Not only was the harvest particularly bountiful this year, but it also benefited those in need, as children from our school supported a charity in Lynn as part of our Harvest Festival celebrations.

Pupils of all ages at Clenchwarton, West Lynn, and Walpole Cross Keys Primaries joined forces to collect an array of non-perishable items for the King’s Lynn Foodbank, including tinned meat, fish, and vegetables; tinned and packet soups; jars of cooking sauce; bottles of squash; jars of instant coffee; tinned rice pudding and custard; tinned fruit; biscuits; and milk.

The event was organised by Jo Borley, Executive Headteacher across the three schools, which are all members of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

Children at Clenchwarton also enjoyed a special Harvest Festival Assembly to mark the occasion.

Music lovers enjoyed four nights of diverse entertainment when Springwood High School in King’s Lynn hosted this year’s West Norfolk Academies Trust Community Music Festival.

The popular annual event was taking place for the fourth time, and saw performers from our school join others from across the Trust, alongside a host of other music groups from across the region.

“Suffice to say we had a real mix of younger WNAT ensembles, alongside more experienced ensembles and professional musicians,” said Robin Norman, Director of Music at WNAT and organiser of the event. “There was a real mix of different styles and ages, with performers from all schools across the WNAT family, along with other community ensembles.

“There was, without doubt, something for everyone, with a wonderful range of instrumental and vocal ensembles.”

Besides Springwood, the participating Trust high schools comprised Marshland in West Walton, St Clement’s in Terrington St Clement, and Smithdon in Hunstanton, while member primaries taking part included Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Infant, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.

“Across the four nights, there were in excess of 500 performers from across all year groups from Reception through to Year 13,” explained Mr Norman. “These were spread across all the schools in the West Norfolk Academies Trust and beyond.

“Students from all WNAT schools were involved. However, we were also joined by community music groups including the West Norfolk Music Centre, West Norfolk Winds, and others – a real showcase of all the different types of music from across West Norfolk.”

Among the performers were musicians from the Trust’s Musical Instrumental Tuition Initiative (MITI) Programme, including a String Ensemble, a Wind Band, and individual piano and percussion students.

More than 900 people attended the Community Music Festival, which culminated in the WNAT Choral Spectacular, featuring choirs from all the Trust’s schools, along with special guest St Martha’s – a total of around 250 students, aged five to 18.

“The students of all ages coming together is a unique experience,” continued Mr Norman. “There is an overarching sense of camaraderie, and, whatever the age, the students joke, and laugh, and just enjoy making music together.

“There was a wide range of pieces on offer, from musical theatre to classic pop to rock. However, the highlight had to be the grand finale when all the children joined together to perform ‘This is Me’ from The Greatest Showman.”

“For the young people in our schools, this now-annual event is important in so many ways,” added Mr Norman. “The professional-level stage is just one aspect of this, as all performers have the joy of performing in front of appreciative audiences on equipment of such a high level.

“However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as you cannot measure the good a series of events like this does on inspiring future musicians, who, in some cases, will be hearing advanced performances for the first time.

“This gives them the opportunity to perform and work with a whole range of musicians. This is something you cannot really measure as both an inspirational and aspirational tool.”

Our young maths whizzes were put through their paces when the West Norfolk Academies Trust held its annual Primary Maths Challenge on Thursday 3 July.

The West Norfolk Academies Trust event was hosted by fellow Trust member Springwood High School in King’s Lynn, and saw Year 5 and 6 pupils from primary schools across the region work together in teams of four to solve a series of maths problems.

“Students were given four rounds: Group; Relay; Cross Numbers; and Shuttle,” explained WNAT Maths Lead Connie Loizou, who organised the Challenge with the assistance of colleagues Sylvilyn Forbes-Clake from WNAT and Springwood Maths Teacher Luke Rawlings, as well as a group of the school’s sixth formers.

“They had to work as a team to solve challenging maths problems using mathematical techniques they had already learnt and applying them to unfamiliar situations.”

Launched in 2018, the event featured eight schools this year, including WNAT primaries Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.

First place went to St Martha’s, with each member of the winning team receiving a certificate from WNAT CEO Andy Johnson.

“The Primary Maths Challenge promotes mathematical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills,” added Ms Loizou.

“It also gives students the opportunity to compete against students from other schools in their area.”

One of our teachers has more than doubled her fundraising target to help the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Michelle Ryan took part in the recent 10k GEAR run in King’s Lynn, and was supported by pupils and colleagues at our school,  where she has taught for 24 years.

Her initial target of £300 raised on the online JustGiving sponsorship page has been completely smashed and currently stands at £785 - more than 260 per cent of her self-set target.

A group of young runners from her school, a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, also took part in GEAR and completed the mini-event before cheering Mrs Ryan on for her longer run.

The air ambulance was chosen after an incident near the school in 2023 when a life was saved because of the prompt medical action of staff and the arrival of the distinctive helicopter to take the patient to a specialist hospital where they survived.

Although Mrs Ryan had taken part in the GEAR event before, it had been several years and she trained hard for the event, juggling work, family and training to make sure she could complete the course.

Children in her Year 4 class are currently working towards their EAAA Challenge badge and recently raised £134.20 from a cake sale they held at the school.

Mrs Ryan’s fundraising page is still open on the JustGiving website, and can be found here.

One of our teachers will be heading to the start line for this year’s GEAR run in King’s Lynn, after witnessing the East Anglian Air Ambulance in action.

And she will be cheered-on by pupils as they will also be taking part in the mini-GEAR on Sunday (4).

Michelle Ryan, who has been a teacher at Clenchwarton Primary  for 24 years, signed up for the 10k to raise money for the charity after seeing it's work first hand when a parent was taken ill near to the school.

The air ambulance’s response saved a life, and Mrs Ryan is raising money for the organisation, which relies on donations.

“A medical emergency happened near the school at pick-up time in 2023. Some Clenchwarton school staff responded by providing immediate and life-saving CPR and the EAAA arrived very quickly, took over, and transported the patient to a specialist hospital where they made their recovery,” she said.

The children in her class are working towards the EAAA Challenge Badge and recently held a cake sale where they decorated tables, put up bunting and sold cakes to raise £134.20 towards the charity.

Although it is the third time she has run the 10k, it has been a few years, and Mrs Ryan (47) has been training hard for the weekend’s event.

“I have tried to juggle work, family and training - it’s been difficult to fit it all in, but my main aim has been to follow the Couch to 10k training plan. Over the Easter break I have been fortunate enough to run every other day and I feel great!” she said.

Mrs Ryan has already raised more than £300 from sponsorship - but is aiming for more and she has her own fundraising page on the JustGiving website. The link is here.

Each mission for the air ambulance costs an average of around £4,250 and the EAAA relies entirely on donations to keep providing the 365-day, 24-hour service for Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.