you take to the court in Loughborough on 20 March!
Mrs Hammond
Mr Smethurst
Netball vs Mayfield
U14E
On Saturday, the U14E team played a match against Mayfield. The team started very strongly, passing the ball with ease down the court and into the shooting circle.
After the first quarter, Roedean was in the lead, 6-0. Going into the second quarter, knowing we had possession the majority of the time, we made lots of changes. This allowed our players to try something new, but also see how we were able to adapt to playing out of position. Adapting well, they did! Even the players who don’t really play a shooting position, were sinking them.
By half time, we were still in the lead, but we allowed Mayfield to catch up. In the last quarter, we were only up by 2 goals, which meant we returned to our original positions. On the final whistle, Roedean won 12-10. Well played everyone!
Miss Walsh
U15C Deadlocked in Draw
The U15Cs took on the Mayfield U15Bs who normally prove to be a challenging match-up each year! This year was no different, with both sides playing physically and formidably in the game.
Roedean surged to a 2-point lead after the first quarter, with Claudia and Anya getting into a good rhythm in the circle. Mayfield responded in the second by going two points ahead, and the Roedean defence were tested with accurate shooters against them.
In the third quarter, Roedean managed to pull a goal back, leading to a lot of work needed in the final quarter. Sorrel worked tirelessly in defence with Lily and Lois, holding back a few excellent attacks by Mayfield. The last 5 minutes saw both teams go goal for goal, and it seemed as if Mayfield had pulled ahead – at the whistle, no-one knew who had won it! It turned out that it was a 22-22 draw!
Mr Campleman
U14B vs Mayfield U14A
Roedean U14B faced Mayfield U14A in a highly competitive match that started in a chaotic fashion, with both teams struggling to maintain possession. However, Roedean soon found their rhythm, demonstrating strong teamwork and determination.
In defence, Joy and Maddie were outstanding, making crucial interceptions and feeding the ball effectively up the court. The midfield unit, Martha, Paloma, Sorcha, and Yasmin, worked tirelessly, applying relentless pressure on the opposition and making key drives to disrupt Mayfield’s defence.
In attack, Isla and Eva showcased their skill and coordination in the shooting circle, converting opportunities into a flurry of goals. Their accuracy and movement ensured Roedean maintained control in the final third.
Overall, it was a fantastic team effort, with every player contributing to a well-fought match. Roedean’s resilience and teamwork were key in what turned out to be an exciting and hardearned performance.
Miss Hayman
1st VII – U18A
This was going to be a tougher match for us than our Thursday match, as we were playing a mixed U18/U16A team. The standard was very good, and they were solid defensively, especially GD. They were a physical team, with lots of contesting and pushing, which is all part of the game nowadays.
We had a mixed team as well, with Amelie playing C, Gaby playing GS/GA, and Gabi playing at GK (stepping in for Solari). Thank you to these girls for playing for us. The scores for each quarter were Mayfield up 8-4, 17-9, 22-13, 30-17. We maintained an even score in each of the quarters, scoring at least 5, but they got a lead in the second quarter that we couldn’t really make up.
However, there were definitely positives to take from the match: we showed great whole court defence, again slowing them down getting the ball into the D and forcing them to pass it around before having chance to shoot; passing the ball around the attacking third and not forcing it in (over 2 very good defenders) and getting some great shots in from far out; there were lots of turnovers in defence and rebounds.
I think that we will give their U18 team a good match at SISNA next week.
■ Player of the Match – Gaby
■ Coach’s Players – Gabi and Clara
Mrs Patching-Jones
Commanding First Win for U16B
The U16B Netball team delivered a dominant display in their first victory of the season, overcoming Mayfield’s U18B side with composure and skill. From the outset, Roedean controlled the game, showcasing defensive strength, creative midfield play, and clinical finishing in attack.
At the back, Michelle and Layla were rock solid, making key interceptions and standing firm under pressure. In the midcourt, Amy, Issy, and Tiah provided a perfect balance of attacking creativity and defensive persistence, ensuring smooth transitions between defence and attack. Up front, the attacking trio of Alice, Peony, and Issy were relentless, capitalising on their opportunities to score consistently and secure a well-earned victory.
