Friday marked the 125th anniversary of Gresham’s School Combined Cadet Force (CCF) which was formed in 1901. Gresham’s has a very long, proud history of being one of the largest CCF Units in the country.

The occasion also coincided with the Biennial Inspection which was carried out by RAF Regional Commandant Group Captain D. Boreham. The parade, held in front of Big School, involving the cadets and officers of Gresham’s CCF was outstanding and demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication from all involved.

A huge well done to the cadets and officers of our CCF – we are very proud of you all.

Year 12 pupils and parents at Gresham’s were recently inspired by a dynamic presentation from The University Guys and a group of leading international universities, showcasing the exciting possibilities of studying overseas.

Representatives from international universities introduced pupils to a rich variety of programmes, campuses and pathways. From creative careers at SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design), to entrepreneurial global business study with TETR, medicine in Italy at Università Cattolica, and the liberal arts and sporting opportunities at Rollins College in Florida, the session highlighted the breadth of options available beyond the UK.

The event demonstrated the exceptional opportunities international study can offer Gresham’s pupils — broadening horizons, building confidence and opening doors to future careers across a wide range of fields. It was particularly valuable for pupils with interests in art, design, business, medicine, science and sport, while also sparking exciting possibilities for future school partnerships, masterclasses and educational visits.

This inspiring event reinforced Gresham’s commitment to helping pupils think ambitiously, explore globally and find the pathway that is right for them.

Two teams of Gresham’s cadets travelled to Cambridge Gun Club on both Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April for the National Clay Target Shooting Championships.

There are four separate competitions in the CCF category and Gresham’s teams won every single one of them. The ‘Senior Team’ of Max C, Ted G and Arthur D, with Sam W as captain, brought home gold medals and trophies for the ‘Down the Line’, ‘Sporting’ and ‘Inter-Services Skeet’ competitions.

Alec and Sam also won individual medals, and Arthur secured the top overall shot of the competition.

The ‘Junior Team’ of Harry L, Bertie B and Matthew C, with Alec A as captain, won gold medals and continued the unbroken pedigree of Gresham’s victories in the ‘Flush’ competition.

This was another outstanding performance at national sporting level for the clay target shooters who once again have a large collection of trophies to display.

Gresham’s is continuing to see rifle success. Pupils have recently taken part in the annual British Schools International match hosted by the British Schools Small-Bore Rifle Association (BSSRA). Eleven members of our Rifle Club were selected to represent both England and Wales Schools.

Each of the Home Nations (including the Channel Islands) select two teams of 12 firers to compete in the match. As England has considerably more people to select from, they also select a ‘C’ and a ‘D’ team to shoot for honours in the match. 

This year, a third of the England ‘A’ team were from Gresham’s, with pupils also selected for the England ‘B’ team and ‘C’ team. In addition, Gresham’s had pupils representing the Welsh team, all shooting for Wales ‘A’.

England ‘A’ won the A team match, with Wales coming a very strong second. England ‘B’ also won the B team match. For the first time ever, the England ‘B’ team scored higher than the England ‘A’ team.

Remarkably, the top ten Gresham’s scores in the match scored a total of 1936/2000. This would have equalled the England ‘A’ team score. Henry J top scored in the match and was the only competitor to shoot a perfect 100. He scored a total of 198/200.

A huge congratulations to all those involved.

The Rifle Club have recently returned from their Easter Training week, at Bisley. The team performed really well in very testing conditions. In total, 15 members of the team, along with three members of staff, headed to Bisley for the week. The first weekend of the Camp gave them perfect weather for training and the team embraced all that was asked of them. Despite the hope that these conditions would continue throughout the week, the winds grew in strength so that by Wednesday all shooting was cancelled for the day.

The weekend was spent shooting mostly at short range (300 and 600 yards) and involved classroom work in the evenings for the newer members of the team. There is no shooting on Mondays, so this was used as an opportunity to check shooting positions and continue the classroom work. The team enjoyed a hugely competitive Easter Egg hunt in the afternoon, followed by an equally competitive game of bowling in the evening. On the Tuesday, the team started the day at 500 yards before moving back to 1000 yards for the afternoon, just as the wind started to pick up. The conditions became very tricky, very quickly. 

Shooting is not just about firing the perfect shot, although this is clearly important, there is also a lot of personal admin required and record keeping to be done. Some evenings were spent continuing to learn the skills of plotting and wind coaching, which are both necessary skills to have as the wind can have a massive effect on a bullet even at short range, let alone at 1000 yards. Shooting was then cancelled for all of the Wednesday, which left the final Thursday for another shoot at short range.

The new members of the Rifle Team did particularly well during the week and if they can shoot as well as they did, in the high winds faced, then they can shoot well in almost any conditions. It was particularly nice to have a couple of parents come along to support and to learn about the sport their child is competing in. Very well done to all of the new shots.

This sort of trip does not happen without the assistance of other members of staff and thanks must go to Mrs Liberman and Capt. Scoles. It was a fantastically successful trip.

The Netball First Team took on the Rugby First Team in a lively and entertaining netball match that proved to be a highlight event. From start to finish, the game showcased impressive skill, teamwork and determination.

While the rugby players brought plenty of enthusiasm and physicality to the court, their unfamiliarity with the rules, especially footwork, led to some amusing moments that kept both players and spectators laughing. Despite this, their effort and willingness to take on the challenge added to the spirit of the occasion. The end score was a Netball win, 18-6!

What truly stood out was the excellent sportsmanship displayed by everyone involved. Both teams played with respect and positivity, creating a fun and inclusive atmosphere that made the event enjoyable for all. Overall, it was a great success, combining competitive play with plenty of humour and camaraderie. 

Sixth Formers Cerys D and Sophie G had a brilliant time at the Oxford Union Schools Debating Finals Day at the weekend, as they took part in four testing debates alongside the best 120 teams from across the world who had qualified for the day.

Each motion was released just 15 minutes before the debate began and participants were not allowed to research any of the issues. Motions explored marginalised groups, whether religious leaders should be allowed to contest political office, the narrative around young men, and the use of a Cordon Sanitaire against extremist parties. 

For the week of our School Musical production of Les Misérables, Year 13 pupils were treated to a series of exceptional enrichment talks that brought the story to life beyond the stage.

Mr Kinder, Head of History, provided a compelling insight into the events of 1832 that inspired Victor Hugo’s novel, giving pupils a deeper understanding of the social and political context behind the story. This was complimented by Mrs Robinson, Head of History of Art, who explored the powerful symbolism within Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, enriching pupils’ appreciation of how the era was captured and represented visually.

Pupils also benefited from a superb session with leading British film producer Debra Hayward, Producer of the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables. From the scale of the production and casting, to the choice of locations and the technical achievement of visual effects — including the recreation of detailed settings — pupils gained a real appreciation of the enormity of bringing such an iconic story to the screen.

Together, these sessions offered a truly enriching and inspiring experience, deepening pupils’ understanding of the history, art, and modern interpretation of this much-loved production.