The Class of 2026 from Springwood High School walked the red carpet dressed in a dazzling array of evening wear, from suits to ballgowns and cocktail dresses, to find the venue had been transformed into a casino for the night.

As well as blackjack and roulette, there were arcade games, a dance machine, and a DJ. There was also a photo booth where the partygoers could create lasting mementoes of the occasion.

Refreshments on offer included a hot buffet and brownies, and the leavers were joined by members of staff from Springwood.

The event was organised by Jess Cuss and her fellow Head of Year 13, Nicky Thompson.

“Prom was more than a night of music and dancing,” she said. “It was a celebration of friendship, memories, and the unforgettable journey of the Class of 2026.”

Although Tristan Chen-Bouskill, who is a sixth former at Springwood High School, was elected as Youth Parliament Member for West Norfolk and Breckland earlier in the year, and had already taken up his post, local elections had delayed the formal inauguration until the end of July.

“In essence, the role allows me to act as the voice for the young people of the West Norfolk and Brecklands area,” he said.

“The other MYPs and I have the job of collecting the opinions, concerns, demands, and needs of our constituencies, and then to relay our findings, along with our own proposed solutions, to those who have the power to action them, such as MPs, local councillors, and government officials.”

Tristan is one of four current members of the Youth Parliament, and the third ever to be elected from Springwood. The post is for a two-year term, and the MYPs are supported by four Deputy Members.

He continued: “My decision to stand came from a desire to create real, positive change in my community, and to gain that power not only through giving myself a political voice, but, more importantly, becoming the voice of the young people in the West Norfolk and Brecklands area.

“I know how it is to feel powerless in the grand scheme of things – however, the opportunity to engage with the Youth Parliament was a reminder that, no matter how we feel, the chance to make a difference is always within reach.”

The inauguration was held in the Council Chamber, where Deputy Chairman Cllr Mike Westman, and the Cabinet Member for Children, Families, and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), Wendy Atkinson, were on hand to welcome the newcomers.

Tristan added: “Now that I have been elected, my job will be to continue to collect the opinions of my constituents and to feed these back to the Youth Parliament. Personally, at the forefront of my mind going into this two-year journey, is the health of young people.

“I’d love to ensure that in schools, students of all ages are provided with healthier, and still delicious, alternatives to the large amounts of ultra-processed and generally unhealthy canteen food that we have all grown to know.

“Of course, though, healthy eating should go hand in hand with exercise – I’d also love to help the young people of Norfolk to become more active.

“I believe that achievements like these are a great thing to either be part of or to see, as a young person from Norfolk. I think it’s important that, as a collective, we remember that these types of opportunities do exist, that young people can have a say in the world of politics, and that anyone can reach for these chances, as long as they set their minds to it.”

Some have valued the extracurricular opportunities available to them, while others have found confidence through friendships, school productions, sporting activities or simply having adults around them who believed in their potential.

There is also a recurring theme of students discovering things about themselves that they did not necessarily know when they first arrived at secondary school.

Amelie discovered a passion for animation and film. Geo found a love of Musical Theatre. Oscar discovered an interest in documentary filmmaking. Freya developed ambitions of working in Sports Science. Others are now preparing for careers in Medicine, Physics, engineering and architecture.

And while the students are excited about what comes next, many are also conscious that they are leaving behind schools and people who have played an important part in their lives.

“I’ll miss the teachers,” said Freya. 

“I’m definitely going to miss the teachers,” said Geo.

“I’m really going to miss it here, especially the brilliant teachers,” said Eaden.

For Imogen, that connection is strong enough that she intends to return to St Clement’s as a mentor.

The comments also show the importance of confidence. Students have talked about being terrified before opening their results, not expecting to do as well as they did, or struggling with particular subjects, only to discover that their hard work had paid off.

As George put it, he was surprised by how well he had done despite working hard. Emelia proved to herself that a subject she once thought she could not do was one in which she could ultimately achieve a result of which she was immensely proud. Ruby achieved a Maths pass she had feared was beyond her.

These are stories of achievement, but they are also stories of growth.

As the Class of 2026 leaves Springwood, Smithdon, Marshland and St Clement’s, they take with them more than their GCSE results. 

They leave with memories of school productions, sporting activities, friendships, supportive teachers, challenging subjects, new interests and the confidence that comes from discovering what they are capable of achieving.

And perhaps most importantly, they leave with a clearer idea of where they want to go next.

