Norwich Highlights 2022/23

NORWICH HIGH LIGHTS 2022/23

WELCOME

to the 2022-23 edition of Norwich Highlights magazine

Alison Sefton, Head of Norwich High School for Girls, GDST

Norwich Highlights is an opportunity to showcase the amazing work of the students and staff at Norwich High. It is the first of what I hope will be an annual publication drawing together the achievements and adventures of our school community. From our youngest girls in the Nursery taking their first steps into our EYFS Hub through to the Year 13 students as they step away and on to university and the world of work. We are very proud of all of their achievements.

I believe that Norwich High is a school where every student has the opportunity to be part of a local, national and global network that is focused on making a difference in the world; they are challenged, nurtured and empowered by the whole curriculum on offer. There are myriad opportunities for the students - some they will be coaxed, cajoled and nudged into where we see something that we feel they should be part of and some they will grasp with both hands and run with. Our weekly newsletters give parents a flavour of what our community has been up to and Norwich Highlights aims to bring the whole year together into one celebration.

Happy reading.

Stay up to date

www.norwichhigh.gdst.net

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Want to find out more?

We are always delighted to welcome visitors to our school. There are many occasions throughout the year to visit us and see the school in action, whether you are a current parent, alumna, prospective parent, or someone keen to partner with us.

To find out more about applying to our award-winning school, visit our website or contact our Registrar, Miss Ali Ready, via admissions@nor.gdst.net / 01603 453 265

You can keep up to date with all the latest events on our website at www.norwichhigh.gdst.net/events/

Design: Katie Hardingham

Photography: Katie Hardingham, Trish Barnes and Tile Media

NORWICH HIGH LIGHTS

2023 Exam Results

Students and staff alike deserve hearty congratulations on an impressive set of both GCSE and A Level results 2023.

58% of all A Level results were A* to A, a huge credit to the hard work and dedication of everyone.

Particular congratulations go to Abi, Antonia and Nora, who all achieved 3A*s.

At GCSE, well over a third of all grades gained were 9-8 and there were some outstanding individual achievements.

Well done to Inayah, Phoebe, Victoria, Saoirse and Lara, who all achieved straight 9-8 grades.

97% A*-C

East Anglian Secondary School of the Year

In December 2022, we were thrilled to be named The Sunday Times East Anglian Independent Secondary School Of The Year in the 2023 Parent Power League. The Sunday Times commended the school for jumping 141 places since 2019 in the national ranking. This is a testament to the hard work of our students and staff.

Student Leadership Team

Finale

In February we returned to the Playhouse for ‘Finale’, the impressive culmination of the Senior School and Sixth Form Winter Arts Festival.

The event showcased the best talent we have at Norwich High School, including breathtaking dance pieces, comedy, musical theatre and more.

Congratulations to Year 12 student Erin who was named as the new Head Girl for 2023/24, along with her team of fellow student leaders –Rashmi, Saanvi and Syd.

“Being Head Girl means that I will have the opportunity to pursue my own and any ideas that come my way and it is important for me that everyone feels like they are comfortable to be themselves at Norwich High.”

- Erin, Head Girl 23/24

Prizegiving

We ended the academic year by celebrating the achievements of Senior School and Sixth Form students at our Prizegiving service at St Andrew’s Hall.

Houses

From the Summer term, the Senior School and Sixth Form transitioned away from the six Companies to a four House system, bringing them in line with the House structure that already existed in Prep School and Nursery.

The four Norwich High School for Girls Houses are named after four inspirational female role models with strong links to Norfolk – Cavell, Fry, Julian and Martineau.

Anna Lapwood, Director of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge and renowned organist, conductor, broadcaster and Sony Classical recording artist, inspired us all with an engaging keynote speech.

STEM

British Science Week

During British Science Week (10-19th March), the Science Department put together a busy schedule of interesting activities across the Nursery, Prep School, Senior School and Sixth Form.

In the Senior School and Sixth Form, there was a wide range of activities happening every day. From squid anatomy to the chemistry of blueprints; there was plenty to get involved in.

Pupils from the Nursery and Prep School also had a busy week, including trips to the Senior School science labs to explore magnetism, making kazoos and a very popular dry ice session. Our youngest pupils also had the chance to use microscopes for the first time.

