Norwich School (independent school)

For other uses, see Norwich School (disambiguation).

Norwich School

Motto	Praemia Virtutis Honores (Honours are the rewards of virtue)
Established	1096 (Traceable history)[1] 1547 (Refoundation)
Type	Independent, co-educational day school
Headmaster	SDA Griffiths
Chairman of Governors	GHC Copeman CBE DL
Founder	Herbert de Losinga, King Edward VI
Location	Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Staff	Circa 140 full-time
Students	888
Ages	7–18
Houses	Brooke, Coke, Nelson, Parker, Repton, School, Seagrim, Valpy
Colours	Royal Red and Royal Blue
Boat House	Norwich School Boat Club (founded 1880)
Former pupils	Old Norvicensians
Affiliations	Church of England, Worshipful Company of Dyers and HMC
Website	norwich-school.org.uk

Coordinates: 52°37′54″N 1°17′57″E / 52.6318°N 1.2993°E / 52.6318; 1.2993

Norwich School (previously King Edward VI’s Grammar School) is an independent school located in Norwich, United Kingdom. It is one of the oldest schools in the world, with a traceable history to 1096, and is a member of The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.^[1]

It is a fee-paying, co-educational day school and has one of the best academic records in East Anglia.^[2] In 2006, 2007 and 2008 The Daily Telegraph ranked its A-Level results as 74th, 55th and 80th respectively amongst independent schools in the UK, in each case the highest in Norfolk or Suffolk.

From September 2008, girls were admitted below the Sixth Form for the first time and there will be girls in every year group by September 2010.^[3] In April 2010 it was announced that Jim Hawkins, the school's current headmaster, will be leaving at the end of the 2010-11 academic year to take up the same post at Harrow.^[4]

He will be replaced by SDA Griffiths who was previously the Usher at Magdalen College School in Oxford.

The School has a long association with Norwich Cathedral, which it uses for morning assemblies and various annual events.

Ethos and Aims

The School's website states the following:

Ethos Learning and scholarship are at the heart of all that happens at Norwich School. Christian principles - notably love and compassion for one another - underpin our activities and relationships.

Aims Norwich School is committed to:

• developing independent thinkers and knowledgeable young people who have a love for learning that will last beyond school;

• providing a rich, varied and broad education that develops the diverse talents of the pupils;

• encouraging ambition and confidence allied to coutesy and graciousness;

• producing compassionate young people who will actively make the world a better place; and

• enriching physical health and spiritual awareness.

History

• 1096 Bishop Herbert de Losinga establishes the Benedictine Priory at Norwich and, shortly afterwards, an Episcopal Grammar School.

• c.1100 The original Bishop’s Palace is built (now part of a Senior School classroom block).

• c.1240 Vincent of Scarning appears in a document as Master of the Episcopal School – the first in an unbroken and documented line of headmasters that continues to the present day.

• c.1285 First record of the Almonry School – a second school within close proximity of the Cathedral.

• 1316 Chantry Chapel of St John the Evangelist (now the School Chapel) is founded by Bishop John Salmon.

• 1421 A further Chantry Chapel, probably associated with Agincourt veterans, is founded in the Chapel Crypt by Henry V.

• c.1516 Amalgamation of the Episcopal School and the Almonry School.

• 1540 King Henry VIII’s Grammar School is established, on the Cathedral foundation.

• 1547 The School is refounded as King Edward VI’s Grammar School under the Great Hospital Charter, thus separating it from the Cathedral foundation and placing it under the control of the Mayor and Aldermen of Norwich.

• 1551 The School moves into its current buildings – School House and the School Chapel (the former College and Chantry of St John the Evangelist, which has been dissolved in 1547).

Pastoral

The pastoral care of the Senior School is organised by Houses. Pupils are allocated to a House upon joining the school, and stay with that house as they move up through the year groups.

The Housemasters are managed by the Principal Deputy Head, who is accountable to the Head Master for the day-to-day pastoral care and discipline of the school, as well as for much of the rest of the school's non-academic activity.

