A Gap Year Information Session was held in Big School for Sixth Form pupils and their parents to hear presentations from different gap year providers offering a variety of programmes.
It was super to welcome back Old Greshamians Maddie Gainher and Lara King to talk about their respective volunteering programmes in Ghana.
On Saturday 9th March, string players from the Senior School were lucky enough to share the stage with the North Norfolk Sinfonia playing suits from Tchaikovsky’s Ballets, such as the Nutcracker and Swan Lake. This gave the pupils the chance to play in larger sections, as well as a full traditional orchestra. Whilst the music was difficult, they did exceptionally well and just took the whole experience in their stride.
The Year 10 and 11 Inter-House Debating competition reached its climax on Monday evening as Farfield (Connor M, Pablo B-G and James C) proposed and Oakeley (Cerys D, Zinny B and Erin O’D) opposed the motion ‘This House believes that the response of the West to Russian aggression in Ukraine has been weak.’ The motion was tackled with great sensitivity and skill by both teams and played out in front of an audience of nearly 100 in Big School. In a very close match, Oakeley’s opposition prevailed and therefore they hold the O’Connell Trophy for 2023-24.
Historians in Years 11-13 were lucky enough to listen to two stimulating presentations by Gresham’s A level History pupils on Tuesday evening. Sarah E spoke about ‘Lessons in Lincoln’, discussing the historical significance of Lincoln Castle, its Magna Carta and the significance of Gerald of Wales. That was followed by Emily G speaking about the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 in a talk which explored its causes, key personalities and significance, whilst drawing on the parallels with the Poll Tax Riots of March 1990.
Gresham’s Junior Choir took to the stage at the Regional Music for Youth Festival in Halesworth on Friday 8 March. The newly formed choir performed a range of popular, musical theatre and rock tunes to a packed theatre, and enjoyed seeing musicians from across the county perform. The choir received feedback from the MFY mentors, giving constructive feedback and next steps.
On Wednesday 6th March, five of our A level musicians, Tamsin S, Ruby S, Larkin A, Jemima T and Jimmy T performed their A level recitals to a live audience in Fishmongers’ Recital Hall. This performance is worth 35% of their final A level grade and for many of them is a culmination of 5 years dedicated practice and effort on their principal instrument. This year’s cohort was made up exclusively of singers and the level of artistry on show from all involved was of the highest quality. Their use of text and interpretation of pieces from the Grade 8 and Diploma syllabi was outstanding and highlighted what a special group of young musicians we have in this group.
A term of rehearsals and lots of practice at home culminated in the Lent Term Gresham’s Choral Society concert on Sunday 3rd March in Chapel. Members of the Community and School came together, accompanied by an accomplished orchestra, to perform the Duruflé and Fauré Requiems. For many of the Chorus it was the first time they had sung the beautiful yet challenging Duruflé while Fauré’s Requiem for singers and audience alike is a favourite choral work. Unfortunately, illness precluded two of our female pupil soloists to perform but Zinny B stepped in and as well as singing soprano arias, found her bottom notes and rose to the challenge at the last minute to sing the alto scored Pie Jesu in the Duruflé. Jimmy T, Sebastian C and Milan H proved themselves to be impressive male soloists.
Well done to Miranda and Eva who represented Gresham’s at Finals Day of the Oxford Union Debating Competition, competing with the best teams across the globe. They won their last two debates and finished between 30th and 50th out of 121 international teams. This is our best finish in a national competition for at least 15 years, which is a fantastic achievement!
The Art Department welcomed Annabelle Barton from The Jimmy Choo Fashion Academy to give further information on their range of courses – full time and short courses. It was a superb presentation, thoroughly enjoyed by the student audience who were keen to find out more about Annabelle’s studies at the Academy and the range of opportunities they offer.
Also, Norland Nannies visited Gresham’s to talk to pupils about their Early Childhood Education & Care degree course. Kate Morgan, Outreach Officer with Norland, gave a very informative presentation on the course learning, both academically and vocationally, with an insight into the potential opportunities and salary as a qualified Norland Nanny.
Mother Tongue Other Tongue was devised by staff at the Faculty of Humanities, Languages and Social Science at Manchester Metropolitan University and Routes into Languages North West in 2012. It has since been adopted as a Laureate Education Project and rolled out across the country. In June 2023, in what has become an annual event, Gresham’s pupils from Years 9, 10 and 12 wrote poems for the competition.
There are two categories:
Mother Tongue – pupils whose first language is not English, or who speak another language at home, are encouraged to submit a poem or song in their mother tongue. This can be an original or a ‘remembered’ piece. It can be written in any language, except English. Entries are judged on a short paragraph in which pupils explain the piece and its significance to them.
Other Tongue – pupils learning another language in school are encouraged to get creative with their other tongue and submit an original poem for the competition.
Massive congratulations to the following pupils who were shortlisted for the final :
Other Tongue
Year 9 (2023): Alastair S and Alice H
Year 10 (2023) : Josh B and Romilly H
Year 12 (2023) : Kitty R
Their poems will therefore feature in the Mother Tongue Other Tongue anthology, published late this year and pupils will receive a copy.
Four pupils then went on to win the East Region Mother Tongue Other Tongue Poetry Competition. The results were announced at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge last Thursday at the finals event which was part of the Cambridge Festival of Ideas. Congratulations to:
Kitty R – KS5
Josh B and Romilly H (joint) – KS4
Alastair S – Year 9
Each pupil will receive a certificate, trophy and a copy of the anthology of all winning poems, with all works also translated into English.
We have never had so many winners before. Well done to you all on this superb achievement!