On Friday 20 June, Assistant Head, Mr Grant, addressed assembly on the theme of pilgrimages and recounted his own experiences of following in a pilgrim's footsteps. Read a transcript of the assembly below... ‘To be a pilgrim’. What on earth does it mean ‘to be a pilgrim’ in 2025? Well, last summer, I decided to find out by making a pilgrimage of my own. The words in the hymn we have just sung were written by the 17 th -century writer John Bunyan who describes a Christian’s journey through the difficulties of life to salvation. However, it was a different literary figure that I had in mind: Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14 th century poem, the Canterbury Tales, imagines a disparate group of pilgrims setting out from a tavern in London on a journey to Canterbury Cathedral; the most notable site of pilgrimage in medieval England where Christians would visit the site of Saint Thomas Becket, the Archbishop and martyr who, as you may recall from L4 History, had been murdered on the authority of King Henry II. As they travel, Chaucer imagines his pilgrims telling stories to one another to pass the time, some are comical, some are satirical, some are deeply serious and they reflect the range of medieval society and human behaviour. I’d studied Chaucer as part of my English A Level and it was this journey that I hoped to complete on foot, following the one hundred miles of the old pilgrimage route over six days from central London to Canterbury. In this eccentric endeavour, I was joined by two heroic colleagues: Dr Cornell and Revd Child and, one morning in late July, we set off on our journey. Beyond a lot of walking, what did I expect? Pilgrimage is an important feature in many of the world’s religious traditions. Hindus travel to Benares to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges, Muslims are obliged to travel on pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lives, and Jews travel to the Western Wall in Jerusalem to pray. Throughout the centuries, Christians have gone on pilgrimage to holy sites such as Canterbury, Walsingham or Rome. Yet, is arriving at the destination the most important aspect of a pilgrimage? When I finally arrived at Canterbury, despite the beauty of attending Evensong in the cathedral, I confess that my overriding concern after six days of walking was to sit down in a café and eat an enormous chocolate brownie. Which I did. Indeed, it isn’t the arrival in Canterbury that sticks in my memory. In Christianity, the New Testament tells of travels in which it is the journey itself rather than the destination that is important. God is found, not in a sacred place, but literally on the road. As we have just heard from our reading, it is whilst walking on the road to Emmaus that two men encounter the risen Christ as they walk and talk together, their hearts burning within them. They return immediately to Jerusalem, where they started and don’t loiter in Emmaus at all. Famously, it is on the road to Damascus – rather than in Damascus itself – that Saul – later St Paul – is struck blind and is transformed from being a persecutor of Christians to one of the greatest apostles. I won’t claim our journey was nearly as significant as these but, on a pilgrimage, perhaps the end of it is not the main point. We certainly faced some difficulties on our journey. Whilst we encountered neither hobgoblin, nor foul fiend, we did endure some desolate parts of south-east London, bruised and blistered feet, and an irritating Dutchman who ran an overpriced pub near Maidstone. Unlike Chaucer’s pilgrims, we did not tell particularly notable stories. Indeed, Dr Cornell and Revd Child had to listen to my moaning about my sore feet and my varying opinions on the efficacy of blister plasters. Yet, what a delight it was to experience the beauty of the English countryside in high summer. The chalk downs, the deep woods and the vineyards and orchards of Kent. We live in a beautiful country and it is always good to be reacquainted with that. Simple things: the welcome shade of an oak tree on a hot day, the first sip of a well-earned drink, removing walking boots after 26 miles. A particular joy for the three of us was the extensive breakfast menu (and very reasonable prices) at the Wetherspoons on Dartford High Street. Returning to London took less than an hour on England’s only high-speed rail line. Back in the centre of the city, we rejoined the fast pace and busyness of life. In 2025 we are used to everything being quick and instantaneous: fast travel, immediate information, rapid communication, instant coffee. We live in an impatient age, always rushing to get… where exactly? Walking: slowly, deliberately, we can force ourselves to encounter life at a more reasonable pace. We can be more alert to our experience in the present. For Christians – for John Bunyan - life itself can be seen as a pilgrimage: a journey of faith and potential transformation through which we can understand ourselves, our lives and God. So, to be a pilgrim today? Well, try it – in your own way: slow down, reflect, notice, keep going through uncertainty and discomfort, walk alongside others and listen as you go on your way. Those men on the road to Emmaus returned – transformed - to their starting point, Jerusalem. Perhaps, as another poet, TS Eliot, puts it, ‘the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.’

