This year, 9 U4 pupils accompanied by Mr Croston and Mrs Dean flew to Hamburg to experience Germany often for the very first time. For Mr Croston, it was the 30th time! It was freezing cold with the temperature being below freezing for the whole stay and there was plenty of snow for the odd snowball fight en route to the next activity. We stayed in the Deutsche Seemannsmission right in the City Centre which provided an ideal base to explore the city and its world-famous port. Our U4 German pupils gained a positive first-hand experience of Germany and were given many opportunities to try out their language skills including writing a traditional postcard to Mr Griffiths. The pupils coped well with buying food, souvenirs, stamps and gifts as well as being willing to try a variety of new foods including Currywurst though only Mr Croston was up for pickled herring. We had almost three full days in the city and were able to include all the major sights, and the traffic-free city centre provided a safe area to let small groups go shopping and U4 enjoyed finding some bargains in the Karstadt department store. On the first night we went swimming and on the second night, we went to the Miniaturwelt in the warehouse district of Hamburg which was fascinating. We also descended deep under river Elbe to see the 19th century tunnel with lifts for horse and carriage, still operating today. We also found out more about Hamburg's trading past and present and toured the port for a closer look at the dry docks, container terminals and loading bays. Another highlight was Mr Croston’s Hamburg Treasure Hunt with some good selfies in front of various tourist attractions! On the final day, it was still cold, so the Museum der Arbeit gave us an opportunity to warm up before heading onto the final activities. All of those on the trip were very open to new experiences and took a keen interest in their surroundings and got a great deal out of the trip. The pupils were a pleasure to take away.

Friends of Norwich School support sees club double in size with fantastic results!

Dance have had a triumphant term, filled with energy, commitment and outstanding achievement. Our Performance Team attended their very first dance competition with an incredible 29 pupils taking part. Sixteen groups performed a wide range of dynamic and creative routines, showcasing not only technical skill but also teamwork and confidence. We are delighted to celebrate three groups winning their categories and two groups earning second place. Even more excitingly, three of our teams have qualified for the finals in London at the end of the 2026 season, an exceptional accomplishment in their debut year.  Our Junior Dance Company, alongside the top three Junior and Inters winners from our internal choreography competition, also represented the school at Ormiston Victory Academy, where NSSP hosted a fantastic school's dance competition. Pupils also took part in an inspiring workshop delivered by East Theatre Arts. Every one of our entries placed top three in their respective categories. It was an excellent day that highlighted the talent, dedication and passion within our dance department.

Our school came alive with colour and celebration as Senior School hosted a joyful Chinese New Year assembly on Wednesday! L4 pupils delighted everyone by dressing up as the zodiac animals and vibrant dragons, while Senior School pupils shared the festivities with Lower School during a special assembly on Thursday. Lower School pupils learned the traditional New Year song 恭喜恭喜 with Jeremy and Anthew, spreading wishes of happiness and prosperity.  Everyone enjoyed fortune cookies to welcome good luck for the year ahead! Our Mandarin classes embraced the spirit of the festival too — L4 made delicious dumplings, U4 prepared spring rolls, and L5 explored food sampling and tea tasting. L5 and M5 also took part in Chinese brush calligraphy, bravely attempting some of the most challenging Chinese characters. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Lunar New Year together!

