Celebrating Set 147 at Heritage Day 2026
8 June 2026
Norland proudly celebrated its annual Heritage Day, giving final-year students the opportunity to showcase the creative talents and practical skills they have developed over three years of degree and diploma study with friends, family and staff.
Norland was proud to host its annual Heritage Day on Friday 29 May 2026, a heartfelt celebration of the achievements of our third-year students (Set 147) as they prepare to embark on their fourth year of training in paid employment as a Newly Qualified Nanny (NQN).
This special event marks an important milestone in the Norland journey, bringing together students, families and staff to reflect on three years of hard work, creativity and dedication.
Working in groups, Set 147 students created themed displays to demonstrate the breadth of skills they have developed through the Norland diploma, including their Sewing and Food and Nutrition training. Their displays highlighted a wide range of projects completed throughout their training and offered guests a glimpse into the creativity, care and professionalism that define a Norland education.
The displays featured many of the wonderful projects they have worked on during their three years at Norland and covered a variety of themes from a ‘Janet at the Disco’ nightclub themed display to Norland’s very own ‘Magic Faraway Tree’ and ‘Norlando’s Circus’.
The winning display ‘Forget-me-not Village’ had a sustainable focus, with creations made entirely from scrap materials found in their homes. Reflecting on the inspiration for their display, the winning group said: “This project was born entirely out of what we already owned using past sewing scraps, leftovers and forgotten household items. We wanted to show that creating doesn’t require buying anything new. True sustainability isn’t about sacrificing; it’s about using imagination to see new value in old things.”
The very first Heritage Day was held on 1 July 2003 for Set 125, when it was known as Display Day. The event heralded a new tradition for Norland and marked its move from Denford Park in Berkshire to its new home in Bath that year. Norlanders, future students and children from local schools were invited to Norland to view the creative works by students, which included fancy dress costumes, treasure baskets, wooden toys and mobiles. The following year, the event was held at the Bath Assembly Rooms.
Held across our Oldfield Park campus and Hayesfield School, the 2026 celebrations invited guests to explore student displays, discover examples of the three years of hard work from across the Norland diploma, and enjoy time on campus with family and friends before the formal awards ceremony.
During the ceremony, awards were given to students demonstrating skills and dedication in baking, sewing, placements, charity work, along with being a brand ambassador. The Norland choir performed, Head of Students Elena and Deputy Head of Students Holly gave an inspiring speech to their peers, and Charity and Communities Representative Alice shared the incredible fundraising activities throughout their time at Norland. To close the proceedings, Principal Dr Janet Rose gave a speech thanking the students for their hard work and outstanding creativity.
For Set 147 and their families, Heritage Day was an especially meaningful moment to celebrate how far they have come as aspiring Norlanders. The event served as a reminder of the commitment, resilience and creativity they have shown throughout their training, ahead of completing their Employment Weeks and beginning their NQN year. Once they complete this fourth year of training as probationary nannies in full-time employment with a family, they will earn the Norland diploma and the title of Norland Nanny or Norlander, as fully qualified graduates are known.
