March 2025
This year’s ski trip to Passo Tonale was an unforgettable experience, packed with adventure, laughter, and some of the best food we’ve ever had on a school trip! From the slopes to the hotels, every aspect of the trip exceeded expectations—especially the amazing food that kept everyone fuelled for the adventure!
Passo Tonale provided the perfect mix of slopes for all abilities. Whether it was beginners mastering their first turns or experienced skiers taking on the legendary black runs, everyone made fantastic progress. We were blessed with great instructors, who were patient and encouraging, making sure every student had the best experience.
Our stay at Hotel Mirella in nearby Ponte di Legno provided the perfect place to relax after long days on the slopes. The staff were incredibly welcoming, always ensuring we had everything we needed for a great stay. The hotel's warm and inviting atmosphere made it feel like a home away from home.
We’re thrilled to announce that next year’s ski trip to Passo Tonale and Hotel Mirella is already launched! After such an incredible time this year, we’re excited to return for another week of skiing, great food, and unforgettable memories. Trip details are available on Arbor.
To finish, we will leave you with the thoughts of Lucia, Anna, Florence and Mary, about this year’s trip…
‘The food and hospitality was lovely, the staff that came on the ski trip were really helpful and the ski resort and ski instructors made the trip amazing. It was a fantastic experience and we would definitely recommend the trip.’
Neil Topley – Assistant Head Teacher
As part of their History studies this term, Year 7 had the opportunity to produce a castle project. This year, students were able to choose from Motte and Bailey, Stone Keep and Concentric Castles to show development and change over time. The quality of the work was outstanding and varied. Students put their talents to excellent use producing a wide range of castles using a variety of methods, ranging from beautiful paintings, fantastic models and delicious and detailed cakes. Technology was preferred by some students whilst others chose Lego or trusty paper mache, loo-rolls and cereal boxes. It was a wonderful showcase of the current Year 7s skills and knowledge and many of the projects are on display at the top of the H Block stairs, thanks to the hard work of Miss Sutton.
Louisa Fowles, Teacher of History
Bishop Luffa School's cross country team has earned a prestigious 6th place finish at the English Schools Cross Country Cup National Final in Leeds on Saturday 1st March, competing against some of the toughest opponents from across the nation. This impressive result was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Barfoots Foods, whose support allowed the team to cover vital expenses such as running vests, entry fees, accommodation and travel costs.
The National Final, held at the Leeds course, brought together the best school cross country athletes from all over England for a fierce and highly competitive race. Despite facing off against schools with strong cross-country traditions, Bishop Luffa’s runners demonstrated incredible grit and determination, securing a spot among the nation’s top 10 teams.
The race was challenging in both its terrain and conditions, but every athlete contributed to the team’s outstanding performance, which saw them finish in 6th place overall—an achievement made even more remarkable by the caliber of the competition. Ben Stewart (10Andrewes) 18th, Max Gayle (9Burrows) 19th, Joe Stewart (9Andrewes) 49th, Zac Robst (10Wilson) 56th, Freddie Gay (9Ridgeway) 100th, Reuben Shewan (9Wilson) 133rd.
Barfoots Foods, a local business committed to supporting young athletes within the community, provided essential funding for the team, including new running vests, covering entry fees and supporting accommodation expenses to ensure the athletes could focus on their performance without the added pressure of logistical costs. This sponsorship was vital in allowing the team to compete at such a high level.
Tim Godfray, Team Leader of PE
As part of their career journey, approximately 240 Year 10 students recently returned from their work experience placements and the results have been overwhelmingly positive. A valuable part of the students’ careers education throughout their time at Bishop Luffa, this experience has not only given them a glimpse into the world of work, but also allowed them to develop a wide range of essential skills that will benefit them in both their future studies and careers.
Students developed communication skills, time management, teamwork, problem solving, professionalism and most notably confidence, becoming more comfortable in their abilities and interactions with others. Employers commented on how keen students were to get involved and their willingness to learn, commenting: ‘very attentive‘, ‘brilliant at taking instructions’, ‘amazed me with his questions’, ‘extremely helpful’, ‘an excellent team player’, ‘polite, punctual’, ‘a credit to the school’, ‘we want to keep him!’.
