End of Michaelmas 2025 - Head's Address
December 12, 2025
In his End of the Michaelmas Term address, the Head focused on two key things – kindness and participation. Everyone in the Cathedral was moved as he brought to life random acts of kindness observed on the London Underground. Pupils and staff alike then had a super time putting into practice the participation element of his address, as the Red Gowns got the whole congregation enjoying an interactive version of the 12 Days of Christmas!
“So, the tail end of term is finally upon us. Each term obviously has its own shape and this one is characterised by the darkening evenings, the overlap with Advent, and by its brute length. There is always something of the endurance race about this, our longest term, so well done to everyone on getting through it!
And now attention can turn towards the upcoming Christmas holiday. As you get ready for it, I pick out two features: kindness and participation.
The first, kindness. We associate such a quality with this time of year: “Oh come on, it’s Christmas!” Yet, just like any other time of year, kindness is to be measured in actions every bit as in attitude. It may be apocryphal, but I heard that London Underground’s policy for people stranded on the platform with a bag, pram or such like when the lifts are not working is to stand by the stairs and wait for someone to help. I really want this to be true and, after all, you do not see someone at the bottom of the stairs with a large bag for long; normally, someone will come past and offer to carry it upstairs.
This got me investigating random acts of kindness on the Underground further. It turns out that the artist Michael Landy conducted a project celebrating such acts in 2011-12. The artist explained, ‘Sometimes we tend to assume that you have to be superhuman to be kind, rather than just an ordinary person.’ So, to unsettle that idea, Acts of Kindness catches those little exchanges that are almost too fleeting and mundane to be noticed or remembered.
Landy is fascinated by the way we tend to disappear into our own bubble on the Tube, disconnected from the people around us. One day, he recalls, while sitting in a Tube train absorbed in his own world, he suddenly became aware of two strangers, one trying to help the other. For Landy it was a life-enhancing event.
Landy defines kindness as going beyond yourself to acknowledge someone else’s needs and feelings. ‘It’s a gesture of trust between two people’, he said. ‘There’s a risk in that. It requires courage and acceptance on both sides. ‘That’s what “kindness” means – we’re kin, we’re of one kind.’
Here are four examples from Landy’s project:
- Running down the stairs to catch the train that had just pulled in, I hadn’t noticed my iPod falling out of my pocket until I was inside the carriage, watching a stranger pick it up off the wet platform floor. He looked up at me through the closing doors (while I had already assumed that I probably wouldn’t be seeing it again) and mouthed the words ‘I’ll wait here!’ through the glass. And he did.
- In December 1993 my 5 year old daughter rushed onto a Tube train ahead of me and before I could follow her with my other child the doors closed and the train pulled out of the station as I ran alongside, banging on the doors in a panic. I caught the next train and got off at the next stop to find my little girl being consoled by a group of young teenagers en-route to a concert who had got off the train to stay with her until I found her. They had to dash off to get to the show and I think I was crying too much to thank them properly, so I welcome this opportunity to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
- While on my second maternity leave, after 2 changes and 3 tubes I got to Finsbury Park only to find me, the toddler and the baby in the pram at the bottom of 3 flights of stairs. My heart sank. I wasn’t too happy to see 2 hooded young men loping down the stairs but as they got to bottom, they asked if they could help by taking the pram leaving me to carry the toddler. They carried it up the 3 flights safely and even missed their train to do so! I always think of them when people use the term ‘hoodie’ as a generic term for violent youth because their kindness made my day and challenged my lazy assumptions.
- I woke up to a phone call from my dad telling me my much-loved grandpa had died. On the Tube over to my parents I couldn’t stop crying. The woman sitting next to me asked if I was ok, and I told her my grandpa had died that morning. She took my hand and held it for the rest of the journey. I have never forgotten how comforted I felt by this small, intimate act.
Such acts of generosity and kindness are certainly what I expect in our community while we are together: to go beyond the minimum in order to be helpful, thoughtful and sensitive to each other. I therefore encourage you to reflect on these stories and think about how you can be kind in your actions at Christmas and into 2026. The next three weeks are a great opportunity to practise this behaviour at home as there are always lots of chances to lean in and help.
The second feature of Christmas I want to highlight is participation and joining in, perhaps with a little dose of silliness thrown in. It is an opportunity for friends and family to enjoy some harmless fun, spend time together and, hopefully, remind ourselves not always to take things seriously.
I hope that got you into the Christmas spirit. Do have an excellent break and remember to practice your random, practical acts of kindness.”
