The 2024 Choreography Competition
December 13, 2024
This term we saw our first ever in house pupil led choreography competition. The competition was a massive triumph with a range of ensemble and solo independent choreography across Junior, Inters and Senior year groups. It has been a great opportunity for pupils to collaborate and share their choreographic flare. A real testament not only to their performance skills, but their creative talents too.
Lets hear from our winners!
Juniors - Poppy Zhang (U4)
“I chose the song Footloose because I love musicals, and I thought that I could create a fun dance that could connect with the music. When I stepped onto the stage it felt amazing but also scary. However, when the music started, all my nerves went away. When I won, I was absolutely shocked with joy, bursting inside of me. I was so grateful and happy knowing that all my hard work paid off.”
Inters - Clara Flewin (L5) and Tilda Rochester (L5)
Clare – “We wanted our dance to be non-traditional and theatrical so we came up with a character-driven piece inspired by a horror film - the Grady Twins from The Shining. Luckily we are almost exactly the same size and height so with the mood lighting we could pass for twins!! Miss How helped us choose some creepy music and we convinced her to let us use an audio clip from the film. We both love gymnastics so we added some walkovers and other moves to look like contortion. Adding fake blood to our consumes was great fun! We were both really excited to win.”
Tilda – “Performing on the stage for the first time ever at Norwich school was overwhelming but also really exciting and a really amazing opportunity. We chose this music because it went with the characters’ personalities. The rehearsal progress was super amazing dancing in the dance studio for the first time and practising with my partner made it so fun and the style we chose was creepy because of the film we picked. Winning was such a surprising moment and it felt amazing and I am so thankful to my partner for getting through this with me.”
Seniors - Leah Feetham (U6) and Aggie Johnson (U5)
“Our piece was entitled To My Sister set to the song To My Siblings written from the perspective of the artist Tessa Blasko to her siblings reflecting on memories they shared growing up. As two technical dancers who really enjoy embracing our creativity through choreography. We elected to make a contemporary lyrics dance that portrayed the relationship of an older sister who paved the way for her younger sister growing up just to fall ill and become dependent on the girl she helped raise. It was a beautiful piece we were both so proud of and equally excited to perform it to an audience. Silently praying that everyone would pick up on subtleties of the costumes and hair being representative of the difference in the ages and maturity of our characters and their time of weaknesses and dependency conveyed through proxemics to the ground; things that we'd thought about a lot and which we hoped the audience would appreciate.”
‘Norfolk Suite’ Colour Photographs 18 April - 1 May 17 April Private Viewing, 18:00 - 20:00 Gallery Open 10am - 5pm. Closed Sundays. The Crypt Gallery, Norwich School. An exhibition of an edit of 50 colour photographs from a period from 2002 to the present of journeys around Norfolk. ‘These are not necessarily landscapes but notes, observations and points of the countryside and towns which I travelled through and stopped at’ There is no entrance fee but the works are for sale in limited editions of 10, prices and sizes on application.
Following a request from the pupils leading the school's Medical Society, Mrs Warren has run two after school sessions teaching sixth form pupils keen to study medicine and veterinary medicine how to perform surgical suturing on pigs' trotters. Following a teacher demonstration, pupils enjoyed talking through the procedure and asking for consent from their trotter, followed by using scalpels to excise an imaginary cyst on the pig's skin. They then closed the wound by suturing the skin with surgical needles and thread, the most challenging part being 'throwing' the knot several times for each stitch and ensuring it was tight enough. Some promising skills were shown by our surgeons of the future.
