Head's Preview

31th August 2018 - Issue 1

HEAD’S

PREVIEW Year 7

Head’s Introduction Welcome to all those joining Roedean this term, and welcome back to our returning Roedeanians! Whether you are new to the School, or moving up a year-group, I am sure that you will be incredibly excited about the year to come – for new girls, new staff, and new boarders, I know that the nervous anticipation before everything starts will quickly be replaced by a sense of belonging to the Roedean community.

The School continues to grow, and this year we have girls from 40 different countries at Roedean, as well as the large number from the local area and London. As you will read, to accommodate the increased number of girls, there are additional members of both teaching and support staff, and there has also been a great deal of work done over the summer, including converting ‘Heaven’ (the top floor) in two boarding houses, and adding more dining rooms.

Looking ahead, this term will include a number of wonderful events, of which the following are just a few: the first will be the formal opening of the all-weather pitch on Founders’ Day at the end of September; Speech Day, when we award prizes and celebrate the successes of the top three years of the School, takes place in November and our guest speaker will be Dame Carol Black from Newnham College, Cambridge; and, amongst the Christmas Festivities, we will hold our annual fund-raising Christmas Fair on the last weekend of term.

I would like to set the Roedean community the amazing challenge of raising £25,000 this year, to support charitable and local causes. I am always incredibly proud of the wonderful generosity of the Roedean community, and we hope to harness this spirit even more to raise funds to support ten girls around the world through PlanUK, as well as to support St Mark’s Primary, which is less than a mile from Roedean but in an area of deprivation, and with which we are forging a very strong partnership. I am sure that you will hear far more about what we hope to do over the coming weeks, and I know that the girls will throw themselves wholeheartedly into these charitable ventures.

After half-term, 16 girls will represent Roedean at our sister school in Johannesburg, Roedean South Africa. After many years of little contact between the two schools, this ambassadorial trip will build the foundations for regular exchanges in the future, both for staff and students, as well as starting shared projects and joint endeavours. I look forward to seeing what the two Roedeans can achieve, and I am very confident that there is considerable potential in this exciting new partnership.

It was wonderful that Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the Queen and the House of Commons, and also our Honorary Chaplain, was able to join us today for our first Chapel services of the year. As ever, she was inspirational and spoke beautifully about the sense of empowerment which comes from being part of a strong community. I wish you all well for the term and the year to come, and together we will all be able to achieve great things.

620 198 66 40 75 23 52% girls in School new girls

more girls than last year

Nationalities

in Year 7

additional teaching staff to match pupil growth

135 201

boarding

48% day members of teaching staff members of support staff

31th August 2018 - Issue 1

HEAD’S PREVIEW

New Staff Profiles Welcome to the new members of staff joining the School this term.

Here are the profiles of 10 who cover teaching, boarding, and support.

To accommodate the growing pupil numbers, we have appointed a number of additional new staff members.

Ms Hannah Shillito Role: Teacher of English University: MA in English Literature (Glasgow) Previous school: Teacher of English at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls Interests: Photography, writing articles for magazines,

Mrs Charlotte Pacelli Role: Pastoral Manager – Sixth Form University: BA in Dance Studies & History of Art (Roehampton) & PGCE in Dance Teaching (Royal Academy of Dance) Previous school: Safeguarding Officer and School Leader (Varndean School) and Head of Dance (Central Sussex College) Interests: I love a side hustle – I have co-founded a troupe of 30 dancers for corporate events and am now working on a stage costume embellishment service You’d never guess... Despite my best efforts, I’m totally hopeless at cooking, so this year I married an Italian… pasta for life!

Miss Sophie Barling

and reading.

