I have now worked at Norwich School for quite some time, which has prompted me to reflect: what is our school like? What are its virtues? What makes it tick? Attending or working at a school is very much like going on a journey, which is why I chose today’s bible reading. It records a journey two people made, and how they encountered Jesus along the way without recognising him. The story of the road to Emmaus, as it is called, and our journey through school, have some interesting parallels which help us understand our school better, and that our journey through it so very full of potential. The first connection between our school and the reading is found in this line “they urged him strongly, “Stay with us”. The two travellers offer the stranger hospitality. In my first ever U6 History class at Norwich School there was a boy called George. George was the Head of School and scrum half for the First XV. One day, George was missing from my lesson. I asked the other pupils where he might be: “Don’t you know he’s the head of School, sir?” they answered, “he’ll be with the Head for an important meeting – it happens all the time”. I felt rather silly. Sometime later George arrived. “Sorry I’m late, sir” he said. ‘How was the meeting?’ I enquired. ‘Meeting?’ he replied, ‘I wasn’t at a meeting. I was having my hair cut!’ In my naivety, I just assumed that heads of school were permitted to have a haircut during period one and carried on with the lesson. Furthermore, George had been extremely warm and welcoming to me as a new teacher, whilst the rest of the class were a bit frosty, given, as they were happy to explain, just how brilliant my predecessor had been. Another character was Fraser. Fraser was a cross-country runner, so I used to spend a lot of time with him during Games, as did Mr Todd, the Deputy Head. Fraser’s particular eccentricity was hugging teachers without warning. This was as inappropriate then as it would be now, but Fraser somehow got away with it. I remember watching Fraser suddenly embrace Mr Todd, pinning his arms to his side leaving him with barely sufficient breath to gasp: “Fraser, please release me.” His warm sentiment was genuine which meant that he, and only he, could get away with it. There were also two teachers who were particularly welcoming when first I arrived. The first, Miss Weiler, was the Head of German. She always remembered my birthday and offered me glass of champagne to celebrate. There was also Mr Barber who, before I even started at Norwich School said, ‘well, if you’re joining us, you’d better play in this evening’s staff cricket match’. His kind offer meant I quickly felt accepted. This tradition of hospitality is one of which we can be proud. It continues with our relationships with organisations like English Plus and Able 2 Be. We welcome pupils from all over the globe which strengthens and enriches our community. As Professor Charles Forsdick ON, during a recent school visit said: ‘we should be rooted in the local but maintain a global perspective’. There can be no doubt that front and centre of Norwich School is learning. One need look no further to find evidence of this than that famed repository of wisdom, the leavers’ book. Our class of 2025, in answer to the question, ‘what is the best lesson Norwich School taught you’, offered these answers: - Don’t do stupid thing whilst CCTV is watching - Don’t accept homemade chocolate milk from a Travelodge sink - Stock up on the salad bar otherwise your stomach will scream in the afternoon - Never get caught with your shirt untucked around Mr Sims - If you speed walk, it only takes four minutes to get to HFH (I did get shin splints though) - Don’t play badminton with more than two players per side because that’s how you end up with teeth missing. But more seriously, Norwich School pupils and staff are ambitious in their learning, and this learning is valued and rigorous. On the road to Emmaus, the disciples were confused about the everts that had taken place over the first Easter weekend. They too sought understanding and were, therefore, keen to hear the teaching of the man they had encountered: our reading says “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” This is a 1st century example of people’s thirst for knowledge and understanding; we should continue to treasure our 21st century opportunity to be curious, to enquire and to learn. The journey we are on at school and our bible reading are also connected via the notion of togetherness and community, and how this can lead to something more profound. Once he had been invited into their house, Jesus shared a meal with the disciples: “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.” A simple enough act, but one that speaks of shared experience and common humanity. Norwich School shares much of its history and culture with the community of this cathedral church, which is a precious space in at least these three ways: longevity – Norwich Cathedral is the oldest building in Norwich which is still used for its original purpose. The fact that it has survived and thrived for so long is remarkable. Accessibility – Norwich Cathedral is open 365 days of the year, free of charge, with no entry requirements. Anyone can enter, regardless of background, where you come from or what you believe. Sacredness – these precincts are set apart, designated as a special or holy place. Some people regard the cathedral as a ‘thin place’: somewhere in which it is possible to sense the intangible, something mystical, maybe even glimpse the divine; a place in which God is not proven, but rather in which He might be experienced. On the road to Emmaus, the disciples didn’t recognise Jesus at first, even though he was walking alongside them. It was only when they invited him in, when they made themselves open to an encounter with God, that he revealed himself: “then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” For me, the most special thing about our school, and the reason I have stayed for so long, is that we are hospitable and scholarly, yes, but also that we enjoy a privileged and precious relationship with the cathedral community. This is a place where we can make time to explore spirituality, to consider the good news of the Christian message, and to reflect on the possibility of encountering Jesus Christ, as he walks alongside us, on our journey through school. 

