The long-term future of the sensitive and much-loved Norfolk Broads was the issue under discussion in the latest Blake Studio lecture at Norwich School on 15 January 2026. The school was hosting the illustrious Royal Geographical Society for a public talk entitled: Tides of Tomorrow: the future of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, confronting flood risk and climate change, given by Peter Doktor, from the Environment Agency. Peter is a Senior Project Manager overseeing the technical work of the Broadland Futures Initiative. He has been with the Environment Agency for 25 years and, before that, he with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. His informative talk considered the worrisome potential for far-reaching impacts to the fragile Broads ecosystem induced by climate change. It also offered reflections on the policies and initiatives (both in place and under review) to manage it. A huge audience of RGS and Broads Society members, school staff, pupils, parents, and alumni, plus friends of the school, all enjoyed a lively Q&A after the talk, focusing on the urgency of the issues, the bewildering size of the challenge and the scale of the potential impacts. It is clear there are no easy solutions, but maintaining the status quo will simply not be enough to safeguard its precious ecology if climate change impacts continue to intensify. Our thanks go to the RGS for organising such a thought-provoking evening. We look forward to welcoming them back on site on Monday 16 March 2026 for a talk entitled: Rethinking the Future of our Seas given by Stephen Akester, Global Fisheries Specialist and Fisheries Adviser to the World Bank. Stephen will describe the state of the world’s fisheries, illustrating a highly varied picture, highlighting success stories and areas of most concern. Booking link: Rethinking the future of our seas and what you can do to help Finally, we have recently launched our full programme of exciting and cultural events organised by Norwich School taking place in and around Cathedral Close this term. There really is something for everyone to brighten up these dark winter months. Do have a flick through At Close Quarters Lent Term 2026 . Booking for many of the school events can be found on our homepage under “Upcoming Events”: www.norwich-school.org.uk

Since before Covid, Norwich School has been the proud host site of the illustrious Royal Geographical Society (RGS). In that time, we have hosted a range of fabulous speakers: from BAFTA Award winning naturalists to Everest summiters; from naval historians to intrepid explorers; from top brass diplomats to renowned polar scientists. Ours is one of the most active and best supported regions in their network. The regional organisers were therefore extremely excited to have secured the national President of the RGS for a public lecture and social event on site. Not only that, but the speaker was also Director of the British Antarctic Survey. This was a mouthwatering opportunity that fully lived up to expectations. On 10 December 2025, Professor Dame Jane Francis offered profound insights from her personal experience of leading the internationally renowned British Antarctic Survey in her RGS talk entitled ‘On Thin Ice: a Life in the Antarctic”. Professor Francis is the current Director of British Antarctic Survey and in 2017 was appointed a Dame in recognition of services to UK polar science and diplomacy. She became Chancellor of the University of Leeds in 2018 and was elected national President of the Royal Geographical Society in 2024. Accompanied by a visually arresting slide deck and compelling delivery, Dame Francis spoke with passion about what she sees happening with her own eyes to this remote and fragile continent, effects with potentially devastating consequences for all human activity on our planet. A packed audience of Fellows of the RGS, friends of the school, pupils, parents, staff and alumni filled the festively decorated school refectory for the talk and for the post-lecture Q&A, during which Norwich School A Level geographer Lea Zegan (L6) plucked up the courage to ask two questions. Afterwards, guests enjoyed a Christmassy reception of mince pies, sausage rolls and fizz to round off a hugely successful and sociable evening. This event concluded Norwich School’s impressive programme of sixteen external public lectures held on site in 2025 in conjunction with partner organisations. The school offers its heartfelt thanks to all involved this year: our valued partners - the RGS, the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society and the Norfolk Cambridge Society - for according us the honour of hosting their events at Norwich School and for securing such stellar speakers; our Sixth Form Community Service helpers including Hetty Holden (U6), Hannah Hodgson (U6), Lea Zegan (L6), Daisy Smith (L6), Caleb Asamoah (L6) and Xander Gooderson (L6) for their valuable out-of-hours assistance; Will Stephenson in our IT Dept for his technical wizardry throughout the year; Gareth Parry and the fabulous catering team for appetising refreshments; our diligent Estates and Bookings Teams for their consummate professionalism; and finally those thousands comprising our loyal, supportive and intellectually curious audiences whose presence has enriched every lecture.