We have relaunched the exciting Outdoor Pursuits Programme for all Year 9 students, held every Wednesday afternoon. The programme is designed to not only introduce students to a variety of outdoor activities but also to help them develop crucial leadership and communication skills.
Additionally, the students will gain awareness of key initiatives such as the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Services, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme.
Over the course of the year, Year 9 students will engage in a broad range of activities aimed at building confidence, teamwork, and self-reliance. So far, the students have taken part in several thrilling pursuits. They’ve tackled the School’s Adventure Woodland obstacle course, worked on practical projects at the small holding by Waterloo Farm, and learned essential outdoor skills such as pioneering, navigation, and campcraft. Swimming has also been a key feature of the programme, promoting physical fitness alongside these other pursuits. The programme is structured to challenge students while offering them the opportunity to explore new interests and build valuable life skills.
As the year progresses, we look forward to seeing the students continue to develop through the diverse and engaging experiences this programme offers. It promises to be a year filled with adventure, growth, and teamwork for Year 9 at Gresham’s.
In the first week of term, we held our annual welcome tea party for international pupils, an event for new and returning overseas pupils to meet and get to know one another over coffee, sandwiches, and cake.
The event was held in the library, which was temporarily transformed from a studious environment to one of chatter and excitement. The tea party had an outstanding turnout, with representation from all houses and year groups and at least fifteen countries!
Pupils were invited to wear a badge featuring the flag of their home country. The badges acted as useful conversation starters and allowed pupils to recognise others who might speak the same first language as them. Mr Robb gave a wonderful welcome speech, and it was especially lovely that so many returning pupils came along to get to know their new peers and to offer support and advice based on their experiences of Gresham’s.
It was a great chance for pupils to relax with a cupcake, but also to find answers to questions, pick up tips from older pupils, and hopefully start to forge some lifelong friendships. Informal gatherings for our international cohort take place regularly throughout the school year so the camaraderie, support, and fun times are set to continue!
‘Best Design’ win for Sixth Formers presentation
News > ‘Best Design’ win for Sixth Formers presentation
A huge well done to Sixth Form pupils Emily M, Olga B, Milan H and Tara G, who recently took home the award for ‘Best Presented Design’ for their project on ‘Urban biodiversity and its decline due to housing and population growth’ as part of the Homerton College Programme. The programme is intended to equip participants with key skills that are considered highly desirable by university admissions tutors such as communication, problem-solving and research design.
The team were tasked with designing a sustainable solution to an environmental or health problem. During the spring and summer term, they attended weekly webinars to guide them through the requirements of the project, along with one-on-one mentoring sessions where they were offered feedback on their idea.
An estimated 100 teams entered, and around 50% were invited to a conference at Homerton college in Cambridge to receive a highly commended award.
During the conference day they were able to attend lectures, workshops and thought-provoking discussions about sustainability. There were a variety of award categories at the conference, such as the ‘Most Unique’, ‘Most Researched’, and of course, ‘Best Presented Design’, awarded to the Gresham’s team. The judges were particularly impressed with their comprehensive marketing strategy for implementing their solution.
The team’s creativity and hard work paid off, earning them well-deserved recognition for their presentation. Well done!
Outstanding results for Art and Design Department
News > Outstanding results for Art and Design Department
You would be hard pressed to find such stellar results as the Art and Design Departments at Gresham’s. This year 60% of pupils achieved 9 and 8 grades across GCSE Fine Art, GCSE 3D Design and GCSE Graphics – that’s the equivalent of 50 A* grades!
A remarkable 75% of all grades at A Level were at A*. And these outstanding grades have been achieved consistently for years: last year 90% of pupils achieved A* in 3D Design, and for two years running, 100% of pupils achieved an A* in Graphic Communication.
Furthermore, pupils are achieving impressive outcomes as a result of their success: this year, that meant Architecture at Manchester, Fine Art at Leeds, Graphics at Reading, History of Art at Cambridge, Interior Design at Falmouth, and a placement at Pilar Corria Art Gallery. Last year, nine pupils went on to Architecture courses, and nine into other Art and Design-based courses, including Falmouth, UCL, Goldsmith’s, and an animation degree in Germany.
This summer, Limony A won First Prize in the 2024 Norfolk Art & Design Competition, with Vera C having her work highly commended and another two pupils shortlisted. Previously, we have enjoyed a three month residency at Saatchi Gallery and pupils regularly show work throughout the UK – and that’s not to mention the many graduates who exhibit and enjoy careers in a wide range of art and design disciplines.
During September, one of last year’s leavers will be exhibiting in the Chair of Virtue Exhibition at Shoreditch Design Triangle as part of the London Design Festival. Sophia C will be one of just five designers selected to exhibit.
