What a joyful, toe-tapping concert it was! The hall buzzing with excitement as very young musicians from Lower 1 and Upper 1 (some performing for the very first time) took to the stage, beaming with pride and confidence. From the very first notes, it was clear this was a celebration not just of music, but of courage, enthusiasm, and the sheer fun of performing. Smiling families filled the room, cameras at the ready, soaking up every moment as each of our Lower School pupils shared their hard work and musical imagination. The piano pieces sparkled with variety and character. Familiar melodies like Ode to Joy floated out warmly and confidently, while playful pieces such as Whirleybird , ABC Playtime , and Up and Down Song bounced along with energy and charm. More atmospheric moments appeared too, from the gentle magic of Walking in the Air to the bouncy rhythms of Minnie Mouse Hits The Town! There were also lovely storytelling moments at the piano, with music inspired by wildlife, farmers, and even a cheerful boat ride or two. Every performance, no matter how short was delivered with huge smiles, careful concentration and an infectious sense of joy. Overall, the L1 and U1 Informal Concert was a heart-warming showcase of young talent and growing confidence. The enthusiasm of the performers, the supportive energy of the audience, and the wide range of music made it a truly uplifting event, one that left everyone applauding loudly and walking away with happy hearts.  Head of Music Mr Vine said 'another fantastic concert full of music making at its finest! So proud of our L1 and U1 pupils who worked so hard to get their pieces ready. A big thank you as always, to our fabulous visiting music tutors for all their guidance and preparation! Bravo to all!'

On Tuesday 3 January, Upper 2 visited Norwich Synagogue as part of their learning about the local community. The children were immersed in an enriching experience that helped them develop an understanding of different cultures and traditions. They particularly enjoyed dressing up with a kippah and a tallit, and were fascinated by the opportunity to view the Torah scrolls. The visit provided a valuable and memorable insight into the Jewish faith and community around us.

Juliette Kelly (17-19), lead singer, is back on stage across the country with breakout indie band, Fright Years.

2026 is National Year of Reading and we are going all in here at Norwich School! We know reading expands worlds, sharpens minds, and fuels creativity, so let's get inspired! Every month we are focusing on a different genre and hearing from a member of staff about what they like to read, why, when and where! We are kicking off in January with Historical Fiction and one of the school's biggest fans of this genre has to be Mrs Morgan. Let's find out more about why Mrs Morgan loves historical fiction... Tell us a little bit about the genre; what common themes or elements do you particularly enjoy? I love the characters who reflect the beliefs, limitations and social pressures of their era. Stories that weave real historical events with imaginative elements showing how ordinary people experience extraordinary moments such as in ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett. What was the book that introduced you to historical fiction? Was there a particular book or author that made you fall in love with this genre? I have always loved reading historical fiction even as a child and this is possibly why I went on to study History at university. When I was growing up I loved reading books based on historical events such as Little House on the Prairie , Goodnight Mr Tom , the Hornblower series, classics like The Secret Garden and books by Phillipa Gregory. Has your taste in this genre changed over time? I think in recent years I have focused more on the stories of people who lived through tumultuous times, but who had a story that hasn’t been told like Heather Morris’ The Tattooist of Auschwitz . Would you recommend this genre to someone who doesn’t usually read it? Why? I think historical fiction gives readers something unique: the opportunity to experience the past not as a list of dates but as a living world full of people who feel real. It helps us understand how individuals living at that time navigated the forces that shaped their lives – war, inequality, migration, discovering, and in doing so it deepens our understanding of how those same forces echo today. Do you tend to reread favourites from this genre or always look for something new? I never re-read books as I feel like there are so many books available, I don’t want to waste my time re-reading one, even if I loved it! When was the last time a book from this genre really surprised you? I really enjoyed There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak, as it follows the life of a drop of water as it travels through different time periods and locations, intertwining the stories of the three main characters across various time periods and countries. Do you prefer classic or modern books within this genre, and why? Both – I’m happy to read anything! Obviously one of the joys of my job is that I get to read many new children’s books so that I can recommend them to Lower School pupils such as Tom Palmer’s ‘Resist’ and ‘After the War’. What do you enjoy most about reading, whether historical fiction or anything else? The spotlight it shines on parts of history or everyday life that might otherwise go unnoticed. I have just finished reading a few books by Francis Quinn which focus on the lives of people who did not become famous, but who had a vital role to play within the societies in which they lived. The Smallest Man , That Bonesetter Woma n and The Lost Passenger all use real historical events as a backdrop for highlighting the ordinary people that have been caught in extraordinary circumstances. I have also recently enjoyed The Eights by Joanna Miller which documents the experience of the first women to study at Oxford University. When and where is your favourite time and place to read?/ Do you have a favourite reading spot or routine for diving into books? I usually only have time to read a few pages a night during term time, but I love to spend more time reading in the school holidays. In winter I love to sit on the sofa, in front of the wood burner with my dog snoring next to me and a cup of tea nearby! In the summer I enjoy reading outdoors, either in the garden or on the beach. Which fictional character would you most like to have a cup of tea with? I think I would like to share a cup of tea with Paddington bear as he would almost certainly bring marmalade sandwiches too! If you could step into the world of any book, which would it be and why? I would love to visit the Faraway Tree in The Enchanted Wood! I would be so excited to explore the magical lands and meet Moonface and Silky, although I would do my best to avoid Dame Wash-a-lot’s water! There is a film coming out later this year and I can’t wait to watch it. Click here to see Mrs Morgan's reading list!

