Year 8 Inspired by Artist Michelle Clarke Stables

This week, Year 8 students at XP were given an exciting opportunity to immerse themselves in their new expedition with a visit from professional artist Michelle Clarke Stables (MC Stables).

Michelle worked with all Year 8 groups, bringing energy, expertise, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live and work as an artist. She inspired students by sharing her personal journey and creative story, showing that art is not just about making something beautiful—it’s about expressing the human experience.

One of the highlights of the day was when Michelle introduced her original artwork and a powerful sculpture titled Entrapment. This piece explores themes of fear, anxiety, and the barriers we sometimes create for ourselves, sparking deep conversations among students about how art can communicate emotion and connect with audiences in powerful ways.

Students also had the rare chance to closely examine Michelle’s original pieces. This hands-on immersion gave them valuable insight into materials, processes, and the layered thinking that goes into creating professional artwork.

The workshops challenged Year 8 to explore expressive mark-making, colour, and words in new ways—laying a strong foundation for their expedition learning. By experiencing art firsthand, students began to see how creativity can give voice to complex ideas, emotions, and stories.

Michelle’s visit has raised the profile of Art across the school, showing students that the subject is not only about developing skills, but also about asking questions, telling stories, and making meaning. She has kindly donated, on loan, some of her pieces to be exhibited within the XP and XPE community which will enrich the arts experience for the whole school; its staff, students, parents and our visitors. 

The buzz in classrooms following her sessions has been undeniable, and it’s clear her visit will leave a lasting impression on our budding artists.

“Michelle inspired our artwork in class. I enjoyed that we were able to express ourselves freely through the marks we made. I think it’s good to have authentic artwork around the school. I added XPs Character traits to my own work.” – Jensen E31

What a wonderful start to the year with C31. I’m looking forward to seeing how their work progresses!

Mrs Hudson

Year 7 XP: Immersed in History and Launching Their First Expedition

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!

C29/Y10 Silver DofE – Expression of Interest

Thank you to those who have already expressed your interest  for our Silver DofE. For those who have not yet responded, we’d love to hear from you. 

Your child has the opportunity to take part in the Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) this academic year. The Silver Award is a fantastic way for students to build independence, resilience, and teamwork skills, while enjoying memorable experiences with their peers.

Please take a moment to view the attached information slides which outline what the Silver Award involves. Once you’ve reviewed the details, we kindly ask you to complete the Expression of Interest form using the link below:

👉 Expression of Interest Form

We ask that this is completed by Friday 26th September 2025 so we can plan effectively for the programme.

Thank you for your continued support.

Emma Watson
XPD DofE Manager

Please see info slides

C29 New Silver DofE 25_26 –Download

Crew Irwin X31 – “I’ll be there for you! (When the rain starts to fall)”

What a fantastic first week back at XP! It’s been a week filled with reflection, teamwork, fresh air, and creativity – all rooted in our guiding question: “How can we support each other and act as role models?” Your children have returned with enthusiasm and maturity, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve started the new academic year.

Day 1 – Rebooting Crew & Setting Intentions

We began the week by rebooting our crew, revisiting our norms, and reminding ourselves of what it means to belong to a strong, supportive community. Each student took part in a reflective solo, considering what they want to achieve and experience during their time at XP. This quiet time gave them the space to think deeply and intentionally.

Students then wrote a letter or email to their future Year 11 selves – a powerful exercise in goal setting and self-belief. Alongside this, they made personal pledges to guide their actions this year, setting the tone for a purposeful start.

Day 2 – Fieldwork at Sandal Beat Woods

Our second day took us out into nature with fieldwork at Sandal Beat Woods, where students explored the idea of stewardship in action. They took part in orienteering, mini-beast hunting, conservation work, and survival skills.

A special shout-out goes to Olin, who was the only student to successfully light cotton wool using a flint and steel – a true survivalist! And Alfie went above and beyond in helping clear areas identified by the rangers, showing incredible dedication to caring for our environment.

Every student demonstrated respect, responsibility, and teamwork – true XP values in action.

