XP Gateshead

Dear Families

I say it every week, but last week was definitely a record in terms of many moving parts in a school week. A week full of purposeful learning experiences for our students which only happens on the back of the hard work, craftsmanship and quality of the staff who work here. Starting a school, building as we go demands a staff crew who are fully committed to our school and every week go to great lengths to plan purposeful experiences for our children. The breadth of activities that we post in these weekly updates is testament to the hard work of our Staff Crew and their commitment to our approach. Children and staff alike, we are lucky to be part of something so special, but also must recognise what makes our school so special are the people. A school is not a building, a school is a community of children, families and staff. Every week we are thankful for the trust places in us by you, our families, and for the beautiful work that happens week in – week out:

“To start a school is to proclaim what it means to be human”

Tom James – EL Education

G31

On Tuesday 11th February, our Year 7 students visited the  Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha in Newcastle to find out more about Sikhi and how temples operate as part of their expedition ‘Do your bit’. Our students had a fantastic experience which included an Indian classical music lesson, learning about Langar and working in the kitchen to prepare Langar for lunch and a meditation session. We are extremely grateful to our friends at the Gurdwara for giving their time and allowing our students the opportunity to learn more about Sikhi. Our Year 7 students were described as phenomenal, and showed great respect throughout the day.

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G30

Year 8 students continued their work with Design Lab Nation this week, working at Orbis Studios and looking at Gateshead High Street to consider their current brief – to create art using waste materials in response to the shift in power between larger companies and independent companies as exemplified in the growth of out of town shopping and continued decline of the high street. Students enjoyed another day of creativity and construction.

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G29

On Friday 14th February, our Year 9 students conducted local Geography fieldwork to explore the question: Why are there variations in life expectancy in Gateshead? This fieldwork enhanced their understanding of Census data, giving them the opportunity to gather primary data through firsthand observations and surveys. This is a fieldwork that takes place outside for the whole day and students walk over 7 miles. This, as you can imagine, is a real challenge on a cold day, but our Year 9 were amazing and staff shared praise for their maturity, resilience and positive approach to learning. 

G28

It was another first for XPG this week with Teacher Student Led Conferences (TSLCs) after school on Monday and Tuesday. As always, our Year 10 students stepped up to the challenge and sat alongside their subject teachers presenting their learning and plans for improvement in each subject area. 

The week ahead

G31 working in the kitchen

Connected to their studies of nutrition and digestion in science, some Year 7 students will work in the kitchen this week learning to prepare a tomato sauce recipe which can then become a base for many other dishes. This is in preparation for the final product where students will put together food packages to be donated to families in need through our partners Edberts House.

More details on which children are in the kitchen this week can be found here.

G30 expert in school 

On Monday as part of their current expedition with the guiding question: ‘What is power?’, our Year 8 students will continue their work to create an abridged performance of Macbeth in drama sessions. They will be developing their physical, vocal, characterisation and directorial skills alongside an expert, Actress and Writer Christina Berriman Dawson.

LEGO League Digital Leaders

Our LEGO league team will be travelling to RGS school for training in Newcastle on Tuesday this week.They will walk to Heworth at 8.30am and then travel onwards by metro. The forecast is very cold with a chance of snow, so please make sure that as well as a packed lunch and full kit, that students are well wrapped up with plenty of layers and a waterproof coat. Students taking part are: G28 Ethan B. Charlie DJ, Evan R and G30 James T.

G29 vaccinations

The next immunisation programme for school aged children is the Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (Td/IPV) and Meningitis ACWY (MenACWY) campaign. This is for YEAR 9. This session will happen in school on Wednesday 19th February.

G29 Fieldwork – Library Archive Newcastle University, Thursday 20th February

G29 will travel by foot to Heworth and then by Metro to Newcastle University to carry out fieldwork connected to their guiding question “How can we continue to make progress on public heath?’

They will spend part of the day in the University Library looking at the special collection in the archives with extremely high quality historical sources in cluding contemporary data and first editions of texts referring to previous epidemics from the past going back centuries.

They will also return to the Hatton Gallery to carry out a workshop on anatomical drawings, building on their work in Year 8 as part of their Being Human expedition. Students will be back at school for around the regular time of 15.15 – 15.30. If there are any delays on the metro we will let you know via our website.

The forecast is for the weather to turn more mild (around 12 – 13ºC) on Thursday however there is still a chance of rain. Students need to bring a packed lunch, as well as regular full kit and be dressed appropriately for the weather.

PE sessions this week

In line with our dress code, we expect students to arrive at PE lessons with a change of kit which is appropriate for the activity and all accessories removed. This includes sports trainers with non-slip soles e.g. running shoes/astro turf (not plimsolls). 

Our PE sessions this week are as follows:

• G30 students (Y8) have PE on Monday this week
• G31 students (Y7)
  • G31 Class 1 students have PE on Tuesday
  • G31 Class 2 students have PE on Wednesday
• G28 students (Y10) have PE on Thursday.

Clubs and Extended Study

We will be running all after school clubs and extended study this week. 

Early closure this Friday 21st February

Don’t forget that school finishes at the earlier time of 1.30pm this Friday. This is to allow us time to “degunge” and set up for the next half term. Please make arrangements to pick up your children at the school gate for 1.30pm this Friday. As always, please be conscientious of our neighbours if parking as it is always very busy when students all leave school at the same time. We return to school on Monday 3rd March 2025. 

Dates to note

Passage Presentations – Mon 17th and Tue 18th March

A reminder that Passage Presentations for G29 are taking place on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th March. More info on how to indicate a preferred slot can be found here. 

