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Fourth Form Garden Receives a New Table Tennis Table

Fri, 08 May 2026 15:49:26 GMT

The Fourth Form Garden Continues to be a Wonderful Space for Pupils

On behalf of the Fourth Form staff and pupils, I would like to offer our sincere thanks to the Friends of Norwich School for their generous contribution towards the purchase of a new table tennis table for the Fourth Form area.

The Fourth Form area continues to be a vibrant, welcoming and enjoyable space for both Lower 4 and Upper 4 pupils at break times and lunchtimes. It plays an important role in daily school life, providing pupils with a place to relax, socialise and enjoy shared activities in a safe and inclusive environment.

Table tennis remains one of the most popular activities within the area. It is always pleasing to see the tables in constant use, with pupils from both L4 and U4 enthusiastically taking part. Informal games frequently evolve into friendly competitions, and it is particularly encouraging to see even Prefects getting involved in tournaments, helping to foster a strong sense of community and positive interaction across the year groups.

Crucially, the Fourth Form area also provides valuable space for pupils who may not be involved in a specific organised activity. It offers them time and freedom to play, chat and socialise, supporting wellbeing and positive relationships during the school day.

The addition of the new table tennis table will further enhance this much-used space and ensure that as many Fourth Form pupils as possible can continue to benefit from it. Thank you once again to the Friends of Norwich School for this generous support, which is greatly appreciated by both pupils and staff

Onward Routes - May 2026 Update

Thu, 07 May 2026 14:20:08 GMT

With the Upper 6 soon to start their study leave, we are going to announce a final selection of university offers and offers for apprenticeships that they have received.

We wish the Upper 6 pupils all the best as they sit their A level examinations and hope that the 20 pupils still awaiting outcomes of one or more of their applications receive good news on these soon.

The school’s Apply Plus Programme is run by Mr Pearce. It supports pupils applying to academic courses that require admissions tests and/or interviews.

Pupils with Apply Plus offers not previously announced:

Lily Mei ML - Foundation Year in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Cambridge

This makes the total number of Norwich School offers from Oxford and Cambridge this cycle 11.

Daniel AM – Economics at UCL

Thomas H – Computing at Imperial College

Anish K– Economics at the University of Warwick

Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages:

Isabel B – Spanish at the University of St. Andrews

Edward Bl – History with a Year Abroad at UCL

Joel F (ON) – Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at LSE (London School of Economics)

Hannah H - Culture, Media & Creative Industries at King’s College London

Darcy W – International Management (including Year Abroad) at the University of Warwick

Sciences:

Bea F – Environment and Sustainability at the University of Surrey

Cynthia L – Neuroscience at UCL

Victor P – Engineering Business Management at the University of Warwick

Halvard Y - Data Science at LSE

Creatives:

Will C – Acting (BA) at East 15

Ernie H– Music Production at Northbrook College

Lana K – Music Performance – Drums at the Academy of Contemporary Music

Isla V– Contemporary Dance (BA) at Trinity Laban

Toby W – Architecture with professional placement at the University of Bath

Overseas:

Gabriel C – offers from both Hong Kong University (HKU) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

Gilia C and Mari L – offers from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

Apprenticeships:

Louise H – Accountancy apprenticeship with Berry & Warren (Norwich)

George S– Engineering apprenticeship with the National Grid (Eakring, Nottinghamshire)

Norwich School Choirs to Feature in Exclusive Concert in Celebration of Sir Karl Jenkins

Wed, 06 May 2026 11:49:09 GMT

On Saturday 9 May, Norwich School choir members will be performing at St Nicholas Chapel with Music in the Burnhams. This concert is a celebration of Sir Karl Jenkins - one of the most performed choral composers in the world. He has composed music for The King, Bryn Terfel, Dame Evelyn Glennie and London Symphony Orchestra. His Mass 'The Armed Man' has topped Classic FM's Hall of Fame again this year and his albums have sold in the millions. He is signed to Decca Records and in 2024 Decca bestowed upon him the unprecedented distinction of a Lifetime deal, the first time the label has made such a commitment to any artist. He was awarded a Knighthood for services to music in the Queen's birthday honours.

The concert will feature lots of his most famous works including the Cantata Memoria which Norwich Lower School Chamber Choir and Norwich School Junior Choir are involved with. We are the only school that have been asked to do this which is a huge honour. Sir Karl Jenkins himself will be in the audience for this very special concert featuring members of the Kings Lynn Festival Chorus and the British Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.

The opportunity to perform his work is a great privilege given his standing within the classical genre and to have him at the concert in person is a huge deal.

Click here to book now!

The 2026 History Dinner - Revolutions

Fri, 01 May 2026 10:57:49 GMT

The annual History Dinner took place on Friday 1 May, with this year’s theme being ‘revolutions’ from the past. The evening transported over 50 A Level Historians on a journey through time, consuming revolutionary food, listening to revolutionary music, all whilst wearing revolutionary costumes.

The catering team did a fantastic job in recreating dishes from times when human beings were foragers, with our very own chefs foraging for the wild garlic and mushroom used in the canapés. The starter and main took guests on an Early Modern adventure, first westwards to try the ceviche of South America, before a superb Hariyali curry from India. We finished off with a modern classic, an upside-down pineapple sponge, in direct reference to the theme of the evening. La Marseillaise & the Hamilton soundtrack featured heavily throughout the event. The pupils’ costumes were an eclectic mix. Chimney sweepers and industrialists ate side-by-side with Soviet revolutionaries and Castro. The wide time span was complete when local heroine Boudicca appeared, as well as tech-revolutionary Bill Gates.

The History Dinner continues to grow and is a great way to bring the past to life, as well as giving us a chance to say goodbye to our departing Upper 6 as they go on Study Leave. This was also Dr Farr’s final History Dinner before retirement. A revolutionary in his own right, Dr Farr has taught over 1,000 pupils A-Level History during his long and industrious career. He will be sorely missed and we can’t thank him enough for all he has done at Norwich School, and the History Department in particular.

National Year of Reading - April

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:24:21 GMT

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 Crime Fiction for April and a huge fan of this genre, Gillian Wright, Lower School Teacher, is going to tell us a bit about why she loves Crime Fiction so much!

Tell us a little bit about the genre; what common themes or elements do you particularly enjoy?

I enjoy delving into stories that revolve around secret missions, missing persons, or even a mysterious killer. The suspense, unexpected twists, and deductive reasoning keep me eagerly turning pages until the inevitable surprise ending. These books are often packed with action and clever plotlines that keep readers guessing right up to the final chapter.

The most thought-provoking stories are those rooted in real-life situations that readers can relate to, such as The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd. I also enjoy books that take me out of my comfort zone and offer different perspectives on the world, for example T he Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

What was the book that introduced you to crime fiction? Was there a particular book or author that made you fall in love with this genre?

The book that first sparked my interest in reading was James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. Although it is not a classic crime novel, it is certainly an exciting and mysterious adventure. Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker clearly display some questionable—if not criminal—behaviour. I suppose my first real exposure to crime fiction came through The Famous Five adventures by Enid Blyton. I loved seeing how a group of children worked together to solve mysteries without any adult help. From that point on, I have always been drawn to stories filled with adventure, mystery, and unexpected twists. I also enjoy a touch of dark humour, which is why I thoroughly enjoyed A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The books are grim, funny, and strangely addictive.

Has your taste in this genre changed over time?

No, my taste for crime novels has not changed. Although I do enjoy a good historical novel, I will always return to mysteries and crime as they provide intrigue, twists and those quiet ‘aha’ moments. Most recently, I have enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club mysteries by Richard Osman.

Would you recommend this genre to someone who doesn’t usually read it? Why?

There is something timeless about a good mystery. It isn’t just about solving crimes or catching the villain; it’s about asking questions, noticing subtle details, and thinking more deeply. In a world dominated by quick scrolling and short attention spans, mystery novels remind us that it’s okay to slow down, immerse ourselves in a story, and truly pay attention.

What do you enjoy most about reading, whether crime fiction or anything else?

Reading is essential to me; it allows me to step away from the busyness of everyday life and escape into magical and mysterious worlds, while also enabling me to explore new perspectives. Books have the power to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy and excitement to sadness and tension. I love immersing myself in a new story—being drawn along with the characters, seeing the world through their eyes, and allowing the words to take me on a journey.

When and where is your favourite time and place to read?/ Do you have a favourite reading spot or routine for diving into books?

I read every night before I go to sleep, as it helps me wind down after a busy day and fully relax. On sunny days, I especially enjoy reading outdoors, whether that’s in the garden or by the pool while on holiday.

Which fictional character would you most like to have a cup of tea with?

I would love to share a cup of tea with Willy Wonka, as he would likely provide an unusual combination of flavours—perhaps even with a side order of chocolate.

Do you tend to reread favourites from this genre or always look for something new?

I don’t usually re-read books, although I have returned to Roald Dahl’s stories time and again—mainly to allow my children to experience the joy of his imaginative and magical tales.

When was the last time a book from this genre really surprised you?

The essence of a good crime or mystery novel is its ability to surprise the reader, and they never fail to leave me guessing. I have never yet managed to work out the final twist of a truly good crime novel.

Do you prefer classic or modern books within this genre, and why?

I enjoy both. A classic tale by Agatha Christie or a mystery involving Sherlock Holmes is always enjoyable. However, more recent authors, particularly for children, have created some new classics, such as the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz or Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens.

Has your taste in books changed over the years?

I used to enjoy reading the classics including books by Thomas Hardy and EM Forster. Nowadays, I prefer a lighter read intermingled with more challenging stories. I am always up for a good book recommendation.

Why do you think reading is important?

Reading for enjoyment can spark the imagination, provide an escape, and inspire creativity. It offers a way to discover new worlds, meet new characters, and learn about the past. Above all, it is an easy, enjoyable, and relaxing way to spend time.

If you could step into the world of any book, which would it be and why?

If I could step into the world of any book, it would probably be Harry Potter . The incredible creatures, magical adventures, friendships and rivalries, along with the mysteries waiting to be solved, all combine to make these stories so captivating. I would love to try my hand at a few magic spells myself. Having visited the Warner Bros. Studio where Harry Potter was filmed, it was amazing to see the sets and costumes used by the characters. It truly brought the stories to life and felt like a real privilege

Click here to see the monthly Reading List!

The Final Informal Concert for Upper 3

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:21:44 GMT

On Thursday 30 April, the Upper 3 Informal Concert in the Lower School Hall felt really special, as we celebrated the pupils’ final Informal Concert together. There was a lovely sense of reflection, confidence and quiet pride throughout the evening. The programme included a great mix of styles and instruments, giving each performer a chance to shine in their own way.

The concert opened with a poised and elegant performance of Bourrée on the cello by GF Handel, setting the tone beautifully. Things then picked up with a lively and energetic drum performance of Uptown Funk , which brought great rhythm and a real sense of fun. The mood softened again with a thoughtful and expressive violin performance of Hallelujah , played with sensitivity and a clear sense of line.

On guitar, Arctic Monkeys Do I Wanna Know? was performed with a cool confident style, really capturing the feel of the original. The violin returned with Serenade by Schubert, played with warmth and a lovely tone. The piano piece Spanish Guitar added a playful, rhythmic contrast, showing both agility and character, before a bold trumpet performance of He’s a Pirate brought a burst of cinematic excitement.

The concert ended with two memorable performances: a moving vocal rendition of I Dreamed a Dream , full of expression and control, followed by Für Elise on piano, where the contrasts and dynamics were handled with care and confidence.

Overall, the evening was not just about performance, but about how far these pupils have come in their musical development. Each contribution felt personal and meaningful, coming together to create a memorable final concert. It marked the end of an important chapter but also showed that they are more than ready for what comes next.

Head of Music Mr Vine summed it up perfectly:

“I am very proud of the commitment and professionalism of our young performers. It has been a pleasure to watch you grow as musicians and you have done so much to enrich the Lower School with your playing. Thank you all!”

The 2026 Norfolk Primary Maths Challenges

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:25:00 GMT

The 2026 Norfolk Primary Maths Challenges, hosted by Norwich School, were brilliant days all round, bringing together some of the strongest young mathematicians from across the county for a fun and friendly competition.

There were three rounds to tackle—Tangrams, Arithmetic, and lateral thinking—so plenty of variety to keep everyone on their toes. From quick calculations to tricky puzzles and creative challenges, pupils really got stuck in. It was especially impressive seeing such talented mathematicians working so well in their pairs, sharing ideas and supporting each other throughout.

The atmosphere throughout both competitions was fantastic. There was loads of creative thinking on show, and just as importantly, plenty of smiles. Alongside the competition, many pupils had the chance to meet others from different schools, make new friends, and enjoy putting their maths skills to the test in a relaxed and encouraging environment.

A huge congratulations to everyone who took part—you should be really proud of yourselves. And of course, well done to our winners:

Year 5 Primary Maths Challenge Winners:

1st: White Woman Lane Junior School
2nd: Norwich Lower School
3rd: St Nicholas Priory Primary School

Year 6 Primary Maths Challenge Winners:

1st: Norwich Lower School
2nd: Cringleford CE VA Primary School
3rd: White Woman Lane Junior School

Well done again to everyone involved—it was a great day and we’re already looking forward to next year!

Development Director, Jonathan Pearson, Delivers an Address on Looking at Life Beyond the Close

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:17:57 GMT

Now here’s a question. What do the following have in common: Heads of Houses Mr Cann and Mr Gent, Miss Adams in Drama, Mr Seaman in Art & Design, Mr Palmer (Print Room), recent graduates Miss Bartram and Mr Thornton in Carter, Miss Clark in Music and Miss Davies in Marketing, Mr Catchpole and Mr Cooper in Daynes, Mr Love, Mrs Anna Curtis, Miss Temple and Mr Newman in the Lower School?

If you’ve not worked it out yet, the answer is they are all former pupils of the school, Old Norvicensians, or ONs for short. All work here at Norwich School.

My name is Jonathan Pearson, I am an ON and I too work here as the school’s Development Director. One of my key roles is working with ONs, so, understandably, I am delighted many are employed here. The career paths of ONs is the theme of today’s assembly.

This list got me reflecting on what occupations my fellow 1987 leavers have pursued nearly 40 years on. It is of little surprise that high-flyers continue to have very public success: Surgeon Paul Manning is now head of the UK’s largest private healthcare company; Charles Forsdick is Professor of French at Cambridge University; career diplomat John Virgoe is the UK’s Envoy to the Commonwealth. Stellar careers all.

But what about the 1980s school rebels? Well, Andy Roberts and Tom Wood were regulars in the Deputy Head’s office for various misdemeanours: uniform infringements, non-regulation hair length or colour, partying-related hijinks etc. Yet that same defiant streak now displays itself in savvy, entrepreneurial drive which has seen both set up, lead and sell self-made companies.

Many of us were hardworking and unassuming, following all the rules and successfully progressing up the career ladder, modestly and without fuss. This is typified by friends Paul Grainger and Scott Pinching. Both stayed locally and enjoyed fruitful jobs in Financial Services.

I greatly admire those who had the courage to follow their dreams: Phil Halls founded and runs award-winning Grain Breweries and Marcus Nash runs a respected birdwatching tour company.

I am constantly in awe of what ONs achieve and the positive contribution they make to society beyond Cathedral Close. The point is you will do so too one day.

What will your career look like after school, do you think? I strongly suspect if you tried to guess, you would be hopelessly wrong. Perhaps in 40 years’ time you will remember sitting in Cathedral with your whole life ahead of you wondering what the future holds. It is hugely empowering, but a bit scary at the same time.

Now, I’m no fortune teller, but I can be pretty confident about five reflections I wanted to share with you today:

Firstly, have confidence.

Norwich School equips you well for the outside world. You will have academic rigour, but also many desirable, softer skills: intellectual curiosity; confidence; resilience; humanity; dependability; an ambition to lead and to serve. These traits will stand you in good stead. Every one of you will be a great asset to future employers.

Secondly, embrace help.

Navigating the world of work is tricky. Recent research from the Office for National Statistics shows there are 957,000 16–24 year olds not in work, education or training and that figure has risen sharply post-covid. Finding a job today requires perseverance, skill, some luck and a great deal of effort.

However, welcome help is at hand. On leaving school you all automatically become lifelong ONs. We have over 400 ON Ambassadors, who have pledged to give free advice about next steps. Virtually all career paths are covered. Check out the latest ON magazine for details. This is a seriously valuable resource, so do use it. These are ONs who remember only too well the challenges of getting started. They genuinely want to help.

Thirdly, embrace change.

I wholeheartedly agree with Mrs Warren’s assembly in March 2025 on squiggly careers. You are likely to have multiple career paths. I have had three career pivots myself in my 37 years in the workplace. Change is positive. It keeps life exciting, so harness it.

Fourthly, look to the future.

I remember my Sixth Form tutor telling me I’d end up doing a job not yet invented. What a load of rubbish, I remember thinking. At that time, I was contemplating a career as a librarian. I thought, to find something out, you looked it up in a physical book. That’s what everyone did.

In 1985 I could little have imagined that within four years the internet would be invented, followed by Wikipedia, Kindles and the like. My childish over-confidence was hopelessly misplaced. It’s exciting that you will be doing jobs straight out of tomorrow’s world. A.I. will have the same transformational impact on your lives as the internet has had on mine.

And lastly, bank on a long working life.

I wager you will be working into your seventies before retiring. Now there’s a thought! My official state pension age is 67, but advances in medicine, nutrition and living standards mean we’re all living and working longer. I suspect you have 50 years of working life ahead. That’s too long to be spent doing a job you don’t enjoy or careers just to meet your parents’ aspirations.

A quote often attributed to the Chinese sage Confucius runs:

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

So, consider following the example of the ON brewer or the ON birdwatcher and do something that really excites your passion.

Well, what about me? If I look deep into my heart the day I left school, I confess I did not want to leave The Close at all. I had very much enjoyed my nine years here and the friendships I’d made, so would happily have stayed. But of course, I didn’t.

After University, I moved into property and law, then into pharmaceuticals, but something inescapable pulled me back, and in February 2018 I started working here.

Norwich School must be doing something right if all 15 ONs at the start of today’s assembly wanted to come back here too. So, perhaps I have followed my dreams after all, and maybe you should too.

To all those leaving this July, I convey best wishes for your future from ONs all round the world.

Enjoy the rest of your day, and thanks for listening.

St George, David and Jesus: An Assembly from Revd Child

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:35:23 GMT

My talk this morning is inspired by some words that were used in assembly on Wednesday, particularly with the public exam year groups in mind: ‘You will always be part of our school’s story’. It’s absolutely true that school isn’t just a place, or an organisation, or a list of names. School is a story – a story we’re continually creating.

Our story-making at this time of year includes things like taking a whole-school photograph, a snapshot of all the people that make up our community at this particular moment. For the Upper 6, it includes contributing to the Leavers’ Yearbook, where you share your memories and anecdotes. It includes holding dinners and special services where we remember our achievements, the unexpected twists we had to navigate, and how the story of the year has unfolded. We do all this because our stories are an important part of our community.

Another thing that communities often do with stories is to take an inspiring narrative and make it our own. In Cathedral Close we do that with Nelson, with Edith Cavell, with Julian of Norwich and St Benedict, all of whom have monuments to remind us of their stories. And I want to mention three other stories that, whether we realise it or not, have become part of our culture and therefore part of us.

Yesterday was St George’s Day. You may be only vaguely aware of the story of England’s patron saint – that’s true for many people. But you probably remember enough to know that St George was brave; that he faced the fight against the dragon while everyone else feared and fled. Just to be aware of the tale is to have before you an ideal of courage and standing up to adversity. That’s why St George has become one of our foundational stories.

The second story is, in a way, a Biblical version of St George: the story of David and Goliath. Goliath is the towering brute who has no care for anything or anyone. David is barely out of shorts – but he is plucky and he is faithful and his slingshot skills (from his time as a shepherd boy) allow him to fell the giant. If you know that much, then you’ll carry the message of the story with you. You may be young, you may be unknown, you may be inexperienced, but if you’re bold and you’re faithful, who knows what you might achieve.

And if we know about David the giant-killer, we will notice when someone like Greta Thunberg publishes a book called No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference; and our ears will prick up when someone like Malala Yousafzai finishes a speech with the words, “One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.”

The third story is the one that causes cathedrals like this to be built. It is the Easter story that is always told at this time of year. It is the story of someone who took on a spiritual battle, because this person’s resistance (unlike in the first two stories) was consciously non-violent. It is the story of someone who faced the powers of death and darkness alone while everyone else feared and fled. It is the story of someone who, out of love, went to the cross. It is the story of someone who death could not defeat, as his disciples began to realise on the very first Easter morning.

If you know the story of Jesus, along with the story of St George and David, then you will have ideas about courage, and faithfulness, and things worth fighting for, that one way or another you will want to incorporate into your story, as the story of your life continues.

Francis Goodhand Returns for Another Fantastic Musical Theatre Workshop

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:30:23 GMT

On Thursday 23 April, we were delighted to welcome back musical director Francis Goodhand to Norwich School for the second of his two musical theatre workshops for Music Award holders, as part of the Making Musicians programme.

Evie A (M5) writes:
“The workshop with Francis Goodhand was an amazing experience. He was incredibly kind and encouraging to every pupil, whether they were performing or watching from the audience. Each of us sang a musical theatre piece, after which Francis offered helpful advice on how to strengthen our acting through song before we performed it again. I really enjoyed watching the other pupils and seeing how Francis helped take their performances to the next level. I also greatly appreciated the feedback and practical tips he gave me to improve my own performance. Thank you so much to Mrs Speca for providing this opportunity.”

Francis Goodhand commented:
“I was so impressed with everyone’s preparation, as well as their singing, their ability to act through song, and their willingness to try new things.”

Our thanks go to Francis for such an inspiring and enjoyable afternoon, to Simon Kenworthy Robbins for his sensitive accompaniment, and to all the pupils who took part so wholeheartedly and with such confidence.

You can listen to their vocal warm up below (that they learnt in only 5 minutes).

Josh Kohler (14-21) and George's Homecoming

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:58:01 GMT

Josh and George are fundraising for Unicef, and the cycling world tour is almost over. Join them for the final leg to Halvergate to celebrate this momentous achievement.

Josh and his father, George posted recently on Instagram: 'On the 2nd May, after 13 months and 30,000km cycling around the world, our journey finally comes to an end. We'd love for you to be there at the finish, or if you'd like to, ride in with us for the final 25km of the trip.

We plan to cross the finish line in our home village of Halvergate, Norfolk, NR13 3AJ. We will then invite you to make your way to Halvergate QEII Playing Field Club to celebrate with us. There will be drinks and a pizza truck available!

If you would like to ride in with us, we will be meeting at 12 noon at the Flint Barn Cafe in Whitlingham Country Park, NR14 8TR before pedalling 25km, mainly on country roads, to the finish line.'

More details can be found here: Norfolk father and son cyclists in round-the-world record bid - BBC News

To donate, please go here: George Kohler is fundraising for UNICEF UK

Congratulations to you both on your incredible journey! We hope the final miles go well!

Norwich School International University Fair

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:56:49 GMT

The international university fair offered our pupils some valuable exposure to a wide range of global education opportunities. We were fortunate enough to work with our long-standing partners – the University Guys – to welcome 5 global universities to Norwich School during period 5 and lunch on Monday April 20.

The lunchtime fair allowed our pupils to interact directly with representatives from leading global universities namely, the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore offering medicine, business and other courses in English from Italy, Rollins (Florida) – one of the best small liberal arts colleges in the US, SCAD from Savannah in Georgia (the US’s largest art school) and TETR College of Business with its unique programme spanning 10 countries. From talking one to one with the different university reps, our students got accurate and up-to-date information about courses, how to apply and they could also learn more about and campus life overseas. It was also a great opportunity for Mrs Warren, the school’s Head of UCAS and Mr Sims to find out more about opportunities overseas and to build their own connections.

We believe as a school that it is important to make the idea of studying abroad feel more accessible and less intimidating as well as wanting to broaden our pupils’ perspectives and ambitions. These fairs can also encourage early planning as well as motivating students to think seriously about their future pathways and the qualifications they may need.

At Norwich School, we know the importance of inspiring confidence, supporting informed decision-making and opening doors to new opportunities which pupils might not have otherwise considered. If pupils who weren’t able to attend would like some more information about any of these universities, then please contact Mr Croston.

Start of Trinity 2026 - Head's Address

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:35:53 GMT

Welcome back – I hope you have a good break and are feeling energized for the final term of the year ahead. As ever, the weeks that lie before us fall into two distinct categories: first there is the rigour and discipline of drawing course material together as we prepare for assessments, whether external or internal; second is the joy of exploring opportunities in the post-exam period towards the end of term.

My main advice as you approach the term is to make a connection between the two parts of term by establishing a routine that allows you make the most of both. Creating habits or behaviours that work for you are crucial. Keep balancing your academic focus with time to relax, particularly through physical activity and a strong sleep routine. Keep a sense of purpose in each activity; certainly be clear on what you are trying to achieve when you sit down for a session of revision and how it fits into your overall plans, but also be clear on the times when you want to get away from work, whether by organized co-curricular activities here at school or your own pursuits. Feeling guilty for not working is emotionally draining and should be avoided: either work or give yourself permission to have a break from work.

Overall, you cannot control outcomes but you can control the process and, if you can be proud of what you have done to prepare, there is every chance that you will achieve your academic goals; even if you do not achieve them, you are likely to be able to accept the outcome because you gave a good account of yourself in the build-up. No short cuts, just solid, honest preparation. If you are struggling with this, let us know so that we can help to get you back on the right path. Good luck to you all!

Another dimension in this process is perspective; no matter how much you want those grades or that mark, how you conduct yourself during the process and what you are establishing for yourself in terms of personal and shared values will always be more important for me than any particular score. Love, compassion and inclusion are key; nor should they be taken for granted, whether by you as individuals, by us all as a school, or indeed further afield because of the fact that we happen to live in a democratic country.

The Varieties of Democracy Institute based at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden conducts an annual survey of the state of government around the globe. It found that 72 percent of the world's population now lives in autocracies – the highest level since 1978. In 2024, 45 countries were moving toward more autocratic government across the globe. In these nations, the patterns were similar – erosions in areas such as: freedom of speech, open elections, the rule of law, judicial independence, civil society and academic freedom. Governments expanded their power over institutions and individuals. It didn't happen in the same order or at the same speed, but in the end the destination was the same.

My point is that people in the United Kingdom should be sensitive to the fact that so many other people on the planet have daily routines in political systems very different from our own. This divergence can be translated into the digital sphere, too, with the proliferation of extreme content making it increasingly possible for adversarial and hostile exchanges to take place because people see the world so differently.

I am sure many of you have seen or have been made aware of the recent Louis Theroux documentary, Inside the Manosphere . This has brought to the attention of a wider audience the strength and extremity of opinions being expressed by the influencers profiled and others like them. For me, it was not so much what they said, it was their popularity and the implied normalisation of what were undoubtedly extreme views.

For clarity, at Norwich School I expect the values of love, compassion and inclusion to be applied equally to every single member of our community, regardless of their sex and sexual orientation. Part of this is practical: we are bound in the UK by The Equality Act and it is an offence to discriminate against protected characteristics such as race, religion, age, disability and, for our focus today, sex. If we as a school and you as individuals get this wrong, there will be consequences. However, for me respectful treatment of others is more profound than that: whether it is the biblical advice of loving one’s neighbour as oneself, the principle of a PSHE classroom to have unconditional positive regard, or our school’s values of love, compassion and inclusion, I want each of you to brighten rather than undermine the day of those around you through your conduct.

There are a number of possible challenges to the views espoused in the Theroux documentary, but one is the general “othering” and alienation of one sex by the other: men like this; women don’t like that. It has always been a staple of prejudice to establish dislike of a group of people through clumsy and inaccurate stereotypes which preclude a need for greater understanding. Indeed, one of the most chilling aspects of the documentary was the increasing use of antisemitism used by manosphere influencers to explain global financial inequities.

That sort of stereotyping is harder to do when “the other” are real individuals alongside you in the same school community. As soon as someone tries to say, “Girls are like this and boys are like that,” it would be easy to identify members of our community who differ from such stereotypes: “That’s not what she likes and that’s not what he is like”. When you talk to any one of our pupils, whether male or female, you will get an individual with their own talents, interests and aspirations. For me, the manosphere influencers are wrong and I feel lucky that I work in a community every day that can show why.

If anybody wants to talk to me about these issues in our community’s context, I am more than happy to do so. As you know, I am available to see any pupil from 8.15am on any morning except Tuesdays. I believe it is one of the great privileges of being in a co-educational setting that boys and girls get to practise appropriate behaviour with and around each other every day, reflecting on what works and learning from less successful interactions. I am determined that this community uses its privilege to create an appropriately safe environment to discuss these challenging issues in positive fashion.

As you get started on this term, remember to establish routines that can cope equally with periods of academic revision, other activities and rest. And in all of this, remain true to the values that are at the heart of what we do here: be kind and positive to those around you, noting the injunction of our bible reading: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…but encouraging one another…” Have a great Summer Term!

Former Norwich School Teacher Prepares for Solo Kayak Circumnavigation of Mainland Britain

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:57:56 GMT

Ian Hayward may have retired from Norwich School in September 2025, but he isn’t slowing down just yet. Ian is embarking on a new adventure, taking on one of Britain’s toughest endurance challenges: a full circumnavigation of mainland Britain by sea kayak.

Ian, 58, plans to depart from Lowestoft in late April 2026, aiming to paddle more than 4,000 kilometres around the British coastline in a journey expected to take four to five months.

The expedition, titled “Britain by Kayak 2026”, will see Ian navigate some of the UK’s most demanding coastal waters — including tidal races, exposed headlands and remote stretches of shoreline — entirely under his own power.

A highly experienced outdoor leader and kayaker, Ian lead the 8th Norwich Sea Scouts from 2012 to 2022 and was Housemaster of Nelson House before taking of the role of Director of Sport until he retired in 2025. He has spent the past year preparing both physically and mentally for the challenge. His training has included long-distance paddling, endurance conditioning and expedition testing in both the UK and Spain.

“I don’t need to be ready to complete the whole journey on day one,” Ian says.

“I just need to be ready to start. The rest is about adapting, learning and making good decisions in a constantly changing environment.”

The expedition is as much about mindset and resilience as it is about endurance. Ian reflects openly on lessons learned during training — including managing fatigue, reassessing risk after difficult surf conditions, and refining equipment, safety and communication systems.

Alongside the physical challenge, Ian is supporting two charities — Movember and Surfers Against Sewage — raising awareness around men’s health and environmental issues affecting Britain’s coastal waters. He also hopes to spend time listening to the people who live and work around the coastline, capturing their experiences, hopes and concerns.

While he will be paddling solo and mostly camping around the coast, Ian will gladly accept any offer of land-based support in the form of a cheery wave, cup of team or offer of accommodation. So if you think you can help or know someone that could, do please get in touch with Ian.

The expedition will be documented through his “GooseJuice Adventures” platform, with regular updates, live tracking and video content shared online.

Ian remains connected to the school through his continued support of the 8th Norwich Sea Scouts and the School’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition programme.

Multi-Lingual School Community Celebration

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:24:20 GMT

FONS has purchased flag pins to celebrate the range of languages spoken within our community.

Pupils and staff who are bilingual, or even trilingual, can now proudly wear a flag pin of the country which represents their spoken language. The MFL department are keen to ensure all spoken languages are visible and celebrated, with opportunities to speak to one another in a number of languages, and that is now possible thanks to funds provided by the Friends of Norwich School.

These enamel, colourful pins are attached to the school lanyard to promote the vast number of languages spoken at home, and those studied by our A level pupils.

Over 20 different languages are represented, including Tamil, Afrikaans, Hindi, Shona, Flemish, Japanese, Yoruba, Cantonese and Mandarin.

With our grateful thanks to FONS for their support.

Completing Duke of Edinburgh by Canoe

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:53:59 GMT

Bronze and Silver - Will Brown

In early 2023, a group of 7 8th Norwich scouts and Norwich School pupils began their DofE journey, starting with bronze. They completed the practice expedition at the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club in Wroxham, helping develop their flat-water canoeing skills and giving them invaluable kit-packing and camping experience. The qualifying expedition on the river Waveney also proved useful, helping the group further develop their paddling and navigational skills, particularly through challenging sections of the river, such as those with foliage blocking the river. The group also dealt with their first capsize of the journey, which was handled well.

Upon the completion of their bronze, 4 of the group – Oli, Hamish, Hector and Will – continued to Silver, which saw them complete their practice on the river Stour in Ipswich in early 2024. This was another step up for the group, with cold, wet and windy weather conditions making the paddle challenging. However, the boys pulled through, gaining experience paddling on the estuary, as well as setting up camp in the dark. This was followed up by many sessions on the water in Norwich, where white-water skills were developed in preparation for the 4-day qualifying expedition on the River Wye, in Wales. This was an incredible trip, with the group confidently navigating many sections of rapids along the river, most notably the Symonds Yat rapids.

Fast Forward to 2025/2026 Gold

Gold - Oli Clark

In early April, Norwich School sixth formers and 8th Norwich Explorers, Oli, Hamish, Will, Hector and Adam completed their Gold D of E expedition canoeing the River Spey from Aviemore to Spey Bay, a distance of just under 100km along one of the most beautiful and challenging rivers in the UK. This was the culmination of years of developing canoeing skills under the guidance of Ian and Tim. The expedition was a fantastic experience, not only the challenge of canoeing down rapids such as the ominously sounding Washing Machine (which was actually quite tame), but also wild camping in some totally stunning places such as Knockando – where we also helped a fisherman rescue his dog which had got caught in the fast flowing water.

The Scottish scenery was spectacular, in particular the amazing view of the snowy Cairngorms and we were fortunate to see some some pretty special wildlife on the way, like an osprey in full flight – although sadly no Golden Eagle despite our best efforts to spot one.

We certainly learnt a great deal about paddling, from how to pack boats effectively to following the best line down rapids avoiding rocks and wave trains, and the experience has fuelled our confidence and desire to take on even more challenging rivers such as the Tryweryn in northern Wales. We would all without a shadow of doubt recommend others to take on canoeing for DofE, we are all lucky to have had such an incredible experience.

We would all like to thank Ian and Tim for giving so freely of their time and being such incredibly supportive paddling role models- we also all wish Ian the best of luck for his Britain by Kayak challenge.

The Strength of Creative Sisterhood – “Being Woman”

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:31:06 GMT

As part of their 70 ^th anniversary celebrations, the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas) was back in Blake Studio on 16 April 2026 hosting a creative evening entitled “Being Woman”. It marked the culmination of a highly successful 40-day exhibition at Mandell’s Gallery on Elm Hill by a group of 26 local women creative artists. This event at Norwich School concluded their exhibiting together under the banner of “Being Woman” with a joyous (and at times poignant) celebratory evening of talks given by seven of their cohort in the Blake Studio.

Their exhibition united intergenerational female artists from across Norfolk and Suffolk, offering a profound look at female archetypes and the human condition. Spanning disciplines from printmaking and collage to sculpture and textiles, the works they had displayed captured the evolving perspectives of women at different points in their lives and practices, exploring that it means to be a woman. See: ‘ Being Woman ’. N-cas had been a proud sponsor of the show and hosted this set of talks.

An audience of members of the “Being Woman” creative group, n-cas members, alumni, staff and local creatives all appreciated the varied artistic styles on show and the heard powerful messages of struggle, of hope and of aesthetic creativity across the East Anglia. Also impressive was the palpable camaraderie between them all throughout proceedings. Heartfelt thanks go to their organisers Dr Andrea Hannon and Annette Rolston for bringing together such an inspiring evening.

N-cas intends to be back on site in May and June with talks currently being firmed up. More anon…

However, for those impatient for cultural gems this spring, the next talk in Blake will be with the Royal Geographical Society: a public lecture given by accomplished and award-winning wildlife cameraman and director Toby Hough, who is also a proud Old Norvicensian. His credits include work seen on Countryfile, The One Show, Springwatch and numerous BBC wildlife documentaries and travel programmes. His talk promises to be a memorable visual feast! Tickets are on sale here: RGS: Toby Hough - Lemurs to leopards: filming adventures from around the world . All are welcome. It takes place on Thursday 7 May 2026 at 19:30 in the Blake Studio.

New Lights for the Blake Studio

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:12:03 GMT

FONS have generously funded two new lights as part of a planned upgrade.

I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the Friends of Norwich School for their generous support in helping us purchase two new (ETC Par Zoom) theatre lights for the Blake Studio.

They have already made a real difference, being used in our recent productions of Wuthering Heights and Matilda Jr., as well as in GCSE and A Level drama and dance exams. The lights help us create atmosphere and bring each scene to life, making performances feel more engaging for both students and audiences.

We are also excited to be using them in our upcoming productions of The Revolting Teens of Sheerwood and The Bee Musical.

Thank you again for your continued support—it is truly appreciated.

J Mardlin

Sign Language Continues to Flourish

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:34:26 GMT

Thanks to the Friends of Norwich School, our BSL offering has grown with even more pupils involved and closer relationships with the Deaf community.

Project Overview

Following the successful approval of the British Sign Language (BSL) Club bid, the project has made strong progress towards its core aim: to establish and grow BSL provision across both Lower and Senior Schools while promoting inclusivity, communication skills, and engagement with the Deaf community.

The initiative has successfully delivered regular teaching, increased pupil participation, and created meaningful community links, in line with the original objectives.

Senior School BSL Club

The Senior School BSL Club has continued to run as a weekly co-curricular activity, with an average attendance of approximately 14 pupils per session .

Pupils have developed foundational conversational skills in BSL through structured and engaging sessions. Topics covered include:

Fingerspelling
Numbers
Emotions and feelings
Family members
School topics
Work and hobbies
Weather

Seasonal sessions have further enriched learning, including themed activities for Halloween and Christmas. Pupils also participated in additional sessions to learn BSL for well-known songs such as Fairytale of New York and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, providing opportunities to apply their skills creatively and performatively.

CPD-Accredited Course Engagement

A key objective of the bid was to expand access to the CPD-accredited online BSL course. This has seen positive uptake:

8 new enrolments this academic year
27 active enrolments in total
2 pupils have successfully completed their certificates since September 2024

This demonstrates clear progress towards providing formal recognition and structured progression pathways for pupils. A detailed breakdown of pupil progress is included in Appendix A.

Lower School BSL Club

The Lower School BSL Club has been successfully launched and runs weekly as a lunchtime activity.

Pupils have been introduced to core BSL skills, including:

Signing their name
Colours
Animals
Family members

Sessions have been highly engaging, supported by resources purchased through the bid, including flashcards and interactive games. These have played a key role in embedding early enthusiasm and participation, supporting the project’s aim of introducing BSL from a young age.

Community Engagement and Deaf Awareness

Developing links with the Deaf community has been a central success of the project.

A coffee morning event was held on Friday 20 ^th March, attended by six members of Deaf Connexions , alongside pupils from both Lower and Senior School clubs. Hosted in the Crypt Gallery, the event provided an opportunity for pupils to:

Showcase their BSL skills
Engage in authentic communication
Build confidence and cultural awareness

This event aligned with Sign Language Week , reinforcing its educational impact and relevance. It successfully strengthened relationships with the Deaf community and promoted greater awareness across the school.

There are plans to host a further event in the Summer Term, making use of the remaining budget and continuing to build on this success.

Wider Opportunities and Partnerships

The club has also been approached by Able2B to participate in a summer event. This will involve:

Collaboration between mainstream pupils and SEN children/adults
Shared learning experiences
A planned performance of a song using BSL

This opportunity strongly supports the project’s aims around inclusivity, collaboration, and real-world application of BSL skills.

Impact Summary

The project has already demonstrated clear impact in several key areas:

Increased pupil engagement in co-curricular learning
Development of practical communication skills in BSL
Successful introduction of BSL in the Lower School
Growth in participation in accredited qualifications
Strengthened links with the Deaf community
Promotion of inclusivity and cultural awareness across the school

Next Steps

Continue weekly delivery of both clubs
Increase uptake and completion of the CPD course
Deliver a second community engagement event in the Summer Term
Develop and rehearse for the Able2B collaborative performance

L Leeder

Trumpet and Cornet Teacher, Dave Land, Brass Performance for Prostate Cancer Awareness

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:27:57 GMT

"Music has always had the power to bring people together, to comfort, and to inspire action. This project is Dave’s way of doing exactly that — using his extraordinary talent to create something positive, meaningful, and potentially life-saving."

Accomplished musician, Dave Land, has completed a new project of a brass performance of ‘O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM’ - Morten Lauridsen, in aid of Prostate Cancer UK, a cause very close to him. Having taught Trumpet and Cornet at Norwich School for over twenty years, this performance was filmed in Norwich School's atmospheric Barborelli Room.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men with more than 64,000 men being diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Early detection can make a huge difference, PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test is quick, straightforward. With this poignant piece and sharing his story, Dave Land hopes to encourage more men to have that conversation with their doctor and consider getting tested, it could potentially save lives.

Acclaimed British musician and composer Jools Holland commented, "I'd like to congratulate and support Dave in the excellent job he's doing to promote awareness of prostate cancer and to encourage men to get checked with a simple test."

Dave is one of those musicians whose career reads like a highlight reel of the music world. He began playing trumpet in the Band of HM Coldstream Guards before moving into an extraordinary freelance career. Over the years, he has performed in some of the greatest West End shows, including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, Annie Get Your Gun, and Movin’ Out, and has recorded with artists such as Katrina and the Waves, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and Shirley Bassey.

His playing can also be heard on numerous film soundtracks, including Walt Disney’s Herbie Fully Loaded, Mr Bean, Look Who’s Talking, and, more recently, Paddington in Peru. Beyond that, his recordings have featured across a wide range of television programmes, films, documentaries, and adverts — from Jamie Oliver and A Place in the Sun to countless campaigns for brands such as Tropicana, Halifax, Shredded Wheat, MG Cars and Budweiser. Over the years, he has also enjoyed chart success with artists including Nik Kershaw, Leo Sayer, Breathe, Tracey Ullman, and, of course, Katrina & the Waves.

Dave has spent over 25 years working in London’s West End and has toured worldwide with an incredible list of artists, including The Four Tops, the original Elvis Presley TCB Band, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Shirley Bassey, Ben E. King, The Supremes, Suzi Quatro, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Deniece Williams, Belinda Carlisle and Mari Wilson & The New Wilsations. His experience and musicianship are truly remarkable

Dave Land is a dedicated teacher and valued member of our community, having previously performed two brass videos in the chapel.

'Pupils and Staff of Norwich School perform Charpentier's Prelude to the Te Deum' which you can watch by clicking here. This video has had a staggering 226 thousand views – a first for Norwich school video views!
Ladies in Lavender by Nigel Hess arranged & directed by David Land, Norwich School Brass Ensemble plus guests, pupils from local Norfolk schools . You can watch this by clicking here.

Dave Land commented, "I am incredibly proud of our Norwich school brass students for these two outstanding video performances!"

Dave's mission has received a lot of traction from the BBC in both writing and broadcast. With the more people he reaches, the more people who may be encouraged to get tested.

You can watch Dave Land's powerful performance below;

The Anatomy of a Painting - A Creative Arts Exploration

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:39:32 GMT

On 08 April 2026, the school once again played host to our partners at the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas) for their latest public lecture

A talk entitled: ‘The Anatomy of a Painting’ was given by talented Norfolk-based artist, Martin Kinnear. Martin is an award-winning painter and Royal College of Art lecturer, with work of his even on display in 10 Downing Street! He has studied every aspect of fine art from techniques to grand masters. Consequently, his talk blended practical insight into his craft coupled with a deep understanding of the physical structure of paint – from pigments to surface finish. Employing the critical eye of a seasoned art-historian, he offered in-depth analysis of some much-loved fine art works including Turner, Van Goch and Monet. He attuned his audience to why great paintings work through layers of tone, colour, materials and meaning. He concluded by drawing on examples from his own practice and works in major collections, including some stunning, massive artworks, displaying a visual feast and riot of colour on the venue’s large screen.

This year, n-cas is proudly celebrating 70 years of promoting contemporary art in our local region. As part of their festivities, their next event on Thursday 16 April comprises an exhibition entitled Being Woman at Mandell’s Gallery, open until 18.45 followed by a talk by some of the participating artists in the school’s Blake Studio beginning at 19:00. This event unites intergenerational female artists from across Norfolk and Suffolk, offering a profound look at female archetypes. Spanning disciplines from printmaking and collage to sculpture and textiles, the works on display capture the evolving perspectives of women at different points in their lives - a captivating journey through what it means to be a woman. No booking required.

Date: Thursday 16 April
Talk starts 19:00. Doors open shortly beforehand
Visit Mandell’s Gallery Elm Hill, Norwich NR3 1HN before the talk, open until 18:45
Venue: Norwich School Blake Studio, Norwich NR1 4DD.
Free car parking in playground
Members £7.00, non-members £10.00, students FREE
All pupils, parents, staff, friends and alumni are welcome

Fantastic Costumes for Lower School Dance!

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:18:05 GMT

Thank you to Friends of Norwich School for funding £1,000 towards new costumes.

The Lower School would like to thank the Friends of Norwich School (FONS) for their generous support in funding new dance costumes. These costumes have been worn at the Junior Dance Festival, various dance competitions, and the Senior Dance Festival, helping to showcase the talent and dedication of our pupils. The costumes have played an important role in creating a professional and unified appearance for the dancers during their performances.

Over 50 children have benefited from this funding, giving them the opportunity to perform with confidence and pride. Taking part in festivals and competitions provides valuable experiences for the pupils, allowing them to develop teamwork, performance skills, and a love for dance. The committee is extremely grateful for FONS’ continued support in helping to enrich the pupils’ experiences and opportunities within the school.

To read more on recent Norwich School successes in Dance, including Regionals, see here:

Dazzling Dancers in a Busy Lent Term

Being a Parent Volunteer - Ava's Mum Reflects on Volunteering for Special Olympics

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:34:18 GMT

I’ve volunteered for over 10 years now, from the PTA at Ava’s Primary and Prep schools, to Disability Swim Coaching, to Chair of Governors at a local school; with the Care & Inclusion Team at work and now with The Norwich School as a parent volunteer supporting sixth formers doing their own community service with Norfolk Special Olympics, a charity focused on bringing sport to adults with intellectual disabilities. I also volunteered as a Sixth Former, way back when, and maybe that’s where the bug came from, remerging in later life.

There’s something life affirming about volunteering that’s hard to describe, but the adage that volunteering gives you more than you ever put in is true. It ticks all the boxes on the Wellness Form: It’s proven to be good for mental health, it’s a powerful way to hone new skills and support career development, it provides social connection and it absolutely adjusts your perception of life and gratitude. It just makes you feel better!

So, when Norwich School put out a call for parents to support their Community Service program by volunteering alongside students, it was a natural and easy step for me to offer to help. Getting to choose a service that fits your timetable, lifestyle and interests was a bonus. So many different opportunities from creative and media (definitely not me!), to English Support for refugees (that would have meant working alongside my own Mother – so no!) to event committees and a multitude of sporting options. Something for everyone, a time for everyone, and for me an easy choice to make, continuing work I’d done years before with Teenagers with disabilities.

And so, every Friday lunchtime, during a “meeting” booked out in my work diary (with the full support of my manager of course!), I spend an hour at UEA Sportspark helping the inclusion team from UEA and Special Olympics, alongside three sixth formers, bring sport to around 35 Adults with varying levels of disability. Some are wheelchair bound, some non-verbal, some with mild intellectual disabilities, many with Down Syndrome. What they all have in common is a shared joy in physical activity at whatever level suits them. They are fiercely competitive, many compete, always keen to do that little bit more, full of joy, full of conversation and sometimes as cheeky and difficult as teenagers. I leave lighter in the shoulders and happier in the heart every single week.

Aswell as the joy of volunteering myself, I also have the privilege of watching sixth formers learn, embrace the same joy, realise how fortunate they are and develop skills they mostly won’t have had before. It’s not always easy, there are challenges, especially working with adults to navigate, but what great lessons to learn in a safe place, and what great skills to take forward in life. Three girls who started slightly quietly and not quite sure of themselves, are now helping to run sessions themselves, know every attendee by name, are inspiring other young women in the group and look like they’ve been doing this for years.

One of those girls is my daughter. How lucky I am to spend an hour a week with her, not talking about UCAS, or homework, or sports coaching or how much sleep she got or didn’t. Just an hour a week enjoying bringing joy to others, together without having to talk about anything. Watching her learn new skills, and navigate new challenges, and above all, seeing her finally get it. Why I volunteer, why I give up time, because it gives me back more… tenfold.

And of course, I hope that bug, the one that lay dormant in me for 20 years, is well and truly instilled in Norwich School’s young people, because they, like me, might not realise yet just how much they are already learning, and how much they might get in the future from doing something for others. Skills, friendship, joy, gratitude and opportunities they didn’t see coming. It’s often surprising the people you meet and the connections you make through this kind of ‘work’. Amazing, interesting people with all sorts of connections that might just open a new door or a new passion, both for the sixth formers and for us as adults.

So, if you have an hour a week free, if your company supports volunteering in the community, if you’re looking to develop new skills or make new connections, I cannot recommend supporting the Community Service program at Norwich School highly enough, there really is something for everyone to get involved in.

Lighter shoulders, happier hearts and helping our own children grow and develop skills for life... it doesn’t get much better than that for an hour a week!

Spotlight on STEMM: Q&A With Our ONs

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:30:19 GMT

This week we are spotlighting STEMM at Norwich School and caught up with some inspiring ON’s who discussed where studying a STEMM subject at the school has taken them in their careers!

Wian Stipp – (11-18)

Wian attended Norwich School between 2011-2018 and studied both Maths and Further Maths during his A-Levels.

Did you study Maths, Further Maths or both?

I studied both!

What did you go on to do when you left Norwich School? Where?

I pursued a BSc in Mathematics and Economics at the London School of Economics. During my time there, I learned how to program and became involved with AI start-ups – initially with Lanterne, based in London, and subsequently with Evidium, based in San Francisco.

Where in the world are you based?

I’m currently based in San Francisco, USA.

Where has your career taken you so far?

I joined Evidium in 2020 as a Founding Engineer, just as the company was getting of the ground. The following year, we raised see funding in San Francisco. At Evidium, I focus on research and engineering, building machine learner systems for healthcare applications.

Where do you want your career to go?

I aim to continue developing machine learning systems that push forward innovation in health care and contribute significantly to improving patient outcomes.

Why should pupils study Maths beyond GCSE?

Maths builds the ability to think clearly and reason rigorously – skills that are valuable no matter what path you pursue. If you’re curious about fields like AI and machine learning, Maths simply is the foundation.

How has Maths been beneficial to you outside of Norwich School?

Maths continues to be central to my daily work, Maths has shaped how I think, solve problems, and engage with the world, and it remains the foundation of everything I build in my career.

Jennifer Williamson – (09-16)

Jennifer is an incredibly inspiring woman in the world of STEMM; having attended Norwich School between 2009 and 2016, she kicked started her engineering career studying both Maths and Further Maths.

Did you study Maths, Further Maths or both?

Both!

What did you go on to do when you left Norwich School? Where?

I did a 4-year Integrated masters in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London! In my third year I did an internship at Sainsbury’s writing their 30 year “path to zero carbon” plan.

Where in the world are you based?

I’m currently working in London, I spent a couple of years working in Edinburgh, and before that I was in Australia! I carried out my final year university project on exchange in Melbourne, creating a model to estimate the emissions of different journeys, to compare public and private transport in the suburbs.

Where has your career taken you so far?

I’ve been working as a Building Sustainability Engineer for four years. I work with architects to improve the design of buildings by carrying out dynamic simulations which look at things such as if occupants will overheat, based on how many windows there are, any external shading, how much natural ventilation there is and more. I really enjoy it, and I love having a genuine impact on the design of buildings that are going up in my city.

Where do you want your career to go?

I had a catch up with my boss recently, and he’s keen for my future career to involve going into architectural firms to give workshops on how to really achieve sustainable buildings, which sounds amazing to me. There are a lot of methodologies at the moment for designing sustainable buildings, but a lot of them are just “tick box” exercises, whereas good design changes from building to building.

Why should pupils study a STEMM beyond GCSE, such as Maths?

I think if you might want to study something like Engineering at University, A-Level Maths is really important and would probably be a requirement, so if that’s on the cards then it’s good to keep that door open. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be doing maths for the rest of your life - my job doesn’t involve much Maths now. A lot of my Engineering degree was basically just maths in different contexts, and I wouldn’t have been able to get my job without the degree.

How has Maths been beneficial to you outside of Norwich School?

The main thing is being able to do a job I enjoy now. Another bonus was that some of the content we did at university in first year I’d already learnt in Further Maths, which was really helpful when everything else was new and difficult. My job doesn’t involve a lot of Maths now, but I do still pull out trigonometry quite often for calculating shading angles.

Steven Gopaul - (07-15)

Steven attended Norwich School from 2007-2015, and studied four STEMM subjects at A Level. Now working at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, his career in medicine is nothing short of inspirational.

What subjects did you study at A-Level?

Maths, Chemistry, Biology (All A2) and Physics (AS).

What did you go on to do when you left Norwich School? Where?

I studied Medicine, rather unconventionally in Europe, in Prague, Czech Republic.

Where in the world are you based?

I am currently based in Norwich and work at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

Where has your career taken you so far?

After finishing school in 2015, I went to medical school and graduated in 2021. I completed 2 years of general medical training in the East of England which is known as foundation training in 2023, with a good experience in both medical and surgical specialities. I took a year out of clinical medicine after foundation training to teach at UEA - Norwich Medical school. I taught all years of medical students in various clinical subjects, procedural skills as well as in laboratory-based sessions of Anatomy (which was my favourite subject). Alongside my teaching duties, I examined final year exams and contributed to creating questions for written exams and clinical stations for use in OSCE exams. Since 2024, I have been working as a trainee surgeon and am due to finish my 2 years Core Surgical Training in August 2026 before moving onto higher specialty training in General Surgery. Throughout my medical training thus far, I have attended and presented at conferences both nationally and internationally, and undertaken post-graduate courses and exams. I have passed my initial surgical exams (the final exams will be closer to becoming a consultant) and am a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy after completing my post-graduate certificate in clinical education.

Where do you want your career to go?

I am training to be a General Surgeon with the aim of becoming a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon in the NHS.

Why should pupils study a science beyond GCSE?

Studying a science beyond GCSE gives you much more than knowledge — it teaches you how to think. A-level sciences push you to analyse information, solve problems, and understand why things happen, rather than just memorising facts. You learn to deal with complex ideas and interpret evidence. Another benefit of studying science, is that it creates a structure for learning new information which many other subjects unfortunately don’t provide. Science also isn't always straightforward — it stretches you. However, working through complex problems develops many of life’s important traits such as resilience and a logical way of thinking that once again can be applied to anything in life.

How has Science been beneficial to you outside of Norwich School?

Studying science beyond school was more than a gateway into medicine for me; it fundamentally shaped how I approach learning and clinical practice. Advanced study in biology and chemistry meant that when I reached medical school, I wasn’t encountering concepts in isolation. Subjects like physiology, pathology and pharmacology felt like logical extensions of principles I already understood. Beyond this, it has provided me with many rich experiences of collaboration where I’ve got to work with many different medical and scientific professionals which has helped me develop new skills and allowed me to travel, which I thoroughly enjoy! Lastly, studying sciences at school developed intellectual discipline and professional curiosity. It trained me to analyse evidence critically and the habit of questioning is central to good medical practice. It drives lifelong learning, which is essential in my profession where knowledge evolves rapidly.

Tom Lefever - (91-97)

Tom studied both Maths and Physics during his time at Norwich School. He now works in Civil Engineering and continues to travel across the world, mastering his expertise.

What subjects did you study at A-Level?

Maths, Physics and French.

What did you go on to do when you left Norwich School? Where?

A degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Nottingham.

Where in the world are you based?

Norwich!

Where has your career taken you so far?

All over the UK, designing buildings for many countries including Montenegro and all over Northern Africa.

Where do you want your career to go?

Continue to build my expertise in historic buildings such as Cathedrals and Castles.

Why should pupils study a science beyond GCSE?

It helps you understand the world better and build a strong, broad base to pursue your chosen career.

How has Science been beneficial to you outside of Norwich School?

It is fundamental to my work in assessing how buildings behave and knowing what materials to choose when designing them. It has helped me personally with my health, nutrition, and even DIY of my house and fixing my car!

Richard Wade-Martins - (83-91)

Richard studied three STEMM subjects at A-Level whilst at Norwich School and now works at the University of Oxford, leading ground-breaking research into Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

What subjects did you study at A-Level?

Biology, Chemistry and Maths.

What did you go on to do when you left Norwich School? Where?

I went to study Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge in 1992, specialising in Genetics in the final year. From there I went to the University of Oxford to do a DPhil (the Oxford PhD) in human molecular genetics.

Where in the world are you based?

I am at the University of Oxford in the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Discovery and the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics.

Where has your career taken you so far?

After my DPhil I went to work for three years at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a fantastic opportunity to live abroad for a few years and get an international perspective on science and life. I then came back to the UK in 2003 starting my own research group at Oxford and have built up my own research program.

Where do you want your career to go?

I'm moving towards drug discovery. I work on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease: why do some people get them and how can we prevent or treat the conditions? As the population ages with more people are retired than at school, this will become increasingly common and a major healthcare challenge. My academic lab at the University now works closely with industry and biotech partners to develop translation of new therapies from lab findings to novel treatments for patients.

Why should pupils study a science beyond GCSE?

Studying science allows you to understand how the world works, whatever you chose to work on. In my area it allows us to dissect the role of genetics and biology in age-related neurodegeneration. We need to use science to understand molecular mechanisms to develop new therapies.

How has Science been beneficial to you outside of Norwich School?

I read about the discovery of DNA, the molecule which carries our genetic information, when I was at Norwich School aged 14, and from that moment on I wanted to study genetics. I have been lucky enough to follow that through working in three of the best Universities in the world. It has been a fantastic choice of career and if I went back to being aged 14 now I would do exactly the same again.

The New Lower School Snack Shack is a Spectacular Hit!

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:33:05 GMT

With thanks to the Friends of Norwich School for funding this dedicated space, which is proving very popular with pupils.

We are delighted to thank the FONS for their support in funding our new Lower School Snack Shack! This exciting addition has transformed our previous tuck shop into a dedicated outdoor space that pupils can enjoy during morning break and it has already become a firm favourite!

Thanks to their funding, we were able to purchase an outdoor, shop-fronted shed where pupils can buy a variety of snacks each morning.

The shop is run by our Upper Three monitors who sell items, handle transactions and count the money at the end of each session. It is open to pupils from Lower Two through to Upper Three and there is often an eager queue at break time as pupils look forward to seeing what is available. It has also supported special events across the Lower School, for example, pupils were able to purchase red noses in the lead up to Red Nose Day with the proceeds going to Comic Relief.

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue developing the Snack Shack further too. Our next steps include improving signage and working with pupils to enhance the appearance of the shop.

We are incredibly grateful to the FONS for making this possible. The Snack Shack has already created wonderful opportunities for responsibility, teamwork and independence and has been a very welcome addition to Lower School break times.

Thank you, FONS!

Lemurs to Leopards with Toby Hough ON 84-92

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:11:43 GMT

Toby will be at Norwich School with the Royal Geographical Society to talk about his filming adventures from around the world.

T hursday 7 May – Royal Geographical Society public lecture

Lemurs to leopards: filming adventures from around the world - Toby Hough ON

RGS talks offer intellectual rigour and great entertainment for both professionals/academics and the lay person alike. Lectures are always well worth attending, whatever the topic under discussion.

This talk will be given by accomplished and award-winning wildlife cameraman and director Toby Hough, who is also a proud Old Norvicensian and ON parent. His credits include work seen on Countryfile, The One Show, Springwatch and numerous BBC wildlife documentaries and travel programmes. His talk promises to be a memorable talk and a sumptuous visual feast!

7.30pm Blake Studio Norwich School, The Close, Norwich NR1 4DD (doors open 7.00pm)

Free parking on the playground.

Free for RGS members, otherwise £8 in advance or £10 cash on the door.

All are welcome.

Bookings can be made here: Lemurs to leopards: filming adventures from around the world

National Year of Reading - March

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:02:08 GMT

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! This March it’s Classics and let’s find out why our Librarian, Deborah Goodwin, loves the classics...

Tell us a little bit about the genre; what common themes or elements do you particularly enjoy?

The definition of a classic can feel a bit slippery sometimes, but most people would agree on a few things. It needs to be well written, and it needs to have stood the test of time — enjoyed by and relevant to multiple generations, not just a bestseller. They tend to deal with universal themes like love, loss, or just what it means to be human, which is why you can pick up something written hundreds of years ago and still completely relate to it. The term "Modern classic" usually means post-World War II, but even then, a book needs to have proven itself over time before it earns the label.

Personally, I'm drawn to epic stories — ones that follow a character over years, watching their life unfold. I love getting engrossed in someone else’s life.

What was the book that introduced you to the classics? Was there a particular book or author that made you fall in love with this genre?

As a teenager I read things like The Catcher in the Rye , The Great Gatsby , Animal Farm , and The Diary of Anne Frank . There wasn't as much Young Adult fiction around back then, so I'd raid my parents' bookshelves or borrow from the library. The Catcher in the Rye is probably the one that made me fall in love with reading — I've gone back to lots of times since my teens, which is saying something as I'm not usually a re-reader.

Has your taste in this genre changed over time?

Definitely. I've read a fair bit of war literature — Birdsong , Slaughterhouse-Five , War and Peace , and after that, all the balls and courtships in the classic drawing-room fiction started feeling a bit frivolous in comparison. I still appreciate them, but these days I'm more drawn to big, sweeping epics like Les Misérables , Anna Karenina , or Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. I’m happiest with something that spans generations or continents.

Would you recommend this genre to someone who doesn’t usually read it? Why?

Absolutely — but I'd choose carefully depending on the person! Fantasy fans might love T he Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy , teens into dystopian fiction would probably enjoy Lord of the Flies , and mystery lovers are almost always won over by Agatha Christie. The language can feel like a barrier at first, especially if you're used to modern fiction, so starting with something accessible really helps shake off the idea that classics are somehow hard work.

What do you enjoy most about reading, whether classics or anything else?

Honestly? Switching off. Leaving real life behind for a bit and slowing down to the pace of a book. I've experienced so many different lives through reading, put myself in the shoes of people I'd never otherwise have encountered, and I think that's genuinely changed how I see the world.

When and where is your favourite time and place to read?/ Do you have a favourite reading spot or routine for diving into books?

I'll read anywhere I can grab a few minutes — waiting rooms, trains, park benches, cafés. But if I'm being honest, nothing beats being at home in front of the fire with a book, a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Very unglamorous, but there it is!

Which fictional character would you most like to have a cup of tea with?

That’s a difficult one! Someone who would make me laugh, I think. Probably Charles Pooter from The Diary of a Nobody ; he’s pompous and accident-prone but he tries hard and means well. I think I’d enjoy his company. The book was published in 1892 and it's still funny. I'd love to have a cup of tea with him and let him tell me all about his latest home improvement disaster.

Why do you think reading is important?

I think reading builds empathy in a way that's hard to replicate. We're absolutely surrounded by information these days, but there's a big difference between knowing something and truly engaging with it. A book pulls you in completely, whether the world is real or imagined, and somehow makes other people's experiences feel personal in a way that a TikTok never quite can.

Click here to see the monthly Reading List!

Talking Tennis - U18 Boys Glanville Cup

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:01:32 GMT

On Thursday 26 March, the U18 Boys played in the 1 ^st round of the national Tennis competition, The Glanville Cup, vs Wymondham College. Two very evenly matched teams saw some very close fought games with two of the singles games going to additional tie-break sets, leaving the score after the singles rounds tied on 4 points to each school.

Our number one pair Harry Philpott and Charlie George Snelling played some exception tennis and managed to win their games 6-4, 6-4. Our second pair won their first set comfortably but then Wymondham College fought back and took their game to a tie-break set; Charlie Hutchinson and Veron Hung persevered as the light and temperature dropped and won the game to see Norwich School win 8-4 overall and through to the next round. Well done boys!

Pupils Say 'Bienvenue!' to French Visitors

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:36:46 GMT

On Thursday 27 March, we were delighted to welcome 58 pupils and their 5 teachers from Collège Sainte‑Marie in Meaux, France. After spending a week exploring Norfolk, the group arrived at Norwich School, where our pupils were eager to meet them and proudly show them around.

Our penpal exchange with Collège Sainte‑Marie has been running for a couple of years now, with Lower 4 pupils regularly writing and receiving letters in French. This visit was particularly special: the French group were Year 8 pupils, and many had the chance to meet their penpals from last year face‑to‑face for the very first time — a real highlight for everyone involved.

The afternoon began with the NS U6 French group leading guided tours around the school, giving our visitors a warm and friendly introduction to life at Norwich School. This was followed by a lively treasure hunt in mixed teams of French pupils and NS Upper 4 pupils, all competing for an Easter prize. With clues written in both French and English, teamwork was essential — and it was wonderful to see pupils switching languages, helping one another, and having fun along the way.

It was a joyful afternoon filled with laughter, curiosity, and excellent company. We very much hope to welcome pupils from Meaux again in the years to come — and perhaps one day, we’ll have the chance to visit them on their home turf too.

Coming Up at The Crypt -We Are Nature

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:20:23 GMT

From 8-10 April a new art exhibition will be shown at the Crypt Gallery from We Are Nature.

Wednesday 8 April, 11:00 - 16:00

Thursday 9 April 11:00 - 16:00

Friday 10 April 14:00 - 16:00

Keeping Track of Cross Country at the End of Lent 2026

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:07:50 GMT

After half term, 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 9th and Tom Copley, George Yiasimi and Edward Lott completed the dominating team performance all in the top 14.

Next, on Saturday 7 March we saw the final race in the East Anglian League against runners from Gresham’s, Ipswich and RHS. The team travelled to RHS and the conditions were reasonably dry and still on a flat, fast course.

Our only competing Junior, Jonas Tam, improved upon last week’s third place to come 2nd this week, while in the Intermediate Boys, Kit Rudling came 4th.

In the Senior Boys we had excellent strength in depth, as we have had all season, with eight runners competing. First to finish was Ethan Buskell who came 2nd overall. Jeremy Lo came through the field strongly to take 5th place, capping off another consistent season. Leon Liu, Kort Tsui and Leo Pitt were next over the line, followed shortly by Tom Copley, Edward Lott and George Yiasimi. The Senior Boys, having showed such consistent quality and excellent camaraderie throughout the season, deservedly took home the East Anglian League Team Trophy.

Finally, 5 of our athletes represented the school at the English Schools National Finals in Liverpool — a fantastic experience with some excellent performances across the board.

Well done to everyone who has represented the Cross Country team this season.

Hockey Highlights in the Lead Up to Easter

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:01:03 GMT

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Sevens Successes before the Easter Break

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:54:02 GMT

U18s

This half term saw the U18s compete in both the Norfolk County Cup and the Rosslyn Park 7s. Following a valuable learning experience in the County Cup, the squad travelled to Rosslyn Park on 22nd March to compete in the Vase Competition the following day.

The boys delivered their strongest performances of the term, securing impressive victories over Monkton Combe and Newcastle-Under-Lyme School. A narrow defeat to Dartford Grammar School, however, meant they were just short of qualifying for Day 2.

Standout performances came from Casper Foden, Tom Ratledge, and Alex Sisson.

U15s

The U15s took part in the Northampton Saints 7s, hosted at Cambridge Rugby Club. They produced an excellent set of performances in the group stages, recording notable wins against Oundle School and Bedford Modern School.

These results saw them progress to the Cup semi-finals, where they were narrowly defeated by a strong Samuel Whitbread Academy side. Overall, the team finished among the top performers in a highly competitive field featuring leading schools from across the Midlands and London.

Standout performances were delivered by Ben Lowe and Toby Young.

U14s

This term has seen significant development from the U14s, who have worked consistently hard to improve both individually and as a team. Rosslyn Park provided a particularly positive experience, with clear progress evident throughout the squad.

Sam Trickey and Biden Barton were standout performers.

U13s and U12s

Both the U13s and U12s competed in the Norfolk County Cups, hosted at Redmayne, and performed exceptionally well. Impressively, both teams went undefeated in their respective competitions.

A special mention goes to Ben Guo, who played across both age groups, stepping up to represent the U13s and delivering standout performances against older opposition.

Rowing Report from a Successful Lent Term

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:50:18 GMT

The Rowers have had a busy half term, with racing at Norwich Head, Hammersmith Head, Eastern Region JIRR Trials, Schools Head, GB U19 Spring Assessments and The Scullery Head.

All year groups raced at Norwich Head, with wins for the 1st VIII as fastest crew of the day, Boys J14 4x+ and Girls J18 2x. At the Eastern Junior Inter-Regional Trials we had 8 of our 13 crews reach the Final, with the Girls J18 2- and Boys J14 2x achieving 2nd place.

The highlight of the winter Head racing is the Schools Head of the River and The Scullery Head. The Boys 1st VIII were 15th Championship crew and the Girls 1st 4x- were 16th Championship crew. The J15 Boys and Girls VIII raced the Tideway for the first time.

At The Scullery Head, the Boys 1st 4x- were a fantastic 4th place, with the 2nd 4x- placing well too. The Girls 2nd Quad were 11th in WJ17 4x-. The J14 Boys and Girls Octos were 15th and 16th respectively- both inside the top half of a strong draw.

Our three GB U19 trialists continued their selection campaign at the Spring Assessments, taking part in three days of racing in Pairs and Fours. James Howard and Ellie Thwaites produced strong performances to position themselves well in the rankings, while Nicholas Conway impressed with a 2nd-place finish.

International Exchange: Doshisha Students Experience Life at Norwich School

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:15:48 GMT

In the final week of the Lent Term, we once again welcomed Professor Yasuhiro Udagawa and 17 of his pupils from Doshisha Junior High School in Kyoto to visit us and experience what a typical day in the life of Norwich School is like. They spent three days with us, attending lessons in the mornings with their partners from L5 and M5 and then taking part in activities during the afternoons. Together, thanks to the School Historian Ady Matrsham, we took a trip back in time to the air-raid shelter and saw the Lollard prison cell as well as completing the Norwich School treasure hunt and visiting the Cathedral as well as finding out more about the British educational system. The group also visited Cambridge and London before returning home.

Our pupil ambassadors lived up to our expectations and were excellent hosts. Doshisha itself in Japanese means “a community created by those who share the same aspirations” – and both schools share the same ambition of ensuring that every pupil fulfils their potential and creating the citizens of tomorrow who are not only ambitious forces for good but want to make the world a better place.

Pupils on both sides enjoyed the experience and the chance to get to know one another better. We hope that some of the pupils will keep in touch despite the distance. We look forward to welcoming them back again next year.

An Informative and Powerful Amnesty Variety Evening

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:47:43 GMT

On Thursday 26 February, a receptive audience in the Blake Studio were treated to another Amnesty Variety Evening. The evening was a mixture of performance and presentations from our school community, from staff and pupils alike. The evening started with an opening presentation from our Amnesty Group on the importance of human rights and then we were treated to a fantastic and poignant cello recital of Kol Nidrei, Op. 47 by Max Bruch.

The evening also included musical performances of Army Dreamers by Kate Bush powerfully performed from Lower 6 pupil, Rosie B, Me and the Sky by Jenna Colella wonderfully sung by Maleeya Watts which was sanfg a compelling rendition of 'She Used to Be Mine' from Waitress by Ben G and Liebestraum by Franz Liszt masterfully played by Marcus Pop (U5). To end the evening was Evie A (M5) singing Imagine' by John Lennon, the perfect end to the night. There were various speeches and poetry readings that also took place and an emotive video from Aggie J (L6) on Human Rights. This event proved to be a great success and incredibly informative as well as showcasing the power of art in the fight for justice. Well done to all who took part.

Musical Mayhem in aid of FONS

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:18:25 GMT

27 February 2026 saw the return of the gloriously chaotic and hilarious Friends of Norwich School Annual Music Quiz held in the school’s refectory.

The school’s answer to The Carpenters (Jonathan Peason and Anna Stephenson) were stalwart compères for the night, delivering ten rounds of music-based questions to suit all musical tastes and abilities. Even the Head chipped in with a round.

Extra pizzazz was added by a scratch Sixth Form band made up of Lev, Louis, Maleeya, Sam, Sahib, Rosie and led by the inimitable Daisy Sexton. They played a mix of live music and sang intros for contestants to guess. A fish and chip supper provided by our fabulous in-house Catering Team provided a very welcome interlude.

Mr Griffiths led a team of strict markers beavering away furiously between rounds, which resulted in one team of Musical Maestros being duly crowned at the end of proceedings.

Funds raised of around £2,200 went towards FONS charitable priorities to support the school - a welcome reflection on the hard work involved in delivering such a joyously entertaining event.

Huge thanks to all volunteer organisers and those who helped on the night, and to our ebullient and enthusiastic contestants for making it an evening that will stay long in the memory.

Dazzling Dancers in a Busy Lent Term

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:03:06 GMT

This term has been another successful one for the Dance department. Both the Junior and Senior Dance Companies have qualified for the National finals after competing at The Great Big Dance Off regionals in March. The Junior Dance Company were crowned KS3 Regional Champions, while the KS4/5 team were runners-up with an impressive 191 out of 200 points - just one point shy of winning. Both companies will compete at the National finals in Cheltenham in June.

Following this, the Dance department showcased incredible talent at the Senior Dance Festival held at Epic, with over 140 pupils across both the lower and senior schools. This collaborative event highlighted the progression of our students from the start to the end of their school journey. The evening celebrated their dedication, passion, and outstanding commitment to dance, which has made the studio a vibrant hub of activity and inspiration.

FONS Funds Equipment for DJ Club

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:21:21 GMT

New skills learnt at DJ Club thanks to new decks!

Thanks to the generous support of the Friends of Norwich School, we were able to purchase some exciting new equipment for DJ club.

Pupils from Upper 4, Middle 5, Upper 5 and Sixth Form have been enjoying new decks at DJ club, which feature a 4-channel mixer and creative effects to experiment with. They have continued to improve their skills and have broadened their interests in different genres of dance music.

There are exciting plans for pupils to provide DJ sets for BandFest and the Able2Be event in the Trinity Term.

Thank you to FONS for supporting our club. We hope to welcome more members next year, with excellent opportunities for pupils to learn from each other.

Apply+ Achievements - March 2026 Update

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:19:54 GMT

Our Apply+ Programme supports pupils applying for academic courses at university that require admissions tests and/or interviews. This includes courses at Cambridge, Imperial and Oxford, the most selective courses for computer science, economics, law and mathematics and all courses for dentistry, medicine and veterinary medicine. We are delighted that 29 pupils in our Upper 6 have already received offers from Apply+ courses and wish those still waiting for the outcomes of their applications every success. These are:

Omar Alfiky

Daniel Amaka-Maidoh

Thomas Cahir

Isaac Chan

Arthur Dannatt

Katerina Di Maria

Isio Emore

India-Rose Fox

Ben Griffiths

Melissa Hawkings

Lizzie Henson

Ilya Higginson

Celeste Horsman

Thomas Hsia

Thomas Irvine

Anish Kantam

Isabelle Last

Leon Liu

Georgia Lloyd

Emmanuel Milne

Ana Paduaru

Maya Peart

Adit Raje

Mihir Sanghrajka

Sruthi Santhosh

Charlotte Scott

Freya Simmonds

Emile Verschoor

Halvard Yip

Football Focus - An End of Term Report from 1st XI Captain, Lizzie Henson

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:11:51 GMT

The Girls 1st XI have worked hard this term, in both training and matches, and this has shown through the immense improvement from everyone throughout. Targeting the basics in training enabled the girls to play an attractive style of football during fixtures, with some great chances created from the team working well together.

The season started with a game away to a physical Gresham's side, that was tightly contested. Unfortunately, with a few key chances missed, the score ended 2-0 to them. Next up was Wymondham at home. A goal from Poppy Francis sent us into the last 10 at 1-1. The girls managed to score a second, but this was ruled offside. With Wymondham somehow sneaking in a winner in the closing minutes, the game concluded at 2-1 to them. On the return leg at their place the following week, the girls fought well on a difficult pitch, but were unlucky and lost 2-0, despite playing the better football. A special mention must go to India Coupland who stepped up as goalkeeper, playing against girls 4 years her senior, and held her own.

The final game of the season was played at home against a mixed side from St Felix, with arguably the best performance of the season from the team. It was an exciting game from start to finish, and despite good pressure on the St Felix defence towards the end, the girls were unable to find an equaliser, with the game ending 3-2. Goals from Chloe Holmes and Lizzie Henson. Despite not getting the results the team deserved, they should be very proud of themselves and their performances. Hopefully this season has provided useful foundations for the Lower 6 and Upper 5 to build on for next year.

Lizzie Henson (U6V) 1st XI Captain

A Joyful Showcase of Talent at the Informal Dance Celebration!

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:36:49 GMT

Our recent informal dance celebration was a joyful and energetic showcase of talent, creativity, and fun. Lower School Pupils took to the floor with confidence, sharing routines in a variety of styles including hip hop, ballet, and cheerleading.

From the sharp, rhythmic moves of hip hop to the grace and poise of ballet, each performance brought something unique. The cheerleading routines added an extra burst of excitement, full of enthusiasm and team spirit.

What made the event so special was its relaxed and supportive atmosphere. It was all about enjoying dance, celebrating effort, and building confidence. Smiles, laughter, and applause filled the room as everyone joined together to appreciate the performances.

A fantastic time was had by all. Proof that dance is not just about technique, but about expression, enjoyment, and having fun together.

Radio Room Refresh

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:43:32 GMT

FONS grant helps The Close Creatives Collective rebrand following huge success.

The Close Creatives Collective was established four years ago, originally as two separate groups - Close Conversations (which was the Norwich School Podcast Club) and Close Up (which was the Norwich School Photography Group).

However, as the success of the two groups developed and more and more pupils joined, it was apparent that there was a real appetite amongst pupils to apply their skills not just to podcasting and photography, but to creatives in general. Hence the Close Creatives Collective was established. It is both a Community Service option and an open members club for Lower 6 pupils. It is also recommended by the Head to all L6 pupils looking at a possible career in the creative arts.

The ethos of the group is to give members real experience in developing skills which could be useful within a career in the creative fields. Pupils have the chance to design, photograph, film, edit and broadcast, which they can use in their portfolios. A large element of the group is the school podcast, which really excites and inspires children throughout all year groups. However, the school’s radio room was relocated in 2024, into a former office in Bishop’s Palace, just outside the Old Music Room (OMR). Whilst extremely grateful for the space, which has given Close Creatives Collective a home, the room lacked any personality. A generous sum of £750 was awarded by FONS to help improve the visual aspect of the radio room.

Branding

One of our Close Conversations members designed a fantastic logo (see images). Inspired by these colours, two of the walls of the radio room have been painted this distinctive (BBC style) red. We have also had a vinyl made and installed on the front panel of the desk, which helps it look more like a professional radio station. In addition, we have had signage made to showcase where the room is, as it is otherwise hidden. In addition, an ON AIR light has been purchased to show when pupils are recording, as it can be a noisy room.

The pupils are absolutely delighted! Our sincere thanks to the Friends of Norwich School for making this happen – the grant awarded to Close Creatives Collective has been essential in establishing this as an important opportunity, both for the community service programme as well as pupils in L6 who are interested in a career in broadcasting, or who just have a passion for podcasts. There has also been a tremendous buzz around it which has meant more pupils joining throughout the term, which we hope to build on next year.

Lower School Netball Report - Lent 2026

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:55:40 GMT

This year’s netball season has been one of the most successful in recent history, both in terms of participation and performance. It has been a term defined by enthusiasm, commitment and outstanding achievement across all age groups.

Over the course of the term, more than 60 fixtures were played, with every girl from U8 to U11 representing the school in at least one match; most in many more. This level of involvement is a testament to the strength and depth of the programme, as well as the pupils’ eagerness to contribute, perform and compete.

Our U8 players have demonstrated excellent coachability and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. Their performances in the house netball competition were highly encouraging, and it was particularly rewarding to see them take to the court in their first fixture against NHSFG. They embraced the experience with confidence, successfully applying skills developed in training to a competitive setting.

The U9 squad continued to build on the strong foundations laid last year, participating in an increasing number of BEE Netball fixtures and festivals. While the emphasis at this stage remains on participation and enjoyment, the girls have shown clear progress in their teamwork and tactical understanding. They are developing into a very promising group and we look forward to their continued growth next year. At U11 level, our Lower 3 and Upper 3 pupils formed a highly competitive cohort, fielding up to six teams throughout the term. The standard across the group has been exceptionally high, with impressive depth in talent reflected in both performances and results. It has been particularly pleasing to see so many girls regularly involved in weekly fixtures, contributing to a vibrant and competitive environment.

However, this term has undoubtedly belonged to the U11A team, who have enjoyed a truly remarkable season. Remaining unbeaten throughout, they achieved an outstanding treble of titles. Their campaign began with a dominant victory at the OBH Festival, competing against strong schools and clubs from across the eastern region. This success was followed by an exceptional performance at the U11 IAPS Netball Tournament, where they once again went unbeaten to be crowned Eastern Region IAPS Champions. They completed their treble in style, securing the U11 County Cup without losing a match. This squad has demonstrated not only exceptional skill, but also outstanding teamwork, resilience, and coachability. At times, their quality of play has been nothing short of superb. The future is incredibly bright for these girls and we look forward to following their progress closely as they move into the Senior School.

STEM University offer update (March 2026)

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:28:42 GMT

With British Science week happening last week, it is a great time to celebrate some of the many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine) offers our Upper 6 pupils have received from the most selective UK universities.

STEM is very strong at Norwich School with consistently large numbers of both girls and boys choosing Sciences, Maths and Further Maths for A level: 80 of last year’s Upper 6 cohort took Maths A level (the most popular A level subject) with over 40 taking each of the three Sciences and 17 taking Further Maths.

There is so much going on in STEM areas within school; the pupil led Med Soc (Medical Society) have recently enjoyed learning surgical suturing and practising this on pigs’ trotters, Upper 6 pupil Adit Raje has just gained a ‘Top Gold’ in the British Physics Olympiad coming in the top 69 of the 9000 entrants and Upper 6 pupil Emmanuel Milne’s gold in the British Biology Olympiad placed him in the top 5% of the 18,800 pupils who took part nationally. Both of these performances qualified the pupils for Round 2 of these Olympiads whilst the lower 4 and lower 5 VEX Robotics team’s recent regional and then national success qualified them for the international finals that will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, USA in April.

The school’s Apply+ Programme is run by Mr Pearce. It supports pupils applying to academic courses that require admissions tests and/or interviews.

STEM Oxbridge offers:

Of the 10 Norwich School pupils with offers to study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities this cycle, 5 are for STEM subjects:

Thomas Irvine – Medicine at the University of Cambridge

Georgia Lloyd – Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Cambridge

Adit Raje – Physics at the University of Oxford

Freya Simmonds – Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge

Emile Verschoor – Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge

Other Apply+ STEM offers received so far this cycle:

Thomas Cahir – Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Manchester

Isaac Chan – Physics with Theoretical Physics at Imperial

Arthur Dannatt – Mathematics at the University of Warwick

Katerina Di Maria – Biochemistry at Imperial

Thomas Hsia – Computer Science at University of Warwick

Leon Liu – Physics at the University of Manchester

Maya Peart – Microbiology at Imperial

Adit Raje – Physics at Imperial

Emile Verschoor – Physics at Imperial

Halvard Yip – Data Science at the University of Warwick

Medicine and Veterinary medicine:

We are delighted that all of our pupils who have applied for medicine and veterinary medicine this cycle have gained offers to study these highly competitive courses:

Omar Alfiky

Isio Emore

India-Rose Fox

Lizzie Henson

Thomas Irvine

Isabelle Last

Emmanuel Milne

Ana Paduaru

Sruthi Santhosh

Freya Simmonds

Particular congratulations to Isabelle Last, Sruthi Santhosh, Thomas Irvine and Isio Emore who have each already received offers from all four med/vet schools they applied to, something achieved by fewer than 5% of applicants nationally each admissions cycle.

The following pupils have successfully navigated interviews for these allied health professions:

Ciara Bethapudy – Pharmacy

Emilia Meade – Midwifery

Krishni Theiventhira - Pharmacy

As is the norm at this point in the year, a significant proportion of the most competitive courses are still making decisions on which applicants to offer places to. We look forward to sharing more successes with the Norwich School community at the start of next term.

An Energetic and Confident Performance of Matilda Jr. by Upper 3!

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:30:36 GMT

Upper 3 delivered an energetic and confident performance of Matilda Jr., bringing Roald Dahl’s beloved story to life with enthusiasm, humour, and impressive stage presence.

From the very beginning, the cast showed a strong sense of teamwork and commitment. The opening scenes were lively and well-paced, immediately capturing the audience’s attention. The pupils demonstrated clear understanding of their characters, with expressive acting and confident delivery of lines throughout.

The role of Matilda was performed with great charm and maturity, balancing intelligence, bravery, and warmth. Miss Trunchbull stood out as a commanding and entertaining presence on stage, with exaggerated physicality and strong vocal projection that added to the humour of the performance. Meanwhile, Miss Honey brought a gentle and heartfelt contrast, creating some of the production’s most touching moments.

The ensemble work was particularly impressive. Group scenes were well-coordinated, and the cast maintained high energy levels, especially during the musical numbers. Songs were performed with enthusiasm and clarity, and choreography was executed with confidence, showing clear rehearsal and dedication.

Costumes and props added to the storytelling, helping to create a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. Scene transitions were smooth, keeping the performance flowing effectively without losing momentum.

Upper 3 should be extremely proud of their performance. Their hard work, creativity, and teamwork resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable production that entertained the audience from start to finish. It was a fantastic showcase of talent and a memorable interpretation of Matilda Jr..

Lower 2 Explore the London Sites

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:09:51 GMT

Lower Two enjoyed a successful two‑day residential in London.

The trip began with a train journey into the city, followed by an introduction to travelling independently on the Underground. Thirdly, then pupils then visited the London Eye, where many showed great courage in overcoming fears of heights while enjoying panoramic views and identifying key landmarks, including their hostel near St Paul’s Cathedral. Secondly, the children had a wonderful time at the Paddington Experience, where they eagerly joined Paddington in his quest to make the perfect marmalade. Working together, they helped gather ingredients, stirred the mixture with great enthusiasm, and proudly supported Paddington in creating his famous treat. Thirdly, riverboat cruise along the Thames provided further learning, offering insights into London’s architecture and the history of the Great Fire of London. The day concluded with a well‑deserved dinner at Pizza Express.

On the second day, the group explored the Tower of London, observing the ravens, viewing the Crown Jewels, and learning about royal life throughout history. A picnic on the grounds offered a relaxed end to the visit. All pupils represented the school admirably and should be proud of their achievements on their first residential.

Choristers Visit London for Evensong with Temple Church Choir

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:17:10 GMT

The Choristers visited London on Wednesday 4 March to sing Evensong with the Temple Church Choir.

We left from Norwich train station at 9.30am after a quick rehearsal, and arrived in London in time for lunch at Zizzi. We were then shown around St Paul’s Cathedral and enjoyed testing out the acoustics in the Whispering Gallery. After braving the narrow spiral staircases all the way up to the Golden Gallery, we admired the spectacular views over London.

At the end of the tour we had a group photo on an amazing cantilever staircase (used in the Harry Potter films as the way to the Divination classroom), and then walked to the Temple Church. Following a rehearsal with their choir, they all sang Evensong together at 6pm. The standard of singing was breathtaking, a testament to the hard work and dedication these young musicians display on a daily basis.

We caught the 8pm train and arrived back in Norwich just before 10pm, tired but happy after a rewarding and fulfilling day.

Pupil Highlights:

“The whole day was 10/10. I especially enjoyed seeing the spiral staircase in St Paul’s used in the Harry Potter films!”

“My favourite part was singing at the Temple Church with the other choir. I also liked the view from the top of St Paul’s Cathedral, even if it was very high up - I’m not great with heights!”

Norwich School Pupils Knit for the Community

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:09:33 GMT

With thanks to an award from the Friends of Norwich School, the Community Knit Club has been busy knitting winter essentials.

With the very generous support of the Friends of Norwich School, a new club has started in the Art and Design Department: Community Knit. We were delighted to be awarded funding to purchase a knitting machine and yarns to support the club.

Members of Community Knit have had the opportunity to learn a range of techniques on the knitting machine, including casting on, creating stripes, lacework, laddering, and following their own calculated knitting patterns. Pupils are then using the yarns to design and knit winter accessories, which will be donated to local children’s charities. It has been impressive to see how quickly the pupils have developed confidence working with the knitting machine.

A huge thank you to the FONS for supporting our bid and helping to make this club possible. We hope that the group will continue to grow and be part of Norwich School’s clubs for many years to come.

Miss Rodgers

The Magic of Mozart in the Chapel

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:39:40 GMT

On Monday 16 March, the Chapel were treated to a night of song on the Magic of Mozart. Emmanuel Milne (U6) reports on this below.

On Monday 16 of March, the Chamber Choir led by Posy Walton produced: The Magic of Mozart. There were a few solos from Ms Clarke with the flute and Ms Youngs with the clarinet, displaying our dedicated music department, showcasing their skill and musical appreciation of the classical period, this was clearly heard during their striking performances.

Furthermore, the Chamber Choir sang many pieces from different Operas that Mozart wrote, including solos from Isla Bowles, Pearl Lee, Anna Rechel, Charlie Collier and Charlotte Platten, showing a varied evening of talent. To end this evening, the Chamber Choir sang the finale of “The Marriage Of Figaro” which ended the concert with passion.

The Royal Geographical Society Takes Stock of Fisheries in the Blake Studio!

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:34:54 GMT

Norwich School has had the honour of being the host site for the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in the East of England since 2019. Ours is an ideal venue for their engaging public talks from renowned experts about the physical, human and environmental world around us.

On 16 March 2026 we heard a terrific presentation given by Stephen Akester entitled Rethinking the future of our seas, and what you can do to help. Stephen is a veritable font of all knowledge concerning global fisheries and fish stocks. He is a highly respected expert who advises the World Bank, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, and national governments on fisheries policy.

Through comprehensible interpretation of data and up-to-the-minute fishing vessel GPS tracking information, he gave us a compelling and intelligent assessment of world fish stocks and practices. Whilst there are clearly some areas of deep concern, unsustainable practices involving indiscriminate bottom trawling and unregulated industries in offending countries, Stephen also gave an upbeat assessment of areas where sustainable fishing has seen some dramatic recoveries in levels of nutritional, tasty fish that we can land on our dinner plates with a clear conscience.

A large audience of pupils, staff, alumni, Fellows of RGS, academics and parents left the talk better informed and hugely impressed by our speaker. His professionalism, steely determination to drive best practice and genuine environmental concern was evident to all, especially when fielding a stimulating Q&A afterwards and over refreshments. Attracted by such ‘fishy’ goings-on, even Budge, the Cathedral Cat, put in a guest appearance, and sat salivating over big tuna on the screen!

These RGS talks offer intellectual rigour and great entertainment for professionals/academics and the lay person alike, and are always well worth attending, whatever the topic under discussion. The next talk will be given by accomplished and award-winning wildlife cameraman and director Toby Hough, who is also a proud Old Norvicensian. His credits include work seen on Countryfile, The One Show, Springwatch and numerous BBC wildlife documentaries and travel programmes. His talk promises to be a memorable visual feast! Tickets are on sale here: RGS: Toby Hough - Lemurs to leopards: filming adventures from around the world . All are welcome. It takes place on Thursday 7 May 2026 at 19:30 in the Blake Studio.

A Jam-Packed Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:02:04 GMT

From March 16 - March 20, Norwich School celebrated Neurodiversity Celebration week through a series of engaging whole School events.

Pupils from across the school worked alongside staff from the SEND department and the School’s EDI officer to learn about and celebrate neurodiversity throughout the week.

On Monday pupils got creative creating a piece of community artwork to celebrate Neurodiversity. The artwork included fingerprints from staff and pupils to represent how no two brains are alike, and that we all deserve a place to feel seen and celebrated.

On Wednesday over 50 pupils joined in with activities in the Undercroft Library. The activities explored pupil’s knowledge and attitudes towards neurodiversity and promoted discussion surrounding the representation of neurodiversity in the media as well as neurodiverse celebrities. Pupils reflected positively on these topics, sharing thoughts such as;

“Representation is important so that people aren’t treated badly in real life”

“Writers can interview and get to know neurodivergent people to get an accurate understanding of what is actually

like to have that specific condition”

“Representation is important because it shows that not all people who are neurodiverse are the same.”

“Representation is important to help people feel seen and to educate people.”

The event ended with delicious cupcakes and treats for all who took part.

Finally, on Friday tutor groups took part in a Neurodiversity Survey, which looked to understand pupil’s perceptions of neurodiversity across the school. This survey will help us understand pupil opinions and experiences, so that we can continue to champion neurodiversity all year round.

Upper 1 Visit Castle Rising

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:10:58 GMT

On 12 March, Upper 1 embarked on a fascinating journey back in time with a visit to Castle Rising, bringing their learning about medieval castles to life. During the trip, the children discovered that Castle Rising Castle is one of the finest surviving examples of a Norman motte and bailey castle in the UK.

They learned about the huge earthwork defences that were carefully constructed around the castle, along with the imposing gatehouse and towering stone walls designed to protect it from attack. The children also discovered how a wide moat once completely surrounded the castle, forming a powerful and intimidating barrier that made it extremely difficult for enemies to approach. The drawbridge and portcullis were also vital features in controlling who could enter!

Upper 1 learnt about the Murder Hole, a clever defensive feature used by castle guards to drop boiling water, stones, or other objects onto attackers below. The children also explored the remains of the castle kitchen and stepped into the magnificent Great Hall, imagining the feasts, meetings, and celebrations that would once have filled the room. They listened to stories about a bedchamber believed to be one of the most haunted rooms in the UK, explored the original church built 200 years before the castle, and looked at the ruins of the bailey buildings.

The trip was a wonderful opportunity for the children to consolidate their learning of life in a medieval castle.

Upper 6 Physics Olympiad

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:35:46 GMT

Upper Sixth Physics pupils recently participated in the British Physics Olympiad hosted by the University of Oxford. The challenge involved answering a series of highly demanding abstract physics problems from beyond the scope of the A Level curriculum. Around 9000 pupils initially took part in the new Olympiad Round 0, with pupils needing to achieve above a threshold score to proceed to Round 1. Over 1800 pupils from 475 schools qualified for Round 1.

The following pupils from Norwich School made it through to Round 1 and achieved these excellent results:

Emile Verschoor Silver

Arthur Dannatt Silver

Adit Raje Top Gold

Adit Raje's outstanding performance meant that he also qualified for Round 2 of the Olympiad - an exceptional achievement given that only 69 pupils out of the original 9000 made it through.

He proceeded to gain a Silver Award in this event, an incredible achievement and recognition that he is one of the top young physicists in the country at problem solving.

Little Roots Allotment Open Afternoon – Beautiful Pots of Colour Were Created!

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:15:26 GMT

On Friday 13 March, the Little Roots Allotment was delighted to welcome parents, grandparents and pupils to the open afternoon. This event gave families the opportunity to look round the evolving gardening space and experience the allotment in its new location. It was wonderful to see many families exploring the allotment and admiring the work that has been done by pupils so far.

Pupils had the chance to get their hands dirty and plant their very own spring planters, which they took home— just in time to make the perfect Mother’s Day gift! Surrounded by cheerful flowers and newly emerging vegetables, the afternoon was filled with excitement, creativity, and an appreciation for the beauty of our unique school grounds.

FONS Invests in our Young Entrepeneurs

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:12:45 GMT

The ever-popular Young Chamber participants have launched their businesses and are learning what it takes to be successful.

Many thanks to the Friends of Norwich School who continue to support the school’s society for entrepreneurs.

The FONS donation was channelled into supporting investments into 14 Chamber companies who presented business plans and competed for seed funding finance. Goods for sale include jewellery, fashion and clothing, printed items, a number of toys and widgets and assisting Little Lifts, a charity supporting people with cancer.

There are 55 pupils (across 4th Form and 6th Form) currently active in the Chamber programme, some of whom led an assembly on Young Chamber to share their enterprising ambitions.

