For the first time in several decades, Gresham’s has a group of keen campanologists learning to change ring at Upper Sheringham Church each week.
The pupils are all new to bellringing and are making astounding progress. In a few months, we hope the pupils will share their new talent with the local community—perhaps they will be ringing for a wedding or Sunday service near you.
Our Nursery and Pre-Prep children recently enjoyed a special visit to St. Andrews Church to celebrate the annual Harvest Festival.
The atmosphere was alive with joy and community spirit as the children filled the church with beautiful singing, heartfelt readings, and meaningful prayers, marking the occasion with a sense of warmth and togetherness.
The Harvest Festival also provided an opportunity to give back to the wider community. We are proud to share that our children and their families generously contributed to a collection of food donations for the North Norfolk Food Bank. This act of kindness reflected the true spirit of the festival and a sense of care and responsibility toward those in need.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who donated and participated, helping to make this year’s Harvest Festival a memorable and impactful event for both our School and the local community.
Our final Saturday Chapel service of the Half Term was nothing short of a feast for the ears and the mind. It blended outstanding musical performances with thought-provoking insights on the importance of caring for our planet.
The service opened with incredible musical performances, featuring our talented Concert Band, Jazz Band, and the Junior Girls Choir. For many pupils, it was their first time performing in front of the entire school, making their achievements even more remarkable.
We also enjoyed a moment for reflection through a compelling talk delivered by Cara Parrett from the Faraday Institute. Her presentation explored the scientific, religious, and cultural factors that need to be addressed if we are to care for our planet effectively.
Sixth Form pupils who had the privilege of going on the Kenya trip this summer recently delivered a captivating presentation to the school, sharing their experiences from the journey. The talk covered a wide range of topics, from encounters with wildlife to football matches, moving stories, even an account of the toilet facilities!
Perhaps most importantly though, the pupils talked about the ongoing link between Gresham’s and Opalagilagi School in Kenya. As Gresham’s main overseas charity partner, Olpalagilagi School plays a vital role in improving the lives of young people, and the pupils highlighted the meaningful impact of this long-term partnership.
During Field Days, eighteen pupils had the exciting opportunity to learn how to teach English as a foreign language. Over the course of two days, they engaged in a variety of fun and interactive activities, ultimately earning a valuable qualification in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language).
The first day was about ‘systems’ (grammar) and understanding what the classroom experience is like for those learning English. To do this, the instructor taught the group some basic greetings in Chinese without speaking any English. Instead, he used pictures and gestures to convey meaning and instruction. This helped the whole group learn how to ensure pupils with little knowledge of English can understand instructions and learn new vocabulary.
That afternoon, the pupils taught their first lesson in small groups to the whole class about any aspect of English grammar. Topics ranged from the future simple tense to adverbs of frequency. Although the topics were wide-ranging, all the lessons followed TEFL guidelines, such as minimise Teacher Talking Time and follow the three Ps (Presentation, Practice, Production).
The next day focused on teaching the skills of learning a new language: reading, writing, listening and speaking, with a particular focus on reading and listening. They took part in many different activities that they could use to teach people listening and reading skills, such as dictation, gap fills and sequencing events in a story.
The group also learnt to structure a skills lesson with activities before, during and after the reading or listening. With plenty of knowledge under their belts, the pupils taught their skills lessons that afternoon which featured many different activities, including those that they had created themselves, and some familiar favourites such as board slap and charades.
This TEFL course was a wonderful experience for all involved, and in a few weeks, pupils will receive a certificate which shows that they are qualified to teach EFL abroad.
The whole group would like to say a big thank you to Mrs Osborne for organising the course, Ms Masters for supervising and Nathan Lomax, the TEFL instructor. Â
Recently, the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) enjoyed a diverse and action-packed series of Field Days, with each section of the contingent participating in unique activities tailored to their respective branches.
The Royal Navy section spent two days at Hickling Broad, sailing and powerboating. They also enjoyed an afloat expedition along the river which tested their boat handling skills.
Army section Junior Cadets went to the Muckleburgh training area and followed a circuit of activities to develop basic fieldcraft skills, including camouflage, navigation, patrolling and First Aid. They also spent half a day on-site at Gresham’s, where they practised fire and movement tactics on a specially constructed outdoor air rifle range and participated in an exciting paintball activity.
Senior Cadets conducted an evening platoon attack exercise using blank ammunition, designed to enhance their skills of night navigation and tactical manoeuvres. The seniors also put their training to the test by conducting building assault drills, using paintball weapons in a purpose-built compound nestled in the school woods.