To set off Gather26 was the beloved Oliver! Jr. Rosie B, Lowe 6, writes her experience of being part of the backstage crew, and the production as a whole, below. On Monday the 15 and Tuesday the 16 June, the Fourth Form kicked off Gather 2026 with an exciting and uplifting production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! Jr. Being an independent project, it was directed by Daisy S and Charlie Br in the Lower 6, who have been working incredibly hard behind the scenes to bring to life this fantastic show. Starting off the performance with ‘Food! Glorious Food!’ choreographed by Benji S, it was clear that the audience were in for a treat. Santiago O’D and Sampson O’F were compelling and funny as partners in crime, Fagin and Dodger, whilst Annabelle H as Nancy and Oliver PW as Oliver provided a deeply moving emotional core to the show. Not forgetting William M, terrifying as Bill Sykes! There are so many more performers I could name, each one clearly giving their everything and loving every minute of their performance. I also got the opportunity to help as backstage crew- it was astounding to see the professionalism of these young actors despite having to navigate costume crises and prop panics backstage! I look forward to seeing what they’ll do next year. Oliver! Jr was a brilliant performance that absolutely left the audience asking for “more”!

Upper 2 took to the stage this week with their fantastic production of Dragon Days , delivering a performance full of energy, comedy and wonderful singing. The children embraced every moment of the show, bringing their characters to life with confidence, enthusiasm and great humour. Their lively performances, combined with impressive vocals and excellent teamwork, kept audiences entertained throughout. It was clear how much the children enjoyed being part of the production, and their excitement shone through in every scene. From the catchy songs to the laugh-out-loud moments, Dragon Days was a tremendous success and a memorable experience for everyone involved. Congratulations to all of Upper 2 for their hard work, dedication and outstanding performances.

Cara B, Lower 6, represented England in their Under-19 squad at the European Korfball Championships in Türkiye. Cara shares her experience below. Over the Easter holidays, I had the incredible opportunity to represent England as part of the Under-19 squad at the European Korfball Championships in Turkey. Korfball is a mixed-gender team sport that originated in the Netherlands and combines elements of basketball and netball. Each team consists of four male and four female players, with players switching between attack and defence every two goals. The tournament began with group-stage fixtures against Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Portugal and Hungary. Our opening match was against a strong Czech side, who went on to come second overall. Despite a determined effort, we were defeated 17-8 in our first game. However, we responded brilliantly later that day with a convincing 12-2 win over Slovakia. At the end of day 1, we remained in contention for a strong finish in the competition. Day 2 proved to be another challenging but rewarding day. We started with an impressive 13-8 win against Poland before facing Portugal in a crucial match. Despite our efforts, Portugal edged us out in a hard-fought 13-10 defeat at full time after a goal for goal match. We finished the day strongly with an excellent 23-14 victory over Hungary, one of our highest-scoring performances of the tournament. Going into the final day, we were determined to secure the highest possible placing. This set up a closely contested placement match against the host nation, Turkey. The game was highly competitive, with both teams going goal for goal for much of the match. We held our nerve in the closing stages to secure a 16-13 win, earning England a final placing of 5th in Europe. Cara's recent success at Korfball, has been mirrored by an outstanding performance on the netball court this season. Cara was a key member of the Norwich School 1 st VII who finished an impressive 11 th in the country this season, as well as representing her netball club, Norfolk United in the National Premier League, the highest club league in the country. Head of Netball, Gemma Ashton comments "Cara has made an immense contribution to Norwich School Netball since joining us in L6 and her considerable talent on court is matched by her dedication and commitment off it. Her success this season is fully deserved and we are very proud of all she has achieved. Cara is also a Norwich School Sport Scholar, and we are delighted that this programme was able to contribute towards funding her attendance at the Korfball European Championships."

