Ellie Thwaites (U5) Competed in the Youth Nationals in Wales

May 29, 2025

Ellie Thwaites represented Norwich School in the Youth Nationals in Wales. To celebrate her success in this competition and in sailing as a whole, we asked her a few questions.

How long have you been sailing?
I have been sailing for my whole life, I learnt to sail in my optimist on Wroxham Broad. I sailed that for about 3 years, then I moved into the topper 4.2, and began traveling regionally and nationally to compete. I was in the 4.2 for about 3 years, then I moved into the topper 5.3 (which is a bigger rig) I sailed in this rig for 2-3 years, of which I became eastern region champion in my final year. I then moved into the ilca4 which I have only recently moved out of, I am now in the ILCA 6, I have competed in two competitions so far in the 6, one of which was the British Youth Nationals.

What do you enjoy about sailing?
I love how competitive it can be, and also how much freedom you have. Out on the water you have to be very self sufficient since you are out there for 4-5 hours per day. You get to connect with nature, being out in the waves, you see so many animals, like jelly fish, dolphins, seals.

Do you take part in any other sports in school?
I mainly take part in rowing at school, as it builds my fitness for sailing. I really enjoy it and the training really helps me improve my fitness. I love the competitive factor in rowing, and I love how you are pushing yourself to the max, I am quite a competitive person, so this drives me!

How has Norwich School supported you in your sailing?
All of my sailing and rowing coaches have been extremely supportive in my sailing journey. Norwich school has helped me by allowing me to leave school to go to events such as these and training, they have helped me with managing my work loads, and giving me extensions.

What was preparation like for the nationals?
I have been training a lot over the winter, most of my weekends are spent down to the south coast, Weymouth, for training weekends in the ILCAs.

How did nationals go?
Nationals went very well, I came into the event with the goal of coming in the top 8. But I was going to take it as a learning event, as I have only competed in the boat twice. The first day was very windy and big waves, these were good conditions for me, and lead to me coming off the water with some good results on day one. This consistency continued throughout the event, with mainly 4ths, 3rds, 2nds, 1sts. This meant that by the medal race I was in 2nd place. However my medal race didn’t go as I wanted it to, leading me to come 3rd overall. I was super happy with this result, I learnt lots about the boat and about the venue. All in all it was a very successful week.

What are your future hopes in sailing?
Eventually I want to make it to the Olympics, that is my end goal.

What would you say to anyone who wants to get involved with sailing?
Go try it!! You will learn so much and it is such an enjoyable sport, and life skill! Norwich sailing is so welcoming, and is for all skill levels.

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Thomas Irvine (L6) to Compete in a Triathlon for Cancer Research

By Eleanor Lewis • June 19, 2025

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!

In Conversation with Emma Pooley (99-01)

By Sonja Mitchell • June 19, 2025

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By Eleanor Lewis • June 18, 2025

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.

Alice-Lily Nnene's (10-21) Summer Tour

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By Eleanor Lewis • June 16, 2025

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By Eleanor Lewis • June 16, 2025

There was a buzz in the air as Upper Four pupils gathered for a lively afternoon of book discussion, marking the culmination of many weeks of dedicated reading. Pupils had explored a wide range of titles from the prestigious Carnegie Book Award shortlist, alongside contenders from the Norfolk and Suffolk School Library Association’s Lightning Lit Awards. The event opened with a thoughtful address from Mr Douglas-Field, who reflected on the experience of reading books chosen by others. He shared how stepping outside his usual preferences had been both surprising and rewarding, encouraging pupils to embrace the unfamiliar in their own reading - and wider - choices. Staff from across the school — including Mathematics, Learning Support, and PPD — joined colleagues from the Library and English departments to lead discussion groups, highlighting how reading for pleasure is embraced well beyond the classroom and across the Norwich School staff community. Seven books were discussed in total, sparking a range of thoughtful opinions and lively debate. The most popular title overall was Camp Killer by Cynthia Murphy, a Lightning Lit shortlisted book, while pupils’ favourite from the Carnegie list was King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore, appreciated for its humour and relatable characters. The afternoon offered a valuable opportunity for pupils to share ideas, reflect on different stories, and hear a variety of perspectives — a fitting and rewarding way to round off a term of reading and literary exploration.

Cate Norton Takes Part in the Norfolk Superhero Challenge

By Eleanor Lewis • June 14, 2025

On Saturday 14 June, Head of Sports Science, Cate Norton took part in the Norfolk Superheroes Challenge, a charity quadrathlon event which is held once a year in June which includes - swimming (1 mile), kayaking (4 miles), cycling (45 miles) and running (8 miles). Cate completed this in a brilliant 6 hours and 8 minutes and raised £1,455 for Norfolk Community Foundation's A Better Childhood. A Better Childhood invests in local communities, supporting parents in providing stable and nurturing environments. When asked about the challenge, Cate Norton said - "Really proud to have finished the Norfolk Superhero Challenge on Saturday 14 June. It was a super hot day, but the support of my family and the crowd kept us going. Thanks to everyone for their support and donations." Find out more about the challenge here!