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  • WNAT students celebrate Pride

    Published 08/07/26

    Everyone was welcome when students at an inclusive WNAT school came together to celebrate Pride.

    All year groups at Springwood High School in King’s Lynn were involved in the annual Pride Party, which featured themed activities, as well as a visit from a LGBTQ+ charity.

    Alice Betts is Diversity Lead at the school, and organised the event with help from members of the Diversity Council and other students.

    “We celebrated with lots of stalls for the students to visit,” she said. “They were able to take part in scavenger hunts, games around LGBTQ+ icons and important historical moments, and some previous favourite activities involved our photo booth and biscuit decorating.

    “All students were invited, and we had a good turn out, especially amongst Year 7, who were enjoying dancing to the playlist made by one of my council members.”

    She continued: “This year we also had the Norfolk LGBTQ+ Project visit. This charity works throughout the county providing support groups and individual mentoring, and they’ve supported many children at Springwood in the past.

    “They came in with lots of merchandise that children could buy, and, in the heat we had that week, the fans were a firm favourite.”

    It was the fourth time that Springwood had celebrated Pride, with the event growing year on year.

    Miss Betts explained: “I oversee the planning and execution of the events, but, as this was our fourth year of celebrating Pride, the students have become much more experienced at taking charge of their own stations and activities.

    “My Year 10 students have been with me since Year 7, so have taken part in every Pride Party that I have organised. It’s become such a staple of Springwood now, that it’s becoming an event I want to make bigger and better each year.”

    She added: “It is so vital for everyone from the LGBTQ+ community that we mark this event. It helps them feel seen, and that Springwood can be a place they can be themselves without fear – this is one of the reasons we were awarded the School of Sanctuary Award.

    “It’s such a joy to watch our students come to this event and not be afraid to show their identity, and feel safe to do so.”

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  • WNAT students make the grade in Maths challenge

    Published 08/07/26

    Young Maths whizzes showcased their skills, when they took part in an invitation-only challenge at their WNAT school.

    The three Year 8 students at Springwood High School had previously scored highly in the UK Maths Trust Junior Mathematical Challenge in May, with their impressive results qualifying them to progress to the UKMT Junior Kangaroo round of the contest.

    Similarly to the previous stage, the 60-minute Junior Kangaroo featured 25 multiple-choice questions, each designed to encourage mathematical reasoning.

    Springwood Maths Teacher Lucy Edwards organised the event.

    “The Junior Maths Challenge takes place every year, also an Intermediate and Senior Maths Challenge yearly, with some students qualifying for follow-on rounds from each competition,” she explained.

    “This was a follow-on round from the Junior Maths Challenge, whereby these three students have qualified.”

    Among the high-fliers, Charlotte achieved a Bronze Award, while George and Jan both attained Silver, with Jan’s result Best in School.

    Miss Edwards continued: "These students are amongst the minority who have ever been to our school to achieve this outstanding level.  

    “Each student received a certificate indicating their award level.”

    She added: “These events are important to build resilience for students tackling challenging problems, as well as promote a love for Maths.

    “This also encourages the development of students’ reasoning, creative thinking, and deduction skills required for GCSE and A-Levels.”

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  • WNAT students impress at Hunstanton Town Hall

    Published 08/07/26

    From new bands to a preview of an upcoming musical, there was a range of talent on show when a WNAT school held its annual Summer Concert.

    Thirty-five students from Years 7 upwards at Smithdon High School took part in the event at Hunstanton Town Hall, which featured instrumental performances and song, and even saw some of the school’s Year 11 leavers returning to perform.

    With Music Teacher Andrea Barnes on maternity leave, Design and Technology Teacher Alix Birks stepped in to oversee this year’s event, with the support of peripatetic music teachers.

    “There was a mix of vocal and instrumental pieces, with new bands coming together for the first time,” she said.

    “There was a sneak peek from the Aladdin Junior cast, singing ‘Friend Like Me’ – this is our school production for 2026, and performances will be in December at the town hall.

    “Year 11s Ellie and Geo also returned to perform.”

    More than 100 people attended the concert, while Mrs Barnes also put in an appearance.

    Ms Birks continued: “Mrs Barnes came in for the day of the concert, so she was able to help with rehearsal and the running of the day.

    “Parents were impressed by the performers’ talent and skill, and commented on how much progress the performers have made over the years.

    “Students not only performed in the concert, but also did all the production, lighting, sound, running, and backstage.”

