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. 

The children held a Red Nose Day Bake Sale, which was organised and run by the pupils on the School Council, with cakes provided by staff, parents, and carers.

It was also a colourful occasion, with pupils and staff alike swapping their usual attire to dress in red for the day.

Our  school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, participates in the annual fundraiser every year, and was hoping to raise £300 for the charity this time round.

“The pupils really enjoy doing events like these, because it gives them a good opportunity to support charities and help others in need,” said Abigail King, who is Year 5 Teacher and School Council Lead at Gaywood.

“They get very excited to find out how much money we have raised. £300 would be amazing!”

Other WNAT schools supporting Red Nose Day included Clenchwarton and Walpole Cross Keys primaries, along with Smithdon High School in Hunstanton.

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 children were introduced to a range of scientific discoveries, concepts, and pioneers through a mix of fun activities at the Curious About Science event, which was delivered by Josh Ford from As Creatives.

“Curious About Science gives children the opportunity to discover the answers to some curious questions, and meet some extraordinarily curious people who made extraordinary advances, and changed the world in extraordinary ways,” said our Science Lead, Sarah Wilder, who organised the event.

“Creative Science workshops harness a range of immersive techniques, including drama and games, to cement prior learning, clarify difficult concepts, introduce new content, and extend thinking.”

It was the first time the workshop had taken place at Gaywood, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“The workshop supported children’s classroom learning through asking questions, breaking stereotypical role models, and linking to all areas of the national curriculum,” added Mrs Wilder.

“Events like this are a very important part of enrichment at Gaywood, and promote STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths] careers for all.”

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.”

Each class based their celebrations around a different children’s author, with pupils and teachers alike dressing as characters from the chosen writer’s books.

“We continued our tradition of celebrating different authors,” said Chloe Sneath, Writing Lead at our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“On the day, the children’s English lessons were based on that author’s work. These lessons encouraged creative writing and fostered the independent ideas of the children.”

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children focused on traditional stories, while Years 1 and 2 enjoyed Julia Donaldson’s many popular books, from The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom to The Snail and the Whale.

Year 3 took their pick from the vast selection of classics by Roald Dahl, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Magic Finger, The Witches, and Danny Champion of the World.

The Year 4 children drew inspiration from Cressida Cowell, who is best known for the How to Train Your Dragon series starring Hiccup the Viking and his dragon, Toothless; while Warhorse author Michael Morpurgo influenced Year 5; and Year 6 chose perennial favourite JK Rowling, creator of Harry Potter.

“The theme was celebrating authors,” continued Mrs Sneath. “We aimed to choose authors that are popular within different year groups, and books we think children especially enjoy.

“For example, in Year 4 we have learnt about the Vikings in history, which the children really enjoyed. Due to this, we chose How to Train Your Dragon as the main focus of the learning that day.

“Michael Morpurgo is another firm favourite throughout many year groups, and an author who many children enjoy. Many teachers have enjoyed reading his books for pleasure with their classes this year.

“In Year 6, many children have been enjoying reading the Harry Potter series, so JK Rowling was chosen as their author.”

“World Book Day is important because it celebrates the diversity of stories and voices,” she added. “It’s a day that encourages a love of reading, allowing children to become completely immersed in an author’s imaginary world.

“Whether it’s adventure, mystery, or fantasy, authors’ stories inspire creativity within children, giving them the opportunity to think outside the box.

“It’s also a day full of fun, where we get to bring authors’ stories to life by dressing up as our favourite characters. More importantly, it can spark new interests and inspire children to develop a love of reading.”

Inspectors described Gaywood Primary as providing a “warm and friendly environment”, and also highlighted the bond between staff and pupils at our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“There are warm and caring relationships between staff and pupils at Gaywood Primary,” they stated. “Pupils are greeted warmly each morning as they arrive for school.

“The school provides strong pastoral support for pupils. Staff know the pupils well and act quickly to support those who require extra help with their wellbeing.

“They provide support tailored to children’s needs, including those with additional barriers such as special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged.”

The “close-knit” environment at Gaywood was found to benefit staff as well as pupils.

“Teachers appreciate the professional learning provided by the school and trust, and how this helps them develop in their roles,” continued the report. “They value the close-knit networks between staff across different trust schools, as well as the focused training they receive within school.”

Gaywood’s curriculum also won praise, with inspectors noting: “The school has a carefully sequenced and planned curriculum which starts in the early years and is built upon year on year.

“Teaching across the curriculum is generally very effective. This supports pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to access tasks successfully.

