Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across our Trust this week!
For more stories, make sure you visit http://xptrust.org/stories #WeAreCrew
Dear Families
As some of you may know, Mr Devitt is completing his training to be a PE teacher this year. For part of this training, he needs to have experience of Key Stage 4 so is undertaking a 20 day placement in Castleview Enterprise Academy.
We have been lucky enough to secure support from XP Doncaster and a member of their PE team, Mr Currie, is going to work with our students for one day a week over the next four weeks. Mr Currie is an experienced PE teacher who teaches across both XP secondary schools in Doncaster so understands our culture and ethos. He will be leading PE sessions with each of our classes.
During this time, our students will get one hour of PE each week. Our next Crew Day, which will take place at the end of June, will be focused on physical exercise and getting active so we will ensure that our students get PE time.
Mr Devitt is also a Crew Leader to Crew Parks in Year 8. Mr Said will be covering this Crew with support from Miss Pegg. Both of these staff know the students in Crew Parks really well and will continue to provide the level of pastoral care and attention that Mr Devitt did.
On a final note, Mr Devitt and his team mates at Hebburn Town FC lifted the Durham Challenge Cup on Wednesday evening to the delight of local fans.
Congratulations to Mr Devitt and all at Hebburn Town FC!
Dear Families
Just to bring you up to date on current plans for our school building. Discussion on a permanent home for XP Gateshead is ongoing between the Local Authority (LA) and the Department for Education (DfE) however it is likely that we will continue to remain on our current site for at least the next two years. The plan is currently that after this time we will move into a purpose-built and brand new school building on a location close to our current site.
In the meantime we continue to grow as a school and over the next two years will welcome another two year groups into the XP Gateshead family. To accommodate the additional numbers of pupils we are working closely with the DFE and the LA and are expanding into rooms in the larger building next door. Work will begin soon to ensure these rooms are ready for September 2023 and we will have fully specialist spaces including Science labs and Design Technology areas. We will continue to make use of existing grounds and the sports hall and will be utilising the larger dining area in the main building atrium at lunch and break times. We will have access to a large performance area just off the atrium in the main building.
We will be taking steps to ensure that any work on site is not disruptive to our students’ learning and we will continue to update you as this work progresses.
Mark Lovatt
Co-Principal
Dear Families
From September I will be taking up a new role working across XP Trust. As a result of this Mrs Mosley will take over as Principal and as you know we have been working closely together this year to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible. I will continue to support leadership at XP Gateshead as the school grows in size and will continue to be in school on a regular basis. In addition I will be working closely with the Trust CEO, Gwyn Ap Harri, and XP University, on developing high impact models of teaching and learning and also on curriculum planning for high performance.
It has been the privilege of my life to be the founding Principal of XP Gateshead and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for all your support over the last couple of years. I look forward to checking in on the school as we continue to thrive and to catching up with the pupils on what will be my frequent visits to the school next year.
I am also looking forward to working with XP Trust in a more central role and supporting the work of XP Trust as it continues to develop.
Mark Lovatt
Co-Principal
We’re looking for a Maths/Science Teacher at XP Doncaster
Please note that the following after school clubs will not be running this week:
Wednesday 3 May – VEX Robotics and Sports Club
Thursday 4 May – Multi Sport
Extended Study will run after school on Wednesday and Thursday as normal along with Thursday’s Nature Club.
We’re looking for a Trust Business Manager!
Dear Families
Our first case studies in our new expeditions started well last week. On Monday, expedition guiding questions were revealed after much curiosity and speculation from our students.
Our G28 students have one expedition this term, ‘Should I stay or should I go?’ with the guiding question ‘Is migration worth the risk?’. Students will study push and pul factors of migration with specific case studies in India and using Of Mice of Men as an anchor text against the backdrop of the Great Depression in the USA. Students will also study energy production and how more sustainable processes can reduce forced migration, especially important as part of our curricular seam of the Climate Emergency. Students will interview migrants to hear and honour their stories as part of their final product for this expedition. More details in due course.
Our G29 students’ expedition is called ‘Hold back the river’ and has the guiding question, ‘How does water shape our world?’. In this cross-curricular expedition students will explore physical processes in rivers and coasts and the impact that this has on humanity. We will also look at the importance of rivers and coasts as habitats for species. Students will carry out important fieldwork, collecting live research data on oysters and water voles to help local conservationists to work out how better to protect these species and their habitats.
Transition for new students
Last week, we published our transition plans for our new G30 students and their families.
As you know, we had a lot of applications for places this year and we are delighted to be welcoming the next cohort (G30) to our crew. We ask that you will support these new families too as they sign up to the ‘Parents of XP Gateshead’ facebook group. I’m sure you will remember what a big step starting secondary school felt like, so your friendly advice is most welcome.
Holiday dates consultation
Thank you to all who responded to the consultation on term dates put out on our website last week. Your comments gave a real insight into how families currently manage holidays and how having different term dates to other Gateshead schools affect our students. We will share our decisions for term dates 2023/24 and 2024/25 with you in the next week.
Beautiful work from Carol and Karen
We would like to congratulate our cleaners Carol and Karen who had an inspection last week and passed with flying colours. Their work was commended and they gained 100% in the grading. We are really lucky to have such a great support team at XP Gateshead who go over and above for our students and staff – true craftsmanship and quality!
This week
NEU Strike Action, Tuesday 2nd May – Y7 only in school.
When students are not in school they can work independently on extended study tasks. There will be extended study after school on Tuesday, but no sports due to the strike action.
PE sessions
Due to timetable changes and a shortened week, there are no PE sessions for students this week.
Coronation Picnic, Friday 5th May
To mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort we will be enjoying a picnic lunch on Friday, weather permitting. Our catering team, Suzanne and Cheryl, will be working their usual magic to make our lunch special.
Looking Ahead:
Coronation Bank Holiday – Monday 8th May.
School closed for all.
As usual, if you have any questions please contact your child’s crew leader in the first instance.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Julie Mosley
Co-Principal
Sharing our Stories: 28/04/2023
Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across our Trust this week!
For more stories, make sure you visit http://xptrust.org/stories #WeAreCrew
Olivia produced this stunning artwork on her iPad using the sketchbook app. She started out curious if she could represent the unusual colour of her eyes and then continued to match her skin tones and hair colour with some beautiful strokes of the digital brush. She has then gone on to do some more images of her family too. Amazing work Olivia.
Felling Magpies have done it again, winning the league with a game in hand after this week’s 11-1 win against Prudhoe. Connor scored two goals and was nominated as man of the match by the opposing team. Lewis had a few great shots but the keeper made some fantastic saves to keep him out. Great work boys!
