It was guitars at the ready, when aspiring rock stars from three West Norfolk Academies Trust secondary schools took to the stage for the annual WNAT Battle of the Bands.

Springwood hosted the hotly fought contest, which also featured performances from fellow Trust high schools Marshland and Smithdon, with the 25 band members ranging in age from Years 7 to 13.

It was the third time that the event had taken place, with this year’s contestants including Dislocated Shoulder from Marshland; The Unknown from Smithdon; and Springwood’s The Rock Club, Boogaloo, and The Gliders.

“The highlights were watching all the amazing, up-and-coming bands from three high schools, with a special mention to The Unknown from Smithdon’s rendition of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen,” said Pete Cuss, Head of Arts at Springwood and organiser of the event.

He was supported by Springwood Music Teacher Thomas Burt, Springwood Associate Head Nick Wills, and WNAT CEO Andy Johnson – all of whom also joined forces to perform a version of ‘Green Onions’ as the Staff Band.

Despite stiff competition, The Gliders came out on top, performing tracks by Royal Blood, the Arctic Monkeys, and McFly to impress the audience, which included talent scouts from Hunstanton Festival.

The Battle of the Bands Trophy was presented to the winners by Mr Cuss.

“This is not only an important event for the Trust to give young musicians the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience, but also for our local area,” he added. 

“The majority of established musical talent in West Norfolk was formed in schools, and many performers go on to perform in local venues and at events like Festival Too.”

Although no ‘cake walk’, both cakes and walking featured when fundraisers at Smithdon High School took part in this year’s Comic Relief, with the aim of raising more than £500 for the annual charity appeal. 

Students across all year groups participated in Red Nose Day on Friday 21 March, which saw them sport non-uniform and undertake a sponsored fitness challenge – as well as enjoy some home-baked cakes.

In 2024, our school, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, raised over £400 for Comic Relief – a figure that we hope to have exceeded this year, with a target of £500 to beat.

“We hope to have raised more than £500 from the non-uniform day and cake sale, and students were also challenged to see how many laps of the school field they could complete in one hour,” explained Alix Birks, who teaches Design Technology at Smithdon, and supported our School Council in organising the event.

“This took place during students’ core PE lessons that week,” she continued. “We encouraged students to raise sponsorship donations from friends and family to raise money for Comic Relief.”

Our staff also dressed down for the day, while additional funds were raised by a group of students who worked together to run a charity Cake Sale at the school.

“Our Year 10 and 11 ASDAN students organised a Cake Sale, which took place at break and lunch times in the Main Hall,” added Mrs Birks.

“We asked students to bring cash to buy cakes and contribute to our fundraising effort."

“There was no theme, just non-uniform – and students were encouraged to wear a Comic Relief red nose as well.”

“With its theme of ‘Go Big’ this year, for 40 years of Comic Relief as a national charity offering important support to children and those in need in local communities in the UK and worldwide, we felt we needed to ‘go big’ too, and organise an additional event to try to beat last year’s fundraising,” said our Headteacher, Amanda Gibbins.

“It’s great to see the students getting involved to support those less fortunate than themselves all around the world, and understanding the plight of others, including within our own community.”

To donate to Comic Relief on our behalf, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rnd25-smithdon-high-school

Science students from Smithdon High School put younger pupils through their paces as part of British Science Week, which ran from 10 to 14 March this year.

Our ‘science ambassadors’ spent the week visiting children at five nearby primaries, where they led a series of scientific experiments designed around a particular theme.

“A group of students from Year 8, Year 9, and Year 10 planned and delivered their six experiments, all linking to this year’s theme ‘Change and Adapt’,” explained Veronica Soper, Science Teacher at our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“They included investigating bird beak shape adapted to different types of seeds; seed shape and dispersal method; the effect of lenses on the image production; static electricity; and the voltage supplied by coin batteries.”

The primary schools participating in the programme were Hunstanton, Dersingham, and Ingoldisthorpe, along with fellow WNAT members Heacham Junior, and Snettisham.

“We have been doing this for around eight years, I think,” continued Mrs Soper.

“During British Science Week, I take a different group of about 12 Smithdon students to a primary school each morning and help them set up and run their activities.

“It’s a great opportunity for our students to act as science ambassadors and role models for the younger students, and also for primary school children to meet and engage with those who are already at the secondary school many of them will attend in a few years’ time, supporting their transition.

“Many of those who get involved remember when we visited them in Year 3 and Year 4, and can even tell all the experiments we did that year.”

There were also British Science Week activities taking place within Smithdon, where the ‘Change and Adapt’ theme took centre stage over the course of the week.

“In school there was an assembly on how scientists adapt and change to new ideas, along with the changing careers in science – for example, more green careers, such as careers in renewable energy, electric cars et cetera,” said our Head of Science, Claire Pike.

“Within lesson time, there were experiments to do with changes seen in chemicals, how animals are adapted to change, and how our climate is changing.”

A Smithdon High School teacher was recognised for her sterling work with young people when she received a prestigious award at the annual Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) This is Youth event.
Alysha Moat, who teaches PE and Health and Social Care at our school, has coordinated our DofE programme since 2010, and was named as Runner-Up Torch Bearer of the Year at the ceremony, which took place at the Transport Museum in London.
DofE Gold Award Holder and Youth Ambassador Ms Moat was described as “breaking down pupils’ barriers to participation and cultivating a dedicated group of valued volunteers” and of creating “a lasting legacy of inclusivity, community support, and pride among students and volunteers alike”.
She received her award from the CEO of DofE, Ruth Marvel, OBE, at the event, which was attended by around 300 people, including nominees, award winners, celebrities and other special guests.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Ms Moat. “I felt honoured to have received the award, and felt I received it for the volunteers at Smithdon, who are the people that help it to run.I am proud of what we do at Smithdon.
“I’m emotional, having done my Bronze, Silver and Gold at Downham Market, volunteered with them, went on to be a Young Ambassador at uni, and then completed various challenges, such as the Diamond Challenge, and then became DofE Manager at Smithdon.
“It is a privilege to work with youngsters at Smithdon, giving them opportunities I had that made me who I am, and I am very proud of all the students that take the plunge to do the Award with us.
“Without DofE, I would not be where I am.”

Top performers from Smithdon High School joined others from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust for the 2024 WNAT Spelling Bee Final.

Hunstanton Town Hall was rocking with Christmas classics when our musicians and singers entertained the community with an evening of festive music.