Just before Christmas the Chamber partnered with the school’s Amnesty group and made a total of £345 in revenues (Chamber) and donations (Amnesty).

Businesses are moving forwards through the academic year and trading successfully. The society also meets weekly for the younger members to take opportunities to present and lead with their ideas.

We wish them continued success amongst their valuable experiences.

Fraser Evans (20-25) Selected for GB Hockey Elite Player Development Squad

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:25:43 GMT

The programme helps athletes transition into senior international hockey.

We are delighted to share that Fraser Evans has been selected for the GB Hockey Elite Player Development Squad. Fraser started playing hockey in M5 at Norwich School and was joint captain of last year's 1 ^st XI Hockey Team. Fraser is currently on a GAP year before heading to the University of Bath.

Congratulations, Fraser! What an inspiring achievement.

Coming Up at the Crypt - 'Norfolk Suite’ Colour Photographs.

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:15:58 GMT

‘Norfolk Suite’ Colour Photographs

18 April - 1 May

17 April Private Viewing, 18:00 - 20:00

Gallery Open 10am - 5pm. Closed Sundays.

The Crypt Gallery, Norwich School.

An exhibition of an edit of 50 colour photographs from a period from 2002 to the present of journeys around

Norfolk.

‘These are not necessarily landscapes but notes, observations and points of the countryside and towns which I travelled through and stopped at’

There is no entrance fee but the works are for sale in limited editions of 10, prices and sizes on application.

Med Soc Learn Surgical Suturing

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:02:23 GMT

Following a request from the pupils leading the school's Medical Society, Mrs Warren has run two after school sessions teaching sixth form pupils keen to study medicine and veterinary medicine how to perform surgical suturing on pigs' trotters.

Following a teacher demonstration, pupils enjoyed talking through the procedure and asking for consent from their trotter, followed by using scalpels to excise an imaginary cyst on the pig's skin. They then closed the wound by suturing the skin with surgical needles and thread, the most challenging part being 'throwing' the knot several times for each stitch and ensuring it was tight enough. Some promising skills were shown by our surgeons of the future.

World Book Week Celebrations at the Lower School

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:18:29 GMT

orld Book Week brought a wonderful buzz of excitement to the Lower School, with every year group taking part in a rich variety of bookthemed adventures and activities.

The week began with Reception visiting the local independent bookshop Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, where they eagerly spent their World Book Day tokens. Each child chose one of this year’s specially written titles and also had the chance to listen to a few stories in the beautiful bookshop. Back at school, the Library Reading Challenges also launched, encouraging pupils to complete a different challenge each day. Monday’s task— read in an unusual place —sparked great creativity, and pupils were discovered reading under tables, behind bookcases, beneath sofas and even outdoors.

On Tuesday it was Lower One’s turn to visit the bookshop, where they too selected their World Book Day books. Their reading challenge for the day was to recommend a book from a different genre to a friend, prompting thoughtful conversations about mysteries, fantasies, adventures and more. Pupil Rafi said ‘I liked the book I chose because it has lots of facts in.’

Wednesday saw Upper One walking to Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, where they not only chose their books but also became enthusiastic dragon hunters, spotting as many dragons as possible hidden around the shop’s magical displays. ‘I really liked finding the dragons and my favourite one was the dragon which was under the pavement,’ said Jessica from Upper One. Their reading challenge continued the theme of exploring new genres with pupils being encouraged to read something they wouldn’t normally pick off the shelf.

Thursday marked World Book Day itself, and the school was transformed by an array of imaginative, colourful and brilliantly creative costumes. From classic characters to modern favourites, pupils proudly celebrated the stories they love. Many staff joined in the fun by dressing as Mr Men and Little Miss characters, much to the pupils’ delight during a lively assembly of guessing and laughter. Throughout the day, classes enjoyed a range of bookthemed activities, and everyone gathered in the library for the popular Teachers’ Pet Quiz, where staff pets were photographed “reading” books that offered clues to their owners’ identities.

All pupils also took part in the Great Booky Book Swap, which allowed them to choose new reading material to enjoy over the coming weeks. Many children also entered the Book in a Box competition, transforming boxes into creative and thoughtful worlds inspired by titles such as Charlotte’s Web , The Land of Stories , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and What the Ladybird Heard .

The celebrations continued on Friday, when Pre-Reception visited the bookshop to exchange their tokens for a book and take part in a delightful workshop themed around Wonderful Me . Pupils also completed the final reading challenge of the week by reading to a real or cuddly pet, creating many heart warming moments as stories were shared with dogs, cats, teddies and every creature in between.

World Book Week was a fantastic celebration of reading, imagination and community. A huge thank you to Bookbugs and Dragon Tales for welcoming our pupils so warmly, and to all staff and families for helping to make the week such a memorable success.

Keeping Track of Cross Country - the East Anglian League

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:39:33 GMT

Saturday 7 March saw the final race in the East Anglian League against runners from Gresham’s, Ipswich and RHS. The team travelled to RHS and the conditions were reasonably dry and still on a flat, fast course.

Our only competing Junior, Jonas Tam, improved upon last week’s third place to come 2nd this week, while in the Intermediate Boys, Kit Rudling came 4th.

The Senior Boys, having showed such consistent quality and excellent camaraderie throughout the season, deservedly took home the East Anglian League Team Trophy.

Well done to everyone who has represented the Cross Country team this season.

Little Roots Flourishes Thanks to FONS

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:31:57 GMT

The Little Roots allotment at the Lower School has enjoyed a wonderful boost this year thanks to a generous grant from the Friends of Norwich School.

FONS support has enabled the space to literally ‘grow’ and become a more vibrant, engaging, and educational environment for the Lower School gardeners.

The funding has been used across the allotment, and a range of resources have been purchased that will benefit pupils in the following terms:

1. Child friendly tools and equipment

New smaller gardening gloves, bulb planters, watering cans, and fleece hoops have made gardening more accessible for younger pupils while helping to protect the raised beds from frost and the occasional inquisitive pigeon.

2. A new cold frame

This valuable addition provides a sheltered space for seedlings to harden off after leaving the potting shed, protecting tender plants from cold winds and helping them gradually adjust to outdoor conditions.

3. Plants for the new pollinator bed

Dahlia tubers and a selection of other, pollinator friendly perennial plants have been purchased and will soon be added to our new pollinator bed, designed to encourage and support bees, butterflies, and other vital wildlife.

4. Materials for site improvements

Wood has been bought to build a fence to supporting the new dead hedge which will provide vital habitat for insects and wildlife. A new gate for the allotment was partly funded by the grant. This was not initially budgeted for, but it became a necessity as the wildlife camera showed the allotment had been receiving regular visits from a particularly enthusiastic local fox, who enjoyed digging for worms! Also deer had been visiting and gave the new honeysuckle plant a drastic haircut!

5. Compost for healthy growing

The grant also funded 15 bags of compost, essential for topping up the raised beds and keeping soil levels healthy throughout the year.

6. Additional plants which give the allotment permanent structure

Some money was used to provide plants such as raspberries, blackberries, as well as a honeysuckle and jasmine to grow over the arch at the entrance to the allotment. Bulbs such as alliums, daffodils and tulips have been planted in new pots and ground beds to provide spring colour.

A Space for Every Pupil

This generous support has truly enabled the allotment to flourish. Most importantly, it has ensured that all Lower School pupils can access, enjoy, and learn from the garden—whether they are planting seeds, observing wildlife, or proudly harvesting their first crops. The Friends’ contribution is helping to nurture not only plants, but curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Friends of Norwich School for their continued support and for helping Little Roots grow.

VEX Robotics National Finals — What a Weekend!

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:44:40 GMT

3 Lower 5 pupils and one Lower 4 pupil travelled to Telford to compete in the VEX Robotics National Finals, an exciting two‑day celebration of STEMM, creativity, and teamwork.

Our pupils designed, built, and programmed their own robots, putting months of hard work into action. Throughout the competition they:

Formed alliances with teams from other schools to play the Mix & Match game and score as many points as possible.
Took on the Driver Skills Challenge, showcasing precision and control.
Demonstrated their coding expertise in the Autonomous Programming Challenge.
Completed four technical interviews with industry professionals, speaking confidently about their engineering decisions and problem‑solving approaches.

We are incredibly proud to announce that our pupils won the ‘Create Award’ for innovative robot design!

Even more excitingly, by winning this award they have qualified to compete at the VEX World Finals in St. Louis, Missouri at the end of April - an extraordinary achievement and a testament to their creativity, teamwork, and determination.

Well done to all four pupils - what an unforgettable milestone!

Jakob Rowlinson's (2000-09) Collaborative Residency in Yorkshire

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:37:21 GMT

ROTATOR is Jakob Rowlinson's first institutional project, presented as an installation at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and a solo exhibition, REVIVER at The Art House, Wakefield

We are delighted to share details of Jakob's work and wish him well for his exhibitions running 18 July to 12 September 2026.

Further details can be read here:

Jakob Rowlinson: ROTATOR | Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Spotlight on STEMM: Our Clubs & Societies

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:08:57 GMT

At Norwich School, learning doesn’t stop when a lesson is over! Our co-curricular programme empowers pupils to explore and experiment – and nowhere is this more evident than in our vibrant STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine) opportunities.

Whether your child dreams of designing the cities of the future, racing an electric car, coding competition-ready robots or pursuing a career in medicine, our clubs and societies provide the platform to turn curiosity into capability!

Hands-On Innovation: Engineering in Action

Greenpower Electric Car Team (L5-L6)

What better way to learn engineering than by building and racing a real electric car?

Our Greenpower Electric Car Team maintains and improves a competition vehicle, racing in heats twice a year. Pupils apply for roles across design, mechanics, electronics, sponsorship and project management – mirroring real-world engineering teams. Lower 6 pupils mentor younger pupils, fostering leadership alongside technical expertise.

Engineering Education Project (L6)

Sixth Form pupils can take part in a six-month professional engineering project, working alongside an industry mentor to solve a real company challenge. The experience culminates in a formal presentation and submission for a CREST Gold Award – a nationally recognised achievement that strengthens university and apprenticeship applications.

CityZen – Civil Engineering Challenge (L6)

Run by in Institution of Civil Engineers, CityZen invites teams to design solutions to complex infrastructure problems in a simulated city. Pupils research, collaborate and present their ideas before tackling a real local civil engineering issue.

From sustainability to urban planning, CityZen encourages pupils to think critically about how engineering shapes society.

Engineering Society – (L4-U6)

The aim of the Engineering Society is to hear first-hand from engineering professionals, in both academia and industry, about their paths into engineering and specialities. This provides an exciting opportunity for pupils to hear first hand from professionals in the field, allowing them to draw inspiration for their own careers.

Coding, Robotics & Computational Thinking

VEX Robotics (L4-L5)

In VEX Robotics, teams of 4 or 5 design, build and code robots before entering the National Robotic Competition. Pupils develop programming skills, mechanical design understanding and strategic thinking – all while working as part of a high-performing team.

Linguistics & Code Cracking Club (L4-U6)

Combining logic, pattern recognition and analytical thinking, this club explore the fascinating intersection of language and mathematics, Pupils prepare for competitions such as the UK Linguistics Olympiad and tackle code-breaking challenges that stretch the mind.

Maths Club (L4-U6)

From Junior Maths Challenge preparation to STEP and MAT support, out tiered Maths Clubs provide stretch and challenge at every level. Pupils explore mathematical ideas beyond the syllabus, developing resilience and intellectual confidence.

Medicine, Science & the Bigger Questions

STEMM Society (U4-U6)
Our dedicated STEMM Society explore science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine beyond the curriculum. Through practical challenges and discussion, pupils broaden their understanding while working towards a credited Youth STEMM Award.

Vet Society (L4-U6)

For pupils considering veterinary medicine, the society invites expert speakers and offers insight into the realities of animal healthcare careers – providing early professional exposure and inspiration.

Intellectual Curiosity & Academic Exploration

STEMM at Norwich School also thrives in our pupil-led academic societies:

Erpingham Society (M5–U6) – interdisciplinary lectures spanning STEMM, humanities and the arts.
Ethelbert Society (L4–L5) – a junior lecture society encouraging scholarly exploration.
Inters and Senior Maths Clubs – extending mathematical understanding beyond the classroom.

These forums develop confidence in research, presentation and debate — essential skills for future scientists, engineers and medics.

Konkurenz der Eloquenz 2026

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:19:14 GMT

On Monday 9 March, 4 Germanists travelled with Mr Croston to Kings' Ely to take part in the Konkurenz der Eloquenz 2026.

We were competing against 4 other schools from the region. In the GCSE years' competition, Preeyasa Neupane's portrayal of Gregor Samsa waking up as an insect in Kafka's 'Verwandlung' came in third place and Simran Chawla's reading of Goethe's Erlkönig winning the best reading prize in that age group.

For the A Level competition, both of our entries swept the board with Felix Strowger reading ' Die Kanguru-Chroniken' and Charlie Collier reading the introduction to 'Emil and the Detectives' and finishing in second and first place respectively.

Our Germanists introduced their chosen texts well. They appreciated the importance of taking the text slowly and looking up at the audience making them feel part of the reading. They were all successful in capturing the essence of the text through their reading and by adding their own interpretation of the author's words in how they varied their voices. The judge from Cambridge University was very impressed by the wide range of texts each of our pupils chose.

International Women's Day Assembly

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:01:52 GMT

Sunday 8 March marked International Women's Day. A day to celebrate the achievements women have made in the fight for equality, to reflect on the journey that brought us here, and to look ahead at how we can empower the next generation. We have come a long way since the suffragettes marched and campaigned in the early 20th century. But we still have a long way to go.

In assemblies like this, we often shine a spotlight on inspirational women, changemakers, trailblazers and revolutionaries. But today, I want to step back and look at statistics that explore the bigger picture, the everyday reality for women in the UK.

We often use statistics to try to ground ideas in reality, and when it comes to women's equality, there is no shortage of figures to choose from. But statistics can feel cold and distant, disconnected from the real people behind them.

So today, rather than just reading numbers off a page, we are going to bring them to life.

When your year group or form is called, please stand up silently and remain standing until I ask you to sit.

Please will Lower 5, Middle 5, Upper 5 and Lower 6 stand

Look around you. The number of people now standing represents approximately 62% of our school, and that figure represents the proportion of young women aged 18 to 34 who have experienced online abuse or harassment. That is roughly 2 in every 3 women.

[Please sit.]

Online harassment has only become more serious in recent years, as our digital and real lives become ever more intertwined. New forms of exploitation, including deepfake technology, are exposing women and girls to harm on a scale we are only beginning to understand. But this is something we have the power to change. We can be the generation that says no to these behaviours and works to build a safer, more equitable world online.

Please will Lower 4, Middle 5 and Upper 6 stand

The pupils now standing represent around 44% of our school. This figure reflects the proportion of women aged 16 to 34 who have experienced catcalling, unwanted sexual comments, or street harassment.

[Please sit.]

Street harassment predominantly affects young women, and its impact runs far deeper than the moment itself. It shapes how safe women feel walking down the street, affects their confidence and self-esteem, and can limit their independence. We can be the generation that ends this, not by looking the other way, but by speaking up, challenging the behaviour, and holding each other to a higher standard.

These two statistics are just a glimpse into a much wider picture. Women still face significant barriers in education, employment, and daily life, both here in the UK and around the world. Many of these barriers are preventable. And they can be overcome in our lifetime, if we choose to act.

So let's also look at the progress already made.

Please will Upper 4 stand

This represents 10% of our school — the percentage of female MPs in the House of Commons back in 1997.

Please will Lower 5 and Upper 5 also stand

Now we have 40% of the school standing. That reflects the proportion of UK MPs who are women today, 263 women in the House of Commons, the highest number in our history.

[Please sit.]

More women in Parliament means women's voices are heard more clearly in the decisions that shape all of our lives. It gives a real voice to issues impacting women and means legislation is shaped by a deeper understanding of women's experiences. That is real, tangible progress.

Please will Lower 4 stand

This is around 9.5% of the school — the percentage of FTSE 350 company board positions held by women back in 2011.

Please will Upper 5 and Upper 6 also stand

And this is 43% — where we are today. In just fifteen years, representation on company boards has transformed. That is not a small shift. That is a movement.

[Please sit.]

I hope that seeing these numbers standing in front of you, as people, not percentages, has given you pause to think. The women experiencing gender-based harassment and violence are not statistics. They are individuals with their own stories, their own lives, and their own potential. And the women driving change, in Parliament, in boardrooms, in their communities, each have their own story too.

International Women's Day is a time to reflect on how far we have come and how far we still have to go, and it is vital we never lose sight of the individuals behind that journey. If we can leave you with one challenge, it is this: next time you see a statistic, don't let it wash over you. Consider the real person behind it, someone with a life, a story, and people who love them. Because collective progress doesn't happen in parliaments or boardrooms alone. It starts with empathy, and empathy starts with us.

The Need To Read - Mrs Grant Shares Her Thoughts On Why The National Year of Reading is so Important.

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 15:49:15 GMT

In today’s Sunday Times (8 March, 2026), Andrew Marr describes his love of literature: “it has given me a reliable friend, always there, always surprising, for almost half a century.” His own love of reading was born in his childhood, as for so many of us; but this love of reading is waning amongst children nationally. In June 2025 the National Literacy Trust found “just 1 in 3 (32.7%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 said that they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2025. This marks a 36% decrease in reading enjoyment levels since we started asking about this in 2005.” Of course, this has repercussions academically for pupils; but as well as this, as Andrew Marr is saying, something even greater (if perhaps less directly measurable) may be lost too.

Katherine Rundell, the children’s author, comments “if there is a silver bullet for ordinary, everyday childhood happiness, it is reading for pleasure. Children read for joy; for jokes they can steal; to have anchors in turbulent water and company when they hide silently behind the bins at break; to find friendship and respect when it’s not on offer elsewhere; and to become empowered within their own thoughtfulness when the world otherwise renders them powerless. Reading for pleasure promotes academic confidence; it has been shown, over and over, to be a key predictor of a child’s future economic success. And it unlocks us. Kafka wrote that certain books “seem like a key to unfamiliar rooms in one’s own castle”.” As an aside, I also recommend for us, as parents, Katherine Rundell’s published essay ‘Why you should read children’s books, even though you are so old and wise’.

I have always loved reading too. Most recently I have finished ‘The Correspondent’ by Virginia Evans (brilliant premise: a story told just through some of the letters sent and received by the protagonist, but utterly devastating) and ‘Blank Canvas’ by ON Grace Murray (brilliant too: I could hardly bear to witness the inevitable unravelling of her protagonist’s big lie). Both authors did what so many others have done for me in the past: enabled me to walk with other people, often very different to myself, for a while. I feel sympathy with them when they make mistakes, and this has taught me to be kinder to myself when I inevitably make them too. The countless characters, fictional and real, I have walked with through my reading in the past four decades have given me a much bigger sense of perspective and greater compassion for myself and others. Sophie Ratcliffe, Professor of Literature and Creative Criticism at the University of Oxford says “You don’t need to be a writer or an actor or a lover to dream a second life, an unlived life… Every reader does it. In the moment we touch the cover, a second world emerges… With every story we turn the page for, we turn to feel the weight of the unlived life, the other ways we might have gone, or loved, or died.”

I am an optimist and do not believe the trend the National Literacy Trust has found in the last two decades will continue (and here I diverge from James Marriott who is releasing a book later this year ‘The New Dark Ages: The End of Reading and the Dawn of a Post-Literate Society’ ). I think that human interactions, including those via human-written word, will become of increasing value with the dawn of AI. I realise that this optimism will need to be partnered with action though. At Norwich School we have avid readers in the Lower School, encouraged by their wonderful staff and all of the magical activities such as the ‘Harry Potter Book Night’. Like everywhere else, this enthusiasm wanes in the Senior School, but we should not resign ourselves to this. On top of other excellent initiatives already in place we intend, from this September, to more explicitly embed reading (for fun, of whatever they choose, supported by lots of suggestions and structure) into the homework timetable for our Fourth Form. We all need a good night’s sleep in order to work well at school the next day and what better habits could we, as parents, instil in our children than encouraging them to turn off screens by, say, 9.30pm and to read in bed shortly afterwards?

We can easily imagine the many reasons for the decline in children reading, but let’s finish as we began with Andrew Marr’s reflections on the longevity of reading a good book in comparison to these other distractions: “A way to test this is by comparing regular reading of books with the addictive algorithms provided by the social media platforms. These are clever … But as soon as I throw the phone to one side, the tiny films are gone again, as sustaining for life as a salty snack. The great novels remain. They smoulder and glow. They reverberate. They remain, across most of a lifetime, my secret garden.”

Spectacular Cathedral Concert Wins Chorus of Approval

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:12:37 GMT

Norwich’s stunning St John the Baptist Catholic Cathedral was the host site for the Norwich School Choral Society public concert for 2026 held on 04 March 2026. Since the Society’s founding in 1983, appreciative audiences have been treated to music of the highest quality, and this year’s concert was no exception.

This musical highlight fosters some remarkable intergenerational collaborations: the Norwich School Choral Society (being the school’ s adult choir made up of alumni, friends, parents and staff) perform together with pupil singers, creating a combined chorus in excess of 110-strong, spanning ages from teenagers to the over 80s! Similarly, talented pupil instrumentalists and music scholars play alongside the professional musicians of the renowned Norwich Baroque ensemble, bringing together a 30-strong orchestra, complete with the pleasing notes of the harp this year. The visual spectacle and rousing sound of nearly 150 musicians performing together is simply terrific.

This year’s programme comprised a mix of the modern and the old, the familiar and the new.

Our performance kicked off with two beautifully expressive and moving 20 ^th century choral works: Daley’s Upon Your Heart (1999) and Bainton’ s And I Saw a New Heaven (1928) under the baton of the school’s hugely experienced Head of Vocal Studies, Posy Walton. Closing the first half saw the highly anticipated arrival on stage of Year 13 brass music specialist, Melissa Hawkings on her horn. A member of the National Youth Orchestra, a prolific performer and award-winning composer, Melissa has delighted school audiences for many years, and the virtuoso performance she gave of Mozart’s much-loved Horn Concerto No 3 was pure magic. Both the soloist and the orchestra under the Music Dept’s charismatic Andrew Weeks clearly relished their performance, as did our audience. Melissa reflected afterwards:

It was an honour to perform Mozart's third horn concerto with Norwich Baroque. The opportunity to work with such a high-level ensemble was amazing, and I enjoyed every second of the experience! It was truly exhilarating to hear a piece I had been playing alone for so long being brought to life in the Cathedral. I'm so grateful for everyone at school who has supported me in my musical journey.

After the interval, the programme moved on to another modern work, Goodall’s Eternal Light: A Requiem (2008), an elegiacal, varied and hugely moving piece, with the full orchestra and choir conducted by the inspirational Posy Walton. Many will be familiar with Goodall’s work from TV themes to such shows as Blackadder and The Vicar of Dibley, so will appreciate his strong melodies, but this work had a profundity and gravitas in a completely different league. It was performed magnificently by the ensemble, the culmination of many months of practice in the school’s Chapel throughout autumn’s gales and winter’s snows.

The six talented vocal soloists in the Goodall piece (Ben Griffiths, Charlotte Platten, Anna Rechel, Pearl Lee, Charlie Collier and Isla Bowles) were all pupils from the school between Year 11 and Year 13, many having been Choristers at Norwich’s other Cathedral. Their mature and accomplished performances will undoubtedly be highlights in their careers at the school. The audience was astonished to have witnessed such youthful soloists at such a large public event with for their voices filing the nave.

Norwich School has long been a member of the national Choir Schools’ Association (CSA), founded in 1918 to promote and support the education and wellbeing of choristers in the country’s great cathedrals and churches. After all, the choral tradition in Norwich School dates back to the 11 ^th century. We were therefore thrilled to welcome as our principal guest of honour its Executive Director, Rachel Hicks. Steffan Griffiths, Head of Norwich School, expressed his heartfelt thanks to the CSA for their extremely generous lead sponsorship for the third year in succession, enabling the school to put on such a memorable event. Rachel commented afterwards:

I very much enjoyed the concert. It was fantastic to see CSA’s support being put to such excellent use and to see the school’s wider community uniting in an evening of excellent music-making.

The staging of an event of such complexity was also made possible thanks to the generous support from other sponsors to whom organizers are incredibly grateful: respected local businesses Hansells Solicitors, Savills property agents and Drury Vehicle Services. Organizers’ gratitude goes out to family sponsors passionate about this event, namely the Boone, Bamber, King, Ricketts, Prior, Drake and Westgate families. We offer our appreciation to the new Dean the Very Revd Martin Hardy and the Bishop of East Anglia, Bishop Peter Collins, and their staff at the Cathedral for welcoming the school back to their lovely cathedral for a third year. Months of meticulous preparation from the Choral Society Committee and members of the school’s hard-working Music Department deserve heart-felt appreciation too. Finally, organizers’ thanks go to all performers for their sensational performances, and to the audience whose generous final ovation reflected the pleasure this memorable evening of music had brought them.

‘Trust the scones, not the reindeer’ - An Assembly Address from Barny Pearce

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:28:19 GMT

“Follow your heart.” “Do what feels right.” “Let your emotions lead”. We’re told this by countless popular songs and films. Not that I’d know, being more of a “Newsnight man”… but I was surprised about how many of the following even I instantly recognised.

"It mattered not that you could not close your mind. It was your heart that saved you," says Dumbledore to Harry Potter.

“Search your feelings, you know it to be true,” says Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker, right after saying “I am your father”.

Many songs – from Aretha Franklin to Billie Eilish – are literally called “Follow your heart”, and while I appreciate Swedish rock ballads are a tad niche, Roxette’s “Listen to your heart" sums it up, as well as being – to use a technical musical term – a proper 80s banger.

Can you finish this one…? “Reindeers are better than people; Sven, why is love so hard?” … “You feel what you feel, and your feelings are real… c’mon Kristoff, let down your guard”? And if you can’t get advice from a talking reindeer…

You feel what you feel, and your feelings are real… This contains truth: feelings matter. Empathy drives ethical behaviour. Fear highlights danger. Persistent feelings of worry tell us something isn’t right. Our bodies give us vital signs: stress, exhaustion, illness, low mood. Those feelings matter; don’t ignore those.

But how often does “following your heart” actually lead you to start a long, difficult homework task? Upper 5 and 6: you know this: when you just don’t feel like that next revision slot; when you feel less like locking in, and more like lying down and waiting ‘til you do feel like it.

In 2004, I worked in a window-frame warehouse. It was exactly as exciting as it sounds, and such were the friendships I’d made on the job that I’d spend lunchbreaks in my car, by myself. Those lunchbreaks blur in my memory, apart from one: a speaker on the radio was saying that we so often let actions follow emotions – we listen to our hearts, we do what feels right – not realising that, more often, emotions follow actions.

This felt like news, but I bet you already know that emotions follow actions. How often do you just not feel like getting on the bus into school, or going to training in the rain – only to feel better when you get there? You felt what you felt – but now you feel loads better; emotions followed actions.

I started to see this everywhere. C. S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia, applied it to the issue of faith:

“Faith,” he said, “is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. Moods will change, whatever view your reason takes... Now that I am a Christian, I do have moods in which the whole thing looks very improbable. …Unless you teach your moods ‘where they get off, [you’re] just a creature dithering to and fro, its beliefs really dependent on the weather and the state of its digestion.”

Emotions matter, and sometimes we’ll need support to work through them – I’ve certainly been there – but it can also be empowering to know that we aren’t always bound to follow how we feel. The talking reindeer tells us to let down our guard; but our reading today said quite the opposite: guard your heart; fix your eyes ahead.

In two places, I’ve found this game-changing. First: friendships. Falling-out is inevitable in relationships, and often, the last thing we feel like is speaking to the person. But two people have taught me to guard my heart on that one.

One is Nelson Mandela. Mandela spent 27 years imprisoned by a white minority government. Released in 1990, Mandela felt real resentment towards those who locked him up – but here’s what he said about it:

“Our emotions said, the white minority is an enemy – we must never talk to him. But our brains said, if you don’t talk to these men, your country will go up in flames… So we had to reconcile that conflict: our talking to the enemy was the result of the domination of the brain over emotions.”

I also learned this through scones. Eating scones in the kitchen of an older relative shortly before my wedding, she told me: “scones have saved my marriage”. Now, I like a scone, but this confused me. She went on: whenever she and her husband fell out and could barely speak to each other, she’d bake a batch of scones, which she knew he liked. She didn’t feel like it: she’d begin angry and resentful – but acting in love always helped rebuild the feeling of love she didn’t, at that moment, feel.

“Emotions follow actions” also applies to work.

Do you ever try waiting until you “feel like” doing homework or revising, only to find out – shock-horror! – that the feeling never arrives?

Let’s see how Frozen 2 reindeer wisdom sounds here. A pupil might say (perhaps even sing): “TV feels more fun than learning – Sir, why is work so hard?” How to respond?! “You feel what you feel, and your feelings are real… c’mon pupils, put down your flashcaaards…”?

As much as we love the talking reindeer – and as much as we really do need to listen to our bodies and reach out for help around tiredness, stress and low mood – we’re often going to need to tell our moods where to get off when it comes to revision.

Because, yes… Movies feel more fun than mind-maps… Block-blast feels more fun that blurting… Posts feel more fun than past papers… And Traitors feels more fun than spaced retrieval practice (and that one doesn’t even alliterate).

BUT—but… often, emotions follow actions. It’s why my relative baked scones. Why Mandela talked to the enemy. Why you drag yourself onto the bus or out to training: so often, emotions follow action; it feels better when you get there.

Reaching across a relational breakdown helps rebuild the love you didn’t feel. Cracking on with revision creates the positivity you were waiting for, but which would never have arrived without that first step.

So often, we linger outside the door of hard things, waiting for good feelings to carry us through.

But when we guard our hearts and get in the room, we so often discover those feelings – confidence, energy, the satisfaction of learning well done – they were on the other side the whole time, waiting for us to walk in… not like a dog, who bounds up to meet you the moment you get through the door – or is that just my rasculous hound? No: more like a cat, who, invisible at first, waits to check that you’re really home, but before you know it slips in silently to purr by your side.

PGCE Students Learn ALL About WoLLoW

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:43:45 GMT

A group of PGCE students from UEA joined Mrs Dean on Thursday 5 March to learn all about WoLLoW and to visit the Lower School. They observed a brilliant Upper 3 WoLLoW lesson on creating a language and a Lower 2 lesson on numerals around the world. The highlight was a Lower 2 pupil seeing her home language on the board: Sinhala, spoken in Sri Lanka. Pupils spotted similarities and differences between numerals around the world and used their creativity by adding their own ideas to the question, "What could the numerals for 11 look like in these languages?" The Upper 3 and Lower 2 classes and the PGCE visitors alike really enjoyed the sessions.

A Wonderfully Busy and Inspiring Day of Music-Making

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:36:29 GMT

On Thursday 5 March we enjoyed a wonderfully busy and inspiring day of music-making. Music scholars and exhibitioners spent time together in small groups with singer/songwriter Charlie Law, exploring the process of songwriting from first ideas through to finished pieces.

The students approached the challenge with imagination and enthusiasm, and by the end of the session each group had created a completely original song. The four compositions were strikingly different in style and subject matter, demonstrating just how creative the groups had been. Their themes included:

Budge the Cathedral Cat
Treehouses
It’s Spring (But Everyone Is Still Online)
Invisible Lines

From playful storytelling to thoughtful reflections on modern life, the songs showcased a wide range of musical ideas, lyrics and moods. It was wonderful to see such inventiveness, collaboration and musical curiosity from everyone involved.

At lunchtime the music-making continued with a dazzling recital in Chapel. Becky Brown (U6), Brenda Blewett, and Min Ying Deng (M5) performed a beautiful and expressive programme for the audience. Their recital included works by Sergei Rachmaninov, Frédéric Chopin, and Suk, performed with great musical sensitivity and technical assurance.

Altogether, the day was a fantastic celebration of creativity and performance, highlighting the energy and talent of our young musicians.

Lower 4 Explore Medieval Sites

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:44:13 GMT

All of Lower visited two important medieval sites, Castle Rising and Binham Priory, to support their study of the Middle Ages this year. Castle Rising is a brilliant example of a 12 ^th century fortress with its huge earthworks still intact, allowing pupils to visualise attack and defence as well as roam the interior to understand the political role played by the castle. Meanwhile, Binham Priory has an excellent collection of monastic ruins alongside its impressive church, helping pupils understand the function of monasteries while also learning about the impact of the Reformation in the church itself. We were lucky to have a beautiful day and the sites really helped teachers bring to life these crucial aspects of medieval society.

Lower 1 Learn All About The Great Fire of London

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:01:38 GMT

Children from Lower 1 recently enjoyed an exciting and immersive trip to Strangers' Hall, where they stepped back in time to learn all about the Great Fire of London.

During the visit, the children took part in a hands-on experience that brought history to life. They discovered how the fire first started and explored what life was like in 17th-century homes. Through interactive activities, they learned about the dangers people faced and the importance of fire safety.

One of the highlights of the trip was making a house “safe” by identifying fire risks and thinking about how they could be prevented. The children also visited the kitchen, where they explored how fires were used for cooking and heating, and discussed how easily accidents could happen.

They were particularly fascinated by the different ways homes were lit in the past, including candles and open flames, and how these contributed to the spread of the fire.

It was a fun and engaging day that helped bring their learning to life, giving them a deeper understanding of this important historical event.

Lower 1 Pupils Bake Up Learning with Gingerbread Fun

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:49:55 GMT

Pupils in Lower 1 combined literacy and creativity this week by writing their own step-by-step instructions before putting them to the test in the kitchen. As part of their learning, the children carefully planned and wrote clear instructions on how to make gingerbread men, focusing on using bossy verbs, time connectives, and simple sequencing.

Once their instructions were complete, it was time for the fun to begin. The classroom was filled with excitement as the children measured ingredients, mixed the dough, and carefully cut out their gingerbread men shapes. They proudly followed the very steps they had written, bringing their work to life in a delicious way.

The activity helped reinforce their understanding of instructional writing while also developing teamwork and practical skills. Best of all, everyone enjoyed tasting their freshly baked gingerbread men at the end of the day — a sweet reward for their hard work!

Visitor from Japan Learns All About WoLLoW

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:01:02 GMT

Today, we were delighted to Welcome Aki Koyanagi from Iwate University in Northern Japan. Aki was visiting Norwich School to learn all about WoLLoW. She has completed her PhD looking into Language Awareness programmes and she felt that WoLLoW was an excellent example of important work in action. Her next steps are to write a book and to take WoLLoW back to Japan. She observed a WoLLoW lesson, a French lesson, met some of our Upper 4 pupils and helped run a fabulous session on Japanese in Linguistics Club. We learnt about Aki's background, the three scripts in Japanese and we had a go at writing in Hiragana. Thanks to Aki for making the journey to see Norwich School and the exciting courses we offer.

National Year of Reading - February

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:02:42 GMT

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!

Warhammer Club Expansion

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:43:10 GMT

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

With the generous support of FONS we were able to purchase a significant amount of Warhammer 40k terrain for the club along with the paints, glue and brushes we needed to prepare it for use. This has been a project which many members of the club have contributed to during club nights this year and the majority of the terrain is now finished. We plan to spend the small remaining part of the budget replacing paints that have run out and buying some metallic paints to enhance some of the details.

The terrain will be with the club in perpetuity and will get it's first major run-out at the NorHammer event on Saturday 21 ^st of March.

Dr Stephen Treavett

Upper 4 Pupils Enjoy an Insightful Trip to Neasden Hindu Temple in London

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:28:55 GMT

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.

A Drizzly Afternoon in Ipswich for the Cross Country Team

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:49:27 GMT

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.

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!

A Close Contest at The English Schools' Chess Championships

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:35:34 GMT

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.

3D Design Pupils Trip to London

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:19:06 GMT

On Friday 27 February students studying 3D Design, and some of the L6 Art and Design Scholars visited London on a research trip. First stop was Somerset House to see Collect, the Craft Council’s annual art fair on the UK and international circuit dedicated to museum-quality contemporary craft and design. The exhibition featured specialist galleries from across the globe, showing exquisite works include ceramics, furniture, glass, jewellery, wearable art, metalwork, sculpture and textiles.

Two hours later we were back on the circle line on our way to the V&A — the rabbit warren of creativity, and the students self-navigated their way to different themed collections in response to their own personal work themes and disciplines. This saw them explore collections as varied as Architecture, Ceramics, Glass, Jewellery, Metal work, Painting, Photography and the Islamic Middle East collection.

After a little time spent watching the tech set up for the Friday late event that was planned for that evening (DJ’s and everything — well worth a visit I think!), we made our way to Gloucester Rd and headed back to Liverpool Street.

On the way back, we asked the pupils to send highlights reviews of their trip, some of which are shown below.

All in all, an inspiring trip, the pupils were impeccably behaved and seemed to get a lot out of it.

Thanks to all who helped organise our trains and our tickets, and thanks to the students for their involvement and engagement.

Pupil Highlights:

My highlight of our visit to Somerset House was the variety in medium and design, particularly the design- nations 25 ^th anniversary presentation ‘topophillia’ featuring a trio of glass sculptures representing different landscapes. During our time at the V&A I was very intrigued with the ‘Weston Cast Court’ and the plaster replicas of works by Michelangelo, such as David as well as the ‘Islamic Middle East’ collection, especially the works from Iran.

My favourite thing about the collect museum was the Japanese sculpture as we spoke to the guy and he showed us how you can burn incense out of it.

At the Victoria Albert museum my favourite thing was the Japanese kimonos as the detail intrigued me.

I really enjoyed the second museum, with the wide variety of architecture structures, and overall my favourite was a 1/2 structure with a mirror to make it look like it was a full structure.

My favourite part of the trip was drawing ceramics in the V&A museum.

I really enjoyed talking to Hugo the Irish knife maker who gave me invaluable information about how to go about looking further at my project.

My favourite part of the trip was seeing the theme of forms that individual artists have and how similar object can take a different 'accent' from each designer

I really enjoyed the V&A's portrait paintings and the intricacies in them, similarly, with the stained glass section, Japanese ceramics, and Collect's displays, the level of detail within both respective areas were bewildering and motivates me to work harder to perfect my own craft/art.

My favourite sessions in the V&A museum were the painting and photograph gallery. I found the paintings very realistic, with delicate brushstrokes showing the details of the figure and sceneries. On the other hand, the photographs reflected multiple social situations which were very meaningful.

I really enjoyed visiting the V&A museum and Somerset House. While I didn't find anything I could include in my project I found some really interesting pieces and installations in a wide range of mediums and techniques.

Discover Your Ability Day is Back for 2026!

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:41:38 GMT

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

A Level Physicists Explore Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:37:38 GMT

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.

Hamburg Choir Tour in a Glorious Winter Setting

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:22:57 GMT

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!

An Inspiring Day at Selwyn College for Symposium

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:39:54 GMT

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.

Jemison Group Enjoy an Immersive Visit to the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:02:42 GMT

The Jemison Group enjoyed an exciting and immersive visit to The Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum.

They had the opportunity to sit in a cockpit and learn how to fly, giving them a taste of what it might be like to be a pilot. They explored the exhibits and were even able to handle some weapons. They also travelled back in time to the Second World War, stepping inside an Anderson Shelter during an air raid in Norwich.

As part of the day, pupils learned how to map flight paths, linking history with geography and developing their understanding of navigation. It was a memorable visit that deepened their knowledge and sparked plenty of curiosity.

Norwich School Choir Join World-Leadings Musicians to Celebrate Composer Sir Karl Jenkins at Fundraising Concert in King’s Lynn

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:21:31 GMT

On Saturday 7 May, internationally renowned classical musicians will gather in the beautiful setting of St Nicholas Chapel, King’s Lynn, to honour the music of beloved composer Sir Karl Jenkins during a special fundraising concert hosted by Music in the Burnhams. This concert is the centrepiece of Music in the Burnhams' 2026 programme and will be raising funds for Norfolk and Waveney Mind.

The evening, which the composer is due to attend himself, will include performances from the UK’s leading independent orchestra, the British Sinfonietta, the King’s Lynn Festival Chorus and Norwich School Choir, accompanied by acclaimed musicians; cellist Adrian Bradbury, violinists Benedict Holland and Joo Yeon Sir, harpist Alis Huws, euphonium player Dan Thomas, bass baritone Paul Carey Jones and soprano Khrystyna Makar.

Conducted by Ben Horden, Music Director of the King’s Lynn Festival Chorus, together they will perform some of Sir Karl’s most celebrated works, such as Cantilena from Symphonic Adiemus, Benedictus from The Armed Man, and Cantata Memoria, which was written in commemoration of the Aberfan disaster.

Music in the Burnhams is a charity bringing world-leading classical musicians to venues and schools across north-west Norfolk.

Founder, Marian Abramovich, said the Celebration of Sir Karl Jenkins concert will not only provide the opportunity for local communities to witness a rare gathering of renowned musicians, but also support wellbeing services for young people in the area.

“We believe classical music should be for all; that’s why we’re passionate about bringing acclaimed musicians to venues across our corner of Norfolk, so as many people as possible - some for the first time - have the chance to experience and enjoy these incredible live performances,” said Marian.

“We’re also dedicated to supporting local young people, either through school workshops with visiting musicians or fundraising initiatives. Knowing the intrinsic relationship between music and wellbeing, we’re thrilled to be donating proceeds from this concert - and all our events throughout 2026 - to Norfolk and Waveney Mind to support the expansion of mental health services for young people in West Norfolk.”

Marian added: “One of today’s best-loved composers, Sir Karl is a big advocate for mental health support, with his works having previously raised funds for mental health charities aiding military veterans. And one of his most-famous pieces, the poignant Cantata Memoria, pays tribute to those affected by the Aberfan disaster, a terribly tragic event in Welsh history that is approaching its 60 ^th anniversary this year and left many survivors suffering with profound mental health issues. Sir Karl was therefore a fitting choice for the focus of this major fundraising event.”

Music in the Burnhams hopes to raise £20,000 for Norfolk and Waveney Mind by the end of 2026!

To book your tickets click here!

A Frosty Hamburg Trip for Upper 4

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:19:25 GMT

This year, 9 U4 pupils accompanied by Mr Croston and Mrs Dean flew to Hamburg to experience Germany often for the very first time. For Mr Croston, it was the 30th time! It was freezing cold with the temperature being below freezing for the whole stay and there was plenty of snow for the odd snowball fight en route to the next activity.

We stayed in the  Deutsche Seemannsmission  right in the City Centre which provided an ideal base to explore the city and its world-famous port. Our U4 German pupils gained a positive first-hand experience of Germany and were given many opportunities to try out their language skills including writing a traditional postcard to Mr Griffiths. The pupils coped well with buying food, souvenirs, stamps and gifts as well as being willing to try a variety of new foods including Currywurst though only Mr Croston was up for pickled herring.

We had almost three full days in the city and were able to include all the major sights, and the traffic-free city centre provided a safe area to let small groups go shopping and U4 enjoyed finding some bargains in the  Karstadt  department store. On the first night we went swimming and on the second night, we went to the Miniaturwelt in the warehouse district of Hamburg which was fascinating.

We also descended deep under river Elbe to see the 19th century tunnel with lifts for horse and carriage, still operating today. We also found out more about Hamburg's trading past and present and toured the port for a closer look at the dry docks, container terminals and loading bays. Another highlight was Mr Croston’s Hamburg Treasure Hunt with some good selfies in front of various tourist attractions! On the final day, it was still cold, so the Museum der Arbeit gave us an opportunity to warm up before heading onto the final activities.

All of those on the trip were very open to new experiences and took a keen interest in their surroundings and got a great deal out of the trip. The pupils were a pleasure to take away.

VEX Robotics Success

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:02:55 GMT

Friends of Norwich School support sees club double in size with fantastic results!

The VEX Robotics Club continues to go from strength to strength. Thanks to the generous donation from the Friends of Norwich School, we were able to purchase an additional robotics kit, allowing even more pupils to take part. As a result, the club has doubled in size since last year: we have grown from around 15 pupils to over 30 pupils who now attend our lunchtime sessions regularly. We run the club every lunchtime both because of its popularity and because of the significant amount of work involved in designing and building a robot for the VEX IQ Robotics Competition.

Pupils work in teams of three to six to design, build, programme and drive their robots. Each April, the release of the new annual competition challenge is eagerly anticipated. Through the process of developing and refining their robots, pupils build a wide range of skills, including engineering design, programming, strategic thinking and teamwork.

This year has been one of our most successful yet. We competed in two Mix and Match competitions, achieving our strongest results to date. In November, one of our L5 teams won the entire event, earning the “Teamwork Champion” trophy and automatic qualification for the National Championships in March. In our second competition, our remaining three teams performed exceptionally well: our other L5 team achieved joint first place in the “Skills Challenge”, and both our L4 and U4 teams narrowly missed out on the “Teamwork Champion” trophy in the finals. We are looking forward to taking our L5 team to the National Championships in March and to building on this year’s achievements as the club continues to grow.

Mrs Brown

Dazzling Dancers at the Start of Lent 2026

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:19:48 GMT

Dance have had a triumphant term, filled with energy, commitment and outstanding achievement. Our Performance Team attended their very first dance competition with an incredible 29 pupils taking part. Sixteen groups performed a wide range of dynamic and creative routines, showcasing not only technical skill but also teamwork and confidence. We are delighted to celebrate three groups winning their categories and two groups earning second place. Even more excitingly, three of our teams have qualified for the finals in London at the end of the 2026 season, an exceptional accomplishment in their debut year.

Our Junior Dance Company, alongside the top three Junior and Inters winners from our internal choreography competition, also represented the school at Ormiston Victory Academy, where NSSP hosted a fantastic school's dance competition. Pupils also took part in an inspiring workshop delivered by East Theatre Arts. Every one of our entries placed top three in their respective categories. It was an excellent day that highlighted the talent, dedication and passion within our dance department.

Chinese New Year Celebrations - The Year of the Horse 2026

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:26:14 GMT

Our school came alive with colour and celebration as Senior School hosted a joyful Chinese New Year assembly on Wednesday! L4 pupils delighted everyone by dressing up as the zodiac animals and vibrant dragons, while Senior School pupils shared the festivities with Lower School during a special assembly on Thursday. Lower School pupils learned the traditional New Year song 恭喜恭喜 with Jeremy and Anthew, spreading wishes of happiness and prosperity.

Everyone enjoyed fortune cookies to welcome good luck for the year ahead! Our Mandarin classes embraced the spirit of the festival too — L4 made delicious dumplings, U4 prepared spring rolls, and L5 explored food sampling and tea tasting. L5 and M5 also took part in Chinese brush calligraphy, bravely attempting some of the most challenging Chinese characters. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Lunar New Year together!

Keeping Track of Cross Country at the Start of Lent 2026

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:07:16 GMT

Despite the frost and the wet weather, there has been an incredibly successful start to Cross Country in 2026.

The Norfolk County Cross Country Championships were held at Earlham Park, Sunday 4 January. The event includes races for different age groups, with U11s running 2.1km, U13 running 3.1km, U15 running 4.5km and U17s running 6km. This event was a great opportunity for athletes of all ages to compete and showcase their skills in cross country running. All pupils did exceptionally well all whilst braving the frosty weather!

The following pupils took part;

U11 Girls - Agatha, U3 - 1st place

U11 Boys - Seb, U3 - 2nd place

U13 Girls - Emi Muntingh, U4 - 1st place and now invited to take part in the London Mini Marathon in April!

U15 Girls - Ruby Ivie, M5 - 6th place

U17 Girls - Beatrice Green, L6 - 6th place

U17 Girls - Olivia Allen, L6 - 9th place

On Tuesday 20 January, ten of our runners took part in the Norfolk Schools’ Cross Country Championships at Wymondham College against the strongest runners in the county who had all qualified to compete. The course consisted of flat and fast laps around the playing fields and through the woods with plenty of mud making for challenging conditions. The target for each runner was to finish in the top 12 to qualify to represent Norfolk and six of our athletes achieved this.

In the Minor Boys race, Joshua Bevan finished in 17th place, while in the Junior Girls Nona Griffiths came 24th. Our solo Intermediate Boy, Noah Buchan, was up against some very strong competition and did well to finish in the middle of the field in 45th position.

Our best placed finisher on the day was Emi Muntingh who came 4th in her Junior Girls race. Ruby Ivie also qualified for a county vest by coming 5th in the Inter Girls.

Holy Days - A Reflection from Rev Child

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:01:59 GMT

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 1:31 – 2:3)

Well done for getting to Friday, everyone; we’re nearly at half term. Sometimes the days of January and February can feel a bit gloomy and cold; if you’ve been feeling like that at all, then spare a thought for some parts of Devon and Cornwall, where it has rained every day this year, and for the residents of Aberdeen, where the sun has disappeared completely for three weeks. When things are like this, there’s a danger that one day just runs into another. I came across this poem recently:

Monday is a foggy haze,

Tuesday is a frantic daze.

Wednesday drags its heavy feet,

Thursday thinks of food to eat.

Friday shouts, "I'm finally free!"

Saturday is a shopping spree.

Sunday hides behind the door,

And then we start the mess once more.

I’m sure none of us really wants life to be like that – a foggy haze or a frantic daze, a mess that just keeps repeating itself. There is some wisdom from the very beginning of the Bible, and which I think can help us here (we heard it in our reading just now). We’re told that on the seventh day God “rested from all his work”. But he doesn’t just collapse, exhausted, on a heavenly sofa and start playing Candy Crush Saga on his phone for the entire weekend. It’s more optimistic than that. “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy , because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

The opening chapters of Genesis want, more than anything, to teach us some lessons for life – and a couple of lessons for us to learn here are that rest is important and days can be holy .

Rest is important . You might feel that’s so obvious it doesn’t need saying – especially if right now you’re feeling ready for a rest. But this might just be something to remember for the future – for a time when your days are no longer dictated by school routines and timetables, and when the phrase ‘work/life balance’ starts to mean something.

I had an experience of this myself when I went to university and for the first time I could do what I wanted, when I wanted. The thing was, I always had work that needed doing, and I just sort of did it all the time whenever I had spare moments. I noticed there were certain times when I found it really difficult to work – it was so hard to get going – often on Sundays, in fact. In my third year I made what felt like a bold decision. I decided to try out the Sabbath principle in Genesis; I stopped doing work on Sundays. And it worked for me. It didn’t make any difference to my overall output – I didn’t fall behind – and what was more, I was happier. A simple, perhaps an obvious lesson: rest is something we need to do, just as work is something we need to do.

Days can be holy . The word ‘holy’ here means simply ‘set apart’ – which is to say that some days are different to others; they have a particular purpose. We are at a time of year where there is a confluence of special days in the calendar. For one thing it’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow, a day for telling people we love them. Tuesday is Pancake Day; be aware as well that for Muslims it’s the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. For Christians, Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent – a time set apart for serious thinking about our habits and attitudes. After we return from half term it will be the Hindu festival of Holi, which celebrates brightening Spring Days and the triumph of good over evil.

Whether you consider yourself an observer of these days or not, it is good to be aware of them; partly, of course, so that you can understand the people around you who are observing these holy days; but also to learn the principle that we do need red-letter days in our calendars – it is a human necessity – otherwise life becomes a foggy haze. Perhaps start with this half-term; see the days ahead of you as set apart, special, more than just Candy-Crush-on-the-sofa time. Remember that the word “holiday” itself is the words ‘holy’ and ‘day’ joined together.

I started with a rather pessimistic poem; I want to finish with a more optimistic one. This is called ‘Mela’, which is the Sanskrit word for ‘festival’.

Listen to the reading; listen to the hymn.

Today it is a holy day. Let us think of him

Who guided us, and brought us

From darkness into light.

Into sudden morning, out of darkest night.

Let us eat together; let us take our ease.

Let us throw our weapons down. Here, we are at peace.

And before I finish, a little bit of good news: the sun has come out in Aberdeen, and the forecast is sunshine all day tomorrow…

Sevens Successes at the Start of Lent 2026

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:46:40 GMT

This half term saw the 1st VII Sevens squad compete in two competitive 7s festivals, gaining valuable experience against strong opposition.

On 3 February, the 1sts took part in the Saints 7s Festival at Oundle School. After winning their group with convincing performances against Ousedale School and Wollaston School, the team progressed to the Cup qualifier, where they faced a very strong Rugby School side and suffered a narrow defeat. The final game of the day was a Plate quarter-final against Finborough School. Despite leading for much of the match and playing some excellent 7s rugby, Finborough scored on the final play to win 26–22. William Hawkins was named Player of the Festival for his performances throughout the day.

The 1sts then competed in the New Hall 7s Festival on 8th February, which proved to be a more challenging day. Drawn in a strong group alongside Campion School, Finborough School, King’s Ely, and RHS, the team secured one victory against RHS. This result progressed them to the 5th-place play-off, where they were narrowly defeated by Victory College. While results were tough, the day provided important learning opportunities for future competitions. Levite Oyelakin was awarded Player of the Festival.

The U15s took part in the U15 County Cup 7s, hosted by Norwich School at Redmayne. Norwich topped their group following strong performances against Hethersett Academy, Diss High School, and Acle Academy. In the semi-final, the team delivered an outstanding 22–0 win against Gresham’s School. The final saw Norwich face Wymondham College in what proved to be their toughest test of the tournament. Norwich emerged victorious with a 17–7 win, conceding their only try of the competition. This was an exceptional team performance, with Ben Lowe being named Player of the Tournament.

8th Norwich Sea Scouts - Lent 2026 Half Term Highlights

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:39:43 GMT

It’s been a busy and inspiring half term across all sections at 8th Norwich Sea Scouts, with young people learning practical skills, building confidence and having plenty of fun along the way.

A real highlight this half term was a visit from the East Anglian Air Ambulance , who delivered CPR and first aid sessions to Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers. These engaging sessions gave every young person the chance to learn vital life-saving skills in an age-appropriate and memorable way – an experience they’ll carry with them well beyond Scouts.

Beavers (U1 & L2)
Our Beavers have explored a wide range of activities, including:
Air Badge
Photography
International Badge work
Celebrating Chinese New Year

Each session focused on curiosity, creativity and teamwork, helping Beavers grow in confidence while trying new things.

Cubs (U2 & U3)
Cubs have enjoyed a varied and creative programme this half term:
Making bird feeders and learning to identify common birds
A creative visit to the Apple Store
Teamwork and confidence-building activities
Night Hike to Lionwood
Pack Forums, giving Cubs a voice in shaping their programme
Backwards cooking challenges

U3 Cubs have been preparing to move up to Scouts next term, while L3 Cubs have begun developing leadership skills in their new roles as Sixers and Seconders.

Scouts (L4 & L5)
Our Scouts have been busy developing outdoor and teamwork skills, including:
Working in patrols
Building and testing fire rafts
Rowing time on the gig
A fun and challenging treasure trail

These activities have helped Scouts build independence, resilience and leadership in a practical setting.

Explorers (M5 & U6)
Explorers have continued their Survival Badge work, focusing on:
Water filtration and navigation
Exploring different fire-lighting methods
A Burns Night supper was enjoyed, complete with haggis and neeps
Alongside this, many Explorers are making strong progress towards their Platinum, Diamond and King’s Scout Awards, with ongoing work linked to international and community values.

Pancake Fun Across All Sections
To round off the half term, every section got involved in pancake making and cooking. Explorers took it a step further with American-style pancakes, showing off their confidence and cooking skills.

U4 & L5 were introduced to our first Leadership camp last weekend, preparing them for Patrol Leadership at Summer camp.

Scouts and Explorers have also enjoyed sailing and powerboating from NBYC, Rookie Silver Lifeguard training, Pool kayaking and swimming. Many are also setting off for a Peak District adventure of hiking, biking, climbing and caving over half term.

Congratulations to seven of our Explorers for achieving their Young Leader Belt, which takes many, many months of consistent enthusiasm, hard work and the completion of 10 scout training modules.

Toby Adlam, Will Brown, Oliver Clark, Isaac Latter Casas, Harrison Newman, Adam Smith, Hector Turner; BRAVO

Onward Routes for Our Upper 6 - February 2026 Update

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:50:39 GMT

170 Norwich School applications have been sent to UCAS (universities and colleges admissions service) this academic year.

As is the norm at this point in the year, many universities (including medical schools and leading London universities such as LSE and Imperial) are still making decisions on which applicants to offer places to. We will share more successes later this term and at the start of next term.

The offers listed here have been chosen to include those for the most competitive courses and to give the school community a taste of the huge variety of courses and institutions that Norwich School pupils apply for.

The school’s Apply Plus Programme is run by Mr Pearce. It supports pupils applying to academic courses that require admissions tests and/or interviews.

Apply Plus offers so far this cycle:

Arthur Dannatt – Mathematics at the University of Warwick

Ben Griffiths – Classics at the University of Oxford

Melissa Hawkings – Music at the University of Cambridge

Celeste Horsman – English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford

Thomas Hsia – Computer Science at University of Warwick

Thomas Irvine – Medicine at the University of Cambridge

Georgia Lloyd – Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Cambridge

Adit Raje – Physics at the University of Oxford

Charlotte Scott – Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge

Emile Verschoor – Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge

Sydney Wylie (ON) – English at the University of Cambridge

STEM:

Ethan Buskell – Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath

Josie Dixon – Marine Biology at the University of St. Andrews

Jeremy Lo – Computer Science at the University of Manchester

Humanities:

Daisy Massey – Journalism Studies at the University of Sheffield

Edith Martin – Liberal Arts at King’s College London (KCL)

Alice Strike – History at University of Durham

Social Sciences:

Rosie Pank – Politics and Sociology with Study Abroad at the University of Exeter

Jack Paterson – Business and Management at the University of Durham

Sophie Scott – Law at the University of York

Languages:

Isla Bowles – French and Spanish at University College London (UCL)

Tristan Mackay – Philosophy and Modern Languages at the University of Bristol

Lily Mei McGruddy-Lo – Japanese at the University of Leeds

Creatives:

Hollie Blackham – Interior Design at the University for the Creative Arts (Canterbury)

Rachel Dean – Drama at the University of Warwick

Hettie Holden – Architecture at the University of Sheffield

Sport:

Nick Conway – full rowing scholarship to University of Washington, USA

William Faircloth – full soccer (football) scholarship to University of Wisconsin, USA

Niamh Rushton – Sport Management and Coaching with professional placement at University of Bath

Upper 6 Treated to Real-World Business Exposure

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:01:24 GMT

On Wednesday 11 February, Upper 6 Business pupils were treated to some real-world business exposure. As part of their A Level revision, we were looking at mergers and takeovers. It happens that Candy Kittens are merging with Graze and Grace Bowden (the cousin of Miles Nicholls in U6) works for Candy Kittens as Head of People and Culture. Grace was kind enough to give her time to run a webinar for us. Pupils asked mature and thoughtful questions about her role, the company and the merger. Grace answered openly and Upper 6 pupils came away with a strong understanding of the aims and values of the company and how hard everyone there had to work to ensure successful change. As an added treat, Grace sent us some sweets. Thank you to Grace and Candy Kittens from Upper 6 Business pupils.

Hockey Highlights at the Start of Lent 2026

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:45:28 GMT

It has been an exciting and busy start to the Lent term for Boys’ Hockey. In the Junior section, we have enjoyed a number of competitive and entertaining fixtures against strong local opposition, as well as schools from further afield, including The Perse and Felsted. The U13A side, in particular, have impressed with their attacking intent and commitment to playing an expansive, entertaining style of hockey.

Our Inters have also performed well across a demanding programme of block fixtures against Felsted, Culford, The Perse and Langley School. Across these rounds, the boys demonstrated resilience and teamwork, securing a series of positive results and continuing to build momentum as the term has progressed.

For the Seniors, competition has been equally fierce. Fixtures against Felsted, Culford and The Perse have been played with real intensity, with the boys showing excellent commitment and energy throughout. The new-look, youthful 1st XI have made a particularly strong start, winning six of their eight matches, with one draw and one narrow defeat. Scoring an impressive 47 goals, they recorded standout victories over Felsted (12–2), Culford (7–0) and Framlingham College (7–0). They have now qualified for the Tier 1 Plate competition and reached Round 3 of the Independent School Cup.

We now look ahead to the second half of term, with further block fixtures against Ipswich, Gresham’s, Framlingham and RHS. Well done to all players and staff for an excellent start to the season.

Netball News at the Start of 2026

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:39:44 GMT

It has been a busy term building in momentum to the England Netball Regional Finals, which took place on Saturday 7 ^th February in Welwyn Garden City. The U14 and U16 teams won five of the six games in their respective groups, with just one loss, the U14s to St Edmunds and the U16s to St Albans. This ensured semi-final places for both teams, however opposition game in the form of the eventual overall winners, and so sadly both ended up as losses.

The U19 team were in fine form throughout their group stage, securing six wins out of six. The highlight of the group games was a masterclass of patience and skill versus Haileybury, to win 15-9. The team went on to win their semi-final very comfortably 17-5, and secure National Finals qualification, for only the fourth time in the School's history!

Brilliant Badminton - The Success of Brothers, Oren and Oscar

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:08:31 GMT

How long have you both been playing badminton? Did you start together?

Oscar: I’ve been playing badminton since I first watched it on the TV during the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and was transfixed. I asked my parents if I could try it so they found a local junior club and that was that - I’ve played ever since. It started out as playing once a week at the club, then I played more and more often before trialling for the Norfolk County squads and was very pleased to be selected. We both quickly graduated to the advanced sessions and were fortunate to get to play with older players which really helped us to develop our skills. I first represented Norfolk u18s when I was 12 which was very exciting, and I have been able to play all over the country.

Oren: I watched a couple of Oscar’s sessions and also wanted to have a go, which probably annoyed him intensely. We were in different groups because I was only 4 years old and had to have a smaller racket, practicing with giant training shuttlecocks or balloons. We both used to play tennis and so our hand-eye coordination was already good which probably helped and I was able to improve quickly and joined him in the older group. Since then I’ve played more and more, and now I play as much as I can. We do spend a lot of time together training and playing, and he coaches as well so comes to venues to encourage and coach us during matches and tournaments. It’s nice that we have badminton in common and he can string my rackets for me and I don't have to pay him.

Do you play with the school or outside the school? Or both?

Oscar: I have played with the school and helped run the sessions but there hasn’t been a structured programme which is a shame. Outside of school, I am too old for Junior County teams but I now play for the Senior County team and regularly coach the junior squads. I also represent Mid Norfolk in League 1 and Anglia Vikings in the Ultimate Badminton League which is a national team event. I’ve attended international training camps in Europe which have been really hard work but also great fun. The official badminton season runs from September to May so in the summer months we organise sessions to train and compete so that when the season starts again we aren’t rusty.

Oren: I did get the chance to play a bit in the Lower School but unfortunately there is no Badminton provision any more for Inters. I would love to play at school though, I think it would encourage other people too. Outside of school I train with and play for 3 clubs, and I represent Tasburgh Men’s team in the adult League. I also play in the u17s and U19s County teams though I’m only 15 which is cool. I train a lot, usually around 15 hours a week plus matches and tournaments. This weekend I’ve had a league match after school on Friday, then a tournament in Oxford on Saturday and an U19s County match against Cambridgeshire on Sunday so it’s a lot of travel, training and playing but I love it. I often do a lot of my homework courtside or in the car because we’re always travelling for matches and training.

What do you enjoy about it?

Oscar: I really like that you can go to a club night and there is a wide range of playing standards from beginners to County and National players and it’s really inclusive. They also try to nurture those coming up through the junior clubs so that they have a great introduction to the adult game and a lot of support. The idea that I can go anywhere in the country, say for university or work, and can walk into a ready-made community is really valuable to me - it’s like a universal language. I like that it can be both a team sport and an individual one so you get the best of both worlds - teamwork, building relationships with your playing partners and also the challenge of playing singles and being responsible for your own performance; there’s nowhere to hide when it’s just you on court. You have to be really resilient and if you miss a point you can’t dwell on it because you have to focus on the next one.

Oren: I like how fast and exciting the game can be; it’s the fastest sport in the world with the shuttlecock potentially being hit at 100s of km/h so you really need to think on your feet. At the same time it’s really tactical and you have a split second to assess where the shuttle is going, where your opponent/partner is and what shot you’re going to hit and this changes with each of the events i.e. tactics and gameplay is really different for mixed doubles compared to singles or open doubles. I think that the more you get into it, the more you realise how technical it is and you’re always learning new techniques and subtle differences in gameplay. Sometimes you think you’re really good and then you watch the next level up or international tournaments and you realise that there’s so much more to do and learn. I’ve been to tournaments to watch and enjoy going to the All England in Birmingham every year which is the world’s oldest tournament and is the one that all professional players want to win, a bit like Wimbledon. While I enjoy watching, I’d much rather be on court playing.

Do you take part in any other sporting activities?

Oscar: I used to play rugby but after being injured a few times and being unable to play badminton, I realised that badminton was the most important option for me. When the County training sessions were moved and clashed with rugby, the choice was an easy one. I used to play tennis and was invited to represent Norfolk. The problem was that I enjoyed playing but never felt the need to be competitive. Badminton is different for me and I do want to push myself, do better and win trophies and medals so it’s a very different mindset. As well as badminton training, I do Crossfit and go to the gym to maintain my fitness but there’s not a lot of time to fit in other sports, especially with A levels.

Oren: I really enjoyed playing tennis and played it alongside badminton for 5 or 6 years but as I progressed, both my tennis coaches and badminton coaches complained that each sport was interfering with the other. Although badminton and tennis seem similar at a superficial level , they are actually very different. When the time came, I chose to continue with badminton and I don’t regret it. Like Oscar, I had to give up rugby outside school to train with the County. I think my mum was quite pleased that she didn’t have to stand in the cold at a rugby or tennis match any more. I’ve got a personalised strength and conditioning programme from my coaches with movements and drills specifically for improving my footwork, agility and stamina. With this programme, training, playing and schoolwork there’s not much time left.

Can you tell us about your recent successes?

Oscar: I’ve won 13 County championships at all age groups, and am reigning U19 County Champion in Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles adding to my previous title in the Men’s Singles. I have competed for Norfolk and coached at ICT (Intercounties Tournament - the premier national junior team competition) several times and helped achieve Norfolk’s highest ever result, as well as captaining the team to the Shires League finals, placing us in the top 8 counties in the country. I recently secured promotion to the top division of the Club League with my team. I also compete nationally and have had successes across the country, most recently at Christmas in my last u19s tournament.

Oren: I’ve recently won the Senior (Adults) Norfolk Moderates titles in both Men’s doubles and Mixed Doubles, and this weekend won the gold medal in the Men’s doubles at a National tournament near Oxford. I was 2nd in the u19s County Championship recently, only beaten by Oscar. I am no.1 in the U17 and U19s Junior County Men’s doubles and also have helped my team gain promotion in the Senior Club League. Last year I participated in a 24hr charity ‘Badmintonathon’ run by an ON and was one of the few players who lasted the full 24 hours.

Where do you see your future in badminton?

Oscar: I’m hoping to compete in BUCS at University and am looking forward to experiencing the competitive programmes and structure that they can offer me. As part of my university options, I’m planning to travel to South East Asia where the badminton culture is very different and I think I can learn a lot there which really excites me. I’ve previously volunteered with Badminton England, working at Nationals and the Commonwealth Games, and was awarded the National Volunteer of the Year award so I would hope to continue being involved not only playing but in the running of the sport. I’m currently volunteering as a line judge with the National Badminton League which is great fun and I’d like to complete my Line Judging and Umpiring training with a view to travelling to international tournaments and matches in an official capacity. Working at the Commonwealth Games really opened my eyes to the power of collaboration and community in sport and was partly what attracted me to my chosen degree courses. I am also on the committee of Norfolk Badminton and coach the Junior County Squads regularly, as well as being on the Badminton England National Youth Forum so I would like to continue in those roles - I love playing but also enjoy the organisation and grass roots work to keep the sport accessible to as many people as possible. Badminton is also bringing some income to me as I’ve started my own stringing business and I’ve already managed to build a customer base which is great and will be helpful at University. I’m involved in badminton in many different ways and I can’t see that changing anytime soon.

Oren: I have 2 more years left of competing at ICT and so want to continue to be selected for that and to follow Oscar into the Senior County squad when I’m old enough. In the meantime, I want to compete in the national tournaments as much as possible and to continue representing Norfolk. I’m looking forward to doing my Badminton England Young Leaders qualification and also to do my Level 1 coaching qualification. I’ve had so much support from coaches and club members that it would be nice to be able to give back and encourage younger players. This summer I’m going to an international training camp in Denmark. I’m a bit nervous because it’s pretty intense but I am looking forward to pushing myself.

What would say to anyone interested in the sport?

Oscar : Honestly, just give it a go. As well as being a great sport, there is so much scope to get involved at club and county levels. I know players at the clubs I go to who have been playing for 60+ years and are still loving it and love to play with the younger ones. There are lots of casual community groups that play locally - it doesn't have to be super competitive, but if you want to take it a step further there are many opportunities. It’s also never too late, I know people who started at my club a year or two ago and they now compete on the tournament circuit and are representing clubs. We went on holiday last year to Vietnam and it was amazing to see the culture of badminton in that part of the world. They have courts marked out on the streets, there are people playing at all times of the day and night and it’s open to everyone; I would love to see it so accessible in this country.

Oren: Badminton is really fun at all levels, you can just book a court and turn up with your friends. Also the clubs are very supportive and social, you get to play with people of all levels. It’s really nice that there are ex-England players who are very happy to play with people who have only just picked up a racket. I think that schools should offer more opportunities to play as well, it’s one of those sports where you don’t have to be one of the traditionally sporty people to pick up a racket and hit a shuttle. I saw an article very recently about how the speed and unpredictability of Badminton can sharpen your brain, improve focus and boost cognitive ability so alongside fitness and social interaction there’s no reason to not give it a try.

Photo credit - Alan Spink

Through the Window - A Lower 2 Cathedral Trip

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:57:01 GMT

On Tuesday 10 February, Lower Twos visited Norwich Cathedral for a morning of rich, cross-curricular learning. The children explored the significance of stained-glass windows and how they were used to tell Bible stories to people in the past. They learned about the history of St Julian and their connection to Norwich and studied how key moments in Jesus’ life are portrayed through the cathedral windows. Pupils showed curiosity, asked thoughtful questions, and represented the school brilliantly.

Rowing Report - The Beginning of Lent 2026

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:34:10 GMT

This half term has seen the Boat Club battling a range of weather- from misty winter mornings to driving rain, wind and snow. With a couple of sessions off the water due to the river freezing, we have been on the water since, covering the miles in both the Senior and Inters Squads, while elsewhere flooded rivers have led to a number of race cancellations for us. We are hopeful that we will be racing over half term, with many of the new J14s and J15s racing in their first event.

On the representative level, Ellie Thwaites (L6), James Howard (L6) and Nicholas Conway (U6) have all progressed to the next stage of the GB U19 Rowing Trials. With a training day last week, there has been some time to practice in their Trials pairs ahead of the February Trials this weekend coming. These trials have also been adjusted due to flooding and will be held at the GB Rowing Centre in Caversham. We wish all 3 the best of luck.

Chaos, Comedy and Spanish in the Blake Studio!

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:00:05 GMT

The Blake Studio was full of laughter this week as the Onatti Theatre Company brought their Spanish play to our school — and what a performance it was!

The show was all about a completely disastrous Romeo and Juliet rehearsal. From the very beginning, it was clear that nothing was going to go to plan. Lines were forgotten, cues were missed, characters argued, and everything that could go wrong definitely did. The chaos just kept getting worse (and funnier), and the audience loved every second of it.

Even though the play was entirely in Spanish, it was easy to follow and really enjoyable. The language was appropriate for our L4 and U4 students, and the actors spoke clearly and used loads of exaggerated actions and facial expressions to help us understand what was going on.

The best part? We weren’t just sitting and watching — we were part of the show. Students were asked questions, invited to respond in Spanish, and some brave volunteers even went up on stage. Everyone got involved, and it made the whole experience even more entertaining (and slightly chaotic in the best way).

Samuel Trickey, U4 said " The Spanish play was an amazing experience, and the actors spoke at a pace that was perfect for us as the pupils to understand. I think that they did really well in audience participation. They also made it very funny with over the top movements and expressions. I would highly recommend this to everyone even if they don’t do Spanish. "

A Life Whisperer - An Assembly from Rev Child

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:00:16 GMT

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favour and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:1-6)

Having done some thinking last week about why we sing hymns in assemblies, this week I want to think about why it is we usually have a Bible reading on Fridays. Let’s start with a quick game: I’m going to read out some sentences which may or may not be from the Bible – you have to choose the ones that are.

Neither a borrower nor a lender be. (Not from the Bible – it’s from Shakespeare.)
Go the extra mile . (Yes – from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.)
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. (Yes – from Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve are told they will become mortal.)
All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well. (Not from the Bible, but a saying of Julian of Norwich, whose statue is at the West Doors.)
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. (Yes, that was from the reading we had a moment ago. It’s from the book of Proverbs, one of the passage printed in the back of our hymn boo

Well done if you managed to guess the sentences that were from the Bible. A few things we can learn from that game:

The Bible contains a lot of wisdom that has passed into the English language, though we may not realise it. Turning the other cheek; the writing’s on the wall; the salt of the earth; you reap what you sow; there’s a time and a place for everything. These and many more expressions all started in some thought-provoking part of the Bible.
The Bible is not the only place that we can go to get wisdom. Saints, celebrities, Shakespeare and other scriptures have lines for us to ponder too.
What the Bible gives us, though – and this is really how we use it in our Friday assemblies – is a regular nudge in the right direction .

We live in a world where there are all kinds of things trying to nudge us in all sorts of directions. For instance, “Drink Coca Cola.” “Click on the link to find out more.” “I dare you. Go on, I dare you!” Some of the nudges around you are good and well-intentioned, and hopefully that’s true at school, where you hear from speakers, PPD lessons, and calendar events like LGBTQ+ History Month (which you heard about in here on Wednesday). But I only need to mention a few other things, like hard-sell advertising or unrelenting phone notifications, for you to realise that you need to filter what’s coming at you.

We listen to Bible passages week by week because these are nudges in the right direction.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” That’s decent advice – hear it and go with it. Whatever’s going on for you on this particular Friday, be a loving, caring, faithful person – and you won’t go far wrong.

I’ve played a little bit of golf – not much, and I’m not especially good at it. When I have played, it has usually been in a group. I think I’ve played alongside basically two different types of people. One type of person wants to give me a constant stream of advice about how I should be standing differently, what’s wrong with my swing, how I’ve got the wrong sort of clubs, and so on. To be honest, I find it difficult playing with people like that because it’s a bit overwhelming.

But there’s another type of fellow golfer who, now and again, will just mention something. I know one person in particular who is like a golf-whisperer . He will stand to one side while I take a practice swing, and then say something like – ‘Just try lifting your chin up a bit’. And I will take his advice, and it works – because he’s a good enough golfer (and a good enough teacher) to see the thing I need to focus on.

Listening to regular Bible passages can be like listening to that second type of golfer. Many of the people who read the world’s bestselling book read it in short chunks, but regularly. And they find (as I find) that it can have just the right thing to say. On the occasion when anger or ambition or irritation is getting the better of me, the Bible reminds me to be loving and faithful; and to trust God, even if I can’t quite see where my life is leading. When we’re getting a bit wild or loose, the Bible can help us keep our shape; the Bible is a kind of life-whisperer . Something to keep in mind whenever you hear it read in assembly.

A Spectacular Norfolk Cambridge Society Award Ceremony for Two Upper 6 Pupils

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:41:51 GMT

Each year the illustrious Norfolk Cambridge Society (NCS), with whom Norwich School has close and long-standing ties, runs a prestigious essay competition open to any Year 13 pupils across the county considering Cambridge University for their tertiary education.

As ever, the entries were of the highest standard and competition was extremely tough. Entrants were short listed and invited to a panel interview.

In late 2025, two Norwich School Upper 6 pupils were told that they had performed exceptionally well, to scoop joint 1st prize award. Arthur Dannatt was awarded for an astonishingly complex maths-based essay entitled: What is the Archimedes cattle problem and how can it be solved? and Becky Brown was awarded her exquisite album of nine songs composed and performed by herself – the first time a musical entry has been awarded top prize in the competition’s history.

In addition to a generous cash prize, award winners and their families were invited as special guest to the Lent Term NCS public lecture, and this duly took place on 5 February 2026. Following pre-drinks in the school’s refectory, a record audience some 500-strong filled the nave and side aisles of the cathedral to hear a scintillating talk given by Professor Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge, Senior AI Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute and Visiting Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Sheffield. The title of his thought-provoking talk was How AI Works and How it will Transform our Lives.

As the event kicked off, President of NCS, Rob Edwards, and the event organiser, Geoffrey Smart, presented both pupils with their awards in front of the substantial Cathedral audience.

It was a fitting reward to reflect both pupils’ endeavour and talent, and we commend them on their impressive achievement. The school could not be more proud.

Making Musicians... With a Twist!

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:17:49 GMT

Over 100 people packed into B2 Brickmakers on Thursday 5th February to hear Lana Kiddell perform in a first for Making Musicians.

Caroline Speca, Head of Making Musicians, commented:
“Our usual music scholar recitals take place in the Cathedral or School Chapel, but Lana was keen to break the mould and asked if she could perform in a different venue to better reflect her musical style. I was delighted to support her in this and am incredibly proud of how she organised the entire event herself. Hearing her sing while playing the drums at the same time was truly impressive. Well done, Lana, on all you have achieved in the Sixth Form.”

Lana said:
“My first solo gig was a real success, and I was truly overwhelmed by all the support I received. I thoroughly enjoyed the preparation process and am so grateful to everyone who supported me along the way. This is an experience I will always cherish as part of my growing music career.”

The Power of a Story - An Assembly for LGBTQ+ History Month

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:12:47 GMT

On Wednesday 4 February Lana Kiddell from our school Pride Group and Mrs Scott, EDI Officer, gave an assembly to commemorate LGBTQ+ History Month.

A story is a powerful thing. Stories can unite, divide, inspire and soothe us and I truly do not believe that there is a single human alive who has not been moved by a story in some way.

Stories, and books in particular, are amazing vehicles for empathy and connection. They allow us to step into someone else’s shoes, to experience a world that is not our own, and to gain insight into what it feels like to be someone else. Through stories, we come to understand people we may never meet, lives we may never live, and perspectives far beyond our own.

In many ways, all of human existence is preserved through stories. And because of that, I often find myself wondering whose stories we choose to tell, and whose stories are lost to time because of their identity, their background, or their social standing.

February marks LGBTQ+ History Month, and a key part of any history month is storytelling. LGBTQ+ stories have often been marginalised, suppressed, or erased altogether. For much of history, Queer people were forced to hide their identities and communities for fear of persecution, punishment, or exclusion. As a result, many stories were never shared openly, and many were deliberately silenced.

Today, we are going to shine a light on just a few LGBTQ+ stories that deserve to be heard, because they help us understand the world, and one another, more fully.

One of the most well-known figures in British literary history is Oscar Wilde. Wilde was celebrated in his lifetime for his wit, his intelligence, and his writing. His plays and books were extremely popular and still are today. Despite his fame, Wilde was imprisoned for being gay in 1895.

After his conviction, his reputation was destroyed. His work was removed from theatres, his name became a source of shame, and for many years his writing was dismissed or ignored. Wilde’s story reminds us that even the most brilliant voices can be silenced when society decides that someone’s identity makes them unacceptable. Despite this, Oscar Wilde’s work is now widely celebrated and shared along with his LGBTQ+ identity.

Where Wilde shows us how stories can be suppressed, Audre Lorde shows us how storytelling can be an act of resistance. Lorde described herself as a Black, lesbian mother, warrior poet. She wrote unapologetically about identity, power, love, and injustice, refusing to separate who she was from what she wrote, contributing a powerful voice to the civil rights movement. One of her famous quotes “Your silence does not protect you” reminds us that speaking up about injustice is powerful and important, and that remaining quiet does nothing to protect ourselves or others.

She understood that telling your story, especially when the world would prefer you not to, is an act of courage. Her work challenges readers to listen to voices they may not be used to hearing, and to recognise that our differences are not weaknesses, but sources of strength.

More recently, we are seeing LGBTQ+ stories shared more openly, particularly in literature for young people. One example is Alice Oseman, creator of the now iconic Heartstopper series, whose work centres queer characters living ordinary, everyday lives, forming friendships, falling in love, struggling, and growing. These are not stories defined by tragedy or secrecy, but they are universally relatable experiences.

For many young people, reading stories like these can be the first time they truly see themselves reflected in a book. And for others, it may be their first opportunity to understand experiences different from their own. That matters. Seeing yourself in a story can be affirming, but learning about someone else through a story is how empathy grows.

So LGBTQ+ History Month is not just about looking backwards. It is about asking ourselves what we do with stories now. Whose voices do we listen to, and how can we learn from the past to more positively shape the future.

Stories help us understand one another. They remind us that people are complex, layered, and deserving of respect. When we choose to listen to stories that are not about us, we practise empathy. And when we make space for all stories to be told, we create a world where fewer people feel invisible, unheard, or alone.

If you would like to get involved in celebrating LGBTQ+ history month please join us this lunchtime in the Undercroft where we will be creating a display for LGBTQ+ history month and making a badges with a visitor from the LGBTQ+ project.

Thank you.

Smiles and Joy at the Lower 1 and Upper 1 Informal Concert

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:46:41 GMT

What a joyful, toe-tapping concert it was! The hall buzzing with excitement as very young musicians from Lower 1 and Upper 1 (some performing for the very first time) took to the stage, beaming with pride and confidence. From the very first notes, it was clear this was a celebration not just of music, but of courage, enthusiasm, and the sheer fun of performing.

Smiling families filled the room, cameras at the ready, soaking up every moment as each of our Lower School pupils shared their hard work and musical imagination.

The piano pieces sparkled with variety and character. Familiar melodies like Ode to Joy floated out warmly and confidently, while playful pieces such as Whirleybird , ABC Playtime , and Up and Down Song bounced along with energy and charm. More atmospheric moments appeared too, from the gentle magic of Walking in the Air to the bouncy rhythms of Minnie Mouse Hits The Town!

There were also lovely storytelling moments at the piano, with music inspired by wildlife, farmers, and even a cheerful boat ride or two. Every performance, no matter how short was delivered with huge smiles, careful concentration and an infectious sense of joy.

Overall, the L1 and U1 Informal Concert was a heart-warming showcase of young talent and growing confidence. The enthusiasm of the performers, the supportive energy of the audience, and the wide range of music made it a truly uplifting event, one that left everyone applauding loudly and walking away with happy hearts.

Head of Music Mr Vine said 'another fantastic concert full of music making at its finest! So proud of our L1 and U1 pupils who worked so hard to get their pieces ready. A big thank you as always, to our fabulous visiting music tutors for all their guidance and preparation! Bravo to all!'

Upper 2 Visit Norwich Synagogue for a Day of Discovery

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:21:36 GMT

On Tuesday 3 January, Upper 2 visited Norwich Synagogue as part of their learning about the local community. The children were immersed in an enriching experience that helped them develop an understanding of different cultures and traditions. They particularly enjoyed dressing up with a kippah and a tallit, and were fascinated by the opportunity to view the Torah scrolls. The visit provided a valuable and memorable insight into the Jewish faith and community around us.

Fright Years on Nationwide Tour

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:31:03 GMT

Juliette Kelly (17-19), lead singer, is back on stage across the country with breakout indie band, Fright Years.

Following an amazing set at TRNSMT Festival in Glasgow and a BBC Introducing session at Maida Vale, the indie-rock four-piece have quickly established themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting new acts. Regularly played on BBC Radio 1 and with appearances at a number of Scottish shows, the band are earning a reputation for turning 'raw emotion into widescreen, heart-swelling anthems', according to AEG presents.

Its standout track, “Stars”, has become a fan favourite, embodying what Fright Years do best: 'melancholy wrapped in melody, heartbreak turned into hope.'

You can see them at Haddington, Manchester, London, Norwich, Bristol, Nottingham, North Shields, Aberdeen and Edinburgh this February and April.

For those local to school, Fright Years will be performing at Voodoo Daddy's in Norwich on 25 February.

To book tickets and to listen to their music, head to: Fright Years | Official Website

Under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult.

Norwich School Shines at Prestige Dance Competition

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 15:56:36 GMT

Twenty-nine pupils from the Dance Performance Team spent an exciting weekend competing at the Prestige Dance Competition in Clacton‑on‑Sea on 31 January, marking Norwich School’s first dance competition of the academic year. Sixteen groups performed throughout the day, featuring solos, duets, trios, and small ensembles. The standard throughout the competition was exceptionally high, with an impressive level of talent on display.

The day was a huge success, and we would like to say a massive well done to all 29 pupils for their exceptional performances!

We are also delighted to announce that five of our groups placed in the top three, with three groups qualifying for the finals in November at the end of the 2026 season.

Competition Results

Holly Hart and Lotte Lalchan-Woods – 1st place, Junior Novice Classical Duet/Trio
Charlotte Speed-Andrews – 1st place, Senior Ballet Solo and qualified for nationals.
Coco Barton and Isla Childs-Cazier – 2nd place, Teen Novice Duet/Trio and qualified for Nationals
Amelia Nundy & Nola Woodeson – 1st place, Teen Novice Duet/Trio and qualified for Nationals
Imogen Dawson, Edie Hopkins, Florence Humphrey and Sarah Lashmore-Davies – 2nd place, Senior Novice Group

Congratulations to all dancers for their outstanding performances!

National Year of Reading - January

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 15:04:01 GMT

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! We are kicking off in January with Historical Fiction and one of the school's biggest fans of this genre has to be Mrs Morgan. Let's find out more about why Mrs Morgan loves historical fiction...

Tell us a little bit about the genre; what common themes or elements do you particularly enjoy?

I love the characters who reflect the beliefs, limitations and social pressures of their era. Stories that weave real historical events with imaginative elements showing how ordinary people experience extraordinary moments such as in ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett.

What was the book that introduced you to historical fiction? Was there a particular book or author that made you fall in love with this genre?

I have always loved reading historical fiction even as a child and this is possibly why I went on to study History at university. When I was growing up I loved reading books based on historical events such as Little House on the Prairie , Goodnight Mr Tom , the Hornblower series, classics like The Secret Garden and books by Phillipa Gregory.

Has your taste in this genre changed over time?

I think in recent years I have focused more on the stories of people who lived through tumultuous times, but who had a story that hasn’t been told like Heather Morris’ The Tattooist of Auschwitz .

Would you recommend this genre to someone who doesn’t usually read it? Why?

I think historical fiction gives readers something unique: the opportunity to experience the past not as a list of dates but as a living world full of people who feel real. It helps us understand how individuals living at that time navigated the forces that shaped their lives – war, inequality, migration, discovering, and in doing so it deepens our understanding of how those same forces echo today.

Do you tend to reread favourites from this genre or always look for something new?

I never re-read books as I feel like there are so many books available, I don’t want to waste my time re-reading one, even if I loved it!

When was the last time a book from this genre really surprised you?

I really enjoyed There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak, as it follows the life of a drop of water as it travels through different time periods and locations, intertwining the stories of the three main characters across various time periods and countries.

Do you prefer classic or modern books within this genre, and why?

Both – I’m happy to read anything! Obviously one of the joys of my job is that I get to read many new children’s books so that I can recommend them to Lower School pupils such as Tom Palmer’s ‘Resist’ and ‘After the War’.

What do you enjoy most about reading, whether historical fiction or anything else?

The spotlight it shines on parts of history or everyday life that might otherwise go unnoticed. I have just finished reading a few books by Francis Quinn which focus on the lives of people who did not become famous, but who had a vital role to play within the societies in which they lived. The Smallest Man , That Bonesetter Woma n and The Lost Passenger all use real historical events as a backdrop for highlighting the ordinary people that have been caught in extraordinary circumstances. I have also recently enjoyed The Eights by Joanna Miller which documents the experience of the first women to study at Oxford University.

When and where is your favourite time and place to read?/ Do you have a favourite reading spot or routine for diving into books?

I usually only have time to read a few pages a night during term time, but I love to spend more time reading in the school holidays. In winter I love to sit on the sofa, in front of the wood burner with my dog snoring next to me and a cup of tea nearby! In the summer I enjoy reading outdoors, either in the garden or on the beach.

Which fictional character would you most like to have a cup of tea with?

I think I would like to share a cup of tea with Paddington bear as he would almost certainly bring marmalade sandwiches too!

If you could step into the world of any book, which would it be and why?

I would love to visit the Faraway Tree in The Enchanted Wood! I would be so excited to explore the magical lands and meet Moonface and Silky, although I would do my best to avoid Dame Wash-a-lot’s water! There is a film coming out later this year and I can’t wait to watch it.

Click here to see Mrs Morgan's reading list!

Cross Country Champion Emi Muntingh

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:34:56 GMT

Following Emi's success at the Norfolk Country Cross Country Championships we decided to ask her a few questions about her love of running and her upcoming London Mini Marathon.

How long have you been running?/How long have you been running with the school?

I have now been running for 3 years, and I have been competing for the school since Upper 3.

How often do you run outside of school?

I run with a training group 2-3 times a week depending on the dates of various competitions.

How do you train?/How do you prepare for a race?

I think that mental preparation is the most important; I use visualisation which can help me enter an open mindset. And I think it is mainly accepting that it will have painful aspects, but the aftermath feels phenomenal. And physically preparing, is a matter of being consistent at training in my case.

How did you find the Cross Country championships?

The Cross Country Championships was certainly nerve-racking beforehand, but I think the race went very smoothly and I left it all out on the course. And attempted to compete to the best of my abilities!

Can you tell us a bit about the London Mini Marathon in April?

Fortunately because of my performance at the County Championships I have been accepted to run at the London Mini Marathon!

How are you feeling about it?

As much as I am excited, there is no doubt I will be feeling nervous. But I think that it is a great opportunity, also to be surrounded by excellent runners!

Where do you hope your running will take you?

As for my running, I would like to compete at a high level but most of all I would love to continue to enjoy it! Because I truly believe if it is bringing you no satisfaction or joy, there is not a point in pursuing it.

What piece of advice would you give to aspiring cross country runners?

For people who are aspiring to do cross country as a sport, I would advise them to just have a go and give it a chance. Because if you are willing to give it a chance, you might just find that you will like it!

Lower 2 and Upper 2 Sparkle in Their Informal Concert

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:20:13 GMT

What a joyful and uplifting concert it was, packed with confidence, colour and lots of happy moments! From the very first notes, it was clear how much enthusiasm and hard work had gone into preparing this programme.

The concert opened with the warm, rich sound of the cello in The Two Grenadiers by Robert Schumann, setting a confident and expressive tone. Some lively vocals and guitars performed Lush Life by Zara Larsson which was full of energy and great teamwork. The piano brought a touch of movie magic with Let It Go by K. Anderson, before switching gears completely with the dramatic rhythms of War Drums by F. Waterman.

A beautifully calm moment came with River Flows in You by Yiruma on the piano, played with lovely control and feeling. The smiles continued with vocals performing 7 Years by Lukas Graham, showing great expression and connection with the audience. The bright sound of the trumpet shone through for Africa followed by a cheerful flute rendition of the traditional Pease Pudding .

The piano took us on a fun musical journey with Yankee Doodle , then treated us to a confident and familiar Ode to Joy by Beethoven. Another gentle piano highlight came with Little by Little by F. Davies, played with care and musicality. A lively vocal performance of Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters brought lots of sparkle and stage presence, while Tomorrow from Annie was delivered with real enthusiasm and a big smile.

The pace picked up with an exciting drum performance of Skullcrasher , which certainly lived up to its name! The piano then returned with the flowing melody of Bluebird by P. Waterman, followed by a spirited violin performance of Wild West by D. Blackwell. The concert closed beautifully with The Singing Swan by P. Waterman on the piano, a lovely and confident finish to a fantastic event.

Overall, this was a wonderful concert full of bravery, enjoyment and musical growth. Every performer should be incredibly proud—there were lots of smiles in the Lower School Hall and plenty to celebrate. Well done to everyone involved!

An Eye-Opening Day with Street Child for the Charity Committee

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:59:09 GMT

On Friday 30 January , members of the Charity Committee travelled to London to attend the Street Child Charity Leadership Summit — marking the first time Norwich School has ever taken part in this event, and hopefully the first of many.

From the moment the group arrived, the day proved to be both inspiring and eye-opening. Street Child shared powerful insights into the realities faced by millions of children across the world who lack access to basic education, safety, and necessities that many of us take for granted. Simple things such as a classroom, books, clean water, or even a secure place to sleep, are everyday luxuries for us, yet completely out of reach for so many others.

Throughout the conference, the group learned not only about the challenges these communities face, but also about the incredible work Street Child does to address them. The charity spoke openly about how it operates, how fundraising directly impacts lives, and how young people can play a meaningful role in creating change. Hearing real stories of resilience and progress made the scale of the charity’s impact feel tangible and personal.

Reflecting on the day, Jessica Roper (L6) said: “It was amazing to be invited as a charities committee down to London for the day, to meet with the amazing charity of Street Child. They were inspiring and informative of all aspects of how charities run and the impact fundraising can have all across the world, the whole day was amazing!”

Mrs Hill described how it was a joy to accompany such an enthusiastic and thoughtful group of L6 pupils on this trip.

Overall, the visit to Street Child was a truly memorable experience. It was inspiring and reinforced why charitable work matters. The group returned to Norwich motivated, grateful, and determined to continue supporting causes that make a real difference.

Catering in the Close - the Secrets Behind the School's Mouthwatering Catering

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:41:54 GMT

When pupils leave Norwich School, they reflect on the wonderful community in the Close, the teachers who supported them along the way, the friendships they made. However, in recent years as we look at the quotes of Upper 6 leavers, there seems to be a theme in what they'll miss - the food! To celebrate the work of our incredible catering staff we decided to ask Gareth Parry, Thomas Franks General Manager, a few questions...

What does a day in your life look like?

A typical day - Arriving in the morning and receiving a mountain of orders before the pupils are on site. Breakfast is freshly prepared and served from 7:45am to 8:45am. Chefs are busy prepping for the lunch ahead that day whilst front of house staff are getting the break time snacks ready and freshly preparing sandwiches etc. Lunch is served between 12pm and 1:55pm, then we clear everything down ready to start again the next day! There are various functions on throughout the week for which we might provide simply tea and coffee, buffet lunches or a three course sit down meal, it really varies from day to day.

On average, how many meals are served at Norwich School in a day?

On an average day we feed something in the region of 1250 meals for lunch. This can rise dramatically if we have functions on throughout the day and evening.

What goes into planning a school menu?

We proudly take time and effort to explore a variety of dishes from around the world, with a focus on nutrition. We have to consider catering for various age ranges from 4 to 18 and also consider a whole variety of dietary requirements. Finally we ultimately have to look at cost and keeping to a budget without compromising the culinary experience.

What time does your day start and end?

We have chefs on site from 6am, sometimes earlier! I am often the last to leave on a typical day without functions at 6pm. If we have a meal on in the evening, this can even run until midnight to clear up.

What is the best part of your job?

We certainly enjoy the creative side of cooking and providing hospitality to the masses and it is pleasing to educate people through food where we can. There is also the rush of lunch service which is fast and frantic, this keeps us on our toes and certainly makes time pass quickly!

How does your work help pupils get the best out of their school day?

We hope that the pupils look forward to coming into lunch for a tasty, well balanced, nutritional meal which helps fuel the body as well as the brain

What is the most popular dish with pupils?

Katsu Chicken Curry, it has been a staple on our menu for many years.

Any fun facts for us?

On a busy day we can clock up 40,000 steps each. Our average step count is 20,000 for the day.

We use over 150kg of flour a week just to bake bread and make desserts for lunch time.

Last year we cooked over 10,000 sausage rolls!

In an academic year we serve over 4000kg of pasta at lunch times which is 4 metric tons!

If your job had a theme song, what would it be?

Food, glorious, food from Oliver!

Lower One Enjoy an Exciting Trip to Africa Alive

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:01:24 GMT

Lower One pupils enjoyed an exciting educational visit to Africa Alive! as part of their topic on Safari.

During the trip, the children took part in a hands-on workshop where they learned fascinating facts about African wildlife and their habitats. They also had the chance to see a range of incredible animals up close, including giraffes, lions and rhinos .

One of the highlights of the day was a special animal encounter session, where pupils bravely touched giant African land snails and even met a snake . This experience helped the children develop confidence while learning more about animals in a fun and memorable way.