orld Book Week brought a wonderful buzz of excitement to the Lower School, with every year group taking part in a rich variety of bookthemed adventures and activities. The week began with Reception visiting the local independent bookshop Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, where they eagerly spent their World Book Day tokens. Each child chose one of this year’s specially written titles and also had the chance to listen to a few stories in the beautiful bookshop. Back at school, the Library Reading Challenges also launched, encouraging pupils to complete a different challenge each day. Monday’s task— read in an unusual place —sparked great creativity, and pupils were discovered reading under tables, behind bookcases, beneath sofas and even outdoors. On Tuesday it was Lower One’s turn to visit the bookshop, where they too selected their World Book Day books. Their reading challenge for the day was to recommend a book from a different genre to a friend, prompting thoughtful conversations about mysteries, fantasies, adventures and more. Pupil Rafi said ‘I liked the book I chose because it has lots of facts in.’ Wednesday saw Upper One walking to Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, where they not only chose their books but also became enthusiastic dragon hunters, spotting as many dragons as possible hidden around the shop’s magical displays. ‘I really liked finding the dragons and my favourite one was the dragon which was under the pavement,’ said Jessica from Upper One. Their reading challenge continued the theme of exploring new genres with pupils being encouraged to read something they wouldn’t normally pick off the shelf. Thursday marked World Book Day itself, and the school was transformed by an array of imaginative, colourful and brilliantly creative costumes. From classic characters to modern favourites, pupils proudly celebrated the stories they love. Many staff joined in the fun by dressing as Mr Men and Little Miss characters, much to the pupils’ delight during a lively assembly of guessing and laughter. Throughout the day, classes enjoyed a range of bookthemed activities, and everyone gathered in the library for the popular Teachers’ Pet Quiz, where staff pets were photographed “reading” books that offered clues to their owners’ identities. All pupils also took part in the Great Booky Book Swap, which allowed them to choose new reading material to enjoy over the coming weeks. Many children also entered the Book in a Box competition, transforming boxes into creative and thoughtful worlds inspired by titles such as Charlotte’s Web , The Land of Stories , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and What the Ladybird Heard . The celebrations continued on Friday, when Pre-Reception visited the bookshop to exchange their tokens for a book and take part in a delightful workshop themed around Wonderful Me . Pupils also completed the final reading challenge of the week by reading to a real or cuddly pet, creating many heart warming moments as stories were shared with dogs, cats, teddies and every creature in between. World Book Week was a fantastic celebration of reading, imagination and community. A huge thank you to Bookbugs and Dragon Tales for welcoming our pupils so warmly, and to all staff and families for helping to make the week such a memorable success.
Saturday 7 March saw the final race in the East Anglian League against runners from Gresham’s, Ipswich and RHS. The team travelled to RHS and the conditions were reasonably dry and still on a flat, fast course. Our only competing Junior, Jonas Tam, improved upon last week’s third place to come 2nd this week, while in the Intermediate Boys, Kit Rudling came 4th. In the Senior Boys we had excellent strength in depth, as we have had all season, with eight runners competing. First to finish was Ethan Buskell who came 2nd overall. Jeremy Lo came through the field strongly to take 5th place, capping off another consistent season. Leon Liu, Kort Tsui and Leo Pitt were next over the line, followed shortly by Tom Copley, Edward Lott and George Yiasimi. The Senior Boys, having showed such consistent quality and excellent camaraderie throughout the season, deservedly took home the East Anglian League Team Trophy. Well done to everyone who has represented the Cross Country team this season.
The Little Roots allotment at the Lower School has enjoyed a wonderful boost this year thanks to a generous grant from the Friends of Norwich School.
3 Lower 5 pupils and one Lower 4 pupil travelled to Telford to compete in the VEX Robotics National Finals, an exciting two‑day celebration of STEMM, creativity, and teamwork. Our pupils designed, built, and programmed their own robots, putting months of hard work into action. Throughout the competition they: Formed alliances with teams from other schools to play the Mix & Match game and score as many points as possible. Took on the Driver Skills Challenge, showcasing precision and control. Demonstrated their coding expertise in the Autonomous Programming Challenge. Completed four technical interviews with industry professionals, speaking confidently about their engineering decisions and problem‑solving approaches. We are incredibly proud to announce that our pupils won the ‘Create Award’ for innovative robot design! Even more excitingly, by winning this award they have qualified to compete at the VEX World Finals in St. Louis, Missouri at the end of April - an extraordinary achievement and a testament to their creativity, teamwork, and determination. Well done to all four pupils - what an unforgettable milestone!