The day-to-day care of the pupils is in the hands of the Tutors. Each year group within a House is run by a Tutor; sixth form groups, which are larger, have two Tutors. For example, the pupils in Repton House who are in the Lower Five year are together in one group, "Lower Five Repton", looked after by one Tutor, who is managed by the Repton Housemaster. The Tutor sees everyone in the Tutor group daily, for registration, and weekly, for a longer tutor period. The Tutor monitors the pupil's academic progress, general welfare, extra-curricular involvement, and so on, and is the first point of contact for most matters of concern or enquiry.

In the first year of the Senior School, Lower Four, pupils are tutored in a Form, which is also their teaching set for most subjects. Lower Four pupils are also attached to a House, and join the rest of their House for special events like the Music Competition.

During the current period of school expansion through co-education, the Senior Mistress is leading a team of Tutors for Girls.

Curriculum

From 11 – 16

The traditional array of subjects is taught but pupils have a full experience of the creative arts, in particular drama, music and design. They encounter many languages including Hebrew and Japanese as well as being taught philosophy and skills relating to thinking, relaxation and study. There are practical elements where learning takes place outdoors – to learn, for example, about ecology and food production by experience on school land. Site visits to the North Norfolk coast and other areas of the county are programmed into the year so that different academic subjects such as Art, Biology, Geography and History can combine resources on project work. The aim is to aid learning through varied experiences and stimuli and to excite the pupils about the learning process.

The Sixth Form

Almost all Sixth Form pupils go to university upon leaving Norwich School. There is a long track record of success in large numbers gaining entrance to 'Golden Triangle' and the other elite universities. In equipping boys and girls for this next stage of their career, care is taken to ensure that they have impressive academic credentials, the ability to work independently and with enthusiasm, and the capacity to lead full and varied lives. All are encouraged to excel in their A level studies and to be committed to sporting, cultural and extracurricular activity.

There is a significant intake of new pupils into the Sixth Form, the majority of whom are girls. Co-education at this age group is firmly established at Norwich School and girls are fully integrated into school life, many of them taking on positions of responsibility and a high profile in the academic and extracurricular life of the School. Girls’ induction and pastoral care is given particular importance; the Tutor for Girls has a specific brief to work with the Director of Sixth Form and Housemasters to ensure that each girl is well looked after.

Lower School

The Lower School is the base for Norwich School pupils between the ages of seven and eleven. There are currently 170 pupils in the Lower School. The vast majority of pupils from the Lower School progress to the Senior School at age eleven and the curriculum is designed to prepare the pupils effectively for the demands of the next stage of their Norwich School education. There are close links between the Lower and Senior Schools. The Master of the Lower School attends meetings of the Norwich School Board of Governors each term and meets regularly with members of the Senior School management team. In total, there are 10 full-time and 1 part-time members of the teaching staff–with a good mix of male and female staff.

Admission to the School

For September 2007 entry to the Lower School is from the age of 7 and 8, with lesser numbers at the ages of 9 and 10. Entry to the Senior School is at 11 and 12 and a small number at 13 and 14. Applicants can enter the school via either the Common Entrance examination or the school entry papers. In 2008 the school made the decision to start admitting girls from the age or 11, rather than the age of 16, as was previously the case.

Houses

The Senior School is organised by the House system. On entry to the school pupils are assigned to a House, remaining a member of that House as they progress through the year-groups. The list of Houses can be seen in the menu below.

House	Housemaster
Brooke	G.M. Downes (BA)
Coke	G.A. Hanlon (BSc)
Nelson	R.H. Bedford-Payne (BA)
Parker	A.L. Fisher (BA)
Repton	J.C. Fisher (BSc)
School	I.M. Grisewood (BA)
Valpy	D.P. Bateman (BA)
Seagrim	A.P. Curtis (BA)

From September 2009 Norwich School opened an eighth House, named Seagrim; the Housemaster is Mr. Andrew Curtis. It was populated by moving pupils (at their own discretion) from their current Houses as well as by new pupils joining the school in 2009. Seagrim's house colour is purple, and their symbol is 'E', the second letter of the house name. Seagrim is named after two ex-pupils, brothers Lt Col Derek Seagrim VC and Major Hugh Seagrim GC who both fought in WWII and between them gained honourable mention by the Government as well as the Victoria Cross and the George Cross.

