End of Term Update for Families: Friday 27th March

By Julie Mosley27th March 2026

Dear Families

Here we are at the end of another fantastic term at XP Gateshead and what a term it has been! 

G32 and G31 Presentations of Learning

Year 8 students presented their ‘What is Power?’ expedition at Caedmon Hall, Gateshead Central Library on Thursday. We were all blown away by the quality and depth of their understanding – performances of Macbeth intertwined with insights into the meaning of the word power in society, science, history, geography, music and art. 

Year 7 students delivered an outstanding PoL, which marked the culmination of a full term’s work across the Humanities and Arts subjects.

Year 7 have also culminated their expedition with the guiding question ‘Is Survival Sufficient?’ this week. Today they have delivered their food boxes to Edberts House to support families in need. A true act of compassion.

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Lego League Tournament

Congratulations to all of our Digital Leaders that competed in the Lego tournament today at Gateshead College Academy for Sport! Students were great ambassadors for the school and successfully navigated some very tricky robotics challenges.

G30 and G29 Presentations of Learning to come

I’m really looking forward to seeing G30 and G29 families at our upcoming PoLs at the start of the Summer Term. See below for details:

Year 9 – How can we continue to make progress on public health?

PoL on Wednesday 15th April in school from 2pm. This Presentation of Learning is in the form of a Public Health Conference, hosted by our students. Please note the earlier time for this.

Year 10 – Are we really free to choose?

PoL on Friday 17th April at Newcastle Sixth Form College after school. 

Students will be using the campus earlier as part of the preparation for the PoL and also as part of their continued preparation for Post-16. We will post a confirmation of the start time in a separate blog post.

I am sure that you will all agree that our students have continued to rise to the challenge – they continue to work hard, get smart and be kind on a daily basis producing beautiful work, developing their character to achieve academic success.

Thank you so much for your continued support. 

We look forward to seeing you after the holiday on Monday 13th April at the usual time where we will be starting on our next exciting expeditionary adventures.

Happy Easter from all the staff crew at XP Gateshead.

Julie Mosley

G28 Easter Revision Sessions

27th March 2026Martin Said

Thanks to all of the G28 families that have attended TSLCs over the last couple of days.

Students that are attending revision sessions over Easter will need to arrive for the start of the advertised times in the morning and/or afternoon as the reception desk will not be staffed throughout the day. Our kitchen staff are not working on these days so we advise for students to bring a packed lunch if necessary. Students will be permitted to leave the site between morning and afternoon sessions if they working across the full day, however this is just a thirty-minute break.

  AM (9.30am -12.00pm) PM (12.30pm – 3.00pm)
Monday 30th March Maths   
Tuesday 31st March Photography / Fine Art Photography / Fine Art
Wednesday 1st April History  English 
Thursday 2nd April iMedia – NEA practice iMedia – NEA practice
     
Tuesday 7th April Maths  Geography 
Wednesday 8th April History  English 
Thursday 9th April Science Foundation  Science Higher 
Friday 10th April Religious Studies  Religious Studies

As a new school, we continue to be grateful for the trust you invested in us over four years ago now. We are certain with your continued support alongside the hard work of your children and our staff that they will see every success. Together ‘We Are Crew’.

 

Sharing our Stories: 27/03/2026

27th March 2026Geoff Hewitt

Beautiful work this week

Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust!

To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.

Top of the Blogs

Year 3 and 4 Final Product @ Green Top

Revision in the sunshine @ Plover

Crew McLoughlin’s Non Chronological Reports @ Carcroft School

Another amazing week in PE @ XP

Double, Double, No Toil or Trouble: G31 Nailed It! @ XP Gateshead

Easter Traditions @ Norton Infants

Crew Rosa Parkes – Well done! @ XP East

Share your stories with us!

We now have a new dedicated news email so that you can send your stories, updates or ideas about potential news articles directly to us in Comms.

It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!

Northumbria Police – Letter

By XP Gateshead Office26th March 2026

Following incidents of anti-social behaviour in our local area, Northumbria Police have asked us to share the letter below:

Double, Double, No Toil or Trouble: G31 Nailed It!