Day 3 – Inter-crew challenges 

On Thursday the gloves were well and truly off when it was time to take on our inter crew challenges. Crew Irwind competitive streak shone through but I was incredibly proud of how all students conducted themselves throughout each task. The level of compassion, integrity and respect from all crew members was amazing to see. Activities included, heads down thumbs up, red light green light, extreme rock parer scissors, jigsaw races, skittle sort rounders and tower building.

Day 4 – Reflection, Creativity & Celebration

We used Thursday to slow things down a little and reflect on our experiences. Students created beautiful products for our crew wall, including:

  • Collaborative colouring pieces
  • A photo collage capturing moments from our week
  • Hand-crafted origami butterflies

These calming, creative activities allowed students to connect with each other in a different way and celebrate their achievements.

Later, we joined up with other XP crews to present our week in our Community Meeting. Our crew shared highlights, reflections, and examples of how they’ve already started being role models within our school.

This first week has set a strong foundation for the year ahead. Your children have already begun to show how they can support one another and lead by example – both within our crew and across the wider XP community.

Thank you for your continued support. We can’t wait to see how our pledges and reflections shape the rest of the term!

Mrs Barnes

Crew Brunel’s First Week in Year 9

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!

Miss Mitchell

Year 11 (C28): GCSE Information Evening (Save the Date!)

As our wonderful C28’s progress through their final year in school, there are a number of ways you can support their learning from home.

As such, we would like to invite all Y11 parents and students to our Y11 GCSE Information Evening at XP East on Wednesday, 10th September from 5-6pm. 

This evening will focus on providing information about exam layout/content, alongside information and guidance around the revision/work required for each exam and component. This was a really useful evening last year to ensure parents know how to best support our wonderful Y11s throughout their GCSEs. Subject leads and some teachers will also be around if you have any questions. 

We look forward to seeing you here!

[we are also aware that some students will be out completing their expedition for Silver DofE – parents/caregivers should still attend the GCSE evening].

Best wishes,

Y11 Team

X28 and Crew Darling starting the year off right!

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!

Year 11 First Day Back – Crew walk

Just a reminder that 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.

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.

It looks as though rain may be possible so please ensure that your children are appropriately dressed for the weather. All students will need a packed lunch.

The C28 Team

Crew Brunel: Reflecting on the End of Year 8

As Year 8 draws to a close, Crew Brunel can look back with pride on a journey that’s been anything but ordinary. It’s been a bumpy ride at times — full of ups and downs, new challenges, and moments of reflection. But through it all, the students of Crew Brunel have shown resilience, growth, and a developing sense of who they are.

This year has been about more than just lessons and work. It’s been a time for each student to start finding their place — not just in Crew Brunel, but within themselves. Whether navigating friendships, academic challenges, or personal growth, every student has taken steps forward.

We’ve taken part in several Student-Led Conferences (SLCs), Presentations of Learning (POLs), and reflective crew sessions, where our crew members stood up and reflected on their academic journeys with honesty and confidence. These moments gave us all the chance to celebrate progress and set fresh goals.

We also threw ourselves into whole-school events — Sports Day was full of energy, team spirit, and a healthy dose of competition. The XP Arts Festival, Brooke, Lily, Chloe, Livvy and Matilda took to the stage with amazing performances that made Crew Brunel beam with pride. Crew Drop Down Day was a highlight of ours, where we welcomed local police officers into school. They delivered powerful and informative talks about the dangers of knife and gun crime, the important role police dogs play in their work, and even gave us the chance to explore some of their equipment — including uniform, vehicles and protective gear. It was a valuable and eye-opening experience for everyone involved.

And of course, we’ve had some incredible achievements to celebrate within crew itself. A huge shout-out to Pippa, who continues to lead the way with a staggering 194 praise points this year! Her consistent effort and work ethic have set a shining example. And let’s not forget Ayden, who’s been named our Crew Champion. His commitment to improving and pushing himself this year has truly paid off — what a journey he’s been on!

As we step into the summer break, we do so with pride and hope. Year 9, here we come — stronger, wiser, and ready for whatever comes next. Well done, Crew Brunel!

Miss Mitchell