Year 12 heard from the Norfolk Roads and Armed Policing Team as part of their Wellbeing programme

On Monday 12th June, Norfolk Roads and Armed Policing Team came to deliver their presentation ‘Can you see me?’ to our Year 12 pupils as part of their Wellbeing Programme. This event aims to demonstrate to young road users the various blind spots surrounding a lorry and therefore raises awareness of the potential dangers to pedestrians, cyclists, motor cyclists and drivers.

Mats were placed on the ground around the lorry to indicate areas that were visible and not visible to the driver. Pupils participated as pedestrians and some volunteered to sit in the driver’s seat in the cab, giving them first hand experience of the driver’s view.

As well as being highly informative, it was also good to meet Jill, who told us about her 25 years of experience working for Norfolk County Council driving a gritter lorry. Lorry driving is often still perceived to be a man’s job and so she was a great example of someone challenging stereotypes to follow her own interests and ambition.

Augusta Samuel from ‘ItHappens Education’ spoke to Year 10 pupils

On 21^st June, Augusta Samuel from ‘ItHappens Education’ spoke to our Year 10 pupils via a live webinar on the subject of vaping. Her highly informative, interactive talk explored the following areas:

• Smoking compared to vaping
• Prevalence of vaping & smoking with young people
• The law
• Short-term consequences & long-term risks of vaping
• Disposable vapes
• Why vaping is so addictive
• Harm Reduction advice & how to get support

Pupils had the opportunity to ask questions and offer their views using Mentimeter on their phones, creating a highly interactive experience and ensuring the content was entirely relevant and pertinent to them.

We all learned some interesting and unexpected facts which hopefully will impact positively on our young people and empower them to make responsible, healthier choices.

Shakespeare in the Woods

All the World’s A Stage and certainly our stunning Theatre in the Woods is a fantastic backdrop for any event – but for Shakespeare it is simply magical. Pupils from years 9, 10 and 12 performed sonnets, monologues and scenes on a perfect Midsummer Night. The Dream created a framework for other plays to be woven in, with well-known plays As You Like It, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth alongside lesser known plays Henry 1V part 1 and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Special mention must be made for guest performer Chips the dog who, despite the appearances of a lion and a bear, kept his focus and showed himself to be a natural on the stage.

Congratulations to Raphael who has been offered a place at The Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts

Raphael C has been offered a place at RADA The Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts. RADA is a highly competitive and prestigious Drama School and Raphael’s achievement in gaining a place reflects both his determination and talent. We wish him all the best for his undoubtedly dramatic future. Break A Leg Raph!

Year 9 pupils made cards for Human Rights charity Amnesty International

As part of their field day activities, the Year 9 Services group were introduced to the Human Rights charity, Amnesty International. They joined the worldwide initiative ‘Write for Rights’ for which they designed, made and wrote cards to prisoners of conscience and their families. We were very proud of the final results.

Year 12 pupils had a successful visit to the ‘UCAS Discovery’ event

On Monday 12^th June, Year 12 pupils had a successful visit to the Norfolk Showground for the annual ‘UCAS Discovery’ event. There were over one hundred universities in attendance, alongside some employers offering apprenticeship schemes. The pupils found it very useful finding out more about their chosen course or university, or just finding out what might interest them. If anything, it got them thinking about life beyond Gresham’s! We wish them the best of luck with their future applications. 

Congratulations to the girls U15 cricket team who have made it to the national semi-finals

The team have made it through to the School Sport Magazine National Semi-Finals which will take place in September. After an amazing season, the girls U15 cricket team won the National Quarter-Finals after beating King’s College.

Earlier in June, the team became County Champions in a hard-fought match against Norwich High School for Girls. A great game saw Grace lift The Nicola Woodhouse Trophy for the first time and they remain unbeaten and take on The King’s School, Worcester on Tuesday in the National Cup Quarter Final. Well done and good luck, girls!

Year 9 and 10 pupils have been taking part in The Big Help Out

Our Year 9 and 10 pupils have been taking part in The Big Help Out, taking part in a variety of voluntary initiatives to give something back at the end of this academic year. Members of Tallis; Woodlands and Edinburgh houses went litter picking in Holt and High Kelling helping to keep our communities tidy.

Grufts 2023 raised £200 for the Olpalagilagi School in Kenya

Just about 20 dogs and their owners turned out on a baking hot Father’s Day to contest various classes at Grufts 2023. Although we had hoped for rather more contestants the rings were happily busy and most dogs went home with a rosette. A great deal of fun was had by canines and humans alike and just over £200 was raised for Olpalagilagi School. This will go towards an extension for a severely overcrowded, corrugated iron dormitory, improving the conditions for the boy boarders. Thank you very much to all who came along and took part, and also to those who just bought lots of cakes from the tea stall.