What a brilliant half-term it has been! This academic year has started incredibly well, and there have been lots of highlights from the first half of term, including an inspiring visit from Amber Anning, who brought her two Olympic Bronze medals with her, Roedean students joining CCF at Lancing College, our Art Exhibition at the OXO Tower in London, a Guinness World Record attempt, a Year 13 Ceilidh and a Year 9 Silent Disco, both at Tonbridge School, Roedean's University Challenge, a terrifying Halloween Maze, and an outstanding Black History Month lecture by Carolynn Bain just this week. There is never a dull moment at Roedean!
I am currently on my way to Hong Kong with Mrs Wienekus, and I am looking forward to meeting ORs, current parents, and students who are considering joining Roedean. Following our very successful Open Day earlier in the term, 65 prospective students came to Roedean for our annual Discovery Day yesterday, and 16 also had a boarding taster with a sleep-over in two of the Houses. I hope that the visit gave them a really strong impression of Roedean life.
The author visits at the start of this week were very successful, and I am sure that the students enjoyed hearing about the two writers’ experiences. There have also been a variety of activities based around books and reading all week, and today’s Harry Potter-themed tea-party was an amazing spectacle – we are all very grateful to our wonderful Catering department who never fail to impress!
Congratulations to you all for a very successful first half of term, and I am really delighted that all those who joined the School in September are now completely settled in. After half-term, I am looking forward to the student-led production of Alice By Heart, and then the Dreams and Nightmares concert as we get closer to Christmas. I wish you all a wonderful break!
Halloween Maze '24
RISE 8K Runners Raise Over £2000
Carolynn Bain –Black History Month Lecture
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.
Ellen, Lydia, Irina, and Angelica (Yr12) – for their lovely contributions to this week's Chapel services [Ms Earl]
This term has seen some exceptional work from all year groups, whether they have been studying a Victorian Novel, watched the Birlings being interrogated by Inspector Goole, or shed a tear for Lennie Small's death at the hands of his good friend George.
Whilst this is not everything we have covered so far, we are able to say a particular well done to the following students for their impressive reading, fantastic work-ethic, and thoughtful contributions to class discussion: Tabitha (Yr7), Stella and Emma (Yr8), Katherine (Yr9), Sofia (Yr10), Athena (Yr11), Claire (Yr12), and Merla (Yr13). Well done to all the students!
To celebrate Book Week and the joy of reading, the English Department and the Library collaborated to ensure each Year 7 student received a free book as part of the Bookbuzz programme.
English Department's Students of the Month University Applications 2025 Year 7 Charity Sponsored Silence Book Buzz!
Tuesday 15 October was the UCAS early entry deadline for 2025 for those applying for university places. We are delighted that 30% of our current Year 13 cohort submitted their UCAS forms by this deadline, which will stand them in good stead for receiving quick responses and allowing them to focus on their academic work.
We have already seen students gain offers in both STEM and Humanities subjects from top Russell Group universities such as Warwick, Bristol, Glasgow, Birmingham, York, and Southampton – congratulations! Those who are applying for Early Decision and Early Action in American Colleges will also have submitted their applications before we return from the half term break, so best of luck to them too.
Our internal deadline for UCAS main round applications is 25 November, so we are looking forward to seeing many more submissions after half-term. Reading students' personal statements is such a rewarding aspect of this role, so we are glad that they will still exist, albeit in a slightly different form, for 2026 entry!
Ms Boobis and the Futures Team
Unsung Staff hero in the spotlight
Tuesday 5 November – Lunch and Activity 1 – Year 7 Sponsored Silence for Rockinghorse
On Tuesday 5 November, the first mini-fund-raiser for Year 7's year-group charity, Rockinghorse, will be a 60-minute sponsored silence in Lunch and Activity 1.
Rockinghorse is the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton, which raises money for life-saving equipment, specialist projects, and enhanced services for sick babies, children, and young people throughout Sussex.
If you would like to sponsor the Year 7s, please do so here https://www.justgiving.com/ page/roedeancharityy7
Mr Wilson and Mr Bond
Mrs Chinnery – for literally going that extra mile for our boarders, going to the post office to collect the documentation needed so that they can go home for half term [Mrs Diplos]
Bookbuzz gives students the chance to choose and keep a book they’ll love from a collection of 16 titles, newly selected each year by our panel of Book Trust reading experts, practising teachers, and School Librarians. The Year 7s were absolutely delighted to receive their free books just in time for the half term holiday!
