Roedean’s team is made up largely of international students with significant badminton experience and are likely to be among the favourites to compete for the national title. Despite this, our girls rose to the challenge and competed exceptionally well.

They should be incredibly proud of their efforts and the way they represented Hazelwick School with such commitment and sportsmanship.

Well done to all involved.

After months of investigation, writing and reflection, students presented their projects through professional display boards and delivered 10-minute presentations followed by Q&A sessions, confidently explaining their research and conclusions.

The range of topics demonstrated remarkable curiosity and academic ambition, with students communicating complex ideas clearly to staff and peers.

The EPQ develops vital skills in research, critical thinking and presentation, preparing students for university and beyond.

Mrs Jedamzik

Students began by learning the importance of accurate marking and cutting—key fundamentals that ensure each component fits together neatly. They then moved on to practising simple timber‑joining methods, gaining confidence with tools and equipment as their boxes started to take shape.

To give their projects a unique finishing touch, students designed their own decorative lids. These designs were brought to life using the laser cutter, allowing students to see how digital design and practical workshop skills can work together.

The finished trinket boxes are a testament to the students’ hard work, creativity and growing technical abilities. We are incredibly proud of their progress and look forward to seeing how their skills develop in future projects.

Using powder, tape and careful observation, students worked to identify and compare different types of fingerprints while attempting to solve a simulated crime scene. They learned how forensic investigators use fingerprint patterns to match suspects and gather evidence.

As part of the investigation, the club also explored which surfaces produce the most reliable fingerprints, testing a range of materials and analysing which ones allowed prints to be lifted most clearly.

It has been fantastic to see students working scientifically – observing carefully, recording evidence and drawing conclusions just like real forensic investigators. Their enthusiasm, curiosity and teamwork have made these sessions both exciting and highly engaging.

We look forward to many more STEM investigations with this brilliant group of young scientists!

Mrs Jedamzik

Start of Term (Week 2)

Thursday 16^th April

Year 12 Parents’/Carers’ Evening In-person

Monday 20^th April - Tuesday 5^th May

Year 10 exams

Monday 4^th May

May Bank Holiday: School closed to students

Wednesday 6^th May

Year 9 Parents’/Carers’ Evening Virtual

Thursday 7^th May - Wednesday 17^th Jun

Year 11 GCSE exams

Friday 8^th May to Sunday 10^th May

Year 10 DofE Silver Practice Expedition

Saturday 9^th  May to Sunday 10^th May

Year 9 DofE Bronze Practice Expedition

Monday 11^th May - Thursday 18^th Jun

Year 13 A level exams

Monday 18^th May – Friday 22^nd May

Year 7 exams

Spring has arrived and the site looks wonderful. We are so fortunate to have such a professional and hardworking site team that ensures the site is always in the best condition to support the wide range of work that has taken place across the site.

Following the results of the survey to parents and carers, we are very pleased to unveil the new look of the Newsletter. This should allow for an easier-to-digest breakdown of what has been going on each month, highlighting the experiences, opportunities and excellent work our students are undertaking.

The focus is shifting for Year 11, 12 and 13 to the summer exams. They are being very well prepared in lessons and they will need to apply all their dedication and commitment to effective and rigorous revision timetables over the Easter break to ensure they are in the best position possible for the exams.

Year 8 students explored “What is an ecosystem?”, developing their literacy skills by matching key definitions to images before building food chains and creating their own food webs. They then discussed how changes in the environment impact ecosystems, demonstrating excellent understanding and engagement throughout.

Year 9 students tackled the question “What should we trust machines to do for us?”, linking to a class text about AI in education. This sparked lively debate, with students confidently sharing a range of viewpoints and considering both the benefits and risks of technology.

Both sessions were highly interactive and encouraged critical thinking, discussion, and curiosity—perfectly capturing the spirit of British Science Week.

Here is a selection of some of the winning entries and their captions. Lovelace secured first place with an impressive 1400 points, followed by Sancho with 800 points. Faraday and Parr shared third place with 500 points each, while Inayat-Khan and Moody each earned 400 points.

Those who rose to the challenge and kept their cool were rewarded with sweets and valuable House points. Lovelace and Moody raced ahead, earning an impressive 800 points each. Sancho followed with 500 points, while Faraday secured 250 points and Inayat Khan added 100 points to their total.

There were some impressive flights, a few unexpected crash landings, and plenty of cheering along the way! When the points were tallied, Sancho soared into first place with 1300 points, closely followed by Lovelace with 1100. Inayat Khan, Faraday, Parr and Moody all delivered strong performances, each earning 900 points.

A high-flying event that really took House competition to the next level!

- Astronomy Scavenger Hunt (Y7-11)

- Origami (Y7-8)

- Big Music Quiz (all years)

- Bake Off (all years)

Mrs Millard – Head of Faraday House

At Hazelwick School, in addition to the Safer Crawley event the Year 8 students attended, the topic of county lines is also taught as part of the Year 8 and Year 10 PSHE curriculum. Year 9 students study the legal, social and personal ramifications of carrying knives as part of the citizenship curriculum.

Over the past weeks, students have shown remarkable commitment, enthusiasm and resilience as they prepared for the different stages of the competition. All participants have worked incredibly hard to master both the translation and spelling of an impressive 150 Spanish words. This is a significant achievement that reflects not only their growing linguistic ability, but also their dedication to learning beyond the classroom.

The standard across the year group has been exceptionally high, and we are immensely proud of every student who took part. Their effort, perseverance and positive attitude have been truly commendable.

Following a highly competitive final, we are proud to announce the results:

1. Subi Baskar

2. Rob Fecko

3. Shanmukh Dhulipala

These three students will represent Hazelwick School at the South East Regional Spelling Bee Competition, which will take place on Thursday, 26th March at the University of Southampton, where they will compete against winners from other schools across the region. In preparation for this next stage, our finalists have gone even further and have successfully learned 200 words. This is an exceptional accomplishment that reflects their dedication and ambition.

