Brilliant Badminton - The Success of Brothers, Oren and Oscar

February 11, 2026

How long have you both been playing badminton? Did you start together? 

 

Oscar:  I’ve been playing badminton since I first watched it on the TV during the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and was transfixed. I asked my parents if I could try it so they found a local junior club and that was that - I’ve played ever since. It started out as playing once a week at the club, then I played more and more often before trialling for the Norfolk County squads and was very pleased to be selected. We both quickly graduated to the advanced sessions and were fortunate to get to play with older players which really helped us to develop our skills. I first represented Norfolk u18s when I was 12 which was very exciting, and I have been able to play all over the country. 

 

Oren: I watched a couple of Oscar’s sessions and also wanted to have a go, which probably annoyed him intensely. We were in different groups because I was only 4 years old and had to have a smaller racket, practicing with giant training shuttlecocks or balloons. We both used to play tennis and so our hand-eye coordination was already good which probably helped and I was able to improve quickly and joined him in the older group. Since then I’ve played more and more, and now I play as much as I can. We do spend a lot of time together training and playing, and he coaches as well so comes to venues to encourage and coach us during matches and tournaments. It’s nice that we have badminton in common and he can string my rackets for me and I don't have to pay him. 

 

Do you play with the school or outside the school?  Or both? 

 

Oscar: I have played with the school and helped run the sessions but there hasn’t been a structured programme which is a shame. Outside of school, I am too old for Junior County teams but I now play for the Senior County team and regularly coach the junior squads. I also represent Mid Norfolk in League 1 and Anglia Vikings in the Ultimate Badminton League which is a national team event. I’ve attended international training camps in Europe which have been really hard work but also great fun. The official badminton season runs from September to May so in the summer months we organise sessions to train and compete so that when the season starts again we aren’t rusty. 

 

Oren: I did get the chance to play a bit in the Lower School but unfortunately there is no Badminton provision any more for Inters. I would love to play at school though, I think it would encourage other people too. Outside of school I train with and play for 3 clubs, and I represent Tasburgh Men’s team in the adult League. I also play in the u17s and U19s County teams though I’m only 15 which is cool. I train a lot, usually around 15 hours a week plus matches and tournaments. This weekend I’ve had a league match after school on Friday, then a tournament in Oxford on Saturday and an U19s County match against Cambridgeshire on Sunday so it’s a lot of travel, training and playing but I love it. I often do a lot of my homework courtside or in the car because we’re always travelling for matches and training. 

 

What do you enjoy about it? 

 

Oscar: I really like that you can go to a club night and there is a wide range of playing standards from beginners to County and National players and it’s really inclusive. They also try to nurture those coming up through the junior clubs so that they have a great introduction to the adult game and a lot of support. The idea that I can go anywhere in the country, say for university or work, and can walk into a ready-made community is really valuable to me - it’s like a universal language. I like that it can be both a team sport and an individual one so you get the best of both worlds - teamwork, building relationships with your playing partners and also the challenge of playing singles and being responsible for your own performance; there’s nowhere to hide when it’s just you on court. You have to be really resilient and if you miss a point you can’t dwell on it because you have to focus on the next one. 

 

Oren: I like how fast and exciting the game can be; it’s the fastest sport in the world with the shuttlecock potentially being hit at 100s of km/h so you really need to think on your feet. At the same time it’s really tactical and you have a split second to assess where the shuttle is going, where your opponent/partner is and what shot you’re going to hit and this changes with each of the events i.e. tactics and gameplay is really different for mixed doubles compared to singles or open doubles. I think that the more you get into it, the more you realise how technical it is and you’re always learning new techniques and subtle differences in gameplay. Sometimes you think you’re really good and then you watch the next level up or international tournaments and you realise that there’s so much more to do and learn. I’ve been to tournaments to watch and enjoy going to the All England in Birmingham every year which is the world’s oldest tournament and is the one that all professional players want to win, a bit like Wimbledon. While I enjoy watching, I’d much rather be on court playing. 

 

Do you take part in any other sporting activities? 

