April 2026
Published 13th April 2026
Recently, our Year 11 students had the exciting opportunity to visit St John’s College at the University of Oxford, giving them a valuable insight into life at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
The day began with an informative talk about the Oxford admissions process. Students learned about what universities like Oxford are really looking for, including academic curiosity, independent thinking, and a genuine passion for their chosen subjects. The session also helped to demystify the application process, offering practical advice on personal statements, interviews, and entrance requirements.
Following the talk, students were given a guided tour of St John’s College. They explored the beautiful grounds, historic buildings, and student facilities, gaining a real sense of what studying and living there might be like. The tour sparked plenty of questions and helped students to imagine themselves in a university environment.
A highlight of the day was lunch in the college’s main dining hall. Sitting where generations of students have eaten before them, our group experienced a small taste of university life in an inspiring and traditional setting.
In the afternoon, the visit continued with a session at the Ashmolean Museum. Students engaged with a range of fascinating exhibits, linking their learning to real-world artefacts and deepening their appreciation of history, art, and culture.
Overall, the trip was both inspiring and informative. It encouraged students to think ambitiously about their futures and gave them a clearer understanding of the opportunities available to them after school.
Jamie Saunders, Head of Sixth Form
Published 20th April 2026
In March Bishop Luffa School hosted its first International Information Evening in the Bartlett Hall.
Welcoming all multicultural, multinational families with children who are being educated in and around Chichester, the International Information Evening was dedicated to explaining key areas in English school life, as well as giving families and carers an opportunity to meet people in their community, ask questions and support their children.
The evening started with a talk by Mr Hindman on how the English education system works – including a detailed look at GSCEs and A levels and time for questions.
Sanctuary in Chichester's Pam Herrington then gave a very helpful and detailed talk on how to parent teenagers and manage emotions, followed by Simon Brown, Chichester College’s head of additional learning support, resources and welfare, who shone a light on Special Educational Needs and Disability support.
Those attending the event had the opportunity to talk to West Sussex County Council (WSCC)’s Ethnic Minority & Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS), including their Polish-, Persian- and Ukrainian-speaking liaison officers. We are very grateful to Jo, Hamid and Elena at WSCC EMTAS for their interpreting skills, enthusiasm and support.
Guests were also offered bilingual materials in home languages ranging from Polish to Ukrainian, Russian, Dari, Pashto and Arabic. Created by the International Rescue Committee’s education team, they explained the English education system, welcome packs and buddy support, among other topics.
In addition, they could visit stands kindly run by organisations which support multinational, multicultural families and carers. They included: UKHarvest, Chichester District Foodbank, the Dedicated Schools Team - Early Help Chichester Family Hub, Young People’s Shop, Sanctuary in Chichester, WSCC EMTAS and Chichester College. There was also information about Careers, provided by Mrs Hopp, as well as school librarian Mrs Shuttleworth's stall which showcased our library’s growing collection of home-language literature, plus free stickers and books.
Finally, the evening was made extra-special thanks to the fantastic support of the Bishop Luffa PFA (who provided light refreshments and ran the second-hand uniform shop), Mrs Gibson, Mrs Thompson, Miss Cooke and Mrs Christopher and, last but not least, everyone who baked delicious cakes and biscuits for our visitors.
Sarah Smith, Pastoral Lead - Safeguarding and Susie Cooke, EAL Coordinator
Published 20th April 2026
As part of our events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, two of our students, Layla Ragless and Sienna West (both 12Story) were selected to participate in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s ‘Lessons from Auschwitz programme’. Here is their moving account of their participation, including a trip to Auschwitz:
Our trip to visit the Auschwitz museum began with an introductory seminar in London, where we could meet the other participants and our group leader. This was a great opportunity to become acquainted with the other people we were going to eventually fly to Poland with. Firstly in the seminar, we had a lecture from one of the organisers who ran us through what to expect from the trip and what we were going to be discussing that day. The focus was primarily pre-war Jewish life, which we found very interesting as it is not something we often talk about. In the A Level specification we begin with Hitler's rise to power and the immediate laws he put in place persecuting the Jews, so it was fascinating to see how they lived prior to this. When we split off into our groups for the day, our leader, Matt, was teaching us about how normal everything seemed before the war. Children went to school, families owned businesses, had homes, had friends and it appeared to be no different to life as we know it. This made the trip so much more impactful as now we had connected to the victims of the holocaust, personalising each individual and giving them more value than just 1 in 6 million. Matt passed around images of families and gatherings, where they were celebrating birthdays, first days of school and weddings. Each person we looked into had their own interests and hobbies that got stripped from them during the horrors they experienced. It was now more obvious than ever that life completely changed for the victims, going from large family gatherings to potentially never seeing each other again. Knowing this, the trip became far more meaningful, as when we stood before the shoes and clothes of those who had been imprisoned, we were able to recognise and appreciate how much was actually lost.
