Goldstone Primary School & Little Owls Nursery

Our first sporting event of the new school year saw us take two boys' teams to the ESFA Tournament at Sussex University.

Both teams played against every other team in the competition and represented Goldstone superbly throughout the day. Despite many of our Year 6 pupils returning from their residential trip the day before and feeling understandably tired, they showed fantastic determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

The boys thoroughly enjoyed the experience, worked hard for one another, and demonstrated all the values that we pride ourselves on at Goldstone. It was a fantastic start to the sporting year, and everyone involved should be incredibly proud of their efforts.

Results

Goldstone Yellow Team

• 1-1 vs Mile Oak
• 0-0 vs St Nicolas
• 0-2 vs Cottesmore
• 0-3 vs Goldstone Blue

Goldstone Blue Team

• 3-0 vs Mile Oak
• 1-2 vs St Nicolas
• 3-0 vs Goldstone Yellow
• 0-1 vs Cottesmore

Both teams competed brilliantly throughout the tournament, showing resilience, commitment, and excellent teamwork. Most importantly, they enjoyed the occasion and represented the school with pride. We look forward to seeing what they can achieve in the competitions ahead.

Our first league games of the season took place at Goldstone against Cottesmore.

The boys played first in what proved to be a tough, tight, and evenly contested match. After a closely fought first half, Cottesmore broke the deadlock shortly after the break and then extended their lead to 2-0.

The boys showed great determination and refused to give up. Jacob sparked the comeback with a fantastic free-kick from just inside the opposition's half, reducing the deficit to 2-1. As Goldstone pushed hard for an equaliser, Cottesmore managed to score again to make it 3-1.

However, the drama was not over. Den produced a lovely composed finish to bring the score back to 3-2 and set up a tense final few minute. Despite their efforts, the boys could not find a late equaliser, and the match finished 3-2 to Cottesmore.

It was a fantastic game to watch, with both teams playing with great commitment and sportsmanship throughout.

Result: Goldstone Boys 2-3 Cottesmore

The second match saw our Yellow Girls' Team take to the field. For many of the girls, this was their first ever competitive football match representing the school.

The girls were excited and proud to wear the Goldstone badge and play for their school. Throughout the game, they played with smiles on their faces and showed tremendous enthusiasm, determination, and teamwork.

Although the final score was 6-1 to Cottesmore, the girls never gave up and continued to work hard right until the final whistle. Their perseverance was rewarded with a well-deserved goal, which was celebrated with great excitement by the whole team.

The result does not reflect the effort, attitude, and enjoyment shown by the girls. They should be incredibly proud of themselves for their positivity, resilience, and willingness to challenge themselves in their first competitive fixture.

Result: Goldstone Yellow Girls 1-6 Cottesmore

We took a girls' team to the ESFA Tournament in Hove at East Brighton Park.

The team played against every other team in the competition and represented the school superbly throughout the day. The girls showed great determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship, while also enjoying the occasion with plenty of laughter and enthusiasm. We are extremely proud of everything they achieved and the way they conducted themselves both on and off the pitch.

Results

Goldstone Blue Team

• 0-0 vs Mile Oak
• 1-2 vs St Nicolas
• 0-3 vs Cottesmore
• 3-0 vs St Andrew's Yellow
• 0-0 vs St Andrew's Blue
• 2-1 vs Hove Juniors

The girls worked hard in every match, demonstrating resilience and a positive attitude throughout the tournament. Their effort, commitment, and enjoyment of the day made it a fantastic experience and another excellent sporting event for Goldstone. We look forward to seeing their continued progress in future competitions.

Our next league fixture saw the Blue Team take on a side they had already faced in recent tournaments.

The boys started the game superbly and were unlucky not to take an early lead, with a free-kick striking the post and the opposition goalkeeper producing several excellent saves. Defensively, we were outstanding throughout the match, and the effort and commitment shown by every player was incredible.

The second half continued in much the same fashion. While both teams searched for the breakthrough, their goalkeeper once again made a number of crucial saves to keep us out. Despite creating several good opportunities, neither side could find the winning goal, and the game finished in a hard-fought 0-0 draw.

Although disappointed not to score, the boys came off the pitch happy and proud of their performance after an excellent team display.

Result: Goldstone Boys 0-0 Opposition

Next up were the girls.

The girls found it difficult to get going in the first half and went into the break 2-0 down, having not managed a shot on goal. However, despite the scoreline, there were still plenty of smiles, laughter, and encouragement, with no loss of enthusiasm or team spirit.

The second half was a completely different story. Determined to prove a point, the girls came out with renewed energy and confidence. They created far more opportunities, registering five shots, with three on target, and conceded just once during the half.

Although the match finished 3-0, the girls' second-half performance was fantastic and demonstrated how much they had grown in confidence as the game progressed. Their resilience, positive attitude, and determination to keep improving were a credit to both themselves and the school.

Result: Goldstone Girls 0-3 Opposition

We recently took part in the annual Swimming Gala Festival at Prince Regent. This event is specifically designed for non-club swimmers, giving more children the opportunity to experience competitive swimming and represent their school.

Our team of 15 Year 5 and 6, boys and girls performed incredibly well and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As a school, we finished an impressive 3rd place in our gala and achieved some fantastic individual and team results.

The team won an incredible 8 medals across 12 events, which is an outstanding achievement!

