Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you've had a great week.
A busy term has started well at KAR; the students have returned fantastically, and, of course, the good weather has helped create a positive atmosphere around the school.
We were delighted to see our school recognised in the local press as the joint 3rd best school in Sussex. We recognise that there are many ways to assess school performance, and this ranking reflects just one perspective. That said, it’s always encouraging to see the hard work of our staff and students acknowledged in a positive light.
Recognition like this reflects the dedication, commitment, and passion that our entire school community brings every day. From our talented students to our supportive families and exceptional staff, this work is very much a collective one. It is always positive to be recognised alongside so many other schools across the region working hard for our children. The article is here:
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/26031855.sussexs-best-schools-ranked-schools-guide/
Assemblies for Years 7–11 this week have focused on supporting student wellbeing, led by Ms Malik and Ms Burch. As a school, we continue to prioritise wellbeing both through targeted pastoral support and within our curriculum, ensuring students are equipped with the tools and understanding to look after themselves and others.
Our Year 11's are now in the final push towards exams, with some exams already done! We wish them every success as they start the full round of exams from next week. I am extremely proud of all their hard work. The students have conducted themselves in a calm, purposeful and focused manner; it has been encouraging to see them attending their exams and preparation sessions with such a positive mindset. Hundreds of intervention sessions have been attended across the year group, so I also thank teachers and staff for providing this support. As they now enter the exam season, the hard work continues before their celebration at the end-of-year Prom.
A group of Year 8 students visited Mays Farm in Ringmer as part of a Pilot Farm School Twinning project. They represented the school exceptionally well, demonstrating maturity, curiosity and respect throughout the visit. The project, funded by the local Food Partnership Trust, is being evaluated by the University of Sussex to understand its impact on students. During the visit, students explored food production, the connection between farming and consumption, animal care, sustainability, and land management. This was the first of four planned visits across the seasons this year.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Best wishes,
Mr Harvey
Principal
Design Technology Department – Year 8
Year 8 have been learning about Art Nouveau and the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Using their research, they designed their own CAD design to go onto their own LED light, of which they soldered their own circuit. Lots of happy faces and superb outcomes! Well done year 8!
Farm twinning Visit – 21 April 2026
Ten students from year 8 visited Mays Farm in Ringmer as part of a Pilot Farm School Twinning project. The project has been funded by the local Food Partnership Trust and as this is a pilot project, the University of Sussex is recording the impact of the visit on the students.
The visit has been designed so that students are able to learn about food production and link farming with food consumption. They will learn about the roles of animals in farming, animal care, sustainability, nature and land management. This was the first of 4 planned visits to take place over the 4 seasons this year.
We walked to the farm from the school, which took just under 20 minutes across built on green field, arable land and a small lane to the farm. Maxine from Mays farm and Jo from LEAF (Liking Environment and Farming) conducted a very educational session over the course of the morning giving students the opportunity to handle and learn about different elements in food production and farming, including biosafety, collecting eggs, feeding the chickens, seeing a broody hen sitting on eggs and experiencing seeing a chick trying to break out of its shell. The students experienced feeding an orphan calf and learnt how the cows breed on this farm. We had a good look at a pygmy goat which was a little boisterous so we were unable to handle it. We helped Maxine plant out her courgette plants and test the PH level of the soil. We will be visiting again in the late summer to see how things have changed and grown. Students looked the part in newly acquired wellies and waterproofs kindly donated by the Ernest Cook Trust.
Mrs Simon-House and Mrs Budd
Art Department – Old magazine requests
If anyone has any old magazines, on any subject, we would love them in school!
The Art Department uses images for collage, doodling, printing, origami and many more activities. There are also several other areas in the school which use magazines for projects throughout the year, including Eco and welfare. Please drop anything you have in to Reception. Many thanks
Art Department
We were blown away by these amazing Tim Burton inspired charcoal, chalk and pastel portraits by Year 7 students, who recently completed a Fantastic & Strange series of lessons. Using dice, they drew different features for each number thrown and added shading and detail. What a superb display!
LOS Musical Theatre – auditions for children aged over 8 years old
LOS MUSICAL THEATRE is producing the epic Joseph and the Amazing Technicoloured Dream coat to be performed in September/October 2026 in Lewes Town Hall, and we are looking for 10 children aged over 8 years old to be part of this production.
They are launching the show on Thursday the 30th April at St Mary’s Social Centre, Lewes at 7pm with workshops for dance and music the following week.
Auditions are on the 9th and 10th May.
They rehearse on Monday and Thursday evenings and then some weekends in August and September. For more information, visit: losmusicaltheatre.org.uk or email: joseph@losmt.org.uk
Information for families – new facebook page run by Children’s Services Customer Relations Team
The page shares information on free or discounted events in East Sussex. It also shares and raises awareness of sessions run by the Family Hubs. It is updated and monitored daily and is available to view at Information For Families East Sussex | Lewes and on the ESCC website.
We have been asked by ESCC to share this page with our families to provide up-to-date information on events and sessions available at no cost or at discounted prices. This would be especially helpful for lower-income families and those seeking enrichment ideas for their children outside school hours, including during the summer holidays.
Create Summer Music Academy
Sign up here for your child to take part in workshops and courses that suit their skills and work with new people!
https://createmusic.org.uk/for-children-and-young-people/create-music-academy-2026/
Corelli Ensemble Seaford Concert - Vivaldi's Four Seasons live performance!
Tickets for students £5 only. Come along for an hour and watch Ms Urquhart playing bass!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/corelli-ensemble-gala-concert-tickets-1563328320089?aff=oddtdtcreator
Get Ready for the Bake Off at Plumpton College – Saturday 9 May 2026
Competition is open to all Year 9s and 10s.
Volunteering opportunity for students in their local library this summer – minimum age for the role is 13 years
This is a great opportunity for students to gain customer service skills as they experience working in an interesting, lively environment, interacting with the public – both children and adults.
ESCC has received very positive feedback from students that volunteered previously – including an increase in confidence and a renewed love of books and reading!
The minimum age for the role is 13 years. See the poster on how to apply below.
Mindfulness Pony Days
Due to the brilliant success of their Easter Mindfulness Pony Days, Your Space Therapies Limited are very pleased to offer 2 events during the May half term.
Please see the flyer and the booking links below
28th May- Mindfulness Pony Day
29th May- Mindfulness Pony Day