This fantastic team performance sets a strong foundation for the season ahead, with the squad now looking forward to their next fixture against Sevenoaks on 1 March.
Mr Foggoa
U14E
U16B
U18A
U12B's come back is on...
On Wednesday this week, the new U12B team took on Lingfield after having a tricky start to the season. The girls were determined to play well and work hard with their new combinations. It was a nail-biting match, with Roedean being down after every quarter. Lingfield were quick to take the ball through the court, but the Year 7s did not give up. They pushed on, right to the final whistle and despte being 5 goals down, they kept spectators (and me!) on the edge of their seat. Interceptions and calm play through the court meant that the girls pushed through to take an 11-11 draw. I am a super proud coach this week! Well done to Sela for being the Coach’s Player of the Match.
Netball vs Lingfield
U13B Netball's First Win
The U13B Netball team had a fantastic game on Wednesday against Lingfield, managing to chalk up their first win of the season.
The girls started well and, with Gracie and Maisa unaffected by the wind this week, they were able to build a strong lead 10-3 after the first half. Dixie, Emily, and Bea used their height as an advantage and made countless intercepts, and even managed to cotton on to the bounce pass tactic of the opposition, to be dominant in their end of the court.
With Valerie, Hester, and Phoebe controlling the centre court, we managed a significant 21-9 win. Well done to Emily and Gracie who won the Opposition’s Player of the Match.
Miss Kirby-Jones
U13A
The U13A team faced off against Lingfield in a thrilling match. The girls have been putting in some serious work at training, pushing each other to new heights, and their excitement to take the court was palpable.
From the start, the defensive trio of Mabel, Betsy, and Ruby were rock-solid, taking amazingly clean interceptions and forcing the opposition into mistakes. Their relentless pressure helped build a commanding 6-goal lead by half-time.
As the second half approached, the team was fired up, with Maddie and Amber orchestrating the mid-court play. Their quick, accurate feeds set up Heidi and Isabella, who coolly slotted home goal after goal. The girls were unstoppable, combining with brilliant long-range shots and seamless 3-pass to goal sequences.
The girls had a fantastic 38-17 victory, with an impressive 21goal difference! Keep up the incredible work, girls – with this momentum, the rest of the season is set to be fantastic!
Miss Kirby-Jones
U13Ds Remain Unbeaten
The U13Ds continue their impressive start to the Netball term and remain unbeaten thus far after a good trip to Lingfield.
The girls started really well – Mabel was shooting excellently close to the post, and we took a 6-point lead. In the second quarter, Emma then took it upon herself to get some range shooting in and netted a few excellent shots. The third quarter was a defensive masterclass by Charlotte, Evelyn, and Olivia, who all had fantastic games all-round.
In the final quarter, we went further, with positional swaps which saw Evelyn try her hand at shooting and Jess going into defence, where both did very well. The score ended 20-3 to Roedean, and we are looking forward to a tasty match next week against Hurstpierpoint!
Mr Campleman
U12B
Netball vs Lingfield
U12D Dominate
Following their nail-biting loss against Seaford last week, the U12D Netball team faced a quick turnaround as they took on Lingfield College. With a reshuffled squad and a strong week of training behind them, the team stepped onto the court full of excitement and determination.
The match started as a tense and closely contested battle, with both teams showing resilience in the first half. Defensive solidity was the key to keeping Lingfield at bay, as Marvel, Cara, and Mattie put in warrior-like performances, intercepting passes and shutting down attacking plays. Their efforts ensured a narrow 4-2 lead at half-time.
In the second half, the team found another gear, with the attacking players taking control of the game. Anya, Holly, Hannah, Elva, and Marion linked up brilliantly, dictating the pace and creating scoring opportunities. Their dominance saw them secure a 4-0 second half, sealing a commanding 8-2 victory.
It was a true team effort, but standout performances from Mattie and Hannah saw them named Players of the Game. The entire squad showed both defensive grit and attacking flair – well done, U12D!
Mr Foggoa
U13C
The U13C team made the long journey to Lingfield, determined to secure another victory after last year’s win. Despite a slow start, they quickly found their rhythm and played with great teamwork and resilience.