(This assembly was delivered two days after England’s first world cup match of 2026, with a large England flag draped over the front of the pulpit.) God says: “ It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth .” (Isaiah 49:6) You may have noticed that I’ve decorated the pulpit this morning. I want to start by asking you this question: what was the first thing that went through your mind when you saw this England flag? Right now, of course, there’s a good chance that it reminded you of the England men’s football team, who kicked off their World Cup on Wednesday. Perhaps seeing this gave you a surge of national pride. (4-2: the first time we’ve scored that in a World Cup since 1966.) On the other hand, if you don’t think of this so much as your flag – for instance, if you’re from a different UK nation or from Europe – then this flag may stir feelings of rivalry. Context is everything. To see the flag flown on Windsor Castle on St George’s day in 2026 is very different to seeing the red cross on the front of crusader shields in the 13th century. Seeing the flag displayed on a church or a town hall is different to seeing it cable-tied to lampposts and painted on roundabouts. There was a spate of this a year ago which spread across the country. ‘Flagging’, as it became known, started in the month after the England Women’s football team won the Euros. (You may remember that moment of national pride – Chloe Kelly’s winning penalty, Hannah Hampton’s heroics in goal, Lucy Bronze somehow playing through the tournament with a fractured tibia. It’s just been announced that six members of that team will receive an MBE for their services to football and to the country.) Of course, all this meant that there were lots of England flags available to buy in the shops. And when they started going up in the streets, some people said it was patriotism. But it wasn’t just patriotism – there was also something more sinister and territorial going on. The context shifted, and the flags became associated with anti-immigration and extremist politics. All of that meant that, when I went into Home Bargains to buy this flag for my assembly, it felt like the shop staff were giving me funny looks. ‘What is he?’ they seemed to be asking themselves. ‘Is he an England fan… or is he a racist?’ There is a scene in the excellent TV drama Dear England, which is on iPlayer at the moment, where the then England manager Gareth Southgate hangs a St George’s flag in the goalmouth and gets all the players to discuss it. He begins by pointing at the flag and saying: ‘These things can be emotive and complicated.’ To get some perspective on all this complexity, I want to step away from England for a moment, and take note of a different nation in a different time – the Old Testament nation of Israel in the Bible. One of the developing themes of the Bible is what God’s chosen people think their nation is for. There are times where they retreat into self-isolation – they feel a need to pull up the drawbridge and protect their identity. But there are other times when they realise their blessings are for sharing with the world, rather than clinging onto. ‘It is too small a thing,’ God says to his people in that reading we heard earlier, it is too small a thing just to be concerned with the tribes of Israel. ‘I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.’ In other words, the blessing that God’s people have is for spreading, not for desperately protecting. Christians believe that the ultimate expression of this is in the person of Jesus Christ, born a Jew, but a saviour for all peoples – the ‘salvation that reaches to the ends of the earth.’ Returning to England, I think we can learn something from our local heroine Edith Cavell, whose grave is outside the east end of the cathedral. She famously said before her wartime execution, ‘Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.’ Perhaps we could adapt that line as: ‘Patriotism alone is too small a thing.’ No doubt the meaning of the England flag will continue to change as history unfolds. But here are my hopes for it. I hope that the current world cup tournament will reclaim the flag of St George from the tensions of last summer, and that it would help us feel united as a country, not divided. And I hope that as a country, we would discover generosity and hospitality towards other nations in the style of Isaiah 49. I hope we become the sort of country that is patriotic and outward-looking at the same time. In the end I want to live in a world where, when I buy a flag like this from Home Bargains, the staff think to themselves, ‘there goes a good person.'

Over the May half term, Lower Two pupil Dylan travelled to Kenya with his family and other volunteers to help with building work at the Jubilee Academy, Nakuru. The school was built in corrugated steel in 1998 to provide free schooling to local children. It was subsequently closed in 2019 when a new law was introduced that insisted that all schools should be made from brick. Undeterred, work started to rebuild the school. Currently, it is an infant school. However, due to the difficulty its pupils have in finding a school to attend once they have left, Jubilee Academy is committed to expanding to allow the children to continue their education. School can be the only place where children have a nutritious meal, so if they stay in school they have a greater likelihood of remaining healthy. Work had already started on building new classrooms, so Dylan helped to decorate them and worked on creating a new toilet block. During his rest periods he enjoyed playing football with the pupils there. Before the trip, he had called upon his year group to raise money to buy backpacks for the school in return for wearing Kenya's national flag colours for a day. Lower Two pupils were keen to do this and they also wrote letters to the children at Jubilee. Dylan's mother commented, "Seeing the children open the letters and see that someone has written them a letter just to them was priceless. I will remember their reactions for ever." Receiving replies from their Kenyan friends was equally exciting and fulfilling for our Lower Two pupils.  Dylan worked incredibly hard in Nakuru as the youngest volunteer the organisation had ever welcomed. Not only did he learn new practical skills in painting, plastering and carpentry, he gained new friends, and discovered that football really is a shared language across the world. His friends and teachers are proud of what he helped to achieve on his trip.

