There was a twist on the traditional format, when WNAT sixth formers enjoyed a sports day with a difference.

The Year 12 students at Springwood High School took part in a series of fun races and challenges to collect points – and compete for an unusual trophy.

Head of Year Luke Rawling introduced the unconventional event three years ago, and was on hand to oversee proceedings.

“Whilst the Lower School have a very serious sports day for Years 7 to 11, we have all 300 Year 12 students competing in a variety of fun events to win points for their forms,” he said.

“It was a sunny afternoon, where students battled for points for their form in Egg and Spoon Relay, Wheelbarrow Racing, Welly Wanging, Apple Bobbing, Four-Legged Race, Egg Catching, and Tug of War.”

Staff joined the students in some of the competitions – although Mr Rawling’s participation was less voluntary.

He continued: “All of our form tutors were involved, including Mr Levy, who is an avid runner and had to support his form in the first ever tie-breaker, a relay race.

“The highlights were the students throwing their heads into buckets of cold water to collect the apples, the knock-out tug of war tournament where staff also got involved, and the students deciding to throw all the buckets of water at their Head of Year – me!”

The day ended with the presentation of an appropriately eccentric award.

Mr Rawling added: “The winners receive our golden head trophy, named Patricia – and glory for their remaining time in Sixth Form.

“It’s good for morale, and a bit of fun to celebrate their hard work at the end of a year.”

Young mathematicians were put through their paces when 14 West Norfolk primaries came together at a WNAT school for an annual competition.

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.”

Seals, starfish, sharks, and seahorses helped bring a classroom topic to life, when children from three West Norfolk Academies Trust schools enjoyed a day at the Sealife Centre in Hunstanton.

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.”

Time travel was the theme, when children from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust came together for an annual celebration of dance, which featured music spanning decades from the 1940s to the modern era.

This year’s WNAT Dance Festival was held at Springwood High School on Wednesday 1 July and saw around 130 pupils from ten primary schools showcase their talents to an audience of some 200 people.

Besides host Springwood, whose dancers opened the event, Trust schools taking part included Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn. They were also joined by dancers from the Windmill Primary Federation schools of Terrington St John, Tilney St Lawrence, Walpole Highway, and West Walton.

‘Time Travel Through the Decades’ took the audience on a whistle-stop musical tour of the last eighty years, with dances performed to tracks such as ‘In the Mood’, ‘Rock Around the Clock’, ‘Surfin’ USA’. ‘You Should be Dancing’, ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’, a nineties mash-up, and ‘Zoo’.

Emma Hunt is Executive Headteacher at the Windmill Primary Federation, and worked with Trust Administrator Emma Pearman to coordinate the event, which was taking place for the fifth time.

“Some of the highlights of the Dance Festival were seeing primary school children embrace the opportunity to perform with enthusiasm, confidence, and pride in front of their families and communities,” she said.

“Another particularly rewarding aspect was bringing together students from many different schools to share a common experience together. As Helen Keller said, ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’”

Kate Whyborn and a team of choreographers from KLW Dance worked with the children on the routines, rehearsing with them in the weeks leading up to the performance.

Mrs Hunt continued: “Events like this play a vital role in providing students with opportunities to explore new interests, develop new skills, and challenge themselves in a supportive and encouraging environment.

“They inspire students to step outside their comfort zones, build self-confidence, and realise that they are capable of achieving things they may once have thought impossible. These experiences foster creativity, resilience, critical thinking, and an appreciation for teamwork, respect, and kindness.”

She added: “One of the most rewarding outcomes is watching students who may initially feel uncertain or reluctant, grow in confidence, take pride in their accomplishments, and enthusiastically share their talents with others.

“Beyond supporting individual growth, these events strengthen connections between the school and the wider community, creating opportunities to celebrate students’ achievements and the positive impact of working together.

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

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

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

Springwood Maths Teacher Lucy Edwards organised the event.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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