CCF enjoyed an excellent first half of Michaelmas term
News > CCF enjoyed an excellent first half of Michaelmas term
The CCF enjoyed an excellent first half of term. Following a very successful summer camp which saw cadets enjoy both adventurous training and a field exercise, there has been a packed training schedule in the first half of term. The team of newly appointed Senior Cadets (LH Maddie S for the Royal Navy Section, CSM George R, CSgts Hal S, Nico A, Molly P and Freddie S for the Army Section and Flight Sergeants Julius R and Georgie C for the RAF Section) have overseen full contingent parades each week.
We look forward to the junior leadership course and RAF gliding at half term, followed by the full remembrance service and parade in November.
Jimmy T, Yr 12, (F) is following in his father’s footsteps by recently gaining a place in the prestigious Rodolfus Choir, a leading UK Youth Choir, directed by Ralph Allwood for young people aged 16-23. Jimmy attended a choral course last summer and was subsequently invited to audition in September for a coveted place in the choir. His success will give him access to further courses, workshops and concert opportunities in some of the UK’s leading choral venues and Festivals. Music Scholar Jimmy is no stranger to choral singing as he came to Gresham’s having been a chorister at Westminster Abbey. He also plays the violin and organ and is one of the cast of Phantom of the Opera, next term’s musical.
A significant donation – US scholarships at Gresham’s
News > A significant donation – US scholarships at Gresham’s
Earlier in the year the Gresham’s Foundation received a remarkable donation from a most generous Old Greshamian (OG). £1 million was donated to endow a scholarship programme that will give US pupils the chance to come and study at Gresham’s.
The donation will ensure the scholarship programme will be in place in perpetuity. It will restart the influential English-Speaking Union programme (ESU) at Gresham’s – a programme that a great number of OGs were a part of when they came to the School from the US between 1960 and 1998. The donor wishes to remain anonymous.
Douglas Robb, the Headmaster, said: “We are thrilled to be in receipt of such a generous donation, and most grateful to the OG for having revived and endowed a scholarship programme that was in place at Gresham’s for many years and which had a lasting impact on the School community. Their support will ensure there will always be a US scholar at the School, giving them the chance to expand their horizons and benefit from a Gresham’s education before they embark on the next stages of their educational and professional journey. The scholars will enrich our community, and the programme will also enable us to strengthen our ties with leading US institutions. We look forward to welcoming our first scholar next year.”
The programme will see one student per year from one of the ESU’s US partner schools come to Gresham’s upon completion of their studies at high school. Each scholar will stay at Gresham’s for one academic year, with the first scholar joining the School in September 2023.
Separate to the endowed scholarship, there will also be an opportunity every year for current Gresham’s pupils to apply to study at a US high school for a year. Although the ESU offers a smaller number of fully funded scholarships for UK students to go to the US, the School’s hope is that a number of pupils over the coming years will be successful in applying for a scholarship and thereby get to experience the final year of high school in a prestigious US institution.
The CCF RAF section spent the first Field Day … in the field! The Year 10 and 12 cadets were ‘lifted’ in minibuses to the grounds of the Muckleburgh Military Collection where they deployed their orienteering, team work and research skills. These activities produced some highlight moments. One was watching the Year 10 cadets metaphorically ‘super glue’ their hands to a rope and work as a team to tie a knot between each cadet holding the rope. Another was watching George M take command and rescue his fellow Year 12 cadets on a ‘desert island’ (aka. a circle of rope) with the tide encroaching. The cadets also had the opportunity to visit the museum and see first-hand some of the incredible items in the military collection. To encourage their engagement with the museum exhibits, the cadets were divided into teams and tasked with researching a quiz for an opposing team, who were then sent back into the museum to find the answers – under timed conditions. The conclusion of the first day was that Year 12s can tie knots, the Year 10s can research quizzes!
The second Field Day was spent back on Gresham’s home soil. In the morning, Flying Officer Williams led drill and deportment exercises; he nobly tackled messy feet, sloppy arms, and lazy knees in preparation for the upcoming Remembrance Parade in November. In the afternoon, whilst the Year 13 cadets led a team in preparation for the national Air Squadron Trophy, the Year 11 cadets were in the swimming pool, simulating life raft rescues.
Well done to all those cadets who earned badges over the course of the two days; now get them sewn on to your brassards!
CCF Navy enjoyed some time afloat at Hickling, and had a great couple of days on the water!
Services and Silver DofE
180 students and a large number of staff were off-site so as to volunteer in the local community during the school Field days. The school has established close links with Holt Youth Project, Thornage Hall, the Treehouse Community Café, St Andrew’s church in Holt, Glaven Care, Lloyd Court, Age Concern in Sheringham and local conservation sites such as Holt Lowes. Gresham’s students had the opportunity to experience first-hand some of these amazing social enterprises and charities which bring people together across the community. A proportion of the volunteering work was outdoors: clearing and mowing, pollarding willows, picking apples for winter storage, creating raised beds for vegetable and salad growing and habitat management by cutting back invasive species such as gorse. These initiatives were spread across at least six different sites and included a certain level of expertise. Field day also allowed for a number of pupils to complete their Silver DofE expedition in the Peak District.
