Find out more and apply to #JoinOurCrew! https://xptrust.org/xp-doncaster-teacher-of-geography-expeditions/
We’re looking for a Geography and Expedition Teacher at XP Doncaster!
Dear Families
Another week of great work at XP Gateshead, even though we only had 4 days in school!
Last week there was a lot of hard work from staff and students alike at XP Gateshead. Character growth alongside academic progress and beautiful work is at the core of our ‘Three Dimensional’ approach for students, staff and leadership, including governance.
The Importance of Crew at XP Trust
Our design principles at XP Trust are summarised in one sentence:
We build our community through activism, leadership and equity, sharing our stories as we go.
Crew is integral to our school’s approach and has been designed with the above in mind as is articulated in our core practices document:
“The cultural heart of XP is expressed through the concept of Crew. This concept is pervasive and runs through everything we do from dedicated Crew sessions, through our curriculum, to the way we enable student and staff voice. Crew is our culture and promotes and sustains the building of community. Crew empowers our students and staff to be activists; to develop their leadership skills; and to be champions of equity. The measure of success in our Trust is weighed through service and kindness as well as the academic success of our children. Crew allows everyone associated with our Trust to become part of something bigger than themselves and fosters a sense of community and belonging, reflected in the stories we share with each other every day.”
If we get crew right, we get everything right!
Our Crew Days each half term give us a chance to revisit character development. They allow us to take time to reaffirm the importance of Crew, building positive relationships through shared experiences and challenges. Students at XPG are ‘Crew not passengers’ and it is vital that we continue to build our crews and culture strong as this is the bedrock of our work at XPG.
On Friday students across Y7, 8, 9 and 10 spent time together revisiting the importance of crew, taking time to tend to, challenge and build crew with a different focus for each year group. Our Y11 students will get a chance for their final crew day before the half term.
G32 Crew Day – Walk for Water
G32 Crews carried out a day of fundraising on Friday completing the Walk for Water challenge linked to their studies from the last learning expedition “Staying Alive”. Across the day, many students walked the equivalent of approximately 10 miles, carrying 5-litre bottles of water around repeated 170-metre laps of the school yard. Each crew worked together to carry five 5-litre bottles for the entire course, taking turns and supporting one another every step of the way. For more details, see the website post.
There is still time to donate – please click on this link if you would like to do so. Thank you to everyone who donated, encouraged and cheered our students on today. They should all feel immensely proud of what they have achieved.
G31 Crew Day
As our Year 8 students develop and mature, we challenge them to get stronger together developing their leadership skills and charity work. Throughout the day they prepared for charity bake sales in school this week, and then in the afternoon worked together as crews to create natural art in Windy Nook Nature Reserve. If you take a walk through there, you will see our students’ work before nature reclaims it over the coming months.
G30 Crew Day
On Friday our Year 9 students worked in Crews exploring the Windy Nook Green Corridor to answer the question: “What is our relationship with the species on our doorstep in the local green corridor?” The day combined an ecological survey, environmental stewardship, and navigational challenges.
Across this year G30 students have had additional crew sessions learning new skills, volunteering and getting physical. Our curriculum at XPG is set up to develop the skills and attitudes young people need to become more rounded, confident adults. Qualities that colleges, universities and employers are attracted to and will not only strengthen the character of our students, but will strengthen their CVs too.
G29 Crew Day
Crew Day for our Year 10 was all about getting ready for their work experience placements taking place this week.
Our students enjoyed a morning session with the great Alfie Joey (writer, comic, artist/cartoonist and BBC Radio Presenter) who talked about the power of public speaking and how best to present yourself in new situations.
Following their morning keynote, students spent the day preparing themselves for the world of work. In anticipation of work experience starting next week, students spent time discussing and researching workplace norms and participating in roleplay to familiarise themselves with employment situations. They took responsibility for contacting their new temporary employers to confirm and finalise details of their placements.
