Over Half Term, 25 pupils embarked on an unforgettable adventure in the stunning Northern Lake District as part of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award walking assessment.

Over four days, the groups demonstrated incredible determination and teamwork, walking between 19 and 24 kilometres each day and camping for three nights. Despite facing a mix of rain, hail, and winds, their enthusiasm and resilience never wavered.

Every pupil who completed the Gold expedition should feel incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved. It was a fantastic display of perseverance, spirit, and commitment — a true testament to their character and teamwork.

On Wednesday, our Year 12 pupils – along with their parents – took part in an inspiring Post 18 Options Conference, designed to open minds, spark ambition, and highlight the exciting range of opportunities available beyond Sixth Form.

Organised by the Careers and UCAS team, the event brought together 16 expert speakers from a wide spectrum of sectors and institutions. From leading universities, conservatoires, and degree apprenticeships, to opportunities in hospitality and brand management, sports business, and global study (including the USA and Europe), pupils gained valuable insights into life after school. Sessions also explored careers in medicine, pharmacy and law, as well as how to maximise the value of a gap year.

It was a superb event that not only showcased the breadth of pathways available but also encouraged pupils to reflect, ask questions, and feel excited about their next stage journeys.

Ilana B in Year 11 has been highly commended for the short story that she submitted in Spanish for the Flash Fiction Competition, run by the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages at Oxford University.

Judges were impressed with the level of creativity and inventiveness in her story. Illana wrote a piece about New Year’s Eve in 1999 when there was anticipation and fear in the air on the loom of the millennium. Congratulations to Ilana on this achievement!

The Headmaster was very pleased to appoint the new prefects for the next academic year. Many congratulations to Romilly H and Tamim R, our new Heads of School, and Margi G and Dougie L, the Deputy Heads of School. They will be supported by Heads of House and School Prefects to carry on the exceptional work of the previous team.

Margie G has been selected to represent the British Cadet Rifle Team 2025 (the Athelings) along with 18 other cadets.  

Margie joined the Rifle Club just over three years ago and has consistently shown great improvement on the range with some notable achievements, including: 

• 2^nd Place finish in the 2023 British Schools Under 16 National Small-Bore Championships
• Shooting for England ‘C’ team in the British Schools Home International match in 2024
• Representing Norfolk County Ladies and Junior teams in the National Inter-Counties Leagues in 2024 and 2025

Lt Commandant Jamie Allum of the British Cadet Rifle Club said “The commitment and dedication required to reach this national team is immense and Margie’s achievements reflect directly on Gresham’s School and the high standards you have achieved. Selection for this team represents the highest individual honour possible for cadets in target shooting.”

We wish Margie G and all the Athelings the best of luck with the upcoming competition in August. 

This morning, we were delighted to welcome Charlotte Davey, Strategy and Propositions Director at Succession Wealth, to deliver a thought-provoking Chapel talk on The Future of Work in an AI World.

Charlotte explored how the rise of Artificial Intelligence is reshaping careers and workplaces, while highlighting the timeless value of human strengths—particularly resilience, adaptability, and curiosity.

She encouraged pupils to embrace challenge, learn from failure, and step outside their comfort zones—skills that will be vital in thriving alongside AI and navigating the careers of tomorrow.

We are delighted to announce that Year 10 pupil, Lizz B, was selected for a commendation in the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators. Lizz entered the Year 10-11 category and translated a passage from a novel telling the story of the author Maryse Condé’s childhood in Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe, an island in the Caribbean, was made an Overseas Department of France (DOM: Département d’Outre-Mer) in 1946, which means that Guadeloupe has the same status as any region of mainland France and the inhabitants of Guadeloupe are French citizens. In the opening chapter of this novel, the narrator recalled how much her parents loved their trips to France which had been interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War. The passage recounted the experience of their first trip back to Paris in 1946.   

Over 22,000 students participated in the competition in 2025 with almost 5,000 entries judged, so this is a fantastic achievement. The judges also commented on the very high standard of entries this year and remarked that it was extremely hard to choose winners and commendations. Lizz’s success sits alongside that of Cerys D who won the Spanish Level 4 category. 

On Friday 23^rd May, 14 talented pupils performed in an international-themed Music and Munch. The audience were treated to music from different countries and in different languages, including Russian, Italian and an amazing performance of a Brazilian piece from the Percussion Ensemble.

To enhance the journey across the world, everyone enjoyed Spanish tortilla, Cuban sandwiches and Greek honey cake. The event was in aid of the Association for Language Learning, a charity which supports language teachers and promotes the learning of foreign languages. 

The concert was organised by four IB pupils for their CAS Project, with the help of the Languages, Music and Catering Department. Thank you to all who contributed to such a successful event.  

Wednesday 14th May saw the Auden theatre packed with expectant parents (and staff) ahead of the Year 9 Music Showcase. If there was nervous anticipation, fears were soon allayed, as excellence prevailed. 

Pupils showcased their talent with a variety of performances from Beethoven and Vittorio Monti to Meghan Trainor, Bill Withers and David Bowie. The evening was a roaring success. The performances of each individual took the audience on a journey of discovery, played with their emotions and brought a smile to their faces.

They were moved by the tenacity, bravery, composure, and confidence of the pupils willing to display their talents or just take part. The extravaganza was exactly what a music showcase should be… Enjoyable for all.