At Holt Youth project the principal aim was to help clear storage areas and the allotment. The project is now operating a clothes bank and there was a huge pile of donations to sort through and get ready for display in their new shop. There were also visits to Glaven Care and Age Concern in Sheringham. Students chatted and played board games and Bingo with the elderly. It makes a positive difference to people’s lives to come into contact with young people and to share experiences and stories. A group based in school worked together to create Art kits for young people at the Holt Youth project. Each kit was tailormade and carefully designed so as offer a high quality resource for those who might not have much opportunity to make art.
It was a brilliant two days of volunteering and we were lucky with the good weather and sunshine.
First ‘Page to Stage’ of the academic year takes place
News > First ‘Page to Stage’ of the academic year takes place
Our first Drama Evening of the year took place on Friday 30th September. This Page to Stage covered a range of styles from musical theatre to Greek Tragedy, In Yer Face to the poetry and prose of Shakespeare, classic adaptation to stylised realism – truly a night of contrasts. Compered by year 9 scholars Bella, Ilana and Scarlett the company of Drama Scholars and some of our most gifted and talented performers presented material selected and directed by themselves to a highly appreciative audience. From Fleabag to Comedy of A Bank Robbery, the audience shared moments of dark and light and everything in between ending with comedy to take us laughing into the night.
Our Year 9 pupils visited Belgium on their History Department World War One Battlefields Tour. After a long drive, they just had time to familiarise themselves with the trench system around Ypres before heading for supper at the hotel to complete the first day.
Day two of the trip was a fantastic and busy day in glorious weather. The highlights were remembering Farfield OG John Wright at Bard Cottage Cemetery at Boezinge, Show and Tell activities at Passchendaele, and visiting the Menin Gate to commemorate Woodlands OG Cuthbert Shaw. It was a great day, capped by some enthusiastic chocolate.
The trip concluded with visits to the Ferme-Olivier Cemetery to see the graves of Marc Noble and OG David Carnegie, Talbot House Poperinge and Tyne Cot Cemetery, where pupils held a short service of remembrance for the 113 former pupils and 3 staff known to have been killed in the conflict.
Year 9 and 10 Mandarin trip to Chinatown and the British Museum
News > Year 9 and 10 Mandarin trip to Chinatown and the British Museum
In late September, Year 9 and Year 10 pupils who study Mandarin travelled to London for a day trip to ChinaTown. We first stopped off at Golden Phoenix restaurant in ChinaTown, where we tried the best Chinese food for lunch, and the pupils put their excellent chopsticks skills into use. We then visited the British Museum, where pupils looked at their new exhibition exploring the cultures of China from 5000 BC to the present, through different historical objects. pupils learnt about the background, meaning and culture of the Chinese language. On the way back, pupils enjoyed their bubble tea drinks. The trip was informative and fun. A special thank you to Mr Braithwaite for joining us for the trip and driving us safely.
Pupils and staff raise money for EAAA by completing ‘Only the Brave’ assault course
News > Pupils and staff raise money for EAAA by completing ‘Only the Brave’ assault course
On the afternoon of Saturday October 1st 20 School and House Prefects took to a 10 kilometre, 26 Obstacle race in Thetford, raising money for East Anglian Air Ambulance. ‘Only The Brave’ was ran by the following students and staff; William J, Theo M, Jake O, Miami, Konsti L, Emil S, Boaz V, Alice D, Lily C, Tanya P, Phoebe W, Hattie R, Grace H, Molly P, Cameron H, Arthur B, Raph C, Alex M, James A, Johnny D, Mr Sharrock, Mr Burnett and Mr Cox. Thanks too to Mrs Robb for being our official photographer!
It was a great afternoon with sunny skies, lots of water and plenty of mud! Collectively they have so far raised almost four hundred pounds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. It is not too late to sponsor their efforts at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/greshams2022
We have launched a new record label to promote young musicians
News > We have launched a new record label to promote young musicians
Strathmore Records was launched at the end of September. The new record label aims to support our budding young artists by giving them a platform to record and release their music. Year 12 pupil Ruby performed at the launch event, alongside fellow pupil Jake, and will soon be releasing her EP through the studio. Another Sixth Form pupil, who goes by the name 4-Entrial, recorded the first official release which is a four-track EP heavily influenced by 80s cinematic electronica and her love of classic video games.
The launch of the label follows the opening of the Britten Building, home to our Music Department, by the Princess Royal in 2017. The £6.5m centre, named after composer and OG Benjamin Britten, provides facilities to enhance pupils’ learning and includes a recording studio, a live room and a 140-seater recital hall, in which lies a Steinway C Grand Piano. Pupils at Gresham’s can study Music throughout their time at the school, and have the option of studying BTEC Digital Music Production in Sixth Form.
Mrs Wolfe, Director of Music, said “the studio and record label have provided a great opportunity to provide real-world experience for our pupils and a great platform to share the incredible and exciting work being produced.”
Music from the label is available on Spotify and other digital platforms. Other output from the studio, including the annual Gresham’s Girls’ and Gresham’s Guys’ Christmas singles, can be found on the Gresham’s Media YouTube Channel.
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School launches record label for up-and-coming musicians
The first Music and Munch of the year was a wonderful occasion
News > The first Music and Munch of the year was a wonderful occasion
The first Music and Munch of the year was a wonderful occasion. Seven brave Year 9 pupils performed solo pieces to our lovely audience, in what is hopefully their first concert of many at Gresham’s! The programme was varied, encompassing vocal and instrumental music across classical, musical theatre, pop and jazz genres. Thank you to all who attended, the Music Department hopes to see you again at the next Music and Munch on Friday 11th November.
