News & Events
Latest News From the Senior and Lower Schools
Lower School News
Our recent informal dance celebration was a joyful and energetic showcase of talent, creativity, and fun. Lower School Pupils took to the floor with confidence, sharing routines in a variety of styles including hip hop, ballet, and cheerleading. From the sharp, rhythmic moves of hip hop to the grace and poise of ballet, each performance brought something unique. The cheerleading routines added an extra burst of excitement, full of enthusiasm and team spirit. What made the event so special was its relaxed and supportive atmosphere. It was all about enjoying dance, celebrating effort, and building confidence. Smiles, laughter, and applause filled the room as everyone joined together to appreciate the performances. A fantastic time was had by all. Proof that dance is not just about technique, but about expression, enjoyment, and having fun together.
Upper 3 delivered an energetic and confident performance of Matilda Jr., bringing Roald Dahl’s beloved story to life with enthusiasm, humour, and impressive stage presence. From the very beginning, the cast showed a strong sense of teamwork and commitment. The opening scenes were lively and well-paced, immediately capturing the audience’s attention. The pupils demonstrated clear understanding of their characters, with expressive acting and confident delivery of lines throughout. The role of Matilda was performed with great charm and maturity, balancing intelligence, bravery, and warmth. Miss Trunchbull stood out as a commanding and entertaining presence on stage, with exaggerated physicality and strong vocal projection that added to the humour of the performance. Meanwhile, Miss Honey brought a gentle and heartfelt contrast, creating some of the production’s most touching moments. The ensemble work was particularly impressive. Group scenes were well-coordinated, and the cast maintained high energy levels, especially during the musical numbers. Songs were performed with enthusiasm and clarity, and choreography was executed with confidence, showing clear rehearsal and dedication. Costumes and props added to the storytelling, helping to create a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. Scene transitions were smooth, keeping the performance flowing effectively without losing momentum. Upper 3 should be extremely proud of their performance. Their hard work, creativity, and teamwork resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable production that entertained the audience from start to finish. It was a fantastic showcase of talent and a memorable interpretation of Matilda Jr..
The Choristers visited London on Wednesday 4 March to sing Evensong with the Temple Church Choir. We left from Norwich train station at 9.30am after a quick rehearsal, and arrived in London in time for lunch at Zizzi. We were then shown around St Paul’s Cathedral and enjoyed testing out the acoustics in the Whispering Gallery. After braving the narrow spiral staircases all the way up to the Golden Gallery, we admired the spectacular views over London. At the end of the tour we had a group photo on an amazing cantilever staircase (used in the Harry Potter films as the way to the Divination classroom), and then walked to the Temple Church. Following a rehearsal with their choir, they all sang Evensong together at 6pm. The standard of singing was breathtaking, a testament to the hard work and dedication these young musicians display on a daily basis. We caught the 8pm train and arrived back in Norwich just before 10pm, tired but happy after a rewarding and fulfilling day. Pupil Highlights: “The whole day was 10/10. I especially enjoyed seeing the spiral staircase in St Paul’s used in the Harry Potter films!” “My favourite part was singing at the Temple Church with the other choir. I also liked the view from the top of St Paul’s Cathedral, even if it was very high up - I’m not great with heights!”
Senior School News
The international university fair offered our pupils some valuable exposure to a wide range of global education opportunities. We were fortunate enough to work with our long-standing partners – the University Guys – to welcome 5 global universities to Norwich School during period 5 and lunch on Monday April 20. The lunchtime fair allowed our pupils to interact directly with representatives from leading global universities namely, the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore offering medicine, business and other courses in English from Italy, Rollins (Florida) – one of the best small liberal arts colleges in the US, SCAD from Savannah in Georgia (the US’s largest art school) and TETR College of Business with its unique programme spanning 10 countries. From talking one to one with the different university reps, our students got accurate and up-to-date information about courses, how to apply and they could also learn more about and campus life overseas. It was also a great opportunity for Mrs Warren, the school’s Head of UCAS and Mr Sims to find out more about opportunities overseas and to build their own connections. We believe as a school that it is important to make the idea of studying abroad feel more accessible and less intimidating as well as wanting to broaden our pupils’ perspectives and ambitions. These fairs can also encourage early planning as well as motivating students to think seriously about their future pathways and the qualifications they may need. At Norwich School, we know the importance of inspiring confidence, supporting informed decision-making and opening doors to new opportunities which pupils might not have otherwise considered. If pupils who weren’t able to attend would like some more information about any of these universities, then please contact Mr Croston.
