Mulberry Academy Bexhill Significantly Above the Latest National Average in Its Strongest Year Yet

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Mulberry Academy Bexhill’s GCSE results confirm its strongest year yet, with 70% of students achieving a grade 4 or above in English and Maths, and 51% achieving a grade 5 or above. Both figures beat the latest national averages, 65.5% and 45.2% respectively, by some margin. This marks the fourth consecutive year of improvement for the academy.

Among this year’s standout performers are:

  • Annebelle L , who achieved Seven 9’s, Two 8’s & One 7
  • Mariya A, who achieved Four 9’s, Four 8’s & One 6
  • Lily R, who achieved Six 9’s, Three 8’s & One 6
  • Poppy W, who achieved, Four 9’s, Three 8’s & Two 7’s

 

Headteacher Dr Neal said: “Four years of steady improvement have brought us to this point, and none of it happened by accident. This exceptional performance is down to the hard work and dedication of both our staff and our students, and the whole school community could not be more proud of what they have achieved. This is our students’ victory, and this school’s victory, earned through nothing but hard work and belief.”

 

Mulberry Academy Bexhill is not resting here. This is a school building something bigger, year after year, and these results are proof of just how far that momentum can carry it. Our ambition is to be the highest achieving school in our local area and to keep providing for the community it serves, unlocking bright futures for every student who walks through its doors.

Celebrating Students

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On July 9th we were pleased to welcome close to 1,000 staff, students and parents as we filled the De La Warr Pavilion for our Celebration Evening, and it was a night that captured exactly why we do this work.

From the moment the doors opened, the energy in the room was extraordinary. Our students brought brilliant energy throughout the evening, and the performances from Sister Act the Musical were nothing short of amazing,

a genuine showcase of the talent we’re lucky to nurture here. We were also treated to two dance performances that were deeply moving, the kind that leave a room silent before it erupts into applause. Mr Tumi took to the stage as MC and smashed it, keeping the whole evening moving with real flair, and by the end of the night the applause said everything words couldn’t. But beyond the performances and the awards, what stood out most was the

 sense of pride in that room. Every parent, every colleague, every student left knowing they had witnessed something special. Our young people are a true testament to the school and to the values we share.

The evening was a fitting reflection of the three pillars our students are encouraged to live by:

  • Control the controllables
  • Do the right thing, even when no one is watching
  • Do hard things and get great results

Every award handed out last night was earned through exactly that mindset. Not luck, not shortcuts, but consistent effort and character shown when it counted.

Thank you to everyone who made the evening possible, and to every student who gave us a reason to celebrate. Evenings like this don’t happen by accident. They’re built on a year of hard work, and last night we got to see the results.

Chess: Two Teams, One Trophy and a Debut to Remember

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Chess: Two Teams, One Trophy and a Debut to Remember

For the first time in the school’s history, Mulberry Academy Bexhill sent two teams to the Butler Cup, the county chess finals. As the only state school in the field, competing against a strong line-up of independent schools, there was nothing easy about the day. Both teams made the most of it.

A Team: Division 2

Andy N captained on board 1, with Harry M, Isaac J and newcomer Jonah J on boards 2, 3 and 4. They opened with back-to-back 4-0 wins against Ardingly A and Westbourne House. Clean, clinical and exactly what was needed.

The final match was against Lancing College and it got nervy. Boards 2 and 3 fell in quick succession and the title suddenly looked like it might slip away.

Jonah J settled things down with a dominant win on board 4. That left it all on Andy N at board 1, in a game that had been threatening to go against him. His opponent offered a draw. Andy turned it down, made a series of calculated sacrifices and won the game outright.

The A team finished top of Division 2 on 10 points. Another trophy for the cabinet.

B Team: Division 4

The B team had never bee

n to the finals before. Daniel J led on board 1, alongside Maksym B, Liam B and Ebrus U, and they opened with a composed 2-2 draw against Ardingly B, with Daniel J and Liam B both winning their boards.

Round two brought Hurst, who went on to win the division, and they showed why, running out 4-0 winners. No disgrace in that.

With first place gone, the boys needed to finish strong to take any silverware home. They did exactly that. Liam B won on board 3, Maksym B followed on board 2, Ebrus U added another on board 4. That left Daniel J needing at least a draw on board 1 to clinch second place. He got it.

Second place on their first ever appearance at the county finals. A fantastic result from a group of players who will only get better, and a debut this school won’t forget in a hurry.

Our Y10 Ceramics Students Step Into the Studio

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Last Thursday, a group of our Year 10 Ceramics students got an experience that most artists spend years working toward: seeing their own work photographed professionally, in a proper studio setup, by someone who does this for museums and galleries for a living.

It came about through an ongoing project with Flatlands Gallery here in Bexhill, who are producing a publication to celebrate our Ceramics students as part of Bexhill Art Weekend in August. To make that happen properly, the students needed images of their work that did it justice. So Flatlands brought the expertise to us.

Amy Mock, Head of Artist Development at Flatlands, led the session and worked with students on something that often gets overlooked: how to present and talk about what you have made. That means thinking about backgrounds, composition and context, but it also means being able to reflect on your own work and put it into words. For a lot of students, that second part is harder than making the piece in the first place.

Photographer Jorge Antony Stride joined them and spoke about his work shooting artwork for museums and galleries before turning the session over to the students themselves. One by one they photographed their own pieces in the studio space that had been set up for the day. The results were genuinely impressive.

