GSCE RESULTS 2022: INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS STORIES

August 25, 2022

After two extraordinary years, it was a delight to see our pupils receive their GCSE results today and there have been some outstanding individual performances including:

  • 1 candidate with 12 x 9
  • 2 candidates with 11 x 9
  • 7 candidates with 10 x 9
  • 19 candidates with 10 x 8 or 9
  • 36 candidates with 9 x 8 or 9

We caught up with a few of our pupils to find out more about their individual achievements…

Jay Ambadkar


Jay achieved an incredible set of 12 x grade 9s in his GCSEs and says they were better than he ever expected. Out of only 13 pupils in England to achieve 12x grade 9s at GCSE, this result is even more impressive. Jay will go on to take Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A Level and is most excited for Sixth Form because he will be able to study subjects that he enjoys and have a chance to explore other interests he has outside of these subjects in his free periods. Alongside this, Jay is working towards his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award (which involves him volunteering in his local library) and he has rather excitingly started the new Sixth Form year as Head of Erpingham Society - a great achievement.

Maddie Hallam



Maddie was delighted with her results, which she says were better than she hoped for. Maddie achieved 9 x grade 9 and 1 x grade 7 and will go into Sixth Form to study Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. She says she hopes then to go on to university to study Biotechnology or “something sciency”. Meantime, she is looking forward to Sixth Form life, especially meeting the new pupils who are joining the school to study for their A Levels.


Jonathan Ikazaboh



Jonathan achieved 4 x grade 9, 4 x grade 8 and 2 x grade 7 and will study Maths, Physics and Economics at A Level. In the future, he would like to work with statistics and data studies, but in the meantime, he says he is looking forward to going into the Sixth Form “to study subjects I am passionate about.” Jonathan is also a keen sportsman and is on the school’s first rugby team. 


Evie Hayward



Evie achieved 2 x grade 9, 2 x grade 8, 3 x grade 7 and 2 x grade 6 and will go on to Sixth Form to study Geography, RS, Psychology and 2D Art. Her long term goal is to be a primary school teacher or a graphic designer. Evie is looking forward to entering Sixth Form, in particular the free periods as she says she loves studying in her own time. When she is not focusing on her academic studies, Evie plays the flute and was part of the school’s cheerleading squad.


Madeline Pike



Madeline achieved 5 x grade 9, 3 x grade 8 and 2 x grade 7 and will go on to study Biology, Chemistry and either Physics or Maths. Madeline is a keen sportswoman and plays on the school’s netball team, as well as water polo outside school. In addition, she is active in the school’s extra curricular programme and performed circus skills in the Senior Dance Festival and Gala Night last year.


Chester and Hugo Dimoglou



Chester and Hugo are one of 5 sets of twins in this cohort and the brothers each achieved an impressive 10 grade 9. They are both looking forward to Sixth Form and say they particularly like the opportunity of narrowing down the subjects; Chester will study Spanish, Maths, Theatre Studies and English, and Hugo will study Maths, Economics, Theatre Studies and Physics. The brothers also both enjoy performing arts and were an impressive double act hosting the Senior School Dance Festival, as well as taking part in Legally Blonde the Musical.


Kaitlin Wolmarans



Kaitlin achieved 6 x grade 9, 3 x grade 8 and 1 x grade 5 and is going to study 2D Art, 3D Art, English Literature and Psychology in Sixth Form. Beyond that she is considering either university or an apprenticeship. She says she is looking forward to A Levels and expanding her knowledge about subjects she loves. She is also looking forward to being in the Sixth Form and the independence it brings. As well as her studies, Kaitlin loves dancing, including disco, street and commercial; she is also in the school netball team.


Finney Harrod


Finney was thrilled with his results and will go onto Sixth Form to study Spanish, German and Business Studies. He says he is really looking forward to Sixth Form as it is an exciting chance to study subjects he has chosen more in-depth. He is also looking forward to being in the senior production of Footloose when he returns to school in September. Finney wanted to say “Thank you to all the teachers, as well as my friends, who have all been so supportive, and especially to my parents.”. In the future he hopes to do something in the sporting world, either through sports journalism or as a player liaison.