Students successfully organised work placements with a whole range of employers including: Airbus, Barnardo’s Retail Store, Brinsbury College, Chichester College, Collaborate Global, Crimsham Farm, Goodwood, Heirlooms, Hills Plants, Jam Café, John Lewis, Mary Rose Museum, Noviun Architects, Portsmouth University, Rolls Royce, Royal Navy, SGN and many more. Many students returned to their old primary schools and nurseries to find out more about working in education and childcare.
Some of the highlights identified by students during their placements included: designing a house, developing social skills, applying physics to real world problems, observing vet operations, welding, designing posters, web design, teaching English and Maths, building bikes, creating a massive display, bricklaying, and how to health check snakes!
We are very proud of all the Year 10 students for making the most of their work experience. The positive feedback about their work ethic and attitudes reinforces the importance of providing such real-world experience.
Reflections from Hari (10Sherborne):
I just wanted to share my incredible experience during my work placement at Kamson Pharmacy. It was truly an eye-opening and rewarding journey that gave me valuable insights into the industry that helped me grow personally and professionally. I highly recommend applying for opportunities like this. It's a great way to build confidence and gain valuable insight on what work is like.
Reflections from Evie (10Sherborne):
For my work experience, I worked for a company called Invyte. Invyte is a boutique event agency specialising in end-to-end event management, guest registration, venue finding and event technology. My mum's company Liberty Global uses Invyte to help with some of their larger business’s opportunities. My first couple of days were spent in the office going through a specific company event. My job was to find hotels nearby at sustainable prices and also find them a uniform to wear for the event. I enjoyed this, but unfortunately, I spent around four hours trying to find a good hotel. My favourite part of this experience was going out into the field, which was London. We looked over London at different venues and luxury boats. We analysed them, made a PowerPoint slide and then headed to Liberty Global office building where I had to present the information that we found out about various venues and to a high valued boss. I chose this particular placement because this is the type of job that I will be doing in the future. The skills that I have learned from this job is how to manage money, bargain, analyse venues and to not be afraid during meetings. I would recommend this placement to other students if this is the profession that they would like to go forward with it is phenomenal and one of the best experiences I've ever done.
We are very grateful to everyone involved in supporting our work experience programme. Please get in touch with me at hoppa@bishopluffa.org.uk if you work for a company who may be able to offer a work experience opportunity in the future.
Angie Hopp, Careers Coordinator
Recently 20 of our enthusiastic Year 7 and 8 students attended STEMFest at Chichester College, where they explored the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and maths. From 3D air drawing and virtual reality, to F1 race challenges and hologram experiences, our students had a fantastic time engaging with cutting-edge technology. The event was a great opportunity to spark curiosity and inspire future innovators!
Helen Williams, Team Leader of Computer Science
On Monday 10th March, 16 A'Level Politics students attended the Polecon Conference at Methodist Central Hall, London. Attendance was strong as the speakers included Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Richard Tice, Emily Thornberry, Daisy Cooper, Sian Berry, Lord ‘Alf’ Dubs and Alastair Campbell.
Each spoke passionately about their political background, the reasons for their ideas and then (very bravely) took questions from the students.
“America is our ally, not a friend.” Jacob Rees-Mogg
Many of the speakers were insightful with their answers and greatly helped our students understand the ideologies behind the people.
“Scottish independence is close.” Peter Wishart, SNP
Overall students felt it had been an....
‘...amazing opportunity to hear party ideas directly from politicians and was great to (almost) hear direct answers to questions about their voting patterns”
and…
“interesting to hear from people with different ideas, never thought I’d agree with Rees-Mogg.”
Matt Luff, Teacher of Politics
Bishop Luffa students recently took part in a Debate Day Workshop at Seaford College. There were three teams – one from Seaford College, one from St Philip Howard and our team.
Talk the Talk, Confident Communication for life was a confident communication workshop geared towards secondary school students – with a focus on ‘group talk’ – those real situations in life where we find ourselves in meetings or group discussions. Within this workshop each student spoke, in front of their peers and in groups on a minimum of three occasions, while revising core components around visual, verbal and vocal communication. In addition, these sessions provided students with the skills needed for group talk, and gave practical opportunities to explore and develop these skills.
The workshop was geared towards Debating competitions, with a broader goal of developing a series of events across the academic year through inter-school relationships for our debate teams.
Ari Hayman in 8Andrewes who attended had these thoughts on the day “the trip to Seaford College was really enjoyable. Talk the Talk was an amazing workshop, and it really helped me grow my confidence with public speaking and speaking in Debate Club. It taught me how to be more confident; from posture to tone of voice, I learned so much and had lots of fun."
