What an absolutely unforgettable evening! During Refugee Week, our school community came together to celebrate the culmination of the G31 learning expedition: “Is migration worth the risk?”

Instead of just looking at the challenges, our students turned the spotlight on the incredible positives, culture, and richness that migration brings to our world. And because we don’t do things by halves, we fused this POL with the first-ever XP Live! music and arts festival.

The evening kicked off with high energy and deep emotion as Year 8 shared their learning journey.

One of our G31 Rock Bands set the tone for the night with a high-octane performance of Should I Stay or Should I Go?—a perfect musical nod to the expedition’s core question. The entire cohort then came together for a deeply moving, collective performance of the poem Home by Warsan Shire to the backdrop of their running man GIF that came as a result of every student producing 30 individual pieces of art! Demonstrating their incredible musical versatility, students performed a custom piece created in collaboration with GemArts. Fusing Hip-Hop, Rave, Garage and Punjabi rhythms with live vocal and instrumental performers as well as music technology inputs through Ableton Live, they had the whole room moving. Moving performances followed from students who had developed original drama scenes after inspiring workshops with the Phosphorus Theatre group. The formal POL element concluded with a guided gallery walk. Students walked their parents through the international competition of Humanity Arts cartoons, expertly explaining the deep understanding and empathy they have developed throughout this expedition.

As the gallery walk ended, we transitioned seamlessly into the festival element for the very first XP Live!

The energy shifted into pure celebration. Our Year 8 cheerleaders blew everyone away with an incredible routine, followed by a showcase of phenomenal bands from across all year groups in the school. The absolute climax of the night came from local band Leazes, who delivered a blistering set that had students absolutely packing the dance floor and getting lost in the music! It was the perfect end to a historic school event. 

Throughout the night, we were so proud to be able to showcase the beautiful GCSE artwork produced by G28 and to welcome them and their families back into school to celebrate their success. 

Beyond the arts, the evening was about action. We were proudly raising money for the School of Sanctuary charity—a network we are actively hoping to join in the coming years as part of the lasting legacy of this expedition. Our community showed up in full force to support the cause. The Year 10 students cooked up a storm, serving a range of delicious street foods that celebrated the massive impact migration has had on our culinary culture. Year 8 hosted a bustling bake sale, popcorn stand and tombola, while a raffle was held for a stunning garden planter, beautifully crafted by the G29 DT group. Thanks to the immense generosity of our parents, students, and staff, the event raised a grand total of… £445.25!

A massive thank you to our incredible staff, our external partners (GemArts and Phosphorus Theatre), the brilliant performers, the amazing Leazes, our hard-working student chefs, and everyone who came along to support.

G31, you didn’t just answer the question of whether migration is worth the risk—you showed us the beautiful, vibrant world we get to live in because of it.

Check out the gallery below for highlights of the night!

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G30 (Einstein, Kahlo and Darling) are scheduled to arrive back at XPGateshead at 15.25.

We’ve have a fantastic day, get ready to greet some worn out students!

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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.