It has been wonderful to round off this half-term with the fantastic performances of The Sound of Music. Having the main roles double-cast provides opportunities for more of our talented actors to play leading roles, and I was impressed by the strength in depth which was clearly in evidence. The cast also included students from every year-group, allowing younger students the chance to take to the stage with more experienced performers. In total, the audiences totalled over 850, and they loved it! Congratulations to everyone involved, including our wonderful musicians, the whole Theatre team, and, of course, the Directors, Ms Woodbridge and Ms Clarke, who believed in the actors and brought the very best out of them – bravo!
It was a great pleasure to welcome the families and friends of many ORs to Roedean this week for our Founders’ Service. Not only do we remember those who have had a significant impact on the School through its history, but also those ORs who have passed away in recent years. For each, a white tulip was laid on the altar, and it was a very poignant and moving service, complemented beautifully by the Choir and Strings.
Congratulations to our debaters, who have enjoyed success again this week – Lydia and Maria in Year 12 have progressed to the next round of the Oxford Union competition, which is outstanding. Well done also to all those who took part in Maths Challenges recently, and the Senior and Intermediate Physics Challenges.
It seems amazing that our six Year 9s who are in South Africa have already completed 2 weeks of their exchange, and we look forward to welcoming them back to School after half-term, along with their counterparts from Roedean South Africa. They are having a great time, and I am sure that the experience will be one they remember for many years to come.
There have been some great matches on the games fields this week, including success in both Football and Cricket, but particular congratulations go to our Netballers – the U16s and U14s played really well, showing grit and determination on the courts, and both won silverware in the SISNA competitions. Congratulations!
Good luck to those going on the Art trip to London today, and to those who have already set off for their exciting adventure to Morocco. Happy Valentine’s Day, and I wish you all a wonderfully restful half-term!
Silverware for the U14A Team!
The Sound of Music at Roedean
Unsung heroes in the spotlight
Each week, many wonderful things happen at Roedean, about which many in the school are perhaps unaware; this section of the weekly review is dedicated to ‘unsung heroes’, in order to draw our attention to these people and remind us that our community is special.
Cindy and Isabelle (Yr8) – for secretly putting Valentine's Day cards in all of Year 8's lockers overnight! [Miss Bamford]
Seraphe, Ashley, and Rene (Yr13) – for contributing to this week’s Chapel service [Mr Orys]
Meghan’s the First to Achieve the Roedean Diploma with Distinction
To complete the Diploma with Distinction, she had to fulfil 15 out of the 18 sections in the Senior Diploma –this is no mean feat. Well done!
Dr Barrand
Sela (Yr7), Grace (Yr8), Rotimi (Yr9), Coco (Yr10), Daisy (Yr11), Marija (Yr12), and Rachel (Yr13) – for reading so clearly in our annual Founders' Day service this week [Dr Barrand]
Galina (Yr13) – for organising a beautiful Big Sister Breakfast for the Year 7s to meet their Year 13 big sisters! [Miss Bamford]
Ella and Liv (Yr13) – for laying the flowers on the altar in the Founders' Service with great composure and poise [Dr Barrand]
World Book Day
World Book Day is on Thursday 6 March, and we will be holding our legendary fancy dress and fashion show on that day! Dress up as your favourite book character and win prizes!
Shakespeare Week
We are hosting Roedean's first ever Shakespeare Week from Monday March 24-Friday 28 March. Pop it in your diaries and make sure you look out for all the exciting activities, banquet, competitions, and lessons all that week.
If you are Key Stage 3, don't forget to research a 'bold and brilliant' Shakespeare woman, and create a poster/PowerPoint, etc. in order to win prizes in your English classes.
Ms Shillito
Anna and Candis (Yr12) and Ellen (Yr10) –for playing Dvorak's Cavatina in this week's Chapel –it was lovely [Mr Orys]
Unsung
Staff hero in the spotlight
Miss Walsh – for stepping to offer an additional sports session for St Mark's this week – they absolutely love it! [Dr Barrand]
Ms Shillito
Oxford Schools' Debating Competition Success
On Monday 10 February, three teams from Roedean battled with 57 other teams to secure a place at the final round at the Oxford Union. The schools other than Rodean taking part were many, including Queen Elizabeth Boys', Warwick, Wycombe Abbey, Stephen Perse, Harrow, Cheltenham Ladies' College, North London Collegiate, St Marlyebone, Eltham Hill, Stokestly, Park High School, St Helen's, Greenford, Sir Henry Floyd, Hampton, Camden, and more.
