To celebrate International Women's Day, we decided to create a spotlight series on some inspirational women in our ON community. Next up we have Rachel Dennison (ON 12-16), Chief of Staff at Oxford Medical Products. What are you doing now for work? I am the Chief of Staff at Oxford Medical Products, a biotech start-up company who have developed a non-pharmacological treatment for overweight and obesity called Sirona, as well as a new system for delivering drugs orally rather than as injections. My role is at the intersection of science and business, helping to commercialise the technology that has been developed by our fantastic team of scientists and engineers. What does a typical day entail? The best thing about the Chief of Staff role and start-ups is that there is no typical day, every day is different. The company is currently raising a round of investment, so at the moment my days are spent building pitch decks, pitching to investors and attending conferences. The product will begin its final clinical trial for weight loss this year, so I am also busy helping to design and set up that trial in both the UK and US. How have you got to where you are today? After leaving Norwich school I studied neuroscience at Nottingham University and undertook my master’s year at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, where I worked predominantly on neuroregeneration and spinal cord injury. At this point I knew I loved science but I didn’t want my whole career to be in the lab. After that, I got a business internship at Complement Therapeutics, a biotech start-up in London who are developing a gene therapy for a disease of the eye. This was the first time I got to merge business and science and is what drove me to study an MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise at Cambridge University, which is a course focused on the commercialisation of scientific research and building science-based start-ups. Some friends and I then started building our own start-up company called Nimo Biotech, where we developed a saliva-based glucose monitor for diabetics and we won the Cambridge University start-up pitch competition. This solidified my want to be involved in the start-ups, so when I saw the role advertised for Chief of Staff at Oxford Medical Products, I jumped at it. What was your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School? Singing Jerusalem at the end of term. How do you think NS helped you get where you are today? Mr Large’s biology lesson on the brain is what first sparked my interest in neuroscience, and Mr Croston’s patience and guidance when I changed my mind at least 15 times on what university course I wanted to study, was also greatly appreciated and incredibly helpful.

To celebrate International Women's Day, we decided to create a spotlight series on some inspirational women in our ON community. Next up we have Natalie Lauren, Actor and Filmmaker! What are you doing now for work? I have two aspects to my professional life. On one side, I’m an Actor and a Filmmaker; on the other, I’m a Mentor and Education Consultant. Acting is easy to explain: I work in plays, films, TV and Voice-Over. Funnily enough, in the last ON magazine I wrote that about the only area of the industry I’ve not worked yet is Commercials, which is a shame because they tend to be much more lucrative! I’m pleased to now update that to say that I shot 2 Commercials in 2024, and they were indeed more lucrative! Being an Independent Filmmaker is the newest addition to my career, and it’s broad to encompass the variety of roles I’ve had in the film’s I’ve made: Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, Post-Production Supervisor. About the only thing I haven’t yet done is be a Sound Recordist! What does a typical day entail? There is no such thing! Making short film is like a series of projects that span 1-2 years. There’s different phases within that, and sometimes you’re working on more than one project in more than one phase. Then throw in the odd, unexpected audition, or sessions with my Mentoring students, and there really is no “typical”! How have you got to where you are today? A healthy mix of naivety, dogged determination, and a phenomenal support network that I certainly call on frequently. Genuinely, in all seriousness, I got here because I kept saying ‘yes’ to little things that I thought sounded interesting, I kept putting one foot in front of the other and insisting on doing everything to the best of my ability in the moment. I’ve never been good at future planning or big end-goals. The idea of a 5-year plan, to me, feels otherworldly. My ethos has been to make the best decision I can at the time with the information available and stay receptive to the opportunities that I come across. Who is your inspirational figure? Great question, for which I don’t have a simple answer! Lots and lots of people serve as inspirations for me, each for different reasons, which I combine into a little patchwork that I hope rubs off on how I do things somehow! I take a little nugget with me from that person, maybe a quality, ethos or element of their story, and just try to learn from it or be guided by it. What was your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School? I couldn’t possibly say! When I think about that time, it plays in my mind like a montage of all the smiles, the laughter, the people, buildings, experiences. It’s really sweet actually! What makes Norwich School special to you? The sense of a safe community which gave, at least to me, a huge amount of support and stability. The nurturing environment gave me confidence (and opportunity) to try out all sorts of things, which is where I began to learn what my strengths were and what I cared about. I feel unbelievably fortunate to have been able to have had that. How do you think NS helped you get where you are today? Absolutely. I know that how we think and who we are is a product of the environments we’ve been in, and the experiences we’ve had. It all informs what you learn along the way, and a big part of that is what you’re capable of and whether you matter. Norwich School was like a safe training ground, so that when you get out into the wider world, which is full with a lot more difficulty, you’ve practiced some of your skills enough that you don’t get too derailed by the challenges you’ll inevitably face. What is your best bit of advice to current pupils and ONs? Say yes to as many of the opportunities that are presented to you as you can. In my experience, it's off the back of opening yourself up to what's around you that other offers and opportunities come your way. — Always in ways you could never have planned. Shoot your shot, be nice, and make yourself proud.

