Last Monday, we welcomed Hugo Barker to speak to Year 13 pupils about careers, resilience, and the many routes into geopolitics and public policy. Now Chief of Staff at the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) and a PhD scholar at Imperial College London, Hugo shared his non-linear journey and encouraged pupils to embrace adaptability, curiosity and learning through failure.

His key message was kindness, and that there is no single ‘right’ path. His advice was to build momentum through small steps, real-world experience, and conversations with people doing the work you’re curious about. Hugo’s talk offered pupils practical, inspiring insights into navigating a fast-changing world of work and reflected Gresham’s commitment to preparing young people for life beyond the classroom.

On Friday 13th February, twenty excited pupils and four members of staff gathered at school, ready to begin the Sri Lanka Cricket and Netball Tour 2026. The group landed in Colombo around lunchtime (local time), five and a half hours ahead of GMT, and were welcomed with traditional flower garlands before stopping for lunch and beginning their journey inland.

The first stop was Kandy, a beautiful city surrounded by hills and centred on its famous lake. Kandy is home to the sacred Temple of the Tooth, one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world. The team arrived tired but excited and enjoyed their first Sri Lankan buffet, then went to bed ready for the adventure ahead.

On their first morning of cricket, they played at St Anthony’s College Ground, where legendary spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan, went to school. After warming up on a muddy outfield and experiencing coconut matting pitches for the first time, the team bowled brilliantly to restrict Girls’ High School Kandy to 104. Chasing the total, they stumbled early, but Emelia C and Issy P calmly rebuilt the innings to secure a seven-wicket victory. The afternoon brought more cricket, including pairs matches so that everyone could play, learn and enjoy themselves.

Day three began early, with a visit to the Temple of the Tooth. During an hour-long tour, the girls learned about Buddhism, sacred relics and Sri Lankan culture, walking barefoot through one of the country’s most important religious sites. Next came a visit to a gem factory, followed by a traditional clothing store, where the girls tried on Sri Lankan dresses and bought team shirts for later in the tour.

That afternoon, the Netball team played their first fixtures against Hillcrest College and Gateway College. Held in an indoor sports hall, the matches were fast, skilful and exciting. The team won one game and lost the other but were struck by the agility and speed of Sri Lankan netballers. Presentations followed in the evening, with pennants, caps, Yorkshire Tea, flowers, gifts and post-match ice creams.

On day four, they headed to the tea plantations, where they learned how Ceylon tea is grown, picked and processed, and from there, they travelled to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Bathing elephants in the river and watching them walk through the town was an unforgettable experience for both pupils and staff. The group continued south to the coast, arriving at the historic Mount Lavinia Hotel, before enjoying an evening at the Cricket Club Café, complete with bingo, laughter and games.

The heat was intense in Colombo on day five, touching 30°C. The Cricket team played at Thurstan College and faced a mixed-age team – some playing their very first live cricket match. Gresham’s batted first and reached 105, but the heat took its toll. Afternoon pairs cricket restored smiles, big hits and fun for everyone. That evening, the group were delighted to be offered entry to the closing stages of Namibia vs Pakistan, standing on the embankment and watching the final overs. Sky TV filmed the girls live and some even visited the Emirates lounge for merchandise.

On day six, the girls visited the Foundation of Goodness and saw tsunami water marks above head height and learned how lives were rebuilt after 2004. They played two close netball matches on a freshly painted grass court before torrential rain ended play. Later, at a turtle conservation centre, the girls helped release turtles into the ocean at sunset, just before a dramatic tropical storm soaked everyone. The day ended at the Occidental Eden Beruwala.

At the Army Cricket Ground, the girls were excited to see their names appear on the scoreboard. Playing Gallwua College, the team experienced tough cricket, close finishes, pairs matches, and the rhythm of Sri Lankan cricket days: tea vans, iced coffees, heavy lunches and sudden rain.

The final full day began with a boat ride through mangrove swamps, learning how they protect coastlines and spotting wildlife. They visited a cinnamon operation before travelling to Galle Fort. Tuk-tuks zipped the girls around the city, past churches and ramparts, before they had some time to reflect as they looked out over the Indian Ocean.

After lunch at the Pedlar’s Inn, the girls played their final netball fixtures against Sacred Hearts and Holy Convent. In a roasting indoor arena, the girls won all three matches, with everyone playing and enjoying their final games in Sri Lanka.

The group arrived back late at night on Sunday to relieved and smiling parents. This tour was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, full of sport, friendship, culture and joy.

The annual small-bore target rifle match between Gresham’s Rifle Club and Cambridge University Rifle Club took place at the start of Half Term. This is always a very tight contest, often coming down to a matter of just a few points, and this year was no exception. Gresham’s took two full teams of VIII to the match, with just a couple of top shots missing from the team sheet. There was some very good shooting by all those involved in the fixture, but it was Gresham’s that managed to secure victory on this occasion. 

Ilana B secured the top score in the match, with an impressive 196 out of a possible 200. The 1st VIII team match finished with Gresham’s scoring 1532/1600 to Cambridge University’s 1528/1600 – the narrowest of victories for Gresham’s 1st VIII.

The 2nd VIII match was not quite so close, with Gresham’s securing a slightly easier 27-point victory. The top shot for Gresham’s, and the top shot in this match, was Elisabeth P, with a hugely impressive 195 out of a possible 200. This was one of Elisabeth’s first away fixtures, and she shot superbly well. 

