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.

• Malan Syndrome Foundation
• Greggs Foundation
• Bliss Baby Charity
• Cancer Research UK

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.

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.

During the interfaith section of the Iftar evening, Daria delivered a beautifully written intersessional prayer that provided a thoughtful and moving moment of reflection.

Her words offered a sincere acknowledgement of the discipline, commitment and faith demonstrated by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. At the same time, the prayer celebrated the diversity that exists within our school and wider community, recognising the importance of people from different backgrounds and beliefs coming together in a spirit of understanding and mutual respect.

Daria’s prayer captured the values of compassion, tolerance and unity that sit at the heart of interfaith dialogue. It was delivered with care and sensitivity, and reflected a deep appreciation of the significance of the occasion.

Her contribution was a powerful reminder of how thoughtful words can bring people together and encourage reflection, understanding and respect across communities.

Scarlett competed in the under 16 rugby national cup final last Sunday in Lichfield. Her team finished runners up and were presented their medals by England rugby legend Amy Cokayne!

Hector has also recently been presented with his outstanding achievement award for trampolining.

Congratulation to you both!

 

We are incredibly proud to share the impact of our Year 7 Reverse Advent Challenge, which has now concluded with a phenomenal collection of festive food items for Gateshead Foodbank.

 

Throughout Advent, Year 7 students have taken on the challenge of giving rather than receiving. Working together in their Crews, students and their Crew leaders have collected a wide range of festive treats including selection packs, mince pies, Christmas puddings, shortbread and much more, all with the aim of supporting families in the Gateshead area who may be facing difficulties at this time of year.
The response from our students was exceptional. The sheer volume of food collected was a powerful demonstration of generosity, empathy and compassion. We are delighted to confirm that the donations have now been collected by Gateshead Foodbank and will be distributed in food parcels to families who need that support during the Christmas period.

Activism and compassion sit at the heart of life at XP Gateshead, and this Reverse Advent Challenge is a wonderful example of Crew in action. Our Year 7 students have shown maturity, kindness and a real understanding of the challenges others may be facing, particularly at this time of year.
We are incredibly proud of our students and grateful to Gateshead Foodbank for the vital work they do in supporting our local community.

 

We are incredibly proud to share that our shoeboxes have now been collected and will be delivered to the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital, supported by CHUF (Children’s Heart Unit Fund).

Students and staff from Years 8 to 11 at XP Gateshead stepped up to this challenge with care and generosity, creating a wonderful collection of shoeboxes filled with thoughtful gifts and festive treats. These will be shared with children and parents who will unfortunately be spending Christmas in hospital—many of whom have already been there for a very long time.

This initiative was inspired by Beatrix’s story and her family’s willingness to share their experiences of life on the Children’s Heart Unit. Their courage, kindness and determination helped both students and staff better understand the realities faced by families during long hospital stays, particularly at Christmas.

Activism is at the heart of much of what we do at XP Gateshead, and this reverse Advent challenge is a powerful example of Crew in action—bringing students and staff together to show compassion, responsibility and care for others. We are incredibly proud of the empathy and character shown by our community, and grateful to CHUF for the vital support they provide to families at the Children’s Heart Unit at such a challenging time of year.

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We would like to extend a huge thank you to all G32 parents and carers who attended the Presentation of Learning last night. Your continued support and engagement is so important, and it is essential that all students have a family member present at their Presentation of Learning, as these events are a vital part of our school model. They provide students with the opportunity to showcase their learning, reflect on their progress, and celebrate their achievements with the wider community.

As you saw on the evening, our youngest students stepped up confidently, reflecting on and sharing their learning in creative and engaging ways. Their clear speaking, impressive drama performances, and lovely singing were complemented by creative writing, including biographical narratives, diaries, and newspaper articles. Alongside some wonderful songwriting, this provided a clear showcase of their hard work and achievements.

We are also pleased to share the success of the raffle. Thanks to your generosity, £98 was raised for St Mary’s Church, which has kindly hosted our Year 7 Presentations of Learning for the past three years and has become a real friend of XP Gateshead. A special thank you goes to the winner of the Ringtons hamper, who very generously chose to donate the contents immediately to G32’s Foodbank drive.

Thank you once again for your continued support and for helping to make the evening such a success.

On Friday 14th November, G29 geographers headed out to investigate their fieldwork question: Has the regeneration of the Ouseburn been a success?

Students began their route on Shields Road in Byker before walking down the bank towards the Ouseburn Valley. Starting here allowed them to consider whether regeneration has truly been successful if the surrounding areas still scored low on an environmental quality survey.

We were also joined by Dr Mike Jefferies, who shared his extensive knowledge of the history of the Ouseburn and helped bring the area’s past to life.

Below is one of the fascinating images Mike showed us, featuring the old dead house. This building once stood at the mouth of the Ouseburn—close to where the Cycle Hub is today. Historically, the dead house was used to retrieve bodies from the River Tyne.

Students have now reflected on their fieldwork question. Overall, they feel that the regeneration of the Ouseburn has been successful, but agree that more should be done to improve the surrounding area.

This Sunday, 9th November, as part of a programme of Remembrance, G31’s final product from their 7.2 expedition ‘Do your bit‘ will be broadcast on Memory Lane Radio.

This segment features excerpts from students’ creative writing on the theme of unheard voices from World War I. Their work explores and responds to the guiding question: ‘Why is it important that we honour all who sacrificed in WWI?’

Please click on this link and to listen live after the Midday News on Sunday.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to share their work with the community and a listenership of over 100,000 people. Now in its third consecutive year, this broadcast has become a valued tradition, proudly showcasing our students’ work on this station. A huge thanks must go to Mrs Downes for organising it, and to our dedicated Digital Leaders for carrying out the recordings.