For West Norfolk Academies Trust, the students' reflections are a reminder that successful schools are not simply places where young people achieve qualifications. 

They are places where young people discover who they are, what they enjoy, what they are capable of and what they might achieve in the future.

The Class of 2026 have certainly made their mark on their schools. And, judging by what they have said about their experiences, their schools have made a lasting mark on them too.

Among the Trust primary schools taking part were Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.

Mr Howell continued: “Events of this scale take place just once each academic year and provide a fantastic opportunity for students from across the Trust to rehearse and perform together.

“The workshop also built on the success of our recent Play Day held earlier this year, while supporting the wider aims of the Musical Instrument Tuition Initiative (MITI).

“Throughout the year, students work towards Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards, with events such as this providing a rewarding goal and an opportunity to showcase the progress they have made.”

The 11 Year 8 students from Marshland High School had been studying the slave trade, and ‘Resistance and Rebellion in the Caribbean’ helped deepen their understanding of the subject.

History Teacher Lydia Beatty accompanied the group.

“Students had just finished studying a unit about the transatlantic slave trade, including Britain’s role in this,” she said. “This tied in with us learning more about Thomas Clarkson, who was a local abolitionist.”

It was the first time that students from the school had spent time at the National Archives in Kew, where documents covering more than 1,000 years of history are stored.

Miss Beatty continued: “We were really lucky to receive a bursary from the National Archives, which enabled us to put on this trip free of charge.

“It was great for students to see original sources and handle them. They found out more about why we have National Archives, and what kind of documents are kept there. They also found out more about the processes archivists go through to ensure very old documents are preserved accurately.

“As a history teacher, it was also the first time I had been to the National Archives, so I found it fascinating too.”

Documents housed in the Archives detail the 400-year history of Caribbean resistance through Colonial Office records, original correspondence, trial transcripts, and punishments lists.

Miss Beatty added: “Being able to see historical sources first hand is valuable to understanding more about British and world history.

“We were privileged to be looking at sources about the transatlantic slave trade – a subject I feel is so important for students to learn about.”

Staff on hand to present the honours included Head of Extra-Curricular Activities Jahy Singh, and PE Teachers Jessica Burrell, Oliver Denton, and Michala Sutherland, as well as Mrs Honey herself.

She added: I think these events are incredibly important to celebrate our students’ successes with their parents, demonstrating that their dedication and hard work in attending after-school practices and representing their school in competitive fixtures is recognised and valued.”

Millie Follen, who is a Year 12 student at Springwood High School, received the Norfolk Young Writers Award for her short story ‘He’s Not There’, which she composed while attending a creative writing group at the school.

“The piece was about a young boy who was grieving his brother and struggled to understand his absence both within his home and his everyday life,” she said.

“I found out about the competition through my wonderful teacher, Miss Richardson, who runs the club – so a lot of my thanks for the award goes to Miss Richardson and her incredible encouragement.

“The piece was mainly formed through a prompt from my teacher about constructing a very strong narrative voice. I took inspiration from the opening paragraph of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, which was a piece that my teacher gave us to take inspiration from.

“When deciding my narrative voice, I thought that there was no better way to construct an easily identifiable character than by placing myself in the shoes of a young child, allowing me to highlight the naivety and the tragedy that comes with dealing with grief and loss at an early age.”

The annual competition, which is organised by the National Centre for Writing in Norwich, is open to children and young people aged ten to 18, and covers both fiction and non-fiction.

Winners in the 16- to 18-year-old category, including Millie, were also nominated as Young Norfolk Laureates, qualifying them for extra writing opportunities and mentoring.

She continued: “I was entirely elated when I realised that I had won the competition. Creative Writing Club had really helped my confidence when writing and sharing my work, but winning the competition just exemplified that feeling commonly shared by writers that what I write is something that people truly enjoy reading.

“One of my worries when submitting my winning piece was that its ideas were too ‘out there’ and too far-fetched to resonate fully with readers. However, in hearing both the other incredible work produced by the winners, as well as the applause I received myself after reading my piece at the ceremony, I realised that the winners of this competition were some of the writers of the future, including myself, and, with technology such as AI, and the reproduction of similar ideas across the literary canon, readers want to hear originality in work, rather than a regurgitation of the past.”

Luke Rawling is Head of Year 12 at Springwood, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, and was delighted with the sixth former’s achievement.

