Gretton School

15/10/2026

We’re proud to share that Gretton School has been shortlisted for the ISA Award for Specialist Provision of the Year. 💛

To be recognised in this way by the Independent Schools Association (ISA) means a great deal to us, and we’re very proud to be shortlisted alongside other schools doing such important work.

While recognition like this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate what we do, our focus will always be on the young people at the heart of Gretton. Our relational approach underpins so much of what happens at Gretton. Every learner's journey is different, and progress doesn't always happen in a straight line. It's about taking the time to understand each young person, recognising the small steps forward, celebrating the moments when something finally clicks, and building the relationships that help confidence grow. Seeing our learners develop in their own ways makes us proud to do what we do every day. And, of course, to have that work recognised through a nomination like this is rather wonderful too! ✨

Behind all of the moments we share with you is a whole team of people who make Gretton what it is. From our reception and administration teams to our teachers, support staff, therapists and cleaning team, everyone has a part to play. So much of what makes a school special happens quietly, often behind the scenes, and we’re incredibly proud of the care and commitment our team brings to their work.

As part of Cavendish Education, our shared 4Cs of Character, Confidence, Competence and Creativity reflect so much of what we hope to nurture in every young person. It’s not about one big moment or achievement, but all the little moments that add up to show just how far our learners have come and the remarkable things they can go on to achieve.

In November, members of our school and the wider Cavendish team will be attending the ISA Autumn Leaders Conference to celebrate this achievement, alongside the wonderful work taking place across other schools. We’ll be taking a moment to appreciate this recognition and celebrate everyone who helps make Gretton the school it is.

To our team, our learners and our families, thank you for being part of the Gretton community. We’re delighted to have been shortlisted, and very proud to share this moment with you.

13/10/2026

Our lunchtime clubs give learners the chance to get involved in the things they enjoy, with everything from Dungeons & Dragons and debates, to football and construction. We run clubs based on learner interests and demand, so it’s safe to say D&D is an absolute favourite – with several clubs running throughout the week! 🎲

Over at The Rectory, our gardening club is off to a flying start. One of our sixth formers has been getting creative, bringing these planters to life and helping to make the Rectory look even more beautiful. 🌸

It’s just one of the many ways learners can explore their interests and develop new skills.

🌿 We want to know, what’s your favourite plant that you would like to see at Gretton?

08/10/2026

For young people joining Gretton School, particularly those who may have experienced challenges in previous educational settings, we understand that feeling comfortable in a new environment doesn’t always happen straight away.

Sometimes, something like arriving on site at school and getting to know a new place can be a big step. There’s no expectation to have everything worked out from day one.

We take the time to get to know each learner as an individual, understand what helps them feel comfortable and give them the space they need to build trust and form relationships - it is a fundamental part of our relational practice. ⭐

We saw a lovely example of this in action earlier this week, when two new starters began to find a connection through two very different things: fidget tools and food! 🤝

Different people, different interests, different approaches, but the same outcome: finding small ways to connect, feel comfortable and begin to see education as a safe space.

06/10/2026

There’s been a very exciting first for Gretton School... our learners have completed The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Silver Qualifier!

Across three days, they walked an incredible 34km, planned routes, tackled navigation challenges, cooked together, and showed fantastic teamwork and resilience. They even independently led sections of the walk! 🥾

DofE is just one of the many opportunities at Gretton that encourage our learners to try new things, develop their independence and discover what they can achieve.

Here's a snapshot of the highlights from what was a brilliant achievement. We’re so proud of them!

02/10/2026

Earlier this month, some of our learners headed to Cambridge Arts Theatre to see Blood Brothers, a play that will be very familiar to our Year 8 learners, who study it as a set text. 🎭

It was lovely to see the excitement of watching a story they know so well come to life on stage, and there was an added bonus afterwards when some of the learners got to head round to Stage Door and meet members of the cast!

Trips like this give our learners the chance to take their learning outside the classroom, but also to experience new places, meet new people, practise those everyday social interactions and simply enjoy doing something together.

A really lovely experience all round, and one we’re very grateful to Arts Theatre Cambridge and the Creative Futures partnership with Cambridge City Council for making possible.

30/09/2026

🎮 Game creator in the making!