26th March 2026Emmy Tatters

We would like to congratulate G31 for their stunning production of Macbeth. As the culmination of our recent expedition, “What is Power?”, our students didn’t just perform Shakespeare; they explored historical forms of protest, the power of the earth to create great destruction, the power of art to send political messages and the power of music to unite us all.

At XP, we believe that Presentations of Learning are more than just the end of an expedition; they hold immense power for our students. They are a transformative rite of passage that reminds us of the words of Kurt Hahn: “There is more in us than we know.” When we push our students into the “stretch zone” of public performance, they discover reservoirs of confidence, resilience, and talent they never knew they possessed. This production was a vivid testament to that growth.

Along with presentations of learning, creating work that is beautiful, high quality and public also sends a powerful message to our students that their work, and by extension, they, matter. The students were also able to use their voice to decide how their art would be used as a form of activism; to raise money for their crew charities.

The student re-imagining of Patti Smith’s song, with all of G31 on backing vocals and our rock bands on lead vocals and instruments is also a beautiful piece of work, recorded at Blank Studios in Newcastle.

Please support us in teaching our students that their art matters and is a powerful vehicle for change by downloading the song and sharing with family and friends and via your social media channels.

https://xpgateshead.bandcamp.com/track/people-have-the-power

Thank you for your ongoing support of all we do at XP; it is a pleasure to watch the students continue on their journey to becoming the best versions of themselves.

Fantastic POL for G32

By Michelle Ross26th March 2026

We would like to congratulate all G32 students for delivering an outstanding Presentation of Learning, which marked the culmination of a full term’s work across the Humanities and Arts subjects.

Our Learning Expedition, “Do Your Bit,” explored the guiding question: “Why should we honour ALL those who sacrificed during WW1?” Throughout the term, students demonstrated commitment, curiosity and thoughtful reflection as they engaged with this important theme. Their presentations clearly showcased the depth of learning that has taken place and the care taken in preparing to share their work with others.

We are extremely proud of the work of both our staff and students in ensuring that our study of history reflects our curriculum focus of cultivating diversity and belonging. By exploring the experiences of individuals and groups whose voices have often been overlooked, our students have helped to ensure that the story of the First World War is told in a fuller and more inclusive way.

Educationalist, friend and advocate of XP, Ron Berger, highlights the importance of students sharing their learning with others, noting that “when students present their work to an authentic audience, the work matters more and the learning goes deeper.” Opportunities such as our Presentation of Learning help students to strengthen their understanding while also developing confidence and pride in their work.

We would also like to thank all the families who joined the live stream of the presentation. Your support means a great deal to our students, who are always excited to share their learning. As a school, we truly value the partnership with our families in helping students recognise the purpose and value of their work.

If you were unable to watch the presentation live, you can still view it by clicking on this link  as the stream records automatically as it is broadcast.

We hope the presentation provided new insights into World War One and highlighted stories that may not always appear in traditional history accounts.

We’re looking for an English Teacher at XP Gateshead!

25th March 2026Geoff Hewitt

“If I were to make a list of the best schools in the world, XP would be on that list.”, Ron Berger, Chief Academic Officer of Expeditionary Learning, a network of over 160 schools in the USA.

If you are a teacher looking for a model of schooling that dares to break the mould, and has English, the Humanities and rich texts as the backbone of a multi-disciplinary curriculum,  then this might just be for you.

XP Gateshead is a new mainstream 11-16 Secondary School that opened in August 2021. We are a deliberately sized school with each year having 50 students. For the first time this year we now have 250 students in years 7-11.

We are looking for great people who want to become even better to join our school.

We are looking to recruit an English teacher to join our HUMAN team at the newest of our extraordinary schools. As part of that team you would teach through cross-curricular learning expeditions which combine disciplines to answer important guiding questions on matters of social justice, protecting our planet and cultivating diversity & belonging.

You could join our team at the newest of our extraordinary schools: XP Gateshead.  Our rigorous 3-D approach develops activism, leadership and equity in our students by creating beautiful work, which develops character and ensures that our children achieve academic success. As a part of our team you would also be a Crew Leader for 12-13 students. 