Further honourable mention went to pupil behaviour.

"The school has high expectations for behaviour and pupils typically rise to meet these,” maintained the report. “Playtimes are happy and harmonious occasions when pupils interact respectfully and show care for one another.

“The school has a clear and consistent approach to managing behaviour. This is based on the school values and is well understood by staff and pupils.”

Our Executive Headteacher, Neil Mindham, was delighted with the results.

"We are incredibly proud that Ofsted has recognised Gaywood Primary School as meeting the Expected standard across all areas,” he said, “The inspectors highlighted the warm, kind, and caring relationships between our staff and pupils, which is a true testament to the dedication of our entire team. I am particularly pleased that our carefully sequenced curriculum and the swift, effective support provided by our pastoral team were both heavily praised.

“While we are taking the time to celebrate this fantastic outcome, we are already looking ahead. We remain fully committed to working closely with our families to further improve attendance, particularly for our disadvantaged pupils, and to provide even more opportunities for our children to stretch their thinking and reach the highest possible standards before they move on to secondary school."

Roger Livesey, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the West Norfolk Academies Trust, added: "This report is a wonderful milestone for Gaywood Primary School. As a Trust, we are deeply passionate about the school and incredibly proud of the pupils' achievements. We are also incredibly appreciative of the hard work and dedication of the Headteacher and his staff.

“It is highly encouraging to see Ofsted acknowledge the value of the close-knit networks between staff across our trust schools, as well as the positive impact of our shared professional learning. The Board of Trustees will continue to provide the right balance of expertise and challenge to support school leaders, ensuring Gaywood Primary School continues on its upward trajectory."

Our pupils were given a set of antlers to wear as they completed laps of the playground on Friday (12) for the annual Rudolph Run.

Volunteers from the Tapping House Hospice, at Hillington, visited the school to hand out the antlers and present an assembly before the children headed off for their laps. They hope to raise around £300 from this year’s event.

“We have participated in the Rudolph Run over the last few years, and it is always an event on our calendar as the charity does so much work in our community and has been invaluable to the people and families it supports, so it feels important that we help them to continue that work,” said teacher Georgina Whitford.

Children from the Reception class to Year 6 were all able to take part and were sponsored to complete laps of the school playground.

Tapping House supports 6,000 patients and family members each year, offering care for those with life-limiting conditions.

“It costs £6.7m a year, over £500,000 every month, to deliver our services. With less than a quarter of our funding coming from government sources, we rely on the kindness and generosity of our supporters,” says the charity’s website.

Bruce Turner joined pupils from Years 4 to 6 at Gaywood Primary virtually via Microsoft Teams, as part of a series of Career Conversations organised by the Raising Aspirations Programme.

Mr Turner, who was born with cerebral palsy, worked on the BBC children’s series Something Special, which celebrated the achievements and potential of youngsters with disabilities, before moving to Channel 4’s 24 Hours in A&E, and then Dragonfly’s Ambulance.

He is also creative director of his own company, Proud Mary Productions, which makes charity appeal films.

“Gaywood Primary School takes part in the Raising Aspirations Programme run by the Ambition Institute,” said Neil Mindham, Executive Headteacher at our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“They hold frequent meetings online, where children get the chance to meet adults working in various careers, and chat to them about their jobs.

“It is really exciting for the children, and gets them thinking about their lives beyond the classroom, and what careers they might have a passion for.”

The session with Mr Turner was facilitated by Michelle Parry, who is one of the organisers at Raising Aspirations.

“Bruce spoke about his career in the BBC, and also about the skills needed for him to succeed,” continued Mr Mindham. “He spoke a lot about his travelling and time spent away, which the children saw as an exciting opportunity.

“Bruce spoke about the shows he has worked on, which some children knew about and were able to ask questions on.

“The children found it interesting learning how a producer works with so many other important people to get TV shows to come to life. They were also interested in learning about his time at CBeebies – something that many children were familiar with.”

Other Career Conversations taking place at Gaywood over the past months have featured an author, a perfumer, a cardiologist, account managers, and even a TikTok star.

“Throughout the rest of the year, we will get the opportunity to sign up to the next round of Career Conversations when they become available,” added Mr Mindham.

“It is always an exciting time for children to learn about important careers and finding out who we will be meeting.”

Police officer James Smith met with more than 360 pupils of all ages, from Reception to Year 6, when he spent the day at Gaywood Primary.