Matthew Hudson



Matthew achieved an impressed 10 x grade 9 and is planning to study History, German, Politics and Graphics. He is really looking forward to Sixth Form, where he says he is most looking forward to the freedom to study independently. Matthew also has a strong community spirit and volunteered for the Library last year.


Liv Hill & Tilly Hill


Liv says she is delighted with her results and was particularly happy to achieve a 9 in Sports Science and 2D Design, which she is going on to study at A Level, along with Psychology. Liv says she is really excited about Sixth Form and the prospect of making new friends with pupils joining in the new academic year. A keen sports person, Liv is in the schools cricket and hockey teams and plans to go to Loughborough to study Sports Science Coaching and Exercise. Liv is also a twin and says that with five sets of twins in the year group, there is lots of friendly rivalry and fun!


Tilly’s immediate response when she opened her results was “Mum, have I got the right results?”. So it is fair to say she is delighted with 2 x grade 9, 3 x grade 8 and 3 x grade 7. Tilly is going into Sixth Form to study 2D Art, 3D Art and Sports Science and plans to do a creative course at a university which offers sports as well as outstanding arts provision, so she can continue with her passion for cricket and hockey. In addition to sports, Tilly is a keen photographer and is launching a new photography club in the next academic year. She is also looking forward to studying in Sixth Form and focusing on subjects that she most enjoys.

STEM University offer update (March 2026)

By Eleanor Lewis • March 20, 2026
With British Science week happening last week, it is a great time to celebrate some of the many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine) offers our Upper 6 pupils have received from the most selective UK universities. STEM is very strong at Norwich School with consistently large numbers of both girls and boys choosing Sciences, Maths and Further Maths for A level: 80 of last year’s Upper 6 cohort took Maths A level (the most popular A level subject) with over 40 taking each of the three Sciences and 17 taking Further Maths. There is so much going on in STEM areas within school; the pupil led Med Soc (Medical Society) have recently enjoyed learning surgical suturing and practising this on pigs’ trotters, Upper 6 pupil Adit Raje has just gained a ‘Top Gold’ in the British Physics Olympiad coming in the top 69 of the 9000 entrants and Upper 6 pupil Emmanuel Milne’s gold in the British Biology Olympiad placed him in the top 5% of the 18,800 pupils who took part nationally. Both of these performances qualified the pupils for Round 2 of these Olympiads whilst the lower 4 and lower 5 VEX Robotics team’s recent regional and then national success qualified them for the international finals that will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, USA in April. The school’s Apply+ Programme is run by Mr Pearce. It supports pupils applying to academic courses that require admissions tests and/or interviews. STEM Oxbridge offers: Of the 10 Norwich School pupils with offers to study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities this cycle, 5 are for STEM subjects: Thomas Irvine – Medicine at the University of Cambridge Georgia Lloyd – Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Cambridge Adit Raje – Physics at the University of Oxford Freya Simmonds – Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge Emile Verschoor – Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge Other Apply+ STEM offers received so far this cycle: Thomas Cahir – Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Manchester Isaac Chan – Physics with Theoretical Physics at Imperial Arthur Dannatt – Mathematics at the University of Warwick Katerina Di Maria – Biochemistry at Imperial Thomas Hsia – Computer Science at University of Warwick Leon Liu – Physics at the University of Manchester Maya Peart – Microbiology at Imperial Adit Raje – Physics at Imperial Emile Verschoor – Physics at Imperial Halvard Yip – Data Science at the University of Warwick  Medicine and Veterinary medicine: We are delighted that all of our pupils who have applied for medicine and veterinary medicine this cycle have gained offers to study these highly competitive courses: Omar Alfiky Isio Emore India-Rose Fox Lizzie Henson

