The Good Schools Guide
‘Roedean is proudly and decidedly about educating girls’ The text within this booklet is verbatim as published in The Good Schools Guide 2020.
THE HEADMASTER Since 2013, Oliver Blond (early 50s) married to children’s author Helen Peters, with two children. Mr Blond has excellent girls’ school credentials, having previously been head of Henrietta Barnett in London, and deputy head at North London Collegiate. Joined Roedean to turn around a school that was failing, and has done so; the days of needing to consider the admission of boys to save the school are long gone: Roedean is proudly and decidedly about educating girls. The head’s aim is for happy children and high academic standards, but, importantly, not to ‘compromise the journey for the outcome’. Parents agree: if children are happy, results will follow. So have pupil numbers, with the school doubling in size during Mr Blond’s tenure. ‘Amazing... [I’m] really inspired about what he says about women…he seems to empower the girls’, said a parent.
Another said, ‘he’s immensely impressive…his whole approach lifts the girls. Education there has far exceeded our expectations, and they were high…’
The head’s aim is for happy children and high academic standards, but, importantly, not to ‘compromise the journey for the outcome’. ‘He’s on your side, knows names and says hello’, said a pupil; ‘very human… talks to people, chats and is friendly’, said another. A new girl, not used to this friendliness in a headmaster, said, ‘he came and smiled and shook my hand, and I thought - what’s his agenda?’
ACADEMIC MATTERS ‘I actually understand (Mr X’s) teaching methods’, said a tag written on the kindness tree, and you can imagine the relieved delight of the writer. This school, like many, claims to have innovative teaching methods; in this case, the maths teacher puts all the questions in a new topic up on the board to see what girls can do by using their initiative and puzzling things out, the aim being to engage the girls and make them think. We saw a lesson with girls on their feet, working out problems with words and actions; called to silence by the teacher, they were asked for feedback on the exercise. A hand shot up. ‘It’s hard’, said a girl feelingly. Each teacher has their own method; many have drama training from RADA, to broaden their repertoire of teaching styles. One parent described her daughter, who wasn’t engaged at primary school, being transformed at Roedean: ‘she joined the physics
club just for fun’. ‘Teachers are exceptionally passionate about their subjects’, said another. Pupils are asked for feedback on teachers once a year and say that the senior team shadow lessons to ensure they are up to standard. A few teachers are ‘less good’, said a parent, but most are ‘superb’.
Pupils respond well to homework entitled ‘insane challenge’; ‘it’s about making it exciting’, said the head. Younger girls are engaged by the Head, Heart and Hands curriculum, which aims to introduce them to new things, such as philosophy, self defence, British Sign Language, or farm club. At the other end of the school, sixth form work includes independent research projects,
which can be extended into the EPQ. Flip learning in sixth form (preparing a new subject before the lesson, so pupils start from an informed position), means openended preparation, ‘but we’re told to cap it at three hours’, said a pupil casually. Pupils respond well to homework entitled ‘insane challenge’; ‘it’s about making it exciting’, said the head. They borrow the best parts of the IB to supplement A levels: pupils study the theory of knowledge, and everyone does community service. The head of learning support is assisted by five TAs, who give in class support in core subjects. Around 35 pupils have 1-1 sessions, but learning support offered to any pupils who need help at ‘pinch points’, such as assistances with revision or exam technique.
The school has grown quickly in the last few years: some parents voiced concern about class sizes increasing, and both parents and pupils said they could do with more space inside. The school say in fact class sizes have decreased in the last few years, with an increase in the numbers of staff: the average class size at KS3 is 18, and they are creating more space in other areas of the school. ‘If you’re just a set of results, you’re just achievement, which, like glass, can shatter. There needs to be more’, declares head. Results are only one element of what matters at Roedean, but they do rather well, all the same. In 2019, at GCSE, 68 per cent 9-7 and at A level, 22 per cent A*, 55 A*-A. A level grades have held steady for the last three years, as have the numbers of
those achieving top grades at GCSE (9-8) (around 50 per cent). Consistently good results in maths and sciences; economics and politics are also popular at A level. Results in economics are a bit less shiny, but on the up this year, with a new economics teacher in post. Until recently Roedean was only lightly selective, but with growing popularity entrance is becoming harder: the academic profile of the school is likely to change as a result. ‘They don’t work children to the bone’, said one parent, but ‘[they] push academically as far as they can’, said another. Her daughter was behind in maths when she joined; they put her in a lower set until she had caught up, then moved her up three sets, and the parent was delighted with this ‘very supportive approach’.