The Gresham’s 2nd VIII scored 1504/1600 to Cambridge University’s 1477/1600. We thank Cambridge University Small-Bore Rifle Club for a very enjoyable fixture, and we wish them every success in the Varsity Match in a couple of weeks’ time. 

Last Wednesday, Fishmongers’ Hall saw Gresham’s Guitar Ensemble, String Ensemble and Concert Band deliver a diverse range of instrumental performances, from melodic Mozart to Pop/R&B and Big Brass bangers. 

The evening began with guitar group performing the block chords of the Latin American Oye Como Va. 

String Ensemble followed with an exceptional rendition of His Attack on the Windmills by Telemann. Lucy D delivered a stella performance of Viola Concerto in G Major, also by Telemann. 

String Quartet performed Mozart’s No. 14 in G major, and Ilana B and Kai S delighted with Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Violins in A Minor. String ensemble concluded the first half of the night with a fabulous rendition of Meghan Trainor’s All About That Bass, with Imogen A on vocals, Benny S on keys and Timo F on drums. 

After the interval, it was the turn of Concert Band, under the capable direction of Sacha Howard, to deliver energetic and bombastic performances that got us bopping in our seats, clapping our hands and tapping our feet. The repertoire included Pompeii by Bastille, I’m a Believer, Monday Monday, Dream a Little Dream of Me, California Dreaming, Jonas Brothers and Billy Joel in Concert.  It was an incredible concert that demonstrated the breadth of musical talent at Gresham’s.  

Recently, the Economics Society welcomed a fascinating presentation from Charles DCB and Dan C titled “Artificial Intelligence: Hype or Revolution?”

The session began by tackling a fundamental question: what exactly is artificial intelligence? From there, Charles and Dan examined why AI is such a significant development for economics, exploring its potential to drive productivity, transform industries, and influence long-term economic growth.

A key focus of the discussion was AI’s impact on labour markets. The presenters considered whether AI is likely to complement human workers or displace them, and what this could mean for wages, skills, and employment patterns in the years ahead. Pupils were encouraged to think critically about both the opportunities and challenges that widespread AI adoption may bring.

The group also reflected on recent developments in the technology sector, including the market reaction to Anthropic’s unveiling of Claude Cowork. The resulting sell-off in SaaS stocks prompted a discussion about investor expectations, technological disruption, and how quickly AI-driven tools could reshape the world of work.

The session concluded with a forward-looking discussion on whether AI represents short-term hype or a genuine economic revolution.

The Inter-House Target Sprint Competition took place at the beginning of February, following a short postponement due to poor weather earlier in the term. Each of the seven Houses entered a Junior team and a Senior team containing five competitors. This year, the event has been slightly adapted to make it more spectator-friendly, while also ensuring that those with less shooting experience have the opportunity to compete on an equal footing.

Each competitor was required to run 200 metres before coming into the air rifle range and shooting down five targets. Once the five targets had been knocked down, the next runner was able to set off around the track. The event was particularly exciting, taking place under floodlights at 8.00pm. Both the track and the range were floodlit to create a wonderful atmosphere.

A huge congratulations must go to the 70 pupils who took part and contributed to the success of the event. Particular congratulations to Oakeley for winning the Junior trophy and to Howson’s for taking the Senior trophy. Edinburgh performed consistently well in both races, finishing second in the Juniors and third in the Seniors, and secured the combined overall trophy. Well done to all the winners.

The 1st XI Girls’ Football team played their fourth game of the season on Tuesday afternoon. This was their first home game after securing a 1-1 draw and narrow 0-1 defeat in their previous two away games. The team had been improving with every match, their defence was solid, and they just needed to add some goals to their play.

The team made a strong start, putting consistent pressure on the Norwich goal, with two near misses from Noya R and Kate K. As the half wore on, Norwich grew into the game, and their neat passing began to take effect, helping them gain a foothold in the match.

On 25 minutes, a smart break down the left wing saw Charlotte F and Kate L combine with neat passing to put Zinnia B through on goal, and she calmly slotted the ball into the corner to give Gresham’s a 1-0 lead. Just before half-time, the Gresham’s goalkeeper Paula A was alert to turn away a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

Norwich started the second half strongly, but excellent defending kept them mostly out of shooting range. Margi G and Sophie G were particularly impressive, while Ining K made a couple of crucial blocks on the edge of the box.

Cariss L and Alissa V had good efforts well saved before Noya R broke free from the halfway line and fired a 25-yard shot into the top corner for 2-0. There was still time for the Norwich keeper to make an incredible fingertip save from Noya R before the final whistle.

This was a great win for the Gresham’s Girls in a fair and well-contested match, played in a great spirit. Everyone got to play and contribute, making the hard work and training worthwhile.

On Monday, our Year 13 pupils were treated to an inspiring enrichment talk from climber, coach and adventurer Ben Heason. Ben shared his extraordinary journey, from growing up in Snowdonia, North Wales, to climbing and exploring some of the most remote and challenging places in the world. He spoke about how an adventurous upbringing, a love of the outdoors and a determination to keep pushing beyond comfort zones shaped his path.

Ben captivated pupils with stories from his global climbing experiences, including major expeditions and the importance of resilience, teamwork and self-belief. He also reflected on the cultural richness he has experienced through his travels, highlighting how challenge and curiosity can open doors to personal growth well beyond the classroom.

A message that particularly resonated with pupils was Ben’s take on perseverance, inspired by Dolly Parton’s quote:
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you’ve gotta put up with the rain.”