Closer to home, students spent the day at Piddinghoe Water sports or took part in a beautiful walk along the Cuckmere Valley and Friston Forest. The cyclists even took their mountain bikes up to the South Downs and completed a 16-mile circuit!!

 
On site at PCS the fun didn't stop either. From crochet to sewing, from woodwork to cooking, from music to reading a book, there was something for everyone. For those who enjoy sport, much fun was had playing football, table tennis, or participating in multi sports. We had our own Alan Sugar delivering The Apprentice and lots of students demonstrated great teamwork skills by playing board games.

 
Some of our students were part of some fantastic community events, we invited students from our local primary schools to PCS and PCS students were their 'teachers for the day'.

Other students visited Downlands Court and spent a morning sharing life experiences with the elderly residents. For those of you who use The Joff, you will soon be able to marvel at the new graffiti artwork that adorns the corridors thanks to the work of some of our year 7 & 8 students.

Roll on day 2!

After a pleasant journey, we arrived, unpacked and went off to meet our instructors for the week. The evening consisted of some football, the cinema and a meet and greet disco, at which we all had a blast.

Monday we awoke raring to go for our morning run or swim. The sea was fresh and certainly woke us up.

We had a brilliant day walking around the grounds of Wimbledon, watching many exciting matches from the Juniors championship round 16, a mixture of men’s and women’s singles and doubles matches, and even sitting on the famous Murray’s mound!

On Thursday 3rd July, PCS Year 9 science students enjoyed a day of investigating the fascinating workings of the brain at the University of Sussex.

Pupils were introduced to the study of the brain, including investigating sensation and touch, exploring how robotic limbs can be controlled by external nerve connections, and finding out just how optical illusions trick our brain.

Students also learnt about the wide variety of routes and roles in neuroscience for the years ahead, and enjoyed the chance to ask their questions about the brain.

Students spent the day learning about effective interview techniques and how to operate hi-tech recording equipment with industry professionals before getting stuck into discussions about the challenges that teenagers face day-to-day.

When Olivia E visited Meridian Primary school on Friday 19th June she captured the hearts of 75 children aged between 2 and 5. The children listened avidly to how the books that Olivia has written has turned her into a young author.

Inspired by the worlds of A.A Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh and Michael Bond's Paddington Bear, Olivia has written and illustrated 5 children's story books.

Olivia's stories are based on real-life teddy bears and the secret, magical adventures they get up to the moment the children leave the house. Just as Pooh and Paddington have distinct personalities, the bears in her stories have their own voices and journeys.

With hot weather warnings in place, East Sussex County Council has asked us to remind families about the importance of water safety. During periods of high temperatures, children, young people, and families may be seeking ways to cool down, so it is especially important to stay safe around water.

Please take extra care when entering rivers, lakes, or the sea. Sudden exposure to cold water can cause cold water shock, which may lead to gasping, loss of breathing control, and in some cases, drowning.

Please remember to:

• Avoid swimming in unsupervised rivers, lakes, or open water
• Always choose safe, supervised places to swim, such as lifeguarded beaches or swimming pools
• Never enter the water after consuming alcohol or drugs
• Check weather conditions, tides, and local safety advice before visiting coastal areas: weather, sea conditions and tide times
• In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you are deaf or have a speech impairment, you can send an emergency SMS

PCS students and staff would like to congratulate Sydney and recognise some of her recent achievements whilst playing for Peacehaven and Telscombe Football Club.

Sydney has helped Peacehaven u13 girls go from Division 1 to the Championship. She is also a very talented goalkeeper. Sydney helped her year 7 football team reach the finals by saving a penalty in the semi-final.

We are delighted to share news that Dan Keneally in Year 10 completed the London to Brighton bike ride on Sunday 21st June 2026 for the British Heart Foundation.

It was a tough day, especially with temperatures reaching 30 degrees. What an achievement it is to complete the 54 miles from Clapham Common to Brighton Seafront at such a young age.

Last Saturday, 13th June, Libby completed the Macmillan South Coast Mighty Hike. This ended up being 26.88 miles, with nearly 3000ft of elevation. She was confirmed as the youngest participant (14 is the minimum age requirement, and she turned 14 two weeks prior), and out of 1000 participants, she finished in the Top 20 Women.

