The Crypt Gallery, Norwich, presents Unspoken , a joint exhibition by artists Sophie Eade and Marion Stuart , bringing together new paintings and ceramics shaped by their shared interest in text, transcription, and the quiet charge of language. Working from a thematic starting point of writing , both artists explore how words shift when they move across materials — from page to clay, from conversation to surface, from the spoken to the withheld. Their works carry fragments of text that are often difficult to read, partially obscured or embedded within layers of slip, glaze, paint, and mark‑making. Meaning sits in plain sight, but not always immediately accessible. The viewer is invited to look closely, to navigate the tension between what is said and what is left unsaid. The ceramics in Unspoken hold words pressed, carved, or transcribed into stoneware and wild clays. Some phrases emerge clearly; others dissolve into surface. The paintings echo this approach, using text, gesture, repetition, and erasure to test how language behaves with canvas and colour. Together, the works form a conversation about communication — its failures, its hesitations, and its quiet insistence. Eade and Stuart both work at StudioDo a ceramics space in Norwich , where their studio practice is shaped by discussion, shared problem‑solving, and a mutual interest in how materials carry thought. This exhibition reflects that ongoing dialogue: two distinct practices meeting at the point where text becomes form. Unspoken invites audiences to consider how language is held, altered, and sometimes lost — and how meaning can remain even when words slip out of reach. Exhibition Dates: 24 November - 29 November, 10:00 - 16:00 Private View: 27 November, 17:30 - 20:00 

Entitled 'Multilingualism and the Early Modern City: Language and Society in Norwich (1500-1750)', it is a fascinating read.

Bringing musical joy to others, Lower School Captain Max W treated the residents of Abbeyfield House to a special impromptu musical performance. Max, a chorister at Norwich Cathedral, delighted his intimate audience with a beautiful performance of Bach’s Prelude No. 1 in G Major on the Cello, followed by a heartfelt vocal rendition of John Rutter’s All Things Bright and Beautiful. His music captivated the residents, who thoroughly enjoyed this special opportunity to experience live music up close. Following his performance, Max spent time chatting with residents, sharing his ambitions for the future and enjoying their company. It was a lovely reminder of the power of music to bring people together, brighten someone’s day and create meaningful connections across generations. Well done, Max! We are incredibly proud of the way you are using your musical talents to bring happiness and joy to others.

If you love singing and are free on Monday evenings during term time, the Many More Voices choir would love to hear from you. No auditions – no experience or music-reading skills necessary. Join our choir and celebrate Christmas in song Our inclusive and welcoming community choir has strong links with Norwich School – many members have children who are current or former pupils – and we share a simple love of melody, friendship and fun. This term we’re focusing on Christmas, featuring a syncopated mashup of the traditional favourites O Come, O Come Emmanuel and Carol of the Bells, as well as the lilting A Cradle in Bethlehem and a plethora of seasonal singalongs which we’ll enjoy with residents of the Great Hospital on 13 December. From pop to folk and more Under the supportive guidance of conductor and pianist Diana Cripps, from September to July we rehearse and perform a varied repertoire spanning gospel, traditional songs, pop and folk. Everything is taught by ear, although sheet music is available for reference. And don’t let nerves put you off – the more we sing, the more confident we become. Experience the benefits of singing The positive benefits of joining a choir are well documented, from an endorphin rush to a sense of community and achievement. Whatever the day brings we always feel better at the end of a rehearsal or concert. Singing makes us happy, and singing with a lovely bunch of people makes us even happier. We rehearse on Monday evenings in the Norwich School music room or chapel from 18:30 - 20:00. You can check out our website for more information.