Mrs Bailey, Ms Shahab, and Ms Shillito
for stepping in to cover a St Mark's session at late notice this week! [Dr
Ms Woodbridge –
Barrand]
Mr Woodhouse –for a captivating Academic Lecture on 'An Inspector Calls – the legacy!' [Ms IbanezBarcelo]
Ms Shahab
Carolynn Bain – Black History Month Lecture
Roedean’s annual Black History Month lecture was delivered by Carolynn Bain this week, and it fitted the national theme, ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, perfectly – as the founder of a bookshop in Brighton which champions the works of Black authors, it also complemented the School’s activities this week to celebrate Book Week! Carolynn spoke in the Theatre to the Sixth Form and our Roedean Academy partner students from four local state schools, and the rest of the school body enjoyed the lecture live-streamed to their classrooms.
Carolynn’s lecture centred on telling stories, and, with a pile of books beside her, each was the stimulus for a different story. When she was growing up, Carolynn was unable to find any books with characters which represented her appearance or experiences. During Covid, this inspired her to open an online bookshop, even though she had no experience of running a shop, nor of marketing books, nor of creating a website! Despite her lack of experience, her online shop served a purpose and was successful, and this led her to open a physical shop near Brighton Station, and it is called 'Afrori – Books of Black Origin'.
Roedean's Book Week –Author Visits
To celebrate Roedean's Book Week, we welcomed two successful authors to the School on Monday.
Sarah Crossan is an award-winning writer of free verse novels. During her visit, she discussed writing in verse and the power of poetry to tell a story. From Shakespeare to rap music, Sarah had our Year 7 & 8 students enthralled with her lively and interactive talk. She challenged the students’ perception of poetry and talked about the importance of finding your emotional connection with a poem, much as you do with other art forms such as songs and paintings. Our students were encouraged to participate with impromptu performances of Moana and Hamilton, thus illustrating Sarah’s belief that poetry and creative writing is to be
Afrori is unique. It is the only bookshop in the UK which specialises in Black authors, and, for Carolynn, this is because of the importance of representation. She works to a three-point plan: supporting Black authors, creating diverse bookshelves, and standing up against injustice. And she relishes a challenge. To open her physical bookshop, she had to raise £10,000 in a month. But this money was raised in just ten days, and this made her realise that people wanted her shop to exist, because it filled a void.
One of the stories she told to illustrate the lack of Black representation in books was about a six-year old boy she met at a book event and a Spider-Man graphic novel. In graphic novels, non-white characters are very rare, but this little boy pointed to Miles Morales and said to his Mum, ‘This superhero looks like me!’ At that point, Carolynn said that she realised that what she is doing is working – that child finally saw himself as a super-hero, for the first time.
The audience was challenged to change the narratives around us. Inspiring, thought-provoking, inclusive, and totally engaging – Carolynn was a brilliant Black History Month speaker!
Dr Barrand
enjoyed and not taken to seriously. She finished her talk with a plea to students (and staff!) to put down their smartphones and remember to find time to enjoy their passions, whether it is poetry, music, sport, or science.
The second author talk was given by Emma Brand, who released her debut novel, ‘Dial One for Revenge’, last year. She spoke to our students about her journey from initial research to published novelist, and talked about creating fictional characters, the importance of representation, and her experience as a new novelist in the publishing world.
Full of interesting stories and advice, Emma’s talk had the students gripped. She then stayed after her talk and spoke to students who were eager to ask her questions about becoming a writer.
Mrs Bailey
Book Week –Academic Lecture
On Thursday Mr Woodhouse, Faculty Lead for English gave a lecture on the legacy of An Inspector Calls, J.B Priestley’s play currently studied by Year 10. The talk focused on whether the play’s messages of social injustice, class, snobbery, self-interest, and sexism were still relevant, and what political progress (or regression) had been made since the huge social upheaval of the late 1940s. We particularly considered the foundation of the welfare state and its benefits versus financial costs, unintended consequences and slow erosion, as well as looking at whether unspoken but insidious double standards still exist for men and women.
Halloween Maze '24
This year's Halloween Maze, organised by the Prefects under the direction of Kaitlin, was as terrifying as ever! It was set up in the Blyth and the Cloisters, and students from across the School were able to visit between 4:00 and 6:30pm. Well done to everyone involved in making this annual tradition such a frightening success!
Roedean’s Inspiring Artist in Residence
This half-term, our students have been fortunate to work alongside our highly-talented artist in residence. Sara Reeve is a Brighton-based painter, known for her captivating portraiture. Her art is characterised by a bold use of colour, striking shapes, and emotional depth. She specialises in portraying women, often using oil paints to delve into the nuances of flesh, faces, and human expression. Her paintings reflect a keen interest in the tension between subject and viewer, particularly through the use of a direct gaze.
