We have some exciting news to share with our school community. Norwich High School for Girls has been officially commended for the Independent School of the Year for Student Wellbeing award at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2026! We are absolutely thrilled by this recognition, and we now face an eager wait until September to find out if we have been selected as a finalist.

Here is a glimpse into the story we shared with the judges…

At Norwich High School for Girls GDST, wellbeing is not a scheduled intervention but a way of life. Our distinctive provision has undergone a transformative shift from pastoral support to a deep-rooted culture of Mattering.

For high-achieving girls, the pressure to be perfect can sometimes feel overwhelming, occasionally leading to anxiety or a quiet sense of isolation. To counter this, we have undergone a profound shift from traditional pastoral support to a deep-rooted culture of Mattering (inspired by the Zach Mercurio model).

We operate on a simple but powerful truth: every single girl’s presence adds value and her voice is indispensable. We even dedicated our Staff Study Days this year to auditing our school culture, ensuring that from the classroom to the sports fields, every pupil knows she is seen, heard and valued. The impact speaks for itself – in our recent Undivided Survey, an incredible 97% of our students reported feeling that their unique identity is respected.

The 2025-26 academic year brought its own unique challenges, particularly around acute anxiety and perfectionism. We wanted to ensure that all of our students felt supported to stay connected to their education rather than retreating home when things felt heavy.

This led to the launch of our innovative RESET Programme. Instead of navigating any worries alone, students now take “soothe walks” through our wooded grounds with a member of staff. This simple act of stepping into nature helps lower cortisol levels and allows for a gentle, supported transition back into the classroom.

We’ve also worked hand-in-hand with families to co-produce Emotional Regulation Support Plans before the school year even begins. Combine this with our Beyond extra-curricular modules – where girls unwind through everything from bullet journaling and crochet to sustainability projects and jewellery making – and you get an environment of exceptionally high support and genuine warmth.

The true measure of our wellbeing programme isn’t just how we support our girls while they are here, but how it prepares them for the world beyond our gates.

Nothing demonstrated this better this year than the launch of EmpowerHer, a city-wide event entirely designed and led by our students. Our girls stepped up to run workshops on resilience and self-esteem for others, proving that they aren’t just recipients of care; they are architects of change. They are learning to Make it Happen.

Of course, a healthy school requires healthy adults. We’ve kept a sharp focus on staff wellbeing too, introducing ‘Time Back’ initiatives to recognise weekend dedication, alongside staff pilates sessions to ensure our teachers are looking after their own physical and mental health.

Our pastoral blueprints are now being shared across the wider GDST network, positioning Norwich High as a real hub of innovation. We could not be prouder of our girls. They are leaving us not just with brilliant minds, but as resilient, emotionally literate young women who know exactly who they are – and who leave us knowing they matter.

Cross your fingers for us for September!