E-weekly Issue 302 - 23 May 2025

Welcome

In the News This Week...

Be and Emilia - Regional Finalists in ‘Performing Shakespeare’

Be and Emilia gave another brilliant performance of their scene from ‘Julius Caesar’ – their best yet – at the Weald of Kent Grammar School.

The finalists are judged on their oral skills in the introduction to their scene (as well as for the performance); Emilia and Be spoke confidently and naturally which definitely gained them marks. Once again they portrayed Cassius and Brutus with commitment, energy and not a little aggression! And once again, the judges remarked on their courage in tackling a sword scene.

Sadly, only one performance could be chosen to go through to the Final and Be and Emilia were pipped at the post. We are, of course, immensely proud of their achievement in getting this far.

Mrs Jane Leslie, Teacher of English

Year 12 Chemists Experiment with Practicals

The Year 12 Chemists have had a busy week with their required practicals. With Dr Taylor, they have been learning about Kinetics and finding out how experimental results can be used to propose reaction mechanisms. They generated their own empirical data whilst investigating the Iodine Clock reaction, which almost magically turns blue black after a controlled delay. They used their data to get some insights into how the reaction occurs at a molecular level and have taken the opportunity to use Excel for processing their results, finding out the order of reaction. 

Year 12 are also learning how to calculate the activation energy for a reaction, so Dr Taylor took the opportunity to show them one of his favourite demonstrations - methane bubbles. This reaction is a good starting point for discussing activation energy and will be revisited next year when we look at reaction spontaneity ('why do we need a flame for the methane to burn?').

With Dr Turner, they have been making aspirin, purifying it by recrystallisation and then analysing their product by chromatography and melting point. This practical gives them lots of experience of organic synthesis and also makes use of the analytical techniques they have been learning about in class. 

At Mayfield we ensure they girls have plenty of practical experience. This has many advantages. It exemplifies what they are being taught, prepares them for their exams and also helps them develop as competent Chemists.

Dr Taylor, Head of Chemistry

Linguists' Trip to Oxford - Modern Languages Open Day

Our keen Year 10 linguists, Annette and Sienna, went to Oxford to attend the Modern Languages Faculty Open Day on Saturday 17^th May. Well done girls for taking the initiative to go!

Their day included an introduction to the courses, teaching, resources, the year abroad, and where a Modern Languages degree can take you. They directed their questions to a panel of academics, current undergraduates, and Faculty staff members. 

The girls offered some reflections on their day at Oxford:

"Attending the Modern Languages Open Day at Oxford was an incredibly enriching experience. Throughout the day, I gained a deeper understanding of the modern languages curriculum and the wide range of degree options on offer — from single-language to joint schools degrees. The engaging Q&A session answered many of my questions and helped me start thinking seriously about the degrees I might pursue at university.

One of the most inspiring parts of the day was hearing Oxford student ambassadors speak so passionately about their own experiences. Their enthusiasm has motivated me to build further on the strong foundation I’ve developed at Mayfield. As a whole, the open day was a wonderful opportunity, and thank you so much to Dr R for giving me the chance to attend such an insightful and inspiring event." - Annette

"it was a truly inspiring experience. The highlight was hearing from the students about their personal lives within Oxford, and their experiences with French, as well as the people they met along the way.

The buildings were beautiful, and it was great to see so many people sharing my interest in French. Annette and I also heard about the 'joint schools' course where you can, for example, take French and Philosophy together. Another opportunity I heard about is that you can take a beginners' language course alongside your chosen subjects. It was amazing to discover such a wide range of choices are available, and it was an unforgettable day." - Sienna

Dr Marie-Sophie Reijers, Teacher of French

Sports News

Athletics Update
What an incredible season it has been for our athletes! Both the Junior and Intermediate teams have showcased exceptional skill, determination, and sportsmanship at prestigious events like The Sussex Independent Schools Diamond League and the County Round of the English Schools Track and Field Championships. This season has truly been one of the best Mayfield has seen in years, marked not only by a surge in participation but also by the impressive accolades our athletes have earned. The combination of hard work, dedication, and talent has elevated our teams to new heights, with both the Junior and Intermediate teams scoring higher than last year’s total and results. A special mention goes to the Intermediate girls, who have qualified for the Regional rounds in June - a remarkable achievement.

