E-weekly Issue 307 - 4 July 2025

Welcome

I have written an end of term letter to express my gratitude to the whole community for a wonderful academic year. It also contains some key updates and dates for the Autumn term so please do make sure you give it a read. It has been a wonderful final day encompassing more award giving, fun games, time spent with friends and teachers and of course our sponsored walk (pictured above). We are hopeful that we will reach the target needed to refurbish the Hub so please know it is not too late to help.

Donate here

Finally, I thought the best video to send out this week was the one from Mayfield Day. I hope you enjoy watching our round up of 24-25.

Have a wonderful summer.

Mrs Deborah Bligh, Headmistress

In the News This Week...

Year 9 WW1 Battlefields Trip 2025

In over a decade of running this trip I have never experienced such sweltering heat, with temperatures pushing 40 degrees in France and Belgium. We were very grateful our first day's visits were mostly underground, with a fantastic tour around the tunnels at Vimy Ridge, and an immersive audio-visual experience in the cool caverns of the Wellington Quarry, helping us to learn more about the Battle of Arras in 1917. 

On Tuesday we headed to Ypres in Belgium for a day focussed on the Battle of Passchendaele (where most people’s perception of waterlogged battlefields and mud-filled trenches is founded). Mr Warren and Mr Ferguson guided the group around the museum, including a visit to the dugout experience and reconstructed trenches. We then sought out some shade at the sombre German military cemetery at Langemarck; and compared it to the brighter and more positive tone of the British equivalent at Lijssenthoek. After some time resting with a cool drink in the beautiful gardens of Talbot House, we headed into Ypres town for a lovely meal and obligatory visit to the famous chocolate shop. Purses lightened, we finished the day at the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate where Rose, Be, Emma and Lucy laid a wreath on behalf of the School during the poignant ceremony, which to our surprise also saw a visiting choir perform a beautiful rendition of Be Thou My Vision, our school hymn. 

After a late return to the Chateau the night before, we enjoyed some time on site on day three, with girls enjoying the low ropes and obstacle courses. It was lovely to see the girls working together and cheering each other on in the usual Mayfield way. A brief shopping excursion in the afternoon enabled some retail therapy, before the evening activities which afforded the opportunity for group bonding. 

On Thursday we resumed our History work on the Somme, following the events of the fateful first day of the battle back on the 1st July 1916. Our visit to the Lochnagar crater opened girls’ eyes to the tremendous explosive power unleashed during the conflict, before we traced the footsteps on the Newfoundland regiment as they ‘went over the top’ and crossed into ‘No Man’s Land’; most never to return. We concluded the morning at Thiepval memorial with an opportunity to pause and reflect on the sacrifice of all those lost in war - a perfect way to end the battlefield tour. 

A huge thank you to Mr Ferguson, Mrs Testa and Miss Auer for their fantastic support on the trip. 

Mr Warren, Head of History

Silver Duke of Edinburgh Assessed Expedition

Fifteen Year 10 students took on the challenge of their Silver Duke of Edinburgh assessed expedition from Wednesday to Friday this week in the stunning South Downs. Over three days, the girls walked up to 18km a day in 25°C heat, carrying full expedition rucksacks, and camped for two nights—showing remarkable resilience, teamwork and endurance throughout.

From navigating rolling hills to surviving an encounter with some very persistent ducks at the second campsite, the group took every challenge in their stride. The first night was spent camping in a quarry, where the girls were treated to the sight of bats swooping overhead at dusk. A real highlight came on the second evening, with a joyful campfire complete with marshmallows, singing and storytelling. Mr Smith impressed everyone with his whittling skills, crafting a spoon, knife and fork from wood gathered along the way!

We are incredibly proud of all the girls for their spirit, determination and good humour. A huge thank you to the brilliant staff team who made this expedition possible: Mr Glazebrook, Mr Marshall, Mr Smith, Dr Turner, Mr Adams, Mrs Jones and Mrs Waddell. What an unforgettable adventure!

Mr Stevie Partington, Interim Leader of Duke of Edinburgh

Year 8 Psychology Cross-Curricular Day

On Wednesday Year 8 pupils enjoyed Mayfield’s Psychology Day, providing a fun and interactive way to explore the brain and human behaviour.

We investigated explanations of optical illusions, a debunking of myths of the brain and discovered the importance of sleep for healthy brain function. No-one wanted to beat the world record of 11 days without sleep!