 

Oscar: I used to play rugby but after being injured a few times and being unable to play badminton, I realised that badminton was the most important option for me. When the County training sessions were moved and clashed with rugby, the choice was an easy one. I used to play tennis and was invited to represent Norfolk. The problem was that I enjoyed playing but never felt the need to be competitive. Badminton is different for me and I do want to push myself, do better and win trophies and medals so it’s a very different mindset. As well as badminton training, I do Crossfit and go to the gym to maintain my fitness but there’s not a lot of time to fit in other sports, especially with A levels. 

 

Oren:  I really enjoyed playing tennis and played it alongside badminton for 5 or 6 years but as I progressed, both my tennis coaches and badminton coaches complained that each sport was interfering with the other. Although badminton and tennis seem similar at a superficial level , they are actually very different. When the time came, I chose to continue with badminton and I don’t regret it. Like Oscar, I had to give up rugby outside school to train with the County. I think my mum was quite pleased that she didn’t have to stand in the cold at a rugby or tennis match any more. I’ve got a personalised strength and conditioning programme from my coaches with movements and drills specifically for improving my footwork, agility and stamina. With this programme, training, playing and schoolwork there’s not much time left. 

 

Can you tell us about your recent successes? 

 

Oscar:  I’ve won 13 County championships at all age groups, and am reigning U19 County Champion in Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles adding to my previous title in the Men’s Singles. I have competed for Norfolk and coached at ICT (Intercounties Tournament - the premier national junior team competition) several times and helped achieve Norfolk’s highest ever result, as well as captaining the team to the Shires League finals, placing us in the top 8 counties in the country. I recently secured promotion to the top division of the Club League with my team. I also compete nationally and have had successes across the country, most recently at Christmas in my last u19s tournament.   

 

Oren:  I’ve recently won the Senior (Adults) Norfolk Moderates titles in both Men’s doubles and Mixed Doubles, and this weekend won the gold medal in the Men’s doubles at a National tournament near Oxford. I was 2nd in the u19s County Championship recently, only beaten by Oscar. I am no.1 in the U17 and U19s Junior County Men’s doubles and also have helped my team gain promotion in the Senior Club League. Last year I participated in a 24hr charity ‘Badmintonathon’ run by an ON and was one of the few players who lasted the full 24 hours. 

 

Where do you see your future in badminton? 

 

Oscar:  I’m hoping to compete in BUCS at University and am looking forward to experiencing the competitive programmes and structure that they can offer me. As part of my university options, I’m planning to travel to South East Asia where the badminton culture is very different and I think I can learn a lot there which really excites me. I’ve previously volunteered with Badminton England, working at Nationals and the Commonwealth Games, and was awarded the National Volunteer of the Year award so I would hope to continue being involved not only playing but in the running of the sport. I’m currently volunteering as a line judge with the National Badminton League which is great fun and I’d like to complete my Line Judging and Umpiring training with a view to travelling to international tournaments and matches in an official capacity. Working at the Commonwealth Games really opened my eyes to the power of collaboration and community in sport and was partly what attracted me to my chosen degree courses. I am also on the committee of Norfolk Badminton and coach the Junior County Squads regularly, as well as being on the Badminton England National Youth Forum so I would like to continue in those roles - I love playing but also enjoy the organisation and grass roots work to keep the sport accessible to as many people as possible. Badminton is also bringing some income to me as I’ve started my own stringing business and I’ve already managed to build a customer base which is great and will be helpful at University. I’m involved in badminton in many different ways and I can’t see that changing anytime soon. 

 

Oren:  I have 2 more years left of competing at ICT and so want to continue to be selected for that and to follow Oscar into the Senior County squad when I’m old enough. In the meantime, I want to compete in the national tournaments as much as possible and to continue representing Norfolk. I’m looking forward to doing my Badminton England Young Leaders qualification and also to do my Level 1 coaching qualification. I’ve had so much support from coaches and club members that it would be nice to be able to give back and encourage younger players. This summer I’m going to an international training camp in Denmark.  I’m a bit nervous because it’s pretty intense but I am looking forward to pushing myself. 

