2026 is National Year of Reading and we are going all in here at Norwich School! We know reading expands worlds, sharpens minds, and fuels creativity, so let's get inspired! Every month we are focusing on a different genre and hearing from a member of staff about what they like to read, why, when and where! Next up we have Fantasy for February and a huge fan of this genre, Stacey Boothby, Lower School - Deputy Head (Academic), is going to tell us a bit about why she loves Fantasy so much! Tell us a little bit about the genre; what common themes or elements do you particularly enjoy? Fantasy allows writers to explore big ideas – power, courage, loyalty, good and evil – all within beautifully imagined worlds. I love books that create their own unique universes, from the hobbits living peacefully in the Shire in The Hobbit to the magical world of Hogwarts in Harry Potter. I particularly enjoy looking at the maps of these worlds and learning about the history and legends behind them. I am especially drawn to ordinary characters who are faced with difficult choices, and to stories where seemingly unimportant people are forced to rise to extraordinary challenges. Magic, myth and invented cultures can make familiar human experiences feel new and exciting. Most importantly, fantasy allows me to step away from everyday life and immerse myself among dragons, elves and all the other creatures in between. What was the book that introduced you to fantasy? Was there a particular book or author that made you fall in love with this genre? Like many readers, I was introduced to fantasy through books I read as a child. Stories such as The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, and later Harry Potter showed me how completely immersive fantasy could be. These books made reading feel like stepping through a door into another world. Has your taste in this genre changed over time? Yes. As I’ve grown older, I’ve become more interested in fantasy that mixes magic with deeper characters and more complicated choices, rather than simple good-versus-evil stories. I still enjoy classic fantasy, but I now appreciate books that make me think as well as entertain me. Would you recommend this genre to someone who doesn’t usually read it? Why? Absolutely. Fantasy is not just about escaping reality; it is about understanding it in a different way. By setting a story in another world, authors can explore fear, hope, friendship and responsibility clearly and powerfully. It is also a brilliant genre for reluctant readers because the adventure keeps you turning the pages. What do you enjoy most about reading, whether fantasy or anything else? I enjoy looking for the finer details. Fantasy in particular rewards careful reading, because the details of a world – its rules, history and cultures – all matter. I love the moment when something clicks and you realise why a character did something three chapters earlier, and how it affects the outcome of the story. There is real satisfaction in finishing a book and feeling as though you truly know that fictional world. It is even better when you can discuss characters and ideas with others, or compare the book with its television or film adaptation. When and where is your favourite time and place to read? / Do you have a favourite reading spot or routine for diving into books? Much of my reading now takes the form of listening to audiobooks while gardening, washing the car or doing jobs around the house. It means I can enjoy a story even on busy days. When I am on holiday, I will often pick up a book to read, as I have more time to slow down. Which fictional character would you most like to have a cup of tea with? Gandalf – although I suspect the conversation would involve more wisdom (and perhaps fireworks) than tea. Click here to see the monthly Reading List!

The Friends of Norwich School have funded much-needed equipment to expand horizons and creativity

Upper 4 pupils enjoyed an insightful and interesting trip to Neasden Hindu Temple in London on Thursday 26 February. Pupils enjoyed the temple exhibition and were able to observe the Arti ceremony, learning more about Hindu ism to support their studies in class. They enjoyed a talk given by a member of the Temple about how the extraordinary building was built and perhaps the highlight of the trip was the vegetarian curry served at the restaurant afterwards. Mrs Cawkwell would like to thank pupils for behaving respectfully and for staff for their enthusiastic support. 

The Cross-Country team enjoyed a drizzly afternoon of racing in Ipswich on Saturday 28 February. The course was extremely muddy making for challenging, slippery conditions. But the Junior Boys managed to stay upright and perform well with Jonas Tam finishing 3rd, Jonty Croskell in 4th and Oscar Parker-Wright in 11th. All season the Senior Girls have dominated the front end of the field and again we had 3 of the top six finishers. On this occasion, it was Amelie Ivie who timed her finish best to take 3rd place ahead of Bea Green in 4th and Olivia Allen in 6th. The team was completed by Simran Chawla coming in 12th. With 8 Senior Boys running, the team prize seems sewn up this year and we had 3 of the top 5 finishers. Over the 7.6km route, Ethan Buskell was fastest on the day, coming 2nd, just ahead of Arthur Dannatt in 3rd and Leon Liu 5th. Leo Pitt was 8th, Jeremy Lo 9 th and Tom Copley, George Yiasimi and Edward Lott completed the dominating team performance all in the top 14. The final race in the series is next Saturday at RHS. Congratulations to all involved!

The Chess Team travelled to Woodbridge on Friday 27 February for the second round of the English Schools' Chess Championships. We have had some very close matches against Woodbridge in recent years, and this was no exception. Junaid Ahmed unfortunately lost out in a very sharp match on Board 6, while on Board 5 George Potter's game swung from winning to losing and back again several times before he eventually lost out in the endgame. A dominant win from Merlin Perrow, who won a pawn in the opening and held onto his advantage throughout the game, brought the team back into contention. Then Edward Lott on Board 2 beat a highly rated opponent to draw the team level at 2 games each. Thomas Hsia had a commanding position but was down to his last few seconds as his opponent still had plenty of time on the clock. After a few missteps from both sides, the time pressure proved too much and Thomas allowed a skewer and lost the game. Arthur Dannatt on Board 1 played a good game with the black pieces but also lost out in the end as his opponent's attack in the centre proved decisive. Although all games were competitive, the team unfortunately lost 4-2. Well done to those who played and a reminder that chess club takes place every Monday and Friday lunchtime in P9.

