• 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.

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: 31^st 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!

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.

·         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

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

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.

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.  

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.

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