    She added: “It was excellent to be able to showcase our students’ talents to the local community, and lovely to be able to perform in the Town Hall.”

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  • WNAT students raise £2,500 through charity run

    Published 08/07/26

    Hockey players swapped their sticks for running shoes when students from a WNAT school in West Walton took part in a charity 5K to raise around £2,500 for their chosen cause.

    The annual Marshland High School Pink Ladies event saw 28 members of the school’s Pink Ladies and Mixed Hockey Squads lace up their running shoes for the King’s Lynn Park Run on 2 July, in support of the Fenland Women’s Refuge.

    The school’s Head of PE, Paul Swinburn, took part alongside the students, and was delighted with their determination and hard-won results.

    “We spoke earlier in the morning, pre-run, about how they could target the finish – run to win, all the way, to run-walk to survive,” he said. “More than half beat me with ease. Others didn’t, but all persevered and dug in.

    “The thing is, the 5K run is alien to games players, as we don’t just run for five kilometres continuously – we sprint, rest, jog, walk, sprint again. It’s such a different fitness type, but all found a way around, and their big, beaming faces told me how much it meant to them to make such a difference to ones less fortunate than themselves.

    “We talked about how sports people can do lots for themselves, in terms of joining clubs for exercise and enjoyment, but also that we can pull together as squads and make a difference to others.”

    It was the twelfth time the Marshland Pink Ladies fundraiser had taken place, with a total of more than £27,000 donated to different causes over the years.

    Mr Swinburn continued: “The good will and ‘Go on, Pink Ladies’, ‘Well done, Marshland’, and even the odd ‘Keep going, Mr Swinburn’, was great to hear all the way round from the crowd and fellow runners. I even heard someone saying, ‘Yeah, they always do it, they do it for different charities, nice kids’ et cetera.

    “Some had sporting fixtures – dance and swimming – later in the day. One child has done all five runs since she has been here, contributing loads to the £27,000-plus we have raised since we started it 11 years ago.”

    Previous causes supported by the hockey players at Marshland have included Angles Theatre, the Pelicans Hockey Club, food banks, and a former student with leukaemia.

    Mr Swinburn added: “This charity is one we have served before, and we found out about it through a dedicated teacher at our school, Mrs Debi Benson. It is a charity that is local and supports days out for under-privileged families, amongst other things.

    “It is a privilege for me to run with these kids and make a difference. The self-efficacy and feeling of pride resonates, but the actual thing of providing for others in need has no age limits.

    “I have heard from past pupils who still fundraise today through this experience.”

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  • Marshland High School celebrates centenary in style

    Published 07/07/26

    Staff and students past and present gathered for an important milestone, when a WNAT school in West Walton celebrated its 100th anniversary.

    The Marshland High School Centenary Celebration brought together around 650 students, along with staff, trustees, and governors, headteachers from the school’s feeder primaries, the Mayor and Mayoress of King’s Lynn, and former Secretary of State for Education Baroness Shephard, whose late husband was Headteacher of Marshland in the 1960s.

    After school, former staff and students, family members, friends, and neighbouring primary school children were invited to join the party on 1 July, which featured an exhibition of photographs of Marshland through the ages, as well as more than 100 birthday cards from a host of famous names.

    Lydia Beatty is Head of Culture at the school and helped organise the event.

    “I would guesstimate over 150 came to see the exhibition,” she said. “It was lovely seeing them spot themselves in the photos from over the years, and commenting on how much the school had changed. So many told us how much they’d enjoyed their time at Marshland.

    “We had over 100 cards, including from Stephen Fry, Dawn French, Sir Mo Farah, the Royal Family, Manchester United, Timmy Mallett, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence.”

    Besides the exhibition, there was a range of entertainment on offer, including inflatables such as bouncy castles, gladiator duels, and bungee runs, alongside traditional carnival games such as hoopla; while the Marshland School Choir performed a medley of songs from the nineties before leading a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.

    Miss Beatty continued: “It was lovely to see everyone come together, staff and students, to just enjoy the party. A personal highlight for me was so many ex-staff returning after school to join the celebration. Having been here 13 years, it was lovely to see those who have formed a part of Marshland’s history again.”

    The occasion was also marked by the burial of a time capsule on the school field, which contained a range of items related to modern life at Marshland, from photographs, examples of work, and the school uniform, to predictions from current students about what the world will be like when the time capsule is opened in 50 years’ time.

    Headteacher Craig Jansen was on hand to help bury the time capsule, and enjoyed spending time with guests.

