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  • Great gift to help Clenchwarton children

    Published 16/10/25
    Pupils at Clenchwarton Primary School have been making good use of a gift from the King’s Lynn Rotary Club and learning new words has been just part of the fun.

    Members of the Rotary Club visited and presented each of our Year 4 children with an illustrated dictionary.

    “They have been so excited about using them and even spent some of their wet playtime reading them,” said Mrs Ryan, Senior Leader.

    “They will be used in lessons to look up new words and help with improving their writing skills. They will use them in class for the year and then they will be allowed to take them home.”

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  • WNAT's budding engineers put pedal to the metal with Rolls-Royce​​​​​​​

    Published 15/10/25

    Few would associate Rolls-Royce with soapbox racing, yet aspiring engineers from a WNAT school were lucky enough to have the support of the Rolls-Royce Jet Engine Team from RAF Marham when they designed, built, and even raced, their very own soapbox kart.

    The Springwood High School students spent six months working on their creation with the help of Rolls-Royce, before going on to compete in this year’s Hunstanton Soapbox Derby.

    “The kart was made using materials sourced from local clubs, businesses, and donations, and gave the student the chance to see a project through from conception to final product,” said Victoria Mann, who is Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Lead at the school.

    “Students started with a complete blank slate when approaching the project. They broke into teams to focus on various aspects, like bodywork, braking, and steering, before coming back together to work on the kart’s shell, learning how to use carbon-fibre materials and painting the end product.

    “Test runs were done using the school’s natural hills, and weaving around stools and other objects to test our drivers before the race. Other members of the team participated as launchers, pushing the students at the start to speed their downhill race.

    “The kart itself raced in the Hunstanton Soapbox Derby both in the under-16 category and adults’ category, driven by students who had been involved in building it. It was one of the only entries created by a school-based team this year.”

    The students, now in Years 11 and 13 at Springwood, included the Under-16 Racer, Jack Higgins, who finished fourth, with Runners Hui Yu and Antoni Ostasz; and Over-16 Racer James Bell, who came 13th, with Runners Callum Bristow and Luke Utteridge.

    Other team members were Maisie Royal; Cherry Yu; Isaac Roberts; Nyasha Tarungamiswa; Oscar Woods; Kevin Monk; Oliver Oliviera; Nastia Kliuchnyk; and Eshaal Ahmed.

    The group was led by Science Teachers Richard Moore and Matilda Waite, with Rolls-Royce’s Tony Steel, Alexander Hannah, David Langley, and Adam Dix; while Technology Technician Lee Sedgley also supported the project.

    “The Soapbox Challenge was a great opportunity for the Rolls-Royce team at RAF Marham to work alongside some of Norfolk’s aspiring engineers,” said Mr Steel.

    “The enthusiasm and novel thinking was truly admirable and resulted in a well-designed, reliable, and fast soapbox, which performed four runs with no mechanical issues.

    “The students immersed themselves in the project, and, whilst the Rolls-Royce team provided assistance, the design and problem-solving ideas were all born from the Springwood students.

    “Considering this was Springwood’s first-ever soapbox build, and despite being among a field of seasoned soapbox veterans on the day, the results were truly inspiring.

    “Rolls-Royce at RAF Marham look forward to supporting Springwood High School again in the future.”

    “The opportunity to explore the field of engineering in this way, gives students invaluable insight into what a career in STEM could look like for them if they chose to pursue it,” added Mrs Mann.

    “Building confidence, experience, and insight can be applied in their studies and application to further education, apprenticeships, and the world of work.”

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  • WNAT's star bakers raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support

    Published 14/10/25

    There were cakes for a good cause when caring youngsters at a WNAT school used their baking skills to raise more than £240 for charity.

    The Macmillan Bake Sale at Smithdon High School in Hunstanton saw more than 30 students organise and run the event, where they worked together to fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Support.

    “Our Year 10 and 11 ASDAN students organised a cake sale, which took place at break and lunch times in the Main Hall,” said the school’s ASDAN Lead, Kayleigh Brown.