Medal Winners:

• 🥇 Thea – Gold in Frontcrawl
• 🥉 Amber – Bronze in the Noodle Race
• 🥉 Harry – Bronze in the Noodle Race
• 🥇 Stanley – Gold in Backstroke
• 🥈 Eva – Silver in Breaststroke
• 🥈 Max – Silver in Breaststroke
• 🥇 Girls' Freestyle Relay Team – Gold
• 🥇 Boys' Medley Relay Team – Gold

The children represented the school brilliantly, showing great determination, sportsmanship and enthusiasm throughout the day. It was a fantastic way to round off a successful sporting year, and we are incredibly proud of everyone who took part. Well done to all involved! 🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏅👏

On Tuesday 30th June, our boys’ football team made history by reaching the Baker Cup Final for the first time – a fantastic achievement for both the school and the team.

The final was played against a strong Westdean side at Patcham High School.

The boys started the first half well, defending brilliantly and working hard to keep Westdean at bay. Despite their efforts, Westdean scored an excellent goal that left our goalkeeper with little chance. The setback didn’t discourage the team, who continued to battle hard and look for opportunities to get back into the game. The score stood at 1–0 at half-time.

The second half followed a similar pattern, although the boys enjoyed more possession and control of the game. Unfortunately, they were unable to prevent Westdean from adding a second goal.

The match finished 2–0 to Westdean. Congratulations to them on their victory.

Our boys did themselves, the school, and everyone who supported them incredibly proud. Reaching the final is a remarkable achievement, and they should be very proud of everything they have accomplished this season. 👏⚽🏆

On the 15th, we took part in the annual mixed PLAY Cup at Calver Road – a very well-organised and enjoyable tournament. We took 15 pupils from Years 5 and 6, splitting them into two teams.

Team One – Group Results:

• vs Coldean – 2–0
• vs Patcham – 1–2
• vs St Mary Magdalen – 4–0
• vs Westdean B – 3–0
• vs Hove Juniors – 5–0
• vs Carden – 1–1
• vs Rudyard A – 0–0

Team Two – Group Results:

• vs Glebe – 0–4
• vs St Bernadette’s – 2–0
• vs Rudyard B – 3–0
• vs Westdean A – 0–3
• vs St Mary’s – 1–0
• vs Fairlight – 0–2
• vs Whitehawk – 3–0

Due to their strong performances in the group stages, both teams progressed into the Cup competition – a fantastic achievement in itself. This led to a Goldstone vs Goldstone quarter-final, creating a very exciting and competitive match.

Both teams played with great determination, with neither side able to find a breakthrough. After 12 minutes, the game finished 0–0, meaning penalties would decide the outcome. Following a tense shootout, Goldstone 1 narrowly won after five penalties each.

In the semi-final, Goldstone 1 faced Westdean A – the same school we will meet in the Baker Cup final. Despite a positive start and some good chances, Westdean proved to be strong on the day, winning 3–0.

We are incredibly proud of both teams for their effort, teamwork and achievement throughout the tournament.

Goldstone took 41 children from Years 4, 5 and 6 to compete at the Withdean athletics event.

It was a fantastic day, with all of the children returning with smiles on their faces after a successful and enjoyable experience. Goldstone finished 4th in our Red Group out of 8 schools, which is a great achievement.

Every athlete gave 100% effort in their events, showing excellent determination, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the day. A number of pupils were also rewarded with medals for their performances, which was brilliant to see.

We are incredibly proud of how all of the children represented Goldstone.

Goldstone faced Balfour in the Baker Cup semi-final in what was always expected to be a competitive and well-contested match.

Goldstone started strongly, with an excellent early save from the goalkeeper, followed shortly by another superb stop from Syd to keep the scores level. As the first half progressed, the game remained evenly balanced. However, just before the break, Goldstone conceded a penalty. Despite a strong effort, the goalkeeper had no chance, and Balfour took the lead.

Goldstone responded brilliantly almost immediately, with Charlie showing great determination to score a well-worked equaliser. The half ended 1–1, reflecting a very even contest.

The second half continued at a high intensity. Balfour enjoyed more possession and controlled large periods of the game, but Goldstone produced a fantastic defensive display, working tirelessly to keep the scores level.

With the match finishing 1–1, it went straight to penalties.

Goldstone held their nerve to win the shootout and progress to the Baker Cup Final – a fantastic achievement for the team!

Our Year 6 girls recently took part in the Galaxy / Freedom Cup tournament at the Withdean 3G pitches. We entered two evenly balanced teams, with the girls playing an active role in selecting the squads.

Both teams played five matches, including a fixture against each other, and throughout the day the girls demonstrated great spirit, determination and teamwork. They represented Goldstone brilliantly, supporting one another at all times.

Group Stage Results

Goldstone 1

• 1–2 vs Cottesmore 1
• 1–1 vs Cottesmore 2
• 0–2 vs Goldstone 2
• 0–3 vs Queen’s Park
• 0–0 vs St Luke’s

Goldstone 2

• 3–1 vs Cottesmore 1
• 2–0 vs Cottesmore 2
• 2–0 vs Goldstone 1
• 2–3 vs Queen’s Park
• 3–0 vs St Luke’s

Goldstone 2 progressed to the semi-final against Cottesmore 2 in what proved to be a very closely contested match. The game finished 1–1, leading to a penalty shootout.

After strong saves from both goalkeepers saw the first two penalties missed, Thea showed great composure to step up and score under pressure. Vale then made another excellent save, securing Goldstone 2’s place in the final.

In the final, Goldstone faced Queen’s Park again, having lost to them earlier in the group stage. Determined to respond, the girls delivered an outstanding performance. Goals from Romy and Vale secured a 2–0 victory, meaning Goldstone were crowned Freedom Cup champions.