We had two rounds of debates – 'In the healthcare industry, This House Believes that governments should significantly encourage a dominant public sector' and 'This House Believes that queer characters in the media should primarily be played by LGBTQ+ characters'.
The teams going forward would have to have won both debates, against three other teams on the same table. All three of our teams did exceptionally well: Team C (Lennie and Farwa), Team B (Nathania and Audrey), but the team that won both rounds was Lydia and Maria, who were Team A.
The Finals are on 15 March, at the Oxford Union, and they are very excited! In my experience, in a round with so many schools, it is even harder to get through to the finals. Only a small number of schools out of the 60 actually got through, so Team A did incredibly well.
What is particularly commendable about this experience for all students is their great team spirit, overcoming nerves as novice debaters, and for engaging so well with the very steep learning curve (some debaters only had 3 practice sessions) in the world of British Parliamentary-style debating.
Year 8s and 9s in the
UKMT Challenge
A team of four Mathematicians from Year 8 and 9 travelled to Worthing last Thursday to take part in the regional UKMT Team Challenge Competition.
Our students battled those from other schools in the region via a series of mathematical challenges. Rounds included Shuttle, Crossnumber, and a Relay, and our students had to work together to solve problems as quickly and accurately as possible. Our team scored well and showed excellent teamwork skills, as well as strong mathematical knowledge.
Although we were not the prize-winners this time, a great day was had by all.
Mrs Hopper
Ms Shahab
Sawubona from RSA –Updates
The six Year 9 students are continuing to have a wonderful time in South Africa, at our sister school in Johannesburg. Over the weekend, they explored the city a little, on a city sightseeing bus with their exchange families, and this week they have enjoyed a marimba workshop, and an opportunity to work at Siyakhana, a community space which produces food for the needy in the area. Here are some of their thoughts on the last week:
'Last weekend, I really enjoyed going on the red bus tour around Jo'burg. We saw lots of sights and stopped off at the Apartheid Museum. On Sunday, we went to the house of one of the exchange girls and spent the morning by the pool. Then we went to Rosebank Sunday market. This week so far, I have been to watch some of the exchange girls play a water polo match, and done some clubs such as choir and squash again, which I find very fun, I have also enjoyed going to all my lessons and learning different things.'
Bella
'So far, this week has been really fun, but jam-packed with amazing activities, such as Siyakhana – the beautiful gardens which we helped to tend. It was so pretty and that was definitely a highlight! Being included in the Marimba workshop was also really fun, and I love learning yet another new skill here!'
Greta
'One of my highlights this week definitely has to be the marimba workshop – it was really fun and exciting. I loved being taught by such passionate students who taught us 2 songs. My favourite song was our last one when we had to find the rhythm, and they would mix it up throughout the song.'
Georgia
What a fabulous opportunity they are having –and it is fantastic that they are grabbing it with both hands!
Dr Barrand
'I've thoroughly enjoyed all the time that I have spent here, but my highlights have definitely been hanging out at the pool and the shopping centre, going to the Apartheid Museum, and taking part in the marimba workshop. This has all been really fun, but going to the museum was really special for me – I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and will undoubtedly remember it for a long time to come.'
Saffron
'My number 1 highlight of the second week was the marimba workshop and hanging out at the weekend. I loved learning a new instrument, and the experience was so fun with everyone doing it together. I also absolutely loved hanging out all together at the weekend, where I felt that we all really bonded and had an amazing time as a group.'
Sorcha
The Sound of Music at Roedean
This week, the Theatre was alive with The Sound of Music! The beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein classic was performed expertly by cast and crew from Years 7 to 13, following the journey of Maria, a spirited young governess, who brings joy and music to the strict Von Trapp household, while the world around them grows increasingly uncertain.
The production was double cast, with each performance showcasing the exceptional talents of Fleur and Lola as Maria, who brought joy and effortless soaring vocals to the role. As she arrived at the Von Trapp home, Maria's warmth and love of music slowly melted the heart of Captain Von Trapp, played by Charlie and Ellen, who each balanced the Captain's stern demeanour with his journey towards warmth and vulnerability. Zaha and Romy commanded the stage as Mother Abbess, offering Maria guidance and wisdom; their powerful renditions of Climb Every Mountain left audiences in awe.
