The fieldwork today is a little delayed, students have recently arrived at Heworth Metro and should be back in school within the next ten minutes.
Expression of Interest for Invigilators at XPG
As our first exam season approaches at XP Gateshead, we are looking for people interested in working as invigilators during this important milestone. At XP, we believe in ‘beautiful work’ – work that shows craftsmanship and integrity – and exams are a crucial part of this. Our students have worked hard over many years to reach this point, and we are seeking calm, supportive adults who can help create the conditions for them to demonstrate their very best. If you would like to play a part in this moment for our young people, we would love to hear from you via our expression of interest form.
This is a reminder that G32 are carrying out religion and worldviews fieldwork at the Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha in Newcastle on this Thursday 12th February. Please see full post here for further information.
Students should arrive for school on Thursday, as usual, before 8.25am.
We will be travelling to the Gurdwara by metro from Heworth, leaving school at 9:00am and returning by 3:15pm.
It’s essential to remind our students that they need to be dressed modestly, which in terms of going into the Gurdwara, means shoulders and knees covered so no shorts or vest tops to be worn please. Additionally, as a mark of respect, and as is the case in many different religious buildings, students will need to cover their heads when in the Gurdwara – if they have their own bandana or thin headscarf to do this they can use that, otherwise they will be provided with one (which has been freshly laundered) on arrival at the Gurdwara.
Hats and hoods are not an appropriate or acceptable head covering inside the Gurdwara.
If you have any questions about this fieldwork, please contact your child’s Crew Leader.
This is a reminder for families of G31 about fieldwork taking place on Wednesday. The full post and details can be seen here.
Students need full kit with waterproof coat and sensible walking shoes. Families also need to complete photo and evaluation permissions before the even (links to these forms can be found on the full post).
Any questions please contact Miss Jamison.
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.”
On Monday our year 7 students worked in the kitchen with experts from Nourish as part of their current STEAM expedition exploring the guiding question: ‘Is survival sufficient?’
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.
G32 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.
G31 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.
This week G29 students spent time with experts from Northumbria University who discussed the Business School and routes into that pathway. Our Year 10 students are also reflecting on their progress and targets in each subject area in readiness for their Teacher Students Learning Conference (TSLC) which takes place Tuesday 17th February. 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. Please check that your child now has appointments with teachers for all subjects.
Mock exams have continued for our Year 11 students and G28 have continued with their great attitude in terms of maturity, resilience, determination and support for each other. We are really proud of the way G28 lead the way in school and are great role models for our younger students.
G30 Passage Presentation Slots
Work on passage preparation is well underway for G30 students and they are really starting to step up to this challenge. It has been great to read many early drafts of scripts and already, the integrity of reflection and the care they are giving to this work is impressive. 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.
There will be slots during the day on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th March and some limited slots after school on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th March. Can all G30 families please complete this form to indicate your preference for a slot. We will do our best to accommodate as many first preferences as possible.
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.
Children’s Mental Health Week
This week is also Children’s Mental Health Week with the official theme ‘This is My Place’. We know that our sense of belonging as individuals, in our friendships, in school, and in communities plays a vital role in our mental health and wellbeing. To know our place and really feel part of our environment is a basic human need. It can have powerful and long-lasting impacts in lots of areas of our lives, including our physical and mental health, education, employment and relationships. When we feel that we belong, it empowers us to contribute to the world and make a real difference
This week, in crew sessions, we will look at how peers, families, schools and communities can create inclusive and nurturing environments, where children and young people feel they belong and can say “This is My Place”.
Safer Internet Day
It is Safer Internet Day on Tuesday this week. The focus for this year is ‘Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI’. We will be exploring this issue with students across sessions on Tuesday.
Here are some useful Top Tips for Parents and Carers and Top Tips for Young People (across three age ranges) from the UK Safer Internet Centre.
G31 Fieldwork – Wednesday 11th February
On Wednesday 11th February, Year 8 students are visiting The Great North Museum for a series of talks and workshops to learn about careers and opportunities in Geography and Science. This event is for all of Year 8. Please see the website post for more details.
