G32 First Day and the Outward Bound Experience

By Martin Said20th August 2025

Students can be dropped off at XP Gateshead school from 8am on Tuesday 26th August 2024. They must be in school by 8.25am.

We will be leaving school at around 10.am to travel to Outward Bound, Howtown Centre, Penrith CA10 2ND on Ullswater.

The journey to Howtown will take approximately 2.5 hours by coach and we do not intend to stop at a service station. There is a toilet on the coach.

Students must bring a packed lunch in a plastic bag and this will be eaten on arrival at the centre. Meals will then be provided from that evening onwards.

All students need to bring their belongings in a suitable bag (e.g. a holdall or small suitcase) with their names displayed on a tag or written on the bag. Students may want to bring a small bag, wallet or purse to bring smaller personal items with them on the coach.

We expect to be back at school around 3.30pm on Friday, but will update the school website if there any delays.

Personal Kit List:

  • 1 large bag or suitcase to take kit on the coach
  • 2 bin bags –  to store wet and dirty clothes
  • 1 pair of trainers for getting wet – these trainers will definitely get wet so it is important that you have a second pair.
  • A second pair of trainers to stay dry for day to day wear – these are likely to get muddy so preferably not new.
  • 3 sweatshirts, jumpers, hoodies or fleeces – Fleeces are ideal as they dry quickly but any of the other items are a good substitute. You should include at least one warmer fleece for your expedition.
  • 3 pairs of trousers – Lightweight trousers (not denim) such as walking trousers, leggings or tracksuit bottoms.
  • 3 T-shirts – Aim for tops that cover shoulders from the sun.
  • 1 long-sleeved base layer/top 
  • 1 pair of shorts – Not denim
  • 1 pair of nightwear/pyjamas
  • 1 set of casual clothes for around the centre
  • 7 sets of underwear including socks – This is a minimum number. Trainer socks aren’t recommended as they may cause blisters.
  • At least 2 pairs of thick walking socks
  • Sunhat, sunglasses, suncream – don’t bring expensive sunglasses, suncream needs to be at least factor 30.
  • 1 set of warm hat and gloves
  • At least 1 towel – Quick drying microfibre towels are great. You will need a towel for showering and on activities, so bring at least one.
  • Watch with alarm if possible
  • 1 set of swimwear plus t-shirt and shorts for use in water
  • Toiletries – including soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, blister kit, plasters, insect repellent, lip salve, hand sanitiser, wet wipes. Please note that aerosols are prohibited on the Outward Bound site.
  • 1 pair of flip slops or sandals – optional
  • £10 deposit

Some of the activities will involve getting wet at some point, so please make sure your son/daughter has plenty of spare dry clothes to change into.

Medicine

If your son/daughter needs travel sickness tablets please ensure they take them before we depart school.

If your son/daughter needs to take medication during the course of the trip, or has travel sickness tablets for the return journey, please ensure the medication comes in its original packaging along with instructions for when the medicine needs to be taken and your son’s/daughter’s name written clearly on it.  All medication except inhalers must be handed to your crew leader before departing from school. 

All medication must have been documented on the medical consent form and signed.

Money

A refundable £10 deposit is required for each student for the use of the Outward Bound’s specialist activity/safety equipment. This must be handed to crew leaders before departure  in a sealed envelope with your son’s/daughter’s name on it. 

Communication

The signal for mobile phones can be unreliable. Students will not be allowed to take their phones with them on their daily activities. They will be handed into crew leaders and left securely on site. The students will have access to their mobile phones at a specified point in the evening on Tuesday and then again on Thursday evening. They will not have access to their phones on Wednesday evening as they will be staying overnight away from the main centre. If you need to get hold of a member of staff and/or get a message to your son/daughter please telephone the appropriate Outward Bound centre:

Howtown Centre Phone: 017684 86272

Please contact myself or the school office if you have any further questions.

Martin Said

[email protected]

VJ Day 80

By Michelle Ross15th August 2025

Today marks the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ Day), the day in 1945 when the Second World War came to an end. We pause to remember and give thanks to all those who served and sacrificed, both at home and overseas, so that we may live in freedom today.

Although our school community is currently on its summer break, we acknowledge this important anniversary and reflect with gratitude on the courage, resilience, and commitment to peace shown by those who came before us. Their legacy continues to inspire hope for a better future.

Sharing our Stories: 18/07/2025

18th July 2025Geoff Hewitt

Beautiful Work This Week

Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust from the last two weeks of term! It’s been filled with all kinds of wonderful things from all of our schools. To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.

Top of the Blogs

Why the Arts Matter at XP – Our Festival Highlights @ XP Trust

Year 6 leavers party 2025 @ Green Top

EYFS Sports Day @ Plover

Prom 2025 @ Carcroft School

At the Coalface: POL @ Norton Juniors

Climate Change Through Data @ XP

Crew Rosa Parks @ XP East

G29 What a Wonderful World POL @ XP Gateshead

Share your stories with us!

We now have a new dedicated news email so that you can send your stories, updates or ideas about potential news articles directly to us in Comms.