“

“It was lovely to have the Science Department buzzing with extra excitement and learning opportunities were shared across the entire school.”

- Mrs Anne Farthing, Head of Science and Physics

F24

Norwich High School for Girls once again took to the race track with our very own electric car as the new Year 9-11 student team competed in the Formula 24 Greenpower heat at the Lotus Test Track, Hethel.

The event was part of a project from Greenpower Education Trust, helping to inspire young people to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths through a unique challenge: to design, build and race an electric car.

Hack-her-thon

Our inaugural ‘Hack-her-thon’ event took place at the end of March. This remarkable initiative was led by two talented alumnae, Britt and Alice, who are from the Class of 2022.

The event brought together more than 50 students in Years 9-13 from six schools across Norfolk. Over the course of two days, they collaborated with industry mentors on coding projects to create their very own environmentally-themed apps.

Lego Robotics

The Lego Robotics team have met regularly this year and have both a Junior and Senior team.

The Junior team travelled to Legoland, Windsor in the Spring term to compete with their robot and present their idea for a sustainable energy play park. They came away with a trophy for Most Improved Team.

Advanced Mathematics

The uptake for the optional extension course, AQA Further Mathematics, was remarkable this year, with approximately 50% of our Year 9 cohort choosing to pursue this advanced course. Additionally, three A Level students were successful in applying to take up a place on the GDST Sixth Form Maths Programme specifically designed to stretch and challenge the most capable mathematics students.

STEM Success

This year saw the reintroduction of the Arkwright Scholarship. This national engineering award celebrates the best future leaders in engineering as they move into their Sixth Form experience. We were pleased to have three Year 11 applicants, Estelle, Anusha and Tanvi, all of whom were successful at the application and exam phase.

Further congratulations go to Anusha, who was our first ever winner of the Atherton Award, which recognises entrepreneurial spirit.

Year 10 student Tap was named as a runner-up in the national Alexa Young Innovator Challenge, Amazon’s UK-wide AI coding contest, by designing a new horticultural Alexa Skill.

Dynamic STEM Programme

We were delighted that our Prep School approach to STEM teaching led to us being recognised as a finalist in the Muddy Stilettos Schools Awards for most dynamic STEM programme.

Food Tech and STEM Lab

This academic year it has been fantastic to use the upgraded Food Technology Room and refurbished STEM Lab spaces in Stafford House.

As well as food technology joining our specialist subject carousels for Years 3-6, the Senior School Cookery Club and Sixth Form activities programme groups also made delicious goodies, including pizza and brownies.

GDST Space Diploma

Six of our talented Year 12 students participated in the GDST Space Technology Diploma focused on enhancing their programming skills through engaging projects related to real-life challenges in the space industry. They were thrilled to visit the renowned Google headquarters in London, where they witnessed first-hand the latest advancements in technology.

GDST Psychology Cup

A group of five Year 13 students entered the GDST Psychology Cup with their research study on whether TikTok reduced attention span. The students did phenomenally well, coming first and bringing the cup to Norwich for the first time.

Eco Week

At the end of April, Norwich High celebrated Eco Week across the Senior School and Sixth Form. Eco Week was made possible by our Climate Crew members, who helped organise over twenty engaging activities, such as plant propagation, making bird feeders, letter writing, a clothes repair workshop and so much more.

One of a kind, part of the family

LANGUAGES AND HUMANITIES

Language and Culture Week

Language and Culture Week at the end of February coincided with the United Nations International Mother Language Day. Working alongside the Diversity and Inclusion Group, a range of activities to celebrate languages and cultures were organised, including a fun lunchtime event in the Senior School at which volunteers shared their mother languages in an interactive workshop.

Immersive Learning

Trips are a great way for Prep girls to connect with their learning in Humanities and we never pass up an opportunity to get dressed up! Year 2 immersed themselves in the life of the Egyptians, while Year 3 went to Duxford and Year 4 learnt about chocolate at Cadbury World and pretended to be Victorians at Gressenhall.

‘Fruit’ by Hope (Year 9)

There was a bowl of fruit today. Among bruised bananas, Soft pears and browning apples, A clementine.