Despite the frost and the wet weather, there has been an incredibly successful start to Cross Country in 2026.  The Norfolk County Cross Country Championships were held at Earlham Park, Sunday 4 January. The event includes races for different age groups, with U11s running 2.1km, U13 running 3.1km, U15 running 4.5km and U17s running 6km. This event was a great opportunity for athletes of all ages to compete and showcase their skills in cross country running. All pupils did exceptionally well all whilst braving the frosty weather! The following pupils took part; U11 Girls - Agatha, U3 - 1st place U11 Boys - Seb, U3 - 2nd place U13 Girls - Emi Muntingh, U4 - 1st place and now invited to take part in the London Mini Marathon in April! U15 Girls - Ruby Ivie, M5 - 6th place U17 Girls - Beatrice Green, L6 - 6th place U17 Girls - Olivia Allen, L6 - 9th place On Tuesday 20 January, ten of our runners took part in the Norfolk Schools’ Cross Country Championships at Wymondham College against the strongest runners in the county who had all qualified to compete. The course consisted of flat and fast laps around the playing fields and through the woods with plenty of mud making for challenging conditions. The target for each runner was to finish in the top 12 to qualify to represent Norfolk and six of our athletes achieved this. In the Minor Boys race, Joshua Bevan finished in 17th place, while in the Junior Girls Nona Griffiths came 24th. Our solo Intermediate Boy, Noah Buchan, was up against some very strong competition and did well to finish in the middle of the field in 45th position. Our best placed finisher on the day was Emi Muntingh who came 4th in her Junior Girls race. Ruby Ivie also qualified for a county vest by coming 5th in the Inter Girls. In the Senior Girls race we had 4 athletes all vying for a top 12 place. The girls paced it perfectly and all qualified, with Minnie Andrews coming 6th, Bea Green 8th, Izzy Last 10th and Olivia Allen 12th.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 1:31 – 2:3) Well done for getting to Friday, everyone; we’re nearly at half term. Sometimes the days of January and February can feel a bit gloomy and cold; if you’ve been feeling like that at all, then spare a thought for some parts of Devon and Cornwall, where it has rained every day this year, and for the residents of Aberdeen, where the sun has disappeared completely for three weeks. When things are like this, there’s a danger that one day just runs into another. I came across this poem recently: Monday is a foggy haze, Tuesday is a frantic daze. Wednesday drags its heavy feet, Thursday thinks of food to eat. Friday shouts, "I'm finally free!" Saturday is a shopping spree. Sunday hides behind the door, And then we start the mess once more. I’m sure none of us really wants life to be like that – a foggy haze or a frantic daze, a mess that just keeps repeating itself. There is some wisdom from the very beginning of the Bible, and which I think can help us here (we heard it in our reading just now). We’re told that on the seventh day God “rested from all his work”. But he doesn’t just collapse, exhausted, on a heavenly sofa and start playing Candy Crush Saga on his phone for the entire weekend. It’s more optimistic than that. “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy , because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” The opening chapters of Genesis want, more than anything, to teach us some lessons for life – and a couple of lessons for us to learn here are that rest is important and days can be holy . Rest is important . You might feel that’s so obvious it doesn’t need saying – especially if right now you’re feeling ready for a rest. But this might just be something to remember for the future – for a time when your days are no longer dictated by school routines and timetables, and when the phrase ‘work/life balance’ starts to mean something. I had an experience of this myself when I went to university and for the first time I could do what I wanted, when I wanted. The thing was, I always had work that needed doing, and I just sort of did it all the time whenever I had spare moments. I noticed there were certain times when I found it really difficult to work – it was so hard to get going – often on Sundays, in fact. In my third year I made what felt like a bold decision. I decided to try out the Sabbath principle in Genesis; I stopped doing work on Sundays. And it worked for me. It didn’t make any difference to my overall output – I didn’t fall behind – and what was more, I was happier. A simple, perhaps an obvious lesson: rest is something we need to do, just as work is something we need to do. Days can be holy . The word ‘holy’ here means simply ‘set apart’ – which is to say that some days are different to others; they have a particular purpose. We are at a time of year where there is a confluence of special days in the calendar. For one thing it’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow, a day for telling people we love them. Tuesday is Pancake Day; be aware as well that for Muslims it’s the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. For Christians, Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent – a time set apart for serious thinking about our habits and attitudes. After we return from half term it will be the Hindu festival of Holi, which celebrates brightening Spring Days and the triumph of good over evil. Whether you consider yourself an observer of these days or not, it is good to be aware of them; partly, of course, so that you can understand the people around you who are observing these holy days; but also to learn the principle that we do need red-letter days in our calendars – it is a human necessity – otherwise life becomes a foggy haze. Perhaps start with this half-term; see the days ahead of you as set apart, special, more than just Candy-Crush-on-the-sofa time. Remember that the word “holiday” itself is the words ‘holy’ and ‘day’ joined together. I started with a rather pessimistic poem; I want to finish with a more optimistic one. This is called ‘Mela’, which is the Sanskrit word for ‘festival’. Listen to the reading; listen to the hymn. Today it is a holy day. Let us think of him Who guided us, and brought us From darkness into light. Into sudden morning, out of darkest night. Let us eat together; let us take our ease. Let us throw our weapons down. Here, we are at peace. And before I finish, a little bit of good news: the sun has come out in Aberdeen, and the forecast is sunshine all day tomorrow…

This half term saw the 1st VII Sevens squad compete in two competitive 7s festivals, gaining valuable experience against strong opposition. On 3 February, the 1sts took part in the Saints 7s Festival at Oundle School. After winning their group with convincing performances against Ousedale School and Wollaston School, the team progressed to the Cup qualifier, where they faced a very strong Rugby School side and suffered a narrow defeat. The final game of the day was a Plate quarter-final against Finborough School. Despite leading for much of the match and playing some excellent 7s rugby, Finborough scored on the final play to win 26–22. William Hawkins was named Player of the Festival for his performances throughout the day. The 1sts then competed in the New Hall 7s Festival on 8th February, which proved to be a more challenging day. Drawn in a strong group alongside Campion School, Finborough School, King’s Ely, and RHS, the team secured one victory against RHS. This result progressed them to the 5th-place play-off, where they were narrowly defeated by Victory College. While results were tough, the day provided important learning opportunities for future competitions. Levite Oyelakin was awarded Player of the Festival.  The U15s took part in the U15 County Cup 7s, hosted by Norwich School at Redmayne. Norwich topped their group following strong performances against Hethersett Academy, Diss High School, and Acle Academy. In the semi-final, the team delivered an outstanding 22–0 win against Gresham’s School. The final saw Norwich face Wymondham College in what proved to be their toughest test of the tournament. Norwich emerged victorious with a 17–7 win, conceding their only try of the competition. This was an exceptional team performance, with Ben Lowe being named Player of the Tournament.

