Welcome to Norwich Lower School
The Lower School is in the Lower Close (on the east side of the Cathedral) and caters for boys and girls aged 3-11. Its impressive facilities and wonderful opportunities give pupils an excellent start to their Norwich School education.
The vast majority of pupils from the Lower School progress to the Senior School at the age of eleven. Entry is based on the recommendation of the Head of the Lower School and there is usually no requirement to sit the formal entrance examination.
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Latest news from the Lower School
The children in Lower 1 and Upper 1 took to the stage at The Blake Studio to perform their rendition of the magical and enchanting musical production, Wiz Wham Alakazam to parents, grandparents and residents of The Great Hospital. In this enchanting production, the young wizards of Sun Castle faced a day like no other. One moment the sun was shining brightly over the castle, and the next it mysteriously became dimmer. The resident wizards were thrown into chaos as the Chief Wizard led the spell-casters on an adventure to bring back the light. With plenty of magic spells, and just a sprinkle of disorder, the story unfolded with excitement, charm, and laughter. From the very first scene, the children lit up the stage with confident line delivery and infectious enthusiasm. Each child played their part, whether it was casting spells, performing gymnastic and dance routines, or helping find the important but oldest Spell Book. The Ice Creatures made a dramatic entrance – eerie and impressive – with expressive performances that added just the right touch of tension. Musical numbers such as "Teamwork", "Ice Creatures", and the "Wizards of the Sun" showcased the children’s growing talent in both singing and acting. All the songs were performed with energy, clarity, and joy. The production was a celebration of creativity and teamwork, with every young performer contributing to the magic. Wiz Wham Alakazam was a joyful, spellbinding success — packed with music, movement, mystery and the unforgettable charm of Sun Castle’s youngest stars. Mrs Barclay commented "The children have worked so hard to learn their lines and songs and I am very proud of their performances. It has been a delight working with this group of passionate and talented children." 
The school library was transformed into a thrilling scene of mystery and intrigue as pupils took on the roles of budding detectives in an exciting Sherlock Holmes event. From the moment they stepped through the door of 221B Baker Street, pupils were immersed in the world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary sleuth. To begin their investigation, each pupil had to “sign in” using their fingerprint—setting the tone for an authentic detective experience. Their first challenge was to decipher a secret message using the Caesar cipher, a classic cryptographic technique, to unlock the details of their mission. The case? A precious book had gone missing from the library shelves— De Occulta Bibliotheca —and it was up to the young Holmesians to crack the case. Armed with a list of suspects and a map of the Lower School, pupils set off on a clue-hunting adventure that took them through hidden corners and puzzling trails. Along the way, they decoded encrypted messages, revealed hidden notes using heat to expose invisible ink, and followed a trail of mysterious footprints. Each clue brought them closer to identifying the culprit behind the literary theft. After collecting all the evidence, pupils returned to the library where, in their investigative groups, they reviewed the facts and collaborated to make their final accusation. Suspense hung in the air as the mystery was dramatically revealed—culminating in a final search that led them straight to the long-lost book.  It was an event full of curiosity, critical thinking, and imaginative fun. Our young detectives not only honed their problem-solving skills but also enjoyed diving into the world of one of literature’s most iconic characters.
Wednesday 21 May quite literally began with a bang! Upper 2 took part in the eagerly awaited Catapult Day, a hands-on exploration that linked directly to the engineering and design elements of our curriculum—with plenty of opportunities to apply mathematical skills along the way. The day began with students measuring the size and mass of a variety of projectiles—from the humble golf ball to the impressively weighty shot put—developing their understanding of data collection, force, and motion. Then came the real excitement: launching those projectiles! Starting by hand, pupils then progressed to an impressive arsenal of historical siege machines, including the Mangonel, Perrier, and Trebuchet. They also had the chance to try their hand at a composite bow and a crossbow, adding a dash of medieval flair to their practical investigations. The day concluded with a suitably dramatic finale, as the younger pupils joined just in time to watch Jacob ignite the cannon—because, let’s face it, nothing quite wraps up a school day like a controlled explosion and the smell of gunpowder in the air! Ali: 'Very fun and I learnt a lot. My highlight was when me and my team pulled the rope down on the perrier to launch the tennis ball!' Tallulah, Darcy, Olivia: 'It was very exciting because we learnt stuff we had never learnt before and we got to try things we've never experienced before! Just don't ask Mr Love about breaking the perrier...!' Oscar: ‘It was very fun and you got to have a go on cross bows, and a bow and arrow.’ Lucas: ‘It was really fun, we got into groups and fired catapults’ Muhammad Ameen: ‘I really liked the canon because when your put fire in it, it went boom.’
Lower School Gallery
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