I split it with you, We sat outside, letting sun smile on our faces. I tore away at the flesh, Peeling haphazardly, Revealing the fruit inside. Its aroma spilled out, Filling the air, dancing across light wind.

Every space around us, Perfumed and sweet. The sun, the sky, the clouds, All shared this fruit with us.

I gave you half, And we ate in silence; Honeyed citrus on our tongues, You smiled, big and wide and I thought

This is better than being alone.

Classics

In December, Year 7 students took part in their annual Latin play competition. The winners went on to compete in Cambridge with their production ‘The Tales of Hercules’, written by Mrs Dearden.

At the other end of the school, GCSE and Sixth Form students enjoyed a talk from ‘rock-star Classicist’ Natalie Haynes in September and the Sixth Form Classical Civilisation classes took a trip to Cambridge in March to visit the Museum of Classical Archaeology and the Fitzwilliam Museum.

This year we saw many excellent entries to a wide variety of writing and speaking competitions, including this poem from Hope for the GDST Laurie Magnus Poetry Prize. Year 10 student Natalie won the Year 10 and 11 GDST Creative Writing Prize for her piece entitled ‘My Short Fifteen Years’ reflecting on the effects of cyberspace on the younger generations. Further thought-provoking material was explored by Bea (Year 11) in her speech on the romanticisation of mental health issues for this year’s GDST Chrystall Carter Public Speaking Competition. Congratulations to Riko (Year 7) who was awarded the Ebbinghaus Prize for Poetry this year and to Florence (Year 12) who won the Annandale Reading Prize.

MFL Panto

At Christmas it was great fun to relaunch the Modern Foreign Languages panto involving the whole MFL Department and other members of the teaching staff. This year it was Cinderella, which was an extravaganza of hilarious staff dances and impressive wicked stepsister acts from Dr Jarvis, Mr Bull and Mr Mangham, all performed in French.

Author VisitRobin Stevens

Award winning and bestselling author Robin Stevens returned to Norwich High to give an inspiring talk to our Prep and Senior students along with invited guests from local primary schools.

World Book Day

In the Senior School and Sixth Form, students and staff explored an Alice in Wonderland theme for World Book Day. Pupils in the Prep School and Nursery enjoyed a range of activities around the theme ‘Women in Words’, dressing up as female characters or female authors.

Holocaust Memorial Day

In January we marked Holocaust Memorial Day, led by the Philosophy and Religion Department, with a range of activities across the Senior School and Sixth Form to promote education and awareness of genocide.

We welcomed Rabbi Roderick Young for a thought-provoking reflection on this year’s theme of ‘Ordinary People’. The Sixth Form lecture theatre was transformed into a quiet memorial space and exhibition.

One of a kind, part of the family

GDST LEAD

GDST LEAD is the Leadership & Enterprise Advanced Diploma run by the GDST. Students can take it as part of the Year 12 activities programme.

This year’s Sixth Form GDST LEAD team created an online Magazine titled “Unheard” to give a voice to unheard young people surrounding current issues.

We are passionate about elevating and listening to those who would like to be heard, just as the GDST has enabled us to use our voices. We recognise the amazing platform that the GDST has offered us, with a multitude of opportunities and this has enabled us to look outward into our local community and propose the change that we wish to see.

- Aliyah, Year 12 GDST LEAD student

CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS

Art Workshops

This year the Art Department organised a range of exciting opportunities for students to participate in. The department has once again run a series of workshop days for students in the Senior School. The Year 7s had a festive fun day focusing on Christmas crafts, whilst the Year 8 workshop explored the possibilities of batik painting and sewing machine techniques.

Trips

Students enjoyed lots of art trips throughout the year, including Curwen Press in Cambridge, Sheringham, Berlin, Cambridge Botanical Gardens and Cromer.

Prep School Art

Art is an integral part of life in Stafford House. Projects this year have included using graded watercolours to depict mountain landscapes, making replicas of the mask of Tutankhamun and creating animal pictures using geometric shapes. Our inspiring Art Room space has been lifted by the addition of a fantastic ‘Create’ mural by professional doodle artist Frankie from Curtiscreationz who also ran doodle workshops with the girls.

