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  • Smithdon Students Step Out For Charity

    Published 27/03/25

    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

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  • Celebrating all things literary

    Published 21/03/25

    A fortnight of looking at all things literature has seen students at our school learn more about the various forms of the written word.

    With days set aside to concentrate on specific themes, students had the opportunity to take part in a range of activities designed to encourage a love of reading.

    It all came to an end on Friday with an Alice in Wonderland Day when staff at our school dressed as characters from the famous book by Lewis Carroll.

    Amanda Wright, Head of English and co-organiser of the festival said: “Lunchtime activities included teacup painting, Mad Hatter hat-decorating, Pin the Crown on the Flamingo, bag or pencil-case art decorating, and riddle writing. Chess was also available, and Claire Pike, our Head of Science, demonstrated a ‘Drink Me’ potion.

    “The themed day brings books alive. It can show students that reading can indeed be fun. With costumes, and decorating the library in that theme, it gives students a visual of the story and brings the characters off the page. We hope that it inspires the students to actually pick up the book, if they haven’t read it before.”

    Author Dan Freedman was among special guests to Smithdon during the festival and he worked with Year 7 and 8 students. A sports journalist by profession, Dan was able to share tales of interviewing soccer stars including Ronaldo.

    He is a Sunday Times bestselling author and his hugely popular series of Jamie Johnson football novels - which have been adapted by the BBC for television. He is also a motivational speaker.

    “Having a published author visit and talk to those in the early years of high school about how they succeeded is important – it can motivate and inspire those that perhaps have little confidence in themselves,” said Ms Wright.

    There was also a special ‘press conference’ held by Headteacher Amanda Gibbins during journalism day when the school hosted local reporter Chris Bishop.

    Cambridge University professor Claire Wilkinson was also on the Smithdon guest list and she led a discussion with Year 9 and 10 students for the school’s Poetry Day.

    “She also talked to the students about life beyond school, and how cool it is to go to uni, and that Cambridge isn’t as out of reach as they think – everyone has a chance if they put their minds to it,” said co-organiser Marie Taylor, school Librarian.

    The school's annual 500-word short story competition was also featured among events at the school’s fourth Literary Festival, along with a book swap and masked reader sessions.

    Donations taken throughout the festival are going to both the school library and the Tapping House Hospice.

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  • Smithdon students support younger pupils for British Science Week

    Published 19/03/25

    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.”

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  • Inspiring students with World Book Day

    Published 17/03/25

    Our school was mid-Literary Festival when we celebrated World Book Day this year.

    Staff and students dressed as their favourite fictional characters and budding authors took part in a 500-word short story competition.

    “In the past I dressed as a fictional character. This year, however, I dressed as ultra-marathon runner and author Sally McRae.  Her message is about choosing strength over fear in every situation in life, and, as a teacher, that’s what I want to inspire in my students,” said Head of English Amanda Wright.

    “World Book Day and our Literary Festival give us the opportunity to celebrate the written word and characters who help to shape us.”

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  • Smithdon teacher wins DofE accolade

    Published 03/03/25

    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.”

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  • Smithdon students power up at team-building event

    Published 06/02/25

    Restoring energy after a ‘major power outage’ was one of the challenges faced by Smithdon High School students when they participated in ‘Operation Blackout’.

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  • Sweet spell of success at Trust contest

    Published 13/01/25

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

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  • End-of-year fundraiser at Smithdon

    Published 06/01/25

    Smithdon High School students rounded off the end of term with a spot of festive fundraising when they took part in this year’s Christmas Jumper Day.

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  • Christmas rocks at Smithdon Concert

    Published 06/01/25

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

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  • Festive cheer at St Nick’s

    Published 18/12/24

    Young musicians and singers from our school joined others from across the West Norfolk Academies Trust for the annual WNAT Community Carol Service.

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  • Smithdon musical hits all the right notes

    Published 18/12/24

    Music lovers flocked to see a festive family favourite when Smithdon High School students staged a production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

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  • Frohliche Weihnachten for Smithdon students

    Published 17/12/24

    Students from Smithdon High School had the opportunity to practise their language skills when they travelled to Germany to enjoy a Christmas shopping trip with a difference.

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