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.
Blog
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.
I’ve volunteered for over 10 years now, from the PTA at Ava’s Primary and Prep schools, to Disability Swim Coaching, to Chair of Governors at a local school; with the Care & Inclusion Team at work and now with The Norwich School as a parent volunteer supporting sixth formers doing their own community service with Norfolk Special Olympics, a charity focused on bringing sport to adults with intellectual disabilities. I also volunteered as a Sixth Former, way back when, and maybe that’s where the bug came from, remerging in later life. There’s something life affirming about volunteering that’s hard to describe, but the adage that volunteering gives you more than you ever put in is true. It ticks all the boxes on the Wellness Form: It’s proven to be good for mental health, it’s a powerful way to hone new skills and support career development, it provides social connection and it absolutely adjusts your perception of life and gratitude. It just makes you feel better! So, when Norwich School put out a call for parents to support their Community Service program by volunteering alongside students, it was a natural and easy step for me to offer to help. Getting to choose a service that fits your timetable, lifestyle and interests was a bonus. So many different opportunities from creative and media (definitely not me!), to English Support for refugees (that would have meant working alongside my own Mother – so no!) to event committees and a multitude of sporting options. Something for everyone, a time for everyone, and for me an easy choice to make, continuing work I’d done years before with Teenagers with disabilities. And so, every Friday lunchtime, during a “meeting” booked out in my work diary (with the full support of my manager of course!), I spend an hour at UEA Sportspark helping the inclusion team from UEA and Special Olympics, alongside three sixth formers, bring sport to around 35 Adults with varying levels of disability. Some are wheelchair bound, some non-verbal, some with mild intellectual disabilities, many with Down Syndrome. What they all have in common is a shared joy in physical activity at whatever level suits them. They are fiercely competitive, many compete, always keen to do that little bit more, full of joy, full of conversation and sometimes as cheeky and difficult as teenagers. I leave lighter in the shoulders and happier in the heart every single week. Aswell as the joy of volunteering myself, I also have the privilege of watching sixth formers learn, embrace the same joy, realise how fortunate they are and develop skills they mostly won’t have had before. It’s not always easy, there are challenges, especially working with adults to navigate, but what great lessons to learn in a safe place, and what great skills to take forward in life. Three girls who started slightly quietly and not quite sure of themselves, are now helping to run sessions themselves, know every attendee by name, are inspiring other young women in the group and look like they’ve been doing this for years. One of those girls is my daughter. How lucky I am to spend an hour a week with her, not talking about UCAS, or homework, or sports coaching or how much sleep she got or didn’t. Just an hour a week enjoying bringing joy to others, together without having to talk about anything. Watching her learn new skills, and navigate new challenges, and above all, seeing her finally get it. Why I volunteer, why I give up time, because it gives me back more… tenfold. And of course, I hope that bug, the one that lay dormant in me for 20 years, is well and truly instilled in Norwich School’s young people, because they, like me, might not realise yet just how much they are already learning, and how much they might get in the future from doing something for others. Skills, friendship, joy, gratitude and opportunities they didn’t see coming. It’s often surprising the people you meet and the connections you make through this kind of ‘work’. Amazing, interesting people with all sorts of connections that might just open a new door or a new passion, both for the sixth formers and for us as adults. So, if you have an hour a week free, if your company supports volunteering in the community, if you’re looking to develop new skills or make new connections, I cannot recommend supporting the Community Service program at Norwich School highly enough, there really is something for everyone to get involved in. Lighter shoulders, happier hearts and helping our own children grow and develop skills for life... it doesn’t get much better than that for an hour a week!
