“If we’re kind and polite, the world will be right.” - Katie Grote Addresses Pupils
February 7, 2025
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
be ardent in spirit; be patient in suffering.
Extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you;
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
Do not be haughty.
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
Today’s reading comes from St Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Yes, that’s right - the Romans. I am Mrs Grote, I am part of the Classics Department where we teach Classical Civilisation, Greek and Latin to many of you:
But that’s not why I was recently drawn to this letter to the Romans.
No. Today’s reading, written 2000 years ago, came to mind this Christmas when I was sat in the cinema.
I am not a frequent cinema goer, but recently I found myself there twice, and on consecutive days.
One trip had comfy velvet sofas, waiter service and a glass of wine; the film was Conclave: set in the Vatican, the heart of the Catholic Church, about the election of a pope. Surely it was this film, set in Rome itself, with spoken and sung Latin, that led me to think of Paul’s Letter to the Romans; no, today’s reading came to me on my other cinema trip: no wine this time, no comfy sofa, just the standard seating of the Odeon, and a fidgety six year old for company. The film? Paddington in Peru.
For those less familiar with this recent heartwarming movie, Paddington and the Browns make a journey through the Amazon to find Paddington’s beloved Aunt Lucy who has gone missing from her home for retired bears: on their dangerous quest, they face everything from white water, to poisonous spiders: yet the cause of their survival, as well as the original reason for the journey, is the family’s love for each other.
Today’s reading urged us to “love one another with mutual affection” to “rejoice with those who rejoice, to weep with those who weep.” In other words, like Paddington and the Browns, to love and support each other, in good times and bad.
In Paddington 2, things go wrong for Paddington. He is wrongly imprisoned; but during his jail sentence the prison changes from a place of darkness and hostility to a place of kindness and hope, because of his actions: he teaches his inmates to make marmalade, he brightens their surroundings with flowers, and tea parties, and, in doing so, a sense of community is renewed.
Earlier in his letter, St Paul talks of a love that is genuine. Paddington’s small kind acts in the prison are small acts of love, of genuine love. Nothing grand. Nothing rehearsed. Just simple, sincere actions, that create community and a warmth that is found again and again in the Paddington films and books. We can likewise create such warmth in our communities:
By holding a door open; by giving up a seat up on a bus; by acknowledging and smiling at someone you walk past, even a teacher. With any one of these, you will improve someone’s day.
However, not every instruction from St Paul’s letter to the Romans is so easy to follow:
Bless those who persecute you; live peaceably with all.
This is much harder to achieve, but Paddington makes a jolly good attempt. Mr Curry, his nosy and miserly neighbour, is almost always unpleasant and rude to and about Paddington. But Paddington doesn’t hold a grudge; he always responds with goodwill and good cheer. Living peaceably with all doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine or avoiding conflict. It concerns responding appropriately to it. The next time something doesn’t go your way, pause and think: can I respond with understanding instead of anger? Can I, like Paddington, reject conflict and spread peace?
This has already been a lovely, wholesome message for a Friday morning: Paddington and St Paul are all about love and peace; so, off you go; follow their example; spread love and peace. But it wasn’t that message that led me to St Paul’s Letter to the Romans while sat in the Odeon that afternoon. At least not at first.
We sit here in a building steeped in tradition, in particular the Benedictine tradition. Excerpts of the rule of St B are read here at services every day: “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed; all humility should be shown to a guest. When a guest is announced, he should be met with every service.”
The key teaching of the Benedictine tradition shown here is that of hospitality, offered to all, by all. And here, in the middle of today’s reading, St Paul asks for the same:
Extend hospitality to strangers.
Michael Bond, the 1950s creator of Paddington, knew about this: he knew of families in WWII who gave homes to evacuee children in the Blitz, and to Jewish children fleeing via the KinderTransport. The background of welcoming strangers was very recent history for Michael Bond, as he started Paddington’s story.
When Paddington first arrives in London, he doesn’t know the culture, the language, or how to navigate the city and finds himself alone at a train station. In that moment, the Browns embody the Biblical call and the Benedictine ideal to “extend hospitality to strangers.” He is a refugee, but they do not see him as a problem; they see him as someone in need. They take him in, into their home, their family, and their lives.