School terms

The school's year is divided into three terms: Michaelmas (early September to mid December), Lent (early January to the Easter holiday) and Trinity (the Easter holiday to early July). In the middle of each term there is a week-long half-term holiday. The academic year thus begins with the Michaelmas term and ends with the Trinity term.

School sports

The Norwich School 1st VIII 2009 at Henley Royal Regatta 2009.

The Norwich School 1st IV 2010 that won The Fours Cup at National Schools Regatta 2010.

The school owns sports grounds for cricket, rugby, hockey, and football, and a gymnasium. It has boat-houses for rowing and sailing on the River Wensum and at Wroxham Broad respectively.

With rowing becoming an increasingly popular pastime, more and more pupils are joining each year. The school has had a few comparative successes over the last few years, including greatly improved positions for two crews at National Schools Regatta, and at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta. The effort put in by the boatclub, is reflected in the fact that there is currently fundraising underway for a new multimillion pound boathouse being built next to the original boathouse.^[5] Members of the boat club have recently been given the opportunity to purchase boating blazers, these blazers made their début at Henley Royal Regatta in 2010, the first year that the School's 1st VIII pre-qualified.

However, the major games remain as rugby, hockey and cricket throughout the year. With hockey, netball and rounders for girls. Other sports offered include: swimming, netball, cross-country running, fencing, self-defence, hockey, shooting, badminton and rowing.

Extracurricular activities

There are a wide range of clubs which reflect the interests of the pupils at the school. There are School Orchestras, bands, choirs, and groups. The school has a Debating Society, a Politics Forum and several academic departments offer clubs.

The Senior Play traditionally is performed in the Maddermarket Theatre, with other productions ,including a musical once every two years, taking place in the Puppet Theatre, the Lower School and the Cathedral.

The musical this year will be 'Guys and Dolls' which will be performed in November at Norwich Playhouse.

There are also a number of overseas visits, with the Modern Languages Department running exchanges to France, Germany and Liechtenstein. Cultural, sporting and adventurous trips have also been undertaken to Austria, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Holland, Iceland, India, Israel, Russia, Turkey and the United States. The school also offers the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

8th Norwich Sea Scouts

The 8th Norwich Sea Scout Group and the associated Octavi Explorer Scout Unit are sponsored by Norwich School and membership is restricted to members of the School. The Group is one of about a hundred Sea Scout groups recognised by the Royal Navy.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available, giving a reduction in school fees. The maximum value of a means-tested Scholarship is the entirety of the school's fees. Music scholarships, academic scholarships and other awards are also available.

All choristers are given assistance with school fees from the Norwich Cathedral Choir Endowment Fund.

Fees

For the Academic Year 2009/10:

Tuition
Senior School
£11,595 (per annum)
£3,865 (per term)
Lower School
£10,560 (per annum)
£3,520 (per term)

The School also charges fees for lunches and entries for public examinations.

Governing body

Council of Management

GHC Copeman CBE DL (Chairman) *

Professor Christopher Andrew MA, University of Cambridge

NP Blair, Worshipful Company of Dyers

CH Bradley Watson BSc MRICS *

JR Chambers FCA, Worshipful Company of Dyers

NJ Fischl MA

Mrs AM Fry MA

EJH Gould MA *

TJ Gould MA (Vice Chairman) *

Mrs AJC Green BSc

The Reverend Canon JM Haselock BA BPhil MA, Dean and Chapter

Professor KJ Heywood BSc PhD, University of East Anglia

AD Jeakings FCMA *

A Knowles MDes (RCA)

RA Leuchars BSc, Worshipful Company of Dyers

Mrs E McLoughlin BArch RIBA

PN Mirfield BCL MA BA, University of Oxford

Mrs MCG Phillips BA

The Very Reverend GCM Smith BA, Dean and Chapter

PJE Smith MA FIA *

EP Witton ACIB

DW Talbot ACA

Miss T Yates BA

List of Old Norvicensians

The following is a list of notable Old Norvicensians, former pupils of Norwich School, Norfolk, England.

