The Headmaster was very pleased to appoint the new prefects for the next academic year. Many congratulations to Romilly H and Tamim R, our new Heads of School, and Margi G and Dougie L, the Deputy Heads of School. They will be supported by Heads of House and School Prefects to carry on the exceptional work of the previous team.
Margie G has been selected to represent the British Cadet Rifle Team 2025 (the Athelings) along with 18 other cadets.
Margie joined the Rifle Club just over three years ago and has consistently shown great improvement on the range with some notable achievements, including:
Lt Commandant Jamie Allum of the British Cadet Rifle Club said “The commitment and dedication required to reach this national team is immense and Margie’s achievements reflect directly on Gresham’s School and the high standards you have achieved. Selection for this team represents the highest individual honour possible for cadets in target shooting.”
We wish Margie G and all the Athelings the best of luck with the upcoming competition in August.
Just before the Half Term break, Reverend Jack organised the annual Teddy Zip Wire event, and it was a soaring success!
Pupils from the Nursery and Pre-Prep had the best time watching their beloved teddies whizz down the zip wire from St. Andrew’s Church. Staff and parents enjoyed watching pupils’ faces light up as their teddies took flight. It was a joyful and magical moment for all.
Thanks goes to parents for their generous contributions to support the Holt Community Youth Project.
This morning, we were delighted to welcome Charlotte Davey, Strategy and Propositions Director at Succession Wealth, to deliver a thought-provoking Chapel talk on The Future of Work in an AI World.
Charlotte explored how the rise of Artificial Intelligence is reshaping careers and workplaces, while highlighting the timeless value of human strengths—particularly resilience, adaptability, and curiosity.
She encouraged pupils to embrace challenge, learn from failure, and step outside their comfort zones—skills that will be vital in thriving alongside AI and navigating the careers of tomorrow.
We are delighted to announce that Year 10 pupil, Lizz B, was selected for a commendation in the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators. Lizz entered the Year 10-11 category and translated a passage from a novel telling the story of the author Maryse Condé’s childhood in Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe, an island in the Caribbean, was made an Overseas Department of France (DOM: Département d’Outre-Mer) in 1946, which means that Guadeloupe has the same status as any region of mainland France and the inhabitants of Guadeloupe are French citizens. In the opening chapter of this novel, the narrator recalled how much her parents loved their trips to France which had been interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War. The passage recounted the experience of their first trip back to Paris in 1946.
Over 22,000 students participated in the competition in 2025 with almost 5,000 entries judged, so this is a fantastic achievement. The judges also commented on the very high standard of entries this year and remarked that it was extremely hard to choose winners and commendations. Lizz’s success sits alongside that of Cerys D who won the Spanish Level 4 category.
On Friday 23rd May, 14 talented pupils performed in an international-themed Music and Munch. The audience were treated to music from different countries and in different languages, including Russian, Italian and an amazing performance of a Brazilian piece from the Percussion Ensemble.
To enhance the journey across the world, everyone enjoyed Spanish tortilla, Cuban sandwiches and Greek honey cake. The event was in aid of the Association for Language Learning, a charity which supports language teachers and promotes the learning of foreign languages.
The concert was organised by four IB pupils for their CAS Project, with the help of the Languages, Music and Catering Department. Thank you to all who contributed to such a successful event.
Wednesday 14th May saw the Auden theatre packed with expectant parents (and staff) ahead of the Year 9 Music Showcase. If there was nervous anticipation, fears were soon allayed, as excellence prevailed.
Pupils showcased their talent with a variety of performances from Beethoven and Vittorio Monti to Meghan Trainor, Bill Withers and David Bowie. The evening was a roaring success. The performances of each individual took the audience on a journey of discovery, played with their emotions and brought a smile to their faces.
They were moved by the tenacity, bravery, composure, and confidence of the pupils willing to display their talents or just take part. The extravaganza was exactly what a music showcase should be… Enjoyable for all.
The Summer Term for girls’ tennis began with exceptional weather, providing ample opportunities for players to engage in matches and hone their skills.
The junior girls’ teams have demonstrated remarkable performance, playing against Beeston on two occasions. They also faced strong competition from King’s Ely, Framlingham, and RHS, achieving commendable results that have boosted their confidence and experience.
The senior girls’ teams have experienced a mix of outcomes but have relished the chance to compete in numerous challenging matches. Their fixtures included games against Framlingham, King’s Ely, North Elmham, and Cromer Ladies, providing valuable exposure to high-level tennis.
The final tennis match was round two of the National Cup, at Framlingham. A special mention goes to Prep School pupil, Yevheniia, who played in the U16 tournament. Yevheniia has had yet another sensational Half Term, as have her teammates who also attended this event.
Throughout the Half Term, the girls’ teams have actively participated in various prestigious tournaments. The U14 and U16 teams competed in the School Sports Magazine Cup, while the U18 girls showcased their abilities in the LTA Abedare Cup. Looking ahead, the junior teams are set to compete in the LTA Year 9-10 competition.
The Summer Term has been a period of growth and success for the girls’ tennis teams, marked by strong performances and valuable experiences. As the term progresses, the teams continue to demonstrate their passion for the sport and their dedication to achieving their goals.
The Girls Cricket team has made a fantastic start to the 2025 season, recording 17 wins, 7 losses, and 2 walkovers. This strong record was built on a productive pre-season, where the U15 and 1st XI squads gained momentum through four matches and two additional days of training.
The U15s launched their season with a full day of cricket at New Hall School, opening with a commanding 48-run victory. Prep school star Sophia S marked her debut in style with an unbeaten 43, leading the team to a total of 139. The bowling attack fired on all cylinders, with wickets evenly distributed among Clemmie O, Emilia C, Georgina W, and Livs S—who delivered a remarkable 2 for 3 in just two overs. Sophia S earned Player of the Match honours.
In the afternoon fixture, the confidence was clear. New Hall batted first but were again restricted, managing just 59. Bowlers Gen H (2 for 3) and Angelica (2 for 1) starred, supported by consistent wicket-taking from the rest of the squad. The chase was a formality, completed with 12 overs to spare. Gen H’s all-round performance—20 runs and two wickets—secured her the Player of the Match award.
The 1st XI faced a challenging start against the Norfolk County U18s. Charlotte G impressed with a fluent 54 as the team posted 129, but the experienced county side proved too strong. Despite wickets from Issy, Angelica, and Amelie H, the total was chased down. Notably, this match saw the First XI debuts of Livs S and Lotty D—names to watch for the future.
The squad bounced back in style in their next outing. Bowling first, they restricted their opponents to 103 thanks to a standout performance from Amelie H (1 for 16) and a game-changing spell by Livs S, who claimed 3 for 5 in under two overs. With the bat, the chase was calm and controlled. Etta C led the way with 26, while debutant Gen H anchored the innings with Clemmie O to finish the game five overs early.
One of the season’s standout individual performances came in the First XI’s triumphant clash against Repton. Georgia D was in top form, blasting 50 runs in just 12 overs, leading the team to a victorious win.
The 2025 Girls Cricket team has shown depth, resilience, and emerging talent. With strong individual performances across both junior and senior teams, and players stepping up in key moments, the season promises much more success as fixtures continue.
Cerys D in Year 12 has been crowned the winner for the East of England in the 2025 Anthea Bell Translation Competition for Spanish.
This year’s competition was especially competitive, with over 5,000 entries submitted from more than 22,000 participants nationwide. Judges praised the exceptionally high standard of submissions, making Cerys’s win all the more impressive.
We are incredibly proud of Cerys for this tremendous achievement.