But hospitality doesn’t just have to mean house guests or concern immigration policies. Who might need our hospitality today? Is there someone new, someone alone or someone struggling to fit in? Hospitality isn’t only about opening up a home or our borders; it’s about opening our hearts and minds and making space for others in our established habits and busy routines and even into circles of friends; that’s what’s The Browns did for Paddington, and it’s what St Paul – and the Benedictine tradition – ask of us too.
I could go on: St Paul advises the Romans to be ardent in spirit, to rejoice in hope and be patient in suffering. Paddington so often shows relentless optimism, amidst his many many disasters; likewise, he very naturally connects with people from all walks of life – antique dealers, tough, intimidating criminals, bus drivers, shopkeers, bin men – perfectly following the teachings of St Paul and St Benedict about humility, rather than haughtiness.
In the end, the lesson is clear, and it is the same lesson, whether we’re talking about the faith of St Paul in his letter to the Romans, or the Benedictine traditions that shape the life of this cathedral, or the world of The Brown Family and Paddington: who, today, quite rightly, I leave to have the final word:
“If we’re kind and polite, the world will be right.”
Lower 6 Business Enterprise pupils are in the early stages of our biggest challenge; the annual Business Plan competition. The first step is to research and feed back on the purpose of business plans. To what extent are these plans important for the success of start-ups? Jess Roper and Sophia Betts invited entrepreneur Karl Sandall to school to interview him for a podcast they have recorded. Karl is a long term collaborator with the Business and Economics department. He was the Group Chief Executive of the TaxAssist Direct Group – a highly successful and well-respected UK and international franchisor trading as TaxAssist Accountants.
The Norwich School Greenpower Racing Team are delighted to announce that we have a new sponsor: Quentor Ltd. They are a Norwich based company working with major teams at the highest levels in motorsport, providing a range of services including race cases for all current F1 teams, garage and pit lane furniture and workstations, storage and transport cases, as well as walling systems for pit lane and hospitality areas. This is an ideal partnership with a prestigious company which will help our school team improve performance and profile going forward. Quentor has already funded branded shirts, with a falcon design created by Gabriel C in Lower 5. They are also able to provide actual materials for the car itself. One of the Lower 6 team members, Alex P, initiated contact and worked on what this new partnership would entail. Members of the team, including the co-Principles Theo C and Kirti S, along with Alex P, Tom Copley and Isaac C were lucky enough to visit the Quentor site where they were given an overview of the company, current and future projects and a tour of the design offices and large, high-tech workshop by the Managing Director, Kate Asbury. The team learned about the process from design to shipping of the final product. The team is looking forward to developing their relationship with Quentor as our Title Sponsor and continuing to make the car more competitive.
Good morning. The first part of today’s assembly will look back at our favourite moments and favourite assemblies at Norwich School. When I first joined Norwich School in 2003, long before any of you were born—I was a Brooke U6 tutor, and we met as a whole school in the cathedral for assembly every morning, not just Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A few years later, Wednesdays became reserved for section and house assemblies, and eventually the pattern changed again to the three cathedral assemblies we have today. Some years ago, a colleague researched how pupils felt about cathedral assemblies. Unsurprisingly, the sense of excitement lasted through the second year of school but faded over time, only returning in the final months of U6. I think I now understand that feeling well. In truth, I have never taken for granted the privilege of gathering as a school in such an extraordinary and inspiring place. We are very fortunate. I still remember my very first assembly here, during my interview when a Sixth Form pupil spoke about mobile phones—back when they played a far smaller role in daily life. Over the years, I have taken part in many assemblies, though most were in the more intimate setting of the Presbytery or the Chapel during my time as Head of Fourth Form (2012–2018), long before Mr Rowlandson, Mrs Wood, and now Mrs Wyndham took on the role. I even recorded an assembly from home during the Covid lockdowns, when we continued to meet and sing together on Teams. Mine focused on running—of course—and on the first woman to attempt the Boston Marathon, who entered using only her initials. I remember it clearly because the weather was unusually warm, and I filmed in front of the wisteria in my garden, which had never looked more beautiful. So you may be asking why the trip down memory lane? Standing here today feels a little surreal. After 23 years at this school, this place has become more than where I work — it has become part of who I am. I’ve taught hundreds of pupils, worked with incredible colleagues, and watched this community grow, change, and flourish. And today, I feel incredibly grateful. It is not just our morning assembles that set us apart here in the Cathedral Close - there are also the traditions — the ones that give a school