October 2025
Published 3rd October 2025
Over three unforgettable days, our Year 12s threw themselves into every challenge — and we couldn’t be prouder. From early starts to late-night giggles around campfires and shared meals, they showed maturity, kindness and real grit.
A special shout-out for their brilliant attitude to our evening phone hand-in (some might have been more reluctant than others – and may have needed more convincing than others to hand over their phones – but they did in the end). By stepping away from screens, students stepped into new conversations, forged fresh friendships across all House groups and found confidence they didn’t know they had.
They completed team tasks and leadership games, a French hypermarket challenge putting budgeting and language into action, a town trail in Berck-sur-Mer, impromptu footie, and the kind of “good-old-days” chats that only happen when phones are tucked away. Exactly the growth we hoped for — they banked memories to carry into the year ahead and life, supported each other through tricky moments, celebrated the wins, and kept going when it got tough.
Parents have echoed this: feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive,” with many students “surprised by just how enjoyable and memorable the experience turned out to be,” and delighted to have formed “unexpected new friendships, particularly with some of the new external joiners.” Others summed it up simply as “a brilliant trip” and thanked staff for giving students “such a great opportunity,” while several noted our “warm, thoughtful and reassuring communication” before and during the visit.
We are incredibly proud of our students — for how they represented the school, the courage they showed, the community they built, and, yes, for discovering they can survive without their mobiles (for a few hours!). A huge thank you to the staff team for creating the conditions for all of this to happen.
Stella Richi, Deputy Head of Sixth Form
Published 6th October 2025
This term I had the pleasure of taking the Year 13 A’ Level Dance students to attend a Rambert A’ Level Study Day in London. The day was specifically aimed at Years 12 and 13 and offered the group a brilliant opportunity for to learn further insights about the history of Rambert Dance Company and their set work 'Rooster' by Christopher Bruce. The day included a revision session, a tour of the building and facilities, participation in a contemporary dance class, and a lecture about the development of the company. It was a really informed day and the students came away feeling more confident about aspects of their learning in dance.
Jo Lawlor, Head of Arts Faculty
Published 6th October 2025
Otter House raised over £600 for Macmillan at their Bake Sale.
A huge thank you to everyone who baked, bought, and supported our recent Otter House coffee morning bake sale in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we whisked up over £605 (with more pennies still trickling in) — an otterly phenomenal achievement!
The response from Otter parents, grandparents, carers, and students was overwhelming. After our call for cakes, we ended up with three shopping trolleys full of delicious treats, from cupcakes and cookies to brownies and buns! There were so many goodies that we had to run the bake sale over two breaktimes and a lunchtime just to make sure everyone got a taste. Otters took it in shifts to help set up the stall and take payments.
Your kindness, creativity, and community spirit have truly made a difference — thank you for helping us bake a real impact for such a worthy cause.
Jas Stone, Head of Otter House
Published 8th October 2025
On Friday 3rd October, 49 Year 9 students embarked on a History visit to the First World War Battlefields. Once again, our students proved a credit to the School on what has now become an annual visit.
We embarked from Chichester, and after a delay caused by a data malfunction at Dover, finally embarked for Calais. After a short journey into Belgium it was time to visit sites associated with the horrors of the Passchendaele battlefields of World War One. After visiting Essex Farm Cemetery and seeing the grave of a 15 year old boy soldier, it was off to Tyne Cot, where 11000 graves and over 35000 names of the missing provided a moment to appreciate the enormity of the loss. Kayowa Nosiru (9King) laid a wreath on behalf of the School, and this was accompanied by a moment of prayer and reflection, after which students laid a cross on a grave of their choice (with thanks to the Technology Department for making these). From the 'glorious dead' of Tyne Cot, it was an abrupt contrast to see the mass graves at the German cemetery of Langemark, where a burial of over 20000 proved a hard site to take in.
After this we journeyed on to our hotel in Ypres, where the games room and comfortable rooms provided welcome relief from the thought-provoking visits of that first day. The day finished with attendance at the daily service of remembrance at the Menin Gate, where, accompanied by a choir, Mrs Syms-Evans, Anna McCallum (9King) and Ari Hayman (9Andrewes) laid another wreath on behalf of the School.