Lower 2 Explore the London Sites

By Eleanor Lewis • March 17, 2026
Lower Two enjoyed a successful two‑day residential in London.  The trip began with a train journey into the city, followed by an introduction to travelling independently on the Underground. Thirdly, then pupils then visited the London Eye, where many showed great courage in overcoming fears of heights while enjoying panoramic views and identifying key landmarks, including their hostel near St Paul’s Cathedral. Secondly, the children had a wonderful time at the Paddington Experience, where they eagerly joined Paddington in his quest to make the perfect marmalade. Working together, they helped gather ingredients, stirred the mixture with great enthusiasm, and proudly supported Paddington in creating his famous treat. Thirdly, riverboat cruise along the Thames provided further learning, offering insights into London’s architecture and the history of the Great Fire of London. The day concluded with a well‑deserved dinner at Pizza Express. On the second day, the group explored the Tower of London, observing the ravens, viewing the Crown Jewels, and learning about royal life throughout history. A picnic on the grounds offered a relaxed end to the visit. All pupils represented the school admirably and should be proud of their achievements on their first residential.

Choristers Visit London for Evensong with Temple Church Choir

By Eleanor Lewis • March 17, 2026
The Choristers visited London on Wednesday 4 March to sing Evensong with the Temple Church Choir. We left from Norwich train station at 9.30am after a quick rehearsal, and arrived in London in time for lunch at Zizzi. We were then shown around St Paul’s Cathedral and enjoyed testing out the acoustics in the Whispering Gallery. After braving the narrow spiral staircases all the way up to the Golden Gallery, we admired the spectacular views over London. At the end of the tour we had a group photo on an amazing cantilever staircase (used in the Harry Potter films as the way to the Divination classroom), and then walked to the Temple Church. Following a rehearsal with their choir, they all sang Evensong together at 6pm. The standard of singing was breathtaking, a testament to the hard work and dedication these young musicians display on a daily basis. We caught the 8pm train and arrived back in Norwich just before 10pm, tired but happy after a rewarding and fulfilling day. Pupil Highlights: “The whole day was 10/10. I especially enjoyed seeing the spiral staircase in St Paul’s used in the Harry Potter films!” “My favourite part was singing at the Temple Church with the other choir. I also liked the view from the top of St Paul’s Cathedral, even if it was very high up - I’m not great with heights!”

Norwich School Pupils Knit for the Community

By Sonja Mitchell • March 16, 2026
With thanks to an award from the Friends of Norwich School, the Community Knit Club has been busy knitting winter essentials.

The Royal Geographical Society Takes Stock of Fisheries in the Blake Studio!

By Eleanor Lewis • March 16, 2026
Norwich School has had the honour of being the host site for the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in the East of England since 2019. Ours is an ideal venue for their engaging public talks from renowned experts about the physical, human and environmental world around us. On 16 March 2026 we heard a terrific presentation given by Stephen Akester entitled Rethinking the future of our seas, and what you can do to help. Stephen is a veritable font of all knowledge concerning global fisheries and fish stocks. He is a highly respected expert who advises the World Bank, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, and national governments on fisheries policy. Through comprehensible interpretation of data and up-to-the-minute fishing vessel GPS tracking information, he gave us a compelling and intelligent assessment of world fish stocks and practices. Whilst there are clearly some areas of deep concern, unsustainable practices involving indiscriminate bottom trawling and unregulated industries in offending countries, Stephen also gave an upbeat assessment of areas where sustainable fishing has seen some dramatic recoveries in levels of nutritional, tasty fish that we can land on our dinner plates with a clear conscience. A large audience of pupils, staff, alumni, Fellows of RGS, academics and parents left the talk better informed and hugely impressed by our speaker. His professionalism, steely determination to drive best practice and genuine environmental concern was evident to all, especially when fielding a stimulating Q&A afterwards and over refreshments. Attracted by such ‘fishy’ goings-on, even Budge, the Cathedral Cat, put in a guest appearance, and sat salivating over big tuna on the screen! These RGS talks offer intellectual rigour and great entertainment for professionals/academics and the lay person alike, and are always well worth attending, whatever the topic under discussion. The next talk will be given by accomplished and award-winning wildlife cameraman and director Toby Hough, who is also a proud Old Norvicensian. His credits include work seen on Countryfile, The One Show, Springwatch and numerous BBC wildlife documentaries and travel programmes. His talk promises to be a memorable visual feast! Tickets are on sale here: RGS: Toby Hough - Lemurs to leopards: filming adventures from around the world . All are welcome. It takes place on Thursday 7 May 2026 at 19:30 in the Blake Studio.

