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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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  • Students sample Springwood sixth form

    Published 02/07/26

    Year 10 students from across West Norfolk Academies Trust got a taste of post-GCSE life during a visit to Springwood High School Sixth Form in Lynn.

    Around 350 students from our four high schools attended the Sixth Form Experience Day, including Springwood itself, along with Marshland in West Walton, St Clement’s in Terrington St Clement, and Smithdon in Hunstanton.

    Nicky Thompson is Head of Year 13 and Careers Lead at Springwood, and organised the event with Head of Year 12 Luke Rawling, as well as hosting a welcome talk and question-and-answer session, and leading taster sessions for A-Level Business Studies.

    “It was an opportunity for students to experience a day in the life of a sixth former,” she said. “ Students had a welcome talk from the SIxth Form Team, then had over 30 subjects to choose from for A-Level taster sessions. Each student took part in three different sample A-Level lessons of their choosing, and they then took part in a question-and-answer session with the Sixth Form Ambassadors.

    “Throughout the day, they were able to use the dedicated Sixth Form spaces, including the Hub social area, the Cabin cafe, and the Study Area.”

    She continued: “Students really enjoyed seeing what a typical day looks like for a sixth former – and our amazing Student Ambassador team was a real highlight.

    “They were very good at explaining to Year 10s that the freedoms of being a sixth former, like not wearing a uniform and being able to leave the site during the day, are great, but A-Levels are hard work, and you need to be organised and use your free time wisely for independent study.”

    The annual event took place ahead of the students’ post-16 decision making at the start of Year 11.

    Miss Thompson added: “Experience Days help students to make informed choices about their futures. Some Springwood students attended a college day at the College of West Anglia instead.

    “This is an important part of the decision-making process for the students – they can see if continuing their academic studies at A-Level is right for them, or whether going down a more vocational route at college is more beneficial, depending on their future career aspirations.

    “It is also an important part of the school’s recruitment process for the new cohort of sixth formers. Next step is our Opening evening on 10 October, where we welcome back these students and their parents to tour the facilities and ask follow-up questions with subject teachers.”

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  • Springwood Students Celebrate End of School in Style

    Published 29/06/26

    The theme may have been blue, but the mood was anything but, when the Class of 2026 returned to a WNAT school for their end-of-year Prom celebration.

    Springwood High School in King’s Lynn was decorated for the occasion in shades of blue, while more than 200 Year 11 leavers came dressed in a colourful array of evening wear, which included ballgowns, cocktail dresses, and suits.

    They were also delivered to the venue in style, arriving in a range of different vehicles, from limousines and sports cars, to motorbikes and lorries.

    Entertainments on offer included a disco, roulette tables, arcade games, and a car simulator, as well as a photo booth which allowed the partygoers to create lasting souvenirs of the evening.

    Food was provided courtesy of The Pizza Slice Guy, while other refreshments included sweets and soft drinks.

    Head of Year Rebecca Davies-Mays helped organise the annual event, and was on hand to celebrate with the students.

    “Events like this are incredibly important,” she said. “It is a great celebration for the end of five years of hard work and dedication to their studies.”

    She added: “The Class of 2026 has been fabulous. They have led by example and been great role models for the younger year groups.

    “They have been highly dedicated to their studies and are genuinely a nice group of young people that will be missed by the staff.”

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  • Pink Ladies Seeking Sponsors for Charity Run

    Published 29/06/26

    Caring students from a WNAT school are gearing up once more for the Marshland Pink Ladies Charity Run, where they hope to raise £2,000 for their chosen charity.

    The runners from Years 7 to 11 at Marshland High School are all members of the school’s Pink Ladies and Mixed Hockey Squads, and will be taking part in the King’s Lynn 5K Park Run on 4 July, in support of the Fenland Women’s Refuge.

    It will be the twelfth time the Pink Ladies event has taken place, with an impressive £25,000 previously raised for a range of charities.

    Paul Swinburn, who is Head of PE at Marshland and a former international hockey player, organises the charity run each year, and is keen to get as much sponsorship as possible for the students.

    “We always research local charities, and the girls, who are the majority of the runners, really liked the idea of ‘girls helping local women’,” he said. “The children vote on who to support, and the winning vote is the charity we choose.

    “There is a GoFundMe page that people can sponsor. If anyone would like to donate anything, it would be greatly appreciated by the group.”

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

    Mr Swinburn, who takes part in the run with the students, continued: “We have loads of hockey players representing the school. One of the captains has done all five runs in five years since she came to school as a Year 7, and graduates in Year 11 this year, and some are going to run again this year in a 5K, which is demanding for many of them (and me!), but they do it with a smile on their faces, knowing that putting themselves out results in bettering society – and I think that is wonderful.

    “Many have to run-walk-run, but they all complete it and try to have fun at the same time, putting themselves out for others.”