This week we are spotlighting STEMM at Norwich School and caught up with some inspiring ON’s who discussed where studying a STEMM subject at the school has taken them in their careers! Wian Stipp – (11-18) Wian attended Norwich School between 2011-2018 and studied both Maths and Further Maths during his A-Levels. Did you study Maths, Further Maths or both? I studied both! What did you go on to do when you left Norwich School? Where? I pursued a BSc in Mathematics and Economics at the London School of Economics. During my time there, I learned how to program and became involved with AI start-ups – initially with Lanterne, based in London, and subsequently with Evidium, based in San Francisco. Where in the world are you based? I’m currently based in San Francisco, USA. Where has your career taken you so far? I joined Evidium in 2020 as a Founding Engineer, just as the company was getting of the ground. The following year, we raised see funding in San Francisco. At Evidium, I focus on research and engineering, building machine learner systems for healthcare applications. Where do you want your career to go? I aim to continue developing machine learning systems that push forward innovation in health care and contribute significantly to improving patient outcomes. Why should pupils study Maths beyond GCSE? Maths builds the ability to think clearly and reason rigorously – skills that are valuable no matter what path you pursue. If you’re curious about fields like AI and machine learning, Maths simply is the foundation. How has Maths been beneficial to you outside of Norwich School? Maths continues to be central to my daily work, Maths has shaped how I think, solve problems, and engage with the world, and it remains the foundation of everything I build in my career. Jennifer Williamson – (09-16) Jennifer is an incredibly inspiring woman in the world of STEMM; having attended Norwich School between 2009 and 2016, she kicked started her engineering career studying both Maths and Further Maths. Did you study Maths, Further Maths or both? Both! What did you go on to do when you left Norwich School? Where? I did a 4-year Integrated masters in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London! In my third year I did an internship at Sainsbury’s writing their 30 year “path to zero carbon” plan. Where in the world are you based? I’m currently working in London, I spent a couple of years working in Edinburgh, and before that I was in Australia! I carried out my final year university project on exchange in Melbourne, creating a model to estimate the emissions of different journeys, to compare public and private transport in the suburbs. Where has your career taken you so far? I’ve been working as a Building Sustainability Engineer for four years. I work with architects to improve the design of buildings by carrying out dynamic simulations which look at things such as if occupants will overheat, based on how many windows there are, any external shading, how much natural ventilation there is and more. I really enjoy it, and I love having a genuine impact on the design of buildings that are going up in my city. Where do you want your career to go? I had a catch up with my boss recently, and he’s keen for my future career to involve going into architectural firms to give workshops on how to really achieve sustainable buildings, which sounds amazing to me. There are a lot of methodologies at the moment for designing sustainable buildings, but a lot of them are just “tick box” exercises, whereas good design changes from building to building. Why should pupils study a STEMM beyond GCSE, such as Maths? I think if you might want to study something like Engineering at University, A-Level Maths is really important and would probably be a requirement, so if that’s on the cards then it’s good to keep that door open. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be doing maths for the rest of your life - my job doesn’t involve much Maths now. A lot of my Engineering degree was basically just maths in different contexts, and I wouldn’t have been able to get my job without the degree. How has Maths been beneficial to you outside of Norwich School? The main thing is being able to do a job I enjoy now. Another bonus was that some of the content we did at university in first year I’d already learnt in Further Maths, which was really helpful when everything else was new and difficult. My job doesn’t involve a lot of Maths now, but I do still pull out trigonometry quite often for calculating shading angles. Steven Gopaul - (07-15) Steven attended Norwich School from 2007-2015, and studied four STEMM subjects at A Level. Now working at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, his career in medicine is nothing short of inspirational. What subjects did you study at A-Level? Maths, Chemistry, Biology (All A2) and Physics (AS). What did you go on to do when you left Norwich School? Where? I studied Medicine, rather unconventionally in Europe, in Prague, Czech Republic. Where in the world are you based? I am currently based in Norwich and work at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Where has your career taken you so far? After finishing school in 2015, I went to medical school and graduated in 2021. I completed 2 years of general medical training in the East of England which is known as foundation training in 2023, with a good experience in both medical and surgical specialities. I took a year out of clinical medicine after foundation training to teach at UEA - Norwich Medical school. I taught all years of medical students in various clinical subjects, procedural skills as well as in laboratory-based sessions of Anatomy (which was my favourite subject). Alongside my teaching duties, I examined final year exams and contributed to creating questions for written exams and clinical stations for use in OSCE exams. Since 2024, I have been working as a trainee surgeon and am due to finish my 2 years Core Surgical Training in August 2026 before moving onto higher