Senior School news

Lower 4 pupils join residents at Laurel Lodge Care Home for an Intergenerational Quiz!

29 January 2021

Organised by charity Friend in Deed, quizmasters Roy and Phyllis asked pupils in Lower 4, who currently on site as children of critical workers, a series of questions in a friendly challenge of their general knowledge. Both old and young then enjoyed swapping stories about their lives including Roy’s love of Norwich City Football Club and Phyllis’ favourite holiday destination, Australia. 

The school has a long-running relationship with Friend In Deed and regularly supports it in it's aim to integrate our older generations into the community. 

The recent periods of lockdown have been particularly challenging for care homes and their residents, with many unable to accept visitors. Friend In Deed’s usual activities in care homes, including visits from young families and by our own Community Service pupils, have also had to be suspended for the time being. Instead, a remote quiz was devised to help connect the generations once more and to spread a little cheer amongst the home. 

The quiz was a great success, with pupils enjoying learning about the lives of our older generations and residents hearing about life in a modern-day classroom.  

Mrs. Hill, Assistant Head i/c of Partnerships at Norwich School said:

“This morning was most definitely the highlight of my week. Such an honour to be involved and to witness such easy dialogue between the two generations and how much they learned about each other in such a short space of time. Thanks to Roy and Phyllis and all at Laurel Lodge Care Home, to Kelly for setting it up, and to our amazing pupils and team of colleagues on-site to help make it happen. Here’s to many more of these connections taking place in coming weeks – and to hoping that Norwich School can be the catalyst to quizzes taking place in other primary and secondary schools.”

Kelly Lindsay, Director at Friend in Deed said:

“There’s so much we can learn from older generations who have been to school and young pupils who are there now and that interaction between the generations is just magic. Perhaps care homes should be running more lessons in school!”

Pupils were equally as excited to meet the older generations and plans are underway to organise a regular call to the care home to see Roy and Phyllis. We can’t wait to see how the friendship develops.