The Von Trapp children, initially bound by strict discipline, were a lively, mischievous, and lovable bunch. Daisy and Daisy portrayed Liesl with elegance and poise, particularly shining in the heartfelt duet Sixteen Going on Seventeen, alongside Alfie and Anna, who both charmed as the romantic, yet conflicted, Rolf. Luciana and Isla brought a stoic maturity
to Friedrich, while Jemima and Maisa played the perceptive Brigitta with a truthful sincerity. Niamh and Shahdi captured Louisa’s mischievous streak with charm and wit, while Audrey and Tilly brought Kurt’s enthusiasm and eagerness to life. Jolie and Sara were delightful as Marta, showcasing her sweet and affectionate nature, and Josie and Cleo perfectly embodied the adorable Gretl. Together, they completed the Von Trapp family with natural stage presence, their voices blending beautifully in heartwarming numbers like Do-Re-Mi and The Lonely Goatherd
The supporting cast was equally outstanding. Shermane gave a sophisticated edge to Baroness Schraeder, whose presence threatened to alter the course of Maria and the Captain’s growing bond, while Olivia and Rosa played the ever-persuasive Max with delightful comedic flair. Lucy’s portrayal of the sceptical Franz and Tegan’s endearing presence as Frau Schmidt added layers of authenticity to the household dynamic. The nuns, played by Cherrie, Bernice, and Amyra, accompanied by a strong ensemble, provided truly beautiful choral moments, lending an air of solemnity and grandeur to the Abbey scenes.
A special mention must go to Mr Rous and the outstanding orchestra, who brought the iconic
score to life with energy and emotion. With so many talented student players among them, they filled the Theatre with soaring melodies and rich harmonies, elevating every moment of the production, making it an unforgettable musical experience.
The production thrived under the expert direction of Mrs Woodbridge and Ms Clarke, whose vision and guidance ensured every moment on stage was filled with energy and emotion. Behind the scenes, the show simply wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of Ms Izzard-Davey, Mr Paton, Mr Morley, Mr Tostevin, and their student backstage team, Mia, Merla, Annabelle, Molly, Marianna, and Mila, who worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran seamlessly.
As the story reached its dramatic conclusion, with the Von Trapp family making a courageous escape to an uncertain future, the audience was left captivated. This performance was a celebration of talent, teamwork, and passion for the arts, with every cast and crew member contributing to a heartwarming and magical experience, one that had audiences humming along long after the final bow. Well done – what a triumph!
Mrs Sellers
Intermediate Maths Challenge Results
The results of the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge are in, and our students have demonstrated their excellent prowess again – of 128 entrants, over one third were awarded Gold or Silver, which is excellent, and a further 35 students achieved Bronze.
The following won Silver and Gold awards:
Silver
■ Yr8 – Cindy
■ Yr9 – Joy, Florence, Katherine, Ying, and Janice
Particular congratulations go to Angelina, Chloe, and Michelle in Year 11, who have scored well enough to qualify for the Pink Kangaroo follow-on round, and Charisse in Year 9 who has qualified for the Grey Kangaroo round.
Well done!
Mrs Hopper
Success in the Senior and Intermediate Physics Challenges
Many congratulations to all the students who participated in the Year 12 and ear 11 Physics Challenges. The online papers consisted of two 30-minute sets of multiple choice questions, covering a range of physics ideas. The papers encourage some wider reading and an interest in the subject. It is also an opportunity for students to compete nationally and to develop their confidence in the subject.
Six of the Year 12 participants achieved the following excellent results: Jola (Gold); Marija and Sihu (Silver); Ellie, Sienna, and Rukhshona (Bronze). Similarly, twenty Year 11 participants achieved the following impressive results: Jade, Jody, Athena, and Eris (Gold); Claire, Charlize, Chloe, Farwa, Natalie, Constance, Charmaine, Hunny, Melissa (Silver); Megs, Chloe, Cartoon, Kylie, Mary, Zyta, and Sarah (Bronze).
Very well done to you all!
The Roedean Mission
As a school, Roedean takes pride in its community and charity initiatives, and values its role as a pillar in the community. Nothing highlights this more than the Old Roedeanian Charity, The Roedean Mission, which is run by a committee of Sixth Form students and members of staff.
Rarely discussed or publicised, The Roedean Mission awards funds to local and national charities and NGOs on a tri-yearly basis. The funds allocated are selected by a small committee of Year 12 and Year 13 students, who carefully consider each application. The only stipulation is that the funds must go to charities that support children under the age of 16. The process is highly rewarding and a fantastic way to nurture a philanthropic doctrine among the Roedean students. Hopefully, this will be a conviction that they will carry into their future lives and careers.
