I must start by congratulating Year 11 for navigating their mocks with aplomb. Their conduct and application have been universally praised – well done girls! They were already straight back to it, with a GCSE History Immersion day today, and I know they will be eager to action next steps and build on this positive start once they have their mock feedback and Parents’ Evening in a couple of weeks’ time. 

At the other end of the school, I must congratulate the girls in Years 7 and 8 for the fundraising efforts in support of Children in Need, whilst also continuing to excel in a variety of sporting fields – including Squash and Frisbee this week! Do check out the Heads of Year sections later in Rosebery News for more detail. Karate and swimming also feature, whilst in the Year 11 section, Tila is spotlighted for her brilliant gymnastics performance representing the South East at the British Classic Challenge finals last week. It’s brilliant to be able to share and celebrate such a range of successes and experiences that our girls have outside of school, so please do keep sharing these with us, so we can ensure that our Remarkable & Proud mantra is upheld! Indeed, this is again evident in the Year 10 section, where there is special praise for Maisy, a very talented gymnast who competed at her first international tournament earlier this month as part of the junior GB squad, and is hoping to secure a spot in the GB team for the Junior European Championships in Finland next year. 

Whist our girls shine bright, sadly the economic outlook in the UK is a little more gloomy. In the news, the state of the UK public finances and upcoming Autumn Budget Statement are quickly taking centre stage - so it’s timely that Mrs White is launching the first edition of ‘Our Economic Times’ today, created by her Sixth Form economics students, and that next week is Parliament Week –  you can access Issue 1 of ‘OET’ later in Rosebery News where there is also more about Parliament Week. 

Thank you to all of you who have already completed the GLF Parent Survey about Rosebery School – if you would still like to, please do so via the link later in Rosebery News, but note that the survey closes on Sunday. 

Finally, thank you for the reduced traffic and sensible driving and drop-off on Whitehorse drive which was much improved this week. My next gentle nudge for you today is coats! Whilst the temperatures are forecast to be a touch warmer next week, it will still be cold, and at times wet, so please do ensure that your daughter wears a warm winter coat to school - every day. 

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Mr David Lach

Headteacher

This Christmas, we’re delighted to give back to our local community by supporting the children at Epsom Hospital’s Casey Ward. We will be collecting brand-new toy donations to bring joy and comfort to young patients during the festive season.

A huge thank you to everyone who has already donated – your generosity is truly making a difference and helping us spread festive cheer to those who need it most.

If you would still like to contribute, you can:

• Send a brand-new (unused) item into the school reception.

• Purchase directly from our Amazon Wish List:
  https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1AMDL9ZTNPHI?ref_=wl_share

Thank you for your kindness and support – together, we can make this Christmas magical for children in hospital

We would like to help students build independence and resilience - skills that will serve them for life. Recently, we reminded families that forgotten items such should only be dropped off at Reception in exceptional circumstances, however, our Reception team are still seeing many individual items being delivered daily.  

We kindly ask parents and carers to support us in reinforcing the message that “Confidence Begins with Responsibility”:  

• Student responsibility: Encourage students to take ownership of their belongings - to review essentials each evening and pack bags, lay out PE kit, and prepare essential resources and ingredients for the next day before going to bed.

• Learning through experience: Allow natural consequences to build resilience over time if they have forgotten a non-essential item

• Clear expectations: Forgotten items should only be delivered if essential for the learning due to take place that day (i.e. a PE Kit or Ingredients for cooking that day).

Thank you for supporting this important step towards developing our girls’ confidence and independence. 

Next week from Monday 24 to Friday 28 November, we are celebrating UK Parliament Week, an annual event which engages people across the UK with the work of Parliament and promotes understanding of UK democracy. Please see our timetable of events for which all students are warmly invited to get involved.

Political Cake Competition deadline: Wednesday 26 Nov​ember

Bake a political cake (or biscuits) for a chance to win merits and prizes. The theme is UK Politics.

Political Leaders Treasure Hunt is running Monday 24 to Thursday 27 Nov​ember

Collect a form from Mrs White in OK2 and complete the treasure hunt, finding clues about political leaders around the school. Submit your form by 27 November for a chance to win merits and prizes.

Model UN - Tuesday 25 November

What is Model UN? Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations where students take on the role of delegates representing different countries to debate global issues.

Our Mission: To explore how international issues affect different nations, to listen to a range of perspectives, and to provide a platform where students can confidently express their views while learning to respectfully engage with others.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to build confidence, gain insight into global politics, and make new friends along the way.