    “A highlight for me was meeting one of our visitors,” he said. “Pam, who is 90 years old, shared her memories of her family’s past involvement with the school.

    “Her father was a teacher at the school when it first opened in 1926. She was educated at the school, and later returned as teacher at the school itself.

    “I was also delighted to have Baroness Shephard of Northwold, whose husband, Tom Shephard, was Headteacher at Marshland from 1966 to 1970, visit our school, cut our birthday cake, and help bury our time capsule.”

    Miss Beatty added: “This was a lovely way to celebrate how special Marshland is. It really is a part of its community, and puts students at the heart of everything.

    “We look forward to continuing the success of Marshland High School in 2026 for the next 100 years.”

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  • WNAT pupils rise to frisbee challenge

    Published 03/07/26

    There was a chance to try out a new sport, when pupils from a WNAT school tested their skills at Ultimate Frisbee.

    The team of eight Year 6 children from West Lynn Primary enjoyed a non-competitive round-robin event at Lynnsport, where they played frisbee games against other schools.

    Leanne Swallow is Year 6 Teaching Assistant at West Lynn, and accompanied the group.

    “The children had a taster season before the event to familiarise themselves with the game before attending, and really enjoyed that,” she said.

    “Even though the event was non-competitive, they enjoyed playing against the other schools – and reported that they won all of their games!”

    The school takes part in the Ultimate Frisbee event every year.

    Miss Swallow added: “It is important for children to engage in a range of sports, and particularly those that they might not usually have a chance to play.”

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  • New leadership as WNAT school begins rebuild

    Published 03/07/26
    With over forty-five years of teaching experience between them, a new Headteacher and Deputy Head have taken charge at a West Norfolk Academies Trust school, as it enters a period of dramatic transformation.
     
    Previously Deputy Headteacher at Smithdon High School in Hunstanton, Sarah Robinson has worked at the school for 20 years, and has now taken over the reins as Acting Headteacher.
    She has been joined by newly appointed Deputy Headteacher Jamie Warner-Lynn, who has been teaching for 25 years, and has been seconded to Smithdon from fellow Trust member Springwood High School.
     
    The two take on the leadership at a time when Smithdon is undergoing extensive refurbishment and restructuring, which will update the school building and provide cutting-edge new facilities for the staff and students.

    Mrs Robinson was positive about the changes, which have recently got underway –  despite some minor hiccups.

    “It is a refurbishment of the existing main building and gym, to maintain the heritage of the listed, brutalist building,” she explained. “It will include brand new science labs, state-of-the-art music suite and performance area, and a modernised gym.

    “Whilst the last few weeks haven’t all been plain sailing, with drainage complications resulting in a temporary school closure, I am proud that the sense of kindness and community I have associated with Smithdon throughout my 20 years here has continued to shine through.”

    It has been business as usual for the school, with a wide range of activities and trips taking place over the Summer term.

    Mrs Robinson continued: “Despite the disruption, the staff and students at Smithdon have continued to engage in all the enrichment activities that they normally do.

    “In the last few weeks alone, we have held our Chess Tournament, a group of Smithdon students won the West Norfolk Academies Trust Race to the Line Event at Springwood High School, the Duke of Edinburgh students have completed their expeditions, we have run a football tour to Paris, and had professional tennis player Jade Windley in to coach our Year 8s.

    “In addition to all of these, we have said farewell to our Year 11 cohort following their exam period, and have also been welcoming our new Year 6 students for various transition events.”

    Mr Warner-Lynn said: “Whilst it has certainly been a busy start to my time at Smithdon, I am without a doubt really enjoying it. The staff here are incredibly hard working, and the community is so supportive and friendly.

    “I have enjoyed doing some extra revision sessions with the Year 11s, and seeing the talent that Smithdon students have.”

    While the building work at Smithdon is expected to take three years to complete, the new leaders were prepared for the challenge.

    Mrs Robinson added: “Smithdon’s greatest strengths are a strong and supportive community, and a strong enrichment programme with lots of opportunities for all students.

    “We want to continue to develop the culture of the school to provide a warm and welcoming environment, where students can thrive academically, and develop into compassionate and confident young adults.”
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  • Fishy pic wins WNAT photo contest

    Published 03/07/26

    The focus was on talent, when the winners of this year’s West Norfolk Academies Trust Photographic Competition were announced at a ceremony attended by finalists and their friends and families.

    The final took place at Springwood High School, and featured the work of pupils and staff from across the Trust’s secondary and primary schools, along with those from the Windmill Primary Federation.