The second meeting of the academic year was chaired by Derin, who led the team of students with direction and clarity. The meeting started positively, with the group sharing the thank you letters sent following the grants in the Autumn Term. After careful consideration, the following donations were awarded:
Kids Space was awarded funds to support the place of 1 child at the Kids Space out of school club. The club provides children with nutritious meals, after school funtime activities, homework help, assigned mentors, appropriate therapy, on-site activities, and off-site trips.
Tools4teens was awarded funds to help disadvantaged teens re-route from their difficult past into a successful adult life, via the provision of skills-building activities, work-ready workshops, music therapy, budgeting basics, and professional therapeutic treatment.
Dr Mistry
Social Square was awarded funds to purchase new school shoes for 175 children.
Cauldwell Children was awarded funds for the purchase of equipment to help disabled children, such as therapy tricycles, sensory packs, buggies, and car seats and harnesses.
Eastside Community Trust was awarded funds to help provide food for disadvantaged children.
Intouch was awarded funds to help pay for support sessions and ‘My time’ events for the siblings of special needs children.
The group also decided upon a special and large grant to be given to our partner school, St Mark's Primary School. Funds were granted to help restock their school library with books and furniture. The building of their school library was part funded by the Roedean Mission in 2018.
The students are extremely proud to be involved in such a process. They were thrilled to know that the funds they had allocated would make such a huge difference to local and often disadvantaged children. Derin explained, 'My experience of being a part of the Roedean Mission has been truly fulfilling. I’ve enjoyed working alongside a group of passionate students, to make a positive impact on our wider community. Chairing the meetings was a rewarding challenge, allowing me to develop my leadership skills, while ensuring everyone’s voice was heard and valued.'
Well done to all involved.
A group of our Year 8s recently took part in a thrilling team-building exercise out of school, where they assumed the roles of MI5 agents on a mission to uncover a rogue agent. Over the course of two hours, the girls braved freezing temperatures as they orienteered across Stanmer Park, while being chased by a team of hunters.
Working together brilliantly, they navigated the South Downs, staying one step ahead of the hunters and completing the challenge with none of their team being caught. Their efforts earned them an impressive 23rd place on the all-time leaderboard of nearly 400 hunts – what an achievement, particularly as this activity is typically completed by adults! During the debrief, the girls were praised for their fast running, stamina (thank you, PE department!), and clever problem-solving, as they kept the hunters guessing with their unpredictable route choices.
Well done to Isabelle, Cora, Isabella, Perla, Ruby, Soraya, Eden, Mabel, Betsy, and Hester!
Year 8s Escape the Hunters House Art Competition
Each House was tasked with creating and selecting a range of art pieces from all year groups, using any medium, to be exhibited in the Old Ref. Truly, this was as a celebration of Roedean’ s creativity and artistic talent.
Thank you to those who submitted their artwork, and to the Art Department for organising and judging this event!
Here are the results:
4th place House 1 “The most cohesive presentation”
3rd place House 4
2nd place House 2
Winners House 3
“The best use of unconventional materials” – the judges especially liked the skateboard
“The best range of media used” – the judges were impressed by Millie's puppets
“For being the most inclusive community, exhibiting the greatest range of artwork from each year group”
Well done to everyone who took part! Mrs Finn
Chapel Service – Paul Erdős
Mr Orys led this week's Chapel service, about the Mathematician, Paul Erdős.
Mathematics innovates and makes a difference to our lives. It is the basis of the proof of all scientific discoveries, the most fundamental tool in engineering and architecture, a crucial part of software development, allows the creation of movie animation, and is a useful skill for all people when doing any form of calculation. And most importantly of all, it is a great way of challenging yourself and exercising your brain!
However, I am not going to focus on why Mathematics as a whole makes a difference to us. Instead, I am going to talk about a mathematician who made a difference with an innovative approach towards his work. One of the most important and influential mathematicians of all time is one that probably none of you have ever heard of – Paul Erdős. He was a Hungarian man, born in 1913 and he died at the age of 83. Over the course of his life, he produced over 1500 mathematical research papers, making him the most prolific writer of maths papers there has ever been. In fact, this is almost twice as many as the second most prolific writer. The papers he wrote were on a variety of different problems, concerned with ideas that are largely beyond the reach of the mathematics taught at Sixth Form level, although the Year 13 Further Maths students would be familiar with some of the ideas through their study of Decision Maths. Paul Erdős helped to solve some of the most demanding and well-known problems in the areas that he worked on.
