E-weekly Issue 308 - 5 September 2025

Welcome

Please enjoy these photos of some of the summer refurbishments that took place across the school.

In the News This Week...

Aim Higher Assembly – An Inspirational Start to the Term

The speaker’s message resonated strongly with our values, reminding students that setbacks are stepping stones and that determination and self-belief are key to achieving their goals.

One student shared, “It really made me think about what I want to achieve this year and gave me the confidence to believe I can do it.” Another added, “I left feeling motivated and ready to work hard this term.”

It was a truly uplifting way to begin the new term and set a positive tone for the weeks ahead.

Dr Angeline Kasina, Life Skills and Personal Development Leader

Sports News

Pre-Season Hockey
As ever the Sports Department has hit the ground running this term. We started our Hockey season with the senior pre-season hockey session, which took on a different format this year and was based on connection and being part of a bigger squad, which is so important when we look at teamwork and understanding each other.

The day started with a Sports Psychology talk from Sarah Murray, from Performance Edge, some pre-season fitness with Mrs Jones and some conditioned Hockey games using some MatchPlay cards , from 'The Coaching Lab', and a further full-sided game. Then we took the girls to  the Escape Rooms at Clue Cracker in Tunbridge Wells before ending a very full and active day with a well deserved pizza! The students were magnificent and we are looking forward to the term ahead.

Lily's Outstanding Sporting Achievements
Lily in Year 11 has had a phenomenal summer of sport! Not only was she selected as Vice-Captain of the U15 London Pulse Academy Squad, which secured third place at the National Super League Academy Championships in August, but she has also recently been selected for the U17 London Pulse Academy Squad for the 2025/2026 season.

We are incredibly proud of her tenacity, relentless training in pursuit of her passion, and her ability to maintain excellent academic performance alongside these achievements. Lily is truly a remarkable role model for our school community!

Emilia Enjoys Busy Skiing Summer
Emilia in Year 10 has spent much of the summer away, training with her ski team in France, Netherlands and Chile in preparation for her upcoming events.

We have other competitive skiers in the school too and Mayfield are looking forward to entering a team at an indoor ski race at Chatham on Sunday 21^st September and hopefully one in Milton Keynes on Sunday 28^th September too. If there are any budding skiers in the school, please let Miss Petty know.

Activities Fair 2025

Girls in all years had the opportunity to find out about the wide range of fantastic activities on offer at the annual activities fair held on Tuesday. There was a great buzz at the event and excitement by all year groups to find out about the Co-Curricular activities on offer.

The girls found their curiosity being answered with STEM clubs such as Lower School Science and electronics, to the new HPQ, which is a version of the EPQ that many of our Sixth Form students complete. Creative activities once again proved popular whether artistic, musical or drama. With the cast to soon be picked for this years’ school musical there were lots of questions for the Drama department!

Community spirit is always captured through clubs such as Model United Nations (MUN) and the range of chaplaincy opportunities. Lots of different clubs that encourage the girls to be active are taking place, whether competitive such as Football or one of the new activities being introduced this term, a beginners’ ballet class. There really was something for everyone!

Mrs Julia Jones, Director of Staff & Student Operations

Meet the Teachers Event

Please join us on Monday 8th September in the concert hall from 6-7pm to welcome and speak to our new teaching staff; they are looking forward to meeting parents and guardians and sharing their vision for the coming year.

Mr Theo Frazer - Director of Music
Mrs Fiona Jones - Director of Boarding, Housemistress of St Dunstan's House and Teacher of PE (Swimming Leader)
Mr Chris Stowell - Head of Religious Studies
Miss Imogen Hunte - Assistant Housemistress of Leeds House and Head of Dance
Mr Chris Ansette - Head of Mathematics

Parents and guardians are also invited to join us for the following information evenings:

Monday 8^th September, 18:30 - Year 9 academic information evening
Thursday 11^th September, 18:45 - Virtual Life Skills information evening
Monday 15^th September, 18:30 - Year 7 & 8 new parents' information evening
Tuesday 16^th September, 18:30 - Year 13 parents' UCAS information evening
Wednesday 24^th September, 18:30 - Year 11 parents' Sixth Form information evening

Save the Date - Michaelmas Fair 2025

Careers Fair - Wednesday 1^st October

Visit by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Over the summer break on Friday 18^th July we were delighted to welcome some 22 members of the Sussex branch of SPAB to Mayfield's Old Palace for a talk and tour by Dr Joanna Weddell, Head of History of Art.