 

What would say to anyone interested in the sport? 

 

Oscar: Honestly, just give it a go. As well as being a great sport, there is so much scope to get involved at club and county levels. I know players at the clubs I go to who have been playing for 60+ years and are still loving it and love to play with the younger ones. There are lots of casual community groups that play locally - it doesn't have to be super competitive, but if you want to take it a step further there are many opportunities. It’s also never too late, I know people who started at my club a year or two ago and they now compete on the tournament circuit and are representing clubs. We went on holiday last year to Vietnam and it was amazing to see the culture of badminton in that part of the world. They have courts marked out on the streets, there are people playing at all times of the day and night and it’s open to everyone; I would love to see it so accessible in this country. 

 

Oren: Badminton is really fun at all levels, you can just book a court and turn up with your friends. Also the clubs are very supportive and social, you get to play with people of all levels. It’s really nice that there are ex-England players who are very happy to play with people who have only just picked up a racket. I think that schools should offer more opportunities to play as well, it’s one of those sports where you don’t have to be one of the traditionally sporty people to pick up a racket and hit a shuttle. I saw an article very recently about how the speed and unpredictability of Badminton can sharpen your brain, improve focus and boost cognitive ability so alongside fitness and social interaction there’s no reason to not give it a try. 



Photo credit - Alan Spink

Athletics Report from the First Half of Trinity 2026

By Eleanor Lewis • May 22, 2026
The first half of Trinity Term has been a very successful one for Norwich School athletics. The introduction of athletics into the PE programme means every L4 and U4 pupil has had the chance to try and practise all athletics disciplines in preparation for Sports Day. This has encouraged many pupils, who would not normally have tried all the events, to have a go at something new and, in many cases, discover something they have really enjoyed. This has also led to over 30 pupils across all year groups attending at least two athletics lunchtime clubs each week, which has been superb to see. The increased participation has translated into some very impressive performances in our first few county fixtures. First up was the county round of the ESAA Track and Field Cup, in which Norfolk and Cambridgeshire compete together to form a highly competitive fixture, producing some excellent performances across the board. In the junior boys’ category, Caleb R and Freddie P impressed with their discus skills - both discovered through the PE programme - winning both the A and B strings. The strength in our throws continued, with Tristan K winning the shot put A string by over a metre and Tom M taking third in the B string. Ruan E won the A string javelin with a huge throw of over 29 metres, more than eight metres ahead of the athlete in second place. Ben G made his debut in the event and finished an impressive second in the B string. The junior boys also held their own on the track, with Sam T taking victory in the 800m and claiming second place in the 300m. The junior girls also performed well, with Rosie B taking the win in the javelin. Rosie also enjoyed success on the track, taking silver in her debut B string hurdles race, while Ophee M stormed to victory in the A string race. Track success continued with Emi M leading from the front to win a very impressive 1500m race, achieving an eight-second personal best in the process. The inter boys’ team faced incredibly tough competition. Performances of the day came from Isaac M in the 100m, Zain F in the 300m, and Noah B in the 800m, who smashed his personal best by over four seconds. The boys rounded off a solid day with a strong second-place finish in the relay. The inter girls’ team also fought hard, with Thea L taking victory in the B string shot put and Sophie E impressing with a huge 7.52m throw in the A string. Once again, the throws proved successful, with Jennifer M winning the A string javelin by over seven metres and Sophie R comfortably winning the B string discus. Jennifer also stormed to victory on the track, winning the sprint hurdles in style. The track success continued with Ruby I and Nona G both finishing in the top three in the 1500m and 800m respectively. Not to be outdone by the boys, the girls also finished the day with a second-place finish in the relay. The junior boys and inter girls teams now progress