The RAF section was treated to a rare opportunity to visit RAF Marham and see the F35 fighter jets up close, and gain insight into the daily operations of an active RAF station. In addition to this visit, senior RAF cadets worked on developing their leadership skills through a series of command challenges held at the school.
Overall, the October Field Days offered an incredible mix of learning, adventure, and skill-building for cadets across all sections.
We welcomed back Old Greshamian, Soji Ajayi, as our Enrichment Speaker for Black History Month. Soji shared his inspiring journey with Year 13 pupils, reflecting on balancing culture and opportunity.
Soji spoke about his Sixth Form studies, discovering his passion for rugby and skiing, and how these experiences shaped his perspective. He went on to pursue an Engineering degree but later transitioned into the world of Financial Services, where he built a successful career.
Soji gave a true reflection of his journey of perseverance, identity, and the pursuit of excellence—all delivered with a message of embracing positivity, understanding and being happy with your own identity.
As part of the Field Days this October, we sent a group of pupils to the Holt Youth Project to help with a number of jobs that needed to be done. Over two days, our pupils cleared out the upstairs, tidied the allotment, hung murals, checked and maintained bicycles, refreshed and cleaned the clothes shop, cleaned the kitchen, mowed the lawn and dismantled pallets.
The pupils worked tirelessly for two days without a grumble and were a credit to themselves, and to Gresham’s. HYP staff complimented the pupils and were amazed at how they got on with the work so quickly and efficiently.
Whilst they were there, Fleur B, Evie B and Kathryn D spent a small fortune on clothes from the HYP shop after cleaning and tidying it all morning – all the money goes towards the HYP, so thank you girls. Kit P, Joey H and Charlie R attached a huge mural to the wall. Beatrice C-L and Arthur L tried to attach a small board to the wall with less success. Belle W, Issy K, Inez C and Kevin Z worked incredibly hard with Father Jack to clear out the upstairs.
On the second day, the weather was much better, so the team tackled the outside area. Amelie C, Jikke D, Jamie S, Florence P, Annabelle L and Ella H did an amazing job clearing and tidying the allotment alongside Mrs Edwards.Â
Mrs Nash, Izzy H, and Shreya Y did bike maintenance and, once they had figured out how to undo the ratchet straps, had fun blowing up tyres and ‘testing’ the bikes around the car park. Lucy B, Lottie B and Emily B made mincemeat of the pallets with a crowbar and hammer – it was quite scary to watch Lucy B demolish a pallet with a crowbar.
After a hard morning’s work and a much-needed break for lunch, the pupils built a fire in the firepit on the freshly mown lawn. Less was more here, as some of the girls thought it was bonfire night and wanted a huge fire. However, after halving the size of the fire, we made s’mores over the open flames. Some s’mores were slightly more cooked than others, but it was a lovely end to a very productive and happy two days helping at the Holt Youth Project. Thank you to all the pupils who participated, it was very much appreciated.
As part of an engaging and dynamic day dedicated to building essential skills and adaptability post-Sixth Form life, the Year 13 pupils participated in a series of valuable workshops.
The Careers Department welcomed Accredited Executive Business Coach and trainer, Penny Hubbard, who led an energising Confidence Workshop. The pupils actively participated in group discussions, exploring the many benefits of confidence and how it can positively impact their future. The session was a resounding success, with pupils leaving equipped with practical strategies to implement over the next three months.
As part of the workshop’s challenge, each pupil made a personal pledge to step outside their comfort zone by undertaking one bold action before Christmas.
In the second half of the day, Dale Willis from My Great First Job delivered an interactive CV writing session, giving pupils the tools to create standout CVs. This was followed by a hands-on LinkedIn workshop where Year 13s were shown how to effectively set up and optimise their profiles. They also learned how to use the platform to take proactive steps toward their future career goals. The day left pupils feeling informed, and ready for the next stage of their journey.
A group of Year 7 and 8 pupils recently had the exciting opportunity to visit Houghton Hall, where they explored the renowned ‘Antony Gormley: Time Horizon’ exhibition.
The trip offered pupils a unique blend of art, nature, and hands-on learning. Set in the beautifully landscaped gardens of Houghton Hall, the exhibition features 100 sculptures by the world-famous artist Antony Gormley, known for his work with human forms.
The pupils eagerly navigated the grounds, discovering each piece and enjoying the opportunity to interact with the art. Beyond the sculptures, the pupils were also captivated by the stunning surroundings of Houghton Hall.
They loved exploring the meticulously maintained gardens and were particularly amazed by the striking fire fountain in the walled gardens. Both pupils and staff described the day as brilliant, with the combination of art, nature, and exploration leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved.