Latest News from Marshlands High School
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.
There was a sophisticated twist when we staged our annual Easter concert on Wednesday 25 March.
The ‘Cocktails, Canapes, and Cabaret’ evening at Marshland High School featured 40 different performances, while audience members were also treated to a variety of canape snacks and cocktail drinks.
The sold-out event saw more than 100 students across all year groups take part, with their involvement including technical and front-of-house roles, as well as performing on stage, and creating and serving the refreshments.
“Students made 660 canapes and 330 cocktails to serve over 100 guests,” said Kevin Bell, Music Lead at our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.
“We had an executive head chef from The Varsity Hotel in Cambridge, Rikayal Boodram, come in to do workshops with the students to make the canapes, which was a great opportunity for the wider school.”
As well as honing their culinary and mixology skills, the students gained experience in a range of different areas through their involvement in the event.
“The musicians gained an insight into the larger workings of events of this type and scale,” continued Mr Bell.
“IT provided a much more real-world view of what a gigging musician does and is involved with, while allowing other students from wider curriculum areas to work collaboratively with other students and industry professionals.”
Although Marshland holds regular musical events, the evening was a new introduction to our entertainment programme.
“We do five concerts a year with various themes, but this was the first like this – the first of its kind,” added Mr Bell.
Inclusivity was the name of the game, when a diverse mix of students came together for the inaugural West Norfolk Academies Trust Kinball Tournament.
Hosted by Smithdon High School, the event was open to players from Years 7 to 11 at the Trust’s four secondary schools, which also include Marshland, St Clement’s, and Springwood in King’s Lynn.
“Kinball is an inclusive sport that can be played by everyone,” explained Smithdon Head of PE Jamie Tilley, who organised the event with the support of his counterparts Paul Swinburn from Marshland, Anna Froswick from St Clement’s, and Tracey Honey from Springwood.
“We had players from Years 7 to 11, played by mixed genders. Overall we had 40 players across the Trust schools participating."
“Everyone who attended played. There were eight teams of six – two teams from each Trust school – all playing to score points. It was a race to see which team could score ten points first.”
“The objective of the game is, when attacking, a team must serve, or hit, the ball so that it lands and touches the ground before a nominated team can catch or control it,” he continued.
“When defending, the nominated team must stop the ball touching the floor. If the ball touches the ground, then all the other teams, including the attacking team, gains a point.
“We wanted to make sure that everyone went away from the event knowing that they had achieved something. Whether they worked in a team, showed leadership qualities, scored points, or even stopped the other teams from scoring, that was the biggest win of the competition.”
Although it was the first time the tournament had taken place, its success has meant that there are now plans to make it a regular fixture in the WNAT calendar.
“Having Trust schools coming together for fixtures of inclusive sports, as well as the traditional sports, supports the students to thrive and develop in sports,” added Mr Tilley.
“Trust schools have different facilities, sporting experience, and all-round positive knowledge within their PE Departments, which helps to improve PE and Sport across the schools.
“As Heads of Departments across the Trust, this is something that we are discussing and organising to do on a regular basis, to organise friendly development fixtures of inclusive and traditional sports to give sporting pupils the opportunity to shine.”
It added up to a memorable occasion, when our students joined others from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust for the first ever WNAT Year 10 Maths Challenge.
Hosted by Springwood, the competition featured teams from all four of the Trust’s high schools, with the others including Marshland, St Clement’s, and Smithdon.
Each of the 17 participating teams consisted of four students, who worked together to solve a series of Maths problems, accruing points across several rounds.
“The students had to work as a team to compete in four different rounds named ‘Merry Go Round’, ‘Encryption’, ‘Practical Interlude’, and, lastly, a ‘Relay’ round, all aimed to extend the knowledge they have learnt in the classroom,” said Maths Teacher Lucy Edwards, who is Lead for Academic Progress and Enrichment in Maths at Springwood and organised the event.
“Throughout the rounds, the competition was extremely close, with only ten points separating all the teams. In the end, two Springwood teams gained the runners-up and winning positions.”
Winners Jack, Dylan, Prateek, and Theo narrowly edged ahead of second-placed Vanessa, Leya, Harriet, and Nicole, with both teams receiving certificates from WNAT Lead for Maths Connie Loizou.
