Head's Start of Michaelmas Term Address 2022

September 5, 2022

As pupils return to school after a long, hot summer, the Head addressed the school community in the Cathedral on the first day of Michaelmas Term. You can read his Address below:

"Welcome or welcome back to the Cathedral at the start of this school year. Whether the building is familiar or new, there is always something of the phrase “shock and awe” when you come in; indeed, I remember one new pupil last year describing this first service as making the school feel like Hogwarts. I understand that reaction but I hope it will not feel long before you all feel that it is your building. Impressive as it is, there is also warmth here and I believe its longevity is reassuring, too; I trust you will find it supportive of your personal journey.



You will be expecting me to offer advice at this start of year service. In terms of behaviour, I am not sure I can beat the words of St Paul to the Colossians from today’s 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… And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

The overlap with our stated values of love, inclusion and compassion is uncanny, while the encouragement to be forgiving is always sensible for a community of nearly 1000 teenagers and over 200 adults coming together both at school and online.


My advice at the start of the year will therefore come from a rather different starting point: I enjoy the start of the school year and the sense of expectation and excitement that the community brings when it joins together. We do this not knowing quite where our journey will end; there is a gap between our plans now and the outcomes later on. You will have an idea of what you want to achieve, whether in your favourite subject or a new club or consolidating friendships. Yet you cannot know how these plans will turn out by the end of the year. My suggestion this morning is to enjoy experimenting along the journey and be open to new turnings.


My interest in this topic came from a book I read over the summer, called “How we got to now” by Steven Johnson, a study of how key inventions have shaped the modern world, often in unexpected ways.

One might think this is like the well-known phenomenon of the butterfly effect, where very small changes can have much bigger consequences, which started with the work of mathematician and meteorologist, Edward Norton Lorenz, who proposed in the 1970s the concept that the flap of a butterfly’s wings creates air movement which weeks later gives rise to huge weather systems such as a tornado.

However, Johnson seeks something with a closer connection to reflect networks of inventions in a particular field and suggests instead the hummingbird effect. To explain this, we need to go to environmental biology. I am no scientist so please stay with me.


In the evolution of pollination, flowers developed colour, scent and nectar to attract pollinators, while pollinators developed equipment to be drawn to the flowers in order to extract pollen and fertilize other flowers. Both flowers and insects therefore developed to fit increasingly well together.

Into this scene we put our hummingbird. Not blessed with the flexibility of an insect’s invertebrate anatomy, the hummingbird developed an unusual form of flight dynamics (to be specific: rotating wings with power to downstroke as well as upstroke) to allow hovering in order to access the nectar of flowers. The evolutionary design of hummingbird wings therefore comes directly from the reproduction strategies of plants.


More generally, then, the hummingbird effect describes a close causal link between two seemingly distant events; the right circumstances are created for particular, often radical, developments in a seemingly unrelated field.

With this model established, Johnson then looks at key areas of human development in history, including time, sound, temperature and hygiene. Another example is glass. While glassmaking dates back more than 6000 years, experiments particularly developed at the start of the second millennium CE in colour (see the stained-glass windows around you) and transparency. The invention of the printing press in the 1430s led to an explosion in the manufacture of spectacles because of glass’ ability also to alter progression of light through it and man’s consequent understanding of refraction and magnification. Many new readers suddenly realized that they were long-sighted! The development of the lens, in turn, led to telescopes and astronomy on the one hand, with microscopes and cellular investigation on the other hand; both also benefitted from glass’ importance in the development of photographs and mirrors, which led to radical changes in ideas around self-perception. Another quality of glass to be explored was its resilience, which takes us to fibreglass in manufacturing and that most modern of phenomena, the fibre optics which power the internet.


It is safe to say that modern life would not be what it is without these developments in glass and Johnson cites the hummingbird effect to explain how many of these technological developments built incrementally from one another. The Venetian glassmakers of the early Renaissance were not trying to discover planets, investigate microbes or invent the internet, but their experimentation created conditions to make such developments possible.


In each area, Johnson is keen to show that innovation is often collaborative and iterative; i.e. developments are built up by communities and in steps, many of which seem haphazard at the time but join up when viewed in hindsight. He therefore challenges the traditional concept of lightbulb moments for inventions: that single genius with a moment of inspiration, also captured by the Eureka exclamation supposedly made famous by Archimedes.

I think this is helpful for us all at the start of this school year. It is exciting to be positive in starting something without quite knowing where it might end up, to reach out to others interested in similar things to see what might emerge from discussion and group work, to be unafraid to try something new or adopt a new approach, to change direction as one’s interests and knowledge develop.


To make his point, Johnson takes the invention of the lightbulb itself, Thomas Edison’s creation which is synonymous with quasi-divine inspiration. In fact, others had been experimenting with artificial light using a glowing filament from an electric current in a vacuum for 80 years before Edison. Edison’s technical contribution included the introduction of a bamboo filament, but his success came as much from expert marketing in the press and the assembling of an excellent team of collaborators. Johnson even compares Edison’s lightbulb with Apple products: they were not necessarily first but they were first to get mass market traction.


My main point this morning is to invite you to reflect that much in human technological development did not come from a single moment of inspiration from a genius individual. The hummingbird effect suggests instead that progress has often come from groups working together and that progress in one area might lead to an exciting, unexpected discovery elsewhere.


This for me is an exciting message and I encourage you to be ambitious, positive and resilient for yourself and others, but also to be innovative, flexible and open-minded as your experiences and interests develop. With good intentions and thorough processes, your actions can and will lead to good things, even if they end up being different from your initial aims.

Welcome back and I wish you all well for an excellent year!"


By Eleanor Lewis July 10, 2025
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!
By Eleanor Lewis July 10, 2025
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.
By Eleanor Lewis July 10, 2025
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.
By Sonja Mitchell July 9, 2025
Thanks to the Refugee Support Group and financial support from FONS, over 30 bicycles have been repaired for local refugees.
By Eleanor Lewis July 9, 2025
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
By Sonja Mitchell July 7, 2025
Victoria is raising funds for The Brain Tumour Charity and the Ali Ling Fund.
By Eleanor Lewis July 4, 2025
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.
By Eleanor Lewis July 3, 2025
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!
By Eleanor Lewis July 2, 2025
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.
By Eleanor Lewis July 2, 2025
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.
More Posts