Upper 4 and Lower 5 Scholars Explore London and it's History
October 18, 2025
At the end of an industrious first half-term, 31 pupils embarked on our annual U4/L5 Academic Scholars residential trip to London. The visit was designed around the following key aims:
- To enjoy each other’s company outside of school and spend time discussing what we encounter.
- To learn more about our capital city- key historical sites of societal and scientific significance and important works of art.
- To create links between curricular areas of interest and personal interest and develop new areas of interest.
- To use this trip as inspiration to complete a reflective assignment to answer one of these questions:
Is London truly an iconic city, as it is often described?
How have different historical periods shaped London? What does the future hold?
When learning about London, whose stories do we hear and whose stories are missing?
In order to achieve these aims we visited a wide variety of attractions over our two days in London. We began with a walk from Liverpool Street to the Tower of London where Mr Rowlandson helped pupils to reflect on both the geography of this site as well as comparing the history of the White Tower with Norwich Castle. We then travelled along the Thames to Greenwich in order to visit the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Observatory and the fascinating Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition.
Dr Leeder, as Head of Nelson House, was delighted to be able to see Admiral Nelson’s coat (complete with bullet hole on the left shoulder!), particularly since the trip took place on Norwich School’s commemoration of Trafalgar Day. We also discovered that linking art and astronomy to enter the photography competition is much more complicated than taking a snap of the night sky, as Mrs Grant explained before our visit. After a trip back down the Thames and a jovial dinner together our evening was spent at the National Gallery before a walk to our hotel, absorbing the vibrant atmosphere of London on a Friday night. Saturday morning began with a lively scavenger hunt around Bloomsbury, passing institutions like SOAS and UCL and even encountering a film shoot on one street.
The group then visited the British Library where Mr Douglas-Field offered a compelling introduction to this building (8km of shelving are added every year to the collection!) and prompted pupils to reflect on the future of such an institution. Inside we visited the Treasures Gallery, where we saw the Magna Carta, Beethoven’s original score for his Pastoral Symphony and a notebook of Leonardo Da Vinci, amongst many other amazing artefacts. The British Library also houses a brilliant Sound Archive where we could listen to anything from bird calls to regional accents. As we returned to Norwich pupils began to reflect on their visit and their assignment task. Pupils will share their work with their peers online and offer comment on each other’s work. We are so looking forward to reading pupils’ work and seeing how their perspectives have been shaped by our trip.
The Friends of Norwich School have funded much-needed equipment to expand horizons and creativity
Upper 4 pupils enjoyed an insightful and interesting trip to Neasden Hindu Temple in London on Thursday 26 February. Pupils enjoyed the temple exhibition and were able to observe the Arti ceremony, learning more about Hindu ism to support their studies in class. They enjoyed a talk given by a member of the Temple about how the extraordinary building was built and perhaps the highlight of the trip was the vegetarian curry served at the restaurant afterwards. Mrs Cawkwell would like to thank pupils for behaving respectfully and for staff for their enthusiastic support.
The Cross-Country team enjoyed a drizzly afternoon of racing in Ipswich on Saturday 28 February. The course was extremely muddy making for challenging, slippery conditions. But the Junior Boys managed to stay upright and perform well with Jonas Tam finishing 3rd, Jonty Croskell in 4th and Oscar Parker-Wright in 11th. All season the Senior Girls have dominated the front end of the field and again we had 3 of the top six finishers. On this occasion, it was Amelie Ivie who timed her finish best to take 3rd place ahead of Bea Green in 4th and Olivia Allen in 6th. The team was completed by Simran Chawla coming in 12th. With 8 Senior Boys running, the team prize seems sewn up this year and we had 3 of the top 5 finishers. Over the 7.6km route, Ethan Buskell was fastest on the day, coming 2nd, just ahead of Arthur Dannatt in 3rd and Leon Liu 5th. Leo Pitt was 8th, Jeremy Lo 9 th and Tom Copley, George Yiasimi and Edward Lott completed the dominating team performance all in the top 14. The final race in the series is next Saturday at RHS. Congratulations to all involved!
