Cyril Norwood was born 15 September 1875, the son of the Rev. Samuel Norwood of Whalley, Lancashire, whose family removed to Leytonstone, London in 1886 when the grammar school of which Norwood senior was headmaster closed. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and St. Johns College, Oxford, where he took a First in Classical Moderations (1896) and in Litterae Humaniores (1898). After achieving first place in the examination for entry into the Home Civil Service in 1899 he joined the Admiralty, but in 1901 resigned and, determining to make his career in education, was appointed master of the Classical VIth at Leeds Grammar School. In December 1901 he married Catherine Margaret Kilner, daughter of a medical practitioner of Kensington. On leaving Leeds Grammar School Norwood took up the post of Headmaster of Bristol Grammar School (1906-16), where he established a reputation for success which resulted in his being invited to apply successively for the posts of Master of Marlborough College (1917-25) and Head Master of Harrow School (1926-34). On leaving Harrow in 1934 he became President of his old College, St. Johns, Oxford, from 1934 to1946, receiving a knighthood in 1938. In 1946 he retired to live at Iwerne Minster, Dorset, where he died 13 March 1956.

During his career he fulfilled other prominent roles, including: Chairman of the Secondary School Examinations Council (1921-46); Chairman, Allied Schools (1934-54); and Chairman of the Committee on Curricula and Examinations, which in 1943 produced the influential report Curriculum and examinations in secondary schools (the "Norwood Report") which led to the post-war tripartite system of secondary education. A committed Christian, he was also President of the Modern Churchmen's Union (1937-47).

His publications, in addition to the Norwood Report, include: 'The higher education of boys in England' (1909), 'The English educational system' (1928), and 'The English tradition of education' (1929).