Fashion Show

The end of year Fashion Show showcased student’s work from the Senior School through to the Sixth Form. All garments were entirely hand-made and used an extensive range of textile techniques and processes, as well as garment construction. This event is a celebration of students’ achievements throughout the year and forms an integral part of the curriculum.

Drama

We started our Senior School extra curricular programme with an outstanding performance of The Riot Club. Year 13 student Ava did an excellent job of transposing and directing the play, with superb performances from the Sixth Form. In December we put on our biennial school play, this year performing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The Attendants

Year 11 and Year 13 students devised exceptional pieces. One Year 13 piece, entitled Attendants using John Godberl’s stylistic techniques, was subsequently taken to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by Amelie, Ava and Lola, where they had a week of sell-out shows.

Prep School Productions

In the Prep School, productions have included Christmas performances from Nursery and Reception, Year 3 and 4’s Greatest Show, Year 5’s hilarious What’s the Crime, Mr Wolf?, and the swashbuckling Pirates of the Curry Bean performed by Year 6 as they reached the end of their time with the Prep School in the Summer term.

Love’s Labour’s Lost

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Macbeth

EYFS Nativity

Pirates of the Curry Bean

Pirates of the Curry Bean

Carol Service and Choral Concert

Two particular musical highlights for our choral ensembles were the Carol Service held in Norwich Cathedral, involving students from Years 5 to 13, and our Choral Concert, with students joining forces with parents, staff and friends of Norwich High for an outstanding performance of Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist.

Music at Stafford House

Music remains one of the pillars of Prep School life, with many opportunities for the girls to perform. Over half of our pupils learn at least one instrument, with more than 100 individual lessons taking place each week thanks to our specialist Visiting Music Teachers. All girls, from Early Years to Year 6, enjoy a broad music curriculum and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in choirs and ensembles outside of lessons.

Prep Spring Concert

In March, every year group from Year 1 to 6 performed to a packed audience in Eaton Grove Hall in the Prep School Spring Concert. The highlight was the whole school finale of ‘When I Grow Up’ from Matilda The Musical

Performance Opportunities

Throughout the year, Senior School musicians have had the chance to perform to audiences at a variety of different events, including Musical Theatre Cabaret, European Art Song, Scholars’ Concerts and a performance with the British Army Band Colchester.

Coffee Concerts

Our Prep School musicians had plenty of opportunities to show off their skills to fellow pupils and parents throughout the year at our Prep Coffee Concerts. Our youngest pupils also took to the stage for the first time at our Early Years ‘Stay and Sing’ assemblies. They even taught their parents the words and dance moves so that everyone could get involved!

Celebrating the Creative Arts across the Nursery, Prep School, Senior School and Sixth Form through a range of creative endeavours, workshops and events.

The Winter Arts Festival is such a great time for everyone who gets involved, allowing various year groups to collaborate and create something special at the end of it.

-

The Winter Arts Festival coincided with Children’s Mental Health Week, so in the Prep School and Nursery the activities focused on the value of creativity and how being creative is good for our mental health.

Crochet Workshop with Evie O’Neil

Art & Textiles Workshop

Pottery Disc workshop

Musical Theatre workshop

Storytelling with Bookbugs and Dragon Tales

West African dancing

Ava, Year 13

My first Senior School Winter Arts Festival week was amazing. I think it really sets our school apart from others as we really did celebrate all the Arts. I can’t wait for WAF week next year.

- Connie, Year 7

The Prep Choir, with pupils from Years 3-6, formed part of a choir of over 5,000 children at the Young Voices concert at OVO Wembley Arena.

Company Music Day

Mass Graphic Score workshop

Finale at Norwich Playhouse

Mask Making

Art Workshop with Jenny Nevin

SPORT

Football

In April, over 100 girls from ten schools around Norwich took place in our second annual U11 Norwich High Prep Football Tournament.

One of the girls representing our school team said: “I loved the tournament. It was so much fun, and it was nice to play against lots of other schools. We came fourth in the Gold Cup which is a big achievement for us after our success at the GDST Football Tournament last November.”

Both our U11 and U13 football teams took part in the GDST competitions this year, with the U11s finishing fourth overall.