    Besides host Springwood, the WNAT high schools taking part were Marshland in West Walton, St Clement’s in Terrington St Clement, and Smithdon in Hunstanton, while participating Trust primaries included Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.

    They were joined for the first time for this year’s event by the Windmill Primary Federation schools: Terrington St John, Tilney St Lawrence, Walpole Highway, and West Walton.

    Emma Pearman is our Confidential Trust Administrator and helped organise the competition, which was held in conjunction with the King’s Lynn and District Camera Club (KLDCC).

    “The final was very well attended, with around 100 finalists, along with their families,” she said.

    “There was an ‘open’ theme this year, covering any subject the student or staff members thought would make an interesting picture.

    “There were 260 images submitted this year. This compares to 147 images last year. This is due to its increased popularity, and also with the fact that the four Windmill Federation primary schools were invited to take part this year.”

    Prizes were awarded across a range of five categories, with ten finalists shortlisted for each. Category winners were each awarded a £20 Amazon voucher, while every finalist received a mounted print of their image.

    The Key Stage 2 winner was Florence from Walpole Cross Keys Primary for ‘Long Walk Down the Mountain’; while the Key Stage 3 winner was Sidney from Springwood High School for ‘Crescent Moon’; the Key Stage 4 category was won by fellow Springwood student Lara for ‘Misty Morning at the Stables’; and the staff winner was Lee Sedgley, also from Springwood, for ‘Snowdrop’.

    Key Stage 5 category winner Isobel, another Springwood talent, was also announced as overall competition winner, receiving the David Ashfield Cup for her composition ‘Fish Eyes’.

    The competition was taking place for the third year running, with Alan Livingston from the KLDCC on hand to judge the entries.

    Our CEO, Andy Johnson, added: “The Trust places huge importance on extra-curricular activity for all of our students, alongside excellent relationships with our community, including the KLDCC.”

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  • WNAT pupils win public-speaking prize

    Published 02/07/26

    In a world of increasingly sophisticated technology, are libraries still relevant? This was the question successfully discussed by three WNAT schoolgirls to win first place in a prestigious public speaking competition.

    Hattie, Olivia, and Penelope from West Lynn Primary were taking part in the Soroptimist International Public Speaking Event, which was held at the College of West Anglia, and saw teams of Year 6 pupils work together to deliver a speech on a particular topic.

    Assistant Headteacher Dan Ryan was proud of the children’s winning performance.

    “The girls had to deliver a five minute speech on the topic of: ‘In today’s modern era, with electronic devices readily available, are libraries like the new one in King’s Lynn still relevant?’” he said. “The speech was split into an introducer, main speaker, and a vote of thanks.

    “Miss Leanne Swallow and myself helped the girls practise and prepare for the event, and I was there on the night to watch them, along with Ms Jo Borley, the Executive Headteacher of West Lynn.”

    The competition is an annual event for the school  – although the win was a first.

    Mr Ryan continued: “We have taken part for a number of years, but this is the first time we have ever won the event.

    “The girls received a gold medal each, a £10 gift voucher each, and have had the school’s name engraved on a shield that has been awarded since 2008.”

    He added: “Seeing the girls work so hard on their speeches over a number of weeks, and then getting up on stage in front of over 100 people, including the Mayor of King’s Lynn, is an experience they will never forget.

    “The judges for the event included a local author and some dignitaries from universities. It has had a huge impact on their self-confidence and driven them to want to do more public speaking.”

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  • WNAT students bring ‘prophetic’ new play to Lynn Corn Exchange

    Published 02/07/26

    A prophetic tale captivated audiences at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, when students from a WNAT school staged a production of playwright Eve Leigh’s latest drama.

    Eighteen students from Years 9 to 11 at St Clement’s High School took part in Wildfire, which tells the story of passengers on a hijacked plane that is redirected to Siberia, thus saving their lives when the rest of the planet is engulfed in flames.

    Performing as the One Act Theatre Company, the group previously brought the play to the stage at the Nottingham Playhouse, as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival.

    The school’s Head of Drama, Carl Schwarz, directed the production, with student Emmie Pike-Fysh as Assistant Director.

    “We aim to produce a new and unique play every year,” he explained. “This play, as with most previous years, is a brand new play, created by an established playwright. It is commissioned by the National Theatre and is part of the National Theatre Connections Festival, which is a festival that takes place across the UK, where theatre companies, schools and colleges apply to be selected for the festival.