In the carousel sessions pupils could analyse their handwriting, discuss moral dilemmas and challenge their brain through mirror drawing, solving brain teasers and completing the Stroop Test.

The highlight of the day was our special guest, the illusionist Adam Smith (not to be confused with Mayfield’s Head of Physics!). He very generously shared some of the ‘tricks’ of his trade showing the role of psychology in misdirection and ‘magic’.

Many thanks to Year 8 for their enthusiasm and excitement throughout the day!

Miss Charmaine Noyes, Head of Psychology

Year 7's Hidden Leaders Day

On Wednesday, Hidden Leaders came in to deliver a fun-filled day of teambuilding activities for Year 7 pupils. The day started with an improvisation workshop in which the girls performed wildly creative stories. Cryptic Clue Chase followed, with orienteering shortly after that. This latter activity involved the girls collecting materials for the final part of the day - an egg drop! In small groups, the girls created contraptions with the intentions of protecting a raw egg as it was launched from a high window. Many thanks to Mr Blaxall, Mr Colquhoun, Ms Demetriou and Ms McFadyean for accompanying the girls.

Mr Daniel Smith, Head of Lower School

Year 10 Offer Community Service in 'Actions Not Words' Day

On Thursday, almost sixty Year 10 girls from Mayfield School took our school motto, “Actions Not Words”, inspired by Cornelia Connelly, to heart in a remarkable afternoon dedicated to serving the local community. 

After learning about Cornelia Connelly’s legacy of compassion and action, the students split into groups to carry out meaningful acts of service in our community. Each initiative reflected the spirit of generosity and gratitude that defines our school ethos. 

Some of our fantastic Year 10 girls performed to an audience of residents from Rotherfield St Martin's, a local charity supporting isolated individuals. The girls hosted a delightful musical soirée, complete with tea and cake, lovingly collected and delivered by our wonderful school bus driver. The event brought joy and connection to those who often spend their days alone, with Tilly playing 'In the Mood' and 'Pink Panther', songs from Jasmine, Eva, Inaya and some duets from Pippa and Eva, Amelie and Elsie and a piano piece by Hannah. 

The girls finished with Tilly and Nana, performing 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'. Finally, we all had a sing-along to 'The Sound of Music' & 'The Hippopotamus Song'.

It was a lovely afternoon of performances, with tea and cake. Everyone from Rotherfield St Martin's really enjoyed the afternoon and have asked when they can come again!

A second group made a significant donation to the local foodbank, using funds they had thoughtfully collected to purchase the items most urgently needed. Their contribution will help support families facing food insecurity in our area. 

Another team, led by Mr Walser, headed to Buxted Park, where they assisted the grounds team with maintenance tasks. This was a heartfelt gesture of thanks, as the park has generously hosted us for some Cricket training this term. 

Mr Meek led a team of staff and students to St Dunstan’s Churchyard, where they joined local volunteers in tidying and maintaining the grounds. Their efforts helped preserve the beauty and serenity of this cherished community space. 

Each of these small acts of service made a real and lasting impact, not only on those who received help, but also on the students themselves, who experienced first-hand the power of giving back. 

We are incredibly proud of our Year 10 girls for living out our motto with such heart and commitment. Their actions speak volumes, and they have truly made a difference. 

Mrs Georgina Fletcher, Director of Partnerships and Outreach 

Year 12 Relax with Pottery and Fishing

Year 12 had a fun day of bonding and trying something new! Getting together to paint pottery at Slap n Dash was a great way to wind down and catch up with peers as the year draws to a close. The fishing at the pretty Hawkhurst Fish Farm was also a hit, well done to Group 2 who caught three fish - way to go Mrs Stone!

Mrs Rachel Davies, Deputy Head of Sixth Form

An Emergence of Budding Teachers in Year 9 Maths!

Over the past two weeks, Year 9 have worked on a project on flipped learning with Angles in parallel lines and Angles in polygons. Their focus was on presenting the theory in front of the class, then having them attempt and solve questions from the Intermediate Maths Challenge. There was definitely a buzz in the room, some of them showing great potential for the teaching profession!

