Of the sixty eight students who represented Newlands at the 50th Eastbourne Music and Arts Festival held at the Winter Garden in Eastbourne in February, eighteen distinctions and an honour was won by them in various categories.

Students had signed up for various classes ranging from music and speech, to drama and dance. Tula Dyer, Head of Drama, was proud of the dedication and creativity of her pupils evident at the festival.

Amongst the successes were Ruth Godfrey and Amy Steadman who won the Ena Combe Challenge Cup for the overall highest mark in the Shakespeare classes.

Newlands won two Choral Speaking classes with the thirteen plus pupils winning both the Elizabeth Power Cup and the Devonshire Park Theatre Club Cup. The Mayor of Eastbourne presented the cups at the Festival Concert in March.

Outstanding students included Edward Bree from Year 8 and Aimee Dyer from Year 11 who claimed a total of 11 distinctions between them. The Mayor of Eastbourne presented the cups to them at the Festival Concert.