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 around the world in 21 schools, when our dancers joined others from across the region for the West Norfolk School Sport Partnership (WNSSP) Dance Festival.
Opening the sold-out show at the Corn Exchange were performers from Springwood High School, who rose to the challenge of this year’s ‘Different Countries’ theme. The ten students from Years 8 to 12 danced to a variety of music, which included ‘Waka Waka’ by Shakira, ‘Let's Get Loud’ by Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin’s ‘Maria’, and ‘Mambo No.5’ by Lou Bega.
“It’s an honour to be invited to perform at this event,” said Dawn Paulo, Head of Dance at Springwood, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust. “It allows our dancers the opportunity to come together to perform in a professional venue, and to interact and support younger students in West Norfolk.
“It is lovely to see our Springwood students enjoying themselves on stage, but it’s also great to see our primary schools getting a chance to perform too.”
Among the 20 primary schools participating were fellow WNAT members Clenchwarton, West Lynn, and Walpole Cross Keys primaries, and Heacham Infant School.
Twenty-seven Year 3 pupils from Clenchwarton performed a routine to ‘Cheers to Life’, which had been choreographed by Dance Teacher Kate Whyborn.
“This was our third year taking part,” said Class Teacher Sophie Tarsey.
“It is a great opportunity for children to step outside their comfort zones and do something they have probably never experienced before.
“Many children expressed how much they enjoyed it and wanted to do it again, when they were really nervous about it at the start of the year.
“I hope it encourages more children to find opportunities for dance outside school, as well as inspiring other children in school.”
The Walpole Cross Keys dancers drew inspiration from America for their routine. The 16 pupils from Years 2 and 3 at the school performed to a medley which featured ‘Party in the USA’, ‘Hey Mickey’, ‘Everybody’s Surfing’, and ‘Achy Breaky Heart’.
“Events like this are vitally important, as the children get to take part in an activity and perform on stage,” said Class Teacher Carol Jones. “It shows them resilience through learning the routine, encouragement from other class members and adults.”
The Dance Festival takes place twice-yearly, each March and June.
“It’s definitely a highlight of the year, as it brings so many schools together to perform and celebrate one another’s work,” added Ms Paulo.
“Springwood will be performing once more at the next WNSSP Dance Festival in June. The theme for this event will be ‘Popstars’.”
We were ‘reddy’ to fundraise, when our school took part in this year’s Comic Relief appeal on Friday 20 March.
Pupils and staff members alike arrived at Walpole Cross Keys Primary dressed in red for Red Nose Day, with families and friends encouraged to donate to the cause via the charity’s website.
The day kicked off with a special whole-school assembly, while the children were also able to enjoy some fun Red Nose Day challenges.
“At Walpole, we celebrated Red Nose Day by wearing red, having a Red Nose Day assembly to teach the children about the cause, and, at break time, we held a competition of ‘Guess How Many Sweets Are in The Jar’ and ‘Pin the Red Nose on the Teacher’,” said Rachel Daws, Assistant Headteacher at our school, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.
Other Trust schools supporting the annual fundraiser included Clenchwarton and Gaywood Primaries, along with Smithdon High School in Hunstanton.
“Teaching children about Comic Relief and other important events is important because it instils empathy and understanding of others,” added Miss Daws.
“It teaches children the value of giving and caring for others, and how our positive actions can help address serious global issues such as poverty.”
There was something for everyone, when musicians from our school joined others from across West Norfolk for a performance at St Nicholas Chapel in King’s Lynn.
Organised by the West Norfolk Academies Trust, the WNAT Play Day event saw primary school pupils perform alongside older students from the Trust’s four high schools, which include Marshland in West Walton, St Clement’s in Terrington St Clement, Smithdon in Hunstanton, and Springwood in Lynn.
“The Play Day brought together students from across the feeder primary schools to the four WNAT high schools, spanning the breadth of West Norfolk, from West Walton through to Hunstanton and the surrounding areas,” said Benjamin Howell, who is Peripatetic Music Lead at the Trust and helped co-ordinate the event.
“The event featured primary school musicians alongside high school and sixth-form students, who came together to perform as a large Trust ensemble.”
The musical offering was equally wide-ranging, covering themes from television and film as well as classical pieces, while there were also guest performances from some of the schools’ music groups.
