Brighton College reviewAutumn

2013

The top co-educational school in England The Times

England’s Independent School of the Year 2011–12 The sUNDAY Times

At A-Level, over 100 pupils achieved AAA or better, with 74.4% of all grades being A* or A. An astonishing 21 pupils secured at least three A* grades, a fantastic achievement. The superb results secured a record number of places at Oxford and Cambridge, as well as at Russell Group universities.

One week later, GCSE results brought utter delight as a record 96% of all grades secured by Brighton pupils proved to be A* or A. Incredibly 103 pupils (out of 144 candidates) achieved A* or A in every single exam they took, and everyone secured at least five A grades.

Brighton College was named UK School of the Year last year by The Sunday Times, whose journalists highlighted the College’s “unparalleled” achievement of being the only school in the country to have improved its results for six years in succession. These outstanding results mean Brighton has maintained that extraordinary trend, with a record seventh year of improvement in a row.

The best results in Sussex

Results in Sussex – GCSE Results (ranked by A*/A)Bracket School % A*/A

90% + Brighton College 96%

80% +

70% + Christ’s Hospital 71%

60%+ Roedean SchoolSt Leonards-Mayfield SchoolHurstpierpoint CollegeBurgess Hill School for GirlsFarlington SchoolEastbourne CollegeBrighton & Hove High School

69%67%65%63%62%61%60%

50% + Lancing CollegeOur Lady of SionBattle Abbey SchoolLewes Old Grammar School

56%54%52%50%

40%+ Moira House Girls’ SchoolBede’s School

48%40%

20% + Seaford College 25%

Results in Sussex – A-Level Results (ranked by A*/A)Bracket School % A*/A

70% + Brighton College 74%

60%+

50% + St Leonards-Mayfield SchoolFarlington SchoolRoedean SchoolLancing CollegeEastbourne College

56%56%55%53%50%

40%+ Brighton & Hove High SchoolBurgess Hill School for Girls

47%41%

30% + Seaford CollegeBede’s SchoolBattle Abbey SchoolOur Lady of Sion

34%33%32%30%

Some schools have not released their full results. Results shown may not include re-marks which can add 1–2%.

Brighton’s outstanding A-Level and GCSE results have once again placed the College very firmly at the top of schools in Sussex.

One pupil who caught the attention of the national press on Results Day was Tom Woodward, who received one A* and two A grades at A-Level despite being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy during the exam period. Tom will study history at Bristol University.

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Top co-educational school in England

Top 10 co-educational schools in England

Ranking School

1 Brighton College

2 Pate’s Grammar School

3 The Perse School

4 Alleyn’s School

5 Bancrofts School

6 Colyton Grammar School

7 The Latymer School

8 Wellington College

9 Royal Grammar School

10 The Blue Coat School

Based on 2013 GCSE results

Results Days at Brighton College are always cause for great celebration, but this year’s superb GCSE results brought particular delight as they took the College to a new landmark achievement. With 96% of all GCSE grades at A* or A, Brighton College was not only the highest-performing co-educational school of 2013, but in fact officially became the highest-performing co-educational school in England ever.

Brighton has once again received high praise in the Tatler Schools Guide, an annual account of the top UK public schools as selected by the magazine. Here is what it has to say for 2014:

“We gave Richard Cairns our Best Head of a Public School award last year – something of a no-brainer because it seems this man can do no wrong. Pupils love him, staff revere him and even