The visit was a fantastic opportunity to support classroom learning and created lots of excitement and curiosity about the natural world.

Norwich School Pupil Commemorates the Ancient Tradition of Child Bishop

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:49:37 GMT

At the St Nicholas Day service on Friday 5 December, Upper 4 pupil and Head Chorister, Sébastien Dubroeucq, was named Child Bishop. This ancient tradition is to highlight the importance of young people and their voices, allowing them to share their insight on the world we live in. To celebrate this, we asked Sébastien some questions...

How long have you been at Norwich School? And how long have you been a chorister?

I have been at Norwich school and the cathedral choir for four years now.

Why did you want to be a chorister?

I wanted to become a chorister as I enjoyed and still enjoy singing and performing and it gave me an opportunity to do these things on a regular basis!

How do you find the week-by-week life of a Chorister?

The choir life felt quite busy when I first joined, with 5 services a week, but it soon became like a routine and now is just associated with normal life!

How do you fit it all in with your school life? Do you take on any extracurricular activities?

I love performing in musicals and plays, and sometimes choir and play rehearsals overlap, but we always manage to arrange something mutually beneficial for the choir and my extracurricular activities.

Can you tell us a little about what the child bishop is and what this involved?

The child bishop is part of an old tradition on St. Nicholas day, where a child gives a sermon at the evensong and gives the dismissal and blessing.

How was the experience of being the child bishop?

The experience of being child bishop was really humbling, and it gave me a really good moment to reflect as I wrote the sermon.

Had you heard of this tradition beforehand?

I was present at St. Nicholas day for the child bishop last year so I had a pretty good grasp on the situation beforehand.

What are your responsibilities as Head Chorister?

My responsibility as head chorister is to make sure everyone in choir is feeling alright, and if they aren’t, helping them or pointing them to help.

What would you say to anyone who is interested in becoming a Chorister?

The experience of being a chorister is a truly remarkable experience and I would heavily recommend it to anyone who like singing or music!

A Musical Theatre Masterclass with Francis Goodhand

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:39:52 GMT

On Thursday 29 January, as part of the Making Musicians programme, Francis Goodhand visited Norwich School to work with music and drama pupils. Each pupil brought a song to the workshop, which Mr Goodhand explored in detail with them. The session focused on stagecraft, storytelling, and the meaning behind the lyrics, highlighting how vital words are in shaping a song’s impact on an audience.

Pupils were given the opportunity to perform and receive individual feedback, encouraging them to think more deeply about character, expression, and musical interpretation.

Lana Kiddell U6 said:

“The workshop was a great way to learn from an industry professional and to delve into the musical and lyrical language of the song I chose.”

Annabelle Hitchings L4 commented:

“I really enjoyed the musical theatre workshop with Francis Goodhand. I loved having the chance to perform ‘The Wizard and I’, and the feedback I received was so helpful. Francis suggested that I put more emphasis on the spoken parts of the song, which made a big difference to how I told the story. His advice about when to use vibrato towards the end was also useful, and he was very positive about my performance.”

Caroline Speca, Head of Making Musicians, commented:

“I was delighted by how readily the pupils were able to implement the tips Francis offered them; their adaptability was very impressive. The variety of songs was incredibly wide-ranging, and I very much look forward to welcoming Francis again in April to work with another cohort of talented pupils.”

Apply Plus Success Stories from the Class of 2025

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:21:21 GMT

These pupils gained the required grades and went onto start these courses in autumn 2025.

Case Study – Georgia Hodgson:

1. Tell us about the university offers that you've received so far:

Currently, I’ve received offers from Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and UEA for Medicine and Warwick for Biomedical Sciences!

2. On top of the usual UCAS application form, what else have you had to do as part of the admissions process to be considered for these highly competitive courses?

For my medicine applications, I’ve had to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) entrance exam, which happened over the summer (between Lower 6 and Upper 6), and complete interviews at all four universities. These interviews involved learning about current NHS affairs, exploring skills from work experience/volunteer work and, for

Cambridge, applying scientific knowledge from A Levels.

3. How did Norwich School help you during the university application process?

Norwich School provided support during Lower 6 in the form of Apply Plus sessions, in which we were encouraged to think ahead about work experience, volunteering and super-curriculars; I found these sessions very insightful as I learnt a lot about the application process pre-emptively and was able to tackle my UCAS application a lot better as a result! During Upper 6, there was also support for interview preparation for medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine applicants as we were able to take part in a mock interview, which helped me to identify my weaker areas and gave me an idea of how to prepare and what’s involved.

4. Which other activities in sixth form helped strengthen your application?

Volunteering was a key experience that supported my application; I had undertaken some volunteering at Able2B, as well as partaking in community service through school. These experiences provided valuable learning opportunities that I was able to reflect on in my application and discuss at the interview. I also shadowed doctors in a hospital, which gave me a realistic view of what medicine entails that I could tie into my personal statement and interview answers, and excited and motivated me about the prospects of entering a career in medicine! On top of these, I completed and presented an 8000-word research project on the link between depression and cardiac health, entered several STEMM Olympiads and completed the Youth STEMM Award.

5. Outside of medicine-related activities, what have you been involved in at Norwich School during sixth form?

During sixth form at Norwich School, I’ve led the Debating and Erpingham Societies, as well as taken up my new role in Upper 6 as Head of School and EDI. These have helped me develop other skills, especially those in communication and organisation, and have been a lot of fun! A particular highlight was being part of a team ranked 26th internationally at a debating competition!

6. Which offer do you think you will pick as your CF (conditional firm) and what most excites you about that course?

I’m hoping to CF Cambridge’s medicine course! I find a lot of aspects of the course exciting; however, a particular aspect is the opportunity to intercalate in the 3rd year! I think this will help to broaden my knowledge and understanding of medicine and science as a whole, and the chance to research is an exciting prospect! I also look forward to participating in supervisions and discussing the subject with incredible scientists and researchers!

Case study – Barnaby Karlson-Evans

1. Tell us about the university offers that you've received so far i.e. what course(s) at which unis.

I have now received all of my offers, among those, Nottingham, York, Warwick and Durham for Law LLB (3 Years).

2. On top of the usual UCAS application form, what else have you had to do as part of the admissions process to be considered for these highly competitive courses?

Ultimately, as an applicant, you want to prove why you are passionate about law. Certainly, when it comes to this field, work experience is desirable by universities. Although it’s not a requirement, it helps one’s application to stand out, which is beneficial as these courses become more competitive year on year. Universities understand that legal experience isn’t by any means easy to get, and if you find yourself in that position, don’t be disheartened; you can still attend talks, webinars, online courses or even sit in a courtroom as a member of the public. These alternatives don’t require you to contact someone in the legal field, are much easier to obtain and have just the same value.

3. How did Norwich School help you during the university application process?

Mrs Warren and Mr Pearce were invaluable when it came to the application process. Explaining admissions assessments, checking over applications, proofreading and suggesting revisions to a personal statement are all examples of what the school helps with. They are both very knowledgeable and are always happy to help address any concerns. This all helps to take the pressure off during a workload-intensive time of study and thus, make the process a lot less stressful.

4. Which other activities in sixth form helped strengthen your application?

The Independent Schools’ Mock Law Trial is one of the activities that strengthened my application. Getting hands-on experience, in a courtroom, acting as counsel (among other roles) is an invaluable skill which not only looks fantastic on your personal statement but also helps in other walks of life too, such as public speaking. Last year, the school progressed onto the national round, competing at the Old Bailey in London. This was a brilliant experience and if you’re interested in law, but not sure if it’s right for you, this can be a good taster of the subject and help you make up your mind. Debating Society was also an activity I used to do. It presents many opportunities to compete across the country, and also develops one’s critical thinking skills, which is beneficial when taking the LNAT, a law aptitude test, required by some universities.

5. Outside of law-related activities, what have you been involved in at Norwich School during sixth form?

I particularly enjoyed being a part of Amnesty Society, where we organised charitable events and collaborated with other schools and organisations across Norfolk. Although academic study is a major part of Sixth Form, it is important to be involved in other clubs and societies too, and this can also help to add depth to your personal statement.

Charities Committee Raise Money for EAAA

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:31:29 GMT

On Tuesday 27 January, pupils from the Charities Committee presented a cheque to the East Anglian Air Ambulance! This sum was raised by from an accumulation of events in the Michaelmas Term.

Notably, our Home Clothes Day proved to be a popular method of raising donations. This combined with the efforts of a JustGiving page, hot chocolate sales and a retiring collection at the Carol Service meant that pupils raised a staggering £1379.84.

Co-chair, Mimo O'Donnell (L6) commented, "Immy and I just want to say a big thank you for all the support from pupils!!"

We’re Officially Open! The Grand Opening of the Lower School Extension

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:22:07 GMT

Norwich School formally opened our new extension to the Lower School on 26 January 2026 in a ceremony marking the dedication of ‘The Patrick Smith Building’.

This new facility offers a significant addition to the school estate and has already added significant value to the education on offer at the Lower School. It is a facility we can all be proud of.

Constructed during 2024 and 2025, it opened for lessons at the end of the last academic year and, with the completion of landscaping and an improved vehicular entrance, it was fully open for business last term. The spacious two storey extension comprises six classrooms focusing on key areas of focus: STEM, design, an art studio, computer science and an engineering suite, as well as offering for the first time a proper visitors’ reception with stunning views towards the Cathedral.

Joining us for the grand opening was our principal guest Old Norvicensian and former Chair of Governors Patrick Smith (ON 60-67) together with his wife Julia. Patrick had provided substantial support to enable this building to be constructed, and he was thrilled to see it dedicated in his honour: The Patrick Smith Building. A plaque was unveiled together with a time capsule due to be opened in 20 years to mark the 75th anniversary of the current Lower School.

He was joined by specially invited guests including his large family and close friends, the Chair of Governors, fellow Governors (past and present) who had provided oversight of this major development, plus senior staff who have been so instrumental in executing this impressive project. Visitors were given expert guided tours of the facility by knowledgeable and enthusiastic Upper 3 pupils. They were proud also to show other changes made to the school as a result of this additional space, such as the dance studio and improved spaces for our inaugural Pre-Reception class and the Reception class – our youngest ever pupils.

Mr Griffiths, the school’s Head, expressed the school’s heartfelt gratitude to Patrick Smith for his generosity and lifelong support of the school. He articulated his great pride in this new building and thanked all those whose dedication had delivered such a transformational addition to the Lower School.

We hope pupils, staff, alumni, and visitors will continue to enjoy this facility for many years to come

Lights! Camera! Action! The Magic of the Silver Screen

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:37:55 GMT

A large intergenerational audience enjoyed a thoroughly entertaining evening at the inaugural Friends of Norwich School lecture in the Blake Studio on 28 January 2026.

The talk comprised a whistle-stop romp through the captivating world of film from its earliest tentative black and white efforts, through the classics of the 1960s and the 70s revival, to today’s modern CGI blockbusters. It included some of the great directors and legendary actors from the studios of Hollywood and British Film, closing with some reflections on the likely impact of AI on the industry.

Our speaker was Old Norvicensian, Barney Broom , a member of BAFTA, acclaimed film director, script writer and published novelist. With great panache, humour and personal reminiscences, he entertained attendees for over two hours. His audience comprised an eclectic mix of current pupils, ONs, parents, staff friends and alumni. Barney was particularly pleased to see a healthy contingent of his old classmates, and he was generous in offering advice and contacts to young wannabe filmmakers over refreshments.

A parent commented afterwards : “We all thoroughly enjoyed it and were taken back to years gone by with all those classic films. We are now inspired to watch some golden oldies again”.

Barney had generously volunteered his time on the evening, to enable all profits from the evening to go to the Friends of Norwich School (FONS) bursary fund. A very kind gesture from a loyal and talented ON.

We hope to be able to offer future FONS lectures on topics with wide appeal in years to come.

Please have a flick through At Close Quarters Lent Term 2026 , our full programme of exciting and cultural events organised by Norwich School taking place in and around Cathedral Close this term. There really is something for everyone, including other talks, to brighten these dark winter months. Booking for many of the school events can be found on our homepage under “Upcoming Events”: www.norwich-school.org.uk

‘An Everlasting Name That Will Endure Forever’ – An Assembly Marking Holocaust Memorial Day

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:20:01 GMT

The school marked Holocaust Memorial Day during our senior school service on Friday 23 January. Assistant Head, Mr Grant, spoke about the life of survivor, Eva Schloss, who died earlier this month, and her work to remember those from her family that were killed, including her stepsister, Anne Frank. Because of its history, the city of Norwich has a particular responsibility to challenge antisemitism. Yet, as antisemitism grows – in Britain and around the world – Jews remain particularly vulnerable. Eva Schloss’ witness reminds us of the importance of remembering Holocaust victims as individuals to help ensure the evil of the past does not resurface.

Isaiah, 56, verse 5

To them I will give within my temple and its walls
a memorial and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that will endure forever.

"Eva Schloss was 96 years old when she died recently on the third of this month. Most of her life, she had lived in London where she’d arrived in 1951 to study photography. Yet, for decades, Eva had been haunted by nightmares, memories of her early life.

Born in Vienna to a prosperous family, she was very close to her mother, Elfriede, her father, Erich, and her anxious but talented older brother, Heinz. She remembered happy times skiing in the Austrian mountains as a family. This ended abruptly in 1938 when Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany. This upended Eva’s life because Eva and her family were Jewish. To avoid persecution, they moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. There, Eva befriended another girl of the same age called Anne. Anne was from a neighbouring family who were also Jewish. Eva remembered that Anne had a nickname, Miss Quack Quack, as she never stopped talking.

But Amsterdam did not provide the safety these two families needed. The Netherlands too was invaded by Germany in 1940. With no escape possible, the families faced growing restrictions on their lives. Eva remembered Jews being barred from the cinema. She was upset that she couldn’t watch the Disney film, Snow White. To cheer her up, her brother, Heinz painted cardboard versions of the seven dwarves for her to play with. Indeed, Heinz increasingly focused on his painting to pass the time, especially once the family were forced into hiding for months to avoid the tightening persecution.

Heinz became increasingly worried about what would happen, but their father, Erich, assured him that, whatever happens and however long we live, our lives are important and the things we do in them won’t be forgotten.

The family’s hiding place was betrayed and the four of them were deported to the death camp, Auschwitz, in May 1944.

Next Tuesday is Holocaust Memorial Day, the 81 ^st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945. Eva’s father, Erich, and her brother, Heinz, did not survive; two of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. It was only through luck that Eva and her mother lived.

On their journey to Auschwitz, before the family were separated – over three days in a dirty, cramped cattle truck - Heinz had grown increasingly miserable; he had told his sister that he had hidden his paintings beneath the floorboards in the house in Amsterdam. If Eva survived, she should find them.

Returning to Amsterdam after the war, Eva and her mother adjusted to life without the other half of their family. They encountered the father of the girl, Anne, with whom Eva had been friends. His entire family had been killed: Anne, her sister and their mother had all died at the Bergen Belsen concentration camp.

The remains of these two shattered families united in their shared grief, Eva’s mother married Anne’s father. His name was Otto Frank. He became Eva’s stepfather and encouraged Eva’s interest in photography. Posthumously, therefore, Anne Frank became Eva’s stepsister.

Otto discovered Anne’s diary hidden in their house. Eva discovered Heinz’s paintings under the floorboards. Each would do what they could to share these with the world; to ensure, as Eva’s father had promised, that, despite their brief lives, Anne and Heinz would not be forgotten. Heinz’s paintings remain on public display today. Anne Frank’s diary remains the most widely read testimony from a Holocaust victim.

Anne had died aged just 15. Eva – born in the same year - had 81 more years of life than her stepsister, the span of a good life itself.

Yad Vashem is the world’s Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. It aims to record – by name – as many of the six million victims as possible. Yad Vashem, in Hebrew, means ‘a memorial and a name’. It was inspired by the verse from the prophet Isaiah that we have just heard.

After 81 years, there are fewer and fewer survivors to testify to what happened as the terrible events of the Holocaust fall out of lived memory. Gradually, those lights – like Eva – that, since 1945, have shone brightly to illuminate the world’s ignorance, are starting to flicker and go out. What is left? The names of those who were killed risk fading into the darkness of an unremembered past.

I’ve noted before that Norwich has a particular responsibility to challenge antisemitism – the hatred of Jews. It was here in the Middle Ages that the blood libel originated; the lie that Jews killed Christian children, and this lie spread through Europe justifying persecution. Recently, the Dean of this cathedral has been working with the local Jewish community to consider the most appropriate ways of acknowledging this dark, difficult, distant past.

Yet, in the modern age antisemitism is not distant. It is growing again, both in Britain and around the world. A malign mixture of racism and conspiracy theory, antisemitism creeps easily into the minds of the ignorant and the hateful. The spread of misinformation, the rise of extremism and the dangers of radicalisation – all stimulated by a lawless and irrational digital realm - mean that Jews remain particularly vulnerable. The last two years have seen the highest number of antisemitic incidents in Britain. In October two Jews were killed at a synagogue on Yom Kippur in Manchester. More families broken. More names to be remembered.

In a BBC interview towards the end of her life, Eva admitted that she was pessimistic about human nature, that cruelty was ingrained within us. Perhaps she was right. Yet, there is a quiet, defiant power just in remembering. Anne, Heinz, Erich. Eva Schloss devoted the last four decades of her life to ensure that these names would not be forgotten. In those words again from Isaiah, she aimed to give them an everlasting name that will endure forever."

A Wonderful Making Musicians in the Cathedral

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:56:27 GMT

A wonderful Making Musicians recital took place yesterday lunchtime in the chilly but atmospheric Cathedral, providing a welcoming setting for an engaging and thoughtfully presented programme. Performers were Caio Boyero on cello and Harriet Brightwell on flute, both sensitively accompanied by Brenda Blewett.

Despite the wintery temperature, the concert was anything but cold in spirit. The Cathedral’s generous acoustic allowed the music to resonate beautifully, giving both soloists space for their sound to bloom. Harriet Brightwell reflected on the experience as both challenging and rewarding, noting that performing solo repertoire in the Cathedral was new territory for her. However, the friendly, receptive audience and inspiring setting helped her music truly shine, making the experience memorable and confidence-building.

Caio Boyero likewise spoke positively about the performance, describing the concert as a stress-free and valuable opportunity to perform. He particularly enjoyed the Cathedral’s acoustic, which complemented the cello’s warm tone.

Congratulations to both performers.

Great Yarmouth Aquarium Trip for Lower Two

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:42:37 GMT

On Tuesday 27 January, the Lower Two class visited the Great Yarmouth Aquarium as part of their learning about animals and the environment. During the visit, the children explored a wide range of marine species and learned about the impact of human activity on ocean habitats. They also discussed practical ways in which we can help to protect the planet and care for wildlife.

The day concluded with the children completing a fact file on their favourite animal, allowing them to reflect on and consolidate their learning. It was an enjoyable and informative experience, and everyone learned a great deal.

Youth Advocate and Educator, Daniel Principe, Encourages Boys to Embrace Positive Masculinity

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:45:32 GMT

On 19 and 20 January, we welcomed Australian youth advocate and educator, Daniel Principe, who presented to all Senior School boys from Lower 4 to Upper 6 on topics including toxic influences, limiting stereotypes, objectification, relationships and the challenges young men are facing in a world of social media.

Inviting participation in his talks, pupils were encouraged to consider and discuss stereotypically taboo subject matters, to advocate for a more open conversation surrounding these topics.

Daniel’s journey to becoming a prominent youth advocate was a result of his own early experiences and challenges. He faced significant bullying during his adolescence, leading him to question social norms and seek a path that aligns with his values. His mission to change the way boys socialise and to promote healthy masculinity had pupils considering the unfair stereotypes boys and men face in our culture, specifically through the media.

One conversation had pupils thinking about the challenges young people are facing in a world of smartphones and social media. Themes surrounding dopamine addiction, body dissatisfaction, catfishing, and objectification were raised as Daniel encouraged pupils to participate in a ‘digital detox’, providing an opportunity to learn new skills and do things that make you come alive offline.

Daniel’s empathetic and open approach resonated with many of our boys and young men. His mission to ‘Challenge culture, Champion Boys’ was truly seen as he approached the sessions with vulnerability and a clear passion for uplifting young men and boys. His honesty, integrity and warmth truly put the wellbeing of boys at the heart of his approach, and we hope that his message is echoed throughout the school community and into the future.

Exclusive Film Workshop for Lower 6 2D Design

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:38:28 GMT

Joyce Ho (L6) from the Close Creatives Collective reflected on the film workshop that was offered to 2D Design pupils.

On Saturday 24 January, Lower 6 2D Design pupils took part in a film workshop led by Cameron Black, focused on developing photography and film editing skills to support our current album redesign project. As part of this project, we created short film clips using our own footage taken during the holidays, which functioned like a music video to visually represent the album and its songs.

In the first section of the workshop, Cameron introduced us to basic camera knowledge, including settings such as ISO, exposure and framing. We also looked at a range of short films and music videos, discussing different visual styles, narrative approaches and key elements that can be used to communicate mood and atmosphere.

The second section of the workshop focused on editing skills using Adobe Premiere Pro, again taught by Cameron Black. We learnt how to cut and rearrange clips, adjust colour, apply gradual zooms, and add sound effects. Cameron also explained key technical editing terms and demonstrated how these techniques could enhance the overall impact of our films.

Overall, the workshop was very informative and practical, helped us gain a clearer understanding of how film and editing can be used creatively within our album project.

Creatives London Residential from the Globe to the National Theatre

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 13:48:58 GMT

The January creatives residential to London was a great success; Lower 6 pupil, Rosie Burton, reports on her experience below.

The creatives residential was a brilliant opportunity for pupils with a keen interest in the arts (particularly theatre) to gain insight into roles in the creative industry and what a path into the arts after A Level might look like. On Friday the 23 January, students taking A level drama and other creatives (me included) took the train to London and began the trip by meeting an ON in film then a tour of The Globe Theatre. This was followed by a workshop on acting Shakespeare. After this, we made our way to Punchdrunk theatre for what was lots of people’s favourite activity: Lander 23. An immersive, video game like theatre experience. After checking into St Pauls hostel and getting dinner, the group met outside the KitKat Club to watch the musical Cabaret- this was my personal highlight!

On day two we toured the National Theatre and met an ON in her third year of drama school. Finally the group split and drama a level students watched the play ‘High-Noon’ and others watched ’Hamnet’ at the cinema. Overall it was an incredible experience with everyone gaining great insight into shaping their future career.

'Almodóvar on the edge' - A Level Spanish London Trip

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:01:11 GMT

Our A Level Spanish pupils enjoyed an inspiring study day in London focused on the iconic Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar , a key part of their Paper 2 syllabus. The day offered pupils the opportunity to deepen their understanding of his work through expert-led sessions and engaging discussions with university professors and fellow Spanish students from other schools.

Beyond the classroom, they also embraced the cultural side of Spain by sharing a well-deserved tapas dinner , bringing their learning to life through food, conversation and authentic cultural experiences.

Lower 3 Informal Concert – A Delightful Showcase of Talent

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:08:23 GMT

The Lower 3 Informal Concert in the Lower School Hall was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, celebrating the confidence, musicality and growing skills of our young musicians.

The relaxed atmosphere created the perfect setting for pupils to share their hard work and enjoy performing for friends, family and staff.

A nice variety of instruments and vocals provided some excellent contrast to the programme including Trumpets' Flutes' Drums, Piano, Guitar, French Horn and Vocals.

The music on show was also well chosen including Elegy for the Arctic by Ludovico Einaudi , Naughty by Tim Minchin , Bolero by Ravel, Always With Me from Spirited Away and Breakfast in America by Supertramp on the drums.

The concert was a wonderful reminder of the enthusiasm and dedication of our Lower 3 musicians. Every performance was warmly received, and the afternoon was filled with encouragement, applause and pride.

Well done to all involved for a fantastic concert.

Blake Studio Ablaze with Vibrant Colour

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:42:51 GMT

We were delighted to welcome on site the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas) on 21 January 2026 for a stunning public lecture, their first talk of the calendar year in our Blake Studio.

This visually arresting lecture was given by celebrated German artist Lothar Götz entitled: Colour – Space – Light – Spirit

Götz has an international reputation and has exhibited all over the world, showcasing his incredibly distinctive and eye-catching style. He is also Associate Professor of Fine Art at the University of Sunderland.

He uses colour in a unique way to create visually arresting public art often on a simply monumental scale, principally using his trademark precise geometric forms. He almost overwhelms his viewers with a riot of colour and shape. His unusual “canvases” for both inside and outside art installations have included underground stations (most recently the Elizabeth Line), huge walls, church chairs, ballrooms, staircases, warehouses, atria to public buildings, flags and have even included the outside of whole buildings, most notably the Towner Art Gallery Eastbourne (which has become a tourist attraction in its own right).

An audience of n-cas members, local creative artists and students, parents, staff and alumni were entertained by an astonishing slide show of his mesmerising works, and all enjoyed meeting him over refreshments afterwards.

Our nest lecture in the Blake Studio promises to be a real cracker. ON Barney Broom will speak about the wonders of the silver screen in the inaugural Friends of Norwich School sponsored talk on the world of film. Barney is a Member of BAFTA as well as an accomplished film director, screenwriter and published novelist, but first and foremost he is a compelling storyteller, one who lives and breathes his material. This promises to be an entertaining evening for all ages and interests. All are welcome. Tickets on sale: HERE .

Finally, we have recently launched our full programme of exciting and cultural events organised by Norwich School taking place in and around Cathedral Close this term. There really is something for everyone to brighten up these dark winter months. Do have a flick through At Close Quarters Lent Term 2026 . Booking for many of the school events can be found on our homepage under “Upcoming Events”: www.norwich-school.org.uk

Norfolk Schools’ Cross Country Championships

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:23:48 GMT

On Tuesday morning, ten of our runners took part in the Norfolk Schools’ Cross Country Championships at Wymondham College against the strongest runners in the county who had all qualified to compete. The course consisted of flat and fast laps around the playing fields and through the woods with plenty of mud making for challenging conditions. The target for each runner was to finish in the top 12 to qualify to represent Norfolk and six of our athletes achieved this.

Our best placed finisher on the day was Emi Muntingh who came 4th in her Junior Girls race. Ruby Ivie also qualified for a county vest by coming 5th in the Inter Girls.

In the Senior Girls race we had 4 athletes all vying for a top 12 place. The girls paced it perfectly and all qualified, with Minnie Andrews coming 6th, Bea Green 8th, Izzy Last 10th and Olivia Allen 12th. Congratulations to all who took part and good luck to those who will be racing for Norfolk in the Anglian Schools Championships in Northampton this weekend.

Lower 2 Discover the Magnificence of Ancient Egypt

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:49:12 GMT

Lower Two had a fantastic Egyptian Day on Monday 19th January. The children learned about the importance of black kohl eye make-up in ancient Egypt, explored why mummification was so significant, and discovered how hieroglyphs were used to communicate stories and messages. One of the highlights of the day was reenacting an Egyptian burial, which really brought their learning to life. Everyone looked amazing in their Egyptian costumes, and the children had the best day immersing themselves in ancient Egyptian history.

Upper 3 Lent Term Informal Concert

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:52:24 GMT

Lent Term Informal concerts kicked off in style showcasing talent with a wide mix of instruments, styles, and moods that kept the audience engaged from start to finish. Each performer brought something different to the programme, making the afternoon feel varied, exciting, and full of personality.

Music included Cinarosa's Sonata in G for Piano, Gossec's fun Gavotte on the Cello and a hoe down on the Violin followed by a beautiful rendition of The Skye Boat song on the Harp.

A touch of Rock n Roll on the electric guitar with Been There by A Lambert and rounded off with a gentle interpretation of Chopin's Waltz in A Minor .

Overall, the concert was a great success and highlighted the hard work and musical ability of all the performers. It was an enjoyable and memorable event that showed the impressive range of talent within the school.

Grace Murray (14-21) Publishes Debut Novel

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:58:00 GMT

Selected for Penguin's Random House programme for emerging talent, 'Blank Canvas' is already out in book shops.

Many congratulations to Grace for being selected from a pool of over 1,300 applications to Penguin House's flagship mentorship scheme, WriteNow. One of nine successful applicants, her debut novel, which is set in a quiet liberal arts college in New York, explores 'themes of catholic guilt and queer identity, clashing moral codes and lies, and the opportunity for reinvention presented by moving between countries and settings.'

You can read more about Grace's publishing journey via this BBC link: Having my novel published at 22 is insane, says Norfolk author - BBC News

For further details on the book, and its main character Charlotte, click here: Blank Canvas by Grace Murray | Waterstones

Wishing you all the best for 'Blank Canvas' and for whatever comes next, Grace.

Image credit Charlotte Ball/BBC

Norwich School Pupils Past and Present Lead Representation at Local Music Competition

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 13:25:41 GMT

On 18 January, the 32nd Norfolk Young Musician Competition took place showcasing an array of young talent across a variety of musical disciplines.

Founded in 1993 by Music at St George’s (later the Norfolk Youth Music Trust), the competition offers a variety of prestigious prizes, including the Michael Badminton String Prize, Mrs E. Sturgeon Piano Prize and Jane Roberson Prize. Promoted by the Michael Badminton Young Musicians Trust, this year’s adjudicator was Martin Outram, Lionel Tertis Professor of Viola at the Royal Academy of Music, who was supported by Jonathan Wortley, Chairman of the Michael Badminton Young Musicians Trust.

This year, of the 18 competitors, ten were current or former pupils of Norwich, with another participant who will be joining the Sixth Form as a Music Scholar in September 2026 - something we are immensely proud of. Each competitor, who is required to have gained Grade 8 with Merit (or higher), is invited to play a 15-minute programme in front of an audience. Of the 18 competitors this year, 3 of our performers received honourable awards for their performances.

Min Ying Deng (M5) was awarded 2nd overall prize for her renditions of Prelude in C# minor Op.3 No. 2, Trois Etudes de Concert ‘Un Sospiro’ in Db major and Fantasie-Impromptu in C# minor. Isaac Schaad (M5) received the Michael Badminton String Prize for Most Promising Young String Player for the third consecutive year, for his performances of Adagio in E major KV 261 and Zigeunerweisen by Sarasate and Ben Griffiths (U6) was awarded the Jane Roberson Prize for voice, performing Aufenhalt by Schubert, Caro mio ben by Giordani, Clair de Lune by Faure, Silent Noon by Vaughan Williams and Oliver Cromwell by Britten.

Other notable performances came from pupils as young as Jessic Li on the piano and Jacey Ng on the euphonium, who are both in Middle 5; Upper 6 pupil Caio Boyero on the cello; and ONs Finnian Smith on the French horn and Colette Maxwell-Preston on the cello.

Congratulations to all that participated! The competition proved to be a memorable celebration of commitment, musicianship and talent, and the high standard of performances across all disciplines reflected the centre of excellence that is the Norwich School Music Department.

Camera Kidz - That's A Rap!

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:17:35 GMT

An upgrade to sound quality is music to our ears!

A huge thank you to Friends of Norwich School for generously providing our new microphones; they are very much appreciated! The sound quality is now amazing (no more mysterious mumbling or underwater voices!), and the children absolutely love using them. They are easy to operate and have made editing the show much quicker and smoother.

We cannot wait to put them to good use on our Lower School TV Show, produced by the ever-enthusiastic Year 6 Camera Kidz.

One of our U3 classes has performed a rap which can be viewed here: A Proactive Day! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wcb5Vq-9Wg

Thank you again to FONS for their support.

VEX Robotics Competition Success in Colchester

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:12:02 GMT

On Friday 16 January, three of our VEX Robotics teams from Lower 4, Upper 4 and Lower 5 travelled to Thomas Lord Audley School in Colchester to take part in a regional robotics competition. It was an exciting and memorable day for several pupils, with this being their first experience of a competitive robotics event.

All three teams performed brilliantly throughout the day, making this our most successful competition overall to date. Following the qualification matches, we were delighted that teams finished an impressive 2nd, 3rd and 4th overall out of 16 teams. Whilst no trophies were awarded in this instance, the standard of performance was exceptional. A special mention goes to the Lower 5 team of Oscar Zhang, Jj Li and Jayden Hondonga, who finished joint first in the Driver Skills section of the competition, despite having to rebuild their robot during the event. The teams were accompanied by Mrs Brown and Mr Moore, who were incredibly proud of how all the pupils represented the school.

Congratulations to all who took part!

Dr Glen Richardson Delivers an Address on the Inspirational Bessie Colman

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:36:32 GMT

Good morning everyone. Last year my Dad turned 80. When we asked him if there was anything he’d like to do to celebrate, he said he wanted to tour the WW1 battlefields in France and Belgium.

So during the May half-term I went over there with my brother and our parents and we spent a week exploring Flanders and the Somme region, as I know many of you have done on school trips.

At the end of the week I dropped the others at Charles de Gaulle airport for their early morning flight home, and treated myself to a day of birdwatching near Calais before catching the ferry to Dover.

I spent a delightful day at the coast, enjoying turtle doves and nightingales and my first ever Marsh Warbler, which I was very excited about. Species number 626 on my life list, in case you are wondering.

I also stumbled across an information board that caught my eye. It was in French so I couldn’t entirely understand it, but it had pictures, and seemed to be about a pilot from the WW1 era.

What caught my eye was the fact that the pilot appeared to be black and female. A week of touring the battlefields and learning about the war had taught me that all pilots in those very early days of flight were white and male. I jotted down the name Bessie Colman in my notebook, and told myself that I would do some research when I got home. And I’m glad I did. Bessie Colman’s story is quite remarkable, and I’m grateful to Rev Child for the chance to share it with you now.

Her story is one of achieving a dream in the face of racist and sexist discrimination.

I hope that in our more enlightened times none of you will suffer similar discrimination, but there will almost certainly be situations where you are denied the chance to do what you want, possibly just because someone else gets chosen ahead of you.

You might not have got picked for the A team for tomorrow’s match, or get the role you want in the musical, or be selected to be a prefect, or get into the university of your choice. If that does happen to you, hopefully this story will encourage you not to give up.

To set the scene, the Wright brothers flew their famous first flight in the year 1903. Young Bessie Colman was 11 years old at that time, growing up in Texas, and like many young people of the day, she was captivated by the idea of flight, and dreamt of getting the chance to fly herself.

One of her brothers served with the army in WW1 and got to witness some of the first ever aerial combat action, taking place over his head as he dug and repaired trenches. When he returned home, he told his sister about these airborne daredevils, and she decided that was definitely what she wanted to do.

The trouble was that Colman was not only female and black, she was also of native American descent. In those days, any one of these things made it impossible to get a pilot’s licence in America. She was also poor, which was another significant barrier.

Colman was determined to fly planes, and while her race and gender made this impossible in America, she knew from what her brother told her that things were different in France.

However, getting the money to travel across the Atlantic, and pay for flying lessons when she got there, proved an almost insurmountable hurdle. Education and employment opportunities for black women were limited in those days. Colman left her home in Texas and joined her brother in Chicago, got qualified as a beautician and started to earn money as a manicurist.

She also knew there would be a language barrier in France. Unlike these days, she couldn’t rely on everyone speaking English, so she took French lessons in the evenings.

After 2 years, she had earned enough money, and learned enough French, to start her adventure. She sailed for France on 20th November 1920 and enrolled at a flight school near Calais. During her 10 months of training, she learnt the basics, and soon moved on to advanced aerobatics.

This was still in the early days of flight, when mechanical failure and crashes were all too common. One of Colman’s fellow students was killed before the completing the course, but Colman was undeterred and passed with flying colours. When she got her licence from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, she became the first American of any race or gender to be awarded these credentials.

Once qualified, she embarked on a career as a stunt pilot, performing barrel rolls and loop the loops at airshows across Europe and America. She became something of a celebrity, flying under the name “Queen Bess, Daredevil Aviatrix”. She survived a crash in which she sustained a broken leg and ribs, but bounced back, and added parachute jumps to her shows, walking along the wing of a plane at 3000 feet before jumping off and landing safely in the arena.

While all her dreams were coming true, Colman was aware that she was something of a trailblazer for black women, and was determined not to forget her roots, or be taken advantage of.

In 1922 she signed a contract to be the star of a Hollywood movie, but shortly after filming started, she walked off the set, as her role reinforced all the negative stereotypes of black people at the time.

Colman also took a stand against various forms of racial discrimination. At many of the airshows she performed at, there had been separate entrances for black and white people, and in some cases black people were not permitted to attend at all. Colman refused to perform at any such venue, and forced organisers to change their policies.

One of her ambitions was to open a flight school specifically for African Americans, but sadly she didn’t live to see this happen as she died in a crash in 1926, while practising for an airshow in Florida.

She died young, aged 34, but she died doing what she loved. And while she may not have opened her flight school during her lifetime, she had succeeded in breaking barriers and inspired other women and black americans to follow in her footsteps. When in 1992, Mae Jamieson became the first African American women in space, she took with her a photo of Bessie Colman.

If Bessie Colman told her friends in Texas that she wanted to be a pilot, they would probably have laughed at her. That simply isn’t possible, they would have said. Don’t waste your time. You are a woman. You are black. You are poor. The chances of you getting to be a pilot are 1000000 to 1.

This morning’s reading is a Psalm written by King David when it seemed that the whole world was against him. His own son was trying to depose him and he called out to God for help.

“You Lord are a shield around me, and the one who lifts my head high…I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side”.

It is words like these that give me strength when things aren’t going well and I feel like the world is against me. I don’t just imagine that I can just sit on my backside and wait for God sort everything out for me. But it gives me hope that if we can follow the example of someone like Bessie Colman, explore every possible avenue, work hard and never give up, there is no reason why we can’t achieve our dreams.

An evening with award-winning film director Barney Broom (60-70)

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:42:16 GMT

You are invited to attend Barney’s unique talk exploring the captivating world of film

On behalf of the Friends of Norwich School (FONS), we have great pleasure in introducing the first of its kind in our annual events programme: a one-off lecture on 28 January 2026, which we hope will be of interest to all of those fascinated by the world of film. A special FONS-sponsored public lecture given by Old Norvicensian, raconteur and film buff Barney Broom exploring the amazing history of the film industry.

With a lifetime working in film, Barney Broom is a member of BAFTA and the Director’s Guild of Great Britain. He is an award-winning film director and acclaimed novelist with an extensive knowledge of the Hollywood and British film industries. He regularly delivers public talks, frequently on cruises. See: www.barneyfilms.co.uk .

There promises to be something for all generations: from film’s humble origins in black-and-white classics, through to the current blockbusters, Barney brings us right up to date with the latest AI creations. He explores what makes some films absolute classics, how iconic films were made, the impact of key films on the industry, how film star careers were made (and lost) and how the industry continues to be at the forefront of technological advances.

Barney is kindly volunteering his expertise and, with his agreement, all profits will go to the Friends of Norwich School charity to support bursaries at Norwich School.

Date: Wednesday 28 January 2026
Location: Blake Studio, Norwich School, NR1 4DD. Parking on the school playground.
Timing: 19:00 start – doors open shortly beforehand. It will likely end at 21:30.
Tickets : These are now on sale. Click Here to book.

We advise early booking as this will likely be a sell-out event.

Pricing: £10 for adults and £5 for children to include refreshments.

ALL ARE VERY WELCOME TO ATTEND.

This event promises to be a memorably entertaining and informative evening as well as a real visual feast, so please get booking and join us!

We greatly look forward to this flagship event in the Blake Studio.

We also recommend you take a browse through our termly publication, At Close Quarters . The link to the latest publication is here: At Close Quarters - Lent 2026 . It details the many school events on offer this spring across a wide range of cultural interests. You are most welcome to join us.

What Lies Ahead for the Norfolk Broads?

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:51:07 GMT

The long-term future of the sensitive and much-loved Norfolk Broads was the issue under discussion in the latest Blake Studio lecture at Norwich School on 15 January 2026.

The school was hosting the illustrious Royal Geographical Society for a public talk entitled: Tides of Tomorrow: the future of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, confronting flood risk and climate change, given by Peter Doktor, from the Environment Agency.

Peter is a Senior Project Manager overseeing the technical work of the Broadland Futures Initiative. He has been with the Environment Agency for 25 years and, before that, he with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

His informative talk considered the worrisome potential for far-reaching impacts to the fragile Broads ecosystem induced by climate change. It also offered reflections on the policies and initiatives (both in place and under review) to manage it.

A huge audience of RGS and Broads Society members, school staff, pupils, parents, and alumni, plus friends of the school, all enjoyed a lively Q&A after the talk, focusing on the urgency of the issues, the bewildering size of the challenge and the scale of the potential impacts. It is clear there are no easy solutions, but maintaining the status quo will simply not be enough to safeguard its precious ecology if climate change impacts continue to intensify.

Our thanks go to the RGS for organising such a thought-provoking evening. We look forward to welcoming them back on site on Monday 16 March 2026 for a talk entitled: Rethinking the Future of our Seas given by Stephen Akester, Global Fisheries Specialist and Fisheries Adviser to the World Bank. Stephen will describe the state of the world’s fisheries, illustrating a highly varied picture, highlighting success stories and areas of most concern.

Booking link: Rethinking the future of our seas and what you can do to help

Lower School Inter House Cross Country 2026

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:42:21 GMT

The annual Inter House Cross Country event took place on the week of 12 January , with all pupils running with determination, grit and desire. All pupils that took part were a credit to themselves, their house and the school. The races were competitive but also shared great support for each other. 3rd place finishers were Magdalen. Possibly for the first time ever, there was a tie on points for 1 ^st place, meaning the overall winners came down to the most 1 ^st place finishers. After much scrutiny, Conisford were the overall winners with an impressive 9 1 ^st place finishes across the 14 races, with Heigham finishing agonisingly in 2 ^nd place.

Lower 6 2D Pupils Take in the Sights Exploring Some of London's Spectacular Galleries

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:09:57 GMT

Lower 6 Art and Design pupils enjoyed a trip to London this week. We hear from Elise Foong, pupil and member of the Close Creatives Collective about the trip.

"On Tuesday 13 January, a group of L6 2D students, and a few fine art pupils, including myself, went on a trip to London to visit some galleries. Our day consisted of spectacular gallery showings, many underground rides, bustling streets and unfortunately a continuous amount of rain.

The first gallery we visited was the Design Museum, ‘Blitz: the club that shaped the 80s’, was one of the exhibitions we looked at, it was on how the Blitz nightclub completely transformed and reshaped many art and creative forms physically and socially, as well as also creating a post-war welfare state.

Another exhibition, or I should say an archive, we saw at the Design Museum was ‘Wes Anderson: The Archives’, this was most definitely the highlight of my trip as I would consider myself quite the fan, it felt so surreal seeing all the real props, figures, and outfits from the films themselves! I found it quite awesome how, Wes Anderson having a highly distinctive and meticulously crafted cinematic style also shines through in how he began collecting and archiving props and costumes from all his films after Bottle Rocket 1996.

After all the standing and walking we did, we took the underground to Borough Market and had lunch. There were many unique food stalls that sold many things like fresh produce, cheese, pastries including cannolis, international street foods like paella, curries and burgers.

After lunch we then walked around and over the Millennium bridge, where I learnt of the hundreds of tiny and vibrant artworks on discarded chewing gum, and took the underground from St Paul’s to the Photographers’ Gallery where we saw Boris Mikhailov’s ‘Ukrainian Diary’. Which presented 50 years of his work that showed a unique visual history through experimentally and emotionally charged photography, the poignant, difficult images of Ukrainian life falls deeply relevant and powerful against the backdrop of the ongoing war which I found very raw and confrontational. After everyone had finally regrouped we headed to take the central line once again back to the train station to conclude our trip.

Big thanks to Mr Passam, Mr Seaman, and Miss Goian who made this trip possible!"

Photography - Elise Foong

An Air of Mystery in the Undercroft

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:42:17 GMT

Fourth Form pupils put their detective skills to the test in a library-based murder mystery event centred on the “murder” of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. Following a trail of clues left around the crime scene, pupils tracked down a series of witness books and questioned them carefully to build their case.

Their investigation led them to six suspects, with cryptic titles including One of Us Is Lying, Death or Ice Cream, Murder on a School Night and Knife Edge. With plenty of debate and deduction, pupils worked together to eliminate suspects and uncover the truth. The final challenge was to discover the motive, which they successfully revealed by cracking a coded message using a cipher left by the murderer.

Hot chocolate and brownies helped to keep energy levels up, and there was a real buzz in the library as pupils discussed clues, books and theories. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who took part and sparked lots of conversation and storytelling. As our first event of 2026’s National Year of Reading, it was a great success and a fantastic way to celebrate books and reading in a creative and engaging way.

No books were harmed, damaged or dog-eared during the investigation.

Lower 3 Explore the Cambridge Mosque

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:48:05 GMT

On Tuesday 13 January, Lower Three pupils visited Cambridge Mosque as part of their History topic on Islamic Civilisation.

Pupils enjoyed a guided tour exploring the mosque’s eco-friendly architecture, learning about its sustainable design and the importance of symbolism. They examined artefacts, discussed the Five Pillars of Islam and their significance in daily life.

East Anglian Cross Country League

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 14:35:48 GMT

Saturday 10 January saw the first round of the East Anglian Cross Country League, where 15 of our runners took to Gresham's muddy woods and exposed fields to race runners from Ipswich School, RHS and Gresham's. In the Junior Boys' race Joshua Bevan was our first runner home, finishing in 3rd place, while Henry Drew came 6th.

We had strength in numbers in the Senior Boys' race and took 3rd, 4th , 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th positions! Leon Liu was fastest on the day, followed by Ethan Buskell in 4th and Jeremy Lo in 5th. Leo Pitt, Edward Lott, George Yiasimi and Tom Copley completed the strong team performance.

The performance of the day came in the Senior Girls' race where, after some very bunched racing in the first half, Ruby Ivie emerged from the woods with an unassailable lead to win outright despite racing girls many years her senior. We took the top 5 places with Bea Green coming 2nd, Minnie Andrews 3rd, Amelie Ivie 4th and Izzy Last 5th. An extremely strong team performance was completed by Olivia Allen who came home in 8th place. This season promises to bring some silverware and we look forward to our next fixture this Saturday at Mousehold Heath.

Saturday's fixture is open to any runner, in any year group. You do not have to be doing cross country for games to compete. If you are keen and available to run at Mousehold this coming Saturday afternoon do get in touch with Mr Hudson for more details. Sixth Form helpers are needed so please consider volunteering if available.

Lower 6 Art and Design Scholars Explore the Wonders of the Wizarding World

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:45:30 GMT

On Thursday 8 January, Lower 6 Art and Design Scholars journeyed to Warner Bros studios for an exciting day of discovering the artistry behind the iconic world of Harry Potter.

Lower 6 pupil, Grace Savory said;

"The studios were a huge interactive set for the Harry Potter films. The massive extent of the architecture, fine art, sculptures and refined details in every aspect of the sets was hugely inspiring for artists and the general public, giving me inspiration for my further A Level projects.

The processes were projected through step-by-step guides on how they produced the characters, scenes and props, giving an insight into how much time and effort was put into producing some of the best films of all time. Also letting us use our imagination in how they portrayed these scenes throughout the films and the editing techniques that went into making it seem so lifelike!"

Norfolk County Cross Country Championships

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:57:20 GMT

The following pupils took part;

U11 Girls - Agatha, U3 - 1 ^st place

U11 Boys - Seb, U3 - 2 ^nd place

U13 Girls - Emi Muntingh, U4 - 1 ^st place and now invited to take part in the London Mini Marathon in April!

U15 Girls - Ruby Ivie, M5 - 6 ^th place

U17 Girls - Beatrice Green, L6 - 6 ^th place

U17 Girls - Olivia Allen, L6 - 9 ^th place

Congratulations to all!

Start of Lent 2026 - Head's Address

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:18:47 GMT

Welcome back! It is good to have the community back in the Cathedral and to get started on this new term as we begin another calendar year.

You may remember that when we finished at the end of last term, I encouraged you to practice kindness over the holiday and to participate, even if that involved a little bit of silliness, something we enjoyed with the Red Gowns’ interactive 12 Days of Christmas. I very much hope that you did get stuck in and were kind to those with whom you spent time over the festive period.

These themes of kindness and participation are certainly ones I want you to continue to practise as our community resumes its life together after the holiday.

Regarding kindness, you will remember that I set the examples of random kindness from the London Underground as a bar of expected behaviour in our community. Everybody here should be able to come to school looking forward to their learning and any evidence of that being obstructed is viewed as a serious disciplinary issue. Do not be the obstructor yourself and, if you see someone else being unkind, be the upstander who takes action to ensure such behaviour is stopped. That can be done through the pastoral system or our anonymous reporting system, Whisper . This is the sort of proactive kindness we expect at Norwich School.

Regarding participation with a whiff of silliness, and in light of the freezing weather this week, at the end of the talk I will read out some of the winning entries in Norfolk County Council’s competition to name their gritting vehicle fleet. See if you can think of any yourselves, while I am speaking!

Now you may have come back to term with your own goals. As we know, New Year’s Resolutions cause strong conversations, some people swearing by the ability to have this annual reset, while others are just as determined to avoid such a January fad. Whichever camp you are in, I take the opportunity to remind you of the 5 ways to wellbeing, long championed in our school as a helpful guide to living well. They are: stay active, keep learning, take notice of the natural world, give to others and connect with friends.

In a world where your generation’s digital footprint is ever heavier and more impactful on your future lives, I recommend these simple guidelines for living well in the real world, supplemented by strong sleep hygiene and a sensible, balanced diet. Whatever the impacts of AI, and we seem to be at a stage as a society where we are still establishing our relationship with this powerful new technology, it does not change homo sapiens’ status as a social animal that is stimulated by community, creativity and play. I challenge you in 2026 to be curious, both about yourself and the world around you, and to emphasise fun; do things that you enjoy, that give you pleasure, whether as an individual or as part of a group.

Remember, we are a social species. Take steps to be physically active and to give of yourself to others. These are not just nice touches but fundamental to our daily lives as human beings. No amount of digital presence or AI can adequately make up for these realities.

So, as we begin this new term, I require you to give due consideration to how you will be a positive, contributing member of our community. At Norwich School we care for each other, celebrate our successes and are proactive when others are struggling. Such priority on togetherness is not inevitable, either in a school setting or wider society; it needs careful curation and protection. I believe it is a key reason why hundreds of ONs choose to come back to Cathedral Close on the Saturday after the Michaelmas Term ends, sometimes even before their university term has finished, in order to meet up with their school friends.

Our reading today from page 189 of the hymn book talks about key words being bound around our neck, written on the tablet of our heart. The Norwich School community can be comfortable with the bible’s words of love and faithfulness; after all, they sit well with our own values of love, compassion and inclusion. If we get it right, these values and behaviours are with us throughout our lives, they become part of us because of what we learn about community at Norwich School.

Yet, do not take this community for granted; help to preserve what makes it special and enjoy its benefits while you are here. I believe the following to be true for every single one of you: opportunities in sport, music, drama, dance, community service, clubs and societies, academic progress, pastoral support will never be as easy as when you are at Norwich School. And the real magic is that it is achieved not by shutting ourselves off from the outside world but by embracing our connections with the wider community. Special indeed.

To finish, I wonder how you got on with the gritter-naming competition. I’ll read some of the better ones. I’m not expecting much of a reaction; you can be a tough crowd at the best of times and 8:40 on Tuesday 6 January is not likely to be your finest hour, but they might make some of the staff smile and it will set up the tone of participatory fun with which we are going to start the term.

Blizzard of Oz, Boud-Ice-A, The Grit Gatsby, Gritty Gritty Bang Bang, Lando Norice, Paddingon Brrr, Grit Astley (Never Gonna Slip You Up) – definitely one for the teachers, there.

My three favourites: Edith Gravel, Control Salt Delete and, careful, dodgy US Accent incoming: Snow-Be-Gone Kenobi.

Welcome back and do have a great term!

An Afternoon of Magic at the Lower School Carol Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:48:33 GMT

The Lower School carol service at Norwich Cathedral was a truly magical occasion, set against a dusky backdrop that heightened the sense of joy and wonder. The cathedral’s soaring arches and glowing stained glass offered the perfect setting for a celebration filled with Christmas spirit and joy.

The service opened with a solo of Once in Royal David’s City by U3 pupil Zoe Asamoah, whose clear and expressive voice resonated beautifully through the vast space, setting a moving tone for the afternoon. The Lower 2 tableau was equally enchanting, their poise and reverence bringing the Christmas story vividly to life.

What followed was a series of performances that were both heartfelt and uplifting. The Little Voices Choir, Infant Choir, Chamber Choir, and School Choir each sang with warmth and precision, contributing their own distinctive character to the service. A highlight for many was the whole school’s rendition of Away in a Manger, with singers positioned throughout the cathedral, even along the side aisles, the piece created a shimmering, almost ethereal atmosphere that seemed to wrap the entire congregation in peace.

As the service came to a close, selected members of U3 performed a hauntingly beautiful version of The Candle Song. With the cathedral lights dimmed and a single candle glowing softly, their perfectly blended voices created a moment of profound stillness and reflection.

The afternoon was a testament to the talent, dedication, and sincerity of everyone involved, leaving all who attended with a deep sense of joy and quiet contemplation.

The Christmas Jumper Competition with a Twist...

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:29:11 GMT

The Lower 4 Christmas Jumper Competition is always an event of great anticipation, and this year was no exception. Adorned with baubles, tinsel and whatever else Fourth Form could find (including Mariah Carey), the tutors made their way to the Blake for a catwalk never to be forgotten. However, this year had a twist with the additional competition of the Fourth Form Tutor Challenge.

For the tutor challenge we had a range of performances from a mini play with a murder mystery, a Christmas ‘Guess Who’ quiz, a musical number and even a conducting dinosaur!

Congratulations to all pupils who took part and especially to the tutors for taking to the runway and to the performances with such enthusiasm.

Congratulations to L42 who won this year’s jumper competition, following behind in 2 ^nd place was L43. For the tutor challenge we had L41 in 1 ^st place and L44 in 2 ^nd! We look forward to seeing what the pupils come up with next year….

Lower School Chamber Choir Sing the Lights to Remember Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:25:27 GMT

On Thursday 11 November the Lower School Chamber Choir sang at the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity Lights to Remember Service.

This annual event is an opportunity for the people of Norfolk to remember and give thanks for the lives of those who have received hospice care, as well as acknowledge with gratitude the exceptional work of everyone involved with Priscilla Bacon Lodge – staff and volunteers from Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust, and the staff, volunteers, donors, fundraisers and supporters of the Charity.

Norwich Lower School Chamber Choir have been invited to sing at the event for a number of years, and this year was no exception. Led by Head of Lower School Music, Mr Vine, the choir dazzled with a beautiful performance of ‘Sweet Silent Night’ by Andy Beck.

Hugo Stevenson, Head of Fundraising and Communications at the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity said:

“It is always an absolute joy to welcome Norwich School Chamber Choir to this flagship event for the charity. Once again they delivered a wonderful performance and added something really special to the service. Our sincere thanks to Mr Vine, Mrs Barclay and the children.”

Last Day of Term - Jolly Jumpers and Festive Food

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:15:58 GMT

Lower School pupils excitedly celebrated the last day of the Michaelmas term on Friday 12 December, enjoying their Christmas lunch in a fine array of festive knitwear!

There was a party atmosphere in the Refectory with decorations, paper crowns and Christmas songs, all in view of the beautifully illuminated tree. Turkey, roast potatoes and cranberry sauce were all on the special menu, followed by yule log for pudding.

Everyone at the Lower School would like to wish our whole community a restful and relaxing Christmas and we will see you all again in 2026!

End of Michaelmas 2025 - Head's Address

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:57:42 GMT

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.”

Rugby Round Up at the End of Michaelmas 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:17:50 GMT

It has been an excellent term for Norwich School rugby, with all squads showing clear development, strong teamwork, and impressive determination.

The junior teams enjoyed a highly successful season, including standout wins and an unbeaten U13A campaign. Across both age groups, players demonstrated growing confidence, cohesion, and attacking flair.

Our inter squads showed real character, with the U14s and U15s producing notable victories and displaying resilience throughout a challenging fixture list. The U15A County Cup triumph was a particular highlight.

Among the seniors, both the 1st and 2nd XV worked tirelessly despite disruptions. The 1st XV delivered several outstanding performances, including a memorable last-minute victory over Gresham's. We also thank our departing Upper Sixth players for their leadership and commitment.

Overall, it has been a term marked by progress, pride, and exceptional team spirit across the whole rugby programme.

Rowing Report

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:53:11 GMT

The Boat Club started the half term with the Seniors racing at the GB U19 Benchmark Head Race. With the rowers who had achieved the 2k ergo cut off, this was the first opportunity to show boat moving capabilities. Ellie Thwaites and James Howard pleaced 4th in their respective J17 Trialist category and Nicholas Conway won the J18 and overall event. For those not trialling, racing at a GB event gave them valuable experience.

The Seniors then raced the inaugral Junior Fours Head of the River on the Tideway. With 2 boys crews and 2 girls crews facing some rather wet conditions, the Girls Coxed Four placed an excellent 6th place in J18 and the Boys Coxless Quad won the J18 event.

The J15s and Seniors raced at Hampton Head (another damp day!) with the J15s placing well in their categories with other 40 crews in some events. Singles, Doubles and Quads were raced. The Seniors also raced a range of events, with a number of 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. There were wins for James and Nick in the Coxless Pair and for Ellie, Charlotte, Amelie, Jess and Darcy in the Coxed Four. The Boys and Girls 1st VIII s then raced at Wallingford Head, the first VIIIs race of the year- well done to all for a busy but successfull weekend of racing.

Last weekend saw all the Boat Club race at our Invitational Yare Eights Head of the River. The J14s in an Octo and Quad demonstrated the great progress they have made since taking up the sport at the start of term. The 1st VIIIs (Boys and Girls) beat their respective UEA Eights.

Ellie Thwaites, Nicholas Conway and James Howard have all acheived the 5k Ergo Score to progress through to the February GB U19 Trials.

The Languages Carol Contest 2025

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:51:40 GMT

Our annual Languages Carol Contest this half-term has been another great success. Each Upper 4 class prepared and recorded a Christmas Carol in French, German, Spanish or Mandarin. The 4th form then watched the videos and voted on their favourite song, with voting criteria of pronunciation, entertainment value and "Christmassy-ness", with different groups clearly aiming at different criteria.

We are pleased to announce that the winning song was the French version of "Last Christmas" performed by Ms Niesch’s U4 French class. We were all impressed by their beautiful clear singing and catchy dance routine . Well done to all of the U4 Language classes and we look forward to seeing what the L4 can do next year.

Inters Star in the Box of Delights

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:46:39 GMT

On Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 December, a cast of Inters pupils put on a brilliant production of Piers Torday’s ‘The Box of Delights’. The pupils took to the stage with confidence and enthusiasm, encouraged with a message from Piers Torday himself - I’m so thrilled you have chosen to stage my adaptation of John Masefield’s wonderful Christmas story, and I hope you have all enjoyed getting it to the stage.”

The Blake was set out differently in this instance, with the production employing traverse staging, which allowed for an immersive performance in which all cast members were always present. This worked wonderfully in addition to the stylised ensemble pieces and physical theatre throughout the piece, the cast became a company.

This Christmas tale was brought to life with great skill, particularly through the characterisation and dynamic between protagonist and antagonist – Cole Hawkings and Abner Brown. Kay Harker, played by Rowan Kidd, compellingly led the story and engaged audiences throughout, supported brilliantly by Christina Sawh and Alejandro Olmo Ochoa who played Maria and Peter respectively. Of course, the performance’s success must be attributed to every cast member, all pupils performed with professionalism and finesse.

Director, Eva Wright, commented; “I am immensely proud of the cast for their dedication and trust in the creative process. Their collaborative spirit was key to solving the challenges of bringing this play filled with magic, and the seemingly impossible, to life in the Blake Studio.”

The Lower School Christmas Fair 2025

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:13:32 GMT

The Lower School Christmas Fair on Saturday was a wonderful event, full of festive fun and brilliant community spirit. The children did an amazing job running their stalls and favourites such as the bottle tombola and raffle proved as popular as ever. Thanks to the hard work and support of our pupils, parents and staff, £3,251 was raised for The Hamlet Centre in Norwich.

A huge thank you to everyone involved - a fantastic amount and a fantastic morning!

Special Schools Nativity Carol Service 2025

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:40:31 GMT

On Thursday 11 December 2025, in the Cathedral Close we welcomed 12 Special Schools to the annual Special Schools Nativity Carol Service - our Lower Six pupils had such fun performing the Nativity story to a full Nave of around 400 Norfolk pupils and school staff.

The audience enjoyed listening to beautiful songs from the Norwich Cathedral Choristers and enthusiastically joined in with some well-known carols together. Some of the many highlights include pupils from Harford Manor turning on the Christmas lights whilst also assisting the Three Kings with the gifts. Budge even made an appearance to check out the manger and to say well done to the cast at the end.

The donkey (performed by Daisy) opened the show and between her and Budge they certainly entertained the audience from beginning to end!

Ashley Grote, Master of Music from the Cathedral says:

“The annual carol service for Special Schools is one of my highlights of Christmas at the Cathedral and, in many ways, it’s the most important carol service we do. It’s a privilege for us to be able to sing for all these wonderful children and for their amazing carers, and to bring some of the joy of Christmas to them through our singing”

Rebecca Price, one of our parent volunteers who has been helping with the Community Service programme this year says: "It was wonderful to be involved in the service, and I feel very proud of how the students put together their performances. It was joyful to see so many children, and their supporters, enjoying the service, and a big thank you to the cathedral team for making the experience accessible and engaging for all."

Will - (who played Joseph, our U6 pupil who was part of the nativity performance for the 2nd year in a row) says ‘I had a great time, and seeing how happy the experience made the kids was really heartwarming’

Daisy (Donkey) ‘I had a very fun time and loved how much uplifting and entertaining the kids were’

Benji (Angel Gabriel) 'I really enjoyed helping with the nativity to bring Christmas joy to all the kids'

Izi (Mary) ‘I loved performing the nativity and seeing the children’s faces light up’

Carols, Candles, Choral Music, and Christmas Trees

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:44:27 GMT

For many in the wider Norwich School community, the December Carol Service in the cathedral is the surest sign that Christmas is on its way. Following the tradition of Nine Lessons and Carols, we heard the narrative thread of the coming of Christ through the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament gospels, read by pupils, parents, teachers and a school governor. The Chapel Choir sang a carefully rehearsed repertoire – different every year – from the lively melody of John Rutter’s Angels’ Carol to the melancholy harmonies of Warlock’s Bethlehem Down.

A generous collection at the end of the service will allow us to make a special Christmas donation to three of the charities Norwich School has been supporting during 2025. Of course the service was also a chance to catch up with old friends and fellows, made all the easier with mince pies and drinks in the refectory afterwards.

Football Focus - End of 2025 Boys Season

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:31:17 GMT

The 1 ^st XI enjoyed an unbeaten second half of term, finishing off with a solid set of statistics over the course of the season. Winning 5, losing 3 and 1 draw whilst scoring 22 goals in the process. The 2 ^nd XI came away with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats which is commendable following its reintroduction after a five year absence.

The First XI experienced a mixed but encouraging season, with 5 wins 1 draw and 3 losses and many new faces being brought into the team. After starting off the season with an explosive 5–5 draw with the ONs, the team struggled through defeats to Perse and Kimbolton before bouncing back with a determined 1–0 win over Wymondham College.

Momentum grew with a solid 3-1 victory against Gresham’s, despite a setback against Langley. The side finished the season impressively, beating Culford 3-1, dominating Ipswich High School 6-0, and a composed 2-1 win against Woodbridge to round off the season.

Massive thanks to the U6 boys that played their final games this season, Ethan Buskell, James Moore, Joe Crotty, Sam Colman, Tom Chester, Ben Griffiths, Harry Philpott and Billy Faircloth.

We look forward to the exciting future of Norwich School football as we try to build further next season.

- Billy Faircloth (U6S) 1st XI Captain

The 2nd XI had a positive year for football this year taking home an equal record after 2 wins,2 draws and 2 losses. There was a strong start to the season with a 3-2 win at home against The Perse which set morale high for the rest of the season. Then came

a tough battle at Wymondham College and 2 consecutive draws – a complete stalemate at Gresham’s and at Langley which was relentlessly fought back and well deserved against a well-rounded team. A dip in form at Culford made everyone determined to finish the season on a high and in the final game of the season a strong 7-4 victory over Woodbridge sealed the season in upbeat spirit.

- Alex Purling (L6B) 2nd XI Captain

A Spectacular RGS event concludes Norwich School’s public lecture programme for 2025

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:48:16 GMT

Since before Covid, Norwich School has been the proud host site of the illustrious Royal Geographical Society (RGS). In that time, we have hosted a range of fabulous speakers: from BAFTA Award winning naturalists to Everest summiters; from naval historians to intrepid explorers; from top brass diplomats to renowned polar scientists. Ours is one of the most active and best supported regions in their network.

The regional organisers were therefore extremely excited to have secured the national President of the RGS for a public lecture and social event on site. Not only that, but the speaker was also Director of the British Antarctic Survey. This was a mouthwatering opportunity that fully lived up to expectations.

On 10 December 2025, Professor Dame Jane Francis offered profound insights from her personal experience of leading the internationally renowned British Antarctic Survey in her RGS talk entitled ‘On Thin Ice: a Life in the Antarctic”. Professor Francis is the current Director of British Antarctic Survey and in 2017 was appointed a Dame in recognition of services to UK polar science and diplomacy. She became Chancellor of the University of Leeds in 2018 and was elected national President of the Royal Geographical Society in 2024.

Accompanied by a visually arresting slide deck and compelling delivery, Dame Francis spoke with passion about what she sees happening with her own eyes to this remote and fragile continent, effects with potentially devastating consequences for all human activity on our planet.

A packed audience of Fellows of the RGS, friends of the school, pupils, parents, staff and alumni filled the festively decorated school refectory for the talk and for the post-lecture Q&A, during which Norwich School A Level geographer Lea Zegan (L6) plucked up the courage to ask two questions. Afterwards, guests enjoyed a Christmassy reception of mince pies, sausage rolls and fizz to round off a hugely successful and sociable evening.

This event concluded Norwich School’s impressive programme of sixteen external public lectures held on site in 2025 in conjunction with partner organisations. The school offers its heartfelt thanks to all involved this year: our valued partners - the RGS, the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society and the Norfolk Cambridge Society - for according us the honour of hosting their events at Norwich School and for securing such stellar speakers; our Sixth Form Community Service helpers including Hetty Holden (U6), Hannah Hodgson (U6), Lea Zegan (L6), Daisy Smith (L6), Caleb Asamoah (L6) and Xander Gooderson (L6) for their valuable out-of-hours assistance; Will Stephenson in our IT Dept for his technical wizardry throughout the year; Gareth Parry and the fabulous catering team for appetising refreshments; our diligent Estates and Bookings Teams for their consummate professionalism; and finally those thousands comprising our loyal, supportive and intellectually curious audiences whose presence has enriched every lecture.

Norfolk Cambridge Society Essay Competition 2025

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:23:48 GMT

Norwich School is proud of our close links with the Norfolk Cambridge Society, and the school is a host site for their very successful termly lectures.

The Society runs its own highly prestigious and rigorous annual essay competition open to any Upper Sixth pupil in the county of Norfolk considering applying to Cambridge University. Norwich School pupils have achieved unparalleled success this year.

The following pupils were placed in the Commended category for their contributions – Rosie Pank, Anna Rechel, Melissa Hawkings and Ed Brightwell.

Following shortlisting and an interview with the judging panel, the following pupils were placed in the Highly Commended category - Mei McAuley, Georgia Lloyd and Ana Paduraru

Tom Irvine was awarded third place for his thought-provoking essay on the capability of medicine to prevent and possibly ‘reverse’ death.

Joint winners of the overall competition for 2025 were Arthur Dannatt for his astonishingly complex maths-based essay entitled: What is the Archimedes cattle problem and how can it be solved?

And Becky Brown for her album of nine beautiful songs she composed herself – the first time a musical entry has been awarded top prize in the competition’s history.

All are pictured with Rob Edwards, Chair of the Norfolk Cambridge Society.

We offer huge congratulations from the school community to all of them. Bright academic futures await them all.

Keeping Track of Cross Country - End of Michaelmas 2025

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:56:14 GMT

The City Schools Cross Country at Redmayne serves as the qualifying round for the Norfolk Schools Championships that will take place early next term. Runners need to finish in the top 10 of their respective races, against runners from eight city-based schools, to make it through to the next round. On Monday we had thirteen hopefuls from L4 to M5 who were aiming to do just that. This year six of our runners were successful in qualifying.

Conditions were perfect for running laps on the flat, slightly muddy course. In the Year 7 boys' race, Jonty Croskell ran consistently to finish 12th while Joshua Bevan came home in 4 ^th place.

In the Intermediate girls' Lydia Hendry ran strongly but we had two qualifiers with Nona Griffiths finishing 7 ^th and Emi Muntingh 3rd.

In the intermediate boys, Riccardo Di Maria secured his place in the County round by coming 7th. The rest of the team ran well with Harry Kensell 12th, Albie Cater 16th, Jonas Tam 19 ^th and Rory Normanton 26th.

The performance of the day came from Ruby Ivie who won her race looking extremely comfortable. Against some very strong Senior boys, Noah Buchan ran with determination to come 10th.

Well done to those runners who qualified for the County round, which will take place at Wymondham College in mid-January.

End of Michaelmas 2025 – 8th Norwich Sea Scouts

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:01:27 GMT

Beavers (U1 and L2) have had a brilliant and varied term, packed with hands-on adventures. They’ve enjoyed valuable time on the water as they begin their Sea Scouting journey, building confidence, and learning how to stay safe afloat. On land, they’ve explored simple cooking skills, tackled early map work, celebrated Diwali, and followed clues on an exciting treasure hunt. They’ve also looked to the night sky with some early astronomy, tested their engineering skills with paper-tower building, and got stuck into Bushcraft activities outdoors. The term ends, of course, with the all-important Christmas party – a chance to celebrate everything they’ve achieved together.

Cubs (U2-U3) have embraced a mix of outdoor adventure and creative learning. They’ve spent plenty of time on the water in canoes, kayaks, and SUPs, as well as trying archery, biking, fire cooking, knots and wide games. We carved pumpkins, celebrated Diwali, and marked Remembrance Day with a Poppy Challenge and a hands-on trench-warfare activity. A highlight was the visit to Pets at Home, where Cubs learned what it’s like to be a vet and how to care for different animals. More recently, they’ve been busy with Christmas sewing projects, and we’re all looking forward to finishing the term with a festive campfire and Christmas party.

Scouts (L4-L5) have taken on a lively mix of patrol challenges – biking, whittling, wide games and the ever-popular Great Lego Egg Race. As a Sea Scout troop, they’ve also made the most of time afloat with kayaking, SUP and rowing sessions. We rounded things off in true 8th style with our legendary Christmas Jumper Jaunt – a festive, energetic end to a term full of teamwork and skills for life.

Explorers (M5-U6) have also had a packed term. They’ve taken to SUPs, canoes and kayaks with growing confidence, and even braved some wild swimming while learning key survival skills, including recognising and responding to cold-water shock – essential knowledge for any Sea Scout. Back on land, they’ve built and managed fires, strengthened teamwork, cooked curries and even plucked partridge. Our new Explorer badge clinic has launched, introducing the wide range of badges and top awards available, alongside inspiring discussions about Explorer Belt expeditions. After plotting and problem-solving their way out of Escape the Paddock, the term finishes with our 8th Christmas Party – a great end to a busy and ambitious programme.

Across all this, our Young Leaders (M5-U6) have played a vital role. They’ve consistently supported section meetings, putting the skills they’re learning into action by helping our adult volunteers deliver exciting, safe and engaging sessions. Their contribution has strengthened the programme for our younger sections while giving them valuable leadership experience in return.

Junior Dance Festival and Choreography Competition 2025: A Night of Creativity and Talent

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:15:08 GMT

The Junior Dance Festival and Choreography Competition 2025 was a spectacular evening that brought together 93 pupils across the lower and senior school, celebrating the remarkable creativity and dedication of our young performers.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this hybrid event, which combined the performance platforms of both the Junior Dance Festival and the Choreography Competition. The night showcased a stunning mix of student-led choreography alongside pieces from our co-curricular dance programme, highlighting the exceptional talents of pupils across the fourth and fifth form.

The evening was a true celebration of collaboration. Student-led work featured a diverse range of ensemble and solo performances from the Junior and Inter year groups, demonstrating their creativity, growing artistic confidence, and passion for dance. Alongside these, co-curricular pieces reflected the hard work and skills developed through our wider dance programme, including external workshop opportunities led by industry professionals which enriched the evening with variety and depth.

A panel of external judges marked pupils on creativity, performance, and technical skill, with one group in each section crowned as the Choreographic Champions 2025. The judging process and audiences support added an extra spark of excitement to the night.

We would like to extend our best wishes to all participants. Their dedication to the creative process and commitment to excellence have been truly inspiring, and it was a delight to share their successes enthusiasm and passion for the performing arts.

Winners

Juniors – 158 points: Panic Room - Santiago O’Dwyer, Sarah Lashmore-Davies, Florence Humphrey, Edie Hopkins
Inters – 174 points: Constellations - Molly Martin

Highly Commended

Juniors – 156 points: The Other Side of Me - Emily Slinger
Inters – 172 points: Corrupt Carnival - Ava Webb & Jennifer Mardle

Commended

Juniors – 150 points: Missing You - Lotte Lalchan-Woods & Holly Rose Hart
Inters – 169 points: Uptown Funk - Amelia Nundy & Nola Woodeson

Congratulations to all pupils for their outstanding performances. It truly was a night to remember!

L6 Pupils Bring Festive Cheer to Broadland Lodge Care Home

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:03:18 GMT

During their Monday morning visit to Broadland Lodge Care Home on December 8, four of our L6 community service pupils brought a touch of festive spirit by decorating Christmas baubles alongside the residents. The opportunity came about as part of our new community service programme, where of our Lower Sixth formers give up roughly an hour a week of their time to help in the community.

This placement is a new offering for us this year, and has already become a much loved part of the weekly routine. Thanks to our partnership with Kelly at Friend in Deed, we have been able to establish a regular Monday morning visit around breakfast time - something both pupils and residents look forward to. Mrs Hill, who joined the group this week, remarked on how uplifting it was to see so many residents eager to get involved so early in the day.

For the pupils, the experience has been just as rewarding. " It's the highlight of my week ," said Ava (L6), while Olivia (L6) added, " It's a great way to start the week, chatting with residents about Christmas ." There were many heart-warming moments, including one from Mary, who carefully wrote " Merry Christmas Carol " on her bauble and gifted it to a resident - a simple gesture that clearly meant a great deal.

As the term comes to an end, our Lower Sixth pupils are taking the time to reflect on the connections they've built and the joy their Monday mornings at Broadland Lodge have brought. This new partnership has become a meaningful and memorable part of their community service journey, offering valuable insights and experiences that will stay with them beyond the classroom.

Upper 3 Chamber Choir Bring Festive Cheer to Abbeyfields

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:43:19 GMT

Members of the Upper 3 Chamber Choir delighted residents at Abbeyfields with a beautifully curated programme of Christmas music, filling the home with warmth, nostalgia, and joy.

A standout moment of the morning came with Zoe Asamoah’s breathtaking solo in Once in Royal David’s City. Her poised and expressive delivery set a magical tone for the performance and was met with heartfelt applause from both residents and staff.

The Chamber Choir followed with a selection of well-loved traditional carols, including Silent Night, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, and Away in a Manger. The residents sang with joy and gusto, creating shared celebration and seasonal reflection.

Bringing something fresh to the festive programme, the choir also introduced a contemporary Christmas piece, Sweet Silent Night. Its shimmering harmonies and peaceful mood captivated everyone and left a lasting impression.

The visit proved to be a meaningful experience for everyone involved one that celebrated music, community and the simple joy of giving time to others.

The Upper 3 Chamber Choir left Abbeyfields with full hearts, knowing they had brought a little extra light to the residents’ day.

Upper 1 Enjoy a Magical Advent Workshop and Christmas Journey at the Cathedral

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:37:37 GMT

Upper 1 had a wonderful time visiting the Cathedral this week as part of their learning about the Advent Story and the Christmas Story. The trip offered a special opportunity for the children to deepen their understanding of these important Christian celebrations.

During the visit, the children took part in an interactive Christmas Journey, where they re-enacted the special Bible stories of Christmas and the journey to Bethlehem. Moving around the Cathedral, they brought the narratives to life through characterised storytelling and drama, with plenty of enthusiastic dressing-up along the way! This immersive experience helped the children connect more meaningfully with the people, places and events at the heart of the festival.

The visit also included a creative craft workshop, where the children made their own matchbox mangers to take home. This thoughtful activity encouraged them to reflect on the Nativity in a hands-on and imaginative way.

FoNS Fund New Running Bibs for Running Club

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:26:41 GMT

Running in the winter has never looked better with these new, lightweight bibs.

The Senior School lunchtime running club were delighted to be awarded funds to purchase 15 new high visibility running bibs to wear out whilst on their weekly 5km runs. The bibs are super lightweight, well-fitted and most importantly, bright yellow with reflective strips to allow our runners to be seen more easily. Our running routes are largely city-based and involve running next to and crossing roads, so these bibs help us to stand out, especially during the winter months, when the weather is darker and duller. Pupils are required to wear bibs as per the risk assessment so we would like to say a huge thank you to the Friends of Norwich School for supporting our bid and helping us to keep safe whilst out running.

Mrs Norton

Lower 2 Pupil, Ethan, Inspired to Make a Difference

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:21:07 GMT

Lower School pupil, Ethan, has been incredibly busy raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

"As everyone knows - I love rugby! When I heard the news about Lewis Moody - I decided I wanted to raise money for the MND association. I took inspiration from Kevin Sinfield who does 7 ultra marathons in 7 days. I decided to ride my bike for 7 days doing 1 mile a day! My initial target was £100. We changed it to £500 and now my total is sitting at £721!!

I was further invited by the MND association to run an extra mile with Kevin during his current 7 in 7 on Mon 1 December in Ipswich. I was also interviewed by Anglia TV!"

Congratulations to Ethan for his amazing efforts! If you would like to support him further please click here!

Girls Hockey Highlights from Michaelmas 2025

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:51:03 GMT

This half term has been an exceptional one for Girls’ Hockey at Norwich School, with teams across every age group demonstrating determination, teamwork and impressive progress on the pitch.

Juniors (U12 & U13)

The U12s have risen brilliantly to every challenge, competing in a series of highly competitive fixtures. Their confidence, technical skill and match understanding have grown week by week. A standout achievement was qualifying for the Regional Finals in Stamford—a fantastic reward for their hard work and enthusiasm.

Our U13 squads have also enjoyed a superb half term:

The U13A team produced several excellent performances, including a commanding 6–0 win over Beeston and qualification for the East Regional Finals in Ipswich.
The U13B side impressed with an outstanding 11–0 victory against Beeston and a strong 3–0 win over Norwich High School for Girls.

Inters (U14 & U15)

The Inter teams have shown steady development this half term, competing in a number of close, exciting fixtures.

The U14A team secured notable wins over Framlingham College and Ipswich School, while the U14B squad celebrated a convincing victory against Felsted and a well-earned draw with Gresham’s.
The U15s have made significant progress, recording strong wins against Felsted and Woodbridge, alongside a determined draw against Gresham’s.

Seniors (1XI, 2XI, 3XI)

The Senior teams have also enjoyed a highly successful half term.

The 3rd XI showed impressive grit and resilience, highlighted by an excellent 5-1 win against Felsted.
The 2nd XI have been superb, losing only one match so far, with a standout 1-0 victory over Gresham’s.
The 1st XI continue to build week after week, delivering a series of strong performances including a 6–0 win over Felsted, 7-0 against Langley School, and a confident 2-0 win over Woodbridge.

With such strong performances across all age groups this half term, the future of Girls’ Hockey at Norwich School looks incredibly bright. We look forward to carrying this momentum into the next stage of the season.

A Marvellous Michaelmas Concert

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:43:04 GMT

The annual Michaelmas Concert was a wonderful celebration of the dedication and commitment to music from the many students who learn instruments inside and outside of school. From traditional festive works to upbeat jazz numbers, and even music from video games, the evening was filled with music that brought joy to performers and audience alike.

Performances included G-Force opening with a modern classic by Ariana Grande; classic Christmas songs by Close Shaves and Spire Guitar Ensemble; a piece from the popular gaming soundtrack, ‘Plants vs Zombies’, played by Sinfonia; Junior and Chamber Choirs sensitively accompanied by string ensembles; Baroque works by Purcell; a striking percussion piece composed by one of our teachers, Colin Shaw; classical and contemporary works from Almary String Quartet; jazz by Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder performed by both our older and younger pupils; and a finale of two upbeat orchestral works by Gateway Orchestra, the school’s flagship large instrumental ensemble.

It was a truly memorable evening of music-making that showcased the spirit and teamwork of our school community.

The Big Sister Initiative Fosters Female Friendship and Mentorship

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:58:25 GMT

Last week, female pupils from the Fourth Form joined our Upper Sixth volunteers for another successful peer-mentoring session. The group spent time discussing the topic of friendship while making friendship bracelets together, strengthening bonds across year groups in a relaxed and positive environment.

This initiative, launched at the end of last academic year, continues to go from strength to strength. Its purpose is to foster female friendship and mentorship, connecting our eldest pupils with younger students and building a supportive sense of sisterhood within the school community.

In the coming weeks, the group will vote on an official name for the society, drawing inspiration from a prominent female figure in either the school’s or Norwich’s history.

The Best Dragon's Den Event Yet!

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:51:50 GMT

Our annual Dragons’ Den event was the best yet – 60 Year 5 pupils and our L6 Business Enterprise pupils came together to present 5 businesses to charities from Norfolk Charities and Businesses, in addition to a very special dragon from the ‘Schools Partnerships Alliance’.

"I wanted to thank you for inviting me to be involved with the Dragons Den today – it was truly inspiring and reinforces the reason we do what we do." (Tracey Drake - Business in the Community)

"Thank you SO much for today- it was the best ever!! Great Dragons and a huge amount of work put in behind the scenes by you and Mr White to make both days so smooth and seamless. Thank you ��"

(Toby Whalen Deputy Head, Mile Cross Primary)

A Grand Opening of 15 Upper King Street

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:24:52 GMT

In fine winter sunshine, Norwich School formally opened our new facility, 15 Upper King Street, on 3 December 2025.

At around 19,000 ft² and spread over six storeys, this new facility offers a transformational addition to the school estate and has already added meaningful value to the educational experience we offer at Norwich School. It is a facility we can all be proud of.

Lessons started taking place in 15 Upper King Street from September 2024, following the challenging conversion of the building from a former accountants’ office to an educational facility during the spring and summer of 2024. From May 2025 the lower ground floor has also been open, offering a hot food service in this secondary refectory to complement the original, helping ease congestion and generating much needed additional capacity. Those eating there are offered the same food options and the air conditioning means it offer a pleasant experience. As recently as September 2025, the Geography Dept in its entirety has relocated there, as the building’s potential is maximised.

Joining us for the grand opening was our principal guest Old Norvicensian Roger Robinson (ON 52-61) and his wife Geraldine. Together with his sister Pauline Dallmeyer, Roger had the vision to provide substantial funding to enable this building to be converted so beautifully. He was present to see the large top room dedicated in his family’s honour: The Robinson Suite.

He was joined by specially invited guests including the Chair of Governors, the Dean of Norwich and fellow Governors, senior staff, support staff who have been so instrumental in the impressive conversion, members of the Geography Dept, and red gown senior prefects. Mr Griffiths, Head, expressed the school’s gratitude to the Robinson family for their generosity and lifelong support of the school, he articulated his great pride in the building’s progress during the last two years, and thanked all those whose dedication had got us to this point.

We hope pupils, staff, alumni, charitable partners and visitors will continue to enjoy this facility for many years to come.

Pupils Shine in Drama Event

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:56:42 GMT

On Monday 1 December, GCSE and A Level Theatre Studies pupils put on a showcase of performance extracts for an excited audience. The evening had an array of pieces, with a repertoire of monologues, duologues and group pieces. To begin the evening was The Tragical History of Dr Faustus by Middle 5 pupils. This unique and hilarious piece set the evening of two a perfect start. Following this was a change of tone, with two monologues by Upper 6 pupils, both pieces displaying clear raw vulnerability and emotion. A duologue from Middle 5 pupils then took us to the trenches of World War I, for an emotive piece about the horrors of war. To follow were two more monologues by Upper 6 pupils, with Daisy Massey's hilarious portrayal of Cynthia in Goodbye Charles, juxtaposed against Pearl Lee's poignant performance in Prima Facia.

Going back to the younger years, a group of Middle 5 put on a dynamic performance of Living with Lady Macbeth . To continue were two monologues by Upper 6 pupils, although very contrasting in tone, both displayed excellent emotional range and complexity. For the final Middle 5 performance was the hysterical History Boys which had audiences in fits of laughter throughout, and following on was Sophie Millington's relatable characterisation of Sarah in Sparks . To end the night was a short piece from Lower 6 Theatre Studies pupils which gave an air of mystery. All 6 pupils put together an incredibly compelling piece.

Congratulations to all who took part!

Melissa Hawkings (U6) Wins British Horn Society Emerging Composer Prize

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 11:18:37 GMT

On Sunday 30 November, Melissa Hawkings (U6) performed her winning piece for the British Horn Society Emerging Composer Prize. In front of an audience filled with professional horn players, she presented Anadolu'nun Nefesi (The Breath of Anatolia), captivating listeners with her expressive performance.

Her solo horn composition makes use of a wide range of extended techniques to evoke the distinctive sounds of the Turkish call to prayer, creating a vivid and atmospheric musical landscape.

Congratulations to Melissa on this outstanding achievement.

Pupils Support Priscilla Bacon Lodge Christmas Fair

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 10:06:54 GMT

On Saturday 30 November, two Lower 6 pupils helped out with the Priscilla Bacon Lodge Christmas Fair for their Community Service. The Christmas Fair was able to raise £4993!

The pupils commented below;

"The volunteering went very well, it was a good day and helped Priscilla Bacon raise over £4000 from the fair in total. I worked at the bookstall selling used books and jigsaws, interacting with visitors and handling money and change. It was good to work with Alison who ran the bookstall with me, and I met lots of volunteers who were all very friendly. Overall I enjoyed the experience and I’m looking forward to the next volunteering session this month."
- Ewan

"I recently volunteered at the Priscilla Bacon hospice charity Christmas fair, where I helped run the teddy tombola stall. My role included welcoming everyone that took part, and explaining to them the rules of the game. Overall the event was a great success. The charity raised around 4000 pounds, which will go towards supporting the vital care the hospice provides. I really enjoyed the experience, it was an excellent first time volunteering with Priscilla Bacon, and it felt great to be a part of such a positive community event. I look forward to volunteering more with Priscilla bacon in the future."

- Oli

The Importance of Co-Education

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:36:46 GMT

Amber Scott, our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Head of Pupil Personal Development, reflects on the importance of co-education in addressing issues faced by girls and young women, and boys and young men in today's society:

"Over the past week, two important events have taken place that some may see as being slightly dissonant , International Men’s Day and the UN Day for the Abolition of Violence Against Women. The events fall only six days apart, and this year, Norwich School pupils came together to mark both with a shared, united message. Prefects working on initiatives for boys and young men, and those focusing on girls and young women, collaborated throughout the week, recognising that the issues are not separate or competing, but intertwined with one another.

Each year, Norwich School hosts a Reclaim the Night vigil in honour of the UN Day. During the event, pupils share speeches and poetry that call for an end to misogyny and gender-based violence. This year’s vigil saw boys and girls standing side by side, listening and sharing powerful messages around gender equity and challenging misogyny. In the run up to this event, our International Men’s Day assembly highlighted the idea that celebrating masculinity in all its forms also has to involve taking responsibility for the actions of men and building a society where misogyny is always challenged, and a direct call was made for boys and young men to attend the upcoming Reclaim The Night Vigil.

This link between events made something very clear, in order to instil lasting cultural change, we need buy in from everyone. When we have boys and girls working together, we acknowledge that Women’s rights cannot advance in a silo, and boys and young men must have space to listen, reflect, and speak up too. The issues facing young women are intrinsically linked with t he pressures facing young men. One cannot be addressed meaningfully without the other. Coalition is key.

Co-education makes this coalition tangible. Co-educative spaces are powerful tools for change and growth, empowering girls to speak to their true experiences, and enabling boys to listen and share, without judgement or shame. Shared understanding, shared advocacy, and the recognition that equality is a collective effort is the only way to move forward. When boys and girls learn together, speak together and stand together, the message is stronger and the call for change is louder."

Katie Grote Delivers an Address on Travel this Festive Season

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:51:58 GMT

Two weeks. Yes, that’s right. In just two weeks we will be on the cusp of the Christmas holidays. I wonder what you will do in those days, particularly the ones immediately after Christmas. That glorious time when nobody really knows what day of the week it is, whether the shops are open, or if the bins are being collected. If your Christmas holidays are anything like mine, they involve a fair amount of travelling. For some, that travelling begins as soon as term ends, racing out of school to disappear somewhere exciting. For others – like me – the travelling happens after Christmas, a yearly road trip, to grandparents, to greatgrandparents, to aunts, uncles, in laws: a type of Christmas pilgrimage.

Christmas is full of travelling. Today’s reading sees Mary and Joseph make their journey to Bethlehem; soon after, the shepherds hurry to see the good news, the magi follow a star to distant lands, and then Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt in a far more anxious journey. Even our hymn today concerns people travelling. “Lo from the North they come; from east and west and south.”

All this talk of journeys has made me think about travelling and its place in our lives and our faith. This week I have watched Strictly Come Dancing and Race Across the World. One has no phones, no flights, and a temporary pause to the race because of civil unrest in Guatemala; the other is full of glitter and spray tan and a weekend in Blackpool; both programmes explore how their contestants are “on a journey”. And this is nothing new.

From the Wizard of Oz, to Forest Gump, from Moana to the Mandalorian, our culture is full of quests and pilgrimages. Some claim the greatest of these is the hobbits’ trek from the safety of the Shire, across Middle Earth towards the dangers of Mordor. However, over 1,000 pages of reading, or more than 10 hours of film isn’t for everyone: Lord of the Rings? More like Bored of the Rings? These films drag on and on – why can’t those hobbits just get where they’re going?

That review says something true about many of us: we are impatient travellers. We want to arrive. We want to get there. Parents of young children know this well: five minutes into any car journey will come the inevitable: “How much longer?” “Are we nearly there yet?” As parents of such children, and with them in the car with us, it is likely that we will have exactly the same attitude: let’s get this over with as soon as possible. Cancelled flights, lost luggage, or overcrowded trains: most journeys and forms of transport involve frustration, impatience, discomfort and maybe even a little bit of rage.

I like travel to be planned and predictable. I never did the student inter railing thing yet I do appreciate the freedom of unhurried journeys. When you are not rushing to arrive, or feeling cross about your arrangements, you can notice the scenery, enjoy the journey, even think. My favourite journeys are long car journeys, but with my husband, and without the small children. On such journeys, we talk, we reflect, we plan. On those occasions, I really don’t mind the traffic.

Not all journeys involve transport. At this point of the year, as we cling on until the next end of term, we are on our slow, yearly trek through the academic calendar. We live by assignments, deadlines, submission dates, exams. But when people leave school, they often say the same thing — “It went so fast. I wish I’d appreciated it more at the time.

” Yes, being so destination-focused can mean missing what’s happening on the road itself. Yet there is a far greater risk: that the hassles and stresses of travel make us avoid journeys altogether. Why bother when it’s so hard? However, the world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. These words, attributed to St Augustine, have been borrowed by travel companies to sell holidays: to encourage people to visit unknown places and embrace the world beyond their doorstep. Yet I cannot believe that Augustine is really talking about all-inclusive package holidays or gap years. This great thinker and church Father is encouraging intellectual and spiritual exploration, rather than inter-railing and back-packing. Perhaps, in line with Augustine’s encouragement, we should be delighting in all travel and exploration, especially in our thinking, and never seek instant, quick, or easy answers. We don’t have to and we certainly shouldn’t stay fixed in one place or perspective.

After all, that is what Advent, beginning this weekend, invites us to do: it is not simply about counting down the days until Christmas, but about taking the journey slowly, learning to wait, to notice and to prepare for what lies ahead.

Wherever you are going in the next few weeks, godspeed to you and please do travel safely. When you’re sat in a departure lounge and the flight is delayed, or you’re on your way to Granny’s house and the traffic is bad, or, because it’s one of those days after Christmas and nothing works properly, you find that you are on some god-forsaken rail replacement bus, by all means look forward to arriving at your destination but have it mind to enjoy the journey time and the travelling as much as the arrival. Journeys have to be taken, and should be taken, but they should be enjoyed, not just endured. The Christian story, especially at Advent and Christmas, reminds us that all journeys, including and especially the unexpected and the transformational, should be celebrated.

In the words of today’s hymn: Shout as you journey home; Songs be in every mouth.

You don’t always need to know where you’re going, or indeed how you are going to get there. Treating all journeys, the actual, the intellectual and the spiritual, with this mindset, might leave us less frustrated by delays, changes, or bumps in the road and more open simply to seeing where the road takes us. Like Mary and Joseph, we might travel with uncertainty, and face difficulties, but we should travel with faith. Mary and Joseph survived without googlemaps: their journey certainly didn’t turn out as anticipated. In fact, their arrival in Bethlehem was only the start of a much greater journey, for them and for us.

Hilarious Junior Play 'The Witches' Delights the Blake

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 17:00:55 GMT

As part of a busy month of performances we had the Junior Play: The Witches . Directed by Gavin Bromley

‘Hilarious’, ‘Bonkers’ and ‘riotous’ are just some of the comments from our audiences as they watched Roald Dahl’s characters come to life on the stage of the Blake theatre in November.

After the loss of his parents in a car accident our protagonist ‘Boy’ ( Rosie Brew) , goes to live with his grandmother (Alice Stevens), who tells about the boy about how Witches live amongst us and their dislike of children. Due to the Grandmothers ill health they go on a relaxing break to the ‘The Grand Hotel, little do they know that the Witches AGM is being held at the same time at the hotel, where the Grand High Witch has hatched a plan to turn all the children in England in to mice!

Boy befriends Bruno (Samson O'Farrel) at the hotel both of which are caught by the witches and turned to mice themselves but nor to be out done they hatch a plan to use the same methods to turn all The Witches in to mice themselves.

With a cast of over 30 Fourth form students The witches had the audience in hysterics through out , very well done to all involved !

Fourth Form Scholars Visit Millennium Library

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 14:42:27 GMT

Following on from enrichment sessions in the Michaelmas Term all about libraries, Fourth Form scholars visited the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library for a lunchtime session.

We admired a wide range of items from the library’s heritage archive collection before a discussion focussing on the Kelmscott Press and William Morris’s rejection of the mechanisation of the industrial revolution towards the Arts and Crafts movement and then compared this in particular to another book from the 1400s. It was fascinating to discuss the role of physical media and how creators are pushing back today in an increasingly digital environment.

We went on to discuss pupils’ impressions of what role libraries play in today’s society and the experts at the Millennium Library added their own thoughts. Pupils were keen to explore the shelves and the digital archive but lo, it was time to return to school for our afternoon lessons.

We all left feeling full of anticipation to visit the Millennium Library again as soon as possible to explore everything it has to offer with a newfound understanding of its heritage and value in today’s world.

Bodhrán Workshop with Mark Moggy

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:37:12 GMT

On Thursday 27 November, Music Scholars and Exhibitioners were invited to take part in a Bodhrán workshop led by Mark Moggy. They learnt the basic 'tipper' strokes, part of the Kerry technique. They also learnt how the drums are made and the background to how the Bodhrán became established in Irish music.

Colourful Creatures Come to Life in the Little Roots Allotment

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:57:22 GMT

Lower School pupils enjoyed an inspiring visit from local author and award-winning illustrator Ben Rothery ON, who spent the day helping children bring the Little Roots allotment area to life with colourful minibeast artwork.

Ben began by sharing a fascinating range of minibeasts with the pupils, demonstrating how to observe details closely and shade them accurately. Using his expertly drawn outlines and acrylic pens, pupils then set to work decorating the raised beds and garden shed with vibrant insect illustrations.

