C21/C22 Parents: Tassomai

By Mr M Voltaire17th April 2018

Students in Years C21 and C22 have the ongoing compulsory extended study of 10 minutes of daily quizzing on the Tassomai science learning programme. This system works to develop students retention and recall of key science facts and concepts by daily quizzing and interleaved retrieval practice. Tassomai done for a least 10 minutes per day will be massively important in ensuring students are GCSE ready. It is only effective when done little and often over the time until GCSE examinations. It is ineffective when not done and left until before exams.

We have been using Tassomai with students in since Christmas and have an expectation that it is done on a daily basis. However, there have been perhaps a significant number of students who have not used the program for many days and continue to do this sporadically despite reminders from members of staff.

We have therefore decided that students who have missed two days or more of quizzing in a week will attend a compulsory extended study session to catch up. Progress will be checked on a Friday and those students who need to then attend compulsory extended study will then do so on the following Thursday. We would greatly appreciate it if parents could give students a nudge to check whether Tassomai has been completed.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring our students develop strong habits of work and learning and in our aim of becoming exam ready.

C22 Fieldwork to Sheffield Hallam University

By Mr M Said15th January 2018

All Year 9 students will be taking part in fieldwork at Sheffield Hallam University next week on Tuesday 23rd January.

Pupils will learn about globalisation, international economies and country evaluation techniques, and apply these to their business client and country of interest. They will produce a 1 page summary report for a business client, with the support of first year university students studying international business. They will also gain an insight into what it’s like to study business at degree level, by working with students studying the subject.

We will be leaving school at 8am by coach. So all Year 9 students will need to be in school ready to be registered at 7.50am.

We will arrive back in school at 12.30 so there is no need to provide a pack-up lunch unless you usually do so.

Y8 Fieldwork Natural History Museum, London

By B Batty17th March 2017

A reminder about Thursdays fieldwork arrangements. Please see the original post below.

Could I also ask that parents and carers do not send students with anything containing peanuts as we have a student with allergies to peanuts, also if students require an inhaler they must bring one with them on the day.

As part of the expedition Disaster!, students will carry out Fieldwork at the Natural History Museum, London, on Thursday 30th March 2017. Students will be travelling by coach to London and will therefore need to arrive at school no later than 6.15 am ready for a 6.30 am departure. We will arrive back at school later that evening at around 7.00 pm, depending on traffic. All students except those on Free School Meals will need to bring a packed lunch, and may want to bring some money for the Services on the way home where there will be an opportunity to eat, or bring a double packed lunch instead.

We ask that any students who are travel sick take their medication in good time, sit at the front of the bus, and pass their return journey medication to myself or their Crew leader.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Well done, Ben and Alisha!

By Mr A Sprakes24th April 2016

IMG_0999Congratulations to Ben Wheatcroft and Alisha Kaur for agreeing to come with me to the Doncaster Business Conference, organised by Doncaster Chamber, at the Legacy Centre on Friday 22nd of April. The event was attended by over 200 business leaders, and politicians from across the borough to focus on how Doncaster can continue to grow. We were invited by the Doncaster company, and XP partner, Rejus to attend as guests.

The first session was concerning “Skills and Aspirations for Doncaster’. Ben and Alisha asked the first question to the panel which included Ed Miliband, MP for Doncaster North and Damian Allen, the Director of Learning Opportunities and Skills at DMBC. The question from our students was, ‘We have a creative curriculum at XP. How can business support us?’ The panel were extremely complimentary that students in Year 7 were prepared to ask such a challenging question, in a formal setting, in front of so many professionals! To be honest, they struggled to answer the question, too!! Also, Ben and Alisha, before the event started and during the break, lobbied businesses in pursuit of sponsorship for an upcoming expedition; they made a startling impact on all present!

At XP we want to connect with the world to enhance the learning of our students. As Grace Sellers in Year 8, who attended the event last year, commented in our Community Meeting, ‘I know how nerve-wracking it is to ask a question in such a formal, adult setting but Year 7 have raised the bar. Well done, Ben and Alisha!’

I couldn’t have said it better myself.