At the Diamond League, it wasn’t just a day of Personal Bests and Season Bests for many of our athletes – it was a day where Mayfield truly shone. Our athletes didn't just compete; they excelled, making their mark by stepping onto the podium an impressive five times throughout the day – This outstanding achievement is a testament to their hard work, determination, and talent.

Emily (Year 8)
2^nd Place - Junior 1500m 

Cece (Year 9)
3^rd Place- Junior Shot Put 

Gigi (Year 9) 
1^st Place -Junior Long Jump 
1^st Place- Junior 200m (also breaking the Diamond League record) 

Deborah (Year 10) 
2nd Place Intermediate 200m

A special mention must go to the following girls whose outstanding performances have not only contributed to the team's success but have also shattered school records. Their dedication, talent, and hard work have set new benchmarks, and we couldn't be prouder of their achievements.

Emily - Year 8 1500m 
Ana - Year 8 Discus 
Katya - Year 8 300m 
Emilia - Year 9 3kg Shot put
Gigi - Year 9 Long Jump
Deborah - Year 10 200m, Long Jump and equalling the High Jump record.

We also want to congratulate Gigi and wish her the best of luck after being selected to represent Ouse Valley District in the Sussex Track and Field event in the 200m. 

Cricket Round-Up
The cricket season has started well for all teams this term. After losing their first two games, the U13A squad have won their last two, playing some good cricket and developing their game understanding and tactical awareness. The U13B, C and D teams all started their season with defeats but have been working hard ready for their next fixtures. The U14A also have a 50% win ratio after two nail-biting games, where they lost their first game against Bede’s by two runs, but then beat Benenden by seven runs. Several of the girls have played up in the U15A team so this has been pleasing.

The U15s have had a brilliant start to the season. They have won three out of four games (only losing in the last over to Benenden) and have beaten Seaford, Lewes Old Grammar, and Cranbrook by seven wickets, nine wickets and 72 runs, respectively. They have also hit the highest score of any Mayfield team in recent years as they hit 164/4 from 20 overs against Cranbrook. They are still very much in contention to win their league. The U15B team had a close defeat to Benenden but again, will be ready for their next game.

The 1st XI have had just one game this term due to exams starting. They had a good performance which ultimately ended in defeat against Eastbourne College. It was a good test as the girls prepare for the MCC fixture on Saturday 7^th June.

A few moments to mention: Flo Y in Year 9 has the highest individual score of 49 not out against Bede’s, and Darcey and Erin have had the best performance with the ball with figures of 3/4 and 3/14 respectively.

It's been a positive season so far with a lot of high scores with the bat, best bowling figures and some good fielding. Let’s keep it going after half term!

Tennis News
This week, the U15 tennis squad had two away fixtures against Eastbourne College and Roedean. Both fixtures were against challenging opposition, and it was a good opportunity for the girls to play some experienced players.

Against Eastbourne College, Mayfield lost the tie 12-0, but games were taken in each match, and some good tennis was played at times. It was also lovely to see Emilia R play her first competitive singles match and grow in confidence as the match went on.

In the Roedean fixture, it was a much closer tie, with Roedean winning 8-4 overall. Emma won her singles with a comfortable 2-6 win and Emma and Kitty also were able to win their doubles 5-7 in a close encounter. Savannah and Fabiola were narrowly beaten 6-4 in their doubles and were almost able to take the overall fixture to a deciding tiebreak.

Well done to all the girls involved in tennis this week and we now look forward to fixtures after half term, as well as the annual Mayfield Doubles Tournament on Saturday 14^th June.

Upcoming Fixtures After Half Term
Tuesday 3^rd June - Cricket U14A vs Roedean School
Wednesday 4^th June - Cricket U13A, U13B, U13C and U13D vs Sevenoaks School

Year 12 Biologists Tackle Heart Dissection

Highlights from Food & Nutrition

Our main highlight this half term was the fabulous practical work completed by Year 11 for their final assessment; unfortunately we are unable to share these photos as they are live exam work currently. 