You’d never guess... I once had a photograph digitally exhibited in Le Louvre, Paris

Role: Teacher of Science University: BSc in Animal Behaviour (ARU Cambridge) Previous school: Teacher of Science at SVC Cambridgeshire Interests: Yoga, stoolball, travelling, and anything

Mr James Sheriff Role: Head of Geography University: BSc in Geography (Bristol) and MEd Previous school: Cheltenham Ladies’ College Interests: Nature, ecology, the ocean, mountains, cultural Geography… basically anything to do with Geography You’d never guess... I find that walking in the British countryside can be just as exhilarating as diving with sharks or climbing mountains

Mrs Kate Newman Role: Head of Middle School and Transition University: BA in International History (LSE) Previous school: Assistant Head Teacher at Blatchington Mill, Hove Interests: I love learning new things, and in recent years have learnt to play the saxophone, I am currently at Grade 2, and I learnt to sew clothes for my children You’d never guess... I have just got my first pets, four chickens, yet to be named

Mr Paul Clingan Role: Head of Economics University: BA (Hons) in Economics (Nottingham) Previous school: Director of Sixth Form and Head of Economics at Cardinal Newman School, Hove Interests: Travelling, sport, spirituality, and people!

You’d never guess... I once bungee-jumped off a bridge in New Zealand… never again!

Mrs Joanna Thomas Role: Second in Mathematics University: MA in Mathematics (Newnham College, Cambridge) Previous school: Brighton & Hove High School, Brighton College, and… Roedean!

Interests: Photography, my vegetable garden, puzzles, and DofE You’d never guess... I once skied to work at Roedean

outdoors You’d never guess... I used to live on a canal boat

Miss Rosie Pickford Role: Deputy Housemistress in House 3 University: BA in Environment and Media Studies (Brighton) Previous school: Resident Tutor at Badminton School, Bristol Interests: Outdoor activities, especially walking and climbing, travelling and dance.

You’d never guess... Before starting work at my last school, I spent the winter living in the Finnish Arctic and didn’t see the sun for over a month!

Mr Philip Harrison Role: Head of Psychology University: BA Psychology and English Literature (Middlesex) Previous school: Head of Social Sciences, Greensward Academy Interests: Film, France, Football You’d never guess... In 1988 I took the lead role in a student film that won the director a place in the International Film School (London)

Mr Matt Weir Role: Teacher of Mathematics University: BSc in Mathematics (Southampton) Previous school: Teacher at Steyning Grammar School Interests: Golf, and I’m a Brighton season ticket holder You’d never guess... I speak Italian, have done a bungee jump, and a former boss of mine is a billionaire!

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HEAD’S PREVIEW

31th August 2018 - Issue 1

Best A* A Level Results in a Decade Congratulations to all Roedean A Level students on their outstanding results.

We are delighted that 23.3% of all A Level grades have been awarded A*, our best results in a decade, with 53.7% A*-A grades. Roedean’s academic strength in depth is especially impressive, with well over a third of students achieving at least one A* grade, and nearly one in five achieved two or more A*s. After weeks of waiting for their examination results, the School is proud and pleased that all of the students’ hard work over the last two years has been recognised.

In a climate when young women pursuing STEM subjects is very low nationally, Roedean is very proud that 37% of this year’s leavers are going on to study Maths and Science courses at university. 56% of this cohort took Maths A Level – including Miranda, whose remarkable 5 A* grades include a 99.5% average across 12 Maths modules – and Physics was one of the top performing subjects at the School, with 79% of the candidates achieving A* or A. We are very happy indeed that Emily, Georgina, and Melanie will take up their places at Oxford and Cambridge this October, to read Chemistry, Medicine, and Natural Sciences, and Martha N will also be on the highly competitive Medicine course at Imperial College London.

Over recent years, places in the Sixth Form at Roedean have been won by many local girls from the state sector, and we are incredibly impressed with their achievements: congratulations to Jodie (from Peacehaven Community School), Charlotte (from Warden Park), Yian (from Dorothy Stringer), and Elsa and Lia (from Blatchington Mill School), who have 7 A*s and 9 As between them.

