Remembrance Sunday

This weekend, the school came together to mark Remembrance — first in Chapel on Saturday and then at the Town Service in Holt on Sunday.

As part of the Holt Remembrance commemorations on Sunday, several of our pupils played very special musical roles. Sophie began and ended the two-minute silence with a beautifully performed solo of the Last Post and Reveille on her trumpet, played with great dignity and clarity. Our Gresham’s Bellringing Club also joined the St Andrew’s ringers at Holt Parish Church for a special peal of half-muffled bells to mark the occasion.

Our CCF contingent on parade in Holt was the largest ever, and we were immensely proud of all the pupils involved, who showed such respect and reverence throughout the occasion.

House Music 2025-26

The last Friday of term saw an incredible team effort from every house to present House Music 2025. Our esteemed judge, Rollo Armstrong, notably known as the producer in Faithless and for the artist Dido, joined us for the occasion.

Each house presented three items:

Instrumental

Woodlands stormed to the top with an incredible rendition of Tune 88 by Jeff Corder – the band sounding like a professional jazz-funk set-up. 

Part Song

There was a dash of traction from most of the boys’ houses, keeping with the barbershop style and adding some contemporary twists. However, it was Oakeley’s stunning arrangement of Aurora’s Runaway, with complex harmonies and textural variations, that completely transcended the space and took us to another world entirely.

Unison Finale

Every pupil in the school took to the stage, with dance moves, costumes, and (fortunately!) impressive singing to match. Everything from The Fratellis to Madonna was performed, but it was Oakeley’s party anthem “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” that took the category.

This meant that Oakeley took the overall House Music competition, with Woodlands an incredibly close second place – only one point behind!

Well done to all, and it shows that the house spirit is still very much alive.

Sixth Form pupils present their work experience reflections

This week, Year 13 pupils enjoyed an enriching talk from four of their peers, each reflecting on the value of their work experience placements. Toby W spoke about his agriculture placement, Yssy D shared her virtual experience with Norfolk & Suffolk Constabulary, Jamie P discussed his week with stockbrokers Barratt & Cooke, and Cerys D presented on her London placement with KPMG.

All four delivered superb presentations, demonstrating how real-world experience builds skills, insight and confidence, while helping shape Post-18 decisions. A fantastic showcase of ambition and professional awareness — well done to all involved.

Gresham’s gets behind Movember with ‘Stash the Tash’ challenge

This November, Gresham’s will be supporting Movember, the movement dedicated to changing the face of men’s health. From mental health and suicide prevention to prostate cancer and testicular cancer, our Stash the Tash challenge will aim to raise awareness and start important conversations.

Pupils and staff are invited to follow the Stash the Tash journey throughout the month, as the mysterious moustache makes surprise appearances around the school.

Whilst our focus is going to be on raising awareness and helping people develop the skills and confidence to spot the signs, the annual Movember campaign works hard to raise funds helping to support those who need it.

Anyone wishing to support the campaign can do so by following the donation link here.

Senior rugby players embark on exciting tour to Cardiff

During the first half of Half Term, our Senior Rugby players embarked on an exciting tour to Cardiff, immersing themselves in Welsh rugby culture and enjoying a range of brilliant activities along the way.

A real highlight of the trip was the visit to the Principality Stadium, where the boys explored behind the scenes – from the players’ changing rooms and hospitality suites to walking out pitch-side where so many rugby greats have played. In the Media Room afterwards, the group had great fun interviewing each other, testing their quick thinking and seeing how they’d handle the spotlight.

Thank you to Glamorgan Wanderers RFC for hosting our fixture against Caerau RFC. It was an excellent game played in great spirit, with plenty of tries scored and Gresham’s finishing with a well-earned win.

Off the field, the tour offered a perfect mix of team bonding and adventure – from white water rafting and canyoning to a more relaxed evening of bowling and fun challenges. The boys represented the school superbly throughout, showing great camaraderie, enthusiasm and sportsmanship.

Burne-Jones window restoration project complete in Big School

A remarkable chapter in Gresham’s history has come full circle with the recent restoration of two stunning stained-glass windows to Big School Hall, exactly one hundred years after their original installation.

The windows, depicting St Cecilia and the Cimerian Sibyl, were originally gifted to the school in 1925 by Mr D.A Wynne Willson, on his retirement. Crafted by the renowned firm Morris & Co. from designs by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, these works of art are part of a trio of stained-glass lights. The third window in the set now resides in Frome Church, Somerset.