Elephant hawk moths, dragonflies, rose chafer beetles, seven-spot ladybirds, and orange-tip butterflies are among the beautifully coloured creatures now adorning the allotment area. The finished artwork not only provides some pops of colour in the area but also gives pupils a glimpse of the minibeasts they might spot in our school garden next summer.

Ben gave pupils a wonderful hands-on experience that combined art, nature, and creativity and the project has left the allotment buzzing with colour and excitement for the seasons ahead.

Reclaim the Night 2025

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:47:51 GMT

On 25 November pupils from the senior school came together to mark the UN day for the Abolition of violence against women with the Reclaim the Night March. Pupil walked together from Horsefair House to the main site and shared speeches, poems and spoken word pieces with each other on the topic of women's safety and gender equality. The event was a powerful reminder of community and the need for these important conversations to continue.

Below we share an extract from the final reader of the night, and Lead on the Next Gen Women project, Lily Minns.

Sixty seconds.
That’s all it takes for a woman to learn the rule:
be quiet, be small, be careful.

In sixty seconds, a girl is told to pull her skirt down,
not because she’s “inappropriate,”
but because men won’t be held responsible.

In sixty seconds, a joke lands in a room
misogyny wrapped as “banter.”
She feels the punch but laughs anyway,
because calling it out makes her the problem.

In sixty seconds, a woman weighs the risk
of saying “no”
against the risk of what happens
when the man who hears it doesn’t like the sound.

In sixty seconds, a bruise forms,
a threat is whispered,
a door is slammed just hard enough to warn.
No evidence, just fear
the kind that never makes a headline.

In sixty seconds, a colleague’s hand lingers too long.
A stranger follows too close.
A partner raises his voice, then his fist.
Violence doesn’t check the time of day.
It doesn’t wait for night.
It lives in kitchens, offices, bedrooms, buses.

In sixty seconds, a woman practises silence

because speaking brings consequences,
because reporting gets dismissed,
because survival has been mistaken for “strength.”

We’re told to stay quiet.
We’re told it’s not that bad.
We’re told to move on.

So take these next sixty seconds
every one of them
and sit with the truth some women never get to speak
Never getting the chance to share their story.
and feel the weight of every story we only hear once she's gone
because this world listens too late.

As part of my Red Gown project this year, I made it my mission to ensure that Reclaim the Night at Norwich School didn’t happen quietly, or halfway, or in the shadows. I wanted this event to have the turnout, the attention, and the respect it deserves — because these issues cannot be whispered about. They demand to be seen. They demand to be heard. And tonight, all of you helped make that happen. This is exactly what meaningful leadership looks like: a community refusing to accept silence where there should be justice.

We came here to walk — but what we are really doing is carrying a message forward. A message that says women and girls deserve safety without conditions. That our streets belong to us. That our voices will not shrink to make others comfortable. And that the next generation — our generation — will not tolerate the patterns that too many have been forced to endure.

So as we leave tonight, do not leave unchanged. Let this not be a moment, but a shift. Keep speaking. Keep challenging. Keep showing up for each other. Because reclaiming the night is not something we do once a year — it is something we keep alive every day.

Thank you again for being here, for standing together, and for choosing action over apathy. If this is what our community looks like when we stand up — imagine what we can change.

Sensational Jesus Christ Superstar!

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:01:31 GMT

In November, an exceptional cast of senior pupils took to the stage at the Norwich Playhouse to present Jesus Christ Superstar.

This powerful production explored how the well-known story resonates in today’s world—a world of online influencers with millions of ‘followers’, where public figures can rise and fall in an instant. Much like the Roman Empire of the time, we see vibrant political personalities dominating the media, often surrounded by questions of motive and allegiance.

Audiences loved the portrayal of a politically active, anti-establishment new generation rebelling against the dominance of Roman rule.

"Wow! - What a performance!"

"I was nearly moved to tears and it was incredibly emotional."

"Close your eyes and you might just be in the West End!"

The principals, led by Ben Griffiths and Louis Baker, were outstanding—tackling a challenging vocal score with seeming ease and conveying the emotional intensity of each character with real maturity. The entire cast demonstrated talent and professionalism far beyond their years. It was a truly special production—one that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

At Least You Spoke to Me - An Assembly from Barny Pearce

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:17:14 GMT

This morning, I’d like to tell you about six words that changed my life. Before I start, I realized after I’d written this, that it’s a moment that’s lived in my head, for 20 years, which I’ve never shared with anyone – but I share it with you, now.

Once upon a time, I lived and worked in London. I commuted each day on the Central Line: that flat-lining red on the underground map that pierces the city’s smokey heart before bouncing a guilty getaway towards Essex. I’d survive my cramped and sweaty tube journeys with all the usual tricks: reading a book with my face in someone’s armpit; guessing what kind of a day the person next to me had, based on the state of their work clothes; and challenging myself, on the way home, to a game of nap-gamble: could I sleep for exactly long enough that I’d wake up in time not to miss my stop? It was high-stakes: my stop, Ealing Broadway, was the end of the line: missing it meant waking in a cold sweat to find that the train was already taking me back to work.

One such ordinary journey home took place in the hot heights of Summer. I’d spent a very sweaty 45 minutes trying to read my book whilst squished unthinkably close to a man whose shirt – creased, untucked, and flecked with specks of broccoli and chocolate pot pudding – told of a particularly unfortunate day at the office canteen. At Ealing Broadway, the train expunged us all – apart from that day’s nap-gamble losers – and I emerged into the night with hundreds of others.

Then my day changed. Flooding through the ticket barriers, I saw a man at the entrance to the station. He stood out immediately because he was boldly facing commuter deluge head on, like a fish swimming up-river. He was evidently hungry, homeless and begging for small change. I’d always been taught that the best way to help the homeless was not to give money directly, but to give to relevant charities – so I just looked at the man, slightly sheepishly, and said “sorry mate”.

In a sudden, quiet, gently smiling blaze, his eyes fixed on mine as he said those six words : “At least you spoke to me.”

At those words, something shifted in my head; I glimpsed in a flash how it might feel to be rejected by society; to be in the country’s busiest, most iconic city, yet washed over by a wave of a thousand commuters who look right past you. “At least you spoke to me”.

Now I need to be clear here: I was a young adult, in my twenties, and I’m not suggesting you start speaking to strangers on the street: as young people, you should actively avoid doing this.

But there’s a powerful principle here: to reach out to the vulnerable; to validate those on the edge; to show compassion to those others overlook – this you can do in all sorts of ways.

Jesus was the master of it. Did you spot the odd details in our reading, as he meets the woman at the well? Collecting water in the Middle East 2000 years ago was done by women – but usually early in the morning (before it got too hot) and usually in groups, because it was a social high point of the day.

But this woman is there at noon – blazing heat o’clock – and she’s alone. Why? If we read on, we’d find out: she’s an outcast, shunned by her community: “cancelled”, we might say today. Worse, she’s from a community that itself was excluded: Jesus’ community and this woman’s community were arch enemies. This conversation should never have happened.

And yet here’s Jesus, reaching out to this outcast woman with six words of his own – “ Will you give me a drink?” The conversation changed her life.

It’s not a one-off. We don’t have time for the full stories of Jesus reaching out to Zaccheus – the hated tax collector who Jesus went to tea with; or the countless times Jesus healed those whose medical conditions tragically made them outcasts; or the time a shunned woman crashed a party to pour perfume on Jesus’ feet, to be rebuked by the hosts, but welcomed by Jesus.

Jesus never waited for any of them to be socially acceptable enough, or cool enough, or clever enough, or talented enough... Reaching out to the lost, the unseen, the excluded, exactly as they were, was Jesus’ whole mission, right up to what happened on the Cross. Romans 6:8: “For God showed his love for us in this: whilst we were still sinners, Christ died for us”; or 1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us.”

Jesus’ loving kindness is grace : not kindness that needs to be earned or qualified for; not “kindness because” – but “kindness anyway”.

So what about you, today? You can choose your point of reflection – from Jesus’ loving grace in this Bible reading, to the moments in our friendship groups where we really annoy each other and it might be time for a bit of “kindness anyway”.

Some of you might head for a lifetime of leadership and service where your career sees you reach across boundaries to care for the excluded who society chooses not to see and finds it hard to love. I hope so.

But there’s something you can do today , too; and at the very least it will show you that I’ve been listening in recent assemblies.

What would happen to our school if we took the “quiet leadership” that Rosie spoke of on Trafalgar Day, or the “bold compassion” that Ben spoke to us of on Wednesday, and multiplied them by the accumulation of marginal gains that Dr Clark endorsed week before? What would our doorways and corridors, our classrooms and study spaces, our changing rooms and practice rooms and our pitches and our palace, be like, if adorned with a thousand tiny daily expressions of “kindness anyway”? A thousand “at least you spoke to me” moments? That’s just one or two each, by the way. I see so much of this here already – but what if we all did it? What would happen then?

Well: let’s see, shall we? Because let me remind you where I started: I didn’t tell you, grandly and nobly, as I emerged from that stuffy train dabbing the sweat from my forehead, that I changed a man’s life at Ealing Broadway that day. No: I told you that he changed mine.

Pupils involved in Glitz and Glam Fashion Show for New-U

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:57:56 GMT

Following the success of our very own annual charity fashion Show in June, Norwich School pupils had an amazing opportunity to be involved as models in a Fashion Show in Castle Quarter - all through a new partnership between New-U and Norwich School Community Service Programme where one of our L6 pupils and parent volunteers help out in the shop for an hour a week to help with stock, window dressing and serving customers. This is just one of our new placements this year (with others being additional placements in Big-C charity shops, Broadland care home, Charles Darwin, Mousehold and George White Primary Schools plus links with charities: Priscilla Bacon Hospice, Friend in Deed, Little Lifts, Street Child and many many more too).

Here are a few words about the event from the charity themselves:

"New-U's three day Glitz & Glam Clothing Sale launched on 20th November from Castle Quarter's Honesty Library with a stunning cat walk on the red carpet. Volunteer models consisted of customers, former work placements and students from Norwich School showcasing the quality pre-loved fashion available to buy at the event. New-U is a registered charity which has a pre-loved clothing boutique on Level 2 of Norwich's Castle Quarter and regularly hosts events to encourage people to shop sustainably. The charity also exists to support unemployed young people gain skills and confidence for work. The Glitz & Glam event (which took place for the third consecutive year) is designed to help people get occasion wear for the festive season second hand at affordable prices."

Lower School Michaelmas Concert – A Night of Magic at the King’s Centre

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:17:54 GMT

The Lower School’s Michaelmas Concert at the King’s Centre was a whirlwind of colour, confidence, and heart-melting musical performances. From plucky guitars to dreamy harp tones, the night showcased our wonderful young performers.

The Guitar Ensemble set the tone with Corena Cracknell’s Bajito Samba, plucking their way through Latin rhythms with impressive focus. The toe-taps in the audience spread like a ripple—always a good sign—and the students handled the syncopations with style. Then the Infant Choir delivered a double bill full of charm - Orange and Yellow and Brown painted the autumn season with warm singing, followed by a wonderfully spirited Monster Stomp—suitably growly, adorably fierce, and 100% crowd-pleasing.

Celebrating recent successes in the Concordia Recitals, 3 pupils were chosen to showcase their solo instruments starting with Moli Li on the keyboard, who dazzled with two Classical gems: Spiritoso by Clementi and Sonata in C Major by Kuhlau. Crisp phrasing, calm poise, and beautiful musicality.

Next was the Reception Choir who took us to France with some traditional tunes: Un, Deux, Trois, Sur le pont d’Avignon and Frère Jacques. Delivered with bright eyes and sung entirely in French, each piece was sweeter than the last.

The String Ensemble then took to the stage and brought a wider emotional palette, with Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters—a sleek, modern contrast to the rest of the programme. Their expressive playing continued through every bar, showcasing impressive maturity for such young string players and also highlighting some impressive solo playing from Phoenix on the Violin and Max on the Cello.

Another of our Concordia recitalists, Harpist Georgia Cornell Du Houx offered a serene contrast with Jeremiah Clarke’s Chaconne before filling the hall with glistening textures in The Flower Duet by Delibes. A truly magical moment—audiences leaned in as if the Harp itself was casting a spell.

The Lower 2 Little Voices group lived up to their name and lit up the stage with Happy Song —a bright, bouncy number complete with air guitars! A real crowd pleaser!

Our final Concordia pupil Betsy, played with crisp articulation and elegant control on the keyboard, bringing Germaine Tailleferre’s Sonata “All Scarlatti” to life with stylish flair, followed by a tender and lyrical rendition of Alexis Ffrench’s Last Song. A beautifully balanced pairing.

Moving into pop territory, the School Choir delivered a heartfelt version of the classic Time After Time with some beautifully blended harmonies and a spirited version of the Foo Fighters’ Learn to Fly. Voices were warm and full, and their enthusiasm was nothing short of infectious.

Closing the evening with poise, the Chamber Choir offered a beautifully controlled performance of The Water is Wide, followed by the up-tempo Scottish Riddle - full of tongue twisting brilliance! A perfect finale to a wonderful evening of music making.

From thundering tiny monsters to shimmering harp lines, the Lower School Michaelmas Concert was a glorious showcase of talent and pure joy. Whether it was a first stage appearance or a seasoned young musician polishing their craft, every performer contributed to a heart-warming evening that left families beaming and teachers glowing with pride.

David Rudden Inspires Young Writers

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:47:54 GMT

On Tuesday 19 November, an author called Dave Rudden came to the Blake Studio to tell us about being an author and how we could become one too!

He talked about his latest book called ‘Conn of the Dead’ as well as well his trilogy of books called ‘Knights of the Borrowed Dark’. The trilogy is about a 13-year-old boy who is slowly turning into iron and ends up saving the world.

He also talked about his family and friends. He told us one of his friends head-butted a Darth Vader actor, saying to his parents “run, save yourselves!” It was really funny!

After lunch, I learned some pointers about how to write a story. Dave taught us about ‘person, place, problem’. This means first deciding on your character and their features. After that, decide on the setting or place, where and what it looks like. Finally, you should decide on a problem for the characters to face, for example, defeating some monsters. He said to add in the others details slowly as you go. We practiced writing a story using this method.

I most enjoyed the afternoon when Dave was teaching us about being an author and when he gave us a copy of his most recent book! I hadn’t considered being an author, but Dave has inspired me to try!

By Henry Bulman U3I

People, Planet, Partnerships – Norfolk’s youth speaks up!

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:21:58 GMT

Under the theme of ‘People, Planet, Partnerships’, we were delighted to welcome back on site on 18 November 2025 the fourth Youth Micro-Lectures event.

This prestigious annual event is hosted and organised by Norwich School and put on in the Blake Studio in conjunction with the East of England branch of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS). Pupils in Years 10-13 studying geography from around the country were invited to propose topics for short lectures, and the winning five entries were chosen to present in person on the night. Six pupils – Keegan Ansley-Daniels, Bethany Dampier, Gabie Dementjeva and Farah Alwi from Notre Dame High School, Manhaa Islam from Framlingham Earl High School and Lea Zegan (L6R) from Norwich School gave talks on topics they felt passionately about.

In ten-minute lectures followed by five minutes of Q&A, we heard about topics as varied as extremes of European weather, the monarch butterfly migration, thoughts on an Antarctic economy, stories behind the Gaza headlines and the human price of clothes. An audience of their peers, Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society, Old Norvicensians, teachers, parents and friends of Norwich School heard talks of great insight, commitment and hope, and our presenters fielded all questions fired at them with maturity and aplomb.

The evening was hosted with characteristic panache by our very own Dr Anthony Speca, himself a Fellow of the RGS. The event’s honorary Chair, back for his fourth successive year, was Professor Tim O’Riordan OBE DL FBA, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Sciences at the UEA. He pulled together all the varied strands with perceptive and generous reflections addressed to our speakers in his closing remarks.

Huge thanks to our six intrepid presenters for giving us such a fascinating and enjoyable evening. They can be very proud of their performances on the night, inspiring us all that the planet will be in good hands when this generation becomes environmental leaders.

Our next RGS talk on site is taking place on Wednesday 10 December 2025 and comprises a public lecture and social event. The talk is entitled: On thin ice: a life in the Antarctic to be given by Professor Dame Jane Francis. We are indeed fortunate to have a speaker of the highest calibre on site for this talk: Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of British Antarctic Survey. In 2017 Prof Francis was appointed a Dame in recognition of services to UK polar science and diplomacy. She became Chancellor of the University of Leeds in 2018, and was elected national President of the Royal Geographical Society in 2024. This event will comprise the talk itself from Jane Francis who will reflect on about her own life in polar research and provide valuable insights into cutting edge research underway in the Antarctic, as well as discussing the region’s many and varied threats. After Q&A, the event becomes more social, with festive with drinks and canapés, offering the chance to meet our speaker and audience members with a shared interest in our planet and its peoples. Doors open 7pm and the lecture will start at 7.30pm and is held in the school refectory at Norwich School. Booking link: On thin ice: a life in the Antarctic . This will be a popular event, so please book ahead. All are welcome.

The Importance of International Men's Day

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:01:49 GMT

On Wednesday 19 November, Ben Griffiths gives an assembly on what International Men's Day means and why it is important.

International Men’s day celebrates the positive value men bring to the world, to their families, their friendships, and their communities. Its goal is to highlight positive male role models and to raise awareness of men’s wellbeing.

In today’s society, you don’t have to look far to find someone somewhere speaking about men and masculinity. Countless articles tv shows and films speak of toxic masculinity, the so-called “war on men”, the manosphere, and problematic influencers.

Amid all these loud debates, it’s easy to forget that those struggling are real people, real boys and men, trying to make sense of who they’re supposed to be. It’s hardly surprising that so many boys and young men feel disillusioned, disempowered, and disconnected from society.

Many boys and men find it difficult to seek help for mental health concerns, and much of this comes from the pressure within society on men to bottle things up, and deal with hardship with a stiff upper lip. There’s so much pressure on what it means to ‘be a man,’ and vulnerability rarely fits that mould. International Men’s Day hopes to break this cycle by

championing positive male role models.

But where do we look for these?

On social media we can find numerous examples of healthy masculinity — from musician Harry Styles, who speaks openly about the pressures men face and challenges gender stereotypes, to South African Rugby-Player Siya Kolisi, who, as well as being a monstrous flanker, campaigns against gender-based violence. It is heartening to see that there are increasing amounts of men who are willing to honestly share their struggles with what it means to be a man.

But ultimately, I think we can look much closer to home.

Male role models are all around us — teachers, fathers, brothers, uncles, friends. People who show up, listen and take responsibility. The men who make a difference through their kindness, their patience, and their integrity.

For me, a positive role model does not half to be a leader, but simply a person who can admit when they’re wrong, treat others with respect, and who lifts people up, not put them down. These are the kinds of men we need more of, not superheroes, but guys who make the world around them a little better.

And I think that’s what International Men’s Day should remind us, that masculinity isn’t one thing. There isn’t a single “right” way to be a man. A man who is strong and quiet is no less masculine than one who is caring and confident.

Masculinity can mean courage, creativity, empathy, humour, determination, vulnerability and all these traits deserve to be celebrated.

But celebrating masculinity in all its forms also means taking responsibility for the kind of world we hope to create. Men have an important role to play in shaping a fairer and safer society for everyone. If we don’t want to be part of the problem, we must be part of the solution. That means standing up against misogyny, violence, and discrimination. It means challenging harmful attitudes, not with anger or aggression, but with compassion and honesty. And it’s worth remembering that a fairer society benefits men too. When we move beyond gender stereotypes and reject harmful expectations, we all gain the freedom to live as our authentic selves.

At this point, I’d like to invite Lily Minns to share some details about the upcoming Reclaim the Night Vigil:

Lily Minns - "Reclaim the Night is an annual event that raises awareness of gender-based violence and pays tribute to its victims. It also advocates for the safety of women and girls walking at night.

The evening begins with a walk from Horsefair House to the main school site — a journey that many girls make in the dark at this time of year. Afterwards, there will be hot chocolate and a sharing of poetry, speeches, and spoken-word performances in the Fourth Form playground.

The event is open to everyone and beings at 4:15 on Tuesday the 25 of November. There will also be a sign-making workshop this Thursday at lunchtime in R1 for anyone who’d like to get involved, and if you would like to share any poetry, speeches or spoken word performances, then please get in touch with myself or Ben Griffiths."

Thank you, Lily. I really encourage you all to consider attending Reclaim the Night. Particularly as boys and young men, we have a responsibility to help create a more equal society and to be part of a change for good.

And this change starts with all of us—at school, at home, and in our everyday lives. By making it normal to call out harmful jokes instead of making them, by encouraging each other to seek support without fear of ridicule, and by standing in solidarity with girls and young women at events like Reclaim the Night and beyond, we can work together to create a safer, fairer, better world for all.

Happy International Men’s Day.

Oscar Lawrence (M5) and his Journey in Wildlife Journalism

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:08:09 GMT

We recently spoke with Middle 5 pupil, Oscar Lawrence, about his journey in wildlife journalism and photography and the announcement of his own column in the Norfolk Magazine in 2026!

What is the best part about writing for Norfolk Wildlife Trust?

Tricky - there's so much to love about it. When I write my introductions, I use a couple of purely descriptive paragraphs designed to whisk the reader away into the midst of nature. When I proofread them, the experiences I've had with that species or place come flooding back, and I can remember every last detail of an encounter. And that's a great feeling.

Which is your favourite piece? Why?

My first ever commission from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust was fantastic. I was challenged with writing about a visit to Hickling Broad on World Swallowtail Day, and when I arrived I was so worried that I would get good photos, or my writing wouldn't be good enough. And by the end of that 3-hour walk, I felt so many thoughts buzzing round my head from the day that I couldn't wait to note down. I was already gripped, and it proved to me that journalism could be an incredibly rewarding passion as well as work.

How do you explore your passions for wildlife photography and journalism at Norwich School?

Writers' Bloc! Both a fantastic club and a fantastic play on words, I get the majority of my articles done in this relaxed, go-with-the-flow type space. I feel that in this environment I can switch off from everything else that's going on and invest wholly in my writing.

How has Norwich School helped you/Supported you on your journey?

I've told a good few teachers about my work as a writer, and their motivational and complimentary feedback has driven me to keep going. It has made me feel like what I'm doing can change people's attitudes, and help them see nature in a new and beautiful light.

How has your journalism and photography progressed over the years?

My writing has changed a whole lot! When I started this as a columnist, I felt I could just go with the flow and however much waffle is left in, it doesn't really matter as people will just skim through it. These days, I try to make every sentence, indeed every word, an immersive experience for my audience to keep them hooked the whole way through. When you write for more prominent news outlets, there's far more to consider about how you pitch your writing: do you go analytical and scientific, or creative and awe-inspiring? It's a difficult balance to strike.

There is only so much you can read up about photography. My philosophy with that art has always been "learn by doing", and it seems to have worked alright so far. It was a big leap to switch from Automatic to Manual mode, but I've learnt so much by making the change. From a general skill-building perspective, my reflexes have certainly improved, as I leap for the shutter when a rare bird shoots past.

What would you say to any budding journalists? Any tips?

There's a lot to be said about this, and everyone will have different views on what the best policy is. But I don't have a set structure and I don't feel the need to bolster every sentence with rhetorical devices. The bottom line is, if you can read a line back to yourself and feel wonder, then it's a line well written. With creative pieces, your prose should motivate an emotive response throughout, leaving the reader flushed with excitement, sympathy and everything in between.

You won't get to the level you want to be at without reading the experts' material. If you're lost, just skimming an RSPB article can give you tons of new ideas and vocabulary, even if it isn't about whatever topic you are covering.

Finally, be self-conscious. As I write this, I am worried that I'm using "I'm" and "you're" far too many times, and that my answers aren't set out in an engaging way. As you write more and more, you will teach yourself to overanalyse what is on the page, which whilst mentally exhausting at times, means you can self-check without any bias. Essentially, if a sentence gives you (and I hate this phrase) the "ick" even slightly, then don't use it. Because the audience will feel that way too.

Tell us about your column in Norfolk Magazine? (Which begins in January 2026)

An amazing opportunity to say the least. I honestly couldn't believe I'd been accepted to write for the mag, and I was even more pleased to see the gusto with which they did accept me. I will have a column writing about the best Norfolk days out in nature for the first 6 months of 2026, after which point I will probably still drop in the occasional article. Currently, I have sent off my first article about the stunning Burnham Overy Dunes, and am working on another for the February edition.

What's next for you?

It would be awesome to lead some more tours, which I will do at Cley Marshes for Norfolk Wildlife Trust. After a successful walk this summer featuring such avian delights as green sandpipers, spoonbills and snipe, I am reassured that any other tours will be just as jam-packed with wildlife. My next will be in February, when I shall probably lead a trek down Cley Bank in search of snow buntings and velvet scoters. In terms of writing, I aspire to work-experience with some of the "big league" newspapers in London, and hopefully work shadowing some tours by e.g. Naturetrek or Oriole Birding to start with.

What's the dream?

With all these new technologies, surveillance and whatever unemployment problems AI will cause, the future is as worrying a prospect for me as it is for many others. AI can do so much in the way of data organisation, so I sorely hope that 20 years from now, readers will still value the investment and human experiences I convey in my writing. I want to spend as much time in nature as I possibly can throughout my life, and if I can make wildlife into part of my job, my dreams will truly be fulfilled. Let us hope that my heartfelt and awe-inspired stories will still interest the audience of the future.

Repton Operation Christmas Child - Shoe Box Appeal November 2025

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 10:54:48 GMT

Mrs Curtis, keen to again achieve the remarkable success of the 2024 shoe box appeal, challenged Repton to donate (toys, stationery, clothing, soap and flannels etc.) again this year. The operation aimed to fill at least one shoe box per Repton tutor group, with items useful or uplifting to the struggling children of the world, and to send them to these children in need.

Last term the donations began, and a mountain of gifts donated by many generous Reptonites and their families formed in the JBR. The Repton tutor groups also got hands-on and put together the shoe boxes that the donations were each packed into, which was then done by a hard-working team of pupils. Boxes were organised and labelled by this team, who then on each box left warming messages such as: ‘Happy Christmas from Repton House, Norwich School, UK.’

Last year, Mrs Curtis anticipated that 7 boxes would be filled – one from each tutor group - and was met with the welcome surprise of a total of 40 boxes. This year, in a display of special festive kindness and thanks to the generosity the students showed, the team managed to fill a staggering 50 boxes, smashing the appeal, and demonstrating that when everyone chips in, a real difference can be made.

We may never see the effect of this year’s donations; however, we can only hope that they lifted many Christmas spirits across the world. In which case, a massive thank you is due to all who donated, pupils, parents and friends, and of course to Mrs Curtis, who organised the appeal and drove the 50 packed boxes to our local drop-off point!

Report by Theo Hunter (L6 Repton)

Norwich School Choristers Feature on Exciting Cathedral Choir Christmas Album

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:11:19 GMT

Norwich Cathedral Choir has released a brand-new album showcasing a selection of carols that has been recorded to celebrate the festive season - Lord of the Dance: Christmas Carols from Norwich Cathedral.

The album was released on Friday 7 November on all major streaming platforms and features the choir singing 20 carols ranging from Away in a Manger to The First Nowell and Sussex Carol.

In addition, the album is available in CD format from Norwich Cathedral’s gift shop for an introductory price of £10.

This was recorded in Norwich Cathedral’s Nave in June this year, with the choir joined by music ensemble Onyx Brass and David Dunnett who retired as the Cathedral organist this summer after an incredible musical tenure of 29 years.

Norwich Cathedral’s Master of Music Ashley Grote, who conducted the choir during the recording, said:

“I'm really thrilled with our new Christmas album, Lord of the Dance, which is a collection of some of the best-loved carols, some in new arrangements.

The combination of the Cathedral Choir, the newly rebuilt organ, along with award-winning ensemble Onyx Brass is a very special sound.

It was wonderful to work on this project with Norwich-based independent record label Deux-Elles Classical Recordings; they have managed to capture a sense of what it is like to be in Norwich Cathedral at Christmas time.

I hope that the album will bring a lot of joy to people this Christmas!”

Beautiful Sculpture Unveiled at Norwich School

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 11:09:38 GMT

In some rare sunshine on 17 November 2025, a small group was present at the unveiling of a stylish and captivating sculpture located in Norwich School’s Jubilee Wellbeing Garden.

Coni Meade was the worthy winner of a competition sponsored by the Friends of Norwich School to design and realise a beautiful artwork to be positioned in the unique Jubilee Wellbeing Garden, a stone’s throw away from Norwich’s magnificent Cathedral.

All those pictured had been involved during the process to get to this point: Mr Campbell, Mr Cann and Mr Bowden from the school’s Art & Design Dept who had come up with the idea for the design competition, who ran it and subsequently helped winner Coni realise his vision; talented artist Coni Meade (ON 21-15) who was back for the day in Norwich from Uni in Loughborough accompanied by his proud parents, Nicholas and Mirona to see the work in situ for the first time; Madelé de Lange (former Chair), Anna Stevenson (Social Chair) and Julia Tooley (Secretary) who represented the Friends of Norwich School charity that generously funded the competition and the sculpture’s realisation; Jonathan Pearson ON and Sonja Mitchell who represented the FONS Grants Committee; Mr Sims who works tirelessly with his green-fingered gang of volunteers to maintain the attractive allotment and garden; ON parent Phil Thomas who represented the Dean and Chapter whose wholehearted support for the development of the garden space has been critical.

The unveiling of this sculpture has special resonance for the Cathedral Close, complementing the exciting on-going public exhibition Art in the Close, combining ancient architecture with contemporary sculpture.

Coni commented: “The artwork is intended to allow people in the Jubilee Wellbeing Garden to feel relaxed and to be reminded of nature, as they decipher the different quotes in the wings.”

A huge thanks to all involved. Please take time to visit the Jubilee Wellbeing Garden to see this permanent and bold artwork in place.

Eliza Barclay (08-19) earns England caps

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:52:58 GMT

Eliza Barclay gets England call up for the England Men's and Mixed Netball Association

During the half-term break, the England Mens and Mixed Netball Association competed in their first-ever international series — a thrilling three-match contest against a formidable Australian side.

Eliza Barclay (08–19) was selected prior to the series to represent England’s Mixed Squad, marking an exciting milestone in her sporting journey.

The three fixtures took place over the course of a week, alongside matches featuring the England Men’s U23 Trailblazer Squad. Eliza made her international debut in the opening game, held on home ground at the University of East Anglia (UEA). The match drew an impressive crowd, including many local supporters who came to witness a fiercely contested encounter. A number of Lower School pupils also took part in the occasion, serving as Ball Crew for the matches.

Eliza proudly earned the first of her three England caps in the series and went on to represent her country in the subsequent games in Oundle and London, culminating in a memorable final showdown.

Congratulations Eliza!

National School Kayak Championships Winners

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 09:18:09 GMT

Jasmine Sargeant and Dominic Walker won the under 19 National Schools K2 Kayak Sprint Trophy, Marathon Trophy in the experience categories. They also scooped the mixed trophy for good measure retaining all three national Tites for a second year in a row. Hugo Dawe and Hayden Nundy won the Novice 500m kayak sprint race. The Norwich School team was completed by a gutsy contribution from Finn Elson and Edward Tickner racing paddlers four years older than them.

On a long and challenging day of competition there were multiple events. A 500m sprint heat and final and a mass start 200m sprint elimination competition with the slowest three crew knocked out each round until just a final three were left racing for the 200m title, and in the afternoon a 10k marathon for the Elite Class and 7k for the Novice Class. Around eighty competitors from Schools all over the country took part.

Norwich School kayaking continues to make an impressive impact at a National level.

The Final Toastmasters of 2025

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:09:05 GMT

Friday 14 November saw the final Toastmasters meeting of the year. The club is designed to improve public speaking skills amongst members, having received guidance from a member of staff. Toastmasters Club also develops organisation and leadership amongst our pupils, all whilst enjoying a delicious three-course meal from our outstanding catering team. For this final meeting, a black-tie affair, pupils were treated to expert and enthusiastic advice from Mr Pearce. His speech had the audience gripped, and we were all taken on a journey through personal anecdotes and flawless delivery. Mr Pearce’s three ‘P’ tools for mastering the art of public speaking, left our pupils equipped for their time beyond school. Once the guest speaker had finished, it was over to our pupils to respond to impromptu questions in the moment, or deliver their own, pre-prepared speech.

Four pupils, Pearl, Ben, Lizzie and Caspar, all did a fantastic job in covering a wide variety of topics. We gained an insight into the thoughts of a shopaholic, the case was made for the best animated film of all time, the importance of humour was broken down, and the illusion of positive hindsight was explored. All four pupils were then evaluated by their peers, a daunting task, but they all rose to the challenge. This year’s cohort have been outstanding in their application and dedication to improving their public speaking and willingness to venture outside of their comfort zone.

There has certainly been a noticeable improvement in their skills from the first meeting in February. I would like to thank them and all staff who have supported the club this year, and wish our pupils all the best in any future endeavours which require the skills they have developed.

Academic Enrichment Day Offered to Academic Scholars

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:54:46 GMT

Pupils from Norwich School, Ormiston Victory Academy and Framingham Earl High School enjoyed a morning of interest and intrigue during our annual Academic Enrichment Day. Offered to Academic Scholars and high achieving pupils, the day, titled "Crime and Mystery" introduced pupils to a wide range of in-depth talks. A highlight was certainly a keynote speech from Diane Ivory, renowned former Scotland Yard fingerprint expert and CSI who explained the fascinating role fingerprint idenitification plays in solving crime, including some of the high profile cases she has worked on personally. Pupils also then had the opportunity to become Crime Scene Investigators themselves, by donning hazmat suits and setting upon solving a crime.

16 workshops took place over the morning, including a workshop on blood spatters, crime deviance and identity, smuggling and signals and body language and deception. Our great thanks go to Diane, workshop leaders and pupils for helping to make for a very interesing morning!

Love Your Enemies - an Address from Rev Child

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:59:22 GMT

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

Our assemblies this week have had a bit of a theme. As well as marking Armistice Day on Tuesday, we have had some Remembrance hymns, and we heard Dr Boutemy telling us about a member of her family who was displaced and relocated around Europe during wartime.

I want to round off this week with a thought about the Bible passage we’ve just heard, where Jesus told his listeners to ‘love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ Because during Remembrance, after the fighting and the fallen have been remembered, people of faith have one further thing to think about – forgiveness.

I want to mention three memorials to the idea of Loving Your Enemies that you can find in and around this cathedral. The first is the most famous. If you were to head all the way down to the East End of the cathedral, into the military chapel of St Saviour’s and through a door on the right, you would arrive outside at the grave of Edith Cavell. Many of you will know that she was a nurse in the First World War; you may also know that, according to her Christian principles, she treated wounded soldiers whatever side they were on. She was eventually sentenced to death for helping Allied Troops escape occupied Belgium. The words she said to a visiting chaplain on the night before her execution have become famous:

“Standing as I do in view of God and Eternity, I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.”

Edith Cavell was a Norfolk girl who became a famous Englishwoman, but in the end she saw herself as a member of the human family. That’s the cathedral’s first example of someone who forgave her enemies.

The second example is much closer. If you look on the pillar wall just down here where the prefects are standing, you can see a plaque in memory of Alan Webster. He was the forward-thinking dean of Norwich Cathedral in the 1970s, and he introduced a number of things that we now take for granted – for instance, the idea of having toilets in the cathedral and opening up Riverside Walk. In many different ways he made Cathedral Close more welcoming. After Norwich he was made the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, which meant that at the end of the Falklands War in 1982, he was the person organising the service to mark the occasion. He was not content to make it a one-sided victory parade; instead he wanted to include prayers for the defeated Argentinians and he proposed having the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish as a gesture of reconciliation. At the time a lot of people disagreed with these ideas, but they came from his determination to love the enemy.

The third example comes from the person I think you’re least likely to have heard of. If you were to go through that archway under the organ, you would find a small chapel with a small altar. And on that altar, the cathedral keeps copies (for visitors to take away) of a prayer found written on a scrap of paper in Ravensbruck Concentration Camp in Germany. It was written by prisoner number 31,795. It is a prayer of extraordinary grace, and it goes like this:

O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will but also those of ill will. But do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted upon us; remember the fruits we have borne thanks to this suffering – our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this. And when they come to the judgement, let all the fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness. Amen.

This prisoner prays – quite counterintuitively – for the people who are treating her with cruelty. She doesn’t just forgive them in this life; she prays for them to be forgiven in the life to come, because the suffering of the prisoners has, in one way, been positive; it has allowed them to grow in character and spirit.

I don’t quite know how these three people – Edith Cavell, Alan Webster and a less famous wartime prisoner – were able to show love to people it would be much easier to hate. And I also wonder how much difference it will make to us the next time we are annoyed, injured or inconvenienced by someone – and that will be probably be today. But I do know that when we’re in here, we are in a place that takes seriously the ambition to love our enemies.

Pupils Come Together for an Advent Calendar and Warm Clothes Donation for West Earlham Schools

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:58:10 GMT

On Friday 14 November, our community came together for a Home Clothes Day for West Earlham Schools. This Home Clothes Day was a bit different where instead of a financial donation pupils were asked to donate advent calendars and warm clothing. Our families have done us proud once again and we collected 204 calendars plus half a Transit van’s-worth of warm clothes, all of which were dropped off Friday morning. Thank you to Charities Committee pupils Perdie and Peggy who helped with donations!

The donations will go towards helping families to have access to warm clothes this winter and allowing children to enjoy having their own advent calendar to celebrate the festive season. Anything we can do to help the incredible teams who look after these children is wonderful and we are so pleased and grateful for how many of our families have donated.

Specialist Reed-Making Workshop with Oliver Phillips

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:04:40 GMT

On Friday 14 November, oboists and bassoonists enjoyed a specialist reed-making workshop at Norwich School as part of the Making Musicians programme. We were thrilled to welcome Oliver Phillips , reed-making tutor at both the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.

We were also delighted to be joined by pupils from Norwich High School for Girls and Hethersett Academy.

Lucy Platten (L5R) writes:

How many reeds does an oboist get through in a year? The answer is: quite a lot! This means that oboists all over the world are constantly buying—or making—their own reeds. On Friday 14 November, a group of us who play double-reed instruments from Norwich High School for Girls, Hethersett Academy, and Norwich School had the opportunity to take part in a reed-making workshop.

Oliver Phillips, who led the session, combines his work as an oboist at the Royal Opera House with professional reed-making. He guided us through the entire process, from cutting and preparing the cane to creating a finished, playable reed. As we took turns scraping and shaping, it was fascinating to hear about Olly’s journey as a musician. We also learnt how the specialist machinery works and how to operate the technical equipment involved in reed making.

The workshop gave us a much deeper understanding of our instruments and how they function, and it greatly enriched our knowledge as young musicians.

The English and Maths Symposia 2025

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:28:12 GMT

Norwich School was once again delighted to host the annual Norfolk Maths and English Symposia on 13 ^th November at The Space in Norwich. These two landmark events have become a firm fixture for pupils studying Maths and English at GCSE and A Level, and this year were attended by 550 pupils from 16 schools.

The maths event began with a talk from Dr Nira Chamberlain, Principal Consultant in Data Science and Mathematical Modelling and listed as "one of the UK's top 100 scientists", delivered an eye-opening talk on the ethics of AI and how advances in the use of AI in business and economics can be both a threat and a cure for our global society. Dr Ben Sparks spoke on the origin of number and gave a live demonstration of Mandelbrot's fractal design. He also explained how to find out if you have -1 sheep in your field (if you put another sheep in the field you'll still have no sheep...). Finally , Tom Crawford used an ab exerciser and a ball to demonstrate how to track plastic pollution in our seas (hint: it has a lot to do with Coriolis Force).

The afternoon was dedicated to English, beginning with a detailed reading of Macbeth from Lecturer in Early Modern Literature (and ON) Peter Auger, a crucial listen for pupils studying Shakespeare's iconic play for GCSE. Next, DJ Taylor, an authority on the works of George Orwell (and also an ON) DJ Taylor introduced pupils to the many facets of the author, an intriguing insight for pupils interested in his works. Finally, DJ Taylor was joined on stage by acclaimed novelist Rachel Hore, author of 17 best selling books, who spoke about her entrance into the world of literature and writing, an inspiring talk for any potential novelist.

The events are made possible by our sponsors, Norwich Freemen's Charity, Lady Hind Trust, The John Jarrold Trust, The Paul Bassham Charitable Trust, Norfolk Cambridge Society, R.C. Snelling Charitable Trust and ON John Walton. We look forward to its return in 2026!

The Big Bible Visit for Upper 1 Pupils

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:07:39 GMT

Upper 1 from Norwich School explored the Cathedral during the Big Bible visit, using the vaulted ceiling to trace major biblical stories. Pupils examined different Bibles, dressed in period costumes, and walked the nave to imagine events such as Jesus calming the storm as the seas parted. They also reflected on creation and prophetic tales while engaging in guided discussion. The morning concluded with a shared prayer for health and happiness for the whole year group, offered together in unity.

Dance in the Day Workshop

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:58:07 GMT

The workshop began with a dynamic warm up which focused on isolation skills, grooves and freestyling. The workshop was split into 3 sections, warm up, learning different skills and improvisation.

My favourite part of the workshop that really stood out to me was learning new skills. I especially liked learning the Bart Simpson and the Monastery. During the improvisation section we started learning a sequence of choreography which would later be used in a dance. Vicky demonstrated a fun and energetic approach to teaching. She was really helpful and carefully explained things when they were difficult.

Overall the workshop was amazingly delivered, it taught us different techniques and skills and it pushed us out of our comfort zones which helped us gain confidence to try new dance genres.

- Jazlyn Lee, L5

Freddie and Arthur Dannatt Ran the Sierra Leone Marathon in Support of Street Child

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:18:38 GMT

In October half term, Freddie and Arthur Dannatt travelled to Sierra Leone to take part in the marathon for Street Child, as well as seeing some of the charity's brilliant work.

Arthur and Freddie commented;

"Of course we expected to be impressed by the work of Street Child but we were blown away by the scale and spirit of it. The day we spent visiting families receiving enterprise support from Street Child in the Kroo Bay-a slum of Freetown; and our day visiting ‘first ever’ schools Street Child had built in remote villages outside Kenema - will stay with us for a very long time.

The marathon will also stay with us a long-time! It was so beautiful, totally shattering and great fun!

Finally, although we came primarily to run the Sierra Leone marathon and to visit the work of Street Child - we also want to say how beautiful Sierra Leone is! Tokeh fishing beach is incredible. The landscape everywhere is stunning. We also visited the former slave fort at Bunce Island which was both fascinating, and horrifying . You don’t need a marathon to justify a visit to Sierra Leone - it is amazing!!"

To find out more or donate click here

Textiles Masterclass with Lizzie Kimbley for Middle 5

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:22:54 GMT

The Middle 5 3D students were fortunate to take part in a workshop led by local textile artist Lizzie Kimbley. During her visit, students learned about Lizzie’s artistic practice, her sources of inspiration, and her strong focus on sustainability within her work. She demonstrated how to create cordage, a technique involving the twisting and binding of fibres, which students were then able to apply to their own vessel project being completed this term. Because Lizzie’s work is inspired by nature, students found her approach easy to relate to, as their own vessels are also based on the theme of natural forms. The workshop was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone and provided a valuable opportunity to see how a practising textile artist works creatively. Many students have already begun incorporating the skills they learned into their vessels, enhancing their designs and deepening their understanding of material exploration.

Mrs Curtis Delivers an Uplifting Assembly on Making Mistakes

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 11:21:57 GMT

No one is perfect; making mistakes is part of our growth. Instead of crumbling under the weight of regret, as difficult as it might sometimes seem, we should try to learn from every experience. So often we slip up, do things that get us in trouble or make us feel silly and we see it as a massive error, and can even spiral into dark and dreadful mental places. Today I want to convince you that mistakes are not just normal – they are essential. In fact, some of the best things in life started off with someone doing something wrong. The Bible encourages us to turn our failures into stepping stones for improvement. This transformation requires a willingness to reflect, ask for guidance, and lean on God for wisdom through our struggles. We can all develop greater strength and character when we commit to learning from the errors we all make.

Illustrating this point is not too difficult as things go wrong all the time. Just the other day I walked into the packed common room at breaktime, only for a colleague to point out that I was wearing my jumper inside out. It turned out to be back to front as well. There are of course several personal anecdotes I could use, but instead let’s look at some other examples…

My favourite piece of stationery came about in the world due to a mistake. You've probably all used these items at one point or another, for revision or making lists. In the 1960s, a scientist called Dr Spencer Silver was working on creating a super-strong adhesive glue. What he actually made was... the exact opposite; a glue so weak it could barely hold paper together. His colleagues initially laughed at him and dismissed his efforts, and probably went onto invent something ostensibly much better….But then someone had the genius idea of using this pathetic looking non sticky glue for bookmarks, and the Post-It note was born.

In 1999, NASA lost its Mars Climate Orbiter because one engineering team made their calculations using imperial units (inches/pounds) while another team used metric units (centimetres/kilograms). This was very silly. The spacecraft entered Mars’ atmosphere too low and disintegrated. This maths mistake cost a whopping $125 million. But it led to better communication protocols in space engineering.

In 1928, Dr Alexander Fleming – a Scottish surgeon who was famously untidy, went on holiday and left a dirty petri dish out by mistake. Many of you know what happened next. This was pretty normal for him – his experiments took place in a tiny little turret room in St Mary’s hospital, London. He had around 30-40 plates of bacteria on his bench, sourced from infected hospital patients, and when he returned from his trip, he noticed, as he inspected the staphylococcus bacteria, that something had changed – mould was now growing on it. Noticing that the mould seemed to be preventing the bacteria around it from growing, he started experimenting, and soon identified that this mould produced a self-defence chemical that could kill bacteria. There is a far more technical word for this but I will refer to it as mould juice. He'd discovered penicillin - the first antibiotic. Well, this mistake has saved lives – an estimated 500 million lives in fact.

You'll make mistakes - we all do. In your studies, in your singing, in your tests and in class; (maybe even before class) in your relationships; in your hairstyle choices even. They won’t feel good at the time, especially when made in public. Think about how embarrassing and inconvenient it is when you leave your lanyard at home. But it's important not to fear them. Most are solvable and most lead to learning opportunities. They’re brain gold. They’re how you grow. Because mistakes don’t mean “stop”. They mean you’re exploring, you’re trying. Mistakes are indeed lessons.

The Bible provides a robust framework for understanding the human experience. Through its various books and verses, it offers insights into the nature and consequences of making mistakes, and urges us to push on and to ensure that we live life to its fullest, despite our imperfections. I also think that trusting in God allows us to learn valuable lessons from our mistakes – in the book of Proverbs (chapter 3, verses 5-6) which is a collection of brilliant little pockets of wisdom and advice, the writer tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”. Instead of relying on our flawed and human understanding, we can seek His wisdom and grace which guides us towards better choices in the future.

Annual Careers and Networking Event

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:26:00 GMT

Norwich School hosted another Careers and Networking Event on November 6 2025, marking its new place in the Michaelmas term. We welcomed representatives from more than 50 companies and professional fields. The forum provided an invaluable opportunity for pupils and their families to meet industry experts, ask questions, and make meaningful connections in the working world.

Across buzzing stalls and lively conversations, attendees gained insight into a wide range of career pathways—from engineering and healthcare to creative industries, law, and emerging technologies. Exhibitors commented on the enthusiasm and curiosity shown by our pupils, while families appreciated the chance to explore options together in an informal, engaging setting.

Events like this are an important part of Norwich School’s commitment to preparing young people for life beyond the classroom. Our sincere thanks go to all the organisations who generously shared their time and expertise, helping to inspire the next generation of professionals.

Lower 3 Pupil, Max Wright, Selected for National Children’s Orchestra Of Great Britain

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 13:14:39 GMT

Lower 3 pupil, Max Wright, has been selected for the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain. We hear from Max about this exciting new adventure for him...

"I was really happy to find out in October that I’ve been selected to play cello for the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain in 2026.

I’ll be in the Projects Orchestra for children aged 8-14, and will take part in two weekends in Birmingham in the Spring and Summer, with additional online activities and webinars, which I’m sure will be a great experience.

I’ve only played in string orchestras before, so this is going to be a bit of a change playing in a full orchestra and I can’t wait to meet the other players. I’ll have to learn quite a bit of new music too and new compositions but I’m excited for the challenge!

The auditions for NCO are by video and you have to record two contrasting pieces without stopping – I found this harder to do than it sounds. It’s quite difficult to get a good video without too many mistakes! I also had to talk about the music I like playing.

There will be lots to learn but I’m really looking forward to it!"

Norwich School Welcomes a Traveller into Unknown Lands

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:10:57 GMT

Our cultural programme of lectures held with partner organisations carries on apace this autumn. On 6th November 2025 we welcomed back the illustrious Royal Geographical Society (RGS) to the Blake Studio for a fascinating evening of exploration.

Billed as an ‘conversation with a traveller into unknown lands’ we were delighted to host Hilary Bradt MBE. She is the founder of Bradt Travel Guides, a publisher of respected travel guidebooks. She ran the company for 35 years until retirement in 2007. In her long career, she has travelled extensively and garnered multiple accolades for her travel writing and charity work, especially in Madagascar, a country which has long fascinated her. See: Hilary Bradt - Wikipedia .

The evening comprised her being interviewed by FRGS and ON parent Sara White, herself a well-travelled conservationist and Trustee of Explorers Against Extinction . With humour and many fine tales of her adventures, the interview covered Hilary’s experiences travelling to lesser-known locations – by hitch-hiking and bus – long before the days of mass travel, and more recently her escapades as a fearless octogenarian. She also reflected on her business ‘adventure’ starting her successful guidebook series introducing travellers to remote places.

It was also illuminating to hear her take on sustainable travel and the impact of tourism on vulnerable, remote peoples and places. Hilary also shared her perceptions of the palpable benefits travel can give to local communities when done respectfully and sensitively.

A large audience of alumni, staff, parents, Fellows of the RGS and friends enjoyed an informative Q&A over refreshments afterwards.

Our next RGS event happens shortly. It sees the welcome return for the fourth year in succession of our Youth Microlectures Series held in partnership with the RGS. On Tuesday 18 ^th November at 17:00 in the Blake Studio a hand-picked selection of sixth formers from schools across Norfolk will each present a 10-minute talk followed by 5 minutes of Q&A. Our programme of lectures covers a wide range of topical interests relating to our fragile planet and its ecosystems. Mouthwatering prospects include talks on extreme weather, the monarch butterfly, the Antarctic economy, and the human cost of our clothing amongst others. The evening will be led by our own Dr Anthony Speca FRGS FRSA and by the highly acclaimed Tim O'Riordan OBE DL FBA , Emeritus Professor of Environmental Sciences at the UEA, both prominent environmental educationalists and advocates. Entry is free, so do come to support our young geographers.

Concordia Recital: Lower School

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:05:18 GMT

On Thursday 6 November, we were treated to an exceptional Concordia Recital in the Lower School Hall – a delightful showcase of 3 pupils who are excelling in their chosen instrumental studies.

The recital opened with Betsy Chaun presenting a thoughtfully curated piano programme that spanned eras and styles. She began her recital with Germaine Tailleferre’s Sonate alla Scarlatti, a charming neoclassical gem whose bright textures and rhythmic playfulness Betsy captured with clarity and poise. Her articulation in the quick passages showed an impressive command for a performer of her age.

Next came Richard Clayderman’s A Comme Amour, offering a lyrical contrast to the opening. Betsy’s sensitive phrasing and gentle rubato conveyed a real sense of musical maturity, allowing the melody to sing beautifully above a delicate accompaniment.

With Béla Bartók’s Stamping Dance, Betsy shifted gear once again, throwing herself into the percussive rhythms and bold harmonies with confidence and energy. The performance was vibrant and rhythmically assured, a testament to both her technique and her evident enjoyment of the music.

Her penultimate piece, Haydn’s Sonata in F Major, Allegro, brought a return to classical elegance. Betsy’s crisp articulation and buoyant tempo captured the composer’s wit and grace, while her dynamic contrasts lent freshness to every phrase.

She concluded with Alexis Ffrench’s Last Song, a modern, expressive work that allowed her to show her lyrical side once more. The quiet, reflective ending drew a gentle hush from the audience — a perfect way to close a beautifully balanced programme.

Following Betsy’s virtuosic performance, Georgia Cornell du Houx brought a touch of magic to the evening with repertoire for the Harp. Beginning with an excerpt from Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years, Georgia wove familiar melodies into shimmering textures that filled the hall with warmth.

Her second piece, Jeremiah Clarke’s Chaconne, was an elegant nod to the Baroque period, performed with remarkable control and poise. The clarity of her finger work and her sensitivity to phrasing demonstrated impressive technical assurance.

Georgia concluded with the popular Flower Duet from Delibes’ Lakmé, its graceful harmonies perfectly suited to the harp’s luminous tone. The performance was serene and lyrical — a lovely reminder of the instrument’s ethereal beauty.

Our final performer, Moli Li, brought a sense of bright classical refinement to the programme. Her opening work, Clementi’s Spiritoso, sparkled with crisp precision and joyful energy. Moli’s steady tempo and poised dynamics reflected an excellent understanding of classical style.

She followed with Kuhlau’s Sonatina in C Major, a piece full of youthful charm and elegant simplicity. Moli’s performance was both disciplined and expressive together with bright energy and clean articulation. The scalic and arpeggio passages flowed effortlessly while maintaining the poise and symmetry so characteristic of Kuhlau’s writing. She captured the conversational quality of the music, phrases exchanged naturally, cadences neatly shaped, and dynamics carefully graded to reveal the movement’s buoyant character.

Overall, the recital was a true celebration of young musicianship. Each performer displayed not only skill and dedication but also an authentic love of music. From Baroque dances to contemporary lyricism, the programme offered a wonderful journey through sound — and the audience’s enthusiastic applause made clear that these young artists had left a lasting impression.

Head of Music Mr Vine said ‘ what wonderful and spellbinding performances from all 3 of our young artists. Excellent choice of music and delivered with such professionalism and musical brilliance! Bravo to all 3 of you!’

Natalie Lauren (09-13) behind short film 'Unauthorised Absence'

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:43:18 GMT

Launched on Kickstarter today: From lived experience to national action, this film inspires action for SEND families and children harmed by education policy

Natalie is working with Jo, a SEND mum and storyteller to raise awareness, instigate change and to fundraise through Kickstarter:

Unauthorised Absence �� Parents & Schools in a SEND Crisis by Natalie Lauren — Kickstarter

"Eight years ago, I had to leave my job to care for my daughter and navigate the unfathomable tribulations of the UK’s education system. Now, with award-winning BFI "Future Producer" and Educational Mentor Natalie Lauren, they’re making a short film that shows the human cost of education policies on real children and parents: starting with the pressure caused by inappropriate fines and prosecution threats on a mother with a young daughter who isn't coping in school.

To be clear: this isn’t about parents taking children on holiday. It’s about families of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) fighting to access statutory support : children struggling with Emotion-Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) waiting months or years for Assessments or Care Plans , which are sometimes not ever met or changed without warning. In the meantime parents are faced with increasing fines and threatened with court action . An experience which is terrifying and (in our opinion) cruel, unnecessary, and not what the law was designed for.

We're going to make a film that all SEND families can point to and say “This is what I’ve been dealing with!” , because this isn't just my story; it's the story of thousands of SEND parents and their children across the UK and beyond .

Jo has written an exceptional film script that distills all of this down into one mother and her daughter's experience of this system. It’s success so far has been unprecedented: not only has it been on Shortlists and Finalists at known film festivals, but it has also been endorsed by an incredible array of world-leading Academics , Paediatricians , Journalists , Teachers , Lawyers , and Authors.

Please join us on this journey to raise awareness and improve the lives of thousands of SEND children and their families. The momentum we've built has already given this film a life of its own, and your support will be integral to its success. Thank you!"

Jo & Natalie xx

For updates, information and support:

Unauthorised Absence �� Parents & Schools in a SEND Crisis by Natalie Lauren — Kickstarter

Film Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unauthorisedabsencefilm

Film Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unauthorisedabsencefilm/

www.natalielauren.uk

https://www.instagram.com/natalielaurenw/

Shining a Spotlight on Sailing

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:24:08 GMT

To celebrate the diverse sporting opportunities on offer at the school, we decided to take a closer look at our sailing team by asking Ruth Owen, our sailing coach, some questions after a busy training session!

How many pupils are in the sailing team?

We currently have 16 in the Senior Squad.

What is the race you are currently training for?

Our next event is the UEA Unicorn - a Team Racing event taking place at Wroxham Broad in two weeks time. We will be taking two teams, with 6 pupils in each. We attend a number of racing events throughout the year.

Is it cold on the water this time of year?

About 12 degrees with the wind chill yesterday - everyone has to wear a wetsuit at this time of year!

What were you up to in training yesterday?

We mixed pairs up a lot yesterday to try and select the squad for our event.

Were you practicing specific skills?

Starts! Pre-start in team racing lasts for 3 minutes, and each race is only about 8 minutes long. It's short, sharp and highly competitive. Each team will do about 8 - 10 races, (against 8-10 different teams) each day of the event.

Then more broadly, what year groups can join the sailing club?

We have both Senior and Intermediate options for sailing at school. Seniors sail Tuesday afternoons in games throughout the year, Intermediates sail Thursday afternoon in games during Michaelmas and Trinity Term. Senior sailing is currently restricted to race training, but we will take complete beginners in the Intermediate squad.

How often do you meet?

Once a week.

Where do you meet?

We sail at Norfolk Broads Yacht Club.

A Vibrant Dance Residential to London

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 09:44:33 GMT

We started off the trip by going to see the moulin rouge which was filled with incredible dancing and singing on Tuesday evening. The musical was fun and full of energy, with lots of classic songs to sing along to. On Wednesday, we had a day filled with dance workshops at various places around London.

We began the day with an amazing jazz class with Cris Penfold at London Studio Centre, a dance university in London. The class was filled with great energy and enthusiasm from everyone and introduced a new and unique style on jazz inspired by the great Gatsby. After this, we visited Pineapple studios in which we had a commercial class with Christina Andrea. She created a fun yet challenging atmosphere, pushing us out of our comfort zones focusing on our energy and versatility as dancers.

Finally, we took part in a workshop with an original cast member of the Moulin Rouge in which we were able to learn repertoire from the show we had watched the previous night. She gave us an in-site into life in the industry which was very inspiring. Overall, the trip was one to remember and definitely a highlight in the dance calendar!

- Aggie Johnson, U5

Keeping Track of Cross Country After October Half Term

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:35:20 GMT

On Tuesday 4 November, 13 runners from the Cross Country Club travelled to Witney in Oxfordshire for the Regional Round of the English Schools Cross Country Cup, having qualified last month in Woodbridge.

The course was flat and fast, and the competition was fierce, with all runners having qualified from their county rounds to get there. In the Junior Boys race both Joshua Bevan and Jonty Croskell were racing against pupils a year older and ran strongly to finish 64 ^th and 85 ^th respectively.

In the Junior Girls race, there were 80 runners from 14 schools, and our girls finished 11th, with excellent performances from Annabelle Hitchings, Iris Wells, Poppy Short and Emi Muntingh. Emi came 7 ^th overall.

In the Senior Girls, our first finisher was Minnie Andrews in 25th place. The rest of the team were closely bunched with Bea Green, Izzy Last and Amelie Ivie all finishing in the top 35 and Olivia Allen and Bella Muntingh also finishing high in the results to secure 8 ^th place for the team.

Well done to all those who took part.

Upper 4 Pupil, Timothy Madders, Selected for National Children’s Orchestra Of Great Britain

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:33:21 GMT

I am very excited to announce that I have passed the audition and have been selected to be a member of the National Children’s Orchestra Of Great Britain 2026 playing my harp!

The NCO is for children aged 8-14 and you can audition for either weekends or residential weeks. As this is my first national audition I decided to audition for weekends. This means I will be going to Birmingham in the Spring and Summer and also taking part in online creative activities, meet ups and webinars.

Auditions for the NCO are done online. I had to play two contrasting pieces and give a small speech about why I like playing in ensembles and orchestras. The pieces I wanted to play were both too long so I had to make a few adaptions! Also, I am very grateful to have received a grant from the North Norfolk Festival of Performing Arts who have kindly paid the NCO membership fee for me.

I am really looking forward to meeting other young people and harpists at the NCO weekends and learning more about playing in a large orchestra.

- Timothy Madders, U4

Greece Trip 2025

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:20:59 GMT

59 pupils in L5 to U6 and 6 members of staff set off for a fully packed 5 day tour around mainland Greece during half term. Covering almost the whole of the mainland, we visited 2 of the Panhellenic Greek sanctuaries, Delphi and Olympia, where we ascended the sacred way to the temple of Apollo and the site of the oracle who spoke the predictions of the god and we ran (staff included) the original 200m race in the stadium at Olympia. In the successive days we walked in the footsteps of the apostle Paul in the town of Corinth and the immense fortifications of the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae; a staggering 1600 years before Christ's birth.

We topped off our tour in Athens with a truly special experience of seeing the Parthenon free of its scaffolding and in all its glory for the first time in more than 20 years as well as the stunning Acropolis museum and a sunset view of the Acropolis. Pupils and staff learnt a huge amount about Greek religion, architecture and sculpture as well as Greek history spanning from the Bronze Age through to the Ottomans as well as current Greek culture in our visit to the changing of the Evzones guards as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The weather afforded us the very special chance at our beachside hotel at Tolo to play a few games of rugby and sandcastle building in the sun as a great chance to let off some steam. A truly inspiring group of pupils at fantastic sites.

Norwich School French Horn player becomes full member of The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 08:37:52 GMT

Melissa Hawkings (U6) has become a full member of The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. To celebrate her success, Mrs Fry sat down with her and asked her some questions.

Mrs Fry: Melissa, huge congratulations on becoming a full member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. You’re not completely new to this, are you? Can you tell me what your involvement has been in NYO so far?

Melissa Last year I was a residency guest so I took part in the spring in the summer concerts in the full horn section, including playing The Planets and Star Wars music at The Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, and the year before I was an associate member, which a nice introduction to NYO. One of the best concerts I played in was as an off stage horn in the Alpine Symphony conducted by Sir Mark Elder.

Mrs Fry: Wow! That’s not an opportunity that comes around too often! A whole new learning curve for playing in time. What will it mean to you now that you’re a full member? What will your annual commitment be?

Melissa: I’ll do three of the courses a year including the 14 day summer residency, four days of which is the concert tour. We might do some community work too, introducing instruments and music to young people.

Mrs Fry: How does a residency day look?

Melissa: We rehearse from 9am until 5pm with breaks and then again in the evening until 9pm. It’s a bit of a marathon! There is a rest day though. Sometimes we have full orchestra rehearsals, sometimes, full brass and sometimes horn sectionals.

Mrs Fry: Do you get to see the music in advance of the course?

Melissa: Yes, we get sent the music a month in advance so everyone turns up able to play everything. Because of this we can spend time on interpretation and really playing together which is what makes NYO so good.

Mrs Fry: Melissa, you don’t get to be an elite level musician playing at National level by accident. Tell me about your journey to NYO.

Melissa: When I was about 10 I went to an NYM (Norfolk Youth Music, now Guildhall Young Artists) Open Day days at CNS where you could try different instruments. I don’t know why I chose the horn. It just felt fun and was the most unusual. I wanted to be different so I chose it! I remember when I got home trying for ages to play a scale. I kept playing over and over again until I could play it. Then I took part in groups at school and when I felt more confident with my playing I joined the County Youth Wind Band. A little later I joined the Norfolk County Youth Orchestra where I was a member for 3 years. I think NCYO was actually really important for me because it’s how I got I to orchestral playing. I remember the first thing we did was Beethoven 5. It was really exciting. I was so nervous I was barely playing because everyone was older than me! I just kept doing it because I really liked the music. And then after that, I started going to Junior Guildhall in London on Saturdays which pushed me to the next level, playing with people from all over the country. The highlight of that for me was lots of chamber music playing. I’m now at Junior Royal College with a new teacher on Saturdays, leaving Norwich station at 0630 and returning home by 7pm or so.

Mrs Fry: Long day! We’ve spoken a lot about the orchestral side of things and the coaching that you get outside of your daily routine but what does it what’s required of you to get to your level as an individual? What do you do on a daily basis? Your fitness routine?

Melissa: Early in the morning, I have a half an hour warmup routine where I do different technical exercises just to make sure every aspect of my playing stays in shape: if you don’t use it, you lose it! Not every day is the same due to school commitments, but ideally I’ll do three hours practice. That’s what I did when I was preparing for the auditions: I like to do like an hour of technique, an hour on the excerpts and then an hour on my pieces. When I’m consistently doing three hours practice I notice such a difference in my playing - it’s like an athlete, you need constantly to be playing and being mindful of how you play - efficient and good practice is so important.

Mrs Fry: There must be pieces of music that is special to you or musicians that have inspired you?

Melissa: Right now, my favourite composer is Stravinsky. I loved playing Firebird at 14. I thought this is the most crazy, insane thing I’ve ever heard! The horn parts are amazing! That lead me into listening to The Rite of Spring and then I played Petrushka in NYO last spring at the Roundhouse in Camden. I also like Debussy and Ravel. The horn player who has inspired me is Sarah Willis, the 4th horn player in the Berlin Philharmonic. She’s not just a classical horn player - she’s recorded the Mozart horn concertos reimagined with Latin influences.

Mrs Fry: Sounds slightly different to the Norwich Baroque version coming up in March when you will perform one of the Mozart concertos in the Norwich School Choral Society concert!

Melissa: Yes! I also watched a masterclass with her where she made instant differences to peoples’ playing. I also really like Ben Goldscheider, a young horn player. We share the same teacher.

Mrs Fry: So, what next for Melissa Hawkings the horn player?

Melissa: I’m hoping to go to conservatoire next year. My dream career is to be an orchestral player but now I just want to see where it takes me - what kind of ensembles I might play in as I go through conservatoire and beyond.

Mrs Fry: Who knows, you could follow Sarah Willis’s trailblazing footsteps to the Berlin Phil. Good luck with it all.

If you have been inspired by Melissa’s musical journey and want to follow in her footsteps, here are some links to the local music groups she joined:

https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/children-and-young-people/guildhall-young-artists/guildhall-young-artists-norwich

https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/children-and-young-people/guildhall-young-artists/guildhall-young-artists-norwich/norfolk-county-youth-orchestra

And tickets to NYO concerts are free for teens! Next up ‘Shimmer’ in January.

Details here: https://www.nyo.org.uk/performances/shimmer

Concert tour highlights - https://youtu.be/oVDFRtvPxsE?si=QqYITRq7GpjaBMp9

Jupiter in rehearsal - https://youtu.be/Hl2iTL4tnxk?si=UeWadansnIeV_x7e

Artistic Adventures in Copenhagen for Upper 6 Art Scholars

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:08:41 GMT

During the half-term holiday, a group of U6 art scholars travelled to the beautiful capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen. It was a wonderful trip, packed with gallery visits, sight-seeing, museums, food and shopping! A great bonus to this trip that we all enjoyed was the location of our hotel. We stayed on the Nyhavn: a canal which is lined with colourful houses on both sides, giving us a beautiful view from our rooms and easy access to fantastic restaurants. As this trip was filled with artists, I am sure this view was subject to all of our cameras.

On my favourite day, we visited the MACA museum, in which I was thrilled to see many reproductions of Banksy’s work, with the exhibition showcasing the evolution of his career. Following this we took a walk along the Langelinie Pier, on our way to the Design Museum, seeing the statue of the Little Mermaid and passing the stunning Kastellet fortress and The Marble Church. We then visited the National Gallery, before trying the famous Gasoline Grill burgers for dinner, which I can confirm were worth the hype. We finished the day with an exciting climb of the Round Tower, which gave us a perfect view of the city at night. The Round Tower is the oldest functioning observatory building in Europe and the night we visited, it was open to the public – it was built to enable astronomers from the University of Copenhagen to gaze at the stars far above the lights and the smoke of the city, and some of us had a look through the incredible telescope at the simply stunning city vista.

Another great day began with us being given free time; a few of us used this to explore the city using only a paper map, and our digital cameras. We then visited Kunsthal Charlottenborg, one of the largest exhibition spaces for contemporary art in Northern Europe, followed by the Danish Architecture Centre; extremely useful to some 3D students looking to pursue architecture as a career. The best bit for many was the permanent exhibition – a 40-metre, 4-story spiral slide down which most of us dared throw ourselves.

A final highlight was on our last day which was dedicated to shopping and exploring Copenhagen’s extensive number of shops and bakeries! These pastries were another level!

A huge thank you to Mr Passam, Mrs Curtis and Mr Cann, who made this trip so wonderful!

- Alice Strike, U6

Ben Rothery, ON 96-02, at Norwich Book Festival

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:04:49 GMT

Award-winning author and illustrator, Ben is at Norwich Book Festival for two outstanding events for all ages.

The first event on Wednesday 29 October is a workshop for budding illustrators and animal enthusiasts, best suited for those aged 7+.

Click here for the booking link and for more details.

Ben Rothery: Creature Creations Interactive Workshops // Norwich Book Festival

There is also a talk later on in the evening about illustration aimed at those 16+

https://norwichbookfestival.co.uk/whats-on/ben-rothery-the-art-of-illustration

Ben Rothery is a detail-obsessed illustrator from Norwich, via Cape Town. He combines multiple processes to create intricate and delicate illustrations and repeating patterns, full of fine detail and vibrant colour.

Much of Ben's work is inspired or informed by his love of nature - he grew up wanting variously to be a shark, dinosaur or David Attenborough crossed with Indiana Jones, but settled upon illustration as a compromise that allowed him to bring those fantasies to life on paper. In 2021 he won the prestigious Silver Pencil Award for Hidden Planet, and his work is published throughout the world.

Ben works from a small but perfectly formed studio, which he shares with an unnecessarily large collection of very sharp pencils.

Ben would be very happy to meet any ONs.

You can find him on Insta @brillustrations or at his website www.benrotheryillustrator.co.uk

Best of luck Ben!

ON Tom Isaac (05-12) in upcoming concert

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:54:35 GMT

Thomas Isaac will be playing cello with the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra.

On Saturday 6 December, the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing at Norfolk Events Centre, Showground at 7.30pm.

Listen to:

DVOŘÁK: Cello Concerto
SUK: Scherzo Fantastique
JANÁČEK: Taras Bulba

For further information go to: www.norwichphil.org.uk

Tickets can be purchased from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/norwichphil

New York Creative Arts Trip Inspires Pupils

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:24:36 GMT

The Norwich School New York Creative Arts Trip 2025 was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. It was a week filled with inspiration, creativity and excitement, and I still cannot believe everything we managed to see and do. Spending time in one of the most artistic and fast-paced cities in the world with such a talented group of students and teachers made it truly unforgettable. Every day offered something different and opened our eyes to just how powerful and varied the creative arts can be.

We set off from Norwich in the early hours of the morning and after a long but exciting journey, we finally arrived in Manhattan. Walking through the city for the first time felt completely surreal. The lights, the sounds and the energy of New York were overwhelming in the best possible way. That first evening we explored the area around our hotel and even though everyone was tired, the excitement of being there made it impossible to stop smiling.

The next few days were packed with incredible activities that gave us a real insight into the creative world. Visiting the Empire State Building was one of the first highlights and seeing the city from above felt like looking down on an endless sea of inspiration. The Museum of the Moving Image was another favourite, especially for anyone interested in film, photography or design. That evening we went to Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks play which was such a fun and energetic experience that brought everyone together.

The weekend was equally full of creativity. We spent time at the Museum of Art and Design and the Metropolitan Museum of Art which were both breathtaking. Seeing world-famous artworks in real life made everything we have studied in school feel even more meaningful, another fantastic opportunity for research and inspiration for those taking art and design subjects. We also walked through Central Park, visited the Drama Bookshop and ended the day watching the Broadway show Hell’s Kitchen . The performance was emotional, powerful and completely unforgettable.

Sunday was one of the most inspiring days. We took part in a Broadway workshop and met a professional performer who shared their journey and gave us advice about working in the creative industry. It was such an incredible opportunity to learn from someone doing what so many of us dream of. Later we went to Ellen’s Stardust Diner where the staff sang live, which made dinner feel like another performance. We finished the evening exploring Broadway and visiting Grand Central Station, which genuinely felt like stepping into a piece of cinematic art.

On Monday we toured the NBC Studios at Rockefeller Plaza which gave us a look behind the scenes of live television. We then visited Ground Zero which was a deeply moving experience that reminded us how art and design can also be used to commemorate and tell powerful stories. Afterwards we took the Staten Island Ferry where we saw the Statue of Liberty and ended the day at Spyscape, which was creative, interactive and so much fun.

Our final morning was spent walking the High Line, a peaceful space above the busy streets with beautiful views of the city. It gave us time to reflect on everything we had done and how lucky we were to experience it all.

What made this trip so special was not just the places we went but the people we shared it with. We built strong friendships and created bonds with our teachers that made the experience even more enjoyable. Everyone supported one another and the laughter and energy never stopped. I made memories that will stay with me for a lifetime and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.

The New York trip reminded all of us just how important creativity is and how it connects people from all over the world. It showed us how art can be expressed in so many different forms, from theatre and film to architecture and design. For anyone who has the chance to go in the future, I could not recommend it more. You will come home full of ideas, inspiration and confidence in your own creativity. It was more than just a school trip; it was an experience that reminded us why we chose to study the arts in the first place.

- Lily Minns, U6

Courageous Walkers Conquer the Three Yorkshire Peaks

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:31:10 GMT

On Monday 20 October, a determined group of walkers with close ties to Norwich School achieved an impressive feat: completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks walk, a gruelling 24-mile trek across some of the UK’s most stunning, and demanding, landscapes.

The challenge began bright and early at 7am, following a journey up to the Yorkshire Dales the previous day. Over the course of twelve intense hours, the team climbed more than 5,000 feet, conquering the famous summits of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

The walkers were:

· Andy Fisher , Norwich School teacher of English and experienced mountain leader.

· Kirio Osorio , husband of Mrs Osorio, the school’s Spanish language assistant.

· Ronaldo Sanchez , a friend of Humphrey Bedford-Payne, and former teacher at Norwich School.

· Barnaby Karlson Evans , Old Norvicensian (18-25).

· Humphrey Bedford-Payne , erstwhile organiser of the School’s Amnesty and Refugee Support groups.

Their motivation extended well beyond the mountains. The group took on the challenge to raise funds for the Werapitiya Village Foundation in Sri Lanka – a project close to the Norwich School community. The Foundation, founded by Nandana Werapitiya, a valued member of the school’s support staff, has already built a wonderful community centre for local residents. Funds raised from the walk will go towards adding walls to the centre, providing much-needed privacy, security and protection from dust.

This remarkable achievement reflects the Norwich School spirit of compassion, perseverance and community. Congratulations to all involved for their incredible effort – both on the mountains and in support of such a meaningful cause.

If you would like to support the group further, you can do so by clicking here . All donations are greatly appreciated!

Upper 4 and Lower 5 Scholars Explore London and it's History

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:08:30 GMT

At the end of an industrious first half-term, 31 pupils embarked on our annual U4/L5 Academic Scholars residential trip to London. The visit was designed around the following key aims:

To enjoy each other’s company outside of school and spend time discussing what we encounter.
To learn more about our capital city- key historical sites of societal and scientific significance and important works of art.
To create links between curricular areas of interest and personal interest and develop new areas of interest.
To use this trip as inspiration to complete a reflective assignment to answer one of these questions:

Is London truly an iconic city, as it is often described?

How have different historical periods shaped London? What does the future hold?

When learning about London, whose stories do we hear and whose stories are missing?

In order to achieve these aims we visited a wide variety of attractions over our two days in London. We began with a walk from Liverpool Street to the Tower of London where Mr Rowlandson helped pupils to reflect on both the geography of this site as well as comparing the history of the White Tower with Norwich Castle. We then travelled along the Thames to Greenwich in order to visit the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Observatory and the fascinating Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Dr Leeder, as Head of Nelson House, was delighted to be able to see Admiral Nelson’s coat (complete with bullet hole on the left shoulder!), particularly since the trip took place on Norwich School’s commemoration of Trafalgar Day. We also discovered that linking art and astronomy to enter the photography competition is much more complicated than taking a snap of the night sky, as Mrs Grant explained before our visit. After a trip back down the Thames and a jovial dinner together our evening was spent at the National Gallery before a walk to our hotel, absorbing the vibrant atmosphere of London on a Friday night. Saturday morning began with a lively scavenger hunt around Bloomsbury, passing institutions like SOAS and UCL and even encountering a film shoot on one street.

The group then visited the British Library where Mr Douglas-Field offered a compelling introduction to this building (8km of shelving are added every year to the collection!) and prompted pupils to reflect on the future of such an institution. Inside we visited the Treasures Gallery, where we saw the Magna Carta, Beethoven’s original score for his Pastoral Symphony and a notebook of Leonardo Da Vinci, amongst many other amazing artefacts. The British Library also houses a brilliant Sound Archive where we could listen to anything from bird calls to regional accents. As we returned to Norwich pupils began to reflect on their visit and their assignment task. Pupils will share their work with their peers online and offer comment on each other’s work. We are so looking forward to reading pupils’ work and seeing how their perspectives have been shaped by our trip.

ABBA Abounds at Lower School House Music Competition

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:36:00 GMT

The Lower School House Music Festival 2025 took place on the final morning before half-term and was an absolute triumph of singing talent!

Heigham, Magdalen and Conisford choose a trio of ABBA hits and all gave incredible performances in a Lower School Hall filled with an atmosphere of excitement and support. Heigham gave us their version of ‘Money, Money, Money', Conisford sung 'Waterloo' and Magdalen performed 'Mamma Mia'.

Head of Singing from the Senior School, Mrs Walton, was on hand to adjudicate and was incredibly impressed with the standard of singing, stage presence, diction, intonation, and enthusiasm from each House. The singing truly raised the roof!

It was a close competition with only a few marks in between each place, with the winners announced as Heigham house.

Huge congratulations to Heigham and well done to everyone for taking part, and a special ‘bravo’ to the three House Captains for their excellent work in leading and directing their Houses so well.

Trafalgar Day Service from Rosie Pank, Head of School

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:09:10 GMT

On Trafalgar Day each year, we come together to celebrate Viscount Nelson, who famously led his troops to a decisive victory in the Battle of Trafalgar, which took place in 1805. Nelson’s leadership in the navy was marked by his outstanding bravery in conflict, and his ability to lead from the front and stand up for what he believed right. For example, he opposed the harsh and traditional naval punishment of flogging, showing his concern for his soldiers, as he felt they should be treated with respect. His resilience was legendary; despite being blind in one eye, he continued to fight fiercely, displaying an extraordinary courage that inspired loyalty and confidence among his men. Today, as we commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, we honour not only Nelson’s strategic brilliance in naval warfare but also the leadership qualities he demonstrated throughout his career.

This year, Trafalgar Day coincides with One Norwich School Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the strength and diversity within our school community. To me, these themes of leadership and community are key to furthering our thriving school life, and important take aways from figures such as Nelson, one of the many we celebrate throughout the school year. They remind us that true leadership is not just about commanding on the battlefield but about fostering unity and strength in the everyday lives of those around us. That’s leads me consider the impact leadership has within our school and how it is evident in our everyday life.

The importance of strong leadership cannot be overstated. Traditional leaders like Nelson lead by boldly standing as visible symbols of strength, courage, and decisiveness. Their actions motivate those around them and create a sense of purpose and unwavering loyalty. Nelson’s own leadership style was characterized by his willingness to face danger head-on, maintaining a sense of calm and demonstrating bravery even when injury threatened to take him down. This bravery was demonstrated when he continued to give orders in a battle despite losing the vision in one of his eyes. His leadership inspired through action and sacrifice, radiating unshakable confidence and a commitment to a cause greater than himself.

But while this form of leadership is undoubtedly heroic, it can also feel distant and almost unattainable. Leaders such as Nelson appear made in an entirely different way to the rest of us; creating people who are able to act fearlessly and decisively in moments of extreme pressure. This heroic image, though inspiring, can sometimes create a pedestal so high that it alienates us, making us wonder if such leadership is out of reach. It can foster the belief that leadership requires a flawless strength and courage that most people lack, widening the gap between us and the leaders we admire. If you’ve ever looked up at the statute of Nelson on the green, you might know how out of reach these heroic leaders can feel.

Yet leadership does not have be confined to this traditional idea. Leadership can also be deeply personal and flexible, reflecting the unique qualities each of us inherently possess.

Though Nelson’s courage will always be timeless, I want to turn your attention to another kind of leadership: the power of ‘quiet leadership.’

Quiet leadership often goes unnoticed because it doesn’t demand the spotlight. Despite this, some of the most impactful leaders are those who lead through everyday acts of kindness and empathy - whether it’s offering a helping hand, holding a door, or simply being present when someone needs support. Leadership is not solely defined by heroic behaviour; it begins with compassion, involvement, and genuine care for others. Every one of us has the potential to be a leader, not by striving to be perfect and inspiring all the time; but by practicing empathy, kindness, and demonstrating strong commitment to the communities we are in.

A figure who embodies quiet leadership remarkably well is Marcus Rashford. Many of you will know him for his football skills, but beyond the pitch, Rashford has quietly championed a campaign to extend free school meals and reduce child food poverty in the UK. His leadership style stood out to me, as it was not loud or confrontational; instead, it was humble and purposeful. Rashford used his high-profile platform to build connections and create real, measurable change. He quietly wrote personal letters to government officials, using his personal experience to advocate for children who needed support. This quiet, humble approach to leadership resonated with me, and evidently many others nationally, as people rallied to support his cause.

Rashford’s example is powerful because it teaches us that leadership does not rely on volume or visibility alone; it is rooted in authenticity and the ability to include others through shared values and purpose. True strength lies in the community and the collective efforts that bring about meaningful change.

Even Nelson demonstrated qualities of quiet and committed leadership. One story that particularly strikes me is from just before the Battle of Trafalgar. It is said that Nelson ordered the last dispatch boat, which was already en route back to England, to be recalled temporarily so that a petty officer could include a personal letter to his wife. This small act of kindness reveals a lot about his leadership style, it is not just about heroic gestures on the battlefield but also about being attentive to the needs of individuals within a team, no matter their role. By prioritizing the desire of this junior sailor, Nelson showed that true leaders care deeply for every individual under their command, fostering a sense of community and belonging.

As you move around school today, I invite you to reflect on these lessons from both history and the present day, using them to think about the leaders you admire and the qualities which make them inspiring. I also urge you to consider your own role as leaders in this school, whether that’s in a sports team, classroom, lunchtime club or on the playground, leaders are found everywhere. Finally, I am going to share a quote with you that has stuck with me since I heard it; Barack Obama said, “One voice can change a room.” And my challenge to you is this: How will you make your voice heard? Think about this, sometimes, those who shout the loudest are not truly heard – could it be that taking the time to listen to others, is the best way to get people to listen to you?

As an old teacher used to say; if you were - thank you for listening.

Netball News - The First Half of Michaelmas 2025

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:23:10 GMT

Despite Netball only being played non-curriculum time this term, the Netball Club have been busy competing in four National Cup competitions, The England Netball National Schools competition, The Sisters in Sport Cup, the Independent Schools Cup and the School Sports Magazine Cup.

The U14 squad have secured two wins tin their cup runs, against Wymondham College and Norwich High School for Girls. The U16s won their Area tournament with seven wins out of seven, alongside a strong cup win over St Joseph's College.

Not to be outdone, the U19 team have been victorious against Ipswich School and also produced a classy and composed performance to secure a comprehensive win over Oakham.

Hockey Highlights - Girls' Hockey Season Update 2025

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:54:37 GMT

The Girls’ Hockey programme has enjoyed an excellent start to the season, with teams across all age groups showing determination, teamwork, and impressive progress on the pitch.

The U12s have had some highly competitive fixtures, demonstrating real growth in skill and confidence as the season has progressed. A particular highlight was the U12A team’s outstanding 3-1 victory over Woodbridge School. The squad also performed brilliantly at their recent tournament, qualifying for the Regional Finals - a fantastic achievement and reward for their hard work and enthusiasm.

The U13s have gone from strength to strength, producing a series of excellent performances. The U13A team recorded an emphatic 9-0 win against Glebe House and followed this up with a strong 5-2 victory over Culford School. The U13B team also impressed, battling hard to earn a 2-1 win against Wymondham College’s A team, a testament to their determination and growing confidence.

The Inters teams continue to make steady progress, competing in several close and exciting matches. The 14A team notched up impressive wins against both Framlingham College and Ipswich School, while the B team recorded a solid win over Framlingham College and a well-earned draw with Culford School.

The Senior teams have also enjoyed a strong start. The 3rd XI have shown fantastic grit and determination throughout the season, highlighted by an excellent 4-0 win against Wymondham College’s 2nd XI. The 2nd XI have been superb, losing only one game so far, with standout moments including qualification for Regionals and a commanding 4-0 victory over Culford School. Meanwhile, the 1st XI have been working tirelessly behind the scenes, with their 3-1 win against UEA’s 1st XI reflecting their exceptional progress and dedication.

With such positive momentum, the future of the Girls’ Hockey programme looks incredibly bright.

Hockey Highlights - Boys’ 1st XI Hockey Season Update

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:36:29 GMT

Following the success of last season, the Boys’ 1st XI hockey team has entered a rebuilding phase, welcoming eight new faces into the squad. With a fresh mix of talent and energy, the focus this term has been on developing team cohesion, refining structures, and preparing for the challenges of Tier 1 competition.

The team began their campaign with a series of local fixtures against Dragons, Norwich City, Dereham, and Magpies. These early matches provided valuable opportunities for the new-look side to gel and test combinations in competitive settings. The boys showed great commitment and resilience throughout, competing hard in every fixture and demonstrating steady progress with each performance.

Their opening Tier 1 encounter came against Ipswich, where the team narrowly missed out on victory in a closely contested game. Despite the result, the performance was full of positives, with the squad displaying strong defensive organisation and promising attacking intent. The following fixture saw the team take on Whitgift – the four-time reigning champions – where they once again rose to the challenge, matching their opponents for long periods and showing encouraging signs of growth.

With each match, the group continues to build confidence, understanding, and belief. The foundation being laid this season will no doubt serve the team well for the remainder of the campaign and beyond.

Onward Routes for our 2025 Cohort - October Update

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:30:09 GMT

August is an important month for our Upper 6 cohort as they come into school to collect their A Level results. Understandably, they are extremely nervous as the culmination of two year’s hard work and commitment is reflected on that one piece of paper. However, we always say to the pupils that those letters are simply a stepping stone and the most important thing is that they deliver the key to unlocking the next stage of their journey. With our leavers now having started their university courses and apprenticeships, we wanted to celebrate both the success of the whole cohort as well as share a range of individual destinations.

We are delighted therefore to be able to report that an impressive 80% of our 2025 leavers have been awarded the results they needed to go on to their first choice, whether that be their preferred university, here or abroad, securing their plans for a gap year and their education beyond that or successfully securing a sought-after apprenticeship. This equates to 141 pupils out of an Upper 6 cohort of 177. Especially impressive is that 97% of the 2025 cohort (171 pupils from 177) gained the grades required for their first or second choice onward route. These statistics show an upward trajectory in our success rates with these being higher than those of the 2024 cohort which were higher than those of the 2023 cohort.

The universities with the most Norwich School pupils starting there this autumn were Durham, UCL and Newcastle and the most popular courses being Economics/Finance, Engineering and History/Ancient History. However, pupils have started at 44 different UK universities and 6 overseas universities.

The examples below show the range of onward routes that our 2025 cohort went on to:

Joschka Molenaar has started studying Mathematics at the University of Cambridge having achieved an S grade in STEP III (the highest grade in this, the hardest STEP paper) as well as A*A*A*A* at A-level.

Ava de Cooper Wride is now at Quinnipiac University in USA on a full rugby scholarship.

Noah Rastrick flew to USA in August to start at Robert Morris University on a full soccer scholarship.

Archie Taylor secured a highly competitive finance degree apprenticeship with Price Bailey, so now combines working for them with them paying for him to gain a degree.

Kitty Millard has moved to London where she is working for a film company whilst gaining an apprenticeship in Design and Illustration in Film.

Leah Feetham has also moved to London and is loving her degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at the highly competitive Bird College (a conservatoire).

Jemima Curtis is using her experience as Head Girls’ Chorister at Norwich Cathedral as she works with choristers at King’s College School, Cambridge, this year before starting her degree at the University of Exeter in September 2026.

Jacob Stevenson has started a diploma in Digital Marketing for Fashion at the London Retail Academy and will go to university to study Psychology in September 2026.

Ski Success from the Beginning of Michaelmas 2025

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:51:00 GMT

Well done to Ianis Pop and Dylan Sweales who as a team finished as 2nd placed Boy's Primary School in the English Ski Finals at the weekend. Ianis won the silver medal as the 2nd placed Primary school male.

Dylan was 9th overall, hugely impressive as he's racing up against Year 4/5/6 boys, and he was the fastest Year 3.

An Adventure at Eaton Vale for Lower 4 - Written by Annabelle Hitchings

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:05:03 GMT

Our school residential took place at Eaton Vale Activity Centre in Norwich, and everyone was excited to begin the adventure! When we arrived, we went straight to our dorms and found out who we would be sharing rooms with. There were bunk beds, and I found out I was sharing a room with all my good friends.

We were divided into groups for our activities. The first one was clout archery, where we had to shoot arrows high into the air to land as close as possible to a target on the ground. Many of us managed to shoot high, which was so much fun!

After a quick break, we moved on to crate stacking. This was one of the favourite activities because it was all about teamwork. Each person had a different job — the climber, bell ringer, builder, VIP (Very Irritating Penguin!), and the boss (the one who could shout the loudest!). We rotated between roles and worked together to help the climber reach the top of the crates. Everyone was cheering and encouraging each other.

After our packed lunches, we did raft building and water rafting on the River Yare. We built our own rafts in teams of girls and boys and then floated them on the river to reach a checkpoint. Some teams had to rescue a paddle pretending to be a person who couldn’t swim — and most teams managed to do this successfully! Luckily, some of us avoided getting splashed by the instructors, but the boys, ended up capsizing! Afterwards, several of us jumped in — it was soooo cold! Then we had a quick shower and changed into clothes ready for the next activity.

Next came the cave bus, which had lots of narrow tunnels to climb through. It was a challenge for anyone who felt a little claustrophobic, but everyone enjoyed making their way through safely with helmets and torches.

Then we tried go-karting, which was hard work because we had to pedal our way around the track. Some go-karts were tricky to stop, making it even more exciting! Afterwards, we visited the tuck shop, which was a real treat — everyone stocked up on snacks and sweets to enjoy later.

After that, we had some relaxing time back in the dorms and explored around the building before dinner, which was delicious: sausage, jacket potato, and hamburger. In the evening, we played after-dinner games, including a parachute challenge to protect an egg from breaking. We also did the baby photo challenge, which was funny — everyone guessed me straight away!

Before bed, we reflected on the busy day and got ready for a good night’s sleep.

The next morning, we had a lovely breakfast of bacon rolls before starting our first activity of the day — the trapeze jump, where we had to leap off a high platform and try to reach a bar. It was thrilling!

After a short break, we did Tomahawk Throwing and tried to hit a wooden target. Most of us managed to hit it, and later we added playing cards to aim at and slice — several people succeeded!

Before our final activity, we went into the marquee for lunch. Then we finished the trip with orienteering, where each person used a “dibber” to scan checkpoints and we completed two courses before getting our kit together to go home.

Some of the funniest moments were when we tried to make up spooky ghost stories, and, of course, when we jumped into the water during rafting!

Overall, the trip was full of adventure, laughter, and new experiences. Everyone worked together as a team during the activities, and it was a great way to make new friendships. It was wonderful to see how much we could achieve by supporting and encouraging each other.

'A Day in the life of an Elite Athlete' - Sports Scholarship Programme Michaelmas Update

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 08:52:32 GMT

The L5/M5 Sports Scholars visited St George's Park this term, to experience 'a day in the life of an elite athlete'. It was an exciting opportunity to see behind the scenes of the England football teams exclusive training environment. A particular highlight of the day was a dip in the hydrotherapy pool, after a tough on-pitch conditoning session.

We also welcomed world renowned physiotherapist, Dr Ros Cooke, to school to deliver some education on female health. Ros has worked alongside multiple national teams and is a specialist in pre-elite female athletes. It was a pleasure to have such an inspiring figure visit our school community. Middle 5 pupil, Jennifer Mardle, spoke about her experience below.

A bunch of Year 9 and 10 sport scholarship pupils had the amazing opportunity to visit St George’s Park, which is the national training centre for the England men’s and women’s football teams. It’s where some of the best players in the country train, and being able to experience what a day of elite-level training is like was honestly incredible.

When we first arrived, we were all so excited. The facilities looked amazing — perfectly kept pitches, modern buildings, and everything felt so professional. We started the day off with some technique drills, focusing on our running style and how to be more efficient when sprinting, especially during short, sharp accelerations. The coaches explained how small changes in posture, arm drive, and stride length can make a huge difference. After practising this, we did some sprint testing, where we were timed over short distances to see how fast we could accelerate.

Next, we moved on to a series of cone, coordination, and cardio drills. These were all about learning how to move quickly and efficiently — which is so important in most sports. We practised quick changes of direction, balance, and how to get to different places as fast as possible without wasting energy. It was really challenging but also a lot of fun, and you could tell these were the types of drills professional players do all the time.

After that, we went to another part of the pitch where a conditioning course had been set up. This was probably one of the hardest parts of the day! We had to dribble a football through a large course with lots of cones and mini hurdles to make it more intense. We continuously ran around the course for five minutes, then had a two-minute break, and repeated that five times. By the end, we were all exhausted, but it really pushed everyone to their limits and gave us a taste of how much hard work goes into elite training.

To finish the outdoor morning session, we did a 1 kilometre run. This really pushed everybody to dig deep, especially after our bodies were already feeling tired from all the conditioning drills we had just completed. It tested both our physical and mental strength, and even though it was tough, everyone gave it their all and pushed through to the end before finally finishing for lunch.

We then had a well-deserved lunch break inside one of the indoor facilities, which gave us time to rest and chat about how the morning went. Everyone agreed it was tough, but also really enjoyable.

After lunch, we headed into the gym, which was honestly amazing. It was full of professional-level equipment, and it felt really special being allowed to use it. We began with some strength and ability testing, followed by a full gym session that worked both our upper and lower bodies. It was hard work, but really motivating to think that this is the same kind of training the England players would be doing.

Next, we went to the pool facilities, which included both hot and cold plunge pools. We did one minute in each, alternating between hot and cold, and repeated that eight times. It was definitely a shock at first, especially the cold plunge, but it helped our muscles recover after such an active day. After that, we moved into the main pool where we did some water drills and movement exercises, and to finish off, we played a quick, fun game of water polo. Even though everyone was exhausted, it was such a great way to end the day.

Overall, this trip to St George’s Park was an unforgettable experience. The facilities were an absolute dream, and I feel so privileged to have been able to use them. The coaches worked us to our absolute max, but in the best way possible — it showed all of us what elite-level training really feels like. Throughout the day, I think everyone learned something new about themselves, whether it was a strength or a weakness they hadn’t noticed before. Personally, it motivated me so much to keep working hard and to keep improving in my own sport.

If I ever get the chance to go again, I would say yes without hesitation. It was truly inspiring and made me want to aim as high as possible, so maybe one day I’ll be able to train at facilities like St George’s Park for real.

8th Norwich Sea Scouts – Michaelmas Half Term Round Up

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 08:32:04 GMT

Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers have made the most of the term so far, enjoying a full programme of adventure, challenge and fun on the water and beyond.

Beavers

This term, 31 Beavers enjoyed camp at the Lower School site, with every child getting out on the water at NBYC. Alongside paddling and play, they have explored Diwali celebrations , followed treasure maps , and tried their hand at cooking .

Cubs

Cubs have had an action-packed term, spending many hours on the water and enjoying a wide range of activities including bike rodeo , pond dipping , pumpkin carving , firelighting , pioneering , knot work , and of course, marshmallow toasting.

Scouts

Scouts have developed their outdoor and practical skills through kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, biking, pioneering and rowing . They have also been whittling and taking part in wide games — perfect practice for future camps and expeditions.