ROTATOR is Jakob Rowlinson's first institutional project, presented as an installation at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and a solo exhibition, REVIVER at The Art House, Wakefield
At Norwich School, learning doesn’t stop when a lesson is over! Our co-curricular programme empowers pupils to explore and experiment – and nowhere is this more evident than in our vibrant STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine) opportunities. Whether your child dreams of designing the cities of the future, racing an electric car, coding competition-ready robots or pursuing a career in medicine, our clubs and societies provide the platform to turn curiosity into capability! Hands-On Innovation: Engineering in Action Greenpower Electric Car Team (L5-L6) What better way to learn engineering than by building and racing a real electric car? Our Greenpower Electric Car Team maintains and improves a competition vehicle, racing in heats twice a year. Pupils apply for roles across design, mechanics, electronics, sponsorship and project management – mirroring real-world engineering teams. Lower 6 pupils mentor younger pupils, fostering leadership alongside technical expertise. Engineering Education Project (L6) Sixth Form pupils can take part in a six-month professional engineering project, working alongside an industry mentor to solve a real company challenge. The experience culminates in a formal presentation and submission for a CREST Gold Award – a nationally recognised achievement that strengthens university and apprenticeship applications. CityZen – Civil Engineering Challenge (L6) Run by in Institution of Civil Engineers, CityZen invites teams to design solutions to complex infrastructure problems in a simulated city. Pupils research, collaborate and present their ideas before tackling a real local civil engineering issue. From sustainability to urban planning, CityZen encourages pupils to think critically about how engineering shapes society. Engineering Society – (L4-U6) The aim of the Engineering Society is to hear first-hand from engineering professionals, in both academia and industry, about their paths into engineering and specialities. This provides an exciting opportunity for pupils to hear first hand from professionals in the field, allowing them to draw inspiration for their own careers. Coding, Robotics & Computational Thinking VEX Robotics (L4-L5) In VEX Robotics, teams of 4 or 5 design, build and code robots before entering the National Robotic Competition. Pupils develop programming skills, mechanical design understanding and strategic thinking – all while working as part of a high-performing team. Linguistics & Code Cracking Club (L4-U6) Combining logic, pattern recognition and analytical thinking, this club explore the fascinating intersection of language and mathematics, Pupils prepare for competitions such as the UK Linguistics Olympiad and tackle code-breaking challenges that stretch the mind. Maths Club (L4-U6) From Junior Maths Challenge preparation to STEP and MAT support, out tiered Maths Clubs provide stretch and challenge at every level. Pupils explore mathematical ideas beyond the syllabus, developing resilience and intellectual confidence. Medicine, Science & the Bigger Questions STEMM Society (U4-U6) Our dedicated STEMM Society explore science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine beyond the curriculum. Through practical challenges and discussion, pupils broaden their understanding while working towards a credited Youth STEMM Award. Vet Society (L4-U6) For pupils considering veterinary medicine, the society invites expert speakers and offers insight into the realities of animal healthcare careers – providing early professional exposure and inspiration. Intellectual Curiosity & Academic Exploration STEMM at Norwich School also thrives in our pupil-led academic societies: Erpingham Society (M5–U6) – interdisciplinary lectures spanning STEMM, humanities and the arts. Ethelbert Society (L4–L5) – a junior lecture society encouraging scholarly exploration. Inters and Senior Maths Clubs – extending mathematical understanding beyond the classroom. These forums develop confidence in research, presentation and debate — essential skills for future scientists, engineers and medics.
On Monday 9 March, 4 Germanists travelled with Mr Croston to Kings' Ely to take part in the Konkurenz der Eloquenz 2026. We were competing against 4 other schools from the region. In the GCSE years' competition, Preeyasa Neupane's portrayal of Gregor Samsa waking up as an insect in Kafka's 'Verwandlung' came in third place and Simran Chawla's reading of Goethe's Erlkönig winning the best reading prize in that age group. For the A Level competition, both of our entries swept the board with Felix Strowger reading ' Die Kanguru-Chroniken' and Charlie Collier reading the introduction to 'Emil and the Detectives' and finishing in second and first place respectively. Our Germanists introduced their chosen texts well. They appreciated the importance of taking the text slowly and looking up at the audience making them feel part of the reading. They were all successful in capturing the essence of the text through their reading and by adding their own interpretation of the author's words in how they varied their voices. The judge from Cambridge University was very impressed by the wide range of texts each of our pupils chose.