to the regional finals in Chelmsford on 12th June. Our other major fixture this half term has been the annual City Schools competition. Plagued by a hailstorm in the middle of the day and on-and-off rain throughout, the weather did not dampen the spirits of the 76-strong Norwich School athletics team. An event dominated by Notre Dame for many years, the athletes had been training incredibly hard with a very specific goal in mind - and they did not disappoint. In all eight categories, Norwich School teams finished in the top three amongst strong competition from seven other city schools. Strong performances from our Year 7 boys included Ben G and Oscar A in the shot put, Josh B and Beetle D in the 800m, Josh in the long jump, and Ben in the 100m. The B team relay completed a successful day by taking victory. The boys finished 2nd overall by just a few points. The girls followed suit with strong wins for Poppy S in the B string 100m and Ellie W in the 200m. Ellie P and Freya G both secured excellent second places in the long jump and shot put respectively. The girls were rewarded with a 3rd place finish overall. The Year 8 boys were a force to be reckoned with, producing outstanding performances throughout the day. Tristan K took victories in both the shot put and the A string 100m, while Sam T won both the 800m - in a phenomenal time of 2:16 - and the 300m. Tom M won the B string shot put, while Albie C and Seb C took second places in the 800m and B string 200m races respectively. The boys finished 2nd overall. The Year 8 girls showcased the superb benefits of their training. Ophee and Bea took victories in the A and B string long jump competitions, with both girls also securing second-place finishes in the 100m and 200m races. Annie W, on her debut, stormed to victory in the 300m. Emi M also demonstrated her versatility with a second-place finish in the 800m before taking victory in the B string shot put. The girls also finished 2nd overall. The year 9 girls are a strong group but were hit with injuries, this did not impact their excellent attitude and determination. Thea L took victories in both the long jump and shot put, with Erica F taking the shot b string win followed by a 1 st place finish in the discus. Sophie R also took a win in the discus a string. Xenia completed a very successful day on the field by winning the A string javelin. The girls were rewarded with a 3 rd place finish overall. The Year 9 boys have worked incredibly hard over the past three years and were more determined than ever to secure overall victory this year after a close second-place finish last season. The boys started the day exactly as they meant to continue, with Archie W and Oscar W taking first place in both triple jump competitions. Ruan E, competing up an age group, produced an unbelievable throw in the javelin to win the A string, followed closely by Arthur L, who also led the field in the B string. Aurelius H took second place in the long jump, while Arthur demonstrated his all-round talent by winning the B string competition. Rory N attracted a crowd with his impressive high jumping and took victory with a huge 1.55m jump. Rory also claimed second place in the 200m. Bayden C did not disappoint and secured a fantastic victory of his own. The boys achieved overall victory for the first time in 10 years. The Year 10 boys followed closely with a fantastic double on the track from Zain F in the 400m and 800m. Tom B also took first place in the B string 800m, while Seb M won the 200m. In the field events, the boys dominated: Ben L won the shot put, Isaac M won the triple jump, and Harry C and Marlowe F took victories in both the A and B string high jump competitions. The day finished with second place in the relay, securing overall victory - again, the first for a very long time. The Year 10 girls chased victory all the way to the end. Unfortunately struck with a couple of illnesses on the day, the girls rallied superbly and produced exceptional results to finish in the silver medal position. Jennifer M took a double victory in the long jump and javelin, while Tilly G secured double second places in the 100m and long jump. Tilda R jumped herself into second place in the B string high jump - a particularly impressive achievement given she only started the event three weeks ago. The girls also came home second in the relay, placing 3rd overall to cement a truly memorable day of athletics. Next term, we look forward to the East Prep Schools Championships for U3, L4 and U4, as well as the junior boys and inter girls competing in the regional round of the cup. We also have a friendly fixture against St Felix, along with the much-anticipated Sports Day in the final week of term. 

