A level Geography pupils enjoyed playing the jelly baby population game. This fun simulation game helped pupils explore a range of factors which influence or alter a countries fertility and mortality rates over time.
At the end of Year 12, A level French pupils, Kitty R and Daisy W travelled to Cambridge to complete their DELF (Diplôme d’études en Langue Française) B1 exams, a day of exams in listening, reading, writing and speaking. It is all conducted in French and pupils are fully immersed. DELF (French language), diplomas are awarded by the French Ministry of Education to certify the level of French-language skills of non-French speakers. Level B1 indiciates that you are an independent user of French and you also need it to obtain French nationality. The diplomas are valid for life and recognised all around the world. Kitty and Daisy completed this alongside their A level studies, so a big well done to both on this internationally recognised qualification.
It was great to welcome Penny from the charity School Readers to Senior School Chapel on Wednesday morning. She spoke movingly about the difference good literacy skills can make in a person’s life and how reading can be a powerful force for positive social change. She also thanked our Year 10 and 11 pupils for the £550 they helped to raise for the charity during the Big Coronation Help Out earlier in the year.
Three Gresham’s cellists – Mia W, Milan H and Zinny B – took part in the launch concert of the Twin Tracks Upcycling Festival at All Saints Church in Briston on Tuesday evening. They performed Franz Schubert’s Serenade as a trio and then Zinny went on to perform a solo of Bach’s Bourree No. 1 from Cello Suite No. 3. The performance was greatly received by a packed-out audience in the church.
The pupils were also fortunate to witness a performance of Briston’s famous 300-year-old iron cello.
The festival is raising money for the repair of local churches and more details of the events being held may be found by clicking here.
The enrichment lectures got off to a superb start with a presentation on the Impact of World Disasters, marking the 22nd Anniversary of 9/11. Gresham’s Historians Mr Kinder and Mr O’Donnell delivered a poignant talk and historical timeline to a packed sixth form pupil audience in the Auden Theatre.
Year 5 pupils are in the process of earning bonus points for our Gresham’s Challenge scheme (similar to DofE). They can earn bonus points by showing effort in a range of activities or pastimes.
To complement the History Department’s upcoming battlefields trip, Year 9 are studying an Experiences of War unit in English lessons to gain an insight into the experience of conflict from a range of different perspectives. One famous poem the pupils might study is Charge of Light Brigade by Alfed Lord Tennyson. Big School Hall is an excellent venue for re-enacting the battle with paper canons!
On Thursday, our international cohort at the Senior School – both returning pupils and those new to the school – got together for a Welcome Tea Party in the library. Despite the heat there was a real buzz with pupils from 16 different countries getting to know each other, swapping experiences and picking up tips on school life.
Mrs Alexander led Chapel on Wednesday morning on the topic of kindness and resilience. To give a visual example of how effective strong foundations are, this year’s prefect team formed two human pyramids. No prefects were harmed in the making of the pyramids and the message was well received by the pupils.
A new, co-educational day house, Arkell, has been officially opened at Gresham’s Senior School. Arkell was declared open yesterday by John Arkell, Headmaster of Gresham’s 1991-2002, accompanied by Douglas Robb, Headmaster, and some of Arkell’s new pupils.
Arkell is the first day house at Gresham’s and follows the model of an independent day school closing at 5.30pm each day. To reflect this, the school fees are similar to those of local, independent day schools.
Pupils in Arkell can enjoy the depth and breadth of a Gresham’s education alongside all other day and boarding pupils and are encouraged to participate fully in the academic and co-curricular activities on offer. We look forward to their participation in House Competitions!
