What a first week back G30 had!
The guiding question for G30 was ‘How can we ensure that our future selves will thank us for the next two years?’ As always, we utilised our first week back to reconnect with the principles of crew and what it means to be OUR crews. Throughout the week, students engaged in initiatives – challenges that they had to overcome together as a crew. Through engaging in these, students were able to identify the features of a strong initiative and design their own.
Students also explored the importance of building strong habits from the outset to ensure we are all as successful as we can be in our GCSEs in Summer 2028. To help motivate students, they looked at possible post-16 pathways and courses.
This led students to create a professional CV which encouraged them to identify their strengths and reflect on all of the incredible things they have already done in their time at XPG and out of school.
Students also had the opportunity to engage in 2 workshops with external professionals. These sessions focused on developing public speaking skills and interview skills.
Students were then able to utilise these skills in the culmination of the week; every student in G30 had a 1:1 interview with an external professional, largely aligned to the student’s future career interests.
I do want to share some of the incredible feedback we received from these visits:
- ‘Engaging and thoughtful speaker’
- ‘Great communication, eye contact, confident but with humility’
- ‘Engaging – great two-way conversation’
- ‘Excellent interview, you showed great courage and will handle an interview very well.’
- ‘Came across as kind and someone who likes to help others.’
- ‘Unbelievably articulate’
- ‘All answers felt authentic.’
- ‘Should be very proud of herself. This was a fantastic interview. She was thoughtful, well prepared and confident throughout.’
It was truly a delight to see the smiles on the faces of the students as they walked away from their interviews. Interviews are something all our students will have later in life so this really is an invaluable experience for them to have at this point in their schooling.
Students will work with the feedback they have been given through their Thoughtful Thursday crew sessions over the coming weeks.
I want to thank you for the strong start that G30 have made to this important year.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s crew leader in the first instance.