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Norwich School is proud to be supporting Finnbar’s Force as our local charity for this term. Finnbar’s Force is a dedicated children’s cancer charity, providing information, therapies, emotional care and practical assistance to families. They are currently fundraising to employ a Family Support Worker to provide one-to-one practical, emotional and advocacy support to families affected by childhood cancer and brain tumours across Norfolk and Suffolk. We kicked off our fundraising campaign in style this morning, with a Home Clothes Day for the Senior School. Members of our Charities Committee were at the school gates, collecting donations. If you would like to find out more, please visit our JustGiving page: Norwich School is fundraising for Finnbar's Force
What a fantastic evening of music-making! Our Lower 2 and Upper 2 Informal Concert was brilliantly well attended, with a wonderful audience response that made the occasion feel extra special. There was a real buzz in the room as pupils took to the stage to share their musical talents, showcasing a terrific variety of instruments, styles and songs. The piano was certainly kept busy, with performances ranging from the gentle, expressive sounds of Evening Melody by R Esmail to the playful character of The Cantankerous Camel by P Wedgewood and Mummies by P Blackwell. There were some wonderfully imaginative moments, too, with Minnie Mouse Hits the Town , Rufus and The Shakers bringing plenty of personality to the programme. From the elegance of Handel’s Fireworks Minuet to the jazzy rhythms of Ain’t Misbehavin’ and a rendition of Someone You Loved , our pianists demonstrated growing confidence, musical understanding and a real sense of enjoyment. The violin added another dimension to the concert with The Legend of Ashitaka by J Hisaishi, while our vocalists treated us to an exciting mix of songs. Powerful performances of This Is Me and Part of Your World sat alongside the much-loved Where Is Love from Oliver. There was plenty of contemporary sparkle, too, with Sunroof , Lush Life and This Is What It Sounds Like from K-Pop Demon Hunters. A special mention must also go to the duet performances, which showcased the fun of making music together and the importance of listening and working as a team. There were plenty of smiles along the way, from a piano rendition of Happy Birthday to the relaxed, sunny feel of Park Daze . Each performance brought something different, and it was lovely to see pupils developing the confidence to stand up in front of an audience and share something they had worked hard to prepare. Informal concerts are such an important part of musical life at Lower School. They give pupils the chance to celebrate their progress, learn from performing in front of others and, most importantly, enjoy making music. The enthusiastic applause and warm response from our audience showed just how much these performances were appreciated. A huge well done to everyone who took part. With such a happy atmosphere, an exciting range of music and so much musical confidence on display, it was a concert to remember!
Head to the Union Theatre in Southwark from 19 - 30 October.
This year’s World Mental Health Day theme is ‘ Lived experiences heard; real voices, real change ’. This means creating opportunities for people to influence decisions, co-design services, strengthen peer-led approaches, and challenge stigma. The World Health Organization is highlighting the move towards community-based, person-centered mental health care. In light of this, we decided to play a game and see what you all think when it comes to statistics surrounding mental health. Swimming and cycling are scientifically proven to be the best sports for your mental health, but which do you think is more beneficial overall? Swimming Why is talking out loud about your emotions so good for your mental health? Lowers activity in the brain’s fear and stress center (amygdala) Maintaining a balanced diet is key to positive mental health, but which fruit is considered best for mental wellbeing? Blueberries What bedtime does the NHS recommend for adults to achieve the best possible wellbeing? 10pm-11pm Why is getting a good amount of sleep so important for your emotional wellbeing? Allows the brain to process emotional experiences Singing is a great stress relief as it allows the brain to release endorphins and serotonin; this is why we do it so often. How many times does the average person sing a day without even realising? 6-10 What instrument has been shown through experiments to be the most soothing to people? Human voices Your brain is in constant communication with your body, but what body part does your brain talk the most to? Your Gut Thank you for playing! As you can see, there are many factors that affect your mental health, and many are easy to implement in your day-to-day life. For example, staying active is vital in maintaining personal wellbeing. We’ve already established swimming is great for you, but other sports such as cycling, running, dancing, martial arts and walking are all wonderful (less wet) ways of releasing endorphins, lowering stress hormones and regulating sleep patterns. Furthermore, team sports create a powerful sense of community that teaches us how to lower personal pressure and share responsibility. Pairing this with a balanced diet allows us to stabilize our moods, fuel our brain, and strengthen our ability to retain memories. Sleep is integral to so many aspects of mental health. It processes feelings, acting like a natural therapy session for your mind. It also controls reactions, as rest calms the brain's emotional centre, so small problems do not feel huge. Sleep even saves your memories by moving important facts and events from short-term to long-term storage. With House Shout coming up, let's highlight some of the ways singing is beneficial to mental wellbeing: Singing releases happy chemicals that improve your mood and lower stress The deep breathing required for singing helps reduce cortisol, a hormone linked to stress and anxiety Focusing on the lyrics, pitch, and breathing pulls your mind away from worries and keeps you in the present moment As well as the fantastic pastoral network within school, there is also a wellbeing infrastructure throughout Norfolk and Suffolk that is accessible to all. Local wellbeing hubs are there as a safe space to both receive and offer support to your community. The Reading Well Scheme at Norfolk Libraries offers mood-boosting books and quiet spaces, that give you time to read on how to better support yourself and others. Menscraft is another local charity that focuses on men's mental health through hands-on projects that aim to bring the community together. This term, the charity we are supporting is Finnbar’s Force. They are a dedicated children’s cancer charity focused on empowering children and their families across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. Support extends throughout these regions and beyond, providing crucial information, free therapies, emotional care, and practical assistance. Reflecting on this years theme of ‘ Lived experiences heard; real voices, real change ’, let’s think about the lived experiences for these children and their families and support this cause by donating to home clothes day, which is being held this Friday. Come in home clothes and please donate to this worthy charity. American writer D. Elton Trueblood once said, ‘A man has made a good start... when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he may never sit.’ The message of our assembly today echoes this sentiment. Like trees, the positive habits we plant in our day-to-day lives creates real change to a better environment not only for ourselves, but all those around us. So remember that the small things we do, for ourselves and for others, can grow into something much bigger. By taking care of our wellbeing and supporting those around us, we can create the positive lived experiences that the World Health Organization is promoting.
