Dear Families

“There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less” 

Every week we ask students to push themselves and step out of their comfort zones, as part of our relentless focus on the development of character alongside beautiful work and academic success. With this in mind, G28 have stepped up again in terms of their attitude and approach to their latest round of mocks, supported by Years 7 – 10 in their calm movement around the school to ensure that G28 could focus on the task at hand.

At XP we work to ensure that our students grow their character, create beautiful work and achieve academic success. We develop our curriculum so that learning is relevant, purposeful and authentic and we encourage our students to be compassionate citizens, expanding opportunity so that they can impact positively on others both in the school and in the wider community. We work hard to nurture and develop an understanding of how kindness, empathy and concern for others must define us, as both individuals and also as part of society, if we are to create a more just and compassionate world. Students work hard, so that they can get smart, so that they can go out into the world and be kind.

Here are some of the highlights from this last week:

G32 Fieldwork at Beamish Museum

G32 have this week completed fieldwork which supported their guiding question of “What’s the story of our community?” and their’ studies of the Industrial Revolution and the importance of coal in shaping life in the Northeast. The workshops encouraged speaking, listening, and historical investigation, helping students make meaningful connections between their Human studies and their work in STEAM where students have been building on their understanding of state changes and how George Stephenson applied these principles to experiment with the development of steam engines and machinery that powered the Industrial Revolution.

G31 Expert Session – Live from Kathmandu

Students in G31 this week met with Mr Sadan Dhodari, Vice Principal of Nagarjuna Academy in Kathmandu. This expert session was focussed on Hindu beliefs and teaching about the value of life, what it means to live a good life and the afterlife in support of their guiding question: “What does it mean to be Human?”.

Excitingly, we have also discussed with Sadan. and the Principal Mr Sunil Sijipati, future partnerships, especially around our curricular seam of Protecting the Planet, which is a major focus of the curriculum at Nagarjuna, Nepal being particularly exposed to the consequences of climate change.

NHS Careers Webinar

A group of students this week met with Ålliance Healthcare workers from the NHS this week to learn more about some of the roles in the NHS that are typically less well-known but just as integral to supporting us all to live healthy lives. Expert speakers included physiotherapists, podiatrists and a dietetic assistant.

G29 Geography GCSE fieldwork

Students in G29 braved the weather to complete fieldwork in the Ouseburn. They collected data to investigate the regeneration of the Ouseburn area in Newcastle. Students were joined by Northumbria University geographer Michael Jeffries, who provided valuable insight into the history and geography of the Ouseburn. In the coming weeks, students will analyse their findings and answer the fieldwork question: “Has regeneration had a positive impact on the Ouseburn?”

G28 Post-16 provider carousel

Following their mocks, G28 had a range of speakers in school on Friday morning from local Post-16 providers: Cardinal Hume Sixth Form, Gateshead College, Newcastle College and Newcastle Sixth Form College.  These sessions prompted further thought and discussion from our students about next steps. More on this below, as G28 prepare for their 1:1 careers guidance interviews starting this week.

Our week ahead 

G28 1:1 Careers guidance meetings

Over the next two weeks, all students in G28 will have a 1:1 meeting with Kathryn Burns, our Trust Careers Lead for impartial advice on their next steps at Post-16 and beyond into their career.

To support students in preparing for this, please continue to have conversations at home around your child’s next steps; you can use our Careers Website to start conversations. It is important at this stage in the academic year for all students in Year 11 to start preparing for and putting together applications. The message from all providers  that spoke to students on Friday was to keep options open and put in multiple applications to a range of providers. We will reinforce this message and continue to support students through Crew.

Post-16 Open Evenings this week for G28

• Thursday 20th November 5.00pm – 7.00pm at Lord Lawson Sixth Form
• Thursday 20th November  5.00pm – 7.30pm at Cardinal Hume Sixth Form
• Wednesday 19th November 2025: 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Energy Academy Wallsend (for courses related to sustainable energy and associated engineering)

G30 Byker Wall Fieldwork – Tuesday 18th November 

G30 students will be carrying out fieldwork to support their guiding question “How can structures help us to explain our world?” Please Miss Jones’ post for further details.

