KEEPING TRACK OF THE CROSS COUNTRY CLUB
March 27, 2024
The Cross Country Club have had a successful and enjoyable term of running. In the City Schools’ and Norfolk Schools’ events, U3 pupils Samuel and Emi shone, showing that the future is bright for running at Norwich School. There were brilliant performances too from L4’s Nona Griffiths, Eva Morrell, Jack Leary and Rory Normanton. In the Norfolk Championships at Wymondham College, Niamh McAuley secured 10th place and Ruby Ivie, Herbie Andrews and Edward Latter Casas also had impressive, muddy runs; Edward completing half the course in just one shoe! Minnie Andrews and Amelie Ivie both finished in the top ten in the Intermediate Girls and Bea Wells and Nora Ostergaard did the same for the Seniors. Minnie and Bea went on to represent Norfolk at the National Championships in Pontefract where they both ran extremely competitively against high quality fields.
The East Anglian League began at Mousehold Heath for our home fixture, which saw Spencer Gray come 4th and Bea 2nd. The torrential rain of the Gresham’s fixture will live long in the memories of those who were there but didn’t slow down the Intermediate Boys, who had 3 of the top 5 with Arthur Dannatt coming 2nd, Thomas Chester sliding his way to 4th and Jeremy Lo in 5th. In contrast, the following week saw sunny conditions for the 5.5km race in Ipswich, for which the Girls Team were out in force with six runners. Bea took 1st place with Amelie Ivie coming 3rd. Madison Kelly, Tabby Albery, Megan Davis and Sophie Bush also ran well to secure the team win. In the final RHS fixture, Jeremy Lo, who completed all four races this season, finish 6th. Tabby Albery also came 6th in the Senior Girls’ race and for the Senior Boys, Jacob Stevenson had another good race, finishing strongly in 7th. The Girls won the series Team Prize and Bea took the Senior Girls prize for the second year running.
After a rewarding Cup Run for our runners, the Cross Country Club enjoyed a well-earned post-season dinner where the following awards were announced -
Most Improved: Tabby Albery
Most enthusiastic: Sophie Bush
Best race performance: Minnie Andrews
Most committed: Jeremy Lo.
Well done to everyone who has represented the Cross Country team - or who has just enjoyed a run with us - this season.
The Lower School Chamber Choir recently enjoyed a wonderful musical collaboration, welcoming their friends from Boucher School from London for a special afternoon choir workshop. The session was filled with energy, enthusiasm and creativity, as the children worked together to learn a selection of new songs, including Only You , Scarborough Fair , and Count on Me by Bruno Mars. Guided by three talented choir leaders, the pupils embraced the opportunity to develop their vocal skills, build confidence and experience the joy of singing as part of a larger ensemble. One of the highlights of the day was the chance to work with different choir leaders, each bringing their own unique style and expertise. The children responded brilliantly, showing focus, teamwork and a genuine love of music throughout the workshop. The day culminated in a special concert held in the Senior School Chapel, where the combined choirs performed to an enthusiastic and supportive audience. The performance was a true celebration of the hard work and dedication shown by all involved, and the Chapel was filled with uplifting harmonies and smiles. Head of Music, Mr Vine, praised the event, saying: “A wonderful afternoon and evening with some fantastic music making. Well done to Boucher School and the Lower School Chamber Choir for all their hard work, and a big thank you to our fantastic choir leaders.” It was a memorable experience for everyone involved, and a shining example of the power of music to bring people together.
The Lower 5 Battlefields Trip continues be a highlight of the History Department's calendar. This year we took 72 pupils on a First World War journey of discovery that was both exciting and moving. Our itinerary included two days around Ypres in Belgium and a third day walking the Somme battlefield in France. Along the way, we heard the extraordinary stories of some of those who lost their lives in the war, we came to appreciate the scale, terrain and challenges faced by the soldiers, and we saw for ourselves their trenches and equipment. We performed acts of remembrance for Old Norvicensians whose graves we visited, and after three busy days were buzzing with discussion and a desire to explore further, encouraged by four extremely skilled and knowledgeable guides who brought it all to life for us. Amongst all the history, we also made sure we had time for chocolate shopping in the beautiful town of Ypres.