Explorers

Explorers have enjoyed a varied programme, combining paddling, wild swimming, night hikes and night biking with practical cooking sessions, including learning how to make curry from scratch , and ending this half term with a fun bowling night .

Looking Ahead

October Half term always brings two major Scouting highlights in the calendar: the Hill Walking Week in North Yorkshire , featuring caving, biking and hiking , and the Power Cruise , known for its action-packed itinerary including high-speed planing at Breydon Water .

If you’re interested in finding out what 8th Norwich Sea Scouts is all about, free trial sessions are available — please email membership@8nss.org.uk for more information.

An Assembly on Black History Month - Delivered by U6 Pupil, Isio Emore and EDI Officer, Amber Scott

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:28:46 GMT

Good morning, everyone. October is Black History Month, and today we want to speak to you about our local history here in Norwich.

Norwich has long been a city for all – a place that welcomed strangers and fostered community. Today, you're going to hear about how the people of Norwich and Norfolk played a role in abolishing the Slave trade.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Black people lived and worked in Norwich. Some were involved in the campaign against slavery and others we know about by pure chance through paintings, records, and documents. These people weren't just visitors passing through – they were Norwich residents, shop owners, performers, and campaigners who shaped our city's history.

Norwich was a significant city in the abolitionist movement; it was one of the places where the anti-slavery movement was strongest in the entire country. In 1785, local Quakers set up a committee to support the abolition movement. This was twenty-two years before slavery would finally be abolished. But Norwich people didn't just talk about change – they acted.

Many local people stopped buying sugar in protest. Now, this might not sound like much to us today, but back then, sugar was expensive and precious. By refusing to buy sugar produced by enslaved people, Norwich residents were using their purchasing power to demand justice. Women were particularly active in this movement. Amelia Opie, a Norwich writer wrote a poem for a children’s book that raised awareness of the pain caused in the production of sugar, speaking out against the exploitation of enslaved people. She was also one of the founding members of the women's anti-slavery group here in Norwich. If you look above Café Gelato, you can see a statue of her on Opie street. These women helped organize the sugar boycott and targeted merchants and shops that were linked to the slave trade. They made it uncomfortable for businesses to profit from slavery.

When the House of Commons voted in April 1792 for the gradual abolition of the slave trade, it is rumoured that the bells of St Peter Mancroft Church, in the city centre, rang out for two days to celebrate. The celebration was short-lived though, as the House of Lords insisted on hearing all the evidence that had been put in front of the Commons. There was a delay for a year and then war with France meant the whole process was set back. It was not until 1807 that William Wilberforce's campaign finally brought an end to the slave trade. During the campaign for Abolition, Norfolk towns welcomed Black speakers, many of whom even visited smaller villages such as Shelton and Saxlingham Nethergate. One of these speakers was Olaudah Equiano. After his visit, the people of Norfolk contributed funds to publish the eighth edition of Equiano’s autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. This book was revolutionary, providing a detailed description of the horrors of the Middle Passage—the transatlantic journey endured by enslaved Africans. Equiano's narrative played a pivotal role in raising awareness about the brutality of the slave trade.

Additionally, a petition to abolish slavery of over 17,000 signatures was collected at St Andrews Hall in 1828. The road to ending slavery was a long one with many setbacks, but victories were eventually secured in the Abolition of the Slave Trade 1807, the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833 and the ending of slavery in America in 1865.

These stories show us that Black history isn't something separate from British history or Norwich history – it IS British history, it IS Norwich history. These events happened on the streets you walk down every day. As you walk through the city, remember the bells of St Peter Mancroft ringing for justice, or the petition Signed in St Andrew’s Hall.

These stories also teach us that ordinary people create extraordinary change. The Norwich residents who boycotted sugar weren't politicians – they were everyday people who saw injustice and decided to act. Norwich has long been a city that welcomed strangers and fostered community. That's not just our past – it's what makes us all who we are today.

Rowing Report from the Beginning of Michaelmas 2025

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:30:40 GMT

This half term the Senior Rowers have been covering the miles in small boats, the J15s have all started sweep rowing and we have welcomed an enthusiastic J14 squad to the Boat Club. Despite some rather windy sessions the training has been going well. The first race of the year was at Bedford Small Boats Head. With 35 crews racing across six divisions, there was tough competition across all boat categories. We finished the event with 6 crews in 2nd place and four wins:

Hannah Conway and Freya Dixon in the women’s J16 double.

Ellie Thwaites and Amelie Ivie in the women’s J17 pair.

The Open quad of Max Stone, Isaac Chan, Tristan Fazekas, and Mateo Vedrenne

And an outstanding win for Max Stone in the Junior 18 singles, pipping Archie Wilkins into 2nd place and leaving a trail of Hampton School Scullers behind them!

The Boat Club will be racing in Norwich at the start of half term, with training in the second week before we have our first National race in November.

Rugby Round Up for the Start of Michaelmas 2025

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:02:16 GMT

As we reach the midpoint of the rugby season, it has been a highly encouraging half-term across all age groups. Teams have shown excellent commitment, development, and teamwork, representing the school with pride and enthusiasm throughout every fixture.

Juniors

Our Junior teams have enjoyed a positive start to the season, showing real energy and passion for the game as they continue to develop their core rugby skills.

U12A
The U12A side have made great progress during their opening block of fixtures. Despite close defeats to The Perse School and Finborough School, they demonstrated resilience and improvement each week, highlighted by a competitive draw against St Joseph’s College, Ipswich. Their teamwork and enthusiasm have laid strong foundations for the future.

U13B
The U13B team have been excellent, winning both of their fixtures in impressive style against The Perse School and Finborough School. Their attacking intent and defensive organisation have stood out, reflecting the hard work they’ve put into training.

U13A
The U13A team have had a fantastic half-term, securing two wins and two draws from their four matches. Dominant victories against St Joseph’s College, Ipswich and The Perse School showcased their growing confidence and teamwork. The players’ ability to adapt and make smart in-game decisions has been a real highlight.

Inters

The Inter teams have shown great progression, with players displaying improved game understanding, physicality, and team cohesion throughout the term.

U14A
The U14A side began their season strongly with a convincing win against Framlingham College. Since then, they have faced several challenging fixtures that have tested their resilience and provided valuable learning opportunities. Their attitude and commitment to improving both individually and collectively have been impressive.

U15B
The U15B team faced Felsted School in their only fixture this half-term, putting in a determined performance despite the result not going their way. The squad is looking forward to more game time after the break, with plenty of positives to build upon in training.

U15A
The U15A team have enjoyed an outstanding start to the season, with four strong wins against Framlingham College, The Perse School, St Joseph’s College, and Wymondham College. Their only defeat came in Round 2 of the National Cup against a talented Campion School side from Essex. The squad continues to go from strength to strength, with excellent team spirit and significant development in their tactical play.

Seniors

The Senior squad has set an excellent tone this term, combining hard work, ambition, and togetherness across their fixtures.

1st XV
The 1st XV have produced a strong set of performances, recording three wins and two narrow defeats. Impressive victories over Framlingham College, The Perse School, and Wymondham College demonstrated the team’s growing maturity and cohesion. They were unfortunate to lose to Felsted School in the final play of their National Cup first-round match but have received a bye in the Plate competition and will continue their campaign after half-term. The group has shown significant progress in both their attacking structure and defensive resilience, and the second half of the season promises to be an exciting one.

"Wrekin Crew" Mission for Warhammer Club

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:38:27 GMT

Tuesday 14 October saw Dr Treavett and Miss Lewis, immediately after the excitement of house music, escort 12 members of Warhammer club across the city to the Warhammer Shop. As part of Games Workshop's Warhammer Alliance programme, we had been invited to take part in the Warhammer 40k "Wrekin Crew" mission - characters, tanks and warriors from across the galaxy had responded to a disturbing signal from a remote planet.

Each club member brought a unit from home to respond to the challenge. These ranged from Alice Stevens' unit of Termagants to James Cumberland's Gladiator Lancer, and were led by two space marine primarchs, including the legendary Roboute Guilliman, primarch of the Ultramarines, controlled by Tom McCall. They arrived on the planet to find that a chaos demon prince was controlling a giant Wraithknight robot and a formidable Castigator tank. Led by powerful artillery fire from the lancer, the team were able to take down these initial foes - but chaos is never so easily beaten! Even as it's corporeal forms were destroyed, the demon was able to possess the Stormsurge controlled by David Adkins, and Henry Boyce's Defiler and set clubmate against clubmate for a thrilling final battle round. Never underestimate the power and resilience of the forces of chaos!

Our thanks go to James and his team at the Warhammer store for inviting and hosting us, and providing a great scenario for us to play in. Next up for Warhammer club will be the 4 ^th NorHammer battle event in the Bishop's Parlour on Saturday 15 November.

The Mike Toll Film Archive – the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society talk at Norwich School

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:15:01 GMT

Our Programme of interesting external events hosted on our site continues this autumn. On 14 October 2025, we were delighted to be hosting again the illustrious Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas) for the latest in their series of high-profile lectures on site.

Former n-cas Chair Keith Roberts introduced three films in his talk: An Exploration of the Mike Toll film archive.

Mike Toll sadly died in 2018 but left boxes full of VHS video tapes that record his interviews with artists who took part in exhibitions in Norwich in the mid 1980-90s. N-cas has painstakingly transferred these videos onto a more usable digital format. Mike Toll’s 30-minute films of different local artists and their work are now recognised as a valued resource and will be kept in the Norwich City Archives. The evening followed on from the first showing of his films in January this year. The featured films from three different local creative artists on show in this latest outing were: David Jones (still life and portraiture); Michael Chapman (multi-media sculpture); Oliver Creed (ceramic works).

Although 35 years older now, all three artists were in the audience on the night and were thrilled to see their younger selves on the big screen in the Blake Studio. We were delighted they stayed on afterwards to discuss their work with the audience of n-cas members, local creatives, staff, parents and alumni.

Our next lecture on site is on 06 November 2025 . It is to be held in conjunction with the Royal Geographical Society in the Blake Studio (doors open at 19:00). ON parent Sara White of Explorers Against Extinction will be interviewing the hugely experienced founder of Bradt Travel Guides, Hilary Brandt, in her talk entitled: Traveller into unknown lands . Bookings can be made here: www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/into-unknown-lands . All are welcome.

Please take a browse through our termly publication At Close Quarters. The link is here: Norwich School Michaelmas Term 2025 . We hope there will be many events that appeal to you across a wide range of interests and we look forward to welcoming you to site this autumn.

'Au Revoir' to French Visitors

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:21:12 GMT

On Tuesday 14 October. we said ‘au revoir’ to our exchange school from Perpignan. This visit formed the return leg of our 6th form French Exchange with Norwich School pupils having had a wonderful visit to the Lycée Maillol at the end of the Lent Term 2025.

The French group were generously hosted by Norwich School families, accompanied pupils to lessons, rehearsals and events. They also enjoyed visits to London, Cambridge, Norwich Castle and UEA Sainsbury Centre.

It was wonderful to share our community with a wonderful group of pupils and their teachers and discover our shared passions and values, as well as those that differ.

Football Focus - The Start of Michaelmas 2025

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 12:23:27 GMT

The Football 1 ^st XI has taken a significant rebuild this term after a large proportion of the previous two 1 ^st XI squads have now finished upper sixth. The newly assembled team have at times played some excellent football against challenging opposition and just need to add more consistency to their play and capitalise on the momentum they create in the remaining matches of the season. A particular highlight was back to back away fixtures against Wymondham College and Gresham's with outstanding team performances enabling us to claim two fantastic victories.

Another highlight has been the re-introduction of the 2 ^nd XI who have enjoyed a mixed set of results so far but have benefited greatly from regular training and fixtures.

Upper 2 Visit the Crypt to Bring Learning Beyond the Classroom

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:47:02 GMT

U2M had a wonderful time visiting Jill Sharpe’s Diamonds exhibition in the Crypt Gallery during their Art lesson.

The children were fascinated by Jill’s beautiful work and enjoyed talking to her in person about the repeated patterns and symmetry in her designs. It was a fantastic way to inspire their new topic on Roman mosaics!

An Assembly on World Mental Health Day from Pastoral Prefects

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:39:56 GMT

On Friday 10 October, Pastoral Prefects gave an assembly on the importance of looking after your mental health.

World Mental Health Day takes place every year on 10 October. It is a day to remind us of the importance of good mental health and the need to prioritise and invest in everyone's mental health both as individuals and as a community.

Poor mental health is not inevitable, and World Mental Health Day is an opportunity for us all to consider how, together, we can help everyone have better mental health.

This year we're focusing on the mental health impact of repeated exposure to news coverage of crises and conflicts. The theme is: Overwhelm: when global events and relentless bad news become too much.

Constantly hearing about negative news from around the world can feel like a lot to take in – and that’s because it is. Feeling overwhelmed by current events, no matter how big or small, can take a toll on our mental health.

In the digital age, managing how much information we take on board might feel impossible. But you can take control and limit the impact of global overwhelm on your well-being.

Keeping up with the latest news is simpler than ever thanks to smartphones and social media. However, it’s easy to end up doomscrolling – constantly scrolling through negative news for long periods of time.

Doomscrolling is a natural and human response to a world that can feel unstable. However, it can also affect our mental and physical health.

While online content can help us feel more informed, reassured and in control, doomscrolling can cause us to become more anxious, sad, or overwhelmed.

Doomscrolling can also result in physical issues such as headaches, nausea, neck and shoulder pain or even difficulty sleeping.

As pastoral prefects, we are keen to promote good mental health within our school community and we have found some top tips to help you cope with global news overwhelm, refrain from doomscrolling and find a way to balance things to improve the way we feel.

Making Musicians - October 2025

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:59:40 GMT

On 6 October, staff, parents, pupils and passersby enjoyed a scintillating Making Musicians recital in Norwich Cathedral, with performances from Charlie Collier (L6) and Evie Alexander (M5), both accompanied by Brenda Blewett.

Charlie Collier began the recital with a melodic rendition of “Amarill, Mia Bella” by Giulio Caccini. His impressive programme continued with the works of Giuseppe Torelli, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Franc Schubert. To finish, he concluded with an impressive performance of "Fair House of Joy" by Roger Quilte, enthralling the audience.

Evie Alexander transported the audience to the West End with her excellent selection of pieces from the world of musical theatre from Hairspray to Les Misérables. Evie brought theatricality to her performances, embodying the characters with each portrayal, ending with Wicked’s “The Wizard and I” which she sang at Gala Night 2025.

You can join us for another Making Musicians recital on Thursday 13 November in Norwich Cathedral at 13:00.

Harry Potter Book Night: Friend or Foe!

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:12:08 GMT

On Thursday 9 October, the Lower School library was transformed into the magical world of Harry Potter for the annual book night. This year’s theme, Friend or Foe, set the stage for an evening filled with creativity, teamwork, and plenty of wizarding fun. Pupils arrived in a wonderful array of spellbinding costumes — from brave Gryffindors and clever Ravenclaws to Luna Lovegood herself! We even had a snowy Hedwig fluttering through the corridors!

Throughout the evening, children tested their wizarding knowledge in a Harry Potter Quiz, crafted their very own scary mandrakes, and set off on a thrilling treasure hunt around the school. Along the way, they decoded clues, worked in teams, and created a magical teacher scrapbook filled with memories and fun.

No magical evening would be complete without a feast fit for Hogwarts! Everyone enjoyed some delicious, themed treats, including golden snitch chocolate truffles, cheesy broomsticks, Slytherin snake sandwiches, Ravenclaw crisps, and a selection of salad from Professor Sprout’s garden. This was all washed down with Gillywater or Wizard’s hot chocolate.

It was a truly enchanting night full of laughter, creativity, and a touch of Hogwarts magic — proving that whether friend or foe, there’s always room for fun and friendship in the wizarding world!

"Back to where it all began" - ONs visit Norwich School for an Informative Session on Apprenticeship Programmes

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:47:54 GMT

"Back to where it all began" was the comment from our guests Ava Gulliver-Jary and Maddy Greenly as they returned to Norwich School to deliver a session on their apprenticeship pathways. Our U6 pupils were treated to an informative and fascinating presentation as part of our weekly FUTURES programme.

Ava and Maddy were both sure that university was not the right track for them after A levels. Whilst still at school, they were proactive in seeking options locally, but which offered in-depth training, consistent mentoring, diverse work options and a positive career trajectory. Both were successful in their search for their perfect route: Ava with Smash Marketing and Maddy with AVIVA.

Ava's work focus at SMASH Marketing is on client management, social media and marketing, with one day a week spent studying for her foundation degree. Maddy's work/study timetable is similar, but she is part of AVIVA's Global, Corporate & Speciality team, and tasks so far have included insuring arena tours and footballers' limbs! Both were effusive about the benefits of an apprenticeship: learning and on-the-job training, earning a good salary, no student debt, and massive employability credits as they are already in the workplace, doing important work.

All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl, but Ava and Maddy were enjoying the social life afforded to them via work and salary, visiting friends at uni at weekends and taking numerous foreign holidays!

It was wonderful to welcome Ava and Maddy back to school, looking so well and clearly enjoying and thriving on their apprenticeship programmes. We look forward to watching their career paths develop.

National Bring Your Bear to School Day 2025

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:00:16 GMT

On Wednesday 8 October, Lower School pupils took part in National Bring Your Bear to School Day. Everyone was invited to bring along a favourite cuddly toy to spend the day at school, and it was lovely to see the excitement as the children proudly introduced their special friends.

The library was filled with a delightful variety of teddies and cuddly companions of all shapes, sizes, and colours. From classic bears to unicorns and even a few adventurous dinosaurs, the school was buzzing with imagination and laughter.

At lunchtime, pupils enjoyed some playtime with their teddies, sharing games and stories in the sunshine. Later in the day, the library became a cosy storytelling space, where children read to their bears and shared favourite books together.

It was a heartwarming day and a perfect reminder that reading and learning can be even better with a cuddly friend by your side!

An Educational Visit to BT at Adastral Park for A Level Computer Scientists

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 08:04:41 GMT

Our A Level Computer Scientists joined Mrs Brown and Mr Jenkins at Adastral Park, near Ipswich for a work insights day with BT. The first stop was an Agile Software Development team game where the pupils had to manage a project to design, build and test a paper aeroplane. BT engineers and software engineers helped to explain different project management techniques and the caves and pitfalls of collaborative working.

Next up was the Network Operations Centre (NOC) where the pupils saw a massive live screen simulations of the whole BT network in real time, with current outages and live testing locations shown on a UK map. This is the first time we have been allowed in this nerve centre. The pupils were very interested when the managers spoke about how new video games downloads on release days combined with live football match streaming can stress the network, but it never get near the national maximum capacity. This was a very visual way of seeing how the network is managed, problems mitigated, and diagnostics employed. Sadly, no photos allowed here as it is all very top secret.

The Technology Showcases were jam-packed with new technologies and leading-edge concepts in situ. They are a great way to show developing technology in action and to test fresh ideas in mock up scenarios. This year, we got demonstrations in The Street, The Bank, The Security HQ and the home.

The final session was a look and walk through a data centre full of racks of servers, data storage units and cloud services by a Network Architect. This combined all the aspects of the day to help summaries and draw conclusions in readiness for those A Level essay questions on network technologies and how societies benefit from their use!

An excellent day was had by all and a big “thank you” to the Insights Team at BT for a stimulating day.

Dancers Enjoy an Action-Packed Workshop with DanceEast

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:09:27 GMT

Last week, our Junior and Senior Dance Company pupils enjoyed an action-packed workshop with DanceEast. The afternoon was bursting with contemporary dance, creative challenges, and plenty of energy and enthusiasm!

Our dancers pushed their skills, explored new ideas, and worked brilliantly as a team. A huge thank you to DanceEast for such an engaging and inspiring session - our pupils had a fantastic time!

Danny Bate, ON, Talks to Pupils About his Lifelong Love of Languages

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:32:45 GMT

On Tuesday 7 October, Danny Bate ON came to school to talk to our budding young linguists about his lifelong love of languages and his PHD work on Proto-Indo-European. We learnt about the field of historical linguistics and language reconstruction. We had so many questions and pupils were inspired to explore this area of study further. Danny has a brilliant book newly published, "Why Q needs U" which explores the stories behind the letters of the alphabet and the oddities of English spelling. It ties in beautifully with WoLLoW lessons and we look forward to welcoming him back again in the future. Thank you, Danny!

Clearing Up the Scourge of Land Mines: RGS at Norwich School

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 08:52:49 GMT

It was a genuine pleasure to welcome back to Norwich School on 07 October 2025 the prestigious Royal Geographical Society (RGS) for the latest in their long series of fascinating lectures on the physical, human and environmental world.

It proved to be a profound insight into the work of the highly respected HALO Trust, the world's largest mine-clearing NGO, plugged into 32 challenging countries at geopolitical level and battling to make safe land contaminated by landmines from decades of conflict. Land mines and other unexploded ordnance kill tens of thousands of people around the world every year, mostly civilians, and the mission of the HALO Trust is to end this scourge.

In his talk, Clearing a Path Through the New World Disorder, Major General (Retired) Rob Thomson CBE DSO, now the Chief Strategy Officer for the Trust, outlined the vitally important work that his organisation carries out round the globe.

A large audience of pupils (including a contingent from as far away as Suffolk), staff, alumni, parents and RGS members heard an impassioned plea for political, negotiated solutions to the world’s conflicts from this soldier of 34 years standing. The audience made clear their strong social conscience in an extremely lively Q&A session which took place afterwards, and our speaker kindly stayed late to engage on a personal basis with attendees.

Our next RGS lecture on site is on 06 November 2025 in the Blake Studio (doors open at 19:00) when ON parent Sara White of Explorers Against Extinction will be interviewing the hugely experienced founder of Bradt Travel Guides, Hilary Brandt, in her talk entitled: Traveller into unknown lands . Bookings can be made here: www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/into-unknown-lands . All are welcome.

Reasons to be Thankful at the Harvest Festival

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:13:49 GMT

During the annual Lower School harvest service, Reverend Child invited pupils to place three symbolic items on the chapel altar. The first was a large pumpkin grown on the school allotment, an example of ripeness and a reminder of the many seeds which fruit and vegetables contain for future sowing. The second item was a jar of honey produced by bees in and around Cathedral Close – ingenious insects that we need to make sure we protect. The third item was a pair of wellington boots, a reminder of farmers who work hard, sometimes in difficult and dangerous conditions, to bring us our food. The pupils had lots of ideas about why these objects were important, and each of them brought food to donate to the Norwich Food Bank, which was also placed around the altar, making for an impressive display.

An Inspiring Independent Project Evening

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 12:54:39 GMT

At the Independent Project Presentation Evening, pupils, parents and staff were treated to a fantastic event which champions intellectual and creative curiosity, and supports our aim of developing a 'lifelong love of learning'. This evening is the culmination of over a year's work for some of our current Upper 6 pupils, who should be commended for all their efforts in researching, writing and then presenting their findings to an audience.

This year's group again highlighted the broad range of interests within our pupil body, with creative projects such as School of Rock: The Musical and the immensely powerful, Voices from Mariupol. Additionally, there was a broad range of academic projects, such as, why turnout at UK elections is so low, the relationship between the phone and the brain, the economic viability of offshore wind energy, the use of phage therapy in medical settings and many more.

A new feature this year was the introduction of academic posters, with several pupils expertly guiding guests through their project, such as Emmanuel Milne's project on PTSD and the neurobiological impacts. This was a truly special evening, that showcased the passions and interests of many of our pupils, while setting an example for future cohorts to follow.

L6 Pupils Join An Exciting New Community Service Project with Friend in Deed

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 08:23:01 GMT

On Monday 6 October, our community service programme launched for our Lower 6 pupils.

“Monday morning signified the start of our community service launch for our lower sixth formers, one of which is an exciting new project with Kelly from Friend in Deed. Four of our amazing pupils will be meeting weekly to plan exciting adventures with the old and the young, it forms part of a whole year group project where our pupils give up roughly an hour a week of their time to help in the community” said Nicola Hill from Norwich School.

“It was a pleasure to meet these sixth formers to talk about what they are studying and discuss their aspirations for the future. Community services is such an excellent opportunity for young people to gain hands on and face to face experience. We are looking forward to seeing what this project brings to all ages” said Kelly, Managing Director of Friend in Deed.

Upper 3 Geographers Visit the Peaks!

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:45:06 GMT

On September 30, fifty-nine members of U3 set off on their annual four-day residential Geography Field Trip to the Peak District, eager to ‘read the landscape’. Over the course of the trip, pupils immersed themselves in the natural beauty and geological wonders of the region. They visited the National Stone Centre for a dynamic round-robin of activities, strolled through the picturesque Dovedale Valley, delved into the intriguing Treakcliff Cavern cave system, and ascended Mam Tor to take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the Hope Valley.

With notebooks and pencils in hand, pupils began to unravel the formation of iconic Dovedale features such as the Dovehole Caves and Reynard’s Arch, while also collecting river data to be analysed back in the classroom.

The trip also offered time to unwind and soak up the surroundings. Pupils enjoyed browsing for gems and fossils at local gift shops and relished the opportunity to relax at the scenic Ilam Hall youth hostel. It was a memorable and informative experience, enjoyed thoroughly by both staff and pupils alike.

Scholars' Dinner 2025

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:49:10 GMT

This year’s annual dinner welcomed Professor Christopher Joby (ON) to speak about his life in languages. This thought-provoking lecture started with Professor Joby’s memories of life at Norwich School, the journey through his academic career and his experiences living across the globe. Professor Joby is a Dutch enthusiast (to put it mildly!) and he inspired scholars with his experiences of following this passion. He touched on Taiwan’s Dutch colony of 1624 to 1662, the desire of Polish communities to learn Dutch for economic reasons and the culture shock of moving to South Korea. Professor Joby has published on several fascinating topics and has kindly given a copy of his book Christian Mission in Seventeeth-Century Taiwan to the school in honour of this occasion.

Following our lecture and some pertinent questions from the audience, Professor Joby joined our M5 to U6 academic scholars in the school’s refectory for a chance to discuss our own dreams, passions and thoughts of what the future might hold.

It is always a joy to welcome an ON back to Norwich School, and there is real pride in knowing that a fascinating, fulfilling and far-reaching academic career all began within the confines of The Close.

Friendly Competition and Teambuilding for Lower 5 at Bramley Lakes

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:42:22 GMT

Despite the grey skies and constant drizzle, the opportunity to be crowned as the winning Lower 5 tutor group of Bramley Lakes, 2025, meant that all pupils gave it their all to bring home the coveted shield. Within their House tutor groups, and supported by tutors and pastoral prefects, the competition was fierce, and the lead chopped and changed throughout the day. Each group was being scored on their communication, effort, peer support and positivity.

Activities included, trebuchet building, crate stack and other high ropes challenges, axe throwing and archery. Water balloons were fired from the trebuchets at rival Lower 5 tutor groups, with particular pupils getting even more soaked in the wet weather. It was a pleasure to see all tutor groups working together, and making the most of the day. Despite Nelson's best efforts, it was Coke that triumphed in the end, retaining their crown from the previous three years! Can Coke go for an unprecedented five in a row next year? Only time will tell.

The Annual Poetry Slam Sparks Creativity

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:58:03 GMT

Pupils from Lower Four to Upper Six gathered for a vibrant Poetry Slam i n the Undercroft Library on National Poetry Day, showcasing an i mpressive range of talent and creativity. Performances i ncluded original works, from extended narratives to short, sharp pieces, alongside “found” poetry created from a page of a dictionary, classic verse by Christina Rossetti, some humorous contributions, as well as rap performances.

The audience was thoroughly engaged, responding warmly to readings that were by turns witty, moving, thought-provoking and highly original.

Among the standout performers were a former Poetry By Heart Best i n County winner* and another prize-winning poet - watch this space for more on this. It was an i nspiring occasion, and a memorable celebration of poetry i n all it s forms.

Keeping Track of Cross Country at the Start of Michaelmas 2025

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:42:43 GMT

On Monday 29 September, 32 runners from the Cross-Country Club travelled to a sunny and hilly Woodbridge for the first round of the English Schools Cross Country Cup.

The Junior Girls team came 3rd overall with excellent performances from Poppy Short, Iris Wells, Annabelle Hitchings, Ophee Martin and Emi Muntingh, who came 4th in the race. We also took the 4 ^th spot in the Junior Boys thanks to a determined run from Samuel Trickey, with Jonty Croskell, Ruan Ekkerd, Joshua Bevan and Albie Cater all in the top 25 finishers and Henry Drew and Oscar Bevington not far behind.

Our Intermediate Girls team were hit by injuries, but Ruby Ivie ran very well to secure 10 ^th place, and Anna Clayton finished strongly for the team as well. The Intermediate Boys all finished in the top 20, with Riccardo Di Maria first home for Norwich in 12th, closely followed by Harry Kensell, Noah Buchan and Jamie Kidd.

The Senior Boys were up against some of the region's very best cross-country runners. They held their own with Nicholas Conway first home for Norwich in 11 ^th place and Kort Tsui, Leo Pitt, George Yiasimi and Edward Lott not far behind.

The performance of the day came from the Senior Girls who came 2nd in the team competition. Individually they all finished highly with Georgia Lloyd 14th, Bella Muntingh 12th, Olivia Allen 9th, Amelie Ivie 6th, Bea Green 5th and Minnie Andrews 3rd.

Well done to all those who took part

Professor Charles Forsdick, ON 78-87, on the Role of Languages to Build a Better World.

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:50:16 GMT

We were delighted to hear Professor Charles Forsdick speak about the importance of languages in society at a recent Norfolk Cambridge Society lecture at Norwich School.

Professor Charles Forsdick is Drapers Professor of French at the University of Cambridge and Lead Fellow for Languages at the British Academy. He has published widely on travel writing, colonial history and literature, penal culture and slavery, all reflective of his lifelong humanitarianism.

His topic was “The Role of Language Skills in Building a Better World“ in which he discussed the growing importance of language skills in an increasingly complex and dangerous world. Charles is well known as an academic of great insight and erudition, combined with natural talent as a brilliant communicator, a lively sense of humour and a profound social conscience. His love of languages has firm roots in the teaching he received at Norwich School. Indeed, his hometown of East Dereham featured prominently in his talk, and his links to the school and to Norfolk remain strong,

Following his talk and over refreshments a lively debate continued, discussing a wide variety of thorny issues brought up in his talk. These included the short-sightedness of monolingualism, the value of languages to improving vaccine take-up during the pandemic, our woeful language proficiency versus our European neighbours and challenges with current grade boundaries in language A Levels.

Norwich School has an established tradition of working with partner organisations to host high-quality lectures on our site. We are particularly proud of our links with the prestigious Norfolk Cambridge Society, whose long-running series of 23 lectures has been amazing. The 24th public lecture took place in the Blake Studio on 11 September 2025 in front of a capacity audience comprising school pupils, parents, staff, alumni, and interested members of the city’s intelligentsia.

25th Anniversary of European Day of Languages

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:41:43 GMT

2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the European Day of Languages , a celebration of Europe's rich linguistic and cultural diversity and a powerful reminder of the importance of language learning for democratic participation, inclusion and mutual understanding.

Norwich School celebrated this special day last week as pupils across the country and across Europe celebrated in their communities too. Lower 4 heard from Mrs Song and U6 pupils Lottie Clements in a special assembly about the impact that languages have had on their lives. Tutor groups took part in a quiz to identify the different languages spoken by members of our school community as well as a treasure to find flags around buildings in the Close. At break-time pupils came to the Blake Studio to try out some German tongue-twisters and deciphered French treasure hunt clues to win some prizes. To finish off, we all enjoyed a special celebratory lunch in the refectory on Friday, featuring Portuguese Piri Piri Chicken and a Belgian waffle for dessert.

The Languages departments enjoyed sharing their love of languages and the importance for us all in recognising what an essential role languages play in an inclusive and tolerant society.

Science and History to the Fore in Lower 3 Leicester Trip

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 08:46:55 GMT

In the penultimate week of September, Lower 3 set off on their residential trip to Leicester. To complement their curriculum learning, we visited the National Space Centre, Bradgate Park, and the Battle of Bosworth battlefield.

On the Wednesday at the Space Centre, the pupils learned what it takes to be an astronaut. They enjoyed an immersive show in the UK’s largest planetarium and scaled the rocket tower to learn about space exploration and its history.

On the Thursday, we travelled to Bradgate Park, where we were greeted by some magnificent fallow deer stags with impressive antlers. We ventured further to the ruins of Lady Jane Grey’s house, where we were welcomed by Frances Brandon, Lady Jane Grey’s mother. Inside the chapel, we re-enacted Jane’s tragic story and then used our history detective skills to work out the purposes of different rooms within the ruins. After a spot of lunch, we began the gentle climb up to Old John’s Tower. Along the way, we saw veteran oak trees and discovered some very old igneous rocks—among the oldest on the planet.

We were fortunate enough to be allowed inside Old John’s Tower, where the pupils loved the spectacular views.

On the final day, en route back to Norwich, we visited the battlefield where Henry Tudor defeated Richard III. Under the instruction of Sir John, in charge of the livery, we were trained in medieval army combat and learned how to handle a halberd. We then explored the battlefield before, of course, spending some money in the gift shop!

It was a memorable trip that allowed the pupils to work collaboratively, bond as a group, and enhance their curriculum learning.

Girls Mentorship Programme Returns for New Academic Year

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:40:49 GMT

The school's first female peer-mentoring meeting of the academic year brought together fourth form students with sixth form mentors in an initiative designed to promote sisterhood and establish a strong sense of community within our female cohorts.

During the session, younger students shared their academic and personal goals for the year in small discussion groups, with sixth form mentors offering guidance and encouragement drawn from their own experiences. The collaborative atmosphere allowed students to explore practical strategies for achieving their aspirations while building meaningful cross-year relationships.

The session concluded with discussions surrounding the name of the programme, with students proposing to honour an inspirational woman who holds significance for them.

This programme aims to foster positive female role models within the school while empowering students to support one another's growth and success. Regular meetings throughout the year will continue and this initiative represents the school's ongoing commitment to developing confident and brave young women.

Upper 1 Explore the Wild at Amazona Zoo

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:42:05 GMT

Upper 1 enjoyed an enriching and educational visit to Amazona Zoo this week as part of their learning about animals and their habitats in the Rainforest.

Throughout the day, pupils had the opportunity to observe a wide range of fascinating animals, including spider monkeys, parrots, flamingos, anacondas, crocodiles, capybaras, tapirs, pumas, jaguars, and even a tarantula. A particular highlight was witnessing the feeding times for the otter, capybaras, and tapirs, which provided a unique insight into the animals’ behaviour and diets.

The pupils enjoyed a picnic lunch in the sunshine, followed by some fun in the adventure playground. The visit concluded with a trip to the gift shop, where pupils were bought a variety of souvenirs to commemorate the day.

This visit offered a valuable opportunity to deepen the children’s understanding of South American animals and ecosystems, directly supporting their current Topic work on The Rainforest.

Pupils from the Friedrich-Leopold-Woeste-Gymnasium Visit the Close

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 08:18:05 GMT

On Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 September, 28 pupils from the Friedrich-Leopold-Woeste-Gymnasium visited Norwich School as part of their Languages trip to Norwich.

On Monday, they were treated to a tour of the school in German by our U5 GCSE class and on Tuesday, the two classes were excited to see each other again and spent the afternoon speaking German and English to each other at a Language cafe in UKS, where they ended the afternoon by playing board games together.

The pupils enjoyed getting to know each other and speaking each other's languages. They will keep in contact privately now that the German group has departed.

Quotes from pupils are as follows:

'We were laughing with them the whole time!'

'We made some strong connections with them and will talk with them online'

'It was very nice to meet them and make some new friends!'

'It was very enjoyable and a lovely opportunity to practise our German and make new friends.'

'It was nice to meet and talk to them while practising our German.'

'We went to the city with them and loved it!'

'We learnt so much about their home in Germany.'

On the Front of the Book - An Assembly from Rev Child

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:27:01 GMT

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27)

There’s a saying that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Years ago I met someone who doesn’t like that saying very much. That’s because his job is to design book covers. I watched him lead a really interesting seminar where he showed us some of his designs. He explained how his artwork was trying to sum up – on just one piece of laminated, folded paper - the message and themes of all the other pages in the book.

Just occasionally, some book covers do this by choosing a key phrase from the book and putting it in large letters on the front. A famous example is Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, where some editions had a cover that read: ‘Big Brother is Watching You’. If you know the story then you’ll recognise that as the sinister propaganda message that no-one can get away from. Some copies of the Lord of the Rings had printed on the front ‘One ring to rule them all’. And The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams had just two words on the cover of some editions – ‘DON’T PANIC’. It begins to make sense when you discover that some of the characters in the story are using a space travel guide (the Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) which is designed to help you through any difficult situation. And what makes the guide so successful and popular is that its first principle is on the front cover. Whatever happens – DON’T PANIC.

Have a look at the cover of your hymn book for a moment. What do you think? We’ve gone for a pretty classic look. The name of our school in gold embossed lettering, and the school crest complete with a motto in Latin for a classy finish.

Sometimes I wonder – entirely hypothetically – how we might redesign the cover. If you were going to put a few words on the front, one essential message that everyone in the school was going to see at the beginning of every day, what would it be?

Here are a few suggestions I got from people around the school, some more serious than others:

· “Show Love”

· “Shine Bright!”

· “Treat others as you would like to be treated”

· “Do some work in your study periods”

· “Wake Up!”

Actually, I think the words ‘DON’T PANIC’ might work here too. I hope you’re realising, now that we’re a few weeks into term, that panicking is never worth it – and if you’re tempted to panic then sharing your problem and talking to someone almost always helps. Maybe that would be good to remember at the start of the school day.

This also reminds me of one of my favourite passages from the Bible, the words of Jesus we heard just now:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? … Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

I’ve had times myself where those words from the Sermon on the Mount have given me some perspective. Perhaps part of that passage would work well on the front of our hymn books – that wouldn’t be a bad thing to keep remembering.

We’re not about to reissue the school hymn books with a new cover any time soon. But there’s nothing stopping you imagining a message on the front of the hymn book – whatever you need that message to be. “Don’t panic.” “Do not worry.” “Show love.” Why not have a few helpful words in your mind’s eye every time you pick up these blue books in the morning?

Air Raid Shelter Open to Visitors

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:46:53 GMT

As part of Heritage Open Days we were delighted to open the Air Raid Shelter and Norwich School Chapel to visitors this month.

Norwich School is extremely fortunate to be located on a site rich in heritage and interest and, for many years, we have been delighted to participate in Norfolk’s Heritage Open Day scheme.

Once again this September, we opened our Chapel and our Air Raid Shelter to the public. The beautiful medieval Chapel dates back to 1316, has proud regal connections, interesting graffiti and windows, two war memorials and an organ with a fascinating back story.

The Air Raid shelter beneath the playground offers a totally unique opportunity to descend underground and into the history of the Cathedral Close during the height of the bombing raids of World War II.

A recent visitor to the bomb shelter told us: 'Thanks to the Heritage Open Day I was given the rare opportunity to go below the playground at Norwich School and visit the air raid shelter - something I didn't know existed until quite recently. It was an amazing experience and gave me some idea of what it would have been like down there back in wartime.'

If you 'd like to visit us in 2026, look out for the booking links on the Heritage Open Day website. We look forward to welcoming you.

Lower 6 Enjoy a Treetop Adventure at Go Ape

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:37:50 GMT

Swinging through trees, jumping into spider webs and flying through the leafy canopy was an exhilarating activity I found myself doing three weeks into my Norwich school journey.

This trip was organised for an amazing day out of bonding with peers, connecting with nature and having fun. On a sunny day in Thetford Forest the Lower Sxith Form travelled to Go Ape and its adventure. Different groups left for the Go Ape challenge and Go Ape challenge plus at set times throughout the day, whilst simultaneously an extended game of football in the clearing kept those of us waiting entertained and active.

The 8 of us in my group were given our safety instructions and took part in the mini course (learning the ropes). After this we proceeded to scale to the height of the main challenge. Very soon our group was met by opposing obstacles which tested our logical thinking and pushed us to manoeuvre our bodies around the blockades. The Tarzan swing was the most surprising event of the day – an absolute stomach dropper! Apart from some occasional hold ups with people falling off and stoppage to call out at each other among the treetops, our successful and fun journey was uninterrupted.

Having joined Norwich School in September, the day was a great success and a good opportunity to get to know people. I look forward to similar opportunities in the future.

- Alex Purling

Budding Lower 2 Artists Visit the Sainsbury Centre

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:43:24 GMT

On Thursday 18th September, Lower Two visited the Sainsbury Centre to learn about its importance as a local art hub in Norwich.

During the visit, they experimented with making their own paint using various materials and created instruction lists for the process. The day ended with exploring local art exhibits, including an under-the-sea themed display and the Tiaki Ora exhibition.

Contemporary Arts group Entranced by Collaborative Artists in Blake Studio

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:06:09 GMT

Creative Arts are strongly supported at Norwich School, and this was very much in evidence with the return to site of the well-respected local Creative Arts group, the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas). For many years we have hosted their ground-breaking talks in the Blake Studio, and we were delighted to welcome them back on 18 September 2025.

Our talk was introduced by Lisa Newby, recently appointed Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Norfolk Museums, based at the Castle. She introduced us to Essex-based multimedia artists Daniel & Clara .

Since meeting in 2010, the pair have dedicated themselves to a shared life of creative experimentation, working across moving image, photography, performance and ‘mail-art’ to explore the nature of human experience, the natural world and our perception of reality. With work recently on display at Norwich Castle Museum, this was a welcome trip to Norfolk for them and one which saw them entertain an audience of pupils, staff, alumni, n-cas members and local creatives with a visually arresting talk, including some striking images and poetic prose accompaniment. Of great interest were the selection of their short films that showcased their love of the natural world through landscapes, intriguingly crafted taxidermy imagery and appealing sound archives. In the ensuing Q&A the audience seemed very taken by their reflections on how up-and-coming creative artists, such as themselves, have to work hard to earn a living through constant innovation and multimedia versatility. Working with Norwich Castle and commissions from n-cas were undoubted highlights, readily acknowledged by Daniel & Clara.

N-cas host regular talks at Norwich School. Their next talk is on 14 October – see: The Mike Toll Film Archive - three short films featuring David Jones, Michael Chapman and Oliver Creed — ncas . All those interested in the creative ats are welcome.

The next talk on site in our culturally enriching series of lectures with partner organisations sees the welcome return on 07 October of the Royal Geographical Society. Major General (Retired) Rob Thomson CBE DSO of The HALO Trust, the world’s largest mine-clearing NGO, will discuss how a changing geopolitical order marked by great power competition, increased conflict, and the retreat of multi-lateralism is affecting human development and security. See: Clearing a path through the new world disorder . All those interested in the natural world and geopolitics are very welcome.

Lower School Pupils Show Up in Style for Jeans for Genes

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:29:33 GMT

On Tuesday 16 September, a much-anticipated event was held at the Lower School: its annual Jeans for Genes day. 'J4G' is a fantastic cause for our young pupils to support, raising money for many individual charities that help thousands of children in the U.K. living with a multitude of serious genetic conditions - supporting their difficult daily lives, medical care, family days out and scientific research.

Our pupils dressed in denim for the day, donating £2 each for the privilege, and every class combined all their families' loose change for the 'silver coin challenge' - using the coins to make designs on this year's theme of 'gardening'. All pupils worked creatively together to form lovely pictures on the playground of flowers, wheelbarrows, spades, insects and wellies...then all cash was collected and counted. A magnificent total donation of £915.42 was achieved for Jeans for Genes - well done to all involved!

Lower 2 Experience Stone Age Life!

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:47:47 GMT

Lower Twos had a wonderful Stone Age Day, immersing themselves in activities such as tool-making, fishing techniques, and learning about the hides.

They built a fire, cooked fish over it, which they all then tried, and some even bravely tried the eyeballs! Using tools and instruments made from bone, the children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are eager to continue exploring this era in their Topic lessons throughout the Michaelmas term.

The role of languages to build a better world – the scintillating return of the Norfolk Cambridge Society to Norwich School

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:38:02 GMT

Norwich School has an established tradition of working with partner organisations to host high-quality lectures on our site. We are particularly proud of our links with the prestigious Norfolk Cambridge Society, whose long-running series of 23 lectures has been amazing. The 24 ^th public lecture took place in the Blake Studio on 11 September 2025 in front of a capacity audience comprising school pupils, parents, staff, alumni, and interested members of the city’s intelligentsia.

It was of particular interest to the Norwich School community that the speaker was one of our own: Old Norvicensian Professor Charles Forsdick , Drapers Professor of French at the University of Cambridge and Lead Fellow for Languages at the British Academy. He has published widely on travel writing, colonial history and literature, penal culture and slavery, all reflective of his lifelong humanitarianism.

It was a pleasure welcoming the Norfolk Cambridge Society and an illustrious speaker of such calibre on site for such a compelling event. We greatly look forward to next term’s lecture to take place on 5 February 2025: How AI Works and How it will Transform our Lives given by Neil Lawrence , DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge, Senior AI Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute and Visiting Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Sheffield. Booking is now open, and tickets are selling fast. See this link: Lecture: How AI Works and How it will Transform our Lives – Norfolk Cambridge Society .

- Jonathan Pearson, Development Director ( jpearson@norwich-school.org.uk )

An Impressive Musical Theatre Workshop with a Trip to The Midnight Bell

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:21:12 GMT

Middle 5 pupil, Antonia Christophi, tells us all about the dance workshop and theatre trip that took place earlier this term.

On Thursday 11 September M5 and L5 pupils who had an interest in dance and musical theatre had the privilege of receiving a musical theatre workshop. This was run by Lauren she was an excellent instructor with a high level of energy that kept all of us going after a long hard-working day at school. Lauren taught us a dance from the musical ‘The Wild Party’ using the song ‘A Wild, Wild Party’. The workshop though challenging it was also an enjoyable and uplifting way to end the school day. After our workshop Miss How and Miss Smith took us all to watch the amazing dance production of The Midnight Bell, produced and choregraphed by Matthew Bourne through his company new adventures.

The production of The Midnight Bell was a modern ballet inspired on the novel written by Partick Hamilton. This production was set in late 1920s in Soho and Fitzrovia London which presents the tale of several interconnected characters who are either employees or regulars at the pub ‘The Midnight Bell’. This production had an extraordinary representation of schizophrenia and other challenges that was civilians were faced with at the time; such as prostitution and homophobia. This was represented with the regulars at the pub displaying the secretiveness and hurt being attracted to those of the same gender would bring at that age period or how prostitution meant having to give your self away to keep living though other women would look down on you and men would never see you.

This production was truly a life changing insight on how many people lived without being accepted or not wondering what is your consciousness or real life whilst all being communicated through precise and graceful movements that can express more than words could define. These agile movements inspired many of Norwich Schools young dancers to use more emotion to communicate through our dance.

A Day as Archaeologists for Upper 2

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:48:41 GMT

On Wednesday 10 September, Upper 2 put their detective hats on and went in search of some clues to reveal the past. They entered the tent and were met by the resident archaeologist. Pupils were excited to share all that they have learnt about primary and secondary sources of evidence and couldn’t wait to get ‘stuck in’ to digging for evidence themselves. There were three ‘trenches’ with evidence buried under either sand or soil.

After being taught how to ‘dig with brushes’ and record their findings, they began to explore the contents of their trench. It felt as though they were on real-life archaeological digs, with each group discovering clues and trying to piece together the evidence to decide what they had found. One group found a replica ‘bog body’ and delighted in coming up with theories about how the body had got there and who it was. One group discovered a neolithic butchery site and the third group found such a wide range of artefacts, including pottery and sewing materials, that they decided it must have been someone’s house.

The pupils also learned about the process by which archaeologists can reconstruct the facial features of a person when they have found their skull. They worked well in pairs to think about where the muscles would be and what shape the person’s nose would have been.

Below are some thoughts from pupils that they would like to share!

'Today was fascinating!' - Lois

'The workshop was fun; they told us amazing stories!' - Arthur

'Today was fun, if only there were dinosaur bones to dig up as well!' - Ralph

A Plethora of Opportunities at the Clubs and Societies Fair

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:40:52 GMT

The start of the Academic Year is a very busy time as we return to school life following the summer break. One of the highlights of the start of term is the Clubs and Societies Fair. It is an event full of enthusiasm, hub bub and excitement.

This year was no exception as we held the Fair on Monday 8 September in our Upper King Street building. The Fair is an opportunity for pupils, new and returning, to go around stalls representing our various Clubs and Societies and find out more about their aims and activities.

Over four locations within Upper King Street, 35 Clubs and Societies created table top displays showcasing their club or society. It is always pleasing to see pupils leading the stands and talking to other pupils about the activity that they enjoy and are representing. There is no better advocate for that particular activity. Our Games Department were on hand to talk about the vast array of activities that pupils can join. The Music Department had a rolling backdrop of images from concerts and recitals. It was also lovely to hear pupils from our Sixth Form playing the piano during the Fair. Mr Sims brought along a selection of vegetables and plants to represent the Gardening Club. Our Knitters and Stitchers covered their table in colourful items made. Ms Scott, along with some of our Sixth Form pupils, showcased our ED & I societies. In the Café, our DJ Club provided the musical accompaniment keeping us all entertained.

Following the Clubs and Societies Fair, pupils are invited to formally register for the activities via SOCS. We have 120 Co-Curricular activities taking place before school, during break and lunchtimes and also after school. With healthy membership at the majority of the activities with some over subscribed.

Our Clubs and Societies are now up and running with some new activities starting. Quite often these are pupil led or at the suggestion of pupils. Our SOCS platform holds all the up to date information regarding the Co-Curricular Clubs and Societies. Those pupils who have registered for lunchtime clubs often need early lunchcards. This year during the various early lunchtime collection sessions, queues of pupils collected early lunchcards. For some pupils, part of the fun is collecting a card for each day of the week. We hope all pupils enjoy joining in these activities which provide opportunities to develop new interests, skills and form new friendships.

A Vibrant Welcome Service for New Pupils

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 11:12:24 GMT

On the first Sunday of term new pupils and their families were greeted with refreshments and invited to a Welcome Service in the cathedral.

The reflective words of evening prayer were accompanied by an poignant address from the Head, Steffan Griffiths, and two pieces beautifully sung by Norwich School’s Chapel Choir. Various pupils led the readings and placed familiar objects from school life on the cathedral’s altar during the prayers, expressing their hopes for the year ahead. The service was a chance to sit back and reflect but also to look ahead to an exciting term and academic year.

We hope everyone enjoyed the service and that our Norwich School families had a taste of what goes on in our services and assemblies.

Tom Little KC, ON 82-91, Returns to Norwich School

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:05:43 GMT

We are very grateful to Tom Little for being our guest speaker at Prizegiving this year.

On Friday 5 September, we were honoured to welcome Tom Little KC as guest speaker for Prizegiving 2025. Tom is one of the most senior and respected King’s Counsel in the country. He is now the First Senior Treasury Counsel, where he frequently appears in Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in cases of general public importance. An illustrious career has seen him secure successful prosecutions in some of the country’s most high profile and challenging criminal cases, including the appalling kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021 and the brutal murders of sitting MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess.

He is also a former pupil at Norwich School, an ON, and enjoys close links to Norfolk.

We followed up with Tom after Prize Giving…..

When were you at Norwich School?

From 1982 to 1991.

What House were you in?

Coke

What did you study for A Level and what did you go on to study at University?

History, English and Politics. I studied History at Nottingham University before then undertaking the Law Conversion Course.

Can you tell us a few career highlights since leaving school?

Being appointed Treasury Counsel in 2012, taking silk in 2017 and the successful prosecution of Wayne Couzens in 2021.

What was your fondest memory of being a pupil at NS?

Success and camaraderie on the cricket pitch including taking 8 wickets against Culford.

What were your greatest life lessons learnt whilst at school?

The importance of hard work, independence and teamwork.

Are you still in touch with friends you made at the school?

Yes, with a number of them including my oldest friend Oliver Duval who I have known since we were less than a year old and whom I see regularly.

Returning as a visitor to the school for Prizegiving, what are the biggest changes you noticed?

An even greater range of extra-curricular activities, the clear success of the school and positive advantage that the school is not just an all boys school as it was in my time.

Looking back, what nuggets of advice would you give a young pupil today?

There is nothing that you cannot do from Norwich School.

You can read Tom Little’s inspirational address here:

Good evening everyone. It is a huge privilege and honour to have been asked as an ON to present the prizes this evening.

I left Norwich School 34 years ago but tonight it still seems like yesterday, that on a Summer’s Day in 1991 when the West Door opened and I processed down the Cathedral at the front for what I thought would be the last time in my life. I was carrying the Cross as a Chapel Choir Chorister. I had sung in that Choir for 8 years. Today I have been given the chance to turn the clocks back and to process yet again, but without a cassock, surplus and ruff but this time as your Principal Guest.

35 years ago was the last time I spoke in this Cathedral. It was in the Lower Sixth. I remember walking up those steps of the pulpit. It was a relatively daunting experience. But one thing that I want to say today and which is consistent with what I will say tonight is that Norwich School prepared me for that: whether it was singing as a chorister (and being told that you are singing a solo and even if you fluff it up you do it again and you do it well) or whether it was debating as part of the debating team or whether it was just part of school life and being tested and challenged by John Willday in Politics classes, whatever it may have been it prepared me to walk up those steps. I was a bit nervous. I don’t get quite so nervous these days, as the day job involves a bit of talking, but the school prepared me for that and for everything.

You can and should all be very proud of your achievements and successes. They reflect so well not just on you, but also on your parents for the support and encouragement they give and to the efforts of this great school and its teachers and all of its support staff that have been referred to already.

Indeed, it is a school that I am proud to have been part of all those years ago and without which I have no doubt that I would not have been able to have done what I have done in my career. It is the breadth of the education at this school and in particular the extra-curricular activities that set me on my way. I had, I think, looking back an assured Norwich School confidence. It is something that nearly all my friends from that year have. I have no idea where on earth it comes form, but we all have it. A belief, certainly that I had, that anything and everything was possible if you tried hard enough.

I should also say this – not only should you be proud, but you should all be pleased that things have moved on from the Prize Days in my day. Back then it occurred in the Summer, invariably on a boiling hot day in St Andrews Hall. Every pupil had to attend. It seemed like it took all day. There was always a very long speech from the principal guest who seemed to be some old buffer, who appeared to be as old as the hills and who went on and on. I cannot believe that I now run the risk of being regarded by you as some old buffer. I can promise you though that this will not be a long speech. Indeed, in those days there were only about a third as many prizes but it still went on forever.

I was looking back in advance of speaking today about my time at Norwich School. I had thought I had only won two prizes but in fact I won three when I went back through the old Norvicensians. The prize that I had forgotten about is the only one that still exists. The Cater Prize for German. That is still going strong and which Lucy Hornbrook was awarded tonight. In those days it was a prize for effort in German rather than for achievement. I would not have won it if it had been for achievement. The other two prizes I won were the Stepheson Prize for Local History which I won twice. That does not exist anymore I see. You had to write a very long essay on Local History. I am fairly sure that I was the only entrant in the two years that I won because in the only other year I entered another pupil beat me. So, in reality you have all already beaten me in your achievements tonight by the prizes you have been awarded tonight.

There is much nostalgia in much that I have said and am going to say. I was struck by the number of former teachers, and also Chris Brown as headmaster, whose names appear in the prizes that have just been awarded. They bring back memories in particular Mike Wilson and the wall bars. That is something that you would not understand unless you were at school in the 1980s and 1990s.

There are three topics that I want to cover briefly. Like any good advocate should do, I will tell you what they are and then briefly develop the topic.

First , and which has been trailed already, the importance of the law and the rule of law

Second whatever you want to go on to do, thinking like an advocate will always help you

Third why you should not ignore law as a potential career

The importance of law and the rule of law

The rule of law when I was at Norwich School was very much run by one man, Alan Arnold. He was the Deputy Headmaster who would put the fear of God into you whether you had done something wrong or even if you hadn’t done anything wrong.

We live in uncertain and unsettled times. That means that respect for law and order and the rule of law is more important than ever. Lawyers are not universally popular and there are a number of aspects of the current application of the ECHR which are problematic. However, the rule of law is integral to our national and economic security. It prevents abuse of power, tyranny and potential chaos. It allows individuals and the Government to be held to account if appropriate. Lawyers and Judges are integral to that, and they are not the enemies of the people.

Shakespeare in Henry VI Part 2 famously wrote “Kill all the lawyers”. In fact, that statement when properly understood in its context was supportive of lawyers because the need first of all to kill not just some of the lawyers but all the lawyers was by those wanting to seize power and control.

Beware all criticisms of lawyers and Judge. Some may be justified but not all of them.

Why thinking like an advocate is likely to help you whatever career you choose

Advocates should think logically. It is the art of persuasion in order to win. Persuading the jury that the person I am prosecuting is guilty of the charge they face. That involves a lot of thought and preparation. Thinking about the points to make. The order in which to make them and the link between them. You also have to think about points the other side will make and seek to be able to answer or demolish them or to acknowledge they have force but why on this occasion they are not critically important. That logical approach is important when writing essays at A level and University, but it goes well beyond that.

Many other jobs involve similar skills of presentation and persuasion. In some respects, I am no more than a salesman selling my case. So whether it is marketing or to win a contract or as a Politician or to encourage your fellow partners or staff about a particular course of action you should think like an advocate. Important decisions in life should be taken with careful and logical reflection having weighed up the pros and cons.

You are also never too young to start to think like a lawyer. As I said it is integral to essay writing but even before that persuading your parents of why you really should be allowed to do something that you would like to do (like going to a party) but they are dubious or not happy about. Stroppiness and stamping your foot does not work in Court and it will not work at home. Think about the points that your parents will make about why you cannot do something and work out what logical points you can make against them.

I appreciate by giving that last piece of advice I am running the risk of alienating a large part of the audience here this evening. Sorry.

Don’t ignore the possibility of becoming a lawyer

I was called to the Bar in 1997. So nearly 30 years ago. I can hand on heart say that I still love my job. That is rare in life. I still jump out of bed every morning looking forward to the day ahead and the rollercoaster world of prosecuting a murder or terrorism trial at the Old Bailey. It is enormously enjoyable and hugely rewarding professionally.

We will always need lawyers and your success in whatever subject means you have the acumen to succeed as a lawyer. Whilst AI will have an impact in certain areas of law it will never replace the need for an advocate in Court nor many other legal roles. So do not be put off.

And do not be put off by this. I always thought I wanted to go to Oxford. They rightly rejected me. But when I was at Nottingham University the careers advisor said ‘do not go to the Bar you did not go to Oxbridge and so you will not succeed’. That careers advisor did not appreciate that my Norwich School assuredness and drive and determination meant that I was not going to accept his negligent advice and so on I went. That is a reflection on the education I received at Norwich School.

I want to finish where I started with some more nostalgia about the success that you can have at this school and importantly after this school. Rather than get an ABC car or more accurately a Veezu car at Norwich station when I arrived earlier today I walked along the river and over Bishop Bridge and into the Close. Past the Lower Close reminiscing on many cricket matches played on that field including my last catch in the Upper Sixth to win the game. Then up to the Barberolli Room recalling winning the House Music solo singing Competition (but having heard Lana sing this evening I would not have won against her) and then down to the Chapel. Then to the Refectory. I was concerned. The food in my day was awful. Much has changed at Norwich School including the food which this evening was excellent.

Looking back now I loved my time here. Cherish your time at this great School but be assured that you can build on your successes today and be assured like me that anything and everything is possible at and after Norwich School.

Tom Little KC, Prizegiving Speaker 2025, Reflects on his Time at Norwich School

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 08:51:54 GMT

On Friday 5 September, we were honoured to welcome Tom Little KC. as guest speaker for Prizegiving 2025. Tom is one of the most senior and respected King’s Counsel in the country. He is now the First Senior Treasury Counsel, where he frequently appears in Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in cases of general public importance. An illustrious career has seen him secure successful prosecutions in some of the country’s most high profile and challenging criminal cases, including the appalling kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021 and the brutal murders of sitting MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess.

He is also a former pupil at Norwich School, an ON, and enjoys close links to Norfolk.

We followed up with Tom after Prize Giving…..

When were you at Norwich School?

From 1982 to 1991.

What House were you in?

Coke

What did you study for A Level and what did you go on to study at University?

History, English and Politics. I studied History at Nottingham University before then undertaking the Law Conversion Course.

Can you tell us a few career highlights since leaving school?

Being appointed Treasury Counsel in 2012, taking silk in 2017 and the successful prosecution of Wayne Couzens in 2021.

What was your fondest memory of being a pupil at NS?

Success and camaraderie on the cricket pitch including taking 8 wickets against Culford.

What were your greatest life lessons learnt whilst at school?

The importance of hard work, independence and teamwork.

Are you still in touch with friends you made at the school?

Yes, with a number of them including my oldest friend Oliver Duval who I have known since we were less than a year old and whom I see regularly.

Returning as a visitor to the school for Prizegiving, what are the biggest changes you noticed?

An even greater range of extra-curricular activities, the clear success of the school and positive advantage that the school is not just an all boys school as it was in my time.

Looking back, what nuggets of advice would you give a young pupil today?

There is nothing that you cannot do from Norwich School.

You can read Tom Little’s inspirational address here:

Good evening everyone. It is a huge privilege and honour to have been asked as an ON to present the prizes this evening.

There are three topics that I want to cover briefly. Like any good advocate should do, I will tell you what they are and then briefly develop the topic.

First , and which has been trailed already, the importance of the law and the rule of law

Second whatever you want to go on to do, thinking like an advocate will always help you

Third why you should not ignore law as a potential career

The importance of law and the rule of law

Beware all criticisms of lawyers and Judge. Some may be justified but not all of them.

Why thinking like an advocate is likely to help you whatever career you choose

I appreciate by giving that last piece of advice I am running the risk of alienating a large part of the audience here this evening. Sorry.

Don’t ignore the possibility of becoming a lawyer

Head's Address from the Start of Michaelmas 2025

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:23:38 GMT

Welcome to the start of the new academic year. Whether this is a return or your first year, it is a delight to have the 25/26 Norwich School community together in the Cathedral. Some of you are entering your last year of school and are already thinking specifically about UCAS applications, apprenticeships and predicted grades. Our new Lower Sixth have the exciting prospect of new subjects, new uniform, new friends and new opportunities. Others are in the middle of or entering the GCSE years and focusing on setting up strong work habits to cope with an increasing workload. Further down the school, you may be starting Lower Five or Lower Four and thinking about how the bigger year-groups will work out, both academically and socially. Upper Four are involved here too; no longer the youngest in the school, we look to you to be welcoming and set a good example to those around you. Whichever stage you are at in your Norwich School journey, I hope you are ready to make the most of another year of education in Cathedral Close, this extraordinary learning environment that we are fortunate to enjoy.

I saw a phrase over the holiday which may prove a helpful guideline as you establish your priorities. It was written in the changing room of the British and Irish Lions rugby team during their summer tour of Australia. The phrase was “We go beyond” and I invite you to reflect on it: “we go beyond”. Initially, I thought it was a simple encouragement to try hard, something which is necessary in a sport as physically exacting as rugby union, as we are seeing on our TV screens as the Red Roses attempt to win their home women’s World Rugby Cup. However, these encouragements for effort can quickly morph to a post-game stereotype of “giving 110% and being over the moon at the end of the day”. I would not draw such glib platitudes to your attention. I am also cautious to draw attention to changing room culture; we have made much progress at Norwich School in recent years to leave behind the macho toxicity that can sometimes be found there.

However, the head coach, Andy Farrell, is a renowned motivator so I reflected more on what might be behind the phrase, regardless of one’s interest in rugby. For those unfamiliar with the Lions rugby tour concept, it only happens once every four years as the home nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland produce a composite side made up of the best players from each team. It is a romantic concept which is unusual in modern elite sport, tying into supper table conversations about the best team and the fantasy league or FIFA game models which are so popular. The challenge to create tactical and attitudinal cohesion from players who are typically on opposite sides must be significant; “we go beyond” is a call both to demand more of oneself and to contribute to the overall dynamic in order to create a culture of success.

What might such a process mean in practice for us at Norwich School? Some of you may remember your Welcome Service from the start of the year and, if you are joining this term, do come with your families on Sunday

afternoon as it is a lovely occasion. In it, I use the following phrase in my address:

“Be the one to do the extra practice question, the extra lap, the extra rehearsal but also to be the one to volunteer, to help your friend, to open the door, to offer a smile”.

It is perhaps our version of “going beyond”: involving yourselves in the different things we offer, both in and out of the classroom, but also contributing more than one might expect in our community; being helpful and supportive to others; assisting others in the way that you would want to be assisted, especially when things are hard.

If each of us takes such an approach, we will create an extraordinary community in action for the coming year, one where expectations are exceeded and the sum is greater than its parts. This line of thinking opens up an extra dimension of Andy Farrell’s strapline for the Lions: “We go beyond” becomes a voyage of exploration where we go to places that have not yet been visited and accomplish achievements that had not been anticipated. The Lions certainly wanted to set precedents, securing their legacy by being unbeaten. I am no less ambitious for Norwich School in this coming year: if each of us “goes beyond”, we might take ourselves further than was thought possible, both individually and collectively.

Much of the planning and attitude we show is in our control and I hope you talk to your family, friend and teachers in order to set exciting targets for yourselves. However, we should all acknowledge that we cannot be in charge of everything and we should be ready to react during the coming year. I like the sailing phrase: “we cannot control the wind but we can adjust the sails”. Part of “going beyond” is an appropriate individual and collective reaction to our changing environment.

So I finish with an encouragement for you to practise enjoyment, to be intentional about creating time and space for things that make you smile, give you pleasure or help you to unwind. “Going beyond” should not be a relentless chore and I am keen that you experience joy at school and at home in the year ahead. Christine Webber, the EDP columnist, talks about enjoyment as a muscle which needs exercising:

“build high spots into every day…keep a check on how often you smile (at someone or something)…when you put effort into keeping up your levels of enjoyment, you become more likely to notice and take pleasure in happy happenings”.

I agree with this, so my key concluding message is to encourage you to be productive and ambitious for the coming year (remember “we go beyond”), but this should not be instead of or at the expense of looking after yourselves. Indeed, the ideal is that we enjoy our programme of activities sufficiently that we want to commit to going be

yond in them. Overall, there should be enough space and rest to allow your whole programme to be sustainable.

It is great to start the year with you and I look forward to seeing you around school in the coming days

Cricket Catch Up from the Summer Break

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:59:29 GMT

Cricket Catch Up from the Summer Break

It has been wonderful to see the Norwich School contingent for Swardeston perform so well. Lawry Williams (who was named man-of-the-match) led their U19 squad with Lewis, Ollie and Deeran to victory in their T20 competition on Monday 25 August, winning the Norfolk Cricket Foundation Vitality Club U-19 T20 Trophy.

We have had several players involved with Norfolk, England Over 40’s and Bunbury’s over the years…

Highlights include -

Ollie Longdon

Scoring 87 and 90 at Bunbury in the 2-day fixture.
Maiden 50 in the EAPL at 15.

Tom Bush
Bunbury selection.

Bella Lewis
Bella was an amazing captain for the U15 girls this year and currently leads the Norfolk youth wicket taking stats with 28 wickets including 5 for 21 against Harrow.

Bella Borges

Bella scored an amazing 1,086 runs for the 2025 season over three ages groups including U15, U18 and Norfolk Ladies first XI. This has made her top of the batting for all of Norfolk Youth.

Best of Bella's Stats:

153 for the U18’s against Suffolk.
102* for the U15’s against Cricket East and 5 wickets for 13 runs.
119 against Herfordshire for the U15s.
80* off 26 balls v Cambridgeshire for U15’s.
59 v Shropshire for ladies first XI.

Not only impressive batting but bowling too, taking 23 wickets including the 5 for 13 off her 4 overs in the U15 T20 game v Cricket East.

Staff achievements -

Alfie Cooper and the Norfolk Men’s winners of the national T20.

Richard Sims selection and 50 runs scored for the England over 40 team against Scotland.

Kwame Bekoe (L6) Represented England in the U18 International Series

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:43:50 GMT

Lower 6 pupil, Kwame Bekoe, has represented England U18s in the 2025 U18 International Series in South Africa this summer.

Kwame started at lock in the opening fixture against Georgia, before coming off the bench to make a strong impact in the second match against France. His performances earned him a place in the starting XV for England’s clash with tournament hosts South Africa on Saturday 16 August.

Kwame is a member of the Leicester Tigers Academy and has been a standout player for the school’s First XV since joining the side in Upper Fifth. To celebrate his success, we asked him a few questions...

How long have you been playing rugby?

I started rugby at 9 years old with Norwich Rugby Football club. So I've been playing for about 8 years now.

How often do you train?

In season I'll train with school 2-3 times a week and with tigers 1-2 times a week. I also try and go to the gym at least 5 days a week.

How did you get into the Leicester Tigers Academy?

I officially got into the academy in year 11 after attending numerous developmental training sessions hosted by tigers since the start of year 10. I was put forward by my rugby club coach to be apart of these sessions and was kept through the pathway after multiple selections until I was selected for the academy.

How did you get selected for the U18 International Series in South Africa?

Fortunately, I was selected for the England U17 may development camp after missing out on being selected for the first camp in April. It was a four day camp with a match on the fourth day and this camp determined which players out of the 46 on camp would play in the summer series.

How did it go?

It was a great two weeks with a great group of talented players. Unfortunately we didn’t come away with a win but everyone got better as players and had a wonderful experience playing at international level.

What was the best part?

The best part for me was after the France game having a dinner party with all the teams (Georgia, Ireland, France, England and South Africa) and having a good time singing and dancing with all the players.

What was the most challenging?

The most challenging part for me was matching the physicality of the national teams as they were all exceptionally strong and maintained a relentless level of intensity throughout the games. It was also challenging to memorise all the calls and plays that we used for the 3 games.

How has Norwich School supported your rugby journey?

Norwich has helped especially with providing transport to training with tigers. They have also supported me with sports scholarship programme to help with mentally and physically preparing myself before matches. The coaches have also taught me a lot since joining in year 7 and some skills that I still use to this day.

What's next?

Hopefully I will be selected for more England Camps towards the end of the year and being selected for the U18 Six Nations in 2026.

What are your future prospects in Rugby?

I hope to continue playing rugby at a high level in order to improve and become the best player I can be.

GCSE Results Day 2025 - We Hear From Some of our Pupils Who Received Their Results Today...

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 16:03:37 GMT

It was a real pleasure to welcome back our 2025 GCSE pupils today as they collected their results. The atmosphere was full of excitement, with many smiling faces as pupils celebrated their hard-earned successes. We are enormously proud of such a strong performance from this year’s cohort, including:

29% of our pupils achieved a grade 9
Over half our pupils (54%) achieved grades 9-8
74% of our pupils achieved grades 9-7

There were also some outstanding individual performances, including 10 candidates with 10 x grade 9 or better and 35 candidates with at least 9 x grades 8 or 9.

We caught up with some of the pupils to learn more about their personal successes and hear about what lies ahead for them.

Studying STEM

As always, the STEM subjects are high on the list for many pupils going on to Sixth Form, with so many different and exciting ideas of what that might take them.

Name

Zara Morgan

What were your results?

10 x grade 9s

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?

Biology, Chemistry and Maths.

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?

I don’t know where I want to go but I would love to study medicine.

What is the dream job?

Something in pathology and / or neurology.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?

More freedom for studies and also tackling more challenging subject choices.

What are your co-curricular activities?

Rowing and I am a member of the British Sign Language Club. I am really looking forward to joining the Charities Committee in Sixth F orm.

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

We get a lot of freedom to study but also lots of support when needed.

Name

James Howard

What were your results?

9 x grade 9s and 2 x grade 8s

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?

Maths, Further Maths, Physics and History

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?

Engineering. If I stay in the UK I would love to go to Imperial College or Oxbridge. But my dream is to go to the States and study at Dartmouth.

What is the dream job?

Aeronautical Engineering; working at NASA or the European Space Agency. Or something nautical – I feel like there has already been a great deal of space exploration whereas the ocean is untamed.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?

Freedom!

What are your co-curricular activities?

Rowing – which takes up most of my spare time! I was fortunate to row in the First 8 this year, which meant I go to row with my brother; it was very special rowing at Henley with him.

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

Rowing and the people around rowing!

Name

Kirti Suhas

What were your results?

10 x grade 9s! I am really pleased as some of them I was hoping for 9s but some were a surprise - especially German!

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?

Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?

Maybe Engineering or Finance – definitely something involving maths.

What is the dream job?

I am really not sure! I think I need to figure out what to do at university and take it from there.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?

Having frees … although I am not sure how many I will get with my A Level choices! I am really excited to do a lot of what I love although it will be weird doing so few subjects as I will miss the other subjects I have studied for GCSE.

What are your co-curricular activities?

I play the piano and I am in the school choir. I’ve done Silver DofE and hope to go on to do Gold.

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The environment and the teachers, who are so encouraging.

Name

Kort Tsui

What were your results?

11 x grade 9s and 1 x grade 8.

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?

Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Computer Science.

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?

Engineering at Imperial or Oxbridge.

What is the dream job?

I would like to be an Aeronautical Design Engineer.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?

I am starting a new challenge to learn the organ which I am looking forward to, as well as meeting more friends.

What are your co-curricular activities?

I am an active member of Chess Club and Maths Club.

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

Definitely the beautiful Cathedral and assembly.

Name

Maya Riches

What were your results?

11 x grade 9 and 1 x grade 8

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?

Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?

I would love to go to Cambridge to study Natural Sciences.

What is the dream job?

Genetic Engineer.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?

I can’t wait to focus on the subjects I really enjoy.

What are your co-curricular activities?

In school I am a member of the Chapel Choir and outside school I love Tai Kwando.

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

I like the focused teaching and the fact you get individual help when you need it.

Name

Theo Hunter

What were your results?

9 x grade 9s and 2 x grade 8s

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?

Maths, Economics, Physics and Computer Science

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?

Probably something to do with Economics or Maths. If I decide to do Economics I would probably aim for LSE and if I choose Maths I would like to go to Cambridge.

What is the dream job?

Maybe something to do with finance.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?

A lot more freedom which allows you to plan your time.

What are your co-curricular activities?

Playing the piano and also sport, especially rugby and hockey.

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

A lot! I really like being a part of the community and there; s always something to do and people to talk to.

Dancing With Delight

This year’s cohort has had a particularly strong contingent of passionate dancers.

Name

Aggie Johnson

What were your results?
2 x grade 9s, 4 x grade 8s, 3 x grade 7s and 1 x grade 6

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?

Psychology, Business, Art History and Photography

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?
I would love to go on to higher level to study Dance

What is the dream job?
Dancer!

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?
I can’t wait to study new subjects which I’ve not had the opportunity to learn before now.

What are your co-curricular activities?
Dance and more dance!

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The really welcoming community.

Name

Benji Stevenson

What were your results?
Mostly grades 7s, 8s and 9s

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?
Maths, Physics, 3D and possibly one more but I am not sure which yet!

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?
I would love to study dance if I can but I am doing academic A Levels as well to keep my options open.

What is the dream job?
I would love to be a dancer or work in the theatre in some capacity – perhaps set design.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?
I am very lucky as I have already confirmed that I will be starting a Cheer Squad for my Independent Project.

What are your co-curricular activities?
Mainly dance, singing and performing. I have a role in the Senior School Musical again and I am also looking forward to joining the Charities Committee.

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The beautiful site – it’s so lovely walking through the Close to lessons. Plus the amazing opportunities such as dance and performing.

Name

Luke Watts

What were your results?
Mostly grades 6s, 7s and 8s.

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?
I am doing an Extended Diploma in Musical Theatre at East Theatre Arts College.

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?
I am hoping to go to a vocational school to get a degree in Musical Theatre.

What is the dream job?
The West End! I would love to do dance tours. That said, I am not limited to musical theatre – I just love everything to do with performing.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?
Spending even more of my time dancing.

What are your co-curricular activities?
Dance!!!

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The teaching is brilliant.

Name

Hannah Crawfurd

What were your results?
8 x grade 9’s, 1 x grade 8 and 2 x grade 7s.

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?
English Literature, History and Latin.

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?

I would like to study English or Journalism but I don’t know where yet.

What is the dream job?
Sports journalism. I was so excited this summer that I got to go to one of the Euros games!

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?
Being able to focus on the subjects I really enjoy.

What are your co-curricular activities?
In Fifth Form I did a lot of dance but I am excited to broaden my horizons going into Sixth Form.

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The community – it is such a group of wonderful people you get to spend your time with. I am really lucky.

A Mixed Bag!

For many pupils, choose subjects in just one field is not on the cards, so they look forward to blending disciplines such as STEM, Creatives and Humanities at A Level.

Name

Alice Allen

What were your results?
10 x grade 9’s

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?
Maths, Economics and English Literature

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?
I would definitely like to go to University – perhaps to study PPE or Economics. I have no idea where though!

What is the dream job?
I am not sure yet. My plan is to see which A Levels I enjoy and take it from there.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?
The independence!

What are your co-curricular activities?
I enjoyed doing silver DofE and I would like to do Gold in Sixth Form. I am also really looking forwards to Model United Nations and Community Service.

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

My friends .

Name

Maleeya Watts

What were your results?
2 x grade 9s, 3 x grade 8s, 2 x grade 7s and 2 x grade 6s.

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?
English, History and Music.

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?
Yes but I have no idea what or where at this stage!

What is the dream job?
I would love to do something along the lines of Music Education.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?
Perusing the subjects I enjoy.

What are your co-curricular activities?
I have done a lot of music and sports, plus I love writing.

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

Any time anyone has a passion the school works so hard to provide a space for them to be able develop that passion. It’s amazing.

Name

Zara Mace

What were your results?
1 x grade 9, 5 x grade 8s and 4 x grade 7s

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?
I am definitely doing Art, Psychology and Philosophy. I might also do Maths or Spanish as a fourth but I wanted to see what grades I got today before deciding.

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?
Possibly Psychology at university, but I am also not sure if I want to go into dance or keep it as more of a hobby.

What is the dream job?
Psychologist. I would like to be a counsellor with a doctorate

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?
Studying things I’ve not done before and having more time to do art; it will be particularly nice to be able to spend time in Carter during my frees. Plus more dance of course!

What are your co-curricular activities?
Dance!

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

I love this school – it’s a great community. It says so much that so many of the teachers are here today to support us.

Name

Mary Lefkaditis

What were your results?
I am really pleased with my results!

What will you go on to study in Sixth Form?
Maths, Business and 2D Design.

Are you hoping to go to University? If yes, what will you study?
I would love to do something with Business and hopefully go on into a career that involves that and fashion.

What is the dream job?
Something in fashion.

What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form?
Meeting new people and making new friends. Plus studying things I love and giving that my all.

What are your co-curricular activities?
I’ve been very focused on my studies and I now have a job outside school so I’ve been super busy!

What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

All of my friends. I also think the teachers put their all into giving us the best education possible; they want to see us do well and the extra efforts put in for us are really special.

GCSE Results 2025

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:00:01 GMT

We are pleased to announce very strong GCSE results for 2025. From the cohort of 132 candidates, overall percentages are as follows:

29% at grade 9
54% at grades 9-8 (A*)
74% at grades 9-7 (A*-A)
88% at grades 9-6 (A*-B)
98%: overall pass-rate (grades 9-4)

Outstanding individual performances included:

4 candidates with 11 x 9 or better;
10 candidates with 10 x 9 or better;
35 candidates with at least 9 x 8 or 9.

Steffan Griffiths, Head, commented, “Our GCSE Class of 2025 have worked very hard for these results and they now thoroughly deserve their success. Well-supported at home and at school, they have laid terrific foundations to make the most of our Sixth Form, whether academically or in other aspects of our holistic provision. We look forward to supporting them as they make this exciting transition.”

Assistant Head (5th Form), Andrew Curtis, said, “I offer sincere congratulations to our Upper Five pupils on their excellent results. They have been diligent in their academic work, but they have also contributed strongly in sport, drama, music, dance and school clubs. Perhaps most importantly, they have built strong friendships which will stand them in good stead for the future. They have much to offer as they move into our 6th Form and I wish them all well.

What's Next for the Class of 2025

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 14:54:34 GMT

Emotions ran high on A Level results day, and rightly so, as our Class of 2025 reached a major milestone after two years of hard work and commitment. Today marks the beginning of an exciting new journey as they step into the future, armed with the results of their hard work. Over 95% of pupils achieved their first or second choice onward route and there are also some truly outstanding personal triumphs. No question, the pupils in this year’s cohort have every reason to feel proud. We caught up with a few of them to hear first-hand what these results mean and how they’re feeling as they look ahead.

Studying STEM!

Our science hub, Horsefair House, offers three storeys of state-of-the art equipment and specialist teaching which inspires pupils to be curious. These pupils have been inspired and are going on to deepen their knowledge and passion for STEM.

Name

Eva Buckley

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Biology (A), Psychology (A) and Chemistry (B)

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

Definitely what I was expecting and hoping for!

What’s next?

I’m going to Birmingham University for Biomedicine

What has taken you down that path?

I am really interested in human biology.

What’s the dream job?

Finding a cure for cancer

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The amazing opportunities we’ve been given not just educationally but throughout school.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Definitely, it has to be the first time I did part song which was part of House Music Festival

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

My friends

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Exciting

Name

Oliver Howard

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Maths, Further Maths and Physics. I got 3 A*s as well as a distinction in the Maths Advance Extension Award and Grades 1-2 in STEP.

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

Honestly, I was 80% sure I’d done what I hoped and what I got!

What’s next?

Maths at Imperial College, London.

What has taken you down that path?

I have always found Maths really fun at school and I like solving problems.

What’s the dream job?

I plan to be a Software Engineer.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

My mates at rowing.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Winning Marlow regatta in the first 8.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

Being able to see my friends every day.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Interesting.

Name

Freya Osborne

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Biology (A*) Chemistry(A) and Maths (A)

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

I was hoping for 3 A’s but wasn’t expecting them, so this is fantastic.

What’s next?

Veterinary Medicine at the University of Liverpool.

What has taken you down that path?

I have always wanted to be a vet as I like any animal … except spiders!

What’s the dream job?

Being a vet obviously but perhaps specialising in something to do with the eyes.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

Getting involved in all the extra curricular opportunities – plays, musicals, scouts, DofE – there was just so much I could do (and did!).

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

It would have to be opening the show to five sell-out performances of Grease .

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

The Close and the Cathedral.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Busy!

Medicine Matters

Although they are all going on to study Medicine, these pupils have very personal and individual reasons for being inspired by the subject and very different dreams for where it will take them.

Name

Mary Amaka-Maidoh

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Biology, Chemistry and Maths. I got 3A*

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

I was definitely hoping for great results but I was not expecting 3 A*

What’s next?

Medicine at Kings College, London.

What has taken you down that path?

I like science and talking to people, and medicine is a career where I can merge the two together.

What’s the dream job?

I would like to work with the brain, so perhaps forensic psychology or neurology.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

Being comfortable around my amazing friends and toasties in the OMR!

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Winning House Shout for Repton in Lower 6.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

The people – just the opportunity to see everyone every day.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Unpredictable (in a good way!)

Name

Dev Kamath

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

I studied Maths, Biology, Chemistry and German and I achieved A* in all 4.

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

The results really exceeded my expectations, which was a welcome surprise and also a massive relief after nearly two months of waiting!

What’s next?

In September I will be starting at the UEA as a medical student, so I’ll still be very close to Norwich School.

What has taken you down that path?

I’ve been interested in medicine for quite a while, but I was really fascinated by a book I had read in U4, as a part of a biology book group, called ‘Heart: A History’, as well as ‘This is Going to Hurt’, which exposed me to the evolution of certain fields of medicine over many centuries, as well as the many morbid realities faced by patients and doctors alike.

What’s the dream job?

At the moment, I’m not too sure, but I hope to enter into the field of cardiology, likely as a physician, so I can have a more personal connection with patients.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The range of activities that the school provides for pupils is incredible, which encourages them to excel and thrive in activities which they enjoy, whether it be sport, music, art, drama, academics etc. Not only that, but they allow us to build strong friendships, learn important skills and shape who we are as people.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

There are endless memories to choose from, but I’d have to go with the 2nd XV rugby win against Gresham’s, which was perhaps the most thrilling match I’ve played in my 11 years at the school, and it being one of the last matches I ever played, with a very narrow victory, and plenty of aggression, made it a lifelong memory

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

I think I’ll miss how close we as pupils were with our teachers, as those interactions really helped to motivate me to do my best in school, as well as making just another day at school exciting. Of course I will also miss the many friends I have made at this school over the years, but I wish them well for whatever they choose to do, and I know that they will make the school proud.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Stimulating.

Name

Georgia Hodgson

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Psychology. I got 4A*

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

I definitely didn’t expect it at all but I am really happy!

What’s next?

Medicine at Cambridge University.

What has taken you down that path?

I have a brother with a disability so having that personal experience with healthcare has definitely inspired me. I did work experience in hospital and volunteered with the charity Able 2 Be, which propelled this enthusiasm.

What’s the dream job?

I would love to specialise in cardiology.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The community – staff and pupils are so lovely and supportive and I have been really encouraged to thrive.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

That would have to be doing my first procession as Head of School – what a special moment! I really enjoyed that.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

The people – I am going to miss seeing everyone every day and having those small moments with friends around the Cathedral Close.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Stimulating.

Name

Rahul Kaushal

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

I got 3 A* in Biology, Chemistry and Maths.

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

I needed A*, A, A to get into my top choice, so I was definitely hoping for that and kind of expecting it for Chemistry and Biology. Maths was more of a surprise but I am delighted.

What’s next?

Kings College, London to study Medicine.

What has taken you down that path?

My main strengths are Biology and Chemistry so Medicine is clear option. I then did work experience in a care home in Lower 6, as well as in a GP practice and hospital and this cemented my desire to do Medicine.

What’s the dream job?

I would like to be a GP and then move into business realm…watch this space!

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

Coming into school every day and being with mates. I have also loved the sporting opportunities and competitive fixtures, which have really created a team spirit.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Being top in the country at hockey.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

Coming into school and being with my mates all day and enjoying ourselves. It’s been great.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Entertaining.

Curtain Calls

At Norwich School we are extremely proud of our extensive Performing Arts, with widespread and diverse opportunities to develop in all areas of dance, drama and music.

Name

Leah Feetham

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

I studied Drama, Psychology, Biology but I don’t share my results with anyone!

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

Honestly, I expected worse so I am happy enough! I am not an exams person!

What’s next?

I am going to Bird College – Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre

What has taken you down that path?

Easy – my love of performance and being on a stage.

What’s the dream job?

West End performer.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

Everyone is so passionate; the teachers and the pupils which means that everyone here is either willing to learn or excited to teach. It makes learning so much easier to engage with when you are in such an inspiring community.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Being in Grease the Musical, or the first time I performed at Jazz Night.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

Miss Adams – my Drama teacher!

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Successful.

Name

Zach Baker

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

I got 3A* in Maths, Physics and Music .

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

I was kind of expecting good grades and definitely hoping for the top grades.

What’s next?

Music and Sound Recording at the University of Surrey.

What has taken you down that path?

I applied on a whim to that course as it had been recommended to me but I had been torn between that and Engineering. So I only really decided I wanted to do it this course earlier this year.

What’s the dream job?

Working in the music industry you have to do a bit of everything. I quite like the idea of starting a business involving music equipment – I love designing stuff like that!

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The day-to-day life has been so fun and the musical opportunities are not like any other school – we do some much – jazz, gala, concerts, etc all year round.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Winning the Schools Head in rowing last year. We have come second three years in row so it was amazing to win it!

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

The atmosphere especially the Sixth Form experience.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Fun.

Name

Cleo Gregory

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Maths, Politics and Theatre Studies.

Were they the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

I am very happy and what I expected.

What’s next?

Going to Mountview to Study Musical Theatre.

What has taken you down that path?

I have always loved performing and Norwich School helped me grow as a performer to the point where I decided that’s what I wanted to do.

What’s the dream job?

Actor.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The opportunities available – you can literally get stuck into anything.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Playing Sandy in Grease the Musical in my final year at school.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

Performing and my favourite teachers.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Electrifying – of course!

Sixth Form Stars

Whilst some pupils join us from an early age, others choose Norwich School for their Sixth Form journey and these pupils are shining stars of what can be achieved here in Sixth Form.

Name

Katie Smith

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Biology (B) Geography (A*) and Psychology (A*)

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

Definitely more than I was expecting!

What’s next?

Geography at Castle College at Durham University.

What has taken you down that path?

Simply because Geography has always been my favourite subject.

What’s the dream job?

I am not sure but I would quite like to join the army eventually.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

My friends and everything going on – it’s so busy. Plus at Norwich School it is considered cool to be good at and excel at things!

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

I loved being in the Senior School production of Grease – so much fun!

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

Friends.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Opportunity.

Name

Peri Ulgen

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Biology, Chemistry and Geography.

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

I got what I needed to get me into university so I am happy.

What’s next?

I am going to study Marine Biology and Oceanography at the University of Southampton.

What has taken you down that path?

I grew up in Istanbul surrounded by the sea and if I can inspire in others the same appreciation I’ve always enjoyed from our seas and oceans that would be amazing.

What’s the dream job?

Conservation.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The community and the broccoli – honestly, it is amazing! You have to try it!

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

The Iceland trip; walking on a glacier was incredible. I have never felt so small and insignificant in my life – awesome.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

People saying Hi! It shocked me when I first joined the school that everyone says ‘Hi’ to one another and teachers already knew my name even though I was new. Being House Captain as well meant that I had younger years in my House coming up to me for a chat around school. I love all that!

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Whimsical.

Name

Alice Brand

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

3 Bs – Politics, Psychology and Sports Science.

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

I am very happy and it has got me where I wanted. Bizarrely, I did better than I expected better in one and worse in the other, so it evened out!

What’s next?

I am off to Town Close School to be their Gap Student for a year and then on to Birmingham University to study Sports Science.

What has taken you down that path?

My love for playing sport and the subject Sports Science. Miss Norton has been inspirational.

What’s the dream job?

Army officer.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The amazing community that the school offers.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Coming third at Regionals with the Netball First Team.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

Being with my friends all the time (some of the teachers!)

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Exhilarating.

Long Haul Learners

Meanwhile, these pupils have enjoyed Norwich School for over 10 years and leave with outstanding results and exciting onward routes.

Name

Harry Mitchell

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Economics (A) Geography (A*) and Business (B).

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

Honestly, they were not exactly what I was I was hoping for but they have got me into my first choice, so I am happy.

What’s next?

I am going to the University of Warwick to study International Management.

What has taken you down that path?

It’s a subject that really interests me. I first came across it when I went to open days and it really gripped me – I am really looking forward to studying it in depth.

What’s the dream job?

Being retired!

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The school grounds are really special.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Any of my friends in a classroom at any time!!

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

Daily interactions with people I don’t really know.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Learning (I learnt a lot!)

Name

Eleanor McGuire

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

History (A) Politics (A*) and Spanish (A*).

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

They were the results I was hoping for but I was definitely not expecting A* in Spanish so that’s a lovely surprise.

What’s next?

I am going to study German and History with a year abroad at Warwick University.

What has taken you down that path?

I really wanted to study History and by including the emphasis on German through the language, it gives me a chance to go more in depth.

What’s the dream job?

Maybe something in the civil service – perhaps a diplomat – but definitely something aboard.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The atmosphere – teachers and pupils really enjoying being in an atmosphere of learning. Plus it is so friendly – which is one of the main reasons I have stayed here for 10 years!

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

So many. I guess it’s a good thing that I can’t think of one in particular as I have so many, but generally being in the classroom with friends has been really special.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

The teachers – pupils and friends I can catch up with whenever I want but I will miss seeing teachers on a daily basis.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Fantastic .

Name

Lawry Williams

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

I studied Sports Science, Economics and Politics, achieving an A* in Sports Science, An A in Economics and an A in Politics

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

Yes.

What’s next?

I will now move onto studying Economics at the University of Sydney

What has taken you down that path?

The academics and sport in Australia just really suited my lifestyle, so it was a no brainer for me to go there.

What’s the dream job?

I don’t have a specific job in mind, but definitely want to do something entrepreneurial.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

I have loved the sporting opportunities the school has provided, and also how the school allowed me to be able to comfortably balance a busy timetable in and outside of school.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Going to South Africa on a school cricket tour and playing schools like Paul Roos, Wynberg and SACS.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

Definitely all the sport but also being in the OMR with all my mates.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Versatile.

Name

Mia Garvey

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Business (B), Psychology (B) and Geography (A*).

What’s next?

I am going to Exeter to do International Relations with a year abroad in Spain.

What has taken you down that path?

I don’t know but I am looking forward to it.

What’s the dream job?

Working in the Civil Service.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

All of the close friends I’ve made and the opportunities in sport.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Going to Henley Royal Regatta.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

My friends and sport.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Insightful.

Different Paths

Going straight to University is increasingly only one of many different routes open to pupils after A Level. These pupils are heading for something a little different in the year ahead.

Name
Charlie Clover

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Maths (B), Chemistry (C), Physics (C)

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

Honestly, I had no idea – which meant there was a massive range of possibilities. I’m happy!

What’s next?

I am having a gap year, which is going to be very busy. I am working in Germany as a mechanic for a couple of months, then training to become a ski instructor and then travelling round Europe!

What has taken you down that path?

I love cars, building things and problem solving – hence the mechanic job!

What’s the dream job?

Good question! Although not clear year, I would quite like to run my own business.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

11 years of Norwich School has brought me great sadness at the end because of how much it has meant to me but I guess that says a lot that I am sad to go. It’s been fantastic.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Generally, it is just the community feel; as a pupil you really feel you are part of something and there’s such a strong sense of community.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

How friendly everyone is and seeing truly lovely people on a day-to-day basis.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

No!

Name

Jacob Stevenson

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

2D Art and Design (A*), Business (A) and Psychology (A)

Were they the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

Really happy – I am not sure anyone expected this!!

What’s next?

I am having a gap year in which I am doing a Level 4 Diploma in Social Media Marketing for Fashion at the Fashion Retail Academy in London. After that, who knows? Maybe Psychology at university.

What has taken you down that path?

I love fashion and the psychology of marketing on the industry. So I am keeping my options open at this stage as to which path I take – or both!

What’s the dream job?

Editor in Chief of Vogue or Therapist.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

11 years of opportunity.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Being President of Horatio Society and being the ‘Cathedral riser’ – getting over 900 pupils on their feet in Cathedral assembly.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

My friends and the co-curricular opportunities.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Transformative.

Name

Joel Fox

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

I got A* in Maths, History and Latin, and an A in Further Maths.

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

I was expecting good results and I am very happy with these!

What’s next?

I am having a gap year to travel, and then reapplying for university.

What has taken you down that path?

I would love to go to Oxford University to study PPE so I am reapplying in the hope of being able to do this.

What’s the dream job?

I would like to be an MP.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

Sport, especially football, and my friends.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

The Model United Nations conferences.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

I will miss seeing my friends and being in the Cathedral Close every day – it is so special.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Opportunities.

Pursuing a Passion

Ultimately, education is about a pursuit and love of knowledge and these pupils are going on to study simply for the love of the subject and the vision for where it might take them.

Name

Adam Bell

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

2D Art and Design, Economics and Geography - I got three A*s

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

I was obviously hoping for great results but I was definitely not expecting this!

What’s next?

I am off to Van Mildert College at Durham University in September to study Geography

What has taken you down that path?

I can honestly say it’s for no other reason than I really enjoy geography.

What’s the dream job?

I literally have no idea! I’m focusing on expanding my education in the coming three years and then I will see.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The community and the people – no question.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Generally, it’s just that I have loved my lessons.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

The Cathedral – it is such a special place.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Enriching.

Name

Ella Murray

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

Art History, English and Drama. I got all Bs.

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

They weren’t the results I was expecting but I got what I needed to get in, so I am happy.

What’s next?

University of York for Art History

What has taken you down that path?

Simply put – I love history of art.

What’s the dream job?

I don’t think I have a dream job – maybe being a curator but I have an open mind, which will allow me to go wherever the wind takes me!

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

Two things – the community we have and the relationship we have built.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Being in Grease the Musical. SO much fun!

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

I would have to say my friends and Miss Adams.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Unique.