Military

Captain Horatio Nelson, painted by John Francis Rigaud in 1781.^[6]

• Horatio, Viscount Nelson.[2]
• Lt Col Derek Seagrim VC
• Major Hugh Seagrim GC
• Joseph Burnett - Australian naval captain

Politicians

• Lord Ashcroft
• Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak
• Sir Edward Coke
• Sir John Quinton
• Arthur Samuel, 1st Baron Mancroft^[7]

Academics

• Robert, Lord Blake - historian
• John Lindley - botanist
• Christopher Andrew - historian
• Oliver Rackham

Writers

George Borrow in an 1851 engraving.

• John Brereton - 17th century chronicler
• D J Taylor - critic, novelist and biographer
• George Borrow - author
• Robert Greene - poet, novelist and critic of Shakespeare

Artists

• John Sell Cotman
• John Berney Crome
• James Stark
• George Vincent

Religious leaders

• Henry Walpole - Jesuit martyr
• William Aubrey Aitken - Bishop of Lynn
• John James Stewart Perowne - Bishop of Worcester
• Cecil Wilfred Wilson - Bishop of Middleton
• Frederick Dudley Vaughan Narborough - Anglican Bishop

Sports

• Emma Pooley - cyclist
• Clive Radley - cricketer
• Tom Adeyemi - footballer

Other

• Peter Kindersley - publisher
• Humphry Repton - landscape gardener
• Tim Westwood - DJ
• Becky Mantin - model and television presenter

Notable Masters

• Augustus Jessopp, 19th century Head Master and author
• G. A. Williamson, who was senior classics master at Norwich from 1922-1960 has translated many histories of Roman times.
• Theodore Acland, Head Master 1930 to 1943
• John Crome, sometime drawing master and founder member of The Norwich School of Artists
• David N. Farr, historian
• Adrian Lucas, organist and conductor
• Philip Stibbe, a former Chindit and author of "Return via Rangoon"

See also

• List of the oldest schools in the world
• Grammar School
• The Invention of Tradition (1983; Terence Ranger and Eric Hobsbawm (eds.)) ISBN 0521437733

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Jo Swinnerton (2005), The History of Britain Companion, London, United Kingdom: Robson, ISBN 1861059140, 9781861059147, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=hd0wNKXAupwC&pg=PA106&dq=norwich+school+1096&hl=en&ei=Qg0NTorQBciy8gPu_ei9Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=norwich%20school%201096&f=false, retrieved 2 July 2011 
2. ^ Guardian Unlimited 2006 GCSE and A-level results http://education.guardian.co.uk/secondaries/tables/0,,1985499,00.html
3. ^ Lord Nelson school to allow girls Press Association article in The Guardian, September 15, 2007 8:38 AM
4. ^ Norwich School headmaster secures Harrow job Press Association article in The Eastern Daily Press, March 30, 2010 13:00 PM
5. ^ "New Multi Million Pound Boathouse". Whitlinghamboathouses.co.uk. http://www.whitlinghamboathouses.co.uk/. Retrieved 2011-02-10. 
6. ^ Sugden 2004, p. 464.
7. ^ Sir Arthur Michael Samuel

Bibliography

1. Guardian Unlimited 2006 GCSE and A-level results http://education.guardian.co.uk/secondaries/tables/0,,1985499,00.html
2. Daily Telegraph A-level results table http://www.telegraph.co.uk
3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/3697994.stm
4. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-419277/Public-school-boys-stole-valuables-researching-value-internet.html
5. Rawcliffe, Wilson and Clark, 'Norwich Since 1555', International Publishing Group, 2004, p308. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=mIuaaUAM7QcC&pg=RA1-PA307&lpg=RA1-PA307&dq=Edward+VI+Grammar+School+norwich&source=web&ots=W1r1rjpZA8&sig=OGpDjRKLk0za1_4S65Rf-CuNa3g&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PRA1-PA308,M1

External links

• Norwich School website
• Old Norvicensian website