The cricket season was fantastic, with more teams than ever before playing hardball matches. The U13 and U15 teams took part in the indoor county tournaments, with the U15s finishing as runners up. We were also delighted to continue our partnership with Swardeston Cricket Club, using their pitches to host our hardball home matches and squad training.

Rowing

The rowing club continues to be very active, competing in races at Bedford, Cambridge, Norwich, Women’s Eight Head of the River Race, Lea and the English Beach Sprints Regatta, with great wins at the Lea Spring Regatta.

Hockey

In hockey, the 1st XI were crowned Tier 4 county winners, qualifying for the East Region tournament. The U14s progressed to the regional tournament, beating Langley in the Tier 2 county match. A highlight of the year was when we fielded 12 hockey teams on one afternoon, enabling all Year 7 and 8 students to represent the school.

Swimming

Our partnership with Norwich Swan Swimming Club continues to go from strength to strength. This includes additional coaching in our Prep swimming lessons and over 60 swimmers are regularly taking part in our two after school squad sessions.

Netball

Both the U14 and U19 netball teams successfully qualified for the county tournaments with the U14 netball team being crowned County Champions, beating Norwich School.

Tennis

It has been great to see our comprehensive tennis programme, led by Donna Andrews, continue to inspire over 70 students from Year 1 to Year 13 to take part in and enjoy tennis. From early breakfast group sessions, mini tennis for our youngest girls, individual coaching and Tennis leaders courses for our seniors to help lead others.

Equestrian

Our equestrian team have seen success at various team and individual events throughout the year. Well done to Chloe (Year 8), Evie (Year 10), Kate (Year 10) and Bethany (Year 12) who won their event at the British Showjumping Just for Schools Finals. The team have also qualified for the NSEA National Showjumping Championships and the Championships Plate. Congratulations also to Eve (Year 7), who won the NSEA Pop-Up Dressage Winter Series and has qualified for the NSEA National Championships.

Sports Days

Students from Nursery to Sixth Form took to the track and field at the end of the Summer term to take part in our Sports Days. There were lots of impressive performances across the board and several records broken in the Prep School. Congratulations to Martineau who won the Prep School and Nursery Sports Day and Julian who took home the trophy in the Senior School and Sixth Form.

CHARITIES AND PARTNERSHIPS

Fundraising

Students and staff have come together throughout the year to raise money for lots of different charities, both local and international.

Our Charities and Services Committee have done an incredible job of organising activities and events, including bake sales, non-uniform days and a very popular ‘splat the teacher’ event.

£7,213.25 16 raised this year for different charities

Charities Day

The Prep School and Nursery raised over £1,000 for Make a Wish Foundation at their 2023 Charities Day. They designed and put together stalls including a tombola, lucky dip, splat the squirrel and fruit juice cocktails.

NHSA

Thank you to our Parent Association, the NHSA, for their hard work this year in fundraising for the school, as well as putting on lots of brilliant social events for the whole school community. Highlights have included the November Market, Ye Olde Xmas Shoppe, the Prep School Neon Disco, the Quiz and the Summer Fete.

Primary School Partnerships

Science

Across the year, our Science Department have hosted seven local primary schools and over 250 students as part of our science outreach programme. Year 12 students have planned and helped deliver the hour-long sessions on diverse topics such as gears and pulleys, eye dissections and circuits. This gives local primary schools a chance to experience interactive practical science work, as well as giving Year 12 students a taste of leadership and project planning.

Art

The Art Department has also continued to participate in outreach, giving Year 12 students the opportunity to work alongside children with complex needs from The Parkside School. This activity has been running for 12 years and has proven invaluable for not only the students, but also for the children at the specialist schools.

Music

Eight Year 12 students were also involved with our musical partnership scheme: ‘Sing Up!’. Students worked with a number of local primary schools and led fun and interactive singing sessions, working alongside Head of Vocal Studies, Mrs Stephen.

I enjoy doing Sing Up as it allows me a chance to gain confidence when speaking in front of crowds in a fun, safe atmosphere. It also provides me with a chance to inspire younger children and to encourage them to enjoy singing and music.

- Amelie, Year 12

Community Clubs

Clubs aimed at younger children and families from the local community included our Stay and Plays, Baby Bugs and Little Caterpillars, as well as outreach clubs STEM Squad and Footy Squad.

