roedean prospectus 2013

Broadening horizons

The independent day and boarding school in Brighton for girls aged 11 to 18

Welcome to Roedean

Everyone who visits Roedean is overwhelmed by the very friendly welcome they receive, the confident and engaging nature of the girls and the stunning location a few minutes from a city, yet bordered by a national park and the sea.

At Roedean, we value each individual and do all we can to ensure that every one of our girls is happy and enjoys her time at school. A happy pupil will thrive and flourish, take every opportunity that comes her way, make great friends and feel valued within this very supportive community.

We are ambitious for our pupils and want every girl at Roedean to achieve the very best academically, to be curious about what she learns and challenged to think for herself. We aim to inspire in each girl a passion for her subjects that will lead to an application to a world-class university and continue throughout her life.

We are committed to developing rounded individuals able to lead active and fulfilling lives, and who feel that anything is possible. The girls at Roedean broaden their horizons by getting involved in the widest possible range of cultural, sporting, musical, artistic and academic activities and trips.

Most important of all are the personal qualities that Roedean enables the girls to develop for themselves throughout their time in the school; the qualities of integrity, resilience, openness, and courage enable them to be themselves now and also enable them to strive for whatever they want in the future. The girls here are capable of the very highest achievements in school and in life beyond, but we are always proudest of the people they have become.

I do hope that you will come and see all this for yourselves. We look forward to welcoming you.

Mr Oliver Blond Headmaster

Visit Roedean atwww.roedean.co.uk


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A happy place to be

Roedean is a kind and caring community in which every individual is known and valued for the person she is. We understand that a happy girl will thrive in this atmosphere and with all the opportunities on offer.

The emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing of the girls is our highest priority and our layered approach to pastoral care is highly praised.

A girl is supported every day by her teachers, her tutor, the Senior Tutor and Head of House. These people are there to talk about everything and anything, to help each girl find her feet, enjoy her time and to make friends.

For specific issues, we can also call on specialist services offered in the Health Centre and locally, and as appropriate, the network of Peer Listeners and Big Sisters. This multi-dimensional approach is often fondly remembered by Old Roedeanians.

As a result of our close knowledge of each individual girl in school we hope to have happy, settled pupils who feel anything is possible.

‘Once I’d been to Discovery Day, I knew Roedean was the school for me. I’ve settled in fine; my room is cosy, I can see the sea from my bed, and the uniform is comfortable. But the best news is – no boys!’

Tasha, Year 8


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Developing intellectual curiosity

At the heart of all great schools lies inspirational teaching and exciting,

thought-provoking lessons.

In and out of the classroom, the aim of the school is to develop the different talents and passions of every girl to the highest degree.

Whether it is in the small classes of bright, enthusiastic girls taking part in discussions or experiments in lessons, on a school trip abroad to see something first hand, or listening to a visiting speaker, the girls are engaged and encouraged to think.

Discussion and debate, problem solving and investigations, open-ended questions and independent research typify the approach to learning at the school. Girls thrive academically by developing their understanding and engaging with opportunities to explore the implications in depth for themselves.

Look through any door to see passionate teachers bringing the love of their subject to life. This approach means we can inspire all girls and stretch our girls at every level, offering opportunities for girls to engage at undergraduate level through lectures, visits and projects with universities.

But we can also nurture those needing an extra boost by tailoring the timetable to focus on the academic essentials.

At Roedean, teachers go the extra mile to bring out the best in every pupil.

‘The joy of teaching is the sheer sense of adventure and nerve-jangling unpredictability which comes from enabling young people to challenge themselves.’

‘The best lessons are the ones where we divert from the plan because a pupil has thought of a new direction. I want my pupils to challenge me, make suggestions and dig deeper into the big questions in my classroom.’

‘At the beginning of each lesson I want the girls to feel excited, supported and inspired.

‘At the end, I walk out happy when the girls leave the room buzzing and the conversations about the lesson carry on down the corridor...’


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The excitement of learning


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Pursuing interests with passion

The arts and sports are part of each girl’s experience at Roedean. Amazing facilities ensure every girl is inspired and encouraged to develop a love of art, music, drama, dance and sport.

Performances and competitions take place in our 320 seat theatre with green room and orchestra pit, the airy dance studio, the beautiful 25m indoor pool or out in 45 acres worth of fresh air.

At Roedean, we believe in broadening the girls’ outlook to offer them experiences from the local community to across the world. We want the girls to have a strong foundation across all areas from which to move on to university

and a career without limitations.

As part of this undertaking, we encourage the girls to take opportunities to work directly with companies on real issues. Here, girls on a Sixth Form chemical engineering project with Southern Water and 4D suggested cost and materials savings.