“Sixth-form student volunteers ensured the event ran smoothly by supporting teams to have the correct materials and marking students’ work,” continued Miss Edwards.
“Maths teachers from visiting schools and Springwood were extremely supportive throughout the event, especially with the scoring for each of the teams.”
The success of the Year 10 Maths Challenge means it will become an annual event in the WNAT calendar, while the format will also be extended to younger year groups within the Trust.
“Events like this are extremely important to inspire students to not only study Maths to a higher level beyond secondary school, such as at sixth form or university, but also to have an enjoyment for the subject,” added Miss Edwards.
“It is so lovely to see students working as a team to engage with challenging Maths materials, which they will not have seen within the classroom, to push their learning even further.”
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.”
There was superhuman creativity at work, when the author of The Human Project led a workshop at Marshland High School.
Tilney All Saints-based writer-illustrator Pen Avey based the session around her latest book, in which schoolgirl genius Eva struggles to protect her android younger sister.
“Pen Avey has recently published Project Human, and this text provided the inspiration for a robot-themed creative writing session,” said Joe Clark, Literacy Lead at our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.
“Eight students from Year 7 and Year 8 participated, reading an extract from Project Human, exploring modern robotic successes and failures, then planned and wrote their own story, centred around robotic failure.”
Ms Avey, whose other books include Dear Earthling: Cosmic Correspondent, had spent time with our aspiring writers before – and generously provided the group with signed copies of Project Human.
“Pen Avey is a returning visitor who has provided our students the opportunity to engage with creative writing outside of their normal lessons,” continued Mr Clark, who organised the event as part of our World Book Day celebrations.
“Pen’s visits are always an enjoyable experience for our students. They get to connect with a published writer, who enables their creativity, provides feedback on their creations, and builds a sense of joy around reading and writing – especially during the World Book Day period.”
“Students also left the session with a signed copy of Pen’s book,” he added.
“We love having external guests and experts visit our school to provide insight, variety, and new experiences for our students.”
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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.
Teamwork and problem-solving were the focus, when Marshland High School students got a taste of life in the armed forces.
The careers event saw more than 160 of our Year 7 students take part in a range of group activities, and was jointly delivered by the Royal Navy and the Jon Egging Trust.
“Students participated in four, interactive carousel sessions during the morning, led by representatives from the Jon Egging Trust and the Royal Navy Outreach Team,” said our Head of Character and Culture, Dom Stannard, who co-ordinated the day.
“Each group rotated through the sessions, which focused on teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills. The day concluded with a whole-year assembly in the afternoon to reflect on the activities and key messages from the day.”
“Students developed key employability skills, such as teamwork, communication, and resilience,” he continued. “They also gained insight into different career pathways, and heard first-hand experiences from professionals.
“These activities helped students begin thinking about their future aspirations, while building confidence and self-awareness.”
The event was a new addition to the calendar at Marshland, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.
“This was the first time this specific event had been delivered at the school,” added Mr Stannard. “However, we are looking to hold similar events in the future for other year groups.
“Events like this are important, because they introduce students to the world of work at an early stage, and help them develop essential life and employability skills.
“They also support the school’s careers programme, and contribute towards meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks, by providing meaningful encounters with employers and external organisations.”
World Book Day expanded to encompass a range of different events, when Marshland High School took part in the annual literary celebration.
The school library became a hub of World Book Day activity on Thursday 5 March, with students gathering to take part in a range of different sessions.
“All Key Stage 3 students took part in a variety of sessions, including literary-themed quizzes, bookmark design and interactive challenges that encouraged them to explore different genres and texts within the library’s collection,” said our Literacy Lead, Joe Clark, who led the events.
The celebrations were set to continue beyond World Book Day itself, with a return visit from guest author Pen Avey taking place the following week.
“Following the recent publication of her book, Project Human, Avey will be running a specialist creative writing workshop,” continued Mr Clark.
“A selected group of students will have the opportunity to work closely with her to develop their own storytelling skills and learn about the professional writing process.
“Participating students will also receive a signed copy of her latest book to further foster a love of reading among participants.”
Marshland, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, takes part in World Book Day events every year.
“World Book Day is an essential part of our academic calendar, serving as a yearly reminder of the significant impact reading has on a student’s development,” Mr Clark added.