Throughout her residency, students in Year 11 have greatly benefited from her guidance during lessons, learning the complexities of portraiture and composition. Her focus on themes, such as identity, ageing, and the hidden versus the visible aspects of the self, has sparked thoughtprovoking conversations in class. Last Friday, Sara ran a twilight life-drawing session that saw enthusiastic participation from Year 11, 12, and 13 Art students, further enhancing their artistic practice.
This week, Sara has been drawing students at work in the Art Studio. Inspired by the historical tiles depicting life at Roedean in the 1920s and 1930s, she has produced quick sketches of our current students hard at work! Her presence has been an inspiring force, encouraging students to explore new artistic ideas and techniques, and offering them a unique opportunity to observe and learn from her creative process.
Ms Strachan
Years 7, 8, and 9 has been in full swing this half-term, with almost 20 activity sessions being delivered across the three year groups each week. The 'Head, Heart, Hand' philosophy has been embedded into the Key Stage 3 curriculum, because we know how important it is to provide students with a balanced and rounded education.
skills, as showcased by the bags made in Year 8 Textiles lessons recently. These amazing finished products are an excellent example of how students have the opportunity to develop their creativity and derive a sense of accomplishment alongside their academic lessons.
Congratulations to the students on all of their hard work and success, and thank you to the HHH teachers for these incredible enrichment opportunities.
Over the course of the academic year, the students will be able to complete courses in activities such as textiles, cookery, and first aid, as well explore philosophical ideas, develop confidence with public speaking, and acquire skills in outdoor education. Additionally, there is also a foundation in Careers Education for Years 7 and 8, as they begin to get an insight into the workplace and the employment opportunities of the future.
Miss Kelsey
RISE 8K Runners Raise Over £2000
Well done to the twenty students and eight members of staff who ran the RISE 8K along the undercliff – we had two teams running, made up of students in Years 11-13, and together they have raised well over £2000 for this fantastic charity!
Miss Orrells
HHH Cooking
The Keswick Cookery room took on a Halloween theme this week, as students in Years 7, 8, and 9 made seasonal cookies in their HHH cookery lessons, which are always a very popular part of this programme!
Miss Kelsey
Year 12 Community Action Programme (CAP)
The Community Action Programme (CAP) has been typically busy this week, with our Year 12 students serving the local and wider community in a range of different outreach projects. The Junior Roedean Academy (JRA) continues to be a busy and popular part of our CAP Programme and, this week, we have had over 50 primary school children from City Academy Whitehawk joining us for a range of activities, including a Farm visit and a Science lesson. The JRA programme will enable our Year 12 students to hone their teaching, communication, teamwork, and leadership skills, by undertaking the roles of Teaching Assistants and eventually Class Teachers later this term.
Our off-site placements this week have included visits to Chailey Heritage Foundation, The Somerset Centre, Raystede, and St Mark's, whilst on-site we have had the Community Cooking group baking Halloween treats for the Homeless. This is part of an ongoing weekly contribution to the Off The Fence Antifreeze project, which distribute hot meals and food to homeless people in Brighton and Hove.
We have also had a group learning British Sign Language, and they will eventually use their newly-acquired skills to support the deaf community in a local primary school later this year.
Our Community Music group have already performed a Samba Workshop at St Margaret’s School this term, and will be continuing their musical entertainment after half-term by performing to members of The Somerset Centre and the children of St Mark’s Primary School.
Our Community Art group have also been busy, and working with another local primary school. They have been designing a mural at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, and have already made excellent progress this week, as can be seen from the photos.
Finally, our Community Textiles group visited The Circular Space in Shoreham this week. The
Circular Space is a community re-use hub, and our Year 12 students were gathering materials for the sustainable fashion project which they will be taking into local primary schools later this year.
The value of these community activities cannot be underestimated. For those involved, there is an obvious sense of accomplishment and personal development, along with, for those communities that they serve, a sense of gratitude and pleasure.
Well done to all of Year 12 and all of the CAP Teachers!
Miss Kelsey
Chapel – The Huge Impact of Small Things
Ms Earl – 'In the bestselling book, Atomic Habits, James Clear writes that every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. The book takes its name from the idea that habits, just like the atoms that make up our bodies, are small. But without them, we wouldn’t be who we are. Habits make up our character and they shape our understanding of ourselves. Over time, small, repeated actions build our habits, our circumstances, our identities. By changing our small habits, we can make huge changes in our lives. This is not a new idea – more than 2,300 years ago, Aristotle was teaching that actions build habits, and habits build our character. His thought is well summarised as 'we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.'
