Entries for the KLCC / WNAT Photographic Competition are now open!
Get your entries in for this year's OPEN themed photographic competition. Prizes for all finalists!
You have until Monday 1st June 2026 to submit your images to e.pearman@wnat.co.uk
See poster for full details along with a guide to photography to help you get some great shots.
It was last but very definitely not least, when talented young musicians from Springwood High School joined others in an impressive performance that brought the Spring Series of the King’s Lynn Festival to a close.
The Young Musicians’ Showcase in All Saints Church featured seven students, including five from Springwood, with the performers playing to a packed audience of more than 100 people.
“They performed on a range of instruments, including piano, voice, and flute, and a range of classical-style pieces by composers such as John Ireland, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and John Rutter,” said Robin Norman, who is Director of Music at Springwood and the West Norfolk Academies Trust, of which the school is a member.
“I work with the King’s Lynn Festival to help organise the event by locating the musical talent in local schools and then putting together a suitable programme,” he explained.
“There are no other staff from Springwood or the Trust involved, but I do liaise very closely with Ambrose Miller, the Artistic Director of the King’s Lynn Festival.”
It was the second time the event had taken place as a precursor to the Festival in July, with Springwood involved on both occasions.
“There was a near-capacity audience of over 100, and, after the event, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and, perhaps, an element of surprise at the incredible standard that was exhibited by the young people that performed,” continued Mr Norman.
“One person even commented to me that they thought they would not have seen better in a professional recital.”
“The opportunity for students to perform as part of an internationally renowned festival is a huge boost to them as musicians,” he added.
“Our students are used to performing in school, but performing outside, and in such a prestigious atmosphere, is, in the words of one parent, something they will never forget. I know that, in many cases, the students have gone on to study music at a higher level, and events such as this can be such confidence boosters.
“In addition, the King’s Lynn Festival then offers some of the students to perform in the main festival in July as one of the prelude concerts before a main festival event, and, indeed, we do have a student undertaking one of those this coming July.
“These are opportunities that do not come along to young musicians every day, and I am really grateful to Ambrose and the Festival for their support of young musicians in this way.”
There were sporting challenges aplenty, when students from a WNAT school headed to Florida for a sports tour which featured such American staples as basketball and baseball, along with football, golf, ice hockey, and even bowling and laser tag.
The 30 students from Years 7 to 10 at Marshland High School underwent coaching sessions in basketball and football, as well as competing against home teams in the area.
Marshland High School students experienced a series of competitive fixtures during their recent sports tour to Orlando, taking on strong local opposition across football and basketball,” explained Head of Character and Culture Dom Stannard, who accompanied the group.
In football, the first team showed determination and willingness to play out from the back,” he said. “Despite a 5-0 defeat, the team competed well for long periods of the game and created several attacking opportunities.
“The second football team faced a tough challenge, conceding early goals in a 5-0 defeat. Despite the result, there were positive individual performances, particularly in defence and goal, with players showing resilience throughout.”
Stellar performances came from Will W, Thomas G, Dylan W, Mason H-S, Chris M, and Olivia W.
The students also rose to the challenge of basketball against a Maitland National Basketball Academy (TNBA) side, with the first team narrowly losing 44-36. Stand-out contributions came from Thomas G, Will W, and George S.
The second team met defeat at the hands of the same opponents, with players of the match named as Cole ND, Rocco P, and Beau W.
There was also the opportunity to see the professionals in action, with the students attending a National Basketball Association (NBA) game between Magic and Hawks, as well as an ice hockey match featuring Solar Bears versus Stingrays.
Other highlights included a trip to Universal Studios and Volcano Bay, a baseball experience, Top Golf, Crazy Golf, bowling, laser tag, and arcade games.
“The sport was fun and I got to learn lots of new things,” said Year 9 student Will W, while Olivia W in Year 8 added: “The best part was watching ice hockey and basketball, and playing in games against local teams.