Libby trained for nearly a year to complete the hike, and her commitment, resilience, and dedication has been unwavering.

He has also been the top goal scorer for 3 seasons for Sussex Sunday FA and this season mid-Sussex FA. He has scored 52 goals this season and received the Golden Boot from mid-Sussex second division.

During the last year Bobbie has qualified as a referee. He has since completed 50 games. He has covered Brighton district school's, Peacehaven FC games, mid-Sussex FA, Sussex FA and PCS school games. 

Maisie W - Commended for her performance of 'Russian Doll' by Rachel Rooney

Erin C - Commended for her performance of 'Dusting the Phone' by Jackie Kay

Emily C - Highly Commended for her performance of 'London' by William Blake

Aahan D and Kyle C - Highly Commended for their performance of 'Spellbound' by Emily Bronté

Our students came back each Monday during Creative Writing Club and dedicated an hour after school to learning their chosen poems from:
www.poetrybyheart.org.uk

Whether sprinting for the finish line, pushing for that extra centimetre in the long jump, or stepping in at the last minute to fill a gap in a relay team, our students gave it their absolute all. It was inspiring to see competitors digging deep, overcoming fatigue, and supporting one another with true sportsmanship, proving that every student who participated earned invaluable points for their house.

The standard of competition was exceptionally high this year, resulting in a staggering six school records being shattered across both track and field events. Bethan C - Year 10, showed elite speed and endurance on the track, incredibly breaking both the 100m and 400m school records in spectacular fashion. On the field, Mia dominated her event by breaking the Year 7 Girls Shot Putt record, marking a fantastic achievement for her first senior Sports Day.

Harvey B also rewrote the history books in the throws, putting on a powerhouse performance to break both the Year 7 Boys Javelin and Boys Discus records. To cap off an amazing few days of athletics, the Year 10 Girls Relay Team - Beth C, Millie C, Kaelin F and Emily J,  put on a masterclass in baton passing and sprinting to break the long-standing 4x100m Relay record.

If your child has participated in any activities that you would like us to share with the wider community we would love to hear from you.

Please send a write-up & photos to:
PCS-Studentachievement@swale.at

We had a seminar on 'university life' and how to create an arts portfolio at the University of Brighton before embarking on a tour of the creative degree shows, from illustration to textiles, game design and more.

The students were so engaged and loved seeing the breadth of subjects on offer at the University. Lots of them commented that it was so much better than they expected and that they would now consider the University route.

Following a short lunch break, we powered on to the Brighton museum and art gallery to view the 'Wildlife Photographer of the Year' exhibition, which was stunning and at times, very haunting. Our students were an absolute delight, they were polite and considerate to the public and showed enthusiasm at every turn.

Circles for Learning is a unique whole class or small group project that is focused on developing the five essential elements that enable positive foundations for mental health and wellbeing to develop; positive relationships, emotional literacy, self-awareness, skills for learning, and the brain, learning and behaviour.

The students loved the observation sessions and the chance to interact with a baby. These sessions provided an opportunity for the students to discuss the mother and baby dyad, observe dysregulation and co-regulation, reflect on their own experiences and feelings, and to explore the importance of relationships for helping us to feel safe.

The pace of early child development meant that rapid changes between sessions allowed the students to observe baby Charlie and Ashleigh’s relationship, how he sought connection with mum for validation, reassurance and comfort as he explored his expanding world. Ashleigh explained these transactions from her perspective. The students were able to comment on the dyad and increasingly with reflection of their own experiences.

As the project progressed the students appeared increasingly supportive and caring for each other, showing kindness and consideration when discussing big feelings and challenging thoughts. It was lovely to witness the students interacting with Charlie and expressing themselves with increased self-awareness, empathy and nascent self-compassion in the school setting.

Join us for live performances from our talented students, summer vibes and unforgettable memories before the holidays begin!

Wednesday 15 July, 5.30pm

SWALEFEAST 2026

Tuesday June 16th

Trust Event For Secondary:

SWALESPORT 2026

Tuesday June 23rd

The CTLA Charity is celebrating 30 years in the community. CTLA is an award-winning charity providing accessible, reliable transport for individuals, families and communities across the Lewes district and beyond.

On Sunday they became Sussex Champions with a 50-12 win and on Monday evening Archie ran out at the Stoop in Twickenham for the Harlequins Cup Final which they also won 67-17.