We want our girls to think about all dimensions of the world they will be living in. A recent Art Focus Weekend in Milan included a fashion forecasting workshop at NABA, the New Academy of Fine Arts, and an end of year Philosophy and Ethics debate focused on the question: ‘Mars: If we landed, how would we run the planet?’


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Expanding horizons

‘We want our girls to think about all the dimensions of the world they will be living in.’


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Preparation for life

Roedean staff are of the highest calibre and their dedication to their students goes far beyond the classroom.

They arrange numerous trips and visits to bring concepts and theories to life, offer individual and group support sessions to allow girls to develop their understanding at all levels and revision sessions to make sure everyone’s knowledge is secure.

They are very proud when, each year, they celebrate with their girls’ families some of the best A-level results in Sussex. But we also know that good qualifications are not an end in themselves. Each girl will also be considering her next step and with close support and guidance will have found the university and course best suited to her talents and aspirations whether in the UK, USA or elsewhere.

Alongside the jubilation of achieving dazzling results, we know that a lot more is essential for successful lives and careers in a global community. The school encourages and highly prizes the team-working, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit that will give the girls the confidence to do anything in their lives.

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‘It is what the girls do with these valuable pieces of paper which really counts.’

Everyone at Roedean – except the Headmaster – belongs to a House.

The Houses act as a ‘home’ for the girls, a place where they feel they belong and can enjoy the company of girls of all ages. Through the close relationships and activities within the House, girls develop a strong sense of loyalty which becomes the foundation for a close community in the school.

The Houses compete in House Plays, House Music, House Dance and, at the end of the year, Sports Day.

The ultimate prize is the Gordon Clarke Cup (known affectionately as ‘The Bucket’), awarded to the House whose members have accrued the greatest number of points for participation, effort, achievement and attitude through the year.


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House loyalty builds school community

‘The integrated house system strengthens the spiritual, moral and social aspects of pupils. Pupils reiterated that the house staff form the fulcrum around which their life in the school turns.’

ISI Report


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Boarding in style

A recent £10m refurbishment of the Houses has set a new standard in British boarding; and the views are still priceless.


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Coming in from Sussex

The school has a healthy mix of day girls and flexi, weekly and full boarders - each plays an important role in the Roedean community. The day girls bring local friends and interests into the lives of our boarders and the boarders bring national or international perspectives. The mix of girls from all part of the country and the world is dynamic and exciting.

Over 100 day girls travel in from all over the county each morning on one of our quick, efficient minibus services. The buses leave each evening oncethe girls’ prep and extra-curricular activities have been completed.

All day girls have a desk (which becomes a study in the senior years) in the Prep Room in their House. They are welcome to use the music practice rooms, libraries, theatre and dance studios whenever they want in the evenings and also to join in the weekend programme.

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‘I wanted to come to Roedean because I fell in love with it and it is the best school for what I want to do.’

Aisha, Year 8


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Boarders and day girls enjoy an exciting programme of adventurous, creative, cultural, shopping and social activities at the weekend.

‘Paragliding on the South Downs behind school was one of the more unusual weekend activities organised this year,’ says Felicity.

‘How do you launch? Run really quickly into the wind! If you have the angles and height of the canopy right (which is quite tricky), you’ll be away. ‘I really got the hang of it after lunch and can’t wait to do it again – even though my arms and thighs were burning the next morning...’

Other recent weekend activities:

Culture • Science Museum plus Flamenco Festival, London• Mary Rose Museum plus Starlight Express, Southampton• Sea Life Centre plus Miss Saigon, Brighton

Sport • International Tennis Championships, Eastbourne • Brighton v Blackpool football at the Amex Stadium, Brighton• Sailing at the Marina and windsurfing at the Lagoon, Brighton

Camping weekend • Canoeing, abseiling, rock scrambling, a night walk and hot chocolate and toasted marshmellows around the campfire

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Weekends of discovery

‘We were looking for a school that would instil a curiosity and love of learning in our daughters; my husband and I both feel that too much teaching to the curriculum might get results but is not entirely what education should be.’

Mrs N-M (daughters in Year 9 and Year 11)

‘She is home again with yet more great stories of Roedean – she really loves school – all aspects – and she says the weekends are the best! We are totally delighted.’

Mr M (daughters in Year 9 and Year 10)

‘We sent our daughter to Roedean because she recognised a very exciting place with a heady learning culture. She also loves science – something this school is especially good at.’

Mr H (daughter in Year 13)

Parents’ perspectives


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01 Susannah – English prize, netball half colours, third in non-native Mandarin essay writing competition

02 Freya – Humanities prize, Grade 6 violin with Merit, swimming half colours, silver in the UK Junior Maths Challenge

03 Honor – ICT prize, hockey half colours, silver in the UK Junior Maths Challenge

‘At the open morning, my daughter said she would “do anything, only please could she go to Roedean?”. My husband and I felt the same. Roedean was the only school we all walked out of and agreed how special it was.’