The Chess Team travelled to Woodbridge on Friday 27 February for the second round of the English Schools' Chess Championships. We have had some very close matches against Woodbridge in recent years, and this was no exception. Junaid Ahmed unfortunately lost out in a very sharp match on Board 6, while on Board 5 George Potter's game swung from winning to losing and back again several times before he eventually lost out in the endgame. A dominant win from Merlin Perrow, who won a pawn in the opening and held onto his advantage throughout the game, brought the team back into contention. Then Edward Lott on Board 2 beat a highly rated opponent to draw the team level at 2 games each. Thomas Hsia had a commanding position but was down to his last few seconds as his opponent still had plenty of time on the clock. After a few missteps from both sides, the time pressure proved too much and Thomas allowed a skewer and lost the game. Arthur Dannatt on Board 1 played a good game with the black pieces but also lost out in the end as his opponent's attack in the centre proved decisive. Although all games were competitive, the team unfortunately lost 4-2. Well done to those who played and a reminder that chess club takes place every Monday and Friday lunchtime in P9.
On Wednesday 26 February Able2B and Minnie Andrews (Lower 6) led an assembly in the lead up to Discover Your Ability Day 2026! This year, Norwich School are continuing our work with Able2B by hosting the annual Discover Your Ability Day on the penultimate Sunday of the Trinity Term. The event is rather like a duathlon, with a running and cycling event around the Lower Close (including along the rivers edge), with some participants taking part in wheelchairs and adpated bicycles to make it as inclusive as possible. We have plans to make it bigger and better this year by doubling up with another of our signature events; the Intergenerational Sports Day with Friend in Deed (involving young and old participants alike). This way we can have even more of the Norwich School and wider community involved on the Lower School field than ever before! To prepare for Discover Your Ability Day, pupils who sign up will take part in just 2 or 3 training sessions at the Able2B gym in ahead of June. As this is a family event, family members and friends can also volunteer as marshals and route guides, or just come along to watch the event. We also have Able2B ambassadors linked to each house again like last year - where we will run a competition to get the most members from each house to sign up and take part. (the ambassadors will line up at this point if all able to be there!) Discover your Ability Day is a fantastic opportunity to help out in the local community, as well as gaining valuable skills. This is a highly inspirational charity event, so pupils are encouraged to take part in any way they can. Additionally, taking part in the training sessions and final event can count towards volunteering hours for anyone doing the Duke of Edinburgh award. See below for the talk from Able2B
On Wednesday 25 February 2026 a group of 32 A Level Physics pupils visited Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station. After a safety briefing by site staff and a presentation on the physics and engineering involved in the generation of electricity from nuclear fission, pupils were given a comprehensive tour of the site. This included an outside overview of the reactor dome, step-up transformers, sea water intake and National Grid electricity distribution system, and an inside tour of the turbine hall and engineering workshops. It was a fantastic day which provided pupils and staff with a great insight into the practical application of physics and engineering theory to the nuclear industry. Pupil behaviour was impeccable, and they were a credit to the school.
Stephanie Magusin-Vardakou, Upper 6, reports on the Chapel Choir half term trip to Hamburg. In February Half Term, 34 U5, L6 and U6 members of Chapel Choir as well as Ms Walton, Mr Stamp, Miss Clark and Mrs Platten flew to Hamburg for a choir tour. We were greeted with extremely snowy conditions, and many members of the Choir did not hesitate to begin the 4-day long snowball fight. After a restful night’s sleep in the youth hostel and a traditional German breakfast, we set off to St. Michaelis Church, where we sang some traditional English Choral Music, which according to the director of music at the Church was a nice change from all the Bach that is usually sung. On a high from the performance, we set of to our second church, St. Petri where we had a rehearsal, a sang for a prayer meditation and then a full hour’s concert where we sang all the music we prepared. Following this, a delicious supper was had in a nearby restaurant followed by an early night after a tiring day. Our next day, Valentine’s Day, was much more relaxed. Pupils were greeted with heart shaped chocolates by Mrs Platten to commemorate the day, as well as the hostel providing heart shaped pretzel rolls. We set off back to St. Petri where we had a rehearsal before singing in another church, St. Jakobi. Ater a brief sing in St. Katherinen, we went to arguably the highlight of the trip, Minatur Wunderland, the largest model railway system in the world. After plenty of hours of fun, we went to the hostel for supper and had an awards ceremony before bed. On our last day, we sang a Eucharist back in St. Petri with the Hamburg Bach Choir before a long lunch break. We then set off for the Airport, tired but content after a busy and rewarding trip. Thank you to all involved, it was an extremely successful trip!