Mrs Callaghan - History and Politics Teacher

Mrs White - Economics Lead

Mrs Browne - SENCO

Miss Morris - Maths Teacher

• Congratulations to Jasmine L 9EY who has been offered a place in the National Children's Orchestra Under 14s (Main Orchestra) for 2026 playing French horn. This is Jasmine's third time in the NCO, congratulations Jasmine!

• Congratulations to Arlia P 8CX who has been offered a place in the National Youth Choir for this year

• Congratulations to Jenny H 11PX who gained a distinction in her Grade 7 flute

G12 continues to be the place to be on a Friday lunchtime, with 120 girls coming last week to hear Regan P 12EJC and Lana R 7PY perform. Part of the enjoyment is hearing such diverse musical styles, and this week featured a song from 'The Greatest Showman' followed by a Chopin Nocturne!

As ever, if girls want to perform at Friday Live, please contact Mr Holloway or Ms McKay so that we can put the programme together.

Mr Holloway - Head of Music

The Year 8 Football team enjoyed an exceptional week, securing impressive victories in both the English Schools Football Cup and the Surrey Cup.

English Schools Cup – Round 3 

In challenging wet and windy conditions, the team produced a strong performance to defeat Oaks Park High School 5–0. The game showcased excellent technical ability from Mia S 8PX, who demonstrated fantastic skill on the ball throughout. The midfield partnership of Chloe V 8PX and Kaitlyn D 8CX provided solidity and control, helping the team maintain possession and create numerous attacking opportunities.

Surrey Cup – Round of 16 

The momentum continued mid-week with a convincing 9–1 win against Three Rivers Academy, securing the team’s place in the Surrey Cup quarter-finals. Lauren K 8PY delivered an outstanding performance in goal and was deservedly named Player of the Match.
The scoring opened with a remarkable long-range effort from Rubie D 7MY, finding the net from the halfway line. Chloe V followed with an extraordinary contribution of six goals, while Sophia C 8PY and Molly also added their names to the scoresheet.

This week’s results reflect the team’s hard work, teamwork, and determination. Congratulations to all players involved on two excellent performances.

Miss Croft - Head of PE

The Year 12 and 13 Netball teams travelled to Sutton High School on Wednesday 5 November to play a friendly in preparation for the U18 District Tournament the following week. Due to injuries and illness, we were struggling with fielding two squads, so luckily we had some fantastic Year 11s who stepped up to play! The Year 12s started off very well and took an early lead in the first quarter with a score of 6-3.

After making a couple of positional changes, the Year 12s went straight into fourth gear and really ramped up their attacking play. Carrie L 12TEA was taking some great feeds in the D and converting them very well! Defence were also on fire, with Eilidh M 12TEA and Abi W 12KEJ making it very difficult for their shooter to get under the post. This resulted in a great score at half time - 17-4 to Rosebery! In the second half the girls went back down to third gear and eased off slightly and this was much the same in the fourth quarter. Rosebery steadily increased the score line but not with the same intensity as the second quarter! The final score was 27-8 to Rosebery and it was great to see so many of you come out of your normal positions and spread your talents across the whole court!

The Year 13s had a much quieter and closer game! They were missing several players due to injury and illness, which showed as the ball was unfortunately not flowing smoothly down the court. Amy B 13MRC was making some fantastic interceptions across the court, which helped keep Sutton High's score relativity low, but in turn we were giving the ball away too much. Too many loose overhead passes were being intercepted and we weren't getting into the space to receive an effective pass, meaning we were only slightly ahead going into the second half. The girls upped the effort and started to pull away, with Maisie 13LHM and Kiera K 13KZH converting in the D when it mattered. The final score was 14-11. This was a lot closer than it should have been but this gave the girls the reality check that they needed before the Districts the following week!

Mrs Hart-McKee - PE Teacher

On Wednesday 12 November 2025, two Sixth Form teams travelled to St Teresa’s School to compete in the U18 District Netball Tournament. Despite concerns following the previous week’s performance - and with injuries and illness still affecting the Year 13 squad - both teams arrived determined and ready to compete. After waiting for Maisie D 13LHM to complete her exam, the teams set off with great energy.

The Year 13s opened the tournament with a convincing win against St Teresa’s. Sophie V 13KHL settled confidently into WA, feeding the ball into Maisie D 13LHM and Keira K 13KZH with precision, while Jessica L 13AIW and Jacqueline T 13AIW delivered a superb defensive performance, neutralising their opponent’s attacking threat. Their second match against City of London Freemen’s B saw more excellent play, with Amy H 13AJB and Amy B 13MRC making key interceptions and helping secure another win.

The much-anticipated Year 13 vs Year 12 match followed. Although evenly matched at the start, the Year 13s quickly took control with clinical shooting and tight defence. It was a fantastic game to watch, and the Year 12s showed great promise - next year will be their time!