“PC Smith led sessions with Years 3 and 4 on mobile phone and online safety, Years 5 and 6 on county lines, and Years 1 and 2 on ‘how the police help us’,” explained Neil Mindham, Executive Headteacher at our school, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust. “He also paid a visit to our Reception class.”

Formerly Safer Schools Officer within the Safer Schools Partnership, PC Smith is now one of two neighbourhood police officers working to engage, educate, and support children and young people across Gaywood, Faistead, and Reffley.

“The children thoroughly enjoyed the interactive nature of the sessions – especially the question-and-answer opportunities where they could ask PC Smith questions directly about his job and uniform,” continued Mr Mindham.

“The younger children in Years 1 and 2 particularly liked learning ‘how the police help us’ and seeing the officer in uniform. The older students in Years 5 and 6 found the information on county lines and online safety to be very relevant and engaging, appreciating the examples and advice PC Smith shared.”

“Events like this are extremely important, as they establish positive relationships and trust between children and the police at an early age,” he added.

“They benefit children by providing vital, age-appropriate safety education on topics like online risks and county lines, delivered by an expert.

“Crucially, meeting an officer like PC Smith in a familiar, school setting helps demystify the police role, making officers approachable, and reinforcing that they are trusted figures children can turn to for help.”.

A community support marketplace held at our school proved so successful there are already plans for another.

A range of organisations were invited to take part in the inaugural event, which was designed to help families who may be facing barriers when trying to access support they need.

“Families often face complex challenges – ranging from financial pressures and health concerns to educational needs and emotional wellbeing. Extra support agencies help bridge these gaps by providing specialist knowledge, practical assistance and early intervention,” said Lara Wardill, pastoral support, attendance and safeguarding officer.

After discussions with Lex Smith, Early Help Community Worker in West Norfolk, the idea of creating a marketplace developed, and it was very well-supported, both by local organisations and families.

“As the organiser, I really wanted to put together an event that gave everyone in our school community a chance to come together in a relaxed, stress-free environment. It was all about creating a space where people could feel comfortable and connect with local support services without any pressure.”

Executive Headteacher, Neil Mindham said: “I was delighted that we were able to host this Community Marketplace Event in our school. Bringing together so many local services and organisations under one roof was a wonderful opportunity for our families to find out what support was available to them. We were incredibly proud of our partnerships with these teams and hope that everyone who came along felt welcomed, informed and inspired by the wealth of expertise in our community. This is something that we hope to host termly as a valuable ongoing resource for our families.”

Extra support agencies help to bridge any gaps in health and welfare by providing specialist knowledge and offering practical help and signposting. Among those taking part were Mental Health Support Teams, Family Voice, Norfolk Family Hubs and the King’s Lynn Foodbank.

“We fully intend to run it again. It is clear that this kind of event fills an important gap,” added Ms Wardill.

Our school hosted Dodgeball Fun for Key Stage 1 children and a total of ten teams 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 also 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.

They had planned a run on Friday, November 14, but Storm Claudia had other ideas and brought a deluge and gale-force winds so the event had to be postponed to Monday, November 17.

The children were raising money for the BBC Children in Need Appeal and were inspired by Radio Two presenter Sara Cox who completed five marathons in five days to raise more than £10m for the charity.

The school, a member of West Norfolk Academies Trust, had been planning the run for the Friday to coincide with Sara’s last day.

Executive Headteacher Neil Minham said: “Despite the weather having other ideas on Children in Need Day, our Runathon spirit didn’t go anywhere. The children, inspired by Sara Cox, simply saved their energy for Monday and ran with real enthusiasm and kindness in support of a fantastic cause. We are very proud of them and hugely appreciative of the ongoing support from our families.”

Younger pupils at the school took part in a 25-minute dance-athon on Children in Need Day when they embraced this year’s theme of Challenge Yourself 25. The group raised more than £300.

On Friday, Gaywood children in EYFS and KS1 completed a hugely successful 25-minute Dance-athon, while students in KS2 are set to complete as many laps of the playground as they can in 25 minutes on Monday.

The enthusiasm from the students was infectious. Georgina Whitford, one of the organising teachers, shared: "The students showed great enthusiasm and effort. Even if dancing wasn't their thing, they still joined in knowing it was for a special event.
"My favourite moment was when all the children sang 'Golden' together. The song has a really important message about diversity and being who they are."

The collective effort has already surpassed £300, with the final total expected to rise once all sponsorship money is collected. 

Year Two pupil Ottilie Blackmore, seven, said: "I loved dancing and having fun with my friends. It was hard to keep dancing for so long but we knew it was important to help raise money for Children in Need."

