At Norwich High School for Girls, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our alumnae through our 150 Trailblazers series. One such trailblazer is Jane Clarke, who has had an illustrious career in journalism, television and publishing, writing under the name Jane Lythell.
Trailblazers: 150 Years of Norwich High Women
A Norwich High Education
Jane attended Norwich High School for Girls from 1963 to 1970. Like many of her peers, an all-girls’ education felt entirely normal to her. During her time at school, Jane developed a love for History and English, particularly inspired by her history teacher, Miss Bishop. The light-filled Art Room was her favourite space in the school, where she enjoyed the relaxing and creative atmosphere and experimented with batik and weaving.
Her early interest in politics was sparked at the age of fourteen when the school held a mock election to mirror the national general election. She also took fencing lessons, thanks to her grandmother, though she admits she wasn’t particularly skilled at it but enjoyed the experience nonetheless.
One of the aspects of Norwich High that stood out to Jane was the breadth of subjects available to study. She originally wanted to take English, History and Art at A Level, but was encouraged to study Latin instead of Art due to her academic strengths. While she felt a pang at not pursuing Art, she later appreciated the cultural insights gained from studying The Age of Caesar and Augustus.
A Career in Media and Literature
Jane credits her time at Norwich High with giving her a strong academic foundation. She initially attended Sussex University but found it wasn’t the right fit, leading her to restart her BA in English Literature and Language at University College London, where she graduated with a First-Class degree.
Her career began in journalism before she moved into television, working as a producer at TV-am and later becoming Controller of Features at Westcountry Television. In 1995, she joined the British Film Institute as Deputy Director before taking on the role of Chief Executive at BAFTA. She later spent seven years at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, overseeing media production and promotional campaigns around the world, travelling extensively to China, Japan, Moscow, Kosovo and Buenos Aires.
Today, Jane is a full-time writer with five published novels. Writing under the name Jane Lythell, she has authored psychological thrillers and contemporary fiction, exploring themes of ambition, power and psychological tension.
“My first two novels, The Lie of You and After the Storm, were USA Today bestsellers,” she shares. “The Lie of You was adapted into a film, A Working Mom’s Nightmare, starring Tuppence Middleton.” Her later novels, Woman of the Hour and Behind Her Back, draw on her experience in television, offering an insider’s perspective on the industry. Most recently, The Exes was published by Bloodhound Books in 2023.
Reflections on Norwich High
Jane fondly remembers the support of her teachers, who encouraged her to aim high. She also appreciated the school’s spacious grounds and buildings providing a sense of space.
Her journey at Norwich High began thanks to an Assisted Place, an opportunity that her mother was thrilled about. “That made me happy,” Jane recalls. She is a strong advocate for bursary awards, recognising their impact on life chances. “The facilities at Norwich High are exceptional. I wish more children could benefit from such quality provision.”
While she wishes that a Norwich High education was accessible to more girls, Jane wholeheartedly recommends it, crediting the school with shaping her early aspirations and setting her on a path to success.
“I appreciated the full-hearted support of the teachers who gave me much encouragement and urged me to be ambitious.”
A Legacy of Achievement
Jane Clarke’s journey from Norwich High School for Girls to the heights of the media and literary world is an inspiring testament to ambition, resilience and creativity.
