There was everything from pop to classical on offer when young pianists from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust showcased their talents at a music event.

The WNAT Piano Recital featured students from across the Trust’s member schools, including Springwood High School, which hosted the evening’s entertainment.

WNAT Peripatetic Music Lead Benjamin Howell co-organised the event with the assistance of Robin Norman, who is Director of Music at the Trust.

“We were delighted to have 17 students participating, ranging from Year 5 through to Year 13,” he said.

“The programme promised an exciting and diverse selection of repertoire, spanning contemporary popular music, including Bruno Mars, through to classical works by composers such as Rachmaninoff.”

The performance took place in the Peter Hopkins Hall to a rapt audience of parents, carers, family members, friends, and teaching staff.

Mr Howell continued: “The Trust Piano Recital is one of two piano recitals held during the academic year, bringing together young pianists from primary and secondary schools across the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“These events provide a valuable performance platform for students of all ages and abilities, from those taking their first steps in learning the piano to more advanced musicians working towards higher grades and piano diplomas.”

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

Mr Howell added: “Beyond the performances themselves, these recitals play an important role in supporting students’ musical development. They provide meaningful short- and long-term goals, encourage progression towards external music examinations, and, importantly, help students develop confidence, resilience, and enjoyment through performing in front of an audience.

“They also provide a wonderful opportunity for students from different schools and age groups to come together, share their musical achievements, and celebrate their progress.

“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our dedicated piano teachers within the WNAT Peripatetic Music Team for their continued commitment to supporting and developing our young musicians.

“We are also extremely grateful to Trust CEO Andy Johnson and the Senior Leadership Team for their ongoing encouragement and support of piano tuition, musical performance opportunities, and the wider development of Music across the Trust.”

Our trust's free, annual community event has entertained music lovers for the fifth year running, with almost 600 musicians, and more than 30 different groups, performing at Springwood High School in King’s Lynn across four consecutive nights.

The West Norfolk Academies Trust Community Music Festival was attended by around 1,000 people, and took place from 6 to 9 July at 6pm, with each evening featuring a different musical style or genre.

Trust high schools taking part included host Springwood, Marshland in West Walton, St Clement’s in Terrington St Clement, and Smithdon in Hunstanton; while the member primary schools involved in the event were Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn. There were also performances from community groups, bands, and orchestras from across the region.

The event kicked off on the Monday with a night of concert bands, big bands, and orchestras, where Springwood school bands were joined by the West Norfolk Music Centre, West Norfolk Reeds, Centre Stage Swing Band, and King’s Lynn Town Band; while Tuesday was ‘Rock and Pop’ evening with performances from up-and-coming rock and pop stars.

On Wednesday, it was the turn of more than 200 school choir singers to take to the stage, performing a medley of 1990s hits, before the event came to a close on Thursday with the ‘Springwood Spectacular’.

WNAT Director of Music Robin Norman organised the Festival, and was delighted with its ongoing success.

“The Festival has now been taking place for five years, and, year on year, the success and audience numbers grow,” he said.

“The vocal evening on the Wednesday is always a highlight, with 16 different schools, and a total of around 200 young people performing, aged eight to 18, including three combined items where everyone performed together.

“In terms of memorable performances, the Springwood Concert Band performed some disco classics, including the Village People classic ‘YMCA’. The sight of over 200 people in the audience getting involved in the actions is one that we will remember for a while!”

The diverse range of music was also enjoyed by an audience beyond those attending the Festival.

Mr Norman explained: “Each year we receive messages of support not only from those that are present, but also from people whose gardens back onto the school field, who just enjoy sitting in their gardens and enjoying the music.

“Springwood is a hive of music, with many of our facilities used on weekday evenings and weekends. It is wonderful that we can invite so many of them to get involved in what we are doing.”

He added: “ As a Lead School for the Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub, we take our responsibilities very seriously, we are asked to liaise with other schools and local music groups.

“We are proud to be a part of our community, and to also work with community groups to provide opportunities to engage in music making, and to listen to live music, for all.”

Time travel was the theme when our children came together with others from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust for an annual celebration of dance, which featured music spanning decades from the 1940s to the modern era.

This year’s WNAT Dance Festival was held at Springwood High School on Wednesday 1 July and saw around 130 pupils from ten primary schools showcase their talents to an audience of some 200 people.

Besides host Springwood, whose dancers opened the event, Trust schools taking part included Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn. They were also joined by dancers from the Windmill Primary Federation schools of Terrington St John, Tilney St Lawrence, Walpole Highway, and West Walton.

‘Time Travel Through the Decades’ took the audience on a whistle-stop musical tour of the last eighty years, with dances performed to tracks such as ‘In the Mood’, ‘Rock Around the Clock’, ‘Surfin’ USA’. ‘You Should be Dancing’, ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’, a nineties mash-up, and ‘Zoo’.

Emma Hunt is Executive Headteacher at the Windmill Primary Federation, and worked with WNAT Administrator Emma Pearman to coordinate the event, which was taking place for the fifth time.

“Some of the highlights of the Dance Festival were seeing primary school children embrace the opportunity to perform with enthusiasm, confidence, and pride in front of their families and communities,” she said.

“Another particularly rewarding aspect was bringing together students from many different schools to share a common experience together. As Helen Keller said, ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’”

Kate Whyborn and a team of choreographers from KLW Dance worked with the children on the routines, rehearsing with them in the weeks leading up to the performance.

Mrs Hunt continued: “Events like this play a vital role in providing students with opportunities to explore new interests, develop new skills, and challenge themselves in a supportive and encouraging environment.

“They inspire students to step outside their comfort zones, build self-confidence, and realise that they are capable of achieving things they may once have thought impossible. These experiences foster creativity, resilience, critical thinking, and an appreciation for teamwork, respect, and kindness.”

She added: “One of the most rewarding outcomes is watching students who may initially feel uncertain or reluctant grow in confidence, take pride in their accomplishments, and enthusiastically share their talents with others.

“Beyond supporting individual growth, these events strengthen connections between the school and the wider community, creating opportunities to celebrate students’ achievements and the positive impact of working together.”

There was a treat in store for music lovers when musicians from our school joined others from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust for a Piano Recital.

The performance featured pianists from across the Trust’s primary and secondary schools, and took place at Springwood High School.

Participating high schools included Marshland, St Clement’s, and Smithdon, as well as host Springwood, while among the primaries taking part were Clenchwarton, Gaywood, Heacham Junior, Snettisham, Walpole Cross Keys, and West Lynn.

“Performers represented a broad range of students, from debut and initial-level performers, through to diploma-level pianists,” said Benjamin Howell, who is Peripatetic Music Lead at the Trust and oversaw the event, with the support of WNAT staff including CEO Andy Johnson, and Director of Music Robin Norman.

“One of the lovely aspects of the recital was the variety of repertoire featured, spanning everything from pop and contemporary music, through to Baroque and classical works,” he continued.

“We also included several piano duets within the programme, which always add a particularly engaging dimension to the evening.”

Musical events are held regularly within the Trust, with a previous piano recital having taken place at Springwood in the Autumn Term.

“Events such as these form an important part of the wider musical journey across the Trust, providing valuable stepping stones towards both short- and long-term goals for our students,” added Mr Howell.

“This very much reflects the ethos of the WNAT Peri Team this year: Practice, Progress, Performance.”

Snettisham Parish Council have had some of the children’s artwork printed and it is now displayed in the play area.

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.