its heartbeat. The last few days have been pretty special for me and Norwich School pupils alike – as last Friday we held our Norwich School Fashion Show –pupil-led by this year’s amazing charities committee – this is always an incredible evening and this year did not disappoint. Then on Sunday we were a part of the 6th Discover your Ability Day with charity Able2B – over 500 people attended and took part with more than 60 pupils from Norwich School – partnering with pupils from other schools including many Special Schools. This day is like no other in the year, only coming a close second to the Special Schools Assembly where the L6 Community Service group perform a nativity play to many Norfolk children - I honestly don’t think I will ever forget Daisy Sexton entertaining the audience in the donkey costume! Thank you Oscar for modelling it here today in Daisy’s place as she is already setting up for Gala rehearsals at the Lower Close this morning. Another of the highlights of my year has always been the Cup Run . Not just because I love running, though that certainly helps, but because it’s one of the rare moments when the entire school heads up to Mousehold and becomes part of something bigger than themselves. Watching pupils and staff spread out across the course, cheering each other on, competing, laughing, supporting — it captures the spirit of this community in a way few events can. To help me with this assembly, I asked a few of my colleagues and L4 pupils to share some of their favourite memories of Norwich School too: Ironically, Mr Weeks’ 1st memory is of his interview with me, as at that time, when he started at Norwich School, I was in charge of New Staff and Teaching Trainees– one of my favourite roles! He also says his favourite assembly was the Christmas Carol service with the full choir, organ and brass. I confess I too love the Carol service – but mainly for the spinning star on the organ when the word ‘light’ is sung. It always made me smile. I also asked Mr Cann the same Q and he said this: The Assembly that jumps out in my memory was the Remembrance Day service seven or eight years ago where Richard Allain positioned trumpet players all over the cathedral to play the last post in parts. It was one of the most moving experiences I recall in cathedral and exemplified the power music has on our experiences and how a creative approach can breathe new life into the familiar. Over to the pupils: Holly: My favourite part of Norwich School is the morning assemblies as it’s a really nice time to just take a breather and prepare myself for the coming day. It is also really nice to all be in the same place as my friends so then after cathedral, I can head to my next lesson with my friends. My favourite memory on my first week of school is when I was supposed to be going to Palace for my maths lesson and instead I went to horse fair then I had to ask someone where palace was but I accidentally asked a member of the public I then managed to find someone who was part of the school and they directed me. Sav: My favourite memory from lower 4 is all of the dance shows I did, from participating in the junior + senior dance festivals, to doing the choreography competition back in December; my favourite assembly is either the one celebrating the Chinese new year or where we sung the twelve days of Christmas as a school! Oscar: I have really enjoyed all assemblies run by prefects at Christmas, and singing in cathedral. Evie: One of my favourite moments at Norwich school was the Eaton Vale in L4. The whole trip was so amazing a fun! Thank you L4 for sharing my last assembly with me today .... ....and t o all the pupils here today: you are the reason this job has mattered so much to me. You’ve challenged me, surprised me, inspired me and always reminded me why teaching is worth it. If I leave you with one message, it’s this: Be curious. Be kind. And don’t underestimate what you’re capable of. You don’t have to be the loudest, the fastest, or the best at everything. You just have to keep moving forward, one step at a time. To my colleagues: thank you. Thank you for the support, the laughter, the shared frustrations, the last ‑ minute photocopy rescues, the wisdom, the teamwork, and the friendship. Schools don’t run on timetables or policies — they run on people. And this school is lucky to have some of the very best. There’s no escaping that this school has changed over the years — new buildings, new faces, new challenges — but its heart has stayed the same. It is a place where pupils are seen, supported, and encouraged to grow. I am very proud to have been part of that story. And although I’m leaving, a piece of me will always stay here — in the classrooms I’ve taught in, the pupils I’ve worked with, and the memories we created together –and even physically on one of the blue chairs in Blake with the names of me and my three daughters (all now proud ONs) in scripted on it and also by a prize that will be awarded for the first time at Prizegiving this year – the Hill Prize for mathematics! Hopefully some of you will remember me in years to come when you sit on this seat, and if you are fortunate enough to be awarded the Hill Prize then perhaps take a moment to remember how passionate and enthusiastic I was as a teacher. As I step into a new chapter, I do so with gratitude for the one I’ve lived here. Thank you for more than 23 years of purpose, joy, challenge, and connection. Thank you for trusting me, supporting me, and allowing me to be part of your lives. And remember: once a part of this school, always a part of this school. Thank you for listening and have a great day...