Mrs Lavinia Motoc, Teacher of Mathematics

Year 10 Experience Regency Life

Year 10 girls who have been studying Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' have recreated the Regency period recently, with bonnets and gloves, calligraphy, and dancing. Thanks to dancing mistress, Regency expert and librarian Ms Blagden, they are all quickly becoming accomplished young ladies.

Miss Joanna Staunton, Head of English

Year 12 Psychologists Enjoy Afternoon Lecture

Year 12 Psychology students were incredibly fortunate to attend an afternoon lecture delivered by Professor Christine Simmonds-Moore from the University of West Georgia. The students enjoyed an engaging lecture on aspects of Anomalistic Psychology and the science behind extraordinary experiences such as Extra Sensory Perception. We may not have found evidence of ESP in the class but the process involved in such investigations were evaluated with some excellent comments and questions. Professor Simmonds-Moore was very impressed with the critical thinking of our students. She also commented on the wonderful ambience of Mayfield and how she would love to teach here!

Miss Charmaine Noyes, Head of Psychology

Sports News

Apex Cricket Festival at Millfield
The U15s travelled up to Millfield school on Sunday for the inaugural Apex Cricket festival. With Sir Andrew Strauss and Ebony Rainford Brent MBE being ambassadors for the festival, it was always going to be a big event, and we were delighted and honoured to have been invited to compete against county select 11s, the MCC and big Cricketing schools such as Millfield and Scarborough.

Whilst we didn’t win a game, the girls should be incredibly proud of what they achieved last week. There were batting skill sessions led by Andrew Strauss and Mark Garaway (Head of Cricket at Millfield), seam bowling led by Steffan Jones and ashes winner Simon Jones and some spin bowling led by Mark O’Leary, Max Waller and Esther de Lange. There were also fielding and wicket keeping sessions led by Paul Nixon and Will Lintern.

Away from the Cricket, there were talks around mindset, well-being and personal development, and socials where the girls could get to know people from up and down the country as well as from overseas. The girls even challenged a group of boys to a game of Football!

Some special mentions must go to Flo who hit 35 against the eventual winners (a Somerset XI), Claudia who hit 17 against Millfield and Maggie who finished joint second wicket taker in the girls competition, but also to all the girls who contributed to some brilliant moments of fielding throughout the festival, fully embraced the event and made it an incredible few days. Darcey, Eliza and Erin summed up the trip in their own words below:

"Over the last few exciting days we have been at the Apex Cricket Festival. Though the standard was very high we learnt a lot and improved as the tournament went on. Moving away from the cricket and on to the excitement, we started our first day off the cricket pitch and on the football pitch. Do not worry, we came out victorious with only a little bit of help from Millfield students. We had many different talks, even one from an ex-army pilot which influenced us to watch Top Gun Maverick, and we can't forget about the snacks!

After our first cricket match of day two, tensions were high as we played a very high stakes game in the boarding house where we all had lots of fun and laughter. Our second game was against Millfield girls - unlike any other cricket match it had a speaker which brought the vibes and high spirits. We had lots of fun choosing music to walk on and off to and then ended the day with a nice team bonding over some lasagne and brownies.

On the third day we only had one match followed by some skills sessions. We did some bowling where we got to see how fast we bowled and learn how to bowl different balls when necessary in a match. Here we made friends with other teams who we then saw at the social later that night. At the social there were lots of activities and a DJ. We ate lots of Japanese food, and afterwards we came back to the boarding house and enjoyed a nice relaxed game of cards and a cup of tea. A night we won't forget!"

Staff v Parents Cricket
Last Friday saw the annual Staff v Parents Cricket take place. After the game was rearranged due to bad weather, the numbers weren’t as big as previously, however we managed to get a full T20 game played. The parents batted first and hit 185 from their 20 overs after some impressive power hitting.

The staff’s run chase never properly got going and after a few quick wickets, the total looked too far away. Mrs Nixon’s very impressive 21 was in vain as the parents prevailed with a 100 run victory. As always, a huge thank you to everyone who signed up to play and made the game competitive but played in good spirits. The parents go 3-1 up in the series. Until next year!

Thank You
The PE department would like to thank the girls for the continued hard work, effort and commitment to Mayfield Sport in what has been a brilliant year.

We wish everyone a lovely restful summer and look forward to welcoming you back in September to hit the ground running.

Year 10 Enjoy Action-Packed Cultural Day

As part of Activities Week, 65 Year 10 students enjoyed an action-packed Cultural Day on Wednesday 2^nd July, celebrating the richness of different cultures through music, food, games, and craft.

