Fundraising fever has started all over the region as big-hearted pupils, staff and teachers prepare to put on comedy and talent shows, bake up a storm and embrace fancy dress to raise money for this year's Red Nose Day.

Eastern Daily Press: Members of the Sprowston High School Charity Committee ready for their Comic Relief fundraising. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYMembers of the Sprowston High School Charity Committee ready for their Comic Relief fundraising. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

Last time around, the schoolchildren, staff and teachers across the East raised more than £720,000 which is hard at work helping vulnerable people in the local area, all over the UK and across Africa.

This Red Nose Day is all about making your laugh matter, and Sprowston High School in Norwich, is leading the way with a variety of fundraising activity in the week leading up to the big day.

Putting their baking skills to the test with a Cake Sale Bonanza, the pupils will be selling lots of yummy treats with all proceeds going to Comic Relief and will also be getting their groove on with a DJ Duke Box in the dining hall.

The teachers are getting involved too, giving their best pop star performances in a lip sync battle

Eastern Daily Press: Three of the members of the Sprowston High School Charity Committee ready for their Comic Relief fundraising, with the charities co-ordinator, teacher Joe Sayce. From left, Hannah Smith, 15; Emily Chapman, 16; and Ruby Slaats, 15. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYThree of the members of the Sprowston High School Charity Committee ready for their Comic Relief fundraising, with the charities co-ordinator, teacher Joe Sayce. From left, Hannah Smith, 15; Emily Chapman, 16; and Ruby Slaats, 15. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

A team of sixth form pupils are set to challenge a team of the toughest teachers, in a head to head Pointless-style quiz, to put their general knowledge skills to the test and on Red Nose Day itself, the entire school is taking part in a fancy dress non-uniform day.

Teacher Joe Sayce, said: 'We are really looking forward to taking part in Red Nose Day this year and our pupils have been preparing their elaborate fundraising ideas for weeks. Allowing the pupils to be fully involved in the planning stages, means they genuinely care about the charities they are fundraising for and take great pride in the activity.'

And head girl Hannah Smith said: 'The charity committee has been running for almost five years and in that time we have raised over £110,000 for a variety of charities, which we are extremely proud of. We all have a say in which charities we chose to support, which allows us to fundraise for charities close to our heart.'

Emily Chapman, a year 11 pupil, added: 'Comic Relief is a really important charity to us and Red Nose Day is something we have all grown up with, I remember collecting the noses from a young age. We fundraise for a lot of local charities and the reason we chose Red Nose Day is to help people across the world.'

Eastern Daily Press: Red Nose Day/Evening New logo 2017. Photo: Graphics UnitRed Nose Day/Evening New logo 2017. Photo: Graphics Unit (Image: Graphics Unit)

The money they raise for Red Nose Day 2017 will be used by Comic Relief to help people living unimaginably tough lives across the UK and Africa.

• Teachers can order a free school fundraising resource pack bursting with fundraising ideas, learning resources, posters, balloons, stickers, as well as their Red Noses at rednoseday.com/schoolshop.