Michael Gove calls his leadership ‘visionary’. Record results at GCSE and A-Level (96.8% A*–B) again last year; every single pupil who took Chinese (Mandarin) at GCSE gained an A* (it’s compulsory for everyone up to Year 9); and there was the highest number of Oxbridge offers too. Mr Cairns has a great line about wanting his pupils to be a ‘first-rate version of themselves, not a second rate version of

someone else’ – it’s all about celebrating the individual. You want proof ? Among the finalists in the sixth form’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ contest were a 1st XV rugby stalwart and an English National Schools’ bronze medallist shot-putter. An artist had a painting accepted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition; a dancer won a National Ballet scholarship; and a lower sixth was runner-up in BBC’s Young Apprentice. The 1st XV rugby squad has been unbeaten in Sussex for six years, and girls’ cricket is extraordinarily strong – the under-15 team is the national indoor champion. Girls play in the boys’ 1st XI cricket team too – ‘one of the fundamental principles of the college, which believes inclusion should be based on merit, not gender’, we’re told. There’s sky-high demand for places, so they’re building a fifth boarding house to keep up.”

Tatler Schools Guide

“ England’s Headmaster of the Year 2012–13”

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Work has now commenced on the beautiful new Music School which will bring music right into the heart of the college campus.Designed by award-winning Eric Parry Architects, this stylish new building, complete with striking ‘floating roof ’ and full height glass wall, will be both contemporary and entirely at home alongside the Gilbert Scott main school buildings. Included within the state-of-the-art facility will be a recital hall, practice rooms, recording facilities and

a percussion and rock room. It is due for completion in September 2014. The ground work has already begun, and fundraising activities are continuing apace. We are enormously grateful to a former Music Scholar who has generously pledged £250,000. However any gift, large or small, is a contribution towards achieving our goal as a community and is very much appreciated. For further information, and to find out how you can help, please contact the Development Department on 01273 704375.

Work underway on new Music School

Big Balls charity eventBrighton College was proud to host its own version of the ‘Brighton Big Balls’ charity event to raise awareness of testicular cancer as well as raise funds for research into the disease. The College was privileged to have Norman Cook (alias Fatboy Slim) host and compère the event; he is a great supporter of Cancer Research and indeed this event was inspired by his Brighton Big Balls Beach Run which took place the following weekend.

Each of the boys’ houses put forward a team of twelve boys, one tutor and the Housemaster, for a relay race requiring seven laps of the Home Ground. Each contestant ran half a lap, handing on to the next two large red balls in place of a baton. The girls’ houses added to the fun and chaos by creating fiendish obstacles for the boys to overcome and no competitor finished un-drenched.

The following weekend, a team of pupils took part in the Brighton Big Balls Beach Run itself, with Ned Lloyd (Upper Sixth leaver) taking first place overall to win the inaugural race and claim the Big Balls 2013 trophy.

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Life-affirming and life-changing: Sri Lanka Thirty-six members of the Lower Sixth spent two weeks teaching over the summer in the remote schools of southern Sri Lanka, working with the charity Extra Cover. One teacher who travelled with them said: “Our pupils were often pained and matured by their experiences in the schools. They considered their skills with fresh eyes, bright with new possibilities of travel, teaching, care work and a simple generosity of spirit. No school trip, or teacher, could ask for more.”

With more boarders at the school than at any other time in its history, September saw the completion of Brighton’s spectacular fifth boarding house. “New House” – designed by the architects of the award-winning Simon Smith Building – completes the south east corner of the quad, fulfilling the 1884 designs for it. Constructed in flint and brick to complement the original George Gilbert Scott and Thomas Graham Jackson buildings, inside the house is fantastically modern and beautifully appointed. Its luxurious, top-floor common room with panoramic views across the quad is a particular favourite with the girls who now call New House home.

As demand for boarding continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, the additional boarding house increases substantially the number of pupils Brighton is able to accommodate, as well as housing them in very considerable style.

The same design team also gave sparkling makeovers to a number of other college areas during the summer break. Head’s House has been refurbished into a boys’ boarding house complete with two stunning new social spaces on the ground floor; Scott’s Café replaces Café de Paris, and is a light, stylish and practical dining area; and Fenwick girls’ house benefits from a new, wonderfully cosy living area and modern kitchen.

