Words of thanks from Chair of Trustees at The Holt Youth Project

There were lots of tapping toes and smiling faces in Chapel on Saturday for our Gospel Service. The choir sang a variety of gospel-inspired pieces, including the first performance of Peter Yarde Martin’s ‘Gospel Responses’ outside of London – an exciting new setting to the traditional words of the Book of Common Prayer. 

It was also wonderful to hear from our guest speaker Tom Hume, Chair of Trustees at The Holt Youth Project. He thanked the school for their continued support of the project and challenged the pupils with Jesus’ words ‘Those to whom much is given, much will be expected.’

Gliding at RAF Honington

At the beginning of February, Gresham’s School CCF (RAF) Section was lucky enough to have six cadet slots for Gliding at RAF Honington, the home of 611 Volunteer Gliding Squadron. 

Five cadets from Year 10 and one from Year 13 got to experience the thrill of flight in a Viking T1, a two-seat glider. This is first time Gresham’s have been airborne out of RAF Honington.

Taking to the sky via winch launch with their glider pilots, cadets enjoyed flying in the airspace around RAF Honington. They were able to take control of their aircraft to learn more about the principles of flight and how control surfaces work on the aircraft. They were also fortunate enough to soak up some amazing views from the cockpit

Gliding is just one of the incredible opportunities that members of the CCF get to take part in. CCF has something for everyone. Some the highlights include shooting, leadership training, and adventurous training like kayaking and mountain biking.

Inter-House Target Sprint competition

The Gresham’s School Inter-House target sprint competition recently took place at the start of February.  Each of the seven Houses entered a Junior team (Y9 & Y10) and a Senior team (Y11, Y12 & Y13), containing five competitors.  The event has been adapted slightly, in order to make it very spectator friendly and also to allow those that had not done very much shooting the opportunity to be competitive.  Each competitor was required to run 200 meters before coming into the air rifle range and shooting down five targets.  Once the five targets had been knocked down then the next runner set off around the track.  Adding to the excitement, it was run under floodlight, at 8 o’clock in the evening.  Both the track and the range were floodlit to create a wonderful atmosphere.

A huge congratulations, and thanks, must go to the 70 pupils that took part and that were involved in the event.  Particularly well done to Woodlands for winning the Junior trophy and to Oakeley for winning in the Senior trophy.  Howson’s were consistently good in both races (finishing in 2^nd place in both races) and therefore won the combined overall trophy.  Well done to all of the winners.

Lucy W earns prestigious Field Hockey Scholarship to Northeastern University

We would like to congratulate Lucy W, captain of Gresham’s School 1st XI Hockey team, on securing a coveted scholarship to play hockey and to study at Northeastern University in the United States.

This marks a significant milestone in her sporting journey, recognising her outstanding talent, leadership, and dedication to the game. A key player for Harleston Magpies HC and a former member of England’s Under-16 Girls squad, Lucy has established herself as a formidable defender with exceptional outletting skills and tactical awareness. Her scholarship to Northeastern—a renowned Division I programme—underscores her potential to excel at the highest levels of collegiate hockey and is a tribute to the hard work she has put in over her time at Gresham’s.

Northeastern University, based in Boston, Massachusetts, boasts a strong field hockey programme that competes in the highly competitive Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Huskies have a storied history, with multiple NCAA tournament appearances and several conference championships. Notably, the team reached the NCAA Final Four in 1995 and 1996, cementing their status as a powerhouse in collegiate field hockey.

Earning a scholarship to a Division I programme in the USA is a rare and remarkable achievement for any pupil, and Lucy’s success reflects years of hard work, resilience, and passion for the sport. As a school, we are incredibly proud of Lucy’s achievements thus far and look forward to hearing about her continued hockey journey next year.

Successful first Music and Munch of 2025

The first Music & Munch of the year was a spectacular success, with a fantastic lineup of performers and a packed audience!

