News & Events
Latest News From the Senior and Lower Schools
Lower School News
The new Michaelmas Term got off to a fantastic musical start with our first Informal Concert, featuring a wonderful selection of performances from pupils in Upper 3. The concert showcased an impressive range of instruments and musical styles, with performances on piano, cello, guitar and French hunting horn, alongside some confident vocal performances. The programme took the audience on a real musical journey — from the instantly recognisable fun of Wallace and Gromit and The Muppets Theme, to the beautiful The Swan by Saint-Saëns and the atmospheric Sunrise by William Carroll. There was plenty of variety too, with a traditional take on Old McDonald , the lively Sparkling Splashes and Smooth Water , Burgmüller’s charming Petite Réunion and the much-loved Cavatina . The vocal performances brought their own energy and character, including songs by Stephen Sondheim and Bruno Mars. It was particularly lovely to see pupils sharing their music so confidently at the very beginning of a new school year. Informal Concerts provide a relaxed and supportive opportunity for young musicians to perform to an audience, build confidence and celebrate the progress they are making with their instruments and voices. Director of Music for the Lower School Mr Vine said 'a huge well done to everyone who performed. What a brilliant way to begin another term of music-making!' The next Informal Concert will be on Thursday 24 September featuring pupils from Lower 3.
Norwich Lower School is proud to announce that the Little Roots allotment has been named a winner in the Bees’ Needs Champions Awards 2026, a national recognition scheme led by DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). The Little Roots allotment has received one of the 2026 Bees’ Needs Champion Awards in recognition of its commitment to supporting pollinators and enhancing biodiversity through practical environmental action. The prestigious award celebrates organisations that are making a positive difference for bees and other pollinating insects by creating and protecting habitats, raising awareness, and encouraging community involvement. Recognised in the Communities category, Little Roots was commended for its efforts to create pollinator-friendly spaces and enrich local habitats. Through initiatives such as wildflower planting, habitat creation and the addition of a pond, the Little Roots allotment is helping to create an environment that not only enriching for people, but for wildlife too. The Bees’ Needs Champion Awards celebrate the work of organisations across the country that are taking action to support pollinators. Protecting pollinators is essential for maintaining a healthy environment, supporting biodiversity and ensuring thriving green spaces for future generations. Commenting on the award, Mr Worton and Mrs Morgan said: “Protecting our pollinators is essential for a healthy environment and thriving communities. Through our biodiversity initiatives, we are helping to safeguard important habitats while creating greener, more vibrant spaces that pupils and wildlife can enjoy. We are delighted to receive this national recognition for our efforts.” The awards were presented on 14th July, at RHS Wisley, to tie in with Bees’ Needs week. Mr and Mrs Boothby were presented with the award by Mary Creagh MP, the Defra Minister for Nature. The Norwich Lower School gardeners have also recently been recognised in two separate gardening competitions at the recent Royal Norfolk Show. Lower One and Upper One were thrilled to be awarded a gold medal for outstanding exhibit in the School Gardening competition; their entry featured a beautifully designed wheelbarrow display inspired by Beatrix Potter’s Mr McGregor’s garden, created in celebration of 160 years since Beatrix Potter’s birth. In the School Growing competition over forty pupils eagerly took part, nurturing their basil, calendula and radish plants at home with care and commitment in the weeks leading up to the Show. The best examples from each category were then selected and taken to the Showground, where they were judged against entries from other schools. Norwich School pupils were delighted to win all three categories which they entered. Mrs Morgan said: “We are incredibly proud of our pupils for their creativity, perseverance and teamwork and we are delighted to celebrate winning four gold medals at this year’s Royal Norfolk Show! Outdoor learning and gardening skills are interwoven throughout the Lower School curriculum, and our successes at both the Bees’ Needs Champions awards and the Norfolk Show are a testament to this.”
After qualifying for the National Finals at the East Area Prep School Athletics Championships, held at Bedford International Stadium, Thomas secured 1st place in the U12 Discus with an impressive throw of 25m. As a result, Thomas then went on to represent the school at the National Finals, hosted at the iconic Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. After his first three throws, he was sitting in 2nd place. Under the competition rules, only the top eight athletes after three rounds earned a fourth and final throw. Saving his very best until last, Thomas produced a sensational final throw of 28m to claim the gold medal and become the U12 National Discus Champion! Having only taken up the discus in April, this is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the dedication, hard work and commitment Thomas has shown in such a short space of time. Congratulations , Thomas – a fantastic accomplishment and one to be incredibly proud of!