Norwich’s stunning St John the Baptist Catholic Cathedral was the host site for the Norwich School Choral Society public concert for 2026 held on 04 March 2026. Since the Society’s founding in 1983, appreciative audiences have been treated to music of the highest quality, and this year’s concert was no exception. This musical highlight fosters some remarkable intergenerational collaborations: the Norwich School Choral Society (being the school’ s adult choir made up of alumni, friends, parents and staff) perform together with pupil singers, creating a combined chorus in excess of 110-strong, spanning ages from teenagers to the over 80s! Similarly, talented pupil instrumentalists and music scholars play alongside the professional musicians of the renowned Norwich Baroque ensemble, bringing together a 30-strong orchestra, complete with the pleasing notes of the harp this year. The visual spectacle and rousing sound of nearly 150 musicians performing together is simply terrific. This year’s programme comprised a mix of the modern and the old, the familiar and the new. Our performance kicked off with two beautifully expressive and moving 20 th century choral works: Daley’s Upon Your Heart (1999) and Bainton’ s And I Saw a New Heaven (1928) under the baton of the school’s hugely experienced Head of Vocal Studies, Posy Walton. Closing the first half saw the highly anticipated arrival on stage of Year 13 brass music specialist, Melissa Hawkings on her horn. A member of the National Youth Orchestra, a prolific performer and award-winning composer, Melissa has delighted school audiences for many years, and the virtuoso performance she gave of Mozart’s much-loved Horn Concerto No 3 was pure magic. Both the soloist and the orchestra under the Music Dept’s charismatic Andrew Weeks clearly relished their performance, as did our audience. Melissa reflected afterwards: It was an honour to perform Mozart's third horn concerto with Norwich Baroque. The opportunity to work with such a high-level ensemble was amazing, and I enjoyed every second of the experience! It was truly exhilarating to hear a piece I had been playing alone for so long being brought to life in the Cathedral. I'm so grateful for everyone at school who has supported me in my musical journey. After the interval, the programme moved on to another modern work, Goodall’s Eternal Light: A Requiem (2008), an elegiacal, varied and hugely moving piece, with the full orchestra and choir conducted by the inspirational Posy Walton. Many will be familiar with Goodall’s work from TV themes to such shows as Blackadder and The Vicar of Dibley, so will appreciate his strong melodies, but this work had a profundity and gravitas in a completely different league. It was performed magnificently by the ensemble, the culmination of many months of practice in the school’s Chapel throughout autumn’s gales and winter’s snows. The six talented vocal soloists in the Goodall piece (Ben Griffiths, Charlotte Platten, Anna Rechel, Pearl Lee, Charlie Collier and Isla Bowles) were all pupils from the school between Year 11 and Year 13, many having been Choristers at Norwich’s other Cathedral. Their mature and accomplished performances will undoubtedly be highlights in their careers at the school. The audience was astonished to have witnessed such youthful soloists at such a large public event with for their voices filing the nave. Norwich School has long been a member of the national Choir Schools’ Association (CSA), founded in 1918 to promote and support the education and wellbeing of choristers in the country’s great cathedrals and churches. After all, the choral tradition in Norwich School dates back to the 11 th century. We were therefore thrilled to welcome as our principal guest of honour its Executive Director, Rachel Hicks. Steffan Griffiths, Head of Norwich School, expressed his heartfelt thanks to the CSA for their extremely generous lead sponsorship for the third year in succession, enabling the school to put on such a memorable event. Rachel commented afterwards: I very much enjoyed the concert. It was fantastic to see CSA’s support being put to such excellent use and to see the school’s wider community uniting in an evening of excellent music-making. The staging of an event of such complexity was also made possible thanks to the generous support from other sponsors to whom organizers are incredibly grateful: respected local businesses Hansells Solicitors, Savills property agents and Drury Vehicle Services. Organizers’ gratitude goes out to family sponsors passionate about this event, namely the Boone, Bamber, King, Ricketts, Prior, Drake and Westgate families. We offer our appreciation to the new Dean the Very Revd Martin Hardy and the Bishop of East Anglia, Bishop Peter Collins, and their staff at the Cathedral for welcoming the school back to their lovely cathedral for a third year. Months of meticulous preparation from the Choral Society Committee and members of the school’s hard-working Music Department deserve heart-felt appreciation too. Finally, organizers’ thanks go to all performers for their sensational performances, and to the audience whose generous final ovation reflected the pleasure this memorable evening of music had brought them.