    “We asked students to bring cash to buy cakes and contribute to our fundraising effort. We also received cake donations from the community to help support us.”

    “The students worked in different teams to allow this to happen,” she continued. “Some were bakers, some focused on marketing, some focused on designing the bake sale area. All the students were incredibly eager to raise awareness and money for the charity.

    “There were so many staff members who helped with donations of cakes, giving up their time to help support at break and lunch times. We could not have been this successful without this huge support.”

    The fundraiser has become a regular fixture in the Smithdon calendar, with this year’s figure topping the amount raised last time round.

    “We had hoped to beat the previous year of £200, and we raised £240.48 this year,” added Miss Brown, who was supporting the Bake Sale for the fifth year running.

    “These are incredibly important events that offer students far more than just a chance to enjoy sweet treats – they foster empathy, teamwork, and real-life skills.

    “By supporting Macmillan Cancer, students learn the value of giving back, and become more aware of the challenges faced by those affected by cancer.

    “Organising and participating in these events helps students develop leadership, communication, and entrepreneurial skills, as they plan, promote, and run the sale. It also boosts confidence and encourages collaboration, while strengthening the school community through shared purpose and engagement.”

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  • Eco Club has big plans for St Clement's High School garden

    Published 13/10/25

    An enthusiastic group of students who all share a passion for the environment has been busy in a new-look garden at St Clement’s High School.

    Members of the Eco Club decided to transform the area when they got together during the last academic year. But the task proved a lot more involved than initially thought, and staff came in over the summer break to help move things along.

    “The garden has already greatly improved since the summer, and we have already started planting our spring bulbs ready for a display in February. We have had contact with a local company about donating some garden beds that were on display at a Gardeners World show,” said Science Teacher Meg Fox, who runs the club with Lab Technician Jess D'Andrea.

    “We are pleased to have a number of regular students who share our passion and have great enthusiasm for creating change. We hope that the club will grow as more students see the positive impact spending time in nature has, not only on our environment, but also on our own wellbeing,” added Miss Fox.

    Last year saw the group concentrate on creating a bug house and starting to clear the garden. Thanks to the staff who came in over the summer to help, the garden is now ready for the students to use.

    It has apple trees and a herb bed including a huge rosemary bush which is already being used by the school canteen.

    And the club would also welcome donations of any pots, compost or bulbs and seeds which can be dropped off at reception during school hours.

    “The plan is to enable students to learn how to grow their own food and to create a  more biodiverse school site,” added Miss Fox.

    The group has already planted winter lettuce, mustard and salad leaves, while their broad beans will be ready for planting out in the spring.

    Members of the Eco Club have already come up with a range of ideas to share with Head Teacher Mr Willingham before implementing them.

    “We are currently undergoing surveys to assess the level of biodiversity on the school site and by using the garden to encourage wildlife, we hope that when we re-survey this time next year we will see great improvements,” said Miss Fox.

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  • WNAT pupils gear up for cycling success​​​​​​​

    Published 10/10/25

    Pedal power took on new meaning at a workshop where participants not only honed their cycling abilities but also learnt valuable maintenance skills – with some even receiving the gift of a bike of their own.

    The Year 7 students from Springwood High School in King’s Lynn were put through their biking paces by Paul Youngman from Black Cat Cycles, during sessions held at the school.


    “Black Cat Cycles were working on behalf of the West Norfolk Youth Advisory Board to provide cycle maintenance training, supply safety equipment, and also provide reconditioned cycles for those in need of them,” explained Victoria Mann, who is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Lead at Springwood.

    “It involved students from Year 7 across two sessions, who following the session were able to complete their own bike repairs, work together to make adjustments to gears and brakes, and develop confidence when working with their hands.

    “We were thrilled to be involved in the project – even more so, that some of our students were able to receive reconditioned bikes to get them cycling following the session.”

    Springwood staff members were on hand to provide support at the workshops, with one drawing particular inspiration from the project.

    “One member of staff was so impressed by the work being done by Paul and his team, they went on to donate their own unused bike to go to young people that might not have access to a bike otherwise,” said Mrs Mann.

