Although no ‘cake walk’, both cakes and walking featured when fundraisers at a West Norfolk Academies Trust secondary took part in this year’s Comic Relief, with the aim of raising more than £500 for the annual charity appeal.

Students across all year groups at Smithdon High School in Hunstanton participated in Red Nose Day on Friday 21 March, which saw them sport non-uniform and undertake a sponsored fitness challenge – as well as enjoy some home-baked cakes.

In 2024, the school raised over £400 for Comic Relief – a figure that they hope to have exceeded this year, with a target of £500 to beat.

“We hope to have raised more than £500 from the non-uniform day and cake sale, and students were also challenged to see how many laps of the school field they could complete in one hour,” explained Alix Birks, who teaches Design Technology at Smithdon, and supported the School Council in organising the event.

“This took place during students’ core PE lessons that week,” she continued. “We encouraged students to raise sponsorship donations from friends and family to raise money for Comic Relief.”

Staff at Smithdon also dressed down for the day, while additional funds were raised by a group of students who worked together to run a charity Cake Sale at the school.

“Our Year 10 and 11 ASDAN students organised a Cake Sale, which took place at break and lunch times in the Main Hall,” added Mrs Birks.

“We asked students to bring cash to buy cakes and contribute to our fundraising effort."

“There was no theme, just non-uniform – and students were encouraged to wear a Comic Relief red nose as well.”

“With its theme of ‘Go Big’ this year, for 40 years of Comic Relief as a national charity offering important support to children and those in need in local communities in the UK and worldwide, we felt we needed to ‘go big’ too, and organise an additional event to try to beat last year’s fundraising,” said Headteacher Amanda Gibbins.

“It’s great to see the students getting involved to support those less fortunate than themselves all around the world, and understanding the plight of others, including within our own community.”

To donate to Comic Relief on behalf of Smithdon, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rnd25-smithdon-high-school

Budding scientists drew inspiration from some famous names when a WNAT school celebrated Science Day.

Children of all ages at Heacham Junior School took part in the event, which involved a range of different activities, each based around a well-known scientific figure.

“The school was split up into five groups with children from all year groups,” explained Hannah Greenhalgh, Primary Science Lead at the Trust, and organiser of the day. They rotated around different activities delivered by the teachers.

“The activities were based on a famous scientist. They included the Leonardo da Vinci Zipline; the Helen Sharman Rocket; Greta Thunberg potato plastic (making biodegradable plastic from potato starch); Marie Curie’s Chemistry Lab; and Delia Derbyshire’s Super Sound Testing.”

“The pupil’s voice was all really positive,” continued Miss Greenhalgh. “They enjoyed working with different children across the school.

“The older children provided excellent role models and supported and encouraged the younger ones.”

British Science Day was also celebrated by the Trust’s other primary schools, including Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.

“Our aim for the day was to crush science stereotypes, making it fun and accessible for all children,” added Miss Greenhalgh. “Furthermore, it enhances the practical element of our science curriculum, which the children love so much.”

The event followed British Science Week, where Heacham Junior received a visit from student ‘Science Ambassadors’ from fellow WNAT member Smithdon High School in Hunstanton, who put the younger pupils through their scientific paces during a series of experiments and activities.

A kind-hearted pupil at our school is ready to lose her long curly locks to help children who are undergoing treatment for cancer.

Marnie-Rae Hornsby celebrated her sixth birthday today (20) and is having her hair cut later this year for the Little Princess charity.

Marnie is also raising money for the charity and had hit £375 this week via a page on the Just Giving website which was created for her by dad Shaun Hornsby.

Her proud mum Chelsea Owen said Marnie was inspired to help after her aunt lost her hair while receiving treatment for cancer before she died last year.  

“Marnie has been asking me for a while to cut her hair to her shoulders, and I’ve been putting it off as it’s so beautiful and long,  and not wanting her hair to go to waste and be thrown straight in the bin,” she said.

“She loves to have pretty hairstyles and I’m sure she still can with short hair. Marnie has a really kind nature and helps others.”

Marnie,  has been watching her list of sponsors increase on the web page and Chelsea said her daughter was ‘very grateful for every pound she has received.’

Her hair will be cut in June or July and donated to the Little Princess Trust which was established 20 years ago. It provides free, real hair wigs to children and young people aged up to 24 who lose their hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

It also raises money to help fund childhood cancer research and for the last nine years has been funding scientists in the field of paediatric cancer. It has paid for 152 research projects in a bid to find a kinder and more effective treatment for childhood cancer.

Search ‘Marnies fundraiser for Little Princess Trust’ on justgiving.com to make a donation.

Science students from a WNAT school put younger pupils through their paces as part of British Science Week, which ran from 10 to 14 March this year.

The ‘science ambassadors’ from Smithdon High School in Hunstanton spent the week visiting children at five nearby primaries, where they led a series of scientific experiments designed around a particular theme.

