On Saturday 28 June 2025, we held our annual Speech Day event to celebrate the work and achievements from our 2024-25 leavers. It was an exceptionally warm day, as staff, pupils and parents gathered in our woodland amphitheatre.
Headmaster, Mr Robb, opened the ceremony, and our Heads of School, Emily M, and Albert W, presented their reports for 2024/25, after which Chairman of Governors, Paul Marriage introduced our guest speaker.
We were thrilled to welcome member of parliament and former president of the National Farmers’ Union, Baroness Batters, who went on to present pupils with prizes.
Pupils design new artwork for the Dyson Building
News > Pupils design new artwork for the Dyson Building
On Monday 19 May, two new wall rugs were unveiled at the bottom of the stairs in the Dyson Building.
A number of pupils and teachers were on hand to see the unveiling. The fabulous pieces of art were designed by Year 10 pupils Lachlan M and Miriam G, expertly made by the Deirdre Dyson Carpet company, and commissioned by one of the School’s most generous art benefactors – the Sir Colin Anderson Memorial Trust.
For more than forty years, the Sir Colin Anderson Memorial Trust has commissioned multiple pieces of art for the School, including the bouncing ball structure by the Parade Ground, the Auden and Britten stone pillars by the Chapel and behind the Auden Theatre, and the stone hand that lives outside the Cairns Centre, to name but just a few.
Last academic year, members of the Trust asked Year 9 pupils to come up with designs for two new wall rugs to be hung inside the building and that reflected the STEAM subjects. There proved to be stiff competition, with many interesting designs being submitted. In the end, Lachlan and Miriam’s colourful designs were chosen.
The School extends its sincere thanks to the trustees of the Sir Colin Anderson Memorial Trust for their loyal and generous support, as well as its congratulations to both Lachlan and Miriam for coming up with two fantastic designs that will forever be displayed in the Dyson Building.
On Monday, we wrapped up our final Academic Enrichment talk of the year for our Year 13 pupils before they head into the Easter break and exam season. We were delighted to welcome Charlotte Davey and OG Frankie Sutton from Succession Wealth to share their career journeys and industry insights.
Charlotte, Strategy and Propositions Director, gave an insightful talk about her role and how her career pathway has been anything but linear—showing pupils that there are many different routes to success beyond school. Both Charlotte and Frankie highlighted the wealth of opportunities available in the financial sector, offering great encouragement to our pupils as they consider their next steps.
We look forward to working together to set up a financial and investment workshop in the future.
The Gresham’s Foundation will launch its second ever giving day on the 12th and 13th of March 2025. Gresham’s Giving Day 2025will be another opportunity for the School community (Old Greshamians, current and former parents and Friends) to come together to celebrate what makes Gresham’s special and donate to help widen access to a Gresham’s education.
Similar to the first giving day in 2023, the campaign will focus on promoting and seeking support for the School’s Bursary Programme. Supporting young people and their families who require bursarial provision is a longstanding and key charitable objective at the School and has been since its founding in 1555. Donations to the Foundation’sBursary Fund before and during Gresham’s Giving Day 2025 will make a difference and give young people the chance to attend the School and make the most of a Gresham’s education.
Thank you to those who have already donated, we appreciate your contribution. If you would like to donate early, your donation will be matched, doubling the value of your gift. You can make a donation by followingthis link.
Keep an eye on social media and email communications in the lead up to and on 12th and 13th March. There will be lots going on at Gresham’s.
Thank you for your support!
THE IMPACT OF A GRESHAM’S EDUCATION
The Gresham’s Rifle Club take on the OG Team
News > The Gresham’s Rifle Club take on the OG Team
On the last day of Half Term, the Rifle Club competed in its annual small-bore fixture against the Old Gresham’s Rifle Team.
There was a great turn out with an equally impressive spread of ages. The top shot in the match was current NRA Imperial Meeting Grand Aggregate winner, Chloe E (OG), scoring a hugely impressive 195/200. The final match score was 1498 for the OG team and 1455 for the Gresham’s Rifle Club.
The match concluded with everyone shooting a ‘Rapid Shoot’, of 10 shots in 90 seconds – a challenge that is much trickier than it sounds. This year, Grace S won with a fantastic score of 96/100, shooting a ’6’ with her last shot, just as the 90 seconds came to an end.
After the match, both teams enjoyed an excellent lunch in the local pub and the OGs were able to share stories from their time at Gresham’s with the current team.
First-hand memories of the 1990 Choir Tour to Odessa
News > First-hand memories of the 1990 Choir Tour to Odessa
Gresham’s recently welcomed former members of staff, Angela Dugdale and Michael Allard, to share their memories of the 1990 Choir Tour to Odessa with Year 12 pupil Margie G. The tour, set at the end of the Gorbachev era, was an extraordinary and eventful experience.
