Last Friday, Schola Cantorum, the String Ensemble, the Big Band and the Orchestra for Les Misérables had the honour of performing in the spectacular Marble Hall at Holkham Hall, by kind invitation of Lord and Lady Leicester. The magnificent Palladian stately home on the North Norfolk coast provided a stunning backdrop for an unforgettable evening of music.

The charity concert, held in support of Holt Youth Project and St Withburga’s Church, was a resounding triumph. It showcased the exceptional standard of musicianship at Gresham’s, reflecting countless hours of dedicated practice and the inspiring mentorship of staff.

Schola Cantorum opened the recital with Haydn’s Kyrie from the Nelson Mass, followed by Vivaldi’s Et Misericordia from the Magnificat and Mozart’s Dies Irae from the Requiem. Lily D then delivered an outstanding performance of the second movement of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. This was followed by Zinnia-Claire B and Sebastian C singing La ci darem la mano from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and a moving rendition of Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata by Elie G on piano.

Kai S, Sophie D, Lucy D and Zinnia-Claire B delighted the audience with Mozart’s String Quartet No. 14 in G Major, and the String Ensemble, joined by Lucy D, presented the first two movements of Telemann’s Viola Concerto in G Major. Schola Cantorum brought the first half to a close with Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens (excerpt: O may we soon again renew that song) and Mozart’s Cum Sanctis Tuis from the Requiem.

After the interval, the Gresham’s Big Band energised the hall with bold brass classics including Take the A Train (Strayhorn), Tangerine (Mercer & Schertzinger), Caravan (Ellington, Mills & Tizol) and A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (Maschwitz & Sherwin), featuring Olivia E on vocals.

Ilana B gave a captivating performance of Sondheim’s On the Steps of the Palace from Into the Woods, followed by Hennie D’s powerful rendition of Kate Bush’s This Woman’s Work.

Henry J enchanted the audience with Hagan’s Harlem Nocturne on alto saxophone, and Schola Cantorum returned with spirited performances of Waller’s Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Arlen’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The finale brought together the Les Misérables orchestra and soloists, expertly directed by Mr Girling. Highlights included I Dreamed a Dream sung by Naomi HS as Fantine; Fantine’s Death & Confrontation performed by Seb C (Jean Valjean) and Dougie L (Javert); and a rousing Do You Hear the People Sing? featuring Kai S as Enjolras.

It was an extraordinary evening of musical excellence in truly outstanding surroundings.

At the end of February, in Chapel, Gresham’s Schoolreaders Ambassadors Lewis B and Katie J launched the Gresham’s Race for Reading Lent Challenge, encouraging the school community to support the national literacy charity, Schoolreaders.

Schoolreaders works across England to provide one-to-one reading support for children, helping to build confidence, enjoyment, and long-term opportunities through reading. As part of Gresham’s Year of Reading 2026, pupils are invited to take on the challenge of completing 40 miles in 40 days to raise funds to support the charity’s programme of volunteer readers in primary schools. A superb initiative helping children across the UK build confidence and a love of reading. 

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.