This week marked an exciting milestone for Year 7 at XP: their very first immersion week in lessons and the launch of their expedition,This Land is Your Land. The guiding question is, “What’s the story of our community?”
Students have worked as historians, piecing together evidence and time-travelling through four key periods of history:
Medieval
Early Modern
Industrial
Modern
Each lesson gave them a snapshot of how people lived, worked, and shaped the world around them. Together, they began to see how the past connects to the story of our community today.
Immersion also included fieldwork to Murton Park, where students stepped into the past to experience Viking history first-hand. Immersion week has given Year 7 a strong start: asking questions, working as a crew, and beginning to think like historians. We’re excited to see where their expedition journey takes them next.
See photos from the week below! Some scary Vikings in XP Year 7!
The first week of Year 9 was nothing short of incredible for Crew Brunel. From exciting challenges to moments of reflection, we came together as a crew and as a year group to set the tone for what promises to be an amazing year ahead.
Day 1: Rebooting Crew
Our first day began with a crew reboot, revisiting our crew norms and reflecting on our character traits and Habits of Work and Learning (HoWLs). It was a great reminder of how important it is to support one another and hold each other accountable.
Then, we jumped straight into our first round of crew-building activities:
The Egg Drop Challenge – Using sponges, plastic bags, straws, and tape, we designed protective shells to keep our eggs safe during a drop from the balcony. The tension was real, but the creativity was next level!
Plane Races – We crafted paper airplanes, attached balloons and straws, and launched them along a string to see which could travel the furthest.
Then we headed to the sports hall for a series of energetic team games — Rock, Paper, Scissors, Ice Cream Cone, and Marble Balance. These activities pushed us to think strategically, communicate effectively, and most importantly, never give up. It was amazing to see everyone encouraging one another, showing determination, kindness, and resilience.
The afternoon brought a welcome shift in pace with mindfulness activities:
Football – Everyone got involved, supporting one another and demonstrating excellent sportsmanship, even when things didn’t go as planned.
Yoga – Despite some technical glitches, Miss Mitchell stepped in to lead the session. Miss Mitchell and Miss Burnitt reminded us that yoga isn’t about flexibility but about finding calm and moving at our own pace. The session brought balance and focus after our action-packed morning.
We ended the day with mindfulness colouring and bubble making, the perfect way to reflect and relax after an amazing first day together.
Day 2: Building Community
Wednesday began with a community morning where we welcomed the families of our Year 9 students into school. Over refreshments, families, students, and staff connected while taking part in fun games like skittles, curling, parachuting, skipping, and bingo. It was inspiring to see everyone working together, trying new skills, and simply enjoying time as a community.
The afternoon brought one of the highlights of the week: our sponsored colour run in support of Age UK and Diabetes UK. These charities are close to our hearts — diabetes affects members of our school community, and supporting Age UK means giving back to the older generation in our area.
Running laps of the field while being splashed with water and vibrant paint was an unforgettable experience. Parents joined in the fun too, watching us laugh, cheer, and celebrate being part of such a supportive crew.
Day 3: Preparing For DofE
Thursday took us outdoors for an exciting adventure along the Monsal Trail, where we stopped at cache points to collect information for our learning booklets. The walk was tough in places, but our crew showed true grit, determination, and perseverance to complete the trail together.
This is just the beginning, as all Year 9 students will be taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award programme — an amazing opportunity for our students to try new things, challenge themselves, and have plenty of fun along the way! Throughout the programme, they’ll get to learn a brand-new skill, give their time to help others, get active and push themselves physically, and embark on an unforgettable expedition with their crew.
Day 4: Reflecting and Looking Forward
On Friday, we spent time in solo reflection — thinking deeply about the past year and how we’ve grown as individuals and as a crew. We then connected our reflections to this year’s guiding question:
“How can I show kindness to myself and my community and have a positive impact?”
It was a powerful moment of introspection, helping us set personal intentions for the year ahead and reminding us of the strength we have as a crew when we work together.
A Week To Remember!
Our first week in Year 9 has been full of learning, laughter, and growth. From building resilience through challenges to finding calm in moments of mindfulness, Crew Brunel has shown what it truly means to live our values.
