Ahead of Safer Internet Day next week our Young Digital Leaders delivered an excellent Chapel talk to the Senior School around the theme of ‘Inspiring Change’.

The digital leaders work in the school to raise awareness and run programs and projects to educate the Senior and Prep school on using the internet safely. They assist pupils, pupil-to-pupil, in knowing how to protect their information, security and wellbeing online.

This year’s Safer Internet Day projects include:

• Chapel talk to senior school
• Prep School talk
• Senior school hunt on the ways the internet has inspired and produced change
• Tutor time Kahoot competition

On the 25th of January, our Under 15 netball team faced a strong Rugby School team in the Independent Schools Netball Competition. A combination of Under 15 and 14 players formed the squad. It was a great opportunity to see some of our younger players step into the squad and gain experience in this competitive environment. When Rugby arrived it was clear to see that their height was going to be a challenge in itself. Rugby came out in force and took a 10 goal lead after the 1st quarter. Our girls showed some good passages of play but were unable to capitalise on these opportunities. Our opposition showed more consistency in their play and pushed their score line on. Gresham’s continued to work hard on the court and could recognise the opposition were stronger than us on the day. Although a tough match, our squad gained a lot of experience and our U14 players now know the challenge ahead of them next year.

Chapel Choir sang beautifully on Thursday evening in a special service of Choral Evensong to mark Burns Night. The Headmaster also proved his Scottish credentials during the service by reading some Burns’ poetry; his faultless accent raised many smiles in the congregation.

The U15 boys Rugby team played in their National Bowl this week, after reaching the final 16. The team had a long bus journey across to Princethorpe College. The match had been postponed due to frozen pitches the week before.

As the wind howled and the pitch glistened with moisture, Gresham’s unleashed a spectacle of brilliant rugby in the first half. Their strategic prowess shone through, cleverly harnessing the gusts to their advantage. At half-time, the scoreboard painted a portrait of a hard-fought battle, with the opposition leading 10-5.

Undeterred by an even windier second half, the team pressed on valiantly. Hector B, Ollie J, and Sam T dazzled with remarkable carries, while Ben B showcased his prowess in the back field. Despite their tenacity, Princethorpe College managed to pull away in the closing stages, securing a 31-12 victory. The final score doesn’t reflect the true intensity of the match, which was fiercely contested.

Well done to the U15s for their commendable journey to the final 16, a testament to their skill and determination. A special mention for the U14’s player who played a pivotal role in this cup run.

The term has started with a bang. Although we are only 3 weeks in, and the weather has been a real challenge, we have still managed to fit in 30+ fixtures across the club.

The Boys 1st XI have continued their Tier 1 England Schools Championship matches. Most recently, they played a very strong Solihull side, losing in a very close game. They face Rugby School and Norwich School next week.

The U14s have progressed through the first round of the U14 England Hockey Cup, while the U15s have moved into the independent schools plate competition.

Our U15 girls have continued to play this term and did incredibly well to make the last 8 schools in the country, narrowly losing to Wellington College in the quarterfinal. They also made the U16 last 8 in the England Schools U16 plate competition. This is a really positive season, which bodes very well for the future.

Wednesday evening is Recital evening in the Music Department and on 24^th January, over 60 pupils and staff making up our Concert Band, Strings, Brass, Jazz, Percussion and Guitar Groups came together to perform a diverse programme of music. Brass Ensemble opened the concert with a 3-piece set including the popular theme from the film Rocky while Guitar Ensemble performed the classic Beatles’ number Day Tripper. The Strings Orchestra have been working hard on new repertoire this term and this evening performed both their contrasting pieces for the first time, the recognisable Prelude from Grieg’s Holberg Suite and the Theme from His Dark Materials, receiving deserved loud applause.

Benny S, Ferdinand vD, Timo F and Milan H aka the Jazz Band put on a fine performance of Comin’ Home Baby by Ben Tucker to take us into the interval.

Dr Limbrick teaches tuned percussion at Gresham’s when not pursuing a very busy professional international concert schedule himself. Our pupils performed his composition Mopti Street, named after a roundabout in a town in Ghana; and why not! Playing a variety of percussion instruments, such as marimba, vibraphone and xylophone, the 11 musicians showcased the flexibility of such instruments in this rhythmic, joyful, yet challenging piece.

After the interval, Concert Band entertained with a mostly new set from the 1980s, including some classic tunes such as God Only Knows, the music of James Bond and who doesn’t love a Boy Band medley with a dash of K-Pop thrown in! A fabulous finale to a great evening of music.

The standard of playing over the evening was testament to the practice our musicians make time for, during what is a very busy school week for them and thanks to our music staff who lead and support these pupils.

The Senior School marked Holocaust Memorial Day in Chapel this week. Sixth Form pupil Alma delivered a powerful talk reflecting on the horrors of the past and emphasising the importance of preserving, and extending, freedom today. This was followed by a time of silence as we remembered the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution, and those killed the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

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.