There were celebrations across the board, when Springwood High School students came together to mark the end of the academic year and their Key Stage 3 studies.

Some very big cats were among the patients, when a former Springwood High School student honed her veterinary skills at the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Our students celebrated the end of the academic year at their very own fun-filled festival, which involved a range of activities, as well as music and refreshments.

Open to all Year 8 students at Springwood High School who had successfully completed the Endeavour Programme over the course of the year, ‘Springfest’ featured a variety of entertainment, from a bouncy castle and climbing wall, to a bucking bronco.

As well as attending, the students had helped organise and fund the all-day festival, raising money through a series of initiatives, which included bake sales, penalty shoot outs, sports matches, and other sponsored events.

The Endeavour Scheme comprises nine different challenges, and aims to develop young people’s independent thinking. Participants are encouraged to try new experiences, such as article writing, performance reviewing, representing their school house, and leading an assembly – as well as organising a fundraising event.

Springfest has become a popular annual event on the calendar at our school, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, with around 270 students joining the celebration.

Our students and staff are celebrating another record year of A-Level results at Springwood High School Sixth Form.

More than 20% of grades achieved were A*/A, which is a 1% increase on last year’s results, while 49% of students secured an A*, A or B, and 76% of students gained A* to C grades, both up 2% on 2025’s results.

We have also seen an improvement in the number of students gaining A* and A grades at A-Level, alongside improvements in Distinction* and Distinctions in vocational subjects.

Among the high-fliers was Kevin Monk with A* grades in Chemistry, Maths, Further Mathematics, and Physics – the highest results at our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“I was shocked but happy with my results,” said the 18-year-old, who is going on to study Electronic Engineering.

“I have had a lot of support from my teachers – they’ve been very good.”

Classmate Merry Enters was also celebrating, with A*, A, and B grades in Physics, Maths, and Music Technology. He will now go on to read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Trinity College, Oxford, with a view of working in economics.

“It’s the best university in the world for a reason,” he said. “For what I want to go into, I think it’s a really strong foundation.

“Overall, at Springwood there have been individual teachers that have really stood out, and believed in me when I wanted to apply to Oxford. They said just go for it.

“The exposure to lots of different kinds of people, and the ability to have conversations with people all the time about different things, in lessons and outside of lessons, helped me to decide what role I wanted to go into in the future.”

Heading to an equally prestigious academic institution was Eva Kalabina, whose three A*s and A have secured her a place at Downing College, Cambridge, where she will study Economics, Law, and Environment.

“I’m elated,” she said. “I thought I might get one A*, but to get three is just insane!

“I always had an interest in Economics, but when I started studying it at A-Level, it was definitely something that drew me. I knew I didn’t want to do a pure economics degree – the degree I’m going to do is more case-study based, and to do with real-life scenarios and what’s going on in the world, and less based on purely mathematics economics.

“My time at Springwood has been really great, and it’s been a really great environment to do my A-Levels.”

Joining her at Cambridge will be Amelie Hayward, and Zion Noble, who, at just 17 years of age, is deferring her place until 2027.

With three A*s and an A, Oliver Wright is off to Durham University to study Maths and Physics, while Lucy Wills Gillings (two As, one B) will read Law at Sheffield, Angelo Alvarez (A*AA)will study Maths at Bristol, and Lily Barker (three A*s) will read History at Lincoln.

Closer to home, Gracie Collinson will be taking up a place at Anglia Ruskin to study Psychology, after securing a Distinction*, A*, and a B. Musician and composer Iamyrl Falculan gained an A and two Bs and will study Music at Royal Holloway in London.

Also off to university are Jared Hill (AAB), who will study Sports & Exercise Science at Manchester; William Thompson (A*AA), studying Computer Science at Nottingham; Isaac Roberts (AAAD), who is heading to Exeter to study Mechanical Engineering; Theo Morrell (AAAC), studying Architecture at Bath; and Eva Rust (A*AA) studying Psychology at South Wales.

There was a particularly strong showing from students going on to study medicine, with Holly MacGowan, Isabella McKenzie, Ashwini Pasapula, and Tessa Jaison all choosing to take the subject at university; while Beth Wybrow, Lorena Lalbin, Zoe Wilson, and James Nguyen are opting to study Physiotherapy.

Isobel Warner-Lynn and Maisie Gray will be studying Occupational Therapy; Milana Bulauskaite and John-Henry Gipp studying Radiography; and Kamayshika Sivarupan studying Optometry.

Lily Holtom-Williams, Sharon Rinto, Tricia Cantalejo, Karolina Repinskaite, and Mia Jackson will all be studying Nursing; and Annmaria Cyriac, Josie Draper, and Freya Hoare will take up Midwifery.