We were delighted to welcome back to Norwich School on 19 June 2025 Professor Peter Mirfield, a highly respected Emeritus Professor of Law at Jesus College, Oxford University. Pulling on his 52 years of legal experience, Professor Mirfield delivered for a third successive year a highly informative and practical session on the academic subject of Law to a group of the school’s budding lawyers organised by Development Director, Mr Pearson and Deputy Head of UCAS, Mr Pearce. His tutorial kicked off with an introduction to this academic subject and included examples of the necessary critical rigour required to study this subject. Subsequently, Professor Mirfield led an in-depth discussion on a celebrated and particularly contentious legal case that went to Appeal (Fagan v Metropolitan Police Commissioner) and concluded with a number of thought-provoking worked examples relating to the Theft Act 1968. It proved to be a lively session of discussion and insight, and Professor Mirfield was patient and cogent in his explanations. The intent of the session was to be inspiring and to help our Sixth Formers make informed choices for their studies beyond Norwich School. Earlier in the day, being a former Norwich School Governor, Professor Mirfield and his wife Jean were suitably impressed by a tour of the new Lower School extension and our 15 Upper King Street facility. Our day concluded with a joyful performance of School of Rock in the Blake Studio. 

On Sunday 22 June, Thomas Irvine (L6) will compete in a triathlon to raise money for cancer research! To celebrate this incredible challenge, we asked him a few questions... How long have you been training for this triathlon? I’ve been training since the beginning of the year but I’d say I’ve been really focusing on it since the end of the hockey season 3 months ago as I was very busy with hockey before. What's been the biggest challenge for you? The biggest challenge for me has been the swimming training. Before entering the triathlon I had never swam competitively before so getting my swimming to the required level has been by far the greatest challenge. Have you ever done anything like this before? I have been a fan of running for a while but I have never competed in any sort of triathlon before so this will definitely be a new experience. How are you feeling about the event? I would say I am feeling confident for the event and feel I have prepared sufficiently. I have had 2 open water sessions this week in Whitlingham lake to get used to open water series and am now feeling better prepared for the swim. What are your hopes for this fundraiser? I really just want to make the biggest difference I can to help prevent cancer. I am hoping to raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK as cancer is an important issue currently affecting my family. I have set a target of £1000 but it would mean the world if we were able to exceed it as it would be great to be able to make a significant contribution towards the amazing research Cancer Research UK are doing. If there is any opportunity to contribute towards finding a cure for this disease, I am a firm believer we should take it. To find out more click here!

Emma is an Olympic medalist, world champion and campaigner who is launching her new book and memoir. Visit Emma at any of the below venues this summer.

On a beautiful sunny morning in the gardens of Abbeyfields in Norwich, the air was filled with music, laughter, and heartwarming moments as pupils from our Infant Choirs, School Choir, and Chamber Choir came together to delight the residents with a special summer performance. The morning began with the Infant Choirs , who charmed the audience with a selection of songs from their recent musical production Whiz Wham Alakazam. Their energy and enthusiasm brought smiles all around, and their rendition of My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music was met with warm applause from the residents. Next, the Chamber Choir took to the stage with poise and harmony, performing the fun piece Whisper and beautiful Dream Big. Their mature vocals and emotive delivery created a peaceful and uplifting atmosphere that resonated deeply with the residents.  Bringing the performance to a vibrant close, the School Choir delivered a dynamic version of Africa by Toto, filling the garden with rhythm, joy, and the spirit of summer and a little bit of tropical rainforest! The event was a true celebration of music and community, with children and residents sharing in the joy of live performance under a clear blue sky. It was a memorable morning that captured the essence of summer and the power of music to bring people together.

