The competition, encouraging pupils to show off their singing, dancing, playing and performing talents, was open to all students at schools in the West Norfolk Academies Trust, of which our school is a member, and Year 5’s Isobel Garside-Ansell tap danced her way to third prize.

“I chose the song Roxanne from the film Moulin Rouge, but that was after making a long list of songs, dancing to them all and then choosing my best performance,” said Isobel, who learns dance at Studio 19 dance school in Kings Lynn, as well as playing the violin.  

Meanwhile, fellow Year 5 pupil Josh Newman was runner up after his trumpet playing impressed judges. 

“One of the biggest things we learned was the success of the Trust’s devotion to teaching instrumental music,” said Hayley Roberts, the West Norfolk Academy Trust’s Director of Engagement.    

“We had a huge number of instrumentalist entrants, which means our musical investment is working. We take the arts very seriously at our schools, as we think they build key life skills like confidence and commitment.”  

The competition had “kept students’ spirits up at a time when it was easy for them to be feeling low,” she added, and now everyone is back at school, the Trust wants to keep that feeling alive.  

“As we speak we are working on end of year summer concerts which at one point we thought would never be possible,” she said.  

“We are even trying to source a local ice cream van to join us at any of these events, as they will of course be planned for outdoors. We want to go full pelt with providing musical opportunities. So many students want to take part, it's going to ensure the 2020-2021 academic year finishes with a bang!”