Senior School News
On Friday 2 October, we held our largest and most successful Academic Scholars’ Dinner to date. Nearly 90 Academic Scholars from Middle 5 to Upper 6 gathered in the Blake Studio to hear a fascinating talk by scientist and educator Crawford Kingsnorth, intriguingly titled Death, Dinner or Doolally. What followed was a captivating journey into the world of mushrooms and fungi. Pupils were introduced to the remarkable scale, complexity and apparent ‘intelligence’ of fungal networks, discovering a wealth of intriguing facts, exciting scientific developments on the horizon, and the potentially deadly consequences of some species. Crawford also spoke about his current research, which is currently patent-pending. While understandably unable to reveal too much at this stage, he gave us a tantalising glimpse into work that we look forward to hearing more about in the future. The talk concluded with a wide range of thoughtful and insightful questions from pupils before everyone moved to the Refectory for an excellent meal. This provided a valuable opportunity for scholars to continue conversations with our speaker and with one another in a relaxed and convivial setting. We are extremely grateful to Crawford for joining us as this year’s speaker. His presentation gave pupils an insight into a fascinating and often overlooked area of science, while also drawing connections to history, geology, medicine and law. It was a perfect example of the intellectual curiosity and cross-curricular thinking that our Academic Scholars programme seeks to encourage and celebrate. Thank you to Alice Y and Iris B for their photos of the evening.
On Thursday 1 October, the Library Department celebrated National Poetry Day with its annual Poetry Slam. A number of pupils took to the stage to perform, sharing both original poems and works by established poets and writers. The event provided a platform for pupils to express themselves through the spoken word, with performances covering a wide range of themes and styles. Those in attendance were highly supportive, creating a warm and encouraging atmosphere throughout. It was a wonderful celebration of literature, creativity and pupil voice, and a fitting way to mark National Poetry Day.
On Friday 25 November, Norwich School celebrated the European Day of Languages throughout the Senior School! This year, a treasure hunt was held in tutorial which sent the the whole school running around to find the answers. At breaktime, pupils enjoyed playing a range of boardgames in the Blake Studio and the refectory served an amazing lunch with three types of German sausages with sauerkraut or a very authentic paella!
Blog
This year’s World Mental Health Day theme is ‘ Lived experiences heard; real voices, real change ’. This means creating opportunities for people to influence decisions, co-design services, strengthen peer-led approaches, and challenge stigma. The World Health Organization is highlighting the move towards community-based, person-centered mental health care. In light of this, we decided to play a game and see what you all think when it comes to statistics surrounding mental health. Swimming and cycling are scientifically proven to be the best sports for your mental health, but which do you think is more beneficial overall? Swimming Why is talking out loud about your emotions so good for your mental health? Lowers activity in the brain’s fear and stress center (amygdala) Maintaining a balanced diet is key to positive mental health, but which fruit is considered best for mental wellbeing? Blueberries What bedtime does the NHS recommend for adults to achieve the best possible wellbeing? 10pm-11pm Why is getting a good amount of sleep so important for your emotional wellbeing? Allows the brain to process emotional experiences Singing is a great stress relief as it allows the brain to release endorphins and serotonin; this is why we do it so often. How many times does the average person sing a day without even realising? 6-10 What instrument has been shown through experiments to be the most soothing to people? Human voices Your brain is in constant communication with your body, but what body part does your brain talk the most to? Your Gut Thank you for playing! As you can see, there are many factors that affect your mental health, and many are easy to implement in your day-to-day life. For example, staying active is vital in maintaining personal wellbeing. We’ve already established swimming is great for you, but other sports such as cycling, running, dancing, martial arts and walking are all wonderful (less wet) ways of releasing endorphins, lowering stress hormones and regulating sleep patterns. Furthermore, team sports create a powerful sense of community that teaches us how to lower personal pressure and share responsibility. Pairing this with a balanced diet allows us to stabilize our moods, fuel our brain, and strengthen our ability to retain memories. Sleep is integral to so many aspects of mental health. It processes feelings, acting like a natural therapy session for your mind. It also controls reactions, as rest calms the brain's emotional centre, so small problems do not feel huge. Sleep even saves your memories by moving important facts and events from short-term to long-term storage. With House Shout coming up, let's highlight some of the ways singing is beneficial to mental wellbeing: Singing releases happy chemicals that improve your mood and lower stress The deep breathing required for singing helps reduce cortisol, a hormone linked to stress and anxiety Focusing on the lyrics, pitch, and breathing pulls your mind away from worries and keeps you in the present moment As well as the fantastic pastoral network within school, there is also a wellbeing infrastructure throughout Norfolk and Suffolk that is accessible to all. Local wellbeing hubs are there as a safe space to both receive and offer support to your community. The Reading Well Scheme at Norfolk Libraries offers mood-boosting books and quiet spaces, that give you time to read on how to better support yourself and others. Menscraft is another local charity that focuses on men's mental health through hands-on projects that aim to bring the community together. This term, the charity we are supporting is Finnbar’s Force. They are a dedicated children’s cancer charity focused on empowering children and their families across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. Support extends throughout these regions and beyond, providing crucial information, free therapies, emotional care, and practical assistance. Reflecting on this years theme of ‘ Lived experiences heard; real voices, real change ’, let’s think about the lived experiences for these children and their families and support this cause by donating to home clothes day, which is being held this Friday. Come in home clothes and please donate to this worthy charity. American writer D. Elton Trueblood once said, ‘A man has made a good start... when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he may never sit.’ The message of our assembly today echoes this sentiment. Like trees, the positive habits we plant in our day-to-day lives creates real change to a better environment not only for ourselves, but all those around us. So remember that the small things we do, for ourselves and for others, can grow into something much bigger. By taking care of our wellbeing and supporting those around us, we can create the positive lived experiences that the World Health Organization is promoting.