specialty training in General Surgery. Throughout my medical training thus far, I have attended and presented at conferences both nationally and internationally, and undertaken post-graduate courses and exams. I have passed my initial surgical exams (the final exams will be closer to becoming a consultant) and am a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy after completing my post-graduate certificate in clinical education. Where do you want your career to go? I am training to be a General Surgeon with the aim of becoming a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon in the NHS. Why should pupils study a science beyond GCSE? Studying a science beyond GCSE gives you much more than knowledge — it teaches you how to think. A-level sciences push you to analyse information, solve problems, and understand why things happen, rather than just memorising facts. You learn to deal with complex ideas and interpret evidence. Another benefit of studying science, is that it creates a structure for learning new information which many other subjects unfortunately don’t provide. Science also isn't always straightforward — it stretches you. However, working through complex problems develops many of life’s important traits such as resilience and a logical way of thinking that once again can be applied to anything in life. How has Science been beneficial to you outside of Norwich School? Studying science beyond school was more than a gateway into medicine for me; it fundamentally shaped how I approach learning and clinical practice. Advanced study in biology and chemistry meant that when I reached medical school, I wasn’t encountering concepts in isolation. Subjects like physiology, pathology and pharmacology felt like logical extensions of principles I already understood. Beyond this, it has provided me with many rich experiences of collaboration where I’ve got to work with many different medical and scientific professionals which has helped me develop new skills and allowed me to travel, which I thoroughly enjoy! Lastly, studying sciences at school developed intellectual discipline and professional curiosity. It trained me to analyse evidence critically and the habit of questioning is central to good medical practice. It drives lifelong learning, which is essential in my profession where knowledge evolves rapidly. Tom Lefever - (91-97) Tom studied both Maths and Physics during his time at Norwich School. He now works in Civil Engineering and continues to travel across the world, mastering his expertise. What subjects did you study at A-Level? Maths, Physics and French. What did you go on to do when you left Norwich School? Where? A degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Nottingham. Where in the world are you based? Norwich! Where has your career taken you so far? All over the UK, designing buildings for many countries including Montenegro and all over Northern Africa. Where do you want your career to go? Continue to build my expertise in historic buildings such as Cathedrals and Castles. Why should pupils study a science beyond GCSE? It helps you understand the world better and build a strong, broad base to pursue your chosen career. How has Science been beneficial to you outside of Norwich School? It is fundamental to my work in assessing how buildings behave and knowing what materials to choose when designing them. It has helped me personally with my health, nutrition, and even DIY of my house and fixing my car! Richard Wade-Martins - (83-91) Richard studied three STEMM subjects at A-Level whilst at Norwich School and now works at the University of Oxford, leading ground-breaking research into Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. What subjects did you study at A-Level? Biology, Chemistry and Maths. What did you go on to do when you left Norwich School? Where? I went to study Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge in 1992, specialising in Genetics in the final year. From there I went to the University of Oxford to do a DPhil (the Oxford PhD) in human molecular genetics. Where in the world are you based? I am at the University of Oxford in the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Discovery and the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics. Where has your career taken you so far? After my DPhil I went to work for three years at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a fantastic opportunity to live abroad for a few years and get an international perspective on science and life. I then came back to the UK in 2003 starting my own research group at Oxford and have built up my own research program. Where do you want your career to go? I'm moving towards drug discovery. I work on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease: why do some people get them and how can we prevent or treat the conditions? As the population ages with more people are retired than at school, this will become increasingly common and a major healthcare challenge. My academic lab at the University now works closely with industry and biotech partners to develop translation of new therapies from lab findings to novel treatments for patients. Why should pupils study a science beyond GCSE? Studying science allows you to understand how the world works, whatever you chose to work on. In my area it allows us to dissect the role of genetics and biology in age-related neurodegeneration. We need to use science to understand molecular mechanisms to develop new therapies. How has Science been beneficial to you outside of Norwich School? I read about the discovery of DNA, the molecule which carries our genetic information, when I was at Norwich School aged 14, and from that moment on I wanted to study genetics. I have been lucky enough to follow that through working in three of the best Universities in the world. It has been a fantastic choice of career and if I went back to being aged 14 now I would do exactly the same again.
Meet the Team
Click on the images to read individual biographies.
