The City Schools Cross Country at Redmayne serves as the qualifying round for the Norfolk Schools Championships that will take place early next term. Runners need to finish in the top 10 of their respective races, against runners from eight city-based schools, to make it through to the next round. On Monday we had thirteen hopefuls from L4 to M5 who were aiming to do just that. This year six of our runners were successful in qualifying. Conditions were perfect for running laps on the flat, slightly muddy course. In the Year 7 boys' race, Jonty Croskell ran consistently to finish 12th while Joshua Bevan came home in 4 th place.  In the Intermediate girls' Lydia Hendry ran strongly but we had two qualifiers with Nona Griffiths finishing 7 th and Emi Muntingh 3rd. In the intermediate boys, Riccardo Di Maria secured his place in the County round by coming 7th. The rest of the team ran well with Harry Kensell 12th, Albie Cater 16th, Jonas Tam 19 th and Rory Normanton 26th. The performance of the day came from Ruby Ivie who won her race looking extremely comfortable. Against some very strong Senior boys, Noah Buchan ran with determination to come 10th. Well done to those runners who qualified for the County round, which will take place at Wymondham College in mid-January.

Beavers (U1 and L2) have had a brilliant and varied term, packed with hands-on adventures. They’ve enjoyed valuable time on the water as they begin their Sea Scouting journey, building confidence, and learning how to stay safe afloat. On land, they’ve explored simple cooking skills, tackled early map work, celebrated Diwali, and followed clues on an exciting treasure hunt. They’ve also looked to the night sky with some early astronomy, tested their engineering skills with paper-tower building, and got stuck into Bushcraft activities outdoors. The term ends, of course, with the all-important Christmas party – a chance to celebrate everything they’ve achieved together. Cubs (U2-U3) have embraced a mix of outdoor adventure and creative learning. They’ve spent plenty of time on the water in canoes, kayaks, and SUPs, as well as trying archery, biking, fire cooking, knots and wide games. We carved pumpkins, celebrated Diwali, and marked Remembrance Day with a Poppy Challenge and a hands-on trench-warfare activity. A highlight was the visit to Pets at Home, where Cubs learned what it’s like to be a vet and how to care for different animals. More recently, they’ve been busy with Christmas sewing projects, and we’re all looking forward to finishing the term with a festive campfire and Christmas party. Scouts (L4-L5) have taken on a lively mix of patrol challenges – biking, whittling, wide games and the ever-popular Great Lego Egg Race. As a Sea Scout troop, they’ve also made the most of time afloat with kayaking, SUP and rowing sessions. We rounded things off in true 8th style with our legendary Christmas Jumper Jaunt – a festive, energetic end to a term full of teamwork and skills for life. Explorers (M5-U6) have also had a packed term. They’ve taken to SUPs, canoes and kayaks with growing confidence, and even braved some wild swimming while learning key survival skills, including recognising and responding to cold-water shock – essential knowledge for any Sea Scout. Back on land, they’ve built and managed fires, strengthened teamwork, cooked curries and even plucked partridge. Our new Explorer badge clinic has launched, introducing the wide range of badges and top awards available, alongside inspiring discussions about Explorer Belt expeditions. After plotting and problem-solving their way out of Escape the Paddock, the term finishes with our 8th Christmas Party – a great end to a busy and ambitious programme.  Across all this, our Young Leaders (M5-U6) have played a vital role. They’ve consistently supported section meetings, putting the skills they’re learning into action by helping our adult volunteers deliver exciting, safe and engaging sessions. Their contribution has strengthened the programme for our younger sections while giving them valuable leadership experience in return.

During their Monday morning visit to Broadland Lodge Care Home on December 8, four of our L6 community service pupils brought a touch of festive spirit by decorating Christmas baubles alongside the residents. The opportunity came about as part of our new community service programme, where of our Lower Sixth formers give up roughly an hour a week of their time to help in the community. This placement is a new offering for us this year, and has already become a much loved part of the weekly routine. Thanks to our partnership with Kelly at Friend in Deed, we have been able to establish a regular Monday morning visit around breakfast time - something both pupils and residents look forward to. Mrs Hill, who joined the group this week, remarked on how uplifting it was to see so many residents eager to get involved so early in the day. For the pupils, the experience has been just as rewarding. " It's the highlight of my week ," said Ava (L6), while Olivia (L6) added, " It's a great way to start the week, chatting with residents about Christmas ." There were many heart-warming moments, including one from Mary, who carefully wrote " Merry Christmas Carol " on her bauble and gifted it to a resident - a simple gesture that clearly meant a great deal. As the term comes to an end, our Lower Sixth pupils are taking the time to reflect on the connections they've built and the joy their Monday mornings at Broadland Lodge have brought. This new partnership has become a meaningful and memorable part of their community service journey, offering valuable insights and experiences that will stay with them beyond the classroom.