At XP East, we believe that creativity is a powerful tool for learning, expression, and personal growth. Our Visual Arts Aptitude route offers a unique opportunity for Year 7 students with a natural flair for creativity to gain a place at a school where the arts are truly valued.
This pathway is open to all children, no prior art training or experience required, just a passion for drawing, designing, and thinking creatively.
Through an inspiring curriculum, expert support, and dynamic extra-curricular opportunities, students will develop their talents across a range of visual art disciplines. If your child loves to create, imagine, and explore the world through art, this is the perfect chance to help them shine. Click here to see highlights from our recent annual XP Festival of Arts and Culture – https://youtu.be/-tcB979lD_g
Apply now and let their creativity take centre stage! Find out more about this here: https://xptrust.info/XPEVA
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.
With the current academic year now in full swing we have been reflecting on our start so far. Along with the rest of E32, Crew MWI experienced the head first, deep end dive into XP culture at Ullswater and came out as a crew. There were challenges and a few tears but the bonds of fellowship will remain forever.
Both classes of Explorer and Pioneer have experienced immersion at XP which has prepared them for the challenging academic curriculum that makes our expeditionary learning so impactful. Every member of crew has thrown themselves into life at XP which has been reflected in our HoWL’s data. Every Thursday we look back at the week before and make notices and wonders on how we have been the previous week. As a crew we look for patterns and celebrate the positives but also offer critique and support to keep us all on track. This past week Crew MWI had an astounding week with every single member of crew logging multiple praises from all across the school. Not a single student was challenged for poor conduct which was reflected in our total of 0 conducts for the week.
As a crew, we not only pledged to continue with our achieving of multiple praises but also keep up the score of zero conducts. Crew MWI are leading the way with showing fantastic character traits and will no doubt smash year seven if they continue on this trajectory
First Week Back at School: A Season of Growth, Teamwork, and New Adventures
The backpacks are packed, alarm clocks are back in action, and just like that, another school year has begun. As the first few weeks of school unfold, classrooms come alive with energy, curiosity, and the unmistakable hum of young minds getting back into the rhythm of learning . Crew Melladee have been working hard and producing some amazing work and in doing so, we have reset our crew NORMS and started the year making some perfect memories.
We absolutely loved our first crew week in school!!! We went on a walk to Sandall woods and embraced team work and the meaning of crew daily ,which led to the whole crew taking part in a POL and producing a video of key moments to show the memories we made.
I’m excited to see all students develop and become the best versions of themselves and continue to embrace XP and all of our values over the next year !
We’ve kicked off the week on a really positive note. In both Ethics and Spanish, Crew showed great focus and got stuck into their learning. It was lovely to see them contributing to discussions and sharing their knowledge and understanding.
Starting the week like this sets us up really well, and I’m hopeful we can carry this energy through the rest of the week.
Wednesday- Year 8 and 9 netball fixture away return to XP school. Please tick your name off the sheet. Netball practice for year 7’s and remaining students it still on with Miss Bowser 3.30-4.30
Last week in Wise Wednesday, our focus was on redirecting negative thoughts and learning how to reframe them in a more positive light. This week, we’re building on that idea by creating artwork around positive affirmations.
Each piece will be bursting with our crew members’ personalities, confidence, and colour – a chance for everyone to proudly declare who they are. As a crew leader, I believe it’s important to have something on our wall that celebrates us, reminds us of our strengths, and shows the pride we take in who we are together.
I can’t wait to share the finished results – photos to follow soon!
Crew Windsor have been busy this last week or so! We have completed our reading assessments and are moving ahead with purposeful extended study. We have also been on top of our SOS analysis and making sure that we are recognising the good work going on, and holding those to account if they’re not quite being the best versions of themselves. In our community meeting we had a beautiful announcement that one of our crew members were artist of the week! Freya has really committed to her art progress and it is showing! Well done Freya!
On Tuesday 16th September, Big Talk Education are speaking to Year 9 students as part of the statutory Relationships and Sex Education. Below is an outline of what is going to be covered by Big Talk Education.
This week, Year 8 students at XP were given an exciting opportunity to immerse themselves in their new expedition with a visit from professional artist Michelle Clarke Stables (MC Stables).
Michelle worked with all Year 8 groups, bringing energy, expertise, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live and work as an artist. She inspired students by sharing her personal journey and creative story, showing that art is not just about making something beautiful—it’s about expressing the human experience.
One of the highlights of the day was when Michelle introduced her original artwork and a powerful sculpture titled Entrapment. This piece explores themes of fear, anxiety, and the barriers we sometimes create for ourselves, sparking deep conversations among students about how art can communicate emotion and connect with audiences in powerful ways.
Students also had the rare chance to closely examine Michelle’s original pieces. This hands-on immersion gave them valuable insight into materials, processes, and the layered thinking that goes into creating professional artwork.
The workshops challenged Year 8 to explore expressive mark-making, colour, and words in new ways—laying a strong foundation for their expedition learning. By experiencing art firsthand, students began to see how creativity can give voice to complex ideas, emotions, and stories.
Michelle’s visit has raised the profile of Art across the school, showing students that the subject is not only about developing skills, but also about asking questions, telling stories, and making meaning. She has kindly donated, on loan, some of her pieces to be exhibited within the XP and XPE community which will enrich the arts experience for the whole school; its staff, students, parents and our visitors.
The buzz in classrooms following her sessions has been undeniable, and it’s clear her visit will leave a lasting impression on our budding artists.
“Michelle inspired our artwork in class. I enjoyed that we were able to express ourselves freely through the marks we made. I think it’s good to have authentic artwork around the school. I added XPs Character traits to my own work.” – Jensen E31
What a wonderful start to the year with C31. I’m looking forward to seeing how their work progresses!