Whilst this is impressive, it is the method by which the vast majority of these papers were written that is the most intriguing. Paul Erdős was homeless for virtually all of his adult life. In addition, almost all of his possessions fitted into just one suitcase. From the age of 21, he spent his time either working at a variety of different universities as a guest lecturer, or staying at the houses of other mathematicians. He was driven by his love of problem-solving, and always pursued a particularly difficult or interesting idea, even if it took him to other countries. Whenever he was working on a particular problem and thought that someone could help him, or he heard about an idea that someone else was working
on that intrigued him, he would jump on a plane, bus, or a boat, find that person, arrive on their doorstep (often unannounced) and ask if he could stay at their house and help them with their work. As he became increasingly well-known for not only his eccentric way of living, but also his great mathematical ability, he was welcomed with open arms by all of his new-found friends, and he spent the majority of his life going from one mathematician’s house to another. In total, he collaborated with at least 511 other authors, although nobody is quite sure of the exact total. Not only was he the most prolific author himself, but nobody has ever collaborated with so many others. Erdős knew that he was a good mathematician, but he recognised that not only would he be able to accomplish more by working with others, but that they too would benefit from having help with their problems. Erdős made a significant difference to many mathematicians and, with others, helped to solve some of the most complicated and frustrating problems within his chosen field. This is an achievement that would likely have been impossible without a combination of minds working on those problems.
When we work with other people to achieve a common goal, everybody involved is pushed to excel. Another person will have different ideas about how to solve a problem or produce an item, and this mixing of approaches often results in something far greater than what would be possible by those two people working by themselves. The outcome is greater than the sum of the parts. In order to truly make a difference to ourselves and our lives, to others, to our chosen field of study or work, and to the world at large, it is vital that we work together. You do not need to abandon all of your possessions like Paul Erdős, but a healthy approach towards pushing others to succeed and being receptive to their suggestions of how you can do better, will enable both of you to achieve more than you would have separately.
I will leave you with two quotations: firstly, from the author Brian Tracy: 'Teamwork is so important that it is virtually impossible for you to reach the heights of your capabilities or make the money that you want without becoming very good at it'; and secondly, from the management expert, Ken Blanchard: 'None of us is as smart as all of us together'.
Isabelle’s Double Hockey Debuts
Congratulations to Isabelle (Yr8), who has recently enjoyed two debut performances for clubs:
London County: Last weekend, Isabelle made a remarkable debut for the London South (County) Girls U13 hockey team, in the starting line-up against Berkshire and London North. Her stellar performance in defence played a key role in securing two fantastic victories – London South triumphed 4-1 against London North, and tey also had a huge 12-1 win over Berkshire, propelling them to the top of the Girls' U13 South County table.
Knole Park Women's 2: Isabelle also recently made her debut for the Knole Park Women's 2nd team, where she played the full match in defence against adult players. Her solid performance helped Knole Park secure a 3-0 win against second-placed Marden Russets, ensuring they maintained their top position in the league. What makes this even more remarkable is that Isabelle, at just 13 years old, was the youngest player on the pitch, having just met the minimum age requirement to play in women’s hockey. What an amazing achievement!
A Tough Day for the U13Bs
It was a tough run out for the U13B team on Wednesday against Hurst's 2nd team. Although it was a loss, the team certainly showed resilience and determination throughout the match. The game was filled with moments of strong team defence and some excellent turnovers, with the players working hard to disrupt their opposition’s rhythm.
The defensive effort was especially notable, with players making crucial interceptions, but, despite this, we struggled to find a consistent and safe route down the court; and this limited the shooting opportunities. There are areas to work on, especially in terms of ball movement and attacking strategy, but, with continued effort, this team will certainly improve and bounce back stronger in the next match.
Well done to Emily and Hester for being named the Opposition’s Players of the Match.
Miss Kirby-Jones
U13C
The U13C Netball team put on a strong performance in a closely contested match against Hurst. Both teams played with high intensity from the start, with Hurst taking an early 5-3 lead after the first quarter. Our defensive trio – Shahdi, Evelyn, and Cindy –worked tirelessly to withstand Hurst’s attacking pressure, but, by half-time, the team trailed 8-4.
In the second half, the team showed great resilience, improving both in defence and attack. Lily and Amara controlled the midcourt effectively, linking play and creating scoring opportunities. Mabel and Cora demonstrated excellent shooting accuracy, helping to close the gap. Despite a determined comeback, the match ended in a narrow 12-15 loss.
It was a fantastic effort from all players, showcasing teamwork, determination, and skill. The team should be proud of their performance and take confidence into their next match. Well played, everyone!