Ivy Revill (8Andrewes) was on the team(s) who won in two of the games during the event – Well done Ivy!
The other students who attended were Isla Hayman (7Andrewes), Grace Bragaglia (7Otter), Anna Rattray (7Ridgeway), Ayla Tran (7Ridgeway), Eesa Salah (8Wilson), Eva Callaghan (9Andrewes), Amy Marshall (9Otter), Ella Blamire (9Ridgeway), Samuel Pegg (12Story) and Joel Blamire (12Wilson).
Fiona Langstone, Teacher of Law
A huge congratulations to all students that recently took part in our Interhouse Art competition. We had over 150 students submit work for the competition on the theme of 'Perspectives'. The whole school was given the opportunity to vote for their favourite piece in three different categories, KS3, GCSE and A-level. The work was incredibly impressive with a huge breadth of subjects and media used in different ways. You can see more of the work submitted on the art department instagram page @bishop_luffa_art
Over 1400 votes were made, well done to the winning artists who are celebrated by their peers.
KS3
1st Ellie Fletcher (9Andrewes)
2nd Izzy Harris (9Sherborne)
Amelie Christie (8Ridgeway)
GCSE
1st Harry Newman (11King)
2nd Tom Peregrin (11Andrewes)
3rd Karina Kurovska (11Ridgeway)
A-Level
Daisy Paget (13Sherborne)
Ella Harley (13Andrewes)
Judith Purchase (13Wilson)
Laurelly Thorpe, Team Leader of Art
On Sunday 9th March 14 students travelled to the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in hope of seeing England win against a strong Italian opposition.
The stadium was packed with over 81,000 supporters hoping to see some tries, tackles and tantalising rugby. The game did not disappoint with both teams scoring early and playing expansive rugby in the sunshine. However, as the game progressed England took a foothold and did not look backwards. The final score was 47-24 to England who go into the final week of the competition with a chance of lifting the trophy.
The students represented the school immaculately and enjoyed an incredible view of the game from some fabulous seats.
Finally, a special thank you to Mr Hill for co-leading the trip and giving up his time to offer this opportunity to the students.
Tom Blewitt, Teacher of PE
The most recent cohort of students taking LAMDA examinations at Bishop Luffa School have achieved a 100% pass rate, with 90% of students achieving a distinction, and all students achieving a London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) qualification.
Students taking the higher grades have been awarded medals and a combined total of 126 UCAS points. There was amazing work from:
- Matilda De Bathe (11Andrewes) - Gold Medal, Grade 8 (Public Speaking)
- Niall Cook (11Story) - Gold Medal, Grade 8 (Acting)
- Orla Jones (9Story) - Silver Medal, Grade 7 (Acting)
- Bea Barton (9Burrows) - Silver Medal, Grade 7 (Acting)
- Richard Popovich (10Story) - Bronze Medal, Grade 6 (Public Speaking)
- Molly Stanhope (8Wilson) - Bronze Medal, Grade 6 (Verse & Prose)
- Megan Siddle (9King) - Bronze Medal, Grade 6 (Verse & Prose)
Congratulations to all students who took an exam, a truly brilliant effort all round.
A few students also went on to compete in the Chichester Festival for Music, Dance and Speech at Oakwood School. Awards for ‘Prose Speaking’ went to Florence Cullen (9King) 1st place, Emily Farnell (9Burrows) 2nd place, and Megan Siddle (9King) and Matilda Brown (8Andrewes) joint 3rd place. A special mention must also go to Lucia Clark (7Wilson) and Jacob Isaacs (7Burrows) for a wonderful performance of their dramatic duologue.
Congratulations to Alex Solly (11Ridgeway) who took 1st place for his Shakespeare solo, winning the Audrey Bryant Challenge Cup. Alex is also the recipient of the Hilda Jackman Memorial Trophy for ‘Best performance in the Speech & Drama section' for the 70th anniversary Chichester Festival for Music, Dance & Speech. Alex was presented his trophy at the Gala Concert held in the Minerva Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre on Sunday 16th March.
Angela Watkins & Luke Osborne, LAMDA Tutors
A big thank you to everyone who supported Charity Week 2025. The lunchtime events were such fun and it was great to see so many students and staff embracing the spirit of the Fancy Dress Day with such enthusiasm and creativity!