“Millie is a fantastic member of the Springwood Sixth Form community, and a keen member of our Creative Writing Society here at the Sixth Form,” he said.

“We are so proud that Millie has won the Young Norfolk Writing Prize and has been nominated as a Young Norfolk Laureate.

“I am particularly touched to hear that, thanks to the award, Millie has now realised the potential she has, and is considering a career as a future author.”

Springwood High School alumnus Hannah Futter is currently a cruise ship performer, and shared some of her moves with dance students from Years 9 to 12 at the school, as well as offering advice on a career in the profession, and answering students’ questions.

Springwood Head of Dance Dawn Paolo organised the event with her former pupil.

“The session was fabulous and thoroughly enjoyed by students,” she said. “Hannah delivered a fast and upbeat session, starting with a technical warm up and corner work, including kicks and a turn and leaps phrase that’s found in most auditions in the professional industry.

“She then moved on to teach repertoire to a funky remix of ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ that she performed on a cruise ship. The pace was fast and energetic, putting the dancers to the test, and smiles were had all round.”

She continued: “The question-and-answer session was great, with Hannah giving top tips about the industry, and which colleges to look at for further training. She emphasised the importance of taking on board criticism, and being open and friendly to everyone, and being active in seeking out potential job opportunities.”

Miss Futter completed a Level 2 RSL Creative and Performing Arts Dance course at Springwood, before going on to achieve the RSL Level 4 Award in Performing Arts at Evolution Foundation College in Essex, and an honours degree in Dance at the London Studio Centre.

Mrs Paulo added: “Students attending the workshop with Hannah were those who have an interest in pursuing a career in dance, or, more particularly, as a cruise ship performer.

“The workshop she delivered entailed repertoire she had been taught at auditions and whilst on cruises, to allow our students to ‘flavour’ the style in which she’s had to perform.

“This was particularly important, as it may help students to ascertain if this work and job role is suited to them. We have several students who are eager to dance professionally, and this information will be integral to their careers journeys.

“The Q&A session was particularly helpful, as they had so many questions about how to make it professionally in the dance industry.

 “Hannah also left her email address to students, so that they can continue to keep in contact should they or their parents have any other additional questions.”

Year 8 students from Marshland, St Clement’s, Smithdon, and Springwood all took part in the casting contest, which required them to create their own medal design, with winners from each school progressing to the final.

The event was organised by St Clement’s Headteacher, Nigel Willingham, who leads Design and Technology across the Trust.

“A competition was held in all four high schools to design a medal,” he said. “The three winners from each school progressed to the casting day, where they learnt about sand casting, and had the opportunity to cast their medals in aluminium.

“The students travelled to complete the challenge at Smithdon High School, using their casting equipment.”

It was the second year the competition had taken place, with the final supported by SKF Coopers Engineering in King’s Lynn, where the company’s Gary Hellard was tasked with judging the winning entries.

Mr Willingham continued: “Mr Hellard showed students examples made by his company that are shipped around the world, and he explained that he first became interested in the manufacturing process when he saw it at school.”

The winners were announced as Dean Spooner and Charlotte Turpin from St Clement’s, and Abi Fysh and Lucy Kayes-Melton from Smithdon, while the winning designs included gears, a star, a mouse, and a medal for King’s Lynn Stars Speedway.

Mr Willingham added: “It was great to see students take on the challenge and experience a process used in industry but difficult to replicate in most schools.

“The students were delighted with how their designs had come out, and wore their new medals with pride.”

The Primary Maths Challenge at Springwood High School saw 16 teams of four Year 6 pupils test their problem-solving skills over a series of rounds that required both strategic thinking and speed.

Springwood Maths Teacher Sylvilyn Forbes-Clarke, who organised the event, was impressed by the children’s performance.

“The atmosphere was electric from the start,” she said. “Over four challenging rounds, pupils tackled problem solving, mental maths, and team challenges that tested both speed and strategy. The room was filled with focused faces, quick calculations, and lots of cheering, as teams supported one another.

“Students were competitive, but, above all, enthusiastic. Teachers watching on said it was inspiring to see such teamwork, resilience, and love for maths on display.”

The Challenge has been taking place for more than a decade at the school, and was won this time round by Fairstead Primary.

Mrs Forbes-Clarke continued: “After a closely fought contest, it was Fairstead Primary who came out on top, being crowned this year’s champions. Their teamwork, quick thinking, and calm under pressure set them apart.”

