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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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!” 

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.