It is probably unsurprising that I am talking to you about the impact of small habits and actions. Every year on results’ days, I have the pleasure of seeing students delighted with their grades; grades which they achieved as a result of their excellent learning habits. Studying for a GCSE or A Level course isn’t something you do all at once: each student’s success is a result of the smaller things they have done and choices they have made, over the course of two years. Their success is a result of trusting the process and making marginal but regular gains.'
Angelica: 'One quotation that has always inspired me is that 'The cost of procrastination is the life you could’ve lived.' We often overestimate the impact that big events can have in our lives, and hugely underestimate the impact of the tiny things we do.
Imagine you are flying a rocket to the moon and you miscalculate the angle for the launch. It is out by just one degree: barely noticeable, but it makes all the difference. By the time you had flown the distance, you would be 4,169 miles off target – that’s nearly twice the diameter of the moon itself. You would have missed by thousands of miles, from a one degree change.
But on the other hand, imagine you are taking up running for a 5k race. You decide that every day, you’ll run 5k one second faster than the day before. It’s manageable, it’s tiny, and it will not even feel like an achievement at first. But you stick to it, every day, without procrastinating or putting it off. At the end of the year, you’ll be over 6 minutes faster than when you began. 6 minutes can be the difference between being classed as a novice, or as an advanced runner. Really meaningful achievements don’t always require huge effort: one second a day can make all the difference, as long as you actually do it, every day.'
Lydia: 'A quote that has always inspired me is 'if you don’t climb the mountain, you’ll never see the view.' Climbing a mountain is a huge achievement and it rewards you with a sense of accomplishment, a beautiful view, and probably a story to tell. But we often forget that these rewards are earned step by step. Every single time you put one foot in front of the other, you make progress: each step contributes, and what counts is that you keep taking them. You can stop and rest – and sometimes you should! To see how far you’ve come, and to give yourself a break. But unless you take the next step, you will never make it to the top. And you will never get to enjoy the view. Every achievement in life is the result of the small steps that led there – when the goal matters, committing to the climb, one step at a time, is always worth it.'
Irina: 'It is not only the small actions we do for our own goals that matter. The smallest thing can make a whole world of difference for someone else. Research consistently shows that, when we perform a small act of kindness, it has a far bigger impact on others than we think it does. Something that is tiny for us, like picking up something another person dropped, paying a thoughtful compliment, or holding a door open with a smile, can change how someone feels for the rest of the day. A small gesture for you isn’t just a small gesture for the person you share it with – they don’t only have the kind act, they have the kind act and the realisation that someone is thinking about them. It is more meaningful for them than us, because someone has taken time to show them kindness and care.
What’s more, if you do a small act of kindness in a public place, it improves the mood of those who witness it, and it makes them more likely to “pay it forward” to others. One small act in a public place can create a domino effect of positive feelings and actions.'
Ms Earl: 'As you walk down the stairs from the Humanities on the second floor, I am sure you will have noticed a large black poster with neon text. This is a quotation that has always stuck with me. It is Rabbi Shapiro’s interpretation of earlier commentary on the book of Micah – a minor prophet recognised in Judaism and Christianity. Micah Chapter 6 highlights that, even when the problems we face are overwhelming, we are not expected to carry out huge gestures to make things better. The small, positive things we do each day add up, and each and every one of them has an effect, even when you don’t immediately notice it. You may not be able to solve everything today, but by doing something small, now, you can contribute to a better situation tomorrow. What is important, is that we do the small thing. For whatever huge impact you want to achieve – on yourself, on the world – it is good to remind yourself every day that it is what you do today that counts. Shapiro’s comforting and inspiring words are: 'Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Walk humbly, now. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. You are not expected to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.'
U14A SNS Plate Match vs Hurst
The U14A Netball had their second round of the SNS Plate competition this week, and were drawn against Hurst. This would be the third time we had played them in almost as many weeks, and the girls were keen to turn their two previous defeats in tournaments into a win in a full match.
It took a little while for the nerves to settle, but, by the end of the first quarter, the girls had managed to secure a draw. With no substitutes due to injury, the team stayed in their positions and started to work well as units. There were some lovely shooter rotations, and the delivery down the court was much more fluid than in previous weeks, which meant that at half time there was only a two-goal deficit.
It was only in the final quarter that the match started to slip away and, unfortunately, despite playing their best netball to date, the final score was 30-38. Congratulations to Sophie and Andrea who were named Opposition's Players of the Match.