This was then emphasised by the next part of our seminar; the talk with a Holocaust survivor. This was my ‘favourite’ part of the stages given to us by Lessons From Auschwitz because it made everything so much more real. Suddenly, instead of being sat in a classroom in front of a teacher, I was being spoken to by someone who really experienced the well known horror stories we all hear. He told us in depth about his upbringing, the separation of his family, the camps, homes, casualties, soldiers, rescuers and reuniting with his cousins. His story was so moving, and he was proud to share everything from maps and statistics, to pictures of him and his mother. Hearing about his life helped to prepare us for what was inevitably going to be a heart wrenching day, and I was sure to keep it in mind as we left for Poland in the morning.
We started our day at 2am when we left for the airport, unsure on what the day would bring but prepared for whatever emotions it could uncover. When we arrived at Auschwitz One we were taken into the entrance of the museum and given headphones for the guided tour. At first it all felt surreal, having flown to Poland and on the same day that we were lying in our beds in the comfort of our homes, now being stood in a place where so many never had the privilege of leaving. As we left the entrance of a rather comfortable building and began walking towards the Barracks, the names of every known victim were being read aloud. No music, no speaking, just the solemn remembrance of those who suffered finally having their name shown to the world. The names being read aloud was the first of many moments in this day that the scale of this genocide was put in perspective, just to think that every name being read was a person with a family, hopes and dreams that were never lived out, truly moved us.
Following this walk we arrived at a large area where in front of us stood the gates to what previously was the entrance to this camp. On the gates it read ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ which translates to work sets you free. This message alone demonstrates the pure hypocrisy and lies that the Nazi Party fed the victims of Auschwitz, as what freedom were they truly achieving. We then moved onto a block dedicated to Jewish life. Inside a Rabbi who was on the trip spoke to us about the importance of seeing these Jewish victims as real people with real lives. The first room in this converted Barrack held a book of names, the names of every victim at Auschwitz. You hear about how many people suffered but actually seeing it, 4,800,000 names is unimaginable. This moment was almost the most difficult sight to see in our day trip as you truly cannot fathom how many suffered until you are staring it in the face. Another harrowing part of this camp was the Barrack that was completely untouched, the conditions these people were kept in was horrific and knowing that we were stood in a building where such atrocities took place left us speechless with nothing but the irony of knowing I was free to leave, mixed with anger towards those who were in charge and sadness for those who did not survive and endured unimaginable pain. The Barrack that moved us most was the one which held shoes, glasses, suitcases, prosthetics and even human hair. When we walked into the room with shoes we were desperately taken aback, shocked at just how many shoes were in front of us. Every pair had an owner, a story, an occasion and here they were in front of us. So many shoes. It ranged from heels to trainers and sandals; some belonged to what looked like toddlers. When we left this Barrack and walked outside, we couldn’t help but think of those who were unable to walk out in their shoes and leave that horrifying building. Our next building was a gas chamber used by the Nazis, which could be seen from the house of the man who oversaw this camp. We genuinely cannot put into words what standing inside a gas chamber and looking up at the holes within the ceiling from where they dropped the gas feels like. Some of the walls were stained from the Zyklon B gas used. Again, when we left the gas chamber and saw the door behind us, we couldn’t help but think of the thousands of people who never got to see this side of the door.
From here we left this camp and took a short coach journey to Auschwitz Birkenau. The entrance to this camp was menacing, the depiction of the railway into the camp was a picture we had seen many times, in lessons, videos, our phones and in research but witnessing it in real life was so much different and made the entire thing seem a hundred times more real. In this camp were Barracks, nothing more than gas chambers and a memorial. Just rows upon rows upon rows of unhygienic, soulless wooden huts. Outside one of the Barracks the Rabbi gave a speech about the humanity of Jewish people in Auschwitz. It is truly moving to hear about the humanity that occurred amongst a place that could not lack any more humanity, a true warming yet agonising juxtaposition. Our final building of the day was a washhouse located next to the destroyed gas chamber. Inside was almost fully converted and was full of photographs of Jewish victims prior to the Holocaust. We cannot describe how we felt witnessing the moments of joy which we knew would turn into torture, yet we’re certain that a smile crossed our faces in witnessing the pure life many of those who died once lived. It was in this building that we were lucky to hear from the daughter of an Auschwitz survivor, a truly emotional, once in a lifetime experience where the perspective of the Holocaust and Auschwitz was brought into reality by the story of a father who had a daughter. It was from here that we walked to the memorial procession where we heard a Jewish prayer in Hebrew, and poem of a survivor, about those who died at Auschwitz. After this we made our way back to the coaches. We both took one glimpse back at the railroad where people were treated like animals, if not worse and felt a sheer sense of irony, hypocrisy, sadness and anger.
As the sun set over a place that should never have been created, we couldn’t help but feel lucky that we were able to leave and were left only imagining how it felt to be trapped in that place for what must have seemed like their eternity.
Published 20th April 2026
The School's Drama Club were delighted to welcome parents, carers and students to a spine-tingling night of mystery and suspense as they brought Agatha Christie’s masterpiece, And Then There Were None, to life!
Set on the isolated, rugged cliffs of Soldier Island, this classic "whodunnit" told the story of ten strangers, each lured to a remote mansion by a mysterious host. As a storm cuts them off from the mainland, a hidden voice accused each guest of a dark secret from their past. One by one, following the eerie lines of a nursery rhyme, the guests began to fall. With tensions rising and trust shattering, the survivors needed to discover who among them was the killer before the rhyme reached its chilling conclusion.