All of Lower Four, joined by visiting pupils from four local schools, enjoyed an inspiring day of storytelling as three award-winning authors visited to talk about their books, their journeys into writing, and the process of bringing a story to the page. Mitch Johnson kicked things off with a look at his novels Strike and Kick; two books that look like they're simply about football, but that actually dig much deeper, exploring the origins of the clothes we wear and shining a light on exploitative working conditions around the world. Pupils threw themselves into a lively challenge, racing to assemble a pair of football boots (studs and laces included), before learning about the realities faced by workers in sweatshops. It was a thought-provoking way to bring the book's themes to life. Next, Joseph Elliott talked about his career as a television actor and how he became a writer. He shared insights into the writing process, from the multiple redrafts and edits through to the all-important decision of choosing a book cover. He read an exciting extract from The Good Hawk, the first book in his Shadow Skye trilogy, and ran an interactive session that had pupils fully engaged throughout. Rounding off the day, Jennifer Killick spoke about her love of scary stories and how she found her niche blending horror with comedy. Pupils tested their instincts in a game guessing which unusual animal facts were real and which she'd invented, and again there were lots of interactive aspects to her talk, including a home-made life-size giant tapeworm soft toy and a horror-themed twist on rock/paper/scissors. There was a real buzz about books all day, with independent bookseller BookBugs and Dragon Tales on hand so pupils could buy copies and get them signed by the authors. It was a busy, fun and inspiring day for all who took part!
Last Thursday, 60 golfers took to Barnham Broom to partake in the annual Norwich School Community Golf Day. Pupils, parents, ONs and staff all came together for a pleasant and competitive afternoon of team golf. There were some excellent performances and comradery across the day, with the winning team of Herbie A (M5), Lawry W (ON, 2025), Kerry W and Floss A, shooting an impressive round of 62. Jack P (U6) won the nearest the pin challenge. It was brilliant to see pupils from the Lower School, right through to Upper 6 playing side-by-side, emphasising how golf continues to grow at Norwich School.
Lower 6 Business Enterprise pupils are in the early stages of our biggest challenge; the annual Business Plan competition. The first step is to research and feed back on the purpose of business plans. To what extent are these plans important for the success of start-ups? Jess Roper and Sophia Betts invited entrepreneur Karl Sandall to school to interview him for a podcast they have recorded. Karl is a long term collaborator with the Business and Economics department. He was the Group Chief Executive of the TaxAssist Direct Group – a highly successful and well-respected UK and international franchisor trading as TaxAssist Accountants. You can listen to the podcast below!
Rosie B, Lower 6, reports on her experience of watching the 2026 Outdoor Play, War of the Worlds , below... War of The Worlds was a thrilling and inventive piece blending together an original script by its director Mr Bromley with the Jeff Wayne audio production and the use of puppetry to create visually striking and adventurous outdoor play which took place in the quad at the weekend. When Aliens land in the suburbs of Victorian London, a journalist (Will C) has to traverse the landscape in search of safety from the Aliens and his wife Carrie (Beth S), meeting different people along the way - War of the Worlds is an exploration of the various different responses people have to crises. The cast of eccentric characters included The Priest (Tom H) who is driven insane trying to dispel the “demons” which have landed, his wife Beth (Ella B) who tries to pretend that this is fine, a Rich Woman (Sophie M): “I pay my taxes, this will all be over soon enough”, Carrie’s father (Hal N) who wants to stay at home and stay by the grave of his wife and The Artilleryman (Charlie B), a utopianist hoping to start a brand new society… ‘where’ you ask? “Underground!” A definite shoutout is required for the two Paperboys from Lower 5, Joseph H and Archie W who managed to hold their own incredibly in a cast of Sixth Formers, playing the role on alternate days brilliantly. Additionally, the backstage crew and Martian puppeteers Naomi W, Daisy S, Jude D and Pearl L were integral to the running of the play, working professionally and tirelessly to stun the audience with aliens made by Mr Bromley and Miss Wright. I played Professor Ogilvy, the astronomer holding claim to fame as the first death of the play (Page 9!), spending quite a lot of time offstage meant I got a chance to watch this incredible cast perform multiple times- they should all be proud of their amazing performances!