“The musical programme was varied and engaging, ranging from the dramatic theme from The Traitors, music from How to Train Your Dragon, Hungarian Dance No. 5, and both the ‘Habanera’ and ‘Toreador’s Song’ from Carmen,” continued Mr Howell
“In addition, we were delighted to feature performances from the Springwood Concert Band, the Sinfonia String Group, and the St Clement’s High School Band, whose performances further demonstrated the musical progression available to students across the Trust.”
Some 187 musicians were involved in the day, which concluded with a concert performance for WNAT staff, trustees, family members, and friends.
Support was provided by WNAT Peripatetic Team members Jo Kemp, Music Lead at St Clement’s; Mary-Ann Robertson; Emily Savage; David Maddison; Nic Bouskill; and Helen Johnson; along with David Stowell from the Norfolk Music Hub; while the event was organised by WNAT Director of Music, Robin Norman, with the assistance of Emma Pearman and Sam Johnson from the Trust.
“We are very appreciative of the Trust Administration Team, Senior Leadership, and Trustees for their support – particularly CEO Andy Johnson,” added Mr Howell.
“Our thanks also go to St Nicholas Chapel for hosting the event, and to the many parents, carers, families, and friends who attended the concluding performance.”
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It is time to get snap happy, with amateur photographers at our school invited to showcase their talents in a photography contest.
Held in conjunction with the King’s Lynn and District Camera Club (KLDCC), the West Norfolk Academies Trust (WNAT) Photographic Competition is open to staff and pupils across the Trust’s member schools, as well as those within the Windmill Federation.
“It is open to all students from the Trust who are in Key Stages 2, 3, 4 and 5,” explained WNAT Confidential Administrator Emma Pearman. “It’s also open to school staff. There are five categories – each of the Key Stages, plus a Staff category.
“This year we will also be inviting students and staff from the Windmill Federation Schools to take part.”
The annual competition is taking place for the third year running, with past themes having included ‘Our Environment’ and ‘My Community’.
“There is an open theme this year, covering any subject the student or staff member thinks would make an interesting picture,” said Mrs Pearson.
WNAT high schools taking part include Marshland in West Walton, St Clement’s in Terrington St Clement, Smithdon in Hunstanton, and Springwood in Lynn; alongside Trust primaries Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.
Initial judging will be carried out by the WNAT Senior Leadership Team, with ten entries chosen from each category to go through to the final at Springwood on 25 June, where winners will be chosen by a panel from KLDCC.
“There were 147 images submitted last year,” continued Mrs Pearman. “It is expected that there will be more this year, with it increasing in popularity year on year, and also with the fact that the Windmill Federation Schools are invited to take part this year.”
Each category winner will receive £20 of Amazon vouchers, while one overall winner will be awarded the Dave Ashfield Cup, which last year went to Year 13 Springwood Sixth Form student, Ava.
“The Trust places a huge importance on extra-curricular activity for all of our students, alongside excellent relationships with our community including the KLDCC,” added WNAT CEO Andy Johnson.
To enter, send a jpeg format photograph, no larger than A4, and a maximum of 3600 x 2400 pixels, to e.pearman@wnat.co.uk before the closing deadline 1 June.
The importance of reading for pleasure was just one of the topics under discussion, when pupils from our school joined others from primaries across the West Norfolk Academies Trust for a literary-themed, public-speaking event.
The WNAT Primary Literary Event is staged annually to coincide with World Book Day, and was taking place for the sixth time.
Held at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on Wednesday 4 March, the celebration of reading featured teams of Year 5 children from primary schools which included Trust members Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn, along with Terrington St John, Tilney St Lawrence, Walpole Highway, and West Walton from the Windmill Primary Federation.
“Teams of three pupils are asked to speak for five minutes,” explained organiser Emma Hunt, who is Primary English Lead at WNAT. “The first pupil introduces the speaker to provide the audience with a little background; the main speaker then has approximately three minutes to deliver their views on the team’s chosen topic; the final team member then delivers the vote of thanks.”
Among this year’s topics were: whether children should be encouraged to reread favourite books or always try new ones; whether stories help children understand real-world issues better than facts alone; whether illustrations still matter in books for older children; whether it is important for children to see themselves represented in the books they read; and whether reading for pleasure improves creativity more than structured reading at school.
The audience included fellow pupils, teachers, and trustees, as well as the CEO and Deputy CEO of the Trust, while staff from across all schools supported the teams in writing their speeches and rehearsing for the event.