On Thursday 18 June, the inaugural Schools Simulated Shooting Event took place at the Euston Estate near Thetford. Norwich School was represented by two teams each consisting of four pupils. The event was hosted jointly by the Euston Estate and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT); participants were given a warm welcome by the Duke of Grafton before a representative of the GWCT explained how science was used to promote biodiversity and conservation. After a safety briefing, 15 teams, aged from 12-16, from 7 different schools, competed in a 50 bird (clay pigeon) sporting day during which they received expert coaching on each stand to hone their skills.  The day was an enormous success: the teams enjoyed themselves, learnt more about estate management and conservation and improved their skills in the Olympic sport of clay pigeon shooting. Huge thanks to all involved and here's to returning next year!

Upper 1 had a wonderful day out in Cromer, packed with learning, adventure and lots of fun in the sunshine! Our first stop was the famous Cromer Lifeboat Station, where we took part in a fascinating workshop led by the amazing RNLI volunteers. The children listened about the important work carried out by lifeboat crews and how they help to keep people safe at sea reinforcing their learning in Topic. One of the highlights of the visit was trying on real lifeboat crew uniforms. The children loved discovering how the special clothing helps to protect the volunteers in all weather conditions. We also enjoyed a close-up look at the RNLB Lester and a visit to the Crew Room, where the lifeboat crew prepare before responding to emergencies. The children asked some excellent questions and learned a great deal about water safety and teamwork.  After our workshop, we headed to the beach where the beautiful weather provided the perfect setting for lunch. The afternoon was full of excitement as the children had great fun paddling in the sea and then built impressive sandcastles and dug moats. Everyone enjoyed an ice cream to finish off the day!

The magnificent surroundings of St Andrew’s Hall provided the perfect setting for an unforgettable evening of music, celebration and youthful talent. Fresh from its recent renovation, the historic Norwich venue looked splendid as pupils, staff, families and friends gathered to enjoy a concert that showcased the extraordinary breadth of musical achievement across the Lower School. From the moment the Steel Pan Ensemble opened proceedings with Number 24 , directed by Mrs Wilson, there was a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. Throughout the evening, performers of all ages demonstrated not only impressive musical skill but also the confidence, enthusiasm and sheer enjoyment that make live music such a special experience. The Guitar Ensemble, under the direction of Mrs Cracknell, brought energy and flair to the stage with the wonderfully quirky Steve’s Lava Chicken and the infectious rhythms of Blue Boogie. Meanwhile, the Reception Choir charmed the audience with a delightful selection of French songs, their smiles and enthusiasm proving utterly irresistible. The concert highlighted the remarkable progression of musical learning across the school. The Advanced Recorders gave a confident and accomplished performance of the sea shanty Wellerman, while the Infant Choirs delighted with their imaginative and colourful repertoire, including The Nectar Team and Bees Knees , conducted by Mrs Barclay. The String Ensemble, directed by Jim O’Toole, delivered spirited performances of Hard as Rock and Parsnip Polka , demonstrating both precision and character. Equally engaging were Little Voices Ensemble, whose entertaining rendition of School Dinners drew smiles from the audience before the vibrant El Cumbanchero brought a burst of Latin-American flair to the evening. One of the most anticipated moments of the concert was undoubtedly the debut performance of The Black Eagles , the school's very first Lower School rock band. Taking to the stage with confidence and undeniable stage presence, they delivered powerful performances of two songs written by themselves, Black Ou t and System Shutdow n. Their energy was infectious, their enthusiasm unmistakable, and they received a deservedly enthusiastic response from the audience. It was a landmark moment for the school's music programme and a thrilling glimpse of what promises to be an exciting future for the group. The Chamber Choir provided a beautiful contrast, bringing warmth and musical sophistication to The Water is Wide before delighting listeners with the witty How to Survive Music Theory. The larger School Choir continued the uplifting atmosphere with a beautiful rendition of I’ll Be There for You and a 90’s classic performance of Dario G’s Sunchyme , taking most of the audience back to memories of Ibiza. The evening concluded with the ever-popular Stickers Group, whose performance of Two Little Dickie Birds brought the concert to a fittingly joyful close. Across every ensemble, there were smiles on faces, encouragement between performers and a genuine love of music that radiated from the stage. The concert was a wonderful showcase of the dedication of the pupils and the expertise of the music staff, whose commitment continues to nurture cofidence, creativity and excellence. In the beautiful surroundings of the newly restored St Andrew’s Hall, it was an evening that uplifted, inspired and reminded everyone present of the power of music to bring people together.