Whilst the choir experienced dreadful food and bedbugs and saw first-hand the contrast of ‘black-market’ riches and stark poverty, they performed to packed out audiences in Odessa’s Opera House and newly reopened churches.
The repertoire of choral music required the assistance of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie.
Their trip even resulted in an exchange visit from the Gordienko Children’s Choir of Odessa, who were delightful.
All in all, it was an eventful and memorable October Half Term.
The two Year 13 BTEC Business classes were hosted this week by Sponge to learn about their Marketing and Production functions.
Each trip was hosted by Mark Joll, (Director and OG c & T 1982 – 91) and Sponge’s Marketing Director, Natalie Douglas.
After a brief history of the company, Mark and Natalie outlined their Marketing aims after talking through their SWOT analysis and the 4P’s.
The pupils will be sitting their external Marketing exam early next year. The visit was particularly appreciated as it covered, in an applied manner, much of what the pupils will need in the exam, to devise a Marketing plan based on a case study that is pre-released the day before the examination.
The pupils unanimously agreed that the visit was extremely helpful and were amazed by the state-of-the-art production facilities at the Sponge factory in Holt. They were able to see the processes involved for cakes and the new brownies being manufactured, right through to the final packing and dispatch from the factory by post. Pupils certainly worked up an appetite during the tour and were particularly delighted with the box of delicious, fresh brownies they each received, in a customised Gresham’s box!
Our thanks go to all the staff at Sponge who were all so welcoming, and in particular to Mark and Natalie for giving their time to provide the students with such a valuable visit.
We welcomed back Old Greshamian, Soji Ajayi, as our Enrichment Speaker for Black History Month. Soji shared his inspiring journey with Year 13 pupils, reflecting on balancing culture and opportunity.
Soji spoke about his Sixth Form studies, discovering his passion for rugby and skiing, and how these experiences shaped his perspective. He went on to pursue an Engineering degree but later transitioned into the world of Financial Services, where he built a successful career.
Soji gave a true reflection of his journey of perseverance, identity, and the pursuit of excellence—all delivered with a message of embracing positivity, understanding and being happy with your own identity.
Compelling lectures on History and Degree Apprenticeships
News > Compelling lectures on History and Degree Apprenticeships
The past few weeks have brought a series of engaging Academic Enrichment lectures, covering a wide range of historical, political, and practical topics.
Last week, we were privileged to host Mr. Kinder, Head of History, who delivered an outstanding lecture on the 110-year history of the Middle Eastern conflict. This topic was specifically requested by our current Sixth Form pupils, eager to gain a deeper understanding of the historical context surrounding the conflict.
We extend our thanks to Mr. Kinder for his illuminating presentation.
This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Romario Ellis, a 20-year-old entrepreneur, advocate for apprenticeships, and the Founder of Outer Circle, to share his journey with degree apprenticeships. Romario’s story highlighted his path from an apprentice to establishing a dedicated platform empowering young people to gain confidence, skills, and understanding to launch their careers through apprenticeships with supportive, influential employers.
Joining Romario was OG Isobel Reading (E 2020-22), an apprentice at JP Morgan in Global Finance and Business Management. Together, they delivered an insightful and authentic look into the very real and successful route of undertaking a degree apprenticeship.
Thank you, Romario and Izzy, for your encouraging, candid perspectives and for inspiring our pupils to consider the opportunities offered by degree apprenticeships.
OGs return to share university journey and career tips
News > OGs return to share university journey and career tips
On Monday 23 September, we were delighted to welcome back OGs Joe, Lucy, and Tilly for an inspiring enrichment talk with our current Year 13 pupils.
Each OG shared their unique university journeys, offering valuable insights and advice for those preparing for the next step in their education. Joe, now in his third year studying History at Durham University, stressed the importance of being proactive in pursuing personal goals. His dedication has certainly paid off, as he managed to secure a summer placement with the multinational accounting firm, Deloitte, and already has a job offer lined up with the company for September 2025.
Lucy, a Marketing and Events Management graduate from Oxford Brookes University, spoke about her experience switching degree courses and highlighted the excellent support available for students with dyslexia. Lucy helped reassure those with learning differences about the help they can expect at university.
Tilly, an English Literature graduate from Edinburgh University, shared her enriching experience, including a memorable Erasmus exchange in her third year at the University of Copenhagen.
So far this term, Monday’s academic enrichment talks have been filled with exciting and engaging speakers. We welcomed Major General Felix Gedney who delivered a thought-provoking lecture about the UK Armed Forces and Society, and Former MP and Old Greshamian, Duncan Baker, who gave an extremely engaging and knowledgeable talk that offered insights into the commitment of being an MP.
We look forward with anticipation to welcoming more exciting speakers throughout the rest of the term.