Name

Anoushka Craggs

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

English (B), Theatre Studies (A), Fine Art (A)

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

They weren’t exactly the grades I was expecting but I am still happy as I have got into my top choice university

What’s next?

American Studies at Manchester University.

What has taken you down that path?

I originally wanted to do English literature and was deferred to American Studies, which I am really excited about, as I will get to study American novels and political issues. Eventually I want to do acting so any experience that can enrich my performing abilities is helpful.

What’s the dream job?

Acting – preferably film!

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

The food and the ability to do a bunch of extra-curricular activities, as there is such a wide spread of stuff to do outside class. But the food. Did I mention the food?

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

The Hamburg Choir Trip. It was a really special bonding experience with people in my year and the year above. It was amazing to visit such a beautiful place and Posy is amazing and so much fun.

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

Budge the Cathedral (adopted by Norwich School) cat, who was a whimsical and calming presence around the school. Plus the community – there is nothing else like it. Everyone is so friendly.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Joyous.

Name

Reuben Francis

What did you study and are you happy to share your results?

History (A), Politics (A*) Classical Civilisation (A)

Were the results what you were expecting/hoping for?

Not really but don’t care! I got in!

What’s next?

Law at Cambridge

What has taken you down that path?

Really liking the sound of my own voice for about a decade!

What’s the dream job?

Barrister.

What have you loved most about being a pupil at Norwich School?

How much depth I was able to get into things that interest me. There have been so many avenues to peruse and I have had the freedom to take me to whatever my brain goes to. What has been my passion year on year has changed and I’ve loved the chance to experience so much!

What is your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School?

Jazz Night 2024! I was so sick this year or it would have been Jazz Night 2025!

What will you miss most about being at Norwich School?

The incredible History Department.

Can you sum up your Norwich School experience in one word?

Eclectic.

A Level Results 2025

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 07:00:00 GMT

The school is pleased to announce strong A Level results. The cohort of 177 U6 candidates have achieved the following:

24% of grades at A*;
52% of grades at A*-A;
82% at A*-B;
94% at A*-C;
100% at A*-E.

Outstanding individual performances included:

5 candidates with 4 A*;
16 candidates with 3A* or more;
54 candidates with 3A or more.

These results are enabling positive next steps. Even before improvements from the UCAS Clearing process have been absorbed, 80% of leavers have secured their first choice onward route and over 95% have achieved their first or second choice.

The Head, Steffan Griffiths, said, “I am delighted for the Class of 2025; they have been terrific in so many areas of school life, acting as positive role models in our community and offering much in arenas such as sport, music, drama, dance and service. It is fitting that they now round off their time in Cathedral Close with strong academic results, too, thereby opening up all sorts of exciting individual onward routes. All at school wish them well”.

Richard Peters, Head of Sixth Form, commented, “This cohort of pupils committed to a concerted spell of hard work, so I am pleased that they have been appropriately rewarded with these impressive results. They enjoyed support of families at home and teachers in school, to whom I am grateful. I offer sincere good wishes for our leavers’ next steps”.

NB: specific grade percentages will be published when the subject paper review process has been completed.

Nick Conway (L6) to Represent Great Britain at the U19 Junior World Championships

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 08:55:50 GMT

Nick Conway, L6 pupil, has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Under 19 Junior World Championships in the Men’s Eight racing in Trakai, Lithuania, which is taking place from 6-10 August. This is a very proud moment for the Boat Club program and the School as a whole, as Nick is the first Sixth Form rower from Norwich School to be selected for the Junior World Championships. To celebrate this achievement, we caught up with Nick in the lead up to the Championships...

How long have you been rowing?

I’ve been rowing for 2 1/2 years since starting lent term in L5. However, rowing has been a part of my life from a young age through my parents.

How often do you practice/train?

As a boat club we have 14 sessions a week, where we train as a whole boat club, both girls and boys squads together, which helps build a strong community and group.

How has Norwich School helped you on your rowing journey?

Norwich School have helped me develop by providing elite coaching by various members of the sports department, most of all, Mr Carter-Mayers, our senior rowing coach, along with my academic teachers who have been supportive along the way.

How did you get selected to represent GB in U19 Junior World Championships?

Selection was decided by a week of testing and racing up to 8 times a day. Through the results from then and throughout various trials this year the selectors build a ranking of the top 7 rowers, which they will take to the worlds championships. Thankfully I was in this group to be selected.

How have you been preparing for the event?

Since leaving for selection camp on the first week of the summer holidays I’ve been down in London and Reading at the national training centre. I have been rowing with my crew and getting familiar with each other ready for when we take on the rest of the world on the 7th of August. Throughout these 4 weeks we’ve come together well, with a few rocky patches, but nonetheless feeling confident as we enter competition week.

We wish Nick the best of luck!

Next at the Crypt - Reepham Artists and Makers

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 13:59:34 GMT

5 - 16 August
Open daily 10:00 - 16:00
Closed Sundays. Free admission.

Reepham Artists and Makers are a collective of artists and makers based in and around Reepham, Norfolk. They have been exhibiting together since 2017 in galleries and other venues.

They work in textiles, ceramics, painting, silver-smithing, glass, wood, gilding and sculpture. Many of the group display and sell as individuals but also come together as a group.

Meeting on a regular basis, the artists work together on exhibitions, run workshops within their disciplines and have social visits to galleries and exhibitions in and around Norfolk.

Jackie Watson - Ceramics • Sue Johnston - Paintings and Textile Art • Carolyn Penney - Glass and Metal Work • Sara Kenyon - Painter and Water Colourist • Linda Sadler - Ceramics and Textiles • Jane Bygrave - Ceramics • Emily Longhurst - Artist, Working in wood, acrylics and gilding • Tamara Goulding - Lacemaker

The Final Day for the Class of 25

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:38:18 GMT

Friday 4 July, Independence Day in America, happened to be a memorable day of independence for some of our community, as it heralded the last day of school for our Upper Sixth pupils. And it wasn’t just the pupils sharing this special day – parents and guardians were welcomed to the Close to share in the celebrations.

Some pupils had been through the entire Norwich School journey, reflecting on 11 years growing up in the Close, whilst others had experienced a packed and exciting two year Norwich School journey, having joined in Sixth Form. Whatever the ‘length of service’, however, the mixed emotions amongst leavers were shared – excitement for the future, sadness and trepidation as such an important chapter of their lives drew to a close, pride at having reached such a milestone and a touch of exhaustion at the end of such an important academic year.

A beautiful sunny day dawned, with an early breakfast for the pupils and a special address from the President of the Horatio Society, Jacob Stevenson, who wished his peers well and encouraged them to embrace their new status as Old Norvicensians (ONs). Jacob also handed out awards as voted for by the pupils themselves including, to name but a few, Most Likely to Start A Charity, Best Bromance, Most Likely to Headline Glastonbury and Most Likely to End Up Back at Norwich School (an easy win for Joel Newman who returns next year as a Lower School Gap Student!). They then headed to tutor group where they were presented with their Valedictory Reports – as written by their Head of House and the Head.

Parents and Guardians then joined the celebrations for a brunch on the Refectory lawn before filing into the Cathedral for a very special Farewell Assembly. It was hard to spot a dry eye as parents and pupils joined in singing I Vow To Thee My Country and Jerusalem, and the Head delivered a moving and inspirational address. The congregation were then upstanding and clapped continuously as the Upper Sixth filed out of the Cathedral for the very last time, exiting the West Doors, where they were greeted with a farewell and handshake from the Head.

The Upper Close was buzzing as families reunited with one another, hugging and crying as they shared the emotion of such a significant day. Overall, however, despite the tears, it was a day for celebration – to toast a job well done to the Class of 2025 who gave it their all and embraced every opportunity on their Norwich School journey. Corks popped and there were photos a-plenty as families embraced a last chance to take pictures in the Norwich School uniform, before departing for perhaps a rest or a power nap, before dressing in their finest and heading for Norwich City Football Club for the Leavers Ball.

Over 300 parents, staff and pupils attended a magnificent evening, with a sumptuous three course meal, entertainment and a live band which kept everyone on the dancefloor until 1am. There was an after party, but we will leave it at that…!

Wishing the Class of 2025 every success for the future and stay in touch. Remember. You are all ONs for life!

DofE Gold take on the Peak District for their Practice Expedition!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 12:05:05 GMT

Three groups undertook their practice expedition at the end of term. The weather kept to the predictions, being warm and sunny. On the hottest day the groups left camp early, with altered routes to ensure water could be topped up several times. They all coped very well, arriving in campsites and shade before the highest temperatures were reached.

The fourth group arrived and the first groups returned to Norwich. The training was repeated with a short walk to refresh and learn navigational skill, followed by some first aid training. The next day the group walked to their next campsite, where they adopted an 8th member which you can see with the team below!

Norwich School Success in the Oxford Scholastica Academy Essay Competition!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:44:06 GMT

Congratulations to Norwich School pupil Anna Rechel, who was successfully shortlisted in the Oxford Scholastica Essay Competition 2025!

Oxford Scholastica exists to inspire teenagers to seize the future. They do this by offering academic programmes which combine university-style teaching with academic challenges, Masterclasses and cultural adventures, including their summer school in Oxford as well as online courses and internships. You can find out more here about their Oxford Summer School.

Anna Rechel wrote a brilliant essay answering the question "What do you think the greatest challenge currently facing Writing & Journalism is and how might you play a role in tackling it?".

The panel of judges were very impressed with Anna’s essay, shortlisting it within a competitive field of over 650 entries.

Anna’s prize was a free place at an Oxford Scholastica academic conference.

Entering an Essay Competition is a great way to prepare for university applications, think deeply about a topic beyond the school curriculum, and widen your academic horizons. Oxford Scholastica warmly welcome entries from Norwich School for future Essay Competitions, and any students who are interested can find out more here !

Many congratulations again to Anna Rechel!

Coming Up at The Crypt - Contemporary Landscape

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:18:05 GMT

In August, we welcome Alison Dunhill to the Crypt for her exhibition ' Contemporary Landscapes'.

An original exhibition of paintings of the natural world by renowned Norfolk artist Alison Dunhill. Vivid, bold and colourful paintings reflect the unique land and riverscapes of Norfolk, as in her response to the rewilding and regeneration of Walton Wood. These are contrasted with work inspired by the dramatic land of New Mexico and the Rockies, and some of the artist's earlier landscape work. Dunhill's dynamic explorations of colour, texture and perspective convey her close engagement with nature and the land, bringing an original, striking and provocative quality to her art.

19-30 August
Open daily 11:00 - 5:00
Closed Sundays. Free admission.

Cambridge Chemistry Challenge

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:07:18 GMT

In June, twenty Lower 6 chemists took part in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, a gruelling competition in which participants had to apply their chemical knowledge beyond the specification and were encouraged to think about Chemistry in the way they would at university. This year's two mammoth questions saw competitors learning about alkene isomers and the use of nuclear magnetic resonance in determining structures, as well as a 'non-boring question about boron'.

The Chemistry Department was delighted with the level of participation this year, as well as the high proportion of certificates awarded to Norwich School, including three gold awards. The following pupils obtained awards:

Copper – Brandon Camderman, Harry Chant, Thomas Irvine, Ana Paduraru, Mei McAuley, and Ansh Thakur.

Silver – Omar Alfiky, Isaac Chan, Sissi Chan, Katerina Di Maria, Isio Emore, Emmanuel Milne, Emile Verschoor and Aaron Zhang.

Gold - Mari Lee, Freya Simmonds, and Adit Raje.

FONS Support Helps Deliver Repaired Bicycles to Refugees

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:55:12 GMT

Thanks to the Refugee Support Group and financial support from FONS, over 30 bicycles have been repaired for local refugees.

The generous funding of £400 from FONS has been put to the best of use during the past six months. The bicycle restoration project has truly been an inclusive undertaking: donated bicycles came from staff, pupils, the cathedral lost property office, visiting speakers, former parents and ONs (alumni).

The school’s Refugee Support Group – comprising of pupils, members of the refugee community and staff – received donations of 35 bicycles. 30 of these were mended and serviced using tools and replacement items such as brake shoes and cables, chains and pedals, that had been purchased with the money we received. Various workshops were organised after school on Wednesdays when the pupils and staff prepared the bicycles for their final destination: the two hotels in Norwich where asylum seekers are being housed whilst their cases are considered. The residents of these hotels, one of which is in Bowthorpe, regularly walk to City College for their English as a Second Language classes. For this reason, we have provided a pool of bicycles that can be used to provide independent transport.

The funds have also been used to purchase safety equipment such as helmets, lights and padlocks. The 5 remaining bicycles are almost ready to deliver.

The Refugee Support Group is very grateful to Friends of Norwich School for their support. It has been a very constructive, practical project that has had an immediate impact on both the members of the school community and the asylum seekers. Due to my retirement, I am very grateful that a parent, Mr Steve Martin, has expressed an interest in continuing the project next year.

Celebrating Norfolk Summer School 2025!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 08:19:59 GMT

Norwich School is proud to have hosted its 25th Norfolk Summer School this July, welcoming an incredible 111 pupils from schools across the county!

Hosted by Norwich School and funded with the support of private benefactors, Norfolk Summer School aims to help the brightest pupils from all backgrounds who are considering Oxbridge, other academically demanding universities and medical school. Through a range of activities, including sessions on interview practice, in-depth subject seminars taught at university level and a chance to experience a university-style interview, pupils are given the chance to hone their subject knowledge and improve their skills in preparation for university application. This year teaching was delivered by Norwich School staff who were joined by industry experts from Cambridge University, UEA, London Universities and the University of Dundee. Pupils also enjoyed talks on personal statement writing, student finance and applying for Oxbridge.

Organisers were delighted to see an increase in pupil numbers this year, confirming that there is a high demand for quality university application advice from young people. Pupils came from 23 schools across Norfolk and beyond, with pupils travelling from as far as Oxford and Leicester to attend the three days.

During the week, 184 subject seminars were delivered covering 23 subjects including Maths, English, Science, Psychology, Engineering and Medicine. A real asset of the Summer School is its ability to cater for the more niche areas not commonly offered at A Level such as Law, Art History and Politics, meaning pupils have the opportunity to explore these new subjects at undergrad level before embarking on their university applications.

The 32 staff were drawn from the school’s own teaching team, UEA and several undergraduate and graduate ONs. In total, teachers delivered 2,442 hours of information, advice and guidance over the three days. Pupils also had the opportunity to book a 1:1 appointment with Norwich School’s Oxbridge advisor, Mr Pearce.

The Summer School will continue to offer UCAS support to all its Alumni for the next academic year and we look forward to supporting pupils through their applications!

For more information about Norfolk Summer School click here . For requests for information please contact partnerships@norwich-school.org.uk

Choristers Set Off on Tour!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 10:32:51 GMT

With the Trinity Term and 24/25 Academic Year coming to a close, on July 8 Norwich School Choristers set off on a Cathedral Choir tour of Paris and Normandy. 16 Pupils from both the Lower and Senior school made their way to France to sing in some of the most beautiful churches and Cathedrals in the country, all while enjoying the culture in their spare time!

One highlight on this trip will be the choir's appearances at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, where their performances of music will commemorate and remember the 22,442 servicemen and women who fell during the Battle of Normandy in 1944.

You can find their itinerary below;

Tuesday 8 July: 12.30pm Mass, Église de la Madeleine, Paris

Tuesday 8 July: 6.30pm Concert, Cathédrale St Etiénne, Meaux

Wednesday 9 July: 12.30pm Mass, Église de la Madeleine, Paris

Wednesday 9 July: 7.30pm Concert, Église Notre-Dame d’Auteuil, Paris

Friday 11 July: 12.00 noon Concert, Église St Maclou, Rouen

Friday 11 July: 6.30pm Evensong, Église St Pierre, Caen

Saturday 12 July: 12 noon and 1.15pm, Music for Remembrance, British Normandy Memorial

Saturday 12 July: 5.30pm Concert, Sanctuaire Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux

To find out more click here!

Victoria Atkins (18-20) to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:22:21 GMT

Victoria is raising funds for The Brain Tumour Charity and the Ali Ling Fund.

On 16th January 2026, I’ll be taking on the toughest challenge of my life: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in support of The Brain Tumour Charity and The Ali Ling Fund. This date marks ten years since the loss of my partner Syd’s Auntie Ali to a brain tumour — a woman remembered with immense love and admiration.

I’ll be joining a team of Ali’s family and friends to honour her memory, raise awareness and fund life-saving research. The Brain Tumour Charity is the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours. Their mission is to improve survival and quality of life for everyone diagnosed and they’re working tirelessly to make that happen.

I would be incredibly grateful if you could support my fundraising efforts — whether by sharing my story, making a donation towards our £10,000 target, or helping spread the word. So far, we’ve been busy holding car boot sales, school fetes and sponsored runs.

You can find out more, and donate, here: https://alilingkilimanjarotrek.enthuse.com/pf/victoria-atkins

Thank you so much for your support.

Head's Address from End of Trinity 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 08:41:45 GMT

It is great for the school to get to this point, the final assembly of the 24/25 year and a joy to share it with the parents of our Upper Sixth cohort who leave today. It is a personal privilege to have the chance to offer some reflections at a time which is laced with resonance for so many.

Such occasions bring experiences and memories into enhanced focus. This has been much on my mind since the announcement a few weeks ago that the world’s most powerful digital camera has started producing its first images as part of a 10 year project to survey space and time. Situated at the Vera C Rubin observatory in the Chilean Andes to minimise light pollution, the camera is 1.65m by 3m, weighs 2,800kg and has three mirrors which are between 3.4m and 8.4m in diameter. It is hard to relate to these dimensions, so try this: it has 3,200 megapixels, making it 67 times more powerful than the camera of an iPhone 16 Pro; its resolution allows it to capture a golf ball on the moon and its detail is such that one would need 400 Ultra HD TV screens to display a single image. More relevantly for the project, its first image shows gas and dust clouds swirling 9,000 light years from earth.

We may not have this precision in our own phones, but our senses and memories have an uncanny ability of capturing moments of particular significance; people even report time seeming to slow down at important moments. There is much for the senses to feast on in this last Cathedral service of the year so take moments during the service to take in and savour your surroundings: the sun streaming in from the South-West to light up swirling dust motes and the colours of the stained-glass windows; the gorgeous sounds from the Choir and congregation; the distinctive smell of this ancient building; and the cool touch of its aged stones. Just don’t lick anything please – 4th Form, that is the one sense we are not going to be trying out.

We could not have this sensitivity to the world around us all the time; we would never get anything done. However, it pays to zoom in from time to time and the Cathedral provides just such a chance. As I reflect on recent weeks, my internal camera can pick out many images which have stuck with me:

Bandfest, with 14 electric guitars all playing at once;
The extraordinary detail in the jewellery films from the Fashion Show or the exquisite sketchbooks of our U6 in the Art and Design Exhibition;
Redmayne packed with junior and intermediate cricketers or Lower Close packed with athletes in a vivid kaleidoscope of house colours;
My favourite moment, not for the first time, came at the end of June from Discover Your Ability Day which the school hosts for the charity, Able2B. Frankly, if you were there and had spent time building your athlete partnership, you will know why this often wins my round-up and may well have your own special memory. For me, it was not the moment when the athlete pairs cross the line, heart-melting though that is, it was the hug that a girl with impaired physical mobility shared with her Norwich School pupil partner away from the finish line when the spectators’ gaze had moved on. A simple treasure.

Yet a service like this allows us to do something else in common with the Vera C Rubin camera. That telescope deals with such vast distances that the light is from a different era. Our time-travel is rather different but no less potent.

Today represents for all of us a significant punctuation mark, the end of the academic year. It is particularly so for our Upper Sixth because it is the end of their time at Norwich School. It will not be long before they process out of the West Doors to our applause as they leave to take up their places in the wider world. There should be some looking back, hopefully with enjoyment, certainly some pride, perhaps a dose of embarrassment at a dodgy 5th Form haircut or questionable dance moves at someone’s 18th.

Yet I should also like you to try to consider what still lies ahead. In her talk to the Norfolk Cambridge Society this term Professor Gillian Tett, the Provost of King’s College Cambridge, referred to Steve Jobs’ famous 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech where he said that you cannot join dots forwards, only backwards. His advice to the students was to keep making dots and I advocate the same now.

By way of example, I should like to return to someone I mentioned to the school at this morning’s assembly, our retiring Vice-Chair of governors, Stephen Bamber. He shared something of his life-journey when he gave out the prizes to the Lower School this term. A classicist by training, he secured a place as a Civil Servant at the Foreign Office but was told to gain some life experience before taking up his place. He decided to join the army and became a Platoon Commander, taking in tours of duty in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. By the time he finished his military commission, he returned not to the Foreign Office but was drawn to medicine, so back to learning he went before becoming a GP for some 30 years. His route to Norwich School governorship came through his own children’s time here as pupils.

Looking backwards, one can see exactly how the range of experience has made Stephen such a wise and valuable governor, but if our Head of Careers, Mrs James, were to predict such a career for any of our current U6th I suspect there would be bewilderment; Stephen’s life can hardly be described as following a plan. You can only join the dots up looking backwards, so as you make your way through life, particularly while you are of school age or an 18 year-old about to leave, just keep making dots.

And what dots should one make? Again, as a classicist who retrained in medicine, I think Stephen’s life story is instructive: he has always been curious to learn more and has not been afraid of putting his mind to different areas of study. This brings to mind the delightful story of the cellist, Pablo Casals. He practised every day, even after retirement. When asked why, he replied “because I think I’m making progress”. His age at the time? He was 90.

Upper Sixth, take a moment to look backwards and join the dots of your school career, the moments which have moulded you into the fine young men and women I see in front of me: your A Level subject choices, your role in that play, your part in that school team, the time you first met your best friend. But remember how many dots there still are to make. Keep doing so, even if you are not sure how they will join up. That will be for another moment of focus.

As you get ready to leave, please know that we have loved your presence in our community. You have been a strong sporting year-group and you have given us countless creative triumphs. You have also helped the wider community and been a close-knit support group for each other. If we have got it right, we have not been a hothouse for you but we have been a greenhouse, nurturing you as sensitive plants to develop healthily through setting the right overall conditions for your overall growth. Go out in the world with a lifelong love of learning to be forces for good in the wider community. And do stay in touch from time to time to let us know what you find. You leave with best wishes from us all.

Bandfest 2025 Rocks the Blake

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 08:57:22 GMT

After months of hard work, the Norwich School rock bands took to the stage for an exciting and diverse evening of entertainment.

Hitting the stage first with Iron Maiden’s The Trooper, Bad News (now to be known as Silverhand ) delivered a blistering opening to the event, featuring impeccable twin guitar harmonies and an expertly delivered solo from brothers Dan and Jacob Cracknell. We were then treated to an eclectic mix of songs, showcasing the strengths of each member of the band, highlights being a lyrical guitar solo from Tommy Cahir in Supersonic by Oasis and captivating vocals from Ben Griffiths in When the Sun Goes Down by Arctic Monkeys.

EGG (Electric Guitar Group) - 12 guitars, bass and drums and a rousing performance of Enter Sandman by Metallica. A gentle start from Merlin Perrow, an exciting build up from Oscar Cook (drums) and Rita Kherbeck (bass) leading to a thrilling riff with full band and an intense solo skilfully played by Alex Singh, Sahib Wahiwala and Sam Paretti. The group was tight, exciting and very loud!

A complete change of mood from Rhapsode , with a skilful and atmospheric performance of Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap (beautiful vocals from Maleeya Watts), a gorgeous rendition of the acoustic hit Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae, played skilfully on acoustic guitar by Sahib Wahilwala, and finishing their set with a mellow vibe - Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers, featuring a memorable guitar solo from Sam Paretti and a solid rhythmic foundation from drummer Lev Oyelakin.

To finish the event, a diverse and exciting set from Orion for their final performance. Paranoid by Black Sabbath was a strong opener, featuring a powerful performance by Charlie Clover on guitar and the energetic stage presence of Ernie Howes on vocals, singing with Orion for the first time. The evening ended on a high with two more songs by Metallica, with powerful and dynamic drumming by Oscar Cook, exciting lead guitar work from Zach Baker, an exciting range of sounds from Ezra Collis on bass (from melodic and musical to rhythmic and powerful) and charismatic vocals from Summer Nesbitt.

This was a great opportunity to hear these wonderful musicians - make sure you don’t miss it next year!

Rowing Report at the End of Trinity 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:50:02 GMT

The start of half term saw the Boat Club compete at the National Schools' Regatta at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham. Despite challenging, windy conditions throughout the weekend, there were strong performances across the board. The J14 Octo reached the D Final; the Girls' J15 Eight, Boys' 1st VIII, and Girls' J18 Coxed Four all contested the C Finals. Both the J15 and J18 Boys' Coxed Fours raced in B Finals, with the J18s claiming a B Final win. The J16 Girls finished 6th overall in the A Final of the Coxed Fours — a fantastic achievement.

The whole club then raced at the Star Regatta in Bedford, with 45 races contested across 31 events in a single day. There were notable victories for the Senior Boys, the J15 Girls, and Philippa Hingley in the J13 Singles. Despite torrential rain, it was a strong and spirited showing from NSBC.

The Senior Boys also made the trip to Reading Regatta, where they had a successful day racing in smaller boats. The Coxless Four won both their events, along with a strong victory in the Coxless Pair.

In addition to National Schools, Henley has been a major focus for the Senior crews this term. The Girls’ 1st VIII made history by becoming the first ever Norwich School girls' crew to race at both Henley Women’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. With seven of the crew still eligible to race in the Junior event for two more years, their qualification experience sets a strong foundation for next season.

At Marlow Regatta, the Boys’ 1st VIII and the Fawley Quad raced in a final push for pre-qualification to Henley Royal Regatta. The Boys' 1st VIII successfully qualified and face a tough draw against St Paul’s School on Tuesday — best of luck to them.

On a representative level, Joseph Hawkes, James Howard, Ellie Thwaites, and Amelie Ivie competed in Pairs at the GB J16 Trials. Finishing 4th and 5th in the A Final, they narrowly missed out on selection but have set their sights on higher goals for next year.

Looking ahead, Nicholas Conway will race at the GB U19 Final Trials and Crew Formation in July. We wish him the best of luck for a successful summer of racing.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all members of the Boat Club — and to our parents — for their dedication, hard work, and support both on and off the water throughout the year.

Gala Night 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:19:36 GMT

As the final curtain falls on Gather festival, Gala Night was promised to be an evening of entertainment and celebration of our school community. A highlight of the year for many, countless hours of hard work and dedication, went towards making the infamous Gala Night bigger and better than ever! With a cast of over 300 pupils from the Lower School to the Sixth Form, the evening brought back the best hits of the 24/25 academic year as well as some fantastic new pieces!

With the sun shining as the perfect backdrop, the evening began with Nights from the cast of our Senior Musical Grease, this upbeat, energetic piece had audiences singing along, well prepared for the show ahead. Just a few of the highlights from the first act include…

The Lower School Choir transporting the audience to a tropical rainforest with their rendition of Africa by Toto.
The Fourth Form took us on a magic carpet ride with their lively dance, Friend Like Me, which we saw a glimpse of at the Royal Norfolk show.
The phenomenal Mary Poppins melody which showcased the talents of our Upper 3 pupils.
The Senior Dance Company bringing the magic of La La Land to Cathedral Close with their showstopping performance, Another Day of Sun

After a spectacular first half, audiences treated themselves to refreshments, brought raffle tickets and enjoyed the sounds of the Senior Jazz Band which brought us into the second act, reviving some favourites from the Lent Term Jazz Night. Some of the highlights from the second act include…

School Days, a dance collaboration between Senior and Lower School pupils, which beautifully captured the Norwich School experience and passing on the baton to the next generation.
The Upper 6 Leavers Song, What I Did for Love, a heartwarming farewell that encapsulated the friendship and community in our Upper 6 cohort, as well as the exceptional talent of our vocalists.
Senior Dance Games powerful contemporary performance ‘Rise Above’, which featured earlier this year in the Senior Dance Festival.

The evening ended with a Medley from the successful sold-out Senior School Musical, Grease, which has audiences swaying their arms to Hopelessly Devoted to You one minute and clapping their hands to Greased Lightning the next. With the rest of the cast joining for one last dance in We Go Together, it was the perfect way to end the evening and the 24/25 academic year.

You can catch a glimpse of the evening in the video below...

L6 Pupils Learn About Rugby Scholarships in the USA

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:44:37 GMT

During the final Tuesday of term, a few rugby players who were interested in taking their game to a new level gathered in Upper King Street to hear a short presentation from Brendan McGroarty about the opportunities offered by American Universities to rugby players. This builds on Ava Wride-Cooper’s amazing achievement of a 100% woman’s rugby scholarship to Quinnipiac in Massachusetts.

In his brief presentation, Brendan took us not just through the undergraduate experience but also how the sports scholarship system works and what it would be like to be a sports scholar at an American university by showing us a day in the life of a student in upstate New York. He also highlighted that this opportunity was not for the most elite players but those playing to a good standard at school and county level. Men and Women’s Rugby is one of the fastest growing varsity sports in the US.

 There were opportunities at the end to ask questions before starting the School day, inspired about what the future might bring. We hope to invite him back in the new academic year to build on this opportunity with the next generation of Norwich School rugby players.

5 Peaks, 2 Rhinos, 1 Fight - Freya Simmonds (L6) Sets a Fundraising Challenge for Northern White Rhinos Conservation

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:46:16 GMT

This Summer, Freya Simmonds (L6) has set herself a 5 Lake District Peak challenge to raise money for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya; who work to conserve the Northern White Rhino, which on the verge of extinction.

We asked Freya about this challenge and what it means to her below...

Can you tell us a little bit about 5 Peaks, 2 Rhinos, 1 Fight?
5 Peaks, 2 Rhinos, 1 Fight is a fundraising challenge I’ve created to help save the northern white rhino from extinction. Over three days this summer, I’ll be hiking five of the Lake District’s highest peaks: Skiddaw, Crinkle Crags, Scafell Pike, Causey Pike, and Helvellyn in order to raise £1,000 for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Ol Pejeta is home to the last two northern white rhinos on earth, where this functionally extinct species is cared for. However there is still hope to revive this species through IVF Conservation, and 35 pure embryos already exist and are ready to be implanted into a surrogate black rhino (rhino surrogacy has been successfully proven in 2023). It’s a way to combine my love of conservation, science, and the outdoors into something real and (hopefully!) impactful.

Why did you decide to do this challenge?
I first found out about the story of the northern white rhinos in 2018 when I read an article on the death of the last male northern white rhino (Sudan). As an aspiring vet, I was reminded of these rhinos when writing my independent project, on the role of vets in guiding breeding practices. When I found out that there are only two northern white rhinos left, and that both are female and can’t carry a pregnancy, I began researching the incredible science being used to try and bring them back, like stem cells, IVF, and surrogacy. I wanted to do something to support the work being done at Ol Pejeta and raise awareness that extinction isn’t always final, not if we fight for it.

Have you ever done anything like this before?
Every year my family and I go to the Lake District, or Wales to climb peaks as it is a beautiful way of combining a physical challenge with seeing the stunning landscapes of Britain, however I have never completed this number of peaks in such a short time, or climbed all of the highest peaks in a row. I’m combining the physical endurance of hiking multiple peaks with the emotional challenge of sharing a cause I care deeply about. It’s a huge step up, and I can’t wait.

What are you most looking forward to?
Reaching the top of Helvellyn on the final day will definitely be a highlight. There’s the challenge of striding edge, along with the Red Tarn near the summit you can swim in, and I think it’ll feel like such a celebration to finish there. I’m also really excited to share updates each day and bring people along for the journey. If it inspires even one person to care more about conservation, it’ll be worth it. Probably the most exciting part will be donating the money to Ol Pejeta and then following on their IVF journey to hopefully result in a new calf born in the near future.

What have you done to prepare for this?
The most time consuming part of this fundraiser was the IVF conservation research I have carried out over the past few months. I’ve created a timeline, mapping the rhinos journey from 4 rhinos in 2009 to 2 since 2018. I made the route, built a fundraising page, created a logo and progress tracker, as well as contacting conservationists, vets, and local media to increase awareness of this species. In terms of physical training, practicing endurance is key as 5 peaks in 3 days is no easy task.

To find out more about Freya's challenge please click here!

The Return of DepARTment to the Crypt

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:17:28 GMT

Coming back to the Crypt from 12-20 July is the exhibition, depARTment. This exhibition brings together the creative work of the Norwich School Art and Design staff.

The pieces on display are a selection of outcomes that we undertake alongside our teaching, something we consider vital in supporting both our pupils and our own creative integrity.

Within this exhibition you will encounter artwork which could be considered our main individual creative practice alongside more experimental approaches, work out of discipline and also work in progress.

As a department we teach our pupils across a wide range of media and disciplines; the work on display echoes this approach.

Opening times:

12 - 20 July
Monday - Friday, 12:00 - 17:00
Saturday - 10:00 - 17:00
Closed Sundays. Free admission.

Poster design - Liza Goian

Photographs from last year

Athletics Achievements for the Trinity Term

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:27:11 GMT

This term has been a truly outstanding one for Norwich School Athletics, with brilliant achievements across all age groups and events – both for teams and individuals.

We began the term with a superb showing at the City Schools Athletics Championships in early May, delivering our best set of results in recent years. Over 70 athletes from L4 - U5 represented the school, achieving a host of top-three finishes. Impressively, more than 20 pupils qualified for the Norfolk Schools Championships.

At the Norfolk Schools event, our athletes continued to excel, with five pupils earning places at the Anglian Schools Championships. There, we witnessed standout performances:

Minnie Richardson (M5) impressed in the shot put after returning from injury.
Noah Buchan (L5) smashed his 800m personal best by an incredible 10 seconds.
Jennifer Mardle (L5) claimed double gold in the high jump and shot put.

Jennifer’s stellar season continued as she, alongside her sister Izzy Mardle, achieved the qualifying standard for the prestigious English Schools Championships, taking place in Birmingham 11-12 July.

Meanwhile, four Norwich School athletes – Arthur Lamb, Rory Normanton, Jennifer Mardle and Izzy Mardle – were selected to represent Norfolk at the Regional Round of the English Schools Combined Events Championships in Corby. Across two demanding days, they competed in 22 events between them.

In their debut, Arthur and Rory recorded multiple personal bests, particularly in the jumps, with Rory finishing as Norfolk’s top U15 boy, and Arthur close behind in 3rd.
Izzy led the U20 women’s competition after day one, and despite an injury on day two, showed great determination to finish 3rd overall, securing a spot at the National Finals in September.
Jennifer delivered five exceptional performances to become East Region Champion in the U15 girls’ category, beating 26 athletes to claim the title and a place at Nationals alongside her sister.

We also took a team of 31 athletes to the East Region Prep Schools Championships in Bedford in early June. Selection alone was an achievement, with entry standards in place. The day was filled with heart-warming team spirit and support, and three pupils progressed to the National Prep Schools Finals in Birmingham on 2nd July:

Ophelia Martin (L4) took gold in both the sprint hurdles and long jump.
Sam Tricky (L4) ran a phenomenal 800m.
Rory Normanton (U4) continued his excellent season in the triple jump.

With our junior athletes, we trialled a new 1 vs 1 school athletics format, hosting a ‘QuadKids’ competition with Saint Felix School. Over 50 pupils enjoyed taking part in all four events – 100m, 800m, long jump, and shot put. This exciting format is something we hope to roll out further in Trinity Term 2026.

Overall, it’s been a powerful and inspiring term for Norwich School Athletics. We congratulate all our athletes on their hard work, success, and the pride they’ve brought to the school. The future of athletics here is incredibly bright.

Middle 5 Classics pupils act out a sacrifice to the Roman Gods

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:54:31 GMT

On Monday 1 July, Middle 5 Classics pupils took the opportunity to put what they've learned in the classroom to the test by acting out a Roman ritual sacrifice! The esteemed Pontifex Maximus led the proceedings on a baking hot morning as the gathered participants processed to the altar with their chosen beast - an unfortunate horse. The sacrifice was mercifully swift, with ketchup and a Swiss roll thankfully standing in for blood and entrails. After an anxious wait, Neptune and Minerva gave their approval of the ceremony to much celebration.

Below, our Classics Department offer their very own DIY guide, so that you too can appease ancient deities from the comfort of your own home.

Please note: no real animals were harmed during this ceremony, only ones wearing full Games kit.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears – Julius Caesar at the Bishop’s Palace Steps

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:34:08 GMT

A stellar cast on 29 and 30 June 2025 delivered a mesmerising open-air production of Julius Caesar as part of Norwich School’s 2025 Gather programme.

In warm summer sunshine and against the impressive backdrop of the medieval Bishop’s Palace steps, an experienced Sixth Form cast delivered a stunning performance.

Under the assured direction of Mr Bromley and Miss Wright, a portentous atmosphere of brutal assassination, gruesome suicide, Machiavellian plotting and civic upheaval was effectively created. A decidedly sinister soundtrack and novel stage-setting served to unsettle large and appreciative audiences each night. Even the cathedral peregrines overhead sounded their raucous approval as the dying Caesar bellowed out “Et tu, Brute”.

We saw many brave and committed individual performances echoing Shakespeare’s lines from the play: “Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant never taste of death but once."

Huge congratulations must go to the accomplished cast for delivering such a memorable performance as a result of many weeks of hot, post-exam rehearsals.

Lower 6 pupils are already showing such incredible dramatic talent for next year and it was a suitably fitting way for Upper 6 drama scholars to bow out on a well-deserved high.

The Great Punt Run

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:39:36 GMT

"This year I had the pleasure of taking part in the Great Punt Run for the second time. The Great Punt Run is a full day of sailing where we aim to complete 50 nautical miles, sailing in a classical Norfolk punt from Whitlingham to Barton broad via Lowestoft.

It was a challenge but the weather this year made it an incredibly enjoyable experience, due to the stable breeze and warm sunshine. We complete this amazing challenge in support of the Nancy Oldfield trust who support disabled people experience sailing on the broad and other water sporting activities they wouldn't otherwise have access to, and amazingly this year we managed to raise a whopping £1,500 pounds!

I am so happy I got to support this incredible charity once again alongside another school pupil - Ralph Leftley and members of the Nancy Oldfield charity, and Mark Elson helming throughout the day. The day consisted of an early 7am launch and pressed on for 13 hours ending roughly around 8pm at the Trusts home centre. It was incredibly rewarding to be involved yet again and working with a new group of people was extremely fun.

My favourite part of the day was being able to trapeze (with a harness on o flatten the boat) for a long tack across the open Breydon Water which was the closest point to the sea of our route. Luckily for us the wind and the sun held out until our return home, keeping us going all the way to the end. A big thank you to all that supported us and I can't wait to hopefully continue supporting this amazing charity in the future!"

- Rosie Pank, L6

Ski Success at the End of the Academic Year

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:31:47 GMT

On Monday 30 June, while the temperature was 34 degrees outside, our Mixed Ski Team was racing in the snow centre at Hemel Hempstead in the ESSKIA indoors school championships in a refreshing -4 degrees!

Norwich School skied cleanly in round 1 but found ourselves in 2 ^nd place. Knowing some risks needed to be taken we upped our pace in the second and more difficult course to take the title by a very narrow 0.09 seconds – ski racing can be determined by very fine margins!

Well done to the team of Rufus Snelling, Antonia Watson, Charlie Barker and Sophie Slinger for winning the title, and also to Rufus and Antonia who were the fastest Male and Female competitors in the mixed competition.

Talking Tennis Towards the End of Trinity Term

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:36:08 GMT

It’s been a busy and exciting term of tennis across all age groups, with plenty to celebrate!

The Senior Boys team entered a rebuilding phase after losing three key players, but their spirit never wavered. A strong start in the Glanville Cup included a confident win over Gresham’s, with standout performances from new captain Harry Philpott and George Snelling. Although they fell to Wymondham College in the next round, the team gained valuable experience, with Veron Hung stepping up superbly. A return fixture on Gresham’s grass courts proved tough, but promising signs are in place for next season.

The U15 Boys had an outstanding season. Led by Rufus Snelling, they lost just once in a narrow tiebreak to Hethersett, before powering to 6–0 victories over both Gresham’s and Wymondham. They finished as county runners-up, with exciting depth in the squad for next year.

Our U15 Girls made a great impression in their debut county campaign. After a competitive match against Gresham’s, they were narrowly edged out by Wymondham in a thrilling deciding tiebreak. Their commitment and team spirit were widely praised.

The U13 Boys were this term’s standout team, retaining the County Cup for a third year after a dramatic 4–3 win over Notre Dame. They now progress to the national stages — congratulations to all involved!

Cricket Catch-Up Towards the End of a Successful Season

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:05:31 GMT

June proved to be a particularly busy month for our cricketers, as pupils juggled school trips, exams, and Duke of Edinburgh commitments, while several teams remained involved in their Cup final rounds.

It has been an exceptionally successful term, with the 1st XI boys setting the standard by maintaining a two-year unbeaten record in the league — a tremendous achievement. The 1st XI girls also impressed with a superb cup run, reaching the fourth round before narrowly losing to the reigning national champions.

The U15A boys enjoyed a remarkable term, advancing to the third round of the National Knockout with victories over Stamford and Warwick. They also reached the last 16 of the National T20, where they were eventually knocked out by a strong Epsom College side.

Team Highlights

· 15A Girls – Runners-up in the County Cup

· 13A Girls – Runners-up in the County Cup

· 12A Boys – County Cup finalists (final to be played later this term)

· 14A Boys – Runners-up in the County Cup

· 15A Boys – County Cup winners

· 1st XI Girls – Memorable victory against the MCC

The school has proudly hosted several Norfolk state school cricket festivals and competitions, further supporting the development of the sport within the wider community. A significant number of our pupils are also representing County Age Group squads this summer, with a busy schedule of fixtures ahead.

Individual Highlights

· Sam Reynolds – 100* against the Old Norfolkians

· Bella Borges – Scored the first-ever century for the girls program.

· Lewis Reeder – Selected to represent Northants 2nd XI and 7 /17 against St Joseph’s.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our ground staff, coaching staff, and administration team for their dedication and tireless work. Their commitment ensures our pupils have the best possible environment to compete, improve, and enjoy their cricket.

Able2B has the Support of the Friends of Norwich School

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:31:47 GMT

A fabulous day of activity was held in the Lower Close to celebrate Discover Your Ability Day.

We all know and celebrate just how much has been much going on across the school itself, but it’s also important to celebrate highlights of the partnerships and charity events that have been taking place in the last few weeks beyond Norwich School.

One of the best events in our partnerships calendar is the annual Discover your Ability Day with Able2B which pairs together children from both mainstream and special needs schools for a day of sporting activity. We'd like to thank FONS for supporting this event.

With the help of over 20 L6 pupils plus other year groups (committing to the 3 training sessions in the run up and for being there to help make this day such a success) - it was the best of its type by far.

In summary, the FONS financial help meant that we were able to keep the event cost neutral to the school (leaving just our cost of time from pupils and staff alike - which we are always glad to give!). The FONS money helped cover transport for the pupils to get to the Able2B gym on the after school training slots, plus for the caretakers' and cleaners' costs - this was amazing!

We would love to continue this highly memorable event and would greatly appreciate the help of FONS going forwards!

More details about the day, from pupil Daisy Massey, can be found here: Able2B - Discover Your Ability Day 2025

Greenpower Team Races at Lotus Test Track

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:29:00 GMT

With help from FONS, the Greenpower Team attended the 2025 Formula 24 Heats at the Lotus test track.

We are delighted to be running the Greenpower Club again this school year and have brought forward many learnings around motor efficiency from last year’s competitions. The team is made up of L5 and M5 pupils with L6 helping across many aspects of engineering and we have been rewarded with improvements over the past year as we continually test and analyse the data.

In May, the Greenpower Team attended the 2025 Formula 24 Heat at the Lotus test track at Hethel. For many in the team, it was their first time at a Heat and racing the car. We also found out that our Team number was now 118 - it was 258 last season. It turns out that teams are given a new number at the start of each season, corresponding to their national ranking. This was great news.

The team did very well, with strong placements in each of the two races despite some brake and battery issues. These were all resolved, and the car recorded some good lap times. There are still improvements to be made, and work continues to make the car more competitive.

The battery care system has almost finished construction, enabling the team to improve the life and efficiency of the batteries, by controlled charging and discharging.

We are also developing the role of the L6 pupils further, starting at the start of the year, with the aim that the car places in the top 15 or higher in the next Heat.

In addition to the items detailed previously, more racing gear has been purchased using the FONS award, meaning that there is a greater range and availability of helmets, gloves and overalls for pupils to use during racing.

The team continues to be very grateful for the significant support of the FONS and the ongoing progress made possible by the funds provided. We have been able to purchase new driving kits (helmets, overalls, gloves) for the team, alongside apparatus for soldering/electrics for the drivers. FONS have also helped cover costs for thermal conductivity, bulbs, current control, an ‘e-chook’ telemetry kit, a new steering wheel, as well as batteries and chargers.

We look forward to competing next year!

Spotlight on Clubs and Societies - DJ Club

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 15:00:32 GMT

Norwich School support staff and resident DJ s; Ash Granados and Lily Fielding have a real passion for all things dance music, spending their weekends discovering new artists and playing out in Norwich and beyond. This academic year they have been dedicating their Friday lunchtimes to teaching the pupils of Norwich school their favorite hobby. Pupils are invited to send in some of their favorite tracks to share and connect with others across the school through their love for music. They have been learning the fundamentals of DJ ing and all about how to mix their music with others, whilst making friends and broadening their knowledge of electronic genres and the industry.

DJ club will be continuing on in September 2025 and will be open to all.

Exciting First Aerial Trial Session at Lower School a Soaring Success

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 14:24:16 GMT

On Thursday 19 June, Lower School hosted its first-ever aerial trial session — and what a hit it was! Pupils were thrilled to get their feet off the ground as they explored the basics of aerial movement, balance, and strength.

The trial introduced pupils to a completely new set of skills, and staff were impressed by the enthusiasm and confidence shown by everyone who took part. Many pupils surprised themselves with how quickly they adapted to the new challenges.

With the success of the session, the school is excited to launch regular aerial classes starting in September. It promises to be an exciting addition to the school’s extracurricular offering.

Watch this space for details on how to sign up!

Learning Through a Latin Treasure Hunt

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:05:02 GMT

In the lead up to the summer holidays, Mrs Ward's L4-L5 have been challenged to finds the answers or letter clues to the treasure hunts. But all the clues are in Latin using vocabulary they may never have met but to try and figure out. The clues get them to look closely at details of the school they may not even have noticed. How many clues can you decipher and what answers do you know?

The final clue leads them to our lovely 'guardian of the gate' to whom they must pose a particular question in order to gain a sweet treat from him. Lots of fun was had by all (including Ronnie) and even in the sweltering sun some chose to race around the school to find the answers.

Gold Medal Success at the Norfolk Show!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:58:53 GMT

Lower One and Upper One pupils were beary excited to scoop a Gold Medal in the School Gardening Competition at this year’s Norfolk Show. Pupils entered a beautifully designed wheelbarrow display inspired by Michael Rosen’s much-loved book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt , which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. The display brought the story to life with inventive recreations of the iconic settings — the barrow contained "swishy swashy grass", a flowing river, a snowstorm and a deep, dark forest. Every detail was thoughtfully crafted to represent the habitats the family journeys through in the book.

A particular highlight of our display was a life-size willow bear, created by pupils in our Willow Weaving Club using Brittany willow. This striking feature, nicknamed Brittany, captured the attention of judges and visitors to the show.

Five of our Upper One pupils had the opportunity to speak to the judges at the Show. They confidently explained the ideas behind the display and talked the judges through all the hard work that went into creating the display.

We are incredibly proud of all the pupils for their creativity, teamwork, and enthusiasm and we’re absolutely delighted to bring be awarded a Gold Medal!

Upper 4 Success in the Physics Olympiad

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:49:59 GMT

13 U4 pupils recently took part in the online British Physics Olympiad Year 7/8 Physics Challenge. Over 6500 pupils participated from 81 schools across the UK and overseas.

The test comprised two 25-minute sets of multiple-choice questions about physics ideas and problem solving, which aimed to encourage wider reading and interest in the subject and to provide an opportunity for pupils to take part in a national physics competition and to develop their confidence in the subject. Our pupils performed exceptionally strongly, obtaining 10 Gold and 3 Silver awards. Congratulations to all!

Gold Awards

Oscar Zhang

Charles Secker

Harrison Buskell

Jack Johns

Siya Patel

Boden Barton

Maxwell Ford

Jiajun Li

Faizaan Alam

Rowan Kidd

Silver Awards

Amelia Lodge

Bayden Choi

Jack Conrad

The 2025 Charity Fashion Show

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:37:02 GMT

In the penultimate weekend of school, we hosted our annual Charity Fashion Show in Blake for the first ever time (previously we have held this in The Open and The Space - bespoke studios). It proved to be a real success, with Sacha Burke (a returning leaver from 2016) joining us hot off London Fashion Week to make the event as professional as it possibly could be. Hosting it onsite not only enabled us to raise so much more for the chosen charity, Street Child, but also enabled our very busy pupils to be able to partake in the many other rehearsals/commitments they had on the same day! This event could not have been possible without the incredible support of the Charities Committee, notably Mia Scarborough who led on this event with such commitment and passion alongside Boo Harrad, our Chair for this year who also was so positive about the whole event throughout. Alongside them, many other committee members, plus those from the wider advisory group and pupils from the textiles departments also helped to get this show off the ground. This being the final event of the year for Charities Committee. We are proud to announce that we raised £1465.01 for Street Child in the Trinity Term.

Here are a few words from Mia:

"It was amazing to see all our hard work from over the last month come together on Friday evening; the show itself was so much fun and I want to do it all over again. A big thanks to all the models, dancers, comperes, designers and to those who bought tickets. We really appreciate all the support we received from staff at school too. We couldn’t have done it without you all!"

And from Anna Lloyd who works for Street Child:

"On behalf of everyone at Street Child, we would like to extend an enormous thank you to yourself, the charity committee and everyone involved in Friday’s fashion show for Street Child.

It was a truly inspiring, impressive and fun event – and clearly a lot of hard work and talent had gone into making it so! From the incredible dance performances to the hospitality, production, raffle, and runway choreography, the whole event ran seamlessly. We hope that the committee are incredibly proud of their efforts, with the knowledge that all funds raised will go towards making a real and tangible impact in the lives of their peers around the world."

The Summer Spectacular Concert

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:20:07 GMT

On the evening of Thursday 26 June, the iconic St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich played host to a vibrant celebration of music: The Summer Spectacular Concert, presented by our Music Department as part of Gather25.

The evening featured an eclectic mix of ensembles from Norwich School’s musical community: from the Barbirolli Quartet and Spire Guitar Ensemble to the lively Junior Jazz group and Cathedral Brass. The varied line-up catered to a broad spectrum of musical tastes—spanning classical string quartets, youthful jazz, folksy brass, and even contemporary.

Thank you to all who attended and performed!

Great Norfolk Ice Cream Challenge

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:36:41 GMT

This year at the Norfolk Show we hosted t he Great Norfolk Ice Cream Challenge on our Norwich School Stand for the 2 ^nd year running – it was a huge success and great fun - it was fabulous to be able to help raise important fund for the Build Charity, with the help of Nelsonspirit and Ronaldos.

It was also impressive to receive feedback after the event, especially for Tom Conrad who was the project manager for the day, and brilliantly led the project.

The Royal Norfolk Show 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:56:42 GMT

On Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 June, pupils from the Lower School to the Sixth Form came together to celebrate the Royal Norfolk Show. The Norfolk Show is a beloved event, being a highlight of the year for many members of our community and this year was no exception!

This year truly had something for everyone, with the children being able to enjoy our very own Lower School Virtues colouring book and the Scout's keyring making, and the school dancers testing out their moves ahead of the highly anticipated Gala Night. However, the pupils' impact travelled far beyond our own stand, with Sixth Form pupils supporting the Discovery Zone and our Infants partaking and triumphing in the Wheelbarrow competition.

Our stand was elevated by the talents of Norwich School musicians who performed for our community in the marquee as they sat drinking coffee, chatting with our admissions team or just enjoying the cheerful atmosphere. The music department also made its way to the Band Stand for a performance from our Senior Jazz Band and the Lower School Choir also delighted audiences.

It was a brilliant event where we were able to celebrate our vibrant community in the sunshine.

Onyx Brass Delivers a Masterclass to Young Musicians

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:41:47 GMT

On 24 June, Onyx Brass visited Norwich School. Pupils from both the Lower and Senior School as well as Town Close enjoyed a workshop with Brass players, in order to develop their skills. The workshop was well catered to all participants of all abilities and a great time was had by all involved. At the end of the workshop, the pupils treated an audience to their performance in the Chapel. Following this, Onyx Brass then led a masterclass for a group of senior school pupils; L5 pupil, Jacey Ng, tells us about her experience below.

"Playing with Onyx Brass was an amazing experience. I really enjoyed hearing them perform, and it was exciting to play music with and for such a professional group. I felt very lucky to take part in a masterclass with them, where I learnt so many important things, especially about expression. They were so friendly and encouraging, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Their visit has really inspired me to keep improving." - Jacey Ng

Upper 1 Day Trip to Cromer!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:27:04 GMT

On Tuesday 24 June, Upper 1 had an exciting school trip to Cromer Beach. The children started at the RNLI Lifeboat Station, where they were welcomed by some of the volunteers. The children listened carefully to an interesting and informative talk all about the RNLI and the important work they do to keep people safe at sea. They learned that the RNLI is made up of brave volunteers who respond to emergencies in all weathers, carrying out hundreds of rescues each year.

During the visit, the children had the special opportunity to look at the impressive All-Weather Lifeboat. One of the volunteers answered lots of brilliant questions from the children about rescues, the different types of lifeboats, and how the crew is trained. The children found it fascinating to hear how the lifeboat is launched into the water and how quickly the crew has to respond when there is an emergency. It was amazing to see the equipment up close and imagine what it would be like to be part of a rescue team.

Afterwards, everyone got the chance to try on real RNLI gear! The children had great fun pulling on bright yellow waterproof jackets and trousers, as well as heavy lifejackets, safety helmets, and large boots. It was a great way for them to understand how important this equipment is in keeping the lifeboat crew safe during rescues.

Following the RNLI visit, the children headed down to the beach for lunch. The afternoon was filled with fun activities like building sandcastles, playing beach games, and paddling in the sea. To finish off the day, everyone enjoyed a delicious ice cream in Cromer. One child told a member of staff "This is the best day of my life!".

Home Clothes and Fashion Show in Aid of Street Child Charity

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:17:51 GMT

The Senior School Charities Committee held their own home clothes day a few weeks ago in aid of Street child and today is the Lower School's turn!

Lower School pupils were encouraged to wear orange in exchange for donations.

Next up is our annual Charity Fashion Show, also in aid of Street Child , where we will be showcasing multiple lines of textiles and art and design creations made by our very own pupils.

The committee have even launched a 'Design your own Tote Bag' competition and have printed them in school to sell on the night - see below images of the winning design in the 4 ^th Form. The other two winners were from L1 and L3 in the Lower School.

There is still time to buy your tickets for the Fashion Show which is in Blake THIS Friday at 18:30!

Middle 5 Success in the Physics Olympiad

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:45:55 GMT

26 Middle 5 pupils recently participated in the British Physics Olympiad Junior Physics Challenge alongside more than 12,000 other Year 10 pupils from 273 schools across the UK.

It consisted of an assortment of physics problems and ideas ranging from technical questions from beyond the scope of the GCSE curriculum, to questions testing pupil understanding of broader physics knowledge and the application of the subject outside of school, including the latest developments in the sphere of physics publicised in the media and scientific journals.

I am delighted to announce that our candidates achieved the following exceptional results:

Gold Awards

Owen Laidler

Luke Roy

Hugo Dawe

Albert Rush

Marcus Pop

Simran Chawla

Sophia Wigglesworth

Tody Tsang

Silver Awards

Rupert Strike

Min Ting Deng

Himash Amarawickrama

Nia Treavett

Juwairiah Ahmed

Rufus Snelling

Safal Neupane

Suvir Sanghrajka

Alena Lai

Ahmed Mohammed

Selina Ip

Serena Wing Sum Chan

Bronze Awards

Mahi Patel

Sujay Kollipara

Imogen Stevens

Ethan Tam

Nathan Ashley

Preeyasa Neupane

Festival of Poetry Inspires Lower 4 and Visiting Year 7 Pupils

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:10:29 GMT

Lower 4 pupils and visiting Year 7 students were treated to an unforgettable Festival of Poetry, featuring three powerful and distinctly different voices – each offering a compelling and deeply personal insight into the creative process.

The morning began with Julian Sedgwick , author of Tsunami Girl and 100 Tales from the Tokyo Ghost Café. Julian introduced pupils to the art of haiku and its place in Japanese storytelling, weaving in stories from his own life and his travels to Fukushima following the 2011 tsunami. His reflections on the resilience of survivors, and the way these experiences shaped his writing, brought real emotional depth to the session. Through his talk, he explored themes of tenacity, identity, and recovery – all central to his work and ensuring the pupils listened intently.

Next, Matt Windle , better known as the Poet with Punch, brought a burst of energy and rhythm to the stage. A professional performance poet and boxer, Windle shared his journey through spoken word, delivering poems crafted in real time using words provided by the audience. He spoke candidly about being excluded from school and how the very traits that once got him into trouble – his love of words and fighting spirit – are now the foundation of his career. His message was clear: pursue what you love, even if it doesn’t seem conventional.

The final speaker, Ashley Hickson-Lovence , author of the verse novel Wild East, brought the event to a powerful close. Drawing from his own experiences and set against the backdrop of Norwich, his readings were also heartfelt and sincere. He spoke of how writing helps him make sense of and process life’s often difficult events, encouraging students to embrace vulnerability in their own storytelling. His advice was "The first draft doesn't have to be good; it just has to exist".

All three speakers were warmly received, with pupils engaged from start to finish. Their stories were not only inspiring but also full of practical advice on writing, resilience, and how to handle rejection with determination and grit.

Adding to the creative atmosphere was local bookseller Book Bugs and Dragon Tales , who were on hand with a selection of titles from the visiting authors and information about their upcoming summer writing events for ages 11 and up.

This special day was a celebration of words in all their forms – and a reminder that, whether through verse, prose, or performance, there’s always power in telling your story.

Norwich Lower School Dance Company Places 4th in National Dance Final

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 12:37:44 GMT

Norwich Lower School Dance Company has achieved an impressive 4th place in the National Final of the Great Big Dance Off, a prestigious national dance competition. After successfully progressing through the regional heats, the team faced tough competition from 30 schools across the country in the final showdown.

Their performance, inspired by Alice in Wonderland , featured a dynamic and creative piece titled Queen vs Alice . The routine was praised for its originality, energy, and storytelling.

Miss Webb, Head of Performing Arts at Norwich Lower School, said, “I’m incredibly proud of the pupils. Their dedication and passion really shone through on stage. To place 4th nationally is an outstanding achievement.”

The team’s success has brought pride to the school and community, highlighting the strength of its performing arts program. You can watch their performance below.

Intergenerational Sports Day 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:19:09 GMT

On Monday 23 June 2025 we held another spectacular Intergenerational Sports Day which involved Care Home Residents from multiple local Care Homes, Friend in Deed, our own Year 12 pupils from Norwich School, Year 7/8 pupils from Framingham Earl High and Year 3/4 pupils from a new connection for us, Firside Junior School - the event really was enjoyed by all ages! For this, I thank the many L6 pupils who helped to meet and greet and run the event – it couldn’t have happened without you: notably Tom Irvine, Megan Clements, Else de Lange, Ed Lewis, Nick Conway, Grace Cropley and Rudi Howard. Mrs Thomas even came back to take part with her new baby, Seb!

Organiser, Kelly from Friend in Deed, said;

"Another incredible intergenerational sports day took place on Monday 23 June 2025 and all ages had a brilliant time. We love watching our older friends get involved in movement, exercise and competition! The biggest thanks as always to our hosts and good friends Norwich School.

Younger friends from Framingham Earl High School and Firside Junior School also attended to take part, and we had 3 bouncy babies and mums that joined in too! Watching events like an egg and spoon race between friends with a 90 year age gap is always good for the soul. Until next year!"

Able2B - Discover Your Ability Day 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 14:36:05 GMT

On Sunday 22 June, Able2B held their annual Discover Your Ability Day. L6 Pupil, Daisy Massey, tells us a bit about her experience below;

My experience of Able2B started at Bessemer Road where we all found ourselves paired up with someone from the organisation.

In the lead up to the big day, I partnered up with a lovely girl called Brooke where we did Boxercise together and bonded over everything.

Sunday was the main event. We were so lucky with the weather, in fact it was perfect. Brooke was very excited to be doing a lap of the Lower School field on her bike whilst I ran beside her. However, she did so well, she wanted to do another one so I found myself running around again. She had far more energy than me!

Aside from the main events, there were a whole host of fantastic stalls and free face painting for anyone there. Brooke and I decided to get fake matching tattoos on our forearms. We then finished the day off with a whole community walk which brought us all together. At the end of the walk, Brooke got off her bike and walked over the finishing line. I found this the most heart-warming moment of the day. Brooke was so pleased with herself and I was so proud of her.

This amazing day was finished by a huge hug and an exchange of numbers so we can stay in contact. This was probably one of the best days that I’ve ever been involved in. I really hope they raise as much as possible as it’s such a worthwhile cause.

Junior and Inter Musical - School of Rock!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:12:29 GMT

This year's Inter and Junior Musical - School of Rock was a hit which had crowds of all ages laughing and tapping their feet.

Struggling to pay the bills, wannabe rockstar, Dewey Finn ( Rory Evans), finds himself in a tricky situation by imitating his roommate and best friend, Ned Schneebly (Barney Fay). Posing as a substitute teacher in the prestigious Horace Green, Dewey turns a bunch of smart and tidy students into little rock stars, determined to ‘stick it to the man’. But as Dewey begins to fall for the Headmistress (Flo Knowles) and parents start to have suspicions, will they make it to the Battle of the Bands?

This impressive production had a cast of over 30 pupils, an amazing achievement for first time directors, Rachel Dean and Sophie Millington, who directed this for their Lower 6 Independent Project. Putting on a production of this level is no small feat, and all the cast and crew should be incredibly proud of their performances.

Rachel and Sophie said, “As first-time directors, putting on a combined Junior and Inters musical has certainly been a challenging, yet rewarding, learning process but we couldn’t have had a better show to work on. It’s been great to work with such a talented and entertaining cast who have brought so much energy to rehearsals. Thank you so much for all the support from our friends and family and the drama department throughout this process.”

Young Musicians to Perform at the Five Churches Festival

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:28:59 GMT

On 10 July, there will be a very special Making Musicians concert in the Cley Church as part of the Five Churches Festival in North Norfolk. This concert will feature the Norfolk Young Musician 2025, Tristan McCardel (ON), and Norwich School music scholar, Benjamin Griffiths. Tristan will perform avel’s virtuoso masterpiece Tzigane and the beautiful Romance no.2 by Beethoven. Benjamin will then be performing the haunting song-cycle by Butterworth, A Shropshire Lad, alongside hits from the world of musical theatre.

Additionally, L5 Music Scholar, Isaac Schaad, will be performing in the Festival's Finale on Sunday 13 July. Isaac's composition Divertimento for Strings will be performed by the Chaos Collective Strings Ensemble under the direction of Stephen Threlfall in the Festival Finale. Isaac will also perform in the ensemble himself.

To find out more click here!

Musical Excellence at the Deveson Music Competition

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:54:50 GMT

On Friday 20 June, we hosted our annual Deveson Music Competition, adjudicated by Peter Hayward. The day was split into 4 categories; Senior Prize, Junior Prize, Intermediate Prize and Lower 4 Prize. The pupils provided an excellent repertoire, with performances from the world of Musical Theatre to the classics of Mozart. The winners of each category are as follows...

Senior Prize: Lana Kiddell L6 (Drum Kit/Voice) singing ‘Alone’ by Heart

Intermediate Prize: Preeyasa Neupane M5 (Piano) playing ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ by Joe Hisaishi

Junior Prize: Isaac Schaad L5 (Piano) playing ‘Rondo’ from Beethoven’s Sonata in Cm

Lower 4 Prize: Jake Li L4 (Piano) playing Croatian Rhapsody by Huljić

Congratulations to all who took part!

Conquering the Three Rivers Race - Ralph Leftley and Ed Brightwell (L6)

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 10:48:44 GMT

On Saturday 31 May, one scout, two pupils, two members of staff, seven scout leaders and at least nine ONs crossed the start line of the Norfolk Broads Three Rivers Race, the world’s toughest inland waterway sailing competition.

Covering just over fifty miles the competitors have only twenty-four hours to navigate, not only the Rivers Ant, Bure and Thurne, but also to pass under three bridges by lowering then raising their masts. To add to the difficulties the sailors need to factor in the rising and falling tides and contend with variable wind speed and direction. And sometimes, no wind at all!

Representing our youth, Ralph Leftley (scout and NS) and Ed Brightwell (NS) crewed a Wayfarer and came in in 14 and ¾ hrs (adjusted for handicap) putting them in a hugely respectable 28th place.

The pupil has now become the master with Mr Elliott (staff) and his crew taking a further four hours to get round.

Mr Gent (staff, scout leader and ON) won the prize for helming the biggest boat of the race, ‘America’ crewed by ONs while Ali Sims (scout leader and ON) in his Rebel with another ON returned in ten minutes short of fifteen hours in an impressive thirtieth place.

Natalie Chalk and Ben Pond (scout leaders and ONs) were forced to retire after a very promising start.

With the rich heritage of sailing in Norfolk it is very rewarding to see that the efforts put in by the school’s sailing programme and the opportunities presented at scouts, both to start sailing and to extend the adventure over camps and weekends continue to bear fruit on a wider stage.

If you would like to know more about the opportunities that sailing with the 8th Norwich Sea Scouts offers, please click here!

I must pass on my congratulations to all who took part. It is a tough gig, sitting in a boat for hours without any creature comforts and speaks to the 8ths motto of ‘Ignite the spirit of adventure’.

To celebrate their achievements, we caught up with Ralph and Ed to ask them about the race...

Why did you want to take part in the three rivers race?

Ralph - " I’ve always wanted to do the three rivers as my parents have talked about it before, I like a challenge and sailing so have been looking forward to it for a few years now."

Ed - "In terms of Broads sailing racing the 3RR is as big and well known as it gets, which added to the appeal for me. Also, I am unlikely to be able to do it next year because of ALevels, so it was now or never!"

What was the preparation like?

Ralph - " We tried to practice most weekends before the race when we could, to ensure we were familiar with the boat, controls and spinnaker, and practicing the crucial mast drops to get under the three bridges both ways."

How did the race go?

Ralph - " We came 28th out of 119 entries, which was a lot better than I’d hoped. We had planned our tactics well and stuck to it, so I was pleased that it had turned out well."

Ed - "Overall it went very well! I chalk this up to Ralph’s excellent planning meaning we were (as much as possible) in favourable tide and wind conditions. Overall we finished in 17 hours and 20 minutes on the water (without handicap) so it was a bit of a mission, but it certainly exceeded my expectations."

Have you done anything like this before?

Ralph - "Not of this scale, I have had extensive experience sailing the rivers but not at night, so it was a new experience for me."

Ed - "In training for the event we did a much shorter river race, aside from that my sailing racing experience is in the very different fields of fleet and team racing. "

Would you do it again?

Ralph - " Definitely! I am hoping to do it next year if I can factor it in with A-Levels."

Ed - "Yes! A levels are looming for next year but I’m strongly considering coming down for the weekend to race in (hopefully) my first year of uni."

What was the most challenging part?

Ralph - " In the evening at around 9pm the wind died so we were reliant on tide. There was one point where I thought the tide would change and work against us, however fortunately we made it to the turning point before we lost the tide."

Ed - "Going under acle bridge in the early hours of the morning was unforgettable for mostly scary reasons. Very low light, high traffic and gusty inconsistent winds was not a fun combo to cope with."

How long have you been sailing?

Ralph - " Ever since I can remember, really, through scouts and on my own, however it became a big thing for me shortly after lockdown as I became involved in school sailing."

Ed - "Roughly 10 years now."

What are your future aspirations for sailing?

Ralph - " Other than more three rivers races, I plan to continue sailing my Laser around east anglia and cruising with my family. I’m also Captain of the Senior Sailing Team at Norwich School so I am looking forward to the final events of this year and all of next year before I leave school. My next long distance sail is the Great Punt Run on Friday 20 June!"

Ed - "University sailing looks like the logical next step, after next years school season!"

What does it mean to be a pilgrim in 2025?

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 08:37:46 GMT

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.’

Scouts Celebrate Open Evening at NBYC

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:29:43 GMT

Our annual Open Evening took place in magnificent weather this year, bright sunshine, warm winds and a lovely breeze. Thanks to NBYC for hosting our event.

One hundred and seventy-three beavers, cubs, scouts, explorers and leaders were joined by guests and their families for an evening of, mostly, water based fun.

This year we introduced ‘the dining shelter challenge’ where mixed patrols from Port and Starboard Watches worked in teams to put up the prettiest dining shelter in the fastest tim e. I’m not sure there was an eventual winner but the scouts progressed their camp skills no end! Could we extend the concept further next year? Race around the broad? Fastest SUPer?

In addition to the sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, gig pulling, SUP riding and dining shelter challenge, the cubs put up tents in preparation for their forthcoming camps and played with knots in paracord to make some amazing keyrings and bracelets.

It was also an opportunity to announce to the Group that Suzy O’Connor is to take over the reins. This will happen officially in September but she has started her transition into the role.

For all their hard work and commitment the following scouts and leaders received these awards:

Bitter End

Arjun Roy

Joel Newman

Freya Osborne

Daniel White

Young Leader Belt

Tom Irvine

Joel Newman

Freya Osborn

James New

Issy Mayhew

Wood Badge

Feng Li

5 Year Service Award

Suzy O’Connor

Bell Jones

Feng Li

10 Year Service Award

Tim Ball

50 Year Service Award

David Sturdee

Chief Scout Gold

Alfie Sistern

Jessica Smith

Successful Session for our Lower 6 Pupils on Law Delivered by a Distinguished Oxford Professor

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 11:07:46 GMT

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.

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

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 10:29:57 GMT

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)

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:08:19 GMT

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.

Wishing you a great book tour, Emma!

Lower School Present a Joyful Summer Soirée at Abbeyfields

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:12:55 GMT

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.

Second Form’s Jack and the Beanstalk – A Giant Success!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:56:58 GMT

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.

Inspiring a Global Perspective: Professor Charles Forsdick Returns to Norwich School

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:13:06 GMT

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 Nnene's (10-21) Summer Tour

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:02:57 GMT

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

Be sure to show your support at any of the above venues!

All the best for the tour, Alice-Lily.

Lower 3 Bollywood Workshop – A Celebration of Dance and Creativity

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 11:19:17 GMT

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. L3 Pupil, Ben, Shares his experience below.

"Today we had a Bollywood dance workshop which will help us with with our Indian Case study!

Firstly, we had to go barefoot and take our ties off. The teacher, Tina, then taught us some hand movments and gave us these dots called bindis to wear on our foreheads or hands or shirts.

Next, we were taught that the right hand side of any limb moves right first then left. We also learned some dance moves and the chorus.

Near the end we dressed up and I chose a waistcoat and the people who did not wear waistcoats wore skirts. We had to also wear a bell bracelet around our right ankle. At the end we took off our costumes and said goodbye and thank you to Tina. I had a fantastic time!"

- Ben, L3G

Success at European Championships for Will Pank (13-19)

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:31:24 GMT

Many congratulations to Will and his partner who came 5th overall, and finished the event by winning the medal race!

We are thrilled to hear that ON Will Pank and his sailing partner Thommie Grit represented Great Britain in the 2025 49er European Championships at Thessaloniki, Greece this month, and came away with some impressive results.

Well done!

More details can be found here: www.sail-world.com/news

Photography credit to Nikos Pantis

Kit Downes (94-01 ) Wins Jazz Prize

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:07:21 GMT

Congratulations to Kit for winning the German Jazz Prize in the piano/keyboard category.

On 14 June, the E-Werk in Cologne hosted the presentation of the German Jazz Prize 2025 , celebrating outstanding individuals and projects from the German and international jazz scenes. An international main jury selected this year’s recipients from a pool of 76 nominees across 22 categories – ranging from artistic achievements and album productions to festivals, journalistic achievements, and music mediation projects.

To learn more about Kit's music, please visit his website: Kit Downes - Kit Downes

#DeutscherJazzpreis #Jazzpreis25 #DJP25

ONs v School Sailing 10 June 2025

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:49:04 GMT

It was a pleasure to see so many ONs at our recent ON v School fixture.

A fine day was had by all at Norfolk Broads Yacht Club for this special event.
It was wonderful to have the Pank family back in force for Humphrey Bedford-Payne’s final school versus ON fixture.
Well done to all involved and to team ONs for the win!

Upper 4 Pupils Come Together for Book Discussion Afternoon

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:43:43 GMT

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.

67 Lower 5 Pupils Visit the Battlefields in France and Belgium

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 14:07:39 GMT

From Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 June, 67 of our L5 pupils travelled to the battlefields in France and Belgium. This experience offered a powerful opportunity for our pupils to connect their classroom learning with the real-life stories and landscapes that shaped the First World War. Over the course of the weekend our pupils had the opportunity to engage with the locations and the lives of those who fought in the war and explore personal connections to ancestors.

We have been particularly moved by how deeply the pupils engaged with the land and the lives of those who fought in the First World War. Their curiosity, empathy, and reflective questions demonstrated a genuine connection to the history and sacrifices we encountered as shown by the reflections of each day three of our pupils below. I was impressed by their exemplary behaviour throughout the trip, their respect for the sites we visited, as well as for members of the public, was truly outstanding. Our drivers and guides repeatedly praised the group, and at several of the locations, the caretakers of monuments sought out staff to commend the pupils’ thoughtful and considerate conduct. I would like to thank our guides Henry and David from Anglia Tours as well as the staff who accompanied the trip: Miss Stone, Mr Grant, Mrs Arien, Miss How, Mrs James, Mr Pearce, Mr Peters and Miss Tilbrook.

Below are some reflections from the pupils...

"Arriving at Lijssenthoek cemetery after a long coach trip through France, we made our way along a pathway lined with the tallies of those who died and were buried in the cemetery throughout the First World War. Although we had seen the death tallies rise and fall by day, nothing could have prepared us for our first sight of a First World War cemetery. Continuing through the cemetery, we saw the graves of soldiers of many nations, proving why it was called a 'world' war. We were then given an activity to identify a grave from a soldier's last name and location in the cemetery. After a challenging search that made me appreciate the sheer scale of the cemetery, I came across the correct headstone. After reporting back to our tour guide, Henry, he told us background information about each one of our soldiers. This made these men more than just names on limestone bricks as it enabled us to relate to them. The lieutenant I identified, for example, played rugby, much like myself. After a delicious meal in Ypres, we continued to a secluded cemetery to the final resting place of Nigel Bavin an Old Norvicensian. As the last post played, I had the honour of placing the wreath, and silence fell on the cemetery. I believe that this experience was beneficial in making us comprehend the true effect of a World War as if we were born at the wrong time that fallen soldier could have been one of our classmates."

- Joseph L

"We spent the first part of the Friday tracking the progress of the Sheffield ‘Pals’ Regiment across No Man’s Land on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The Pals would have arrived at the Front Line trench the night before – a trench we were able to sit in. We went up the same slope they would have advanced out of, into the field beyond, and the first thing we saw, maybe twenty metres from the trench, was a cemetery. Suffice it to say that not many of the Pals got very far. Henry gave each of us a name of a member of the Regiment (mine was Sergeant-Major Frank Lewis) and told us to see if we could find our name in the cemetery. I was shocked how many soldiers were MIA, and whose bodies had still not been found. We then travelled to Newfoundland Park, which is Canadian territory, gifted to them by France after the war. This was where the Newfoundland Regiment began their advance on the Somme, and the trench system is still intact, as are – buried somewhere under the ground – bodies of soldiers. The losses sustained by the tiny population of Newfoundland (a mere 200,000 – just 50,000 more than the population of Norwich) lead to its joining Canada in 1947.

We also visited Lochnagar Crater, the site of where, ten minutes before the Big Push on the first day of the Somme, a huge mine was detonated beneath the German line. The explosion was recorded, but the scale of it is only truly realised by visiting the crater, the size of which must, despite 110 years of soil deposition, be seen to be believed. Next was Ulster Tower, a memorial to the Northern Irish regiment. The tower was a faithful reproduction of a tower in Northern Ireland that would have been the last thing the Irish soldiers saw of their country as they left, some forever. This is also the site of an excellent ice cream shop. Last on the agenda was Thiepval Memorial. This was a joint Anglo-French construction, with the name of every soldier whose body was never found after the Somme, and it is immense. There are upwards of 72,000 names on the walls of Thiepval, and only seeing every wall covered head to foot in names allowed me to visualise just how bloody the Somme was. Friday was sombre, but also very fulfilling. There are some things that lists of facts and figures in a history classroom cannot allow you to experience or prepare you for."

- Jamie K

"On our last day of the battlefields trip of 2025, we visited many spectacular, heart aching and delicious places including a Belgium chocolate shop! After the fulfilling treat of the chocolate, we travelled to the Passchendaele Museum where we were given immersive experiences of what life was like for a soldier in the First World War. The experiences included displays of uniform and the difference between the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance, a recreation of the underground bunkers and bunk beds (which were made of wood and chicken wire), a recreation of the trenches where we could see the “the elephant rooms” which were hollowed out holes which we were able to just about comfortably stand in. The museum was able to recount the soldier’s experience at Passchendaele including one soldier who had spent over six months elsewhere along the trenches which he would rather do all over again then those three months of Passchendaele. The last British cemetery we visited was Tyne Cot. Whilst we were there, we were given the task of splitting into pairs and choosing a grave with preferably a name, epitaph or one with a connection to us or our region. Most people chose soldiers who died young or fought as part of the Norfolk or Suffolk regiment. Each gravestone was perfectly kept and respected.

Our last location, the German Cemetery of Langemark, was a stark contrast to the British graves. While the Triple Entente make their cemeteries extravagant and airy so much that it feels like it could be a variation of heaven, the German graves are small uplifted dark grey rectangles where there are over 44,000 soldiers of Christian and Jewish beliefs were buried next to each other as equals against all antisemitism in Germany at that time. I think this is particularly striking considering the start of WWII and the holocaust occurred only around twenty years later. This trip was one where we were taught valuable information and we all are very thankful for everyone who was involved in organising such an enjoyable and educational weekend. Though the trip was emotional it was something that all of us pupils will forever be grateful for."

- Antonia C

Cate Norton Takes Part in the Norfolk Superhero Challenge

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 13:44:36 GMT

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!

Scholars Play 'DNA' Leaves Audience Entranced

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:47:41 GMT

The Scholars Play 'DNA' was performed on Friday 13 June, Will Clarke (Lower 6 Performing Arts Scholar) shares his experience of performing in the show below.

DNA follows a group of teenagers’ attempts to cover up the death of another pupil (Abi) at their school whom they peer pressured into doing increasingly dangerous dares, eventually leading to her accidental ‘death’. DNA deals with a completely different subject matter to any other play the school has done before and goes about it in a totally unique way. The first time I read the play, I was instantly compelled to read it again, and it was gripping all the way through.

The small cast size meant that we were all close by the end of the process and it allowed everyone to get to know each other on a deeper level. We used physical theatre in some sections which was nerve-racking to practise but rewarding to execute: Sruthi (playing Abi) had to fall backwards off a stack of three wooden boxes into the arms of the rest of the cast – this was daunting at first, but the result was a stunning and impactful visual. This, and similar exercises, helped develop the trust between us and strengthened our bond.

DNA was the shortest rehearsal process I have ever been a part of: we came to the first rehearsal knowing all our lines, just 6 days before the show. We had all been given the script over half term, allowing us to explore and develop our characters individually, before uniting our interpretations in rehearsals. We had two full days of rehearsals the weekend before the show, as well as two shorter rehearsals throughout the week and a day of tech and dress on show day. This limited number of rehearsals meant that they were intense and stressful, but this matched the frantic nature of the narrative and added to the visceral feel of our performances. Personally, I enjoyed being able to dedicate large amounts of time solely to DNA over the course of the week.

I played the role of Phil, and he is, in my opinion, the most complex and unique character I have ever gotten to play. He is mostly silent, but when he speaks, he is confident and commanding. Phil eats a different food in almost every scene, which was definitely a positive of getting to play this role. It was interesting to try and work out why he rarely spoke and constantly ate, and how I could find a way to sympathise with him despite his immoral actions. Whilst on the surface he is cold and cruel, inside, he is sensitive and emotional as shown by his last two scenes of the play. In rehearsals, debate was sparked about whether we should feel sorry for him or not, and it was fascinating to gather everyone else’s opinions and perspectives.

Reviews and comments from audience members have been overwhelmingly positive, which is amazing to hear, as, although we only had 5 official rehearsals, everyone in the cast and crew worked incredibly hard, and it is relieving to know that our work paid off.

The Magic Soup Stone

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:19:46 GMT

On Friday 13 June, Rev Child addressed pupils on the importance of community.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:32-37)

Last Sunday was Pentecost, which is sometimes called “the birthday of the Church”. That reading we’ve just heard is about the earliest Christian community learning how to support each other by sharing what they had. Keep that theme in mind as I tell you an old folk tale called ‘The Story of the Magic Soup Stone’.

There was once a traveller who arrived in a village, tired and hungry. He approached a house and knocked on the door. When a woman answered, he explained that he had been walking all day and asked if he could have some food. The woman apologised. “This is a very poor village. No-one has very much money or very much food. I’m sorry we can’t help you.”

The traveller was undeterred. “If you’ll allow me,” he said, “I happen to be carrying a magic soup stone. Just put some water on to boil, and I’ll be able to make soup.” With that, he rummaged in his bag and pulled out an ordinary looking stone. The woman wondered if the man was a little mad, but all the same she lit a fire under a large pot filled with water. As it began to boil, the traveller dropped the stone in the pot. After a few minutes, he took a spoon and tasted the soup.

“Mmm, that’s delicious,” he said. “That’s excellent soup. It just needs… a little bit of potato in it.”

By this point a small crowd from the village had heard about the traveller and his magic soup stone, and were watching from the doorway. One of them cried, “I’ve got a couple of potatoes!” He dashed back home, returned with the potatoes, and dropped them in the pot. The traveller tasted the soup again.

“Mmm, that’s great. It could just do with some vegetables as well.”

“I’ve got some carrots!” said one villager. “And I’ve got some cabbage!” shouted another. They fetched the vegetables and threw them in the pot.

“This is really coming together,” said the traveller as he tasted the soup. “The magic soup stone is definitely working. We just need some herbs and some bits of bread.”

Sure enough, there were some villagers who had those things at home, and in fact there were some other villagers who thought of more things they had that could go in the soup.

That evening a large group from the village shared an excellent meal of soup together with the traveller, their best meal for a long time. At the end of the meal the traveller thanked them for their company and rose to leave. The woman whose house it was stopped him. “Don’t forget your magic soup stone,” she said. The traveller smiled and replied that he would leave the stone with the villagers so they could use it whenever they needed it.

My first thought on that tale is that you have admire the traveller for his ability to bring the village together. The real magic in the story, of course, is what can happen when people gather. The villagers sharing their food is not even enforced – it’s generous and spontaneous. Notice the similarity with the Bible reading we heard:

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Some people have critiqued this part of the book of Acts as an endorsement of communism and a complete prohibition of ownership and property. I think that’s missing the point. I think Acts chapter 4 is much more about the magic that can happen when communities gather and develop instincts for sharing and living together.

I have one or two old friends who have a real talent for bringing people together. It’s taken me years to recognise their talent, because it’s easy to miss. They aren’t always the loudest person at the party. Instead they are the person who organised the party. They are the person who first suggested meeting up; the person who sorted out a time and a date; the person who arranged the food; and so on.

Do value this quality if you see it in other people; maybe even grow this talent yourself. Acts chapter 4 and the story of the soup stone show that it is a valuable quality, a community-building quality, we could even say a godly quality.

The War Within - Lorna Gauvain's (15-20) film about chronic pain

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:30:43 GMT

Lorna is raising funds to make a film about living with chronic pain. Read on to see how you can help.

Lorna Gauvain (15-20) is making a short film about living with chronic pain, which she'll hopefully be making this summer at the UEA. Please watch this short film about her lived experience and her plans to crowdfund her project.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-war-within

It is also worth noting that Lorna is planning to film in Norfolk and is hoping to cast actors who have a base in the county. If you are an acting ON and interested in featuring, then Lorna would be happy for you to audition when she is at the relevant stage. She is primarily looking for actors who look university aged (20-30s), as well as any female presenting actors with stage combat experience.

Many thanks for your support.

June Making Musicians Delights the Cathedral

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 14:46:41 GMT

On Thursday 12 June, Jacey Ng and Melissa Hawkings performed an excellent Making Musicians recital in the Cathedral. Melissa shares her experience below...

I had a great time performing a 20 minute recital alongside Jacey Ng in the Cathedral. I had the privilege of being accompanied by Brenda Blewett on piano, and it was amazing to play in such an atmospheric venue. I played pieces by Beethoven, Strauss and York Bowen, composers from vastly different eras, which I chose as I hoped to highlight the variety of horn repertoire, and how it has evolved through time. The York Bowen sonata was definitely my favourite to play, as it is very energetic and uses techniques unique to the horn, such as handstopping. This is a technique where you cover the bell of the horn with your hand to create a tinny, muted effect. Although I was nervous at first, It was a joy to share this music with the audience.

Compared to my last recital in the Cathedral (November 2023), I was able to enjoy the music a lot more this time, as I felt more technically secure and comfortable while performing. It is through the Making Musicians programme that I have been able to develop my performance skills, which I am very grateful for. I look forward to performing in the future!

Lower School Summer Concert Shines Bright at Kings Centre

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 13:06:32 GMT

The Kings Centre in Norwich was buzzing with excitement as a packed audience gathered to enjoy the Lower School Summer Concert, an evening filled with smiles, joy, and an impressive variety of musical performances showcasing all the school’s choirs and ensembles.

The concert kicked off with the vibrant energy of the Guitars, who opened the night with a powerful rendition of Seven Nation Army, followed by an original piece composed by their talented tutor, Mrs. Cracknell. This set the perfect tone for an unforgettable evening of music.

Next up, the Recorder Crew dazzled the crowd, delivering beautiful melodies alongside the Treble Recorders, whose harmonies blended seamlessly to create a truly enchanting sound. The Infant Choirs then took to the stage, filling the hall with Summertime and My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music, much to the delight of everyone in attendance.

A special highlight was a stunning vocal solo by Annabelle Hitchings, who captivated the audience with Dream a Little Dream, accompanied by the Lower School Band, affectionately known as the ‘Mindblowers’. The energy picked up again with the Little Voices performing We Like Joyful Music, complete with a lively Cha Cha Cha routine that had the audience tapping their feet.

Bringing a tropical vibe to the evening, the Steel Pans performed a traditional Calypso that perfectly matched the summer weather, while the Lower School Strings introduced country charm with Saddle the Mule and Mambo. The Chamber Choir then took centre stage, thrilling the crowd with the fun Whisper and a beautiful new song, Dream Big, celebrating growth and moving forward in school.

The grand finale was delivered by the School Choir, who wowed everyone with a spectacular version of Toto’s Africa, complete with atmospheric rainforest sound effects and dramatic thunder, immersing the audience in the song’s iconic vibe. The evening closed on a high note with the Stickers Ensemble performing their amazing routine Stick it To ’Em, written by Mr. Shaw, leaving the crowd buzzing with excitement.

Overall, the Lower School Summer Concert was an incredible showcase of talent, happiness, and joy, reminding us all of the power of music to bring people together and celebrate community. A huge congratulations to all the performers and their tutors for an unforgettable night!

Lower 1 and Upper 1 Perform for English+

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 12:30:45 GMT

In a heartwarming event that beautifully showcased the spirit of community and compassion, the children of Lower 1 and Upper 1 were invited to perform in the Hostery for a group of refugees supported by English+ - a cause proudly championed by the school.

The young performers sang with poise and joy, delivering a delightful repertoire that included Summertime, My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music, The Body Song , and Wizards of the Sun from the infant musical, Wiz Wham Alakazam. Their voices filled the space with warmth and energy, captivating a supportive and engaged audience.

The performance was met with enthusiastic applause and heartfelt appreciation. It was a moving experience for all involved, highlighting the power of music to bring people together across cultures and experiences.

Following the musical presentation, the children of Lower 1 shared pots of herbs they had lovingly grown as part of their Outdoor Learning programme. These thoughtful gifts were received with smiles and gratitude, adding a personal and meaningful touch to the occasion.

This special event not only brought joy to the guests but also offered the children a valuable opportunity to connect with others through creativity, kindness, and shared humanity. It was a truly memorable performance for the school and a wonderful moment for the charity.

Swire Mandarin Language Day 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:25:47 GMT

Norwich School has acted as the Hub School for a ten-year innovative Mandarin/Chinese teaching scheme – fully funded by the Swire Chinese Foundation we currently offer the subject in curriculum time to 14 state schools and to c1500 students / week. The ultimate goals for those students involved being GCSE, A-Level or HSK.

Annually we run a China Trip for the Principal Partner Schools in the scheme, trips to London and an Annual Student Conference in Manchester.

For the teachers in the Swire Chinese Foundation scheme there is an Annual Chinese Language Day, this year held at Norwich School in early June. 140 teachers, from 10 Hub Schools from across the UK, gathered for the conference. The night before the conference all enjoyed a magnificent Chinese Buffet prepared by our Refectory Team, and some magnificent Classical Chinese Han Tang dancing from the Goldsmith’s University Chinese Dancers. On conference day a full programme of significant speakers offered thought provoking speeches with panel discussions. Exclusively for the teachers’ tips and training across a myriad of areas was on offer. The bulk of the day being expertly delivered in the newly refurbished Norwich School Upper King Street Building..

A wonderful few days for Swire colleagues to round off the teaching year.

Lower School Raise £500 for Young Minds!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 07:50:54 GMT

We were delighted to host our first Lower School Car Boot Sale on Sunday 8 June, raising an impressive £500 for Young Minds, the UK charity supporting children’s mental health. It was a lovely community morning, with parents and children coming together to sell pre-loved items, enjoy refreshments and support a fantastic cause.

Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the event such a success!

A Joyous Finale: Lower 2–Upper 2 Informal Concert Brings the Year to a Brilliant Close

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:22:17 GMT

The final notes of an unforgettable year of solo performances rang out in spectacular style last week as the Lower School's Lower 2–Upper 2 Informal Concert delighted audiences with a vibrant showcase of musical talent. From start to finish, the concert was a joyful celebration of the passion, creativity, and skill our young performers have nurtured throughout the year.

The programme offered a rich variety of music, featuring everything from classical masterworks to rock anthems—each piece performed with confidence and flair. Highlights included a powerful rendition of Green Day on the drums, stirring Tchaikovsky melodies on the cello, and a cinematic performance of The Great Escape on the French horn. Meanwhile, Godzilla roared to life on the guitar, thrilling listeners with its energy and intensity.

Both instrumentalists and vocalists shone, each bringing their unique voice and style to the evening. Whether it was a delicate piano solo, a heartfelt vocal performance, or a lively brass fanfare, every moment captured the enthusiasm and hard work of our performers.

The audience’s joy was palpable throughout the concert. With smiles, applause, and more than a few proud tears from family and friends, the hall was filled with warmth and appreciation—a fitting atmosphere to close out a fantastic year of musical exploration and achievement.

As we wrap up this season of informal concerts, we extend a heartfelt thank you to our visiting music teachers for their guidance, to the performers for their courage and commitment, and to our families for their unwavering support. The future of music in the Lower School is undoubtedly bright, and we can’t wait to hear what comes next.

Virtues Award Exhibition: A Celebration of Curiosity and Intelligence

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:14:59 GMT

Following the redesign of our Upper 3 Service Award into the new Virtues Award( to reflect our school’s refreshed focus on core virtues) we held a vibrant exhibition at the Lower School on Thursday 5 June. The pupils embraced the opportunity with real enthusiasm. The hall was transformed into a hub of creativity and intellect, as pupils set up posters, experiments, collections of curiosities, and engaging presentations.

Each class took a turn standing proudly by their exhibits, while their peers moved around the room asking questions, exploring ideas, and discovering new and fascinating facts. Topics ranged from crystal growth and atomic structure to the mechanics behind video game design and coding. Other highlights included models of WWII Anderson shelters and thought-provoking investigations into graffiti as art and social commentary.

It was a fantastic afternoon filled with learning, inspiration, and the spirit of curiosity; an excellent reflection of the virtue of curiosity we continually champion.

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

Thu, 29 May 2025 12:38:37 GMT

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.

“Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars” - Martin Luther King

Thu, 29 May 2025 09:46:14 GMT

On 29th May 2025 we were delighted to welcome back on site the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) for the next in their impressive series of lectures in the Blake Studio, their principal hub site for the eastern region. It was a particularly inspiring return.

Veteran campaigner Sir Jonathon Porritt CBE was our speaker for an evening of thought-provoking, intelligent commentary on the state of our fragile planet.

Jonathon is a name familiar to many, having been a powerful advocate of Friends of the Earth and the Green Party in a long career of political and ecological activism. To a large audience of RGS members, environmentalists, local politicians, pupils, parents, staff and alumni, our speaker did not pull his punches when reflecting on over 50 years of environmental campaigning.

In a data-driven and passionate address he exposed what he perceived to be abject multi-generational global failures to address the desperate plight of our planet. He touched on such diverse issues as: population explosion and rainforest destruction; access to birth control and fertility; plastic pollution and economic drivers of the oil industry; climate change and the dangers of rampant capitalism. His journey took us to some cheerless places, but Jonathon reminded us that, as Dr Martin Luther King said in his final speech in 1968 before his assassination: “I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”

He concluded with positive, personal reflections garnered from years’ worth of public engagement which confirmed that people (especially young people) were desperate for change and often had broadly similar views of what they wanted to see done differently. In a stark message to global democracies, he stated that voters had the valuable privilege of holding the power to change the status quo, one that, in his opinion, needed a radical reset. Consequently, he had been buoyed by the upending of traditional party politics evidenced by the 2025 local elections. He was also at pains to point out the huge potential of green energy to be a driver for global economic growth.

Jonathon was very generous with his time answering questions from a knowledgeable and engaged audience for an hour afterwards, leaving us all much to ponder on.

The local RGS is now off for their summer break but has generated a compelling programme of on-site talks for the autumn. Details will be published on their website - Upcoming events - RGS - once dates are confirmed.

We are extremely grateful to the dynamic James Firebrace and his RGS team for bringing to site this year an eclectic programme of lectures on varied topics such as: African species under threat from climate change; the future of rewilding; fragile coral reefs; treasured urban commons; and the sultry delights of the French Riviera ('A sunny place,' said Somerset Maugham, 'for shady people') delivered by engaging subject specialists from around the country, as well as hosting their annual pupil micro-lecture evening last autumn. Thanks also go to our loyal and supportive audiences who enjoyed being with us throughout the year.

As if by Magic! Infants Perform Enchanting Show

Fri, 23 May 2025 12:59:44 GMT

The children in Lower 1 and Upper 1 took to the stage at The Blake Studio to perform their rendition of the magical and enchanting musical production, Wiz Wham Alakazam to parents, grandparents and residents of The Great Hospital.

In this enchanting production, the young wizards of Sun Castle faced a day like no other. One moment the sun was shining brightly over the castle, and the next it mysteriously became dimmer. The resident wizards were thrown into chaos as the Chief Wizard led the spell-casters on an adventure to bring back the light. With plenty of magic spells, and just a sprinkle of disorder, the story unfolded with excitement, charm, and laughter.

From the very first scene, the children lit up the stage with confident line delivery and infectious enthusiasm. Each child played their part, whether it was casting spells, performing gymnastic and dance routines, or helping find the important but oldest Spell Book. The Ice Creatures made a dramatic entrance – eerie and impressive – with expressive performances that added just the right touch of tension.

Musical numbers such as "Teamwork", "Ice Creatures", and the "Wizards of the Sun" showcased the children’s growing talent in both singing and acting. All the songs were performed with energy, clarity, and joy.

