Message from Director of Admissions, Hilary Dugdale

Dear parents and guardians,

At the time of writing Lancing is in the glorious run-up to Christmas, the anticipation of the Advent Season palpable and full of excitement in this community of over 600 teenagers. The first Carol Service has been sung (two to go….) in a candle-lit and tree-festooned Chapel; the Houses are decked with decorations and S. Nicolas has been celebrated in a Christmas Play in Chapel and in the three S Nicolas Dinners for the school, sumptuous Christmas feasts. We’ve enjoyed Seasonal Readings and accompanying mince pies and (non-alcoholic!) mulled wine and the choir started their Advent marathon with a numinous evensong followed by Britten’s Ceremony of Carols.   

This is a season where community feels so sharply important – and this is expressed though collective fundraising (for young carers locally and for those without a home at this time of year) as well as the inter-House hockey and football competitions. Even Storm Daragh has not managed to dampen spirits, and the Houses have celebrated together via House Nights In and through excursions to ice-skating or the theatre. 

For the Sixth Form in particular, this has been the power-house term of the year and MedSoc has brought aspiring Medics together for a testing round of mini-interviews, for the practical skill of suturing and the networking and celebration of the Medics Dinner. The Upper Sixth have submitted their university applications and our Oxbridge applicants await the New Year and its news of how they have fared. They have had exhaustive and excellent preparation. 

From the gory fun of this year’s musical, Sweeney Todd, to the high seriousness of determined academic endeavour, through the richness of the musical and sporting triumphs of this term, it has been a packed few weeks. I hope you enjoy reading about them and that you, and our current pupils, enjoy a blessed Christmas and a very happy New Year.

Hilary Dugdale, Director of Admissions.