“The week allowed me to develop my skills within sports and how to play alongside others who are better than me. I was proud to score my first basket.”
George S in Year 10 agreed: “The sport was so competitive, and on a different level to back home. I developed perseverance through the week, so when it got tough, I never gave up.”
“Trips like this are incredibly important at Marshland, because they provide students with experiences that go far beyond the classroom,” continued Mr Stannard.
“From a sporting perspective, competing against high-quality international opposition helps students to improve their skills, understand different styles of play, and learn the value of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance.
“Overall, experiences like this play a vital role in shaping well-rounded individuals, combining sport, personal development, and cultural exposure in a way that simply cannot be replicated in school alone.”
There was good cause for cake, when pupils at a WNAT school organised a bake sale in aid of the East Anglia Air Ambulance (EAAA), raising more than £165 for the organisation.
The 29 Year 4 children at Clenchwarton Primary organised the fundraiser as part of the EAAA Challenge Badge scheme, inspired by the school’s first-hand experience of the service’s vital role.
“Two years ago, a parent suffered a cardiac arrest at pick up time,” explained Year 4 Class Teacher Michelle Ryan. “Two members of staff assisted with CPR, and the EAAA arrived to get him immediate care and took over. Due to their efforts, the parent survived and has made a full recovery.
“The partner of the man asked if there was something we could do to raise money for the EAAA. We discovered that they had just started doing the Challenge Badge activities for children, so we started the activities, and completed it between December 2023 and July 2024.”
The Challenge has since been undertaken by each subsequent Year 4 cohort at the school, with this year’s group successfully completing a range of activities.
“They have held a cake sale, raising a whopping £165.30; they have made helicopter models; have undertaken research about the EAAA; have created alternative uniform designs; and have created and completed word searches related to the EAAA,” continued Mrs Ryan.
“The whole of Year 4 took part in the EAAA Cake Sale. They provided cakes, sold the cakes, and decorated the stall with bunting and price tags.”
There was also the opportunity for the pupils to learn life-saving skills, thanks to a visit from Andrew Coldecott from the EAAA, who taught them how to act in an emergency, including shouting for help, calling 999 or 112, providing CPR, and using the recovery position.
“They learnt CPR, and our current Year 5 and 6 classes, who have previously completed the Challenge Badge, also had refresher CPR training,” said Mrs Ryan, who is now leading the pupils on a further fundraising challenge, as they prepare to take part in the Great East Anglia Run on 3 May.
“I have run GEAR three times, last year for the EAAA when I raised just over £800,” she added.
“For the Mini Run, I am expecting 29 children to run from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. We aim to raise at least £500 – but secretly, hopefully, want to beat last year’s £800.”
To support the Clenchwarton runners, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/page/michelle-ryan-3?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=WA
The Corn Exchange was alive to the sound of music, when more than 260 pupils from schools across West Norfolk gathered together to take part in a concert.
Among those performing at this year’s Schools Make Music event were the members of the Concert Band and Cantabene Choir from Springwood High School, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.
“Each of the groups performed for around ten to 15 minutes,” said our Director of Music, Robin Norman, who conducted the Concert Band, while vocal teacher Sam Ashby led Cantabene.
“The concert is a celebration of music across all schools in West Norfolk, and it is always a highlight to see and hear the excitement of all the young people performing,” he continued.
“From our point of view as a secondary, it is a privilege to perform to support and inspire the future generations of young musicians as well.”
Organised by the Rotary Club in King’s Lynn, the sell-out event is a regular fixture on the calendar at Springwood.
“For so many schools, music can be quite ‘inward’, with performances that are purely for the school community of parents et cetera,” added Mr Norman. “Events such as this give every school an opportunity to showcase the great music that is taking place.
“It also gives an opportunity to hear what other schools are doing as well – this can be an inspirational experience for so many.”
