Post inside this category will show up on the front page
Last week we posted about Passage Presentation Bookings.
If you have not already done so, please use this form to indicate which slots would be your preference for booking a Passage Presentation time for your child.
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.
XP Gateshead is hiring! We’re seeking dedicated educators for History, English, Spanish and Arts. Join us in shaping the future of learning. Apply now:
G31 students have been busy prepping for our final product for the expedition: Staying Alive with the guiding question: ‘Is survival sufficient?’. The final product will be a food box with recipes and ingredients to support families in need.
As part of this, we’re asking students to try out some of the cost-friendly recipes from Cooking on a Bootstrap by Jack Monroe at home, and have a go at cooking them with you. We’re asking students to amend and customise the recipes, so we can ensure what we’re providing in our food donations is delicious, cost effective and suitable for families to enjoy.
We’d love to hear any taste reviews and see any action shots from your kitchens! Students have selected and saved their chosen recipe during their STEAM lessons, but can check this (and access the full recipe book) via Google Classroom.
After seeing some G31 students working hard cooking a delicious pasta and sauce this morning, we’re looking forward to seeing more beautiful cooking work produced.
In our school we want to make sure students are not just learning information but remembering it long-term. That’s why we have an Extended Study Policy, in Human, where students complete a multiple-choice quiz 3 times each week. These quick quizzes, which often include a piece of reading, take around 15 minutes to complete and focus on key concepts and vocabulary to help reinforce learning or as a tool for some pre-learning.
Research shows that regularly recalling information (a technique called retrieval practice) helps strengthen memory and makes it easier for students to apply what they’ve learned. Spacing these quizzes out over the week—rather than cramming them all into one day—further boosts long-term retention.
We’ve noticed that some students in G30 and G31 are completing all three quizzes in one go. While this might seem like an efficient approach, it doesn’t help with long-term memory as much as spacing them out does. To get the most out of these quizzes, we encourage students to spread them across different days throughout the week and the students have an Extended Study Timetable to support them with doing this.
This approach is designed to make learning ‘stick’ in a simple, low-stress way and helps identify any gaps in knowledge early on, allowing for timely intervention.
In short, this policy is grounded in evidence-based practices aimed at supporting your child’s learning and academic success. We appreciate your support in encouraging your child to complete their Human Extended Study quizzes at spaced intervals for better learning retention.
We are delighted to announce that we have been able to secure an incredible opportunity for all of our G30 students.
This week students have been working with professional writer, actress and director Christina Berriman Dawson to support their preparations to perform Macbeth as part of their PoL on Thursday 27th March at Caedmon Hall.
Christina is currently appearing in a production called Champion at the Live Theatre in Newcastle.
The play is set in the summer of 1977 in South Shields, during Muhammed Ali’s now legendary visit to The North East. The drama shows the effect that such a major event has on a mixed race family in South Shields. It is written by one of contemporary theatre’s most regarded writers: Ishy Din. We will take G30 students to see the production, following which they will also have the incredible opportunity to carry out a Q&A with the cast and wider production team.
The matinee performance is at 2pm on Thursday 6th March. Including the interval and the Q&A, we expect to be back in school between 5.00pm and 5.30pm after returning by metro. We will update the school website with our arrival time.
The play has a 14+ recommended age; given our connection to the cast, the challenging themes that students are already familiar with through our curriculum seam of social justice and the levels of maturity that students have shown on recent fieldwork to London, we are confident that our students will manage this. There is some racist and foul language that is indicatively authentic of the treatment of the community in South Shields at that time. We will, of course, prepare students for this and discuss with them how the arts are an important form through which we can represent and challenge issues of social justice.
At XP, we use equity maps to ensure that all students have a breadth of experiences that help to build cultural capital and develop character. Theatre performances are an entitlement for all of our students, so we are delighted that not only will students experience the performance, but as part of their ongoing work with Christina and time with the cast, that it will also help them to further understand and experience the professionalism needed for their own performance of Macbeth.
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”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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:
We will be running all after school clubs and extended study this week.
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.
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
Students will put together food packages which will be donated to families in need through our partners Edberts House.
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.
Half of Class 1 will be in the kitchen on Thursday, half of Class 2 on Friday.
We will provide the ingredients for students. Your child can check on student notices if they will be working in the kitchen this week. If they are not in the kitchen this week, they will be part of the groups that are cooking in the week after the half-term break.
Students that are working in the kitchen should wear clothes that can get dirty, and must have a bobble to tie back their hair if it is long.
Miss Jamison will post on our website later this week about recipes we would love to see students also trying at home with you over the break.
Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust from this week. To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.
A star in the making in Crew Pasteur @ XP
G29 fieldwork will go ahead as planned on Friday 14th February. However, the forecast predicts cold temperatures that may feel as low as -1°C. To ensure students stay warm and comfortable throughout the day, please make sure they come to school dressed appropriately.
✅ Multiple warm layers (e.g. thermals, jumpers, fleeces)
✅ A winter coat (preferably waterproof)
✅ Walking socks (or multiple pairs of socks)
✅ Gloves and a hat
✅ Sturdy, weather-appropriate footwear
If a student arrives without suitable clothing, they will be required to borrow items from our supply of Duke of Edinburgh spare gear to ensure their safety and comfort.
If available, students may bring a picnic blanket to sit on while eating their packed lunch outdoors.
Please see the website post for more detailed arrangements.
Our school, along with several others in Gateshead, has agreed to participate in a very important Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire for our children and young people.
We have been asked to support the work of the Local Authority and Public Health and we will benefit from our participation in the survey by using the response to:
Help us decide upon priority areas of development for the next 2 years.
Be a starting point for discussion in staff, governor, and parent meetings, as well as in classroom activities.
Help us look to strengthen existing programmes.
Help to evaluate our PSHE and pastoral work.
The survey method that we are using has been developed by the Schools Health Education Unit, Exeter and has been in use now for over 40 years. Over 3000 schools have used the survey, many of them regularly repeating the survey.
The questions concern a wide range of health behaviours, for example:
Personal background Drugs (vaping, alcohol, other)
Leisure and money Food and diet
Exercise Safety in person and online
Relationships Sexual health (Year 10 only)
The data collected from the questionnaire is completely anonymous; no student will be able to be identified at any point in the process.
The information collated from the questionnaires will provide Gateshead Council with valuable data about the lives of children in Gateshead, which will be used to inform the development and delivery of Council provided and commissioned services. Both the Local Authority and the school find the content of the questionnaire acceptable and appropriate; it has been customised to suit our local setting.
Each questionnaire is anonymous and confidential, and no pupil will be identified when the data is returned to the school. The Local Authority will receive an overarching report covering all schools in Gateshead. Data Protection concerns are covered in the Privacy Notice for pupils, which can be found on the link.
I hope you will agree with us that this is an exercise in which we wish to co-operate fully. There is currently no evidence-base that has data collected directly from our children and young people to help us use their voice in the work we do in Gateshead.
I will assume you do approve unless I hear otherwise. We hold a copy of the questionnaire in the school office, and if you would like to examine it, you are welcome to please email Miss Jones: [email protected]
As part of the survey, it will be helpful if your child knows their partial postcode:
NE / DH _ _ _ (For example, NE3 4 or NE11 6)
The survey will be carried out between 10th to 31st March.
