There is a busy programme outside of the classroom with many departments involved in academic extension and enrichment. Below is just a taste of some of what is on offer.
Debating
Gresham’s has a thriving Debating Society, and competitive debating in the school dates back to at least 1900. Each term, there is an inter-house debating competition in which all eight houses form a team of three debaters and compete for the honour of the trophy. Michaelmas Term sees the Sixth Form in action, Lent is the Years 10 and 11 competition, and the Summer Term is given over to a Year 9 contest. Debates take place on Monday evenings from 19:30 and last for about an hour. They are usually well attended. In addition, Gresham’s teams compete termly in the annual Oxford Union Schools’ Debating Competition (reaching Finals Day at the Oxford Union in 2023, 2024 and 2026), the ESU Mace Debating Competition (reaching the third round in 2023-25) and the ESU-Churchill Public Speaking Competition (reaching the second round in 2023 and 2024, and the third round in 2025 and 2026). We were finalists in the Norfolk Great Debate 2025 and one Junior team secured ninth place in the International Competition for Young Debaters in 2026.
English
The Auden Society is the department’s flagship, representative of what we offer to the Sixth Form beyond the curriculum. In the last few years, as well as talks from staff and pupils on such subjects as Norwegian Noir, South African literature and Apollinaire, we have enjoyed readings from recent graduates of UEA’s Creative Writing MA, Professor Vic Sage, award-winning poet Andrea Holland, Kzrzystof Fijalkowski – an expert in literary Surrealism – from Norwich University of the Arts and a reading from novelist and poet Elizabeth Cook, who also edited the Oxford Keats. The Auden Society is pupil led, well attended and meets each Half Term. The English department hosts a variety of competitions over the course of the academic year to showcase the literary talents of our student body. Two particular highlights of our social calendar include our celebration of Auden’s birthday and our Burns Night Supper.
Economics Society
The Economics Society meets once every Half Term. It is pupil led and as such, it is an opportunity for pupils to explore an area of Economics outside of the curriculum or to research in more depth a particular area of interest. All pupils have the opportunity to volunteer to present a topic followed by a Q&A session, particularly those looking to study Economics related courses or who have chosen to complete an Economics related IB Extended Essay. Past topics have included Tulip Mania, Crypto Currencies and “Artificial Intelligence: Hype or Revolution?”.
Geography
The Geography Society is open to all geographers who hold an interest in events taking place around the world. We meet each Half Term to discuss current events, muse matters of geographical influence alongside listening to a host of internal and external speakers. The society thrives on the enthusiasm of pupils and we welcome any newcomers.
German
Both native and non-native speakers of German are invited to meet weekly at the German Conversation Club, where they all have the opportunity to impart knowledge as well as receive it. Our German pupil community is increasing in numbers and they are very keen to represent their language, culture and modern European identity in a very interesting, contemporary and youthful way to our learners of German in Years 12 and 13. The group has been very successful and from these conversations and language-based activities, friendships have been formed and intercultural understanding deepened. The German Conversation Club is a forum, a space in which solely German is spoken, ideas, notions, music, film, food, fashion, people, politics and life are discussed and laughed about in full!
History Society
Gresham’s History Society is run by Sixth Formers and meets twice a term on Tuesday evenings from 8 pm.
Highlights of 2026 included Mr Kinder speaking about OG professional historians John Saltmarsh, Norman Cohn, Antony Copley and David Green, Pablo on Nostradamus and also the history of the Balkans and Archie on the War of the Spanish Succession. We were also treated to visits by OG Professor David Green of Harlaxton College, University of Evansville, who delivered a stimulating lecture on the topic of ‘The Black Prince and the Terrors of Chivalry’, and Andy Johnson who spoke about his new book on the Wars of the Roses, and we again joined the online conference organised by the Richard III Society witnessing talks by Professor John Watts on late medieval kingship, Dr Joanna Laynesmith on Margaret of Anjou, Matthew Lewis on Warwick the Kingmaker, Dr David Grummitt on Richard III, Lauren Johnson on Lady Margaret Beaufort, Dr Sean Cunningham on the Yorkist Rebellions against Henry VII, and Dr Hannes Kleineke and Dr James Ross who debated why Edward IV was able to recover the throne in 1471.
Pupils from all years are welcome to attend meetings.
Hodgkin Academic Biology Society
Named after former Gresham’s pupil and Nobel Prize winner Sir Alan Hodgkin, the Hodgkin Society is a pupil-led academic society that celebrates curiosity, independent thinking and a passion for the biological sciences. Pupils are encouraged to research and present topics of their choice, sharing ideas and discoveries that extend far beyond the Biology curriculum. Through these presentations, members explore cutting-edge scientific developments and consider the impact that emerging research may have on both current and future generations.
The society fosters a culture of academic discussion and intellectual exploration. Pupils are encouraged to engage with scientific journals, articles and popular science publications, using these as inspiration for presentations and debate. Recent talks have covered topics including de-extinction and CRISPR gene editing, advances in genetic engineering, neuroscience, neurobiology, microbiology, sleep science and the relationship between music and the brain. By both delivering and listening to presentations, pupils deepen their understanding of biological sciences, develop confidence in communicating complex ideas and cultivate a lifelong interest in scientific discovery.
Religious Studies and Philosophy – Discussion Clubs
These are overseen by the Religious Studies and Philosophy department and seek to provide pupils the opportunity to discuss and investigate all questions of life, the universe and everything. Any pupils who have an interest in issues of philosophy, ethics and politics are welcome to come along and discuss ideas, news stories and key issues in order to broaden their education. Meetings are usually held in GAPs time each week, in room 6, Big School. The format will vary but usually comprise introductory talks and presentations followed by general discussion. Recent topics include the value of different political systems, the function of language, the value of education and the challenges of equality. This group offers a real opportunity for exploring ideas with cross-curricular conversation in an informal setting. Sixth Form pupils take responsibility for the society, choosing topics for discussion and taking the lead in the meetings.
STEAM
Extra-curricular activities give pupils the opportunity to tinker and discover new ways of working. At Gresham’s, pupils are building robots from LEGO; using chemistry experiments to paint; designing, building and racing electric cars and even using computing to code a character for a drama performance.