Spectacular new boarding house opens

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Growing international successThe second of Brighton College’s sister schools in the UAE has now opened, in Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This iconic and ambitious new addition to the city welcomed its first pupils in September. Its 28-acre campus – the largest in the Emirate – will initially be home to boys and girls up to Year 9; by 2017, the College will offer a traditional, British-style independent school education across the full 3–18 age range. Meanwhile, Brighton College Abu Dhabi, the first of Brighton’s international schools, has

LAE has started its second year at full capacity with some subjects over-subscribed, not least because of the fantastic AS results achieved this summer by its first ever Sixth Formers: 70% of grades were A and B, giving LAE the best

academic AS results in the area. LAE is a free college set up to educate gifted children in East London. The unique vision for the school was co-forged by Brighton College Head Master Richard Cairns and Joan Deslandes.

Visitors in the newsBrighton College once again found itself at the centre of national education news in May, as Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, visited to speak of the philosophy that underpins his proposed reforms to the national curriculum. His words re-energised discussions in the national press about the role and purpose of education.

Meanwhile, college pupils themselves were deeply affected by the words of Ben Cohen, visiting the same day, whose anti-bullying charity, the StandUp Foundation, combats homophobia and bullying. The former England rugby star took time out to speak to pupils about the principles behind his campaign, and was delighted to meet James Chisholm, then Captain of the 1st XV. Ben Cohen will no doubt continue to make the news himself as he joins the cast of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Handcross Park continues to go from strength to strength with a remarkable 75% increase in pupil numbers since becoming a Brighton College School. Academic results have been very impressive and the school produced a remarkable 12 scholarships last year in academic, music and sport disciplines. The boarding house has been extended to provide a wonderful home from home to the increased number of pupils, and there are now waiting lists for some year groups.

National Chemistry Champions The four-strong team of Fronia Cheng, Mavis Chan, Shiza Ather and Rachel O Nunain beat hundreds of schools to win the 2013 Royal Society of Chemistry Year 10 Chemistry Challenge. The final, held at King’s College London, saw the girls compete against five other teams in four tasks that were designed to test their logic and ability to apply their chemical knowledge to new situations.

Michael Gove with Tessa Hutchinson, Cameron Dashwood and Hansy Shore

Great first year results at the London Academy of Excellence

commenced the new academic year with 1,100 pupils on roll including its first Year 11. The school opened in September 2011 with 600 on roll. The first pupils to sit GCSE examinations this summer achieved an astonishing clean sweep of A* grades, a remarkable achievement in only the College’s second year of operation. The Sixth Form will open in September 2014.

Handcross Park

Ben Cohen and James Chisholm

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Pupils design new garden for residential homePatching Lodge, a local residential home for the elderly, asked Brighton College pupils to design a revamped courtyard for residents. Bea Grant and Lilya Tata created the winning design, a combination of accessible planters and an innovative pagoda which will now transform the space into a brand new social area for the home.

Mr Julian Withers has joined St Christopher’s, Hove, part of the Brighton College family of schools, as Headmaster. He was previously an outstanding housemaster of Hampden House, Brighton College.

New Head for St Christopher’s

Children’s LaureateThe newly appointed Children’s Laureate, Malorie Blackman, visited Brighton College in June. She enthralled a packed audience with tales of her love of literature, of the difficulties in getting published for the first time and of the events that have inspired her.

Cambridge Chemistry ChallengeIncredibly, no fewer than three Brighton College Upper Sixth pupils achieved the ultimate, highly prestigious Roentgenium Award in the 2013 Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, a competition spearheaded by Cambridge University to find the UK’s best chemistry pupils. What is more, Osaid Ather and Olivia Garry attained the top and third-highest scores respectively of all 6224 pupils who entered. The third of Brighton’s Roentgenium Awards – achieved by just the top 0.8% nationally – went to Noah Glasgow-Simmonds. Equally outstanding was the Gold Award achieved by Oliver Evans (Lower Fifth), a remarkable feat for so young a pupil. A further ten Copper, nine Silver and seven Gold Awards also went to Brighton College pupils.