ON and Father Adventure Around the World for UNICEF

By Eleanor Lewis • May 22, 2026
In March 2025 Josh Kohler (ON) and his father George Kohler set off from Norfolk on a record-breaking attempt to cycle around the world. over 30,000km across 29 countries and four continents, carrying everything they need and climbing the height of 22 Everests. On 2 May 2026, after 13 months, they crossed to finish line and reunited with their loved ones after the journey of a lifetime. In doing this, Josh and George raised over £70,000 for UNICEF, greatly surpassing their original goal of £10,000. The duo also received 3 world records! Guinness World Records: The most countries visited in a continuous bicycle journey by father and son is 30 and was achieved by Joshua Kohler and George Kohler (both UK) in Norwich, Norfolk, UK, on 28 April 2026. The longest bicycle journey by a father and son is 26,519.25 km (16,478.29 miles) and was achieved by Joshua Kohler and George Kohler (both UK) in Norwich, Norfolk, UK on 28 April 2026. The fastest bicycle circumnavigation by a father and son was achieved by Joshua Kohler and George Kohler (both UK) in Norwich, Norfolk, UK, on 2 May 2026 Congratulations to them both! To see their JustGiving page click here.

Cricket Catch Up at the Start of Trinity 2026

By Eleanor Lewis • May 22, 2026
In a busy and productive half-term, with very little disruption from the weather, the school cricket programme has made an extremely positive start across all age groups. Training attendance and enthusiasm have been excellent throughout the term, with pupils showing strong commitment both in practice sessions and during fixtures. The overall standard of cricket continues to improve, and it has been particularly pleasing to see the depth of talent developing throughout the programme. The girls’ cricket programme continues to thrive and goes from strength to strength. The junior squads have shown outstanding progress, demonstrating growing confidence, improved technical ability, and an excellent attitude towards both training and competition. The inters teams have enjoyed a particularly successful half-term, recording a number of impressive performances and positive results, including comprehensive victories against Uppingham, Gresham’s, and Framlingham College. Across all age groups, the girls have competed with energy, resilience, and an increasingly mature understanding of the game. The Girls’ 1st XI have also gathered significant momentum as the term has progressed and continue to compete strongly in two cup competitions. Their performances have reflected both determination and teamwork, with several standout displays already this season. Among the highlights were excellent victories against Ipswich and a dominant all-round performance against Gresham’s in the block fixture. The squad has developed well as a unit and will look forward confidently to the remainder of the season after half-term. There have also been some excellent individual achievements within the girls’ programme. A special mention should go to Niamh R, India RF, and Bella B, all of whom have represented the Norfolk women’s team this term. Bella B has additionally earned selection for the Essex 2nd XI despite only being a Year 10 pupil, which is a fantastic achievement and recognition of her talent and hard work. The boys’ programme has also enjoyed a strong and encouraging start to the season, with several squads involved in both regional and national cup competitions. The U13A boys have made excellent progress and are through to the second round of the National Cup following a series of disciplined and confident performances. Alongside them, the U15A side remain unbeaten this term, demonstrating excellent consistency and competitiveness in all fixtures played so far. There have been many individual highlights across the boys’ teams, with several players producing outstanding batting performances in block fixtures. Lucas B, Keiran C, and Charlie MN have each recorded excellent centuries, showing composure, concentration, and attacking intent at the crease. These innings have played a major role in helping their respective teams secure strong results and have provided memorable moments during the first half of the season. The Boys’ 1st XI faced a challenging start to the term with two early defeats but responded extremely well, showing resilience and character to bounce back strongly in subsequent fixtures. Comprehensive victories against St Joseph’s and Framlingham College demonstrated the squad’s growing confidence and ability. One of the standout performances came from Keiran C, whose superb innings of 145 runs was a major highlight of the term and helped lead the team to an impressive victory. The 1st XI will look to build further momentum and continue their development in the remaining fixtures next term.  Overall, it has been a highly encouraging and enjoyable start to the cricket season. The commitment, enthusiasm, and progress shown by pupils across both the boys’ and girls’ programmes have been outstanding. With several teams still competing in cup competitions and many exciting fixtures still to come, there is much to look forward to after half-term

