On Wednesday 24^th January we welcomed over one hundred and sixty delegates and industry specialists from all corners of the agriculture sector, to the Auden Theatre for our second annual Agriculture Conference. Included in the delegates were eighty five pupils from Cromer Academy, Sheringham High School, Reepham High School, Stalham High School, Norwich School, University Technical College Norfolk and Aylsham High School.

The theme was ‘Advances in Landscape Management’ and, after the conference was formally opened by North Norfolk MP, Duncan Baker, delegates heard inspiring talks on the historical journey that UK agriculture has taken, the current state of play with UK agriculture, the role that large companies who support the sector play and on specific, innovative case studies. The Q & A session with a panel inspired some insightful discussion and gave a real feel for what young people entering the industry want and need to learn more about.

Delegates were also given the opportunity to explore what organizations that support young people in the sector, such as the RNAA, TIAH and the NFU, offer and then took part in an interactive workshop with contributions from a diverse range of twenty five industry specialists. The day was run as a conference from the professional world and pupils were encouraged to move out of their friendship groups, and comfort zones, throughout and to network with peers from other schools and with the professionals in attendance. Opportunities for this important skill development happened throughout the day but, as at most conferences, coffee/refreshment breaks and lunch were where some really inspiring conversations were to be heard showcasing the maturity and drive of some of our pupils and pupils from all around the county.

Mr Beales, Head of Agriculture at Gresham’s, said ‘It’s wonderful to see so many pupils from the local area with a passion for agriculture, many of which will go on to have thriving roles and careers working in and shaping the agriculture industry.’

Mrs Osborne, head of Careers, said ‘It was superb for the Agriculture and Careers departments to work together with the agriculture employment sector and local schools careers leaders to give the opportunity to so many pupils who have a strong interest in agriculture to learn about the history of agriculture, the changes and future development. It is absolutely key to reach out to the next generation through subject and careers learning, and employment engagement.’

Gresham’s would like to thank all of the industry specialists who gave up their time to attend and support but in particular we would like to thank the Clan Trust, BASF, Farmacy and Albanwise Farming and Environmental Services for their support in facilitating the attendance of so many pupils from schools outside of Gresham’s. See you all in 2025!

A  thrilling game of Netball took place on Friday evening between Staff and Sixth Formers, watched by a packed crowd. It was end to end stuff but the talented team of pupils prevailed. The game raised much needed funds for our School Charity Partner, The Holt Youth Project.

A number of pupils and staff who travelled home or on holiday over the Christmas break were kind enough to bring back an array of international snack foods to share in houses. Tasty treats from fourteen countries were organised into boxes and delivered to houses by a group of Sixth Formers. Pupils enjoyed trying a range of different sweet and savoury flavours, including durian sweets, the smell of which alone was very….distinctive!

Before Christmas, the School Library organised a book swap inspired by the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod which roughly translates as flood of books and involves friends and family gifting and receiving new books. Our Gresham’s version focused on donating books which readers had already read and swapping them for fresh reading material donated by others. Lots of books were successfully swapped with remaining titles passed on to charity.  

We welcomed Lauren from the Oddballs Foundation to come and speak to the Sixth Form about how they raise awareness of testicular cancer, particularly within communities of young people. This forms part of the Sixth Form Wellbeing programme and was very well received.

After a highly challenging and competitive audition process we are delighted to announce that Tamsin S and Jemima T have both secured places at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) for entry in September 2024. This is one of the most prestigious conservatoires in the country and this success is testament to the hard work and dedication of both girls. It’s particularly pleasing to have Tamsin on the classical course and Jemima on the popular music course, highlighting the musical variety available within the school as a performer. They will be joining OG Johnny Derbyshire who started his studies there in September. We wish both of them enormous success.

The first concert of 2024 and the new term was Music & Munch on Friday 19th January. Despite it being a cold and frosty day, a decent audience came along to enjoy a programme of singing, guitar and piano performances. Edward DM topped and tailed the lunchtime concert, with a lively guitar performance of Iron Maiden’s The Trooper and brought things to a close with the more relaxing 1st movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata. In between, Hennie D, Tristan B, Tilly R, Lucy C and Olivia E sang and Thomas S and Peter R played the piano. 

Remaining Music & Munch dates this term: Friday 16th February and Friday 15th March

The competition is organised by the ESL Department at Gresham’s School. This year’s title invited pupils from schools across East Anglia to consider the following:

“Art is considered an essential part of all cultures throughout the world. However, these days, fewer and fewer people appreciate art and turn their focus to science, technology and business.

Why do you think that is?

What could be done to encourage more people to take interest in the arts?”

The field of entries was extremely strong and the judge, local award-winning journalist Alison Huntley, described them as “impressive…well-thought-out, reasoned, intelligent and knowledgeable”. Her job was almost impossible. In the end she chose two pupils from RHS as her junior winners and, in the senior category as her near-wins, Leonie B and Anjelika J and, as her overall winner, Luisa S for her wonderfully evocative opening and sensitive tone throughout.

Luisa received her prize of an Amazon voucher in chapel from the Headmaster.

We are delighted to make the top 200 in the Sports Magazine Top 200 Schools for 2023. We came in 71st and we are thrilled to be in the list for the first time. Over the last year the School has had significant successes with girls and boys cricket; the girls reaching the Finals Day of the National U15 Cup and the boys the last 16 of the U18 Cup. The U15 girls reached the quarter finals of the netball cup. This year we hope to build on these successes and in the next few days our pupils are involved in 3 U15 National Quarter Finals in both girls hockey and rugby. A huge amount of hard work has been put into the programmes by the pupils and staff which we hope to continue to reap rewards in the future years to come.

The Senior Colloquium enjoyed a presentation on Saturday from one of its star participants, Year 13 pupil Miranda H-S, entitled ‘The Limits of Freedom’. She had drawn on the ‘Four Freedoms’ (made popular by the Roosevelt administration in the first years of WW2) to explore, among other things, the modern challenges of censorship in literature, politics and religion. Room 11 in Big School was packed and the level and quality of questions and participation was excellent, in no small part due to Miranda’s deft management of the discussion.