However, we have had many other superb practicals completed this half term, including: 

• Year 8 demonstrated some excellent consistent shaping when making their anzac biscuits. 
• The Culinary Skills group focused on the use of eggs to make choux pastry (eclairs) and eggs benedict or eggs royale with homemade hollandaise sauce. 
• Year 9 have been considering teenage nutrition and created their own salads to be served with a healthy, homemade burger. It was really pleasing to see them tuck into their wholesome creations. 
• Finally, I was super impressed with Leeds' boarders last weekend making perfect blueberry muffins. 

Don't forget to look at the @mgfoodandnut Instagram account to see the girls' culinary work more frequently.

Mrs Sue Smeaton, Head of Food & Nutrition

Thai Student Tem - 'My Month at Mayfield'

Tem joined Mayfield at the beginning of the summer term and has so enjoyed her time here she will be returning full time in September. She lives in Bangkok, Thailand, living in the centre of the city - so this last month has been very different for her!

As she finishes her stay at Mayfield, I caught up with Tem and she shared some of her experiences with me.

Why did you choose Mayfield Tem?
I wanted to go to an all-girls school and I also liked the environment and the look of the school surrounded by fields and trees.

What are the main differences between your old school and Mayfield?
Science is very different, we don’t really start learning it till Year 11. We don’t really study RS and our History lessons are obviously also very different. There are 36 pupils in a class and most children, when they finish school at 3.30, then have private tutoring most evenings till 8pm or sometimes 10pm. We wear a uniform which is quite similar as it is blue with a white shirt.

What have you found challenging?
The language, but over time it has become easier. In Thai, we have a different alphabet with 44 letters not including the vowels. My English is improving as I am forced to use it every day and need it to understand my lessons.

What have you enjoyed?
Definitely the environment. Here there is lots of nature and quiet. In Bangkok, it is so noisy and there is a lot of pollution and no fields or sheep to look at!

How have you found boarding?
The boarding house is great and gives us everything we need. I like having a fixed schedule and not watching my iPad all the time which is how we spend a lot of time at my old school. I love the variety of activities on offer, my favourite is javelin.

ลาก่อน ('Goodbye')

Although we are sad to be saying goodbye to Tem at the end of this week, we look forward to her returning into Year 10 in September.

Mrs Caroline Turner, Tem’s Form Tutor & International English Teacher

Chaplaincy News

And I'm sure this has absolutely nothing to do with exams or anything, but there's been a mighty uptick lately in the number of students popping into the chapel to say a quick prayer, or light a candle... It's great to see, and I hope every member of the Mayfield community knows they are welcome to pop into the chapel for any reason, and any length of time.

And so it is with great joy that I ask you to keep the boys and girls of Mayfield and Wadhurst in your prayers tomorrow, as they take the next step on their faith journeys; keep the Confirmation candidates in your prayers as they make the final preparations for receiving their Sacrament (or for some, Sacraments); and please continue to keep our GCSE and A-level candidates in your prayers as their exams continue.

And over the half-term, I will keep all of our Mayfield community - students, staff, and families - in my prayers. Have a restful break!!!

Mass on Sunday is at 11am. All are welcome. There will be no Holy Half-Hour on Tuesday during the half-term.

Mr Ronan Lavery, Chaplain

Library News

Have a great half term and don’t forget to keep reading!

If you are in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, Waterstones have a special author event on in the afternoon with David Walliams speaking and signing books. Head to their website for more details.

Ms Jan Blagden, Librarian

Photo of the Week

Photo of the week comes from Mrs Bowles, with her picture of the wisteria that features on the side of the chapel.

We've also received a bonus photo from Mrs Misiewicz, titled 'what to do with the first prize basket from the quiz?'!

We would love to receive submissions for future 'photo of the week' stories, particularly if anyone is doing anything exciting over the upcoming half term break. Please send your chosen photos to jtompsett@mayfieldgirls.org.