BACKGROUND AND ATMOSPHERE ‘We thought it was incredible the moment we walked through the door…’, said a parent. Roedean makes a vivid first impression: of bold determination, certainly, in its grand cliff top position to the east of Brighton, and in its size, with its large fireplaces and wooden floors softened and shined by decades of feet. But more notable is the atmosphere, one of lively purpose. It is immediately compelling.
‘We thought it was incredible the moment we walked through the door…’, said a parent. Roedean was started in 1885 by three sisters to educate girls for entry to the women’s colleges at Oxbridge. It was a strong statement about female education: girls swam in the sea before breakfast, played cricket, and showed the world they could do anything boys could do. In many ways this is still the case (although the sea swimming is optional). Successful women, including
Olympic gold medalists and a professor of space physics, come into the school as ambassadors six times a year to encourage and inspire. The atmosphere of the school has profoundly changed in the last few years, due in large part to the influx of UK and local pupils, which has tripled in the last five years, many of whom receive bursarial support. ‘State school pupils come with openness, creativity, determination and thirst’, said the head. ‘There’s no sense of value [here] associated with status and wealth…it’s a very inclusive environment’. Parents echo these thoughts, describing the ethos as inclusive, and the environment as encouraging (though they all know who’s going on the fabulous holidays, shrugged one). ‘It’s an ‘intenser school’, said a sixth former. Pupils were articulate and forthright - and they love it there. ‘It’s hours on the bus every day, a 12-hour day… but it’s worth it. It’s their life’, said a parent. ‘They appreciate it every day… know we make sacrifices [to pay for it]’, said another.
Roedean makes a vivid first impression: of bold determination, certainly, in its grand cliff top position... House feeling is strong; houses aren’t named, but numbered from one to four, (after 1-4 Sussex Square, where the original school was situated), plus two sixth form houses, Keswick and Lawrence. There’s plenty of interhouse competition, from the usual sport to a recent competition celebrating extraordinary women. Chapel is compulsory, unless pupils choose not to go for religious reasons. It is deliberately inclusive; one Muslim pupil gave a talk in chapel during Ramadan, and girls of other faiths speak about their religions. Much is pupil led: girls talk in chapel and assembly more than adults, and introduce speech day.
The weather was mentioned by all the pupils we spoke to; they are intimate with the wind, and it’s the one thing many would like to change. ‘The wind…it has a personality…it is out to get me, particularly me’, said a pupil from Nigeria feelingly. Girls like the food most of the time, and the school says surveys show that the food is considered exceptionally good. There’s always fruit available in houses, and pupils can make tea and toast or other snacks after school. One parent beamed as she told us, ‘the food is so good…I don’t cook at night because they’re so well fed at lunchtime’.
The school is mid a multi-million pound refurbishment, boarding houses and sixth form centre complete and extremely smart, the library next up: the original library, already quite ample and well stocked, is about to have a mezzanine level added. The old reference library, with its learned bookcases and tip toe hush has very good acoustics, and is now used for recitals.
...the atmosphere, one of lively purpose. It is immediately compelling.
GAMES, OPTIONS AND THE ARTS Twenty-six sports on offer, all the traditional girls’ ones and most of the boys’, including tag rugby. Two dance studios, indoor pool, new all-weather pitch - there’s even a golf course. Co-curricular offerings are varied and plenty, from Lego engineering to the astronomy club, where pupils wrap up warm on clear winter nights to be guided around the sky using one of the school’s five telescopes. The sea swimming club meet at 6 am and go through Roedean’s private tunnel to the beach for their swim, no wet suits allowed; they’ve signed up to relay swim the channel in 2020. Round, well fed and happy, the sheep in Roedean’s farm that is, their happiness reflected in the glowing faces of their pupil carers.
