Josh and George are fundraising for Unicef, and the cycling world tour is almost over. Join them for the final leg to Halvergate to celebrate this momentous achievement.

Welcome back – I hope you have a good break and are feeling energized for the final term of the year ahead. As ever, the weeks that lie before us fall into two distinct categories: first there is the rigour and discipline of drawing course material together as we prepare for assessments, whether external or internal; second is the joy of exploring opportunities in the post-exam period towards the end of term. My main advice as you approach the term is to make a connection between the two parts of term by establishing a routine that allows you make the most of both. Creating habits or behaviours that work for you are crucial. Keep balancing your academic focus with time to relax, particularly through physical activity and a strong sleep routine. Keep a sense of purpose in each activity; certainly be clear on what you are trying to achieve when you sit down for a session of revision and how it fits into your overall plans, but also be clear on the times when you want to get away from work, whether by organized co-curricular activities here at school or your own pursuits. Feeling guilty for not working is emotionally draining and should be avoided: either work or give yourself permission to have a break from work. Overall, you cannot control outcomes but you can control the process and, if you can be proud of what you have done to prepare, there is every chance that you will achieve your academic goals; even if you do not achieve them, you are likely to be able to accept the outcome because you gave a good account of yourself in the build-up. No short cuts, just solid, honest preparation. If you are struggling with this, let us know so that we can help to get you back on the right path. Good luck to you all! Another dimension in this process is perspective; no matter how much you want those grades or that mark, how you conduct yourself during the process and what you are establishing for yourself in terms of personal and shared values will always be more important for me than any particular score. Love, compassion and inclusion are key; nor should they be taken for granted, whether by you as individuals, by us all as a school, or indeed further afield because of the fact that we happen to live in a democratic country. The Varieties of Democracy Institute based at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden conducts an annual survey of the state of government around the globe. It found that 72 percent of the world's population now lives in autocracies – the highest level since 1978. In 2024, 45 countries were moving toward more autocratic government across the globe. In these nations, the patterns were similar – erosions in areas such as: freedom of speech, open elections, the rule of law, judicial independence, civil society and academic freedom. Governments expanded their power over institutions and individuals. It didn't happen in the same order or at the same speed, but in the end the destination was the same. My point is that people in the United Kingdom should be sensitive to the fact that so many other people on the planet have daily routines in political systems very different from our own. This divergence can be translated into the digital sphere, too, with the proliferation of extreme content making it increasingly possible for adversarial and hostile exchanges to take place because people see the world so differently. I am sure many of you have seen or have been made aware of the recent Louis Theroux documentary, Inside the Manosphere . This has brought to the attention of a wider audience the strength and extremity of opinions being expressed by the influencers profiled and others like them. For me, it was not so much what they said, it was their popularity and the implied normalisation of what were undoubtedly extreme views. For clarity, at Norwich School I expect the values of love, compassion and inclusion to be applied equally to every single member of our community, regardless of their sex and sexual orientation. Part of this is practical: we are bound in the UK by The Equality Act and it is an offence to discriminate against protected characteristics such as race, religion, age, disability and, for our focus today, sex. If we as a school and you as individuals get this wrong, there will be consequences. However, for me respectful treatment of others is more profound than that: whether it is the biblical advice of loving one’s neighbour as oneself, the principle of a PSHE classroom to have unconditional positive regard, or our school’s values of love, compassion and inclusion, I want each of you to brighten rather than undermine the day of those around you through your conduct. There are a number of possible challenges to the views espoused in the Theroux documentary, but one is the general “othering” and alienation of one sex by the other: men like this; women don’t like that. It has always been a staple of prejudice to establish dislike of a group of people through clumsy and inaccurate stereotypes which preclude a need for greater understanding. Indeed, one of the most chilling aspects of the documentary was the increasing use of antisemitism used by manosphere influencers to explain global financial inequities. That sort of stereotyping is harder to do when “the other” are real individuals alongside you in the same school community. As soon as someone tries to say, “Girls are like this and boys are like that,” it would be easy to identify members of our community who differ from such stereotypes: “That’s not what she likes and that’s not what he is like”. When you talk to any one of our pupils, whether male or female, you will get an individual with their own talents, interests and aspirations. For me, the manosphere influencers are wrong and I feel lucky that I work in a community every day that can show why. If anybody wants to talk to me about these issues in our community’s context, I am more than happy to do so. As you know, I am available to see any pupil from 8.15am on any morning except Tuesdays. I believe it is one of the great privileges of being in a co-educational setting that boys and girls get to practise appropriate behaviour with and around each other every day, reflecting on what works and learning from less successful interactions. I am determined that this community uses its privilege to create an appropriately safe environment to discuss these challenging issues in positive fashion. As you get started on this term, remember to establish routines that can cope equally with periods of academic revision, other activities and rest. And in all of this, remain true to the values that are at the heart of what we do here: be kind and positive to those around you, noting the injunction of our bible reading: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…but encouraging one another…” Have a great Summer Term!