Across the West Norfolk Academies Trust, other schools like West Lynn Primary enjoyed Pudsey-themed art and craft, while Walpole Cross Keys Primary held treasure hunts and quizzes.

Featuring almost a hundred Year 4 pupils from ten different primary schools, the evening included poetry and narration, as well as wartime classics such as ‘A Bicycle Made for Two’ and ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’ – which had the audience members singing along and waving flags. There was also a standard bearer, and a moving rendition of ‘The Last Post’.

Among the participating schools were Clenchwarton Primary, Gaywood Primary, Heacham Junior, Snettisham Primary, Terrington St John Primary, Tilney St Lawrence Primary, Walpole Cross Keys Primary, Walpole Highway Primary, West Lynn Primary, and West Walton Primary, while the event was hosted by Springwood High School in King’s Lynn.

“Events like this enable children to build confidence, communication, and teamwork, as they learn to express themselves and work with others,” said Emma Hunt, who is Executive Headteacher at Terrington St John, Tilney St Lawrence, and Walpole Highway, and led the event alongside Snettisham Teacher Helen LeStrange and WNAT Administrator Emma Pearman.

It was the sixth time the event had taken place, with this year’s performance attracting around 300 family members, staff, and trustees, as well as war veterans and members of the armed services.

“I believe it is so important for children to learn about Remembrance, so that they can understand the sacrifices made by soldiers and civilians during times of war, appreciate the value of peace, and develop gratitude for the freedoms they enjoy today," added Mrs Hunt.

“Learning about this day helps them connect with history, show respect for those who served, and carry forward the tradition of remembrance, ensuring the lessons of the past are never lost.”

Run by the Trust in association with the King’s Lynn & District Camera Club, the WNAT Photography Competition was renamed this year as the David Ashfield Photography Cup, in honour of a KLDCC member who had recently died.

“The competition started in 2024 as a collaboration between the WNAT and the KLDCC, who use the Springwood High School for their weekly Monday meetings,” explained KLDCC Chair Brian Sadler, who organised the event with Emma Pearman from WNAT.

"That was a great success, so we decided to build upon that and make the competition a regular event to encourage youngsters into photography.

“The late David Ashfield was a pivotal and influential member of the KLDCC, so we decided to honour his memory by naming the competition after him.”

Competition categories comprised Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, and Key Stage 5, plus one for WNAT staff, and almost 150 entries were received from Years 3 to 13 across the Trust’s member schools.

Those participating included Marshland High School in West Walton, St Clement’s High School in Terrington St Clement, Smithdon High School in Hunstanton, and Springwood High School in King’s Lynn, as well as primaries Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.

WNAT undertook the first round of judging, shortlisting ten images from each of the five categories to go through to the final at Springwood, where experienced circuit judge and honorary KLDCC member Allan Livingstone had the task of selecting the winners.

The first place category prizes went to Ava F for Key Stage 5; Thomas S for Key Stage 4; Scarlett C for Key Stage 3; and Sydney C for Key Stage 2; while L Sedgley won the Staff Award.

WNAT Executive Headteacher Andy Johnson was on hand to present the prizes, with each category winner receiving an Amazon voucher, and all finalists receiving mounted prints of their entries.

An additional award went to overall winner Ava, who was presented with the David Ashfield Cup by the late Mr Ashfield’s daughters, Jill Smithson and Sally Ashfield  – a former Deputy Headteacher at Springwood.

“This competition has become an important part of our Trust calendar,” added Mr Johnson. “All entrants enjoy this extra-curricular pursuit.

“It is also important that our Trust is part of the local community. We enjoy working with our partners in the KLDCC, alongside other community partners.”

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.”

The young musicians ranged in age from Years 4 to 6 at our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

Organised by WNAT Peripatetic Music Lead, Benjamin Howell, the Collaborative Music Event saw the pupils perform individual musical pieces, before coming together for the masterclass.

“The event featured a small group of piano students, each performing a piece, followed by a live masterclass session, focusing on aspects such as musical character and technical development,” explained Mr Howell.

Also guiding the children through their musical paces were Peripatetic Piano Teacher Sarah-Jane, and our Music Lead, Helen Johnston.

“I’d like to highlight the brilliant work Sarah-Jane has done with the students,” continued Mr Howell. “Her dedication and the students’ achievements made this a valuable opportunity for them to receive feedback, perform, and grow in confidence.”

They were joined by former Gaywood pupil Isabel, who is now in Year 8 at Springwood High School, and performed a pop music piece on the piano to inspire her young audience, as well as assisting with the masterclass.