To celebrate International Women's Day, we decided to create a spotlight series on some inspirational women in our ON community. To kick this off is Jess French (ON 04-06) who is n author, vet and Minibeast expert! What are you doing now for work? Writing, vetting and mumming! What does a typical day entail? Getting the kids packed off to school then cracking on with some writing. I'm usually working on three or four books at once, so depending on whether it's a novel or a highly illustrated kids book, I might be sitting alone at my desk, dreaming up worlds and fixing plot holes, or chatting with my editors and illustrators about how best to move forward with our joint projects. OR, if the vet phone rings - perhaps performing a post mortem on a giraffe in a field, or ultrasounding a snow leopard. How have you got to where you are today? Thinking about the dream life I would like to be living in five years time and then making a practical and actionable plan to get me there. And failing A LOT on the way! Who is your inspirational figure? I am inspired by many people for many reasons, but mostly by trailblazing women who shunned the pursuit of coolness to follow their passions, ignoring the mockery, laughter and people who didn't believe they could achieve their ambitions. People like Jane Goodall. What was your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School? The plays, the drama and the laughs. What makes Norwich School special to you? The people. How do you think NS helped you get where you are today? David Knott convinced me that I could make a career out of being interested in animals and gave me the confidence to forge a path for myself. And the friends I made at the school have been there through all the ups and downs along the way. What is your best bit of advice to current pupils and ONs? Be kind to the people around you, life can be strange and unpredictable and you never know how much an act of kindness can change someone's day. Do the extra-curricular stuff - one day you may look back on those memories as some of the fondest of your life.

To celebrate International Women's Day, we decided to create a spotlight series on some inspirational women in our ON community. Next up we have Hannah Talbot who is a Podcast Producer and ON Society President. What are you doing now for work? I’m a podcast producer, and currently produce How to Fail with Elizabeth Day at Sony Music Podcasts. What does a typical day entail? There isn’t really a typical day in podcasting, every day is different (which I love!). The job entails seeking out interesting, high-profile guests - and pinning them down, researching the most interesting facts about each guest, editing – both audio and visuals for social media, and trying to dig up things that haven’t been spoken about before. Working with sales and marketing to sell inventory and get the podcast listened to and for brands to sponsor the podcast. How have you got to where you are today? I volunteered at a hospital radio station for a couple of years whilst working in PR when I first moved to London post university… I took a big leap of faith in my mid-twenties, and quit my job in PR to pursue a career in the audio industry! Best decision I’ve ever made. Who is your inspirational figure? Cringe, but my mum is a bit of a legend. I’m also very lucky to have worked with some inspiring producers whilst I’ve been at Sony. What was your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School? Too many to choose from! The sport, the community, the camaraderie with pals, teachers being so invested in you, and the inclusiveness. I always loved the atmosphere at sports day and often wish we had an equivalent as adults! What makes Norwich School special to you? I was very lucky to find my people there, who I’m still very close with today. I think the legacy of my time there lives on through our friendships which I’m so grateful for and will always value! How do you think NS helped you get where you are today? Taught me to believe in myself, have confidence that you CAN do it, whatever it is – you just need to get your head down and work at it. You’ll rarely regret taking a risk – life is for living! What is your best bit of advice to current pupils and ONs? Current pupils – embrace everything the school has to offer: the clubs, the sport the music, throw yourself in because it’s very hard to find so much brilliant and diverse opportunity once you’re out! ONs – use the events and networking on offer. There are over 5,000 ONs out there and whether you’re looking for career advice, new friendships, support – the ON network is a phenomenal space for finding your people. 

