There was strength in numbers, when young musicians from primary schools across West Norfolk came together to practise and play in a workshop which culminated in a music festival performance.

Organised by the West Norfolk Academies Trust, the event brought together more than 180 Year 3 to 6 children from the feeder primaries for our four high schools, which include Marshland in West Walton, St Clement’s in Terrington St Clement, Smithdon in Hunstanton, and Springwood in Lynn.

It was Springwood that hosted the workshop on Monday 6 July, as well as the four-day WNAT Community Music Festival, which kicked off on the same evening. Springwood students were also on hand to support the younger pupils.

Our Peripatetic Music Lead, Benjamin Howell, organised the event and oversaw the children’s musical collaboration.

“The event featured two large ensembles: a String Orchestra and a Wind Band,” he explained.

“The repertoire was carefully selected to appeal to students of all ages and abilities, running from ‘Hotel California’ and music inspired by Roblox, through to Vivaldi’s ‘Spring’. The Wind Band also performed pieces including ‘Supercharged’ and ‘Rising Up’.

“The workshop took place throughout the afternoon and concluded with an outdoor performance as part of WNAT Community Music Festival Week, where families, staff, and members of the local community were able to join us to celebrate the students’ achievements.”
 

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.”

Female mathematicians from a WNAT school showed off their talents when they were invited to attend an elite three-day course at Cambridge.

The Year 10 students from Springwood High School in King’s Lynn won coveted places on the Girls Enjoy Maths (GEM) Summer School, which is held annually at Cambridge Maths School.

Springwood Head of Maths Connie Loizou was impressed by the wide range of events and activities on offer to the girls.

“Over the course of the three days, they explored exciting mathematical ideas, completed experiments, took an inspiring trip to the University of Cambridge, and listened to female speakers in the field,” she said.

“Activities were designed to provide challenge and opportunities for collaboration. They worked together to share and build on each other’s ideas, developing their mathematical communication and reasoning, as well as enhancing their problem-solving skills.

“They also explored how Mathematics is applied within other STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths] subjects, such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Science, and gained insight into the applications of Mathematics post-16, at university and beyond.”

Challenges included a Maths Relay, and there was also an in-depth mathematical analysis of the card game Dobble.

“There were a variety of activities over the three days,” said one participant. “One included looking at Maths that is embedded into the three Sciences – this was really useful to us, as we are studying Triple Science.”

Another said: “We got to meet college lecturers. This was really useful for future application prospects, and knowing what the admission process involved.”

A classmate added: “Overall, this experience gave us a new perspective on Maths, even relating it to worldly issues like gender, racism, epidemics, and politics.”

The Summer School is open to female Year 10 students from across the region each year, with places limited to a select 60.

Mrs Loizou continued: “These events are valuable, as they enable students to recognise the relevance of Mathematics beyond the classroom.

“By showcasing its role across different industries, they inspire students to pursue STEM pathways, and raise their aspirations for higher education and future careers.”

A history topic left the classroom, when WNAT students travelled to London to visit the National Archives and attend a workshop which tied in with their school studies.

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.”

Hedgehogs and seals were just some of the diverse patients undergoing treatment, when young environmentalists from a WNAT school visited the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre, near King’s Lynn.

The student members of the Environmental Society at Springwood High School had raised more than £100 for the facility, which is one of the largest seal rehabilitation centres in the country, helping more than 150 of the injured or orphaned animals every year.

Agnieszka Munns is Environmental Lead at the school, and accompanied the group.

“This was a reward trip for the students’ fundraising efforts over the academic year – efforts that included bake sales, daffodil sales, Mother’s and Father’s Day sales, and, most recently, Sir David Attenborough’s birthday celebrations,” she said.

“The school donated over £100 to the RSPCA Centre, along with towels and newspapers which could be used to assist with caring for the thousands of animals that are treated there every year.”

The students were given a tour of the Centre, and there was also the chance for the visitors to gain some practical experience.