On a sunny Sunday in June, we were delighted to host another Discover Your Ability Day with Able2B, whose amazing team help to improve function for children and adults with a disability, optimising aerobic fitness and muscle strength, as well as improving concentration and self-confidence in a fun way. Around 60 Norwich School pupils joined more than 240 participants and even more supporters, for an incredible day, which saw young and old coming together for cycling and running/walking events at Norwich School and around Cathedral Close. Working with partners during training sessions at the Able2B gym before the big day, participants spent time with their teammates across several months before the final event, learning about each other's differences and working together to harness those differences as strengths rather than barriers. The 2026 event was the biggest yet, with incredible moments around the course and as participants crossed the finish line, with family, friends and supporters. Many achieved what they had previously been told would never be possible and received medals from Millie Partridge (GB Wheelchair Rugby), Nigel Cushion (Chair of Nelsonspirit) and Paul Evans (GB/Olympics athlete and Chicago Marathon winner). We can't wait to support next year's event and make it even bigger and better!
2026 is National Year of Reading and we are going all in here at Norwich School! We know reading expands worlds, sharpens minds, and fuels creativity, so let's get inspired! Every month we are focusing on a different genre and hearing from a member of staff about what they like to read, why, when and where! Next up, as it is pride month we have LGBTQ+ Fiction for June and a big reader of this genre, Eleanor Lewis, Multimedia Marketing Officer, is going to tell us a bit about why she loves this genre. Tell us a little bit about the genre; what common themes or elements do you particularly enjoy? With LGBTQ+ Fiction it is quite challenging to define it as a genre as it can span a wide-range of genres such as science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy and more. I particularly enjoy when LGBTQ+ Fiction isn't only centred around LGBTQ+ issues and themes, Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles was a perfect example of this for me, as it combines LGBTQ+ characters in mythological tales where the character's identity is important to the story, but not the only driving force. What was the book that introduced you to LGBTQ+ Fiction? Was there a particular book or author that made you fall in love with this genre? Reading books with LGBTQ+ characters in my teen years definitely encouraged my love of reading especially Adam Silver's books History is All You Left Me and They Both Die at the End. Reading characters that I could relate to definitely made reading a lot more enjoyable for me. I would say that the book that brought me back into reading more LGBTQ+ Fiction as an adult would be Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo . It is a very popular book and for good reason, the historical drama set in the Golden Age of Hollywood with an LGBTQ+ character at the centre. I think that this was one of the first times I encountered an openly LGBTQ+ woman in fiction and I found the love story to be so beautifully written and compelling. Has your taste in this genre changed over time? Definitely! As I grew up my taste naturally changed and especially during my time at University. On my course I encountered a variety of work including the less contemporary pieces such as The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall and Trumpet by Jackie Kay, both of which explored gender identity, particularly in times where it was even more challenging to be a transgender or gender non-conforming individual. I think that my favourite book now is definitely Hot Milk by Deborah Levy, it is a contemporary novel mostly surrounding a complicated mother/daughter relationship but also an LGBTQ+ awakening for the daughter, although the novel doesn't centre on this I think it is a brilliant example of LGBTQ+ Fiction that centralises LGBTQ+ characters but isn't only about LGBTQ+ issues. Would you recommend this genre to someone who doesn’t usually read it? Why? Absolutely and you probably have read it without intending to. A lot of books now, a lot more than when I was younger, feature LGBTQ+ characters. It used to be quite a challenge to find books that don't only have the 'token' LGBTQ+ characters but now there are plenty more options. What do you enjoy most about reading, whether LGBTQ+ Fiction or anything else? I love getting lost in a book and losing track of the time, it's very special to find a book that does that. I also really enjoy it when a book makes me think critically, I can end up getting a bit lost in research and analysis, probably because of my English undergrad days! When and where is your favourite time and place to read? / Do you have a favourite reading spot or routine for diving into books? I don't read half as much as I would like to, especially this time of year! I would say I really enjoy reading in bed but another great reading spot is in my conservatory with an iced coffee! The best time to read is definitely on holiday - especially when it is sunny! Which fictional character would you most like to have a cup of tea with? This is a tricky one but from this genre I would say Evelyn Hugo. Click here for the monthly Reading List!
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.