A huge congratulations to all the girls for their effort, resilience and teamwork throughout the tournament – a fantastic achievement!

The girls’ Yellow Team played Peter Gladwin in the Roxboro semi-final. Due to a couple of players being unavailable, we welcomed two talented Year 4 pupils to represent the team.

The game started well, with both teams working hard and creating opportunities. Grace came close several times during the first half, but the score remained 0–0 at half-time.

Both teams began the second half strongly. Peter Gladwin managed to break through and scored the first goal, followed by two more despite some excellent saves from our goalkeepers throughout the match.

We are extremely proud of the girls for their determination, teamwork and positive attitude. They represented the school brilliantly.

Team: Grace, Phoebe, Winnie, Thea, Mabel, Ariana, Evie, Nadia, Elsie

We took eight of our Year 4 children to the Racket Festival at Withdean Leisure Centre, where they participated in four different activities. The pupils took part in a range of team skills exercises using rackets and were introduced to squash, tennis and table tennis.

In each activity, the children began with a warm-up before learning the basic skills of the game. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and demonstrated excellent behaviour throughout, representing Goldstone positively.

Team: Aaliyah, Rayaan, Imaani, Jesse, Monty, Kendrick, Seinna, Tommy. 

We were invited to take part in a T1 Tag Rugby festival at Hove Rec, the home of Hove Rugby Club.

Despite some uncertain weather, the event went ahead. The girls were mixed with pupils from another school, giving them the opportunity to learn the rules, develop new skills and take part in a range of fun activities together.

Unfortunately, the session had to finish early due to hail, but the girls still had a great experience. They really enjoyed playing rugby and represented the school brilliantly throughout.

Team: Elida, Roxy, Orla, Chloe, Chloe, Hana, Lucy, Etta, Hibba, Willow 

We took 15 girls to the Brighton & Hove Albion training ground to take part in a football festival led by the Brighton Foundation coaches.

Throughout the day, the girls took part in four different skill-based activities, delivered by the coaches. They were mixed with pupils from other schools, which made the experience inclusive and gave everyone the opportunity to meet and play with new teammates.

The day finished with matches played in mixed teams. All of the girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and the Brighton coaches were fantastic throughout.

Team: Dottie, Grace, Phoebe, Emily, Evie, Ivy, Isabelle, Issy, Harper, Beth, Jessie, Ruby, Erin, Orli, Seinna.

Our Boys’ Yellow Team played their Baker Cup quarter final against Fairlight at BACA in what turned out to be a thrilling match, with outstanding goalkeeping on both sides.

Oscar opened the scoring with an excellent finish, before Charlie added a second with a composed strike to give us a 2–0 lead at half-time.

The second half remained just as lively. Oscar grabbed his second goal of the game, reacting quickest to a cross to tap home and extend our lead. Late on, Austin produced a fantastic penalty save to preserve the clean sheet and cap off a strong defensive performance.

A great team display and a well-deserved result to secure our place in the next round.

Team: Elliot, Oscar, Charlie, Ellis, Austin, Syd, Magnus, Tommy, Paddy, Bobby

Our quarter-final against Hove Holland Road began with a few adjustments due to the pitch size, and we ended up playing 7-a-side. This allowed for plenty of rotation and gave the girls a chance to enjoy the sunshine on what was a perfect day for football. They had been really excited for this one.

We started strongly, moving the ball well and creating early chances. Ariana opened the scoring with a lovely turn and finish. Vale then added another after cutting in from the wing, before repeating the effort with a very similar goal soon after. Nadia scored a fantastic first-time strike from distance, and just before half-time she added two more with composed finishes to give us a commanding lead.

In the second half, we weren’t quite as composed, but still created good moments. Ariana scored twice more—one a great finish into the corner, and another calmly slotted past the keeper from a tight angle. Vale wrapped up the game with another excellent finish from the wing.

A game of HATRICKS!

The girls were incredible throughout and fully deserved the win. They now move on to face Balfour in the semi-final.

Team : Thea, Teddie, Winnie, Mabel, Romy, Vale, Ariana, Evie, Nadia, Elsie

After being cancelled last term, the festival took place in the first week back. We took nine children from Year 6, who participated in four different activities focused on developing a range of hockey skills.

Following this, the children played three matches against other schools, putting their new skills into practice.

All of the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves, improved their hockey ability, and created more great Goldstone memories!  Congratulations to everyone who represented our school!

Team - Ernie, Ronnie, Winnie, Hedy, Izzy, Gracie, Doody, Theo, Holly.

We took 24 girls from Year 4 to a football festival, where we ended up being the only school in attendance. The girls were split into four teams and took part in a round-robin, fun tournament.

The event was run by the Blatchington Mill sports leaders, who refereed the games as well as supported and coached the teams throughout.

The girls had a fantastic time, showing great enthusiasm and teamwork. The experience has inspired some of them to begin attending football sessions outside of school to further develop their skills.

The Squad - Beth, Phoebe, Grace, Evie, Orli, Ivy, Scarlette, Dottie, Emily, Eshe, Sienna, Everly, Charla, Harper, Amelie, Jesse, Ruby, Elsie, Thea, Emilia, Erin, Heidi, Isabelle. 