Miss Kirby-Jones
U13D vs ST Andrew’s
The U13D team played St Andrew’s Prep this week, and their aim was to try to convert more of their chances on goal. Two goals were scored in the first quarter from great play across the pitch, and another two in the second quarter, meaning both Anna and Jess had two goals to their name. We managed to score two more in the third quarter, both from Gracie. In the final quarter, we decided Charlotte would be a goalkeeper for the opposition, and she did a brilliant job in keeping our girls out and maintaining a clean sheet. The girls showed amazing kindness and sportsmanship towards the opposition and should be commended for their attitude.
Miss Kirby-Jones
Hockey vs St Andrew’s
U13A vs Tough St Andrew's Prep Side
The U13A team took on St Andrew's Prep in a big block fixture in Eastbourne. The girls started very well, with some excellent passing and carrying up the right side of the pitch. They were rewarded with a goal following a quick interception and attack down the right, which was squared into the D and tucked into the goal at the far post.
The second goal was the result of a brilliant through ball by Isabelle from her own half. Maddie took the GK one way and finished it off with her backhand. It was an excellent team goal, as both midfielders pulled their players wide for the ball to move through the middle. In the second half, St Andrew's came out firing, and they scored a goal for themselves not long into the half. For the next 10 minutes, both teams were looking very threatening in the circles, with shots being saved, going wide and stopped by the GKs. Cindy making another incredible aerial save after a strong backhand shot.
The match ended 2-1, with the girls a little annoyed not to score a few more, but very happy with another win and only looking to improve after a half-term break.
Mr Campleman
U13B
The U13B finished the half-term strongly with a 5-3 win at St Andrew’s. Roedean began quickly, and raced into a 2-0 lead, with smart finishes from Maisa and Phoebe, St Andrew’s pulled one back and the game was finely balanced at halftime at 2-1.
The second half was more frantic – Roedean raced into a 4-1 lead, with two more goals from Phoebe, at which point the game looked over. However, St Andrew’s came back to bring the score to 4-3, before Phoebe scored her fourth goal and the game ended 5-3!
Mr Smethurst
U12B vs St Andrew's Prep U11A
The U12Bs came up against another tough opponent this week, and, even though they were only in Year 6, the team we played were very good. They managed to keep us in our own half for most of the game, so we were all having to play very defensively.
The team did really well with their defending, and we worked as a unit, making sure someone was always going to ball and then the others were marking players. There was lots of clearing the ball out of the D, and it could have been a 10-0 loss if we hadn’t all been on it with our defending. We struggled in attack, as they were very good at blocking our passes and runs, and we needed to try and use the space better, pull the defenders wide, and then try and pass to the widths of the pitch, rather than just going down the middle. We often just hit the ball straight to
them, rather than trying to dribble then pass to someone in space.
However, our main aim was to improve defensively this week, and the team certainly did that. Nkem joined the team this week, and made a real difference, not being afraid to go to ball and put in a hard tackle, but also being aware of what was going on around her.
■ Players of the Match: Nkem (Defender) and Harrie (Attacker)
■ Coach’s Player: Lexi – she made some amazing saves, kicking the ball wide out of the D, and positioning herself well in goal when they were taking shots at her.
Mrs Patching-Jones
U13A Fall Just Short in the Round 1 Plate Match
The U13A Hockey team had a round 1 plate match against Kent College Pembury at home. The game started well, with both teams going close but not getting it over the line. Then, a quick attack by Kent saw their chance to get past the defence, and Roedean needed to regroup and get back in the game. They did exactly that, and played much quicker and sharper to get a few chances at goal, but we
were just unable to get those desired shots away.
After half-time, Kent doubled their lead, but not without a Roedean final effort to come back –Maddie took a superb direct ball in the D and pulled off a slick finish. Kent then finished the game with another goal and put it out of reach for our team to come back.
It was a great game, end to end, with some fantastic defending and attacking play by both teams. The final score was 3-1 to Kent College Pembury.
Mr Campleman
U12B
This week in Boarding…
House 1 filled the ODR with freshly baked smells of chocolate chip cookies! After the Asda trip, girls did a 'cheers' to the weekend, with a bottle of Shloer! Congratulations to House 1, who won the House Quiz – the knowledge was impressive!
House 2 snacked on their 5-a-day, paired with a chocolate fountain, of course! To mark World Mental Health Day, the boarders took some time to relax with a movie night enjoyed with friends, and some warm popcorn freshly popped on the hob! Preparing for the season, the girls have got crafty, making clay pumpkins and autumnal leaves, and painting them with colours of the season. Over the weekend, the girls received an invitation for the House 2 Halloween Party, and proceeded to discuss costume ideas while devouring some of Miss Roe's famous cookies and brownies!
