2026 is National Year of Reading and we are going all in here at Norwich School! We know reading expands worlds, sharpens minds, and fuels creativity, so let's get inspired! Every month we are focusing on a different genre and hearing from a member of staff about what they like to read, why, when and where! For October, we are looking at Poetry. Let's find out more about why Mr Douglas-Field loves poetry... Tell us a little bit about the genre; what common themes or elements do you particularly enjoy? Being a reader of poetry doesn’t tie me to a theme or element, and I enjoy this variety. For example, over the summer I read Christopher Logue’s War Music, a retelling of Homer’s Iliad and Jean Sprackland’s Goyle, Chert and Mire – a vivid experience of nature and the countryside of Devon and Somerset. What was the book that introduced you to Poetry? Was there a particular book or author that made you fall in love with this genre? When I was a child, my great aunt bought me an anthology of poetry called I Like this Poem and I enjoyed reading many of these poems aloud, poems like Lewis Carroll’s ‘The Jabberwocky’ and ‘The Highwayman’ by Alfred Noyes. I read novels and non-fiction, but an interest in poetry lasted through my childhood and beyond. Has your taste in this genre changed over time? Yes! I love attending readings and open mic nights and listening to living poets performing their work. I also enjoy reading chapbooks and pamphlets published by tiny poetry presses. It’s fun to buy something handmade. Would you recommend this genre to someone who doesn’t usually read it? Why? The novel isn’t old. Robinson Crusoe is often considered to be the first major English novel – and it wasn’t published until 1719! People have been writing poetry for thousands of years. Why turn our backs on the bulk of humanity’s literary output? What do you enjoy most about reading, whether Poetry or anything else? I enjoy the possibilities promised by the next book I will read. I don’t know what it will be – or what I will be thinking and feeling about it. When and where is your favourite time and place to read?/ Do you have a favourite reading spot or routine for diving into books? I’m not precious about times and places. Which fictional character would you most like to have a cup of tea with? I don’t know what character I’d enjoy a cuppa with, but I wouldn’t mind spending the afternoon at Bread Source nattering with the poet John Donne. Do you tend to reread favourites from this genre or always look for something new? Both. I constantly revisit some poets, but I read new collections too. When was the last time a book from this genre really surprised you? Adventures in Form (2012) knocked my elbow off the table with its words sprayed on sheep to create random haik-ewes (get it?) Do you prefer classic or modern books within this genre, and why? Which is better? The foundations, or the roof? Knowing a few classics gives the reader some landmarks. With a few of these, the landscape makes sense. Has you taste in books changed over the years? I like to think I am more adventurous and open-minded now. Why do you think reading is important? Because it’s active. Reading a book is an invitation to think and to feel. Netflix and videogames are fun, but they hit different spots. Cambridge University’s Barbara Sahakian published a paper about the benefits of reading in 2023. She writes that ‘we found significant evidence that reading is linked to important developmental factors in children, improving their cognition, mental health, and brain structure, which are cornerstones for future learning and well-being.’ I find it odd when, towards the end of their GCSE courses, partisan non-readers ask how to get 8s and 9s. You need to lay your foundations early by reading regularly and broadly. Which book surprised you by how much you enjoyed it? A friend gifted me The Morville Hours (2008), Katherine Swift’s book about gardening. I resented the gift and started reading it only out of a sense of duty but, by the end of the first page, I knew that I was going to love it. It’s an exquisite reflection on the passing of time – and on death and renewal. Has a book ever changed the way you think about something? Most books do this to me. What role does reading play in your life right now? It’s a part of who I am. Click here for the reading list!

For the third time, we were delighted to welcome our wonderful group Sofia E. B. De Spangenberg from Argentina for another day of friendship, cultural exchange and fun! Our Spanish U5, L6 and U6 pupils enjoyed getting to know one another, making new friends, showing our visitors around the school, sharing lunch, exchanging sweets and finishing with some exciting softball games! More than just a visit, it was a fantastic opportunity to bring cultures together, practise languages and create memories that go beyond the classroom. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this exchange so special: Mr Pearson, Mrs Mardle and a special shout-out to our Spanish Department for making international connections come to life!  ¡Hasta la próxima!

Norwich School is proud to be supporting Finnbar’s Force as our local charity for this term. Finnbar’s Force is a dedicated children’s cancer charity, providing information, therapies, emotional care and practical assistance to families. They are currently fundraising to employ a Family Support Worker to provide one-to-one practical, emotional and advocacy support to families affected by childhood cancer and brain tumours across Norfolk and Suffolk. We kicked off our fundraising campaign in style this morning, with a Home Clothes Day for the Senior School. Members of our Charities Committee were at the school gates, collecting donations. If you would like to find out more, please visit our JustGiving page: Norwich School is fundraising for Finnbar's Force