On Wednesday 25th March, our Goldstone Netball team had fantastic afternoon at the annual Brighton and Hove netball tournament. The girls were a credit to the school and fantastic sports representatives. They played 5 games and won all five without conceding a goal which took them through to the semi-final against Brunswick, going on to win again 5-0. Then onto the final against Aldrington - the girls played amazingly and put everything into the game which resulted in them once again winning 5-0 and becoming Brighton and Hove schools’ netball champions.  What a tremendous achievement everyone -   we’re all incredibly proud and impressed by your tournament victory!

Our Yellow team competed in the quarter-finals of the Sportscool Cup against St Mary’s, putting in a strong and determined performance throughout the game.

The girls worked incredibly hard both on and off the ball, creating several promising chances. St Mary’s also threatened at times, but our defence stood firm, with Karlotta and Freya both making some excellent saves in the first half to keep us in the game.

Despite their efforts, we went into the break 2–0 down. However, the team showed great resilience in the second half, coming back with renewed energy and determination. They continued to push forward and battled well, although we were unfortunate to concede another goal.

The final score didn’t fully reflect the effort and teamwork on display. The girls played brilliantly together and, most importantly, thoroughly enjoyed representing the school.

Team: Karlotta, Freya, Sadie, Eve, Dulcie, Grace, Ariana, Rose, Serena. 

This was our first netball competition of the year, and the excitement had been building for weeks. The girls headed to Brighton University full of energy and enthusiasm to take part in the Stinger Netball Competition, playing in a league format where they faced every team once.

Throughout the tournament, the girls were outstanding. They showed incredible team spirit, constantly encouraging one another and working together brilliantly. Some players stepped out of their comfort zones, taking on unfamiliar positions, which was a great display of their adaptability and confidence.

The results speak for themselves:

• 2–0 vs Downs (Winnie, Mabel)
• 6–0 vs St Nicolas (Aya x3, Nadia x3)
• 5–1 vs Saltdean (Valentina x2, Thea x3)
• 4–0 vs Balfour (Elsie x2, Romy x2)
• 7–1 vs Stanford (Winnie x6, Mabel x1)
• 7–0 vs West Dean (Aya x6, Nadia x1)

The girls won every game, delivering an incredible performance across the board. Their teamwork, determination, and positive attitude made this a fantastic start to the netball season.

Team: Thea, Winnie, Nadia, Aya, Mabel, Romy,  Elsie, Valentina.

Our Blue team took part in the 7-a-side Roxboro Cup quarter-final against St Andrews on a lovely Monday afternoon. The girls made a fantastic start, quickly taking control of the game and going 2–0 up. Romy scored both goals—first with a brilliant lob over the keeper, followed by a composed first-time finish.

Despite the early lead, the first half proved challenging, as the team found it difficult to maintain possession and build momentum. However, they showed resilience and kept pushing forward.

In the second half, the girls looked much more settled—calmer on the ball and enjoying longer spells of possession. Their improved play paid off with two more goals. Winnie added a third with a well-placed finish past the keeper, and Mabel capped off the performance by getting on the end of a cross and calmly slotting the ball home.

As always, the team showed great determination and spirit throughout the match, delivering a strong all-round performance.

Team: Winnie, Valentina, Romy, Teddie, Mabel, Nadia, Elsie, Evie, Thea.

Our Year 6 team took on St Christopher’s in the Geerts Shield. After a few late drop-outs, we travelled to the match with just seven players.

With thick fog drifting over the pitch, it made conditions difficult for both teams to see and play. The boys defended well throughout, but St Christopher’s were in great form on the day.

We created some good chances of our own, with Charlie and Max both going close in each half. Frankie had an outstanding game in goal, making a number of huge saves to keep us in the game.

Although the match finished 9–0, the boys gave their all, never gave up, and still came off the pitch with smiles on their faces. We are very proud of their effort and determination.

Team: Ernie, Charlie, Max, Magnus, Frankie, Cooper and Sidney.

On Thursday 6th March, we continued our Stearman Cup journey with a match against Mile Oak. The boys were excited and ready to try and defend the trophy for a third year in a row.

The team made a great start, going 1–0 up thanks to a goal from Elliot. Mile Oak’s goalkeeper then made several excellent saves, while their team defended very well. They managed to catch us on the break twice in the first half to take a 2–1 lead.

In the second half we put them under lots of pressure and pinned them back in their half, but we were unable to find a way through their strong defence.

The boys gave their all throughout the game and showed great determination and teamwork. We are incredibly proud of how they played and the effort they showed.

Team: Elliot, Bobby, Tommy, Syd, Austin, George, Kaan, Ellis, Magnus and Oscar.

On Wednesday 4th March, we took part in the annual swimming gala run by the Brighton and Hove Swimming Club. We took 23 children from Years 4–6, who participated in all of the events.

This was the first time we have taken part in this event, and the children were excited and looking forward to it. They all swam with great determination and effort, and we are very proud of everyone who took part.

We were delighted to win several medals:

• Luke came 3rd in his individual race.

• The Year 6 girls’ relay team finished 2nd (Winnie, Esme, Thea and Gracie).

• We also finished 2nd in the Squadron relay (Winnie, Luke, Freya, Emlyn and Sienna).

There were also some strong performances that just missed out on medals. We finished 4th in the Year 4, 5 and 6 mixed relays, as well as 4th in the Year 5 boys’ and Year 4 girls’ relay races.

Overall Results

• Girls: 5th place

• Boys: 6th place

• Mixed relays: 4th place

• Non-mixed relays: 3rd place

Overall, we finished 6th place. Well done to all the children who represented the school so brilliantly.