The day began with a high-energy Flamenco workshop, led by Ana Dueñas from Academia Flamenca in Brighton. The girls learned to dance key flamenco steps such as the marcaje and llamada, along with the rhythmic hand-clapping known as palmas sordas. Ana also encouraged the girls to adopt confident posture and self-belief — both essential for Flamenco dancing and for life! By the end of the workshop, the students performed a choreographed dance to traditional Flamenco music, feeling a real sense of pride and achievement.

From dancing to cooking, the girls put their culinary skills to the test by preparing Pisto Manchego, a delicious tomato and vegetable dish from Spain's La Mancha region. The activity was a great success — and so was the tasting! The girls enjoyed eating their Pisto served on toasted bread, embracing the Spanish tapas tradition.

Next came the ever-popular Pétanque tournament, introducing the students to this traditional French game. After mastering the rules and techniques, the girls enthusiastically competed to land their boules as close as possible to the cochonnet (the jack — literally translated as "piglet"). The friendly rivalry led to quarter-finals and semi-finals, with sweet prizes awarded to the best teams.

The afternoon brought more creative fun as the girls learned to play drums with Mrs Le Riche in the Music Department, adding rhythm and energy to the day. Meanwhile, Miss Juliet Alcaraz guided them through making beautiful friendship bracelets, and Mr Tim Rees-Moorlah introduced the art of crafting origami cranes.

It was a fantastic day enjoyed by all, offering the girls the opportunity to explore new skills, build confidence, and appreciate different cultures.

Sra Maria Criado, Head of Spanish

A Galloping Success: Annual Prep Schools Equestrian Afternoon 

Despite the scorching summer sun, on Monday afternoon, our annual Prep Schools Equestrian Afternoon was a resounding success, filled with excitement, skill, and spirited competition. Five schools entered for an afternoon of show jumping, teamwork, and fun, and the atmosphere was electric from start to finish. 

The team competition proved to be a nail-biter, with Skippers Hill School narrowly edging out Holmewood House by less than two seconds in a thrilling finish. The standard of riding was incredibly high, and we were truly impressed by the jumping skills and sportsmanship displayed by all the young competitors. 

“It was so exciting! I was really nervous before my round, but once I started jumping, I just focused and had fun,” said one young rider from Holmewood House. 

After the main events, everyone enjoyed a well-earned break with tea and ice creams, before the much-anticipated Hobby Horse Competition began. This light-hearted event brought smiles all around and even featured a water hose - much to the delight of participants and spectators. 

A huge thank you goes to our dedicated equestrian team for their meticulous planning and preparation, ensuring the event ran smoothly. We are also grateful to St John Ambulance for being on hand, and to our wonderful girls who not only competed but also helped tirelessly in the very hot sun to make the afternoon such a memorable occasion. 

“It was a brilliant afternoon so well organised and full of joy. Thank you to everyone who made it happen,” said a visiting parent. 

We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year for another fantastic day of equestrian fun! 

Mrs Georgina Fletcher, Director of Partnerships and Outreach 

Delicious Offerings in Food and Nutrition

For the final lesson of the year, Year 8 planned a group buffet. The aim was to work collaboratively to produce a buffet to share as an end of year celebration, showcasing many of the skills and techniques from this year's practical work. This included scones, tray bakes, pizzas, sausage rolls, samosas. 

Middle School Cooking Club finished their year with seasonal Strawberry Shortcakes, perfect for watching a bit of Wimbledon! 

Mrs Sue Smeaton, Head of Food and Nutrition

Year 9 'Shakespeare Off by Heart' Competition

Congratulations to all the Year 9 who took part in our Shakespeare Off by Heart final last Friday!

This was the culmination of all pupils forming their groups, choosing their scenes from Shakespeare’s canon then learning the lines and rehearsing. The challenge was to bring their characters to life; act with expression; bring meaning to the verse to better understand the plays and to engage an audience.

Mr Doy was our judge and he was impressed by the girls' understanding of their characters and creative staging of a really interesting range of scenes – dramatic and comedic.

There had to be winners and here they are:

Best Group
Issy, Emmi and Amelia as Dogberry, Verges and Leonato from ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.
Runner Up
Katherine, Nicole, Mollie and Nataliia as Silvius, Phoebe, Orlando and Rosalind from ‘As You Like It’.