The purpose and value of outreach here is considerably more than gloss for a university application. Pupils use the lovely original art studios; picture tiles on the walls were painted by pupils decades ago and light pours in from the glass panels in the roof. An elaborate woven model from an A level artist sits alongside one of the oldest printing presses in the country (they have a more up to date model for regular use). Pupils excel at art here and achieve high grades at A Level and GCSE.
Performing arts are popular and there are a variety of workshops and performances, both traditional and less so: in an Indonesian gamelan workshop, new year 7 pupils learnt music which is only passed by oral means, to emphasise the importance of community. Older pupils performed a dance showcase on Instagram vs Reality, interpreting the pressures on teenagers in modern society. One parent told us how delighted she was that her daughter’s talent on the piano was recognised and celebrated,
even though she had taught herself. Other schools rejected this home-made effort, but ‘Roedean embraced it’. Roedean may be placed in splendid isolation on a cliff top, but it takes its role in the community very seriously; the purpose and value of outreach here is considerably more than gloss for a university application. Girls take on many different volunteer roles, from working in charity shops to helping at the Royal Institute for the Blind. The school also has an excellent
relationship with a local primary school, described by the head as both ‘privilege and opportunity’. Minibus loads of girls are dispatched weekly to St Mark’s to help with reading, sports, maths and buddying, and last year Roedean raised £30,000 to build a new library there, each girl donating her favourite book. The girls feel strongly about homelessness in Brighton, and support the local homeless charity Off the Fence: 50 extra portions of lunch are cooked every Thursday and are taken, piping hot, directly to this charity.
PASTORAL CARE, HEALTH AND WELLBEING They don’t want boys here, not even slightly, said the girls we spoke to. ‘It’s the perfect place for women to grow and develop’, said a sixth former firmly, ‘perfect as it is’. ‘Girls are less kind to each other when boys are around, and more competitive’, added another. Pupils are asked to bring in family and friends for various events, and boys turn up at Roedean that way, without fanfare; no busing them in from Harrow for parties. A parent said her daughter had, ‘blossomed beyond imagining’ at Roedean, and that her aspirations and expectations of herself are much higher than at her previous school.
A parent said her daughter had, ‘blossomed beyond imagining’ at Roedean... ‘[They are] encouraged and supported to take opportunities… [they] quickly recognise what the girls are good at’. Good behaviour is rewarded with responsibilities, such as farm prefect - ‘I love it!’, said a girl, face glowing, arms around a goat. Poor behaviour results in focus points, ‘half help, half sanction’, said a pupil who had collected a fair few. Some horrified faces when we mentioned drink and drugs; not identified as a problem amongst those we spoke to.
‘They don’t let pastoral problems escalate’, said a parent. There are three pastoral managers on the main corridor; the girls like the fact they are situated here, not squirrelled away in a secret corner. Pupils describe them as fast and efficient; peer listeners can be helpful and the counsellors in the health centre are available for drop-in sessions. ‘They’re really on it’, according to a parent, who said the health centre provided amazing support for her daughter following a broken limb; they even thought to let her out of lessons 10 mins early: empty corridors and stairs for easier passage.
School recently introduced vertical tutor groups meaning that girls get to know pupils from all years. Apparently this has given them a greater sense of familial support: ‘there’s a good community feel’. The odd incident of bullying is sorted out quickly, one parent saying the school dealt with an incident before she’d heard about it, and that the agreement between the girls to be ‘civil and friendly’ was effective. Many sixth formers are balancing a heavy workload: academic studies, school offices, sports commitments and university entrance, and parent views vary about the support offered by sixth form leaders. One said her daughter received excellent reassurance and help from the head of sixth form to set up a balanced working structure; another that support is insufficient and there isn’t enough communication between different departments to make sure her daughter isn’t overloaded.
A flying trip to the Peak District, two nights away, was of almost marmite controversy with parents: ‘ill timed’ and ‘too far’, said one; ‘important time to relax and enjoy themselves’, said another (activities included abseiling, cycling and mindfulness sessions).
‘It’s the perfect place for women to grow and develop’, said a sixth former firmly, ‘perfect as it is’. Roedean has recently decided to detach mobile phones from pupils: phones must now be handed in on arrival at school (apart from sixth form). Head was braced for a backlash, but there was none: apparently pupils were relieved to have the social pressure removed and find the experience liberating (boarders get their phones back for a short time each evening).