On Wednesday 26 February Able2B and Minnie Andrews (Lower 6) led an assembly in the lead up to Discover Your Ability Day 2026! This year, Norwich School are continuing our work with Able2B by hosting the annual Discover Your Ability Day on the penultimate Sunday of the Trinity Term. The event is rather like a duathlon, with a running and cycling event around the Lower Close (including along the rivers edge), with some participants taking part in wheelchairs and adpated bicycles to make it as inclusive as possible. We have plans to make it bigger and better this year by doubling up with another of our signature events; the Intergenerational Sports Day with Friend in Deed (involving young and old participants alike). This way we can have even more of the Norwich School and wider community involved on the Lower School field than ever before! To prepare for Discover Your Ability Day, pupils who sign up will take part in just 2 or 3 training sessions at the Able2B gym in ahead of June. As this is a family event, family members and friends can also volunteer as marshals and route guides, or just come along to watch the event. We also have Able2B ambassadors linked to each house again like last year - where we will run a competition to get the most members from each house to sign up and take part. (the ambassadors will line up at this point if all able to be there!) Discover your Ability Day is a fantastic opportunity to help out in the local community, as well as gaining valuable skills. This is a highly inspirational charity event, so pupils are encouraged to take part in any way they can. Additionally, taking part in the training sessions and final event can count towards volunteering hours for anyone doing the Duke of Edinburgh award. See below for the talk from Able2B

On Wednesday 25 February 2026 a group of 32 A Level Physics pupils visited Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station.  After a safety briefing by site staff and a presentation on the physics and engineering involved in the generation of electricity from nuclear fission, pupils were given a comprehensive tour of the site. This included an outside overview of the reactor dome, step-up transformers, sea water intake and National Grid electricity distribution system, and an inside tour of the turbine hall and engineering workshops. It was a fantastic day which provided pupils and staff with a great insight into the practical application of physics and engineering theory to the nuclear industry. Pupil behaviour was impeccable, and they were a credit to the school.

Stephanie Magusin-Vardakou, Upper 6, reports on the Chapel Choir half term trip to Hamburg. In February Half Term, 34 U5, L6 and U6 members of Chapel Choir as well as Ms Walton, Mr Stamp, Miss Clark and Mrs Platten flew to Hamburg for a choir tour. We were greeted with extremely snowy conditions, and many members of the Choir did not hesitate to begin the 4-day long snowball fight. After a restful night’s sleep in the youth hostel and a traditional German breakfast, we set off to St. Michaelis Church, where we sang some traditional English Choral Music, which according to the director of music at the Church was a nice change from all the Bach that is usually sung. On a high from the performance, we set of to our second church, St. Petri where we had a rehearsal, a sang for a prayer meditation and then a full hour’s concert where we sang all the music we prepared. Following this, a delicious supper was had in a nearby restaurant followed by an early night after a tiring day. Our next day, Valentine’s Day, was much more relaxed. Pupils were greeted with heart shaped chocolates by Mrs Platten to commemorate the day, as well as the hostel providing heart shaped pretzel rolls. We set off back to St. Petri where we had a rehearsal before singing in another church, St. Jakobi. Ater a brief sing in St. Katherinen, we went to arguably the highlight of the trip, Minatur Wunderland, the largest model railway system in the world. After plenty of hours of fun, we went to the hostel for supper and had an awards ceremony before bed. On our last day, we sang a Eucharist back in St. Petri with the Hamburg Bach Choir before a long lunch break. We then set off for the Airport, tired but content after a busy and rewarding trip. Thank you to all involved, it was an extremely successful trip!

This half term, an intrepid group of pupils from Symposium – Norwich School 's interdisciplinary social and political science society – braved the February drizzle to spend an inspiring day at Selwyn College, Cambridge. Pupils from Upper 5 to Upper 6 immersed themselves in the world of Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS), gaining a first-hand taste of life at a world-class university. After an inside-track introduction to Cambridge, we were joined by four current HSPS student ambassadors who shared personal insights into their studies and university life. Our pupils then experienced a Cambridge supervision-style session on the forces that shape our identity, working in small groups alongside the undergraduates to engage with ideas from some of the biggest names in social science – an exciting glimpse into degree-level discussion. After a guided tour of Selwyn’s lovely grounds and lunch in the college’s beautiful old hall, we set off on an afternoon mission to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. There, pupils connected the theory of their morning discussions to real-world artefacts, exploring how identity is shaped across cultures and time. It was an off-piste day that sparked curiosity, challenged thinking, and stretched us far beyond the school curriculum, and it was a joy to see our pupils gain a vivid preview of the intellectual adventures ahead. A big thank you to Selwyn College, University of Cambridge for hosting us.