“Literary events that involve public speaking are so important, as they give children valuable opportunities to build confidence and communication skills,” continued Mrs Hunt.
“Preparing and delivering a presentation encourages pupils to organise their ideas clearly, structure their thoughts, and express them in a way that engages an audience. Through this, they learn how to communicate effectively and share their ideas with clarity and purpose.”
“Taking part in events beyond the school environment, alongside pupils from other schools in the Trust and Federation, also offers valuable social and personal benefits,” she added. “It allows children to meet new people, experience different perspectives, and learn from others.
“Engaging with a wider group of students can broaden their horizons, build resilience, and encourage a healthy sense of collaboration and friendly competition. Such experiences help pupils develop confidence in unfamiliar settings, and strengthen the interpersonal skills that will support them throughout their education and beyond.”
It was a very happy start to the new year for one of our pupils who was presented with his prizes after winning a writing competition.
Matthew Edwards found out just before Christmas that his winning story would be read out by none other than Sir Stephen Fry, on Radio West Norfolk.
His story, Edwin’s Christmas Wish, introduces readers to a cheetah who lives in Africa and dreams of snow. Santa Claus heard all about his wish and helped to make it come true in the entry to the competition arranged by King’s Lynn estate agent Russen and Turner.
Children aged 11 or under were asked to create a special festive story in 500 words or less. The competition was also backed by Book Life Publications and Radio West Norfolk.
Seven-year-old Matthew said he was ‘really pleased’ to win and this week he received his prizes from Jessica Peek, of Russen and Turner this week. He won a £50 Amazon voucher, a signed copy of Sir Stephen Fry’s book Mythos, £150 of books and a further £500 of books for the school’s library.
“The books have come in really useful for us, especially as we are refreshing our library and continuing to develop our children’s love of reading,” said Assistant Headteacher Billy Overton.
The Christmas wish of one of our pupils has come true, as no less than Sir Stephen Fry will be reading his story online this week.
Matthew Edwards entered a competition with King’s Lynn estate agents Russen and Turner, who were looking for a very special festive story in under 500 words.
The competition was open to children aged under 11and was backed by Book Life Publications and Radio West Norfolk. As part of the prize, Matthew’s story will be read by the author and actor on Friday (19) and again by Radio West Norfolk DJ Simon Rowe on Christmas Day.
Sir Stephen has strong ties to Norfolk and is a former student of the Norfolk College of Arts and Technology – now the College of West Anglia. His family moved to Norfolk when he was young, and he later owned a home in the West of the county.
Assistant Headteacher Billy Overton said everyone was delighted for Matthew whose story was great.
“We are very proud of Matthew and his excellent story – it really was a pleasure to read. We’re grateful to Russen and Turner for the opportunity they gave the children, and to Book Life for the prizes. They have come in really useful for us, especially as we are refreshing our library and continuing to develop children’s love of reading.
“We’re also excited to hear Stephen Fry read the story.”
It tells the story of Edwin the cheetah who lives in Africa and dreams of snow. Santa heard his wishes and helped his dream to come true.
Matthew, 7, said he was ‘really pleased to win’ and was especially happy with books for the prize.
Friday’s broadcast will be available via the Russen and Turner Facebook page.
His story, Edwin’s Christmas Wish, secured him a £50 Amazon voucher, a signed copy of Stephen Fry’s book mythos, £150 of books and a further £500 of books for the school library.
Young voices came together to celebrate the season, when our school joined others from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust and Windmill Federation for the annual WNAT Christmas Carol Service.
The popular event at St Nicholas Chapel took place on Wednesday 3 December, and featured performances from around 250 pupils from across the primary and secondary schools within the Trust and the Windmill Federation.
“The annual event is a traditional Christmas Carol Service with a selection of readings, a blessing from Canon Mark Dimond from the Minster, and also communal carols, as well as each group of schools performing a song on their own,” said Robin Norman, who is Director of Music at WNAT.
“This is the fourth time we have run this event, and it was my ‘brainchild’ to bring a more traditional feel to an event in the town,” he continued. “One that could bring together all of our schools, our parents, and the local community in general – something that would become magical and truly give the Christmas Spirit.
“We started with around 250 in the congregation for the first one in 2022, and this year there was ‘standing room only’, so I am absolutely thrilled how it has grown.”