We must not forget, however, that top A Level grades are not the be all and end all, and the School is equally proud of those girls who may not have achieved all A*s, but have surpassed their own expectations to achieve the strong grades – Roedean’s holistic vision of education means that we value highly those who, alongside their academic achievements, demonstrate that they are top musicians, actors, sportswomen, and artists.

The Headmaster was delighted that the girls’ consistent hard work and diligence had been worth it: ‘The girls’ A Level successes are outstanding, particularly because their academic work is just one of the many things they do at Roedean – Maggie was Head of School and scored 97% in Politics, Pearl got 3 A*s in Science and Maths as well as being an exceptional pianist, Esmee is a talented dancer who achieved an A* in Art and will excel on her Art Foundation course, and Loretta was Captain of Hockey and Deputy Head of School and is on her way to LSE to read Politics. Roedean is committed to providing its students with the best possible all-embracing experience – we wish them all the very best in the future.’

Fantastic GCSEs for Roedean Congratulations to all Roedean students on achieving excellent GCSE examination results, with 48.2% at A* or its equivalent, the second highest percentage at this level in the School’s history. 22.6% of examinations were awarded the new elite Grade 9, and 71.9% A*-A this year reflects our consistent success at this level over the last five years. Following Roedean’s impressive A Level results in STEM subjects, this has been replicated at GCSE level, with over 80% A*-A in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, and 76.5% A*-A in Maths and Further Maths.

We are delighted that all the girls’ hard work has been worth it – we have been impressed by the strength in depth at GCSE level, with a remarkable 47.5% of the cohort achieving at least 7 A*-A grades. Congratulations to Flo, Georgia, and Ellie, who, in addition to a fantastic year on the sports field stage and stage, have 29 straight A* grades between them, including eight Grade 9s – these are all exceptional achievements! Clara and Rosie also achieved 9 or more A* grades – Rosie said, ‘They’re everything I wanted. I’m just so relieved that all that work paid off!’

We are very pleased that 32.2% of English Language grades and 28% of English Literature grades were awarded the highly coveted Grade 9 – these far outstrip the national averages for these subjects, which are 2.2% and 3.2% respectively. In addition to the excellent Science results, Further Maths achieved a remarkable 64.5% A* success rate, and congratulations go to Nell, who achieved 200/200 in Maths, when only 149 was required for a Grade 9.

In a year of great change, for both students and staff, with new specifications and requirements for the 9-1 reformed GCSE subjects, the girls’ strong performances are impressive. In the new grading system, the A* has been replaced by both Grades 8 and 9, with the latter designed to reward the most exceptional candidates, and it is wonderful that so many girls have been rewarded with these grades.

Mr Blond was very happy that the girls performed so well: ‘The girls at Roedean have done brilliantly – for nearly half of the cohort to achieve at least 7 A*-A grades is outstanding. Roedean is committed to providing its students with the best possible all-embracing experience – examination results are just one part of the rounded education they get here, and their academic work is complemented by their wonderful commitment to activities such as sport, the Arts, and volunteering in the community. Together, these elements will provide a brilliant platform to future success – I look forward to watching these girls flourish at A Level in the Sixth Form.’