G32 Fieldwork – Thursday 12th February
On Thursday 12th 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.
PE this week
- For G32 students (Y7)
- G32 Class 1 students have PE on Monday
- G32 Class 2 students have PE on Wednesday
- G31 students (Y8) have PE on Tuesday
- G30 students (Y9) have PE on Thursday
- G29 students (Y10) and G28 students (Y11) have PE on Monday
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.
Dates to note – holiday dates
Please check dates carefully as they do not always fully align to other Gateshead schools.
We do not authorise students to take holidays during our school term times.
|
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
We are about to reach a really important moment in the growth of your child, as Year 9 will carry out their Passage Presentations to prove their readiness for GCSE studies.
Passage presentations with portfolios require and empower students to take the lead role in their own learning, building the dispositions and skills they will need to succeed in the next stages in education or training or in life.
Creating a portfolio and sharing it with a caring but critical audience is a powerful rite of passage for our students.
Passage Presentations last one hour. As family panellists you will listen to your child’s presentation, use rubrics to discuss the quality of the presentation with the other panellists, and then give feedback to the student.
Please use this form to indicate which slots would be your preference for booking a Passage Presentation time for your child.
Sharing our Stories: 06/02/2026
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
Crew Brunel: Final Prep Push @ XP
Weekly Update for Families @ XP Gateshead
Navigating our way to a secret message! @ Norton Infants
Year 9 DofE Skills Session @ XP East
Share your stories with us!
Write to us at [email protected] – we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!
Magic Breakfast Competition
On Friday 30th January, we were delighted to welcome Lynsey from Magic Breakfast to our school. Lynsey was hugely impressed by both our breakfast provision and, most importantly, our incredible XP Gateshead students.
She shared her praise after touring the school:
“The students were fantastic and, during my tour, I was blown away by the work and effort the students had put in. Amazing!”
A special thank you goes to G30, who proudly host our Breakfast Club as part of their Duke of Edinburgh charity work. Their professionalism shone through in the fantastic ambassador tour they delivered for Lynsey.
To build on the visit, Lynsey set the students an exciting challenge: to design a poster advertising our Breakfast Club. This challenge has now become a whole-school competition, with a tasty family hamper up for grabs!
Posters must include:
– Location: H11
– Time: 8:00am – 8:25am
– What’s on offer: bagels, toast, and cereal
We are looking for posters that demonstrate excellent craftsmanship and quality.
Competition deadline: 5th March
We can’t wait to see the fantastic designs our students produce!
Good morning
Today G29 students will activate their account in CareerThread – which is the app that will be used to manage their work placements.
Work placements should take place in the week commencing Monday 11th May, ideally over the full five days.
Families should have received a greeting email from CareerThread. There is no need to take further actions in the CareerThread app at this point – however please do continue to talk to you child about organising their placement. If you have not received this within your family, please contact Mr Said: [email protected]
Students will today also be given a template letter which they can share with prospective employers.
Once students have confirmation of a placement, they will then be able to create their placement in the CareerThread app. They will be shown how to do this today.
G31 Fieldwork Next Week: Wednesday 11th February, Photo Permissions Required
Next week on Wednesday 11th February, Year 8 students have the opportunity to visit The Great North Museum for a series of talks and workshops to learn about careers and opportunities in Geography and Science. This event is for all of Year 8.
The event facilitators have requested photo and evaluation permissions from families of students attending. Please can families complete the two forms linked below to make your permissions on this clear:
- Child Photo & Video Consent Form (Under 18s) – Fill in form
- Environmental Careers Day, information and consent – Fill in form
Students will travel on foot to Heworth Station then via Metro to The Great North Museum. We anticipate that we will arrive back to school close to the usual end of the school day at 3.15pm, but we will update families via the website if there are any changes or delays.
Usual fieldwork kit is required for this visit, including full school stationery and iPad, as well as: A waterproof coat, sensible walking shoes (no crocs) ,and a filled water bottle. Lunch is provided for free at this event, however if students are more comfortable with a packed lunch from home this is okay.