The Harlequin Cup was streamed on YouTube with NextGenLive
(11k views now) and Archie represented PCS to the highest standard. PCS was also mentioned on the stream when commentary talked about Archie.

We are writing to address recent news reports regarding a Meningitis B outbreak in the Kent area. We understand that some families may be concerned, and we want to provide clear, factual information to reassure our school community. 

Following Department for Education (DfE) guidance, it is business as usual at our school. All students should continue to attend school as normal.

Public health authorities, including the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, have confirmed that the risk to residents in Sussex remains very low.

- The outbreak is currently contained within specific areas of East Kent (primarily Canterbury).
- There are currently no recorded cases in East Sussex schools.

How the Virus Spreads

It is important to remember that the bacteria causing meningitis do not spread easily. Transmission usually requires close, prolonged contact (such as coughing, sneezing, or sharing drinks/vapes) rather than casual contact in a classroom or corridor.

Staying Informed and Alert

While the risk is low, we always encourage parents to remain vigilant regarding their child's health. Symptoms to Watch For: Please familiarise yourself with the signs of meningitis via the official NHS Meningitis Page. These can include a high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, or a rash that does not fade under a glass.

Official Sources: For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer directly to the UKHSA website rather than social media.

We are monitoring the situation closely and remain in contact with local health protection teams. If there are any changes to this guidance, we will update you immediately.

After a very early start, we arrived in a sun-drenched Oxford, an amazingly beautiful city. Our minibuses dropped us off just outside St John’s and we had a very brief stroll around the surrounding area before being met at the College by Megan, an ex-student of the University and our guide for the day.

Our day began with introductions and a very warm welcome (as well as drinks and snacks!) in one of the college halls and Megan gave us a really indepth and informative description of University life at Oxford. We had an opportunity to ask and answer questions and learnt a lot.

We then went for lunch in the refectory. It was such an incredible environment and the food was delicious, there was loads of it!

‘’On Wednesday 18th March, our Year 10 students enjoyed an enriching trip designed to
ignite a passion for languages and highlight the exciting transition to A-level studies. The event focused on the vital role of communication in a globalized world, offering a glimpse into professional pathways. A major highlight was meeting representatives from the European Commission, which provided invaluable insight into international relations.

The students truly rose to the challenge during an interpreting workshop, where they
practiced translating foreign speech into English in real-time. Beyond their current
curriculum, they also had the opportunity to sample Chinese and German, expanding their linguistic horizons. To deepen their cultural understanding, the group watched vibrant videos of traditional events in Spain and France, bringing the customs of these nations to life. By exploring diverse career links—from diplomacy to international business—the students returned with a newfound motivation to pursue languages at a higher level and a clearer vision of their future potential.

We would like to thank all the staff at Seaford Head School for inviting us.’’ Mr Cavellero

Our Year 10 students recently visited the Languages Fair at Seaford Head Sixth Form,
where they stepped into the shoes of professional linguists. Serving as interpreters for theday, they all showcased equally impressive communication skills in real-world scenarios:

                ● Maya excelled in French interpreting
                ● Iris excelled in Italian interpreting
                ● Iara excelled in Portuguese interpreting
                ● Naira excelled in Spanish interpreting

The students also took part in a cutting-edge VR experience, which virtually transported
them to the streets of Barcelona or the coast of Dieppe to practice their skills in real life situations.

Many post-16 providers, School Sixth Forms and Further Education colleges were on hand to talk about the different courses they have on offer for all students in East Sussex schools.

The Apprenticeship providers had useful information on apprenticeships in a wide range of sectors. 

Many businesses kindly gave up their valuable time to attend and made themselves available to talk to students about job opportunities within their sector. 

The theme of International Women’s Day this year is ‘Give to Gain’, encouraging
collaboration and collective action to accelerate gender equality.

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, Roedean School held its festival Celebrating Inspiring Women on Friday 6th March. Students from Peacehaven Community School were invited to listen to a diverse group of guest speakers - academics, a GP, a Lieutenant Colonel, a plumber, an entrepreneur, musicians and an author - all women. The speakers all gave talks which were enlightening, empowering and most of all extremely inspirational.

