New York Creative Arts Trip Inspires Pupils

October 22, 2025

The Norwich School New York Creative Arts Trip 2025 was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. It was a week filled with inspiration, creativity and excitement, and I still cannot believe everything we managed to see and do. Spending time in one of the most artistic and fast-paced cities in the world with such a talented group of students and teachers made it truly unforgettable. Every day offered something different and opened our eyes to just how powerful and varied the creative arts can be. 


We set off from Norwich in the early hours of the morning and after a long but exciting journey, we finally arrived in Manhattan. Walking through the city for the first time felt completely surreal. The lights, the sounds and the energy of New York were overwhelming in the best possible way. That first evening we explored the area around our hotel and even though everyone was tired, the excitement of being there made it impossible to stop smiling. 

The next few days were packed with incredible activities that gave us a real insight into the creative world. Visiting the Empire State Building was one of the first highlights and seeing the city from above felt like looking down on an endless sea of inspiration. The Museum of the Moving Image was another favourite, especially for anyone interested in film, photography or design. That evening we went to Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks play which was such a fun and energetic experience that brought everyone together. 


The weekend was equally full of creativity. We spent time at the Museum of Art and Design and the Metropolitan Museum of Art which were both breathtaking. Seeing world-famous artworks in real life made everything we have studied in school feel even more meaningful, another fantastic opportunity for research and inspiration for those taking art and design subjects. We also walked through Central Park, visited the Drama Bookshop and ended the day watching the Broadway show Hell’s Kitchen. The performance was emotional, powerful and completely unforgettable. 

Sunday was one of the most inspiring days. We took part in a Broadway workshop and met a professional performer who shared their journey and gave us advice about working in the creative industry. It was such an incredible opportunity to learn from someone doing what so many of us dream of. Later we went to Ellen’s Stardust Diner where the staff sang live, which made dinner feel like another performance. We finished the evening exploring Broadway and visiting Grand Central Station, which genuinely felt like stepping into a piece of cinematic art. 


On Monday we toured the NBC Studios at Rockefeller Plaza which gave us a look behind the scenes of live television. We then visited Ground Zero which was a deeply moving experience that reminded us how art and design can also be used to commemorate and tell powerful stories. Afterwards we took the Staten Island Ferry where we saw the Statue of Liberty and ended the day at Spyscape, which was creative, interactive and so much fun. 

Our final morning was spent walking the High Line, a peaceful space above the busy streets with beautiful views of the city. It gave us time to reflect on everything we had done and how lucky we were to experience it all. 


What made this trip so special was not just the places we went but the people we shared it with. We built strong friendships and created bonds with our teachers that made the experience even more enjoyable. Everyone supported one another and the laughter and energy never stopped. I made memories that will stay with me for a lifetime and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.


The New York trip reminded all of us just how important creativity is and how it connects people from all over the world. It showed us how art can be expressed in so many different forms, from theatre and film to architecture and design. For anyone who has the chance to go in the future, I could not recommend it more. You will come home full of ideas, inspiration and confidence in your own creativity. It was more than just a school trip; it was an experience that reminded us why we chose to study the arts in the first place. 


 - Lily Minns, U6

Celebrating a Record-Breaking Year for GCSE Results

By Eleanor Lewis • August 20, 2026
It was a joy to see the school come to life once again as our 2026 GCSE cohort arrived to collect their results and it was a record breaking year, so there was much to celebrate. Congratulations to each and every pupil - your dedication, resilience and commitment are reflected in an outstanding set of results. There were also some remarkable individual performances, with many pupils achieving exceptional outcomes. We caught up with some of them to learn more about their successes and hear about what they are looking forward to as they embark on their exciting next steps. Art Here at Norwich School we are enormously proud of our Cater Building, which boasts three floors of cutting edge art and design equipment, across multiple art and design studios and workshops. These pupils demonstrate their love of creative art and look forward to spending more time in Carter exploring their creativity in Sixth Form. Name Isla How many GCSEs did you take? 10 What were your results? 9 x grade 9 and 1 x grade 8 What was your favourite subject and why? History – I loved my class and the lessons were so much fun! What will you go on to study in Sixth Form? History, 2D Art, Psychology and Politics. Is there any particular reason or inspiration for choosing these A Levels? I really enjoyed History and 2D Art at GCSE, so wanted to continue studying these subjects. What are you most looking forward to about going into Sixth Form? The freedom and more independence. What are your co-curricular activities? I love hockey and I am looking forward to joining the Debating Team in Sixth Form. What do you love most about being a pupil at Norwich School? The community.

