This half term, an intrepid group of pupils from Symposium – Norwich School 's interdisciplinary social and political science society – braved the February drizzle to spend an inspiring day at Selwyn College, Cambridge. Pupils from Upper 5 to Upper 6 immersed themselves in the world of Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS), gaining a first-hand taste of life at a world-class university. After an inside-track introduction to Cambridge, we were joined by four current HSPS student ambassadors who shared personal insights into their studies and university life. Our pupils then experienced a Cambridge supervision-style session on the forces that shape our identity, working in small groups alongside the undergraduates to engage with ideas from some of the biggest names in social science – an exciting glimpse into degree-level discussion. After a guided tour of Selwyn’s lovely grounds and lunch in the college’s beautiful old hall, we set off on an afternoon mission to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. There, pupils connected the theory of their morning discussions to real-world artefacts, exploring how identity is shaped across cultures and time. It was an off-piste day that sparked curiosity, challenged thinking, and stretched us far beyond the school curriculum, and it was a joy to see our pupils gain a vivid preview of the intellectual adventures ahead. A big thank you to Selwyn College, University of Cambridge for hosting us.

On Saturday 7 May, internationally renowned classical musicians will gather in the beautiful setting of St Nicholas Chapel, King’s Lynn, to honour the music of beloved composer Sir Karl Jenkins during a special fundraising concert hosted by Music in the Burnhams. This concert is the centrepiece of Music in the Burnhams' 2026 programme and will be raising funds for Norfolk and Waveney Mind. The evening, which the composer is due to attend himself, will include performances from the UK’s leading independent orchestra, the British Sinfonietta, the King’s Lynn Festival Chorus and Norwich School Choir, accompanied by acclaimed musicians; cellist Adrian Bradbury, violinists Benedict Holland and Joo Yeon Sir, harpist Alis Huws, euphonium player Dan Thomas, bass baritone Paul Carey Jones and soprano Khrystyna Makar. Conducted by Ben Horden, Music Director of the King’s Lynn Festival Chorus, together they will perform some of Sir Karl’s most celebrated works, such as Cantilena from Symphonic Adiemus, Benedictus from The Armed Man, and Cantata Memoria, which was written in commemoration of the Aberfan disaster. Music in the Burnhams is a charity bringing world-leading classical musicians to venues and schools across north-west Norfolk. Founder, Marian Abramovich, said the Celebration of Sir Karl Jenkins concert will not only provide the opportunity for local communities to witness a rare gathering of renowned musicians, but also support wellbeing services for young people in the area. “We believe classical music should be for all; that’s why we’re passionate about bringing acclaimed musicians to venues across our corner of Norfolk, so as many people as possible - some for the first time - have the chance to experience and enjoy these incredible live performances,” said Marian. “We’re also dedicated to supporting local young people, either through school workshops with visiting musicians or fundraising initiatives. Knowing the intrinsic relationship between music and wellbeing, we’re thrilled to be donating proceeds from this concert - and all our events throughout 2026 - to Norfolk and Waveney Mind to support the expansion of mental health services for young people in West Norfolk.” Marian added: “One of today’s best-loved composers, Sir Karl is a big advocate for mental health support, with his works having previously raised funds for mental health charities aiding military veterans. And one of his most-famous pieces, the poignant Cantata Memoria, pays tribute to those affected by the Aberfan disaster, a terribly tragic event in Welsh history that is approaching its 60 th anniversary this year and left many survivors suffering with profound mental health issues. Sir Karl was therefore a fitting choice for the focus of this major fundraising event.” Music in the Burnhams hopes to raise £20,000 for Norfolk and Waveney Mind by the end of 2026! To book your tickets click here!

This year, 9 U4 pupils accompanied by Mr Croston and Mrs Dean flew to Hamburg to experience Germany often for the very first time. For Mr Croston, it was the 30th time! It was freezing cold with the temperature being below freezing for the whole stay and there was plenty of snow for the odd snowball fight en route to the next activity. We stayed in the Deutsche Seemannsmission right in the City Centre which provided an ideal base to explore the city and its world-famous port. Our U4 German pupils gained a positive first-hand experience of Germany and were given many opportunities to try out their language skills including writing a traditional postcard to Mr Griffiths. The pupils coped well with buying food, souvenirs, stamps and gifts as well as being willing to try a variety of new foods including Currywurst though only Mr Croston was up for pickled herring. We had almost three full days in the city and were able to include all the major sights, and the traffic-free city centre provided a safe area to let small groups go shopping and U4 enjoyed finding some bargains in the Karstadt department store. On the first night we went swimming and on the second night, we went to the Miniaturwelt in the warehouse district of Hamburg which was fascinating. We also descended deep under river Elbe to see the 19th century tunnel with lifts for horse and carriage, still operating today. We also found out more about Hamburg's trading past and present and toured the port for a closer look at the dry docks, container terminals and loading bays. Another highlight was Mr Croston’s Hamburg Treasure Hunt with some good selfies in front of various tourist attractions! On the final day, it was still cold, so the Museum der Arbeit gave us an opportunity to warm up before heading onto the final activities. All of those on the trip were very open to new experiences and took a keen interest in their surroundings and got a great deal out of the trip. The pupils were a pleasure to take away.