    “This session was a fantastic experience for our students, who confidently dismantled and reassembled a bike with ease,” added Springwood Head of Year 7, Emily Bunting. “They were proud to showcase the new skills they had learned and expressed genuine appreciation for the opportunity.

    “It was wonderful to see them so engaged in an activity they found both fun and rewarding – many are already hoping for another chance to do it again.”

    Springwood works with the West Norfolk Youth Advisory Board on a range of different initiatives.

    “Our work with the West Norfolk Advisory Board continues throughout the year,” continued Mrs Mann. “It affords students with a multitude of different  opportunities like that with Black Cat Cycles, including the opportunity to engage with the wider community, take part in various conferences and events, and helps to give a voice to our students.”

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  • Tasty Way of Raising Cash for Hoodies

    Published 09/10/25

    There were cupcakes and cookies as far as the eye could see at West Lynn Primary School  where pupils were raising money for a very special piece of uniform.

    At the end of the summer term next year, the current Year 6 children will be saying goodbye to our school and they all want to be wearing the unique leavers’ hoodie with all their names on.

    Raising money towards the hoodies saw everyone get busy with the baking to create delicious treats to sell.

    “The sale raised just over £170 towards the hoodies and was brilliant, despite the weather,” said Dan Ryan, Assistant Head Teacher.

    “We sold out of all cakes and had some lovely comments from customers including; ‘There’s definitely some awesome bakers in the village,’ and ‘the brownies and chocolate oaties were top tier,” he added.

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  • Dictionary Delight at WNAT School

    Published 08/10/25

    Budding wordsmiths at West Lynn Primary School were delighted with a generous presentation from the King’s Lynn Rotary Club.

    The Year 4 class was visited by members of the organisation who presented the children with their own illustrated dictionaries.

    I loved getting my own dictionary,” said one pupil. “We will use them for our writing.”

    Another added: “It was really fun and special. I love getting books.”

    Assistant Headteacher Mr Ryan said the school was very grateful to the Rotary Club for the wonderful gift.

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  • WNAT Schools Share the Harvest to Help King's Lynn Families

    Published 08/10/25

    Not only was the harvest particularly bountiful this year, but it also benefited those in need, as children at three WNAT schools joined forces to support a charity in Lynn as part of their Harvest Festival celebrations.

    Pupils of all ages at Clenchwarton, West Lynn, and Walpole Cross Keys Primaries donated an array of non-perishable items to the King’s Lynn Foodbank, including tinned meat, fish, and vegetables; tinned and packet soups; jars of cooking sauce; bottles of squash; jars of instant coffee; tinned rice pudding and custard; tinned fruit; biscuits; and milk.

    The event was organised by Jo Borley, Executive Headteacher across the schools, while the children at Clenchwarton also enjoyed a special Harvest Festival Assembly to mark the occasion.

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  • WNAT Sixth-Former Tops Prestigious Caius Explore Maths Contest

    Published 03/10/25

    How will Artificial Intelligence affect Mathematics? This was the question successfully addressed by a student at a WNAT school, who went on to win first prize in a prestigious Cambridge University essay-writing contest.

    The Caius Explore Competition, which is set annually by academics from Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge, is open to Year 12 students in schools and colleges across the UK and Northern Ireland, and covers a diverse range of subjects from Archaeology and Architecture to Land Economy, Linguistics, and Politics.

    Entrants are asked to tackle a specific question in their chosen field, and are tasked with writing an essay on the subject.

    Pavel Croitoru, who is a sixth-former at Springwood High School in King’s Lynn, came top in the Mathematics category, which asked: ‘How might AI impact mathematics?’

    “I entered the Caius Explore Competition for Mathematics, analysing how AI might impact mathematics,” said the 17-year-old, who is now in Year 13 at the school.

    “It was a wonderful experience, and I would highly encourage other students to participate. It’s an opportunity to enrich your knowledge in a subject you enjoy, and will be a valuable asset for the university application process, even if your essay does not get selected.”

