Norwich School support staff and resident DJ s; Ash Granados and Lily Fielding have a real passion for all things dance music, spending their weekends discovering new artists and playing out in Norwich and beyond. This academic year they have been dedicating their Friday lunchtimes to teaching the pupils of Norwich school their favorite hobby. Pupils are invited to send in some of their favorite tracks to share and connect with others across the school through their love for music. They have been learning the fundamentals of DJ ing and all about how to mix their music with others, whilst making friends and broadening their knowledge of electronic genres and the industry. DJ club will be continuing on in September 2025 and will be open to all.

On Thursday 19 June, Lower School hosted its first-ever aerial trial session — and what a hit it was! Pupils were thrilled to get their feet off the ground as they explored the basics of aerial movement, balance, and strength. The trial introduced pupils to a completely new set of skills, and staff were impressed by the enthusiasm and confidence shown by everyone who took part. Many pupils surprised themselves with how quickly they adapted to the new challenges. With the success of the session, the school is excited to launch regular aerial classes starting in September. It promises to be an exciting addition to the school’s extracurricular offering. Watch this space for details on how to sign up!

Lower One and Upper One pupils were beary excited to scoop a Gold Medal in the School Gardening Competition at this year’s Norfolk Show. Pupils entered a beautifully designed wheelbarrow display inspired by Michael Rosen’s much-loved book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt , which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. The display brought the story to life with inventive recreations of the iconic settings — the barrow contained "swishy swashy grass", a flowing river, a snowstorm and a deep, dark forest. Every detail was thoughtfully crafted to represent the habitats the family journeys through in the book. A particular highlight of our display was a life-size willow bear, created by pupils in our Willow Weaving Club using Brittany willow. This striking feature, nicknamed Brittany, captured the attention of judges and visitors to the show. Five of our Upper One pupils had the opportunity to speak to the judges at the Show. They confidently explained the ideas behind the display and talked the judges through all the hard work that went into creating the display. We are incredibly proud of all the pupils for their creativity, teamwork, and enthusiasm and we’re absolutely delighted to bring be awarded a Gold Medal!

13 U4 pupils recently took part in the online British Physics Olympiad Year 7/8 Physics Challenge. Over 6500 pupils participated from 81 schools across the UK and overseas. The test comprised two 25-minute sets of multiple-choice questions about physics ideas and problem solving, which aimed to encourage wider reading and interest in the subject and to provide an opportunity for pupils to take part in a national physics competition and to develop their confidence in the subject. Our pupils performed exceptionally strongly, obtaining 10 Gold and 3 Silver awards. Congratulations to all! Gold Awards Oscar Zhang Charles Secker Harrison Buskell Jack Johns Siya Patel Boden Barton Maxwell Ford Jiajun Li Faizaan Alam Rowan Kidd Silver Awards Amelia Lodge Bayden Choi Jack Conrad 

The Senior School Charities Committee held their own home clothes day a few weeks ago in aid of Street child and today is the Lower School's turn! Lower School pupils were encouraged to wear orange in exchange for donations. Next up is our annual Charity Fashion Show, also in aid of Street Child , where we will be showcasing multiple lines of textiles and art and design creations made by our very own pupils. The committee have even launched a 'Design your own Tote Bag' competition and have printed them in school to sell on the night - see below images of the winning design in the 4 th Form. The other two winners were from L1 and L3 in the Lower School. There is still time to buy your tickets for the Fashion Show which is in Blake THIS Friday at 18:30!

26 Middle 5 pupils recently participated in the British Physics Olympiad Junior Physics Challenge alongside more than 12,000 other Year 10 pupils from 273 schools across the UK. It consisted of an assortment of physics problems and ideas ranging from technical questions from beyond the scope of the GCSE curriculum, to questions testing pupil understanding of broader physics knowledge and the application of the subject outside of school, including the latest developments in the sphere of physics publicised in the media and scientific journals. I am delighted to announce that our candidates achieved the following exceptional results: Gold Awards Owen Laidler Luke Roy Hugo Dawe Albert Rush Marcus Pop Simran Chawla Sophia Wigglesworth Tody Tsang Silver Awards Rupert Strike Min Ting Deng Himash Amarawickrama Nia Treavett Juwairiah Ahmed Rufus Snelling Safal Neupane Suvir Sanghrajka Alena Lai Ahmed Mohammed Selina Ip Serena Wing Sum Chan Bronze Awards Mahi Patel Sujay Kollipara Imogen Stevens Ethan Tam Nathan Ashley Preeyasa Neupane 

