Last year, Roedean School’s most recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) deemed the School “excellent in all areas.” A team of six inspectors, including the former ISI chief inspector, conducted a full inspection of the girls’ independent day and boarding school, concluding that, for the fifth consecutive inspection, Roedean is “excellent,” the highest achievable level, in every category.
In line with this outstanding ISI report, it’s no surprise that Roedean, which next year will celebrate 125 years on its current site, offers a dynamic and modern education that regularly produces top exam results and, more importantly, happy, healthy pupils.Exam Excellence at Roedean School
Not to be outdone by its remarkable ISI report, the School’s summer 2022 exam results are the best ever for both A Level and GCSE pupils. While 71% of A Level pupils achieved A* to A grades, 85% of GCSE pupils achieved Grades 9 to 7 (equivalent to A* to A). These results are particularly impressive considering these girls were in Years 9 and 11 when the Covid-19 pandemic saw schools close and GCSE exams cancelled at short notice.
More than 75% of A Level pupils secured the grades needed for their first-choice university offers, and five Roedeanians started at Oxbridge in autumn 2022, with more going on to study at other top universities.
Bucking the national trend, nearly a third of Roedean girls pursue degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). However, they also study a range of humanities and arts subjects at higher education, from Fashion Design, Theatre Studies, and History of Art to Law, Languages, International Relations, and everything in between.
Strength in Sports
Roedean School values academic success but places this in the context of a wider, holistic education that helps girls grow into independent young women. Amongst its varied co-curricular offerings, Roedean recognises that sports play a large part in girls’ physical and mental health.
In netball, Roedean’s U13 and U15 teams are the reigning national plate champions, and the School puts up strong county and regional competition across hockey, cricket, and swimming. Roedean enjoys a striking position on a clifftop overlooking the English Channel (the bustling city of Brighton is around 10 minutes up the road), and sea swimming takes place twice a week.
In 2022, 6 Roedeanians took part in a relay swim across the Channel that took around 13 hours to complete, raising nearly £7,000 for the School’s bursary appeal for Ukrainian refugee students. Two of these Roedeanians completed their swim amidst their GCSEs, still securing impressive grades.
Bursaries and Local Partnerships
Roedean has invested over £21 million in bursaries, scholarships, and awards in the last decade, hoping to widen access to its education for girls who may not otherwise have the financial means to attend.
With its improvements in quality, opportunity and offer, the School has seen an amazing increase in pupil numbers, from under 340 pupils ten years ago, to more than 700 today, both counteracting the trend of girls’ schools declining in popularity and providing pupils from all backgrounds with an outstanding education. This year, 90.5% of recipients of the School’s Brighthelm Bursary (awarded to talented girls from the local area) achieved A* to A grades at A Level.
Bursaries represent a key part of Roedean School’s social conscience, along with local partnerships and a commitment to school charities that forge links with the wider community. The Roedean Academy project has developed strong ties with local state secondary schools, and the School works closely with the local primary school St Mark’s.
Putting on a Show
Roedean School has a strong Drama programme and, whether on the stage, behind the scenes, or as an audience member, all girls get involved. The School recently reopened its refurbished Roedean Theatre, a premium facility with a seating capacity of 350 that acts as the heart of the School and plays host to large-scale productions, weekly assemblies, drama lessons, and talks.
Girls receive training in the operation and use of professional theatre equipment by a theatre manager and full-time technician, and regularly stage performances. In the past year, Roedean Theatre has hosted All Together Now, a showcase celebrating the return of live shows, Romeo and Juliet, and the musical Matilda.
First-Class Facilities at Roedean School
With over £14 million invested over 10 years, Roedean girls enjoy the use of enviable facilities. Along with the updated theatre, this investment has provided a new sixth form centre; comfortable, stylish boarding houses; an all-weather pitch; flood-lighting on the netball and tennis courts; refurbished classrooms; computer suites; two dance studios; and a photography dark room. Roedean is living up to its ISI report — “excellent in all areas,” indeed.
Learn more about Roedean School.