Looking at the broad theme of ‘Natural Forms’, Sophia chose a combination of elements related to the human body. A playful interaction of components such as a red blood cell, abstracted rib form and the ball and socket joint finally led to the ‘Blob Chair’. The challenge for Sophia was to bring these elements together in a way that, not only functioned as a chair, but aesthetically created a satisfying integration of forms and materials.
A walk through the Dyson Building at Gresham’s will very quickly reveal how all this is possible: the staff are utterly dedicated, the building is unrivalled in a school setting, and the exhibition spaces are filled with work that is both professional and impressive.
Prep School team “Safety Chains” shines in Global Entrepreneurial Competition
News > Prep School team “Safety Chains” shines in Global Entrepreneurial Competition
A group of Year 8 girls from the Prep School recently made waves on the international stage, entering a prestigious global competition that recognises young people demonstrating exceptional commercial acumen. Competing against participants aged 11 to 15 from around the world, the team, who named themselves “Safety Chains,” took part in the ABE Endorsed KidsMBA Shark Tank Pitch, ultimately earning the impressive title of Future Entrepreneur 2024 runner-up.
The Future Entrepreneur is an international entrepreneurship competition for children who won the business pitch as part of the ABE Endorsed KidsMBA programme. The entry standard is very high, and all entrants and finalists should feel proud.
The competition saw entrepreneurial experts serving as independent judges, assessing innovative entries from across the UK and beyond. Safety Chains’ creative pitch, which focused on enhancing female safety by linking fashion with discreet security solutions, stood out among the impressive field of competitors.
For their runner-up position, the Safety Chains team was awarded $500 in prize money. The judges also provided glowing feedback, commending the girls for their innovative approach to a critical issue:
The team – consisting of Elisabeth, Esme, Emma, Imogen, Minky, Cristina, and Georgie – showcased not only their business skills but also their ability to address real-world challenges with innovative solutions. Congratulations to Safety Chains for their outstanding performance and well-deserved recognition.
Major General Felix Gedney kicks off the first academic enrichment lecture of the year
News > Major General Felix Gedney kicks off the first academic enrichment lecture of the year
For the first academic enrichment lecture of the year, we were honoured to welcome Major General Felix Gedney who talked to Year 13 pupils about The UK Armed Forces and Society.
It was an extremely informative and thought-provoking talk, giving answers as to why we have the Armed Forces, what the Armed Forces do, and who is in charge. The Year 13 pupil audience were superb, and gave excellent, informed answers to question prompts from Major General Gedney.
We were grateful to begin the year with such an energised and engaged opening to the new season of academic enrichment lectures.
Ben Youngs Appointed Head of Performance Sport
News > Ben Youngs Appointed Head of Performance Sport
Gresham’s School is delighted to announce the appointment of Ben Youngs as the new Head of Performance Sport. A former pupil and an international rugby icon, Ben returns to his alma mater with a wealth of experience and a passion for developing the next generation of athletes.
Ben Youngs, England’s most-capped men’s rugby player, has enjoyed a stellar career spanning over 15 years. With more than 100 appearances for the England national team and a legacy that includes participation in four Rugby World Cups, Youngs is widely recognised for his exceptional leadership, strategic prowess, and dedication to the sport.
A proud alumnus of Gresham’s, Ben’s journey from the school’s playing fields to the pinnacle of international rugby serves as a powerful testament to his talent and determination. His return marks a significant milestone for Gresham’s, as he brings not only his on-field expertise but also his deep understanding of the school’s unique ethos and values.
In his new role, Ben will focus on nurturing high-performance athletes across a range of disciplines. His appointment underscores Gresham’s commitment to ensuring that students receive world-class guidance and support in their sporting endeavours.
Ben Youngs expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, “I am thrilled to return to Gresham’s, a place that has played such a significant role in my life. I look forward to working with the talented pupils and staff to build on the school’s proud sporting tradition and help our athletes achieve their full potential.”
James Knight, Director of Sport at Gresham’s, added, “We are incredibly excited to welcome Ben back to Gresham’s in this important role. His achievements in rugby are an inspiration to our pupils, and his experience and passion will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our sport.”
Ben Youngs’ appointment is a momentous occasion for Gresham’s, as the school continues to foster a culture of excellence, discipline, and sportsmanship. Under his leadership, Gresham’s aims to set new standards in performance sport, providing its students with unparalleled opportunities to excel.
Read more about Sports Scholarship opportunities here.
Gresham’s Year 11 pupils are once again celebrating a superb set of GCSE results, nearly a third of which are at the highest 9 / A* grades. Six pupils have achieved a clean sweep of 9s and 8s, one of whom has achieved an outstanding 11 GCSEs all at grade 9.
