Two more of our students are heading for a career in medicine after securing places to study from this autumn.

Madeleine Smith is hoping for a future career in restorative dentistry and is looking forward to starting her five-year course in Plymouth.

Joining us in Year 12, Madeleine said she was drawn to the hands-on and practical side of dentistry which set it apart from other healthcare careers.

“There’s no one in my family who works in healthcare, so I’ve really relied on the support of Springwood to help me through the application process, especially when preparing for the entry exam.  The support from staff and the opportunities I’ve had have really shaped who I am,” she said.

The 18-year-old says if anyone is considering a career in medicine and dentistry, they should have as much work experience as they can get.

“Whether it’s in a healthcare setting, or at a part-time job, these experiences help you develop soft skills like communication and empathy, which are so essential. Interviewers really look for these qualities,” she said.

Meanwhile, Harry Malton, who also joined in Year 12, is hoping for a career in cardiology when he has completed his studies which start with a biomedicine degree from the University of East Anglia in Norwich. 

Once he has completed the degree, he would like to study medicine via a post-graduate for medicine route - which would lead him towards becoming a cardiologist. Although he may stay with his biomedicine degree and study for a PhD in the subject.

“I have a big passion for helping people and the idea of having a long-lasting impact on someone’s life is very intriguing for me. I will be the first person in my family to study at university and I am looking forward to the environment and all the people I will get to meet,” he said.

“The staff at Springwood have been very helpful in my application through aiding my admissions test and my personal statement. The most enjoyable part of my education at the school has been the people I have met and the teachers who have helped me,” he added.

Also pictured is Colby Wood who has been accepted to study medicine at Birmingham University and is the subject of a separate story on our website.

Students from a WNAT school carried flags that they had designed themselves to take part in the town’s historic Hanse Parade.

Eight Year 7 students from Springwood High School were invited by the Mayor of King’s Lynn, Andy Bullen, to join the event on Sunday 15 June, which forms part of the annual Hanse Festival celebrating King’s Lynn’s heritage as the first British member of Die Hanse, forerunner of the modern Hanse League.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of when the town rejoined the Hanseatic League, with the festival weekend including live music, historical re-enactments, mediaeval markets and food fairs, and family-friendly crafts and activities, as well as the Parade.

“The Hanse is an active network of cities and towns across Europe, which historically belonged to the Hanseatic League,” explained Springwood’s Senior Assistant Head and Head of Year 7, Rebecca Davies-Mays, who accompanied the students, along with the school’s Deputy Headteacher, Richard Thompson, Year 7 Manager Charlotte Isle, and Assistant Head of Year 7 Emily Bunting.

Starting in Tuesday Market Place, the Hanse Parade took a route through the town via High Street, Saturday Market Place, Hanse House, College Lane, and the South Quay, to finish in King’s Staithe Square.

“Year 7 designed flags to represent the different countries that are part of the Hanse,” continued Mrs Davies-Mays. “The students then walked carrying these flags. The flags will make up a display at Hanse House.”

It was the first time that the school had taken part in the event.

“It is important that we highlight and celebrate King’s Lynn’s rich history with our students and ensure that it is passed on to the next generation,” added Mrs Davies-Mays.

“I think it is important that students are aware of their local history, as it has shaped the town and the community that we have today.

“Being invited to take part in events like this supports the "being part of the community" message that we instil in Springwood students."

A group of Year 8 pupils from all four high schools in our Trust joined forces when they were challenged to design the medal which would be cast in aluminium at a specialist company.

The secondary school students worked with SKF Cooper, a company in South Lynn with a long history of engineering and invention.

The students from Springwood, Smithdon, Marshland and St Clement’s High Schools used Computer Aided Design techniques to make a pattern using a 3D printer.

The teams then met at Smithdon, in Hunstanton, to cast the designs in aluminium, working with Nigel Willingham, Headteacher and Design and Technology teacher at St Clement’s High School.

