Very many congratulations to the Oriel students, who have battled through to the ‘Final Four’ round of the interview process. 

Huge commiserations to the four who failed to make it – a blow, but one from which they will recover and, having learned a great deal from this interview experience, will be able to use that as a springboard to success in other ways.

The ‘Final Four’ are;
Lucy Hitchin
Emily Griffiths
Daniel Saka
Luba Ndidi

They and their parents will now have to fill out their formal application to Gresham’s and have been called to interview on Thursday March 18th.  As well as their interviews, they will all have the opportunity to tour the school, meet staff and pupils and ask any questions that they may have.

By then all the students will have had to prepare a Curriculum Vitae containing:
• their education history to date;
• predicted grades;
• mock grades;
• attendance statistics;
• a personal statement, outlining any responsibilities they have held in school; any interests or hobbies they have or have had and may want to pursue again;
• any jobs they may have had out of school, with a supporting letter from their employer, if possible;
• work experience feed-back forms or letters;
• their interview essay, ‘My Future’;
• any other positive supporting material that they may have; certificates; newspaper reports of sporting success etc. 

If the students have a talent in Sport, Music, Drama or Art, or are gifted in an academic subject, they will also need to get a supporting letter from their teacher or coach outlining that talent.

From the initial interviews it was clear that none of the students found ‘selling themselves’ easy – it is one of the hardest things in the world to do – but they have to practice what they want to say if the Head of Gresham’s asks why they, rather than one of the other three, would benefit by attending his school! 

I am sure that all of Oriel wishes Daniel, Emily, Luba and Lucy luck in their final interview.

The fourteen Yr11 students, who had been interviewed in the first stage of the Gresham’s School Scholarship process, attended a nerve-wracking meeting on Friday, to learn which of them had progressed through to the final eight.

Ms. Palmer and Miss Haddleton congratulated all the students, letting  them know that they had all interviewed well – but some of the interviews had been ‘outstanding’; some so passionate and moving that they had Ms. Palmer reaching for the box of tissues.  It would be those students who would be continuing through to the next phase.

Congratulations, therefore, go to the following:
• Luba Ndidi
• Daniel Saka
• Emily Griffiths
• Sydney Purl
• Leah Secretan
• Jisel Dagumboy
• Gracie Goktas
• Lucy Hichin

These students now have until Wednesday 3rd March to complete a 500 word assignment about ‘My Future’, persuading at more length why they should continue through to the interviews at Gresham’s.

Co-incidentally, ‘Radio Norfolk’, was in school at the time of the announcement and a number of ‘the eight’, together with Ms. Palmer, were interviewed for a newscast on Friday evening.  The interview will continue to be available on MP3 download, on the ‘Radio Norfolk’ website, for the whole of next week – and may be broadcast over Oriel FM as well.

The ‘Scholarship Four’ will be announced to the group next Thursday, 4th March.

As you’ve probably already read in the report below, it’s been a nail-biting week for the ‘Gresham’s 14’. 14 students were interviewed for the scholarship place at Gresham’s and 8 have gone through! I’m certain that Miss Haddleton and myself were just as nervous as the children when we had to reveal the good (and bad) news – by this time next week we’ll be down to the final 4 who will be interviewed by Gresham’s themselves!

As we told the students on Friday, we were so incredibly moved by their interviews and if we could have put all 14 through, we would have done! The 8 students who have gone through to the next round were interviewed for a broadcast on Radio Norfolk on the 4pm to 6pm show, so ‘listen again’ if you’d like to hear the interviews. The Eastern Daily Press is also keen to follow the story, so look out for more exciting news.

I’ve just read the Great Yarmouth Mercury and I was so pleased to read about ex-Oriels Matthew Jeffries and Samantha Boggis’s plight to raise money for those less fortunate – we’re really proud of you – and congratulations on your engagement! There are also details of a planned reunion for ex-Oriels this week. Thirdly, there’s a picture of the students whose photography work is displayed at Children’s Services, Edison Road, so lots to celebrate this week.

I’m pleased to report that our punctuality figures are also improving – I’ll emphasise it again – students must be at school by 8.20am for registration at 8.25. Best of luck to those of you sitting GCSE examinations next week – keep revising.

Fourteen Yr11 students have expressed their interest in applying for the opportunity to attend Gresham’s VI Form, for two years.

All fourteen have been interviewed by Ms. Palmer & Miss Haddleton, in order to select eight to go through to the next round of the process.  The students in this initial group were:

• Luba Ndidi
• Abi Stringer
• Daniel Saka
• Luke Eke
• Leah Secretan
• Dan Woods
• Gracie Goktas
• Lucy Hitchin
• Emily Griffiths
• Abi Hall
• Jack Borthwick
• Sydney Purl
• Jisel Dagumboy
• Lawrence Murray

All are to be congratulated on taking this first, difficult, step.

In the ten minute interview they were asked to explain why they would like to attend Gresham’s School, in preference to local college provision; how they would be able to cope with the very different lifestyle in a public school – longer working days, boarding, Saturday school; how do they think being awarded the scholarship could have an effect on their lives.  They also had to persuade the interviewers that they were the best person to award the scholarship to!

All students spoke well but some were truly outstanding in the manner in which they expressed themselves and how they envisaged their futures.  The passion to achieve something worthwhile in their lives, giving back to society, was very moving, in some cases.  No-one let themselves down and the decisions that have had to be taken, to ‘cut’ the list to eight, has been more difficult than was initially thought.

The group will be called together on Friday 26th February, to receive their feed-back and to be told which eight students have made it through to the next round.

… watch this space ….

Here it is… the GCSE exam timetable.

Make sure you know exactly when your exams are by printing it out, highlighting your exams and keeping this with your study material.

The pdf is also accessible under the “Dates and Events” tab in the menu to the left.

Good luck and revise, revise, revise!

Examination Timetable 2010