Senior Rugby The Senior Rugby programme got the term off to a strong start with an intensive pre-season, including a three-day training camp at Oakham School and a specialist coaching session with guest coach Harry Simmons, Head Coach of Leicester Tigers U18s, ahead of the annual Norwich School U18 Pre-Season Festival. The festival provided a valuable challenge for the U18 squad, who produced two closely contested performances against St Joseph’s College, Ipswich and Bedford School before finishing with an impressive victory against Duke of York’s Royal Military School. The term began with a pre-season fixture against The Leys School at Shelford Rugby Club, with both U18 and U16 matches taking place. The U18s secured a 38–24 victory, while the U16s narrowly lost 19–15. The first official block fixture saw Norwich take on Framlingham College, with both the 1st XV and 2nd XV recording convincing victories. The 1st XV won 36–10, with Sam Parretti delivering a standout performance. A particular highlight was Ned Francis finishing brilliantly in the corner after a dominant scrum and excellent handling through the backline created the space for him to score. The subsequent fixtures against St Joseph’s College, Ipswich, The Campion School, Essex, in the National Cup Round 1, and Felsted School proved challenging for the 1st XV. However, the team responded positively with a hard-fought 24–15 victory against Wymondham College. Lucas Ashton made a significant impact from the bench, bringing strong carries and defensive intensity. The 2nd XV also enjoyed an excellent afternoon against Wymondham College, securing a convincing 41–10 win, with George Davidson producing an industrious performance throughout. Inters Rugby The U15s began the term with a draw against Framlingham College before facing challenging fixtures against St Joseph’s College, Ipswich and Felsted School. They responded impressively in the National Vase Round 1, recording a dominant 45–5 victory over Wymondham College. Tom McCall, playing up from the U14s, was named Man of the Match following an outstanding performance. The U14s have made an excellent start to the term, securing three victories against Framlingham College, St Joseph’s College, Ipswich and Felsted School. The standout result came against Felsted, with Norwich recording a convincing 41–7 win. Sam Trickey and Tristan Knight shared Man of the Match honours, with Tristan scoring an impressive four tries. The U14s now look forward to the Bedford School Rugby Festival on 17 October, where they will test themselves against some of the strongest school rugby programmes across East Anglia and Southern England. Juniors Rugby The U13s opened the term with a challenging fixture against Gresham’s School before responding with an excellent 30–20 victory over St Joseph’s College. Tom McCardle and Teddy Pinder were among the standout performers. The squad then competed in a triangular fixture against Finborough School and Woodbridge School, securing a win against Woodbridge but narrowly missing out against Finborough. The U13s will now host the Norwich School U13 Mini Rugby Festival on Wednesday 14 October, welcoming Beeston Hall, Wymondham College, Town Close and Langley School for an exciting afternoon of rugby. The U12A squad also made a fantastic start to the term, opening with a convincing 45–5 victory against Gresham’s School. They followed this up with two further wins against Finborough School and Woodbridge School in a triangular fixture. Arthur Blyth and Jesse Morrell were among those producing particularly strong performances. The U12B squad have also enjoyed a successful start, winning both of their touch rugby fixtures against Gresham’s School and Finborough School.  Overall, it has been an encouraging first half of term across all age groups, with strong performances, valuable learning experiences and plenty of positive signs for the weeks ahead. We look forward to building on this progress after half-term.

It has been an exciting and action-packed start to the Michaelmas Term for Girls’ Hockey at Norwich School. With a packed fixture programme, cup competitions and plenty of opportunities for development, the girls have embraced the first half of term with enthusiasm, determination and a fantastic attitude. From impressive victories to hard-fought contests against strong opposition, there has been much to celebrate across all age groups. Senior Hockey The 1XI have made a strong start to the season, delivering some impressive performances against quality opposition. A convincing 6–1 victory over UEA provided an excellent opening, followed by a commanding 5–1 win against Kimbolton in the first round of the Trophy Cup. The squad carried this momentum into Round 2, producing an outstanding team performance to defeat Wymondham College 11–0. The result reflected the girls' attacking quality, cohesion and growing confidence, with some excellent passages of hockey throughout. A challenging encounter against a talented Ipswich U18 side also proved a valuable experience, testing the squad's resilience and providing important opportunities for tactical development. The girls responded with determination and a strong work ethic, taking plenty of positives from the fixture. With a third-round Trophy Cup clash against The Perse approaching, the 1st XI will be eager to maintain their momentum and continue their cup campaign. The 2XI have been equally impressive, reaching the half-term break with an unbeaten record. A thrilling 3–2 victory over Ipswich was a particular highlight, with the girls demonstrating composure and determination in a closely contested, end-to-end encounter. Further convincing victories over Culford (4–1) and Felsted (6–0) have underlined the squad's excellent start to the season. The 3XI have also enjoyed success, securing a well-deserved victory over Culford. It was another encouraging performance, reflecting the squad's hard work and continued development throughout the opening weeks of the season. Across all three senior teams, it has been particularly encouraging to see the girls developing their tactical understanding, confidence and teamwork, while consistently demonstrating a strong commitment to representing the school. Inters Hockey Our U14 and U15 squads have enjoyed a busy and competitive first half of term, producing some excellent results while continuing to develop their skills and understanding of the game. The U15As opened their campaign with an impressive 3–0 victory over Langley, while the U15Bs delivered a superb 7–0 win against the same opposition. The teams have also been involved in some closely fought encounters, including a 2–2 draw for the U15As against Culford and a 2–2 draw for the U15Bs against Wymondham College. Both the U14As and U15As secured victories against Ipswich, further demonstrating the progress being made across the age groups. More recently, the U15 squads hosted Culford and Felsted in a triangular fixture afternoon, enjoying a particularly successful outing with victories in both matches. A standout result came from the U15Bs, who secured an excellent 3–0 win over Culford, highlighting their growing confidence and ability to perform as a team. Meanwhile, the U14 squads travelled to Felsted for their triangular fixtures, with both teams recording a draw and a narrow defeat. Despite the closely contested results, the afternoon provided valuable match experience, with the girls showing resilience, determination and an increasingly strong understanding of their roles on the pitch. It has been especially rewarding to see the U14s adapting to the demands of 11-a-side hockey, developing their positional awareness, decision-making and confidence with each fixture. The progress across both age groups has been encouraging, and there is plenty to build upon as the season continues. Junior Hockey Our Junior squads have made an enthusiastic start to the season, with a strong emphasis on developing fundamental skills, building confidence and gaining valuable competitive experience. The U12As have enjoyed some excellent results, recording victories over Gresham's and Wymondham College, while the U13As have also impressed with wins against Wymondham College and Witham Hall. These performances reflect the girls' growing confidence and their ability to transfer the skills developed in training into competitive situations. A recent block of fixtures against Woodbridge, hosted at Harleston, provided another excellent afternoon of hockey. With plenty of closely contested, end-to-end matches, the girls were challenged to make quick decisions, work together effectively and apply the principles covered in training, particularly their PCA work. At Junior level, our priority remains creating a positive and enjoyable environment in which every player feels confident to develop, challenge themselves and embrace new opportunities. It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm and energy the girls bring to both training and matches, alongside the progress they are making individually and collectively. Hockey outside of School Alongside our extensive school hockey programme, it has been fantastic to see a number of girls continuing to pursue their hockey ambitions beyond school. We are fortunate to have players involved in county and East Talent Academy pathways, as well as those competing at National League level for their respective clubs. These opportunities are a reflection of the girls' dedication, commitment and passion for the sport. We are proud to support players at every stage of their hockey journey, from those discovering the game for the first time to those aspiring to compete at the highest levels. Our aim remains to provide an inclusive, ambitious and enjoyable hockey environment in which every pupil has the opportunity to develop, succeed and foster a lifelong love of the game. Looking ahead to next half term With another busy half term ahead, there is plenty to look forward to across the Girls’ Hockey programme. The 1st XI will be hoping to extend their Trophy Cup run with their upcoming third-round fixture against The Perse, while our Junior, Intermediate and Senior squads have an exciting programme of fixtures ahead. The second half of term will see competitive fixture blocks against Norwich High School, Framlingham College, The Perse, Kimbolton and Haileybury School, providing further opportunities for the girls to challenge themselves, gain valuable match experience and continue their development against a variety of opposition. Reflecting on the first half of term, what has stood out most is the enthusiasm, commitment and team spirit demonstrated by the girls throughout the programme. Whether celebrating a convincing victory, competing in a tightly contested fixture or learning from a challenging match, the girls have approached each opportunity with a positive attitude and a willingness to improve. A huge congratulations to everyone involved for their efforts and achievements so far. Thank you also to our dedicated coaching staff, parents and supporters, whose continued encouragement and commitment play such an important role in the success of the programme.