Woodzy is an award winning Flo Poet, has appeared on BAFTA winning Sky Arts TV show “Life And Rhymes”. He is a former Brit School student and Winner of UK unsigned spoken Word category 2019.

Woodzy captivated our students with witty wordplay, incredible use of language and relatable topics. The Year 10 PCS students produced poems in the workshop which support the GCSE English Curriculum.

On Friday 27th February, a group of Year 9 students embraced a fantastic experience.

Our recent Performing Arts excursion to Sussex University provided year 9 students with an invaluable insight into the rigours and rewards of Higher Education in the Arts. The day was structured around a series of intensive, practical workshops delivered by current university undergraduates, covering the core disciplines of singing, dancing and acting. These sessions allowed us to refine our technique under the guidance of those currently training at a higher level, fostering both creative growth and confidence.

The visit culminated in a trip to the university theatre to watch a vibrant production of
the musical 9 to 5. Observing a full-scale performance not only served as a highlight of the trip but also offered a clear demonstration of how the skills practiced in our morning workshops translate to a polished, professional stage production. It was an inspiring day that successfully bridged the gap between school-level performances and the next steps in a creative career. We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

By Olivia - Year 9

● To participate in some teamwork activities
● To share good practice that is happening across both schools
● To brainstorm ideas to help support our school communities

After engaging in a variety of activities working with students across the different age
groups, students were asked the question:

‘’Why is it important to display good teamwork skills
if you are in a leadership role?‘’

The responses were thoughtful and reflective.

Students then worked in larger groups discussing their current roles in terms of
student leadership, shared ideas as to how they could develop their roles and came
up with some good suggestions as to how schools can support each other in the
wider community.

PCS Student Leaders will share their findings and ideas with the wider PCS Student
Leadership body at our next meeting.

Olivia - On Wednesday the 4th of February, 15 students were selected to go to the University of Sussex for a Holocaust Memorial Day event. We watched two short films that were about experiences of the Holocaust. The first short movie was Humo, this was about a mother and a son getting sent to the concentration camp and how much they struggled. What I liked about this film was the animation being made out of paper, and how touching and sad it was.

After that we watched the second movie, Girl no. 60427. It was about a girl who stayed over at her grandmother’s house and found her old diary, which was about her experience of the holocaust. The film depicted what happened with animation. Her grandmother never told anyone about her experience and felt ashamed that she couldn't save her poor sister. I really enjoyed watching this one. It gave a sense of understanding on how much this affected the poor woman, she was stiff and firm, but at the end, as the girl hugged her grandmother, we saw her loosen up and hug her back
which was very touching. Two people, Judie Ironside and Amanda Reuben debriefed and we were able to ask any questions we had about those two films.

Reggie used his artistic skills to illustrate his interpretation of how small acts of kindness can create a positive impact in our community.

The cast had over 60 Performers and around 15 students working backstage and doing the technical aspects varying from year 8 - 11. The commitment of every student towards the show was outstanding, from kite flyers, Londoners, Chimney sweeps and Mary Poppins herself. Keir played Bert and took on this role with real pride, enthusiasm and professionalism. Isla played Mary Poppins with grace and maturity that a West End show would be proud of.

We sang Christmas songs and helped people get into the Christmas spirit even though Mr Willis lost the speaker cable and we all had to sing acapella! 

We also walked along the seafront and bought donuts and hot chocolates to get into the festive mood. 

Thank you to all of our families for their kind donations to the very worthy cause.

PCS students delivered the donations to the Town Council this morning, who were very grateful to receive boxes of food and toiletries to support those in need in our local community.

Neal beings the Gameshow by drawing the world from memory, as he draws he provides an insight to the diversity and history of many countries around the world. He uses this as a focus for not only promoting Geography and students' understanding of place but also for inspiring our students to want to learn.

Students then had the opportunity to show what they had learnt and some won prizes as they took part in the games including the money game; the mountaineer; as well as the final challenge.

The performance included a powerful and engaging storyline which was both relatable and relevant for students, providing a real-world context for their learning in Relationships and Sex Education. It reinforced to students the vital message of non-tolerance of harmful sexual behaviour.

The performance and discussion explored where these behaviours are coming from and how alternative positive behaviours could be demonstrated. The programme raised students' awareness of the huge impacts these everyday incidences of sexual harassment and assault can have on girls and young women and how we all have a role in safely challenging and reporting these behaviours.