On Monday 8 June, the UCAS team accompanied by Sixth Form tutors took the Lower 6 to the Norwich UCAS Convention to continue their journey of exploring their future after Norwich School. With over 100 universities present, our pupils could speak directly with university representatives and find out more about courses, entry requirements, halls of residences and student life. The convention also allows our pupils to see how many others want to go to university as well as learning more about different universities from Dundee to Exeter as well as about degree apprenticeships. Our pupils are now starting to get all the information they need to apply successfully in the autumn. We encourage them to go out on Open Days to see the universities at first hand and later in the month, there will be more guidance on filling out the UCAS form and how to write the important personal statement. Norwich School’s successful record with university applications over many years Is a key part of our Sixth Form offer.
The ‘Making Musicians’ Music Scholars’ Programme at Norwich School is well established and a jewel in the school’s crown. Occasionally, external professionals are enticed to join us to give a breathtaking masterclass to provide real inspiration to young scholars. On 05 June 2026, we had just such a concert given by Hannah Watson Emmrich, local musician and amazingly talented pianist. She guided a very supportive audience through her new album Notes from the Undergrowth at a concert held in the glorious school Chapel. This album of piano music was being launched at the event. A very intelligently choreographed programme commenced with piano works evoking daybreak and idyllic woodland scenes, followed by an exploration of some of the flora and fauna lurking in the under-canopy, before moving into melancholic pieces reminiscent of sunset (such as nightingales) and finally the peace of nightfall (nocturnes, night moths etc). Alternating astonishing technical excellence and powerful storytelling, Hannah evoked the myriad sounds and sensations of woodland in her performance. Included in her repertoire were three newly commissioned pieces and the audience included Joshua Borin who had composed one of the works called Crex (conjuring up the creepy world of slime mould in music - yes, really!) Our Music Scholars were in attendance and learned much from Hannah’s keyboard mastery and from her achingly beautiful programme of music. We all wish the album a positive reception. See: Notes from the undergrowth | Hannah Watson Emmrich . Heartfelt thanks go to Hannah for such an accomplished performance and to our very appreciative audience who left the Chapel enthralled.
Recently Pre-Reception and Upper One pupils had an enriching experience observing the peregrine falcons which live on the spire of Norwich Cathedral. They visited the Watchpoint, a viewing station run by the Hawk and Owl trust and learned that the falcon pair currently have two chicks. Pupils were able to view both parent birds bringing food to the chick, and they had the opportunity to watch them being fed close-up, through telescopes. Using binoculars, they also observed the various other birds that live in and around the Cathedral Close. Pupils also examined models of different birds of prey, such as a kestrel and a hobby, noticing how they are adapted to catch their prey. To complete their visit, the children had fun trying on model wings of various UK birds of prey and even tested them out by going on a short 'flight' around the Lower Close. Thanks to the Hawk and Owl Trust for providing pupils with this excellent encounter with the fascinating wildlife that we share the Cathedral Close with.
In the last DofE year (April to April), 21 pupils have achieved their Gold DofE , 18 having started at Bronze. A DofE Gold award is highly regarded by universities and employers. To achieve the award, participants must undertake the usual 3 sections of volunteering, physical and skill, two for 12 months and the third for 6 months. If they have not achieved Silver, they must undertake one 12-month section for a further 6 months - 18 months for that section. They must complete a practice expedition and then the qualifying expedition, both of 4 days and 3 nights. They must also complete the extra residential Gold section, Going away for 5 days, staying in shared accommodation to undertake an activity with people they haven't met before. Having achieved their award, they are invited to attend a Gold Award Celebration at Buckingham Palace. At the time of writing, 7 Award holders have attended, 2 in the rain and 5 in the May heatwave! Congratulations to them and all Gold award holders.
The Lower School library was transformed last week into an enchanted wood as Upper 1- Upper 2 pupils stepped into the pages of The Faraway Tree and enjoyed a magical after‑school adventure. Children arrived dressed as their favourite characters — from Moon‑Face to Silky the Fairy — ready to climb into a world of imagination and wonder. The journey began at the foot of the Faraway Tree, where pupils tip‑toed past the Angry Pixie, and were careful not to get splashed by Dame Washalot’s famously dirty water. From there, they travelled through a series of whimsical lands at the top of the tree, each offering a hands‑on activity inspired by Enid Blyton’s beloved stories. In the Land of Goodies, pupils decorated tree shaped biscuits with icing and sprinkles. The Land of Birthdays invited everyone to make a special wish and create their own crown, and finally, children designed their own fairy doors for the magical creatures they imagined living inside the Faraway Tree. The event ended in the Land of Goodies with pupils eating their biscuits and having a drink of fruit punch. It was a joyful celebration of creativity, reading and childhood imagination and this adventure will hopefully inspire many more children to read these wonderful books.