What struck us most, though, was watching the students talk about what they had made. There was real confidence there. Real pride. These are young people who have put time and craft into their work and they knew it, and it was great to see them given the space to show that off.

We can’t wait to see the finished publication. Watch this space.

Maps, Mud and Camping Stoves: Year 9 Take On DofE Bronze Training Expedition

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Last weekend, our Year 9 students laced up their boots, hoisted their rucksacks and headed out into the East Sussex countryside for their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award training expedition. Two days of walking, cooking and campcraft later, they came back tired, a little bit wiser and very much ready for what comes next.

Out on the Trail

The route took the group through the countryside between Alfriston and the Long Man of Wilmington, one of the most recognisable landmarks in the county. Students took turns leading the group along the way, which meant there was no hiding at the back and hoping someone else would figure out the map.

Navigation was a key focus throughout. Rather than relying on a phone or a GPS, students were expected to read the terrain around them, identify landmarks and make decisions as a group. The Long Man made for a useful waypoint. Chalk figures carved into hillsides tend to.

Cooking, Campcraft and Keeping Things Tidy

Back at the campsite in Alfriston, the expedition took a practical turn. Students were responsible for their own meals, cooked on small camping stoves. Most went for the sensible option: rice, pasta and a sauce. Simple, filling and far less likely to go wrong than anything more ambitious.

Alongside the cooking, the group worked on campcraft skills that will matter just as much during the assessed expedition. Keeping the site clean and tidy, washing up properly after meals, staying safe around stoves and knowing where the guy ropes are before someone finds them the hard way. They also practised moving together as a group on the trail, thinking about pace and safety rather than just getting from A to B.

What Comes Next

The training expedition is exactly that: training. It gives students the chance to make mistakes and learn from them in a lower-stakes environment before the assessed expedition, which takes place at the end of this month.

From what we saw last weekend, they are more than ready for it. They worked hard, looked after each other and showed exactly the kind of resilience and independence that Duke of Edinburgh is designed to build.

Good luck, Year 9. We are right behind you.

Ukrainian Culture Day Brings Joy to Bexhill Academy!

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Ukrainian Culture Day Brings Joy to Bexhill Academy!

This week at Bexhill Academy, Refugee Week turned extra special with a colourful and exciting Ukrainian Culture Day — and what a day it was!

The whole school came alive with the sights, sounds, and tastes of Ukraine! Students, teachers, staff, and parents celebrated in style. The air was filled with delicious smells as everyone tried their hand at cooking Ukrainian favourites like varenyky (dumplings), holubtsi ( Ukrainian cabbage rolls), and sweet treats. Yum!

Music and laughter filled the halls as we sang traditional Ukrainian songs, danced, and wore blue and yellow to show our support. Some teachers even dressed in beautiful Ukrainian costumes, adding extra sparkle to the day.

We also had amazing student presentations where we learned about Ukrainian traditions, folk stories, festivals, and more.

The best part? Seeing our whole school come together — learning, sharing, and having fun while showing kindness and support to refugees and newcomers in our community.

Ukrainian Culture Day wasn’t just a celebration — it was a day to remember!

Local Charity Shoebox Appeal

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Watch this space for updates!

Ceramics event

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Thank you to the parents and students who attended last night’s ceramic event. It was a very enjoyable evening for all making Christmas decorations for Christmas trees and having the opportunity to work with parents and students together.

Watch this space for more events involving practical sessions and partnership work.

South Coast Rowing Championships 2024

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South Coast Rowing Championships 2024
On Saturday 14th September 2024, Digby C (year 10), Noah L (year 10) and Lorcan H (year 8), took part in the South Coast Rowing Championships in Southampton.

We all rowed together in the same boat, competing in the Junior 4’s open race. It was our first time competing at the championships and we were rowing against many more experienced junior crews. We didn’t place into the final but we managed to keep up with our competitors and were proud of our efforts on the day.

We also cheered on our Bexhill teammates in their races and my brother Byron and his crew placed a fantastic 3rd in the Junior men’s championship race, beating crews from 2 different leagues.

At the awards ceremony, I was fortunate enough to meet Olympic rowing bronze medallist Matt Aldridge, who presented the prizes. It was inspirational to meet someone doing my sport at such a high level and I even got to wear his bronze medal!

It was a great day for Bexhill rowing club and a real day to remember.

Digby C

Year 10

 

Letters to Our Daughters

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Letters to our daughters … a Year 9 workshop.

Over the last couple of months, a number of girls in our school have been taking park in a very special project. It is called Letters to Our Daughters and is a global writing project and competition that aims to empower young women through creative writing. For this project, 23 of our students, 21 from year 9 and 2 from year 7, have been writing lyrical letters to the next generation of girls. The girls had two 100 minute workshops with Miss Graebe before handing in their first drafts. In these workshops they discussed what it means to be a young woman today, what are some of the challenges they face, and what are their hopes for the future. They also thought about the women who have gone before them, mothers, aunties, big sisters and friends; and those who are coming behind us, future children, little sisters or a younger version of themselves. On top of all this, they made sure to have a laugh: listen to music, eat doughnuts, give out flowers, and chat and share with each other.

At the end of May, Miss Graebe posted off the first drafts to the competition organisers and luckily, they all arrived safely! The next stage of this exciting project involves a 90-minute workshop with a professional writer. This will be happening in the next couple of weeks. After that, the girls only have until 13th July to re-draft their letters and send them off for the last time.