Celebrating Inspirational Women - Elle Tivey (ON 10-12), Head of House and Teacher of Sport

March 7, 2025

To celebrate International Women's Day, we decided to create a spotlight series on some inspirational women in our ON community. To kick this off is Elle Tivey (ON 10-12) who is a Head of House and Teacher of Sport.


What are you doing now for work?

I’m currently working at a Swiss boarding school called Institute Le Rosey, where I am a Head of House and a Teacher of Sport.


What does a typical day entail?

My days can vary greatly here! This term (winter term), in the morning I do the rounds of the boarding house to make sure there are no issues, chatting and getting to know the girls in my care if they are studying in their room. I often have meetings with the sports department, boarding team, or I might meet with my tutor group. After having lunch with the students, I take my ‘advanced ski group’ for their skiing lesson; the whole school goes skiing in the afternoons. Then, I come back and have dinner and my evening boarding duty, where I have a meeting with all of the girls in my house, usually over some cookies and milk, and make sure their school agenda is correct for the next week. In the first and third term, instead of skiing, I teach mostly netball and football amongst other sports (tennis, sailing, gym training, athletics), as well as organising and running many of our school sports competitions and events.


How have you got to where you are today?

I started my career as a sports physiotherapist but after a few years in the football industry, I decided that teaching was the way forward for me. Becoming a teacher was the best decision I made, as it opened doors for me firstly at Norwich School, and now in Switzerland. I have made pastoral care my focus and am now absolutely loving being the Head of House for our Year 11 & 12 girls; including experiencing the joyful moments and challenges that come with it!


Who is your inspirational figure?

I don’t have an ‘inspirational figure’ as such, but from my time working in education, I have always looked up to Nicky Fairweather. I will always remember her warmth, helpfulness and kindness when I was a teacher at Norwich School. Learning from her, and watching the way she dealt with pastoral situations in such a calm and fair manner really set a benchmark for me, and I try to model my own practise in a similar way - thanks Nicky!


What was your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

As both a pupil and a teacher, I found the morning assemblies in the Cathedral to be really special; the perfect way to start the day! It made you feel part of something great.


What makes Norwich School special to you?

Attending Norwich School as a girl really shaped my future in so many ways! My time there was so much fun and the atmosphere so special, that it led to my desire to teach, and I was privileged to get my first teaching position at Norwich School. The role offered a wealth of experiences and opportunities for middle-leadership which ultimately led me to get my current position in Switzerland. And, whilst teaching at Norwich School, I met my now husband, and we got married in the school chapel in December 2024! So, you could say Norwich School has been massively special for me, and hugely impactful on my life! The first thing I often like to do when I come home to Norwich is take a walk around the Cathedral Close - I just love it.


How do you think NS helped you get where you are today?

Norwich School helped in so many ways and I will always be grateful for the opportunities I had there. As a student, Norwich School pushed me to go out of my comfort zone and try new things, allowed me to grow in confidence, and encouraged me to do my absolute best in all spheres of school life. And as a teacher, I couldn’t have hoped for a better place to start my career. I was so well supported and trusted by Steffan and the SMT in a range of roles (Assistant Director of Sport and Head of House for Brooke) which have undoubtedly given me the experience and skills required to get me to where I am now. Working at Norwich School and with such a great team gave me a real spark for pastoral care and I am now trying to further this experience in the boarding/international environment here in Switzerland.


What is your best bit of advice to current pupils and ONs?

My advice is to take as many of the opportunities offered to you as possible; join clubs, try new sports, sing in the choir, perform in the play. All of these experiences will help you create lasting memories and develop skills you can use for the rest of your life! Also, to enjoy your time at Norwich School as much as possible; it is an amazing privilege to be there and to be a part of the Norwich School community.

Norwich School Pupils Knit for the Community

By Sonja Mitchell • March 16, 2026
With thanks to an award from the Friends of Norwich School, the Community Knit Club has been busy knitting winter essentials.