Lower 1 and Upper 1 Young Performers Grace the Stage

By Eleanor Lewis • May 21, 2026
On 21 May, the Lower School was filled with music, enthusiasm and confidence as pupils from Lower 1 and Upper 1 took to the stage for their Informal Concert. The evening provided a wonderful opportunity for our young performers to showcase the progress they have made this year, performing in front of family, friends and staff in a warm and supportive atmosphere. From piano solos and violin ensembles to guitar performances and vocal numbers, the programme reflected both the variety of musical talent within the Lower School and the growing confidence of our pupils. Many performers were appearing in concert for the very first time, making the evening an especially memorable occasion. The audience enjoyed a wide-ranging programme including Clair De Lune, The Rio Samba, Naughty, Golden, Cyber Space Detective, Berry Smoothie, War Drums, Sun City, Drifting By, and An Important Person. Traditional favourites such as Old Macdonald, Twinkle Twinkle and Frère Jacques also delighted the audience, alongside colourful character pieces including Kristabel Kangaroo Visits Korea, Bluebird, The Trombone Player, Finger Strum, At the Show, Chiming Bells and Allegro Moderato. The evening was a celebration not only of musical achievement, but also of the courage and commitment shown by every pupil who performed. Congratulations to all involved on an enjoyable and successful concert.

A deep dive into the magical creative world of Richard Wentworth CBE

By Eleanor Lewis • May 21, 2026
The local creative arts group, the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society ( ncas ), celebrates its 70 th anniversary this year and boasts an illustrious pedigree. We have been delighted to host their series of public arts talks for over seven years, during which many prestigious names have graced the Blake Studio. Their talk on 21 May was no exception. Our speaker was the celebrated sculptor, Richard Wentworth CBE. Now approaching his 80 th year, he presented a fascinating and deeply personal perspective on his life and his distinctive and highly regarded body of work. It was delivered with a healthy dose of irreverence and old school charm, together with some compelling images. His work specialises in turning mundane objects such as books, buckets, chains and shoes into something special and unusual, making the everyday into meaningful artworks that stir the creative soul. After his talk, he was interviewed by our very own Andy Campbell from the school’s 3D Art and Design Department and by Simon Willmoth, curator, art historian and research Professor at Norwich University of the Arts, both of whom had worked closely with Richard. A sizeable audience of ncas members, staff, pupils, parents and Norwich creatives enjoyed interacting with the speaker and presenters over refreshments. Richard commented on how vibrant the local creative arts scene appeared to be, mirroring one of the key strengths highlighted in annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, which, this year, saw Norwich named as the best place to live in the UK. See: Norwich Named The Sunday Times Best Place to Live in the UK 2026 . Norwich School and ncas are delighted to continue playing their part in this success.

Upper 3 Celebrate the End of Summer Exams with a Memorable Trip to France

By Eleanor Lewis • May 21, 2026
In May, Upper 3 pupils celebrated the end of their Summer exams with an incredible trip to France. Pupils visited a local snail farm, where they learned about snail farming, tried unusual snail facial treatments and even tasted snails. They also visited a 100-year-old boulangerie, where they made traditional loaves of bread. The much-loved Infant French teacher, Camembear, also joined the trip, and the U3 children thoroughly enjoyed his company throughout. The programme included a range of fun activities, with facilities offering opportunities such as a silent disco and archery tag, ensuring there was plenty of laughter and excitement along the way. A highlight of the trip was visiting La Coupole, the impressive Second World War megastructure built as a V2 rocket launch facility. This helped pupils understand how wartime rocket technology later influenced the development of space exploration. The trip also provided rich opportunities beyond the classroom. The Camera Kidz team conducted an interview with the snail farmer, gaining a fascinating insight into his work. Pupils certainly embraced French culture, enjoying a vast number of pastries throughout the week. Another standout moment was visiting a traditional French market, where pupils enthusiastically spent most of their money on sunglasses within the first five minutes.  Overall, the trip was full of memorable experiences, laughter, and learning, providing a wonderful way to celebrate the end of exams.