2026 GCSE Exam Results

By Eleanor Lewis • August 20, 2026
We are thrilled to announce record-breaking GCSE results for 2026. Overall percentages are as follows: 37% at grade 9 - best performance ever, including Covid years 59% at grades 9-8 (A*) – best performance outside Covid years 76% at grades 9-7 (A*-A) – best performance since Covid 87% at grades 9-6 (A*-B) 97%: overall pass-rate (grades 9-4) Outstanding individual performances included: 1 candidate with 11 x 9 or better; 6 candidates with 10 x 9 or better; 16 candidates with 9 x 9 or better; 24 candidates with 8 x 9 or better; 32 candidates with 7 x 9 or better; 38 candidates with 6 x 9 or better. Overall, of the 1163 grades received, 431 were at grade 9, 681 at 9-8 and 884 at 9-7. Steffan Griffiths, Head, commented, “This is the first cohort to benefit from the school’s decision to offer greater optionality regarding number and choice of subjects at GCSE. We are all delighted that our Year 11 have taken advantage of the change to such brilliant effect. “Taken collectively, they are the best GCSE results in the school’s history and I offer heartfelt congratulations to the pupils on their generation. They are in a wonderful position now to make the most of our outstanding Sixth Form provision and we look forward to welcoming them back in September.” Assistant Head (Fifth Form), Andrew Curtis, said, “I offer sincere congratulations to our Upper 5 pupils on their record-breaking results. Well-supported both at home and at school, they have excelled academically while also making the most of co-curricular opportunities in sport, drama, music and the wider community. We look forward to supporting them as they make the exciting transition to benefit from the development available both inside and outside the classroom in our Sixth Form.”

FONS supports Critical Writing Competition

By Sonja Mitchell • August 19, 2026
FONS is proud to support partnerships with the local community

Another successful Discover Your Ability Day with Able2B

By Sonja Mitchell • August 19, 2026
Friends of Norwich School were delighted to support this event for the second year running

A new Mural for Upper King Street

By Sonja Mitchell • August 19, 2026
FONS has funded materials for L6 pupils to design a mural in the UKS Cafe

Ben Rothery (96 - 02) Wild Wonders book launch

By Sonja Mitchell • August 19, 2026
Ben tells us what inspired him to write his new book which is out now.

STEM Success - From Ambition to Achievement

By Eleanor Lewis • August 19, 2026
Norwich School is thrilled to have achieved the best A Level results in the county: 24% A*; 53% A*-A; 80% A*-B; 92% A*-C. If we focus on STEM subjects, the results are even better, with 31% at A* and 65% at A*-A. Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science form an important part of our 6th Form offer, with just under 200 of our 500 U6 grades in these subjects. The raw numbers are 62 A* and 66 A grades which have led to a huge number of exciting onward STEM routes. Overall, over 75% (123 pupils) have got to their first choice onward route, with over 90% (over 150 pupils) to first or second choice. The STEM outcomes are even more eye-catching: 87% of STEM places accepted were at Russell Group universities; 5 out 5 STEM Oxbridge candidates successfully made their offers (with a total of 17 A* out of 18 grades!) 7 out of 8 (88%) of medics got into their first choice university (national average of 33%); 2 out of 2 (100%) of vets got their first choice; 11 out of 11 engineers (100%) were accepted onto Engineering courses (university or apprenticeship); 6 out 6 Computer Science applicants (100%) were accepted onto Computer Science courses; If you are interested in STEM for Sixth Form, join the best and study at Norwich School: outstanding STEM facilities; expert teachers and strong laboratory ratios; personalised provision and onward route guidance; unrivalled STEM enrichment opportunities, including: clubs and societies (MedSoc, Maths Club, F24 car, Chess Club); Olympiad preparation; independent project; community service. To hear about some of our STEM Successes from this year's cohort click here. Interested in studying STEM at Norwich School? Book a tour today - places available from September 2026! Contact admissions@norwich-school.org.uk.

STEM Ambitions - Routes to Success

By Eleanor Lewis • August 19, 2026
At Norwich School, STEM learning extends far beyond the classroom. Through outstanding facilities in Horsefair House and inspiring teaching, pupils develop the confidence to investigate, experiment and excel. There is no question that this was reflected in this year’s A Level results. So, we caught up with just a few of our scientists to find out what’s next for them.

One School. Many Routes.

By Eleanor Lewis • August 13, 2026
A Level results day is always an emotional occasion, and this year was no different. For the Class of 2026, it marked the culmination of two years of dedication, perseverance and hard work and there was much to celebrate. From pupils who have been with us from Lower 1 to those who have joined us for Sixth Form, it is inspiring to hear their reflections of their time in Cathedral Close and learn about their planned next steps. We caught up with just a few of this year’s leavers to find out more about their individual journey.

2026 A Level Exam Results

By Eleanor Lewis • August 13, 2026
The school is pleased to announce strong A Level results. The cohort of Upper 6 candidates have achieved the following: 24% of grades at A*; 53% of grades at A*-A; 80% at A*-B; 92% at A*-C; 98% at A*-E. Outstanding individual performances included: 2 candidates with 4 A*; 12 candidates with 3A* or more; 52 candidates with 3A or more. The Head, Steffan Griffiths, said, “I am delighted for the Class of 2026; they have been a wonderful year-group, setting high standards in our community across all areas of our provision, including sport, music, drama, dance and service. As is evident in these strong results, impressive academic progress has matched their extensive co-curricular activity, onward individual routes are equally exciting and we look forward to staying in touch so that we can hear of their future successes”. Richard Sims, Head of Sixth Form, commented, “This cohort of young people have been good friends to each other and exemplary role models to younger pupils. I am pleased that they have now finished their time in Cathedral Close with pleasing academic results, too. Throughout their studies, they have enjoyed support from families at home and teachers in school; on the pupils’ behalf, I pass on my gratitude to them. I close by offering sincere good wishes for our leavers’ next steps”. NB: specific grade percentages will be published when the subject paper review process has been completed.
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