Other students will be taking up apprenticeships, including Emilie Burr at Rolls Royce; Imogen Portass-Bowen at Peters, Elworthy & Moore accountants; Isla Evans and Penny Kent at Hawkins Ryan solicitors; and Jessica Berry at Norfolk Agents estate agency.

Also progressing to accountancy apprenticeships were Marissa Harrison, Jack Bumstead, Henry Dark, and Muhammad Shakeel, while Harry Christie will train as a quantity surveyor, and Daniel Morters will take up an apprenticeship as a RAF Avionics Technician and James Bell as an RAF Cyberspace Communications Specialist.

Emily Gray will join Giggles n Squiggles Nursery as an apprentice; Charlie King and Robbie Sutherland are off to Bespak Engineering; Ronan Oakes to Eurotech Engineering; Darcy Young to Cooper Roller Bearings; and Alfred Wright to PGL.

Our Executive Headteacher, Andy Johnson, was delighted with the cohort’s achievements.

“This is a record excellent year for the school,” he said. “It is wonderful to see so many students head to their first-choice destination with excellent grades, whether that be university or higher-level apprenticeships.

“This is testament to the hard work of both students and their teachers.”

Chair of Governors Roger Livesey, added: “We are incredibly proud of our Year 13 students today. Beyond their academic success, they have fostered a fantastic sense of community, supporting one another every step of the way and leaving a lasting, positive legacy at Springwood Sixth Form."

Our female mathematicians showed off their talents when they were invited to attend an elite three-day course at Cambridge.

The Year 10 students from Springwood High School won coveted places on the Girls Enjoy Maths (GEM) Summer School, which is held annually at Cambridge Maths School.

Connie Loizou is Head of Maths at our school, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, and was impressed by the wide range of events and activities on offer to the girls.

“Over the course of the three days, they explored exciting mathematical ideas, completed experiments, took an inspiring trip to the University of Cambridge, and listened to female speakers in the field,” she said.

“Activities were designed to provide challenge and opportunities for collaboration. They worked together to share and build on each other’s ideas, developing their mathematical communication and reasoning, as well as enhancing their problem-solving skills.

“They also explored how Mathematics is applied within other STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths] subjects, such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Science, and gained insight into the applications of Mathematics post-16, at university and beyond.”

Challenges included a Maths Relay, and there was also an in-depth mathematical analysis of the card game Dobble.

“There were a variety of activities over the three days,” said one participant. “One included looking at Maths that is embedded into the three Sciences – this was really useful to us, as we are studying Triple Science.”

Another said: “We got to meet college lecturers. This was really useful for future application prospects, and knowing what the admission process involved.”

A classmate added: “Overall, this experience gave us a new perspective on Maths, even relating it to worldly issues like gender, racism, epidemics, and politics.”

The Summer School is open to female Year 10 students from across the region each year, with places limited to a select 60.

Mrs Loizou continued: “These events are valuable, as they enable students to recognise the relevance of Mathematics beyond the classroom.

“By showcasing its role across different industries, they inspire students to pursue STEM pathways, and raise their aspirations for higher education and future careers.”

There was the chance to experience the authentic Greek lifestyle when students from Springwood High School spent a week at TYPET Sani Chalkidiki Camp in Sani in Greece.

A group of 41 of our Year 9 students took part in the Mediterranean adventure, which included a range of different sports and activities, as well as plenty of time for exploration, rest, and relaxation.

Paul Donovan is a PE Teacher at our school, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, and co-led the trip with Head of Technology Steph Beech.

“The students got to experience camp life, which for the Greek children at the camp was part of their normal school year,” he said. “They had the opportunity to take part in camp sports, arts and crafts, dance, along with swimming, and beach visits.

“We also spent a day on a boat trip along the peninsular towards Mount Athos, learning about the Greek monasteries, from when they were built and who lives in them, to how many Greek Orthodox monks live there.

“The pupils particularly enjoyed the beach visits, and spending time in the sea.”

It was the second time that the trip had taken place, following its successful introduction last year.

Mr Donovan continued: “I think the trip is massively important, and opens their eyes to a different way of life and cultural norms.

“When pupils go on holidays, they visit tourist spots, and enjoy hotels and their amenities; however, this trip is more like you are living within the community and away from tourism.”

He added: “There aren’t many trips that encompass nearly every subject in school, from sports to food, languages to all of the humanities subjects, as well as PSHE [Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education], while developing their soft skills in leadership, resilience, and independence.

“The pupils leave with great memories, but also a new outlook of life in a different country.”