Congratulations to Sofia Casali, Tilly Groves and Katelyn Hagel (our Sixth Form Committee Charity Reps) who put the whole week together. All the photos from the events can be found by clicking on this link.
We haven’t got a total yet but will let you know as soon as we do! With the money raised from Fashion Show too, we are hoping to get close to our 20K target (a new record) for our three Sixth Form charities: Grassroots, Sussex Snowdrop Trust and The Sanctuary, Chichester.
Jamie Saunders – Head of Sixth Form
Frederick Cullen (7King) represented Bishop Luffa at the British Schools National Trampoline final in Derby. Frederick came into the Final having qualified out of the County and Regional round, and finishing first in last year's competition within Britain.
Frederick was competing in the Year 7-9 elite competition. Whilst he was the youngest in this age category he finished in 8th place overall with a score of 79.5. This is an incredible achievement for Frederick and Bishop Luffa and we look forward to see his progress in the coming years in this competition. Thank you to Chichester Chiropractic Health who kindly sponsored Frederick to enable him to compete in this Final.
Elodie Hill (10King), Isabella Lendrum (9Burrows), Joe Stewart (9Andrewes), Max Gayle (9Burrows) and Ben Stewart (10Andrewes) represented Sussex at the English Schools Cross Country Championships National Final at Ardingly.
This was a proud day for Bishop Luffa as we were the most represented school within the Sussex team. Isabella (79th) was a part of the junior girls team who came 3rd, Elodie (41st) was a part of the intermediate girls team who came 3rd, Max Gayle (35th) and Joe Stewart (45th) were a part of the junior boys team who came 2nd, and a recovering Ben Stewart (142nd) was a part of the intermediate boys team who came 10th out of all the 48 counties in England.
This was an outstanding achievement by all of the five Bishop Luffa students, this was a fiercely contested race and the runners have had to qualify out of previous rounds to get to this stage. This has been an amazing end to what has been an outstanding cross country season for the Bishop Luffa runners.
Tim Godfray, Team Leader of PE
We did it again! We hosted 135 students and 15 teachers from Spain! Our partner school from Tenerife paid us a visit and spent the day with us in the school. They brought their whole Year 7 cohort so we decided to mix them with our lovely Year 7 group. We have 370 students together involved in languages activities, playing games in the field and having lunch in the canteen.
The weather was fantastic so we learnt how to play "pañuelo" a traditional Spanish game to help students to develop their receptive and coordination skills. Our members of the International Team played an important role making sure that everything ran smoothly and keeping everyone happy. Well done!
We have been doing this for four years now, so this is now a Bishop Luffa tradition! We would like to thank everyone who helped during the day. A special thank you goes to the staff from the canteen and site management team whose amazing contribution made this day possible.
We then had some fun with Year 8 with a Spanish Day at Hampton Court. With our lovely Spanish friends visiting we thought this was a great opportunity to spend the day together. We decided to go to Hampton Court with them, so that we could show them around and talk to them about English culture and heritage. Our students had a lovely time making new friends and practising their Spanish. This term we will start writing our pen pals letters to them so we get to know them better. We cannot wait to go to Tenerife next year and learning about their school and culture.
Elizabeth López Gamero, Team Leader of Spanish & International School Coordinator
On a foggy day in March the Year 10 art students went on a trip to Bognor beach to take part in an art workshop and explore the theme for their new art project ‘A Sense of Place’. They embraced working in an experimental way, using their surroundings to explore mark making and experiment with abstract ideas. They all worked enthusiastically on this cold day and will use a lot of what they drew and collected to develop their ideas back in the classroom. Well done Year 10!
Laurelly Thorpe – Team Leader of Art
We recently had the privilege of hosting a visit from Grassroots’ directors Sharon and Hugo Anson. It was a packed day! All of Year 8 and half of Year 9, plus Year 13, had the opportunity to question and reflect further on the partnership we have with the Grassroots charity. We continue to be grateful for the opportunities this gives us to learn and respond to issues of justice.
Angela Smith - Assistant Head Teacher - Spiritual Direction
On 22nd March Year 12 Fashion & Textiles students from Bishop Luffa had an unforgettable experience at The Stitch Festival held at the Business Design Centre, London. The highlight of the day was meeting a Strictly Come Dancing director of costume design, Gerald Schwanzer, gaining first-hand insight into the dazzling world of performance wear. Students also took to the catwalk, showcasing their confidence as they walked in a stunning £20,000 couture dress.