The final two matches were against Freemen’s A and St Peter’s. Freemen’s A proved the toughest challenge, with both teams making errors under pressure. Rosebery settled quicker and led by three goals at half-time. Despite vocal support from the opposition’s staff, our team held their nerve and maintained the lead to the final whistle. The last match against St Peter’s was a confident display, ending in a strong win with a sizeable goal difference.

At the presentation ceremony, the team were initially announced as runners-up, but after a quiet word and a review of the scores, a miscalculation was corrected - and Rosebery were rightfully awarded the gold medals.

To the Year 13 team: winning your final tournament is a fitting end to your journey. You’ve been a delight to coach, teach and umpire, and the PE department is incredibly proud of you all!

Mrs Hart-McKee - PE Teacher

Miss Gale - PE Teacher

On Tuesday 11 November 2025, our KS4 Squash team took part in the first round of the National Schools Competition, hosted at Epsom College. Unlike previous years, this round featured just two teams — Rosebery and Epsom College — which meant a shorter format of three games to 11 against equal-ranked opponents. While this limited match time was slightly frustrating for the players, it was still a valuable experience, and it was lovely to see a former Rosebery student now competing for Epsom College on a squash scholarship — though we knew that meant facing a very strong opponent!

After a quick warm-up, the first three matches began, featuring Cali B 10CX, Hazel P 10EX and Caitlyn K 9CX. All three players faced tough competition but rose to the challenge with impressive shot placement and determined court coverage. Cali B delivered some excellent returns, making her opponent work hard for every point, while Hazel P forced her opponent into tight spaces with clever play. Despite not having played recently, Caitlyn K showed great resilience and held her own against a more experienced player.

Although the team didn’t secure any wins, the matches were exciting to watch. The final two games, played by Arlia P 8CX and Aoife V D V, were the closest of the afternoon and showcased the players’ development and determination. Aoife's powerful shots and improved serve tested her opponent throughout, while Arlia showed great composure against a player three years her senior, sticking to her strengths and pushing the match to the wire.

We’re currently awaiting confirmation on progression, as typically the top two teams qualify — but with only two teams in the group, we may instead move forward to the Plate competition. A huge thank you to our brilliant coaches, Maja L 13LHM and Jessie P 13CLR, whose expertise and support continue to make a real difference to the team.

Mrs Hart-McKee - PE Teacher

The Year 7 team put in a determined performance in their match yesterday despite a loss against a strong opposition side. From the first whistle, our players showed great teamwork with quick passes through the mid-court and some excellent defensive pressure. Both Nula K 7CY and Rose P 7MY were voted the opposition's Player of the Match, while the Coaches' Player of the Match went to Emilia 7MY. 

The Year 8 team also showed fantastic spirit in their match, despite a hard-fought defeat. From the outset, the girls worked well together, moving the ball confidently through the centre third and creating several strong attacking opportunities. While the result didn’t go our way, the players demonstrated real progress, commitment and teamwork. They should be proud of their performance and the way in which they supported each other from start to finish. Molly M 8CX was voted the opposition's Player of the Match and the Coaches' Player went to Nora B 8MX. 

Miss Elms - PE Teacher

Miss Dawson - PE Teacher

The Year 12 Netball team delivered a brilliant performance at this year’s District Netball Tournament, finishing in a well-earned 3rd place after a day of high-energy games and impressive team spirit.

Despite some hard opponents, the girls displayed fantastic effort, with determination, teamwork and great sportsmanship throughout the day. The team should be incredibly proud of their achievement - well done girls!

Miss Elms - PE Teacher

The Year 7 Netball team put in a spirited performance in their recent fixture against Blenheim High School, despite falling just short of victory in an unfortunate loss.

From the first whistle, both teams showed great determination and energy. Our players worked hard to maintain possession and move the ball swiftly through the court, with some excellent passing and movement on display.  By half-time, the score was close, with only a few goals separating the sides. The team showed fantastic teamwork and resilience, continuing to fight for every ball. There were moments of real brilliance in attack, with accurate shooting and clever positioning from our goal shooters.

Unfortunately, in the final quarter Blenheim managed to edge ahead. Despite this, our team never gave up and continued to play with great spirit until the final whistle. Although the match ended in a loss, the team should be proud of their effort, sportsmanship, and teamwork. It was a valuable learning experience, and with continued practice and focus, there’s no doubt they’ll come back stronger in the next game.

Player of the Match goes to Clarissa W 7EX for outstanding determination in defence and consistent effort throughout the match.

Miss Gale - PE Teacher