If this week is any indication, Year 9 is going to be an incredible journey — one where kindness will guide us every step of the way. Here’s to Year 9!
Crew Darling and X28 started the year off reconnecting, getting outside and embracing a hike together!
A few hours well spent walking around Langsett Reservoir in the Peaks, and capturing the views with some photography challenges! The walk has definitely started us on the right path for the rest of year 11!
As we approach our exciting fieldwork visit to the Houses of Parliament, please take note of the final arrangements to ensure a smooth and successful day.
Key Information:
Date: Wednesday 9th July 2025
Departure from XP: Students must arrive at school no later than 5:00amfor a prompt 5:15am departure
Estimated Arrival in London: 10:00am
Return to XP: Approximately 5:30pm
We will share updates on our journey and arrival times via the school blog and email.
To make the most of the day and stay comfortable throughout, please ensure your child comes fully prepared with the following:
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Packed lunch and snacks
Students eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) will be provided with a packed lunch
Breakfast to eat on the coach journey (bag for rubbish)
Two bottles of water or a large reusable water bottle to stay hydrated
A jacket appropriate for the weather – it may be warm, but layers are recommended
Comfortable footwear for walking
A device for use during activities
Any necessary medication (e.g. inhalers, travel sickness tablets) clearly labelled
Reminder: C28 students who will be on work experience will attend their placements for two days instead of three this week, in order to allow them to fully participate in this valuable fieldwork opportunity. This must have been agreed with Mrs Burns on an individual basis in advance of Wednesday.
On our first day back (Tuesday 26 August), Year 11 students will be completing a hike around Langsett Reservoir. An information letter, kit list, and consent form has been sent to parents separately by email. Please return the consent form by Friday 11 July.
XP students should be at school by 8:15 on Tuesday 26 August for an 8:30 a.m. departure. Students will return to school by 2:30.
XPE students should be at school for the normal time, with a departure of 9:00 a.m. and returning to school by 3:00 p.m.
All students will need a packed lunch. If your child is in receipt of free school meals, a lunch will be provided for them.
What an incredible day filled to the brim with Shakespeare for the X28 students.
On Tuesday the 1st of July we travelled to Bradford for a day dedicated to the Bard. The students took part in four workshops delivered in one of Bradford’s iconic theatres. The sessions looked at rhyme and meter in Shakespeare, ten things we didn’t know about Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s heroes and villains and ended with a fantastic session with Testament, the rapper!
The whole staff team who went with the students were blown away by their impeccable behaviour and willingness to get involved in the sessions. They were a credit to both the school and their families.
The day provided some excellent ideas for GCSE and beyond.
Thank you for your applications! We have had many great applications and so the selection process is taking a little longer than expected. We will let students know if they are successful as soon as we can!
Once the places have been finalised, we will be in touch with students and parents about the next steps.
We are delighted to begin the application process for places on the Valencia 2026 Languages and Cultural Heritage fieldwork, which is open to all students in C29. This is an exciting opportunity for students to visit Valencia, build their confidence in spoken Spanish (if they study it), and participate in cultural activities. We aim to take around 40 students.
The activities are yet to be finalised based on student numbers, prices, and availability, but they will include a selection of the following: Paella cooking workshop, Flamenco dance workshop, Mestalla stadium tour (home to Valencia FC), visit to the City of Arts and Sciences (science museum and/or aquarium), Bioparc (zoo), exploring the Old Town, Valencia Cathedral, the Torres de Serrano (tower of the old city walls), and the Turia Gardens.
The provisional dates for this fieldwork are Friday 27th February – Monday 2nd March 2026. We are awaiting price quotes from the accommodation and airlines, but the total trip price is estimated to be around £750 per student, which includes hotel accommodation, flights and transfers, all activities, morning and evening meals, travel insurance, and coach hire within Valencia if and when needed. Students would need to bring a bit of spending money for drinks, lunches and any souvenirs they wish to buy.
If students wish to apply for a place, they should complete the application form using their XP account/email address (the form has been emailed out to C29 students and can also be accessed via this link: Valencia 2026 Student Application Form) by no later than Friday 16th May.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at nbarton@xpschool.org or hwarwick@xpschool.org
We’re looking forward to reading your applications!