House 3 girls had a bingo evening, with lots of healthy competition, and even resident four-legged friends Oscar and Daisy joined in! The night was topped off with a delicious slice of the famous House 3 Oreo brownie! The girls enjoyed making friendship bracelets, exchanging them with each other in House, and saving some to give to friends and family at home over the half-term. Boarders took to Asda to stock up on snacks to help them get through the final week, and to get some treats to take home to family. Over the weekend, House 3 marked Yorkshire Pudding Day by hosting a Sunday roast, where everyone in House 3 came together to indulge in a wholesome homemade meal, accompanied, of course, by some freshly made Yorkshire Puddings!
House 4 are experts at making cookies, and, after baking for the whole boarding community last week, there was some cookie dough left over for the House 4 girls to enjoy too! They even added some M&Ms for a special treat! While making waffles, one boarder cracked her first ever egg – what a way to mark World Egg Day! Over the weekend, boarders were in
an autumnal mood, and baked a hearty apple crumble, which was demolished in seconds!
Keswick hosted a wonderful evening to celebrated Nigerian Independence Day. Boarders across all Houses came together for the occasion and enjoyed some traditional Nigerian foods. Thank you to all boarders and parents who made this event possible. Earlier this week, the girls managed to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights as they danced over the school site – they captured some fantastic photos!
Lawrence have been busy creating Halloween decorations using their arts and crafts skills. The House looked spook-tacular for their halloween-themed afternoon tea, with ghoulish treats for all to enjoy!
Mindful Monday saw an evening creating healthy smoothies for a nice relaxing evening!
The Sixth Formers came together for a pizza night, making dough from scratch, and choosing from an array of toppings. What a tasty treat!
Miss Barnett
Hockey vs Lancing College
2nd XI
This was the first match for the newly formed 2nd XI, which is a combination of Year 11/12 and 13 players. The team have not had chance to practise together yet, so it was a game of getting used to each other, playing with new faces, and some people playing in different positions.
Lancing were a strong team, particularly in defence – they worked as a unit defensively, forming a solid press around us when we had the ball. They had the advantage of being a team who have already practised together. However, there was some lovely play from Roedean – we made a handful of breaks through them, one with Alicia dribbling the ball down the right, making a strong pass into the D to one of our forwards, then just missing goal. There were also some breaks down the middle, with Bea/Aimee (CMs) strong on the ball, making a tackle, turning it over, then passing the long ball through to Alice (CF)/Molly (LF), who had great control on the ball. The defence had a tough job, as Lancing were often getting the ball into our D, but we managed to keep the pressure on, turn the ball over and clear it out. Mbali was hitting some great strong balls out from 16s, often setting us up for the breaks up the pitch.
Liv and Izzy were going to their players, to stop them getting a clear shot off. Tiah, normally a mid, stepped in in defence, but she is so good that she can play in any position – she was a solid, aggressive force at the back and a real asset to have there. Ruby was her usual amazing self, making some brilliant saves and holding strong in the goal, so composed and confident in goal. She saw a lot of action, and they managed to creep a few past her when the attackers were given the space to shoot. Rida (LF) and Saffron (RF) did some lovely dribbling down the left/right side of the pitch, but were met by a brick wall of Lancing defenders stopping them getting near the D.
Lancing scored first in the first half, we then equalised early in the 2nd, and it was looking like it was going to be a draw, but they got one past us late in the 2nd, to finish 2-1.
■ Player of the Match: Mbali
■ Coach’s Player: Bea – her skills on the ball are great, so controlled and confident at getting around a defender, and also just working hard nonstop throughout the game
Miss Patching-Jones
U14B
On Saturday, the U14B Hockey team played an exciting game against Lancing College. After a break from matches for a couple of weeks, the girls were excited to put what they had been working on in training into practice.
As the game started, the heavens opened and the girls had to put up with a deluge for three-quarters of a match. This did not dampen their spirits, however, and, although it took them a little time to find their rhythm, once they found, it they were unstoppable. The girls managed to score three goals in their forty minutes, two by Ezzie and one by Bea, both playing as forwards. A special mention goes to the other forward, Florence, who assisted in these goal-scoring opportunities.
However, this was very much a team effort, with the midfielders working hard to deliver the ball down the pitch, and the defence quickly quashing any early breaks. The defence did such a good job that Sofia only needed to make one save in the whole game as goalkeeper.
Well done to Dita who was named the Opposition's Player of the Match in her first game for the B team, and congratulations to Martha who was Coach's Player. We are looking forward to our next game after half-term.
Miss Kirby-Jones
1st XI Hockey Grab the Spoils
The Roedean 1st XI had their first match of the season as a team drawn from Years 11-13, and they were focused on playing well, even though they had only had limited training time together.