Gold Duke of EdinburghA group of Duke of Edinburgh participants conquered the Cumbrian mountains over the summer holidays, completing their Gold qualifying expedition. They tackled challenging routes in the Lake District, pulling together well as a team to impress their assessor and leap the final hurdle in this section of their award.

Three Peaks Challenge Sam de Belder and Amy Davila completed the Three Peaks Challenge, in which Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon must be climbed in under 24 hours. Congratulations to the many other team members who finished minutes behind them, just outside the 24 hour target.

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INDIVIDUAL SUCCESSES

ATCL piano diplomaToto Gill (Lower Fifth), last term passed the ATCL piano diploma with distinction. This is a professional qualification which requires a level of performance equivalent to that of a first year undergraduate at a conservatoire. It is a remarkable achievement for so young a pupil.

RADA successFollowing national auditions, Daniel Wheeler (Lower Sixth) has been chosen as one of only 20 young people to be awarded a place on RADA’s development programme for 16–19 year-olds.

British Wildlife Photography winJoseph Amess (Upper Fifth) has won the top award in the British Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition in the 12–18 year-old category for his stunning image, Great Tit in Flight. He received his prize from naturalist and TV presenter, Chris Packham, at the award ceremony in September.

All England Dance finalist Beth Connellan (Lower Sixth) won a gold medal in the Under 21 stylised group ballet section of the All England Dance Finals in London in August, and a silver medal in the Under 21 classical ballet section.

Trinity Hall awardTabitha Jackson (Upper Sixth) has come joint first in the Trinity Hall Modern Languages prize, a prestigious Cambridge essay competition. The Fellows’ committee praised her work as outstanding, adding that it was “a very accomplished, intelligent piece….cogently argued and well-presented.”

Physics Olympiad Gold Osaid Ather (Upper Sixth) excelled in the AS Physics Challenge competition in the Lent term of last year, achieving a Gold award and receiving a prize from the British Physics Olympiad Committee. There were also 11 Silver awards and three Bronzes for other Brighton College pupils.

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Cadet exchangeFreddie Stone (Lower Sixth) spent six weeks adventure training in the Canadian Rockies, together with 11 other British cadets and over 170 Canadian counterparts, having won a coveted place on the Canadian Cadet Exchange which is fully funded by the Ministry of Defence.

Zoological Society Prize Emily Seccombe (Upper Sixth leaver) was presented with the prestigious Prince Philip Award and Marsh Prize in June from the Zoological Society of London for her project investigating the accuracy of the Habitat Sustainability Index as an indicator of great crested newt populations. The awards committee was unanimous in its decision and congratulated Emily for producing such a thorough and well-presented piece of independent novel research.

Jeffrey Li (Upper Sixth leaver) and Timothy Xu (Lower Sixth) passed Trinity Guildhall music diplomas in May: Jeffrey attained LTCL on the piano while Timothy achieved ATCL on the saxophone. These are outstanding achievements for school-age pupils.

English Youth Ballet Alicia Wergan (Upper Fifth) has been selected to dance with the English Youth Ballet.

Junior Open victory Fourth Form golfer Jamie Dart has won the Mannings Heath Junior Open.

Alex Boyd, Harry Beadle and Rowan Hall-Maudslay, all Lower Sixth, have been awarded highly sought-after Arkwright Engineering Scholarships. After a rigorous selection process it was confirmed that they were among only 300 successful candidates for this scholarship that identifies the country’s future leaders in engineering and design.

Arkwright Engineering ScholarshipsTrinity Guildhall diplomas

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England call-up for college girls Current Brighton College pupils Freya Davies (Upper Sixth), Izzy Collis (Lower Sixth) and Old Brightonian Georgia Adams have all been selected for the England Under 19 womens’ cricket tour to South Africa in October. The tour will comprise three T20 and two One Day Internationals against a South African Emerging Players side, plus fixtures against the Sri Lankan and South African Under 19 sides.