To celebrate International Women's Day, we decided to create a spotlight series on some inspirational women in our ON community. Next up is Alice-Lily Nnene who is a 4th year medical student as well as a music artist! What are you doing now for work? I am currently in my 4th year of medical school at University College London (UCL). I am on placement, going into hospital most days, to learn first hand what the work of a junior doctor entails! Alongside this, I am also a music artist - I write and release music as well as performing in different venues around the country. What does a typical day entail? It varies! A typical ‘med day’ entails getting to the hospital at around 8:45am to join the doctors, clerk patients and attend tutorials throughout the day. Evenings tend to be reserved for revision and catching up on admin. During last summer (2024), I used my time to work on my first musical body of work. A typical ‘music day’ during this period looked like travelling to my producer’s studio in London for a morning session, tracking vocals and making edits. This would be followed by music admin for upcoming gigs in the afternoon and a live music jam in Shoreditch with friends in the evening. How have you got to where you are today? Persistence, planning and support from both family and friends. Underpinning everything though is my Christian faith which guides everything I do. Who is your inspirational figure? Both of my parents inspire me so much with their love for life and passion for everything that they do - I can’t pick just one! What was your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School? Although there are many fond memories, Repton winning Partsong with a rendition of Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran back in 2015 comes out on top. What makes Norwich School special to you? The care that teachers and staff have for pupils which stretches even beyond your time at school. Plus, being in Cathedral Close, itself. Starting every morning with a hymn was very special indeed and walking through the Close or sitting on the green during sunny afternoons is something I miss - especially having been in a very built-up central London over the past few years! How do you think NS helped you get where you are today? Norwich School allowed me to explore different interests that I had. Whether it was representing the school at a national hockey final, singing in choir at a care home or helping younger students in maths clinics, I felt empowered to pursue all that I enjoyed. So much so that I was able to start a gospel choir in my L6th year. All the skills that I learnt along the way, teamwork, leadership, communication and time management, were all cultivated throughout my time at school. What is your best bit of advice to current pupils and ONs? To current pupils specifically: School is a safe place to try and explore different interests both inside and outside the classroom - that’s how you grow in many ways: confidence, ability, curiosity to name a few. Try to make the most of your time at a school that makes so many different opportunities available to you.  I would say my best advice for whatever stage of life you find yourself in is this: my overarching philosophy, although it can be hard at times, is to really take things one step at a time, with a good support network in place. Pace and people! Try your best to surround yourself with people who will encourage and challenge you and help you along your journey - whatever it may be! And although it’s hard in a culture that can often focus on results alone, slow and steady really does win the race.

To celebrate International Women's Day, we decided to create a spotlight series on some inspirational women in our ON community. To kick this off is Elle Tivey (ON 10-12) who is a Head of House and Teacher of Sport. What are you doing now for work? I’m currently working at a Swiss boarding school called Institute Le Rosey, where I am a Head of House and a Teacher of Sport. What does a typical day entail? My days can vary greatly here! This term (winter term), in the morning I do the rounds of the boarding house to make sure there are no issues, chatting and getting to know the girls in my care if they are studying in their room. I often have meetings with the sports department, boarding team, or I might meet with my tutor group. After having lunch with the students, I take my ‘advanced ski group’ for their skiing lesson; the whole school goes skiing in the afternoons. Then, I come back and have dinner and my evening boarding duty, where I have a meeting with all of the girls in my house, usually over some cookies and milk, and make sure their school agenda is correct for the next week. In the first and third term, instead of skiing, I teach mostly netball and football amongst other sports (tennis, sailing, gym training, athletics), as well as organising and running many of our school sports competitions and events. How have you got to where you are today? I started my career as a sports physiotherapist but after a few years in the football industry, I decided that teaching was the way forward for me. Becoming a teacher was the best decision I made, as it opened doors for me firstly at Norwich School, and now in Switzerland. I have made pastoral care my focus and am now absolutely loving being the Head of House for our Year 11 & 12 girls; including experiencing the joyful moments and challenges that come with it! Who is your inspirational figure? I don’t have an ‘inspirational figure’ as such, but from my time working in education, I have always looked up to Nicky Fairweather. I will always remember her warmth, helpfulness and kindness when I was a teacher at Norwich School. Learning from her, and watching the way she dealt with pastoral situations in such a calm and fair manner really set a benchmark for me, and I try to model my own practise in a similar way - thanks Nicky! What was your fondest memory of your time at Norwich School? As both a pupil and a teacher, I found the morning assemblies in the Cathedral to be really special; the perfect way to start the day! It made you feel part of something great. What makes Norwich School special to you? Attending Norwich School as a girl really shaped my future in so many ways! My time there was so much fun and the atmosphere so special, that it led to my desire to teach, and I was privileged to get my first teaching position at Norwich School. The role offered a wealth of experiences and opportunities for middle-leadership which ultimately led me to get my current position in Switzerland. And, whilst teaching at Norwich School, I met my now husband, and we got married in the school chapel in December 2024! So, you could say Norwich School has been massively special for me, and hugely impactful on my life! The first thing I often like to do when I come home to Norwich is take a walk around the Cathedral Close - I just love it. How do you think NS helped you get where you are today? Norwich School helped in so many ways and I will always be grateful for the opportunities I had there. As a student, Norwich School pushed me to go out of my comfort zone and try new things, allowed me to grow in confidence, and encouraged me to do my absolute best in all spheres of school life. And as a teacher, I couldn’t have hoped for a better place to start my career. I was so well supported and trusted by Steffan and the SMT in a range of roles (Assistant Director of Sport and Head of House for Brooke) which have undoubtedly given me the experience and skills required to get me to where I am now. Working at Norwich School and with such a great team gave me a real spark for pastoral care and I am now trying to further this experience in the boarding/international environment here in Switzerland. What is your best bit of advice to current pupils and ONs? My advice is to take as many of the opportunities offered to you as possible; join clubs, try new sports, sing in the choir, perform in the play. All of these experiences will help you create lasting memories and develop skills you can use for the rest of your life! Also, to enjoy your time at Norwich School as much as possible; it is an amazing privilege to be there and to be a part of the Norwich School community.

