Dear Families
I wanted to write to you to update you on changes in staffing for the next academic year. We are really proud to have a committed Staff Crew. Even in the most dedicated of teams, there will be changes year on year.
At the end of this term we say goodbye to Rebecca Marshall, Charlotte Fielding and Victoria Downes who are leaving XP Gateshead for new adventures.
Rebecca Marshall leaves us to join the maths team at Kingsmeadow School. Rebecca has worked with us for the past 3 years and I’m sure that you will join me in thanking her for all of her high quality work at XP Gateshead as a Mathematics teacher, Crew Leader and STEAM School Faculty Lead.
Charlotte Fielding has decided to leave teaching to explore opportunities in the historical sector, a real passion of hers. Again, I’m sure that you will join me in thanking Charlotte for all of her high quality work at XP Gateshead as a Spanish teacher and Crew Leader.
Victoria Downes has worked with us as a Learning Coach at XPG since we started. She has balanced her time as a children’s author and literacy expert working with schools and communities across the region. She leaves us to continue writing and sharing her beautiful children’s books. I thank Victoria for all the support she has given staff and students over the years.
Over this past half term we have had new staff join our team:
- Gayle Crowder who joins us as a Mathematics Teacher, Crew Leader and Y7 Phase Leader
- Rebecca Denny-Holmes who joins us as a Spanish teacher and Crew Leader
- Helen Chambers who joins our Trust to support Mathematics teachers across all XP schools. Helen will be based at XPG for a lot of her work and will be teaching Mathematics with us.
- Mel Girling has joined us on a permanent basis as a Human teacher and Crew Leader
We have also made some internal leadership appointments this year which will start in the new academic year. Congratulations go to:
- Stephanie Jamison who will be STEAM School Faculty Lead
- Hannah Simpson who will be our HUMAN School Faculty Lead
- Rebecca Jones who will be Leader of Crew across school
- Tom Devitt who will be our Y8/9 Phase Leader
- Emmy Tatters who will be our Y10/11 Phase Leader
- Michelle Ross who joins our Trust team to provide coaching capacity across schools. Michelle will be based at XPG.
The premise of our staffing model at XPG is based on the ‘schools within a school’ concept. We aim to put small teams around students so staff get to know them and their needs so they can provide the highest quality of support and challenge. We have created three phases in school; Y6/7 Phase, Y8/9 Phase and Y10/11 Phase. Staff working within a certain Phase are also a Crew Leader within that Phase so that they are able to work closely with students to produce beautiful work, develop character and ensure academic success. This does mean that there will be teacher and Crew Leader changes across the five years of secondary school but, as a small school, adults get to know students well to ensure every student feels a strong sense of belonging as they move from dependent to independent learner.
Within our phase teams we are developing expertise so that Year 7 Crew Leaders excel in inducting students into our culture and helping them to manage the transition to secondary school, Year 8/9 Crew Leaders are experts in developing independence and strong habits in readiness for Key Stage 4 and Year 10/11 Crew Leaders are well-versed in supporting and challenging students through the rigours and demands of GCSEs and Level 2 courses.
Here are our Phase Teams and Crew Leaders for next year:
Year 7 – Gayle Crowder, Y7 Phase Leader
G33 (Year 7) Crew leaders – Leanne Diamond, Emily Bennet, Sevvandi Rajapakse, Gayle Crowder
Year 8/9 – Tom Devitt, Y8/9 Phase leader
G32 (Year 8) Crews
- Crew Robson – Mel Girling
- Crew Booth – Amy Rawcliffe
- Crew Swan – Tom Devitt
- Crew Hepburn – Joe Allan
G31 (Year 9) Crews
- Crew Shakespeare – Stephanie Jamison
- Crew Windsor – Rebecca Jones
- Crew Pankhurst – Mr Azam
- Crew Curie – Mrs Carter
Year 10/11 – Emmy Tatters, Y10/11 Phase Leader
G30 (Year 10) Crews
- Crew Einstein – Hannah Young
- Crew Kahlo – Tilda Macphail
- Crew Earhart – Emmy Tatters
- Crew darling – Rebecca Denny-Holmes
G29 (Year 11) Crews
- Crew King – Tim Macdonald
- Crew Watson – Katy Horne
- Crew Nightingale – Darren Mead
- Crew Attenborough – Hannah Simpson
New Crew Leaders will be in touch with families to introduce themselves as your first point of contact at XPG.