Lancing started the better of the sides, and managed to score with a big Roedean deflection passing Fen in goal. Roedean responded well though, and Ellie and Issy had some fantastic attacking ball carries on the left and right respectively. Roedean managed to equalise as a result of excellent attacking play by Izzy and Elodie which earned a Penalty Corner, which Ellie was able to force over the goal line!
Both the teams went into half-time level and both were also determined to get the win in the second half. Roedean managed to regroup better, and they worked out how to break down the Lancing midfield mayhem, by bypassing it and playing down the right, letting the ball move through space and being patient to find the goal. It finally came straight from a break inside our own half, when Elodie carried strongly up the pitch and fed Ellie, who finished brilliantly on her backhand with a cheeky flick over the keeper.
Roedean then managed the game well for the remainder of the half, and should have had a couple more, but couldn't convert chances. The final score was 2-1 to Roedean – with very little team training and lots to work on, this was a very promising first performance from the 1st XI.
Mr Campleman
Kitty and Spirit Jumping Towards the
Finals
Well done to Kitty (Yr11), who competed at Coombleands over the weekend. She and Spirit (her horse) came 4th overall in the 90cm individual show jumping category, and this means that she has qualified for the RPL finals later in the year. Well done Kitty and Spirit!
Mr Campleman
U12B Hockey vs Brighton College
U12B
The U12Bs played Brighton College last Wednesday, and it was a tightly fought match, with some lovely play from both teams. Brighton College had a very solid defence, with one girl in particular tackling the ball off us every time and clearing it out of the D. We were then a little slow to react and defend, and they made a few breaks with the ball with little resistance from us.
They scored an early goal, but we got one back soon after. Harrie scored an amazing goal, from a tight angle and quite far out from the goal, but she absolutely smashed it into the left corner of the goal. We had a few more opportunities at goal, but it was difficult to break through their defence. Our positioning as a team is really improving though, and Tabitha hit some great strong passes out from 16s to Bethany on the right, who sprinted down the line and then was trying to pass into the D.
Kosi is becoming quite the defender, reading the game well, putting in strong tackles and clearing the ball out of the D. Lara (CM) and Harrie (CF) never stop running, and they have really formed a great pairing, working together to move the ball down the pitch with control. Iris and Anya were playing LM, and we were often finding the ball being played to the left, with some nice dribbling down the line. The team are improving week on week, and playing against some tough opposition, so we are all learning a lot from each game.
Coach's Player: Harrie – her shooting has really improved, and there is lots more power in her shots and she is getting more accurate each week.
Miss Patching-Jones
U15 Netball Cup Match
The U15s moved into the next round of the Sisters in Sport National Cup. As we qualified after beating Brighton College, we knew that the next round was going to be a tough match. Parkstone Grammar School travelled to from Poole to play us on Monday 14 October.
After a thorough warm-up led by the Captains, Amelie and Izzy, the team was ready to play. The opening of the first quarter showed us how physical the match was going to be. When we went into the second quarter, we were 6 goals down. We demonstrated some lovely play into the D, followed by some good interception to goal, however, their shooters missed nothing after they carried the ball with ease down the court.
At half time, the gap became wider and PGS had a 10-goal lead. Even thought this was the case, we still presented them with a challenge and didn’t allow the gap to become any bigger. The final score was 32-42. The Sussex Cup journey ends here for the U15 team, but we wish PGS the best of luck in their next round.
Miss Walsh
U13A Hockey Beat Brighton College in a Thriller!
The U13A team had a good start to the term and were taking on a Brighton College team they drew 3-3 to last year. They were determined to play hard and fast in order to get over the line ahead this time.
The match started well, with Roedean getting close a few times, but we were unable to convert. Brighton scored first with a sharp attack and a solid strike at goal. The girls seemed confident they could come back and did very quickly.
After halftime, they stepped it up, and ran Brighton ragged, getting a second goal to take the lead. Brighton however managed to come back and made the final 10 minutes interesting. Roedean managed to score quickly again, and then held out for a fantastic 3-2 win!
Mr Campleman
ESAA County Cross Country
On Monday morning, a mixed team of Juniors and Intermediates were selected to run in the ESAA Cross Country County round. We joined a large number of schools competing in the pouring rain to qualify for the next round.
After a very muddy warm up, the races began. The Juniors started with their 2.5 kilometre course. Maisia, Maddie, Ruby, and Mabel ran incredibly well, and all finished in the top 20. Next were our fabulous Inters – their course was roughly 3 kilometres, which included many fields, a hill, and a very slippery finish.