Mrs P (daughter in Year 8)

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‘We are celebrating a year’s worth of diligence, effort and perseverance today.

And I am not speaking purely of the girls’ efforts. We also recognise and celebrate the contribution our parents make to their daughters’ success.’

Mrs Bakhtiari, Head of Key Stage 3,speaking at Junior Prizegiving


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Thriving at university

‘On A level results day, I was extremely relieved to have achieved the grades required by Cambridge! My dad was also very pleased, as he had always had aspirations of me attending Cambridge.

‘At Roedean, there was never a shortage of role models to motivate me. This means that now I am constantly pushing myself to the best of my ability in order to make the most of my time at Cambridge. I love university life, and especially my course.

‘I have just finished fourth year Medicine, one of the toughest years of any subject at Cambridge. It is demanding, but very interesting and the other medics on the course are great. I also love playing university sport; I have been captain of the cricket team, which meant I was lucky enough to play at Lords in our Varsity match.

‘Long term, I would love to go into surgery, maybe plastic reconstructive or heart surgery. However, I also hope at some point to volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontières and, ultimately, to get involved with the World Health Organisation.’

Parisah Seyed-Safi (OR) MedicineSt John’s College, University of Cambridge

Roedean girls as pioneers

Old Roedeanian Jodie Gough recently won a place and a scholarship on the three year Professional Training Programme at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA).

The school, based in New York and Los Angeles, is where Hollywood stars Kim Cattrall, Grace Kelly and Robert Redford studied. Very limited places are available and auditions are held worldwide.

‘I really miss Roedean and the fantastic support that everyone gave me for helping me become the person I am! I definitely wouldn’t have had the guts to apply to New York without the ‘you can do it’ attitude instilled in me at school.’

Old Roedeanian Caitlin Boyland is a high performance athlete. She led the Roedean Under 19 netball team to the National finals in 2011 and a top five finish overall.

Now at Loughborough University, she has been selected for the GB Rowing High Performance programme, a group of athletes looking to gain international selection for Under 23 European and Senior squads.

‘The PE department ensured that, despite keeping up a high level of club hockey and swimming, and often going to various tournaments and galas, I never lost sight of what else was important - the grades Loughborough wanted.’


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01 Lorna Wallis (House 3, 1986). After working as a graphic designer for 20 years with leading London design agencies, Lorna helped launch her husband’s pioneering public and trade event, Best of Britannia, in 2012 to celebrate British design, manufacturing and craftsmanship

02 Dame Elizabeth Gloster DBE (House 1, 1967). Dame Elizabeth was the first woman High Court Judge assigned to the Commercial Court. She was recently appointed Lady Justice of Appeal and consequently also appointed to the Privy Council

03 Dr Eugenia Cheng (House 4, 1994). Eugenia is a Senior Lecturer in Pure Mathematics at the University of Sheffield. She pioneered maths lectures on YouTube in 2007 and recently devised a mathematical formula for the perfect traditional cream tea

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‘One of the most famous English boarding schools.

The setting couldn’t be much more exhilarating – the cliff-top views out to sea have to be seen to be believed, especially from the dining rooms – with the Sussex Downs on one hand and buzzy Brighton a bus ride away on the other.

Tatler’s annual Schools Guide reviews the top 230 prep and public schools in the UK.

Tatler’s Schools Guide

‘One of the most famous English boarding schools.’

This is not the sort of place where vanity prevails. Much more important is excellence on the netball courts, brilliance in the classrooms (the girls are very strong on science and maths) and unbridled distinction on the stage.

You get the picture: Roedean girls are a smart, savvy bunch with their heads screwed on.’

Design and production www.carrkamasa.co.uk

Print www.gemini-brighton.co.uk

1895The school was founded in

1 in 5goes to university abroad

receive financial aid

languages are spoken on campus

8 award-winning authors and 1 poet visited in the last academic year

There are 15 tennis/netball courts

of eligible students participate in Young Enterprise

Old Roedeanians live in 86 countries

clubs and societies meet each week

Photographywww.larrybray.com(All images, except p16 hall @Hufton+Crow, p20 Dominic Orys and p25 John Thompson)

The independent day and boarding school in Brighton for girls aged 11 to 18

Admissions EnquiriesT: +44 (0)1273 667626

[email protected]

General EnquiriesT: +44 (0)1273 667500

[email protected]

Roedean School

Roedean WayBrighton BN2 5RQ

Registered charity 307063www.roedean.co.uk

@RoedeanSchool

roedean prospectus 2013

Documents

happy girl

uk01visit roedean

individual girl

boarding school

happy pupil

uk0203a happy place

independent day

discovery day