News & Events

Well done to everyone on getting to this point, the final service of the year, and welcome to our guests, the parents and carers of our U6 cohort. The procession at the end of the service through the great West Doors sees our leavers move from pupils to alumni, an occasion which requires both of the key ingredients in Norwich School’s magic recipe: people and place. It is a joy to have everyone with us in order to mark this significant point of transition (that’s the people part) and I cannot think of a more spectacular setting than this place, our Cathedral Church. Not only does it enable us to hear glorious music such as our opening anthem in these surroundings, but it also cements the building in the lives of these young people. The transition today works because the U6 have been walking through and past the West Doors for years. Our anthem later is locus iste by Bruckner, with the words: locus iste a deo factus est, inaestimabile sacramentum, irreprehensibilis est, a translation of which is “This place was made by God; a priceless sacrament, it is without reproach”. Enjoy that music when it comes and if I lose your attention with my words before then, at least there is plenty of architectural eye-candy for you to absorb. It is inevitable at this point of the school year that we look both backwards and forwards. We reflect on the year that has passed and anticipate what is to come during the summer holiday; indeed, I hope the L4, U4 and L5 watching on screens from the presbytery behind the organ are still there and have not already started their break. To facilitate this natural reflection, the members of the Upper 6 will come forwards to reprise a song they sang last week at Gala Night with members of another leaving cohort, the Lower School Upper 3. They are going to sing When I Grow Up by Tim Minchin from the musical, Matilda. Upper 6 sang this song in Gala because Matilda was the Lower School musical this year. I could not resist a pleasing personal piece of symmetry: we have sung When I Grow Up once before in final assembly, at the end of my first year in 2012 when I had just seen the show with my family. I have now been here for 15 years and this will be the last in which I will be both Head and parent. 

Good morning. The first part of today’s assembly will look back at our favourite moments and favourite assemblies at Norwich School. When I first joined Norwich School in 2003, long before any of you were born—I was a Brooke U6 tutor, and we met as a whole school in the cathedral for assembly every morning, not just Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A few years later, Wednesdays became reserved for section and house assemblies, and eventually the pattern changed again to the three cathedral assemblies we have today. Some years ago, a colleague researched how pupils felt about cathedral assemblies. Unsurprisingly, the sense of excitement lasted through the second year of school but faded over time, only returning in the final months of U6. I think I now understand that feeling well. In truth, I have never taken for granted the privilege of gathering as a school in such an extraordinary and inspiring place. We are very fortunate. I still remember my very first assembly here, during my interview when a Sixth Form pupil spoke about mobile phones—back when they played a far smaller role in daily life. Over the years, I have taken part in many assemblies, though most were in the more intimate setting of the Presbytery or the Chapel during my time as Head of Fourth Form (2012–2018), long before Mr Rowlandson, Mrs Wood, and now Mrs Wyndham took on the role. I even recorded an assembly from home during the Covid lockdowns, when we continued to meet and sing together on Teams. Mine focused on running—of course—and on the first woman to attempt the Boston Marathon, who entered using only her initials. I remember it clearly because the weather was unusually warm, and I filmed in front of the wisteria in my garden, which had never looked more beautiful. So you may be asking why the trip down memory lane? Standing here today feels a little surreal. After 23 years at this school, this place has become more than where I work — it has become part of who I am. I’ve taught hundreds of pupils, worked with incredible colleagues, and watched this community grow, change, and flourish. And today, I feel incredibly grateful. It is not just our morning assembles that set us apart here in the Cathedral Close - there are also the traditions — the ones that give a school its heartbeat. The last few days have been pretty special for me and Norwich School pupils alike – as last Friday we held our Norwich School Fashion Show –pupil-led by this year’s amazing charities committee – this is always an incredible evening and this year did not disappoint. Then on Sunday we were a part of the 6th Discover your Ability Day with charity Able2B – over 500 people attended and took part with more than 60 pupils from Norwich School – partnering with pupils from other schools including many Special Schools. This day is like no other