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After our journey, we’ve refuelled with lunch and are already starting to settle into our new surroundings. Next up: finding our rooms, making our beds and getting ready to head out for our first activities!
There’s already a real buzz of excitement as everyone gets used to our home for the week. We can’t wait to see what challenges, adventures and memories the next few days bring! 💪
It was lovely to start the first day of our final year with a walk around Langsett Reservoir, taking in the stunning views and enjoying some time together in the great outdoors.
The walk was also a chance to reminisce about their very first day with us back in Year 7, when they set off on their first Outward Bound walk in Wales. Looking back, we’re not quite sure where the time has gone. It feels like we blinked, and suddenly their school journey is almost over!
It was wonderful to see everyone return after the summer well rested, refreshed and raring to tackle Year 11. There was plenty of catching up between friends, lots of laughter and, of course, plenty of opportunities to show what being a crew is all about. As tired legs started to kick in, students supported and encouraged one another, making sure everyone kept going.
Most importantly, it was fantastic to see the students enjoying themselves, spending time together and taking in the beautiful surroundings.
What a way to begin the school year – and what a way to start their final year with us. Here’s to a brilliant Year 11!
As another fantastic year draws to a close, Crew Brunel spent our final week reflecting on how far we’ve come, celebrating our achievements and preparing for the exciting journey into Year 10.
Monday saw us begin the de-gunging of our crew room! We took down displays, sorted through old textbooks and gave our space a well-deserved tidy-up. It was a lovely opportunity to look back on the memories we’ve created in our crew room over the past year while getting it ready to welcome a new crew in September.
On Tuesday, we enjoyed our final Tranquil Tuesday, spending time in classes continuing to read our anchor text and completing end-of-year learning activities. It was a calm and purposeful way to round off our academic year.
Wednesday was dedicated to completing our Crew Solo. This is always a significant moment, giving everyone the opportunity to reflect on their achievements, recognise how much they’ve grown and think carefully about the future they want to create for themselves. It was wonderful to see the maturity and thoughtfulness that everyone brought to their reflections.
We continued our de-gunging mission on Thursday, carefully organising and storing our portfolios in the library before giving the crew room one final tidy-up for its new occupants next year. We also looked at our praises and conduct one last time this year, taking a moment to celebrate the positive choices and progress that have shaped our journey together.
Our final day together started with the whole-school Community Meeting, where we celebrated the successes and achievements of the year. We reflected on memorable events such as Sports Day and the XP Arts Festival, reminding us of the fun we’ve shared and the incredible talent across our school community.
A special congratulations goes to Rowena, who was crowned Crew Brunel’s Crew Champion this term after receiving the highest number of praises across the year for our crew — a fantastic achievement that reflects her consistent effort, positivity and contribution to our crew.
We were also delighted to celebrate Chloe and Matilda, who were recognised for their beautiful artwork this term. Their creativity and talent have truly shone through and they should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments. Finally, congratulations to Rowena, Matilda and David for achieving 100% attendance this term. Their outstanding commitment and dedication earned them a place in the attendance prize draw, with David being one of the ten lucky winners. As always, we ended our Community Meeting with Appreciations, Apologies and Stands — a fitting way to close the year by recognising one another and celebrating the strength of our community.
What a year it has been. Crew Brunel, you should all be incredibly proud of everything you’ve accomplished. You’ve shown resilience, kindness, courage and determination, and it has been a privilege to watch each of you grow over the course of the year.
Now it’s time for a well-earned break. Have a wonderful, restful summer. Spend time with family and friends, make plenty of happy memories, stay safe, and come back refreshed and ready for the adventures that Year 10 will bring.
From learning how to stay safe over the summer and understanding the importance of water safety, to exploring democracy, employment, finance and the world of work, students across XP Doncaster have continued to engage in thoughtful and meaningful learning through Wise Wednesdays in Crews this term. This newsletter celebrates some of the beautiful work taking place in Crews, reflects on the final term of the academic year and provides a preview of the exciting topics students will be exploring when they return in August…
A huge thank you to our Crew Leaders for creating safe spaces where students can discuss challenging topics, share different viewpoints and learn from one another!
What a fantastic week we’ve had! With just two weeks to go until the end of term, there’s been plenty happening as we prepare for a busy finish.
We started the week a little differently with a Staff Day on Monday. This gave students an extra day to relax, recharge and get ready for the exciting week ahead.
On Tuesday, we caught up as a crew and shared what everyone had been up to over the long weekend. It was great to hear about the different ways people had spent their extra day off school.
Wednesday saw us continue reading our anchor text, Green Rising. We’ve enjoyed exploring the story together in our classes, with some thoughtful discussions as we progress through the book.
On Thursday, we turned our attention to Sports Day preparations, making sure everyone knew the important information ahead of next week’s event. We organised who would be taking part in each event and started thinking about ideas for our Crew mascot. There were some creative and hilarious suggestions, and we can’t wait for you to see which idea we choose!