Who knew a beanstalk, a cow, and a menagerie of farmyard animals could bring so much joy? The Second Form’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk was a wonderfully entertaining show – so good, in fact, they did it twice! Audiences were treated to not one, but two fun-filled evenings of laughter, charm, and just the right amount of chaos – in the best possible way. Pulled together in just a few short weeks (yes, really!), the show was a brilliant testament to the pupils’ energy, commitment, and sheer determination. From heroic Jack to a giant with a not-so-giant honker, every role was played with enthusiasm, confidence, and a big dose of personality. The audience – a lovely mix of proud parents, doting grandparents, and excitable siblings – were thoroughly engaged throughout. Whether it was a cheeky chicken, a moody moo-er, or a perfectly delivered punchline, the cast had the crowd smiling, laughing, and applauding from start to finish.  Huge congratulations to all the pupils involved. These performances were a fantastic reminder of the creativity, confidence, and collaboration thriving in the Second Form. We look forward to seeing these young performers continue to flourish through the outstanding range of performing arts opportunities at Norwich School – from ambitious drama productions and diverse music ensembles to dance, technical theatre, and beyond. The spotlight is theirs, and the future looks bright.

The Languages Department was delighted to welcome back Professor Charles Forsdick (Old Norvicensian) on Tuesday 17 June for a day of thought-provoking discussion and linguistic exploration. Professor Forsdick, the Drapers Professor of French at the University of Cambridge, is a renowned academic whose work spans travel writing, colonial history, penal culture, and slavery—reflecting a deep commitment to social justice and global understanding. The day began with an engaging session for Middle 5 linguists, where Professor Forsdick explored the vital role of languages in today’s interconnected world. One of his key messages—“English is simply not enough”—resonated strongly with pupils, encouraging them to see language learning not just as a school subject, but as a gateway to global citizenship and opportunity. Later in the morning, Lower 4 pupils from Norwich School were joined by peers from Taverham High School and Ormiston Victory Academy for a collaborative session celebrating linguistic diversity. Pupils shared the wide range of heritage languages spoken at home and discussed additional languages they are learning both in and out of school. Professor Forsdick’s presentation was followed by interactive linguistic challenges drawn from the school’s innovative WolloW programme (World of Languages, Languages of the World). These activities allowed pupils to explore the connections between languages and discover unique systems like Braille, deepening their appreciation for the richness and variety of human communication. To conclude the event, Professor Forsdick joined Lower 6 linguists for a working lunch, where he offered invaluable advice on university applications, personal statements, and the benefits of studying languages at higher education level. His insights into year-abroad opportunities and career pathways inspired pupils to think ambitiously about their futures. Pupils left the event with a renewed sense of purpose and pride in their language learning, understanding more clearly how their skills can shape their place in the world. We are immensely grateful to Professor Forsdick for his generosity and enthusiasm, and we look forward to welcoming him back to The Close in the future.

Alice-Lily has a busy summer planned at some of the region's biggest festivals and venues.

On Thursday 12 June, Lower 3 pupils took a vibrant journey into the world of Bollywood with a fun-filled workshop that blended music, dance, and artistic expression. The pupils dressed in traditional Bollywood attire, complete with dazzling costumes, jingling bells, and flowing scarves. All of the skills they developed were brought together in a routine to Ed Sheeran's "Sapphire”. Alongside the dance segment, pupils showcased their artistic talents through a variety of arts and crafts activities creating their own rangolis with a range of materials. The creative process allowed them to immerse themselves in the cultural vibrancy of the theme. To finish up the entire year group came together to showcase their dance skills. The workshop was not only a celebration of Bollywood but also an opportunity for Lower 3 to embrace creativity, build confidence, and experience the joy of performance.