Members of our school Junior Leadership Team made the trip to London recently to find out more about the workings of government.

Junior Leadership Teams at our school were joined by Walpole Cross Keys  and West Lynn Primary Schools and we were led by Assistant Head (Walpole Cross Keys) Billy Overton.

The group was treated to a guided tour of the historic building and discovered how laws have been created by those who work in both houses and how they are shaped by people from the past and the present.

The Junior Leadership Teams are elected at each of the primary schools, all members of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“They have a role in making decisions as to how our schools may be improved through a range of initiatives including learning walks and they also help celebrate our schools’ achievements,” said Mr Overton.

“The trip to Parliament showed the children how our system works and enabled them to see the political system at work. Our leadership teams are encouraged to acquire skills and knowledge that, it is hoped, will encourage them to consider taking an active role in leading people in the future,” he added.

It’s not every day a new pupil called Gromit arrives at your school fresh from Wensleydale and with a mum called Ethel.

But then it’s not every day your school has a purpose-built sheep pen on the playing field and an army of volunteers waiting for their turn to meet the new stars of the show.

Ethel and Gromit, both Wensleydale sheep, spent a week at our school as part of a Learn About Livestock topic which enabled the children to see first-hand what life is like when you have animals depending on you.

“The whole school took part and had the opportunity to learn about farming, food production, and the importance of feed and how wool is used. The children also spent time sketching the sheep,” said Charlie Howells, Assistant Headteacher.

Our school was joined by West Lynn and Walpole Cross Keys Primaries in hosting guests from a farm as part of the special project.

“Staff received training on how to care for sheep and established a relationship with the farmer. We are extremely excited to take part in this project and have the sheep stay with us,” added Mrs Howells.

Sophy Tarsey, Head of Year 3, spent the week in her wellies and looking after the school’s newest arrivals with the aid of excited children, as she was the designated person to be in charge of the visitors.

Betty and her lamb Flora were the guests at West Lynn Primary School while Walpole Cross Keys Primary School hosted Donna and Minty for the week.

The Learn about Livestock initiative is now in its fifth year and is organised by the Food and Farming Discovery Trust, Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and Chapelfield Veterinary Partnership.

A total of 20 schools across the county took part in the scheme this year by hosting livestock.

“The project is the most rewarding I think I have ever been involved with. From the initial pilot scheme in 2019, it has grown significantly in reputation and reach,” said Gail Sprake, of Rare Breeds Survival.

“To have a ewe and her lambs on the school site for one week provides an opportunity for the entire school to get up close to the animals, and to take responsibility for their animals. So many of the pupils have never been up close to farm livestock,” she added.

Pupils at our school were invited to tuck into Ratburger with Gangsta Granny’s salad to mark World Book Day.

The special menu, with Lord Voldemort Veggie burger for non-meat eaters, also included Charlie and the Chocolate Ice Cream Factory or James and the Giant Peach Fruit Selection.

It was the second inspired menu of the week as the school also marked Pancake Day by including them on the lunch dessert menu - along with chocolate sauce, jelly or fruit.

The costumes the children arrived in brought a whole host of book characters to life for the day and there was even a fashion parade where pupils were encouraged to showcase their outfits to the whole school.

Children also completed a range of activities in their classes to mark the day, including taking part in a national competition to design a book token.

Pupils from our school joined thousands of other children to create a spectacular choir at a prestigious venue.

The group of 40 from Clenchwarton, West Lynn and Walpole Cross Keys Primary Schools made the trip to Sheffield on Wednesday (19) to participate in a mass choir of 8,000 for the Young Voices concert.

All three schools have choirs which have been meeting weekly to practice their numbers ahead of travelling to the Sheffield Arena for their gig.

“Young Voices is a great opportunity for our pupils, to be part of a choir of over 8,000 pupils all singing together is incredible. We get to visit huge arenas, whether in London or, this time Sheffield, and see some vastly different places,” said Billy Overton, Assistant Headteacher at Walpole Cross Keys Primary.

“The atmosphere is incredible and very noisy, but when the children all sing together, it certainly gives you goosebumps - they sound incredible when they sing in unison and surprise themselves in how good they are and they can’t stop smiling. They go from very nervous to very excited in a couple of beats,” he added.

The playlist for this year included 12 songs with many based on compilations on different themes. There was a Bob Marley medley, Hairspray medley as well as songs from pop and dance as well as a few original songs.

The Marley Magic medley was to celebrate the legacy of the artist who would have been 80 earlier this month. The special arrangement included Three Little Birds and One Love and was performed in conjunction with the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation.

Last year the children visited the O2 Arena in London, but this year it was decided to try somewhere different with an arena they had never visited.

“Our three schools have been going to Young Voices for a while, before I started. Last year was my first experience and I thought it was a brilliant opportunity for pupils and a tradition well worth maintaining,” added Mr Overton.

Young Voices has been running for more than 30 years and offers a concert experience for children of primary school age - and is the largest children’s choir in the world. 

“Music is a really important part of a well-balanced curriculum both for individuals and bringing people together as a whole. Learning about music and understanding musical elements, as well as playing and performing, gives every pupil a better understanding of where music comes from, what influences it and the skills involved,” said Mr Overton.

A host of colourful characters met at the school gates when Clenchwarton Primary staff and pupils arrived in style for Express Yourself Day, which was held as part of Children’s Mental Health Week.

Pupils at our school were delighted when members of the air ambulance team arrived in the playground - but for a very good reason, not an emergency so no helicopter was needed.