Team: Seinna, Beth, Evie,Erin , Emyln, Isaac, Coby, Dylan, Jack, Kieran, Anton, Eli, Noa, Narissa, Etta, Freya, Winnie, Gracie, Thea, Esme, Elliot, Luke, Dylan. 

On Friday 6th March, we were delighted to welcome the fantastic team from Brighton Rugby, who delivered taster rugby sessions for all children from Year 1 to Year 4. Even though the weather wasn’t in our favour, our pupils embraced the rain and muddy conditions in true rugby spirit. It was a brilliant opportunity for them to try something new, experience the excitement of a fast‑paced team sport, and enjoy working together as a team.

On Thursday 26th February, our Yellow Girls’ Team played their first cup game against Brackenbury in a thrilling, end-to-end match.

Both teams worked incredibly hard from the first whistle. Brackenbury broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish, but just two minutes later Sadie responded with a brilliant strike into the bottom corner to level the score. Destiny made some heroic saves throughout the half, but just before the break Brackenbury managed to score again, making it 2–1 at half-time.

After a quick team talk, the girls came out fighting and determined to push forward. Destiny continued her fine form in goal, while Karlotta and Eve were solid at the back. Eve had two great chances saved by the keeper, but third time lucky — she fired home a fantastic goal to bring the game level.

Penalties:
The girls were excited for the shootout, all eager to take one. It was best out of three. Eve and Karlotta confidently scored their penalties, and with Destiny saving two brilliant efforts, our Yellow Team secured the win and move on to the next round!

A fantastic team performance full of determination, resilience and belief — well done, girls! 👏⚽

Team: Destiny, Karlotta, Serena, Freya, Sadie, Eve, Dulcie, Rose, Grace.

On February 24th, we took six girls to compete in the indoor Dynamo cricket tournament at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA). They did incredibly well and showed fantastic improvement in every game!

We were placed in a tough group against Cottesmore, St Martins, and Coldean.

Results:

• Vs St Martins – 48–79

• Vs Coldean – 63–67

• Vs Cottesmore – 68–69

Although the girls narrowly lost each match, their progress throughout the tournament was clear to see. Each game was closer than the last, showing great determination, teamwork, and resilience. Most importantly, they had a brilliant day, enjoyed their cricket, and should be very proud of their efforts.

Team: Winnie, Mabel, Khloe, Mya, Romy and Elsie.

Well done, girls! 👏

The Goldstone Yellow boys played their first Geert's Shield match away at St Margarets, making the long trip to Saltdean on a day where the weather was perfect for football. The boys arrived excited, focused and ready to play — and they showed it from the first whistle.

Charlie got Goldstone off to a flying start, scoring two excellent goals from a corner and a well-delivered cross. Daxon then came on and made an immediate impact, finishing confidently with his left foot before adding another with his right just five minutes later. Goldstone went into half-time with a commanding 4–0 lead.

After making a few changes at the break, the boys continued their strong performance. Daxon and Charlie both completed their hat-tricks with composed finishes, showing great confidence in front of goal. Ernie rounded off the scoring with a fantastic volley from just outside the area.

St Margarets did manage to pull one goal back, which they deserved after creating several chances, but goalkeeper Frankie produced a number of excellent saves throughout the match to keep them at bay.

An outstanding team performance from the Goldstone Yellow boys, showing great determination, skill and sportsmanship from start to finish.

Result: Goldstone Yellow 7–1 St Margarets
(Daxon x3, Charlie x3, Ernie)

The Goldstone Blue boys played their first Baker Cup match against Hove Juniors in very challenging conditions, with heavy rain making the pitch just about playable. Despite the weather, both teams produced a competitive and well-contested game, showing excellent sportsmanship throughout.

Goldstone made a dream start when, just five minutes in, Oscar scored an incredible volley from the halfway line. Elliot soon added a second with a well-taken finish from just inside the box. Hove Juniors continued to press, but Austin made several fantastic saves to keep Goldstone in control going into half-time.

In the second half, the boys continued to play positive football despite the conditions. Elliot grabbed his second goal of the match before Kaan capped off an excellent team performance by getting on the scoresheet to make it 4–0.

A brilliant first Baker Cup performance from the Blue team — great goals, strong teamwork and fantastic attitudes shown by all involved.

Result: Goldstone Blue 4–0 Hove Juniors
(Oscar, Elliot x2, Kaan)

On 29th January, Goldstone proudly took part in the annual Indoor Athletics competition at BACA, the final primary school indoor athletics event organised by School Games.

A team of 20 children represented Goldstone across running, jumping and throwing events, competing against Balfour, Cottesmore and Westdean. The squad gave an outstanding performance, showing incredible determination, teamwork and encouragement for one another throughout the day.

The children pushed themselves in every event and supported each other brilliantly, creating a fantastic team atmosphere. Their hard work paid off as Goldstone finished in an excellent 2nd place, just missing out on first behind Cottesmore. A superb achievement and a day to be very proud of!

Squad: Elliot, Luke, Oscar, Daxon, Syd, Austin, Jake, Joao, Joesph, Eli, Winnie, Nadia, Belle, Mya, Thea, Mabel, Eve, Romy, Esme, Vale. 

Goldstone began their Stearman Cup campaign as defending champions for the past two seasons, with eyes firmly on an impressive  three-peat.

The boys in blue started strongly on a wet and muddy pitch. Goldstone took an early lead when Elliot reacted quickest to a follow-up shot, before George doubled the advantage with a well-taken finish from a cross. It was a dominant first half, and Goldstone went into the break 2–0 up.