As with this year’s A level and BTEC results, Gresham’s continues to buck national trends when it comes to our pupils’ academic outcomes. While nationally the grade 9-4 pass rate fell again to 67.4%, ours is the highest ever at 96.6% and over half of all grades are at the coveted 9-7 level.
Thanks to the hard work of their teachers, along with the support of their families, 83 pupils have managed to achieve at least one grade 9 or 8 this year, showing that this cohort of Greshamians have been recognised for their talents across the full breadth of subjects on offer.
We congratulate the whole Year 11 cohort and are looking forward to welcoming the majority of them back into Year 12 to study A levels, BTECs and the International Baccalaureate!
Exceptional success for our A level and BTEC students
News > Exceptional success for our A level and BTEC students
Gresham’s is proud to announce that our A level and BTEC pupils have once again achieved outstanding results. At A level, 46% were graded at A* or A, well above the national average of 28%, while 88% were graded A*-C, a significant increase on last year’s outcomes. Pupils taking BTEC subjects also performed very strongly with 47% of their results at Distinction or Starred Distinction.
Universities have been quick to offer our pupils places with 98% securing their firm or insurance choices. This year, Old Greshamians will be heading off to study in all parts of the UK and around the world including Bath, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Goldsmiths, Imperial, Leeds, London South Bank, LSE, Loughborough, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford Brookes, Queen Mary, Reading, Royal Holloway, St. Andrews, Sheffield, Southampton, Surrey, UCL, UEA, Warwick, York, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Spain.
Pupils have also secured places at top specialist institutions such as the Royal Agricultural College, Harper Adams, Leeds Conservatoire, University of the Arts London, and the Royal Northern College of Music, as well as a range of degree apprenticeships.
These results are a testament to pupils’ consistent hard work as well as the outstanding support they have received with their studies from their teachers, tutors, Heads of House, the pastoral, support and SEND teams, and their families. Well done all!
Fifteen members of Gresham’s Rifle Club were at Bisley this year to compete in the National Rifle Association’s 155th Imperial Meeting, which took place immediately after the Schools Meeting. Every member of the team shot well in what were generally good conditions in terms of temperature, but at times, the wind conditions were challenging. The newer, less experienced members of the team were all on steep learning curves, whilst the more experienced shooters in the team were trying to compete for the very top scores.
There was national representation on day one for Georgina B, as she was selected to shoot for England in the Cadet National Match. Georgina was the top shot out of all competitors in the match (105 / 105), but the England team still had to settle for second place, just three points behind Wales.
During the Imperial Meeting, there are two Schools team matches that run concurrently with the Grand Aggregate. The Gresham’s Rifle Club team of Georgina B, Oliver R, Grace S, and Alexandre S were able to outshoot all the other schools to take first place and win the Garry Jones Trophy. Things didn’t go quite so well for the Anstey Trophy, as the same Gresham’s team had to settle for a 6th-place finish in this competition.
Gresham’s were well represented in the 2nd Stages of St. Georges and His Majesty the King’s Prize this year. Georgina, Oliver, and Grace made the 2nd Stage of St. Georges, with Grace shooting well enough to progress through to the final. The entire team was there to watch her finish 80th out of the 700 competitors that started in the competition. Margarethe G, Harry P, and Jonny W all shot in the 2nd stage of the King’s Prize, and despite having a wonderful time, were unsuccessful at making the final. The other big individual competition during the week was the Grand Aggregate and, out of the 650+ competitors (from around the world) taking part, Georgina B managed to shoot consistently well throughout the week to finish 186th. The Grand Aggregate was won by Chloe Evans (OG). Out of the 200 Cadets competing in the Grand Aggregate, Georgina B was the top shot. In the process of becoming Top Cadet, she also won herself a bespoke shooting jacket worth over £1,500, thanks to sponsorship from ‘TenPointNine’.
Several of the team members also shot for the UK Cadets in both the Inter-Services Long and Short-Range matches. Georgina, Harry, and Oliver shot in the Long-Range match, with Alexandre and Jonny as reserves. Georgina then shot in the Short-Range match, with Grace as reserve.
It was a fantastic two weeks of competitive target rifle shooting, and I would very much like to thank every member of Gresham’s Rifle Club for making it such a great trip. You are an awesome group of young people.
Finally, we would like to wish Georgina B all the very best on her tour with the British Cadet Rifle Team (the Athelings) and Marcella B on her tour to the Channel Islands with the UK Cadet Rifle Team. Mrs Liberman will also be going on the UKCRT tour as the team’s Adjutant. Thanks must go to all members of staff who have assisted, in whatever way, with the running of the Rifle Club over the past year. May 2024-25 be just as successful, if not more.