Following Emi's success at the Norfolk Country Cross Country Championships we decided to ask her a few questions about her love of running and her upcoming London Mini Marathon. How long have you been running?/How long have you been running with the school? I have now been running for 3 years, and I have been competing for the school since Upper 3. How often do you run outside of school? I run with a training group 2-3 times a week depending on the dates of various competitions. How do you train?/How do you prepare for a race? I think that mental preparation is the most important; I use visualisation which can help me enter an open mindset. And I think it is mainly accepting that it will have painful aspects, but the aftermath feels phenomenal. And physically preparing, is a matter of being consistent at training in my case. How did you find the Cross Country championships? The Cross Country Championships was certainly nerve-racking beforehand, but I think the race went very smoothly and I left it all out on the course. And attempted to compete to the best of my abilities! Can you tell us a bit about the London Mini Marathon in April? Fortunately because of my performance at the County Championships I have been accepted to run at the London Mini Marathon! How are you feeling about it? As much as I am excited, there is no doubt I will be feeling nervous. But I think that it is a great opportunity, also to be surrounded by excellent runners! Where do you hope your running will take you? As for my running, I would like to compete at a high level but most of all I would love to continue to enjoy it! Because I truly believe if it is bringing you no satisfaction or joy, there is not a point in pursuing it. What piece of advice would you give to aspiring cross country runners? For people who are aspiring to do cross country as a sport, I would advise them to just have a go and give it a chance. Because if you are willing to give it a chance, you might just find that you will like it!

What a joyful and uplifting concert it was, packed with confidence, colour and lots of happy moments! From the very first notes, it was clear how much enthusiasm and hard work had gone into preparing this programme. The concert opened with the warm, rich sound of the cello in The Two Grenadiers by Robert Schumann, setting a confident and expressive tone. Some lively vocals and guitars performed Lush Life by Zara Larsson which was full of energy and great teamwork. The piano brought a touch of movie magic with Let It Go by K. Anderson, before switching gears completely with the dramatic rhythms of War Drums by F. Waterman. A beautifully calm moment came with River Flows in You by Yiruma on the piano, played with lovely control and feeling. The smiles continued with vocals performing 7 Years by Lukas Graham, showing great expression and connection with the audience. The bright sound of the trumpet shone through for Africa followed by a cheerful flute rendition of the traditional Pease Pudding . The piano took us on a fun musical journey with Yankee Doodle , then treated us to a confident and familiar Ode to Joy by Beethoven. Another gentle piano highlight came with Little by Little by F. Davies, played with care and musicality. A lively vocal performance of Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters brought lots of sparkle and stage presence, while Tomorrow from Annie was delivered with real enthusiasm and a big smile. The pace picked up with an exciting drum performance of Skullcrasher , which certainly lived up to its name! The piano then returned with the flowing melody of Bluebird by P. Waterman, followed by a spirited violin performance of Wild West by D. Blackwell. The concert closed beautifully with The Singing Swan by P. Waterman on the piano, a lovely and confident finish to a fantastic event. Overall, this was a wonderful concert full of bravery, enjoyment and musical growth. Every performer should be incredibly proud—there were lots of smiles in the Lower School Hall and plenty to celebrate. Well done to everyone involved!

