‘E-Crush’ named as ABE Endorsed KidsMBA ‘Shark Tank’ winners 2025

Year 8 pupils from Gresham’s Prep School competed in a wonderful school event last week, where they presented their start-up business ideas in the culmination of the Year 8 ABE Endorsed KidsMBA course.

They displayed great creativity and collaboration skills, putting together detailed information and brands. Each presentation demonstrated excellent public-speaking efforts.

The group ‘E-Crush’ were victorious with their innovative device to maximise all of our recycling at home. Their business idea will now be forwarded to the global Future Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 final for a chance to win $1,000. Well done to all involved!

Spanish pupils from the Prep School reach language milestone

It was exam time for our Spanish pupils from the Prep School this weekend, as they travelled to Cambridge to sit their Cambridge B1 or A2 English exams.

Lucas P, Ignacio R, Bea F, Carmen P, and Nico P all took part, demonstrating the progress they’ve made in English during their time at the school. The pupils worked incredibly hard in the lead-up to the exam and gave it their all on the day.

They will each receive an internationally recognised certificate. This is an important milestone and a reward for their dedication and effort in developing their language skills. Well done to all involved!

A day of success at the Norfolk Primary Maths Competition

On 23 April, a team of four Year 5 pupils from Gresham’s Prep School entered a Norfolk Primary Maths Competition, held at Norwich School.

The event brought together over 40 pairs of young mathematicians from across the county to compete in three challenging rounds focused on logic, lateral thinking, and problem solving.

Among the competing pupils, Juno F and Florrie v-C secured an impressive 15th place, while the duo of Max C and Albert O emerged as the overall winners. Their sharp thinking and teamwork saw them claim the top spot by a single point ahead of hosts Norwich School.

Gresham’s Giving Day 2025

The Gresham’s Foundation will launch its second ever giving day on the 12th and 13th of March 2025. Gresham’s Giving Day 2025 will be another opportunity for the School community (Old Greshamians, current and former parents and Friends) to come together to celebrate what makes Gresham’s special and donate to help widen access to a Gresham’s education. 

Similar to the first giving day in 2023, the campaign will focus on promoting and seeking support for the School’s Bursary Programme. Supporting young people and their families who require bursarial provision is a longstanding and key charitable objective at the School and has been since its founding in 1555. Donations to the Foundation’s Bursary Fund before and during Gresham’s Giving Day 2025 will make a difference and give young people the chance to attend the School and make the most of a Gresham’s education. 

Thank you to those who have already donated, we appreciate your contribution. If you would like to donate early, your donation will be matched, doubling the value of your gift. You can make a donation by following this link.

Keep an eye on social media and email communications in the lead up to and on 12th and 13th March. There will be lots going on at Gresham’s.

Thank you for your support! 

THE IMPACT OF A GRESHAM’S EDUCATION

Prep pupils compete in IAPS online chess tournament

On Thursday, pupils from Years 3 to 8 represented the Prep School in the IAPS U9 and U13 online chess tournament. The competition was tough, with 26 schools taking part in the U13 category and 17 in the U9 category.

Well done to all our pupils who battled hard for an hour over the board. We look forward to sharing the final results soon.

Gresham’s Piano Festival 2025

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.

Year 7 Prep pupils visit Ely Cathedral

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.

U13 Boys Hockey

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.

Prep Pupils visit the tranquil ‘Soul Space’ for a moment of self-reflection

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.

Prep School launches Reading Mentor Scheme

This week, the Prep School has launched a new reading mentor scheme. A group of Year 8 volunteers have started to support Year 3 pupils once a week with reading, and are set to continue through the academic year. 

Their reasons for volunteering ranged from the desire to work with younger pupils and empathy for those who find reading more difficult, as many of the volunteers have experienced difficulties in their own literacy development.

The younger pupils were thrilled with the positive and kind attention, and the Year 8 pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Before their first session, they all had a training session that introduced the principles of “Pause, Prompt, Praise” so they could keep in mind the need to allow the younger reader to work out the difficult words by themselves, supported by various prompts and clues. The training also instilled the need for positive encouragement. 

Studies have shown that such peer mentoring schemes are a win-win situation for both the mentor and tutee, showing gains not only in reading skills for both parties but also in self-esteem.