“By focusing on building positivity and celebrating success through books, we aim to ensure that every student feels connected to the world of literature.”
The focus was on talent, when our young photographers joined others to showcase their work at Chequers House Gallery in King’s Lynn.
Around fifty GCSE and A-Level students exhibited their photography at the Focus event, with participating high schools including Springwood, St Clement’s, and Marshland – all of which are members of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.
“The photography explored a wide variety of concepts from landscape to fashion, identity to street photography,” said Lee Eveson, who is Head of Art and Photography at Springwood, and co-curated and organised the exhibition with Phil Bennell, his counterpart at St Clement’s.
“Phil Bennell and I have been working together for many years now,” he continued. “He is a brilliant and inspiring teacher, and this really helps push the students to be more professional in their learning, and gives a chance to celebrate their work.
“I thought the exploration of portraiture and meaning was very powerful in the exhibition. Students explored themes and subcultures, and showed how they feel about the world and the society we live in.
“It’s also really great for families to see the students’ work in such a professional gallery as Chequers House, which hosts work from some of the best artists from across Norfolk.
The free exhibition takes place annually and regularly attracts hundreds of visitors, with this year’s private viewing full to capacity.
“For us, it’s the highlight of the year,” added Mr Eveson. “It’s not only a chance to celebrate the work of the students, but we get to work with galleries like Chequers House and their amazing team, who I can’t thank enough for their support this year.
“Students getting to exhibit in a public gallery plays a powerful role in students’ learning, because they turn education into a real-world, interactive experience.
“It builds a connection between teachers and parents, and also gives the community a chance to see what extraordinary work our students produce.”
Blow torches have been called into action at our school where students have been pitting their skills against each other.
But it isn’t metalwork or engineering that requires the kit – but the catering department, as students have been perfecting the art of caramelising meringues as part of this year’s Master Chef Skills Test.
The contest is just one of a series of inter-house competitions that students take part in during the academic year and continues with up to three subjects each month – ranging from the Warhammer Club model painting to numeracy challenge and the Master Chef Skills.
“I set the Year 7s the challenge of making a lemon meringue cake. Year 8s were tasked with making a chequerboard biscuit and I didn’t include how to make this design, so it required real teamwork. The Yr 9s needed to make chocolate éclairs or profiteroles filled with whipped cream and topped with melted chocolate and the Y10 student needed to make lemon meringue pie with sweet pastry, lemon curd and Italian meringue,” said Stevie Goddard, Head of Food.
The students arrive at the challenge with no idea as to what they will be making, and they work in their house teams of Attenborough, Parks, Ennis-Hill and Hawking before receiving instructions and a tray of measured out ingredients.
They have around 40 minutes to make their dishes before a judge arrives to taste the results and declare a winner.
The winners of the Master Chef this year were Parks on 72 points, followed by Ennis-Hill on 64, Hawking 53 and Attenborough 45.
Later in the coming academic year, the student can take part in an Africa Challenge, chess tournament, world flag challenge, theatre in education and finally the annual sports day.
Students from all four West Norfolk secondary schools put their spelling skills to the test for the finals of a keenly-fought contest.
The West Norfolk Academies Trust event was held at Smithdon High School, and the Year 7 and 8 students had to come up with the correct spelling for a range of tricky words.
Among them were antidisestablishmentarianism, martyr, mnemonic and conscientious – but all the students rose to the challenge.
It was a close contest with teams from Marshland, St Clement’s, Springwood and Smithdon High schools all concentrating hard during a tough session of serious spelling.
Springwood High School took first place with Shanjana in Year 8 taking the title of the WNAT Spelling Bee Winner, and she was presented with the prize of an Amazon Kindle Fire and a trophy.
English Lead for the Trust, Sarah Murkin, organised the annual event which was the culmination of a round of heats within each school.
“All four schools competed with outstanding team spirit and integrity. Springwood secured the win, closely followed by Marshland, St Clement’s and Smithdon. Every team delivered a fantastic performance, making the event a true celebration of talent and sportsmanship,” said Amira O’Neill, English teacher at St Clement’s High.
Each of the Trust’s secondary schools take it in turn to host the annual finals and this year was Smithdon’s turn just before the Christmas break.