It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!

From all of us here at XP – have a great summer break! We’ll be back in the new term with more beautiful work to share!

Unlock your child’s musical potential at XP Gateshead!

By XP Gateshead18th July 2025

At XP Gateshead, we believe music has the power to inspire and shape young minds. Each year, we offer a unique opportunity for children with a natural flair for music to gain a place in Year 7 through our dedicated Musical Aptitude route. 

Whether your child already sings or plays an instrument, or simply has a keen ear for rhythm, melody, and pitch, this pathway recognises raw musical potential. 

With access to expert tuition, vibrant performance opportunities, and a culture that celebrates creativity, XP Gateshead is the perfect stage for your child to flourish musically and academically. Click here to see highlights from our recent annual XP Festival of Arts and Culture – https://youtu.be/-tcB979lD_g

Apply now, and don’t miss this chance to join a learning community where talent is nurtured and passion takes centre stage!

Find out more here: https://xptrust.info/XPGMA

Applying for a place at XP Gateshead – Fair Banding Assessment

By XP Gateshead18th July 2025

To ensure a balanced intake of students across all ability levels, all applicants to an XP secondary school must sit a Fair Banding Assessment. 

This multiple-choice test focuses on non-verbal reasoning and helps us place students into one of five ability bands. There is no pass or fail, and results are used solely to support a broad and representative admissions process.

Completing the assessment is a key part of the application and must be done to be considered for a place. 

Please ensure your child is registered by 31st October 2025 and prepared to attend the assessment on 22nd November 2025.

Find out more here – https://xptrust.info/XPTFBA

If your child has an aptitude in music, find out how to apply for a musical aptitude place at XP Gateshead here – https://xpgateshead.org/unlock-your-childs-musical-potential-at-xp-gateshead/

Why the Arts Matter at XP – Our Festival Highlights

18th July 2025Andy Sprakes

At XP, we believe education should help young people discover who they are, what they stand for, and how they can make a difference. The arts are at the heart of this.

Through music, dance, drama, and visual art, our students learn to collaborate, express themselves, and craft work of real depth and beauty. These aren’t “extras” to the curriculum – they are essential experiences that develop the character traits we value above anything else: courage, craftsmanship, respect, and compassion.

Last Friday, we celebrated these values at our second XP Festival of Arts & Culture – a day filled with music, dance, and art from across all the schools in our Trust. Every primary school showcased their dancing skills in collaboration with Phoenix Dance Company, alongside cheerleaders and singers from across the Trust.

The afternoon culminated in a show-stopping parade led by the New York Brass Band, bringing everyone together for an unforgettable rendition of Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration”. The evening carried the energy forward with live music from XP Doncaster and XP Gateshead students, alongside local bands and professional artists.

Our students were phenomenal – both on stage and in the audience – showing once again the power of Crew in action.

A huge thank you goes to the XP Doncaster and Plover staff who stewarded and supported the event. It was a powerful example of what’s possible when we create spaces for young people to thrive.

Here’s to next year!!!

In Crew,

Andy Sprakes

G29 9.3 – PoL 17.00 LIVE – What a Wonderful World?

By Rebecca Jones17th July 2025

At 17:00, G29’s Presentation of Learning goes live!

Our students have been working hard to craft powerful poems inspired by the beauty of nature and their study of interdependence within ecosystems. Some poems celebrate the natural world, while others serve as a compelling call to action. Feel free to add any messages to the message board about our students work.

A huge thank you to our Digital Leaders — Drew, Seb, and Lyra — for their dedication and creativity in editing the final showcase.

Below the video, you’ll find photos of the students’ final product — planting wildflowers in our planters to help boost biodiversity on our school site. Students also began surveying our site to find out what species live on our school grounds this will support any work that is done on our school site.

We hope you enjoy this inspiring collection of student work.

 

 

G28 POL Power to the People

By Darren Mead15th July 2025

Dear Families,

We are proud to share with you the G28 presentation of learning Power to the people. It is the culmination of a lot of hard work and thinking on the part of our students. Who have explored the UK’s energy future. Our guiding question “How can we use the planet’s resources more sustainably?” is at the heart of this work, where students have designed and justified Energy Plans for the UK in the year 2040.

 

G28 POL Power to the People

The student work can be found here on this website. It contains the  Energy plans and student online jigsaws. 

Our  “Exit Ticket” is here to leave the students some praises and for you to make a pledge about our energy future, after you have watched their presentations.

As always thank you for your support and we wish you all a very happy Summer Holiday!

G28 Power to the People POL Update

By Darren Mead15th July 2025

Dear G28 Families,

Later on today, we will post our online POL presentation and student work for our G28 expedition Power to the people. Our guiding question “How can we use the planets resources more sustainably?” is at the heart of this work, where students have designed and justified Energy Plans for the UK in the year 2040. The presentations last for around 50 minutes.

Please standby for the release of this material and enjoy our student work together with your family. As always there will be an “Exit Ticket” to complete when you have watched their presentations.