Trailblazers: 150 Years of Norwich High Women
At Norwich High School for Girls, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our alumnae through our 150 Trailblazers series.
Alumna Amanda Addison is a trailblazing author whose journey from our classrooms (1978-1984) to the literary world exemplifies the spirit of possibility. Amanda’s reflections offer a unique insight into her education, her diverse career path and the enduring impact of her time at Norwich High.
Amanda’s passion for languages blossomed during her school years, particularly German, thanks to the inspiring teaching of Mrs Audrey Brayne and memorable school exchanges to Heilbronn. She recalls the “fantastic” language provision, including native-speaking assistants, one of whom even provided inspiration for a character in her adult novel, Laura’s Handmade Life. Beyond academics, Amanda cultivated a lifelong love for swimming and travel – interests that continue to fuel her creative pursuits.
A standout memory for Amanda was the consistent influx of alumni offering career talks, recalling that “almost every lunchtime was filled with alumni coming into school to give careers talks. It really made me feel that anything was possible.” This early exposure to diverse career paths evidently shaped her ambitious outlook.
After completing A-levels in Art, French, and German, Amanda embarked on a less conventional but ultimately rewarding educational journey. Recognizing that her ideal combination of art and modern languages wasn’t readily available, she pursued a Foundation course at Great Yarmouth School of Art & Design before heading to Chelsea Art School to study illustration. Years later, a Creative Writing MA at Norwich University of the Arts served as the springboard to writing fiction.
Today, Amanda is a prolific author of books for both adults and children, with her work translated into German, Greek, Italian, and Ukrainian. Her picture book, Boundless Sky, was nominated for The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal, and her YA novel, Looking for Lucie, was listed for the Searchlight Writing Novel Opening Award. Her writing and artwork are deeply inspired by travel, textiles, and the natural world, often exploring themes of home, belonging, and the juxtaposition of rural and city life. Her characters, frequently artists or scientists, reflect her belief that “their curiosity about the world around them are two sides to the same coin, and the exploration of art and science can give us meaning and purpose in life with its infinite avenues of discovery.” Amanda believes schools should “find more inventive and creative ways of teaching art and science so that young people can follow their curiosity.”
Her latest work, Looking for Lucie, publishing with Neem Tree Press in 2024, is a contemporary story of identity, self-discovery and newfound friendship. Inspired by her own DNA test results and the perennial question, “Where are you really from?”, the novel follows 18-year-old art student Lucie as she uncovers her ethnic heritage and family history with her new scientist friend, Nav.
Beyond her own writing career, Amanda also shares her expertise by lecturing in Art & Design and leading Creative Writing workshops at prestigious institutions like the National Centre for Writing and for Norfolk Museums Service. She resides in Norfolk with her family, including a cat named Heathcliff!
Reflecting on her Norwich High education, Amanda highlights that the “feeling that anything was and still is possible” gave her the confidence to pursue her dreams. For example, her year being the first Sixth Form where more girls chose STEM over arts and humanities at A Level, a particular strength of girls-only education, which empowers students to choose subjects irrespective of social pressure or stereotypes.
Amanda’s journey stands as a testament to embracing curiosity, forging unique paths and the enduring power of a foundational education that instills a belief in boundless possibilities.
