The West End came to Lynn, when the talented students at a WNAT school staged their own production of an iconic musical-theatre favourite.

Les Misérables played to packed audiences in the Peter Hopkins Hall at Springwood High School, with more than 740 people attending across the three nights, including the Mayor of King’s Lynn, Councillor Andy Bullen.

“The three performances were all rousing successes, with standing ovations every night,” said WNAT Director of Music Robin Norman, who directed and produced the show.

“The students really rose to the occasion and portrayed their characters superbly, telling a very difficult narrative with emotion and sensitivity beyond their years.

“We have had so many messages of support from our audience members since they watched the show. This has mostly been surprise and admiration as to how well the students performed, with many saying that they considered it to be at an almost professional standard, and they could hardly believe that the oldest member of the cast was 18 with the youngest being just 11.

“They also commented on how well the emotion was portrayed, making many shed tears.”

Those taking starring roles included Hemi G as lead Jean Valjean; Callum B as Javert; Sam M as Marius; Rachel-Lee S as Eponine; Iamryl F as Cosette; Poppy P as Fantine; and Ella R as Thenardier.

Besides the 30 cast members, students also assisted backstage and front of house, helping with all aspects of the production.

“Les Misérables is a production of epic proportions,” continued Mr Norman. “The first half alone is 90 minutes long and, with the interval, the whole performance was around three hours in length. This includes more than 40 musical numbers, many of which are some of the best known songs in musical theatre and test the limits of professional singers.

“Every single member of the company, whether on stage or backstage, put in hours of work to learn the songs, lines, and procedures to make this whole show a success.

“Some members of the lead cast had never been in a show before, but they took to the challenge with real resilience and determination. They all performed amazingly, and they thoroughly deserved the admiration and appreciation they received from the audience every night.”

“I have been fortunate enough in the past to work in the professional world, but the dedication to the show demonstrated by our students was up there with anything I have done or seen,” he added.

“As I said in my speech on the final night, I bow my head to them and their achievements. They demonstrate the best in young people at a time when others their age get a lot of bad press.

“I could not have asked any more from them, and they have given me, and many of our audience members, an experience we will not forget.”

The future was looking bright for WNAT students in King’s Lynn, after their school received a national accreditation for excellent careers education, information, advice, and guidance (CEIAG).

Springwood High School was awarded the National Quality in Careers Standard, following a detailed assessment of the school’s careers provision, which considered management, careers learning, information, and advice and guidance.

“Springwood High School has a strong career department that provides a very comprehensive CEIAG programme that aims to achieve its aim of ‘widening horizons, challenging stereotypes, and raising aspirations’,” reported the assessors.

“Rapid progress has been made in embedding CEIAG into form time, curriculum time, and Super Learning Days (termly collapsed learning days). The programme is well-supported by staff working in departments and form tutors.”

The offering at Springwood includes the school’s Careers Fair, which has doubled in size in recent years.

Attended by around 1,000 students from Years 10 to 13, the annual event features more than 50 exhibitors, such as Queen Elizabeth Hospital, BAE Systems, Lovell Homes, Saxon Air, Cranswick Foods, College of West Anglia, College of East Anglia, and the University of Lincoln.

“We also run careers awareness and employability workshops with students alongside the Careers Fair,” said Springwood Head of Year 13 and Careers Leader, Nicky Thompson, who spearheaded the award application process alongside Senior Leadership Team Careers Lead Richard Thompson, Lead Governor for Careers Ed Weightman, and Careers Advisor Christine Walton.

“For employers, it provides an ideal opportunity for them to meet the talent pipeline for the future, and to start informing students about the roles available to them in their companies.”

Another measure impressing the assessors was Springwood's work experience provision, which is supported by many leading employers in the area, including Mapus Smith and Lemon Accountants, Lotus, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Borough Council, Swaffham Veterinary Centre, Anglia Water, Hunstanton Dental Practice, and several primary schools.

“Last year, 150 students in Year 10 and Year 12 students took part in workplace work experience, with many more undertaking virtual work experience,” continued Ms Thompson.

“For students, it is an important way for young people to gain insight into the working world. For employers, it enables them to find talent for the future.”

Former Springwood students have also had a role to play in helping the school secure the accreditation.

“We have been inviting Springwood alumni to come back to school to share their education and careers journeys, and to inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps,” explained Ms Thompson.

“Meeting alumni is inspiring, and encourages students to aim higher. It also provides practical support for current students.”

Among the recent visitors have been Iveta Ruskyte from Palm Paper; Freddie Coates from Caterpillar Perkins; Ruby Goodchild from Maxey Grounds; Tom Holt from Laing O’Rourke; Dylan Green from JBA Consulting; and Vikkie Ely from Mapus-Smith and Lemmon.

“We are delighted to receive this accolade, as it recognises that Springwood provides excellent careers information, advice, and guidance to all our students,” added Ms Thompson.

“It means students are more likely to choose post-16 and post-18 destinations that lead to fulfilling careers in the future.”

Blow torches have been called into action at Marshland High School where students have been pitting their skills against each other.

But it isn’t metalwork or engineering that required the kit – but the catering department, as students have been perfecting the art of caramelising meringues as part of this year’s Master Chef Skills Test.

The contest is just one of a series of inter-house competitions that students take part in during the academic year and continues with up to three subjects each month – ranging from the Warhammer Club model painting to numeracy challenge and the Master Chef Skills.

“I set the Year 7s the challenge of making a lemon meringue cake. Year 8s were tasked with making a chequerboard biscuit and I didn’t include how to make this design, so it required real teamwork. The Yr 9s needed to make chocolate éclairs or profiteroles filled with whipped cream and topped with melted chocolate and the Y10 student needed to make lemon meringue pie with sweet pastry, lemon curd and Italian meringue,” said Stevie Goddard, Head of Food.

The students arrive at the challenge with no idea as to what they will be making, and they work in their house teams of Attenborough, Parks, Ennis-Hill and Hawking before receiving instructions and a tray of measured out ingredients.

They have around 40 minutes to make their dishes before a judge arrives to taste the results and declare a winner.

The winners of the Master Chef this year were Parks on 72 points, followed by Ennis-Hill on 64, Hawking 53 and Attenborough 45.

Later in the coming academic year, the student can take part in an Africa Challenge, chess tournament, world flag challenge, theatre in education and finally the annual sports day.