The trip provided a fantastic opportunity for students to enhance their practical skills by participating in a Textiles Skills Centre workshop, where they experimented with innovative techniques and industry trends.
A truly inspiring and educational day for all, leaving students motivated for their future in fashion and design!
Amanda Bonney - Teacher of Textiles
On Thursday, 13th March, the stage of Chichester Festival Theatre’s intimate Minerva Theatre was alive with energy, emotion, and thought-provoking performances as Bishop Luffa Sixth Form took part in the National Theatre Connections Festival, performing Brain Play directed by sixth former Hugo Sheppard. The students' captivating rendition of the play highlighted both the talent within the school and the power of youth theatre in addressing complex, relevant themes.
Brain Play explores relationships and our understanding of self, a topic that resonates strongly with young audiences. The play’s unconventional structure, with its rapid shifts in time and perspective, demanded precision and sensitivity from the cast—and Bishop Luffa’s performers did not disappoint.
The ensemble cast delivered their lines with clarity and confidence, each actor fully embodying their character. The chemistry between them was palpable, creating an authentic sense of camaraderie and conflict that made the story’s emotional stakes feel real. The characters’ internal struggles were portrayed with nuance, and the cast’s ability to transition between moments of humour, vulnerability, and tension demonstrated a maturity beyond their years.
One of the standout features of Bishop Luffa’s production was their creative use of the space. The Minerva Theatre’s intimate setting was used to full effect, with the actors engaging directly with the audience at times, making the performance feel immersive and immediate. The lighting and sound design worked hand-in-hand to enhance the atmosphere, with the technical elements adding to the play’s sense of disorientation and technological overwhelm.
Director Hugo Sheppard expertly guided the cast, ensuring that the pacing never faltered and that the more abstract aspects of the play were communicated effectively. The careful attention to detail in the direction and design helped elevate the production from a student performance to something truly engaging and professionally executed.
Overall, Bishop Luffa Sixth Form’s entry in the National Theatre Connections Festival was a triumph. The students’ passion, dedication, and impressive performances made this an unforgettable evening of theatre. Their exploration of modern-day issues with such maturity and depth bodes well for their future in the world of theatre and beyond.
Nicky Furnell - Team Leader of Drama
This year’s school production of Bugsy Malone was an absolute triumph, showcasing the immense talent, creativity, and enthusiasm of our students. Set in a whimsical 1920s-inspired world of gangsters and showgirls, the entire cast and crew delivered an unforgettable performance that left the audience buzzing with excitement.
From the moment the show opened, it was clear that the energy was electric. The audience were a part of the play, all seated in Fat Sam’s Grand Slam with the actors mingling among them. The costumes and props beautifully captured the feel of the era, with vibrant colours, sleek props, and a charmingly retro aesthetic, bringing the world of Bugsy Malone to life in full swing.
The standout performances came from the leads, each bringing something unique to their roles, full of heart and humour. The iconic musical numbers, such as “Fat Sam’s Grand Slam” and “You Give a Little Love,” were delivered with energy and passion, showcasing the vocal talents of the cast. It was a true joy to watch the students sing, dance, and embody their characters so fully.
But it wasn’t just the leads who shone; the ensemble cast was equally impressive. From the hilarious antics of the gangsters to the zany antics of the showgirls, every cast member shone, making sure that there was never a dull moment. The choreography was lively and well-rehearsed, with some moments of slapstick comedy that had the audience in stitches. The live music was astonishingly good with musicians from across all year groups.
The clever use of the "splurge guns"—the squirt guns that create the slapstick "splurge" effect—was a favourite, adding a fun and light-hearted element that had everyone laughing along with the action. The whole production was a perfect blend of musical comedy, action, and heart.
A huge round of applause must go to the production team, and all the behind-the-scenes crew. The level of dedication and hard work was evident in every scene, from the smooth scene transitions to the impeccable lighting and sound design that ensured the performance ran seamlessly.
Bugsy Malone wasn’t just a musical—it was a celebration of creativity, teamwork, and the incredible talent within our school. It was a show full of laughter, joy, and fantastic performances, and it’s clear that this production will be remembered for years to come.
Thank you to Ilai Servant (11Sherborne) for all the fantastic photography taken during the rehearsals and the show. We have included a selection below but more can be found by clicking on this link.
Congratulations to everyone involved in making this show a roaring success!
Nicky Furnell – Team Leader of Drama