SPORTLead sponsors of Brighton College Sport

Freya Davies Izzy Collis

© D

on M

iles

International Cricketers

Brighton College currently has more former pupils playing international cricket than any other independent school in England. Top players include England’s Matt Prior and Malcolm Waller, a current member of the

Zimbabwe team. Three former Brighton pupils, Holly Colvin, Sarah Taylor and Laura Marsh, all play for England and were part of the team that beat Australia 12–4 in this year’s Ashes.

Matt Prior named England Cricketer of the YearThe outstanding career of Old Brightonian and Sussex wicketkeeper Matt Prior was rewarded with a double honour this summer. He was named England’s Cricketer of the Year 2012-13, an award voted for by members of the cricket media; he also took the award for the “cricketing moment of the year”, as voted for by fans, for his match-saving century in New Zealand.

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One of England’s Top 6 Rugby SchoolsThe Brighton College 1st XV has been placed sixth in the Daily Mail’s rankings of the best school rugby teams in England. The newspaper’s merit table was published in September as it launched its Schools Trophy.

Premiership Rugby FestivalLower Sixth pupils Loewy Simmons and Sean Richardson played for the Harlequins elite Under 18 squad at the Premiership Rugby Festival at Harrow School. The boys performed superbly at this England selection festival.

11 wins out of 11 against HurstThe college rugby teams achieved an outstanding clean sweep of victories in the annual, eagerly-awaited derby against Hurstpierpoint College. Winning 11 matches out of 11 played, Brighton’s teams – from the 1st XI to Under 14Cs – triumphed in great style, continuing a highly successful start to the 2013 season, which has also included excellent results against Cranleigh and Reed’s.

England rugby playersA number of former Brighton College pupils are currently playing international rugby. Those making waves include Jordan Turner-Hall, who plays for Harlequins and England; Nik Pass, Jake Henry, Max Maidment and Craig Holland, all of whom recently gained England Students caps; Jake Henry, who played at the recent World Games in the GB Students 7s; and James Chisholm, who joins his brother Ross at Harlequins. James is also a member of the England Under 20s team and Captain of the England Under 19s.

James Chisholm

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New Director of CricketMr Mike Smethurst has joined Brighton College as Director of Cricket. He played professional cricket for Lancashire until 2002 and coaches Lancashire Under 19s during the summer holidays.

Copenhagen Shield winners for third year running For the third consecutive year, Brighton’s athletes won the much sought-after Copenhagen Shield. Competing against Wellington, Cranleigh, Epsom and Hurstpierpoint, the college athletes put in some truly outstanding performances to secure the hat-trick.

Toby Graves

English Schools’ Athletics Six Brighton College athletes took part in the English Schools’ Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, at the start of the summer holidays. Nathan Parker, who finished second in the inter boys hurdles, went on to run for England in Belfast as part of the Home Nations Championships.

Sussex County Athletics ChampionshipsFifty college athletes competed at the County Championships, bringing home a record haul of 34 medals, six ahead of last year’s record of 28.

National indoor champions againThe girls’ Under 15 cricket team became National Indoor Champions for the second time in a row in May, as they once again won the National Finals of the 2013 Lady Taverners Schools Indoor Competition. The girls also remain unbeaten after 30 games.

ISGA National FinalsTwins Toby and Oli Graves both won silver medals at the Independent Schools Golf Association National Finals at Royal St George’s, with Tom Prideaux de Lacy picking up a bronze. The boys, alongside Daniel Stutchbury, went on to win the West Sussex Invitational Salver.

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The 1st XI hockey team emerged champions at the annual Christ’s Hospital tournament in September for the third year in a row, an outstanding achievement. Wins against Tormead,

Pangbourne and Ardingly College and draws with Christ’s Hospital and Epsom College secured the trophy for Brighton in a phenomenal start to the new season.