The production was a celebration of creativity and teamwork, with every young performer contributing to the magic. Wiz Wham Alakazam was a joyful, spellbinding success — packed with music, movement, mystery and the unforgettable charm of Sun Castle’s youngest stars.

Mrs Barclay commented "The children have worked so hard to learn their lines and songs and I am very proud of their performances. It has been a delight working with this group of passionate and talented children."

Children's Yoga Community Service Tells the Tale of 'Superworm'

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 23 May 2025 11:02:56 GMT

This year's Children's Yoga Community Service group had great fun creating a yoga class for nursery and reception-aged children based on Julia Donaldson's book 'Superworm'. L6 pupils Uliana Bielova, Thomas Chester and Lizzie Taylor were later joined by Chloe Holmes and visited White House Farm Primary School, Magdalen Gates Primary School, our own Lower School reception class as well as four Once Upon a Time nurseries. They were greeted with lots of enthusiasm from the children and teachers/carers alike. The yoga lessons were fun, interactive and had everyone smiling!

The pupils themselves learned a variety of skills from lesson planning and working with children to public speaking and how to do yoga! They worked well as a team and got a lot out of the experience, as Lizzie Taylor explains: '‘I absolutely loved teaching kids yoga! Children are like natural bursts of serotonin, I always came back to school feeling happy.’

National Sporting Success

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 23 May 2025 10:57:03 GMT

Congratulations to Lower Sixth pupils Nicholas and Kwame on their outstanding international sporting achievements this term, proudly representing Great Britain and England in Rowing and Rugby respectively.

Nicholas has enjoyed a remarkable year, consistently delivering impressive performances at various GB U19 Rowing Trials. At the Spring Trial Regatta in April, he secured an excellent second place in the Pairs event, earning selection for the GB U19 Rowing Team. Competing at the Munich International Regatta, Nicholas helped the team win silver in the coxless four and double gold in the eight, triumphing over strong international competition. He will now progress to Crew Formation in July, where final selections will be made for the U19 World and European Championships.

Kwame, a key member of the Boys’ 1st XV since Upper Fifth, was invited to the England U17 training camp held at Hartpury earlier this term. In a match against a university side, he made a strong impression by scoring in a victory for the national team. Kwame also continues to play a vital role in the Leicester Tigers U18 Academy side.

We are incredibly proud of both Nicholas and Kwame for these exceptional accomplishments and look forward to following their continued success in the year ahead.

Noel Vine Presents 'Nacht Musik' with Norfolk Chamber Orchestra

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 22 May 2025 12:28:12 GMT

We heard on the grapeVINE (!) that our own Head of Music for the Lower School, Mr Vine, is starting his very own chamber orchestra, so we caught up with him to find out more...

How did the idea of a Norfolk Chamber Orchestra come about?

For me, the perfect ensemble is a small group creating Chamber music. I love its intimacy, feel, vibe and with the right musicians you can ignite something truly special. I decided a couple of years ago that Suffolk needed a really cool string ensemble, so I set up Suffolk Chamber Orchestra and we have just given our debut concert in Aldeburgh at the Jubilee Hall, where once the great Benjamin Britten stood and performed. And I thought, why just have one orchestra! So, I also created the Norfolk Chamber Orchestra. Both groups are string ensembles, and both feature incredible local players (some ex-London professionals who now live here and some outstanding local musicians that I've taken 4 years to find)

How long have you been playing music/singing? What is your musical history?

My musical background started at the age of 4, I asked for a violin and that has stayed with me for my whole life. I have been very fortunate to have been able to play with every major orchestra in London and across the UK including Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic, City of London Sinfonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Sinfonia of London, BBC National Orchestra of Wales to name but a few. I then got into recording and session work and have worked, toured and recorded with a lot of high-profile artists such as Madonna, Oasis, Paul Weller, David Gray, Kylie, Jamiroquai, Brand New Heavies, Take That, Robbie Williams and more. I've also enjoyed working closely with underground artists such as Pressure Drop, Fabio and Grooverider, Tipper and Goldie.

What kind of music does the orchestra perform? Is there any way we can listen to it?

At the moment the Norfolk Chamber Orchestra is just getting started and our debut concert will be on the 21st June at the Octagon Chapel in Norwich which is a really beautiful venue. Part of our plan is to champion beautiful Norfolk venues, and this is a great one to start with. It will a concert inspired by the coming of night called 'Nachtmusik' and will feature music by Mozart, Borodin, Dvorak and a UK Premiere by Eric Whitacre of 'Sleep' arranged for String ensemble. The concert will start at 7pm and will be for 1 hour and under 12's get in free! The link for tickets is here > Norfolk Chamber Orchestra - Norwich Octagon NACHT MUSIK at Octagon Chapel event tickets from TicketSource

How often do you rehearse? How does this work with your work schedule at the school?

Because of how brilliant the players are, we will rehearse on the day of the concert, unless we're doing something very contemporary or new. I am the leader and director which means I have to know everything that everyone is playing as there is no conductor - another great thing about having a chamber orchestra! Everyone is together, it's a collaborative feeling. A lot of our concerts will be at weekends, so it balances nicely with my work schedule at Norwich School.

Who do you think has been your greatest musical influence? Why?

I feel very lucky to have met some incredible musicians throughout my life. It's not necessarily the ones who are the best musically, but I love the ones who have the best stories! I spent some time with Roger Daltry and Pete Townshend from The Who and also Robert Plant and Jimmy Page from Led Zepplin. In terms in inspiring figures, they are up there - and you can imagine the stories! Also remember having a very long night with Tom and Ed ( Chemical Brothers ) at the Cobden Club in London. They wanted to talk about the intricacies of Baroque music and Bach's influence on everything! I then went back to their studio, and they played me the demo of Galvanise! Crazy!

Elementary, My Dear Reader! – A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at the Library

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 22 May 2025 12:12:35 GMT

The school library was transformed into a thrilling scene of mystery and intrigue as pupils took on the roles of budding detectives in an exciting Sherlock Holmes event. From the moment they stepped through the door of 221B Baker Street, pupils were immersed in the world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary sleuth.

To begin their investigation, each pupil had to “sign in” using their fingerprint—setting the tone for an authentic detective experience. Their first challenge was to decipher a secret message using the Caesar cipher, a classic cryptographic technique, to unlock the details of their mission.

The case? A precious book had gone missing from the library shelves— De Occulta Bibliotheca —and it was up to the young Holmesians to crack the case. Armed with a list of suspects and a map of the Lower School, pupils set off on a clue-hunting adventure that took them through hidden corners and puzzling trails.

Along the way, they decoded encrypted messages, revealed hidden notes using heat to expose invisible ink, and followed a trail of mysterious footprints. Each clue brought them closer to identifying the culprit behind the literary theft.

After collecting all the evidence, pupils returned to the library where, in their investigative groups, they reviewed the facts and collaborated to make their final accusation. Suspense hung in the air as the mystery was dramatically revealed—culminating in a final search that led them straight to the long-lost book.

It was an event full of curiosity, critical thinking, and imaginative fun. Our young detectives not only honed their problem-solving skills but also enjoyed diving into the world of one of literature’s most iconic characters.

Talking Tennis - A Successful Start to Trinity 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 22 May 2025 08:31:25 GMT

The U13 and U15 Boys tennis teams began their seasons with a fixture against Hethersett Academy at the Lower Close on Thursday 22 May. The U15s got the proceedings started with their singles matches and there were notable wins for Rufus Snelling at 1 against an opponent he had never beaten and Himash Amarawickrama at 4. Raffy Pantazis and Lucas Berney were just edged out in their singles matches so the game was in the balance going into the doubles. Things looked a little ominous as Rufus and Raffy were easily beaten but thankfully Lucas and his partner, Milo Delahunty levelled up the match with a convincing 6-2 win in their doubles match. So it came down to a shoot out tiebreak as it has against these opponents for the last two years! Lucas partnered Rufus and it was nip and tuck the whole way with some great doubles being played by both sides but at 8 all Hethersett just showed a little more composure and won the next two points and with it the match by 4 matches to 3.

The U13s game was a little more straightforward with wins in the singles for Josh Bond, Will Jenkins and Sam King. Josh also won his doubles with his partner Arthur Lamb but it was left to the final pairing of Will and Aarush Arkala to secure the match with a dramatic comeback in their doubles. After trailing 2-5 they then won 4 games on the run to secure a thrilling victory. Final score a 5-1 win for Norwich School.

Upper 2 Catapult Day was a Booming Success

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 21 May 2025 12:07:20 GMT

Wednesday 21 May quite literally began with a bang! Upper 2 took part in the eagerly awaited Catapult Day, a hands-on exploration that linked directly to the engineering and design elements of our curriculum—with plenty of opportunities to apply mathematical skills along the way. The day began with students measuring the size and mass of a variety of projectiles—from the humble golf ball to the impressively weighty shot put—developing their understanding of data collection, force, and motion.

Then came the real excitement: launching those projectiles! Starting by hand, pupils then progressed to an impressive arsenal of historical siege machines, including the Mangonel, Perrier, and Trebuchet. They also had the chance to try their hand at a composite bow and a crossbow, adding a dash of medieval flair to their practical investigations.

The day concluded with a suitably dramatic finale, as the younger pupils joined just in time to watch Jacob ignite the cannon—because, let’s face it, nothing quite wraps up a school day like a controlled explosion and the smell of gunpowder in the air!

Ali: 'Very fun and I learnt a lot. My highlight was when me and my team pulled the rope down on the perrier to launch the tennis ball!'

Tallulah, Darcy, Olivia: 'It was very exciting because we learnt stuff we had never learnt before and we got to try things we've never experienced before! Just don't ask Mr Love about breaking the perrier...!'

Oscar: ‘It was very fun and you got to have a go on cross bows, and a bow and arrow.’

Lucas: ‘It was really fun, we got into groups and fired catapults’

Muhammad Ameen: ‘I really liked the canon because when your put fire in it, it went boom.’

Rowing Report from the Start of Trinity 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 21 May 2025 10:04:58 GMT

The Trinity term began with 10 J15 and J16 rowers representing the Eastern region at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta. All crews reached the A Finals, with J. Howard and J. Hawkes winning a Silver medal in the J16 Pairs.

Sunday 4 May saw the Senior Boys and Girls crews raced at Wallingford Regatta in some tricky cross winds. One of the Girls Coxed Fours was less than 1 second off a place in the Repechage. A valuable day of racing to the start of the Regatta season.

The following weekend the Senior Boys and J15 Boys and Girls crews raced at Nottingham City. The four Senior boys that had raced a Quad the previous weekend, switched to a Coxed Four and had a great race against Emmanuel College, leading until the last 250m. The J15 crews were all racing as Development Crews (open to all ages), but again had some good racing beating from Club and Cambridge College crews. The First Eight put a tough morning race behind them to win the Open Eights event in the afternoon.

Daniel White and Nicholas Conway attended the GB U19 Spring Trial Regatta at the start of term. A 17th place was achieved by Daniel and a phenomonal 2nd place for Nicholas. This result gained Nicholas selection to race for GB U19 at Munich International Regatta. Some exciting racing saw Nicholas win Silver in the Coxlesss Four and Gold in the Eights.

This week sees all year groups racing at the National Schools Regatta in Nottingham. The J14s Boys and Girls and J15 Boys race on Friday and the Seniors and J15 Girls race on Saturday, with the Boys 1st Eight racing again on Sunday. We wish them all a successful regatta.

A Display of Talent at the Informal Dance Celebration

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 21 May 2025 08:38:09 GMT

The school was buzzing with excitement as students came together for a lively Informal Dance Celebration! Children from across all year groups took to the stage to showcase their incredible talent, energy, and creativity.

The event featured a vibrant mix of dance styles, with something for everyone to enjoy. From the high-energy beats of Hip Hop to the grace and poise of Ballet, and the spirited routines of Cheerleading, each performance lit up the room and had the audience clapping along.

It was a joyful celebration of movement, music, and student spirit — a chance for everyone to shine and support one another in a fun, informal setting. A big well done to all the dancers for their hard work and enthusiasm!

Cricket Catch-Up from the Start of Trinity 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 21 May 2025 08:14:18 GMT

The Cricket program has enjoyed an outstanding start to the term, with the fine weather and sunshine providing the perfect backdrop for a series of impressive individual and team performances.

Both our U13 and U15 girls’ teams qualified for the Indoor Regional Finals after strong victories in the County rounds, and their hard work during the Winter was rewarded.

Our 1st XI girls have begun their season in remarkable fashion, progressing to the third round of the School Magazine Cup. A standout highlight came in their win over Oakham, where India Fox and Alice Brand shared a phenomenal 215-run opening partnership. We also celebrated a historic milestone as Bella Borges became the first girl to score a century for the school.

On the boys’ side, the 1st XI remain unbeaten this term and have advanced to the third round of the National Cup, where they will face Oundle.

The U15A boys are now County Cup champions, having already recorded impressive victories against Warwick School and Stamford in the National Cup. Across all teams, we’ve seen several hat-tricks and other exceptional individual displays that reflect the depth of talent developing across the program.

We look forward to building on this early momentum as the term progresses.

Lower School Drama Present Grimm's Fairy Tales!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 20 May 2025 14:33:40 GMT

Our talented drama club pupils recently took the stage to perform a creative adaptation of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, captivating the audience with their storytelling skills and dramatic flair.

The performance featured a mix of well-known and lesser-known tales, brought to life with imaginative costumes, expressive acting, and a touch of humour. From the dark twists of classic stories to unexpected surprises, pupils kept everyone engaged from start to finish.

It was a fantastic showcase of teamwork, talent, and theatrical magic — a performance to be proud of!

Pupils Welcome Special Guests for Annual Grandparents Afternoon

Mon, 19 May 2025 13:28:47 GMT

On Monday 19 May, Lower School pupils were excited to welcome their grandparents to the Lower Close on a gloriously sunny afternoon.

Pupils were able to take their grandparents on a tour of their classrooms and to share their experiences of school life, before enjoying refreshments in the beautiful setting of the Jubilee Well Being Garden.

An enriching time was had by all in the sunshine, with a big thank you to all our guests who attended the afternoon..

A Riot of Colour in Blake Studio

Mon, 19 May 2025 11:12:49 GMT

On 14 May 2025 we were delighted to welcome back on site the illustrious Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas) for the latest in their impressive programme of talks hosted at Norwich School.

Our speaker was talented, London-based artist Trevor Burgess. He remembered fondly his local connections, having curated the Norwich Gallery and having been heavily involved in the arts scene in Norfolk during the 1990s. A significant element of Burgess's subsequent career has been as an artist-curator in a number of successful national exhibitions, during which time he has won numerous awards and prizes. Over 100 of his paintings are available at Bridgeman Images and were included in his lecture.

His fascinating talk was on the subject of What is Colour. Trevor reflected that more than 40% of the human brain is taken up with processing visual stimuli and the colour palette of art works is hugely critical to their appreciation. This was sumptuously illustrated in a slide deck of painstakingly selected images. With such a large and compelling collection of beautiful fine art under his consideration (Monet, Matisse, Munch as well as eastern influences), Trevor‘s thoughtful and engaging talk prompted much debate amongst our audience of n-cas members, local creative artists, pupils, ONs and staff over refreshments with the speaker afterwards.

Pupil Hetty who had helped at the event commented: As a Lower Sixth art scholar it was really interesting to hear about the topic of colour in paintings, specifically oil paintings. Last night’s talk by Trevor Burgess explored paintings being a platform for guiding emotions and creating a sense of space through colour. He addressed many artists renowned for their use of colour such as C é zanne, Matisse, Oskar Kokoschka and Joaquin Sorolla. One of the key notes I am going to take away from the talk is to paint the light and the experience not just the object.

For our next talk in the Blake Studio, we welcome back the Royal Geographical Society for another mouth-watering talk over half term, to which all are welcome:

Thursday 29 May – Royal Geographical Society public lecture - A Life in Green: looking back, looking forward – Sir Jonathon Porritt CBE.

Jonathon is a very eminent writer and high-profile environmental campaigner. He is perhaps best-known for his work and advocacy for Friends of the Earth and the Green Party over many decades, bringing to national prominence important ecological issues and crises. Jonathon’s talk will address what we have learnt from the last 50 years of activism on climate and biodiversity issues, and what are now the priorities when the challenge has never been more pressing. We are very fortunate to have attracted to site a speaker of his profile and calibre, and this promises to be a lively and though-provoking evening.

Timings : 7.30pm - Blake Studio Norwich School, The Close - doors open 7.00pm

Booking link : A life in green: looking back, looking forward - RGS . Tickets to be bought in advance please as space for tickets sold on the door is likely to be very restricted.

Details of Norwich School’s eclectic selection of cultural events round site feature in our termly publication, At Close Quarters , with the Trinity Term 2025 edition now out. See: Publications | Norwich School .

Do join us.

Onward Routes for Our Upper 6 Pupils - May 2025 Update

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 16 May 2025 14:18:33 GMT

Most (over 90%) Norwich School pupils who applied through UCAS to university this academic year have now received decisions from all the universities they applied to.

We congratulate all pupils on their university offers and offers for apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships received so far. We hope these pupils will understand that the size of the Upper 6 year group means we cannot publicise every offer; the offers below all required additional hurdles (e.g. interviews/admissions tests/auditions/portfolios) as well as a UCAS form.

Apply Plus offers received since mid-March (when 16 Apply Plus offers were shared):

Caidon Cary – Chemical Engineering at University of Manchester

Matthew Coelho Bartram – Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London

Oliver Howard – Mathematics at Imperial College London

Jack Rowley – Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London

Offers to study medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine received since mid-March (when 18 of these offers were shared):

India Bayes (ON) – Dentistry at University of Sheffield and University of Leeds

Natasha Bew (ON) – Medicine at University of Sunderland

Menuka Jayakody – Medicine at University of Bristol

Sushant Singh – Medicine at UEA

Offers to study creative courses for pupils who we have not yet shared offers for:

Zach Baker – Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) at the University of Surrey

Anoushka Craggs – Foundation Course in Acting at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Leah Feetham – BA Musical Theatre and Dance at Bird College Conservatoire, at Performers College (part of BIMM University) and Stella Mann College of Performing Arts. Foundation Musical Theatre at Italia Conti.

Katie Jackson - Architecture at University of Liverpool and at UCL (15 applications per place for this course)

Freya Tyack – Architecture at University of Nottingham

Offers to study at universities abroad received since mid-March (when 5 pupils’ offers were shared):

Bosco Tang - Dentistry at HKU (Hong Kong)

Lawry Williams – Economics at the University of Western Australia (in Perth)

Several pupils have secured reduced grade offers due to being identified by universities as ‘High Performance Athletes’ for a range of sports. We congratulate Fraser Evans on his Sports Scholarship (hockey) to the University of Birmingham.

RSC Young Analyst Competition

Thu, 15 May 2025 15:38:04 GMT

On 15 May, 12 teams of three L6 chemists took part in the Royal Society of Chemistry's (RSC) Young Analyst competition.

This is a national competition where the top team from each region will be invited to take part in a national final. This year the pupils took on the role of analytical chemists assisting the Department of Housing to evaluate the suitability of an old industrial area for building new houses. This required them to prepare and titrate a standard solution, analyse the ions present through flame tests, and carry out a delicate thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis.

They then had to analyse their results and draw conclusions, submitting them to the RSC for judging. Only the most skilled and accurate experimental chemists can do well in this competition!

The top 1 teams are as follows;

Team 11 - Lizzie Henson, India-Rose Fox, Sruthi Santhosh
Team 7 - Mei McAuley, Amy Li, Sissi Chan
Team 12 - Emmanuel Milne, Tom Irvine, Omar Alfiky

Congratulations to all who took part!

May's Making Musicians

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 15 May 2025 12:19:03 GMT

A packed audience of parents, pupils, staff and visitors in Norwich School’s beautiful medieval Chapel heard a scintillating Making Musicians concert on 15 ^th May 2025.

Making Musicians is a developmental arts enrichment programme for exception musical talent within the school and the county, based at Norwich School and run by the school.

Two young musicians each performed a twenty minute set of pieces, and both were of the very highest quality.

15-year-old Kit Shawyer of Sheringham High School treated the audience to an amazingly mature set of violin pieces from Bartok, Beethoven and modern Finnish composer Rautavaara. Having completed his Grade 8 violin with distinction last year, he is studying now for his diploma. Assured playing and technical brilliance was therefore very much on show from the varied programme he performed, delivering it with vivacity and panache.

Upper Sixth Norwich School pupil Ben Griffiths is a former Head Chorister. His vocal range and expressiveness are already legendary within Norwich School musical circles, having won the Bernard Burrell music competition last year and having had leading roles in many school musical productions. He executed a vocal masterclass embracing varied musical styles: the lyrical Butterworth songs from ‘A Shropshire Lad’; Bernstein’s famous ‘Maria’; and ‘Words Fail’ from the popular musical ‘Dear Evan Hansen’. The audience were clearly moved by his expressive renditions and the rousing applause that concluded the concert for both performers was thoroughly well deserved

The next free music recital in this series takes place in the South Transept of Norwich Cahtedrla on Thursday 12 ^th June at 13:00 where we will hear from Lower Sixth pupil Melissa Hawkings on her French horn and from Lower Sixth pianist Emmanuel Milne. A mouth-watering concert featuring such prodigious talent is not to be missed!

Lower 1 and Upper 1 Informal Concert – A Night to Remember!

Thu, 15 May 2025 10:05:43 GMT

Our Lower 1 and Upper 1 pupils performed in the Hall recently for their Informal Concert that brought joy, smiles and plenty of musical magic to everyone in the audience.

For some of our young performers, it was their very first time in front of a crowd – and they rose to the occasion beautifully!

From heartfelt solos to lively duos, the evening was a celebration of talent, courage, and pure enjoyment. Parents and families were treated to a vibrant mix of music, including a spirited drumming performance of Queen’s We Will Rock You, a dynamic vocal duet of I’m Still Standing by Elton John, and a crowd-pleasing rendition of Seven Nation Army. Instruments on show included piano, guitar, drums and recorder.

The atmosphere was warm and encouraging, with cheers and applause filling the room. It truly was a night of happiness, musical discovery, and unforgettable memories. Bravo to all our brilliant young performers!

Our next Informal Concert takes place on Thursday 5 June at 16:45 in the Lower School Hall and will feature pupils from Lower 2 and Upper 2.

Now at the Crypt - 'RETURN' by Marion Piper

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 15 May 2025 09:52:46 GMT

From 15 to 24 May 'RETURN' by Marion Piper is brought to the Crypt Gallery.

Marion Piper presents a sequence of paintings made over the past two years for her show RETURN at the Crypt Gallery. Geometric abstraction and colour interaction combine with her interest in early Italian Renaissance painting. She playfully explore rhythms, perspectives and spaces, both real and imaginary.

15th - 24th May

Open daily 11:00 - 16:00
Closed on Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday. Free admission.

Informal artist talk in the gallery on Saturday 24th May at 14:00, no booking required.

RETURN is supported by NCAS Small Grants programme.
Visit the NCAS website here.

Upper 3 Immerse Themselves in French Culture!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 14 May 2025 10:34:07 GMT

In May, Upper Three pupils embarked on the year group's annual residential trip to France, staying at the charming Château d’Ebblinghem near Saint-Omer.

The itinerary was packed with enriching and enjoyable experiences, including a visit to a snail farm, where some pupils even had the adventurous opportunity to taste snails, a traditional boulangerie where they tried their hand at making both bread and croissants, and a fascinating tour of La Coupole, a World War II bunker museum.

The trip concluded with a lively morning at the outdoor market in Arras, where everyone enthusiastically practiced their French while shopping and bartering with local vendors.

L6 Scholars Visit Kenwood House and Highgate Cemetery

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 13 May 2025 10:49:00 GMT

On Tuesday 13th May the L6 scholars were taken on a trip to Kenwood House and Highgate Cemetery in London by Dr Farr and Mr Murray. The trip was intended to inform an ongoing discussion that we were having in scholarship lessons on identity and biographical writing.

In Kenwood, the pupils presented on a painting of their choice to the group and we considered the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle (1761-1804) and her relationship to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. We then had a tour of Highgate Cemetery with a view to thinking further about social identity in the Victorian period.

We were fortunate enough to bask in beautiful sunshine throughout the day. Later in the school year the scholars will be producing pieces of writing based upon our experience of these two fascinating locations.

Bird Watching the Peregrine Falcons

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 13 May 2025 10:09:30 GMT

Last half term Lower One and Upper One had an enriching experience observing the peregrine falcons which live on the spire of Norwich Cathedral. They visited the Watchpoint, a viewing station run by the Hawk and Owl trust and learned about the amazing birds which live on their doorstep. Pupils were able to view both parent birds bringing food to the chicks, and they had the opportunity to watch them being fed close-up, through telescopes. Using binoculars, they also observed the various other birds that live in and around the Cathedral Close.

Pupils also examined models of different birds of prey, such as a kestrel and a hobby, noticing how they are adapted to catch their food successfully. To complete their visit, the children had fun trying on model wings of various UK birds of prey and even tested them out by going on a short 'flight' around the Lower Close. Thanks to the Hawk and Owl Trust for giving pupils an insight into the fascinating wildlife which lives in Cathedral Close.

A busy life as a L6 pupil at Norwich School – fitting in Community Service around many other commitments…let’s hear from one of them!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 13 May 2025 10:01:40 GMT

This year has been full of exciting opportunities that have allowed me to grow both personally and as part of the school community. As a Lower Sixth pupil, I’ve been involved in the community service programme through volunteering with Break charity giving me valuable experience supporting the preparations for GoGo Safari. This gave me a real insight into the behind-the-scenes work involved in running a large charity event, and I came away with a deep appreciation for the time, planning, and dedication it takes to bring something like this to life. 

This hands-on experience has been complemented by a range of enriching academic and extracurricular opportunities such as the out of school talks hosted by the school, one of my favourites was the inspiring NCAS lecture by David Pearson, focused on book design and typography. It was fascinating to see how design choices can influence how we engage with stories and information. Another standout moment was meeting Ed Balls, where a group of us spoke to him about the school’s partnerships.        

Creativity has been a big part of my year too. I was involved in launching the Close Creatives Collective, a new Lower Sixth group that brings together students with shared creative interests. This has allowed me to work closely with the marketing department on poster design and visual materials, which has been a great way to apply creative thinking to real-life briefs.  Alongside this, I’ve had the privilege of co-leading Earthwatch, an environmental initiative within the school. We introduced reusable cups and marked Earth Day with an assembly to raise awareness about sustainability.

As a provisional prefect, I’ve supported school events, helped welcome new pupils, and even had the opportunity to speak in the Cathedral. I also joined Toastmasters to improve my public speaking skills, and proudly represented the school throughout the netball season—an experience that strengthened my sense of team spirit and commitment.

- Hetty Holden, L6

Maths + FONS = Lots of fun quizzes!

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Mon, 12 May 2025 15:28:02 GMT

Due to its success last academic year, FONS is delighted to support the 2025 Norfolk Maths Challenge once again.

Suzannah Thomas (Senior School partnerships), Jess Vella (Lower School Maths) and I would like to say a huge thank you to FONS for supporting this year's Maths Quiz and enabling us to design (thanks to Ben Stokes in the marketing team) and get made some incredible pin badges for all children involved to take home and wear with pride on their school uniform - this means that 190+ children will remember their experience beyond just the two days!

It was an amazing 2 day challenge with 48 teams involved on each day from more than 25 different primary schools. It was great to have the most enthusiastic and able young mathematicians from across Norfolk and Suffolk with us.

Please take a look at the following news story, written by one of the Lower School pupils and added to by pupils in the Fourth Form.

Highlights from the 2025 Norfolk Maths Challenge where 25 Primary School pupils battled it out in Daynes Sports Centre!

Nicola Hill, Director of Partnerships

VE day (80th anniversary)

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 09 May 2025 12:38:35 GMT

On Friday 9 May, Rev Child gave an assembly to mark VE Day.

‘Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. (Acts 2:22-24)

The fact that VE Day was a cause of huge celebration doesn’t really need explaining. The war was over – at least in Europe.

War is an unholy thing. People on all sides of the conflict were in no doubt about that, not least because they had seen their churches and other holy places blasted and broken. That was true in Norwich when bombs fell around Cathedral Close. Some of you may recall a Remembrance address Mr Pearson gave a couple of years ago where he told us about the night the pupils of Norwich School helped put out fires on the cathedral roof. Coventry was bombed, and you can still visit the roofless shell of the old cathedral, which now has a modern cathedral standing next to it. The thousand-year-old Church of St Andrew in Plymouth was another notable church to suffer a direct hit as the nearby naval bases were attacked.

One famous story that has been talked about again this week concerns this church. It was, in fact, a teacher who, on finding out that St Andrews had been bombed, arranged for a wooden sign to be made, with a single Latin word written on it: ‘RESURGAM’. Resurgam means ‘I will rise’ – it’s from here that we get our English word ‘resurgent’. The wooden sign was placed over the doorway of St Andrew’s, which was still standing, in the hope that the church would rise again around it – and, more broadly, that peace, civilisation and everything good would rise again.

In the aftermath of the war, while there was no money for rebuilding, the smashed floor of the church was cleared and then cultivated as a garden where people could go for a peaceful wander. Eventually the church building did rise again, and if you visit Plymouth today you can see that the wooden sign has been replaced with a permanent stone sign that still bears that one hopeful word, ‘Resurgam’.

It’s a story which shows how the people of that generation managed to hold on to hope even in the darkest days. And we did rise again! Look at us now in this educational community, in this city, in this country, all of which thrived in the eighty years of peacetime that followed the war. Look at us with our positive plans and our prospects – which we owe not only to that military determination that the war should be a success, but also to that civilian determination that the peace should be a success.

Would we have been able to do the same? If it had been our generation dealing with the desperation of war, would we have held on to hope? I like to think that we would – and I think that partly because we have a long history of doing so. The word ‘Resurgam’, for instance, can also be found underneath the emblem of a Phoenix on the wall of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. It speaks of renewal and rebuilding after the Great Fire of London. On Wednesday you heard Mrs Fairweather talking about the poems of Maya Angelou. You may know that one of her most famous poems is called ‘Still I Rise’ – you may even have studied it in English. It’s a modern classic, an expression of spirit and determination in the face of oppression. Being resolved that we will not stay down, that we will rise again, is a thread that runs through our shared culture and our national heritage.

If you haven’t spotted the connection already, all of this is most appropriate in this Easter season. The Christian resurrection account, a story of resurgent hope, has inspired generation after generation. Jesus was dead and buried, and all hope was lost. But then it turned out, as our Bible reading today tells us, “it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him”. It’s why the word ‘Resurgam’ belongs particularly over the door of a church. And it is why our country and our culture, having been influenced for centuries by faith, is inclined to say ‘we will rise again’. I think that’s something to celebrate on a day like VE Day.

Athletics Achievements - City Schools Athletics Championships

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 08 May 2025 16:02:30 GMT

We are incredibly proud to report on an outstanding day of performances at the recent City Schools Athletics Championships. Our pupils competed with passion, determination, and team spirit, earning top results across the board.

A special congratulations goes to Ophelia Martin , who set a new meeting record in the Year 7 Girls 200m , showcasing phenomenal speed and talent. Not to be outdone, Tristan Knight also smashed the meeting record in the Year 7 Boys 200m , while Sam Trickey delivered a remarkable run to set a meeting record in the Year 7 Boys 800m . These record-breaking achievements highlight the incredible potential within our athletics team.

Team results were equally impressive:

Year 7 Girls – 2nd Place
Year 8 Girls – 4th Place
Year 9 Girls – 3rd Place
Year 10 Girls – 2nd Place
Year 7 Boys – 2nd Place
Year 8 Boys – 2nd Place
Year 9 Boys – 2nd Place
Year 10/11 Boys – 4th Place

These results reflect the hard work of our pupils and coaching staff, and we couldn’t be prouder of the way everyone represented the school. Congratulations to all our athletes for their incredible efforts and sportsmanship throughout the day!

Almary String Quartet joined by Professional Ensemble, Victoria Quartet

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 08 May 2025 15:09:39 GMT

On Thursday 8 May, the Almary String Quartet from Norwich School was joined by the professional ensemble, the Victoria Quartet .

This long-anticipated event had been in the making since September. Pupils Julian Pe, Min Ting Deng, Isaac Schaad, and Tommy Cahir demonstrated remarkable discipline and team spirit by meeting every Wednesday at 8 am for rehearsals, ensuring they were fully prepared for the occasion.

Rising to the challenge of Mendelssohn’s demanding repertoire, they performed with impressive confidence and musical maturity. Their gave two performances—one in the school chapel and another in Burnham Market—the latter to a packed and appreciative audience.

The Victoria Quartet praised the students’ exceptional playing and hope to collaborate with other talented musicians from Norwich School in the future.

With thanks to Naomi Fry for coaching the Almary with such care and Marian Abramovich from Music in the Burnhams for inviting us to take part in this project.

- Caroline Speca, Head of Making Musicians.

Min Ting Deng writes....

Participating in the Mendelssohn Octet performance was such a privilege and a memory which I will forever cherish. Through this, I was blessed to learn from the Victoria String Quartet, who were all encouraging and friendly.

Besides improving my violin skills, this experience taught me how to handle unexpected incidents whilst on stage, yet most essentially, the happiness of playing music as a team.

Looking back, it has been the highlight of my school year, and I am truly grateful for this valuable opportunity and the teachers who guided us throughout.

Lower 1's Adventure to BeWILDerwood Inspires Creativity

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 08 May 2025 13:17:38 GMT

Lower 1 had an exciting day out as they visited the enchanting world of BeWILDerwood to bring their English lessons to life! The trip was designed to help the pupils explore settings and characters in a fun, hands-on way — and it did not disappoint.

From the moment they arrived, the children were immersed in the magical setting of BeWILDerwood, home to curious creatures and thrilling adventures. They crossed the Broken Bridge, carefully making their way across the wobbly planks just like the heroes in the stories they’ve been studying. They met Mildred the Crocklebog, who lurks in the Spooky Lake, sparking imaginations and inspiring fantastic character descriptions. The day continued with daring climbs and giggles as they tackled the Slippery Slopes, proving themselves brave explorers.

The trip was not only packed with fun but also gave the pupils fresh ideas and experiences to bring back to the classroom. Their adventures at BeWILDerwood will now help them create vivid settings and colourful characters in their own writing.

Lower 3 Informal Concert: A Night of Smiles, Laughter, and Outstanding Talent

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 08 May 2025 12:47:35 GMT

The Lower 3 Informal Concert on Thursday 8 May was a joyful celebration of music, talent, and pure enthusiasm. From the moment the first note sounded, the evening was filled with smiles, fun, and some wonderful music making from our young performers who delighted the audience in the Lower School Hall.

Our musicians gave truly excellent performances across a range of instruments and styles. The audience was treated to expressive pieces on the piano, delicate and captivating sounds from the harp, fun up-tempo solos on the violin and trumpet, and beautiful confident singing throughout the night.

The vocal programme was especially enchanting, featuring songs from the new Snow White movie and Moana 2, alongside timeless classics such as Scarborough Fair and Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things. The variety and energy on display kept the enthusiastic audience thoroughly engaged from start to finish.

It was a fantastic evening that celebrated not only musical skill but also the joy of performing together. A huge well done to all involved – we can’t wait for the next one!

Head of Music Mr Vine said 'another fabulous evening of music and well done to all our Lower 3 musicians for performing so brilliantly' The next Informal Concert is on Thursday 15 ^th May at 4.45pm in the Lower School Hall and will feature pupils from Lower 1 and Upper 1.

Pupils Reflect on 80th Anniversary of VE Day

Thu, 08 May 2025 12:33:04 GMT

On Thursday 8 May, the Lower School came together for a special assembly in the hall to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.

Pupils were read excerpts from Sir Winston Churchill's announcement of the end of the War in Europe.

They also learnt about life in 1945 and the reactions and celebrations seen on that day, before standing to impeccably observe a two-minute silence.

After the assembly, children made their way out onto the playing field to pay tribute with a large-scale display - carefully arranging themselves to spell out the letters 'V' and 'E'.

L5 Drama Pupils Perform an Array of Plays!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 08 May 2025 11:13:07 GMT

On Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 May, L5 Drama pupils presented four fantastically different plays that each group had been working on over the Lent term.

On the Wednesday the evening kicked off with ‘Confusions’ by Alan Aykbourn, from which we saw two of the original five one-act plays; Gosforth’s Fete and A Talk In The Park. The plays were vastly different from one another yet were linked by the common themes of loneliness and relationships. The cast performed the subtleties of the everyday characters with great care and attention to detail, with fantastic comic timing.

This was followed by ‘Bright Young Things’ by Georgie Christon. The play was set around a television talent show where young contestants competed to be the brightest young thing. As the play progressed the audience learnt more about each contestant, showing moments of real depth as well as humor, over the top characters and theatricality. The cast created a well-crafted journey for the audience with their multi-rolling and portrayal of different and big characters.

On Thursday the night began with ‘Jump For Your Life’ by Ken Whitmore. The play saw young Frederick played by Tom Booth, and his troupe of makeshift actors trying to convince us, the audience, to jump in the air in 30 minutes time. The cast multi-rolled throughout and delivered a highly convincing performance filled with breaking the fourth wall, direct address, over the top characters and comedy, which resulted in the audience all jumping in the air!

The night ended with A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd. The play told the story of Connor, played by Joseph Ladbrooke, a boy who is visited by a monster in the form of a Yew tree when his mother is dying of cancer. The cast used physical theatre, multi-rolling and strong characterisation to move the audience swiftly through every setting and experience as well as embracing the use of lighting and sound to bring this vivid theatrical experience to The Blake Studio.

Nicky Fairweather Addresses Pupils Ahead of the Exam Season

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 07 May 2025 21:30:43 GMT

Good morning everyone.

We have almost reached that time of year once again when our site will begin to feel a little quieter - with Upper 5 beginning study leave today and Upper 6 soon to follow. For some of you in Upper 5 and for all of you in Upper 6 this will be one of your final assemblies in this building.

Take a moment to absorb the space—the beautiful designs in these historic windows and the unique acoustics as sound travels around us. You have sat here for many minutes and hours over the years, listening to countless assemblies and music making, and it is perhaps only now that you will notice how this place has been an important presence in your school life. Reflect for a moment on how the quiet moments here have impacted on you.

Maya Angelou captured an essential truth when she said: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

This is what truly matters in our daily interactions—not so much specific words or actions, but whether you made others feel listened to or ignored, included or excluded, uplifted or diminished.

Think of those teachers who transformed your experience here, many sitting amongst you here today. You will not remember every lesson, but you will perhaps carry with you how they made you believe in your potential and sparked your curiosity.

We see this same principle played out with well-known figures from the global stage. Sir David Attenborough's impact comes less from the specific facts his documentaries share about wildlife, and more from how his iconic voice and his

passion connects us to our planet. In the last 3 years President Zelensky's unwavering commitment to stand with, and for, his country and his people, demonstrates true courage and what authentic leadership really is, even when facing overwhelming odds.

As you venture beyond these walls, you'll interact with countless new people. While your words and actions may blur in their memories, the emotional imprint you leave will endure.

During these coming weeks of exam pressure, remember that kindness creates ripples. A genuine smile or word of encouragement might provide exactly the confidence someone needs as they head into that exam they have been so worried about.

Extend this same compassion to yourself. Exam season inevitably brings pressure and self-doubt, but you are more than your grades. Give yourself permission to rest, acknowledge that you have worked hard, and remember that these challenges are preparing you for even greater success ahead. Self-kindness means allowing yourself to breathe, avoiding comparison, and recognising your best effort. You can't be there for your friends if you're running on empty yourself.

To emphasise this message, I share Maya Angelou's poem "Continue":

My wish for you

Is that you continue

Continue to be who and how you are

To astonish a mean world

With your acts of kindness

Continue to allow humour to lighten the burden

Of your tender heart.

Continue to let gratitude be the pillow

Upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.

And let faith be the bridge you build

To overcome evil and welcome good.

These beautiful words remind us that kindness transforms both individuals and communities. Persistence in kindness, even amid negativity, creates lasting impact.

Be the one who pays attention to what others say, to open the door, to offer a compliment. As you prepare for your next chapter remember this: how you treat people is what lives on. Real success is about your accomplishments, but not without the positive impact you can have on others along the way.

We should each aim to leave this, and any other community we become part of, better than we found it. When people reflect on their time with you, may they remember not just what you said or did, but how you (in your words and actions) made them feel seen and valued.

Thank you for listening and thank you for the distinct impact that each of you have had on us here at Norwich School.

My very best wishes to you all.

Charities Dinner 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 07 May 2025 13:01:09 GMT

Charities Dinner took place on Friday 25 April and was a great success with most of the L6 year group in attendance along with some of their teachers, tutors, and parents! The money raised from the Charities Dinner along with last term’s Home Clothes Day, will all go towards the chosen charity of the Lent Term: Cancer Research UK

Let’s hear from Boo Harrad, our Charities Committee Chair for this year:

“Very heart-warming speech,

Lovely event to raise money,

Excellent food and company,

Grateful for the opportunity as a year group”

Here are some words from the Charity representatives who joined us for the evening:

What can I say? I am still beaming from Friday evening, we had the best time and you made us feel so welcome and the students were so lovely, a few came over to me and shared their own experiences of cancer with me which was so humbling. Just from the merchandise we brought with us, we raised an incredible £285.50 on the evening, which is amazing considering that was in the space of about 40 minutes.

We are so grateful that CRUK was chosen as the charity of the term.

Here’s a little reminder about what we heard in an assembly last term about where our money gets put to use:

1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. Thanks to research, the UK’s cancer survival has doubled over the last 40 years and around half of patients now survive the disease for more than 10 years.

To give an idea of what the money raised pays for:

£4 – A kilo of dry ice to keep delicate DNA at a safe temperature.
£30 – Full personal protective equipment (PPE) for the scientists to carry out their life-saving experiments safely.
£50 – Restriction enzymes, which are chemicals that act like molecular scissors to cut up long strands of DNA. These allow the scientists to find out more about the causes of cancer.

Rowing Report: Wallingford Regatta and Munich International Junior Regatta

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 07 May 2025 10:02:57 GMT

On Sunday 4 May, the Senior rowers raced at Wallingford Regatta, held at Dorney Lake on the 2000m Olympic course.

The conditions were challenging with a strong cross wind but all crews handled them well.

The Boys 1st VIII raced as Open and Schools, finshing in the top half of the Junior 8s, despite some last minute crew changes.

The Girls 1st VIII, with seven of them being J16, raced in the J18 8s and 4s. The 1st Four missed the repechage by 0.25 second, finishing 7th overall and the 2nd Four raced well holding Bedford Girls to only a 3 second deficit.

The Boys Quad had a tough heat, but learnt a lot about multi lane racing. Well done to all crews.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Conway, had been selected to race for Great Britain Under 19s at Munich International Junior Regatta. With a very close race in the Coxless Four final on Saturday, the crew won a Silver Medal. They then raced the Czech Republic in an 8 in the last race of the day. A strong second 1000m saw the 8 come from a length down to win Gold. The Sunday saw the 8 racing again. With a much bigger field, Nick and his crew won their heat, setting up a final with 3 German crews, Croatia and the Czech Republic. A strong race saw the 8 win Gold by half a length to the selected German crew.

With 2 Golds and 1 Silver medal, this was a fantastic start to Nicholas’ U19 International racing

Voices from Mariupol - L6 Independent Project

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 06 May 2025 13:01:22 GMT

Dance theatre captures narrative and storytelling through the movement of the body, drama and theatrical devices to create an unforgettable experience and, Voices from Mariupol was certainly a stunning example of creativity, shared experiences and capturing the voice of a community.

Created, choreographed and designed by Uliana Bielova as her Independent project - a pupil led initiative that forms part of the 6th form experience, the production invited the coming together of the displaced Ukrainian community and saw the spirit of this community and their shared experiences.

Working with a skilled cast of L4-L6, Uliana created a story of the city of Mariupol before and during the war; the vibrancy of a city full of life turned to rubble by the bombardment of the Russian forces. Dedicated to her grandfather, the Captain of the seaport of Mariupol, the choreography captured stories, relationships and the collective determination to rise again that is felt by Uliana and was clearly shared by the audience.

It was one of the most poignant and impactful theatrical experiences that has been created for an IP project and highlighted the creative ability and passion that Uliana was determined to share. A truly special performance and one that will live long in the memories of all who were lucky to be in the room when it happened.

Voices from Mariupol was a triumph and the cast and creative director should be congratulated.

Able2B Training for 'Discover Your Ability' Day

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Sat, 03 May 2025 07:55:30 GMT

More than 15 L6 pupils gave up time on Saturday 3 May during the Bank Holiday weekend to train with their partners ahead of the exciting annual Discover Your Ability Day on Sunday 22 June 2025.

Here are some words from L6 pupils;

"On Saturday, I was again given the opportunity to help with the Able2B training sessions. This week we were paired up and we did basic drills with boxing gloves, focusing on coordination. Although my partner initially didn’t talk much, she made up for with her enthusiasm for the activity, the combination of her smile and the force she was putting behind her punches and she even helped me with my technique! Together, after an hour of practice, we were both sweating and had large grins on our faces. It was a fun afternoon to get to know the people who are supported by Able2B."

"Today at the Able2B Gym we were doing boxing exercises. When I arrived I was given pads and paired up. I was paired up with a young boy named Reuben and my job was to be his boxing partner, keep him focused and make sure his listening ears were on. We did a bunch of different punches like straights, doubles, uppercuts and hooks and I had a lot of fun - and I think Reuben did as well. I think one of my highlights was him calling our personal trainer 'King Jon' which I think everyone found quite funny. At the end we did another fun game to keep us moving and then it was time to say goodbye. I made sure Reuben was with his grandad and then I went home. I'm looking forward to the next training session!"

"I think it is a really great organisation and it has an extremely friendly and positive environment run by great people"

Here's more info. about how the event works:

Able2B pair up the children for when they work together at the 3 Training Sessions at the Able2B gym 4.30-5.45. We have now completed the first two of these and we are all looking forward to the third one on Wednesday 11 June 5.15-6.30pm

The big day is then on Sunday June 22 2025 – from 11:30 –  the final event in the grounds of Norwich Lower School.

Parents and friends are very much welcome to attend the final session to spectate or to volunteer as marshals and route guides (with bubbles and water pistols!) too. This is very much a family event. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to help out in our local community whilst learning some important skills as well as simply gaining an inspiring experience. Again, pupils undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh's Award are also able to use the event as part of their volunteering hours. 

Proceeds from the event will go to supporting Able2B's work in the community. See below QR code for ease. Everyone who takes part will receive an event t-shirt and water bottle. 

Press coverage from a previous event can be found  here . 

A video about Norwich School's involvement with Able2B can be found here .

The Infamous Amnesty May Fayre 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 02 May 2025 21:16:47 GMT

There was a flurry of activity on the Palace Lawn on Friday 2 May during the lunch break, when a selection of stalls was set up to appeal to the school community. These included Splat the Rat, Temporary Tattoos, a Coconut Shy and the ever-popular Sponge the Teacher!

Six courageous teachers (I Hayward, J Song, E Wolsey, B Pearce, Jon Gent and M Stevens) faced the onslaught of cold water during a half hour of fundraising for the Werapitiya Village Fund in Sri Lanka. The school’s Amnesty Group aim is to pay for materials that will be used to provide flooring and walls for the community arts centre which has recently opened in a village outside Kandy.

The teachers were doubly generous in their participation because they had originally expected sponges of tepid water to be thrown at them, as per the wording of the original “invitation”. However, due to the lack of accuracy of pupils using the aforementioned projectile, the decision was made to offer buckets of water instead – albeit at a far higher rate of pay/donation!

Mr Bedford-Payne and all members of the Amnesty Group are very grateful for the good nature, determination and sheer resilience of these members of staff. Over £100 was raised in a very short space of time.

Cricket Catch-Up from the Boys 1st XI

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 02 May 2025 13:52:55 GMT

The 1st XI faced Gresham’s in a 45-over match. After losing the toss, they batted first and built a strong foundation with a 94-run opening stand between Anish Kantam (44) and Ollie Longdon (36). Tom Robson controlled the innings with a composed 72, supported by Lewis Reeder’s brisk 40, taking the total to 278/6.

Gresham’s started confidently in reply, putting us under pressure early on. However, two run outs and a key wicket from debutant Tom Bush turned the momentum. Jack Rowley finished with 3/54 as the team secured a convincing 62-run victory.

The Annual History Dinner - VE Day

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 02 May 2025 13:16:52 GMT

VE Day was the theme for this year's sixth form History Dinner on Friday 2 May. Both pupils and staff came dressed in a brilliant variety of outfits reflecting the fashions of the time, from soldiers and sailors to politicians and writers. The kitchen produced a range of dishes based on the realities of rationing — particular favourites were the 'wartime pumpkin soup', spam hash and rock buns — and everyone was amazed at how delicious the food was in spite of the restrictions on ingredients.

A musical playlist of 1940s favourites kept everyone in the mood, and the History Department is now busy wondering how to top the event with another exciting theme next year.

Lower 6 Independent Project Presents a Terrific Performance of 'Teechers'

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 02 May 2025 09:16:18 GMT

On 2 May 2025, 'Teechers' premiered at the Blake Studio. This was a culmination of the work of 2 L6 directors, Daisy Massey and Alice Strike and their cast of L5-M5 pupils. Cast member, Lily Lightfoot, shares her experience below...

"This term I was given the amazing opportunity to perform in the Inters play - 'Teechers', this is one of my favourite memories of school life so far.

This let me meet people from different years and we all formed close bonds during rehearsals, becoming close with lots of the cast mates. Getting to know the directors Daisy Massey and Alice strike and having lots of fun during rehearsals.

I had the pleasure of playing 5 different roles, being able to be a part of this play is something I’m forever grateful for, I loved every second I was on stage. I’m so thankful for this play for making me make friends with people I probably wouldn’t of spoken to otherwise."

Coming Up at The Crypt in September - Pathways

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 01 May 2025 15:15:55 GMT

From September 2 - 15, Pathways is displayed in the Crypt Gallery. Drawn together for Pathways, five visual artists and a poet show works arising from immersion in the landscape. Below are some information from the artists (and poet) with some additional information if you would like to find out more!

Fliss Cary

I make drawings, prints and artists books in response to the landscape and to particular elements of nature. I'm fascinated by the chaotic abundance of nature, by tangled stems and stalks, its transience and its constant renewal. I'm exploring these aspects through a variety of media alongside drawings with a wider view made while walking through the landscape.

Find out more here - https://flisscary.com

Jude Chaney

My work is landscape based. I walk and see images I find appealing then photograph and work on a large scale image soon after as to capture the feeling. I love mixing colour and my work is bold and colourful with pattern.

I've worked Plein air on smaller pieces but have felt the need recently to be in the landscape to create my larger ones too, so I'm starting to take the large canvas Plein air too. As I get older the landscape has become even more important to me, I walk daily.

Find out more here - https://www.instagram.com/judechaneyartist

Cherry Vernon

My current work is inspired by the landscape of East Anglia – the broad view and the intimate details of real and sometimes imagined landscapes. In looking and contemplation, the imagery used in the work is varied and highly personal, reflecting the landscape, and hoping to engage viewers with a sense of time and place.

My work, which is hung on walls, is predominantly on linen. I put a mixture of earth pigments and soy milk on to cloth in a variety of ways. I quilt by hand and machine.

Find out more here - http://vernon-harcourt.com

Kate Vogler

My pots seek to capture the timelessness sensed when at one with nature: by water, amongst trees or on a mountain path. They are made from coils of clay with impressions of handmade lace, grasses or seaweed in the smooth burnished surface. The colours come from slips and oxides, smoke and pit firings. When touched, each vessel could be part of the landscape: weathered, eroded and raw; somehow inviting quiet introspection.

Find out more here - https://www.katevogler.co.uk

Beth Walsh

My work is based on direct experience and sensory response, using lace as a conduit rather than an end in itself. Some pieces are inspired by text, music or local environment, others by artists of the past, but all are a personal interpretation of a source. Lace has always juxtaposed structure and line with space, exploiting its semi-transparency. My work examines and challenges traditional lacemaking through use of pattern, colour and scale, often combined with other media. I have recently begun spinning and dyeing various fibres to produce particular effects in the yarns I use for lacemaking.

Find out more here - https://artlace.co.uk

Jonathan Ward

My poems are often written in response to place, walks, swims and encounters with the natural world such as bird sightings. I visit and revisit places and landscapes – local and further afield – at different times of day and in all weathers and seasons, taking time to pay attention to what is found there and to reflect. Finished poems, often capturing illuminating moments, arise from notes written outside, from memory or a combination of the two.

"... Patience

to stand

at the entrance

to a field

watch

the clouds move,

the shifting

light, ..."

from Patience: Jonathan Ward

Anoushka Craggs (U6) Stars in Young Film Academy's 'Project Paradiso'

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 01 May 2025 14:04:12 GMT

In the February half term, Anoushka Craggs (U6) starred in the Young Film Academy's 'Project Paradiso' which is due to be shown this summer. To celebrate this and to find out a little bit more about the experience, we asked her a few questions...

So can you tell me a little bit about how were chosen for the Project Paradiso?

So to be chosen for the Project Paradiso cast/crew you had to show exceptional kindness to those around you, it was mostly based on a behavioural thing from the summer camp. They chose the people who they thought would work best with each other, I think that as an actor the film that I did from the film camp was a comedy which helped a lot as the film for Project Paradiso, Running Hot, is also a comedy. So I think it was a mixture of skill and just your attitude and how you work with others.

How did you go about fundraising for Project Paradiso?

Mainly it was through word of mouth, I just told lots of people about it, I did a funded marathon walk, it was a really busy time so it was amazing to have the support of so many really generous people but also other people fundraised with bake sales, screenings of other films that project Paradiso has produced.

So did you get much support from YFA in terms of fundraising?

From YFA they gave us plenty of ideas on how to fundraise but they were very clear that we had to do the fundraising ourselves otherwise the project wouldn’t happen.

How much did you have to raise?

The original goal was £78,000 which they rose to £82,000 in the end which we managed to raise!

And where does that money go?

It mostly goes to the equipment and the specialists that work with that equipment, they brought in 3 industry professionals that work on short form and long form pieces as well as commercials, so they handled all the various equipment. The camera was an Arri Alexa which is what Netflix uses for a lot of their films and shows. It is a really high quality camera and I learnt a lot about it. Going to Italy was of course a huge expense as well.

And you had a week of intense filming? What was the day-to-day of that like?

So we would wake up around, 6 then in hair and makeup most mornings in which I would definitely take the longest, being in there for around an hour and a half whereas other people would be much quicker, some as short as 10 minutes! At 10:30 we would be ready but then tech would take some time, we’d be on set from 11. On set we’d have a run through with the director, a rehearsal with the lighting and sound as well as the camera, checking you’re in focus. We would often shoot until 1 for lunch but the aim was always to shoot an entire section/scene before lunch but we quite often ran over. After lunch we’d run from 2-6 but the latest night we did was until 8!

What was it like filming Iin another country as well?

It was really cool! I’m not going to lie the weather was quite bad, it was raining most of the week. The scenery is right by Etna so when it was clear and sunny you could completely see her and she was actually erupting when were there which meant lots of volcanic ash which became a bit of a problem for the kit. It felt so surreal being on a film set and in another country at the same time, the lemon groves were also very picturesque.

Did you decide on the location yourselves?

No, Project Paradiso is built on YFA’s relationship with this particular farm and so the last 2 films also were filmed there.

And did your team write the script?

Yes there were also a group of writers that fundraised but they didn’t come to Italy with us. There were various zoom calls with them about the script and what it means which is really helpful.

And how does this differ with other film experiences that you have had?

So I have only really had a little film experience but this was so professional in comparison to what I had done before and the level of focus was just unlike anything else. It was very structured and organised although it was at times chaotic it still felt very structured.

And how long is the film?

Roughly it will be around 40 minutes.

So that’s quite long for only a week of filming?

Yeah it was 19 pages to do in a week and I think that scene was the least amount of shots we had to do was 3. Each scene varied between 3 and 12 different shots.

And how many people were on the team in total?

23 I believe.

And how many were actors?

Just 4 actually.

Had you met anyone before?

I knew a couple of people that worked on the film in the summer but other than that I didn’t know anyone else so I had to meet loads of new pupil even though we were all at the same camp.

And what can you tell us about the film?

I can say that it’s a romcom and that it has something to do with Etna! I can tell you that I had to have my hair crispy fried straight for the entire week so I won’t look like my regular curly self! Oh and there’s 2 couples, one being more obvious and the other kind of just creeping up.

When is it going to be released?

July/August time because it is a the longest film that they have ever done on this project and there’s only one person doing all the post-production work.

And is it going to be sent off to film festivals? Is there a premiere?

The premiere is around the same time as the Leavers Ball so I’m a little stressed about that! It will be held at BFI Southbank and there’s going to be people flying in from all over. They will also send it to tons of film festivals, the previous project has won 50 or so awards around the world which are quite big shoes to fill.

What is the aim of Project Paradiso?

It is kind of a Catch22 in the film industry that you need to have film experience to get on a film set but to have film experience you need to get on a film set. So the idea of Project Paradiso is to give people experience of being on a professional film set, to have that in your portfolio at such a young age. It is really invaluable, as an actor your reputation is built by your performances and if you don’t have anything to show for it, you just won’t get booked.

What’s the end goal for you in terms of acting?

End goal is acting in film and tv, I like theatre as well but I find Film and TV more interesting and it requires a different skillset which I really enjoy and also being able to do retakes when I mess up! That’s the end goal, to be an actor.

How do other people get involved?

So definitely going to the YFA summer camp, it’s an amazing experience for anyone that wants to get into anything related to film, its really helpful and the tutors really know their stuff and will be able to help you. There’s 2 courses, acting and screen-making, with screen-making being behind the camera and acting of course being in front. There are also various day courses form YFA as well as other film schools that can teach you skills such as how to use a camera. And if you take art, are an actor or just someone who is interested in film look up the opportunities or even just look at School because they will also provide opportunities and workshops.

Final Informal Concert for our Upper 3 pupils

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 01 May 2025 10:43:58 GMT

What a wonderful evening of music making as the Upper 3 pupils performed their last Informal Concert in the Lower School. A concert full of joy, confidence, and some seriously impressive talent on a warm May evening!

The concert had something for everyone—from a beautiful and expressive solo Bach cello prelude that filled the room with calm and grace, to lively songs from Musicals Annie and Beauty and the Beast that had us all smiling and humming along. The performers truly enjoyed themselves, which added to the magic of the evening.

There was a cool and catchy railroad blues piece on the piano, a rocking Lenny Kravitz 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' showcasing some impressive drum skills that brought serious energy to the hall, and a refined Clementi piano performance that showed off real musical skill, virtuosic flair and poise.

The audience loved every moment, and it was clear that all the performers had worked hard—and had loads of fun along the way. They played and sang with heart, professionalism, and big smiles.

Head of Music Mr Vine said 'I've been lucky to have watched your confidence levels grow and grow over the last 3 years and develop your music skills. Fabulous performances this evening! Thank you all for your hard work and thank you to our visiting music tutors for their hard work too - well done everyone!'

The next Informal Concert features pupils from Lower 3 and will take place on Thursday 8 May at 4.45pm in the Lower School Hall.

Academic Scholars Learn About the History of 'Strangers' in Norwich

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 01 May 2025 10:17:21 GMT

On Thursday 1st May Middle 5 Academic Scholars enjoyed a walking tour of Norwich with a ‘strange’ twist. Professor Christopher Joby (ON) guided the group around city streets within a stone’s throw of The Close to learn about the history of the ‘Strangers’ in our fine city.

Norwich has become known as a City of Sanctuary in recent years, welcoming refugees and families from around the world. However, as we learnt on this short trip, Norwich has had a reputation for welcoming ‘Strangers’ from other countries, and particularly persecuted communities, for at least five centuries. Pupils were astonished that streets so close to our school contain so much history- we stopped at 6 churches within the space of a few hundred meters. Even Norwich School’s very own Reynolds library featured since it was previously a chapel for the French strangers. This visit sparked much reflection on the part of the pupils and staff, considering the societal impact of these communities as well as their linguistic and cultural legacy.

This led to many follow-up questions from pupils, such as...

How do churches end up being named after people?

Did the strangers get taxed officially or was it more lowkey?

Why wouldn't the Strangers come over to Norwich with their families?

Where did the funding for all the churches come from?

Did anyone ever come looking for the persecuted Strangers?

How might the Strangers’ language have influenced the Norfolk dialect of today?

Plenty to ponder, speculate on and research!

I was fascinated by the history of the strangers, particularly how our very own Reynolds library, was previously a chapel for the French strangers. It has also enhanced my knowledge of catholic and Protestant tensions during the Tudor period. This trip greatly increased my appreciation of both Norwich School, and the city as a whole.

- Mrs Lucy ED Parkhouse

Carnegie shortlisted Author and Readers’ Choice Winner Speaks to Upper 4

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 01 May 2025 08:46:21 GMT

We were delighted to welcome author Tia Fisher to school to speak to Upper Four about her powerful novel Crossing the Line. Tia shared insights into the inspiration behind the book, her writing process, and the extensive research she undertook to bring the story to life. To enrich the Carnegie shadowing experience for pupils, she spoke about how it felt being shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal and voted Readers' Choice—a testament to this book’s impact and relevance.

During the session, Tia touched on the serious topic of county lines, helping pupils understand the real-world dangers and how young people can protect themselves from similar situations to those faced by the character in her book. Despite the weighty subject matter, the event had a positive and engaging tone, with pupils asking thoughtful and insightful questions. Book Bugs and Dragon Tales were on hand selling copies of Crossing the Line, which students had the opportunity to have signed by the author.

An Improvisation Masterclass for Harpists

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 01 May 2025 08:23:30 GMT

On Thursday 1 May, Simon Foerster came into school to give us harpists an improvisation masterclass.

We learned how to improvise in groups together and how to use various techniques, including using a bow on the harp strings! Using a bow made the harp sound very full and made the notes ring out for longer. Simon taught us how to be more creative about the ways we play our harps and different things we can use. As there aren’t many harpist, Mrs Speca was keen to engage so even bought a small lap harp along so that she could join in too!

It was great fun to improvise and make music together - a lovely way to start the month.

- Timothy Madders, L4

The Riviera is a Sunny Place, for Shady People! (W. Somerset Maugham)

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 01 May 2025 07:49:41 GMT

On 1 May 2025 there was a very inviting spring vibe to the Blake Studio! We were delighted to welcome the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) for the latest in their impressive programme of talks hosted at Norwich School.

We had a real expert to take us on a journey to the French Riviera: Norfolk-based author and filmmaker Jim Ring, giving a talk entitled: The Rise and Rise of the Riviera .

Focusing on meticulous research undertaken for his 2004 book: Riviera: The Rise and Rise of the Côte d'Azur: The Rise and Rise of the Cote D'Azur , our speaker gave an energetic and entertaining exposition of the fascinating and dark history of the Cote d’Azur - this remarkable coast of southern France covering such jewels as Cannes, Nice, Monaco, St Tropez and Monte Carlo. Its unique, warm micro-climate enjoys an average of 300 days of sun per year and has been a magnet to wealthy British travellers for nearly 300 years; it was no surprise to learn it is currently the home to 50% of the world’s super yachts! There is little wonder that celebrated author and visitor W Somerset Maugham famously commented nearly 100 years ago that: The Riviera is a sunny place, for shady people!

From early days as unspoiled fishing villages, the area found fame on the Grand Tour. Clever marketing as a recuperative resort and later as a paradise for uber-wealthy playboys and gambling has ensured that this region is never far from the headlines. A favourite of glitterati as varied as Queen Victoria, Wallis Simpson, Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly, Dodi and Diana (and these days Ronaldo, Joan Collins and Jeff Bezos), the allure of this sun-kissed coastline remains strong, and this was captivatingly conveyed by our speaker through the reading excerpts from his book and in a visually stunning slide deck. His talk concluded with a pragmatic assessment of the double-edged sword of unbridled tourism and resort development contrasting with the €10bn value that its 14m annual visitors bring to the local economy.

RGS talks are open to all and are very approachable and friendly. Further details of RGS events are posted here: Upcoming events - RGS ,. We greatly look forward to welcoming the RGS back on site for another mouth-watering talk over half term:

Thursday 29 May – Royal Geographical Society public lecture

A Life in Green: looking back, looking forward – Sir Jonathon Porritt CBE.

Jonathon is a very eminent writer and high-profile environmental campaigner. He is perhaps best-known for his work and advocacy for the Green Party. He was a prominent member and Chair of the political party during the 1970s and 80s, and is credited with helping them gain more publicity and increased membership. Away from politics, Jonathon has worked for a number of environmental charities and organisations including Friends of the Earth, Beyond Agenda 21 and Forum for the Future, and for many years was Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission.

Jonathon’s talk will address what we have learnt from the last 50 years of activism on climate and biodiversity issues, and what are now the priorities when the challenge has never been more pressing. The current focus of his work is on intergenerational justice, supporting young people in their activities addressing the twin crises of the Climate and Biodiversity Emergencies.

We are very fortunate to have attracted to site a speaker of his profile and calibre, and this promises to be a lively and though-provoking evening.

7.30pm - Blake Studio Norwich School, The Close - doors open 7.00pm

For booking: A life in green: looking back, looking forward - RGS . Tickets to be bought in advance please as space for tickets sold on the door is likely to be very restricted.

Do join us.

Assembly: Both Sides Now

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:25:55 GMT

On Friday 25 April, a special assembly was given by Andrew Rowlandson - Deputy Head (Staff) with the title Both Sides Now. You can read a transcript of the assembly below.

This year marked the end of an era. For the past 8 years, Lower 6 ^th geographers have been blessed by a remarkable fieldtrip to …. Mulbarton - a perfect example of a village just 5 miles south of Norwich that I am privileged to call home. Sadly, as our A Level specification is changing, this year’s pilgrimage was our last.

As a class, we study the impacts of housing developments on the natural environment and local community. On one occasion early on, as we drove into Mulbarton, I made the point about greedy developers ripping the heart out of our village by sending in bulldozers to demolish habitats and tarmac green spaces with no regard for local people. In hindsight I was perhaps a tad over dramatic – but I wanted pupils to understand a local’s perspective.

The next morning, one pupil stayed behind after class. “Sir”, they said, “I thought I should mention ahead of parent’s evening that it’s my dad’s company that is developing the land in Mulbarton”.

“Ah” I said. And quickly backtracking, I began to outline all the reasons why we need to build more houses; how the NIMBY (‘Not in my back yard’) brigade in some villages can be unhelpful – for “they’ve got to go somewhere”.

After a slightly awkward parents evening. We put it behind us. I’d learnt several valuable lessons!

“Evaluation” is an important skill to develop. We encourage our pupils to be critical. To look at issues from different perspectives.

Whilst still rather protective of my village way of life with its beautiful common, abundance of ducks, peacocks and a strong community spirit, I try to be more measured in my approach. Not least because I actually live on one of the new build developments!

Last weekend Christians around the world celebrated Easter. I say ‘celebrated’ lightly because at the heart of the Easter story we find two contrasting emotions: grief and hope.

On one side, we have Good Friday - a day of darkness, suffering, and apparent defeat when we remember the day Jesus was crucified on a cross. At the time, Jesus’ disciples will have experienced profound grief - everything they believed-in appeared to be lost.

On the other side, we have Easter Sunday. It’s the day we remember that Jesus conquered death and rose from the grave so that we might have life. It is when the darkness of Good Friday gives way to the light of Easter Sunday. When the disciples’ grief and despair was replaced with joy and hope. When what seemed like the end of the story became the beginning of a new one.

These two sides of Easter - suffering and rejoicing, death and life, endings and beginnings - might seem contradictory, but they're inseparable parts of the same story.

This idea of looking at things from different perspectives is beautifully portrayed in the film ‘Coda’. It follows Ruby, the only hearing member of a deaf family. Through her use of sign language, Ruby is crucial to helping her family communicate with others.

Ruby’s story is made more complex by her love of singing. As she approaches the end of high school, Ruby becomes torn between leaving home to study music at university and staying put to continue the crucial support she provides to her family. Her parents make it clear - they rely on her and want her to stay.

As the film draws to a close, Ruby auditions for music college with the song “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell. As she performs, her family, who have had a change of heart, slip into the back of the auditorium. In a poignant moment – Ruby spots them and begins to sign the words of the song. At that moment, they enter her world, see things from her perspective, and give her their blessing.

The song Ruby sings captures the reality of life - its highs and lows, wins and losses. It invites us to step back and see a bigger picture – even if we don’t always understand it. Life won’t be trouble-free, but there is something to be gained by living every day. What we experience today might only be part of the picture. The challenge of revision will give way to celebrating the last exam. Marathon training will be replaced with crossing the finish line. Good Friday is always followed by Easter Sunday. And even building developments on beautiful fields might one day provide homes for families.

Maleeya in U5 has kindly agreed to sing ‘Both Sides Now’. As you listen, reflect on whether there’s anything in your life that would benefit from being seen from a different perspective or as a temporary season. Consider how the different perspectives may ultimately give our lives richness. And I pray you will know something of the hope of Easter as you embrace both sides to your story.

Rowing Report: Inter Regional Regatta and GB Trials

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:03:38 GMT

Rowing Report: Inter Regional Regatta and GB Trials

On Saturday, 10 J15 and J16 rowers raced at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham, representing the Eastern Region at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta. They competed against 13 other regions covering England, Scotland and Wales.

Following the 1000m Time Trials, all crews reached the A Finals where the top 6 Regions from each time trial would race side by side over 1500m.

The Girls J15 Coxed 4 of Harriet Brightwell, Freya Dixon, Hannah Conway, Baye Reynolds and Izi Mayhew moved up one place to finish 4 ^th.

Charlotte Douglas and Amelie Ivie raced the Womens J16 Pair, and having tied with a crew in the TIme Trial they had a close race finishing 4 ^th by just a second.

Ellie Thwaites had gained her selection as the fastest J16 Eastern Sculler and with 2 scullers selected she again came out as the 1 ^st Sculler for the Eastern Region, securing her a place in the A FInal. A 6 ^th place finish for Ellie placed her amongst some well established Scullers from across the UK.

The penultimate race of the day was James Howard and Joseph Hawkes in the J16 Pair, and with 4 crews neck and neck down the course and the boys pushing to keep their bows in front the last 250m saw real tussle for the line. A mere 0.2 seconds separated the boys from the winning Thames London crew and achieving a well deserved Silver medal.

On Sunday, Daniel White and Nicholas Conway were also racing at HolmePierrpont in the GB U19 Spring Trials Regatta, with all rowers who had progressed through the selection process with their ergo scores and February trials results.

The trials followed a Regatta format with Heats, Semis and Finals. Daniel, along with his Latymer crew finished 30 ^th overall. Nicholas, despite his pairs partner from Shiplake College, only being confirmed on Saturday, had some great results early in the day to reach the A Final. A phonemonal race saw Nicholas finish as the 2 ^nd pair in Great Britain. Well done to both boys, and we wish them well in the next stage of the Trials process in July – the Crew Formation - to decide on crews for World and European Championships.

Lower One Visit the Bridewell Museum to Learn about Florence Nightingale

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 12:19:12 GMT

Lower One had a fantastic visit to the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell on Tuesday 29 April as part of their history topic on Florence Nightingale.

The children were thrilled to meet "Florence Nightingale" herself and hear firsthand about her incredible work during the Crimean War. They explored items she would have used during her time as a nurse and learned how she helped to change the way hospitals cared for their patients.

As part of the interactive experience, pupils helped pack Florence’s bag ready for her journey to Scutari and even made their own versions of her iconic lamp to take home. The visit brought history to life and left everyone feeling inspired by her bravery and determination.

A big thank you to The Bridewell Museum for a memorable and engaging day!

Annual Scholars Showcase 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 10:24:23 GMT

Norwich School hosted our annual Scholars Showcase on Monday 28 ^th April. In total 25 pupils, including L4 and U4 academic scholars and additional participants in the Youth STEMM Award, presented academic posters for discussion. The posters displayed pupil-led research on the general theme of "object(s) of historical significance", with titles including: The Enigma Machine; The Gates of Auschwitz; and The Terracotta Army.

Staff, parents and pupils engaged with the presenters on their chosen content which was also assessed by a judging team consisting of Mrs Gra nt (Assistant Head - Pupil Progress), Mrs Stevenson (Director of Norwich School Marketing) and Sophia Roy (Current U6 Academic Scholar). Sophia kindly then entertained us all with her keynote lecture on "The Origin of Writing" with a specific interest in the development of cunieform, an ancient writing system developed in Mesopatamia and Persia.

Looking at separate criteria of content, visual presentation and public engagement, we are pleased to announce the following awards:

L4/U4 Academic Scholars:

Winner for academic content - Owen Parker-Wright (L4N) - The Wright Flyer

Highly commended for academic content - Andrea Lee (U4P) - The Mystery of the Easter Island Moai

Winner for visual presentation - Katherine Davidson (L4E) - The Statue of Liberty

Highly commended for visual presentation - Martha Pearce (U4N) - Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

Winner for public engagement - Santiago O'Dwyer (L4V) - The Verona Astrolabe

Highly commended for public engagement - Boden Barton (U4R) - The Benin Plaques

The following pupils also received recognition for their efforts working towards their Youth STEMM Awards:

Ana Paduraru (L6E) - The Harrison Clock

Simran Chawla (M5B) - The Iron Lung

Jack Conrad (U4B) - The First Telescope

Coke House Annual Visit to Holkham Hall

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:25:47 GMT

On our recent Coke house trip to Holkham Hall, we were lucky to have ideal weather to admire the grounds in their full beauty. As soon as we entered the hall on our tour, it was apparent how interconnected the hall was with Coke house as all throughout the hall, there were many paintings of relatives of Sir Edward Coke, whom our house is named after. We were amazed at the sheer volume of artwork in the house from paintings to statues to murals. We learnt about the Palladian architecture style of the whole estate, meaning that there was a considerable importance placed on symmetry; It’s truly amazing to stand in the centre of the house and see through the whole property. One of the activities we did was preventive conservation, helping document emerging damage in the hall so that it can be monitored and prevented from further deterioration.

After completing the necessary work, we took to the gardens surrounding the grounds for a well-deserved break – playing croquet and looking around at the various plants and herbs being nurtured by the gardeners working at the hall. Varying croquet skill levels and severe (but friendly) competitiveness meant we finished the day on a high. We left Holkham hall enriched with a deeper understanding of Coke’s history, and a better knowledge of our peers.

- Nova Adkins, Zach Bradley, Rose Cook and Leon Lui - L6 pupils

Highlights from the 2025 Norfolk Maths Challenge

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 09:19:14 GMT

On 23 and 28 April, the 2025 Norfolk Maths Challenge took place in a bustling Daynes Sports Centre. Below, participants tell us more about their experiences of the event...

What is the Norfolk Maths Challenge?  

The Norfolk Maths Challenge is a tournament held every year  Norwich School, and schools all over Norfolk can enter 2 pairs (each with 2 pupils) to try and complete as many maths questions as they can in 1 hour. I was entered with my friend Izu. As we walked up to the Sports Hall, we were discussing things from the previous year that we were entered, considering our tactics and thoughts. 

  What were the categories?  

Once we got started, we were welcomed by the teachers and the hosts. They briefly discussed the different categories the pairs would do. The first challenge was called Tangrams, where you have seven shapes including a square, two large triangles, two smaller triangles etc. With the shapes, you were given 6 shadow images of 2D images made with the shapes. My friend Izu and I completed the first 5 in the given time, which was very good. After that, the next challenge was code breaking. Before it started, we were told that to make it even, you had to run with your question sheet to the back of the Sports Hall and then run to the front to give it to our markers so it was equal, instead of people at the back having to run 2 times as much as the people at the front. For the next part, we had to complete small equations, then look at the key and find the letter. Once we had completed that, there was a series of bonus questions that we had to complete. Next, we had a small break to have a drink and a cookie, which was given by the caters, which I’m very thankful for because I was tired after running. For the final challenge, we were given information, and a table where we had to find out which child did what. We competed all of the questions, so our markers told us to go back and do questions we missed out earlier. Once we had completed everything, the competition had finished. Whilst we were waiting for the points to be counted up, we did some mind tricks with one of the teachers, which fascinated me very much. As they were announcing the winners, we were called up for 2nd place, which was incredible! We were presented with a shiny medal, and later we got a certificate and a badge we could put on our blazer. 

Overview of the day  

Overall, we had a great day. It has inspired me to do more maths! I would like to thank the teachers for choosing Izu and I, and for helping organise the questions, so thanks. 

Greta (Year 5)

Highlights and surprises from our Year 7 and 8 helpers:

"My highlight was meeting all the children and getting to know some of them also I was surprised at the fact that everyone there was really kind to each other and did not argue or disagree with anything."

"I enjoyed remembering when I did it in Y5 and it surprised me how many people got the questions right! "

"I really enjoyed the experience particularly seeing how happy the younger students were."

Lower School Ski Trip 2025: A Week of Snow, Sunshine and Slalom

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 08:11:20 GMT

The biannual Lower School Family Ski Trip proved once again to be a fantastic opportunity for pupils and parents to bond, learn, and create lasting memories in the snow. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Dolomites, this year’s adventure was filled with sunshine, laughter, and plenty of skiing.

From day one, families took part in private group tuition, giving everyone – from complete beginners to seasoned skiers – the chance to improve their skills side by side. It was inspiring to see how quickly confidence grew on the slopes, and by the end of the six-day trip, even those who had never skied before were whizzing down the pistes with ease.

The experience was made all the more special by the beautiful blue skies that greeted us each day, a fabulous hotel that kept everyone cosy and well-fed, and of course, the unbeatable Italian pizzas – a highlight for many!

As the week drew to a close, excitement reached a peak with a friendly slalom race. In true community spirit, not only did the pupils take part, but all the adults joined in too. It was a brilliant way to finish the trip – full of cheers, challenges, and a touch of healthy competition.

A huge thank you to the ski instructors, staff and all the families who made this trip so memorable. Bellissimo!

Cub Scouts Sponsor New ‘Canaries’ Playing Field in Ghana!

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 20:07:03 GMT

The Cub Scouts raised a total of £600 for the new field for Ho School (Kekeli Foundation). This school is an all-inclusive facility in Ghana that enables people with and without disability to access everything they need.

The field will be developed from an existing patch of land – which will be appropriately known as the ‘ Canaries Playing Field ’.

Carrie Brown, from the School, said

‘We greatly appreciate your hard work and dedication to Kekeli Foundation. We are excited to announce plans to prepare the football pitch and set up the goal posts, ensuring an inclusive space for our children and the community to come together. Your contribution will help to make the Canary Field at the Model Inclusive School a reality!’

For more information contact: Annelise Savill annelise.savill@gmail.com

Ski Success - ERSA School Ski Race

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 13:29:50 GMT

On Sunday 4 May, Norwich School had 3 teams in the Senior school ski race and 2 in the Junior School race held at Ipswich slope. This is a grass roots entry level race, so it was great to see some debutantes to the ski team.

The Lower School boys team had just 2 skiers, with Ianis Pop recovering from the biggest crash of the day in run 1 to finish 4 ^th in his category, and Dylan Sweales also recovering from skiing out in his first run to finish 4 ^th in his category, the fastest Year 2 boy by an impressive 7 seconds! The Lower School girls team had some new members and all of Emily Slinger, Kasia Borrow and Vera Hilton Mitzman skied very well to complete all their runs.

Our Senior School mixed team of India Coupland, Lucy Ellis, Hattie Beverley and Fred Hilton Mitzman skied cleanly and secured 3 ^rd place in their mixed age group category.

The girls team of Antonia Watson, Mirabelle Harden and Sophie Slinger won the girls race by a 10 second margin. Antonia defended her individual title as fastest overall female. Mirabelle placed 3 ^rd in her category and Sophie 7 ^th showing the great improvements she has made recently.

The boys team had a much closer race, but won by 2 seconds over their combined 6 best runs. Charlie Barker placed 6 ^th and Rufus Snelling 2 ^nd in their categories with Henry Drew providing a reliable back up in the place of several injured skiers. The highlight of the race was George Snelling being the last racer down the course overturning a 0.01 second deficit into a win as fastest male by just 0.03 seconds. Norwich School also won the fastest overall school title.

Well done to all who took part!

Girls Sports Magazine Cup (T20) Round 1

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 12:49:40 GMT

On Saturday 26 April. the Girls First XI played Gresham's in the first round of the Girls Sports Magazine Cup (T20).

Norwich School won the toss and put Gresham's into bat. A strong all round bowling and fielding performance restricted Gresham's to 98 for 7 off 20 overs. Boo Harrod was the most economical bowler conceding just 8 runs off her 3 overs, taking 1 wicket.

The rest of the wickets were shared between the bowlers with Bella Borges taking two excellent catches. In response Alice Brand and India Fox got the innings off this fine start. India batted through the innings scoring an excellent 53 not out. Norwich School passed Gresham's score with 2 overs to spare, winning by 8 wickets.

A strong all round team performance. We look forward to playing Oakham in the next round.

A Remarkable History Explored by Norwich School's Andrew Curtis

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 09:17:32 GMT

Norwich School’s Andrew Curtis ( Assistant Head - Fifth Form) , has recently had his first book published. Some Trust in Chariots explores the life of writer and ornithologist, John Keith Stanford. With extensive access to his private archive, the book provides a unique insight into the life of this 20th century author and conservationist from his Victorian upbringing as the grandson of the founder of the family cartography business, ‘Stanfords’, to his death in 1971.

Readers of social, political, and military history will find his life an important prism through which to view the 20 ^th century anew. Stanford was an ornithologist par excellence; those wishing to learn about the natural history of birds will find this book vital in deepening their understanding. In his novels, Stanford’s wry and humorous observations about characters on the sporting field and in the rural community will delight those with a passion for the British countryside. This book brings his work to the fore and tells the story of his life from an objective but sympathetic perspective.

Andrew Curtis was born in 1977 in Hampshire and educated at Swansea University and Universität Augsburg. He attended RMA Sandhurst before joining the Royal Artillery, completing operational tours in Cyprus and Iraq. After leaving the army, he trained as a teacher and has taught History and German at Norwich School since 2006.

The book is available in East Anglian bookshops, on Amazon, and direct from www.poppyland.co.uk
It can also be ordered through all good bookshops throughout the UK.

Some Trust in Chariots - The Remarkable Life and Legacy of JK Stanford by AP Curtis is published by Poppyland Publishing (ISBN 978-1-869831-42-4)

Head's Address at the Start of Trinity Term 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 08:47:38 GMT

Welcome back to you all; I hope you have had a good break, including exploring various avenues for curiosity after I mentioned them in my address at the end of last term. The final period of the school year to come now is the easiest in terms of predictability in that we have exams in the first part of the Summer Term, followed by an expansion of

co-curricular activity in the last few weeks. There is inevitably a raising of stakes that comes with accountability at the end of courses and the school year.

As at the end of last term, I want to put this school journey in perspective, but in a very different way. The school and your families cannot shield you from the scrutiny of being measured in the upcoming assessment processes, whether internal or external; many love the chance to show off what they have learned, but others find it more challenging. I hope you agree that the adults in your lives, both at home and at school, are supportive in helping you to give of your best during this fixed period of time.

Whichever group you are in, please remember that you will not be defined as a person by your results and there are much more important qualities in you than your examination certificates could ever show. Indeed, while exam scores are a clear measure of the progress you have made in your time in Cathedral Close, they are not even the most important thing I want Norwich School to have taught you. If I could only have one thing for you to show for being a Norvicensian, I should like it to be that you fully appreciate and live our values of love, compassion and inclusion.

The death yesterday of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, made more poignant his final Easter Sunday message where he appealed for peace in the many conflict zones around the world. He encouraged nations to use their resources to de-escalate conflicts and break down barriers; he advocated “care for one another”, the very compassion which is one of our core values.

This concept of community compassion, made more vivid and powerful by the news of recent days, is embodied in our bible reading today: “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another”. It is also at the heart of our own Bishop’s Easter message to “build bridges and not barriers”, a thought which has been on my mind this holiday because I went to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau.

It has been my intention to do so for a long time but various factors combined in recent months:

· the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the camp on 27th January, with the upcoming VE anniversary on 8th May;

· reading two excellent books: The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland about life in Auschwitz, and The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan which explores the complex context of the Middle East crisis;

· and, finally, my feeling of responsibility as an educator in the face of growing anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.

It certainly shocked me to read that 1 in 20 people in the UK deny that the Holocaust happened, while 1 in 12 say that its scale was exaggerated. In the context of roughly 1000 people in the Cathedral now, that would equate to 50 denying and over 80 asserting exaggeration. In such a context, it felt important to bear personal witness at the site itself; partly to feel the raw shock of dismantled and discarded humanity in the piles of items such as human hair, children’s shoes, and victims’ suitcases on display in the museum; partly to see the frightening scale and efficiency of the operation at Birkenau, complete with the horrific detail of mendacious reassurances to achieve compliance from the new arrivals; partly to see the painstakingly curated written and material records which have contributed to providing the headline figure of 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, as well as millions from other minoritised communities. To take again our congregation of 1000 today, we would need 6000 such congregrations to reach the Holocaust figure. Not 6, 60 or 600 but 6000 times our number today? These are numbers so large that they take active effort to absorb.

So why do I tell you now about my trip and how does it link with the start of this address? Primo Levi, a Holocaust survivor and writer, said of the Holocaust “It happened, therefore it can happen again; this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen anywhere”. This quote speaks to the collective responsibility we all face to stand in the way of division and the hostility which puts people apart, to stand instead for compassion and kindness towards others.

It is perhaps best expressed by another Holocaust survivor, Marian Turski, who finished Simon Schama’s excellent recent documentary, The Road to Auschwitz, with the following: “Auschwitz did not fall from the sky. It comes step by step. Evil comes step by step. And, therefore, you should not be indifferent. Let’s start by reducing hatred, and trying to understand other people…the most important thing is compassion. Its absence dehumanises”.

In this context, love and inclusion are excellent words to add to compassion. And did you notice what is meant in “you should not be indifferent”? It is the notion of upstander rather than bystander that Mrs Fairweather has been teaching us about. I am proud as I reflect on our school’s values and culture that they answer so effectively the call to witness and action that I personally have felt in the aftermath of my visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. We have to aspire to be a force for good in the world, both individually and collectively; that means not looking away from injustice and harm, but taking it in so that we can challenge its reoccurrence, even when its scale is so daunting.

When you come out of West Doors at the end of the Summer Term and school year, of course I want you to have good results and to have got the benefit of all the co-curricular activities available here, but most of all I want you to have a deep intimacy with and respect for the principles of love, inclusion and compassion, but also to know how to implement them in your routine habits, practised over and over again each and every day. Being kind to those you come across inside and outside school is not a nice add-on; it is the very essence of what we teach here. Have a great term!

China Trip 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 13:14:49 GMT

We went to China for two weeks – from 31 March – 13 April. It was an educational yet fun experience for all of us. The views were amazing, and the cultural differences were very interesting. However, it took a bit to get used to some of the foods as the textures and flavours were quite different and unfamiliar. We also tried using chopsticks and by the end of the trip everyone was pretty confident in using them.

When we arrived in Beijing, we went straight to our first destination – Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The scenery was beautiful, and I learnt a lot about the history of these places from our tour guide. My favourite location in Beijing was the Great Wall of China. The steps were steep and uneven, and it got very tiring. The view was amazing though, and the people looked like moving spots on the ground.

The second city we visited was Xi’an. Xi’an is well known for its Terracotta Warriors. The Terracotta Army was really cool to see in person, as every soldier was different – no two soldiers had the same face. However, it was very crowded, so it wasn’t the best experience, but the history was interesting, and the soldiers were incredible. I also found the calligraphy and art lessons fun – the paintings were incredible, and the calligraphy was unbelievable – Chinese characters are very hard, especially to write neatly, yet they made it look so easy.

In Nanjing, we visited the Ming Xiaoling mausoleum, the Linggu Temple, Fuzimiao, Dr Sun Yat Sen mausoleum, Nanjing Massacre Museum and many more. I learnt a lot about Nanjing’s history, especially about the massacre. On the last day in Nanjing, we went to our sister school. The area was huge and there were so many students there. My favourite part was the farm – they had so many unexpected animals.

We didn’t spend very long in Shanghai, but it was my favourite. We visited the Shanghai Tower – it’s the third tallest building in the world with 128 floors. From the observation deck (118th floor), you can see many other skyscrapers and the Huangpu River, and you can see the whole of Shanghai. We also went on a harbour cruise in the evening, and the city was lit up with lights. The best part of the China trip was going to Shanghai Disney Resort. We spent half a day at Disney – it was amazing. The rides were so fun and the firework display at the end was breathtaking and beautiful.

The China trip was so fun – it’s probably the best trip I have been on. I would go on this trip again if I can, I had such an amazing time and I would really recommend it – it’s definitely worth it.

- Jessica Li, L5

Volunteering for the Norwich Science Festival Techathon

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 08:51:45 GMT

This year's Techathon for the Norwich Science Festival was bigger and better than ever, with a fully packed Daynes Sports Centre! Two pupils, Jay Ng and Jeremy Lo, volunteered for this year's festival and Jay told us a little about his experience below!

What made you want to volunteer for the event in the first place?

I also have an interest in technology-related hardware and software. I am constantly delving into different aspects of the Raspberry Pi platform. As my specialties are in this department, I like to mentor others for skills I know to further intensify their passion for technology. That is why I have immediately volunteered for the event after I heard about it.

How did you hear about it?

I first heard about the Norwich Techathon when Mr. James Livesey (ON), who is from the BBC and completing a Software Engineer Apprentice, who presented a Wednesday Business Breakfast at Norwich School. He mentioned this event as the BBC is a sponsor for this event.

Can you explain a little about what you did over the two days and what the participants got up to?

The participants chose 1 of the 4 questions created by the sponsors of the event. They had to create a product (either hardware or software) in response to these questions. Opportunities during the event include the assembly and coding of Arduino Sensor Kit, the use of Micro:bit to create interesting projects, and the Raspberry Pi for advanced coding.

Did you learn anything new while you were there?

I have learnt the skills for teaching others on how to use the latest technology. I believe this experience has also taught me how to effectively teach other participants skills from my strengths. Through the teamwork and insistence on perfecting the product created, I have learnt the importance of collaboration and communication. I have also deepened my knowledge and understanding regarding the Arduino platform.

How did you find working with the younger participants?

I found working with younger participants eye-opening, as it involves helping others by guiding them through individual steps and procedures. This has taught me how to teach others in a manner where they would not be overwhelmed by an assortment of instructions, but yet proceed efficiently in creating an intriguing product.

Do you think the experience might have helped you with your future career aspirations?

The Norwich Techathon has increased my interest in digging into new technology out of my comfort zone. The knowledge and curiosity gained from this event has fascinated me to study and pursue a career relating to the use of technology.

Did you find anything challenging?

I found helping participants with time management challenging. They constantly think up new, better, and more awesome ideas to add to the functionality of the creation they make. These include making it more user-friendly, making it more interactive, etc. But sadly, they had a two-day limit to make and code this creation. For that reason, not every idea could be added. I am sure if the duration of the event is long, they can create more sophisticated and complex products!

Would you recommend volunteering to others?

Yes, absolutely. Not only do I feel very proud and was overcome by a sense of accomplishment for being able to teach and help the participants of the event to gain interest in technology and develop their skills in this subject, I also personally have gained a lot of knowledge from information I have learnt on the spot during the Techathon.

All photo credits are to Connor McKee, Norfolk County Council and Step into Tech CIC

Urban Commons Under the Spotlight of the Royal Geographical Society

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:25:37 GMT

For a number of years Norwich School has played host to the eastern region of the prestigious Royal Geographical Society (RGS), hosting their informative and popular lectures on site. On 10 April 2025, we were delighted to welcome them back for their latest public lecture entitled: Reimaging our urban spaces as future green spaces.

Our guide was the country’s leading expert in this complex field, Professor Chris Rogers. Chris’ career has encompassed being a Solicitor, then Professor of Law at the University of Wales Aberystwyth, and latterly he is Emeritus Professor of Law at Newcastle University, from where he had travelled to give this talk.

During his interesting talk, attended by a number of pupils, staff, alumni and members of the RGS, Chris explained how our urban commons are a precious resource with enormous significance for promoting a wide variety of (sometimes conflicting) stakeholder interests: biodiversity, agricultural, heritage and wellbeing, and even as sites of congregation and protest. However, these commons are under threat as never before as cash-strapped councils look to cut expenditure to balance their books and to maintain frontline services. His talk explored the different legal and cultural concepts of an urban common, illustrated with examples from his extensive research. He gave considerable focus to Mousehold Heath in Norwich, which is a prime example of a well-managed and much-loved urban common that has a multiplicity of uses, despite its complex and at times fraught legal history.

Lower 6 pupil Hannah commented: “I really enjoyed yesterday’s lecture. I thought it was captivating and thought- provoking on how we need to protect our natural spaces within cities. It was all very interesting.”

RGS talks are open to all and are very approachable and friendly. Further details of RGS events are posted here: Upcoming events - RGS ,. We greatly look forward to welcoming them back on site for two mouth-watering talks next month comprising:

Thursday 1 ^st May 2025 – Royal Geographical Society public lecture

The Rise and Rise of the Riviera - Jim Ring

This talk marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of Jim Ring’s biography of the coast. He traces the story of the Riviera back to the British aristocrats who discovered it in the late 18th century. He finds a group seeking health, warmth, a breathtaking land and seascape, and the easy morals with which the coast became associated. 'A sunny place,' said Somerset Maugham, 'for shady people.' Despite the rampant development that has characterised the coast since WW2, Jim will identify the qualities of topography, climate and culture that have enabled the Cote d'Azur to stay ahead of the pack over all these years. Jim's books and documentary films have won various awards.

19:30 - Blake Studio Norwich School, The Close - doors open 19:00

Booking: The rise and rise of the French Riviera - RGS

Thursday 29 May – Royal Geographical Society public lecture

A Life in Green: looking back, looking forward – Sir Jonathon Porritt CBE.

Jonathon is a very eminent writer and campaigner on sustainable development, co-founder of Forum for the Future and the Prince of Wales Business and Sustainability Programme, and for many years Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission.

Jonathon’s talk will address what we have learnt from the last 50 years of activism on climate and biodiversity issues, and what are now the priorities when the challenge has never been more pressing. Jonathon’s view is that we now face an inflection point, ecologically, politically and economically, with some very turbulent times ahead. The current focus of his work is on intergenerational justice, supporting young people in their activities addressing the twin crises of the Climate and Biodiversity Emergencies.

19:30 - Blake Studio Norwich School, The Close - doors open 19:00

Booking: A life in green: looking back, looking forward - RGS

Details of Norwich School’s eclectic selection of cultural events round site feature in our termly publication, At Close Quarters , with the summer 2025 edition due out imminently. See: Publications | Norwich School .

Abi Hill (11-22) Runs Brighton Marathon for Priscilla Bacon Hospice

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:17:20 GMT

Abi smashed her debut marathon, finishing 18th out of 4500 female runners!

In hot and windy conditions, Abi ran the Brighton marathon in April with Mum, Nicola Hill (NS 03-present), who many of you will remember as a keen runner herself, or from maths lessons at school. This was Abi's first marathon but her training paid off, finishing the race in 3.16, a fantastic time!

They are fundraising for the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity in memory of Linda Watts-Bailey, Grandmother to Abi and Mum to Nicola. Money raised will help provide a comprehensive bereavement service, specialist equipment, enhance catering, patient and family transport, and to maintain the beautiful gardens.

If you would like to help them reach their £1000 target, please go to . https://www.justgiving.com/page/abi-nicola?utm_term=xVxxYwnPr&utm_medium=FA&utm_source=WA

Well done for a great race, Abi!

Royal Academy of the Arts on Show

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:36:37 GMT

Friday 4 April 2025 saw us hosting a p ublic lecture held in conjunction with the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas) in the Blake Studio.

This presented an amazing opportunity to hear from Dr Hannah Higham, Senior Curator at the Royal Academy of Arts in London – one of the country’s most prestigious art institutions. Before joining in April 2023, she previously worked as the Senior Curator for the Henry Moore Foundation. Formerly, she has worked for Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norfolk, so she was enjoying being back in the county.