Miss Hayman
Netball vs Hurst
U12A
On Wednesday, the U12A team played a Netball match against Hurst. The team has been working together really well after focusing on a handful of skills during their lessons and Netball Club. These skills were shining through their play, which everyone noticed. We managed to take a lead in all four quarters, after many turnovers, passing it down court and finishing with a goal. Well done to the team – Roedean won 19-14. The Player of the Match was Chloe.
U12A
U12A
Netball SISNA
U16 Take Silver
The U16As had another successful day on Thursday, where they competed at the Sussex Independent Schools' Netball Association (SISNA) tournament.
They started off their group strongly, winning their first game against Burgess Hill 17-4. Next, they faced Hurst and had a nervous start, which led to them being down with a tough hill to climb in the second half. Unfortunately, they lost 10-17. They then took three convincing wins against Brighton Girls, Seaford, and Eastbourne. This meant we finished second in our group and faced Brighton College in the Semi-Final. It was a tight game, with both teams remaining calm on their centre pass. It was level at half-time, so all to play for in the final 7 minutes. We went back on firing on all cylinders, and the defence forced errors, allowing us to gain possession. We were efficient in attack and built a 3-goal lead, however, there were still 2 minutes remaining and it was their centre pass next.
They took their centre pass to goal quickly, narrowing the lead to 2. We took our time on our centre pass and tried to build the play. However, the pressure built, and we made an error which allowed Brighton to gain possession with 40 seconds to play. We pressurised the ball through court, but they were successful with their transition. Brighton scored, so the gap was only 1 and it was their centre pass.
Fortunately, the hooter went after their first phase, so we were through to the final, where we faced Hurst again. Hurst were quick out of the blocks, and they managed to get a lead in the first half. Despite a much stronger second half, where we won that half by 1, it wasn’t enough to pull back from the first half. It was a closer scoreline that in the group stage, which showed good progress. This meant the U16s came second in SISNA, which is a fantastic achievement. Well done all!
Mrs Hammond
Silverware for the U14A Team!
On Tuesday, the U14A netballers headed to Hurst for the annual SISNA competition. This is always a fun competition with plenty of excellent netball on show.
This year the team was unlucky to be missing 4 of the usual A squad for several reasons, but we were able to welcome Paloma and Martha from the B team who fitted in wonderfully. The tournament started slowly for the girls, and they took a couple of games to find their rhythm – unfortunately, these were two of the more challenging games against Hurst and Brighton College, and saw losses in both. The next was against Ardingly, and the positions and play finally started to click, and, although a low-scoring match, we clinched a 4-2 win. Eastbourne College was next and they were too tough for us, again seeing us defeated.
This was the turning point for the team, and they were determined to win the next three games, which could see them win the bowl competition. With some good advice from team manager, Sophie, and on-court captains Matilda and Naomi, the team stepped it up. The next game saw Eva score 7 goals to help the team to a 9-2 win against Burgess Hill. The semi-final was against Lancing, and the team was on fire; Naomi and Maddie made countless turnovers, whilst Chiara ran her socks off in the centre court. A 14-2 win put us in the bowl final.
With Paloma and Kayla rotating in at WA to deliver the ball into the shooters, and Martha’s strong stage 2 defence, the final was a surefire win. Eva and Matilda worked brilliantly together, and put enough goals past Christ’s Hospital to see us win the silverware!
Miss Walsh
U16
Netball SISNA
U15
On Tuesday 12 February, the U15 Netball team attended SISNA, which was hosted at Hurst. In our pool, we faced 4 schools.
Our first match was against Worth. By half time, we were in the lead, winning 6 goals to 2. By the end of the 14 minute match, we won 13-5. Our second game was against Seaford. We knew this was going to be hard, so used the break to debrief, warm up, and get ready. By half time, the score was 6-9 to Seaford. The second half started with a Roedean centre pass. There were excellent moments of play through court, but their defence worked hard to turn the ball over. With a small gap increasingly getting bigger and bigger, it was hard for us to catch up. The score ended with a big loss of 10-17.
We went into the third game with some frustration and low energy, but we knew that we needed to pick ourselves up and play the next one. This game was against Christ's Hospital. We managed to score off all our centre passes and turn the ball over on theirs. By half time, the score was 7-2 to Roedean. The girls played incredibly well, finishing with a strong 12-5 win.
Our last game was against Mayfield, and we knew that winning this game meant we finished second in our pool, going on to play in the semi-final of the cup. We had to go onto court with a huge amount of determination. This is exactly what the girls did. The final score was 19-9 to Roedean.