A game of rounders at the end of the day gave students the chance to enjoy time together in their crews.
We also saw a pancake party for Crew Attenborough to celebrate Sir David’s 100th birthday and a home-made pizza party in Crew Stanton (G28).
This week
G28 GCSE exams
This week our Y11 students face a full week of GCSE exams:
- Monday 11th May English Literature component 1 (Romeo & Juliet, Poetry)(am)
- Tuesday 12th May Religious Studies Paper 1 (am), Science – Biology (pm)
- Wednesday 13th May Geography Paper 1 (am)
- Thursday 14th May Mathematics Paper 1 (am)
- Friday 15th May History Paper 1 (am)
A huge thank you to staff and students alike for their hard work and the support they have shown each other. I know that our students have really appreciated the staff support and the timetable changes in place to allow focused revision sessions prior to exams.
Good luck to all of G28 – you have got this!
G29 Work Experience
This week the majority of our Y10 students are on work placements.
This is an important rite of passage for our students and we wish them every success. We would like to thank the families and organisations that are supporting our students this week too.
If there are any queries about your child’s placement please call the school office or email Mr Said [email protected]
Students that have not yet secured placements, or have placements in different weeks must attend school as normal for the week. Tomorrow students will be carrying out media production training with Mr Hewitt which will support their studies in the current Year 10 HUMAN expedition. Following this there are a range of activities across the rest of the week.
G32 and G31 Student Led Conferences (SLCs)
SLCs start for our Year 7 and 8 students and their families this week. Students have worked hard to prepare for their conference, preparing to share their recent work, evidence of work around the pledges they have shared and responses to the questions parents and carers have asked to be addressed in the conference. Please can I remind all families that SLCs, like PoLs, are key moments in the development of our students and it is vital that parents, carers and families fully support SLCs.
You should already have received an email from your child with an updated snapshot and a link to ask questions of them in advance of the SLC. Here is that link if your child has not yet sent that on to you. You will also receive a link to sign up for a time slot from your child’s Crew Leader. Please contact [email protected] if you do not receive this.
PE sessions this week
Our PE sessions this week are as follows. There are some changes due to exams so check the days carefully. Please ensure that your child has their full PE kit.
- G32 students (Y7)
- Class 1 have PE on Thursday this week
- Class 2 have PE on Wednesday this week
- G31 students (Y8) have PE on Tuesday this week
- G30 students (Y9) have PE on Monday this week
- G28 students (Y11) have PE on Monday this week
Extended Study and Clubs
Extended study and after school clubs will not be running this week due to exams and G32, G31 Student led Conferences.
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
Today, our Year 7 students demonstrated extraordinary courage, resilience and craftsmanship and quality as they completed the Walk for Water challenge. Across the day, many students walked the equivalent of approximately 10 miles, carrying 5-litre bottles of water around repeated 170-metre laps of the school yard. Each crew worked together to carry five 5-litre bottles for the entire course, taking turns and supporting one another every step of the way.
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We could not be prouder of the attitude, empathy and determination shown by our youngest students. Through this experience, they reflected on the daily reality faced by millions of people around the world who must walk long distances to collect water for their families—water that is often unsafe, but all that is available to them. Students also recognised the privilege we have of being able to turn on a tap and access clean water whenever we need it.
Today’s efforts build on the incredible fundraising work of older students in previous years, bringing us closer to our goal of funding a water well for a village in Africa. This life-changing project is only possible because of the commitment of our students and the generosity of those who continue to support them.
Donations can still be added across the weekend, and students are asked to return their sponsorship forms on Monday.
Thank you to everyone who donated, encouraged and cheered our students on today. They should all feel immensely proud of what they have achieved.
Sharing our Stories: 08/05/2026
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
Beautiful Work from Harry @ XP Gateshead
Sleep and Feeling Ready – Supporting Healthy Routines in KS1 @ Norton Infants
Drama star in X28 Crew Pasteur! @ XP School
E29 have officially finished their first round of mock exams! @ 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!