We will consider applicants at all stages of their teaching careers. Each year we put together phase teams and draw from the experience of our staff. With this in mind there are potential leadership opportunities in addition to this teaching role. You can read our recent Ofsted report here.

We believe a person is judged by their character and the quality of work they produce.. Through our cross-curricular learning expeditions students study and address important guiding questions, making connections between disciplines and across time. Our students are published authors, having created a local history book; they are published podcasters having created a podcast about forgotten voices of war; they are changing our community for the better having hosted a public health conference with a motion that demanded that we learn from the past.  Our students learn that they are important because they can do work that matters.

This role is based at our school in Gateshead. There are seven other schools in our Trust which are based in Doncaster. You would also work closely with colleagues from across our Trust, particularly in your subject area. There is an extensive induction process when joining our Trust.

XP Gateshead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and the successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced check via the Disclosure and Barring Service .

If you would like any further information please contact us by email at [email protected] or by telephone on 0191 481 4360.

There will be an opportunity to look around the school and meet leaders on Thursday 16th April at 4:30pm or Monday 20th April at 5:00pm. Please contact our office using the details above if you would like to attend this evening.

To find out more and apply for the role, click here: https://xptrust.org/xp-gateshead-english-teacher-2/

G32 Presentation of Learning – Live Stream – Do your Bit

By Michelle Ross25th March 2026

G32 students will remain in school to complete their POL and may leave once it has finished.

The live stream will begin at 4:30 pm, and the presentation is expected to last approximately one hour.

Students who make their own way home will be dismissed as soon as it is finished whilst those who are being collected afterwards may wait in school until their parents arrive. We appreciate that many parents will wish to watch the presentation before travelling to collect their child.

Below is the link (to click on at 4:30pm) for G32’s Presentation of Learning this evening for their learning expedition: ‘Do your bit’. Enjoy

G28 Easter Revision Timetable 2026

25th March 2026Darren Mead

Dear Families,

As we approach the Easter break, our focus is on supporting our G28 students as they enter the “final push” toward their GCSE examinations in May.

To help our students feel fully prepared and confident, we are running a series of dedicated revision sessions over the holidays. These sessions are designed to help students consolidate their learning and ensure they are ready to produce their best possible work during the exam period. It is not our expectation that all students attend all sessions, however students are welcome and in some instances will be directed. Sessions will run from 9.30 – 12.00 in the morning and 12.30- 15.00 in the afternoon.

G28 Easter Revision Timetable 2026

The following sessions will be led by staff to provide focused support:

AM (9.30 -12)PM (12.30- 3)
Monday 30th MarchMaths 
Tuesday 31st MarchPhotography / Fine ArtPhotography / Fine Art
Wednesday 1st AprilHistory English 
Thursday 2nd ApriliMedia – NEA practiceiMedia – NEA practice
Tuesday 7th AprilMaths Geography 
Wednesday 8th AprilHistory English 
Thursday 9th AprilScience Foundation Science Higher 
Friday 10th AprilReligious Studies Religious Studies

Action Required: Session Sign-Up

To ensure we have accurate registers and can maintain student safety on site, we require families to confirm attendance in advance.

Please complete this [Link to Google Form] to let us know which sessions your child will be attending.

As discussed during our recent TSLCs, we want our students to strike the right balance between productive revision and well-earned rest over the break. We appreciate your ongoing support in helping G28 step up to this challenge so they can head into the summer feeling proud of their efforts.

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s Crew Leader in the first instance.

Thank you as always,

G28 Crew Leaders

G31 – People have the power – Downloadable charity music track

By Joe Allan25th March 2026

Here is the link to download G31’s recording: ‘People have the power’.

https://xpgateshead.bandcamp.com/track/people-have-the-power

This is a re-imagining of Patti Smith’s song, with all of G31 on backing vocals and our rock bands on lead vocals and instruments.

The track was recorded at Blank Studios in Newcastle.

All proceeds from the downloads will be shared between G31’s chosen charities, so please share this far and wide with family and friends: