Mrs Catherine Pywell has been Head of Chemistry at Norwich School since 2021 and brings over 25 years of Chemistry teaching experience to the school.   

Having studied for an undergraduate degree in Chemistry with German, her early career in Chemistry incorporated a year working in polymer research and development with the German chemical company Degussa, based near Frankfurt. On return to the UK after graduating, she spent three years in publishing, writing and editing for the Royal Society of Chemistry’s monthly members’ magazine Chemistry in Britain. Throughout the three years in this role her published content ranged from news features on latest developments in the chemical industry, to longer feature articles on, for example, the Chemistry of Fire Retardants.  

Originally from Norfolk, Mrs Pywell returned to UEA to embark on teacher training, teaching locally in Norfolk before joining Norwich School in 2002. Over the years she has been involved in a variety of aspects of school life, from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme to Deputy Head of Fifth Form. Her teaching has ranged from Upper 3 Science to Upper 6 Chemistry.   

Mrs Pywell first chose to study Chemistry so that she could get her hands on more exciting university practical apparatus and chemicals, and she takes satisfaction from puzzling out solutions and using maths to prove theoretical concepts. A keen educator and learner, she particularly enjoys developing her understanding of new applications for Chemistry through the University delivered sixth-form enrichment sessions in the department, covering aspects such as Pharmacology, Archaelogy and Natural Sciences.