“It was great to see students from across the Trust working together to create these products. Casting is not seen in many schools so we were delighted to be able to offer our students the opportunity to see this engineering process in action,” he said.

Prior to launching the project, teachers from the Trust visited the SKF Cooper site to see the casting process being used in an industrial setting. They also completed additional safety training to ensure they were qualified to teach the process to students.

“I’m grateful to Gary Hellard from SKF Cooper who has supported us throughout the project and came to work with the students and judge the outcomes on casting day,” said Mr Willingham.

All the students were rewarded with SKF water bottles and the four winners also received caps and chocolate bearings.

“The students have all been brilliant throughout the day and worked really hard. We hope to see some of them applying for our apprenticeships in a few years. Engineering skills are still very much in demand and it’s been great to see the design and technology teachers come together to deliver this project,” said Mr Hellard.

Cooper was established by Thomas Cooper, an inventor and brilliant engineer in 1894 in King’s Lynn. His first major invention was a revolutionary steam digger for use in arable farming. 

After his death and throughout the second half of the 20th Century, it has focused on the ground-breaking split bearing he designed in 1907.

A trio of our students are heading to Oxbridge later this year, and they are all set to take up their places at two of the most famous universities in the world.

Reading music, computer science and chemical engineering, their subjects may be diverse but the Springwood High School students all have one thing in common as they are all grateful for the support they have received.

Sean Senevirante didn’t think he was Oxbridge material, but he is heading to Cambridge University’s Fitzwilliam College for computer science and it is the culmination of a lifelong fascination with how computers work.

“Having attended multiple schools in both the UK and Sri Lanka, I can confidently say that the most outstanding aspect of Springwood High School is the exceptionally supportive and friendly teachers,” he said.

“I’m excited to specialise in computer science and develop a deeper understanding that will help me choose my eventual field. Currently, I’m drawn to robotics, computer vision and artificial intelligence.”

Charlotte Norman has been awarded a place at Oxford University to read her chosen subject from the autumn, and is hoping to work in music therapy - although she says her career aspirations change regularly.

“I was completely in shock and couldn’t believe it,” she said, “After my GCSE results, I didn’t believe that I could receive an offer. It wasn’t until I got my December mock results that my brother said I should look at Oxbridge courses.”

“I had an overwhelming amount of support in boosting my personal statement, especially pinpointing my extra and super curriculars. The school also provided information on how to approach interviews, and gave me a mock interview which reflected the real thing well,” she said.

There is a musical gene in the Norman family as her father, Robin, is the director of music for both Springwood and the Trust, and has worked extensively in the industry. He spent time as a professional tuba player and is also a former student at Springwood.

With both parents working in the field of chemical engineering, West Norfolk student Juan Camilo Cervantes-Torres was destined to be drawn to the subject.

He has been accepted into Cambridge’s Trinity College and has ambitions within the field where both parents have senior roles with international organisations, but neither have been to an Oxbridge university.

“The first thing I did was hug my step dad and brother. I then called my mother who was on a work trip and then called my dad who woke up at 5am to get my call. I was extremely happy,” he said.

Being a student at Springwood since Year 7 has played an important role in his university choice and he said his chances of being accepted would have been much lower without the help and support he received.

“I have made friends for life at Springwood and have been exposed to new experiences I wouldn’t have discovered on my own,” he said.

He advises all students coming into sixth form to make the most of all the free resources on the internet, particularly YouTube footage from Oxbridge students on specific courses.

“They can help you make a more educated decision on your future. You’re  better off learning about Oxbridge and the process, and then choosing not to apply rather than not try in the first place.”

Pupils from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust came together to test their spelling skills at the third annual WNAT Spelling Bee.

Children from each of our six primary schools gathered for the final of the event, including host Gaywood Primary. The other participating schools comprised Clenchwarton, Walpole Cross Keys, West Lynn, and Snettisham Primaries, and Heacham Junior.