Captain Shahdi led by example, showing strong leadership and making crucial interceptions in defence. Anna and Cindy formed a solid defensive duo as GD and GK, preventing Lingfield from gaining momentum. In the midcourt, Soraya and Lily worked tirelessly to transition play, with Perla providing key support up the court.
In attack, Eden and Cora faced a tough challenge against Lingfield’s strong defence, making it difficult to get close to the post. However, they persevered, and Cindy even had a turn at shooting in the final quarter.
The team’s determination and skill paid off, securing a well-earned 9-2 victory. It was a fantastic performance from everyone involved!
Big Win for the U12A
On Wednesday 6 February, the U12A team played Lingfield. The game started well, with our attacking players in full flow, running the ball down the court and into the D. If Lingfield had possession of the ball, the defence worked their socks off to win the ball back, pass it to the shooters and score.
By half time we were up by a couple of goals which gave us confidence moving forward. In the third quarter, our defence didn’t allow Lingfield to score at all! We have been working a lot on two movements, and driving into space to receive the ball. Every player on court was doing their part to help this to happen. The team also gave excellent support, offering advice on what we could do better and praising fabulous work.
The final result was 19-8 to Roedean. Well done everyone, and what an excellent way to finish a sunny Wednesday. Let’s go team!!
Miss Walsh
Miss Hayman
U12D
U13C
U12A
Netball vs Seaford College
U12C
It was a mighty win for the U12C team against Seaford on Wednesday –what amazing netball we played. I can see clear improvement in the team, as the girls are understanding their positions better and their skills are also improving.
The scores per quarter were: Roedean up 4-2, 7-4, 11-4, 16-5. What a great result, and so high-scoring too! As a team, we were amazing with our defending, keeping our distance, getting arms up over the ball, but also watching when they were passing and timing our jumps to tip or intercept the ball. We got a lot of turnover balls this way, and then capitalised by scoring off these turnovers.
Wren as GA had about 90% accuracy with her shooting – she hardly missed! She and Desire worked well as a team, and Desire is moving more now as a GS to allow her to have more opportunities to get the ball and shoot. Alia (C), Matilda (WA), and Deema (WA) were moving the ball down the court well – there were a lot of overhead balls, but they seemed to work, and footwork was so much better! We then had Lexi (GK), Daisy (GD), and Emmanuella (WD) as a brick wall to get the ball through. They worked so well as a defensive team!
I would say the main positives from the match were that the footwork from everyone was really good, passing into the space ahead of the player is certainly improving, and the fact that we are generally being steadier with the ball and not just throwing it after 1 second.
■ Player of the Match – Wren
■ Coach’s player – Daisy
Mrs Patching-Jones
Heartbreak in the Final Seconds for U12D
In a thrilling and hard-fought contest, Roedean came agonisingly close to an incredible comeback, only to fall short in the dying moments as Seaford secured a dramatic 9-8 victory.
The game was a tale of two halves, with Seaford dominating throughout and, having a four-goal lead heading into the fourth quarter, Roedean showed immense resilience and determination, staging a stunning comeback in the final quarter. With relentless energy and sharp attacking play, they clawed their way back, levelling the score with minutes to go.
Standout performances came from Tabitha and Hannah, whose efforts kept Roedean in the fight until the very end. A special mention goes to Marvel, who was instrumental in defence, producing numerous key interceptions to keep Seaford at bay.
With just 20 seconds left on the clock, heartbreak struck as Seaford managed to edge ahead, sealing the victory in dramatic fashion. Despite the result, it was a performance full of spirit, skill, and determination, one that Roedean can take great pride in as they look ahead to their next challenge.
Mr Foggoa
U13C
Roedean U13Cs secured a thrilling 7-6 victory against Seaford U13C in a closely contested match. From the first whistle, both teams showed determination, with Seaford taking an early lead through sharp shooting and strong attacking play. The first half saw end-to-end action, with Roedean working hard to keep the deficit within reach.