Our singers entertained with popular numbers including Mr Snow and If I Loved You from Carousel and a classical offering from Brahms. 

The strings section shone with expressive performances on guitar and viola, leading up to a show-stopping jazz finale that earned rapturous applause.

Looking ahead, jazz takes centre stage for our Valentine’s-themed Music and Munch on Friday, 14 February.

Academic Enrichment: former British Army Officer, Rob Murray

All pupils from Sixth Form, together with some pupils from Years 10 and 11, were treated to an excellent, insightful and thought-provoking talk from former NATO, Saab Inc. and British Army Officer, Rob Murray.

The talk focused on the state of geopolitics in 2025 and beyond, exploring global trends, regional dynamics, and their implications, with a particular emphasis on the United Kingdom’s evolving role in the world.

Rob provided a clear and engaging overview of the challenges and opportunities that nations are currently facing in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.

After the talk, pupils took part in a vibrant Q&A session and left with a deeper understanding of international affairs and the extent of their local impact.

Celebrating the Lunar New Year

Pupils welcomed in the Year of the Snake at the end of January, with a celebration full of tradition, learning, and festivities.

Beginning in Morning Chapel, Peter R, Will H, and Pablo BG gave insightful presentations on the Chinese zodiac and the history of Chinese New Year. Their talk, accompanied by a PowerPoint designed by Sophia L and Tiger M, helped educate the school community on the cultural significance of the celebration.

Later, in the decorated dining hall, pupils tucked in to a feast of Chinese cuisine. From dishes like sweet and sour crispy chicken, beef in black bean sauce, and hoisin stir fry vegetables, to classic accompaniments like egg fried rice, chow mein and spring rolls.

The celebrations continued over the weekend with a special trip to the Baby Buddha Chinese Teahouse.

Debating team secure spot in regional finals

On Monday evening, the Gresham’s team of Cerys D, Seb W and Pablo B-G made the long journey down to St Joseph’s College, Ipswich for round 2 of the ESU Mace Debating Competition. Our match was first, proposing the motion This House Believes globalisation perpetuates social inequity against Ipswich School. Cerys set up the proposition case beautifully, Seb spent the first two minutes of his speech rebutting the first Opposition’s claims and Pablo delivered a fine summary weighing up why the Proposition’s case was more convincing than the Opposition’s.  

Two further debates followed involving very strong teams from St. Joseph’s College, Langley School, Hartismere School and RHS. To our surprise and delight, the Gresham’s team was declared the best of the night and thus progress to the Regional Finals in March for the third successive year.  

Well done to the team, including reserve Zinny B.    

Cardiac Screening Programme held for pupils

In January, a cardiac screening programme was held in Big School Hall to help identify young people at risk of sudden cardiac death. The screening was organised in collaboration with the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), which works to detect and prevent potentially fatal heart conditions in individuals aged 14-35.

During the screening, 101 pupils underwent an electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess the electrical activity of their hearts. Some also required an echocardiogram, an ultrasound scan that examines heart size, structure, and blood flow. These tests, conducted by qualified cardiac physiologists, were painless and took only a few minutes to complete. The results were reviewed by a doctor alongside personal and family medical histories, and in cases where abnormalities were detected, further investigations were recommended.

CRY reports that at least 12 young people in the UK die each week from undiagnosed heart conditions. Since its founding in 1995, the charity has been dedicated to reducing the incidence of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD) by offering screening programmes, funding medical research, and providing support for affected families.

Plans are already in place to hold another screening clinic in the future.

Gresham’s does Desert Island Discs

One of the highlights of Chapel this Half Term has been a new series of ‘Gresham’s Does Desert Island Discs.’

Deputy Head Pastoral, Mrs Alexander, and our Deputy Head of School, Eva O, were (metaphorically) cast away to a desert island. But before embarking on this imaginary adventure, they were asked in Chapel to share the music tracks, book, and luxury item they would take with them.

We heard a diverse range of tracks from artists including ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, Harry Styles and Wham!.