It’s been a busy and inspiring half term across all sections at 8th Norwich Sea Scouts, with young people learning practical skills, building confidence and having plenty of fun along the way. A real highlight this half term was a visit from the East Anglian Air Ambulance , who delivered CPR and first aid sessions to Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers. These engaging sessions gave every young person the chance to learn vital life-saving skills in an age-appropriate and memorable way – an experience they’ll carry with them well beyond Scouts. Beavers (U1 & L2) Our Beavers have explored a wide range of activities, including: Air Badge Photography International Badge work Celebrating Chinese New Year Each session focused on curiosity, creativity and teamwork, helping Beavers grow in confidence while trying new things. Cubs (U2 & U3) Cubs have enjoyed a varied and creative programme this half term: Making bird feeders and learning to identify common birds A creative visit to the Apple Store Teamwork and confidence-building activities Night Hike to Lionwood Pack Forums, giving Cubs a voice in shaping their programme Backwards cooking challenges U3 Cubs have been preparing to move up to Scouts next term, while L3 Cubs have begun developing leadership skills in their new roles as Sixers and Seconders. Scouts (L4 & L5) Our Scouts have been busy developing outdoor and teamwork skills, including: Working in patrols Building and testing fire rafts Rowing time on the gig A fun and challenging treasure trail These activities have helped Scouts build independence, resilience and leadership in a practical setting. Explorers (M5 & U6) Explorers have continued their Survival Badge work, focusing on: Water filtration and navigation Exploring different fire-lighting methods A Burns Night supper was enjoyed, complete with haggis and neeps Alongside this, many Explorers are making strong progress towards their Platinum, Diamond and King’s Scout Awards, with ongoing work linked to international and community values. Pancake Fun Across All Sections To round off the half term, every section got involved in pancake making and cooking. Explorers took it a step further with American-style pancakes, showing off their confidence and cooking skills. U4 & L5 were introduced to our first Leadership camp last weekend, preparing them for Patrol Leadership at Summer camp. Scouts and Explorers have also enjoyed sailing and powerboating from NBYC, Rookie Silver Lifeguard training, Pool kayaking and swimming. Many are also setting off for a Peak District adventure of hiking, biking, climbing and caving over half term. Congratulations to seven of our Explorers for achieving their Young Leader Belt, which takes many, many months of consistent enthusiasm, hard work and the completion of 10 scout training modules. Toby Adlam, Will Brown, Oliver Clark, Isaac Latter Casas, Harrison Newman, Adam Smith, Hector Turner; BRAVO

170 Norwich School applications have been sent to UCAS (universities and colleges admissions service) this academic year. As is the norm at this point in the year, many universities (including medical schools and leading London universities such as LSE and Imperial) are still making decisions on which applicants to offer places to. We will share more successes later this term and at the start of next term. We congratulate all pupils on their university offers and offers for apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships received so far. We hope these pupils will understand that the size of the Upper 6 year group means we cannot celebrate publicly all offers. The offers listed here have been chosen to include those for the most competitive courses and to give the school community a taste of the huge variety of courses and institutions that Norwich School pupils apply for. The school’s Apply Plus Programme is run by Mr Pearce. It supports pupils applying to academic courses that require admissions tests and/or interviews. Apply Plus offers so far this cycle: Arthur Dannatt – Mathematics at the University of Warwick Ben Griffiths – Classics at the University of Oxford Melissa Hawkings – Music at the University of Cambridge Celeste Horsman – English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford Thomas Hsia – Computer Science at University of Warwick Thomas Irvine – Medicine at the University of Cambridge Georgia Lloyd – Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Cambridge Adit Raje – Physics at the University of Oxford Charlotte Scott – Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge Emile Verschoor – Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge Sydney Wylie (ON) – English at the University of Cambridge STEM: Ethan Buskell – Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath Josie Dixon – Marine Biology at the University of St. Andrews Jeremy Lo – Computer Science at the University of Manchester Humanities: Daisy Massey – Journalism Studies at the University of Sheffield Edith Martin – Liberal Arts at King’s College London (KCL) Alice Strike – History at University of Durham Social Sciences: Rosie Pank – Politics and Sociology with Study Abroad at the University of Exeter Jack Paterson – Business and Management at the University of Durham Sophie Scott – Law at the University of York Languages: Isla Bowles – French and Spanish at University College London (UCL) Tristan Mackay – Philosophy and Modern Languages at the University of Bristol Lily Mei McGruddy-Lo – Japanese at the University of Leeds Creatives: Hollie Blackham – Interior Design at the University for the Creative Arts (Canterbury) Rachel Dean – Drama at the University of Warwick Hettie Holden – Architecture at the University of Sheffield Sport: Nick Conway – full rowing scholarship to University of Washington, USA William Faircloth – full soccer (football) scholarship to University of Wisconsin, USA Niamh Rushton – Sport Management and Coaching with professional placement at University of Bath