Gresham’s celebrates a trio of national award Nominations

News > Gresham’s celebrates a trio of national award Nominations

Gresham’s Senior School has enjoyed an exciting start to the academic year, earning national recognition across three prestigious education awards.

We are delighted to announce that Gresham’s has been shortlisted for Best Public School by Tatler Schools Guide 2026. This places us alongside some of the country’s most respected schools, including Eton College, Brighton College, Canford and Caterham.

Tatler’s Education Editor, Tori Cadogan, and her team visited schools across the UK, engaging with pupils, parents, and staff to uncover what makes each school special. Their rigorous process includes thousands of questionnaire responses and in-depth research, culminating in the selection of just 250 schools for the 2026 guide, from hundreds across the country. With nearly 14,000 votes cast this year, being shortlisted for Best Public School is an extraordinary honour. The winner will be announced at a special ceremony later this month.

In a separate celebration, Gresham’s has been named Winner of the Performing and Creative Arts category in the Talk Education Innovation in Education Awards. The judges praised the school’s commitment to creativity and inclusivity across the arts:

“We are really impressed by the strength and output of your performing and creative arts departments – from the full-scale, professional-standard drama productions to the fully-inclusive house music competitions, as well as the creative opportunities spanning everything from directing to songwriting. We are thrilled to be able to help you celebrate this.”

Finally, Gresham’s has been selected as a Finalist for Regional Independent School of the Year: Central in the Independent School of the Year Awards. The Independent School Awards aim to highlight excellence, innovation, and impact across a diverse range of independent schools. The judging panel is typically made up of highly experienced educators, heads of schools, sector leaders, and education journalists. Achieving finalist status in the central category highlights the standout location of Gresham’s School, and its position to put forward a broad offering of activities and opportunities to enhance the overall pupil experience.

History Society returns with talk on Gresham’s influential historians

News > History Society returns with talk on Gresham’s influential historians

The History Society met for the first time this academic year on Tuesday evening. Mr Kinder, Head of History, gave a presentation on four influential historians who attended Gresham’s as pupils: John Saltmarsh, Norman Cohn, Antony Copley and David Green.

The presentation shared research of their times at Gresham’s and reflected on the importance of their academic work in their various fields of specialism. David Green will be addressing the History Society in person in November.  

Enrichment talk: the humanitarian impact of the Ukraine–Russia war

News > Enrichment talk: the humanitarian impact of the Ukraine–Russia war

Year 13 pupils were privileged to hear from Ukrainian lawyer Maria Pryzyhlei, who delivered a powerful enrichment talk on the humanitarian consequences of the Ukraine–Russia conflict.

Drawing on her expertise and lived perspective, Maria spoke with knowledge, passion, and honesty about the reality of daily life for ordinary people caught in the war. She illustrated the scale of the crisis through a compelling presentation, showing:

  • The advancement of Russian forces into Ukraine
  • The size of Ukraine, and how it compares to regions across Europe and the UK
  • The profound human impact — from displacement and loss to the resilience of communities.

The session challenged pupils to engage and think about the impact of invasion and war with issues of everyday life, education, social interaction and food supplies being disrupted. Our pupils showed great empathy and understanding to those affected.

This talk is part of our ongoing Sixth Form Enrichment Programme, designed to bring global issues into the classroom, broaden perspectives, and deepen the academic and human context of our pupils’ learning.

IB pupils investigate plastic waste in Collaborative Sciences Project

News > IB pupils investigate plastic waste in Collaborative Sciences Project

Last week, pupils in Year 12 studying for the IB completed their Collaborative Sciences Project. This project involved researching a theme that had a local, national and international context, as well as designing and carrying out an experiment related to that theme. After 10 hours of planning, research and preparation, each group then delivered a presentation to their peers and other academic staff.

This year, the theme was plastics. We had experiments that investigated a range of factors, including how far different plastics travelled in moving water, how UV light affected plastic breakdown, whether different solvents could help with plastic degradation and whether recycled/biodegradable plastics were significantly weaker than others. They also made bio-friendly plastic from corn starch.

The ideas were varied and the research detailed. Not only was this excellently done by all involved, but the projects gave everyone a sense of conviction about how we can solve the scale of the problems caused by plastic waste. As one group asked in their presentation: “To what extent does knowledge about the harms of plastic create an obligation to act?”

Pupils deliver complex presentation on the history of the Middle Eastern conflict

News > Pupils deliver complex presentation on the history of the Middle Eastern conflict

The 2025–26 Academic Enrichment Lecture Series began yesterday with a compelling presentation delivered by Mr Kinder, Head of History, alongside Head Boy Tamin R and fellow Sixth Form pupil, Seb W.

Their lecture, titled The History of the Middle Eastern Conflict, was a masterclass in historical knowledge, preparation, and clarity of thought. It was particularly impressive to see two of our current pupils present with such confidence and depth, exemplifying both their hard work and their ability to engage with complex subject matter.

OGs challenge 1XI team in exciting football game

News > OGs challenge 1XI team in exciting football game

On Saturday, we welcomed an OG side to play the football first team in a warmup match, which was competitive and entertaining from start to finish.

As the game started, the first team took the lead with an excellent goal from Tamim R, but the OGs were far from easy opposition and with several Year 11 players eager to impress, they came back into it when Spike C scored after good work from Ezra P on the wing.