After all the points were added up and teams were placed into the Cup, Shield, and Bowl, we found out we were playing Hurst in the Semi Finals of the Cup. We knew this was bound to be a tough game, which meant we needed to warm up correctly, work together, and bring our all. After the first half, we were down, with Hurst winning 8-3. At half time we made some tactical changes, adding some height into their D. Unfortunately, there was little we could do to break down their excellent holding shooter. They took the win 15-4.
We had one more game to play. This was for 3rd and 4th place. Seaford was the team we played as they lost to Ardingly. The entire team worked their socks off as the loss to them earlier on in the game was tough. Everyone played incredibly well, finishing the day off with a big win, 14-8.
Well done to the team. Last year, the team came third, and this year third again. Wait till next year – we've got this!
Miss Walsh
U13D Keep Unbeaten Run Alive! U15B Finish 3rd after Impressive Win vs Brighton Girls!
The U13Ds continued their winning ways and remained unbeaten in a superb win over Hurstpierpoint.
The game started intensely, with both sides getting a lot of turnovers and not quite getting the ball to post to score. The first quarter ended 2-1 to Roedean, with both teams looking to edge into a lead in the second quarter. It all clicked in the second quarter, with the defence working tirelessly and not letting a single shot go in, and the attack scoring four shots to go 5-1 up and open up a little breathing room.
The third quarter started well again defensively, with only 1 shot being let in by both defences. The final quarter came around, and the goal was to reach 10 points and not let a single shot go in defensively. Charlotte and Olivia had a fantastic game, and Oliva picked up Defensive Player of the Match. Soraya, Alexa, and Jess worked tirelessly to feed Eden and Emma in the circle, ensuring that both targets were met and the Ds remain unbeaten – they beat Hurstpierpoint 10-2.
Mr Campleman
The U15B Lady Taverner team enjoyed a morning of indoor cricket against the A team, Seaford College, and Brighton Girls. The first match against the A team was a tough one, with the batters struggling against consistently straight bowling and big hitting when fielding.
The second match was against Seaford, who also proved to be tough to play against. The bowlers did restrict the Seaford batters to under a hundred, but then our batters struggled against accurate bowling and excellent fielding.
The third match was the best one by far and was a decider for 3rd place in the tournament. Roedean bowled first and restricted Brighton Girls to 59 in their 8 overs. The Roedean batters needed to step up, and they did exactly that, with Sorrel and Athena batting very well. Roedean needed 22 off the final 3 overs, then 16 runs were needed off 2 overs, then just 3 needed from the final over, and the batters did it with spare balls in the bank!
Mr Campleman
Netball vs Lingfield
U12C
The U12C team had a very close match against Lingfield College on Wednesday. It was neck and neck throughout the game! Lingfield went up by 1 goal early, and then maintained the lead throughout, although we were drawing with them at various times in the game.
Defence did a great job of intercepting and turning over the ball, and special mention goes to Emmanuella who’s really improved with the timing of her jumping to intercept the ball. Lexi and Daisy in defence were also working as a great team, reading the incoming pass and timing their moves, to intercept and catch the ball. Florence and Deema switched at centre, and both did well with driving to get free from their players and moving into the available space to ask for a pass. Audrey and Deema were at wing attack and had to work hard to get free from GD, as she was tall and fast, and stopping all the overhead passes going in. There was also a tall GK and we kept trying to throw the ball over her, but she kept on intercepting it. Tabitha and Bethany switched at GA, and both contributed to the goals going in. Desire was GS and got a lot of rebounded shots, then scored them. Her shooting accuracy was great in the game!
We lost the game 11-10 in the end, and they scored in the last 30 seconds to get that lead. It was a competitive match though, and both teams worked hard.
■ Player of the Match – Emmanuella
■ Coach’s player – Deema
Mrs Patching-Jones
U14B
On a cold and rainy morning, the U14B Netball team took to the court with determination against Lingfield College. Despite the challenging conditions, they started strongly, quickly securing a 4-0 lead in the first quarter. The shooters, Isla and Rosa, worked tirelessly in the attacking circle, supported brilliantly by Alex and Paloma.
In the second quarter, Alex moved into the shooting position and continued the team’s momentum, helping them extend their lead to 9-1 by half-time. The defensive unit, led by Joy and Bea, remained solid, denying the opposition any easy chances. Chloe, Martha, and Paloma worked hard in the midcourt, intercepting and turning over crucial balls to maintain possession.
The team’s determination and teamwork shone through in the final half, securing a well-deserved 12-4 victory. It was a fantastic effort from all players, despite the tough weather conditions – well done, U14Bs!
