Daniel Gibbins from the Norwich office of Purcell recently visited pupils for an inspiring and interactive session exploring how the subjects they study in school can lead directly to exciting future careers in architecture, engineering and design.

Using real-life projects and examples from the world of architecture, Daniel demonstrated how maths, science, geography, history, art and IT are all essential in shaping the buildings and spaces around us. Pupils discovered the huge variety of careers within the industry, from architects and engineers to planners, graphic designers and project managers, helping them see the real-world relevance of their classroom learning.

The session ended with a lively team design challenge, where pupils used spaghetti and marshmallows to build bridges capable of holding the greatest weight. The activity sparked creativity, collaboration and problem-solving, while bringing engineering and structural design principles to life in a fun and memorable way.

It was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to connect subject learning with future career pathways, encouraging them to think ambitiously about where their skills and interests could take them in the future.

We very much look forward to welcoming Purcell back in September for a design workshop.

On Sunday 10th May, Gresham’s sent two teams to take part in the prestigious F24 Greenpower race at the iconic Lotus circuit in Hethel in a fantastic day of engineering, teamwork and endurance racing.

The Greenpower F24 challenge brings together schools from across the country to design, build and race electric cars, promoting STEAM skills, sustainability and innovation. Competing at such a renowned motorsport venue provided an inspiring backdrop for our pupils as they put their months of hard work into action.

Both teams demonstrated excellent commitment, resilience and collaboration throughout the day. From pre-race preparations and scrutineering to managing race strategy and driver changes, pupils took full ownership of their performance on track. The race itself tested not only speed, but also efficiency and reliability, requiring careful energy management over the duration of the event.

It was a hugely valuable experience for everyone involved, helping pupils to develop practical engineering knowledge, problem-solving skills and confidence in a real-world setting. Just as importantly, it fostered teamwork, communication and determination under pressure.

We are incredibly proud of both teams for representing the school with enthusiasm and professionalism. Congratulations and well done to Grace C, Stanley W, Angus B, Julius R, Charles B, Henry T, Rene F, Lloyd G, Ben M and Otto R, all of whom are in Years 9 and 10. They all learnt a lot from the experience and we look forward to building on this success in future races.

Last week, our Year 10 pupils returned from a once-in-a-lifetime STEAM trip and exchange programme in Singapore, packed with cultural discovery, scientific collaboration and new friendships.

They began their adventure by exploring the iconic ArtScience Museum, visiting the historic Raffles Hotel and enjoying the dazzling Gardens by the Bay light show on their first evening. The following day, pupils took in breathtaking views from the Sands Hotel Observation Deck and explored the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and Supertree Observatory.

A key highlight of the trip came on day three, as pupils began their school exchange with the School of Science and Technology (SST). The partnership was formally strengthened through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SST Principal Nick Chan and our Headmaster, Douglas Robb. After an engaging presentation from hosts Stanley and Shen, pupils joined lessons, fully immersing themselves in school life in Singapore.

Collaboration quickly moved from virtual to hands-on, as pupils from both schools worked together on electronics and conducted air quality testing, applying their knowledge to real-world challenges and deepening their understanding through teamwork.

The emotional farewell ceremony on day six marked the end of the exchange portion of the trip. While there were some tears, our Year 10 pupils looked ahead to welcoming their SST partners to Gresham’s in just three weeks’ time.

Beyond the classroom, the itinerary included a day trip to Sentosa with a visit to the southernmost point of continental Asia, a day exploring Chinatown, an excursion to the the Buddha Relic Tooth Temple and a tasting experience, sampling local cuisine at Maxwell Hawker Centre. A guided tour of the Marina Barrage meant that pupils got to learn about Singapore’s sustainable urban planning, and after, finished off the day with a spontaneous light show on the journey back.

The final day included a visit to the beautiful Botanical Gardens and time to explore Changi Airport, widely regarded as one of the world’s most impressive travel hubs. It was a fitting end to the trip, made even more special by SST partners who came to see the group off.

As a prize for our STEAM in Sport competition, our Junior TAD athletes enjoyed an inspiring visit to the Sheffield Hallam University Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, expertly facilitated by Simon Goodwill and Oliver Logan.

At this world-class facility — originally developed to support elite performance around the London 2012 Olympic legacy — pupils experienced STEAM in action. From movement analysis labs to sports engineering and AI-driven performance analytics, they saw how coding, data science, aerodynamics and robotics are transforming modern sport.

The visit brought our ‘Three Cs’ to life:

• Critical Thinking – analysing performance data
• Curiosity – exploring the science behind movement
• Character – understanding resilience and collaboration in elite environments.

Most importantly, pupils saw how the rapid growth of AI, analytics and computer science is shaping future careers — where sport meets engineering, technology, and innovation.

An exceptional opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world application and future-focused skills.

Recently, we were excited to welcome Year 6 pupils from Reepham, Great Witchingham and Sheringham Primary School for a series of action-packed afternoons of STEAM challenges in the Dyson Building. From zero wings and sail cars to scribble bots and sphero golf, pupils worked in teams to solve problems, compete and have fun.

The session was a fantastic celebration of STEAM learning, bringing science, technology, engineering, art and maths to life in a fun, competitive and collaborative way. We look forward to welcoming many more Year 6 pupils as the 2026 STEAM Outreach Programme continues.

This week, we were delighted to welcome visitors from Klyne Training Ltd. and Saxon Air to Gresham’s School STEAM Outreach, where they spent time exploring the Makerspace in The Dyson Building and discussing plans for an exciting future Aviation and Innovation Showcase.

The visit focused on shaping a future innovation programme, using aviation as the lens to inspire pupils and showcase the wide range of opportunities available, from engineering and sustainability to design, technology and problem-solving. As a bonus, our visitors also met pupils working on the F24 electric car project, seeing first-hand how learning translates into real-world engineering challenges.

Recently, 65 Gresham’s pupils from took part in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge, open to Sixth Formers.

The challenge is in the form of a paper including 25 puzzle-style questions. The problems on the Senior Maths Challenge are designed to make pupils think and provides stimulating problems for both beginners and experienced problem solvers. 

Alisher G, Benny S, Chris C and Pablo B-G impressively won Gold certificates and are invited to take part in the next round. Well done to all four pupils, and we wish them the best of luck in the next round.

If you would like to test yourself, here is a question from the Challenge, of medium difficulty:

After addressing parents, pupils and staff in his guest talk on Super Champions, Gresham’s was privileged to welcome Oliver Logan for an extended visit. Oliver, an Elite Performance Coach, currently working with the Olympic GB Aquatics team, joined us for two inspirational days of workshops and coaching.

Oliver demonstrated how STEAM subjects—Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science and theoretical PE—are vital to elite sport. Pupils explored how data analysis, biomechanics, technology and scientific measurement drive performance improvements in competitive swimming, gaining insight into how coaches use evidence-based methods to refine technique and achieve marginal gains.

Alongside classroom sessions, Oliver delivered two pool-side coaching sessions focusing on the precision of turn technique, allowing junior and senior swimmers to apply STEAM principles directly to their performance.

His visit highlighted the powerful connection between academic learning and high-performance sport, inspiring pupils to see STEAM as a pathway to real-world innovation and sporting excellence.