Chris Ward has served as Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven since 2024. Chris Ward was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office in 2025 and is a member of the Labour Party.

Following a brief introduction to what the work of a politician entails and a description of a week in Politics, students engaged enthusiastically in a Q and A session. 

Leadership Course

After a very warm welcome and a tour of the campus, students engaged upon an interactive session based on Leadership - Self awareness & Communication. The session helped students to discover their personal strengths, build confidence in their leadership potential and looked at ways of communicating with clarity and impact.

Fun activities supported them to do this - The Leadership Compass which explored their leadership style, a Blind Build Challenge - a trust building exercise emphasising the importance of clear verbal instruction and concluded with the Values Auction, where students bid in groups on leadership values like honesty, teamwork and ambition with integrity.

It was an incredible experience and gave students lots of ideas for reflection about future plans. 

Students wrote their own poems and shared them with members of the local community. 

This was followed by a 2-minute silence at 11:00am.  

They were one of eight schools to take part in this fantastic project.

What an experience! This has really helped us with our biodiversity awareness work which we will continue to share with the rest of the school.

Upon arrival we were met by Ryan, Erica and Ned and offered welly boots and binoculars before being toured around the 3,500 acre rewilding project. 

Once a farm, but no longer conducive to modern intensive farming, Knepp is now a leading light in the conservation movement. 

Students spent an amazing, informative day finding out how the storks, beavers, ponies, deer, horses, birds of prey to name but a few, have been reintroduced as an astonishing wildlife success in a relatively short space of time. We were even lucky enough to see some butterflies.

The site is visited by numerous conservation organisations, including the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and the National Trust, as well as policy makers, farmers and landowners, Knepp is shaping the future of nature conservation and PCS students have been lucky enough to have been part of the experience.    

PCS was delighted to invite all of its stakeholders into school on Mental Health Awareness Day for an afternoon brunch. It was a very successful event and our student leaders proved to be fantastic hosts ensuring all of our guests were well looked after.

Katelyn and Karina gave a thought provoking speech around the importance of such events to highlight the importance of recognising Mental Health in today’s society. 

PCS would like to thank Peacehaven Town Council and Mrs Lane for their kind donations towards ingredients for the event and Mr Desborough for his culinary creations.

The task: Each school group had to create a collage, a sculpture or something functional out of ‘waste’ materials that reflected the message of:

Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Rethink and Repair

and the consequences on our environment of not doing these things.

All school groups were incredibly imaginative and showed excellent teamwork skills creating some fantastic pieces of work displaying a true understanding of some of the issues facing our planet today due to our ‘throw away’ society. 

One of the key values at Peacehaven Community School is an emphasis placed on students becoming active, responsible contributors to their school and wider society.

Over the last school year, from September 2024 to July 2025, students at PCS raised a grand total of  £2,505.39 for The Clock Tower Sanctuary in Brighton. 

Our Year 11 Student Leaders visited The Clock Tower Sanctuary on Monday 13th October to present the money that we raised across the year and were very fortunate to be given a tour of the building and find out more about how the money raised will support young people experiencing homelessness.

Please click on the link if you would like to find out more

Monday - Maths 3-4pm - MA3
Tuesday - English 3-4pm - EN3
Wednesday - Science 3-4pm - SC7
Thursday - History & Geography 3-4pm - History HU10 / Geography HU8

There was a strong start to the first maths revision session with 31 attendees.

It was also a great turn out for the English and Science revision sessions.

Highlights include:

• Students achieving top grades across a wide range of subjects.

• Outstanding progress from individuals who have worked tirelessly to achieve their goals.

• A year group that has truly lived our values;
  Aspire, Believe, Contribute, Achieve.

Over the course of 2 evenings PCS welcomed over 200 students and their families to our July 2025 Academic and Community Awards Ceremony.

Our year 7 and 8 students and their families joined us on Thursday 17th July for an evening dedicated to celebrating the incredible successes and achievements displayed by so many of our students across the year.

Students were nominated by teaching staff for either Academic Excellence or Exceptional Progress in each of the lessons on the curriculum. There were also Special Recognition Awards for some students, those who had been successful in their participation in national poetry competitions and the Royal Academy online summer Art
competition, as well as certificates for students who have been instrumental in supporting both the school community and the wider community this year.