    “We have had students enter before, but Pavel is the first that I know of that has won,” added Springwood’s Head of Mathematics, Connie Loizou.

    Winners across the different categories were invited to Cambridge to celebrate their achievements.

    “As a reward, we had a banquet in the Gonville and Caius dining hall,” Pavel continued. “The seating plan was subject based. I got to sit next to and talk to the Director of Studies for Maths at Gonville and Caius, Dr Jonathan Evans, as well as other current Cambridge maths students.

    “We also had a Q and A with the Admissions Officer and Cambridge students, where we were given personal statement and general application advice.”

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  • Double the Fun at Walpole Cross Keys

    Published 25/09/25

    Children at Walpole Cross Keys Primary School were recently able to swap their school trousers for jeans to raise awareness of the Jeans for Genes charity and the work it supports.

    And they have also been getting used to some changes which include the installation of a new log cabin-type building, now the school’s new Butterfly Room. It will be available for a variety of sessions, including teaching phonics, and is a welcome addition.

    “We don’t have many additional rooms here, so this is incredibly useful. It also enabled us to start work on our new library which is going in the former Butterfly Room. This is something we haven’t really had before and we want to inspire a love of reading for our pupils.

    “The new Butterfly Room has enough space for groups of eight pupils and has working walls and an interactive whiteboard, allowing for the same teaching consistency we see throughout the rest of the school,” said Assistant Headteacher Billy Overton.

    Jeans for Genes is a major annual awareness and fundraising campaign for a charity that supports families who may include members with genetic conditions. It is marking its 30th anniversary this year and 

    Beneficiaries from last year’s events include the Down Syndrome Training and Support Service, Gene People (supporting families and individuals), The Haemophilia Society and The Leanne Fund, for children and young people who have cystic fibrosis.

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  • First-Time Entrants Springwood Lift County Sevens Title​​​​​​​

    Published 24/09/25

    Rugby players at a WNAT school were facing the new season with confidence, after winning the Norfolk County Under-18 Rugby Sevens competition.

    The Sixth Form team from Springwood High School in King’s Lynn triumphed in the contest despite being new to the format, winning against Reepham High School in the final, which was held at Gresham’s School.

    “Highlights of the game included players from Springwood playing for Reepham, who had sustained injuries and couldn’t play, at their suggestion,” said Staff Coach Chloe Lister, who is Head of Health and Social Care at the school, and worked with the team alongside Head Coach Seth Charlesworth.

    “It was the first time that Springwood had taken part in the competition,” she explained. “Each member of the team got pitch time on a new format of the game they were playing, as we had never played sevens before.

    “The players received the Under-18 Sevens County Plate, which has now been engraved with the school’s name.”

    Springwood celebrated the team’s success with a special awards ceremony, complete with pizza and individual prize certificates.

    Those receiving additional honours included Captain’s Player of the Year, Finlay Russell; Forward Player of the Year, Ben Tennant; Back Player of the Year, Theo Morrell; and Coach’s Player of the Year, Chris Tooley; while Rhodri Jordan was named Staff Coach’s Player of the Year; Kip Charlesworth was Team’s Player of the Year; Lukas Miskinis won Try of the Year; and a second accolade went to Finlay, as Most Improved Player of the Year.

    Among the other key members of the winning team were Captain Barney Kivlin and Vice Captain Thomas LaRoiya, along with Zack Collins, Pacey Phelps, Rocky Dawe, Reuben Lloyd-Jackson, Caleb Stoker, Callum Bristow, Dominik Hoyza, and Harry Skinner.

    “I’ve always enjoyed watching the sport, and watching some of my other family members play is what got me into playing the sport, which is when I discovered my love for it,” said Pacey.

    “I play because of the teamwork it brings out in people, and the feeling you get when, even if we lose, you know you played well, and the other teams acknowledge the areas in which you are better, and vice versa, creating a wonderful sort of sportsmanship that you don’t see in other sports.”

    “I started playing rugby in Year 7,” added Thomas. “Since then I’ve joined a club and won a county title under my captaincy.

