Year 11 Working (and playing) hard!
Last week I visited some Year 11 sessions, and enjoyed every minute. In PE, students were practising their basketball skills, including shooting, during a game. They showed energy and confidence in this.
Later that day, I saw true craftsmanship and quality in Science sessions. Students were challenged to think and speak like Scientists, using accurate scientific language.
The craftsmanship, quality and respect for work and learning was also obvious in student folders. Have a look at Lola’s fantastic start to Year 11!
Relish Ambassador Student Voice Group
Last week, students from all year groups joined Jackie from Relish to check in about our lunchtime options. Bailey, Skye, Milo, Harley, Toby, Veya and Kayden all enjoyed sharing their favourite food, and what they would like to see on the menu in future.
Students will be able to participate in a Design a Dish competition later this term, and the successful students will have their very own dish named after them for a day! More information to come through Crew Leaders.
Asthma Care for students
The attached information is to prepare students with Asthma for the ‘September surge’.
PE this week W/C 21st Sept
Wednesday- Netball and football practice 3.30-4.30- NO netball match
Thursday – Cancelled no cheerleading.
E30 – Getting Smart with their revision notes
E30 are jumping head first into all things GCSE and Dickens. This year as we are completing our initial read of A Christmas Carol we are challenging the students to record their own revision notes on their own copy of the text. So far they have more than risen to this challenge.
They are adding their own analysis to the parts that they feel they need support to explain or key quotations. It is impressive to see how diligent they are all being with this.
Well done! Keep it up!
From Mrs Desborough and Miss Buckley
10 Pioneer Grapple with Dickens
10 Pioneer have made an incredible start to GCSE English. They are developing superb contextual understanding of the novella and applying their historical knowledge from previous expeditions to deepen their analysis.
Their motivation and engagement so far has been exceptional! I look forward to seeing this develop further.
Mrs Desborough
Y9 Crew Rock
Crew Rock are an outstanding group of young people. Since starting at XP East in Year 7, they have shown how amazing they are. Year on year, week on week they have lead on praises, and on attendance. This week, crew rock have gone even further, they have not only been in the lead across their year group on praises, but they have also managed to receive zero conducts.
I cannot understate how immensely proud I am of all of you, you are truly wonderful students and I look forward to seeing just how much you can all achieve.
Mrs Goddard
Sharing our Stories: 18/09/2026
Beautiful work this week
Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust!
To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.
Top of the Blogs
What does it mean to be human? @ XP
]We are making our mark! @ Norton Infants
Stepping back in time at Norton Village Hall @ Norton Juniors
Share your stories with us!
Write to us at comms@xptrust.org – we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!
Celebrate XP… support a charity!
Announcing Our New Publication: ‘Celebrating Ten Years of Expeditions at XP’
A new publication, ‘Celebrating Ten Years of Learning Expeditions at XP’, written by our co-founder, Andy Sprakes, is now available. The book highlights an extensive and broad selection of the beautiful work created by our young people and staff from across our Trust. It is a profound and often moving reminder of the purpose, agency, and consequence of our work; illuminating the transformative power and far-reaching impact of Learning Expeditions.
In the next few weeks, the book will be made available to the general public and will retail at £20. However, to mark the publication of this much-anticipated book, it is being made available exclusively to staff across our Trust for a not-for-profit cost price of £5. In the spirit of Crew the proceeds will be donated to charity.
When staff fill in the google form and order the book at this price, they will be able to choose to donate to one of two local charities and one national charity that have supported and worked alongside us in the past.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to the exceptional staff across our Trust whose unwavering dedication, creativity, and passion made this publication, and the transformative work within it, possible.
Charities Staff can support by purchasing the book
Curriculum Seam: Protecting Our Planet
RSPCA – https://www.rspcadoncasterrotherham.org.uk/
Curriculum Seam: Standing for Social Justice
Schools of Sanctuary – https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/
Curriculum Seam: Diversity and Belonging
Children in Need – https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/