On Friday 30 January , members of the Charity Committee travelled to London to attend the Street Child Charity Leadership Summit — marking the first time Norwich School has ever taken part in this event, and hopefully the first of many. From the moment the group arrived, the day proved to be both inspiring and eye-opening. Street Child shared powerful insights into the realities faced by millions of children across the world who lack access to basic education, safety, and necessities that many of us take for granted. Simple things such as a classroom, books, clean water, or even a secure place to sleep, are everyday luxuries for us, yet completely out of reach for so many others. Throughout the conference, the group learned not only about the challenges these communities face, but also about the incredible work Street Child does to address them. The charity spoke openly about how it operates, how fundraising directly impacts lives, and how young people can play a meaningful role in creating change. Hearing real stories of resilience and progress made the scale of the charity’s impact feel tangible and personal. Reflecting on the day, Jessica Roper (L6) said: “It was amazing to be invited as a charities committee down to London for the day, to meet with the amazing charity of Street Child. They were inspiring and informative of all aspects of how charities run and the impact fundraising can have all across the world, the whole day was amazing!” Mrs Hill described how it was a joy to accompany such an enthusiastic and thoughtful group of L6 pupils on this trip. Overall, the visit to Street Child was a truly memorable experience. It was inspiring and reinforced why charitable work matters. The group returned to Norwich motivated, grateful, and determined to continue supporting causes that make a real difference.

When pupils leave Norwich School, they reflect on the wonderful community in the Close, the teachers who supported them along the way, the friendships they made. However, in recent years as we look at the quotes of Upper 6 leavers, there seems to be a theme in what they'll miss - the food! To celebrate the work of our incredible catering staff we decided to ask Gareth Parry, Thomas Franks General Manager, a few questions... What does a day in your life look like? A typical day - Arriving in the morning and receiving a mountain of orders before the pupils are on site. Breakfast is freshly prepared and served from 7:45am to 8:45am. Chefs are busy prepping for the lunch ahead that day whilst front of house staff are getting the break time snacks ready and freshly preparing sandwiches etc. Lunch is served between 12pm and 1:55pm, then we clear everything down ready to start again the next day! There are various functions on throughout the week for which we might provide simply tea and coffee, buffet lunches or a three course sit down meal, it really varies from day to day. On average, how many meals are served at Norwich School in a day? On an average day we feed something in the region of 1250 meals for lunch. This can rise dramatically if we have functions on throughout the day and evening. What goes into planning a school menu? We proudly take time and effort to explore a variety of dishes from around the world, with a focus on nutrition. We have to consider catering for various age ranges from 4 to 18 and also consider a whole variety of dietary requirements. Finally we ultimately have to look at cost and keeping to a budget without compromising the culinary experience. What time does your day start and end? We have chefs on site from 6am, sometimes earlier! I am often the last to leave on a typical day without functions at 6pm. If we have a meal on in the evening, this can even run until midnight to clear up. What is the best part of your job? We certainly enjoy the creative side of cooking and providing hospitality to the masses and it is pleasing to educate people through food where we can. There is also the rush of lunch service which is fast and frantic, this keeps us on our toes and certainly makes time pass quickly! How does your work help pupils get the best out of their school day? We hope that the pupils look forward to coming into lunch for a tasty, well balanced, nutritional meal which helps fuel the body as well as the brain What is the most popular dish with pupils? Katsu Chicken Curry, it has been a staple on our menu for many years. Any fun facts for us? On a busy day we can clock up 40,000 steps each. Our average step count is 20,000 for the day. We use over 150kg of flour a week just to bake bread and make desserts for lunch time. Last year we cooked over 10,000 sausage rolls! In an academic year we serve over 4000kg of pasta at lunch times which is 4 metric tons! If your job had a theme song, what would it be? Food, glorious, food from Oliver!

Lower One pupils enjoyed an exciting educational visit to Africa Alive! as part of their topic on Safari. During the trip, the children took part in a hands-on workshop where they learned fascinating facts about African wildlife and their habitats. They also had the chance to see a range of incredible animals up close, including giraffes, lions and rhinos . One of the highlights of the day was a special animal encounter session, where pupils bravely touched giant African land snails and even met a snake . This experience helped the children develop confidence while learning more about animals in a fun and memorable way. The visit was a fantastic opportunity to support classroom learning and created lots of excitement and curiosity about the natural world.