Upper 1 Visit Castle Rising

By Eleanor Lewis • March 16, 2026
On 12 March, Upper 1 embarked on a fascinating journey back in time with a visit to Castle Rising, bringing their learning about medieval castles to life. During the trip, the children discovered that Castle Rising Castle is one of the finest surviving examples of a Norman motte and bailey castle in the UK. They learned about the huge earthwork defences that were carefully constructed around the castle, along with the imposing gatehouse and towering stone walls designed to protect it from attack. The children also discovered how a wide moat once completely surrounded the castle, forming a powerful and intimidating barrier that made it extremely difficult for enemies to approach. The drawbridge and portcullis were also vital features in controlling who could enter! Upper 1 learnt about the Murder Hole, a clever defensive feature used by castle guards to drop boiling water, stones, or other objects onto attackers below. The children also explored the remains of the castle kitchen and stepped into the magnificent Great Hall, imagining the feasts, meetings, and celebrations that would once have filled the room. They listened to stories about a bedchamber believed to be one of the most haunted rooms in the UK, explored the original church built 200 years before the castle, and looked at the ruins of the bailey buildings. The trip was a wonderful opportunity for the children to consolidate their learning of life in a medieval castle.

Upper 6 Physics Olympiad

By Eleanor Lewis • March 13, 2026
Upper Sixth Physics pupils recently participated in the British Physics Olympiad hosted by the University of Oxford. The challenge involved answering a series of highly demanding abstract physics problems from beyond the scope of the A Level curriculum. Around 9000 pupils initially took part in the new Olympiad Round 0, with pupils needing to achieve above a threshold score to proceed to Round 1. Over 1800 pupils from 475 schools qualified for Round 1. The following pupils from Norwich School made it through to Round 1 and achieved these excellent results: Emile Verschoor Silver Arthur Dannatt Silver Adit Raje Top Gold Adit Raje's outstanding performance meant that he also qualified for Round 2 of the Olympiad - an exceptional achievement given that only 69 pupils out of the original 9000 made it through. He proceeded to gain a Silver Award in this event, an incredible achievement and recognition that he is one of the top young physicists in the country at problem solving.

Little Roots Allotment Open Afternoon – Beautiful Pots of Colour Were Created!

By Eleanor Lewis • March 13, 2026
On Friday 13 March, the Little Roots Allotment was delighted to welcome parents, grandparents and pupils to the open afternoon. This event gave families the opportunity to look round the evolving gardening space and experience the allotment in its new location. It was wonderful to see many families exploring the allotment and admiring the work that has been done by pupils so far. Pupils had the chance to get their hands dirty and plant their very own spring planters, which they took home— just in time to make the perfect Mother’s Day gift! Surrounded by cheerful flowers and newly emerging vegetables, the afternoon was filled with excitement, creativity, and an appreciation for the beauty of our unique school grounds.

FONS Invests in our Young Entrepeneurs

By Sonja Mitchell • March 12, 2026
The ever-popular Young Chamber participants have launched their businesses and are learning what it takes to be successful.

Fraser Evans (20-25) Selected for GB Hockey Elite Player Development Squad

By Sonja Mitchell • March 11, 2026
The programme helps athletes transition into senior international hockey.
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