Mrs Munns continued: “A highlight of the visit was being able to feed some of the rescued seals, and watching an anaesthetised hedgehog being treated for ticks and bacterial infection.

“Such hands-on opportunities provided a unique insight, and developed greater appreciation for the medical treatment and care which injured animals are able to receive at the Centre.

“Our students were immersed into the experience right from the start, showing curiosity, and confidently asking questions about the different treatments the animals were receiving.”

She added: “A major aim for the visit was to engage and inspire pupils who might one day become part of the next generation of vets, medical staff, nature conservationists, volunteers, and carers for wildlife.

 “All the students really enjoyed the visit, and found it inspirational to be immersed in the extraordinary work being done at East Winch.”

Some of the Trust’s finest young sports stars had their achievements recognised, when Springwood High School held its annual sports awards ceremony.

The Sports Presentation Evening was attended by around 60 students from Years 7 to 11, along with staff, family members, and guest speaker Poppy Beales, who is an alumnus of the school.

An impressive 55 awards were made at the event, which was organised by Head of Sport and PE Tracey Honey.

Individual prizes were given across all year groups for sports such as football, netball, rugby, cross country, cricket, rounders, and athletics, while the Team of the Year Award went to the Year 9 netball squad.

Sports Leader Awards were presented to Harry E and Ama A, both in Year 9, and Finley M was awarded Outstanding Contribution to Sport.

Eleanor D received the Athletics Record Breaker Award for her 21.64-metre javelin throw, which beat the previous school record by an impressive 0.71 metres, and also earned her the title of Sportsperson of 2026.
 

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.”

A free Trust community event has entertained King’s Lynn music lovers for the fifth year running, with almost 600 musicians, and more than 30 different groups, performing at Springwood High School across four consecutive nights.

The West Norfolk Academies Trust Community Music Festival was attended by around 1,000 people, and took place from 6 to 9 July at 6pm, with each evening featuring a different musical style or genre.

Trust high schools taking part included host Springwood, Marshland in West Walton, St Clement’s in Terrington St Clement, and Smithdon in Hunstanton; while the member primary schools involved in the event were Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn. There were also performances from community groups, bands, and orchestras from across the region.

The event kicked off on the Monday with a night of concert bands, big bands, and orchestras, where Springwood school bands were joined by the West Norfolk Music Centre, West Norfolk Reeds, Centre Stage Swing Band, and King’s Lynn Town Band; while Tuesday was ‘Rock and Pop’ evening with performances from up-and-coming rock and pop stars.

On Wednesday, it was the turn of more than 200 school choir singers to take to the stage, performing a medley of 1990s hits, before the event came to a close on Thursday with the ‘Springwood Spectacular’.

Our Director of Music, Robin Norman, organised the Festival, and was delighted with its ongoing success.

“The Festival has now been taking place for five years, and, year on year, the success and audience numbers grow,” he said.

“The vocal evening on the Wednesday is always a highlight, with 16 different schools, and a total of around 200 young people performing, aged eight to 18, including three combined items where everyone performed together.

“In terms of memorable performances, the Springwood Concert Band performed some disco classics, including the Village People classic ‘YMCA’. The sight of over 200 people in the audience getting involved in the actions is one that we will remember for a while!”

The diverse range of music was also enjoyed by an audience beyond those attending the Festival.

Mr Norman explained: “Each year we receive messages of support not only from those that are present, but also from people whose gardens back onto the school field, who just enjoy sitting in their gardens and enjoying the music.

“Springwood is a hive of music, with many of our facilities used on weekday evenings and weekends. It is wonderful that we can invite so many of them to get involved in what we are doing.”

He added: “ As a Lead School for the Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub, we take our responsibilities very seriously, we are asked to liaise with other schools and local music groups.

“We are proud to be a part of our community, and to also work with community groups to provide opportunities to engage in music making, and to listen to live music, for all.”