G31 Expert session – Tuesday 18th November 

G31 will this week have another expert session where they will have the opportunity to talk to individuals whose lives have been impacted by organ donation. This has been a wonderful session in previous years and really propels students to invest in the quality of their work to promote organ donation through their artistic final product.

Crew Day – Friday 21st November

This Friday will be a Crew Day for all cohorts from Year 7 to Year 11. Each cohort will have a different focus, ranging from supporting charities and local partners, to crew identity.

Each Crew Day is an opportunity to tend to Crew and return to the principle that: We are crew not passengers, strengthened by acts of consequential service to others.

This time invested reaps dividends not just in terms of strengthening Crews, but also in our wider Culture of Crew which is evident in classrooms on a day to day basis.

PE sessions this week

Our PE sessions this week are as follows. Please ensure that your child has their  full PE kit.

• G32 students
  • Class 1 have PE on Monday
  • Class 2 have PE on Wednesday
• All G31 students have PE on Tuesday.
• All G30 students have PE on Thursday 
• All G29 students have PE on Monday.
• All G28 students have PE on Monday.

Looking ahead – important dates

G30 SLCs

Year 9 will be carrying out SLCs in the fortnight commencing Monday 24th November. If you have not already done so, you should receive an invitation to book a slot from your child’s Crew Leader.

Staff Days – Friday 28th November and Monday 1st December

We have staff days each term at XP so that our teachers can collaborate across the Trust to create and deliver the high quality curriculum that our students study. These are shown in blue on our calendar. On staff days our students do not attend school and there is no expectation that they complete work beyond their regularly set extended study (homework). Students will find this work on Google classroom.

POLs (Presentations of Learning) this term

• G32’s PoL will be on the evening of Tuesday 16th December 2025 at St. Mary’s church in Heworth from 4:30pm until 5:45pm. 
• G31’s PoL will be on Thursday 11th December in school at 4.30pm.
• G30’s PoL will be on the evening of Wednesday 10th December at the Farrell Centre in Newcastle University Campus. Start time is to be confirmed.
• G28’s PoL will be on Wednesday 17th December in school at 4.30pm.

As usual if you have any questions about your child please get in touch with your child’s Crew Leader in the first instance.

Julie Mosley

Dear Families

Our students have returned well after the half term break and quickly got back into the swing of things, working hard and enjoying the great learning opportunities they have had this week. We’ve had some amazing expert sessions in school which continue to feed into current expedition work supporting our students in their response to their guiding questions.

Working with experts

G31 – What does it mean to be human?

Our Year 8 students interviewed Humanist experts in school on Monday. Our experts  supported students to build on their learning about the golden rule of humanism, and uncover more about Humanist beliefs.

Our students enjoyed their session with the Humanist experts who spoke to them about the Humanist belief that we have one life and therefore should ensure we make the most of our time on Earth by living the best life possible for ourselves and others, including future generations. As is always the case, the experts praised the high quality questions and discussions they had with our students and the maturity they demonstrated.

G32 – How are structures important in helping us to explain our world? 

On Thursday our G32 students had an expert session with Kate Osborne Member of Parliament (MP) for Jarrow and Gateshead East as part of their current expedition  ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ with students working to answer a guiding question ‘How are structures important in helping us to explain our world?’. As part of their work students have been looking at political structures in Government and been investigating housing policy of the Labour Party and other major political parties in the U.K. Our Year 9 really took the opportunity to ask Kate questions and discussions covered climate action, sustainability, housing policy, immigration along with more personal questions around Kate’s passion for politics and the North East.

Beautiful work

G32’s handmade poppies in preparation for Remembrance

G31’s stunning Memory Lane Radio broadcast 

I think that the biggest highlight of the week though must be our G31’s final product from their 7.2 expedition ‘Do your bit‘ radio broadcast. This was played on Memory Lane Radio on Sunday 9th November as part of a programme of their Remembrance programme. The 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?’