Eighteen pupils from Years 3 to 6 made it through to the closing stage, having qualified through previous rounds held within their respective year groups and schools.

“There were three pupils for each primary school taking part from across Key Stage 2,” said Emma Hunt, who is Executive Deputy Headteacher at Heacham Junior and oversaw the competition.

“Round One was a class round, Round Two a school round, then three pupils from each school reached the final.”

Caller for the spelling contest was Amanda Wright, Head of English at fellow WNAT member Smithdon High School, who dressed as a bee for the occasion.

“Pupils picked a number from a hat,” continued Mrs Hunt. “This matched a chair for competitors to sit on. Spellings were called and individuals answered. They remained in the competition until they spelt a word incorrectly, then they sat down until a winner was found.”

Amongst the words posed to the contestants were ‘pronunciation’, ‘accommodate’, ‘convenience’, and ‘environment’ – none of which foxed George B from Clenchwarton, who correctly spelt ‘acquaintance’ to win the contest.

He was presented with a Kindle Fire tablet, while all the finalists received certificates and chocolate.

“The event is part of a calendar of events throughout the academic year organised by the Trust,” added Mrs Hunt. “The aim of these events is to boost confidence, provide opportunities for our pupils to interact and socialise with peers from across the Trust, to provide pupils with a range of new skills, and, most importantly, to have fun.

“The Spelling Bee is important as it helps pupils to develop a profound understanding of the English language and improve their vocabulary. It is not about merely memorising spellings – it develops skills in planning and preparation.”

Springwood High School’s strong music provision has seen the school become an official Lead School for the Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub.

The school is home to bands, orchestras and vocalists who often perform at public events around the borough and have a reputation for providing excellent teaching.

“This is an initiative undertaken under the National Plan for Music Education, where a handful of schools work with their local Music Hub to support other schools in key areas of provision, to ensure high-quality music education provision across the region through effective collaboration,” explained Robin Norman, Director of Music at the school.

“There was an application process in which we had to detail our music provision in school, both in classroom lessons and curriculum, and extra-curricular. This was alongside the other activities we undertake. In addition, we were asked about what we felt we could offer to other schools, not just within Norfolk and Suffolk, but also on a national scale,” he added.

Mr Norman said the support of the entire music department team, along with Andrew Johnson, Executive Headteacher, Roger Livesey, Chair of Governors, and all the other Senior Leadership Team members, had been crucial. 

“It will mean attending regional meetings, occasionally visiting other schools, and also allowing other schools to visit us.”

Springwood has close musical links with other schools in the area, including fellow Trust members Marshland High School in West Walton, St Clement’s High School in Terrington St Clement, and Smithdon High School in Hunstanton.

“We work very closely with our other three secondary schools,” continued Mr Norman. “However, we have also already been working with local primary schools through our Musical Instrument Teaching Initiative (MITI) to get children learning instruments, and also organising Music Professional Training Days, open to teachers from across Norfolk and Suffolk. 

“This is in addition to speaking with local community groups to try to improve the offering and opportunities around West Norfolk for everyone. Our view is that if we work together, then the benefits for all are multiplied.” 

The  school also stages regular music events across the year, from musicals, concerts, and recitals, to the annual, four-day Community Music Festival in July. The new status will enable it to develop and further extend the scope of its music offerings.

“As outlined in the National Plan for Music Education, Lead Schools for Music are schools that go above and beyond in their music education offer. They exemplify best practice and play a key leadership role in helping other schools improve and innovate in music education,” says the Music Hub statement.

“We will be working closely with other schools, the Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub, and other professional organisations,” added Mr Norman. 

“These collaborations will bring a number of opportunities and new ideas to the school – ones that will benefit our students in terms of curriculum offering and extra-curricular opportunities.

“It cannot be denied that this is a lovely accolade for Springwood and our Trust. However, our hopes are that we will be able to benefit other schools and organisations by collaborating and working with them on music education over the coming months and years.”