2026 is National Year of Reading and we are going all in here at Norwich School! We know reading expands worlds, sharpens minds, and fuels creativity, so let's get inspired! Every month we are focusing on a different genre and hearing from a member of staff about what they like to read, why, when and where! May is Sci-Fi month and we’ve turned to Joel Newman, who’s a big Sci-Fi fan. Let's find out more about why Mr Newman loves the fantasy genre... Tell us a little bit about the genre; what common themes or elements do you particularly enjoy? I love Sci-Fi stories with a focus on worldbuilding and setting – science fiction allows authors to be so creative with things we often take for granted in real life. If a story features aliens or space, I will always judge it based on how interesting or complex the author makes things like the alien’s language and biology – the weirder the better – or how beautiful a picture of space they can paint with just words. What was the book that introduced you to Sci-Fi? Was there a particular book or author that made you fall in love with this genre? I love The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy series by Douglas Adams, it has the perfect blend of absurd funny moments and interesting concepts that really fed my imagination as a child. Some of my absolute favourites are Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary and The Martian: Weir’s enthusiasm for physics and real-life science makes his fiction very immersive. Has your taste in this genre changed over time? My taste in Sci-Fi has changed as I’ve studied science more and more – I won’t settle for a poorly explained spaceship anymore – but I still love the same weirdness that first made the genre so appealing to me. Would you recommend this genre to someone who doesn’t usually read it? Why? Absolutely. Reading Sci-Fi makes you more curious about the world around you, and curious is one of the best things to be. If you’ve never read sci-fi but you like reading, I think it’s the perfect genre to get those creative juices flowing because it gives the idea that anything is possible! What do you enjoy most about reading, whether Sci-Fi or anything else? Reading is the best way to relax. If there’s ever anything worrying me or stressing me out, getting lost in a book for half an hour is always enough to put me in the right headspace to take on the day. When and where is your favourite time and place to read?/ Do you have a favourite reading spot or routine for diving into books? I like to read in bed: it’s warm, comfortable, and no one’s going to interrupt me. I can’t think of a more perfect time to read than before you sleep. Click here for the monthly Reading List!
Thanks to funding by FONS, Green Group is supporting pupils to foster long-term responsible habits.
The first half of Trinity Term has been a very successful one for Norwich School athletics. The introduction of athletics into the PE programme means every L4 and U4 pupil has had the chance to try and practise all athletics disciplines in preparation for Sports Day. This has encouraged many pupils, who would not normally have tried all the events, to have a go at something new and, in many cases, discover something they have really enjoyed. This has also led to over 30 pupils across all year groups attending at least two athletics lunchtime clubs each week, which has been superb to see. The increased participation has translated into some very impressive performances in our first few county fixtures. First up was the county round of the ESAA Track and Field Cup, in which Norfolk and Cambridgeshire compete together to form a highly competitive fixture, producing some excellent performances across the board. In the junior boys’ category, Caleb R and Freddie P impressed with their discus skills - both discovered through the PE programme - winning both the A and B strings. The strength in our throws continued, with Tristan K winning the shot put A string by over a metre and Tom M taking third in the B string. Ruan E won the A string javelin with a huge throw of over 29 metres, more than eight metres ahead of the athlete in second place. Ben G made his debut in the event and finished an impressive second in the B string. The junior boys also held their own on the track, with Sam T taking victory in the 800m and claiming second place in the 300m. The junior girls also performed well, with Rosie B taking the win in the javelin. Rosie also enjoyed success on the track, taking silver in her debut B string hurdles race, while Ophee M stormed to victory in the A string race. Track success continued with Emi M leading from the front to win a very impressive 1500m race, achieving an eight-second personal best in the process. The inter boys’ team faced incredibly tough competition. Performances of the day came from Isaac M in the 100m, Zain F in the 300m, and Noah B in the 800m, who smashed his personal best by over four seconds. The boys rounded off a solid day with a strong second-place finish in the relay. The inter girls’ team also fought hard, with Thea L taking victory in the B string shot put and Sophie E impressing with a huge 7.52m throw in the A string. Once again, the throws