“A group of students from Year 8, Year 9, and Year 10 planned and delivered their six experiments, all linking to this year’s theme ‘Change and Adapt’,” explained Veronica Soper, Science Teacher at Smithdon.

“They included investigating bird beak shape adapted to different types of seeds; seed shape and dispersal method; the effect of lenses on the image production; static electricity; and the voltage supplied by coin batteries.”

The primary schools participating in the programme were Hunstanton, Dersingham, and Ingoldisthorpe, along with fellow WNAT members Heacham Junior, and Snettisham.

“We have been doing this for around eight years, I think,” continued Mrs Soper.

“During British Science Week, I take a different group of about 12 Smithdon students to a primary school each morning and help them set up and run their activities.

“It’s a great opportunity for our students to act as science ambassadors and role models for the younger students, and also for primary school children to meet and engage with those who are already at the secondary school many of them will attend in a few years’ time, supporting their transition.

“Many of those who get involved remember when we visited them in Year 3 and Year 4, and can even tell all the experiments we did that year.”

There were also British Science Week activities taking place within Smithdon, where the ‘Change and Adapt’ theme took centre stage over the course of the week.

“In school there was an assembly on how scientists adapt and change to new ideas, along with the changing careers in science – for example, more green careers, such as careers in renewable energy, electric cars et cetera,” said the school’s Head of Science, Claire Pike.

“Within lesson time, there were experiments to do with changes seen in chemicals, how animals are adapted to change, and how our climate is changing.”

A Drama Teacher from a WNAT school celebrated his impending retirement after 39 years in the profession with a gripping production of The 39 Steps.

Alun Bliss chose to stage the Hitchcock classic with a small cast of just four sixth formers from Springwood High School, along with a supporting back-stage crew of students, which included three Assistant Stage Managers from Year 8.

The play tells the story of a man who witnesses a murder and must then escape both the killers and the police, as he attempts to clear his name.

Gracie Ashley, from Year 13, took the title role of protagonist Richard Hannay, while Keira Plume in Year 12 played the different women that he encounters, and Maggie Bartrum and Ava Freer (both Year 13) were Clowns 1 and 2.

“I deliberately went back to the very first idea, where a small group of sixth formers asked me to direct a play,” said Mr Bliss, who joined Springwood in 1991.

“Doing a small cast production and working with a small cast and crew seemed perfect.

“It was only through looking for photos of past productions that I realised that this was probably the 39th production in my 39th year of teaching."

Over 300 people attended the production, which took place in the Springwood Drama Studio over three consecutive nights, and was based on the well known 1935 Alfred Hitchcock thriller.

“It was thoroughly enjoyed by all, with many commenting upon the quality of the acting and the overall theatricality,” continued Mr Bliss.  “Several enjoyed the train scene and the variety of characters created.

“Most commented upon the versatility of the actors and the imaginative use of the space.”

The closing performance was followed by a speech from Assistant Head Pete Cuss.

“Pete Cuss said a few kind words to mark my last production after the final performance,” added Mr Bliss.  “It has been a pleasure and a privilege to stay at the school. There are always new challenges to keep us busy.”

However, it won’t be the final curtain for Mr Bliss, who intends to continue to tread the boards in retirement.
“I am looking forward to giving more time to things like travel and playing music, but will probably do plenty of theatre work,” he said. “I will probably do some Theatre in Education projects.”

Our schools pulled out all the stops to mark this year’s World Book Day, with everything from guest speakers to Masked Readers.

Primary pupils arrived in class dressed as characters ranging from Goldilocks to The Gruffalo, with everything in between as both staff and children celebrated the day.

Smithdon High School held a two-week literary festival which included World Book Day based on Alice in Wonderland. There were also guest speakers on other specially themed days. 

There was also a 500-word story competition, book swap and other events throughout the fortnight where donations were also collected for the Tapping House Hospice.

“The themed day brings books alive. It can show students that reading can indeed be fun. With costumes, and decorating the library to the theme, it gives students a visual of the story and brings the characters off the page. We hope it inspires students,” said Amanda Wright, Head of English and festival co-organiser.

Hiccup the Viking was among characters at Gaywood Primary School where children dressed as their favourite characters from nominated authors. Year 1 could choose from Julia Donaldson books, including the Gruffalo; Year 2 had Jill Tomlinson, creator of The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark; Year 3 chose from Roald Dahl and Year 4 focused on Cressida Cowell who created the Viking series.

West Lynn children had a Masked Reader competition and they also took part in a contest to design a book cover.

Our coastal schools for younger children enjoyed a variety of events - including dressing as a book character. Family and friends also took part and were invited to join pupils to create book character vegetables.

Pupils at Clenchwarton could tuck into Ratburger with Gangsta Granny’s Salad with a special World Book Day menu to choose from, which was also available at other Trust primaries.

St Clements High School students visited the village primary school to read to younger children and enthuse them with all things literary. There were also competitions and cakes on offer.

Marshland High School welcomed author and illustrator Pen Avey who spoke to students about her work and the importance of reading for pleasure.