There was magic in the air, when students from a WNAT secondary school enjoyed a theatre trip to London’s West End to see a spell-binding production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
The 44 students from Smithdon High School ranged in age from Years 7 to 11, and were accompanied by Head of Drama Vicky Proctor, along with Drama Teacher Kayleigh Brown, and Learning Support Assistants John Britton and Heather Burrows.
“It was an opportunity to see live theatre at its best,” said Mrs Proctor. “Also, the production is finishing in late September and being amalgamated into one show, so this was a fabulous chance for students to see Cursed Child as it was originally intended, as a two-part production.”
The school organises regular theatre trips for students, with this one made possible thanks to support from Heacham Youth and Community Trust.
“For some students, this was their first time visiting our capital city, and so the experience was incredible for them,” added Mrs Proctor.
“The show itself is truly magical, and all the students were in awe and amazement. They also enjoyed the interval at McDonald’s!”
There were famous footsteps to follow, when students from a WNAT secondary school visited Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.
The group of Year 10 students from St Clement’s High School spent the day at ‘Keys’, which was founded in 1348 and boasts such world-renowned alumni as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, Alan Turing, David Attenborough, William Wordsworth, Lord Byron, and King Charles III.
“Year 10 students enjoyed an informative and fascinating tour of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge,” said Jenny Ford, Librarian at St Clement’s. “It is situated in the heart of Cambridge and is a vibrant and thriving setting for undergraduates in the city.
“We started the day with a presentation focusing on the structure of the 31 constituent colleges that form the University of Cambridge, followed by an overview of the vast number of academic courses that are available to study. We learnt about the distinguished Cambridge University alumni across science, literature, and royalty.”
The visitors also had the opportunity to meet students currently studying at Gonville and Caius, as well as enjoying a tour of the college, and getting a taste of university life.
“We were given a tour of the library, which has been used since 1441,” continued Mrs Ford. “It houses 350 manuscripts from the medieval era, making it the largest medieval library in the University.
“We were then treated to the unique experience of dining in the hall alongside university students. The hall is decorated with a mix of traditional and contemporary art and stained-glass windows, and featured in the hall is a large flag that was taken to the South Pole in 1911.
“The day concluded with a visit to the University Museum of Zoology, where we viewed a whole range of specimens spanning the entire animal kingdom from elephants, giant ground sloths, giraffes, and unusual reptiles to a skeleton from the extinct dodo.”
The visit proved informative and inspirational for the students.
“The trip to the University of Cambridge was an eye-opening experience that really showed me the possibilities and opportunities that are available after college,” said Alex. “The infrastructure and the aesthetics of the different parts of the campus were captivating and influential.
“The hall was a great place for socialising, as was the library, which is a massive part of the university life. The tour guide we had was a student that studies at the university, and he was really useful as a reliable insight into how the university works and what life is like.”
“At the end of the visit, we all had a new appreciation for all that Cambridge has to offer, either from an academic perspective or to simply absorb the beautiful architecture and historical sites,” added Mrs Ford.
“Several of our Year 10 cohort aspire to study at Cambridge, and this visit certainly provided the motivation and inspiration to study hard.”
There was a bird’s-eye view for our students, after a competition gave them the opportunity to create and fly their own drones.
Organised by the West Norfolk Academies Trust, and delivered by Alex Meads from the College of West Anglia, the Key Stage 3 Drone Day saw Year 9 students from all four of our high schools take part, including Marshland in West Walton, St Clement’s in Terrington St Clement, Smithdon in Hunstanton, and host Springwood in King’s Lynn.
“All Year 9 students in the WNAT secondary schools took part in an initial competition to win the opportunity to work with Alex,” explained Springwood Head of Geography Calum Wilkinson, who helped to organise the event with the support of colleagues including his counterpart at St Clement’s, Matt Knott.
“The competition involved a decision-making exercise on where to locate a new national forest in West Norfolk. Students were judged on a group presentation. The winning team from each school competed. Each school was represented by five students.”