A large audience of n-cas members, NUA students, ONs and staff learned what an august institution the Royal Academy of Arts in London truly is. From the days of its first President Joshua Reynolds, its collections and exhibitions are rightly world famous. Hannah’s wide ranging and informative talk charted how it brilliantly mixes modernism with the Old Masters (including a priceless Michelangelo carving) in its amazing collections and exhibitions. She reflected on its essential mission to remain a pre-eminent educational institution for art and mused on the current challenges of its charitable funding model (receiving no help from either the State or the Crown).

The audience left inspired to visit its exciting programme of upcoming exhibitions, detailed here:

Exhibitions & Events | Royal Academy of Arts

N-cas continues to attract high-calibre, interesting speakers on a wide variety of areas of contemporary creative art. Their talks are open to all and are very approachable and friendly. Further details of n-cas events will be posted here: Events — ncas and we look forward to welcoming them back on site for talks later this year and to them exhibiting in our Crypt Gallery in 2026 to mark its 70 ^th anniversary.

Details of all of Norwich School’s eclectic selection of cultural events round site feature in our termly publication, At Close Quarters with the summer edition due out imminently.

See: Publications | Norwich School . Do join us.

Marvellous Madrid Trip for Upper 4 Pupils

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 09:12:33 GMT

Upper 4 pupil, Riya Sharma, tells us all about the exciting four-day residential trip to the Spanish capital.

"In my opinion, the Madrid trip was absolutely fantastic! We explored key parts of Madrid and we had so much fun while doing it. Going to Real Madrid's stadium was mesmerising, and we got to see different parts of what made up such a unique place. Doing a tour of important aspects of Madrid was intriguing, and we learnt so much with a wonderful tour guide. Retiro park was outstandingly vast, and we had so much fun doing activities as well as the churros tasting. Last but certainly not least, was Warner Bros theme park. It was packed with many rides, each unique in their own way. It may have been petrifying to go on the rides, but it was certainly worth it. Overall, the trip was amazing, and I am very excited for next years group to go and enjoy a lovely time."

Riya Sharma (U4)

Isobel Holroyd (17-19) in London Half Marathon for CRY

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:18:06 GMT

ON Isobel Holroyd will be running the London Landmarks Half Marathon to support Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

'I will be running the London Landmarks half marathon in memory of my Uncle Jon who sadly passed away in 2013. CRY is a fantastic charity that gave me my heart scans to ensure that I did not have the same hidden heart condition. They are preventing young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and research, and supporting affected families.'

The London Landmarks Half Marathon is a closed road, central London run and is the only half marathon to go through both the City of London and City of Westminster.

Please donate if you can: https://www.justgiving.com/page/isobel-holroyd-1725399764546?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=C

Many thanks.

Best of luck, Isobel!

End of Lent Term Address 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:34:05 GMT

Well done to everyone for getting through to the end of another busy Norwich School term. With all that we have heard in the last two presentation assemblies, two of our key aims for pupils, breadth and leadership & service, have certainly been in evidence. However, as we come to a holiday and a chance to change pace, I want to return to the third of our pupil aims. It is the theme I raised at the start of term, curiosity, whether practical, intellectual or creative.

I am sure you can all remember exactly what I talked about; indeed, you have been thinking of little else since January, but just in case there are a few hazy memories, I mentioned curiosity in connection with some extraordinary natural phenomena such as the East Atlantic Flyway, the Connectome of a female fruit fly and the difference in scale between a million and a billion.

You may be thinking that I must be scraping the barrel if I am repeating a theme for an address, but the reason for returning to it is that our ability to intersect with a concept such as curiosity is different in term-time from a holiday. The key to that difference is choice: during term, we obviously hope you will be curious but you have to do so largely on the school’s terms regarding compliance with our timetable, following syllabus constraints and keeping up with homework tasks. However, for the next three weeks or so, you set the pace, you get to follow your ideas and interests with less outside interference.

For our public examination candidates in U5 and U6 who are likely to be planning for a holiday which blends rest and revision, the difference between term and holiday might be at risk of becoming blurred. However, I encourage you to keep this word and quality in your minds, even if it requires a bit of a Jedi mind-trick to start with. You are more likely to retain information or a concept if you are excited about it and clear on why you are learning it, how it is going to help you or how it fits with other learning. Try to be curious about the ideas, texts or techniques you are mastering as it will help them to stick.

If this really is all too much and you see the upcoming revision process simply as a grind-to-get-through, at least make sure to insert curiosity into your break-periods. If you think of the 5 ways to wellbeing that Norwich School promotes (give, connect, stay active, keep learning, take notice), curiosity could be said to be in all of them, especially if one draws in practical, creative or intellectual flavours, but it certainly cuts into the last three; the last one, take notice, is essentially curiosity via another phrase.

Whether you will be revising this holiday or not, I encourage you to feed your curiosity and offer some stimuli for consideration, based on personal experiences this term. I hope you have had or soon will have experiences which get you thinking. See which of the following areas interests you most:

From a Royal Geographical Society talk on Rewilding and in Mountain Guru, a biography of Doug Scott, one of Britain’s greatest climbers with a claim to fame being the highest bivouac ever when he spent the night 100 metres below the summit of Everest without oxygen or sleeping bags during his pioneering ascent of its south-west face: what does wild mean in terms of man’s relationship with nature? Can humans be involved in a place which is truly wild and, if so, how?

From our own Senior Play, The Watsons: what is the relationship between an audience and its actors, between writers and the characters they create, between history and the present? This play’s metatheatricality challenges the suspension of disbelief that lies at the heart of story-telling and performance art.

From an agri-tech day at John Innes Centre, put on at the Food & Farming Discovery Trust, with a visit to Food Enterprise Zone, how are we going to feed the planet in the 21st century? What are the ethics and finances under consideration at the world-leading research centre in our city?

From A Complete Unknown, the biopic film about Bob Dylan starring Timothee Chalomet, where does creative originality come from and how do cultural norms change over time? Credited as one of the most influential artists of all time, Dylan’s music and lyrics upended divisions between folk and rock with tunes that became emblematic of anti-war movements and counter-culture in the 1960s. Chalomet’s gamble in the taking on of singing and playing Dylan classics is striking, too.

And, finally, from Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, how do you tell stories without words? Most famous for its male chorus of swans (think of the final scene from Billy Elliot), Tchaikowsky’s iconic score is brought to life by the humour and attention to detail of Bourne’s choreography and, most of all, the raw athleticism of its dancers.

I wanted to complement this last reference by showing off some of our male and female dancers from the wonderful recent Senior Dance Festival, but that has not proved possible because of injury, so stand by for something from them next term. Instead, I have asked Lana Kiddell to reprise her outstanding rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow from Jazz Night. I hope this gives you an opportunity to reflect on areas where you will give rein to your curiosity during the upcoming holiday.

In terms of curiosity, what I am advocating for is a desire to find out more, to follow your interests to explore more about the world around you and yourselves. If you can establish this attitude as a habit, I believe it stays with you for the rest of life: it might be characterised as being not childish as we grow up but remaining child-like.

To illustrate the point, I finish today by referencing the passing of Peter Grover MBE, the legendary Scout leader of the 8th Norwich whose memorial service took place in the Chapel on Saturday. The following comes from a poem of tribute from one of his fellow-Scout leaders (and, for information, Robert Baden-Powell was the founder of the Scouting Movement). The quote is as follows:

Baden-Powell said adult leaders needed to be Boy-men.

“A boy can see fun and adventure in a dirty-duck-puddle.

If you are a boy-man, you can see it too”.

Peter was a boy-man.

The quote above is gendered as a product of its time but I suggest that the concept now applies equally to girl-woman. I like the way this last quote shows the close intersection of curiosity with fun and humour, in some ways the sillier the better. Child-like, not childish.

Have a great holiday and I look forward to seeing you all after Easter.

David Treglown's (99-08) Ironman Australia for Prostate Cancer

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 08:31:50 GMT

ON David Treglown will be swimming (4km), cycling (180km), and running (marathon) the 226.3km IRONMAN Australia on 4 May to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

Any donation, no matter how small, is hugely appreciated and will help to fund the important work Prostate Cancer UK are doing.
Please support if you can - the link is below.
Best of luck Trigs!

Words from David:

I’ve never been much of a runner, in fact up until recently, I hadn’t run over 12km since I was 17 at the Paris Half Marathon. Or a swimmer for that matter. And I’d never owned a road bike in my life. However, some things happen in life that give you a real kick up the arse.

Many of you who know me well will know my Dad. For those of you who don’t, firstly, shame on you. Secondly, he’s currently battling stage 4 prostate cancer (which he’s of course named Dudley) like a true champ. This was news that hit our whole family immensely hard, especially with me being on the other side of the world, and left me feeling rather disconnected with my family and friends back in the UK.

We are all eternally grateful for the dedicated work of the NHS, and for the recent breakthroughs in prostate cancer research which have lead to Dad being able to continue to live his life in as much relative comfort as he currently is.

We are only just at the beginning of this journey but I wanted to do something more to help contribute to the ongoing work of Prostate Cancer UK, ironically a charity I have supported for many years.

On the 4th May 2025, I will be swimming (4km), cycling (180km), and running (marathon) the 226.3km Ironman Australia with 2 pals, James Leigh and Frederick Owen.

Any donation, no matter how small, is hugely appreciated and will help to fund the important work Prostate Cancer UK are doing. It will also put a massive smile on my face!

Thank you,
Oh, and men, please go get your prostate checked.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/david-treglown?utm_source=IG

Middle 5 Pupil, Rory Evans, on 10 Years of Legacy Dance

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:24:38 GMT

Three Norwich School pupils, Luke Watts (U5), Milo Clabburn (L6) and Rory Evans (M5) have appeared on Radio Norfolk to talk about their love of dance. We caught up with Rory to find out more…

Why were you invited to speak on Radio Norfolk?

I am part of a dance company called Legacy and along with Luke, Milo and some of our fellow dancers, we were invited to speak on Radio Norfolk to promote an incredible upcoming show, called Brothers in Motion, which celebrates 10 years of Legacy Dance Company UK.

Can you tell us a little more about Legacy?

Legacy is an all-boys dance company which trains every Saturday and meets every week at the Workshop Studios in Norwich. In total there are about 100 male dancers split across four main groups – minis, little, 11+ and Main Company. I am part of the Main company, which consists of 13 boys aged from 11 to 18 – four of us are from Norwich School; me, Milo, Luke and also Jasper Valpied (U5). The company is audition only and we do performances, competitions and outreach programmes.

How did you hear about Legacy?

I was introduced to Legacy when they performed in the Junior Dance show a few years ago. They have also guest choreographed at various dance events at school such as the Dance Festival and Gala Night and they do workshops and events with the school.

What do you enjoy about dance?

I have loved dance since I joined Norwich School and I have been really grateful for the opportunity to do all the dance that I have. I enjoy being able to express myself through dance, which is fun and therapeutic and also builds lots of transferable skills such as dedication, hard work and coordination.

Tell us more about the show you were promoting on the Radio…

It is called Brothers in Motion and involves multiple boys dance groups from across the country coming together to perform, along with some of the top vocational colleges from around the country and also many Legacy Alumni will be performing. It is a really exciting showcase of male dance, which will be taking place at the Norfolk Showground on Friday 30 ^th May.

It was great to be able to talk about it on the radio, as we are also trying to get funding for the show, as Legacy has been unable to access the Arts Council funding that has made the show possible in the past, so we are crowdfunding and asking for Business Sponsorship to help.

What would you say to anyone out there who might be interested in dance but hasn’t yet started?

I would strongly encourage you to start – the first step is the hardest but once you start I am sure you will love it. It is so much fun and the atmosphere and community both Legacy and Norwich School have been inspirational for me.

Click here for more information - BROTHERS IN MOTION - 10 Years, 1 Legacy - a Creative & Arts crowdfunding project in Norwich by LEGACY Dance Company UK

Onward Routes for our Upper Sixth - Non UCAS Success Stories

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 14:09:29 GMT

Here at Norwich School we are delighted to celebrate the talented diversity of our Upper Sixth cohort as offers for onward routes continue to come in. Following on from blog posts on law and girls’ STEM university offers, we have chosen to focus on offers pupils have for non UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service in the UK) routes.

With expert guidance from Mr Croston, pupils have received offers from leading universities in several countries outside of the UK. Congratulations in particular to Uma Patel (offer for Dentistry at the Universidad Catolica de Valencia, Spain), Edward Chan (Architecture at Hong Kong University), Bosco Tang (Dentistry at Hong Kong University) and Helen Ng (Computer Science at UST, University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong).

A huge variety of exciting opportunities with employers are now available to school leavers, almost all combining paid employment with training and further qualifications. The number of degree apprenticeships available in the UK is now four times what it was five years ago; our pupils who gain offers for these will work for a leading employer who trains them, pays them and pays for them to complete a full university degree alongside their employment. We are very fortunate to have Mrs James supporting pupils as they apply for these highly competitive programmes.

This blog post asks three pupils about their offers for non UCAS routes: Ava deCooper Wride has a full rugby scholarship for Quinnipiac University (USA), Archie Taylor has an accountancy degree apprenticeship offer from Price Bailey and Hugo Pattinson has an engineering degree apprenticeship offer from Airbus.

Ava deCooper Wride

Tell us about the US university offer that you've received i.e. what course(s) at which unis, what is the scholarship

I’m pleased to share that I’ve received an offer from Quinnipiac University, located in Connecticut on the East Coast (of the USA). I’ve been awarded a full academic and athletic scholarship, which I’m really grateful for. I haven’t decided on a major yet, as I’ll have the chance to explore different options during my first year before making a decision.

How did you secure this fantastic achievement? What did the application/selection process involve and when?

I began to build relationships with coaches in Lower 6. I achieved this through frequent calls and video footage submissions while also registering with the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). My coaches in England provided references, and I completed an online application followed by a face-to-face interview call. Eventually, I was invited on a three-day trip to meet the coaches and players in October 2024, which allowed both sides to assess if it was the right fit.

How did Norwich School help you during this application process?

There was a significant amount of paperwork involved, as Quinnipiac University were keen to assess my academic profile. This process included academic and character references from various teachers. Also character references from my sports coaches at school. Finally, a transcript of my grades and predicted grades, was compiled and submitted by Mr Croston.

What attracted you to studying in the USA? Tell us a bit more about the rugby out there.

One of the biggest reasons I was drawn to studying in the USA is how seriously they take collegiate sports. The level of funding, media coverage, and overall competitiveness is on a completely different scale compared to the UK. Women’s rugby, especially 7s, is also growing rapidly there, which makes it an exciting time to be part of the sport. I’ll be competing in Division 1 (D1), the top league, and training five days a week, with matches most weekends. The travel varies - many D1 universities that I will play are on the East Coast, but some tournaments, like the Tropical 7s in Florida, require trips across the country.

Tell us about the rugby you currently play - which club/side, any highlights to date.

Currently, I play club rugby for Norwich. I’ve also had the opportunity to play for Saracens, and I’m now in the PDG phase of the England Pathway, continuing to develop my game at a higher level.

You're a talented all-around sportswoman who holds a sports scholarship here. Which sports have you represented Norwich School (and/or any local/county sides..?) for and at what level? How have these other sports and/or the sports scholarship programme here helped your rugby?

At Norwich School, I’ve had the opportunity to play a wide range of sports, from tennis to cricket to hockey. However, the sport I’ve been most involved in has been netball. Outside of school, for netball, I play for Norfolk United and was previously part of the Saracens Mavericks pathway. I believe that playing multiple sports has really contributed to my development in rugby and vice versa - I think that playing any sport helps build game sense and a strong understanding of fundamental skills. Norwich School has also played a big role in my overall athletic growth. Through Athletic Development, I’ve improved my conditioning, and I’ve also gained valuable knowledge in areas like sports nutrition and psychology. All of this has helped me stay fit, healthy, and continue progressing in my sport.

Archie Taylor

Tell us about the degree apprenticeship offer you have received.

I have received an offer from Price Bailey. I am based in the Norwich office in the outsourcing department. In this programme I will work a full-time job allowing me to gain hands-on experience while earning a level 7 qualification (masters equivalent) this will last for 5 years.

You also applied through UCAS for 'normal' degree course and have received several offers from top universities. What attracted you to applying to employers for a degree apprenticeship as a preferred route to this?

I was particularly drawn to the degree apprenticeship route because of its combination of practical experience and academic study. The opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in real world setting, earn a salary while earning industry recognized qualifications without student debt and have the chance to become financially independent at the age of 18 was a big pull factor. Additionally working at Price Bailey will allow me to develop professional networks early in my career, putting me in a strong position for the future. Also, as the graduate market becomes increasingly competitive, I will have 5 years of professional work experience and if all goes well an offer to stay on at Price Bailey with no student debt.

How did you apply for your degree apprenticeships and what did the application process involve?

Overall, I applied to 23-degree apprenticeships (as they are highly competitive) by researching firms that offer a good, structured program with good career progression. The application process typically involved submitting an online application, followed by personality quizzes, situational judgement tests and potentially a numerical test depending on the industry. Then there will usually be a video interview stage where you film your answer to a question that you have around 2 minutes to prepare for. After this I was invited to an in-person assessment centre day where there are typically 5-20 people there going for a limited number of roles. This day will vary from different industries, but my day consisted of a 25-minute numerical test, a Q&A with the hiring managers and then 2 group tasks where we had to collaboratively find solutions to a business's problems from sources supplied to us and then give a 10 minute presentation to the hiring managers. This was mainly testing problem solving ability and most importantly the ability to work well collaboratively in a team. After this I was invited to an online interview with a younger person at the firm and an older experienced partner, this typically lasts from 20-45 minutes. The process is very rigorous and time-consuming, but it provided a great insight into the expectations of the industry.

How did Norwich School help you achieve this offer?

To begin with I spoke to Mrs James about career opportunities through apprenticeships as I was confident that was the path I wanted to take. Mrs James then provided support with CV writing and checking that it was good quality. After this when I made it to the assessment centre, I was able to reach out to her to ask for advice on how I should present myself and go about the day. Then when I made it to the interview stage, I had a mock interview with Mrs James and went through any questions I had, which helped with my confidence going into the real thing.

How will your degree apprenticeship work?

The job mixes on the job training alongside academic studying. I will be working 5 days a week with the option to work from home whenever convenient while studying for the ACA qualification which has a typical duration of 5 years. The firm provides study help alongside work; I will get time off work to attend lectures and take exams, while the rest of the revision I am responsible for doing outside of working hours. Over the course of the program, I will work towards professional qualifications, while gradually taking on more responsibilities within the firm.

What else have you been involved in at Norwich School outside of academic work? Will you be able to continue these activities when you start your degree apprenticeship in the autumn?

Beyond academics, I have been heavily involved in cricket and rugby at Norwich School, playing in the 1 ^st team for both. While my apprenticeship will require commitment, I plan to continue to play cricket for Norfolk U18s and Lowestoft Town 1 ^st XI. Maintaining a work-life balance is important so I will maintain a consistent gym and running routine on the side. The structured nature of the degree apprenticeship allows for flexibility, enabling me to manage professional and personal commitments effectively.

Hugo Pattison

Tell us about the degree apprenticeship offer you have received.

I have been offered an Engineering Degree Apprenticeship with Airbus.

I learned of degree apprenticeships though attending several careers fairs. At these I was able to talk to current degree apprentices and I found out about all of the various benefits of the courses alongside the working environment, this alongside the pay and lack of student debt made degree apprenticeships appeal to me massively.

How did you apply for your degree apprenticeships and what did the application process involve?

I applied directly through the company’s careers website. The Airbus application process required me to submit a CV and a covering letter, followed by a virtual assessment centre that included group work and an individual interview.
This process did vary slightly compared to applications for other companies.

How did Norwich School help you achieve this offer?

Through Mrs James I completed the Apprenticeship Academy which helped me to establish good interview habits and to answer questions concisely and to the point. I also believe that mock interviews in Lower 6 helped to set me up for this process.

How will your degree apprenticeship work?

I will be working at Airbus' East Factory, moving through several rotations in different departments of engineering throughout the site.

What else have you been involved in at Norwich School outside of academic work? Will you be able to continue these activities when you start your degree apprenticeship in the autumn?

I have played rugby throughout my time at Norwich School and more recently become a member of the Boat Club (rowing). At this point I am unsure which pursuits I will keep up once I've left school but I will certainly be doing something!

Artist Claire Coles (97-99) Creates Egg for a Charitable Egg Hunt

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:42:55 GMT

As part of the BIG Egg Hunt, Claire has created a beautiful egg to raise funds for The Elephant Family.

In collaboration with @diptyque, Claire has decorated an egg for The Big Egg Hunt, London.

Over 100 eggs have been popping up across the capital for the BIG Hunt @elephantfamily @clarence_court

https://elephant-family.org/our-work/events/the-big-egg-hunt/

'Florescence' is a celebration of Diptyque's Spring Herbarium. A gilded gold backdrop is adorned with paint, vintage wallpapers, faux leather and embroidery. Combining layers of materials gives a rich and textured effect, and the florals appear to intertwine and grow across the surface of the egg.

Use the above link to The Elephant Family website where you can read about the incredible work they do to protect Asia's magnificent wildlife. And you can find more info on the egg hunt and auction.

#thebigegghunt #elephantfamily #artforcharity

On the making of 'Florescense' for Diptyque, Sloane Street, London. Claire says:

‘It has been such an honour to be asked to be part of this wonderful project @elephantfamily The Big Egg Hunt.

Over 100 artist have decorated egg across the capital, creating the worlds biggest Egg Hunt. At the end of the event all eggs will be auctioned to raise funds for @elephantfamily’

#thebigegghunt #artforcharity #londonegghunt #easter #springflowers #goldenegg #diptyque #floralart #mixedmediaartist #wallpapermural

@claire_coles_artist

Top Tips: Revision Techniques from Mrs Grant

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:21:32 GMT

Mrs Grant, Assistant Head (Pupil Progress), offers some top tips for revision based on her own experiences.

Two years ago I sat an English A-level – my first exams in sixteen years! It was time to put into practice all the advice I confidently give out to pupils every year. So how did I approach the revision?

I certainly embarked on ‘proper revision’ too late. I’d been enjoying my lessons happily and writing interesting essays (even this essay technique I began too late really), but had not attempted to commit anything to memory as I went along. English is very different to Physics, which I teach, but the bottom line is that some stuff needs memorising in any subject. So far so not good in heeding my own advice.

Once I engaged in the process properly, though, I’d say I did manage to make up for lost time a little!

I started by deciding which quotations were worth learning from the texts and from critics etc. I tried to choose a sensible number I thought it would be achievable to learn, and which spoke to the key themes of the texts. If I had started earlier, I would have been able to be more ambitious in the breadth of what I learnt.

I then grouped them by text and by theme on index cards and set about reciting them out loud repetitively every day. I would read it out loud, cover it up and try to read it without looking etc. This didn’t take too long so it meant I could try to do this every day in the couple of months leading up to the exam.

Slowly I knew just from the heading of an index card that I could recite the whole thing without looking. At that point I put these cards in a different pile – not to be neglected, but ones I knew I had cracked and just needed to keep rehearsing.

I was left, in the week before the first exam, with three or four stubborn cards which I was struggling to memorise, but this now felt more do-able. I would walk around countryside paths near where I live reciting them and this helped – walking at the same time seemed to stop me feeling fidgety at my desk and I felt less stressed too.

Interspersed with the memorising, Mr Murray (my very patient teacher) also encouraged me to keep planning essays and writing bits of them too. The difference now was that I could try to do it timed, without looking anything up. I think a big danger in English was that, having learnt key quotations, I was sub-consciously very keen to use them and show off these interesting things I had learnt by shoe-horning them into potentially totally irrelevant contexts. This continued exam practice and Mr Murray’s patient feedback helped me to have an internal voice reminding me how counter-productive that would be. I needed to plan a good essay that was relevant to the question and only then reach for things I had memorised to support my plan

All of this helped me to feel like the real exam was just this same process again that I was well rehearsed in doing. I had a good sense of how much time to spend planning an essay and knew this would make the writing time more efficient and effective. When using quotations in the real exams I could often picture the bit of my walk I was on when learning it which helped me remember it and helped me to feel calm.

In summary then:

- Consolidate as you go along.

- Be in a room with no tech – a phone that is off but in the same room is still taking up ‘cognitive load’ research has shown.

- Have a timetable that spaces different subjects and topics out instead of having whole days or just one subject or topic.

- Don’t completely neglect past questions/essay planning when memorising material – interleave these activities.

- Schedule breaks and get fresh air and exercise

- If you listen to music it should be lyric-free.

Keeping Track of Cross Country at the End of the Lent Term

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:15:45 GMT

Saturday 8 March saw the final race in the East Anglian League against runners from Gresham’s, Ipswich and RHS. The team travelled to RHS to compete in sunny but windy conditions.

In the Intermediate Boys, Kort Tsui ran a controlled race to finish 5th and Edward Lott, who has competed in every race this season came home in 7th. For the Senior Boys, our first finisher was Thomas Chester, coming 5th, closely followed by Jeremy Lo in 8th. The team was completed by Arthur Chan, Jacob Stevenson, Ollie Price and Thomas Hsia.

Saturday also saw the English Schools’ Cross-Country Championships held this year in Nottingham. Even qualifying for this prestigious event is an incredible achievement. Minnie Andrews raced in the Under 17s and finished in the top 150 runners nationally: the second runner home from the Norfolk team of 8. Samuel Trickey competed in the Under 13s and ran a storming race, finishing 204 ^th and 3 ^rd within the Norfolk team. Congratulations to Minnie and Sam.

Well done to everyone who has represented the Cross Country team this season.

Netball News from a Successful Season

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:18:17 GMT

It has been an action-packed term for the Netball Club, with a staggering 285 fixtures across the 2024/2025 season, which is testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of our pupils and staff.

Lent term kicked off with the U14/U16/U19 National Schools squads preparing thoroughly for the Regional Finals on 1 ^st February. The U19 team battled to finish as 3 ^rd best team in the East Region and narrowly missed out on National Finals qualification. The U14 and U16 squads performed promisingly, being one result away from a semi-final place. This is an exciting performance from our Norwich School youngsters, particularly from the U16s, who were all U15 and eligible for next years competition.

Post Regionals, there was no let up with weekly and block fixtures coming thick and fast. A particular high-light of the term was notching up victories across all of our A teams against a very competitive Perse School. The terms ends with a win ratio of 88% across our A team squads, and 67% across all teams.

We have enjoyed hosting an U13 Development Tournament, U11 Tournament and U9 Netball Festival with nearly 50 teams taking part. The term ended with our usual Junior and Inters Netball Celebration events to recognise the impressive efforts of our amazing pupils this term.

Special mentions must got to the 1 ^st VII for having an unbeaten season across their regular fixtures, and the U13A team who have a perfect playing record of 24/24 and the U13 County Cup title

Sevens Successes at the End of the Lent Term

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 08:37:09 GMT

This has been a successful season for the Rugby Sevens, with amazing improvement from players throughout all categories.

U18s

This term saw a shift in focus from 15-a-side rugby to the fast-paced 7s format, with all senior players training and competing in various 7s festivals, culminating in the prestigious Rosslyn Park 7s.

Ahead of Rosslyn Park, the U18s participated in four competitive festivals: Saints 7s, Oakham 7s, Norfolk County Cup, and Framlingham College 7s. Their standout performances came in the Norfolk County Cup , where they emerged victorious, and the Framlingham College 7s , where they claimed the Cup title with dominant wins over Finborough School in the semi-final and Campion School in the final.

At Rosslyn Park, the U18s secured two impressive victories against Pocklington School and Ratcliffe College. Unfortunately, a tough loss to QEGS Wakefield meant they narrowly missed out on the knockout stages.

U16s

The U16s also competed in four festivals in preparation for Rosslyn Park, showcasing resilience and determination throughout the season.

They claimed Plate victories at both the Greshams 7s , where they defeated Uppingham in the final, and the Framlingham College 7s , overcoming Fram in a thrilling final match.

At Rosslyn Park, the U16s faced a challenging group but displayed great character, with the highlight of the day being a commanding 33-5 victory over Rougemont School .

U14s

The U14s demonstrated fantastic progress in the lead-up to Rosslyn Park, delivering standout performances at the Greshams 7s and Norfolk County Cup .

At Rosslyn Park, they continued to impress with two outstanding victories over Monkton Combe School and The King’s School Canterbury. However, despite their strong performances, they narrowly missed out on advancing to Day 2 due to points difference.

Juniors

The U12's and U13's had successful County Cup tournaments, where they learned the game of 7’s and showcased impressive skill development. The fast-paced nature of 7’s helped the players improve their decision-making, handling, and teamwork, with each match providing an opportunity to apply what they'd learned.

Overall, the tournaments highlighted their growth both individually and as a team, laying a strong foundation for their future development in rugby.

Football Focus - The 2025 Season, Girls 1st XI

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 08:26:56 GMT

The Girls First XI Football team has had a great season with many new players joining from Upper Five, Lower Six and Upper Six. In the first half of term, the team focused in training on building not only technical skills, strategies and fitness but also good relationships among players. Despite a couple of key players returning injured after half term the girls came back ready for the three games we had lined up.

The first match against Langley we knew would be challenging but were prepared to play our best, many of the girls having never played a game of football before. Despite the 8-0 loss, the team's performance throughout demonstrated significant resilience, determination, and improvement in communication as the game went on. The second match of the season against Wymondham College resulted in a 3-1 win with strong performances all round, particularly from Poppy Francis in the midfield and India Fox in defence. Even more focus led to a domination in the second half and an enjoyable game for all.

The last match against Gresham’s was an important one for the girls, and they certainly gave their all in the first half of the game with a hattrick achieved by Freya Tyack in her last game at school. Gresham’s managed one goal in the second half but with the defence mostly strong and the attacking persevering, the team achieved the win. We say goodbye to four of our Upper Sixth players this year with their school football careers ranging from three years to just starting this year, making a huge difference to the team and helping to build a great atmosphere amongst their teammates in training and during games. A huge thank you to Mr Cole for all the unending support and encouragement he has given the girls throughout the season- his pride of the team is certainly unmistakable.

- Jemima Curtis U6N

Rowing Report at the End of the Lent Term

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 08:02:27 GMT

The Lent Term has proved to be sunnier and much drier than the Michaelmas term, enabling all races except Hampton Head to take place.

The Girls and Boys 1st VIIIs raced at Quintin Head in January to get some valuable Tideway experience ahead of the Head of River Races in March, and have since used those results to push and overturn some results in subsequent races.

Bedford Head in February saw 60 rowers racing throughout the day and with wins in the J15 Squads and some 2nd and 3rd places it was a good set of results. Many of the J14s had their first racing experience having only been rowing for 4 weeks!

March is a busy month in the rowing calendar and the first National race was the Girls 1st VIII at Women's Head of the River. On International Women's Day, the crew finished an impressive 143rd out of 323 crews, as well as placing them 26 out of 41 in a competitive Junior category and in amongst the high performance schools. This was over 50 places higher than our result in 2023.

The following day, the Boys 1st and 2nd VIIIs travelled back to Putney for a fixture against Dulwich College. A 3/3 win for the 1st VIII and 1/3 for the 2nd VIII. This was the first Tideway experience for the 2nd VIII and was a valuable lesson in how the conditions can vary along the course.

The Easter Region Junior Trials took place at Peterborough Rowing Club. A quick change to standing starts and 1000m racing saw the J16 Boys Pair, Girls Pair and Single and J15 Girls Coxed Four gain selection for the Inter Regional Regatta in April. Well done to all those selected.

The Schools Head of the River and Scullery Head are the highlight of the Head race season. With 4 8s racing at Schools Head, the weather was on our side with still conditions to race in. The Boys 2nd VIII and Girls J15 VIII finished 14th and 8th respectively in their categories. The Girls 1st VIII had a fantastic race and finished 4th. The Boys 1st VIII, despite feeling there is more boat speed to come finished 12th in Championship 8s, giving our highest overall finish ever.

The Scullery Head, at Dorney Lake, saw another sunny and near perfect conditions. The J17 Quad finished an impressive 5th place and the J14s had their first national race. The Girls Quad were 31st and the Boys Octos 22nd and 36th respectively. A great end to the Head season for Norwich School Boat Club.

Throughout all these races, the GB U19 Trials have been ongoing. With Daniel White and Nicholas Conway both progressing to the Spring Trials in April. Nicholas was also selected to go to the Spring Assessments for the top tier of athletes with Munich Junior Regatta selection being the focus there. Lily Nguyen has been selected as one of the 12 coxes to progress through to the next round of coxing selection. We wish them all the best as the trials process continues.

A Busy March for the Art and Design Department!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:09:20 GMT

The Art and Design department has been busy in March! Read below to find out just selection of things we have been up to!

L5 Trip to the Sainsbury Centre

L5 Art and Design pupils visited our local gallery, the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. Pupils explored the permanent collection, sculpture park and had a workshop with artist Jo Chapman. In the workshop, Chapman asked pupils to consider site specific artwork and gave pupils a range of materials such as sand, wood, wire, cardboard, wool, tape and foam to work with. The outcome of the workshop is an exciting range of small-scale sculptures, which consider the public spaces at the Sainsbury Centre and how we interact with them.

KS3 Art and Design Competition

The Art and Design department held a competition open to L4, U4 and L5, which asked pupils to respond to the theme, 'Museum Of Me'. The competition aimed to get pupils to think about what makes you, you. And to create a piece of artwork which explores the theme of themselves. They could respond in any medium they liked, such as drawing, painting, clay, sculpture, photography, digital design, or collage.

Alice Turner was selected as the winner of this competition. Her paper sculptures, using origami techniques, show great skill and represent Alice's interest in plants and the outdoors. The paper sculptures that Alice created represent the idea of friendship and her personal experiences of making new friends at a new school. Alice should be commended not only for her skilled paper engineering but for the poignant meaning behind her artwork. Alice has an exciting, creative journey ahead of her!

Alice explains her artwork in her own words,

'I am a very outdoorsy person, and I have many plants in my house, so I decided to make this piece about flowers and friendship. I joined the school this year, moving house from far away, so it was hard at first to make friends, but gradually I made some friends and over time I made even more friends. I asked each of my new friends to give me a few post it notes, and with these small pieces of paper, I made all of these little flowers. Every single flower is different, showing how my relationship with every single person is different. This piece represents my journey of friends at a new school. It also shows that my friendships are blooming brightly and hopefully, I have more to come in the future - Alice L4

L6 and M5 Exhibition

The Art & Design department held a pop-up exhibition of work produced by M5 and L6 pupils. These pupils are all taking Fine Art, 3D Design or 2D Design as one of their A-Level or GCSE options. The work celebrates learning new processes, exploring new ideas and experimentation.

Emerge, Crypt Gallery. Exhibition by two ONs, Daisy Campbell and Sophie Duez.

The gallery space will become a working studio for a Norwich-based artist residency, for artists Daisy Campbell and Sophie Duez. Find out more here! The exhibition is open until 29 March.

Library Booked for FONS Coffee Morning!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:47:14 GMT

On 28 ^th March 2025, we were delighted to host the Friends of Norwich School (FONS) for one of their regular coffee mornings, but In an unusual location: The Reynolds Library in the senior school.

It is an important function of the Friends of Norwich School that they offer fellowship on site for all parents, guardians, grandparents and friends of the school. This large and mixed group regularly meets socially.

Over coffees and croissants, attendees exchange news, help each other with the inevitable complexities of school life and offer support to each other, as well as hearing updates from the school. A large group joined us for this latest gathering - a diverse group ranging in age from under fives to those in their 80s!

Trustee Jonathan Pearson ON provided updates on the recent successful FONS Music quiz and explained how numerous school clubs and societies have benefited from substantial grants from the FONS (thanks to their sterling fundraising efforts). He concluded with an interesting introduction to the historic Reynolds Library, changing its original use in the 17 ^th century as a personal Chapel to the Bishops of Norwich, through to its current use as the school’s principal reference library, and including many nuggets of local history detailing its impressive heritage.

These coffee mornings are free to attend, require no advance booking, take place every half term, and are open to all. They offer valuable opportunities for fellowship and engagement.

All details of FONS can be found here and we encourage all in the Norwich School family to get involved. See: Friends of Norwich School | Norwich School

Checkmate! More Chess Clocks Help Club Expand

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:38:12 GMT

With funding from the Friends of Norwich School (FONS), the Chess Club has seen a growing number of pupils involved.

Chess Club has been more popular than at any time I can remember. Our lunchtime clubs on Mondays and Fridays are regularly attended by 30 plus pupils. This term we have been running the Delancey Chess Challenge which is an internal competition where players play one 30 minute match per week over seven weeks. The extra boards and clocks have been indispensable for the running of this competition as I simply couldn't have accommodated the high number of pupils wishing to take part without the extra resources supplied by the FONS donation.

The sets have also been used in inter-school competitions against Isaac Newton Sixth Form College and against Great Yarmouth Charter Academy.

Thanks to FONS, the chess club goes from strength to strength.

Little Roots Allotment Open Afternoon – A Blooming Success!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 10:17:51 GMT

On Friday 28 March, the Little Roots Allotment was delighted to welcome parents and pupils to the open afternoon. This event gave families the opportunity to look round the evolving gardening space, as the school community has been so generous with donations of pots and gardening equipment to help get the allotment started. It was wonderful to see many families exploring the allotment, admiring the growing plants, and enjoying the early spring sunshine.

Pupils had the chance to get their hands dirty and plant their very own spring planters, which they took home— just in time to make the perfect Mother’s Day gift! From cheerful flowers to growing vegetables, the afternoon was filled with excitement, creativity, and an appreciation of the beauty of our unique school site.

Upper 4 Take a Journey into Storytelling with Author, Dave Rudden

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 09:44:23 GMT

To mark the end of the Lent term, Upper 4 pupils were treated to an inspiring morning of creativity and storytelling with acclaimed author Dave Rudden. Best known for his Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy and his Doctor Who titles for the BBC, Dave brought his signature energy and imagination to a special creative writing workshop, where Upper 4 were joined by enthusiastic Year 8 pupils from local visiting schools.

With over 900 school visits to his name, Dave knows how to spark young imaginations. He guided pupils through the essential elements of crafting a compelling story, breaking down the journey from a powerful introduction to a satisfying conclusion. Pupils explored how to weave in complications, include a dramatic “all is lost” moment, and build up to an unforgettable climax.

Throughout the session, pupils eagerly applied these techniques, developing their own storylines full of creativity and flair. The morning culminated in a lively sharing of their imaginative tales, with each writing group having the opportunity to present their story ideas.

There was also a chance for budding writers to meet Dave in person, purchase his books, and have them signed — a perfect memento from a day filled with inspiration, guidance, and storytelling magic.

Middle 5 Geography Pupils Study the Coast at Southwold

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 08:20:10 GMT

On Friday 28 March, Middle 5 pupils took their learning beyond the classroom with a field trip to Southwold in Suffolk, where they explored how coastal processes shape the beach. The visit formed a key part of their Geography GCSE, allowing them to apply geographical theories to real-world landscapes.

Throughout the day, pupils conducted a range of fieldwork techniques, including measuring beach profiles and assessing the impact of longshore drift. Working in small groups, they gathered primary data to investigate the influence of erosion, transportation, and deposition on the coastline. They also observed the role of human interventions such as groynes and sea walls in managing coastal change.

Despite the initial rainy conditions, pupils remained engaged and enthusiastic, demonstrating excellent teamwork and enquiry skills and were rewarded with sunshine in the afternoon.

Top Tips: Effective Stress Management During Exam Season

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:28:33 GMT

Top Tips is a new series from Mr Pearce, Deputy Head of UCAS, Politics Teacher and our Apply Plus programme lead, featuring helpful tips and hints ahead of the upcoming exam season.

You might have read our recent post on managing your revision time during exam season, which focused largely on two questions about how to use your time effectively to achieve excellent work output. Yet as exams approach, let’s remember that managing your wellbeing becomes just as crucial as managing your work: rest and work are two sides of the same coin. The busier you get and the higher the stakes, the more important it becomes to look after yourself. So, let’s apply the same two questions to the question of stress management during Trinity Term.

What are your personal stress and wellbeing hurdles?
As a seasoned exam veteran, you know the kinds of wellbeing hurdles that caused you to stagger in previous years. Perhaps you get tempted to cut down on sleep, drop social contact, or neglect health and exercise habits when revision piles up. Perhaps you end up leaning on unhealthy strategies – caffeine, forgetting to eat properly, working without breaks, or engaging in “restless rest” as you binge-watch or doom-scroll to avoid revision. You know yourself well enough to recognize these potential hurdles in advance, and that empowers you to take preventive action. Remember, knowledge plus action = power, and most of these hurdles are more like old acquaintances than ambushes: you know them of old.
What stress management habits have worked for you before?
We know that our “stress buckets” can quickly overflow during revision season, and we also know that some actions are much better than others at helping to drain the stress bucket before spills happen. You’ll already know your own “happy place habits" – the wellbeing practices that keep you buoyant and help you cope with challenges. These might reflect the NHS five ways to wellbeing: 1) Connect with others, 2) Be active, 3) Keep learning something new, 4) Give to others, and 5) Be mindful. Which of these do you already know you need to hang on to hardest as you go through the gears on revision? Be disciplined about these, just as you are with your revision.

These kinds of habits can transform exam season. Learning something new for fun, like juggling or origami, can be a great stress-reliever. Giving to others – sending an encouraging message to a friend or making them a good luck card – offers a surprising amount of good vibes for you as well.

For me, getting outside for some exercise every day was transformative during revision season. I went for a run four or five times a week – not particularly long, or certainly not very fast – but it transformed the way I felt, boosting my sleep, my revision, my focus, and my exam performance. Likewise, during my A Levels, I always stopped work at least an hour before I went to bed, and spent some time with some easy-read novels to wind down. I returned to favorite stories from my early Senior School days – familiar and easy enough not to keep me up late reading, but comforting and transporting enough to whisk me away from revision stress. So guess what? I revived that habit during my university finals too – I went back to what worked. What’s worked best for you in the past?

Know this: your experience through school means you are already a successful exam hero. Your experience equips you to identify your personal stress hurdles, and you can revive the "happy place habits" that have served you best in the past. Getting the proportions right is key: revision season really does require long periods of serious, committed hard work – but you mustn’t feel guilty about an equally disciplined approach to your wellbeing.

It’s easy to feel like taking time away from the books to look after ourselves is somehow a “tax” on our success, but the reality is quite different: balancing hard work with deliberate and effective stress management will not only improve your experience of exam term – it’s very likely to bring you higher grades too. Yes: hours spent learning are essential for learning; but our brains need recovery time just like athletes need rest days and cakes take time to bake. To put it another way: resting is investing .

A Festival of Lower 4 Plays

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:22:21 GMT

Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 March saw the return of the Lower 4 plays festival, with tales of strange sights and school strikes!

On Wednesday 26 March, pupils displayed the works of Fantastic Mr. Fox and Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations. Roald Dahl’s much-loved story, Fantastic Mr Fox, follows the vain attempts of three farmers, Boggis, Bunce and Bean, one fat, one short, one lean, to get rid of the sly fox who regularly steals food from their farms. They try to get rid of him by any means possible. Outwitted at every turn, by the Fantastic Mr Fox who was played brilliantly by Santiago O’Dwyer. Pupils brought this to life with wit and humour, capturing the mischief of the tale. Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations showcases the tale of a young boy with an incredible imagination. Ernie’s parents take him to the doctor in search of a cure but once they’re there, they discover Ernie’s ‘illucinations’ are more powerful than they realised. Everything Ernie imagines – from secret agents to a boxing granny – becomes real. Pupils utilised multi-rolling and physical theatre in their performance, allowing for incredibly engaging storytelling.

On Thursday 27 March, The Burston School Strike and I’m a God Get Me Out of Here! Was taken to the Blake. The Burston School Strike tells a story of rebellion and standing up for justice. On 1 April, 1914, pupils of the Burston village school in Norfolk, supported by their parents, took to the streets in protest at the dismissal of their teachers, Tom and Kitty Higdon. The pupils worked to bring to the stage the true tale of the longest school children’s strike in UK history and did a brilliant job. I’m A God Get Me Out of Here was a comedic piece about Ancient Greek Gods that used to be the almighty rulers of heaven and earth, but now, they’re getting evicted... Cramped in a dingy flat surrounded by stale Pot-Noodle, all they can do now is reminisce on the good old days. The pupils adaptations were humorous and thoughtful and special thanks must go to Isaac Schaad for writing the music and Grace Adlam for writing part of the script!

Congratulations to all that took part!

Hockey Highlights from the Lent Term

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:11:58 GMT

The boys’ hockey programme had a fantastic season, continuing to grow in strength with over 280 boys participating across all year groups. Players displayed exceptional effort and enthusiasm, resulting in many impressive individual and team performances.

In the junior teams, all squads performed admirably, securing notable victories against local and county schools. The U13As had an excellent season, finishing second in the County Cup and qualifying for Regionals, where they placed third in their pool, narrowly missing out on the semi-finals. The U12As also enjoyed a superb season, finishing second in the County Cup and qualifying for Regionals.

Among the inter teams, all six squads competed fiercely. The U14As ended the season strongly with significant wins over Ipswich School and Fram College. The U15Bs went unbeaten, securing victories against Fram College and Woodbridge in their final two matches. Meanwhile, the U15As showed remarkable progress throughout the term, reaching the quarter-finals of the Independent Schools Plate competition.

In the senior teams, the 4th XI faced a challenging yet enjoyable season, playing with great determination. A 2-1 victory over Gresham’s and a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Fram College were standout moments. The 3rd XI had a successful campaign, opening with a superb 4-2 win over Felsted and delivering their best performance in a 2-1 victory at Framlingham College.

The 2nd XI had an outstanding season, securing the County Cup title with a decisive win over Gresham’s. This victory earned them a spot at Regionals, where they competed well against multiple 1st XI teams, demonstrating resilience and teamwork throughout.

The 1st XI set a high standard, remaining unbeaten in their pool matches to reach the quarter-finals of the England Hockey Tier 1 Championships, including a standout away draw at Repton. Unfortunately, they bowed out against eventual champions Whitgift. In the Cup tournament, they battled valiantly, only exiting in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout. Over the season, they played 17 matches, winning 11, drawing four, and losing only two—one via penalties—while scoring an impressive 59 goals.

This season’s success is a testament to the players' dedication, hard work, and commitment. Their performances have been outstanding, and the future of boys’ hockey at the school looks exceptionally bright.

Exciting News: Our School Allotment Achieves RHS Level One!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 14:27:48 GMT

We are thrilled to announce that our school has achieved the Level One certificate in the RHS Schools Gardening Awards! This is a fantastic milestone that recognises our commitment to outdoor learning and the many benefits that gardening brings to our pupils.

To achieve the certificate, Lower School pupils have demonstrated an understanding of the benefits of gardening and ensured that the growing space is accessible to all year groups in the Lower School. A wide variety of seeds have been successfully started, and a thriving green space is emerging.

This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, and we look forward to developing our allotment even further. A huge thank you to all pupils, staff, and families who have supported our efforts. Stay tuned for more updates as we work towards Level Two!

Happy gardening!

Onward Routes for Our Upper 6 Cohort - Girls in STEM

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:53:44 GMT

Here at Norwich School we are delighted to celebrate the talented diversity of our Upper Sixth cohort as UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) offers continue to roll in.

Following on from Norwich School successfully hosting several Norwich Science Festival events during the February half term, we have chosen to focus on case study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine) offers in this blog post. STEM is very strong at Norwich School with consistently large numbers of both girls and boys choosing Sciences, Maths and Further Maths for A level: 73 of last year’s Upper Sixth cohort took Maths A level with an average of 47 taking each of the three Sciences.

Many Upper 6 boys and girls have received exciting offers from highly competitive universities to study STEM courses. Nationally only 26% of STEM graduates are female, yet at Norwich School the gender split continuing STEM post-18 is much more even. We have therefore chosen to celebrate the achievements of girls in STEM in this blog post. The Med Soc (Medical Society) that recently arranged for Chair of the NNUH, Tom Spink, to speak is run by two Lower 6 girls, the Vet Society that meets each week was started up and is led by two other Lower 6 girls. Two Upper 6 girls (Amelia Braidwood and Freya Osborne) have recently been selected to take part in the selection process for the UK’s team at the International Biology Olympiad following their gold awards in the British Biology Olympiad. With so many girls gain STEM offers ranging from Automotive Engineering, Biomedical Sciences and Computer Science to Zoology, it was difficult to choose a few pupils to hear from, but we hope younger pupils will be inspired by the application journeys and successes of Georgia, Freya, Lily and Lily.

Georgia Hodgson

Can you tell us about the university offers that you've received so far? i.e. what course(s) at which unis.

Currently, I’ve received offers from Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and UEA for Medicine and Warwick for Biomedical Sciences!

On top of the usual UCAS application form, what else have you had to do as part of the admissions process to be considered for these highly competitive courses?

How did Norwich School help you during the university application process?

Which other activities in sixth form helped strengthen your application?

Outside of medicine-related activities, what have you been involved in at Norwich School during sixth form?

Which offer do you think you will pick as your CF (conditional firm) and what most excites you about that course?

Lily Yu

Can you tell us about the university offers that you've received so far? i.e. what course(s) at which unis.

I have had offers from UCL and Durham to study Earth Science and from Imperial College London and Bristol to read Geology.

On top of the usual UCAS application form, what else have you had to do as part of the admissions process to be considered for these highly competitive universities? 

I volunteered in Sedgwick Museum for two months during summer holidays which was fantastic experience. To study the history of the geological landscape in the area, I also attended a geology & geography camp in the Lake District which proved to be great experience which also looked great on my personal statement. In Lower 6, I also completed the Gold Independent Project ‘To what Extent does Ocean Acidification Influence the Colour of the Ocean?’. Researching this area furthered my knowledge in the field.

How did Norwich School help you during the university application process?

The school were really helpful in managing and supporting my application as well as answering any questions that I had. Mrs Warren and Mr Pearce were both helpful, as well as Mr Croston who specialises in helping international students and Old Norvicensians.

Which other activities in sixth form helped strengthen your application?

I think going to a range of talks and lectures proved to really help my application, as well as getting a strong set of predicted grades. Reading around the subject was also particularly academically enriching, and it also gives you a selection of things to talk about at interview as well as on your personal statement.

Outside of academic activities, what have you been involved in at Norwich School during sixth form?

Outside of academic activities, I have been involved in the Amnesty Group, where we have organised fundraising for a plethora of charities and events such as the Amnesty Variety Evening, which is always great fun. I also love to be in nature, so I recently completed the expedition for DofE Gold and looking forward to going to Buckingham Palace to receive my award! In Sixth Form, I have also really enjoyed rowing at Whittingham, in the week as well as on Saturdays. I typically row in a single but also enjoy rowing as part of a double, quad or eight.

Which offer do you think you will pick as your CF (conditional firm) and what most excites you about that course?

For my conditional firm, I will accept UCL, on account of its excellent learning environment, course structure and work-life balance. Studying in London is particularly nice, and I’m looking forward to starting in September.

Lily Nguyen

Can you tell us about the university offers that you've received so far? i.e. what course(s) at which unis.

I've applied for Electrical and Electronic Engineering. I've received offers from Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield, and I'm interviewing for Loughborough in early April. 

How did Norwich School help you during the university application process?

My teachers were very helpful with editing and making changes to my personal statement. I also had support from staff on where to strategically apply to get the most out of the five university options. And my teachers wrote strong references to support my application. 

Which other activities in sixth form helped strengthen your application?

I have participated in and gained Silver Industrial Cadets Qualification, involving me attending talks, watching lectures, and culminating in a research project on the UK's transition to green energy. I've also been able to present this research project at Erpingham and turn it into a Longbow article. I've also participated in the Cityzen Competition and Engineering Education Project. I've also done two research projects, my Independent Project was on safety systems in Formula 1, and I also did a research project as part of my physics practical qualification, looking into the drivetrains of Formula 1 and Formula E cars, and looking at their similarities and differences.

Outside of academic activities, what have you been involved in at Norwich School during sixth form?

I've been involved in Chapel Choir, and a bit of Gateway Players. I've also been an active member of the school boat club, having competed in major races, such as National Schools and Henley Women's and currently being in the process of doing GB trials. 

Which offer do you think you will pick as your CF (conditional firm) and what most excites you about that course?

Bristol will be my conditional firm. They continually update their modules (one of my year 1 modules will be new for my entry cohort), and I like the wide range of topics that my degree covers, covering both the hardware and software side of electronics. I enjoy programming, but not enough to do a degree in it! I also like the final year individual research project, allowing you to research any topic that interests you. 

Freya Osborne

Can you tell us about the university offers that you've received so far? i.e. what course(s) at which unis.

I have received offers to study Veterinary Medicine at the University of Liverpool, the Royal Veterinary College, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Surrey.

On top of the usual UCAS application form, what else have you had to do as part of the admissions process to be considered for these highly competitive universities? 

I had to complete numerous extra forms to document the work experience that I had completed, as well as doing a Situational Judgment test for Surrey and an interview for each vet school I applied. I had two virtual interviews and two in person interviews.

How did Norwich School help you during the university application process?

Norwich School has subject specialists who are there to give you advice and feedback on your applications to university, for example improving your personal statement. They also are great people to speak to if you need ideas on how to make your application more competitive. Norwich School held a mock MMI (multiple mini interview) for each of the veterinary medicine/medicine/dentistry applicants which gave us a chance to practise our interview skills in front of unknown people. Some of the questions they asked me were really similar to some of the ones I was asked in my real interviews!

I was lucky to have an interview invitation in the October half term, way before anyone was expected to give them out so I had a chance to complete an online mock interview with our Head of UCAS. This was great as it gave me the opportunity to have a go at an interview in the same style as my real one.

Which other activities in sixth form helped strengthen your application?

I spent a lot of my holidays completing work experience in vet practices as well as gaining experience in a stables, dairy farm and a doggy day care. I was fortunate to get a part time job at Wroxham Barns which gave me over 300 hours of experience with a range of species of animals. This is also a customer facing role which helped me gain skills in interacting with the public - a vital skill for a veterinary surgeon.

In Lower 6, we were given an opportunity to complete an independent research project. I chose to research brachycephalic (flat faced) dogs and the ethics surrounding them. This also gave me the opportunity to present my project to an audience and it also gave me a great thing to discuss during my interviews.

Outside of academic activities, what have you been involved in at Norwich School during sixth form?

During my time in sixth form, I've been involved in many extra-curricular activities such as performing in the senior musicals and plays, singing in three school choirs, and volunteering with the 8th Norwich Sea Scouts as a Young Leader. These give me a great break from my applications and studies and provide me with transferable skills which I can use in my university career such as teamwork and communication. 

Which offer do you think you will pick as your CF (conditional firm) and what most excites you about that course?

I am going to pick the University of Liverpool as my firm choice because I really like the vet community that they have there, as well as the other societies that the university has, for example their musical theatre society. The course really excites me as it has a focus on practical, clinical skills from day 1 and the vet school has great facilities for all disciplines of veterinary medicine. I like how they have an equal focus on small animal, equine and production animal medicine as I am not too sure of which type of veterinary medicine I want to go into.

Lent Term Informal Concerts Conclude with Lower 3 Pupils

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 10:09:39 GMT

The Lent Term Informal Concerts came to a spectacular close with an unforgettable performance by the Lower 3 pupils, held in a packed Lower School Hall last night. The evening was a true showcase of the musical diversity and incredible talent of the students, blending both vocal and instrumental performances.

The concert featured a delightful variety of music, spanning across different genres and time periods. From a emotive vocal rendition of 'The Girl I mean to Be' from the Broadway show Secret Garden, to Benson Boone's "In The Stars", and Noah Kahan's "Stick Season", the audience was treated to heartfelt performances that beautifully conveyed the emotions of each song. The Lower 3 pupils displayed remarkable vocal skill, with their voices soaring through the melodies and bringing a sense of intimacy to the room.

But it wasn’t just the vocal performances that impressed—there were also stunning instrumental pieces that demonstrated the pupils' technical prowess and passion for music. The concert included beautiful renditions of works by some of the greatest composers in history, including Mozart, Beethoven, Carulli, Grieg, and even the timeless Leonard Cohen. Each piece brought its own flair to the event, with the students bringing a fresh, youthful energy to the classics while still respecting the tradition of these legendary works. From the first note to the final applause, it was clear that the concert was not only a celebration of music but also of the students' growth and achievements throughout the term.

Overall, the Lent Term Informal Concerts provided an unforgettable evening of musical talent, showcasing a range of performances from the Lower 3 pupils that captivated the audience and left them eager for more. With such a diverse and beautifully executed program, this concert was a fitting conclusion to a term filled with creativity, passion, and above all, music.

Head of Music Mr Vine said 'what a lovely way to round of the Lent Term Informal Concert series. Well done to all involved and for your wonderful playing, and a big thank you to all the visiting music tutors for all their hard work and dedication.'

The Charities Committee Organise a Collection for Schools in Earlham

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:57:22 GMT

This morning, the Charities Committee gave an assembly on two special events taking place this week.

This week, the Charities Committee are organising two events - one to support schools in Earlham and one to raise funds for our school charity of the Lent Term (Cancer Research UK). Today, pupils have been invited to bring in easter eggs, toothpaste and toothbrushes – these donations will then be delivered directly to the Earlham community.

This Friday is Home Clothes Day – pupils are invited to wear their own clothes instead of school uniform, in support of our chosen national charity for this term, Cancer Research UK.

Here are some words from Rachael Donovan, Chairperson & Founder of Norfolk Angels:

Good morning, thank you for the invitation to speak at your assembly. We are incredibly sorry that we are unable to attend on this occasion. The Norfolk Angels are a registered fundraising committee based in Norwich raising funds for Cancer Research UK. The committee consists of family members and friends. The committee have been fundraising since 2017 and to date have raised £117,000 which showcases how incredibly generous the people of Norfolk are. 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. Thanks to research, the UK’s cancer survival has doubled over the last 40 years and around half of patients now survive the disease for more than 10 years.

To give an idea of what the money raised pays for:

£4 – A kilo of dry ice to keep delicate DNA at a safe temperature.

£30 – Full personal protective equipment (PPE) for the scientists to carry out their life-saving experiments safely.

£50 – Restriction enzymes, which are chemicals that act like molecular scissors to cut up long strands of DNA. These allow the scientists to find out more about the causes of cancer. We are very humbled and grateful that you have chosen Cancer Research UK as your charity of the term and we are proud to be the local committee representing this amazing charity.

We look forward to seeing you all at Lent Term Dinner in April and to share with you our story and our plans for the future.

Pupils will be able to support this fundraising opportunity and donate via cash donation, card donation or online and members of the Charities Committee will be outside the Cathedral before and after assembly from 08:30 - 09:00 and during tutorial 12:05 – 12:45, to accept donations by card from any tutee who wishes to donate by this method.

We are suggesting that pupils donate £2, as this will be the only Home Clothes Day opportunity this term. Money will also be raised to support this cause at the sold-out Lower 6 Charities Dinner, at the beginning of next term.

You can donate now by visiting the Home Clothes Day donation page

The Charities Committee thanks you for listening and for your support!

Roaming Around Rouen!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 14:52:40 GMT

In March pupils spent six days in Norwich’s twin town of Rouen. With 12 hours of French tuition and evenings with host families, pupils had a really immersive experience using and improving their language skills.

There were many highlights of the trip, including

interviewing members of the public in a local park about their views on English and French stereotypes
learning how to make macarons with a maître-patissier at his School of Pâtisserie
being welcomed by French pupils and teachers during our visit to Collège Saint-Dominique, where languages play huge part in the curriculum.
spending a wonderful day together exploring Paris- from the Arc de Triomphe to the Bateau Mouche and an afternoon exploring the meandering streets of Montmartre

Mrs Watkinson, Mr Croston and Mrs Parkhouse were so impressed with the group’s open-minded attitude and willingness to use their French. Their confidence grew immeasurably through their daily interactions with the host families, language teachers, members of the public and in exchanges in shops and cafés. Equally, travelling everywhere on public transport gave us all a real feeling of adventure and an understanding of how easy and rewarding European travel can be.

Pupils commented that:

“My French improved a lot through communicating with the host family”

“The excursion day in Paris was amazing! Inside Rouen, I really enjoyed the detailed city tour and the Joan of Arc museum.”

“My French has improved tons, I can speak much more fluently and can hold conversations in French with my host family.”

“French gets a lot easier towards the end of the trip and makes you better at French than everyone else.”

“It’s a great experience to see how different cultures work and eat etc and definitely helps with French.”

Taking part in such an overseas adventure in another language does more than just improve pupils’ language skills. Communication becomes paramount and we believe that undertaking such an endeavour necessitates a bit of bravery. Pupils become better conversationalists as a result, they uncover and revel in subtle cultural differences and deepen their understanding of their own heritage. They rely on the kindness of relative strangers and find the joy in the magic of putting the language they’ve been learning for years in the classroom to test ‘out in the field’, and finding that it actually works!

Pupils from Kyoto Discover what a Norwich School Education is About

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:57:29 GMT

This week Norwich School welcomed Professor Yasuhiro Udagawa and 18 students from Doshisha Junior HS in Kyoto to visit us and experience what a Norwich School education is like. They attended lessons in the mornings with their hosting partners in L5 and M5 and then took place in activities during the afternoons, including a trip down the air-raid shelter, the Norwich School treasure hunt and visiting the Cathedral as well as finding out more about the British educational system. They will also be visiting Cambridge and London before returning home.

 Doshisha means “a community created by those who share the same aspirations” – and to that extent, the Japanese School shares the same ambition of ensuring that every pupil fulfils their potential, and creating pupils who are ambitious forces for good.

Pupils on both sides enjoyed the experience and the chance to get to know one another better. We hope that some of the pupils will keep in touch despite the distance. Thanks to Mr Goddard for his help on Tuesday and to Ms Freya Davis for her help over the three days.     

The 2025 Senior Dance Festival

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 15:15:38 GMT

On Monday, March 26 and Tuesday 27 March, Epic Studios came alive with the Senior Dance Festival 2025. Two packed audiences were thrilled to see over 130 talented pupils, from the Lower School to Upper 6 take to the stage to showcase an impressive array of performances, including pieces from both curriculum and co-curriculum groups, pupil choreography, guest choreographers, and company repertoire.

The two nights of performances showcased a diverse range of dance styles, from hip-hop to contemporary, musical theatre to ballet. The pupils’ dedication and hard work truly shone through, resulting in two spectacular shows that left the audience in awe.

Onward Routes for Upper Sixth - Law Case Studies

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 14:30:17 GMT

Here at Norwich School we are delighted to celebrate the talented diversity of our Upper Sixth cohort as UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) offers continue to roll in.

Law is a popular university course for Norwich School pupils to apply to and career for them to consider. Pupils were able to speak to solicitors and barristers working in a range of fields at the school’s Careers and Networking Evening earlier this week and the Model Arctic Council Event we hosted last weekend honed the public speaking and debating skills of the sixth formers involved.

This blog post asks three pupils about the application process that led to the offers they have received to date and the courses they are hoping to start in the autumn.

Reuben Francis

Tell us about the university offers that you've received so far i.e. what course(s) at which universities.

I’ve been offered LLB Law at the University of Cambridge, the University of Bristol, and Durham University, and I am still waiting on my other two choices.

On top of the usual UCAS application form, what else have you had to do as part of the admissions process to be considered for these highly competitive courses?

I had to take an interview and the LNAT admissions test .

How did Norwich School help you during the university application process?

The school provided active support with the personal statement, be that through my tutors, Mr Pearce or Mrs Warren. Mr. Pearce organised a session to prepare for the LNAT assessment, an Invitation to Law session with an Oxford Law professor, and a mock interview. They also helped me access other resources, like the library ordering in prep books I wanted and various societies, including the Law society, which were invaluable. Finally, the Critical Thinking sessions that were put on by Dr Speca were incredibly useful for both my admissions test and the interview.

Which other activities in sixth form helped strengthen your application?

I participated in several super-curricular activities, including mock law trials and the Law Society. I also gave a few lectures at the Jurisprudence Society that I started. My Independent Project was really long and involved the historical legal treatment of the first nations peoples and its impact on their current socio-economic position in Australia. I visited the Old Bailey and Royal Courts of Justice separately from school and with the school Mock Law Trial team. I also took part in essay competitions surrounding law and completed a few online introductory law courses (Cambridge’s Future Learn program is really good). I think the most important thing I did was to read as much as I could about the subject. I read a lot of books last year that were related to my subject, as well as a number of less academic, but still really useful and interesting, books.

Outside of law-related activities, what have you been involved in at Norwich School during sixth form?

I was involved in the following societies: Jazz Band, Chapel Choir, Close Shaves, Colloquium (where I gave a few talks), Herculites and the Wellington Society. I went to talks that interested me at Clio and Erpingham Societies and was involved in school rowing (but that tailed off towards the midpoint of Lower 6).

Which offer do you think you will pick as your CF (conditional firm) and what most excites you about that course?

I will definitely be picking Cambridge as my conditional firm; the thing that excites me the most about this course is the supervision system, as well as the opportunity to be engaged with the country’s top legal academics.

Barnaby Karlson-Evans

Tell us about the university offers that you've received so far i.e. what course(s) at which universities.

I have now received all of my offers, among those, Nottingham, York, Warwick and Durham for Law LLB (3 Years).

On top of the usual UCAS application form, what else have you had to do as part of the admissions process to be considered for these highly competitive courses?

How did Norwich School help you during the university application process?

Which other activities in sixth form helped strengthen your application?

Alethea Tweddle

Tell us about the university offers that you've received so far i.e. what course(s) at which universities.

I have had offers from Sheffield and Glasgow for common law and then human rights law from York. I’m still waiting on Bristol and LSE.

On top of the usual UCAS application form, what else have you had to do as part of the admissions process to be considered for these highly competitive courses?

The LNAT is probably the biggest addition besides the UCAS application as it helps the top universities to establish the best candidates. However, it is not used for all universities and some excellent places don’t require it, so I suggest applying for a range of places with and without LNAT as it reassures you that you have places to go to if it doesn’t go well.

How did Norwich School help you during the university application process?

The Apply Plus scheme was really helpful in guiding me where I wanted to go and how to strengthen my extra-curriculars in order to assure that my personal statement stood out. As well as this Mr Pearce arranged a meeting with a Professor Mirfield from Oxford who established the basic building blocks of a law degree which cemented my choice.

Which other activities in sixth form helped strengthen your application?

My main strengthening activity was definitely the Law Society and the Mock Law Trial in June last summer as it gave me a clear insight into how being a barrister in the UK works. In addition to this exploring the famous historical buildings of our judicial history inspired me to make my final decision. As well as this though, I followed it up by arranging meeting with barristers in some chambers in London who gave me an honest insight into the career I want.

Outside of law-related activities, what have you been involved in at Norwich School during sixth form?

My main co-curricular activity is FemSoc, as I have taken a leading role in the Upper Sixth. I really enjoy this club and it’s a wonderful community of strong women and empowering young girls and boys to talk about the hard issues gives me great pride and fulfilment.

Which offer do you think you will pick as your CF (conditional firm) and what most excites you about that course?

Bristol (if I get it!!) but if not probably Sheffield.

Careers and Networking Event 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 13:18:19 GMT

We were delighted to welcome professionals from over 60 companies to Norwich School on the evening of Wednesday 19 March for our annual Careers & Networking Event. From accountancy to acoustics, dentistry to design and economics to engineering, our pupils were able to spend an informative couple of hours meeting with experts in their field, discovering - amongst many things - just what a barrister does, where IT professionals see the challenges in their industry, what GPs recommend aspiring medics should be doing to prepare themselves for making an application, and what areas of the civil service are recruiting at the moment.

Our guests included a large number of ONs who give so generously of their time for current Norwich School pupils and help inform their research and plans. These occasions are invaluable for pupils to start making connections, seeking work experience and taking those vital first steps in exploring their future study pathways and careers. Feedback has been exciting and inspiring; so many continuing conversations and plans afoot for work experience placements.

Watch this space for more careers events during and after the school day!

Top Tips: Mastering Time Management for Exam Success

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:25:16 GMT

Top Tips is a new series from Mr Pearce, Deputy Head of UCAS, Politics Teacher and our Apply Plus programme lead, featuring helpful tips and hints ahead of the upcoming exam season.

With exams on the horizon, it is crucial to manage your time effectively: this is a busy, high-stakes work schedule. As an old teacher of mine, a former intelligence officer in the British army, used to say, "Knowledge is power: if you know that an ambush waits around the next corner, you can avoid disaster before you get there." More precisely, knowledge plus action is power: if you can predict a problem before it arrives, you can take action to ensure it doesn't knock you off balance.

Here are two questions to help you take control of your time:

What are your personal hurdles?
Every Norwich School pupil is a toughened veteran of the exam process, having successfully navigated Trinity Term examinations since your youngest years with us in the Senior School. As seasoned pupils, you know what your time-management hurdles are. You know what is most likely to trip you up, unnerve you, distract you from your goals; you know which study habits you find most difficult. Do you find it hard to make and stick to a revision plan? Do you get distracted easily by friends or phones? Do you find it hard to concentrate in the afternoon? The key thing here is to realise that you mostly know all these already. That's why we call them hurdles rather than ambushes: we can see them in advance as we stare down the track, and that empowers us to take action to avoid getting tripped up.
What has been most helpful for you in the past?
Given that you’ve been here before, you also have experience in overcoming these hurdles – and you can build on that. What has helped you most in previous exam campaigns? Maybe your "most helpful thing" is using a revision countdown timer, putting your phone in another room when you revise, or taking regular breaks. Maybe it’s setting aside 10 minutes a day simply to review your revision plan and make tweaks to ensure you’re covering the ground. Maybe it's ensuring that after every 25 minutes of revision, you take a 5-minute break where you stand up and walk around. Perhaps it's dividing your day into three slots – morning, afternoon, and evening – ensuring that you work hard in two of these slots but take the other one completely off to rest and have fun doing something you really enjoy.

In exam term, there's a massive emphasis on structure, routine, and self-discipline, but mastering your time management is not just about working more and more hours – it’s about ensuring those hours are highly effective. Likewise, it’s important to realise this isn't just about making time for work: it's about making time for rest, play, and fun too, because the reality is that rest and work are two sides of the same coin . Hard work is required during exam term – no champion becomes a champion by working "slightly hard, when they feel like it". Getting through enough work is really important – good revision really does take a lot of time, and you’ve a beautiful summer ahead of you – but please don’t stop looking after yourself and doing other things! Rest and work: two sides, one coin.

In short, this is what you have been training for: you are in pole position to master your time-management this exam season. All those years of end-of-year exams mean you can look back now and 1) identify your hurdles, and 2) remember what’s helped you jump them in the past. You have stacks of experience in studying, revising, and balancing hard work with great activities and good rest: now it's time for all that hard-won experience to carry you through.

Sports Science Pupils Visit NCFC

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 14:23:07 GMT

Our Upper Sixth Sport Scientists recently spent a fantastic day on location at Norwich City Football Club's Colney Training Centre.

Pupils were able to tour the facilities and to hear specialist talks on psychology, nutrition and GPS and Playmaker advanced motion tracking technology. There was also a chance to experience the UKs only Soccerbot - a system designed to help players improve their scanning, first touch and passing skills using a 360 projector screen and a number of computer programmes.

Our thanks to Dean Rastrick, Norwich City's H ead of Football Development, and his amazing team for their superb hospitality and for allowing our pupils to see what they have learnt in the classroom in an elite sporting environment.

A German Easter Egg Challenge!

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 13:27:10 GMT

On Monday 24 March, U4 Germanists took part in a German Easter workshop with pupils from Jane Austen and Thetford Academy. They worked in teams to solve puzzles, learn new vocabulary, explore German Easter traditions and, of course, take part in an Easter egg hunt around the school with clues in German.

The pupils had great fun making new friends and learning new words, as well as enjoying some chocolate along the way! Frohe Ostern!

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:03:04 GMT

During this year's Celebrating Neurodiversity Week, a variety of engaging events took place at Norwich School to promote awareness and inclusion. The refectory was brightened by the installation of colourful umbrellas as part of the ADHD Foundation's Umbrella Project, symbolizing the variety and diversity of minds within our community. Each Umbrella Project display is designed to represent the one in five of us who have a neurodevelopment condition, such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia or Tourette's Syndrome. These fall under the umbrella term of neurodiversity. The project aims to change the perception of neurodivergent people and celebrate all the many strengths that come from thinking differently.

The school's Neurodiversity Group organized a creative badge and bracelet-making drop-in session at the Undercroft Library, fostering creativity and connection. We also launched the termly SEND Cafe, which aims to provide a supportive space for parents of neurodivergent pupils.

ON Betsy James delivered an inspiring assembly, sharing her journey of learning to celebrate her neurodivergence and the positive impacts it has on her life;

For clarity, I’m autistic and have ADHD. Trying to sum up what that means is tough — because I don’t know what it’s like not to be neurodiverse. It’s like asking, “Why do you like being you?” I don’t know … I guess I’ve got good teeth…

Focusing on the positives of neurodiversity can be challenging. It’s much easier to think of all the struggles because, honestly, if everything had been fine, I wouldn’t have ended up at the doctor’s office, begging for answers.

Under normal circumstances, I’d make self-deprecating jokes about my ADHD, how it makes me talk too much, or how my overstimulated brain makes me forget my noise- cancelling headphones — which inevitably causes panic and chaos. Listing negatives is easy. Being kind to myself? That’s much harder.

So, I asked my parents to help brainstorm the positives, and as my biggest supporters, they were quick to remind me of the things I’ve come to take for granted.

I’m a great communicator - because I’ve had to be. When your brain doesn’t work like everyone else’s, you explain yourself a lot. I write well, speak well, and listen well — because if I don’t, neither me nor the people I’m talking to know what’s going on. When I was getting my diagnosis, I was able to describe to the doctors exactly what I felt. People used to call me “emotionally intelligent,” but really, I’m articulate out of necessity.
I’m academically organised — because I have to be. My brain is constantly racing, so I rely on planners and to-do lists otherwise I’ll forget even the simplest of tasks. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about ticking tasks off a list. If you don’t do that already, try it please. It’s an absolute game-changer.
I’m deeply observant and learn quickly. I might miss some social cues naturally, but books and plays have also taught me a lot. Authors and playwrights alike have created brilliant characters, and I’ve learned a lot from fictional people. It’s a weird way to develop social skills, but it works, most of the time. I still need a hint or a nudge here and there but that’s what my friends and family are for.
I’m incredibly loyal and deeply empathetic. I feel people’s emotions in a way that used to be exhausting, but now, I see it as a strength. My way of showing I care might be unconventional — like the time a friend had a panic attack, and I calmed them down by describing the entire plot of a 600-page book — but it works.
I owe my entire degree to my neurodiversity. I study English Literature and Drama — two worlds that have always made sense to me. Books gave me a place to hide when I needed it, and the stage became my safe space. When I perform, a learned script means no surprises. Even on bad days, I can step on stage and feel totally in control.
My acting skills are stronger because I’ve spent my life mimicking people. Observing mannerisms, mirroring speech patterns — it’s second nature to me. Recently, someone told me I embodied a blind 70-year-old man perfectly. Which is … odd, considering I’m neither blind, nor a man, nor 70 years old. But hey, I’ll take the compliment.

I wonder how many of you, neurodiverse or not, see parts of yourselves in this? It can be difficult to celebrate neurodiversity sometimes, but I love my autistic quirks. I don’t know life any other way, and now I own it.

When life feels like a struggle, don’t be afraid to ask for help . Norwich School has neurodiversity experts, allies, and champions who want to help you figure out how to be your best self. I’m eternally grateful to the teachers and staff who never doubted me and took the time to understand how I worked.

And to those neurodiverse people listening — keep being your quirky, geeky, chatty, stubborn, quiet, loud, introverted, extroverted, fantastic selves (all words that have been used to describe me at one point or another). EVERYONE benefits when we’re all allowed to be who we are. So own it.

Thank you for listening.

The Close Creatives Collective produced a thought-provoking video featuring interviews on perceptions and experiences of neurodiversity, which was used to spark meaningful discussions in tutor groups.

You can watch it below!

Jazz Night 2025

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:58:37 GMT

Jazz Night 2025 took centre stage in March at Epic Studios, and once again, it did not disappoint. A true highlight of the school calendar, the evening showcased the incredible talent of our pupil musicians, with outstanding vocal performances and superb instrumentals from the Senior Jazz Band.

This year, we welcomed over 250 guests, all of whom were treated to an unforgettable night of music and entertainment. Adding to the excitement, our senior prefect team hosted a series of games and a raffle, raising an impressive sum of over £1,500 for the Friends of Norwich School. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed so generously, as well as to the wider Norwich School community for their generous prize donations.

New Choir Folders Have Chapel Choir in Perfect Voice!

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 10:22:44 GMT

The Friends of Norwich School have funded new folders for our incredible Chapel Choir.

These new folders have already seen weekly use by their owners in Chapel Choir rehearsals, enabling them to keep their music in order and in a good state. They shall continue to feature in any Chapel Choir events for the remainder of their useful lives, such as the Spittal Service, Dyers’ Thanksgiving Service, Vigil and many others.

At a cost of £200, we'd like to thank FONS again for their support with our projects.

A New Piano Hits all the Right Notes Thanks to FONS

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 10:13:04 GMT

A new piano located in Upper King Street will support our musicians and Norwich School's fantastic co-curricular programme.

The piano has already been used for musical theatre rehearsals and will continue to be used when required. Over the life of the piano, a large number of pupils will benefit from its location within a large, plenary space. Should it be possible to make use of the space for House Music and other appropriate rehearsals, the piano could also be used to assist in preparations for this event too. I look forward to being able to share this facility with many of our musical pupils for years to come and hope it will continue to serve our community well.

With funding of £700, we are extremely grateful to the Friends of Norwich School for supporting this project.

Lower School Chamber Choir and Infant Choir Triumph at the Norfolk County Music Festival

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:48:15 GMT

The Lower School Chamber Choir and Infant Choirs joined several other schools for the Norfolk County Music Festival which is celebrating its 100 years this year.

The Infant choirs took to the stage at the Kings Centre under the direction of Mrs Barclay and performed two contrasting pieces, 'A Perfect Day in Spring' and 'My Favourite Things' from the Sound of Music. They showed excellent singing and diction in both pieces, and displayed some beautiful 2 part harmony and polyphonic singing in 'A Perfect Day in Spring' to the delight of the Adjudicator.

Next up it was the turn of the Chamber Choir directed by Mr Vine who performed 'Bloom' and 'The Broomstick Flew All Around'.

Again, some excellent 2 part work and beautifully blended harmonies in 'Bloom' showing the rich qualities of the vocal ability of the Chamber Choir. The Broomstick Flew All Around raised the roof showcasing some fine fun singing and a few animal impressions too! The Adjudicator gave high praise for their polish and precision for both pieces, including the fact that she had never heard either of the pieces before!

A wonderful morning of singing and congratulations to both Choirs for their outstanding performances.

39 A Level Physicists Visited Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:56:06 GMT

On Thursday 20 March 2025 a group of 39 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.

Onward Routes for Our Upper 6 Pupils

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 10:05:18 GMT

187 Norwich School applications have been sent to UCAS (universities and colleges admissions service) this academic year.

Mrs Warren would like to thank all staff involved in supporting Upper Sixth pupils and ONs through this process, in particular Upper Sixth tutors, Heads of Department, Mr Pearce, Mr Croston, Mr Peters and Mrs Meader.

As is the norm at this point in the year, many universities are still making decisions on which applicants to offer places to. Another onward routes update early next term will share some offers that come in in the next six weeks.

We congratulate all pupils on their university offers and offers for apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships received so far. We hope these pupils will understand that the size of the Upper 6 year group means we cannot announce every offer in cathedral. The offers being read out are those that required additional hurdles on top of the UCAS form.

The school’s Apply Plus Programme is run by Mr Pearce. It supports pupils applying to academic courses that require admissions tests and/or interviews.

Apply Plus offers so far this cycle:

Charlotte Cheung – Chemical Engineering at Manchester University

Reuben Francis – Law at Bristol, Cambridge and Durham Universities

Vera Hung – Law at Durham University

Aadith Jamadagni and Jack Rowley - Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Industrial Experience at Manchester University

Barnaby Karlson-Evans – Law at Durham University

Freddie Miller – Maths and Statistics at Warwick University

Joschka Molenaar – Mathematics at Cambridge University and Mathematics with a Year Abroad at Imperial College London

Sean O’Malley – Classics at Oxford University

Sophia Roy - Assyriology at Oxford University

Alethea Tweddle – Common Law and English Literature at Glasgow University

Leuka Ye – Mathematics at Imperial College London

Lily Yu - Geology at Imperial College London

Offers to study highly competitive medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine courses: these all require interviews, with most requiring an admissions test as well

Mary Amaka-Maidoh – Medicine at Exeter University and KCL (King’s College London)

Arshia Bhatia – Medicine at KCL and Sheffield University

Georgia Hodgson – Medicine at Cambridge, Imperial and UEA

Dev Kamath – Medicine at Anglia Ruskin University

Rahul Kaushal – Medicine at Manchester University

Elain Law – Veterinary Medicine at RVC (Royal Veterinary College)

Freya Osborne – Veterinary Medicine at Edinburgh, Liverpool, RVC and Surrey Universities

Adi Santosh (ON) – Medicine at Plymouth University and UEA

Grace Yeo – Medicine at Imperial and Manchester University

Offers to study other vocational courses which require interviews:

Elliot Brooke – Occupational Therapy at UEA

Claudia Davidson (ON) – Primary Education at Reading University

Billy Francis – Physiotherapy at Essex, Hertfordshire, Plymouth and Sheffield Hallam Universities

Beth Herring – Chemistry with Teaching at Strathclyde University

Kiki Lau – Diagnostic Radiography at Liverpool University

Anson Tam – Physiotherapy at UEA, Liverpool, Salford and Southampton Universities

Bosco Tang – Physiotherapy at Liverpool and Southampton Universities

Natalie Tso – Occupational Therapy at Brunel, Coventry, UEA and Liverpool Universities

Offers to study creative courses that required submission of a portfolio or video of the pupil’s work and/or auditions:

George Bellinghall and Berry Ward – Film and Moving Image Production at NUA (Norwich University of the Arts)

Edward Chan – Architecture at Manchester University

Lily Fairweather – Graphic Design with Professional Placement at Falmouth University

Isabel Girling (ON) – Musical Theatre at the University of West London

Ben Hawes – Furniture and Product Design at Chelsea College of Art (part of University of the Arts, London)

Isabella Kirby – Filmmaking at Arts University Bournemouth

Nathanael Lindner – Architecture at York University

Isabelle Mardle – Architecture at Sheffield Hallam University

Yona McDonnell – Product and Furniture Design at Kingston University

Coni Meade – Design with Placement year at Loughborough University

Alvaro Smoolenaars-Garcia – Design for Sustainable Innovation at Warwick University

Jacob Stevenson -Fashion Marketing and Content Creation at the London College of Fashion (part of UAL) starting in 2026 after a level 4 Digital Marketing for Fashion Diploma at the London Retail Academy

Hannah Thornley – Fashion Design at Nottingham Trent University

A number of pupils have been selected for final round auditions for highly competitive performing arts courses; we wish them all the best with these and will share successes at the start of next term.

Offers to study at universities abroad:

Edward Chan – Architecture at Hong Kong University

Ava deCooper Wride – full rugby scholarship for Quinnipiac University (USA)

Helen Ng – Computer Science at UST, (University of Science and Technology), Hong Kong

Uma Patel – Dentistry at the Universidad Catolica de Valencia (Spain)

Bosco Tang - Business at UST (University of Science and Technology), Hong Kong

Non university destinations:

A number of pupils have applied directly to employer for positions such apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships; gaining these highly competitive positions can involve up to three rounds of tests and interviews.

Isaac Betts - accountancy apprenticeship with Lovewell Blake

Hugo Pattinson - engineering degree apprenticeship with Airbus

Archie Taylor - accountancy degree apprenticeship with Price Bailey

L6 Pupil, Hetty Holden, Shares Her Experience of Community Service with Break

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:25:43 GMT

Hetty Holden (L6) shares her experience of community service with Break charity below!

On Wednesday the 19 March I went to the Norfolk show ground to help move the gogo safari sculptures, so they could be pictured for the app, website and merch. I was apart of a team of 7 helping lift the sometimes 2 meter long statues covered in beautiful decoration. It was a really amazing experience to be able to see the sculptures all together and appreciate the time and effort that many artists have spent painting the sculptures.

Each time I walked about the warehouse I noticed a new detail on one of the animals which is a true accreditation to the thought gone on behind the painting of the animals and the larger trail it’s self.

Thanks to FONS Lower School Dance Show Up in Style to the Great Big Dance Off

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:58:58 GMT

We are delighted to share that we received funding to support our growing dance programme at the Lower School. With over 50 junior members now actively participating in dance groups, this support has been invaluable in ensuring our dancers are well-equipped for upcoming performances.

Dance Costumes – The funding allowed us to purchase high-quality costumes for the Great Big Dance Off Regional Heats, where our teams performed brilliantly and one secured a place in the National Final. Additional costumes were also acquired for the Senior Dance Festival, ensuring our dancers are fully prepared for this prestigious event.

New T-Shirts – As our dance groups continue to expand, we used part of the funding to provide new branded t-shirts for our members. These not only create a sense of unity but also give our dancers a professional and confident appearance.

This funding has had a significant impact, enabling our dancers to perform at their best while representing Lower School with pride on a national stage. Thank you for your support in making this possible!

What about 'The Watsons'? - The 2025 Senior Play

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:40:39 GMT

On March 18 and 19, a brilliant cast of pupils from U5–U6 brought Laura Wade’s play The Watsons to the Norwich Puppet Theatre stage!

Based on an unfinished novel by Jane Austen, the play centres on Emma Watson and her sisters, who must secure husbands to avoid destitution. So far, so familiar. However, chaos erupts when the plot runs out, and the characters realise they are not real. This riotously funny play explores themes of creativity, governance, and free will.

The cast, skilfully led by Mirabelle Harden and Lizzie Taylor, delivered Wade’s witty dialogue with confidence, navigating the twists and turns of the plot with enthusiasm. Audience members described the show as a “real triumph… we had a hoot and were rolling in the aisles.

Blake Studio Audience is Treated to an Exceptional Lecture on Coral Reefs

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:55:50 GMT

The plight of the humble coral, one of the marvels of the natural world, has been under the spotlight at Norwich School. We are a host site of the eastern region of the prestigious Royal Geographical Society (RGS), and we are always delighted to welcome them to the Blake Studio. On 19 March 2025 we enjoyed an excellent evening in their company hearing their latest lecture entitled Coral Reefs: From Darwin to Doomsday.

The large audience of eager pupils, parents, staff, alumni and RGS members heard how the age-old process of tiny individual corals building up impressively huge reef structures has intrigued marine scientists for almost 200 years. It was Charles Darwin’s seminal research on this topic that first kicked off international interest, and research is still at the cutting edge of science today, as we seek to understand better the criticality of these vital ecosystems. The talk explored how corals reefs are fast becoming depressing barometers for biodiversity loss due to man-made global warming. We learned that, despite their amazing intrinsic resilience against natural disasters and rising and falling sea levels over millennia, the relentless combination of negative human factors such as pollution, thoughtless tourism and sea temperature warming means reefs are under threat like never before.

Our guide for the evening was the highly esteemed academic and prolific author Tom Spencer. Tom is Emeritus Professor of Coastal Dynamics at the University of Cambridge and an internationally recognised expert in this field. He is currently working on a project on coral atoll 'habitability' in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. With a compelling slide deck and a measured delivery devoid of sensationalism, Tom imparted pearls of wisdom drawn from a lifetime of studying these amazing ecosystems, and concluded with a balanced prognosis of what the future may hold.

The RGS regularly attracts speakers of the highest quality, yet all talks are eminently approachable to the lay person interested in our natural world. The RGS East’s exciting spring programme is online here: Upcoming events - RGS

The next talk to be held at school is during the holidays on Thursday 10 April at 19:30 in the Blake Studio. The lecture is entitled: Reimaging our urban spaces as future green spaces. Our urban commons are a precious resource with enormous significance for promoting biodiversity, health and wellbeing in an urban context. This talk will explore the different legal and cultural concepts of an urban common, illustrated with examples from research that includes Mousehold Heath in Norwich.

Our speak is Chris Rogers whose career has encompassed being a Solicitor, Professor of law at the University of Wales Aberystwyth and he is now Emeritus Professor of Law at Newcastle University.

The link to book tickets is here: Reimaging our urban spaces as future green spaces - RGS

All are welcome.

Lower 2 Embark on a London Residential Full of Adventure

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 10:36:01 GMT

Lower Two embarked on an exciting residential trip to London , packed with history and adventure.

We began at the London Eye, taking in iconic landmarks like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace from above.

At the Paddington Experience, we immersed ourselves in the world of the beloved bear, followed by a scenic Thames River Cruise offering a fresh perspective on the city’s sights.

After a night's stay at St Paul's, The Tower of London brought history to life, especially the pirate prisoner workshop, where pupils engaged in dramatic storytelling and interactive role-playing!

Our trip ended on a high note with The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre. The vibrant costumes, puppetry, and music made for an unforgettable performance.

Tired but exhilarated, we headed home, knowing this London adventure would stay with us forever.

New Cameras for Photography Club thanks to FONS

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:53:05 GMT

Photography Club in the Lower School has six new cameras.

We have spent £342.91 on equipment to help with the smooth running and enhance the experience of children who come to Photography Club. Many of the cameras which we have used regularly for several years were beginning to have issues and had either stopped working or were having problems with certain functions.

With the generous grant from FONS, I have purchased six new cameras for our eager photographers, along with a USB plug charger. I also purchased one better quality camera with added features which the children will be able to use with supervision. Additionally, I purchased some cyanotype paper, to enable us to expand the activities which we can offer.

I would like to thank Friends of Norwich School for the grant which has allowed a popular and enjoyable club to continue and expand this year.

Alex Leighton (97-04) is Running the London Marathon for EACH

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:48:49 GMT

ON Alex Leighton is raising funds and awareness at this year’s London Marathon to say thank you for the incredible care and support his family has received from EACH.

Alex’s daughter Amaya, ten, has Larsen syndrome – a condition that affects her joints and has led to severe muscle weakness. She receives care at The Nook, the newest and largest East Anglia Children's Hospice

Please click the link below to find out more and if you can, to make a donation. Thank you so much!

https://www.each.org.uk/dad-alex-is-raising-funds-and-awareness-at-this-years-london-marathon/

Or click the link below to donate now:

https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/alex-leighton

Good luck Alex!

Millie Amies (14-16) Marathon Fundraising for Brother Oliver (6-11)

smitchell@norwich-school.org.uk (Sonja Mitchell) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:12:54 GMT

Millie Amies is to run the London Marathon this year for the Outward Bound Trust, in memory of her wonderful brother, Ollie Amies.

Running the London Marathon has been a lifelong dream for Millie, and she is truly honoured to represent The Outward Bound Trust to reflect her brother’s passions and interests. Ollie would indeed have been proud to support such a worthy cause.

Ollie, had a deep love for the outdoors, even from a very young age - he would climb trees, build dens, and spend the majority of his time outside with his siblings.

The Outward Bound Trust charity empowers young people through transformative experiences in nature—something Ollie really valued.

It is fitting for Millie to run on behalf of a charity that helps young people discover their own love for nature and build their confidence through adventures.

Best of luck Millie, run well!

Please click the link below and support Millie if you can.

Thank you so much!

https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/millie-amies

Top Tips : Effective Revision

elewis@norwich-school.org.uk (Eleanor Lewis) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:03:17 GMT

Mr Pearce, Deputy Head of UCAS, Politics Teacher and our Apply Plus programme lead, offers some top tips for the art of revising well.

As we approach Trinity Term and public examinations loom on the horizon, remember that lots of the keys to success are surprisingly simple and manageable. The top tips below come from a wide range of previous pupils who are now off doing brilliant things at university, the workplace, and beyond, but who were once nervously staring at fast-approaching exams just like you are now. Here are their pearls of wisdom on revision …

Don’t wait until you feel like it: if you wait until you ‘feel like’ revising, it will likely never happen. Set yourself a start time, and then get cracking. As someone once said, “Just do it”. You’ll feel much more like it when you’ve made a start, and the sense of satisfaction and progress kick-starts an upwards progression. More often than not, positive emotions follow positive actions rather than the other way around.
Make a plan: having all your topics planned out and assigned to particular revision slots on particular days is really useful. This is the only way you can be sure that you have enough time to get through everything, so make a plan and do your best to stick to it. Be kind to yourself too – “no plan ever survives first contact with the enemy”, and precious few pupils stick perfectly to their revision aims: but the very act of making a plan helps you take control and measure your progress as you go along.
Revise actively! My old biology teacher at school always use to say his number one, most magical, most sophisticated and most earth-shattering revision tip was… “use a pen”. Underwhelmed? So was I. But it’s fundamental: simply ‘reading over’ information is not an effective way to get it to stick in your brain. So use a pen – or whatever other format you’ll use in the real exam – and revise actively! One of the most effective ways to do this is to make a great set of notes on each topic, then make notes on your notes, then condense them down until the whole topic is summarised on a single side of A4. Other great active revision tools include the highly recommended “write, learn, cover, test, check, repeat as required" method, as well as good old flash cards, mind maps, posters and mnemonics. Find what works for you, but always revise actively .
Sit at a proper desk: I once tried ‘revising’ in the sunshine because it was a nice day. It didn’t work. The temptation to revise on your bed or on the sofa can be strong too, but the only place for really focused work is a proper table or desk. After all, it also replicates the real exam situation better, so it’s a win-win.
Use a countdown clock: at the start of a work session, set a countdown timer for the amount you intend to do. Start the timer and start working, but STOP the timer whenever you do anything that is not actually revision… making drinks, organising your folder, going to the toilet, and so on. This will focus your work time on productive work more effectively, which, in turn, will also ensure you get better time off; work should be work, rest should be rest, play should be play. The more effectively and efficiently you work, the better your time off will feel too.
Avoid distractions: we all know the dangers of procrastination, where we put off work until we’ve tidied our room or decorated our revision timetable. Outright distraction is even more dangerous, so you need to be ruthless: turn the music off (unless it truly helps you learn), leave your phone in another room entirely, and bring a supply of snacks and drinks to your desk so you don’t have to make that lengthy trip to the kitchen. And remember, if you find yourself getting distracted, stop the clock, because you’ve stopped working!
Take short breaks: your brain can’t focus on difficult revision for any more than an hour in one go, possibly even less. Find out what works for you, but 30 minutes solid revision followed by a 5-minute break is often a good pattern.
Practice papers / questions: this is crucial! You’re spending all this time gaining knowledge, but we all know the painful truth that your beautiful hard-earned knowledge isn’t worth very much if you can’t apply it to the exam questions. Like any great sportsperson, you don’t just need power: you need technique to enable you to get the most out of that power. In exams, knowledge is power, but we need to know exactly what the examiners want us to do with it in the exam. So: practise lots of timed exam questions, and use mark schemes to help you assess how well you did. Ask your teachers to mark them too – it’s the sort of thing we really like because it shows you’re doing all the right things!
Stay healthy – sleep well, eat well and exercise: it can be tempting to go ‘revision crazy’ around exam time… “I’ll sleep when exams are over!” But revision is a very brain-hungry activity, and your brain is an energy-hungry machine: it needs servicing and maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape. The reality is that the right balance of sleep, healthy eating, exercise, connecting with friends and having some fun become more rather than less important during exams. Did you know that doing exercise makes the knowledge you’ve revised stick in your brain better, even if the exercise comes after the revision session rather than before it? Make these good things happen. You’ll be infinitely more effective at revising if you’re keeping yourself well.
Balance is key: here’s the equation: rest without work is less fulfilling, less rewarding and less fun. Work without rest is less productive, less effective, and more stressful. All performers, from Olympic athletes on the track to world-class musicians on the stage, know that no success comes without serious hard work, but also that appropriate rest is essential for growth and strength. If it’s good enough for them…
Not all of these suggestions will suit everyone, but the most important thing for everyone to remember is that you need to be organised, balanced and disciplined when it comes to revision. After all, revision lasts just a little while – but the qualifications you stand to achieve last a lifetime. Make the most of revision time, and we look forward to seeing your smile on results day. And if you need us before then, reach out – to your tutor, your teachers, your Head of House, or the Wellbeing Team: we’re all here to help!