St Christopher’s came out with more intent in the second half and pushed hard to get back into the game, but goalkeeper A produced a series of terrific saves to keep them at bay. Despite the pressure, St Christopher’s managed to pull one goal back.

Goldstone responded immediately. Kaan restored the two-goal cushion with a composed finish, and right at the end of the game Elliot grabbed his second of the match to seal the win.

Final Score:
Goldstone 4 – 1 St Christopher’s

The Boys’ Yellow Team played another game against Cottesmore in what was a brilliant, end-to-end match of football. It was an exciting contest from start to finish, with chances at both ends.

We also had three boys playing their first ever competitive game, and they all did incredibly well. Every player showed great desire, motivation, and determination throughout the match.

Despite going 1–0 down, the boys showed real resilience and fought back to secure a 2–1 victory. George scored in the first half, followed by Kaan's goal in the second half to complete the comeback. Our goalkeeper, Frankie, also made several brilliant saves to keep us in the game.

Well done to all the boys who played. It was a great experience for both teams and a fantastic opportunity for everyone to represent their school.

On Friday 16th January, Galaxy Girls' Football Academy delivered a lunchtime club for Year 3 and 4 girls, with 20 girls attending. The session focused on fun, engaging football activities that helped develop key skills such as dribbling, communication, speed, and decision-making.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed the session and showed great enthusiasm throughout. They are already looking forward to taking part again next Friday!

UPDATE

Over the last five weeks, Galaxy Girls have delivered a free lunchtime football club for Year 3 and 4 girls. Around 20 girls attended each week, taking part in fun football-related games and small-sided matches.

We were invited to attend the Galaxy Girls Festival on 26th February at Varndean School and took 10 girls who were new to football. At the festival, the girls participated in a range of activities including shooting, dribbling, passing and teamwork games, before playing matches against other schools.

The girls represented Goldstone brilliantly throughout the day. Despite the cold weather, they showed fantastic enthusiasm, teamwork and developing skills. They were especially excited when they scored goals and, most importantly, they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Team: Dottie, Poppy, Ruby, Ivy, Siena, Eshe, Matilda, Tilly, Jessie

Our Girls’ Blue Team faced Balfour in the County Cup on 12/12/25. Both teams knew this would be a tough fixture, as previous meetings had shown how evenly matched the sides were.

The game did not disappoint, with both teams battling hard throughout. Goldstone created several chances, but a goal-line clearance and some brave defending from Balfour kept them out. Just before half-time, a shot from Balfour deflected off another player and into the net, making it 1–0 to Balfour at the break.

The girls kept their heads high and continued their fantastic performance in the second half. They came close to equalising, with Valentina hitting the crossbar, and the Balfour goalkeeper making some excellent saves.

The match finished 1–0 to Balfour, but the girls can be extremely proud of their effort and performance.

Team: Teddie, Thea, Valentina, Winnie, Elsie, Mabel, Romy, Evie, Nadia

The Girls Yellow Team faced Cottesmore in what was the first ever competitive football match for most of our players. Despite the challenge, the girls approached the game with enthusiasm, big smiles, and a determination to learn and improve throughout.

It truly was a game of two halves. In the first half, the girls found it difficult to settle and went 3–0 down against a strong and well-organised Cottesmore side.

However, the second half showed just how quickly this team can learn and adapt. The girls worked their way into the match, creating more attacking opportunities and getting several shots on goal, while also putting in some excellent defensive work. Their toughness, teamwork and resilience were outstanding from start to finish.

Although the final result was 4–0 to Cottesmore, the effort, attitude and spirit shown by every player was exceptional. For a squad experiencing competitive football for the first time, this was a hugely encouraging performance and a brilliant learning experience.

Team: Serena, Freya H, Ariana, Grace, Eva, Alice, Karlotta, Freya L, Rose, Sadie, Beau, Eve.

Our first Intra-School competition of the year saw our Year 3 and 4 pupils take part in a fast-paced and exciting Hockey tournament. Taking advantage of a sunny Friday afternoon, we formed eight teams of seven players, with teams selected at random to keep the event fun and inclusive.

With three to four matches being played at the same time, every team faced each other in quick-fire, three-minute games. The format kept the energy high and ensured lots of touches for all players. Impressively, every team managed to secure at least one win, which made the competition both competitive and enjoyable for everyone involved.

All children who took part were fantastic sportspeople. While they showed great determination and competitiveness, they also displayed gratitude, respect and excellent sportsmanship throughout the afternoon.

After a brilliant series of matches, Team 1 emerged as the overall winners of the Year 3 and 4 tournament.

Well done to everyone who took part!

Our Girls’ Blue Team – fresh off winning the Hove tournament earlier this year – represented the school brilliantly in the ESFA Cup Finals. The competition brought together four strong sides in a league format: Goldstone, Hangleton, Downs and St Martins, with matches played on the excellent 3G pitches at Sussex University under perfect footballing weather.

Goldstone opened their campaign against St Martins in a tight, evenly matched game. Both teams showed great commitment and work rate, cancelling each other out in midfield and defence. Despite chances at both ends, the match finished in a well-earned 0–0 draw.

Next up was Hangleton. Goldstone started brightly, full of energy and determination, and were rewarded early on with a well-taken goal from Romy. The team pushed hard to extend their lead, but a combination of excellent goalkeeping and a few close calls off the woodwork kept the score at 1–0 – a fantastic win for Goldstone!

The final match saw us take on Downs in what proved to be a decisive fixture for both teams. It was another closely contested game, with every Goldstone player giving everything right until the final whistle. Unfortunately, a single Downs goal proved the difference, and the match ended 1–0.