One of our Sixth Form learners has been busy creating their very own computer game! 👾

In the game, you play as the white character and your mission is to move in and attack the red character… but there’s a catch - make sure they don’t get to you first! 🔴⚪

It’s a great example of what can happen when curiosity leads learning. Exploring an interest in game design has given our learner the opportunity to experiment, problem-solve, get creative and turn an idea into reality - and plenty of fun, including some healthy competition with our Careers Coordinator, who perhaps needed a little practice before getting the hang of it! 🎮

🌐 Curious to explore the subjects and learning opportunities available at Gretton? You can find out more about our education and learning for this academic year on our website: www.grettonschool.com/education-and-learning

If you're a prospective parent or carer and would like to learn more about Gretton, you can also book a place on one of our Open Tours through our website. We’d love to welcome you to the school and tell you more about what we do at Gretton.

And now for the important question… 👀

Our learner has yet to decide what to call the game, so we need your help! What do you think we should call it? 🎮

15/09/2026

👖Jeans for Genes Day - Friday 18th September!👖

This Friday, we’ll be supporting Jeans for Genes UK by raising money to support children and families living with genetic conditions across the UK.

Learners and staff are welcome to wear jeans or denim for the day, with a £1 donation to Reception.

It’s a lovely opportunity for us to come together, show kindness and support others in our wider community. 💙

We hope to see lots of denim around school on Friday!

10/09/2026

Can you believe our learners have already been back a full week?

We’ve been settling back into our routines this week, and it’s been lovely to see everyone getting stuck in.

Some of our Year 9 learners headed over to the Rectory for their photography lesson, capturing the nature around them - and, naturally, a few photos of each other too! They wanted to share some of their work with us, including some very creative shots where a few of them took up a spot of modelling to achieve photo-inception! 😄📸

07/09/2026

One of the amazing benefits of being part of Cavendish Education Group is being connected to a wider community of schools and education professionals, with opportunities to share ideas, learn from one another and access expertise beyond our own school.

The next Cavendish Presents… event will explore Getting EdTech Right - looking at how technology can support learning while keeping the human connection at the heart of what we do.

We’re particularly looking forward to seeing Cavendish’s own Peter Reeves joining the panel alongside voices from Google for Education and the National PedTech Partnership.

📅 Wednesday 16th September | 🕠 5:30pm
📍 London | 💻 Livestream available

There’s still time to join the conversation. 👇

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfIj7kn7yIAFCGcKB876u7QnRQp30JaOTvnXaja6wfM7Up6rA/viewform

There’s still time to join us for the next Cavendish Presents…

On Wednesday 16th September, we’re bringing together voices from across education and technology to explore what it really means to get EdTech right - and how we can ensure technology enhances learning without losing sight of the human connection.

Chaired by Vanessa Danz, our panel will feature:
• Peter Reeves, Head of Digital Education Training at Cavendish Education
• Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith, Co-founder of the National PedTech Partnership and The Open School UK
• Luke Craig, Communities & Programs Lead, UK & Ireland, Google for Education

🎙️Cavendish Presents… Getting EdTech Right. Technology, learning and the human connection.
📅 Wednesday 16th September
🕠 5:30pm
📍 58 Buckingham Gate, London
🔗 Can’t join us in person? RSVP to receive the livestream link

Secure your place 👉 https://lnkd.in/e_67vH8A

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03/09/2026

✨ What does success look like to you?

Over the summer, we celebrated the recent achievements of our learners - and it got us thinking: what is success, is it a grade? A qualification? A magic moment that’s completely individual to each learner? Or perhaps, is it a bit of both? 🤔

At Gretton, we know that success can look different for every young person, from qualifications and personal milestones to overcoming challenges and taking those next steps, there’s lots to be proud of.

And now, you can read all about this year’s results on our new Gretton website! 🎓

As we head into a new academic year, let’s take a moment to reflect on the progress already made, celebrate our learners’ achievements and get excited for all that’s to come 👇

🔗 https://www.grettonschool.com/post/more-than-just-results-celebrating-our-learners-on-gcse-results-day

Results Day is about more than celebrating achievement; it’s about recognising the relationships, resilience and personal growth behind those achievements.