“This was the first event of its kind across WNAT, and we hope it may serve as a model for future events across other Trust schools,” added Mr Howell.

Our pupils held a second-hand book sale on Wednesday 18 June, with all money raised going to buy equipment to enable outdoor reading at the school in sunnier weather.

“The book sale took place during breaktime on the school playground, and was led by the Reading Leaders,” explained Chloe Sneath, English Lead at Gaywood, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“The school Reading Leaders are children from Years 3 to 6,” she continued. “There are a total of nine Reading Leaders who applied to become Reading Leaders at the start of the year. They have aimed to promote a love of reading throughout the school.

“We created a message to parents to ask them to bring in donations. The children also delivered a whole-school assembly to share the aim of the book sale with the other children, which was to raise money to purchase picnic blankets, beanbags, and outdoor books – all to help pupils enjoy reading in the sunshine during the warmer months.”

Books donated ranged from fiction and non-fiction to poetry and comic books, and the sale continued after school to enable friends and family to buy books for younger siblings and other family members.

Across the two sessions, the children sold more than 200 ‘pre-loved’ books, and made an impressive total of £101.50 for their cause.

“These events are important for promoting a love of reading among children and within the community,” added Mrs Sneath.

“They give children access to a wide range of new literature, while also being environmentally friendly by encouraging the sharing of second-hand books.”

Children from each of the Trust’s six primary schools gathered for the final of the event, including Gaywood. 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.”

Pupils of all ages celebrated a diverse selection of countries from across the Globe, exploring their customs, taking part in themed activities, and even sampling the cuisine.

“We thought that it would be nice if each year group had a different country and focused solely on that,” said Melissa Grief, Year 2 Teacher at our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

 “It meant that we then had six countries to focus on and create some engaging activities based around them.”

Reception pupils looked at South Africa; while Year 1 studied Mauritius; Year 2 ‘visited’ Spain; Year 3 celebrated India; Year 4 spent the day ‘in’ Japan; Year 5 ‘went to’ Greece; and Year 6 explored New Zealand.

“The children took part in a range of activities, such as food tasting, learning the language, writing fact files, and creating postcards,” continued Miss Grief, who organised the event with fellow Year 2 Teacher Eden Bloomfield.

“The children were dressed in colours of the flag of their year group’s country, and the classrooms were decorated with flags, and food brought in.

“In Year 2, we learnt some basic phrases in Spanish and learnt numbers to ten. Years 3 and 4 did the same – learning Indian and Japanese phrases and numbers. Year 4 also explored how to write Japanese words and numbers too. They also learnt how to eat with chopsticks.

“Examples of food tasting we did were: churros for Spain, naan bread for India, fruit tasting for South Africa, and tzatziki dips for Greece.”

We are currently working towards a British Council International School Award, and the Around the World event formed part of the application.

“The British Council International Award is an award given to schools to celebrate and give accreditation to work they are doing internationally, learning a bit more about the global society they are part of,” explained Miss Grief, who is spearheading the process with Miss Bloomfield.

“We have to submit one activity for the Foundation Award which shows we are celebrating other countries and learning about them, relating to the curriculum. Therefore, we decided to do an ‘Around the World' enrichment day to cover this across the school.

“We can then gather evidence from all the activities that have taken place and submit this for the award.”

“The Around the World Day events were important as they increased our pupils’ knowledge on other countries and allowed them to talk about their own personal experiences of that country too,” she added.

“One of our school values is ‘diversity’, and we talk about the importance of celebrating other countries a lot. It is important for us as a school to continue to enrich our children’s knowledge regularly on other countries, so they have a good awareness of our global society.

“It would mean a lot for our school to receive the Foundation Award. We can then work towards hopefully achieving the other awards, such as Intermediate and Accreditation."

Isla Thompson, who is in Year 4, beat off competition from more than 100 pupils from ten schools in the region to become one of the winners of this year’s Rotary Young Writer.

“The children had to produce a handwritten or typed piece of writing in a genre of their choice, entitled ‘Wonderful Water’, which was this year’s theme,” explained Chloe Sneath, Year 4 Teacher at our school, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“The written entry could be fiction or non-fiction, as long as the piece related to the theme.”

“I introduced the theme of the writing, and shared the competition rules with the children about what their entries could be,” she continued.

“We discussed the different ideas that the children had for their writing, before they completed their writing independently at home.

“This year’s theme encouraged them to think outside the box, while the freedom to choose their own genre allowed each child to explore and refine their individual writing style.”