This half term, an intrepid group of pupils from Symposium – Norwich School 's interdisciplinary social and political science society – braved the February drizzle to spend an inspiring day at Selwyn College, Cambridge. Pupils from Upper 5 to Upper 6 immersed themselves in the world of Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS), gaining a first-hand taste of life at a world-class university. After an inside-track introduction to Cambridge, we were joined by four current HSPS student ambassadors who shared personal insights into their studies and university life. Our pupils then experienced a Cambridge supervision-style session on the forces that shape our identity, working in small groups alongside the undergraduates to engage with ideas from some of the biggest names in social science – an exciting glimpse into degree-level discussion. After a guided tour of Selwyn’s lovely grounds and lunch in the college’s beautiful old hall, we set off on an afternoon mission to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. There, pupils connected the theory of their morning discussions to real-world artefacts, exploring how identity is shaped across cultures and time. It was an off-piste day that sparked curiosity, challenged thinking, and stretched us far beyond the school curriculum, and it was a joy to see our pupils gain a vivid preview of the intellectual adventures ahead. A big thank you to Selwyn College, University of Cambridge for hosting us.
The Jemison Group enjoyed an exciting and immersive visit to The Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum. They had the opportunity to sit in a cockpit and learn how to fly, giving them a taste of what it might be like to be a pilot. They explored the exhibits and were even able to handle some weapons. They also travelled back in time to the Second World War, stepping inside an Anderson Shelter during an air raid in Norwich. As part of the day, pupils learned how to map flight paths, linking history with geography and developing their understanding of navigation. It was a memorable visit that deepened their knowledge and sparked plenty of curiosity.
On Saturday 7 May, internationally renowned classical musicians will gather in the beautiful setting of St Nicholas Chapel, King’s Lynn, to honour the music of beloved composer Sir Karl Jenkins during a special fundraising concert hosted by Music in the Burnhams. This concert is the centrepiece of Music in the Burnhams' 2026 programme and will be raising funds for Norfolk and Waveney Mind. The evening, which the composer is due to attend himself, will include performances from the UK’s leading independent orchestra, the British Sinfonietta, the King’s Lynn Festival Chorus and Norwich School Choir, accompanied by acclaimed musicians; cellist Adrian Bradbury, violinists Benedict Holland and Joo Yeon Sir, harpist Alis Huws, euphonium player Dan Thomas, bass baritone Paul Carey Jones and soprano Khrystyna Makar. Conducted by Ben Horden, Music Director of the King’s Lynn Festival Chorus, together they will perform some of Sir Karl’s most celebrated works, such as Cantilena from Symphonic Adiemus, Benedictus from The Armed Man, and Cantata Memoria, which was written in commemoration of the Aberfan disaster. Music in the Burnhams is a charity bringing world-leading classical musicians to venues and schools across north-west Norfolk. Founder, Marian Abramovich, said the Celebration of Sir Karl Jenkins concert will not only provide the opportunity for local communities to witness a rare gathering of renowned musicians, but also support wellbeing services for young people in the area. “We believe classical music should be for all; that’s why we’re passionate about bringing acclaimed musicians to venues across our corner of Norfolk, so as many people as possible - some for the first time - have the chance to experience and enjoy these incredible live performances,” said Marian. “We’re also dedicated to supporting local young people, either through school workshops with visiting musicians or fundraising initiatives. Knowing the intrinsic relationship between music and wellbeing, we’re thrilled to be donating proceeds from this concert - and all our events throughout 2026 - to Norfolk and Waveney Mind to support the expansion of mental health services for young people in West Norfolk.” Marian added: “One of today’s best-loved composers, Sir Karl is a big advocate for mental health support, with his works having previously raised funds for mental health charities aiding military veterans. And one of his most-famous pieces, the poignant Cantata Memoria, pays tribute to those affected by the Aberfan disaster, a terribly tragic event in Welsh history that is approaching its 60 th anniversary this year and left many survivors suffering with profound mental health issues. Sir Karl was therefore a fitting choice for the focus of this major fundraising event.” Music in the Burnhams hopes to raise £20,000 for Norfolk and Waveney Mind by the end of 2026! To book your tickets click here!