Rowing Report from the Start of Trinity 2026

By Eleanor Lewis • May 21, 2026
The Boat Club had a successful Training Camp to Lake Comabbio, Corgeno, Italy in the Easter holidays with 47 rowers working hard on and off the water and eating plenty of pasta. The return to school saw the first Regatta take place, with our three GB Trialists racing in the GB U19 Spring Regatta, with a 17 th place finish for Ellie, 11 th for James and 2 nd for Nicholas. The next stage will be Final Trials in July. The Seniors travelled to Wallingford Regatta, where some very close racing saw the crews miss out on the final by very small margins. 55 rowers competed at Bedford Regatta, with 17 crews racing across 14 events and taking part in a total of 28 races. With 5 crews reaching the semifinals and a further 4 in Finals, the Boys 1 st Quad came away with a win. For the J14s and some of the J15s this was there first side by side racing. Well done to all the coxes on the day for steering what is a challenging course.  This weekend is the National Schools Regatta at Dorney Lake, Eton. 42 Inters rowers will be racing on Friday and 13 seniors on Saturday and Sunday. Good luck to all crews.

Wellbeing Hub Improvements

By Sonja Mitchell • May 21, 2026
More pupils will benefit from the calm atmosphere of the Wellbeing Hub thanks to funding from FONS

Business Breakfasts give confidence to pupils about life beyond Cathedral Close

By Eleanor Lewis • May 21, 2026
‘Business Breakfasts’ is a brilliant programme helping our young people better understand the potentially intimidating world of work. Before the start of school and over a working breakfast, the school brings in seasoned professionals to speak about their specialisms. The content is veritable gold dust. Generously sponsored by our partners at SG Wealth Management , the Trinity Term events have been both inspiring and informative. There have bene three in the series so far this half term. SG Wealth Management kicked the series off with their very own Director of Business Services, Fran Kemp FPFS. Her lucid, engaging talk aimed to demystifying the important role wealth advisors play in managing their clients’ complex finances professionally and trustworthily. She impressed the pupils with the range of skill sets needed and the range of backgrounds and specialisms that financial advisors have, ultimately boiling down to relationships built on confidence. She held a large audience captivated and the Q&A afterwards prompted some very smart audience questions. The second session was an introduction to the legal profession from our neighbours in The Close, Leathes Prior Solicitors . Experienced Partner Chris Goodwin had been convinced from an early age to become a lawyer and explained his traditional route through a law degree. In contrast former Norwich School pupil Alex Robinson now working with Chris at Leathes Prior, explained how his route into law via a history degree, Masters then law conversion had transpired and how it is possible to become a lawyer from various starting points for those not going down the law degree route or even those with a non-University route. This theme was followed up by the third talk in the series delivered by the charismatic Dale Willis founder of My Great First Job , a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young people transition from education to employment.Speakgin to parents in the pre work breakfast session and then to our pupils during the school day, his focus was on the value of increasingly popular Degree Apprenticeships as a viable and very cost-effective alternative to the traditional tuition-fee heavy university route. He explained all the ins and outs of being in paid work whist obtaining a degree paid for by the employer. It’s not for everyone, but for those prepared to make that paradigm shift the outcomes can be life-changing. Business Breakfasts will resume after half term and pupils are strongly encouraged to be curious and open minded and to come along to learn. Thanks go to Mrs James for organising and to our inspiring speakers for giving of their valuable time, as well as to SG Wealth Management for having the vision to sponsor this transformational iniaitive. 

Upper 3 Learn Life Saving Skills

By Eleanor Lewis • May 21, 2026
Upper 3 spent a purposeful and energetic day developing essential first aid skills through four hands-on workshops. The pupils took part in a range of practical first aid activities, learning how to respond to choking, manage severe bleeding, place someone in the recovery position, make an emergency 999 call, and perform CPR. Through hands-on practice and realistic scenarios, they developed important life-saving skills while building confidence, teamwork, and resilience. From practising with manikins to rehearsing clear emergency calls, the children worked hard and showed great teamwork, care, and determination. Staff were impressed by their focus and growing confidence in responding to real-life scenarios.  This learning forms part of the Upper 3 Virtues Award, recognising responsibility, courage, and service to others. Well done, Upper 3, for embracing these life-saving skills and demonstrating our school values throughout the day.
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