Listening to the beautiful voices and words of all 50 of our students was simply stunning, their writing was powerful and really emotive. If you didn’t get the chance to tune in on Sunday,  I highly recommend you get a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy the programme.

You can listen here.

Charity work 

Crew Stanton’s Halloween Disco 

On Tuesday, Crew Stanton ran another successful school disco to support their crew charity Tiny Lives. Tiny Lives is a charity in Newcastle that supports premature and unwell babies and their families. Crew Stanton have supported Tiny Lives for the past 3 years, running a range of charity events. They were very keen to run a final event before they leave XPG. I would like to appreciate the students for really leaving a strong legacy at XPG for what Crew charities can really achieve. Across the last 3 years, they have raised over £3000! Crew Kahlo also be ran some additional Day of the Dead and Frieda Kahlo themed games to raise money for their Crew Charity,

It was a great evening, enjoyed by students and staff alike and there were some fantastic halloween outfits on the evening

Our week ahead 

Anti-Bullying Week 2025: Power for Good

Every November schools right across the UK take part in Anti-Bullying Week. This is an opportunity to highlight bullying and consider the steps we can take together to stop it. Anti-Bullying Week 2025 takes place from Monday 10th – Friday 14th November with the theme ‘Power for Good’ . It is coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, which is based at leading children’s charity the National Children’s Bureau. This year the organisation has worked with children and young people up and down England, Wales and Northern Ireland to decide the theme. This Anti-Bullying Week they urge adults and young people alike to come together to have discussions about how we can use the power we have for good, to bring bullying to an end. 

Please see the Parent and Carer pack for more details

G28 November Mock Exams

This week our Year 11 students will undertake a set of mock GCSE exams:

Please note that students will not sit an exam for every component of their examinations in this mock window. There will be another mock session for G28 in February where all components will be examined.

G32 Fieldwork to Beamish – Wednesday 12th November

As part of G32’s current expedition of learning, students will be taking part in important fieldwork at Beamish Museum in County Durham on Wednesday 12th November.

This visit will provide an authentic and immersive learning experience, supporting students’ studies of the Industrial Revolution and the importance of coal in shaping life in the Northeast. The workshops will encourage speaking, listening, and historical investigation, helping students make meaningful connections between their Human studies and their work in STEAM where students have been building on their understanding of state changes and learning how learning how George Stephenson applied these principles to experiment with the development of steam engines and machinery that powered the Industrial Revolution. The visit will allow them to see these concepts in action and understand how scientific innovation transformed industry and everyday life.

For full details, see the website post

G29 GCSE Geography Urban Fieldwork – Friday 14th February

G29 Geography students will investigate the regeneration of the Ouseburn area in Newcastle, building on their first unit of study, where they explored the question: “Is Newcastle a city of opportunity or challenge?” We will be joined by Northumbria University geographer Michael Jeffries, who will provide valuable insights into the history and geography of the Ouseburn.In the coming weeks, students will analyse their findings and answer the fieldwork question: “Has regeneration had a positive impact on the Ouseburn?”

Students will spend the full day conducting fieldwork. They should bring their regular kit, including their iPads, a packed lunch and be prepared for the weather. The current forecast is cool with a strong chance of rain.

PE sessions this week

Our PE sessions this week are as follows. Please ensure that your child has their  full PE kit.

• All G32 students (Year 7) have PE on Monday..
• All G31 students (Year 8) have PE on Tuesday.
• All G30 students (Year 9) have PE on Thursday
• All G29 students (Year 10) have PE on Monday.
• G28 Class 1 students (Year 11) have PE on Monday.

Extended Study and Clubs

Our clubs will all run this week (see schedule below) along with extended study sessions every day except Friday. 

As usual if you have any questions about your son or daughter please get in touch with your child’s Crew Leader in the first instance or email general enquiries to [email protected].