Dear Families
We enjoyed another great week last week and as always, it is great to see students pushing themselves and each other to be successful.
End of year assessments started last week for some subjects and I have been really pleased to see our students step up to the challenge showing real maturity and focus. Assessments continue (see last week’s post for details) and extended study continues to focus on revision this week.
On Thursday, we held an online whole school community meeting for all students and looked at the learning journey students have been on this year. It’s really important to stand back and reflect on journey and it is impressive to see just how much our students have achieved this year. Our students are working on a written reflection of the year which will be shared with you alongside their Crew Leader reflections and a final snapshot at the end of term.
Student Leadership
“At XP, we build our community through activism, leadership and equity, sharing our stories as we go…”
This week we have seen multiple examples of great student leadership at work.
Year 7 Art student leaders carried out fieldwork with artist Bruce Tuckey in preparation for creating sculptures inspired by the Riverside Sculpture Park between Gateshead and Dunston along the Tyne.
A team from our Digital Leaders have been working alongside the XP Trust Comms Crew, taking on the role of professional sound technicians to carry out the important work of recording and editing the final folk songs written and performed by G30 students as well as recording final products for all cohorts including the G30 Do Your Bit radio performance, and poetry recitals from G28 and G29.
Mr Hewitt’s feedback on the day was extremely positive and complimentary:
“Could you pass on to all the students that I worked with yesterday that they were amazing and true professionals. I have many great days at work and this was one of the best days at work I’ve had.”
Crew Stanton’s Charity work this week organising and running a Football Tournament for the whole school was a huge success and enjoyed by students, staff and families alike. The work put in by this crew was stunning – advertising, organising teams and fixtures, ticket sales, refreshments including BBQ goods. The rain didn’t dampen the spirits of our teams or the spectators! A great example of activism from our students, making the world a better place.
Our Climate Action Plan student leadership group continued their work on developing a set of proposals for how we can make our school more sustainable including actions connected to: green spaces and trees, paper waste, rewilding, energy efficiency, food and food waste and raising awareness. Leaders will present to their peers our DfE project manager at the end of the academic year. They will also run a ‘teach the teacher’ session on what they have learned about sustainability. Again huge thanks to our experts at Students Owning Sustainability, in particular Gemma Sarigu.
Our student leaders in performance have been continuing to work hard to prepare for their show in Doncaster as part of the XP Trust Festival of Arts on Friday 12th July. XP Gateshead will have representation from our dancers, choir and rock band.
This week
Assessment Fortnight for all students continues
G28 Assessment timetable
- Monday 17th June AM History / RE 1 hour
- Tuesday 18th June PM English Language 1 hour
- Wednesday 19th June AM Spanish 1 hour (Reading / Listening)
- Thursday 20th June AM Science 75 mins
G29 Assessment timetable
- Tuesday 18th June AM English Language 1 hour
- Wednesday 19th June PM History / RE 1 hour
- Thursday 20th June PM Science 75 mins
G30 Assessment timetable
- CLASS 1 & 2: Monday 17th June AM English 45 mins
- CLASS 1: Tuesday 18th June AM History 30 mins
- CLASS 2: Tuesday 18th June AM Spanish 1 hour
- CLASS 1: Wednesday 19th June AM Spanish 1 hour
- CLASS 2: Wednesday 19th June AM History 30 mins
- CLASS 1 & 2: Thursday 20th June AM Geography 1 hour
- CLASS 1 & 2: Thursday 20th June PM Science 1 hour
Maths end of year assessment will take place in the fortnight commencing 2nd July.
PE sessions this week
Some PE sessions will not run this week due to assessments. PE time will be paid back in coming weeks with additional sessions and Crew Day
- G30 students (Y7) have PE on Monday this week
- G29 students (Y8):
- G29 Class 1 have PE on Tuesday this week.
- G29 Class 2 do not have PE this week
- G28 students (Y9) do not have PE this week
G28 Pathways
Information on the pathways and courses in our offer can be found here. As was posted earlier last week, we are offering a drop-in session for families who would like more support and advice from teachers and Crew Leaders on Tuesday 18th June between 5pm and 6pm.
G29 Fieldwork – Wednesday 19th June
On Wednesday of this week all G29 students will be carrying out fieldwork at the Glasshouse in Gateshead connected to their guiding question “Is migration worth the risk?” As part of national refugee week, students will visit a hosted art exhibition led by volunteer refugees. They will explore art inspired by refugee journeys to gain greater understanding of what these people faced and the factors that caused them to migrate to the UK.
Students will leave school at 9.15am and return to school for a slightly later lunch than is usual at 12.45pm. This means that you do not need to provide a packed lunch unless your child usually has a packed lunch.
Students will travel by Metro and on foot so comfortable walking shoes or trainers will be needed, as well as being prepared for the weather. The current forecast is mild and cloudy with sunny spells. There is little chance of rain at the moment. Suncream is needed as students will be walking during the middle of the day.
G30 Art workshop 1 – Thursday 20th June
The first workshop for art students leaders with Bruce Tuckey will be taking place this Thursday in school this week. All 24 of the student leaders will take part over the coming weeks. This week it will be: Ethan, Adam, Elina, Molly, Parisa, Joe, Lily-Ann B. Layla E. Students will be creating sculptures so should wear clothes which you do not mind getting dirty.
Staff Day – Friday 21st June
Friday is the first of our staff days this half term, the second is on Monday 24th June. Our staff team will be planning for next year’s expeditions. Students will not be expected to be in school on Friday or Monday.
Looking Ahead
Staff day
Monday 24th June is the second of our staff days this half term (and the last this academic year).
We are also expecting an Ofsted visit this final half-term and are really looking forward to the opportunity for our students to shine and showcase their brilliant learning, beautiful work, development of their character and academic success. We will let you know as soon as we are given the indication that we will be inspected and post an update on this website.
As part of the inspection process, Ofsted will ask for your views. It has been a privilege to listen to the things that you have told families in Year 6 about our school which has been fed back to us through our transition process.
We are very aware of the trust that you place in us as families as a new school that is yet to be inspected. There are many stakeholders of our school including Ofsted, our governors and staff. As families you are equal partners in developing and sustaining our community so that it benefits the most important stakeholders of all: our children.
As usual if you have any questions please contact your child’s crew leader in the first instance.
Thank you as always for your ongoing support.
Julie Mosley