Ian Hayward may have retired from Norwich School in September 2025, but he isn’t slowing down just yet. Ian is embarking on a new adventure, taking on one of Britain’s toughest endurance challenges: a full circumnavigation of mainland Britain by sea kayak. Ian, 58, plans to depart from Lowestoft in late April 2026, aiming to paddle more than 4,000 kilometres around the British coastline in a journey expected to take four to five months. The expedition, titled “Britain by Kayak 2026”, will see Ian navigate some of the UK’s most demanding coastal waters — including tidal races, exposed headlands and remote stretches of shoreline — entirely under his own power. A highly experienced outdoor leader and kayaker, Ian lead the 8th Norwich Sea Scouts from 2012 to 2022 and was Housemaster of Nelson House before taking of the role of Director of Sport until he retired in 2025. He has spent the past year preparing both physically and mentally for the challenge. His training has included long-distance paddling, endurance conditioning and expedition testing in both the UK and Spain. “I don’t need to be ready to complete the whole journey on day one,” Ian says. “I just need to be ready to start. The rest is about adapting, learning and making good decisions in a constantly changing environment.” The expedition is as much about mindset and resilience as it is about endurance. Ian reflects openly on lessons learned during training — including managing fatigue, reassessing risk after difficult surf conditions, and refining equipment, safety and communication systems. Alongside the physical challenge, Ian is supporting two charities — Movember and Surfers Against Sewage — raising awareness around men’s health and environmental issues affecting Britain’s coastal waters. He also hopes to spend time listening to the people who live and work around the coastline, capturing their experiences, hopes and concerns. While he will be paddling solo and mostly camping around the coast, Ian will gladly accept any offer of land-based support in the form of a cheery wave, cup of team or offer of accommodation. So if you think you can help or know someone that could, do please get in touch with Ian. The expedition will be documented through his “GooseJuice Adventures” platform, with regular updates, live tracking and video content shared online.  Ian remains connected to the school through his continued support of the 8th Norwich Sea Scouts and the School’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition programme.

FONS has purchased flag pins to celebrate the range of languages spoken within our community.

Bronze and Silver - Will Brown In early 2023, a group of 7 8th Norwich scouts and Norwich School pupils began their DofE journey, starting with bronze. They completed the practice expedition at the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club in Wroxham, helping develop their flat-water canoeing skills and giving them invaluable kit-packing and camping experience. The qualifying expedition on the river Waveney also proved useful, helping the group further develop their paddling and navigational skills, particularly through challenging sections of the river, such as those with foliage blocking the river. The group also dealt with their first capsize of the journey, which was handled well. Upon the completion of their bronze, 4 of the group – Oli, Hamish, Hector and Will – continued to Silver, which saw them complete their practice on the river Stour in Ipswich in early 2024. This was another step up for the group, with cold, wet and windy weather conditions making the paddle challenging. However, the boys pulled through, gaining experience paddling on the estuary, as well as setting up camp in the dark. This was followed up by many sessions on the water in Norwich, where white-water skills were developed in preparation for the 4-day qualifying expedition on the River Wye, in Wales. This was an incredible trip, with the group confidently navigating many sections of rapids along the river, most notably the Symonds Yat rapids. Fast Forward to 2025/2026 Gold Gold - Oli Clark In early April, Norwich School sixth formers and 8th Norwich Explorers, Oli, Hamish, Will, Hector and Adam completed their Gold D of E expedition canoeing the River Spey from Aviemore to Spey Bay, a distance of just under 100km along one of the most beautiful and challenging rivers in the UK. This was the culmination of years of developing canoeing skills under the guidance of Ian and Tim. The expedition was a fantastic experience, not only the challenge of canoeing down rapids such as the ominously sounding Washing Machine (which was actually quite tame), but also wild camping in some totally stunning places such as Knockando – where we also helped a fisherman rescue his dog which had got caught in the fast flowing water. The Scottish scenery was spectacular, in particular the amazing view of the snowy Cairngorms and we were fortunate to see some some pretty special wildlife on the way, like an osprey in full flight – although sadly no Golden Eagle despite our best efforts to spot one. We certainly learnt a great deal about paddling, from how to pack boats effectively to following the best line down rapids avoiding rocks and wave trains, and the experience has fuelled our confidence and desire to take on even more challenging rivers such as the Tryweryn in northern Wales. We would all without a shadow of doubt recommend others to take on canoeing for D of E, we are all lucky to have had such an incredible experience.  We would all like to thank Ian and Tim for giving so freely of their time and being such incredibly supportive paddling role models- we also all wish Ian the best of luck for his Britain by Kayak challenge.