After coffee, Dr Weddell gave a talk on the history of the Old Palace of the Archbishop's, through its transformation to an Elizabethan courtier house for financier Sir Thomas Gresham, time as a picturesque gothic ruin in the 18^th century and restoration as a convent and School by Cornelia and the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. We took a leisurely tour to study the ancient Chapel, the old Archbishop's lodgings, Elizabethan changes and Victorian additions.

Joining the group were Chief Executive of the Society, Matthew Slocombe, Senior Membership Manager, Dr Michael Nelles, OC and historic buildings surveyor Claire Brown, and the School's own conservation architects, Jonathan Cerowski and Heather Cerowski. It was a pleasure to welcome such an expert group as observant eyes spotted many details of interest, prompting animated discussions on the finer points of architectural evolution. 

SPAB's Sussex organiser, Ashley Brown commented that the visit was exceptional and that this important building was in good hands, while Dr Nelles found the visit fascinating as the great research in the talk underscored the star features seen on the tour. The Society kindly made a donation to the Chapel Repair Fund for the visit.

For Mayfield parents interested in historic architecture and wanting to know more about the work of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the technical advice it offers homeowners, specialist training for heritage conservation professionals, and exclusive events for members, SPAB is offering an exclusive time-limited membership offer using this discount code, live until 22^nd September: MAYFIELD25.

Visit their website

Parental Survey Feedback and School Priorities

Thank you to those who took the time to complete the parental surveys towards the latter part of last academic year. They were overwhelmingly positive and a joy to read. You also gave us some excellent ideas for further development which were included in our planning meetings in the summer term and helped us form our school priorities for this academic year.

In particular you encouraged us to look at revitalising the House system, deepening connection between home and your daughter's tutor, continued enhancement of our sports offer and facilities and continuing on our journey to improved communication. 

We are looking forward to further developing these areas alongside our other school priorities, which are detailed below. 

Mayfield School Strategy 2024-2027

Save the Date: Parent Consultation, Thursday 11^th September

A reminder that our Life Skills & RSHE Policy Updates online consultation will take place on Thursday 11^th September at 18:45–19:30.

This is an important opportunity to share your thoughts and help shape the way we support every Mayfield girl’s personal, social, and emotional development while staying true to our Catholic ethos.

Full details, including how to join the session, can be found in the letter sent to parents on 1^st September.

Calling All Budding Photographers!

Are you a keen photographer? You have the opportunity to enter the Girls School Association photography competition. The theme is "A Bright and Brave Future" for all girls. It would be great to have some Mayfield winners. The deadline is Friday 12^th September.

For further details, please see the link below:

Photography Competition - More Information

Mrs Rachel Davies, Head of Careers

Chaplaincy News

This is a very exciting weekend for many reasons - of course it's going to be hugely exciting to bring our new boarding community together with the parish community to celebrate Mass; of course it's exciting to allow ourselves to wonder what next week will bring, as we continue to get to know each other, as the ECA programme kicks into gear, as we begin to put names to faces, and develop and strengthen friendships; it's exciting to look to the future with hope...

It's also a very exciting weekend as this Sunday, Pope Leo will beatify two new saints - Pier Giorgio Frasatti, and Carlo Acutis.

Pier Giorgio was known for his deep faith and his devotion to serving the poor. Saint (as of Sunday!) Carlo, died of Leukaemia at age 15. Despite his tragically short lifespan, he left a lasting impact on the world. His simple holiness, his prayerfulness and his desire to lead people to God made, and continue to make, a huge difference to people; especially young people, and especially those who feel lost and directionless.

We'll be celebrating Carlo's (and Pier's) canonisation at Mass on Sunday morning at 11am. Please feel free to join us. Also in honour of Saint Carlo, we will begin the following Novena* prayer at our morning prayer on Monday - 8:10am in the chapel. Once again, everyone is very welcome to join us!

Have a lovely weekend, and please remember my door is always open.

God bless,

Ronan

*A Novena is a prayer, or set of prayers, prayed every day for nine days.