Friday was all about celebrating our successes including the huge highlight – celebrating the first-ever Subject Awards Night, which took place on Thursday evening. A massive shout-out goes to Ayden, Rowena and Chloe for being nominated for subject awards. An extra congratulations to Ayden, who won the Subject Star Award for XP Year 9 HUMS, and Chloe, who won the Subject Star Award for XP Year 9 Art. We are incredibly proud of you both and all of our nominees for representing Year 9 so well.
We finished with our usual Apologies, Appreciations and Stands, recognising the positives from the week and supporting one another as a crew.
As a crew, we’ve also had some difficult conversations this week around behaviour and the importance of consistently demonstrating the XP Character Traits. These conversations are never easy, but they are an important part of helping us all grow, reflect and make better choices. We know that everyone is capable of meeting the high expectations we set in Crew Brunel, and we look forward to seeing those positive choices next week.
With just two weeks to go, we’re looking forward to Sports Day, more celebrations and making the most of the remainder of the school year. Let’s finish the term strong!
Thursday 1st July – Selected students are taking part in an Art Installtion Projext at Doncaster-Sheffield Airport as part of the opening relauch of the runways.
Please see the following information
Arrive 8am – XPE Stairs
Pick Up from XP School: 08:30
ETA at Doncaster Sheffield Airport: 08:50
Return from DSA: 14:50
Arrive at XP School: 15:10
Bring a pack up, sun protection and plenty of water – FSM will be provided.
Students should follow the normal dress code. Please ensure they are dressed appropriately for the weather and wear clothing that they do not mind potentially getting art materials on during the day.urces etc.
Any questions please contact your child’s crew leader.
There are some invitations you just have to read twice. When Chris and Emma were invited to Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards 70th-anniversary celebration, they were absolutely thrilled. To share in such a monumental milestone in a truly wonderful place was a massive honor.
Here is a quick recap of their unforgettable royal garden party!
Sunshine, Tea & Cake
They couldn’t have asked for better British weather- the sun was shining gorgeously across the immaculate palace grounds. Emma and Chris spent the afternoon exploring the stunning gardens and enjoying a delicious afternoon tea with a slice of royal cake.
A Star-Studded Lineup
The atmosphere was buzzing, made even more special by an incredible lineup of guest speakers who came out to celebrate 70 years of youth empowerment. Here are a few that they managed to listen to:
The brilliant Sara Davies MBE
The stunning Molly Rainford & Tyler West
The swesome Dame Kelly Holmes MBE OLY
The absolute pinnacle of the day was hearing from His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT GCVO himself. Witnessing him champion the incredible legacy of the DofE awards on the palace lawns was a moment Emma and Chris won’t ever forget.
A Day to Remember
As the afternoon wound down, Emma and Chris felt incredibly grateful. It was an absolute privilege to be invited, to soak in the history, and to share this beautiful experience together. Cheers to 70 years of the DofE Awards—a day they’ll be talking about for a very long time!
It has been another busy and rewarding week for Crew Brunel, with a great mix of wellbeing activities, learning, important life skills and an exciting outdoor adventure.
We began the week with a check-in with Crew Sinfield, giving everyone the chance to reconnect, share how they were feeling and set positive intentions for the week ahead. We also spent some time outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and using the space to start the week in a calm and positive way. It was a great opportunity to focus on wellbeing and building strong relationships within crew.
On Tuesday, Crew Brunel joined Crew Sinfield again and used the session to catch up on important learning tasks. Students worked hard to complete their Sparx Maths and Tassomai activities, showing focus, independence and commitment to keeping on top of their studies. It was a productive session where everyone was able to make progress and support each other.
Wednesday was our Wise Wednesday session, where we explored an important topic linked to staying safe during the summer: alcohol awareness. Students discussed the risks associated with alcohol, the importance of making safe choices and how to look after themselves and others. These conversations are a valuable part of helping students develop confidence, responsibility and good decision-making skills.
Thursday brought an exciting challenge as students took part in their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze expedition. The day started with preparation, including packing bags, checking equipment and making sure everyone had everything needed for the adventure ahead. Students then set off for the first part of their walk, working together to navigate the route, support one another and develop their teamwork skills. After completing the walk, students set up camp and spent the night outdoors, putting their resilience, organisation and independence into practice.
On Friday, the expedition continued with the second part of the walk. Students showed determination as they completed the route and worked together to overcome the challenges along the way. After returning to school, the final important job was to degunge all the equipment! Tents, bags and kit were cleaned and packed away properly, ensuring everything was ready for the next adventure.
Crew Brunel finished the week tired but proud, having achieved something challenging and memorable. A fantastic week of teamwork, learning, resilience and new experiences — well done, Crew Brunel, you’ve all earned a well-deserved rest!
From discussions about health, wellbeing and personal safety to debates around democracy, British Values and life beyond school, students across XP Doncaster have engaged in thoughtful and meaningful learning through Wise Wednesdays this term. This newsletter celebrates some of the beautiful work taking place in Crews and provides a preview of the important topics students will be exploring next term.