The Football 1st XI has taken another significant rebuild this year; the newly assembled team have at times played some excellent football against challenging opposition and demonstrated that we can easily compete with the teams in our region. When we remain disciplined and true to our principles we can create enough goal scoring moments to win matches and when compact and connected in defence we are tough to get through. Four wins in our first six matches with defeats only coming against a strong ON u20 side and Langley Football Academy. We also have our ISFA Boodles Cup second round tie against previous winners of the competition, Forest School, to come.  The 2nd XI have enjoyed the opportunity to develop their skills further with four fixtures accompanying their training sessions. A difficult fixture card to compete in so far but a particular highlight was securing a 10-2 victory against Greshams.

We were excited to welcome Kevin Keable, Chair of the East of England Energy Group, to school to deliver a Business Breakfast to pupils interested in the national and local energy sector. Kevin's long career has taken him around the world, and his knowledge and experience of the skillsets and professions required within this massive sector was hugely interesting.  Our pupils were able to ask their questions, ranging from how a lawyer could work in that energy sector, to what engineering specialisms are in demand, to how AI is shaping the roles. Kevin's enthusiasm for working within the industry was palpable and pupils were glad to make this connection and seek advice.

Pioneer gorilla conservationist Dr Dian Fossey famously said in 1967 that she fully expected gorillas to go extinct within 20 years. Her tragic murder in 1985 means she has not been around to see the heartwarming conservation success that has witnessed mountain gorilla populations expanding from sub 250 in 1981 to nearly 1,100 worldwide currently. This has been the result of concerted action in central Africa led by a range of wildlife organisations, including the highly respected ‘The Gorilla Organization’. This organisation has been piloted with purpose and charisma by Jillian Miller for over 34 years and we were honoured to be able to welcome her on site on 15 October 2026. Working in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society, who regularly uses our Blake Studio for their series of public lectures, an engaged audience of RGS Fellows, staff, parents, ONs, pupils and friends of the school heard a fascinating update on the status of gorilla conservation in Africa. Jillian’s organisation has been particularly effective in harnessing universal affection for these most charismatic of primates together with the appeal of ethical tourism, to raise funds and deliver vital conservation work to stabilise and steadily grow populations of these photogenic rainforest-dwelling apes. Their mission is to build on the commitment of local communities in combatting the combined challenges of extensive deforestation, barbaric poaching, periodic volcanic activity and the ever-present threat from the deadly ebola virus. Jillian took us on her organisation’s compelling journey. To learn more about the inspiring work of The Gorilla Organization, please check out: www.gorillas.org . The next RGS talk is given by Dr Andy Jefferson FRGS who will focus on the very pertinent topic of sustainable aviation. Tickets are here: Sustainable aviation: reducing the climate impact . All are welcome. For information on all other cultural activities held at Norwich School this autumn, please take a look at: At Close Quarters - Michaelmas Term 2026