WEEKLY REVIEW Classics Trip to Italy

Head’s Introduction

I am delighted to be the new Head at Roedean, and it is truly wonderful to be here. I was appointed to this position in June, and it has felt like a long wait before finally starting here. What is clear to me after just a few days is the strength of the school community, and how bright, dynamic, and positive you all are. It has been lovely to be welcomed so warmly by students and staff, both around the School and in Assemblies, and I enjoyed meeting many parents at the Year 7 Parents’ Evening. It was great to see so many welcoming faces in the Sixth Form’s brilliant video, and I really enjoyed their great performance from Hamilton, which they must have pulled together in a matter of days.

It was such a pleasure to meet the students and teachers from Roedean South Africa, who visited us on Tuesday. It was only my second day here, so it certainly started the term off with a bang! Their singing in Chapel was remarkable and just brimming with energy and positivity – they even managed to get me on my feet and dancing, although I didn’t realise straight away that I was the only one!

During their visit, I met with Mrs Dlamini, Roedean South Africa’s Executive Director – as we are both new in post, this is an excellent time for us to commit to a strong partnership and build more connections between our two schools, particularly as our shared history and traditions already bind us together.

There are three remarkable success stories in this week’s Review, and I would like to congratulate Jasmine for being selected to represent Great Britain in Showjumping, Galina for leading the National Youth Concert Band over Easter, and Charlotte who has been crowned World Champion in Taekwon-Do. These are all outstanding achievements – congratulations.

I am very pleased that our new Steinway pianos have arrived today, and they underline the School’s commitment to excellence in a variety of fields. I am very much looking forward to my first experience of a Roedean Brighton Festival Fringe concert in a few weeks’ time, when one of the Grand Pianos will feature in a concert movement played by Bernice.

I would like to wish 'Eid Mubarak' to those in our community who celebrating Eid al-Fitr. Thank you all again for the warm welcome I have received, and I am looking forward to meeting more of you over the coming days and weeks.