Have you seen these beautiful newly curated areas at Green Top – awesome spaces for students to learn and play in!
A great sporting week at XP Doncaster!
On Monday, students met a few of the Doncaster Rovers first team players and were able to have photos and get autographs from the players. Students asked questions about the life of a professional athlete and the journey that the players have been on playing for different clubs. It was great to hear the players speak about our character traits and how these character traits link to sport.
Then on Tuesday students visited Hill House school to listen to Olympic gold medal GB hockey player Sam Queck. Her experience as an athlete and the ups and downs she has faced really helped our students to understand that if you want something in life you have to work hard for it! Students were able to have a photo and ask questions to Sam at the end – they even held her gold medal.
This week in crew I asked crew members to find a piece of work or something they have done that they are proud of. Students sent both written work and art work either completed in school or in their free time. We noticed that these were really individual and that they gave an insight to their identity and who they were. This is a topic we have been looking at in our Wise Wednesday sessions so it was great to see this theme carried on.
We’ve finally gotten around to delivering your very kind donations to the drop off point for the Clothing Bank!
During our first week back, Year 10 promoted this wonderful charity around school and around Doncaster City Centre; and we’ve managed 2 full car loads (which filled 2 of the drop off bins!)
Celebrating Jenson Owen: A Triumph of Team Spirit and Integrity
On Sunday, October 6th, Jenson Owen took to the waters of Ponds Forge, Sheffield, competing in the National County Team Championships. It was a day filled with excitement, anticipation, and high stakes for Jenson and his team. Racing in both the relay and backstroke events, Jenson demonstrated not only his skill but also his resilience and sportsmanship.
The team finished an incredible second place overall. For many, this would be a moment of celebration—a testament to months of hard work, dedication, and unity. Yet, Jenson felt that their second-place finish was somehow a failure. It’s natural to want to be the best, but in reality, the result was far from a letdown. This wasn’t just about a medal; it was about the shared effort and commitment of every swimmer, the mutual support, and the camaraderie that pushed them through.
Jenson’s response reveals a deeper strength of character: courage. Courage isn’t just facing challenges head-on; it’s also having the fortitude to push forward even when the result isn’t what you hoped for. It’s easy to celebrate success, but true courage is found in embracing the journey and acknowledging that every effort, every race, and every second in the pool contributes to the whole team’s success.
What stands out most about Jenson is not just his physical prowess, but his craftsmanship and the quality he brings to his swimming. Craftsmanship in this context isn’t just about perfecting a stroke or hitting a certain time. It’s about the way Jenson approaches the sport: with a keen eye for improvement, a desire to refine his skills, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Each race is a masterpiece in the making, and every practice is a brushstroke toward his ultimate potential.
And then, there’s integrity. This shines through in the way Jenson supports his teammates, the way he competes, and the way he reflects on his performance. It’s in how he holds himself accountable, both when he wins and when he feels he falls short. But most importantly, it’s in the way he understands that being part of a team means every single member contributes to the final outcome. When they climbed onto that podium for second place, it was a shared victory—something bigger than any individual performance.
Standing by the side of the pool, cheering him on, were his parents, myself, and Miss Burns. We couldn’t have been prouder. To witness Jenson push himself, to see him give everything he had for his team—that’s what sportsmanship and teamwork are all about. His parents beamed with pride, sharing in every moment, knowing that the courage and integrity they see in him each day were on full display.
So, while Jenson might feel that he fell short of his own expectations, to us, it was a massive triumph. Not because of a second-place finish, but because of the heart, the spirit, and the unwavering determination he showed. In a sport that’s often focused on individual results, Jenson reminded us all that it’s the collective effort and the character we build that matter most. That’s something no medal can measure.
Active Fusion are hosting a Careers in sport opportunity evening on Monday 21st October. This will take place between the hours of 16.00-18.00 in the Doncaster College sports Hall. Within the session young people will learn about the career pathways in sport, take part in practical and theory sessions and be given the opportunity to lead themselves. There will be a Q and A session towards the end of the evening.
This event is a book only and they must follow the QR code on the attached flyer to book.
Another amazing week of extra curricular in PE. It was the first week of away fixtures for football and netball. All students demonstrated XP/XP East character traits in particular respect.
All the matches were tough but student showed fantastic resilience. Huge well to the Year 10 boys football team who successful got through to the next round of the National cup winning 5-0.
We are thrilled to share the fantastic efforts of our Year 9 students in Crews Caldwell, Kelly, Lovelace, and Nightingale as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award volunteering program. Our students have been actively participating in litter picking within the school grounds and in the surrounding community. This initiative not only helps keep our environment clean but also fosters a strong sense of responsibility and care for the world around them.
In addition to their environmental work, the students have taken on the important task of relocating lost property, including student equipment and clothing. By organising and sorting through these items, they are working hard to ensure lost belongings are returned to their rightful owners, creating a more supportive and considerate school community.
The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award is a wonderful opportunity for our students to challenge themselves, strive for achievement, and overcome obstacles. We are incredibly proud of the dedication and teamwork they’ve shown throughout this project, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow and succeed on their Duke of Edinburgh journey.
Celebrating XP Doncaster’s Duke of Edinburgh 2024 Expedition
Check out these beautiful highlights from C28s DofE Expedition last academic year! They had an awesome POL to celebrate their success this week.
Working with the National Gallery
On Monday, our dedicated Art Staff at XP Doncaster had the incredible opportunity to attend an enriching workshop organised in collaboration with The National Gallery, made possible through the support of Right Up Our Street. This was part of a larger initiative, as The National Gallery prepares for their upcoming visit to Doncaster on 19th October, which is an exciting stop on their nationwide Art Road Trip. In the lead-up to this highly anticipated visit, the Gallery has been offering a series of free CPD sessions aimed specifically at art teachers. These sessions are designed to enhance teaching practices, and we were fortunate enough that our staff could participate in one of these invaluable opportunities.
“It was really amazing to work with the National Gallery on the Staff Day at XP. They will be coming in to launch the Articulation prize for XP C28 students. Staff had the opportunity to take part in the workshop as a sneak peek before the kids get a chance!”
Kat Taylor – Art @ XP Doncaster
The focus of the workshop was particularly inspiring, centring on the importance of art commentary and how educators can empower students to express their own unique interpretations of artworks. It delved deeply into the ways students can be encouraged to find and use their own voices, providing them with the tools to articulate personal responses to visual art. The session explored various strategies for prompting thoughtful engagement with art, ensuring that students feel confident in offering their perspectives, regardless of the artwork’s complexity or the student’s prior experience. By fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment, the workshop aimed to inspire both teachers and students to approach art not just as observers but as active commentators, enriching their understanding and appreciation of visual culture. This experience was invaluable for our staff, equipping them with fresh insights and methods that will undoubtedly benefit our students in the classroom.
Building Crew at Green Top
On our most recent Staff Day, Green Top School staff completed an awesome scavenger hunt around Snaith! Crews had to complete various challenges throughout the day and they built Crew and formed stronger relationships as a result! Go #CrewGreenTop!
Wood Foundation Visitors!
We love welcoming visitors from all over the world to our Trust and this week it was a delight to work with our friends from the Wood Foundation with teachers from more than a dozen schools in Aberdeenshire. Our work with the Wood Foundation and the many schools they support, began in 2019 and has enabled us to share our story and how we work. We also travelled to Aberdeen this year to deliver CPD – including how we crew!
This week the focus was on creating and delivering expeditions and our visitors created some amazing food from our Plover Pantry recipe leaflets; originally created by the students. Part of this expedition was designed to bring the leaflets to life with a step by step video and photography guide.
