Year 12 IB Film Studies pupils visited the British Film Institute in London for an Auteur Theory workshop and a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’.

Presented by a lecturer from University of Wales, Swansea, the session explored some of the ways in which Hitchcock can be considered an auteur, analysis of sequences from some of his other films, and chances for our pupils to share their film knowledge with pupils from other schools around the country.

This year’s Fright Night plunged audiences into The Hollowing—a twisted cult shrouded in secrecy and terror. Guests encountered eerie leaders, deranged disciples and cannibalistic inhabitants lurking in the darkness, each more disturbing than the last. The night built to a spectacular, explosive finale that left everyone reeling.

The makeup team delivered truly nightmarish creations, transforming performers into haunting figures of the cult. The production also featured a chilling soundscape, composed by Harry L, that enveloped guests in an atmosphere of dread during their meeting with the cult’s religious leader.

A huge thank you to our incredible performers, makeup artists, lighting crew, and Music Tech team for making The Hollowing an unforgettable Fright Night experience. The real question is—will you dare to visit Fright Night next year?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.