Thank you to our hard working staff who help run these clubs.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

This year we hosted 15 SIX+ lectures to Sixth Form students on a range of topics, inlcuding climate change, engineering, medicine and veterinary topics and working in the music industry.

We also hosted numerous university speakers from the UEA, Goldsmiths, LIS, NUA and more, alongside guest speakers from relevant organisations and charities such as Leeway, the police, Yipiyap, a Star Future and Solutions Not Sides amongst others.

Dingly Dell

Students have been working hard down at Dingly Dell this year. A generous bid from the NHSA saw us purchase the new Dingly Cabin and Mr Hall set about sourcing second hand tools from every possible source. Ground has been broken on our four House allotments and we now have crops of courgettes, broad beans and new potatoes with many more to follow. We have also created a large wildflower meadow to help encourage biodiversity.

181 awards actively underway

91 enrolments onto awards this year

£4,250 with a societal value of 55 completed awards celebrated at our presentation evening

884 volunteering in the community

HOURS

Forest School

Forest School is a very popular part of Prep School and Nursery life. All pupils up to Year 4 have timetabled Forest School sessions. Year 5 and 6 also enjoy a weekly Forest School club after school.

Culture Day

At Norwich High School, we are committed to improving diversity, inclusion and equality. Our school came out as one of the highestperforming schools within the GDST from a Trust-wide survey, with our students feeling particularly proud, safe and creative.

Pride Day

In June we held our Pride Day celebration with a delicious barbecue on the Big Pitch at lunchtime and fantastic performances from two of our student bands. We also welcomed the LGBTQI+ Network from Birketts law firm, who held a talk about diversity and inclusion beyond school.

As part of Language and Culture Week, we celebrated Culture Day in February. Culture Day was suggested by Norwich High’s Antiracism and Inclusion Group and was a good way for students to take the lead in activities and workshops to raise awareness of different cultures. At break and lunchtime there were food stalls, henna, Rangoli art and a dance workshop. Students also had the opportunity to see their names written in calligraphy in a different language.

Perspectives Project

The new Perspectives Project is our student-led, deliberate and long-term effort to widen our curriculum. Kajol (Year 13), Shadan (Year 13) and Anusha (Year 11) have all produced resources that increase the narratives of marginalised groups. The next step is for student volunteers to work with Subject Heads to think about how the new narrative can be delivered in classrooms.

Opportunities with the GDST

Norwich High School for Girls is proud to be part of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), a unique family of 25 all girls’ schools across England and Wales. Being a part of the GDST gives our students a wealth of opportunities beyond life at Norwich High, from trips and workshops to scholarship funds and a worldwide alumnae network.

In the Prep School, mathematicians from Year 6 spent the day at Oxford University with their GDST peers stretching their numerical skills. Scientists in Year 5 enjoyed a day of lab work and lectures at The Royal Institution and our keen drama pupils took part in a Shakespeare workshop at the Globe Theatre. It is always good to make connections with our sister schools across the country.

Congratulations to Antonia (Year 13) for winning the GDST Sir William Cash Travel Scholarship, which she plans to use to visit Roman sites and museums in Italy and to Rhianna (Year 12) for winning a GDST Pearson & Silver award which she will use to attend a JACT Classics Summer School at Mount St Mary’s College.

One of a kind, part of the family

GDST Select

We were delighted that four of our pupils, Eva (Year 11), Imogen (Year 9), Hope (Year 9) and Abigail (Year 13) were chosen for the GDST Select squads in netball, cricket and hockey this year, as the best in their sport from across all 25 GDST schools.

Ten Senior School students travelled to Notting Hill and Ealing High School to take part in the GDST Languages Festival in March. Year 7 student Constance was crowned winner of the Year 7 GDST French spelling bee!

One of a kind, part of the family

Other GDST opportunities:

• GDST LEAD project

• Space Tech Diploma

• Advanced maths course

• GDST Model UN

• GDST Psychology Cup

• GDST English and Creative Writing Prizes

• GDST Chrystall Carter Public Speaking Competition

• STEM Spelling Bee

• GDST Sport Tournaments ...and more!