    “My journey has seen me narrowly miss out on a school county title, but this year I’m determined to change that. I’m aiming to lead the team to become the best state school team in Norfolk for rugby.

    “It has been an exciting journey so far, and I’m looking forward to ending my final year of A-Levels with a title that both I and Springwood can be proud of.”

    While a dozen of the boys remain at Springwood for the coming season, the school is currently recruiting new players to join the Sixth Form rugby team.

    “Rugby is important at Springwood, as it is a highly inclusive sport that welcomes everyone, regardless of size and previous knowledge,” continued Miss Lister. “It helps to develop so many different skills for students, both physically and socially. It creates a bond amongst the team, whilst helping students to learn respect and self-discipline in a highly competitive and high-speed environment.

    “The school community gets behind the team and helps show the amazing wider support we have as a school, especially at home matches when we have home supporters, and some away matches, when we have students travel to come and support us at away fixtures.

    “We also have a lot of rugby success in the lower years, with our under-15 boys’ team being the current State School Champions, so it’s nice to see that love of the sport spread into the higher years.”

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  • WNAT Astronomy Students Shine with Stellar GCSE Results

    Published 24/09/25

    Among the many celebrating exam successes at a WNAT school this year were a group of genuine ‘star students’.

    The seven GCSE Astronomy students at Springwood High School in King’s Lynn attained impressive results in their subject, with one receiving an ‘out-of-this-world’ Grade 9.

    High-achieving Grace Dickson was only the second student at the school, post-Covid, to be awarded a 9, while her classmates also did exceptionally well in the subject.

    Antoni Ostasz, Cherry Yu, Methumless Kulasinge, and Hui Yu all achieved Grade 8s; while Jack Higgins received a 7; and Nyasha Tarungamiswa gained a Grade 5.

    “Our first cohort began the course in 2019,” said Physics Teacher Garry Angus, who teaches the course alongside Springwood’s Head of Physics, Matt Adcock.

    “They would have sat exams in June 2021, but the pandemic struck, so they got teacher-assessed grades. Our first set of genuine GCSE Astronomy results were awarded in 2022.”

    “On average, around eight students sit the final exams each year,” he explained. “They start at the beginning of Year 9, and sit the two GCSE Astronomy exam papers at the end of Year 10, which adds extra challenge, since they don’t have the additional year of Maths and Science that most other students sitting those exams have.

    “Many of the students who study GCSE Astronomy go on to study Physics and Maths at Springwood Sixth Form. Many have gone on to study Science at university.”

    Topics covered in the syllabus include the history of Astronomy; different types of telescope; the evolution of stars and how the Sun will evolve; the surface of the Moon and phases of the Moon; the Milky Way and other galaxies; the evidence for the Big Bang and the evolution of the Universe; and the history of space missions and what the future might hold.

    “It gives all students the chance to learn to appreciate some of the most interesting phenomena out there, like eclipses, comets, the seasons, and why the sky looks different from other places on the Earth,” continued Dr Angus.

    “It also gives our high achievers a chance to grapple with something extremely challenging.

    “Their incredible grades are a testament to their hard work and dedication to comprehend an immensely complicated series of topics.”

    “I found doing the Astronomy GCSE a great way of exploring a subject I am very interested in,” said Jack. “It is also a great thing to have when applying for Oxford and Cambridge, as it makes you stand out.”

    “I really enjoyed GCSE Astronomy,” agreed Methumlee. “It has given me valuable skills and confidence that will help me with the rest of my GCSEs.

    “It was tough at times, but with support from my wonderful teachers, and a lot of hard work, I achieved more than I thought was possible. Overall, it was a brilliant experience.”

    “I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to study GCSE Astronomy,” added Hui. “It has opened my eyes to the universe we live in – learning about stars, galaxies, and cosmology has been very interesting and insightful.

    “I believe it’s also given me an edge in university applications. I would like to thank Mr Adcock and Dr Angus for the support and guidance they have provided in every step of the journey.”

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