Participating primary schools included WNAT members Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Infant, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn, along with Terrington St John, Tilney St Lawrence, Walpole Highway, and West Walton from the Windmill Federation; while the WNAT high schools taking part were Marshland, St Clements, Smithdon, and Springwood.
“Many members of staff have been involved in the organisation, but a particular thanks to Emma Pearman in the Admin Team for her work on the logistics,” added Mr Norman.
“Also, a huge shout-out to all the teachers across all the schools who worked with the children and made it a truly memorable event. It really helps bring the community together and bring a magical start to the Christmas Season.”
Music-making took centre stage when our pupils joined others from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust to play and perform together at St Clement’s High School in Terrington St Clement – which is itself a member of WNAT.
Students from St Clement’s were joined by younger children from feeder schools in the area for the WNAT Musical Instrument Tuition Initiative (MITI) Workshop, with participating primaries including Clenchwarton, Terrington St Clement’s, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.
“We had just under 70 primary school students participating, along with Year 7 students from St Clement’s, offering a wonderful opportunity for musical development, ensemble experience, and cross-school camaraderie,” said Trust Peripatetic Music Lead Benjamin Howell, who organised the event with the support of WNAT Peripatetic Music Team Members Eddie Seales, Robbie Germeno, Helen Johnson, and Nic Bouskill, as well as WNAT Director of Music Robin Norman.
The workshop concluded with a performance for parents, carers, family members, and friends, where the young musicians had the chance to showcase their skills, and share what they had learned.
“These workshops play an important role in nurturing the musical progress of our primary school instrumentalists,” added Mr Howell.
“They provide the opportunity to rehearse and perform in ensemble settings, develop confidence, and come together as young musicians within the Trust.”
Other MITI Workshops taking place earlier in the month were hosted by fellow WNAT high schools Marshland and Smithdon.
Taking aim and throwing a ball at your opposition is at the heart of Dodgeball, and pupils from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust made the most of trying out the sport.
Gaywood Primary School hosted Dodgeball Fun for Key Stage 1 children and a total of ten teams, including our school, took to the field to compete. The teams throw a ball at opposing members to eliminate them from the game during a series of rounds.
Heacham Infant School, Walpole Cross Keys and Clenchwarton primaries, all members of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, took part in the first group alongside children from West Walton and Walpole Highway, from The Windmill Primary Federation.
The second group saw West Lynn, Gaywood and Snettisham primaries from the Trust along with pupils from Terrington St John and Tilney St Lawrence, also of the Federation.
“Both groups were incredibly close, with every team picking up wins, losses and draws throughout the morning,” said Matt Parkinson, of ICS Coaching which provided the session.
“A huge thank you goes to all the staff from the participating schools for their support and positivity, helping to make the event such a success. Your encouragement and organisation created a wonderful atmosphere for everyone involved,” he added.
The final round was contested by West Lynn who faced Walpole Highway in a great match which showcased fantastic spirit from both sides. The honours went to Walpole Highway who took home a medal and certificate, while medals were given to each participant.
It’s the second year that the Trust schools have held sports competitions, with pupils and staff enjoying the challenge.
“Sporting events really benefit the pupils as they promote physical and mental health, improve academic performance through focus and discipline. These events also foster essential life skills like teamwork, resilience and respect for rules,” said Executive Headteacher Emma Hunt.
“Participation in these events builds confidence and a sense of belonging, supporting pupils to develop an interest in staying active,” she added.
Dodgeball sees players eliminate others by hitting them with a ball while dodging incoming throws. If a player catches a ball from the opposing team, the thrower is out and a player from the catching team can reinstate a player.
Our students threw themselves into a range of exciting activities with a determined goal of raising £200 or more for the BBC Children in Need Appeal.
The day was packed with fun at Walpole Cross Keys, including treasure hunts, quizzes, guess the number of sweets in the jar, and the classic pin the patch on Pudsey.
Crucially, the fundraising was paired with thoughtful classroom discussions where pupils learned about why charitable giving is so necessary.
Billy Overton, Assistant Head, reflected on the day: “The children knew that they were raising money because some children in this country and other countries are not as lucky as we are and some are poor, have no home or food and need our help.
"We have a brilliant community spirit and always rally round when someone needs help... We know we can help in our own locality and be part of something bigger to help people all round the world."
Across the West Norfolk Academies Trust, other schools like Clenchwarton Primary embraced yellow and spotty clothing, and Gaywood Primary completed a high-energy Dance-athon.
