Skip to content ↓

Latest News

May 2026

Archive

  • Teacher and pupils raise more than £630 at charity run

    Published 12/05/26

    Clenchwarton Primary pupils followed in a teacher’s footsteps, when she inspired them to join her at the Great East Anglia Run (GEAR) to raise more than £630 for a good cause.

    Michelle Ryan, who is Year 4 Teacher at the school, was running to raise money for the East Anglia Air Ambulance (EAAA), along with more than 30 children from the school, who were keen to do their bit for the charity.

    Younger children were accompanied by adults in the Mini GEAR, while those from Years 3 to 6 ran on their own.

    “The children covered 1.9km, and they said they loved running with lots of people cheering around them,” said Mrs Ryan, who was taking part for the fourth time, and completed the course in a personal best of under one hour four minutes.

    “A few of the children I started running with were really engaged with the music and the warm up to get everyone in the mood to run. There was a lot of excitement on the starting line!

    “The total is currently at £634 and will go directly to the EAAA. They will use this for life-saving resources, such as equipment, fuel for the air ambulance, staffing, and training.”

    Clenchwarton, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, regularly fundraises for the EAAA.

    “My last three classes have all been involved in organising cakes on a cake sale to raise money for the EAAA,” continued Mrs Ryan. “The children take responsibility for it, which opens up ideas and discussions about preparation, organisation skills before and on the day, and selling skills, including using their maths facts to take payment and give change.

    “I fully believe the children in the rest of the school now look forward to joining my class, knowing they will be learning about the EAAA throughout the year and raising money for them.

    “The awareness and money raised by the school community obviously helps people in the local community and Norfolk area in emergency situations, and long may it continue.”

    There are plans for Clenchwarton pupils and staff to take part in GEAR again next year for the charity.

    “I am planning to run again next year, obviously to raise more for the EAAA, but hope to make more momentum in school by encouraging more children to take part in a bigger school team, and encouraging staff to create a staff team for 2027,” added Mrs Ryan.

    “I would like to say that I have done this completely off my own back, as a teacher wanting to inspire children. It has not been linked to a Trust or school initiative. I would, however, like to see this sort of thing continue to thrive in schools, and to become more of a normal practice within education, not an add-on.

    “It really means a great deal to raise money and awareness for such a great charity.”

    Read More

  • Springwood Gold Award

    Published 08/05/26

    Creativity was golden, when a WNAT school saw its extensive Arts offering recognised with a prestigious national award.

    Springwood High School received the Gold Artsmark Award from Arts Council England, following a two-year process in which the school demonstrated its commitment to creative subjects ranging from Music, Dance, and Drama, to Art, Photography, Design, and Philosophy.

    “We had to submit a Statement of Commitment, which outlined all of the areas we, as a school, wanted to develop for our students within the Arts,” said Pete Cuss, who is Head of Year 10, and led the application process.

    “My role was co-ordinating the areas for development, and communicating this to staff and students. I also wrote the reports that were submitted to Artsmark.

    “All of the Arts faculty staff were leaders in the operational aspects of our journey, hosting workshops, collaborating with industry professionals, organising trips, and enhancing the Arts provision in their own department.”

    Wider school involvement was also introduced through a new Cultural Touchstone Initiative, which has included popular topics such as GameBoy design, with sessions delivered by form tutors. The scheme has proved so successful that there are plans to extend it to our other high schools.

    “Each form tutor in the school has played a part in the Cultural Touchstone curriculum that we have designed as part of our journey,” continued Mr Cuss. “This was designed to enrich the wider knowledge of our students in the Arts, but delivered in form time.”

    Other introductions have included a new Key Stage 4 Music Technology course, and an annual Arts Award Evening, while students have also enjoyed a visit from the Detective Theatre Company, as well as more than 25 hours a week of extracurricular groups, and Art/Photography trips to Seoul and Korea, en route to achieving the Gold Artsmark accreditation.

    “This is an important award, as it is nationally recognised,” added Mr Cuss.

    “It is a good way for us to review, reflect, and refine what we do at Springwood within the Arts, and keeps us up to date for our students.”

    Read More

  • Smithdon students celebrate successes at theme park

    Published 05/05/26

    The end of term was a literal rollercoaster ride, when hard-working students from a WNAT school saw their efforts rewarded with a day out at a theme park.

    The group of 50 Year 11 students from Smithdon High School celebrated the term’s successes with a trip to Alton Towers in Staffordshire, where they had the opportunity to test their nerve on rides such as Nemesis Reborn, Wicker Man, The Curse, Toxicator, Oblivion, Galactica, and the world’s first 14-loop rollercoaster The Smiler.

    “The trip was to reward the hard work that Year 11 students have put in so far this year in school, and a chance for them to relax before a busy exam season after the Easter break,” said Assistant Head Dan Ward, who organised the event.

    “They get the opportunity to go on thrill-seeking rides at one of the country’s best theme parks.”

    The trip has become an annual fixture on the calendar at Smithdon.

    “It is really important that we recognise the hard work and dedication of our students,” added Mr Ward.

    “It gives the Year 11 students motivation to work hard, and gives them a sense of achievement by earning a place on the trip.”

    Read More

  • WNAT school welcomes all

    Published 05/05/26

    There’s a warm welcome for all at Springwood High School – and that’s official!

    Springwood, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, has been awarded School of Sanctuary status by City of Sanctuary UK, for its work in supporting refugees and asylum seekers.

    The school was required to meet a range of criteria to achieve the award, with the application process spearheaded by Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) Lead Matt Scoles.

    “I witnessed the work that staff were doing supporting Ukrainian children who had sought sanctuary in King’s Lynn and started at Springwood High School, with so much uncertainty about their home and family and friends who were still there,” he explained.

    “Over the last two years, we have worked towards this Award, listening to our pupils’ needs, adapting our induction process, and providing support to integrate students into the main school, so they could complete GCSEs with their peers.

    “When we applied for the School of Sanctuary Award, Springwood had 518 EAL [English as an Additional Language] students from 31 countries, speaking 44 different languages. Many of them will sit a GCSE in their other language, alongside their normal GCSEs.”

    Springwood has become one of around 1,100 nurseries, primaries, secondaries, and sixth forms in the UK to have gained School of Sanctuary status since the scheme was launched in 2004.

    Students were actively involved in the process, with the school’s Diversity Council playing a leading role.

    “Our Diversity Council met regularly to raise awareness of School of Sanctuary amongst our students, by speaking in assemblies and producing a video of welcome that is now on our website,” continued Mr Scoles. “They also produced resources for the annual Refugee Week and National Day of Welcome.

    “Students also support new starters in a buddy system, helping them find their way around the school and to each lesson. This is particularly important for students who speak English as an additional language.”

    In addition, refugee and migration themes have been embedded into assemblies and curriculum projects at Springwood, while events such as Black History Month and Pride have helped to promote a culture of diversity and inclusivity across the school.

    “This is a nationally recognised award that supports vulnerable children who are starting school in a strange country where they may have very little knowledge of the language,” added Mr Scoles.

    “I want every pupil to feel welcome at Springwood, and have the opportunity to succeed and be happy.”

    Read More

May 2026

Archive