The entries were judged by a Rotary Club Panel, and Rotarian Hilary Farrell then visited Gaywood to award certificates to all the Year 4 pupils who took part, as well as to present Isla with her prize of a gift voucher.

“I feel proud and happy about how well I did in the competition,” said our young poet. “Poetry is my favourite kind of writing.”

“These competitions play a valuable role in giving children the opportunity to showcase their creativity through writing,” added Mrs Sneath. “They provide a platform for young writers to flourish and express their unique talents.

“The excitement amongst the children was clear – they were thrilled to be involved and to have this chance to shine.

“Participating in the competition sparked genuine engagement with their writing, helping them develop a vital life skill.”

Staff and children came to school dressed as their favourite fictional heroes and heroines to celebrate the annual event on Thursday (Mar 6).

“Each year group celebrated the books of a different popular children’s author,” explained Chloe Sneath, Year 4 Teacher.

“Children and adults dressed up as a character from one of their books, and the reading and writing lesson was themed on one of the author’s books.”

While the Early Years pupils dressed as characters from traditional children’s stories, Year 1’s chosen author was Julia Donaldson, known for such children’s favourites as The Gruffalo, The Snail and the Whale and Room on the Broom, and Year 2 were inspired by Jill Tomlinson, creator of The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark.

The Year 3 children adopted characters from Roald Dahl’s famous classics, while Year 4 focused on Cressida Cowell, whose popular Viking series features Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and his pet dragon. 

In Year 5, the class studied the creations of comedian-turned-children’s-writer David Walliams, while Year 6 explored the magical world of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter.

“All children from all year groups took part, from Early Years Foundation Stage up to Key Stage 2,” continued Mrs Sneath.

“World Book Day is important because it celebrates the diversity of stories and voices from all around the world,” she added.  “It encourages a love of reading and helps children to discover different genres, from adventure to mystery to fantasy.

“It’s also a day full of fun, where we can enjoy dressing up as different book characters.

“Most importantly, it inspires ambition to explore new ideas and learn new knowledge through the books that we read.”

The annual WNAT Primary Literary Event took place at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, where Year 5 children from the Trust’s six primary schools gave group presentations on book-related subjects.

“Teams of three pupils were asked to speak for five minutes,” explained event organiser Emma Hunt, Executive Deputy Headteacher at Heacham Infant and Junior Schools and Snettisham Primary.

“The first pupil introduced the speaker, to provide the audience with a little background; the main speaker then had approximately three minutes to deliver their views on the team’s chosen topic; the final team member then delivered the vote of thanks.”

Participating schools were: Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn; while subjects under discussion included the pros and cons of online learning, whether reading different genres contributes to social and emotional development, whether reading a book is better than watching a film, and whether characters influence the enjoyment of a book.

It was the fifth time that the event had taken place, and it was attended by an audience of pupils, staff members and trustees, as well as the CEO and Deputy CEO of WNAT.

All the speakers received certificates and goodie bags for taking part.

“The event provides an opportunity for pupils to develop their presentation skills, teaching them how to arrange and articulate their ideas and organise their thoughts, to deliver captivating presentations to an audience,” added Mrs Hunt.

“Utilising the skill to speak effectively at a young age, enables them to express their views in a balanced way, connecting with and motivating others. These skills are useful in formal situations, and will no doubt support future employment. They are also important in everyday life.”

A flooded venue did nothing to deter our young athletes who gathered at a West Norfolk school recently for a competition.

Pupils from all West Norfolk Academies Trust primary schools were able to have a go at a range of activities - from Hockey Dominoes to the Beanbag Challenge and Boccia - at the sport festival.

Originally, the KS1 (aged five to seven) festival meeting was arranged at Snettisham Primary, but a flooded field saw the action move to Heacham Junior where children from the school were joined by those from Gaywood, Walpole Cross Keys, West Lynn, Heacham Infants and Clenchwarton.

Heacham Junior’s PE lead James Agate said Sports Leaders from Heacham Junior School in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 helped to run the events and explained the rules to the younger children who took part. Members of the Year 4 Avocets class were also involved with the sport festival.

“I enjoyed running the sports as they were fun and engaging for the younger children,” said one of the leaders. 

Year One Gaywood Primary School pupil Ottilie Blackmore said the games had been great. 

“My favourite game was throwing a bean bag into a hoop. I liked getting it through the hoop at the back because it was worth 10 points. Gracie and I got 220 points together! We beat the world record.”