Lower 4 pupils and visiting Year 7 students were treated to an unforgettable Festival of Poetry, featuring three powerful and distinctly different voices – each offering a compelling and deeply personal insight into the creative process. The morning began with Julian Sedgwick , author of Tsunami Girl and 100 Tales from the Tokyo Ghost Café. Julian introduced pupils to the art of haiku and its place in Japanese storytelling, weaving in stories from his own life and his travels to Fukushima following the 2011 tsunami. His reflections on the resilience of survivors, and the way these experiences shaped his writing, brought real emotional depth to the session. Through his talk, he explored themes of tenacity, identity, and recovery – all central to his work and ensuring the pupils listened intently. Next, Matt Windle , better known as the Poet with Punch, brought a burst of energy and rhythm to the stage. A professional performance poet and boxer, Windle shared his journey through spoken word, delivering poems crafted in real time using words provided by the audience. He spoke candidly about being excluded from school and how the very traits that once got him into trouble – his love of words and fighting spirit – are now the foundation of his career. His message was clear: pursue what you love, even if it doesn’t seem conventional. The final speaker, Ashley Hickson-Lovence , author of the verse novel Wild East, brought the event to a powerful close. Drawing from his own experiences and set against the backdrop of Norwich, his readings were also heartfelt and sincere. He spoke of how writing helps him make sense of and process life’s often difficult events, encouraging students to embrace vulnerability in their own storytelling. His advice was "The first draft doesn't have to be good; it just has to exist". All three speakers were warmly received, with pupils engaged from start to finish. Their stories were not only inspiring but also full of practical advice on writing, resilience, and how to handle rejection with determination and grit. Adding to the creative atmosphere was local bookseller Book Bugs and Dragon Tales , who were on hand with a selection of titles from the visiting authors and information about their upcoming summer writing events for ages 11 and up. This special day was a celebration of words in all their forms – and a reminder that, whether through verse, prose, or performance, there’s always power in telling your story.

Norwich Lower School Dance Company has achieved an impressive 4th place in the National Final of the Great Big Dance Off, a prestigious national dance competition. After successfully progressing through the regional heats, the team faced tough competition from 30 schools across the country in the final showdown. Their performance, inspired by Alice in Wonderland , featured a dynamic and creative piece titled Queen vs Alice . The routine was praised for its originality, energy, and storytelling. Miss Webb, Head of Performing Arts at Norwich Lower School, said, “I’m incredibly proud of the pupils. Their dedication and passion really shone through on stage. To place 4th nationally is an outstanding achievement.” The team’s success has brought pride to the school and community, highlighting the strength of its performing arts program. You can watch their performance below.

On Sunday 22 June, Able2B held their annual Discover Your Ability Day. L6 Pupil, Daisy Massey, tells us a bit about her experience below; My experience of Able2B started at Bessemer Road where we all found ourselves paired up with someone from the organisation. In the lead up to the big day, I partnered up with a lovely girl called Brooke where we did Boxercise together and bonded over everything. Sunday was the main event. We were so lucky with the weather, in fact it was perfect. Brooke was very excited to be doing a lap of the Lower School field on her bike whilst I ran beside her. However, she did so well, she wanted to do another one so I found myself running around again. She had far more energy than me! Aside from the main events, there were a whole host of fantastic stalls and free face painting for anyone there. Brooke and I decided to get fake matching tattoos on our forearms. We then finished the day off with a whole community walk which brought us all together. At the end of the walk, Brooke got off her bike and walked over the finishing line. I found this the most heart-warming moment of the day. Brooke was so pleased with herself and I was so proud of her. This amazing day was finished by a huge hug and an exchange of numbers so we can stay in contact. This was probably one of the best days that I’ve ever been involved in. I really hope they raise as much as possible as it’s such a worthwhile cause.