A special mention also goes to the students who performed exceptionally well and secured places 4th to 8th:

4. Pratham Singh

5. Darshana Rajashekar

6. Nehel Zahra

7. Rhea Dsouza

8. Nidhi Vaidya

We wish our finalists the very best of luck in the regional competition. Regardless of the outcome, they have already demonstrated exceptional determination and a genuine passion for languages.

This competition has once again highlighted the talent, enthusiasm and potential of our Year 7 linguists. We look forward to seeing their continued success as they progress in their language learning journey.

¡Enhorabuena a todos!

Mrs García and Mrs Fernández

Mr Harman

Across the week, students took part in assemblies, talks and activities designed to broaden their understanding of the world of work. They were also signposted to the NCW Virtual Careers Fair, an interactive online space where students and parents can explore employers, universities, apprenticeships and sector‑specific information: https://ncw26.co.uk/#intro.

Our younger students had assembles delivered by Mrs Andrews focused on developing self‑awareness and key skills. Year 7 explored how their interests and habits influence their futures, learning that many jobs they will one day consider do not yet exist, especially in fast‑growing areas like technology and sustainability. They also discussed the importance of resilience, communication, and critical thinking. Year 8 explored the many routes available into different careers, emphasising curiosity, trying new things and recognising how learning and experience shape future choices. Year 9 took part in a video‑based assembly encouraging them to reflect on how different careers connect to personal strengths and interests.

Older students enjoyed a series of external speakers. Year 11 students heard from Sarah, a Student Ambassador at the University of Surrey, who shared insights into academic life, independence and the value of placements and study‑abroad programmes. Steph Ward from the University of Sussex helped Year 12 students understand how to choose a course, research universities, and consider factors such as accommodation, support, and study‑abroad opportunities. They also met Mohammed Ahmed from National Grid, who explained the wide range of roles in the energy sector,  including engineering, cyber‑security, IT, and business, along with apprenticeship and graduate opportunities. In addition, Year 10 welcomed Ciaran Moynan from Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), who described the many career routes within the rail industry and how apprenticeships provide hands‑on entry into roles ranging from engineering and signalling to customer service.

Throughout the week, staff across the school supported NCW by highlighting career links within subjects and using form‑time activities focused on the “Own Your Future” theme to help students make meaningful connections between lessons and real career pathways.

Parents and carers can also explore a range of free resources to support conversations at home: https://ncw2020.co.uk/booklets-guides/. These include The Parents’ Guide to NCW 2026, which provides straightforward explanations of post‑16 and post‑18 options, qualification levels, and the different routes into careers such as apprenticeships and university. The guide also offers practical advice on building skills employers value,  such as teamwork, resilience and communication, and guidance on finding work experience, including virtual placements, volunteering, and shadowing.

This regional final brought together the top-performing teams from nearly 6,000 students across the region, drawn from a national entry of over 55,000 students, making it a brilliant achievement for our students to be competing at this level. Even more impressively, our team took part in the highest category of the competition: Go Forths!

Throughout the event, our students demonstrated exceptional teamwork, dedication and positivity, fully embodying the Hazelwick School Values. They supported one another under pressure, approached every challenge with resilience, and celebrated each other’s successes. Their attitude, effort and conduct were recognised by staff and other teams alike, and we could not be prouder of how they represented the school.

Although we didn’t bring home a trophy this time, the students showed fantastic growth in their mathematical thinking, confidence and collaboration. The experience has strengthened not only their problem‑solving skills but also their ability to persevere and work meaningfully as a team.

The day also included a guided tour of the University of Sussex, giving students a valuable insight into university life and possible future pathways. A fantastic lunch added to the experience, making it both rewarding and memorable.

Whether working through complex puzzles or celebrating breakthroughs together, our students represented Hazelwick brilliantly.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved — you have done yourselves and the school proud!

In the first round, we went up against Kings’ International College within the tense walls of the court room. Our defence team, including myself, watched at the sidelines as we watched our fellow teammates’ talent and skill play at their will; our magistrates, witnesses, legal adviser and lawyers hitting every point, just like they practised. I speak for the whole defence team when I tell you the immense pride we felt.

In our second and final round, Gordon School was our next rival. We went against them with a confident front masking the anxiety deep down; our preparation and words the only weapons at hand. A professional sense flooded the air of the intimidating courtroom as our usher led witnesses to and from and our lawyers carefully handled the evidence which allowed them to dominate the courtroom. Before I could blink, the round was over and the competition portion of the day was done.

Before the winning announcement, we, as a team, did a plethora of things. We were lucky enough to have a Q&A session with many different people with many different roles within the justice system: judges, a solicitor, a barrister, a detective, a magistrate and a CPS worker. This gave us an opportunity to get a deeper understanding of the inner workings in a court and they gave us many reasons to consider a career in law. Additionally, we got a tour around the holding cells and later spoke to other schools from around Surrey. This allowed us to not only learn but socialise and laugh, a lot.

After the months of practice, a strong sense of community and friendship has grown among the students and the teachers alike.

At last, the moment had come.

We all crowded into the dock in Court 1, the court room filled with the other schools and a thick sense of anticipation surrounding us. As silence fell across the room, we held our collective breath as they announced Hazelwick School had won.

Our hard work had paid off and I swear to you, in that moment, we felt infinite.

I’d like to pay a special moment of recognition to Mr Thomas, Mrs Fernandez and Mr Elliot. Without their guidance and positivity, we would not be able to stand on our own two feet in a court room. 

Written by Kimberly Ferreira Iodice, 9ZBA.