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Dear Chailey families,

I want to commend our students and staff for enduring another week of high temperatures. We are doing everything we can to try and keep your children cool, and we hope that in the latter parts of next week the situation becomes more comfortable.

Term 6 is always full of highlights, and this week is no different. On Tuesday evening our Y10 Speakers Trust finalists performed brilliantly in Hove, whilst over 70 students attended our celebration of achievement evening on Wednesday night. The week has been topped off with interform winners day, and we all look forward to Sports Week commencing on Monday.

Wishing all Chailey families a lovely weekend,

Mr Holt

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The Celebration of Achievement Evening was a wonderful occasion that recognised the hard work, dedication, and success of our students throughout the year. Families, staff, and guests came together to celebrate not only academic excellence but also the values that make our community so special.

Throughout the evening, students were recognised for demonstrating our core values. Their achievements reflected the positive attitudes and determination that inspire others every day.

The celebration was made even more memorable by two outstanding musical performances. Students showcased their talent and confidence, providing uplifting entertainment that highlighted the creativity and spirit of our school community.

Congratulations to all of our award recipients and performers. The evening was a fitting celebration of achievement, character, and community, and we look forward to seeing our students continue to thrive in the year ahead.

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The local authority have provided this link to support parents around the use of AI/Chatbots

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Non School Uniform Day has been rescheduled!  Donations can be made on parentpay

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Non School Uniform Day has been rescheduled!  Donations can be made on parentpay

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Speak Out Challenge Success at the Sussex Final 

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Speak Out Challenge Success at the Sussex Final 

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On Tuesday 7th July, Chailey School competed against five other Sussex schools in the Speak Out Challenge Regional Final, held at the Old Market Theatre in Hove.

Following the Speak Out Challenge workshop in March, and the subsequent assembly final where Ella and Arthur were selected as finalists to present their speeches at the Regional Final, this event was the culmination of all of the students’ hard work and dedication in crafting their speeches, learning their speeches, and honing their performance of them.

In addition to family, friends, and supporters cheering on the speakers, the ten participants were also being watched by the judges. The five judges came from a range of different backgrounds and career paths: Jo Hambleton, the Assistant Principal of Varndean College; Brighton and Hove City Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman; the winner of last year’s Sussex Speak Out Challenge, Nyra Hussain; Joe Rich, Head of Youth Voice for the National Lottery Community Fund, and Ruth Pryce, trustee of the Ferdinando and Luigi Innocenti Foundation. Despite their diverse backgrounds, the judges were united in the message they gave to the students before they began their speeches: to speak from the heart, be true to themselves, and let their passion shine through.

This echoes the ethos of The Speaker’s Trust, whose aim is to find, encourage, and provide platforms for young people’s voices. The Speak Out Challenge is a truly empowering experience for young people who get to speak about a topic that, crucially, is important to them as individuals.

The topics the students had chosen ranged from the political – gender roles, racial discrimination and prejudice, equality – to the more personal, such as a battle with anxiety, and even to the humorous call for a ban on discussing politics over Christmas dinner!

Arthur kick-started the competition with his edifying speech that implored the audience to focus on the shared characteristics, emotions and experiences that unite us, rather than fixating on differences that might divide us. Arthur skilfully blended references to psychology, politics and literature to make his case that, despite any differences, we are ultimately more alike as humans than we realise.

Despite the fierce competition, we were so incredibly proud that Ella’s moving, impassioned speech was awarded a well-deserved place in the top three line-up, with her taking third place. Ella delivered her speech with a poise and maturity far beyond her years and fervently urged the audience to stop comparing themselves to others and to instead embrace their own uniqueness. Ella’s inspiring speech denounced conformity and celebrated the individual, ending on the poignant message that we are all already enough just as we are.

It was a privilege to see our Chailey students representing the school and embodying our school values of independence, creativity, and resilience. Both students remained calm and composed under the considerable pressure of the competition and presented inspiring messages in an engaging, articulate manner. We are so incredibly proud of their achievement.

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Chailey School will finish at 12.30pm on Wednesday 22nd July 2026. All East Sussex County Council transport has been arranged for the early collection. Those students using the 121 Lewes service will be accompanied to the Mill Lane bus stop by school staff to catch the 12.50pm service. Students who travel to Uckfield on the 121 service will need to make alternative arrangements to travel home as no service is offered at the earlier time.

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Friends of Chailey School will be holding a tuck shop on Wednesday 22nd July at break. Students may bring in money to buy treats!

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Eastbourne LitFest patron, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, will be appearing at the festival on Saturday 26 September 2026 and we are are inviting applications from fans of her books across East Sussex to be part of the event.

The successful applicant will help to interview Dame Jacqueline Wilson on stage in front of a live audience, discussing the books, characters and stories that have inspired generations of readers.

Please share this opportunity with any students who may be interested, and with parents and carers where appropriate.

To apply, students should:

Be aged 11 - 13 on Setp 26th 2026

Have read at least three Jacqueline Wilson books

Live or attend school in East Sussex

Be available on Saturday 26 September 2026

Have parent or guardian permission to take part

Applications may be submitted in writing (up to 200 words) or as a short video (up to 2 minutes). The deadline for applications is Friday 31 July 2026.

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please check the lost property padlet and have your child collect any items they identify. Lost property will be available for students to check next week. Any items not claimed by Thursday 25th June will be disposed of.

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Booking for home learning club Autumn term will go live on Monday 13th July at 8am.