Residentials and Trips Ski Trip

A group of Year 6 and 7 students travelled to Les Deux Alpes in March for a Ski trip. Prep teacher Mrs Gooch commented: “The students faced many new challenges throughout the week; for many it was the first time they had skied on snow or had been in a foreign country away from their family. The students met each challenge with confidence and maturity as well as embracing many of our school qualities along the way.”

It was great to forge new friendships with the girls in Year 7 and I now feel really confident and positive about going up to the Senior School.

- Norah, Year 6

French Language Immersion Trip

In March the French Department organised a very successful language immersion cultural trip to Paris for Years 10-13. In addition to all the main tourist sites, the group enjoyed many bespoke activities, including meeting representatives from the Friends of Notre Dame to hear more about the restoration project.

Prep Residentials

Many of our Prep School years enjoyed residential trips this year, including Year 3 to Eaton Vale, Year 4 to Burwell House, Year 5 to Aylmerton and Year 6 to Yorkshire. From climbing walls to caving, measuring water flow in rivers to developing map reading skills, each one of these residential trips provided opportunities for the girls to stretch themselves and many commented on how they felt they had grown as individuals during their time away from home.

Big Skies Week

Senior School and Sixth Form enjoyed a wonderful (and very busy!) Big Skies Week in the penultimate week of the year. Big Skies Week is a chance for all the year groups to finish the academic year with a week of activities offering stretch, challenge and fun. This year students travelled as far as Amsterdam and Normandy, but also explored destinations closer to home, including the North Norfolk coast and Thetford Forest, as well as lots of in-school activities, such as first aid training and wellbeing days.

Berlin

Students in Year 10 to Sixth Form travelled to Berlin for the Art, History, Politics and German trip during the Easter holidays to immerse themselves into a landscape that would inspire their creativity and imagination. Some of the highlights included visiting the New National Gallery, Checkpoint Charlie, East Side Gallery (which houses the largest stretch of the infamous Berlin Wall) and the historic Brandenburg Gate.

Iceland

The A Level Geographers travelled to Iceland and were incredibly lucky to see the Northern Lights and the Vatnajökull ice sheet, which is made up of many glaciers and the magnificent glacial lagoon at Jökulsárlón.

EXAM RESULTS

GCSE Results 2023

Congratulations to the following students who completed their GCSE in the Summer of 2023:

Afrah Alam, Inayah Alam, Molly Andrews, Limony Arkle, Betsy Bowling, Constance Brewer, Caitlin Brookes-Boud, Eva Buckley, Amelia Carrington, Alisha Chan, Phoebe Court, Cordelia Dunn, Freya Findlay, Keiana Fowler, Emma Furness Briggs, Kezia Garwood, Evelyn Gorton, Liberty Gudgin, Isabella Harper, Shanice Harwood, Eva Haylett, Tabitha Hayter, Mia Hunt, Grace

Hunter, Tanvi Karé, Emily Kendle, Isadora Kent, Nelia Lashchuk, Victoria Liang, Saoirse Lowe-Davies, Mirabelle Manka-

Taylor, Grace McKean, Audrey Norton, Lara Osbaldeston, Maya Parnell, Zeynep

Pehlivan, Eleanor Plume, Susanna Pullinger, Valentina Redmond Porta, Miranda

Robinson, Evie Rochester, Navya Santosh, Libby Steedman, Angel Taylor-King, Amelie

Thomas, Leo Tiplady, Freya Tyack, Anusha

Upadhyay, Chaman Uppal, Ottilie Vinters, Isobel Waller, Estelle Widdows, Hannah Williams, Isabella Woodward.

A Level Results 2023

An asterisk * beside subject indicates an ‘A’ Grade A double asterisk ** beside subject indicates an ‘A*’ Grade

Kajol Aryal Biology**, Chemistry*, Geography**

Kaden Bardell Biology, Psychology, Spanish

Eloise Beard Classical Civilisation, Product Design, English Literature

Florence Berry English Literature, French*, History*

Ava Borthwick Business**, Classical Civilisation, Drama and Theatre**

Amelie Breach Drama and Theatre**, English Literature*, Psychology**

Jasmine Camderman Biology, Chemistry, Geography*

Annabel Coller Geography, Psychology, BTEC Sport**

Eloise Crowe Biology*, Chemistry, Psychology**

Atticus Curtis-Bailey English Literature*, Psychology*, Religious Studies**

Shadan Danesh Biology**, Chemistry*, Latin*, Mathematics*

Annabel Francis-Ray English Literature*, History, Psychology

Katherine Harley Chemistry*, Mathematics, Psychology**

Constance Harris Drama and Theatre**, English Literature**, Mathematics*, Music

Isabelle Harris Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, Mathematics

