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X31 Admiral used their knowledge of ratio to sketch themselves in the style of the Vitruvian Man after measuring their heads and bodies. They also discussed how this linked to their expedition and how we can further improve their sketches throughout the topic of proportion and scale.
The whole class showed amazing teamwork, integrity, respect and craftsmanship and quality in their work.
Mrs Barnes
We’re thrilled to invite you to C29’s Presentation of Learning on Monday 8th December, 4:00–5:30pm.
This special event is a chance for our students to showcase the beautiful work they’ve created during their expedition, as well as the acts of kindness they’ve carried out along the way. It promises to be an afternoon filled with creativity, compassion, and community spirit.
The POL promises to be a festive celebration, filled with inspiring stories of learning and kindness, a vibrant showcase of student work, and plenty of holiday cheer to kick off the season.
So, dust off your Christmas jumper, pop some bells on, and join us for an afternoon of joy and celebration. Let’s come together to recognise the hard work, generosity, and festive spirit of C29.
Date: Monday 8th December
Time: 4:00 – 5:30pm
Location: XP School
Dress code: Christmas jumpers encouraged – the more festive, the better!
We can’t wait to see you there!
C29 team
Crew Attenborough – First Week Back Adventure!
What a fantastic start to the new term for Crew Attenborough! This week, we laced up our trainers and headed out on the scenic Monsal Trail in Sheffield for a full school day of adventure, fresh air, and teamwork.
The highlight of the day had to be trialling the very first XP Colour Run – a burst of colour, laughter, and energy that left everyone smiling (and very messy!). It was amazing to see the crew cheering each other on, pushing through the challenge, and celebrating at the finish line in a cloud of bright colours.
To balance the excitement, we also spent time practising some mindfulness activities. It was the perfect chance to slow down, reflect, and appreciate the beautiful surroundings before heading back to school.
It was a brilliant day to reconnect as a crew, kick off the year with positivity, and make some unforgettable memories together.
Year 7 have kicked off exploring their first case study, Raiders and Rulers! This has taken them back to 1066, a year that changed the course of British history.
In English, they’ve been exploring the themes of love and conflict in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, discovering how Shakespeare’s ideas still connect with us today. Alongside this, in History students have been debating who had the strongest claim to the throne: Harold, William, Hardrada, or Edgar.
We are super impressed with the HOWLS being displayed in Year 7. Take a look at some of their beautiful work below!
This week in Crew Brunel we’ve enjoyed a mix of teamwork, reflection, and celebration. We refreshed our crew photos so staff can easily identify us, and created a playlist full of songs we love – a fun way to share more about ourselves. We also spent time reading individually, progressing with our own books, and worked in groups to take detailed notes during our Wise Wednesday session.
Towards the end of the week, we reflected on our praises and conducts. A huge well done to Elliot and David, who have achieved a no-conduct week again – an excellent start to Year 9 for the two, and a clear sign of the fantastic progress they’re both making. Crew Brunel are very proud of you both! We rounded things off with our whole-school Community Meeting, sharing appreciations, apologies, and stands, and celebrating what makes our school community so strong.
Crew Brunel continues to impress with positivity, focus, and teamwork – a great way to begin the year!
Miss Mitchell
Please find attached a letter regarding recent events and social media.
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
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:
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!
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:
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
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.
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.
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.
We used Thursday to slow things down a little and reflect on our experiences. Students created beautiful products for our crew wall, including:
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