County netball successOlivia Glover, Sophie Plummer, Pia Brynteson, Phoebe Redding, Portia Smith and Freya Evans have all secured places in the County Academy as part of the Excel England Netball programme.

Brighton pupils help secure Sussex victoriesSix current and former Brighton College pupils helped the Sussex Women’s team win the County Cricket Championship. Sussex scored 242–4 from their 50 overs, thanks largely to a 141 run partnership between former pupil Sarah Taylor and current Lower Sixth pupil Izzy Collis. Holly Colvin did most of the damage with 3–23, while Upper Sixth Freya Davies opened the bowling for Sussex.

Izzy and Freya are also members of the Sussex Under 17 team, alongside Anna Harris and Lucy Knott, and became the T20 National Champions in August.

Christ’s Hospital tournament champions for third time

Brighton cricketers represent SussexJosh Hayward (Upper Sixth) was selected to represent Sussex, joining the county’s 2nd XI in their three-day fixture against Durham. Former pupil Sam Grant also represented the county in the 2nd XI during the summer. Sam Grant Josh Hayward

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THE ARTS

Montreux Jazz FestivalThis summer’s Montreux Jazz Festival was rocked by Prince, Sting, ZZ Top, Deep Purple… and the Brighton College Swing Band. Invited back by the organisers for a second visit – an honour in itself – the Swing Band played three concerts in the Parc Veneux, an outdoor venue at the heart of the festival, where they attracted large audiences.

In the LimelightThis year’s dance show thrilled two sell-out audiences at The Corn Exchange in Brighton as over 260 dancers took to the stage to perform in a variety of classical ballet, tap, jazz, modern and contemporary dance pieces. As the senior dancers left the audience astonished by their technical prowess, the youngest participants – from the Prep and Pre-Prep schools as well as St Christopher’s – enchanted them with their sense of wonder and excitement at being on stage, particularly in such a prestigious and awe-inspiring venue.

Brighton College Festival ConcertThe Brighton College Choral Society combined forces with the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Guitar Quartet, Wind/Piano Trio and String Quartet to put on a roof-raising performance at the May Festival Concert in St George’s Church.

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Haroun and the Sea of StoriesThe setting of the Woolton Quad outdoor theatre offered the perfect backdrop for the junior production of Haroun and the Sea of Stories, based on Salman Rushdie’s tale of a boy’s adventures in a fantastical world of stories. Carried along at a breakneck pace by the highly energetic cast, the production created a constant impression of movement and excitement and was marked by some fine individual performances.

Oliver!The Lower School musical Oliver! played to full houses. A superb ensemble effort, the spectacular production involved the majority of pupils in the Lower and Upper Third. Exhibiting polish and professionalism that belied the performers’ years, the production captured both the comedy and the menace of Bart’s musical masterpiece.

Dance school successDance school pupils achieved another tremendous set of results in their Royal Academy and Imperial Society Examinations, with 100% securing either a Merit or Distinction grade.

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PREP SCHOOLWelcome to the new HeadmasterMr Harry Hastings has taken over as Headmaster of Brighton College Prep School. Mr Hastings joins from Cumnor House Prep School, where he was previously Assistant Headmaster, Director of Sport and Head of History. Mr Hastings and his wife Kate have three children, two of whom joined Brighton College Pre-Prep School this autumn. The third is still a little too young to join the community!

Let’s go surfing nowPerfect waves were relished by our intrepid Year 8 surfers as they enjoyed a fantastic, post CE Exam, week-long holiday in Cornwall. The children showed great warmth of spirit, looking after one another and throwing themselves into all tasks with enthusiasm and a happy disposition!

Rugby Sussex Cup WinnersBrighton College Prep School’s 1st XV team won the Under 13s Sussex Cup against Chichester High. The boys won by 31–0, scoring five tries.

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French trip Year 7 pupils had a fun-filled trip to Le Château de la Baudonnière this year. There was plenty of ‘soleil’ and spirits were high. The pupils particularly enjoyed rock-climbing and the aeroball court, not to mention trips to the market and beach and the fun of the floury bread-making. Merci à tous!