My experience with languages ~ Belek M Reflecting on a memorable week at the Goethe-Institut London
Deep in the summer holiday, my dishwasher broke down. It started beeping maniacally, relentlessly and making a deep, unhealthy gurgling sound. We are dependent on technology in so many aspects of our lives, it is frustrating when that dependency is abruptly cut off. An August of suds and rubber gloves was an unwelcome prospect. I have little skill to fix mechanical things. Very little. Faced with this problem, I thought I’d turn to someone - or some thing - in my household that might help: my own intelligence fell short so I thought I’d see if Artificial Intelligence could assist me in my predicament. Could one machine fix the other? I fed the symptoms of my dishwasher’s distress into the Large Language Model, Google Gemini. ‘What should I do?’ I asked it, pathetically. It quickly diagnosed the problem: water was trapped in an inaccessible part of the machine. Now, I do own an assortment of under-used screwdrivers; with a flash of inspiration, I suggested that I could unscrew some prominent screws at the bottom of the dishwasher. ‘No!’. Gemini advised me. Sensibly, it told me to not do that under any circumstances or I would break the thing forever. Screwdriver hanging limply in my hand, my exchange with Gemini continued… You will know Artificial Intelligence is the subject of much debate. Some claim, optimistically, that it will revolutionise human life for the better, solving difficult problems and removing drudgery. On the other hand, some claim unrestrained AI development could lead to the extinction of humanity. That would, at least, solve the dishwashing problem. For those of us in schools, the emergence of generative AI poses a challenge to the purpose of education; it can now do many of the tasks that have, until now, been the preserve of humans. Put simply: AI can – efficiently – find any information, read and summarise a text, write fluent and polished prose, offer instantaneous translation, complete every part of a mathematical or scientific problem, and generate music or art in any genre. Is it, therefore, still important to learn to do these things for ourselves. Before Easter, I asked senior year groups for their views on AI. I am grateful to the 400 in U5 and above who responded with eloquence, supported by their experiences. Whilst many noted positives - that AI can bring efficiencies – it was notable that the majority expressed concern, frustration or even anger about the impact that AI may continue to have. Some cited environmental concerns, or problems of biased, deepfake or hallucinated information. Many noted that AI can compromise academic integrity and enable cheating. A majority expressed concern that dependence on AI may result in people losing the ability to think critically or independently. This view is increasingly supported by hard evidence. A study by MIT in the USA last year indicated that dependence on AI for essay writing resulted in students having a much shallower understanding of the subject, weakening their critical thinking and formation of long-term memory. A recent Chinese study of 27,000 students found the exam performance of those who used AI for their regular work was worse than those who did not. Many of you said you are confused about what is permitted and that the school has not given sufficient guidance. That’s a fair point. The answer is not simple, but I can set out some broad principles. Firstly, in the age of AI, the cultivation of your intelligence and creativity remains an intrinsic good. Intellectual and creative effort has value. Even if AI can do a task, we should be interested in developing our own learning for its own sake; to encounter astonishing new things that change us as human beings. To let you into a secret: when I set a history essay to a class, it isn’t because I actually need 25 copies of that essay. It is because the process of producing the essay develops your learning. Efficiency in production is not the goal of education. Learning requires your brain to work hard and you can’t bypass that difficulty or offload it onto someone or something else. It would be analogous to repeatedly drive a car for 26 miles in the expectation that you will be fit and prepared to run a marathon. Secondly, if AI is used, it should be to support learning, not undermine it. There are AI tools that can be powerful in helping to develop thinking and your teachers may introduce these to you. But their use should not circumvent intellectual effort that is a necessary part of learning. Thirdly, we recognise the growing importance of AI literacy; as the technology becomes embedded into our lives, it is essential that we understand its capabilities and limitations, as well as ethical questions that are raised in a world where AI may become ubiquitous. Mr Fisher has done pioneering work on this with his Fifth Form Elective course and I look forward to working with Lawrence Doe on his red gown project to develop how we do this further. Finally, AI must not diminish our humanity or our relationships in this community. The ‘real’ matters and it was clear in your feedback that many of you are repelled by AI-generated material that is synthetic or impersonal. In particular, you felt strongly that if you put time, effort and love into something, that you want it recognised and considered by a teacher, not assessed by a machine. As with all technology, AI should remain a tool in service to our needs. Dependency on technology for intellectual tasks – tasks much greater or more complex than washing dishes - runs the risk that we become incapable. So, what was the resolution of my dialogue with Google Gemini? It concluded – firmly - that I should step away from the dishwasher, lay down my screwdriver, and call out a mechanic; a real person with the knowledge and skills – the human intelligence - required. When he arrived, he sorted the problem within 15 minutes. I could return – sheepishly - to my dependency on the machine.
Meet the Team
Click on the images to read individual biographies.