Grace Hosier Drama and Theatre*, Politics, Psychology*

Amelia Kemp Economics**, Geography**, Mathematics*

Katherine Land Biology**, Further Mathematics*, Latin*, Mathematics**

Abigail Lewis Product Design, Psychology, BTEC Sport**

Tilly Marcantonio Biology, Chemistry*, History*

Carrigan Matthews Geography, History, Politics

Jessica Mills Geography**, Mathematics*, Politics

Katie Mobbs English Literature, German, History

Lola Morgans Drama and Theatre*, English Literature**, Textile Design**

Clarice Nassif Biology*, Chemistry*, Latin**, Mathematics*

Holly Neeve Mathematics, Physics, Textile Design**

Ellie Potter Classical Civilisation, English Literature, Psychology

Nora Rechel History**, Music**, Politics**

Jemima R Business**, Geography, Spanish

Megan Roberts English Literature, Geography, Spanish

Antonia Rogers Classical Civilisation**, English Literature**, History**

Sophie Rowlands French*, Mathematics, Physics

Abigail Smith Fine Art**, Biology**, Physics**

Aimée Spaull Business*, Geography**, Psychology*

Rheanna Starr German, Mathematics, Physics

Paris Thompson Drama and Theatre*, English Literature*, Geography*

Daniella Vasinkina Economics, Geography, Textile Design*

Lily Walker Biology*, Chemistry*, Mathematics*

Lily Wearing English Literature**, History*, Psychology**

Khadijah Yussif Biology, Chemistry, English Literature*

Class of 2023 Destinations

Kajol Aryal Gap Year

Kaden Bardell Bath Spa University

Psychology

Eloise Beard Oxford Brookes University Film

Florence Berry Gap Year

Ava Borthwick University of Bristol

Amelie Breach University of Bristol

Theatre and Film

Film and Television

Jasmine Camderman University of East Anglia Pharmacy

Annabel Coller Workplace

Eloise Crowe University of Leeds

Atticus Curtis-Bailey University of Kent

Chemistry

Psychology

Katherine Land University of Oxford Biology

Shadan Danesh University of Leeds

Annabel Francis-Ray University of Sheffield

Katherine Harley University of East Anglia

Constance Harris Royal College of Music

Isabelle Harris Gap Year

Grace Hosier University of East Anglia

Amelia Kemp University of East Anglia

Abigail Lewis Bristol Groundschool

Tilly Marcantonio University of Nottingham

Carrigan Matthews Gap Year

Jessica Mills University of York

Katie Mobbs University of East Anglia

Lola Morgans Falmouth University

Clarice Nassif University of Exeter

Holly Neeve University of East Anglia

Ellie Potter University of Sussex

Nora Rechel University of Cambridge

Jemima R University of York

Megan Roberts University of Kent

Antonia Rogers University of Oxford

Sophie Rowlands Gap Year

Abigail Smith University of Bath

Aimée Spaull Apprenticeship

Rheanna Starr Gap Year

Paris Thompson Gap Year

Daniella Vasinkina Norwich University of the Arts

Lily Walker University of Liverpool

Medicine

Psychology

Chemistry

Music

Film and Television Production

Economics with a Year Abroad

Commercial Helicopter Course

Pharmacology

Human Geography and Environment

International Development with a Year Abroad

Textile Design

Medicine

Business Finance and Management with a Year in Industry

Arts and Humanities

History (2024)

Languages and Cultures (Italian and Spanish) (with a year abroad)

Modern Languages

Classical Archaeology and Ancient History

Architecture with Professional Placement

HNC Level 4 foundation year at The Garage

Fashion Marketing and Business

Veterinary Science

Lily Wearing University of Exeter History

Khadijah Yussif Gap Year