Upper 1 Visit Castle Rising

By Eleanor Lewis • March 16, 2026
On 12 March, Upper 1 embarked on a fascinating journey back in time with a visit to Castle Rising, bringing their learning about medieval castles to life. During the trip, the children discovered that Castle Rising Castle is one of the finest surviving examples of a Norman motte and bailey castle in the UK. They learned about the huge earthwork defences that were carefully constructed around the castle, along with the imposing gatehouse and towering stone walls designed to protect it from attack. The children also discovered how a wide moat once completely surrounded the castle, forming a powerful and intimidating barrier that made it extremely difficult for enemies to approach. The drawbridge and portcullis were also vital features in controlling who could enter! Upper 1 learnt about the Murder Hole, a clever defensive feature used by castle guards to drop boiling water, stones, or other objects onto attackers below. The children also explored the remains of the castle kitchen and stepped into the magnificent Great Hall, imagining the feasts, meetings, and celebrations that would once have filled the room. They listened to stories about a bedchamber believed to be one of the most haunted rooms in the UK, explored the original church built 200 years before the castle, and looked at the ruins of the bailey buildings. The trip was a wonderful opportunity for the children to consolidate their learning of life in a medieval castle.

Upper 6 Physics Olympiad

By Eleanor Lewis • March 13, 2026
Upper Sixth Physics pupils recently participated in the British Physics Olympiad hosted by the University of Oxford. The challenge involved answering a series of highly demanding abstract physics problems from beyond the scope of the A Level curriculum. Around 9000 pupils initially took part in the new Olympiad Round 0, with pupils needing to achieve above a threshold score to proceed to Round 1. Over 1800 pupils from 475 schools qualified for Round 1. The following pupils from Norwich School made it through to Round 1 and achieved these excellent results: Emile Verschoor Silver Arthur Dannatt Silver Adit Raje Top Gold Adit Raje's outstanding performance meant that he also qualified for Round 2 of the Olympiad - an exceptional achievement given that only 69 pupils out of the original 9000 made it through. He proceeded to gain a Silver Award in this event, an incredible achievement and recognition that he is one of the top young physicists in the country at problem solving.

Little Roots Allotment Open Afternoon – Beautiful Pots of Colour Were Created!

By Eleanor Lewis • March 13, 2026
On Friday 13 March, the Little Roots Allotment was delighted to welcome parents, grandparents and pupils to the open afternoon. This event gave families the opportunity to look round the evolving gardening space and experience the allotment in its new location. It was wonderful to see many families exploring the allotment and admiring the work that has been done by pupils so far. Pupils had the chance to get their hands dirty and plant their very own spring planters, which they took home— just in time to make the perfect Mother’s Day gift! Surrounded by cheerful flowers and newly emerging vegetables, the afternoon was filled with excitement, creativity, and an appreciation for the beauty of our unique school grounds.

FONS Invests in our Young Entrepeneurs

By Sonja Mitchell • March 12, 2026
The ever-popular Young Chamber participants have launched their businesses and are learning what it takes to be successful.

Fraser Evans (20-25) Selected for GB Hockey Elite Player Development Squad

By Sonja Mitchell • March 11, 2026
The programme helps athletes transition into senior international hockey.

Coming Up at the Crypt - 'Norfolk Suite’ Colour Photographs.

By Eleanor Lewis • March 10, 2026
‘Norfolk Suite’ Colour Photographs 18 April - 1 May 17 April Private Viewing, 18:00 - 20:00 Gallery Open 10am - 5pm. Closed Sundays. The Crypt Gallery, Norwich School. An exhibition of an edit of 50 colour photographs from a period from 2002 to the present of journeys around Norfolk. ‘These are not necessarily landscapes but notes, observations and points of the countryside and towns which I travelled through and stopped at’ There is no entrance fee but the works are for sale in limited editions of 10, prices and sizes on application.