Following a safety briefing from Mr Meads, who is Green Skills Manager at the College of West Anglia, the high-flying students were tasked with building and racing their own drones, before graduating to flying larger models.
“There were several sessions across the day,” continued Mr Wilkinson. “The morning involved building and racing smaller drones around an assault course, and an opportunity to practise flying larger drones across the school field.
“In the afternoon, the students got to experience the most advanced drones that Alex has, including first-person-view technology.
“Building and flying the drones was a highlight for the students. They were difficult to control, and tested the students’ flying skills.”
It was the first time that the event had taken place, but its success means that there are plans to run it again next year.
“The students were challenged in this event across a range of skills, including problem-solving and teamwork,” added Mr Wilkinson.
“The Springwood High School team has already signed up to support next year’s event.”
History left the classroom, when students from a WNAT secondary school visited Germany and Poland for a four-day exploration of key World War II sites.
The 46-strong group from St Clement’s High School first spent time in Berlin, where they visited a range of historic landmarks, including Hitler’s Olympic Stadium, the DDR Museum showing life in East Berlin, the Berlin Wall, the East Side Gallery, Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Wannsee House where the Final Solution was decided, and the Topography of Terror exhibition at the former headquarters of the Gestapo.
The students then travelled to Krakow to see Schindler’s factory, the Jewish Ghetto, and Auschwitz and Birkenau.
There was also plenty of time for sight-seeing and exploring – as well as the fun challenge of an evening’s bowling.
“It was so interesting to actually be in the places it all actually happened,” said one student, while another said: “I loved the DDR Museum – seeing the rooms and kitchens and stuff, and how people lived back in the East was cool.”
“We did lots of fun things in between the more difficult places,” added a fellow student. “Auschwitz was hard, but I am glad I did it.”
It was the fourth time the trip had taken place.
“Trips like this bring what we talk about in lessons to life,” said Head of History Anton Modica, who accompanied the group.
“They really help our young people touch and feel history, especially as it is affecting our world today, and ultimately try and help contribute to our students becoming all-round kind, decent adults who can critically think and empathise.
“Our students were fantastic, and took it all in, showing the utmost respect, and I am sure we left with memories and reflections to last a lifetime.”
Students flocked to meet the new arrivals, when a WNAT school welcomed three woolly visitors for the week.
Smithdon High School was hosting a mother sheep and her two lambs in the school grounds, as part of an initiative sent up by the Food and Farming Discovery Trust to increase young people’s awareness of the farming industry.
“The objective was to widen students’ knowledge on where their food comes from, farming as an industry, and to have the opportunity to see the animals close up,” said Teacher of Food and Nutrition Becky Dibble, who organised the event with the assistance of Assistant Headteacher Alysha Moat, as well as taking responsibility for the animals during their stay.
“We both attended the mandatory briefing at the Norfolk Showground to allow us to have the sheep at the school. They also then put together the Livestock Sheep Project sessions for our students to take part in.”
“The sessions were for Year 7 and Year 8,” she continued. “They were split into groups and spent a lesson learning all about sheep. The Livestock Sheep Project included four activity stations that were run by Year 10 students, which included activities like learning where the different breeds originate from around the UK, how sheep help with climate changes, to understanding where our food comes from, and being able to locate local produce on a large map of Norfolk.
“A select few students who are interested in animal care and farming as a career took charge of caring for the animals, by feeding them, checking on them, helping to move the pen, and making sure they had clean straw in their shelter.”
The students also spent time outside with the sheep, where Mrs Dibble was able to share her own farming experience, as she and her family have a flock of sheep.
It was the second time that Smithdon had been involved in the project, with this year’s ewe and lambs provided by Dereham-based farmer Josh Hill.
“For some students, this was the first time they had been up close to a farm animal and also had the confidence to ask questions about them,” added Mrs Dibble.
“It gives them a chance to understand the importance of farming in the UK, discuss welfare standards, and understand how to care and be empathic towards another being.”