Our GCSE Dance pupils had an amazing day in London, taking part in exciting Commercial and Musical Theatre workshops, followed by tours of leading dance conservatoires, giving them a valuable insight into future opportunities in dance and the performing arts. To finish an action-packed day, pupils enjoyed an incredible evening watching SIX the Musical in the West End! A fantastic experience filled with inspiration, learning and plenty of dancing!
On Friday 2 October, we held our largest and most successful Academic Scholars’ Dinner to date. Nearly 90 Academic Scholars from Middle 5 to Upper 6 gathered in the Blake Studio to hear a fascinating talk by scientist and educator Crawford Kingsnorth, intriguingly titled Death, Dinner or Doolally. What followed was a captivating journey into the world of mushrooms and fungi. Pupils were introduced to the remarkable scale, complexity and apparent ‘intelligence’ of fungal networks, discovering a wealth of intriguing facts, exciting scientific developments on the horizon, and the potentially deadly consequences of some species. Crawford also spoke about his current research, which is currently patent-pending. While understandably unable to reveal too much at this stage, he gave us a tantalising glimpse into work that we look forward to hearing more about in the future. The talk concluded with a wide range of thoughtful and insightful questions from pupils before everyone moved to the Refectory for an excellent meal. This provided a valuable opportunity for scholars to continue conversations with our speaker and with one another in a relaxed and convivial setting. We are extremely grateful to Crawford for joining us as this year’s speaker. His presentation gave pupils an insight into a fascinating and often overlooked area of science, while also drawing connections to history, geology, medicine and law. It was a perfect example of the intellectual curiosity and cross-curricular thinking that our Academic Scholars programme seeks to encourage and celebrate. Thank you to Alice Y and Iris B for their photos of the evening.
On Thursday 1 October, the Library Department celebrated National Poetry Day with its annual Poetry Slam. A number of pupils took to the stage to perform, sharing both original poems and works by established poets and writers. The event provided a platform for pupils to express themselves through the spoken word, with performances covering a wide range of themes and styles. Those in attendance were highly supportive, creating a warm and encouraging atmosphere throughout. It was a wonderful celebration of literature, creativity and pupil voice, and a fitting way to mark National Poetry Day.
My experience with languages ~ Belek M Reflecting on a memorable week at the Goethe-Institut London
Our Lower 3 pupils took to the concert platform in style with a fantastic Lower 3 Informal Concert , showcasing an impressive range of instruments, musical styles and performances. The programme had something for everyone, from the cheerful piano bounce of Pauline Hall’s Merry Go Round and Beach Calypso , to the elegant Gavotte by Jean Baptiste Lully on cello. We also heard a beautiful Allegro from Violin Concerto by Rieding, alongside Barbara Arens’ playful Hug a Pug . There was plenty of musical character too! The trumpet brought some wonderfully dragon-like drama to Jaap Kastelein’s March of the Drunken Dragon , while the cello took us into the magical world of Zelda’s Lullaby by Koji Kondo. The violin also had its moment with the lively Fiddle Faddle , and the concert took a festive turn with Carol of the Bell s. And, proving that it is never too early for Christmas, we even had a spirited performance of Jingle Bells on the piano! Director of Music for the Lower School Mr Vine said "what a brilliant evening of music making, lots of fun and brimming with confidence. Bravo to our Lower 3 performers" Our next Informal Concert is on the 8 October and will feature pupils from Lower 2 and Upper 2.
With funding from the Friends of Norwich School, thousands of music sheets can be stored and managed more effectively.