U13 Girls’ TennisCongratulations to Fay Brittain, Imogen Oxley, Jessica Ikonen and Rowena Hutchinson who took first place in the Under 13 Sussex Pairs Championship 2013. The girls, alongside JoJo Bach, then won all their games in the Aegon Tennis League to become East Sussex County Aegon Under 13 League Champions.

Biology Field TripYear 7 enjoyed a trip to Pulborough Brooks nature reserve to see their classroom teachings brought to life. Pupils studied animal habitats first-hand, quite literally, as some tried to catch newts! A great deal was also learnt about how animals have adapted to thrive in this very specialised environment.

Top of the Class!Following another great academic year, BCPS pupils won an array of scholarships in 2013 to Brighton College and to other local independent schools. There were 13 academic scholarships in Year 8 and eight continuation scholarships in Year 6.

Chamber Choir tour to BarcelonaThe Prep School Chamber Choir embarked on a tour to Barcelona, performing in a variety of venues including the imposing Barcelona Cathedral. The pupils had a wonderful experience and performed with confidence and maturity. The concerts were punctuated by trips and sightseeing, including a visit to see Gaudi’s mosaics and architecture.

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PRE-PREP SCHOOL

Teddy bears’ picnicThe Nursery children had a wonderful time organising their very own teddy bears’ picnic. With teddies in arms, they walked to the ‘woods’ and the festivities commenced. Blowing and chasing bubbles and ‘teddy bear P.E’ with Miss White were followed by the important business of tucking into their picnic delights, prepared that morning in the Nursery.

Year 2 and 3 Swimming GalaThere was much excitement and nervousness in the swimming pool for the Year 2 and Year 3 swimming gala. All of the children swam at least one length of the pool, an immense achievement for some children, especially those who had been worried about entering the water at the start of the year. The children showed off an array of skills and the supporters added to the excitement of each event with their loud cheers and applause.

Tudor BanquetYear 3 held a Tudor Banquet to mark the end of their time in the Pre-Prep. In front of the guests of honour, King Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn, letters of affection (and desperation) were read. A poem describing his life’s progress was crafted by the whole year, while the new witchcraft of film enchanted the King with skits on the Tudor reign.

Brighton Children’s ParadeThe Pre-Prep School participated in the annual Children’s Parade, comprising 5,000 children from 83 schools, colleges and community groups from in and around Brighton. 79 children, 18 parents and 13 staff, dressed as colourful characters from Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, took to the streets and paraded through town.

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Dance show This year’s dance show was a spectacular occasion! Pupils from the Nursery and Pre-Prep, Prep and College joined together to perform in the Corn Exchange, treating the audience to a diverse range of jazz, modern, tap, contemporary and street dance pieces.

Hopping with delight

Instrumental Concert Our dedicated team of visiting musicians once again inspired learning on the trumpet, cello, violin, fife and guitar amongst the Year 2 and 3 pupils.

Sports Day The whole school community united on the Pre-Prep field to celebrate a splendid year of sport. The event started with the now customary parade of athletes, which showcased the children’s Great Outdoors-themed class flags. The children placed items in flower pots, balanced balls on trowels and jumped through sun–shaped hoops to compete with great enjoyment and enthusiasm.

The Pre-Prep children enjoyed the summer sun by testing out some of the new playground equipment.

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BRIGHTON COLLEGE

01273 704201registrar@brightoncollege.netwww.brightoncollege.org.uk

College Open Morning (11+ 13+ 16+)Saturday 1st March 2014 9.30am – 12.00 noonPrep/Pre-Prep School Open Morning (3+ to 10+)Saturday 25th January 2014 9.00am – 1.00pm

“ Fantastic results and sparkling individual success stories” GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE 2013

“ The school everyone’s talking about” TATLER 2012

• Extensive bus routes across Sussex • Day, Weekly and Full Boarding