Fourth Form
(Years 7 and 8)
"Hello, my name is Charlotte Wyndham and I am Assistant Head (Fourth Form) at Norwich School. The Fourth Form is the first section in the Senior School, beginning with Lower 4 (Year 7) and then Upper 4 (Year 8). Lower 4 marks the shift from primary to secondary education, which involves our pupils adapting to a new and exciting environment, with different lessons and teaching styles. The Fourth Form allows pupils to gain greater independence and encourages social and emotional growth in a nurturing and supportive environment. Fourth Form pupils get the chance to try out new co-curricular activities, clubs and societies, and we encourage academic development throughout, supporting our pupils in becoming independent learners. The Fourth Form is also an opportunity for pupils to create and build new friendships as well as a chance to get to know themselves and to develop as an individual in a safe and inclusive environment. Lower 4 and Upper 4 are a blend of academic, social and personal growth, setting the stage for future success at Norwich School and beyond."
Mrs Charlotte Wyndham
Head of Fourth Form
Fourth Form News
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.
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
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.
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