Featuring standout performances from the leads—including Sofia Melara-Moorby (7Ridgeway) as Vera and Jackson Harding (8Sherborne) as Justice—this production showcased the incredible dramatic range, precision, and intensity of our students. From the sharp military precision of the General to the brooding shadows of the island itself, this was a production bursting with atmosphere, psychological depth, and heart-pounding twists.
Here are the views from the Co-Directors, Ivy Revill (9Andrewes) and Georgina Hitchin (9Burrows) of the play:
Ivy’s view:
"I'm Ivy Revill. I co-directed And Then There Were None with Georgina Hitchin. I wrote the script our actors used. The truth is I was bored after Georgina, I and many others finished the play we were currently working on. The idea of just waiting for the next play to roll around felt oddly sad. We posed the idea of directing our own play in conversation, but that seemed like all it would be. I can't really remember writing it but once it was done, naturally, I instantly forgot it existed. Georgina posed the idea of auditions, one thing led to another and I found myself standing in front of a group of people here to watch our play. Regardless of the several months of practice, rehearsals, endless run-throughs, it still feels like I haven't answered Georgina's question, “shall we do our own play?” And now here we are again in this bleakish period without a play and I pose the question once more, “Shall we do another?”"
Georgina's view:
"I am Georgina Hitchin and I co-directed And Then There Were None with Ivy Revill who wrote the play, we are both in Year 9. We spent around three hours casting the roles as all the actors were incredibly talented. We finally finished the cast list and started to direct it. We spent about 5-7 months staging, directing, rehearsals and run-throughs this performance but it all felt like a blur that went way too quickly. The actors worked so hard to perfect it and they gave so much of their time to this play. When it came to the play it was a very nerve-racking experience for everyone even Ivy and I were nervous but it all went so smoothly. The tech team also helped a lot with the lighting and sounds. When we performed around 120 people turned to watch, most were family and friends of the actors and some were a few teachers from school which was an amazing turn out. Overall, it was an amazing experience for my future and I am very pleased that I got the chance to do it."
Published 21st April 2026
Five years making memories together!
Every Spring we are lucky to receive a visit from Nuryana school, our partner school in Tenerife. This year hosted 127 Year 8 Spanish students and 15 Spanish teachers and decided to organise a fun day so they could meet our lovely Year 8 cohort. We started the day in Portsmouth where we visited the Dockyard and learnt about English history. We then visited the Old part of the city, watched the hovercraft, walked along the beach and ended the visit with a picnic lunch in Southsea common.
We returned to Bishop Luffa late in the afternoon to show our visitors our lovely school. Our students did a brilliant job at touring them around and explained to them how English schools work. We had some cookies together and wrote 200 messages to each other in both languages. We used these messages of love and gratitude to make a mural to decorate the school corridors.
Some great photos from the visit can be found by clicking on this link.
We have been working together for five years now and cannot wait for our next adventure together, this time in Spain!
Elizabeth López Gamero, Team Leader of Spanish & International School Coordinator
Published 27th April 2026
On 24th April, students from Bishop Luffa School proudly marked Military Child in Education Day with a memorable and meaningful trip to Longleat Safari Park. The day also served as a “Purple Day,” with students and staff wearing purple ribbons to show support for children from military families and to raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
The visit to Longleat offered students an exciting opportunity to explore and connect outside the classroom. Highlights included close-up encounters with incredible wildlife such as giraffes, deer, sea lions, tigers, and lions. Many students particularly enjoyed the animal feeding experiences, as well as the adventure of the jungle cruise and the challenge of navigating the maze.
Beyond the activities, the day was about much more than just fun. It provided a valuable chance for students to build new friendships, strengthen bonds, and experience a sense of unity with others who share similar backgrounds and experiences. The trip fostered a strong sense of cohesion, mutual support, and belonging among the group.
Overall, the day was a great success—combining learning, adventure, and community spirit while raising awareness and support for military families.
James and Amanda Bonney
Published 27th April 2026
Bishop Luffa School are incredibly proud of Molly Smithers (12King) and Elodie Hill (11King), who were selected to represent the South East of England in the prestigious London Mini Marathon on Saturday 25th April. Recognised as one of the most celebrated junior road running events in the country, the London Mini Marathon brings together the very best young athletes from across the UK and is a hugely respected stepping stone for aspiring runners. An incredible achievement in itself, Molly and Elodie were two of just six girls selected in their category to compete for the South East team. They lined up in a fiercely competitive and elite field of 70 runners, featuring the finest young talent from across the nation. Their selection is a testament to the dedication, commitment and talent they have shown throughout the season for club, school and county.
Both runners performed brilliantly on the day, with Molly securing an outstanding 9th place finish and Elodie crossing the line in an impressive 27th place. These fantastic results on such a prestigious national stage reflect not only their hard work and determination, but also the strength of athletics within our school community. Congratulations to Molly and Elodie on this incredible achievement, we look forward to seeing what they accomplish next.
Tim Godfray, Team Leader of PE