proved successful, with Jennifer M winning the A string javelin by over seven metres and Sophie R comfortably winning the B string discus. Jennifer also stormed to victory on the track, winning the sprint hurdles in style. The track success continued with Ruby I and Nona G both finishing in the top three in the 1500m and 800m respectively. Not to be outdone by the boys, the girls also finished the day with a second-place finish in the relay. The junior boys and inter girls teams now progress to the regional finals in Chelmsford on 12th June. Our other major fixture this half term has been the annual City Schools competition. Plagued by a hailstorm in the middle of the day and on-and-off rain throughout, the weather did not dampen the spirits of the 76-strong Norwich School athletics team. An event dominated by Notre Dame for many years, the athletes had been training incredibly hard with a very specific goal in mind - and they did not disappoint. In all eight categories, Norwich School teams finished in the top three amongst strong competition from seven other city schools. Strong performances from our Year 7 boys included Ben G and Oscar A in the shot put, Josh B and Beetle D in the 800m, Josh in the long jump, and Ben in the 100m. The B team relay completed a successful day by taking victory. The boys finished 2nd overall by just a few points. The girls followed suit with strong wins for Poppy S in the B string 100m and Ellie W in the 200m. Ellie P and Freya G both secured excellent second places in the long jump and shot put respectively. The girls were rewarded with a 3rd place finish overall. The Year 8 boys were a force to be reckoned with, producing outstanding performances throughout the day. Tristan K took victories in both the shot put and the A string 100m, while Sam T won both the 800m - in a phenomenal time of 2:16 - and the 300m. Tom M won the B string shot put, while Albie C and Seb C took second places in the 800m and B string 200m races respectively. The boys finished 2nd overall. The Year 8 girls showcased the superb benefits of their training. Ophee and Bea took victories in the A and B string long jump competitions, with both girls also securing second-place finishes in the 100m and 200m races. Annie W, on her debut, stormed to victory in the 300m. Emi M also demonstrated her versatility with a second-place finish in the 800m before taking victory in the B string shot put. The girls also finished 2nd overall. The year 9 girls are a strong group but were hit with injuries, this did not impact their excellent attitude and determination. Thea L took victories in both the long jump and shot put, with Erica F taking the shot b string win followed by a 1 st place finish in the discus. Sophie R also took a win in the discus a string. Xenia completed a very successful day on the field by winning the A string javelin. The girls were rewarded with a 3 rd place finish overall. The Year 9 boys have worked incredibly hard over the past three years and were more determined than ever to secure overall victory this year after a close second-place finish last season. The boys started the day exactly as they meant to continue, with Archie W and Oscar W taking first place in both triple jump competitions. Ruan E, competing up an age group, produced an unbelievable throw in the javelin to win the A string, followed closely by Arthur L, who also led the field in the B string. Aurelius H took second place in the long jump, while Arthur demonstrated his all-round talent by winning the B string competition. Rory N attracted a crowd with his impressive high jumping and took victory with a huge 1.55m jump. Rory also claimed second place in the 200m. Bayden C did not disappoint and secured a fantastic victory of his own. The boys achieved overall victory for the first time in 10 years. The Year 10 boys followed closely with a fantastic double on the track from Zain F in the 400m and 800m. Tom B also took first place in the B string 800m, while Seb M won the 200m. In the field events, the boys dominated: Ben L won the shot put, Isaac M won the triple jump, and Harry C and Marlowe F took victories in both the A and B string high jump competitions. The day finished with second place in the relay, securing overall victory - again, the first for a very long time. The Year 10 girls chased victory all the way to the end. Unfortunately struck with a couple of illnesses on the day, the girls rallied superbly and produced exceptional results to finish in the silver medal position. Jennifer M took a double victory in the long jump and javelin, while Tilly G secured double second places in the 100m and long jump. Tilda R jumped herself into second place in the B string high jump - a particularly impressive achievement given she only started the event three weeks ago. The girls also came home second in the relay, placing 3rd overall to cement a truly memorable day of athletics. Next term, we look forward to the East Prep Schools Championships for U3, L4 and U4, as well as the junior boys and inter girls competing in the regional round of the cup. We also have a friendly fixture against St Felix, along with the much-anticipated Sports Day in the final week of term.