When the points were tallied, Goldstone finished 3rd with 4 points, just behind St Martins in 2nd on 5 points, and Downs, the overall winners, with 7 points. That last match truly was the make-or-break moment in the standings.

Every member of the Goldstone squad did the school incredibly proud, demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship, resilience, determination and teamwork throughout the tournament.

Team: Teddie, Valentina, Romy, Winnie, Thea, Evie, Nadia, Mabel, Elsie

Brothers Luke (Y6) and Thor (Y3) have together raced more than 10 events during the 2025 season including Triathlons, Duathlons and Aquathons. This is Thor’s first year racing and having been on the podium in all of his races, he won 1^st place in the Tristart event. Luke, who is a seasoned racer won the entire series. Having placed 2^nd in the SE British Triathlon Ranking series, Luke has earned a spot on the SE Inter-regional Duathlon team. Way to go boys!

Belle (Y6) and Arla (YN) both competed in a dance festival last weekend. The girls aced their respective Under 12s Champs and Under 4s beginners’ competitions, both taking 1st place. This was Arla’s debut and at just 3 years old she performed with impressive confidence. Belle swept the board in her dances, winning her solo section, her slow solo section, her slow pairs and her fast pairs!

A BIG congratulations to both our Southern Championship winners of 2025!

Last weekend, Jude ran the Hove Junior Mile as part of the Hove 10k event. He showed incredible determination and resilience, running alongside so many other runners, in front of huge crowds. Congratulations on your achievement Jude; we hope you are as proud of yourself as we all are of you!

On 12th November, we participated in this year’s Brighton, Hove and Portslade Cross Country event. The weather held out, giving us ideal running conditions. We took a total of 33 children from Years 5 and 6 to compete. Each race included approximately 250 runners, with a challenging 2km course around Waterhall, involving both uphill and downhill sections, finishing with a long straight.

We are extremely proud to say that every one of our runners completed the course. This is a significant achievement in itself, as it can be very easy to lose motivation during a long-distance race.

We also achieved some excellent team results:

• Year 5 boys – 4th place
• Year 6 girls – 2nd place
• Year 6 boys – 2nd place

Individually, we had four runners finish within the top 20 of their races, meaning they will now go on to represent Brighton & Hove at the Sussex Cross Country in February.
A huge well done and good luck to Keiran, Elliot, Luke and Syd.

We would also like to give a special mention to Leila, who stopped during her race to check on a runner from another school and encourage her to keep going. This was brought to my attention by an adult from another school. Her actions demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship, kindness, and the core values we uphold at Goldstone Primary School.

Teams:

Year 5 Boys - Kerian, Joesph, Carl, Jake, Eli, Jame, Ari, Joe 

Year5 Girls - Karlotta, Freya H, Freya L, Elma, Eve, Marley, Florie, Sadie, Marnie.

Year 6 Boys - Elliot, Luke, Magnus, Syd, Austin, Ellis, Oscar, Kaan. 

Year 6 Girls - Mabel, Nadia, Valentina, Teddie, Leila, Grace, Romy, Thea, Esme. 

Our Boys and Girls Yellow teams played their first ever matches together this week, many taking part in their first competitive football game. We travelled to Brighton on a freezing cold Wednesday afternoon, and—after a short delay—the matches finally got underway.

Girls Match
The girls began brilliantly, showing impressive knowledge, control and confidence on the ball. They created several excellent chances, but the Balfour goalkeeper was in outstanding form. Balfour scored twice in the first half, but despite the cold and the score line, our team never gave up. They continued to work hard and play with smiles on their faces. The match ended 3–0 to Balfour, but the girls’ determination and teamwork were superb.

Boys Match
The boys' game followed a similar pattern, with the team trailing 2–0 at half time. However, they came out fighting in the second half, scoring two fantastic goals through George and Austin to level the match. Although Balfour responded with two more goals, resulting in a 4–2 final score, our boys showed incredible character and resilience throughout.

Both teams represented Goldstone brilliantly, displaying excellent sportsmanship, teamwork and positivity despite the freezing weather. We even managed to get a group photo—with smiles from everyone!

A huge well done to all the children who played in their first ever competitive football match. You have made yourselves—and Goldstone Primary—very proud.

Girls Yellow Team - Grace, Eva, Ariana, Eliza, Freya, Sadie, Rose, Karlotta

Boys Yellow Team - Frankie, Ernie, George Y, Kaan, Austin, Goerge L, Farley, Max

Jacob and Tommy have been members of Brighton Blues rugby club for two years, significantly developing both their technical rugby skills and, crucially, their understanding of teamwork and supporting their teammates. Last weekend, at their first festival of the year in Crawley, both boys truly embodied the values of the club’s guiding behaviours. They delivered proud performances; each scoring tries for their team. They are both now looking forward to the 2026 festival season, which includes visits to Hove, Chichester, and a home festival at Brighton Blues home at Waterhall.

It was finally the turn of our Boys Yellow Team to compete in the ESFA Cup Tournament, after last term’s fixture was postponed. On a beautiful Thursday afternoon at the Sussex University 4G pitch, the team arrived excited and ready to play.

Goldstone were drawn in a group with St Nicolas, Hove Juniors, and Mile Oak. From the first whistle, the boys showed exceptional teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship. Our goalkeepers, Syd and Austin, made a series of outstanding saves that kept us strong throughout the group stage.

We opened the tournament with a 0–0 draw against Mile Oak, followed by a superb 2–0 win over St Nicolas, with goals from Ellis and Nathan.