At half-time, strategic position changes gave Roedean fresh energy, allowing us to close the gap. Cindy was outstanding in defence as GK, making crucial interceptions, while Perla put in a strong performance at GD, pressuring Seaford’s shooters. In the midcourt, Soraya, Shahdi, and Lily provided excellent support, driving the ball forward with determination. Up front, Amara and Anna kept their composure under pressure, scoring key goals to edge Roedean ahead.
In the final minutes, Roedean held their lead with strong defensive play, sealing a hard-fought 7-6 win. It was a fantastic team effort and a welldeserved victory!
Miss Hayman
U13D's Defensive Masterclass
The U13Ds took on Seaford in an exciting clash, following very close matches last year! Due to the slight wind and cold conditions, every single point would be huge for the teams.
Roedean started well, going up by 3 in the first quarter, with Mabel and Cora shooting well in the circle. In the second quarter, Seaford came back with some good quick passing and accurate shooting, to bring the gap to two points. The third quarter was all about defence and the girls were formidable! They stepped up and refused to let Seaford have the ball it in the circle – they denied them any points in the third quarter, and Evelyn and Charlotte were immense!
The final quarter saw Roedean extend their lead, and it was too much for Seaford to handle, and we won 11-6.
Mr Campleman
Netball vs Seaford College
U12A
On Wednesday, the U12A Netball team played Seaford. In the first quarter, the girls started strongly. During the last training session, we were working on ball placement and sending a nice strong shoulder pass. This resulted in a 7-7 draw.
Moving into the second quarter, we did make a few mistakes, not making good decisions and not putting the ball into space. This meant that there were a couple of turnovers, and we finished half time 11-13 to Seaford.
In the third quarter, we managed to shut down their attack and put more pressure on their shots. When we went into the final quarter, we were down 2 goals. Everyone gave EVERYTHING!
There were moments of neck and neck play, working incredibly hard to keep up. Unfortunately, we couldn’t close the gap right at the end, finishing with a loss 21-23. Well done everyone – what an amazing match from both schools and an extra well done to Roedean for working their socks off!
Miss Walsh
U13s Lady Taveners
The U13 A&B team cricketers took part in the group stages of the Lady Taveners competition hosted here at Roedean. They were pitted against St Andrew’s Prep and St Christopher's teams.
Both teams played brilliantly throughout the day, and both managed to beat the away teams. There were stand-out batting performances from the A team, who managed to surpass 100 runs in two of their three games.
The B team also batted well, but controlled the games with their accurate bowling performances, especially from the Year 7s. After beating both oppositions, it was left to the playoff game between the A and the B teams to find out who would go through to the finals day in a few weeks and the A team managed to clinch the win.
Most Valued Player of the day was Isabella, taking 5 wickets in the second two games, and scoring some big sixes too.
Miss Kirby-Jones
1st Team Volleyball vs Brighton College
In their second fixture of the year, the Roedean 1st Volleyball squad faced a tough challenge against Brighton College. With new additions strengthening the team and a number of year groups represented, the squad entered the match with high energy and determination.
The opening set was a tightly fought contest, with both teams battling hard. Roedean had set points in their grasp, but a few costly errors allowed Brighton to edge ahead and take the set after a tense tie-break.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Roedean pushing Brighton all the way. However, a lack of defensive pressure at the net proved decisive, and Brighton narrowly secured the set 25-23.
Undeterred, Roedean responded in style in the third set, delivering their best volleyball of the match. Every player stepped up, contributing to a strong 25-18 win, showcasing the team's resilience and teamwork.
Although the match ended in a 2-1 defeat, the performance was full of promise. The team now looks ahead to their next fixture on 7 March against Oxford International School, eager to build on their progress.
Mr Foggoa
Sports Stars of the Week
Year 7
Zé, for fantastic progress in Netball
Year 8
Mabel, for outstanding progress and performances in Netball
Year 9
Henrietta, for good effort and progress in Netball this term
Year 10
Abbie, for incredible performances and progress in Netball this term
Year 11
Bella, for her excellent performance in a Netball Cup game
Year 12
Derin, for fantastic effort and progress in Volleyball this term
Year 13
Mila, for her excellent performance in Netball against Mayfield
Congratulations to this week's sporting stars: Well done!