Miss Hayman
U15C Maintain Unbeaten Run
The U15C team were at it again on the court, playing against Lingfield on a chilly Saturday morning. Playing conditions were tough, as the drizzle set in, but the team was focused and determined to keep their unbeaten run going.
They started the first quarter strongly, going up 5-1 after the break. Handling was going to be key, and minimising basic mistakes was crucial to being successful in possession. The entire way through the match the defence was determined, with Lily, Athena, and Sorrel working tirelessly in getting tips and interceptions. In the next two quarters, we managed to extend in both, meaning the girls could manage the game and keep the errors to a minimum going into the final quarter.
The match ended 20-5, with the shooters of Bella, Claudia, and Anya doing their job up the court and the before-mentioned defenders stopping attacks; Molly was the go-between for the attack and defence. It was another good performance as they look continue their winning ways after half-term.
Mr Campleman
U12C
U15A Narrowly Miss Qualification in Lady Taverners
The U15A started their tournament off against the Roedean B team and played brilliantly. They bowled tightly and batted well, with four batters needing to be retired, and getting runs under their belts and confidence up for the matches ahead. They won the first game by 82 runs.
The second match was against Brighton Girls – the batters scored 88 runs, with the top order striking the ball well and playing some impressive straight shots. The bowlers then did their job and bowled tightly, wicket-to-wicket, and restricted them to 53 runs after their allotted 8 overs.
The final match was the decider against Seaford College, who were going to be a challenge. The winner of the match would go through to the Finals at Bede's. Roedean was put into bat by Seaford and suffered 3 key wickets in the first over. The team did well to get to 51 from where they were, with
Miranda and Bethany batting well. A low target for the Seaford batters to get meant the Roedean bowlers needed to be tight and take wickets. Seaford started well, hitting some boundaries and running well between the wickets. Miranda and Bethany then took 5 wickets between them, with Seaford needing 12 runs and three wickets remaining. Even though Poppy took a wicket in the final over, Seaford managed to win the game by 16 runs and 2 wickets in hand.
There was impressive batting by Kayla, Miranda, Amalie, and Bethany on the day. The top wicket takers were Bethany with 9, Miranda with 6, and Bella with 4.
Football vs OIC
Roedean’s Football team kicked off their first game of the term with an impressive 3-0 victory over Oxford International. The match was highly anticipated, and the team showed great enthusiasm and determination from the start.
In the first half, Roedean dominated possession, controlling the tempo of the game. Despite their dominance, clear-cut chances were limited. However, their persistence paid off when Alex capitalised on a defensive error, calmly slotting
the ball home to give Roedean a 1-0 lead at half-time.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Roedean continuing to dictate play. Rosa proved to be the difference-maker up front, delivering a clinical performance as the centre forward. She struck twice in quick succession, securing a welldeserved brace and putting the game beyond reach.
Defensively, Roedean was outstanding, ensuring a clean sheet with a solid and disciplined display at the back. The entire team played with great energy and teamwork, setting a strong foundation for the season ahead.
It was a fantastic performance all around – well done to everyone involved!
Mr Foggoa
Mr Campleman
Running for a Cause
Galina & Mancy Take on
Brighton Half Marathon
Galina (Head of School) and Mancy (Boarding Prefect) are running the Brighton Half Marathon on the 2 March in aid of the charity Breast Cancer Now. Please click on the link to donate and read about why this charity is important to them. https://www.justgiving.com/page/ galina-baxter-brightonhalf
We welcome contributions from all parts of the Roedean community. If you have something you would like featured in the Head’s Weekly Review, please email: aws@roedean.co.uk
Swimming Success for Maisa
Earlier in the month, Maisa's swimming team competed in the Sussex relay races – they did brilliantly, winning in the finals of the U12-13 200m free & 200m medley.
In the afternoon, she also participated in the 200m mixed U12-U16 age group medley, where Maisa was the youngest across all clubs. She came 4th in the 50m Fly, and her team competed in the 200m free & 200m medley and won a bronze in both.
Well done to Maisa and her club for winning the overall Championship.
Miss Kirby-Jones
Sports Stars of the Week
Well done to this week's sporting stars!
Well done!
Year 7
Devi, for excellent progress and effort in PE lessons.
Year 8
Evelyn, for fantastic progress and performances in Netball this term
Year 9
Paloma & Martha, for stepping up and playing well at SISNA
Year 10
Hannah, for incredible effort and an excellent attitude in Netball
Year 11
Gabriella, for outstanding effort and performances in Netball
Year 12
Irina, for her fantastic effort in Netball and Swimming
Year 13
Mbali, for her great effort and performances this term in Netball