As part of their 70 th anniversary celebrations, the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas) was back in Blake Studio on 16 April 2026 hosting a creative evening entitled “Being Woman”. It marked the culmination of a highly successful 40-day exhibition at Mandell’s Gallery on Elm Hill by a group of 26 local women creative artists. This event at Norwich School concluded their exhibiting together under the banner of “Being Woman” with a joyous (and at times poignant) celebratory evening of talks given by seven of their cohort in the Blake Studio. Their exhibition united intergenerational female artists from across Norfolk and Suffolk, offering a profound look at female archetypes and the human condition. Spanning disciplines from printmaking and collage to sculpture and textiles, the works they had displayed captured the evolving perspectives of women at different points in their lives and practices, exploring that it means to be a woman. See: ‘ Being Woman ’. N-cas had been a proud sponsor of the show and hosted this set of talks. An audience of members of the “Being Woman” creative group, n-cas members, alumni, staff and local creatives all appreciated the varied artistic styles on show and the heard powerful messages of struggle, of hope and of aesthetic creativity across the East Anglia. Also impressive was the palpable camaraderie between them all throughout proceedings. Heartfelt thanks go to their organisers Dr Andrea Hannon and Annette Rolston for bringing together such an inspiring evening. N-cas intends to be back on site in May and June with talks currently being firmed up. More anon… However, for those impatient for cultural gems this spring, the next talk in Blake will be with the Royal Geographical Society: a public lecture given by accomplished and award-winning wildlife cameraman and director Toby Hough, who is also a proud Old Norvicensian. His credits include work seen on Countryfile, The One Show, Springwatch and numerous BBC wildlife documentaries and travel programmes. His talk promises to be a memorable visual feast! Tickets are on sale here: RGS: Toby Hough - Lemurs to leopards: filming adventures from around the world . All are welcome. It takes place on Thursday 7 May 2026 at 19:30 in the Blake Studio.

FONS have generously funded two new lights as part of a planned upgrade.

Thanks to the Friends of Norwich School, our BSL offering has grown with even more pupils involved and closer relationships with the Deaf community.

"Music has always had the power to bring people together, to comfort, and to inspire action. This project is Dave’s way of doing exactly that — using his extraordinary talent to create something positive, meaningful, and potentially life-saving." Accomplished musician, Dave Land, has completed a new project of a brass performance of ‘O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM’ - Morten Lauridsen, in aid of Prostate Cancer UK, a cause very close to him. Having taught Trumpet and Cornet at Norwich School for over twenty years, this performance was filmed in Norwich School's atmospheric Barborelli Room. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men with more than 64,000 men being diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Early detection can make a huge difference, PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test is quick, straightforward. With this poignant piece and sharing his story, Dave Land hopes to encourage more men to have that conversation with their doctor and consider getting tested, it could potentially save lives. Acclaimed British musician and composer Jools Holland commented, "I'd like to congratulate and support Dave in the excellent job he's doing to promote awareness of prostate cancer and to encourage men to get checked with a simple test." Dave is one of those musicians whose career reads like a highlight reel of the music world. He began playing trumpet in the Band of HM Coldstream Guards before moving into an extraordinary freelance career. Over the years, he has performed in some of the greatest West End shows, including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, Annie Get Your Gun, and Movin’ Out, and has recorded with artists such as Katrina and the Waves, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and Shirley Bassey. His playing can also be heard on numerous film soundtracks, including Walt Disney’s Herbie Fully Loaded, Mr Bean, Look Who’s Talking, and, more recently, Paddington in Peru. Beyond that, his recordings have featured across a wide range of television programmes, films, documentaries, and adverts — from Jamie Oliver and A Place in the Sun to countless campaigns for brands such as Tropicana, Halifax, Shredded Wheat, MG Cars and Budweiser. Over the years, he has also enjoyed chart success with artists including Nik Kershaw, Leo Sayer, Breathe, Tracey Ullman, and, of course, Katrina & the Waves. Dave has spent over 25 years working in London’s West End and has toured worldwide with an incredible list of artists, including The Four Tops, the original Elvis Presley TCB Band, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Shirley Bassey, Ben E. King, The Supremes, Suzi Quatro, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Deniece Williams, Belinda Carlisle and Mari Wilson & The New Wilsations. His experience and musicianship are truly remarkable Dave Land is a dedicated teacher and valued member of our community, having previously performed two brass videos in the chapel. 'Pupils and Staff of Norwich School perform Charpentier's Prelude to the Te Deum' which you can watch by clicking here. This video has had a staggering 226 thousand views – a first for Norwich school video views! Ladies in Lavender by Nigel Hess arranged & directed by David Land, Norwich School Brass Ensemble plus guests, pupils from local Norfolk schools . You can watch this by clicking here. Dave Land commented, "I am incredibly proud of our Norwich school brass students for these two outstanding video performances!" Dave's mission has received a lot of traction from the BBC in both writing and broadcast. With the more people he reaches, the more people who may be encouraged to get tested. You can watch Dave Land's powerful performance below;