    He added: “The school are rightly proud of their pupils, who demonstrate, year in year out, a caring attitude towards local community charities, showing that the youth of today can show kindness, empathy, and really make a difference to others.”

    To sponsor the Marshland Pink Ladies, go to: https://gofund.me/4256fed49

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  • Students Shine in Talent Contest

    Published 29/06/26
    Students had their moment to shine as singers, dancers, gymnasts, and musicians took to the stage for the first-ever St Clement’s High School Talent Show.
     
    A variety of acts performed across the evening, representing students of all ages at the school in Terrington St Clement, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.
     
    A professional stage had been hired for the event, and there was also a guest judge from the world of entertainment in the form of Adam Tucker, who provided the singing voice for the young Robbie Williams in the biographical musical Better Man.

    St Clement’s Headteacher, Nigel Willingham, was impressed with the breadth of talent on show.

    “There were 17 different acts, ranging from ballet to heavy rock guitar,” he said. “Students of all year groups took part, including Year 11s who have recently completed their GCSE exams.

    “The judges and the audience voted for their favourite acts, and the top three acts received gift vouchers presented by Adam Tucker.

    “Mr Tucker told the audience he got his first taste of entertainment performing in a school talent show, so he hoped the evening would inspire some future careers.”

    Head of History Anton Modica organised and co-hosted the event with Head of Music Jo Kemp and Dance Teacher Amira O’Neill.

    “Our first Talent Show Final was a massive success for students and audience alike,” he said. “We were entering a bit of an unknown, but there needn’t have been any worries. The performers were outstanding with confidence, talent, and star quality.

    “The range of performances was also really exciting, from singing to dancing, gymnastics to piano, and some serious rocking out to drums and electric guitar, rounded off with a soothing sound of the clarinet – a real variety.”

    Around 300 people attended the Talent Show, while others supporting the event included Governor Kevin Baldwin, and staff members who helped with refreshments and raffle tickets on the night, as well as auditions prior to the Final.

    Mr Modica continued: “As teachers, we get to know our students very well, but going through this process has taught us things we had no idea about. So many auditions, we thought, ‘Wow! Where was that hidden?’

    “I knew there must be students with particular skills and talents within a school of 700-plus students, and I know we’ve only scratched the surface here, as we go forward with this new staple of our school’s calendar.”

    The act with the most votes was Year 7 duo Winnie and Lily, who sang ‘Sk8er Boi’, with Lily on drums, to win the inaugural St Clement’s Talent Show Trophy. The two also had their names added to a Talent Show Shield, and received Amazon gift vouchers.

    Mr Modica added: “Sometimes, in education, we can get a little too caught up in data, targets, and assessments.

    “Events like this remind us that we’re working with incredible young people, full of surprises, joy, happiness, and talent, and being brave enough to get on that stage is what defines them and leaves memories and legacies far beyond a grade in Year 11.

    “Congratulations to all of our performers – we’re looking forward to 2027!”
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  • Springwood performers open Dance Festival

    Published 26/06/26

    Popstars were the inspiration when dancers from schools across West Norfolk came together to showcase their talents.

    The West Norfolk Schools Sports Partnership (WNSSP) Dance Festival on 16 June saw pupils from 15 primary schools perform at the Corn Exchange in King’s Lynn, with dance students from Springwood High School opening the morning and afternoon shows.

    The school’s Head of Dance, Dawn Paulo, accompanied the 14 Springwood performers, and was also on hand to ensure the smooth running of the event, which had ‘Popstars’ as its theme.

    “It is an honour to be invited to perform at this event,” she said. “It allows our dancers the opportunity to come together to perform in a professional venue, and to interact and support younger students in West Norfolk. It’s lovely to see our Springwood students enjoying themselves on stage, but it’s also great to see our primary schools getting a chance to perform too.”

    She continued: “The main organiser of this event is Tracey Bower who works for the WNSSP. She invites us every year, twice a year, to perform at this event as an inspirational act.

    “Once there, myself and our Springwood students help Tracey with calling up the schools to perform, and ensuring they enter and exit the stage safely, to help with a quick and smooth-running show.”

    In keeping with the theme, the Springwood dancers performed a routine inspired by pop icon Michael Jackson, which featured costumes with black glitter and white gloves, and had previously seen them win the House Dance Competition at this year’s Springwood Dance Show.

    Mrs Paulo explained: “There are two different shows in this event. Primary schools can either sign up to perform in the morning session or the afternoon session. Springwood performs at the beginning of the morning show and at the beginning of the afternoon show as an ‘inspirational act’.

    “The primary schools all sit in the audience to watch each other perform. The remaining seats are available to the public and parents.”

    Springwood is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, and other WNAT members participating in the Dance Festival included Clenchwarton Primary and Heacham Infant School, which both gave performances in the afternoon.

    Mrs Paulo added: “It’s definitely a highlight of the year, as it brings so many schools together to perform and celebrate one another’s work.

    “The event takes place every March and June of the academic year. Springwood will be performing next year too.”

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