What makes these windows particularly special is their journey. Before arriving at Gresham’s, they were housed in a residence in Oxford where Burne-Jones himself was known to stay. Mr Wynne Willson (a long-standing member of staff) acquired them in 1919, and they have since become treasured artefacts of the school’s heritage, especially notable for predating the school’s move to its current Cromer Road site.

Now, thanks to the expert craftsmanship of Devlin Plummer Stained Glass, who specialise in the conservation and restoration of stained windows and lead glazing work, the windows (both stained and non-stained) have been restored to their original splendour. Their return not only enhances the architectural beauty of Big School Hall but also reconnects the present-day school with its rich artistic and historical legacy.

BEFORE

afTER

IB pupil explores Nostradamus in History Society talk

The first half of term was a very busy one for the History Department at Gresham’s. The second meeting of the History Society saw IB History pupil, Pablo B-G, addressing the fascinating topic of Nostradamus. In his presentation, Pablo explored the meanings behind Nostradamus’s prophecies and examined their historical context.

On Sunday, Gresham’s was proud to host a branch meeting of the Norfolk and Norwich Historical Association at which Dr Alan Metters delivered an engaging lecture about the Jacobean merchants of King’s Lynn. 

Sporting success

This term, we’ve seen some outstanding sporting success for our teams, along with notable personal achievements by several pupils as they pursue their passions.

Cricket

In cricket, there’s been lots to celebrate. JC M has been selected for Northants County Cricket Club Academy and also the Norfolk Winter Emerging Players Programme. JC worked incredibly hard on his game at School and County level, performing consistently well with the bat, scoring numerous half centuries and a century during the last season.

Also selected for the Norfolk Winter Emerging Players Programme by the Norfolk Cricket Foundation this year was Oli C and Theo C. The boys will receive extra cricket coaching sessions from Norfolk coaches over an 18-week period to further enhance their recognised skillset.

Finley S was selected to train with Derbyshire Emerging Players Programme for 2025-26. Finley impressed the Derbyshire selectors with spectacular all-round performances, with 565 runs at an average of 33.24 and two hundreds and one fifty to his name, including a magnificent 150 not out.

Grace HK and Georgia D were chosen for the Essex Emerging Players Pathway in recognition of their hard work at County, Club and school level.  

netball

Year 11 pupil Adeola A has made it through to the U17 Netball Mavericks Player Development Programme and her fellow classmate Millie B was selected for the Mavericks Future U15 Netball Programme.

rugby

In rugby, Toby G has been trialing with Northampton Saints and has now been invited to stay on in their U17s Academy Programme. Meanwhile, Lewis B has been training with the Leicester Tigers U17s Academy this term and is thriving in the professional sports environment.

hockey

Recent alumna Lucy Walton, currently on a scholarship to Northeastern University, is competing in the CAA Conference as a freshman, having previously represented England U16s. 

Gresham’s named Independent School of the Year: Central

Gresham’s has been named Independent School of the Year: Central – a recognition of our vibrant school community and the exceptional pupil experience on offer. 

The Independent Schools of the Year Awards said “The focus of the 2025 awards will be to celebrate the demonstrable benefits of an independent school education and showcase the innovative, caring and life-enhancing student experience which pupils in our schools receive”.

The competition was strong, six outstanding schools were shortlisted for the award including Repton School and Malvern College.

The judging chair, Helen Wright, who presented the award said “Gresham’s won for the way in which it crafts its education around and through its location in a market town, and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and for how it integrates with the local community as well as making extensive use of the countryside for its activities”.

This latest award follows recent wins, including:
Best Public School – Tatler School Awards 2026
Best School for Creative and Performing Arts – Talk Education

Celebrating 20 years of the School Archive

This year marks a significant milestone for the School Archive, which has celebrated its 20th anniversary. Since its establishment in December 2004, the archive has grown into a vital resource for preserving and sharing the rich and varied history of Gresham’s School.

Over the past two decades, the archive has moved location several times and expanded its collections, digitised key materials, and supported research projects, exhibitions, and commemorations. From photographs and documents to personal stories and artefacts, it continues to safeguard the legacy of generations past while remaining a dynamic and accessible resource for the present.

As we look ahead, the archive remains committed to its mission: to collect, preserve, and share the School’s heritage with pupils, staff, alumni, and the wider community. It remains a living resource, one that not only honours the past but also informs the present and inspires the future.

Here’s to the next 20 years. Please keep on supporting the archive, which is now based in the School Library.

Please do contact Lucinda Robb if you wish to visit, access material or donate items.

[email protected]