The values of love, compassion and inclusion are at the heart of our community. We seek to be a welcoming and friendly place where everyone feels valued and that they belong. We take a proactive approach to supporting all members of the community, and in challenging unkind and prejudicial behaviour. We encourage pupils and staff to be upstanders who actively contribute to creating a positive and supportive atmosphere.

Assessments take place throughout the year, with the purpose of pupils understanding the progress they are making and what they need to do to develop their learning. End-of-Year Exams also take place during Trinity Term and are held to allow all pupils to develop in their approach to revision and preparation, as well as to experience the rhythm of a set of examinations in preparation for GCSEs and A Levels.

L4-L5: Before the half-term break.

M5 and L6: After the half term break. 

A wide range of co-curricular activities are available before school, during lunchtimes, after school, at weekends and at times during the school holidays. These include academic opportunities beyond the classroom, as well as a plethora of opportunities in the performing and creative arts, art and design, wider community initiatives, sport and general-interest clubs.

Our full Clubs and Societies Brochure can be found here: Clubs and Societies Booklet 2025/26

If your child attends the Senior School all absences should be reported to the Attendance Officer - by email - attendanceofficer@norwich-school.org.uk or phone 01603 728441. If your child attends the Lower School all absences should be reported to the Lower School reception team on 01603 728439

If you would like to request a leave of absence for medical appointments or time away from school, the leave of absence forms should be completed in advance via my school portal.

If a child is unwell during the day they should go and see the Health Officers who are located in No.71 and at the Lower School.  They will be able to assist your child.

Parents are kept informed through a range of communication channels to ensure they stay connected with school life. Daily emails are sent via the SchoolPost system at 18:00, providing important updates and reminders, while the school website hosts a variety of blogs and photo galleries showcasing pupil activities and achievements. We also share news and highlights through our social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and X. For information specific to your child, parents should use My School Portal, which also provides access to the SOCS platform for sports fixtures and co-curricular activities. A termly Parent Forum is organised, with invitations sent via SchoolPost, giving families the opportunity to engage directly with the school community. In addition, all pupils have a Microsoft 365 account and are expected to check Teams assignments, messages and emails daily after school to stay up to date with their learning.

As a school, we are keen to embrace the use of technology to support learning. We also believe that it is important to ensure that any use of personal devices during the school day does not undermine the development of strong interpersonal communication or cause distraction.

For Blue Blazers (L4–U5), mobile phones must remain silent or switched off and kept in bags, blazers or pockets from the morning bell until the end of the school day at 16:00. Phones may only be used with staff permission, including for quick contactless payments, and any unauthorised use will result in the phone being confiscated until 16:00 and collected from outside Mrs Fairweather’s office in School House. Smartwatches should not be connected to phones, cellular data or Wi-Fi. Parents are asked not to contact pupils directly during the day; urgent messages should be passed through Reception.

In the Sixth Form, mobile phones and headphones may be used only in designated Sixth Form areas and should not be used while moving around the site, during Cathedral assemblies, House meetings or in the Refectory. During lessons, phones may only be used or charged with staff permission. Students are reminded that having a phone in an examination, even if switched off, is considered malpractice and may lead to disqualification in public examinations.

School uniform is an important part of helping pupils follow school routines and feel connected to the community. Pupils are expected to wear blazers when moving around the site (unless a shirtsleeve order is in place), keep shirts tucked in with ties and pins worn correctly, and ensure skirts are an appropriate length. Jumpers or cardigans should be either school-issued or a plain V-neck in approved colours, while coats should be dark and minimally branded, and shoes black, flat and polishable. Games and PE kit must be Norwich School kit and worn only for timetabled sessions, with specific guidance for before-school, lunchtime and Games-day activities. All pupils must carry their school ID card each day for access to buildings and school lunch, with replacement cards available through the IT Helpdesk for a small charge.

For our full Uniform Guidelines, please clink here: Norwich School Uniform Guidelines 2025-26

Pupils selected to represent the school are expected to do so, and during term time school commitments take priority over outside engagements. Pupils in A or B teams should typically expect to play most weekends, and families are strongly encouraged to check fixtures on SOCS regularly. Family support at fixtures is warmly welcomed, and parents and guardians are asked to show the same respect and courtesy towards referees, players and other supporters that the school expects from pupils. Leave of Absence will normally be granted only for county-level (or higher) representation or for compassionate reasons, with requests submitted at least two weeks in advance via the Absence Request Form on My School Portal. If a last-minute Saturday fixture absence is unavoidable, parents should email the relevant team staff listed on the SOCS fixture sheets.

School security is supported by comprehensive CCTV coverage around school buildings and the Upper Close, alongside patrolling security staff throughout the school day. Security staff are also present at the gate after school, and the Reception desk at 71a is staffed daily during term time until 17:30 to provide additional oversight and support.

The school’s catering team can cater for specific food allergies and intolerances, with details collected through annual consent forms completed by parents and guardians; any updates during the year should be sent to the Health Office so that central records can be kept up to date. Allergens are clearly labelled in the refectories, and pupils are asked not to bring snacks containing nuts to school. Only shop-bought food with clear ingredients labelling should be shared, and aerosol products should be kept to changing rooms.

The school values and recognises positive attitudes, effort and contributions to school life, with staff often acknowledging pupil efforts in the moment to encourage intrinsic motivation, as well as through personal praise when appropriate. 

Distinctions are awarded for outstanding work and are visible on My School Portal, while termly Commendations for effort and attainment are presented in assembly by Heads of House, Heads of Section and the Head. Teachers are also encouraged to share positive feedback with parents and guardians whenever appropriate. 

A wide range of awards recognise achievement across school life, including House events that contribute to cups and trophies, Arnolds for distinguished contributions in non-sporting co-curricular activities, Stibbes for sustained contributions across multiple areas, and Colours for excellence in sport (including Full, Half and Sports Colours based on age and level of representation). House Colours recognise notable contributions to House or co-curricular life, and pupils also receive co-curricular awards for their involvement across the year.

We understand that school transport is a top priority for our busy parents, so we offer a comprehensive bus network with routes across Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as multiple collections within the city centre, which is available for pupils from Year 2. 

Our fleet of minibuses are driven by our friendly and professional drivers, who are all DBS checked, and the service offers a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to public transport. 

Tickets are available termly, half termly, and as single or return tickets and the charges cover operating costs only. 

Full details of this service can be downloaded here.

The site is secured via a system called Salto, all Senior School pupils are issued with lanyards that give access to the school buildings. 

Pupils must bring their lanyards with them every day (even on games days) to ensure they have access. 

If your child loses their lanyard a new one can be issued via the IT Department.  The reception team are able to assist with ordering replacement lanyards, the email address is 71a@norwich-school.org.uk

We encourage all items to be named.  Any items left on the bag racks overnight is moved to the racks behind 71a for safe keeping.  All lost property is sorted daily by the reception team and named items are placed in the relevant tutor boxes.