Best Actor
Rose for her performance of Margaret from ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.
Runners Up
Livia as Ariel from ‘The Tempest’
Millie as Mercutio from ‘Romeo and Juliet’

Mrs Jane Leslie, Teacher of English

Year 10 Sleepover in St Michael's House

Our Year 10 boarders who are moving in Year 11 to St Michael’s came over this week for a taster sleepover on Tuesday evening. They got to explore the house in order to get used to their new surroundings. As it was on the hottest day of the year, we decided to play our game outside on the Chapel Lawn to help keep us cool. A quick game of ‘friend – speed dating’ where they had to ask each other certain questions in the space of three minutes and then get tested on it. They all passed with flying colours! I, however, still have some to learn about them. They then got to spend the night in their new boarding house along with their new breakfast routine. Hopefully this helps with their transition to their new boarding house.

Mrs Helen Lavery, St Michael's Housemistress

Gabs Boarders Enjoy Laser Tag at Bewl Water

On Saturday 28^th June, our Year 9 and 10 boarders enjoyed an action-packed trip to Bewl Water for an exciting game of laser tag. The girls threw themselves into the challenge with enthusiasm and energy, with fierce – but (mostly!) friendly – competition between the year groups. After three thrilling games, Year 10 narrowly claimed victory over Year 9 in the final showdown!

The afternoon was rounded off with well-deserved ice creams and treats in the sunshine, making the most of the beautiful lakeside setting. A fantastic day and the perfect way to wrap up our boarding activities for the academic year!

Mrs Emily Woodfield, Teacher of Physics

Year 12 Enjoy Personal Statement Workshop

The feedback from the session was positive, with students commenting: "Very helpful and really allowed me to highlight key areas that I need to work on". 

Mrs Rachel Davies, Deputy Head of Sixth Form

Announcements from the Drama and Music Departments

LAMDA
LAMDA exams are qualifications in speech and drama offered by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. They range from basic entry levels to Grade 8, with UCAS points available for higher grades. The examinations are held at Mayfield School in March and November and are designed to help learners gain confidence and experience in speech, communication, and performance.

Our LAMDA results at Mayfield are consistently high – in March all students passed with distinction. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Miss Allen, Music & Drama Administrator (rallen@mayfieldgirls.org).

Next Year's School Production
We are thrilled to announce that our whole school musical performed at Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells in February 2026 will be….

DISNEY’S BEAUTY & THE BEAST: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL

This production is open to all girls in Years 7-13 and we warmly invite all students who are interested to come along to the launch meeting in September. There will be opportunities to get involved as a performer, musician, or backstage assistant – all are welcome.

Auditions will be held for students who want to try for a leading role on Wednesday 3^rd/ Thursday 4^th/ Friday 5^th September. Please email rallen@mayfieldgirls.org or vnash@mayfieldgirls.org to express your interest in taking part in the production so that we can send you audition information. We can’t wait to start the rehearsals!

Ms Victoria Nash, Director of Drama & Media and Mr Theo Frazer, Director of Music

Calling All Budding Geographers!

There are a number of Geography competitions currently running which you may be interested in. If you enter, please send Mr Adams a copy of your entry – house points available! 

Geographical Association Geographical Model Making Competition 
Theme: Sustainability action in my local area 
Age: Years 7-9
Closing Date: 31^st July

Geographical Model Making Competition - Geographical Association 

Geographical Association Physical Geography Student Competition 
Theme: Earthshapes 
Age: All year groups
Closing Date: 30^th September

Physical geography student photo competition - Geographical Association 

Royal Geographical Society Young Geographer of the Year 
Theme: Understanding Islands
Age: All year groups
Closing Date: 3^rd October 

Young Geographer of the Year - RGS 

One of our OCs, Annabel Quill (2024) won this competition in 2023!

Royal Geographical Society/Financial Times School Essay Competition 
Question: What are the implications for different countries of international trade policies in the contemporary world? 
Age: Years 12-13 (academic year 25-26)
Closing date: 31^st October

School Essay Competition - RGS 

Good luck to all who enter one or more of the above.

Postcards!
The Geography department are always interested in seeing where people have visited over the summer. Please send any postcards or emails (with photos) and we’ll add these to the Geography boards in the corridor in September. 

Mayfield Village Summer Fair