Students in Year 9 will be taking part in a Crew Day which connects to their guiding question in their current learning expedition:
“What is our relationship with the natural world?”
The day will include navigating to specific waypoints around Windy Nook Nature Reserve and study of flora and fauna species in the different habitats at the reserve.
Students will also use map reading skills to find geocaching targets and can use their smartphones at designated points to take macro photography.
Students will need:
- Their regular kit for the day
- A water bottle
- Warm layers and a coat – there are showers forecast for the afternoon
- Appropriate footwear for the day – comfortable trainers, or hiking boots – not crocs.
- A smartphone is optional – this will be the responsibility of the student to keep safe
The nature reserve is quite close to the school so we will return to school for regular lunchtime – a packed lunch is not needed unless students normally bring a packed lunch.
G31 are looking forward to their next crew day on Friday 8th May, with a focus on supporting their chosen crew charities through planning a bake sale in the morning, followed by time tending to the spirit of crew and building their crew identity through art in the afternoon.
Students will need their usual kit, but must ensure they are dressed appropriately for all weathers. The current forecast suggests cloudy damp conditions with a chance of drizzle – waterproof coat needed! We encourage students to come prepared for all weather. Crocs are not appropriate footwear for the crew day as we will be visiting Windy Nook nature reserve in the afternoon, so students must wear trainers or walking shoes that can get muddy.
Some crews may have made arrangements for crew picnics – please check with your child whether or not this is the case.
Looking forward to a fantastic day tending to crew!
G29 Class 1 Fieldwork return today
Updated arrival time for G29 Class 1 is 3, so they will be finishing school at 3.15 as normal.
Thanks
Team G29
G29 Class 1 Fieldwork today
Dear Parents and Carers
A reminder that if your student is participating in today’s G29 immersion fieldwork, and is in Class 1, we will be arriving back at school slightly later than usual, at 3.30pm.
Thanks
Team G29
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As part of our upcoming Crew Day on Friday 8th May, our G32 students will take part in a fundraising event to support Walk for Water. The event will be held on our school yard beginning at around 9:30am and continuing until approximately 2:30pm with a break for lunch.
This builds on the fantastic efforts of previous cohorts, who have already raised over half of the total needed to fund a water well on behalf of XP Gateshead for a community in need. We are now asking families and friends to help G32 reach the final target. If you are able to contribute, donations can be made via the Enthuse platform using this link . Additionally, our G32 students will be bringing home a sponsor form containing a QR code that you can scan and make a donation.
Your support, in any amount that can be spared, is greatly appreciated and makes a genuine difference.
Students will attend school at the usual time and finish at the normal time of 3:15pm.
What students will need:
- Their usual school kit, including a water bottle
- Suncream
- Comfortable trainers suitable for walking on the track
- Appropriate clothing for the weather (including a waterproof jacket and/or sun hat)
- A sandwich and their agreed contribution to their crew’s picnic
Students who are eligible for free school meals can request a packed lunch; please ensure this is arranged in advance with their Crew Leader by Wednesday 6th May.
The current forecast suggests cloudy damp conditions with a chance of drizzle; however, we encourage students to come prepared for all weather, including the possibility of rain.
Thank you for your continued support in helping our students engage with such a meaningful and impactful cause. We hope to see some of you there on the day.
Harry has had some great success for Harry at the WKA World Karate Championships. Harry achieved a silver medal in the 13-15 Kumite category. He was competing against people from all over the world. He showed great resilience in the semi-final, by coming back from being 3-5 down and gaining 3 points in 30 seconds, which saw him get into the Final.
Harry has also competed in Pairs Kata, and while he didn’t achieved a medal at that tournament, the performance of Harry and his team mate, Nathan, was outstanding and something to be proud of again.
This is testament to Harry’s hard work over the last year, training 4 times per week.
Great work Harry!