The OGs then took a surprise lead, with Ezra turning from provider to goal scorer, although a strong passing move led to the second with Tamim curling in an excellent equaliser. Enjoying leading the line, another controlled finish from Tamim completed his hat trick and meant the score at half time was 3-2.

The second half saw a change in formation for the first team, and great work from James S led to him scoring on his debut, before Stevie C rocked the goal with a powerful finish for a 5-2 lead. The OGs continued to battle and the excellent Amir E-M, Toby C, Ezra P, Jack M and Toby M added quality and energy to their team. They refused to give up and this was rewarded when Ezra scored his second goal for the OGs, with a powerful rising shot to bring it back to 5-3.

After this, the first team stepped up a gear and Connor M scored a superb individual goal, before Will P chipped in with two goals himself to put the match beyond any doubt. Jude Philpott ended the scoring for the OGs, meaning the game finished 8-4 to the first team. This was a good test for our first fixture and the atmosphere between the sides was excellent. The A and B team now prepare for a tough block fixture against Felsted next Saturday.

Many thanks to OGs Milan Herathge, Spike Cook, Jude Philpott, Felix Wilson, Freddie Betts, Freddie Bowden and Bruno Brownjohn for returning to the school to play this match and help prepare our first team for the season ahead.

Gresham’s ranked 18th in the UK for IB Diploma results

News > Gresham’s ranked 18th in the UK for IB Diploma results

We’re thrilled to announce that Gresham’s has been ranked 18th in the UK and 42nd globally for our International Baccalaureate Diploma results this summer!

This year, we achieved a 100% pass rate and our average points score was 37.2 out of a possible 45. Two pupils also secured a full 45-point score, placing them among the top 0.2% of global students.

These exceptional outcomes are a testament to the hard work, resilience, and ambition of our pupils, who have embraced the challenge of the IB Diploma and achieved remarkable success. Their results have opened doors to world-class universities across the UK and internationally, reflecting the breadth and depth of their learning.

This achievement is further proof of our academic strategy in action – a strategy rooted in innovation, high expectations, and a commitment to excellence. It also speaks volumes about the outstanding teaching and learning that defines the Gresham’s experience.

Congratulations to all our IB Diploma pupils and the dedicated staff who supported them every step of the way!

Academic Scholars attend first ever Scholars’ Supper

News > Academic Scholars attend first ever Scholars’ Supper


This week, our Academic Scholars met for their inaugural Scholars’ Supper. Designed as a forum for sharing academic excellence, the Scholars were served supper by Mr Robb, Mr Chart-Boyles, Mr Seldon and Mr Philpott who then joined pupils for some lively table discussions.

The evening ended with a presentation ceremony where pupils were each given a Scholar’s Journal in which they will record as many interesting and exciting academic thoughts and experiences as they can before their next supper together.

Boarders enjoy Gresham’s ‘In-weekend’

News > Boarders enjoy Gresham’s ‘In-weekend’

This past weekend, we welcomed boarders to join in with our inaugural ‘In-Weekend’.

The activities kicked off with pupils gathering in their Houses and across campus, engaging in lively conversations and getting to know one another better. Saturday evening saw everyone dining together in the dining hall before a special blessing from Rev. Jack, complete with generous chocolate treats.

Afterwards, the fun continued outdoors with a game of manhunt in the school woods followed by Prefect-led sports including rounders, cricket, and football. Pupils then returned to their Houses to relax — some enjoying movie nights and pampering sessions, while others gathered around fire pits to make s’mores.

Sunday started with a quick boarders’ run and a refreshing Pilates session before pupils enjoyed the much-anticipated brunch in the CFB. The afternoon featured a trip to Holkham Beach. With sunny skies and a gentle breeze, the pupils made the most of the visit — many stopping first for ice cream before heading down to the shore explore.

Back at Gresham’s, pupils had time to unwind or practice music in the Britten Building, followed by a hearty Sunday roast dinner. Some took advantage of the school pool for a twilight swim to round off the weekend.

In the coming weeks pupils will have the chance to part-take in a range of activities, including paddle boarding, hockey on the Astros, cricket nets, climbing tower challenges, robotics and VR sessions, art workshops, pizza making, and local trips to Sheringham for seaside fun and shopping.

Welcome Tea Party for International pupils

News > Welcome Tea Party for International pupils

We had a fantastic turnout for the International Pupil Welcome Tea Party in the first week of term, with our busiest event yet. International pupils – both new starters and returners from last year – from across the school came together in the Library to get to know each other and swap experiences and advice. 

It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces and the rich diversity we have in school, with representatives from every house, year group and at least eighteen nationalities in attendance, all enjoying some well-earned downtime and sweet treats.

Attendees wore flag badges which served as conversation starters and allowed pupils to spot others from their home country, meet pupils from other parts of the world, and brush up on their geography, while hopefully forming the foundations of some lifelong friendships. For pupils adjusting to a new school as well as a new country, culture and language, it can be a helpful reassurance to know others have similar experiences and our returning pupils did a wonderful job of offering support to their newer peers.

We will continue to hold bi-termly informal gatherings for our international community, enabling the pupils to build upon these strong foundations.