Saturday dawned with a threatening sky, and we dodged (or rather didn't!) rainstorms all day! After a fascinating visit to the preserved trenches of Hill 62 (with associated tunnels) it was off to France to visit the Somme Battlefields, synonymous with huge casualties. We started at the Lochnagar Crater, the largest crater created in anger to this day, formed as part of the doomed British attack on 1st July 1916.
This was followed by Thiepval, and an arresting site when confronted with around 72000 more names of the missing. We finished at Beaumont Hamel, where, after a welcome from a Canadian volunteer, we walked through trenches and across No Mans Land to get a sense of the sacrifice in that particular area of the battlefield. Of around 800 soldiers who attacked on 1st July 1916, only around 70 were present for roll call the next day, such was the loss.
Following this we journeyed back for free time in Ypres, where the chocolate shops and waffle stalls did a brisk trade on our arrival!
We finished the day with a return visit to the Menin Gate, and another moment of reflection.
Sunday saw a smooth checkout and then the annual visit to a French hypermarket, where students enjoyed their time stocking up on items such as snacks and drinks (and delicious cakes!)! After a pleasant crossing back to Dover, it was a weary group that arrived back in Chichester that evening.
The students were a credit to themselves, their families, and the School, showing maturity and reflection. It was trip that really brought the horrors of the trenches to life in a way that no text book ever could.
My thanks must go to them, and to the staff who accompanied the visit, Mr Jackson, Ms Hurry, Mrs Grove and Mrs Syms-Evans, for helping to make it such a success. Planning for next year's trip is already underway!
Justin Barnett, Head of Humanities
Published 10th October 2025
We were delighted to welcome bestselling author Kate Mosse for a special visit to speak to Year 8 students about her latest book, which celebrates women who have made remarkable contributions to history. This tied in well with recent work in Yr 8 History lessons, and a display celebrating the local campaign for votes for women, kindly loaned by Chichester Women’s History Group. Kate shared the stories of courageous and pioneering women whose achievements have often been overlooked.
During her inspiring talk, Kate spoke about the importance of uncovering hidden histories and giving a voice to women who changed the world — from scientists and artists to warriors, activists and adventurers. She encouraged students to think critically about how history is recorded and to ask whose stories are missing.
Year 8 students listened with great interest and asked insightful questions at the end of the talk.
The visit was a powerful reminder of the value of storytelling in keeping history alive and ensuring that every voice — especially those of women who shaped the world — is heard and remembered.
My thanks must go to Kate for taking time out of her busy schedule to speak to us, to the staff who supervised the visit, and to the students who listened in such a mature way.
Justin Barnett, Head of Humanities
Published 17th October 2025
Chichester MP, Jess Brown-Fuller recently spent time with some of our students who attend Forest School at the Goodwood Education Trust. Taking part in Forest School is more than just den building, clay crafting and fire lighting – the students who attend gain confidence and emotional resilience, and learn that it’s fun to try new things.
Lin Roberts, a Pastoral Support Assistant at the school and goes along with the students each week said, ‘Forest School offers so much to our students, who attend for a variety of reasons. The more relaxed environment and therapeutic approach works, often when nothing else seems to. With one of our children, it was the first time we’d ever seen them smile’.
Photos by Jonathan Swann, Goodwood Education Trust
Published 20th October 2026
Ever wondered what is the biggest danger for old texts and maps? Fire? Water? Mutant silverfish?
These are things that need to be considered when you are responsible for preserving the texts of West Sussex, from AD 780 to the present day.
Last month, Year 13 A Level English Language students visited the West Sussex Records Office, just up the road on Westgate. They were shown the strong room, which houses thousands of documents, protected from damage, in 8 miles worth of secure shelving.
Archivist Nichola Court showed the students an amazing array of texts, including a letter from a local woman who was opposed to female suffrage, a flapper’s diary and correspondences by settlers to the New World in the 17th Century. Most fascinating of all was an original document granting land south of Chichester dating back to AD780, during the reign of Oslac, King of the South Saxons.
The West Sussex Records Office is a treasure trove right on our doorstep and an excellent resource for A Level, GCSE and KS3 students alike.
Steve Collins, Head of English