Among an array of classic, vintage and sports cars delivering the Year 11 students to the annual leavers’ event in King’s Lynn, were a mobility scooter and a shopping trolley, along with an artic lorry, motorbikes, pick up trucks, a tractor, a horse, and even Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine, complete with gang.

Arrayed in a dazzling selection of colourful evening wear, from suits and cocktail dresses to full-length ball gowns, the students were greeted at Springwood by a crowd of family members, friends and well-wishers, who lined the school’s driveway to cheer the arrivals.

In keeping with the 007 theme, the sixth form hub and surrounding studios had been transformed into a casino, where the party-goers enjoyed blackjack and roulette tables and racing car simulators, as well as dance mats and a disco, and an array of buffet-style refreshments.

There was also a photo booth that proved popular with the students, who were keen to commemorate the occasion with a lasting souvenir.

“I have never known a year group to experience so much adversity, and come through it demonstrating such unfaltering resilience,” said Head of Year 11 Oliver Denton. 

“They have experienced lost school time due to Covid, they have experienced loss and grief, an unusual amount of changes to the tutor team, as well as a change to both Year Head and Year Manager at the start of Year 11.

“Despite all of this, they have shown excellent engagement in their studies, as well as achieving record numbers at Saturday Morning Intervention and after-school revision.

“They should be very proud of themselves, and hopefully their hard work and determination will bear fruit on results day.”