Thanks to the generous donations made by FONS, the decision was taken to purchase eighteen copies of Fatherland by Robert Harris for members of the school's Lollards History Club (L5-M5 pupils).The introduction of this book club element to our society has allowed us to discuss key themes throughout the novel. Set in an alternate historical reality where Germany had won the Second World War, the book follows March, an SS officer who is not loyal to the Nazi regime, and his search to uncover the truth regarding what happened to the Jews of Europe. At the time of writing, we have had two meetings dedicated to discussions about the novel. In those, we have covered themes around propaganda, totalitarianism and the importance of truth. All eighteen copies have been handed out to pupils and are currently in use. In the Trinity term, we will have our final discussion together, by which point everyone will have read the entire novel. In this meeting, it is hoped that we can meaningfully discuss the value of the historical fiction genre and bring in our own factual knowledge to assess how realistic Harris' prediction of a post-1945 Nazi world is. It is also hoped that this will be the first stage in encouraging a culture of reading amongst our Fifth Form pupils, with the potential to purchase further accessible historical books in the future. Once again, we must thank the FONS committee for their generosity which has allowed our club members to take their love of History outside of the classroom

On Wednesday 5 March, all L4 pupils headed north to the beautiful medieval sites of Binham Priory and Castle Rising. The groups were blessed with glorious sunshine, and the pupils thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of each location. Binham Priory offered L4 pupils a fantastic insight into monastic life, whilst also neatly setting up the U4 curriculum, by witnessing the effects of the Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries. The highlight of the day was seeing our pupils pretend to be a group of inspectors, visiting the priory and interviewing the monks about their livelihoods and duties. Castle Rising sparked interesting theories on how best to attack the stone keep, with medieval weaponry and the defensive features of a Motte and Bailey castle discussed. Students thoroughly enjoyed exploring the stone keep itself, playing out a hypothetical battle between Anglo-Saxon attackers and Norman defenders. The History Department is extremely grateful to both sites for allowing us to visit; the trip was a great success and we look forward to visiting again next year.

Random Acts of Kindness Club is just one of the various Clubs and Societies on offer at Norwich School. Here's what a member had to say about the club and the work that they do; We are a group of pupils who gather once a week to come up with ideas on how to spread kindness and improve people’s days. Our goal is to make a difference to our school community and spread gratitude & positive attitudes through small, anonymous acts. In doing so, we hope we can be the reason that someone smiles and make people feel valued.  Our reward is to see the surprise and curiosity of those that randomly find our message or are a recipient of a specific thank you/well done. It is our hope that in starting this chain of kindness, it will slowly ripple through the school community, and it will become part of everyone’s daily lives. Keep an eye out for our Random Acts of Kindness logo and join us in making kindness contagious!