Head's Address at the Beginning of the 2024/25 Academic Year

September 4, 2024

It is terrific to see the whole school back in the Cathedral after a summer apart. I trust you are looking forward to the year, both individually and as part of the wider school community. 

 

Regarding this balance of hope for us as individuals and together, I think many of you have already walked past two prominent figures in Cathedral Close, each of whom has something helpful to say. And if you have not yet done so, I think most of you will do so before the end of the day and all of you before the end of the week. Any guesses? I am talking, of course, about the statues which stand either side of the mighty doors of the West End, located behind you as you sit in the Nave: as you look at the Cathedral from the West Front, Julian of Norwich is on the left holding a book and St Benedict is on the right with his finger to his lips. For those who are new to Norwich School (and the less observant of you from past years), cast your eyes up when you next walk past. 

 

Mother Julian was an anchoress who chose to live in the walled-up cell of a church not far from here in Norwich during the late 1300s and early 1400s. She is credited with writing the first book in English by a female, Revelations of Divine Love, which describes visions of Christ that she experienced; it is the book she is sculpted with on the statue outside. Among her most famous statements is: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well”. Whether you are a person or faith or not, one cannot help but be struck by the confidence and optimism of this statement. It is almost certainly the earliest example of manifesting in the English language. I think it is a timely phrase as we set about this new school year: there is much uncertainty in the world and much even in our own lives that we cannot control, but we can trust the process of the educational year which starts up again today after the summer and afford to be optimistic that our own ambitions can be achieved. 

 

Indeed, this quality of hope and optimism is one of the reasons I love working in education. Young people, yes you, this amazing group in front, around and behind me, set about life with a collective cheerfulness and joy; it has been wonderful already to hear the babble of chatter as you make new friends or catch up after a summer apart. Sometimes you are not realistic or hopeful, but often you get what you want because you are confident that you can achieve your goal and simply take the steps to make it happen (I mentioned this flippantly before, but it is true that manifesting and visualising are modern terms associated with this process). Regardless of details of your individual ambition, whether in academic work, sport, music, drama, dance, debating, Warhammer or anything in between, I want each of you to be positive and joyful as you start this new year; I hope Julian’s statue will encourage you to keep going for your targets as you walk past it during the year. 

 

The right-hand statue as you look at the West doors of the Cathedral is St Benedict, holding a finger to his lips for quiet prayer. From its foundation in 1096 until the Reformation of the 16th century, this Cathedral Church was a community of monks which was part of the Benedictine Order. If you were to attend Evensong this evening, you would hear a passage being read out from his guiding words, called the Rule of St Benedict. 

 

At a service in the summer, Canon Aiden, one of the Canons of the Cathedral and a governor of the school, spoke of Benedict’s interest in mutual obedience, the need for the monastic community to pull together to be effective. In a modern world where rights are sometimes trumpeted more than responsibilities, Canon Aiden noted that this concept of mutual obedience is not fashionable. However, its importance resonated for me in subsequent weeks because of the civil unrest that was witnessed in many parts of the country. Sparked by the spreading of misinformation in the wake of the horrific murders in Southport, episodes of civil disobedience involving both violent conduct and expressions of ideological extremism sprung up in different parts of the country during the first part of August. 

 

The hostile intensity of these events shocked the country because they demonstrated how quickly respect for the rule of law can be lost in certain circumstances. Mercifully, there was no major incidence of disorder in Norfolk during this period, though nobody should be under any illusions that the significant differences of opinion which underpinned the unrest exist in this part of the country, too. 

 

The quality of our Norwich School community is one of our signature strengths, perhaps even the most important. However, this only remains true because we actively work at it, because we behave in a way each and every day that makes it the loving, compassionate, inclusive community that we cherish so much. That does not mean that we all have to agree with each other all the time; indeed, we are so much more vibrant and thoughtful because from time to time we disagree with and challenge each other. However, when that happens there must be a tone of mutual respect and we must be careful not to over-personalise any disputes that arise. 

 

Unconditional positive regard for each other is a key phrase we use here; it comes centuries after Benedict’s discussion of mutual obedience, but I believe there is a strong overlap in thought. There is for me a sense in each idea that we may not get exactly what we want from an exchange, we may need to agree to disagree respectfully with another member of our community and we may need to compromise to achieve mutually agreeable practical outcomes. Yet, this compromise at an individual level is worth it for the community benefit. Schools are crucibles which can hold a range of opinions in a framework of mutual respect for each individual. 

 

On too many occasions in the modern world, complex issues are broken down into overly simplistic, even binary, choices by people holding extreme views on each side of a particular debate, often by talking in echo chambers only to those of a similar opinion. I should like us to resist such a trend here at Norwich School, to look after each other both as we work together in this amazing environment and as we communicate online when we are not in Cathedral Close. This is very much the collaborative spirit embodied in today’s bible reading: “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”. We do not always need to agree, but we should continue to respect each other if and when we disagree. 

 

The statues of Julian and St Benedict, which oversee us as we move about The Close during the year, will be good touchstones to encourage our individual ambitions and to harness them positively in the life of the wider community. Both as optimistic individuals and a cohesive, kind community, I welcome you back and offer good wishes for the year ahead. 


By Eleanor Lewis June 30, 2025
This year I had the pleasure of taking part in the Great Punt Run for the second time. Theo 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!
By Eleanor Lewis June 30, 2025
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!
By Eleanor Lewis June 30, 2025
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.
By Sonja Mitchell June 30, 2025
A fabulous day of activity was held in the Lower Close to celebrate Discover Your Ability Day.
By Sonja Mitchell June 30, 2025
With help from FONS, the Greenpower Team attended the 2025 Formula 24 Heats at the Lotus test track.
By Eleanor Lewis June 27, 2025
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.
By Eleanor Lewis June 27, 2025
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!
By Eleanor Lewis June 27, 2025
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!
By Eleanor Lewis June 27, 2025
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 
By Eleanor Lewis June 26, 2025
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.
More Posts