As part of LGBT+ Month, Mr Chart-Boyles delivered an engaging and insightful talk that took Year 12 pupils on a journey through the history of the LGBT+ community.
Pupils were encouraged to reflect on why LGBT+ history matters to them, to explore the importance of allyship, and to learn about the many ways they can offer support. The session involved an interactive quiz, a timeline showcasing key moments in LGBT+ history, and a deep dive into the landscape of the UK today.
The inaugural Gresham’s Piano Festival took place in Fishmongers’ Recital Hall on Saturday 8 February. This event, open to Prep and Senior School pupils, provided our pianists with a platform to experience formal performance in a familiar, supportive and rewarding setting.
The Music department was able to draw on its own staff for the adjudicators. Chris Green-Armytage and Archie Bonham are both renowned pianists and popular teachers at Gresham’s Senior School. Throughout the day, they gave feedback at the end of each class, and the common theme of which was to congratulate pupils on their performance whilst giving positive critique.
Parents, pupils and staff were treated to some wonderful performances, from pre-Grade 1 or Grade 8 and beyond. Our Prep pupils rose admirably to the task of performing in the recital hall on the Steinway C, a piano which can be a challenge to tame and is very different to the small uprights they have their lessons on!
Bravo to Hummer and Hansen W, Etta F, Francesca E, Pheobe C, Rowan B, Blake P, Ottilie B, Larissa C, Nathaniel G-B, Willow H, Georgie and Oscar B-W and Zia T.
The afternoon session showcased the Seniors in classes starting at Grade 3 and 4, up to recital level. It was clear the pupils had worked hard on their chosen pieces which delighted the adjudicators and audience alike, who were treated to familiar pieces by Chopin, Grieg, Mussorgsky, Debussy, Einaudi and Beethoven.
Congratulations Jack S, Samuel B, Shemi A, Pablo B-G, Tara G, Amelia M-L, Elie G, Lene N, Peter R, Evie M, Amelie B, Naomi H-S, Ferdinand vD, Benny S, Milan H and Hugo J on contributing to an afternoon of impressive musicianship.
The highest achievers from the festival will be invited to play in the Piano Recital on Wednesday 12 March which is open to the public.
There were lots of tapping toes and smiling faces in Chapel on Saturday for our Gospel Service. The choir sang a variety of gospel-inspired pieces, including the first performance of Peter Yarde Martin’s ‘Gospel Responses’ outside of London – an exciting new setting to the traditional words of the Book of Common Prayer.
It was also wonderful to hear from our guest speaker Tom Hume, Chair of Trustees at The Holt Youth Project. He thanked the school for their continued support of the project and challenged the pupils with Jesus’ words ‘Those to whom much is given, much will be expected.’
At the beginning of February, Gresham’s School CCF (RAF) Section was lucky enough to have six cadet slots for Gliding at RAF Honington, the home of 611 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.
Five cadets from Year 10 and one from Year 13 got to experience the thrill of flight in a Viking T1, a two-seat glider. This is first time Gresham’s have been airborne out of RAF Honington.
Taking to the sky via winch launch with their glider pilots, cadets enjoyed flying in the airspace around RAF Honington. They were able to take control of their aircraft to learn more about the principles of flight and how control surfaces work on the aircraft. They were also fortunate enough to soak up some amazing views from the cockpit
Gliding is just one of the incredible opportunities that members of the CCF get to take part in. CCF has something for everyone. Some the highlights include shooting, leadership training, and adventurous training like kayaking and mountain biking.
The magnificent cathedral at Ely was the destination for the Year 7 trip this term, where pupils learned about monastic life in the 1300s.
As part of their studies, pupils created medieval medicines, concocting their own recipes to cure all ills. They also examined mysterious samples of ‘urine’ to diagnose what might be ailing the patients in the infirmary.
Year 7 pupils also explored other tasks undertaken by monks, such as illuminating manuscripts and making beeswax candles. They gained valuable insight into how the monastery would have existed alongside the cathedral before the Reformation.
The Gresham’s School Inter-House target sprint competition recently took place at the start of February. Each of the seven Houses entered a Junior team (Y9 & Y10) and a Senior team (Y11, Y12 & Y13), containing five competitors. The event has been adapted slightly, in order to make it very spectator friendly and also to allow those that had not done very much shooting the opportunity to be competitive. Each competitor was required to run 200 meters before coming into the air rifle range and shooting down five targets. Once the five targets had been knocked down then the next runner set off around the track. Adding to the excitement, it was run under floodlight, at 8 o’clock in the evening. Both the track and the range were floodlit to create a wonderful atmosphere.
A huge congratulations, and thanks, must go to the 70 pupils that took part and that were involved in the event. Particularly well done to Woodlands for winning the Junior trophy and to Oakeley for winning in the Senior trophy. Howson’s were consistently good in both races (finishing in 2nd place in both races) and therefore won the combined overall trophy. Well done to all of the winners.
Our U13 Boys hockey team from the Prep School travelled to Framlingham College on Monday to compete in the IAPS East Championship. They won their group, conceding only one goal and playing some excellent hockey.
In the knockout stages, both the quarter-final and semi-final ended in draws, leading to penalty flicks in both. Henry D, Alfie vP, and Finley S scored their penalties, while Oli Cr made three crucial saves across the two shootouts to secure their place in the final.
This achievement also meant that the team qualified for the Nationals in March. Although they lost the final, the boys worked tirelessly throughout the day and are looking forward to the next round.
The always popular ‘Soul Space’ returned to Chapel this week. Reflective, tactile stations combined with immersive light and sound made Chapel an oasis of calm.
Hundreds of pupils took the opportunity to develop skills of personal reflection and spirituality in a fun, open, safe and inclusive way.
We would like to congratulate Lucy W, captain of Gresham’s School 1st XI Hockey team, on securing a coveted scholarship to play hockey and to study at Northeastern University in the United States.
This marks a significant milestone in her sporting journey, recognising her outstanding talent, leadership, and dedication to the game. A key player for Harleston Magpies HC and a former member of England’s Under-16 Girls squad, Lucy has established herself as a formidable defender with exceptional outletting skills and tactical awareness. Her scholarship to Northeastern—a renowned Division I programme—underscores her potential to excel at the highest levels of collegiate hockey and is a tribute to the hard work she has put in over her time at Gresham’s.
Northeastern University, based in Boston, Massachusetts, boasts a strong field hockey programme that competes in the highly competitive Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Huskies have a storied history, with multiple NCAA tournament appearances and several conference championships. Notably, the team reached the NCAA Final Four in 1995 and 1996, cementing their status as a powerhouse in collegiate field hockey.
Earning a scholarship to a Division I programme in the USA is a rare and remarkable achievement for any pupil, and Lucy’s success reflects years of hard work, resilience, and passion for the sport. As a school, we are incredibly proud of Lucy’s achievements thus far and look forward to hearing about her continued hockey journey next year.
The first Music & Munch of the year was a spectacular success, with a fantastic lineup of performers and a packed audience!
Our singers entertained with popular numbers including Mr Snow and If I Loved You from Carousel and a classical offering from Brahms.
The strings section shone with expressive performances on guitar and viola, leading up to a show-stopping jazz finale that earned rapturous applause.
Looking ahead, jazz takes centre stage for our Valentine’s-themed Music and Munch on Friday, 14 February.