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We are seeing an increase in students wearing oversized jogging bottoms for PE. We would like to remind families that jogging bottoms should be appropriately sized, not overly baggy, and fitted with an elasticated, cuffed or tapered ankle.

Oversized jogging bottoms are not suitable for PE activities and may present a safety risk, potentially resulting in injury.

Please could I ask that you ensure that your child wears appropriately sized jogging bottoms as described above, to support both safety and participation in PE lessons.

Thank you for your support and cooperation.

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TO REPORT YOUR CHILD ABSENT DUE TO ILLNESS OR A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT

·         Log into Arbor

·         Navigate to 'Quick Actions' and click - this is usually in the top left of the screen

·         Click 'Attendance'

·         Click 'Log Absence'

·         Enter the reason for absence

·         Click 'Log Absence'

FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES

office@chaileyschool.org

01273 890407

TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SEND SURGERY

(Friday Mornings)

SENDCO@chaileyschool.org

01273 890407

TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SLT SURGERY

(Friday after school)

srodd@chaileyschool.org

01273 890407

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Copies of communications sent to our families can be found on the website.

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Chailey School is a mixed, non-selective, community secondary school located in the village of South Chailey, Chailey, just outside Lewes in East Sussex, UK. Chailey School offers a wide range of aca…

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School Calendar (What’s On) - Chailey School

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Chailey School is a mixed, non-selective, community secondary school located in the village of South Chailey, Chailey, just outside Lewes in East Sussex, UK. Chailey School offers a wide range of aca…

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Add new guardians and contacts for your child on the Parent Portal and Parent App

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This article explains how primary guardians can add new guardians and contacts for their child using the Parent Portal or Parent App. It details the steps to view the child’s profile, add new conta…

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As technology continues to evolve, it is important that we all stay informed about both the opportunities and risks associated with AI (Artificial Intelligence). We are sharing this guidance from CEOP (the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) to help parents and carers understand how AI can be used, how children may encounter it online, and the practical steps families can take to help keep children safe in the digital world. We encourage you to take a few minutes to read the document and discuss its key messages at home.

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Congratulations to Emma S, who qualified for the JCB Pony Club National Championships on her horse, Deano.   The event is the pinnacle of the equestrian youth charity's calendar, drawing over 2,000 members to compete in Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Mounted Games, and Polocrosse.

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On 3rd July, Aidan, Charles, Dylan and Louie took part in this year's Mid Sussex STEM Challenge, where they were tasked with designing, building and racing a potential energy vehicle.

The day began with the team delivering a presentation and answering questions about their project. They spoke confidently and clearly communicated the hard work they had put into developing their design and engineering skills. The judges were particularly impressed by the ingenious approach they took to powering their vehicle.

The highlight of the day was the race itself, which saw the team speed past the competition to be crowned race winners. Competing against 10 other teams from local secondary schools, many of whom were older students, they demonstrated exceptional teamwork, creativity and determination throughout the challenge. Their outstanding performance ultimately led to them being named the overall winners of the day.

The awards were presented by Lady Emma Barnard, the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, and Winfried Hensinger, Professor of Quantum Technologies at the University of Sussex.

It was a great pleasure to see these students develop as a team and achieve so much. Their dedication, resilience and innovative thinking enabled them to overcome strong competition and achieve a thoroughly deserved victory. Congratulations to Aidan, Charles, Dylan and Louie on this fantastic achievement."

Students race potential energy vehicles at Mid Sussex STEM Challenge 2026 – photos and video

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For the safety of all students entering and leaving the school site, families are not permitted to use the school car park at the beginning or end of the school day. This restriction is essential to ensure students can move around the site safely and without unnecessary risk.

Only in exceptional circumstances will requests for access be considered. If you believe your circumstances warrant an exception, please write to the Head Teacher (srodd@chaileyschool.org) outlining the reasons for your request. Any permission granted will be at the Head Teacher's discretion.

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Help Us Fund Careers Trips – Vote for Chailey School at Tesco

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Help Us Fund Careers Trips – Vote for Chailey School at Tesco

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Chailey School has been selected to take part in the Tesco Stronger Starts community funding scheme. We are raising money to fund our careers trips and activities for KS3 and KS4 students during the 2026–2027 academic year.

These trips give students vital real‑world experiences, helping to raise aspirations and support informed choices about post‑16 and post‑18 pathways by meeting employers, visiting workplaces and exploring future options.

How to cast your vote

Shop in: Tesco Burgess Hill Superstore & Express, Haywards Heath Express Stores at Northlands Wood and Hazelgrove Road

Make a purchase of any value

Receive one red or blue token per transaction at the checkout - if you aren't given one, there is usually a box that you can help yourself to tokens from 🙏

On your way out, place your token in the Tesco Stronger Starts voting box and vote for Chailey School

Where you can vote

Burgess Hill Superstore, RH15 9QT

Haywards Heath Walnut Park Express, RH16 3TG

Burgess Hill Gatehouse Express, RH15 9XB

Haywards Heath Express, RH16 3PH

Voting closes on: 31st July 2026

The project with the most votes in our region can receive up to £1,500, so every single vote really does count. Please support us by voting when you shop — and encouraging family and friends to do the same.

Thank you for your support with this, we have raised money this way for the last two years and have been able to increase the amount of trips that we can run, so every little really does help!

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A reminder that next week is Sport Week. All the details in the letter attached. Please ensure your child as a refillable water bottle in school every day