The brilliant Katherine placed first in the entire race, followed by Kayla and Genevieve. Many congratulations go to all the runners, especially since they were running first thing on a Monday morning in the rain.
Miss Walsh
U13A Worthy of the Tournament Win at Worth School
The U13A Hockey team travelled to Worth for a tournament. After a good warm-up and focused team chat, the girls were determined to play well and see how far they could go!
1st Match vs Handcross – the girls went behind early, but soon stepped it up and equalised. They then managed to score in the final 2 minutes to get the win and start their tournament well.
2nd Match vs Great Walstead – a tough game throughout, with both teams having chances, and Cindy making some very good saves. The girls were unlucky towards the end of the match, to get a goal disallowed for not being inside the D in the final few seconds. The match ended 0-0.
3rd Match vs Cumnor House – always a strong team, the girls were determined to play their best hockey against a good Cumnor team, and they defended brilliantly not to concede. The final score was 0-0.
4th Match vs Cottesmore – it was another tough match, but we made it harder than it should have been. We went 1-0 up early and were looking like scoring another one easily, but just couldn't convert our chances. Cottesmore had few attacks, but made them count and they managed to score 1 toward the end, so the match ended 1-1.
5th Match vs Brambletye – this was yet another tough game and the girls were very unluckily not to get the full points with some excellent attacking play. A slight tweak in the formation by Brambletye caused some initial confusion, but the girls adapted well and kept their unbeaten streak up with a 1-1 draw.
6th Match vs Worth School – the girls dominated from start to finish, and played their best hockey, which was good, heading into the semis and finals potentially. The final score was 2-0.
Semifinal vs Great Walstead – this was another titanic clash, and the match ended 1-1, so we headed into shuffles. Step up Cindy! Two unbelievable stops were matched by equally brilliant shuffles taken by Maddie and Heidi meant that we secured a spot in the final.
Final vs Cumnor House – the match was end to end, with both teams really pushing for the win! Roedean went up 1-0 and were looking really good for the win, but were pegged back by Cumnor in the final few minutes. It went to shuffles again, and again, Cindy stepped up in goal. She managed to stop both the Cumnor players, and Maddie and Heidi converted again to secure the tournament win and a superb afternoon of hockey. Unbeaten and some difficult hockey matches played, they came together as a team brilliantly and supported each other throughout the match – well done!
Mr Campleman
U12 SNS Netball vs St Swithun's
On Tuesday, the U12 Netball team played a home match against St Swithun’s. This was the first round of the Sisters In Sport plate, which is a knockout competition.
St Swithun’s arrived from Winchester with 10 eager players ready to start. During the first quarter, we demonstrated some excellent sprinting down the court, making smart choices about when to feed the ball into the circle, and then putting up the shot. St Swithun’s took a slight lead at half-time, which encouraged us to make some positional changes. With a tough second half, we lost the game 5-9.
The girls learnt a lot during the match, realising how important ball placement and quick decisions are in the heat of the moment.
Well done team!
Miss Walsh
Taster Sessions in Roedean’s Fusion Sailing Dinghies
Roedean’s own fabulous Fusion Sailing Dinghies are all ready to go, but the boats need to be named now, and they also need you to come and sail them!
Please email lca@roedean.co.uk with any suggestions for boat names. If you would like a free session at Roedean's Sailing School on Saturdays, or more information, just let me know!
Ms Carr
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
Jolie’s Badminton Success
On Sunday, Jolie (Yr12) took part in the Sussex Junior Badminton Restricted U18 2024 Tournament. This is an under 18 County Badminton tournament, open to all players in Sussex who want to assess their skills, or just play for fun.
It was an incredibly successful event for Jolie – she finished in third place for singles, and first place for her doubles. Jolie went to the event with Natalie (Yr10), who also did incredibly well and got into quarter finals for her singles. Natalie also partnered up with Almen (Yr10) for doubles, and they performed well against incredibly strong opponents.
Mrs Newman
Sporting stars of the Week
Well done to this week's sporting stars:
Well done!
Year 7
Bethany, for excellent effort and progress in Hockey.
Year 8
Mabel, for an excellent performance in a swimming gala.
Year 9
Roxane, for fantastic progress and effort in Hockey.
Year 9
Lily, for having a brilliant attitude to learn and improve in Hockey.
Year 10
Amarah, for her commitment to Hockey and progress this term.
Year 11
Victoria, for an outstanding attitude towards Hockey.
Year 12
Fen, for an excellent performance against Lancing for the 1st XI Hockey team.
Year 13
Ellie, for consistent effort and performances for the 1st XI Hockey team.