Med Soc Learn Surgical Suturing

By Eleanor Lewis • March 10, 2026
Following a request from the pupils leading the school's Medical Society, Mrs Warren has run two after school sessions teaching sixth form pupils keen to study medicine and veterinary medicine how to perform surgical suturing on pigs' trotters.  Following a teacher demonstration, pupils enjoyed talking through the procedure and asking for consent from their trotter, followed by using scalpels to excise an imaginary cyst on the pig's skin. They then closed the wound by suturing the skin with surgical needles and thread, the most challenging part being 'throwing' the knot several times for each stitch and ensuring it was tight enough. Some promising skills were shown by our surgeons of the future.

World Book Week Celebrations at the Lower School

By Eleanor Lewis • March 10, 2026
orld Book Week brought a wonderful buzz of excitement to the Lower School, with every year group taking part in a rich variety of bookthemed adventures and activities. The week began with Reception visiting the local independent bookshop Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, where they eagerly spent their World Book Day tokens. Each child chose one of this year’s specially written titles and also had the chance to listen to a few stories in the beautiful bookshop. Back at school, the Library Reading Challenges also launched, encouraging pupils to complete a different challenge each day. Monday’s task— read in an unusual place —sparked great creativity, and pupils were discovered reading under tables, behind bookcases, beneath sofas and even outdoors. On Tuesday it was Lower One’s turn to visit the bookshop, where they too selected their World Book Day books. Their reading challenge for the day was to recommend a book from a different genre to a friend, prompting thoughtful conversations about mysteries, fantasies, adventures and more. Pupil Rafi said ‘I liked the book I chose because it has lots of facts in.’ Wednesday saw Upper One walking to Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, where they not only chose their books but also became enthusiastic dragon hunters, spotting as many dragons as possible hidden around the shop’s magical displays. ‘I really liked finding the dragons and my favourite one was the dragon which was under the pavement,’ said Jessica from Upper One. Their reading challenge continued the theme of exploring new genres with pupils being encouraged to read something they wouldn’t normally pick off the shelf. Thursday marked World Book Day itself, and the school was transformed by an array of imaginative, colourful and brilliantly creative costumes. From classic characters to modern favourites, pupils proudly celebrated the stories they love. Many staff joined in the fun by dressing as Mr Men and Little Miss characters, much to the pupils’ delight during a lively assembly of guessing and laughter. Throughout the day, classes enjoyed a range of bookthemed activities, and everyone gathered in the library for the popular Teachers’ Pet Quiz, where staff pets were photographed “reading” books that offered clues to their owners’ identities. All pupils also took part in the Great Booky Book Swap, which allowed them to choose new reading material to enjoy over the coming weeks. Many children also entered the Book in a Box competition, transforming boxes into creative and thoughtful worlds inspired by titles such as Charlotte’s Web , The Land of Stories , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and What the Ladybird Heard . The celebrations continued on Friday, when Pre-Reception visited the bookshop to exchange their tokens for a book and take part in a delightful workshop themed around Wonderful Me . Pupils also completed the final reading challenge of the week by reading to a real or cuddly pet, creating many heart warming moments as stories were shared with dogs, cats, teddies and every creature in between. World Book Week was a fantastic celebration of reading, imagination and community. A huge thank you to Bookbugs and Dragon Tales for welcoming our pupils so warmly, and to all staff and families for helping to make the week such a memorable success.

Keeping Track of Cross Country - the East Anglian League

By Eleanor Lewis • March 10, 2026
Saturday 7 March saw the final race in the East Anglian League against runners from Gresham’s, Ipswich and RHS. The team travelled to RHS and the conditions were reasonably dry and still on a flat, fast course. Our only competing Junior, Jonas Tam, improved upon last week’s third place to come 2nd this week, while in the Intermediate Boys, Kit Rudling came 4th. In the Senior Boys we had excellent strength in depth, as we have had all season, with eight runners competing. First to finish was Ethan Buskell who came 2nd overall. Jeremy Lo came through the field strongly to take 5th place, capping off another consistent season. Leon Liu, Kort Tsui and Leo Pitt were next over the line, followed shortly by Tom Copley, Edward Lott and George Yiasimi. The Senior Boys, having showed such consistent quality and excellent camaraderie throughout the season, deservedly took home the East Anglian League Team Trophy. Well done to everyone who has represented the Cross Country team this season.
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