XP School

After a well-earned week off, Crew Brunel returned to school refreshed and ready to begin the second half of Term 2. We started the week with our usual crew check-in, taking the time to reconnect as a group and share what everyone had been up to during the break. Many students spoke about spending time with family, catching up with friends, and making the most of the chance to rest and recharge. It was clear that the break had done everyone some good, and it was nice to ease back into the routine by hearing about each other’s week.

On Tuesday, we used the time productively to catch up on some important learning tasks. Students spent time completing work on Sparx Maths and Tassomai, ensuring they were up to date with their independent learning. Alongside this, students also updated their Duke of Edinburgh skills logs, reflecting on the progress they are making on their volunteering skills. We also made sure there was time for reading, continuing to build positive habits and focus as we settled back into the term.

Wednesday brought something a little different for Crew Brunel. For our weekly Wise Wednesday session, we were joined by Crew Sinfield. It was great to bring the two crews together and give students the opportunity to work with different peers. Students worked in small groups, discussing the topic for the session and making notes on their ideas and reflections. The collaborative atmosphere was really positive, and it was encouraging to see students sharing perspectives and engaging thoughtfully with the discussion. Having another crew join us added a new dynamic to our usual Wednesday routine and is something we would definitely like to repeat in the future.

Later that morning, we prepared for Year 9’s fieldwork by revisiting our fieldwork norms and expectations. This is always an important part of preparing for visits beyond school, helping students understand the importance of representing themselves, their crew, and the school positively while out in the community. Once we had discussed expectations, we travelled to the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds, where students took part in a day of learning linked to their current expedition, “You Give Me Fever.” The visit allowed students to explore the history of medicine, disease, and healthcare, helping them build a deeper understanding of the topics they are studying in school. Students engaged well with the exhibits and activities throughout the day, asking thoughtful questions and showing curiosity about how medicine and public health have changed over time. It was a really enjoyable and valuable day out, and Crew Brunel represented the school brilliantly.

On Thursday, Crew Brunel visited Crew Sinfield, this time to spend some time looking through praises and conducts for the week. This gave students the opportunity to celebrate positive contributions while also reflecting on areas where improvements could be made. These discussions are an important part of crew culture, encouraging accountability, reflection, and a focus on personal growth.

To round off the week, we joined the rest of XP School for a whole-school community meeting. These meetings are a key part of life at XP and give both students and staff the opportunity to come together as a community. During the meeting, people shared their positives from the week, celebrating acts of kindness and achievements across the school. Some students also took the opportunity to apologise for actions earlier in the week and made pledges about how they would put things right moving forward. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of responsibility and learning from our mistakes.

Overall, it has been a busy and productive first week back for Crew Brunel. The combination of collaboration, academic focus, and real-world learning has helped set a positive tone for the term ahead. We are looking forward to continuing to develop our learning, strengthen our crew culture, and build on this strong start as we head into Week 2 of this shorter half term.

Miss Mitchell

What a fantastic and full week it has been for Crew Brunel! As we reach the end of this half term, it’s been a brilliant opportunity to reflect on our progress, celebrate achievements and recognise the effort that everyone has put in over the past few weeks.

We started the week by welcoming Crew Sinfield to join us. It was great to collaborate and begin the week together, strengthening relationships across crews. As always, we focused on our Crew fundamentals — checking in with one another, setting intentions for the week ahead and making sure everyone felt prepared and supported. These sessions are such an important part of our routine. They allow us to reflect, reset and ensure we are holding ourselves accountable to our goals. Starting the week with clear focus and positive energy really sets the tone for everything that follows.

Tuesday was a practical day as we tackled lost property! This task not only helped organise the school but also counted towards Duke of Edinburgh volunteering skills. Students worked together to sort and catalogue the few items, developing responsibility and community service — showing how even everyday tasks can build valuable skills.

On Wednesday, we continued exploring our current Wise Wednesday topic. These sessions always encourage thoughtful conversation and deeper thinking. Students demonstrated maturity in their discussions, listening respectfully to different viewpoints and building on each other’s ideas. Wise Wednesday is an important space for developing character, reflection and critical thinking — and this week was no exception. It’s great to see how much confidence has grown across the crew when contributing to discussions.

Thursday was all about recognition. We reviewed praises and conducts, taking time to acknowledge the effort and positive contributions made across the half term. A huge congratulations to Rowena, who achieved an incredible 33 praises this half term! This is a fantastic accomplishment and reflects consistent hard work, positive attitude and commitment to Crew values. It was brilliant to celebrate not just the numbers, but the behaviours and effort behind them. The praise leaderboard is a reminder that small, positive actions every day really do add up.

We ended the half term with a Community Meeting, celebrating the amazing work students have produced. A special mention goes to our Year 11 students who have worked incredibly hard during their mock exams. The resilience, preparation and focus they have shown has been impressive.

We are also extremely proud of the students who passed their Passage Presentations this week. A massive well done to: Liam, Brooke, Fin, Rowena and Roan. Their presentations were a true reflection of their hard work and preparation. Thanks to their success, we continue to maintain our 100% pass rate, which is something we are incredibly proud of as a Crew. We now only have a few presentations left after February half term, and we are really looking forward to seeing those final students step up and shine.

On Wednesday and Thursday morning before Crew time, we also held a Valentine’s themed bake sale to raise money for our chosen charity, Coral Reef Alliance. Thanks to the generosity of students and staff, we raised a whopping £90! This is a fantastic achievement and will go towards supporting important work to protect coral reefs around the world. A huge thank you to everyone who baked, donated and bought something — your support really made a difference!

As we close this half term, I want to say how proud I am of the effort, growth and resilience shown by everyone in Crew Brunel. It has been a busy term, but the progress made, both academically and personally, has been clear to see. I hope everyone has a well-deserved, restful break. Take the time to recharge, reset and return refreshed and ready for the new half term ahead.

See you all soon, Crew Brunel — keep striving, keep supporting one another, and keep being brilliant! 

Miss Mitchell