    “The successful applicants have the opportunity to be the first group ever to put a professional theatre play on the stage. It’s as close to being a professional actor as students can get.

    “The students always love the experience of being part of a company and form really close bonds along the journey.”

    Cast members included Mia Charles as pilot Naomi; Shai McGurk as Ruby; Sam Tennant as Dave; Darcie Butters as Rohan; Henry Wood as Kazuo; Libby Clayton as Bryn; and Evie Neill as Mariella.

    Chloe Baker and Daisy Clarke took the roles of flight attendants Rina and Ema; while the hijackers were played by Amelia King, Saoirse Greehy, and Poppy Foster; and the remaining passengers were Elsa Robinson, Emily Swinburn, Emily Chapman, Camille Nguyen, and Amber Hasnip.

    Mr Schwarz continued: “The play is metaphorical, prophetic, and a tale for the most important question of our times – are we going to wake up and address the climate emergency before it’s too late?

    “The performance has some great physical theatre elements running through it, which help to convey both the mood/fear of the passengers, but also some of the key themes within the play. There are moments of panic, humour, love, and hope. It is a play that explores the human condition.”

    Other members of staff at St Clement’s were also involved, with Head of Art Phil Bennell designing the promotional material, and Head of Design and Technology Craig Falco creating the set.

    Mr Schwarz added: “At St Clement’s, our aim is to provide our young performers with the best opportunities we can.

    “Giving them the chance to perform a newly commissioned play by the National Theatre, in amazing venues like the Nottingham Playhouse and the Corn Exchange, is an experience they will remember for a long time.”

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  • Smithdon students celebrate at end-of-school Prom​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    Published 02/07/26

    An all-star occasion saw the Class of 2026 from a WNAT school attend their end-of-year Prom on Thursday 25 June in style.

    The Year 11 leavers from Smithdon High School in Hunstanton were greeted by friends, family, and well wishers as they arrived at Knights Hill Barn in an array of different vehicles, from sports cars and classic motors, to double-decker buses, and even a horse and carriage.

    Outfits on show added sparkle to the evening, with the 85 students sporting a range of ballgowns, cocktail dresses, and suits, in keeping with the ‘Starry Night’ theme, which saw the venue decorated with star balloons.

    Refreshments on offer included mocktails on arrival, and a barbecue buffet, along with desserts supplied courtesy of Reesey’s Ice Cream Van.

    A Party Starter disco provided entertainment, while a Magic Mirror Photo Booth allowed the partygoers to create lasting mementoes of the event, which was organised by Year 11 Pastoral Manager Sarah Green, with help from Year 11 students in the Student Leadership Team.

    Assistant Headteacher Dan Ward is Head of Year 11 at Smithdon, and was among the staff members celebrating the cohort’s successes.

    “This is one of our favourite events of the year in the school calendar,” he said. “It is a fantastic evening that celebrates the hard work that students have put in during their time with us at Smithdon, and especially during their recent GCSE examination period.”

    He added: “The Class of 2026 have been a fantastic part of the Smithdon community. They are a cohort filled with wonderful young people, who have achieved so much during their time with us.

    “I am very confident they will go on to achieve great things in their lives, and we wish them the best of luck for their futures, and thank them for being a fantastic part of the school over the last five years.”

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  • WNAT students impress at Festival Too

    Published 02/07/26

    Music ranged from Bon Jovi to Florence and the Machine, when a band from a WNAT school took to the stage at Festival Too in Lynn.

    Performing as Queensway, the talented group from Springwood High School included Alice in Year 10 and Lola in Year 13 on vocals; Josh in Year 10 on guitar; Joe, also Year 10, on bass guitar; Anna in Year 12 on keyboard; and alumnus Leon, who left last year, on drums.

    Assistant Headteacher, Pete Cuss, is Head of Arts at the school, and supported the band in rehearsals and on the day.

    “Springwood always gets invited to perform at Festival Too,” he said. “It’s always a great honour, and a life memory for our students.”

    The band performed to an audience of around 300 people as part of the Festival’s ‘Lazy Sunday’ event in King Staithe Square on 28 June, playing a range of popular covers which included hits from the Manic Street Preachers, Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, Amy Winehouse, and Florence and the Machine.

    Mr Cuss added: “A highlight was seeing our students entertain a busy crowd, performing alongside some excellent local bands and headliners Ska Souls.

    “For our students to perform at Festival Too is always an experience they cherish. Festival Too is a professional festival experience, and giving our students this opportunity is something we will always be grateful for.”.

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