As usual if you have any questions please contact your child’s crew leader in the first instance. Thank you as always for your ongoing support.

Julie Mosley

Principal

Dear Families

It has been a busy week as usual at XP Gateshead this week and as always, our students step up to the challenge making the words of Kurt Hahn become more real each day

“There is more in us than we know if we could be made to see it;, for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less.”

G31

Our year 7 students have had the privilege of working online with expert Rav Singh, the founder of ‘A little History of the Sikhs’ in their Human session this week. Rav worked with our students on their current HUMAN expedition exploring the guiding question: ‘Why do we need to honour all those who made sacrifices during WWI?’, helping students to understand the experience of Sikhi soldiers and their contribution during WW1. 

G31 SLCs continued last week and our Year 7 Crew Leaders have been full of praise for the courage students have shown in their first SLC and the high quality of their work and presentation. Our students have definitely set the bar high.

G30

On Monday I had the pleasure of joining Class 1 fieldwork to the V&A in London who, like Class 2 worked with artists on their Design challenge ‘High Street, My Street’. It is a great brief which ties into their current expedition and guiding question, ‘What is Power?’. Students have been asking where power lies in art & design, especially looking at the impact on larger brands and retailers and the changes which have taken place on our high streets over time.

The conduct of G30 has been exemplary on this fieldwork and it has been a real joy to spend time with year 8 enjoying the magnificent V&A and see them work with artists outside of XPG.

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G30 SLCs also continued last week and it was great to hear from both parents and students about the step up made in SLCs since Year 7 and the growing confidence and maturity shown in presentations.

G29

Work on passage preparation is underway for Year 9 students. Having considered metaphors for their time at XPG, students are currently reflecting on their progress as writers, mathematicians and artists using evidence from their portfolios across Year 7 and Year 8. Students have also been considering the learning journey they have been on at XPG their character development.

We will share a booking system with you tomorrow where you can indicate which time slots would work best for you as a family. There will be slots during the day on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th March and some limited slots after school on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th March.

G28

Our Year 10 students have been reflecting on their progress and targets in each subject area in readiness for next week’s Teacher Students Learning Conference (TSLC). Students will sit alongside their subject teachers to present their learning and share their revision plans and readiness for KS4 exams. Students have been making 5 minute appointments with staff and all parents should now have appointments with all subjects.

Please see the website post for more details. 

Winning ways

A final highlight to share from last week is a football success. Mr Devitt took a team of Y9 and Y10 students to compete with another Gateshead secondary school on Thursday and XPG came away with their first win! As a small school, it is always a challenge competing with other schools in team sports and we always remind our students that taking part, displaying XP character values and enjoying the game is more important than winning. 

The week ahead

National Apprenticeship Week

This week is National Apprenticeship Week. Over the week we will provide students with more information about possible routes into careers through apprenticeships at a range of levels, from intermediate through to degree level. This will include testimony from existing apprentices.

Safer Internet Day

It is Safer Internet Day on Tuesday this week. The focus for this year is when things seem ‘too good to be true’, in particular teaching our children the signs that they are potentially being exploited or scammed.

G31 Gurdwara Fieldwork – Tuesday 11th February 

On Tuesday 11th February our Year 7 students will visit the  Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha in Newcastle to find out more about Sikhi and how temples operate as part of their expedition ‘Do your bit’. Please see the website post for more detailed arrangements.

G30 Design Challenge Fieldwork – Tuesday 11th February (Class 2) and Thursday 13th February (Class 1) 

Our work with the Shipley Art Gallery, V&A Museum and Design Lab Nation continues this week.  Our students will work at Orbis studios which will give them an opportunity to look at Gateshead High Street and start to consider their response to their brief. Students have been challenged to create art using waste materials in response to the shift in power between larger companies and independent companies as exemplified in the growth of out of town shopping and continued decline of the high street in most places in England.

See this website post for more details.

G29 Fieldwork – Friday 14th February 

On Friday 14th February, students will be conducting fieldwork to explore the question: Why are there variations in life expectancy in Gateshead? Our students have already analysed secondary data from the national census and this fieldwork will enhance their understanding by gathering primary data through firsthand observations and surveys. Please see the website post for more detailed arrangements.

PE this week

• G31 (Year 7)
  • Both classes have PE on Wednesday this week.
• G30 (Year 8)
  • Class 1 have PE on Tuesday this week.
  • Class 2 have PE on Thursday this week
• G29 (Year 9)
  • Both classes have PE on Thursday this week.
• G28 (Year 10)
  • Both classes have PE on Thursday this week.

In line with our dress code, we expect students to arrive at PE lessons with a change of kit which is appropriate for the activity and all accessories removed. This includes sports trainers with non slip soles e.g. running shoes/astro turf (not plimsolls). Please ensure that your child has a full PE kit. 

Clubs and Extended Study

We will be running all after school clubs and extended study this week. 

Dates to note – holiday dates

Please note that our dates do not always fully align to other Gateshead schools. 

We do not authorise students to take holidays during our school term times. 

Spring half-term break

• Starts Friday 21st February. We return to school on Monday 3rd March 2025. 

Easter Holidays

• We break up for Easter holidays Friday 28th March and return to school on Monday 14th April 2025. Please note that the bank holiday weekend of Good Friday 18th April and Easter Monday 21st April are outside of our two week break. See 2024/25 Calendar.

As usual if you have any questions please contact your child’s crew leader in the first instance. Thank you as always for your ongoing support.

Julie Mosley

Principal