Going into the final group match against Hove Juniors — a team some of our boys knew well — we needed only a draw to secure second place and a spot in the semi-finals. The team handled the pressure brilliantly, finishing with a controlled 0–0 draw to progress.

In the semi-finals, we faced a strong St Andrew’s side. It was a tense and closely contested match, with our boys giving everything. Despite an excellent performance, St Andrew’s scored the only goal of the game, and we were narrowly defeated 0–1.

Although the cup run ended there, the boys should be extremely proud. Throughout the entire tournament, they conceded just one goal, which is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their discipline, teamwork and resilience.

Full Results:

• vs Mile Oak: 0–0
• vs St Nicolas: 2–0 (Scorers: Ellis, Nathan)
• vs Hove Juniors: 0–0
• vs St Andrew’s (Semi-Final): 0–1

A fantastic effort from the whole squad — well done, boys!

Evie and her dance crew competed at the national Street House Championships in Exeter last weekend. It was an intense but fun experience, competing in different events throughout the weekend. Evie and her crew have only been together for a few months and really held their own against more established crews. They all worked hard and showed great resilience. In October, they also competed at a regional event where Evie placed 4th, and the crew came 2nd.

Evie now looks forward to the street dance GDO World's Championships in Crawley in December.

Goldstone were invited to take part in the Cross-Curriculum Cup, hosted by the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation. We selected eight children to represent our school in a series of exciting activities combining Maths, English, and problem-solving skills — all themed around football and the Albion!

The event was held at the AMEX Stadium, home of Brighton & Hove Albion FC. Pupils took part in memory games, quizzes, and team challenges designed to test both their academic skills and teamwork. We were delighted to be supported by volunteers from the American Express company, including the wonderful Nicola, who engaged brilliantly with our children and supported them throughout the day.
The children had an amazing experience — for many, visiting the AMEX Stadium was a real highlight. One pupil said, “This is the closest I’ve been to a real stadium!”

We are incredibly proud of our team for their enthusiasm and teamwork, and grateful to the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation for providing such a memorable learning opportunity.

Team: Theo, Mollie, Bel, Doody, Jake, Khloe, Winter-Lily, and Anhelina.

We took 10 girls to the Rugby Festival held at Hove Recreation Ground. The event was run by Hove Rugby Club, alongside enthusiastic sports leaders from PACA and Hove Park, who delivered a variety of rugby-based games while introducing the rules and laws of the sport.

The girls then had the opportunity to put their new skills into practice during friendly matches against teams from Cottesmore, Balfour, and Bilingual Primary. They really enjoyed themselves, showing great energy, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn. There was plenty of laughter throughout the activities, and the team demonstrated fantastic determination and teamwork as they took on a new sport with confidence.

Team: Gracie, Eva, Fahima, Tabbassum, Isra, Grace, Esme, Holly, Khloe, Amber.

Well done, girls – a brilliant effort all round! 

Auden, Etta and Tommy have been playing for Hove RFC for some time (Tommy 2 years, Auden 1 year, Etta since the start of this season) and last weekend they competed in the first mini’s rugby festival of the season at Worthing RFC. They all played in different teams for Hove RFC but decided to get together to have a photo to show all of you what they’ve been up to. Hove RFC has such a great team who are great at teaching the kids how to support each other whether they win or lose. They all had a great time, as you can see by the big smiles on their faces!

Our Year 6 team recently played a tournament at the Brighton training ground. After a slow start but with lots of excitement and energy, the boys performed exceptionally well, scoring some brilliant team goals. They encouraged each other throughout the tournament and came away happy and ready for the next challenge.

The tournament format was two groups of five teams, with the top two in each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Results: 

vs Peacehaven Heights: 0-2 

vs West Park: 1-1 (Goal by Ellis) 

vs Southwater: 1-0 (Goal by Charlie)

vs Harbour: 2-0 (Goals by Nathan and an own goal)

We were top of the group after playing all our games, with two other matches still to be decided: Peacehaven vs Southwater and West Park vs Harbour. We needed Peacehaven or Southwater to lose and West Park to lose, draw, or win by only one goal. Peacehaven won but unfortunately, West Park then won 4-0 against Harbour.

As a result, we finished 3rd in our group on goal difference. Despite this, the boys had a great day and really enjoyed themselves.

Our Year 6 girls’ team travelled to the Brighton & Hove Albion Training Ground for the Premier League Prima-ry Stars Girls’ Cup, an incredible experience, especially as it came just three days after returning from their residential!

Despite being a little tired, the girls gave absolutely everything on the pitch, showing brilliant sportsmanship, determination, and resilience throughout. The tournament was played in a league of six teams, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals.

Our results were: 

Vs Glebe – 0–0  

Vs Thomas & Becket – 1–1 (Goal: Valentina)  

Vs Balfour – 0–0  

Vs Whitehawk – 2–0 (Goals: Valentina, Romy)  

Vs Orchards – 0–0 

Goldstone finished 3rd in the league, going unbeaten and conceding just one goal all day, a fantastic achievement. In the semi-final, we faced Balfour once again. Despite a brave performance, we narrowly lost 1–0 to the eventual winners of the tournament. The girls should be incredibly proud of how they represented both themselves and the school.

To make the day even more special, Brighton & Hove Albion’s first team manager, Fabian Hürzeler, came along to watch the girls in action against Whitehawk. He even took time to meet the players and pose for photos, something the girls will treasure forever. Well done, girls, you were outstanding!