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HEAD’S PREVIEW

COMPLETED REFURBISHED ALL BATHROOMS

WORKS 22

HOLIDAY

31th August 2018 - Issue 1

BLYTH

CARPET & FURNITURE

REPLACED

BEDROOMS

CAREERS OFFICE

HEAVENS ALL STUDY ICT LAB IN HOUSE 4 IN HOUSES 1 & 2 PASSAGE PE OFFICE STUDIOS

EXPANDED

REFURBISHED DECORATED & MATHS REFURBISHED CHIMNEYS IN HOUSES 3 & 4 OFFICE NEW PE CHANGING WORKS ON THE

CONVERSION OF

CONVERTED INTO DINING

ROOMS

5

EXTRA COMPUTERS

IN THE ICT LAB

DECORATED

ROOMS

TOILET

IN EACH STUDY PASSAGE

NEW NEW PEOPLE 3 WHITE ADAPTED

TO FIT

18

STORAGE

REBUILT & REPLACED

COMMISSIONED

DORMER

KESWICK WINDOWS AV SETUP

REDESIGNED

1

EXTRA

SHED BY THE

BOARD

ASTRO IN ECONOMICS ASTRO NEW WATER LIGHTS 4 COOLERS

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HEAD’S PREVIEW

31th August 2018 - Issue 1

Roedean in Zanzibar - a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience On Saturday June 30th , as most of the Roedean community woke to the first day of a long anticipated break, 14 students and 2 staff were already sitting in a classroom comparing deet percentages and water bottle capacities as they prepared to head off on their expedition to Zanzibar. For almost two years, students had been fundraising, researching and getting increasingly excited, and now the day was finally here.

Zanzibar is a beautiful island, steeped in a troubled history which we were privileged to be able to explore with a number of academics and locals whilst we were there: we met Fareed, a local historian with a limitless enthusiasm for the almost lost art of covert messages communicated through the designs of the traditional kanga (skirt and shawl); we also met Mbaruk, who desperately

wanted to make a positive difference to the environment and to the lives of local children, but was thwarted by challenging infrastructure, such as frequent power cuts and water shortages; and we met the women of Paje Seaweed Centre, who had found a way to become financially secure, contributing to their families’ income and being role models to their children. We conducted research on colobus monkey behaviour and on the health of the coral reefs and were pleased to see that coral bleaching has improved this year, despite the impact of over-fishing remaining notable.

The students approached all of this with a spirit of inquiry, compassion and open engagement with the different culture: when we met a group of Masai, the students were insistent on learning

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their dance and, when they found they were not as adept at the high jump as their new friends, they taught the Masai to limbo; when we had a power cut at Creative Solutions, the group cheerfully adapted to prepare a meal by candlelight and play several rounds of cards before turning in for the night; and, when invited to paint a part of a wall, every single member of the group contributed to a beautiful mural representing their school. Roedean is committed to improving its environmental awareness and its community engagement; this expedition helped a small group of girls do just that and we look forward to engaging the whole school community in more local projects towards these goals over the coming year.

HBO

31th August 2018 - Issue 1

HEAD’S PREVIEW

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11 Year 12

Year 13

JJ AUTUMN TERM 2018 – KEY EVENTS

What we’re doing beyond Roedean…

Roedean’s social conscience is a powerful entity – in addition to the work we do with CAP in the Sixth Form, the support we give to St Mark’s with the Reading and Listening Buddies and Sports Leaders, and our girls teaching children in a Kenyan slum by Skype each week, the school community does a great deal of fundraising. £25,000 is our charity fundraising target for this year!

This year, Roedean will be supporting 10 girls from around the world through the charity PlanUK – its work resonates very closely with our School’s founding ethos of providing girls with an education which is at least equal to that available for boys. In many countries around the world, boys’ education is prioritised over girls’, so our support will help to provide a springboard for these 10 girls to a better life – the girls range from 7-14, and come from Sudan, Rwanda, and Togo in Africa, Bangladesh, China, and Timor Leste in Asia, and Haiti, Paraguay, and Bolivia in the Americas. It will cost each student in School just £3 per year to support these 10 girls – a small price to pay to transform their lives.

We welcome contributions from all parts of the Roedean community.

If you have something you would like featured in the Headmaster’s Weekly Review, please email: marketing@roedean.co.uk Page 6

28 Sept

FOUNDERS’ DAY and PITCH OPENING

02 Oct

LITERARY FESTIVAL for Year 7 and visitors

06 Oct

OPEN DAY

29 Oct

Drama Scholars’ – ‘DAISY PULLS IT OFF’

03 Nov

SPEECH DAY

09 Nov

REMEMBRANCE SERVICES

23 Nov

GALA CONCERT

08 Dec

CHRISTMAS FAIR

12 Dec

CAROL SERVICES

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