She added: “The event was a success because of all the schools, staff, and volunteers who made the day possible.

“It was not just about winning – it was about celebrating young minds, building confidence, and showing that maths can be exciting, challenging, and fun.”

The Primary Engineer ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’ Leaders Award tasked entrants with conducting interviews and research, before coming up with their own engineered solution to a chosen problem.

Aspiring engineers at Springwood High School in King’s Lynn rose to the challenge, and were supported by Science Teachers Isabel Colley and Iain Moffat.

“Twenty-six pupils from Year 7 and 8 STEM Club submitted an entry for the competition,” said Miss Colley.

 “Pupils planned and designed their own solution to a real-life engineering problem of their choice. Designs included a football that can generate power through kicks, 3D printing organs, and an automated shovel for gardening.”

The group also worked collaboratively with the school’s Design Technology and English Departments to create their designs and supporting pitches.

Miss Colley continued: “Alongside their annotated drawings, an accompanying letter is required to persuade engineers to choose their design to build. Every entry is graded by engineers and educationalists, and all entries receive a named certificate.

“Shortlisted entries form part of the regional public exhibitions, and winners are presented with a trophy at a prestigious awards event.”

The students’ hard work paid off, with three winners selected from among the Springwood engineers. Kevin Adebayo in Year 7, Astrid Beshanska-Pedersen in Year 8, and Sana Grimsby, also Year 8, were all invited to the Regional East Celebration at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford.

Miss Colley added: “Entering competitions like this gives pupils a chance to showcase their creative thinking and problem-solving skills, and build confidence in their own abilities. It also allows pupils to explore different career ideas in STEM.

“We had many pupils achieve a distinction, and had three winning pupils, which shows this competition gave them an opportunity to show what they can achieve.”

The outing involved 50 Reception pupils from Clenchwarton, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn Primaries.

Clenchwarton Reception Teacher Jessica Williams accompanied her class on the trip.

“This half-term’s knowledge topic in Reception is ‘Under the Sea’,” she explained. “The trip allowed the children to see the animals we had talked about in real life, giving them a chance to ask questions and find out a bit more from the staff at the Sealife Centre too.”

She continued: “We had a self-guided trip, so we explored all the different tanks and displays in the Centre. The schools went around independently of each other, then met up at lunchtime.

“We saw various fish, seals, otters, turtles, sharks, rays, seahorses, penguins. Clenchwarton children heard a talk about seals and saw them being fed.

“All the schools had time to explore all the different displays and learn more about them. Some children had the opportunity to touch a starfish.”

Other members of staff taking part in the excursion included Reception Class Teachers Nikki Preston from Walpole Cross Keys, and Rebecca Dexter from West Lynn.

Mrs Williams added: “Out-of-school trips are important learning opportunities for children. They provide them with opportunities to consolidate their learning.

“Younger children particularly benefit from going on the coach and visiting places without their parents, as it gives them the chance to build their confidence and independence.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”.

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.”

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.”

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

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.”

The ‘Fieldathon’ at Heacham Junior School saw around 90 children complete sponsored laps of the school field, with some joined by family members.

Assistant Headteacher Ashley Kirwan was impressed by the pupils’ commitment and enthusiasm – as well as their support of one another.

“The Fieldathon is an annual event here at Heacham Junior, where pupils are sponsored to walk, run, cycle, jog – however they wish – to complete laps of our school field,” he said.

“We had children participating from Years 3 to 6 – although some younger siblings came along and joined in for some laps too, as did parents.

We had some lovely acts of encouragement and kindness from pupils helping others in the heat. The sun certainly came out for us!”

The event was organised by the Friends of Heacham Junior School, with members of school staff on hand to keep track of the pupils’ completed laps.

Mr Kirwan continued: “We had our teachers James Agate, Megan Wells, Katie Cornwell, and teaching assistant Hariette Pateman, stamping children’s cards in order to collect laps. Some children collected as many as 30 laps in just 40 minutes!

“We don’t have an exact figure yet for money raised, but it is over £500, with the money going towards trips and experiences for the pupils.”

He added: “It was a highlight to see so many members of the community coming to enjoy the day, with refreshments on offer too.

“The benefits of events like this go beyond those benefits for the children alone. It brings a sense of togetherness for the community, while allowing us to raise money for the Friends to help towards school trips, and special events and experiences for the children.

“It is a memory-making experience for the pupils, who take pride in earning sponsorship through their laps completed.”