BOARDING You could be staying in a boutique hotel. Following a £9m refurbishment, boarding houses are modern and elegant, the design celebrating old features, such as fireplaces, and introducing the new and fun... You could be staying in a boutique hotel. Following a £9m refurbishment, boarding houses are modern and elegant, the design celebrating old features, such as fireplaces, and introducing the new and fun, like the hanging teapot lights. Individual bedrooms from year 8 and they are the nicest we’ve seen, with soft grey wooden fittings for desk, bed and wardrobe - ‘you can always pull a mattress
into a friend’s room if you want a sleepover’. Pupils tried out the new rooms and found the polished wooden floors too cold under toe, so they’ve been carpeted. The top floor in each house is called ‘heaven’ - with such amazing views over the sea, this is not far off. Houses mix day pupils and boarders: around half of the 630 pupils board and most are full boarders; no feeling of an abandoned ship here at the weekends. Day pupils can board for the odd night with prior notification and anyway can come to breakfast and stay to supper. Weekly boarders from London are chaperoned back and forth to Victoria. Saturday mornings are busy with sports, then there are trips to cinemas, shops and trampolines and activities such as cooking or making balloon stress balls (no, we’re not sure about these either). Special days are marked in special ways: Remembrance Sunday by a
service, and showing of Warhorse in the theatre; halloween, by a maze made by sixth formers, who dress up and lurk in dark corners to jump out at people. Each house has a piano, a common room with comfy seating and TV and a kitchen where girls can make snacks in the evening; fruit is always available. ‘They [the house parents] have dogs’, said the girls, with evident approval.
The top floor in each house is called ‘heaven’ - with such amazing views over the sea, this is not far off. The parent of a first time boarder said communication is good and she receives regular emails from house mistress, who is ‘very, very efficient…nothing goes unseen, unsaid…’ Her daughter has settled really well, ‘she’s so happy’.
PARENTS AND PUPILS ‘Posh, state [school] and Chinese’, said a parent briskly when asked about pupil demographic, adding that there are no problems with mix of privileged and less so, but Chinese pupils could be better
integrated. International pupils make up 20 per cent of the pupil body, and are mostly Chinese, though there are pupils from 40 different countries.
MONEY MATTERS Full fees are the usual eye-watering amount, but Roedean is very generous in its financial support, offering means tested support to around a third of pupils, and bursaries of up to 100 per cent, particularly for local families. Help also available for the daughters of clergy, FCO and services families. Academic, sports, drama, dance, art and music scholarships available.
Parents whose children receive bursaries warmly praise the school’s generosity, one saying that when she can’t afford a school trip, they ask her to pay what you she can - ‘my daughter has never missed out for lack of money’. Uniform is pricey, but second-hand gear is available.
ENTRANCE A variety of ‘experience days’ to catch the attention of prospective pupils, from rockpooling to science challenges. Then tests in English and maths and an interview. Oversubscribed, so entrance is increasingly competitive, but candidates don’t need to be excellent in every area emphasises head, good potential counts for much.
EXIT Some leave after GCSEs to attend the local sixth form college; the number of overseas pupils in sixth form increase correspondingly. At 18 most depart to university in the UK, with a few heading abroad or taking a gap year. London colleges are popular destinations, as is Edinburgh. Two to Cambridge in 2019. Annual handful to art foundation at Central St Martins.
New director of higher education helps pupils focus on which university and how to get in, with mock interviews and entrance exam practice. Sixth formers are advised that fulfilling their academic potential is the most important thing - ‘get a good degree in a good subject and you can do anything’, a sixth former told us confidently.
REMARKS This is a school where girls make a noise and get their hands dirty; a school determined to help girls realise their value and erase the limitations to which they often subject themselves. Selective, but no longer on class or even cash. The diversity at Roedean has revitalised the school: it seems healthy, and crisply alive.
This is a school where girls make a noise and get their hands dirty; a school determined to help girls realise their value and erase the limitations to which they often subject themselves.
Roedean School, Roedean Way, Brighton BN2 5RQ info@roedean.co.uk 01273 667500
‘Roedean is proudly and decidedly about educating girls’
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