NORWICH SCHOOL CELEBRATES THE QUEEN'S PLATINUM JUBILEE

June 2, 2022

As we prepare for a nationwide celebration to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee we thought we would share what we’ve been doing to help our community celebrate this unique occasion. 



It all began a few weeks ago when we launched our Jubilee Pudding Competition. We had some truly mouth-watering entries from pupils across the whole school, which made judging very tough for judges Mr Ingham, Ms Bailey and Darren Fitzpatrick and his catering team. However, the overall winner was Harry in Reception, with his ‘Strawberry, Blueberry and Banana Smoothie Jubilee Cake’. His delicious pudding will now be on the Refectory menu for the remainder of this team. Runner up and Senior School winner was Benji in U4, with his recipe ‘The Queen’s Favourite Chocolate Cake’. Pupils throughout the School enjoyed tasting the puddings at a celebratory jubilee lunch which was hosted in the Refectory on the last day before Half Term.


Lower School also celebrated in style with a whole day of fun and activities to mark this unique occasion. Thursday 26th May was a Home Clothes Day with a red, white and blue theme, featuring lots of union jacks and crowns. In the afternoon, pupils enjoyed a carousel of activities including crafting, traditional English sports, a quiz all about the Queen, dancing and singing, including, of course, the National Anthem. There was also a Jubilee parade, where pupils marched through the Lower and Upper Close waving their union flags before returning to school where there was an aerial photo of all children and staff forming the number 70, followed by a traditional English tea party.


In addition, Lower School pupils have used the Jubilee as an opportunity to get creative and have designed a special edition Jubilee tea towel which is being sold to raise money for their chosen charity. They are also working hard on creating crowns, which will be modelled and filmed to be shown as part of the Senior School Fashion Show later this month.


In the Senior School the jubilee was marked with a special assembly in the Cloisters of Norwich Cathedral. The Scouts raised the flag and the School joined in singing the National Anthem. Pupils were also challenged with a Jubilee quiz on the last Friday before the Half Term break.


Beyond Norwich School, we spoke to ON David Reeve (48-57) who was a Chorister at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 whilst a pupil at Norwich School. He reflected on his experiences and memories of the day. You can watch the interview here.


Jubilee celebrations will continue into next term, with many of the Gather performances incorporating a jubilee theme. L4 pupils have all been given songs by famous British bands or artists through the ages of the jubilee to use as their inspiration for their garden plays and some of the lines at the Fashion Show are jubilee inspired.

In our wider community, the School is re-naming the Outdoor Classroom and School Allotment, so these areas will now be called the Jubilee Wellbeing Garden. In addition, Friends of Norwich School have purchased a pear tree, which will be planted in the School’s allotment and their First Friday Coffee Morning on 10th June will be hosted in the garden.


Whatever you are doing to mark this special occasion for our nation, we hope you have a lovely long holiday weekend and enjoy your celebrations.


By Eleanor Lewis June 19, 2025
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!
By Sonja Mitchell June 19, 2025
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.
By Eleanor Lewis June 18, 2025
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.
By Sonja Mitchell June 17, 2025
Alice-Lily has a busy summer planned at some of the region's biggest festivals and venues.
By Eleanor Lewis June 16, 2025
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.
By Sonja Mitchell June 16, 2025
Many congratulations to Will and his partner who came 5th overall, and finished the event by winning the medal race!
By Sonja Mitchell June 16, 2025
Congratulations to Kit for winning the German Jazz Prize in the piano/keyboard category.
By Sonja Mitchell June 16, 2025
It was a pleasure to see so many ONs at our recent ON v School fixture.
By Eleanor Lewis June 16, 2025
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.
By Eleanor Lewis June 14, 2025
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!
More Posts