in the year, only coming a close second to the Special Schools Assembly where the L6 Community Service group perform a nativity play to many Norfolk children - I honestly don’t think I will ever forget Daisy Sexton entertaining the audience in the donkey costume! Thank you Oscar for modelling it here today in Daisy’s place as she is already setting up for Gala rehearsals at the Lower Close this morning. Another of the highlights of my year has always been the Cup Run . Not just because I love running, though that certainly helps, but because it’s one of the rare moments when the entire school heads up to Mousehold and becomes part of something bigger than themselves. Watching pupils and staff spread out across the course, cheering each other on, competing, laughing, supporting — it captures the spirit of this community in a way few events can. To help me with this assembly, I asked a few of my colleagues and L4 pupils to share some of their favourite memories of Norwich School too: Ironically, Mr Weeks’ 1st memory is of his interview with me, as at that time, when he started at Norwich School, I was in charge of New Staff and Teaching Trainees– one of my favourite roles! He also says his favourite assembly was the Christmas Carol service with the full choir, organ and brass. I confess I too love the Carol service – but mainly for the spinning star on the organ when the word ‘light’ is sung. It always made me smile. I also asked Mr Cann the same Q and he said this: The Assembly that jumps out in my memory was the Remembrance Day service seven or eight years ago where Richard Allain positioned trumpet players all over the cathedral to play the last post in parts. It was one of the most moving experiences I recall in cathedral and exemplified the power music has on our experiences and how a creative approach can breathe new life into the familiar. Over to the pupils: Holly: My favourite part of Norwich School is the morning assemblies as it’s a really nice time to just take a breather and prepare myself for the coming day. It is also really nice to all be in the same place as my friends so then after cathedral, I can head to my next lesson with my friends. My favourite memory on my first week of school is when I was supposed to be going to Palace for my maths lesson and instead I went to horse fair then I had to ask someone where palace was but I accidentally asked a member of the public I then managed to find someone who was part of the school and they directed me. Sav: My favourite memory from lower 4 is all of the dance shows I did, from participating in the junior + senior dance festivals, to doing the choreography competition back in December; my favourite assembly is either the one celebrating the Chinese new year or where we sung the twelve days of Christmas as a school! Oscar: I have really enjoyed all assemblies run by prefects at Christmas, and singing in cathedral. Evie: One of my favourite moments at Norwich school was the Eaton Vale in L4. The whole trip was so amazing a fun! Thank you L4 for sharing my last assembly with me today .... ....and t o all the pupils here today: you are the reason this job has mattered so much to me. You’ve challenged me, surprised me, inspired me and always reminded me why teaching is worth it. If I leave you with one message, it’s this: Be curious. Be kind. And don’t underestimate what you’re capable of. You don’t have to be the loudest, the fastest, or the best at everything. You just have to keep moving forward, one step at a time. To my colleagues: thank you. Thank you for the support, the laughter, the shared frustrations, the last ‑ minute photocopy rescues, the wisdom, the teamwork, and the friendship. Schools don’t run on timetables or policies — they run on people. And this school is lucky to have some of the very best. There’s no escaping that this school has changed over the years — new buildings, new faces, new challenges — but its heart has stayed the same. It is a place where pupils are seen, supported, and encouraged to grow. I am very proud to have been part of that story. And although I’m leaving, a piece of me will always stay here — in the classrooms I’ve taught in, the pupils I’ve worked with, and the memories we created together –and even physically on one of the blue chairs in Blake with the names of me and my three daughters (all now proud ONs) in scripted on it and also by a prize that will be awarded for the first time at Prizegiving this year – the Hill Prize for mathematics! Hopefully some of you will remember me in years to come when you sit on this seat, and if you are fortunate enough to be awarded the Hill Prize then perhaps take a moment to remember how passionate and enthusiastic I was as a teacher. As I step into a new chapter, I do so with gratitude for the one I’ve lived here. Thank you for more than 23 years of purpose, joy, challenge, and connection. Thank you for trusting me, supporting me, and allowing me to be part of your lives. And remember: once a part of this school, always a part of this school. Thank you for listening and have a great day...