XP East

And just like that… that’s a wrap on our fifth and final ever first week back!

It has been such a lovely week reconnecting after the summer break. We kicked things off with a wellbeing walk on Monday, followed by reflections and roadmapping our final year on Tuesday. Wednesday brought a ‘How to Revise’ workshop, before we created our year overview calendar, plotting all of those important dates — mocks, TSLCs and, of course, our exams.

We then worked out that we have just 153 days physically left in the building until our final exam.

153 days. Mental.

Thursday saw us thinking about the legacy we want to leave behind for future students, and today we finished with a POL before hitting the ground running with revision sessions.

But amongst all the planning and preparation, we’ve also made sure there has been time for some fun. We’ve played games we loved back in Year 7, compared our Year 7 first-day photographs with this year’s, and laughed at just how much we’ve all changed.

Then, just before everyone left today, we watched the video from their first week in Wales.

And that got me.

Watching those little Year 7 faces, knowing that those children are now about to enter their final year, made me incredibly emotional. Five years. Gone in the blink of an eye.

I honestly can’t believe we’re here.

We’re coming into our finale, and I’m not ready for it. I want a few more acts. A few more chapters. A few more first days, fieldwork, laughs, silly moments and memories.

I don’t want this journey to end.

But if there is one thing I know, it’s that Crew White are going to make this final year count.

So here we go, Crew White.

Our final chapter. Let’s make it one we never forget.

Good Afternoon, our ETA is 4.15 for the XPE bus and 4.25 for XP bus. We can’t wait to see you then.

Thanks

Welcome back, Crew Rosa Parkes, to Year 10. We have experienced a remarkably productive and engaging week re-establishing our crew norms and further building our relationships.

Throughout these packed week, students have consistently demonstrated our core character traits, most notably courage. This week, they meticulously prepared their CVs and cover letters in anticipation of their mock job interviews. Our students received exceptional feedback from industry experts regarding the depth and maturity of their interview answers—experiences that will undoubtedly support them as they approach future college interviews.

As Year 10 marks the official commencement of the GCSE period, students in Rosa Parkes have already begun collaborating on strategic revision ideas to support their preparation for May 2028. This proactive foundation sets an excellent trajectory for the year ahead.

Welcome back E30 to the start of your Year 10 journey. It has been lovely to see all students back and getting stuck into the crew week actvities.

Our guiding question for the week was ” How can we ensure our future selves can thank us for the next 2 years.”

Have a listen to our video to find out what we did to answer the guiding question.

Thanks for a great week Year 10. Lets hit the ground running in lessons next week. Enjoy the bank holiday.

Notice- PE day is Thursday session 1. Please ensure you have your PE top. If you have not purchased yet please order from the link below.

https://romirosport.com/product-category/education/xpe-doncaster

Today Crew Hoy debriefed and reflected on their outward bound walk on the Monsal Trail. Many members of crew appreciated the support and encouragement they got from others as they completed the three and a half hour route.

It was a great way to consider why we need to be kind to each other and support each other in crew as we work towards our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award this year.

In the afternoon, we considered how we would like to grow as individuals this year. Every student then made three pledges which we will keep returning to through this academic year to consider the progress we have made towards achieving our goals.

What an incredible start to Year 8 for Crew KHE! We kicked off the new academic year by putting our character traits front and center, pushing our boundaries, and reflecting deeply on the path we want to forge for the months ahead.

Monday: Sportsmanship and Victory Our week began with vibrant energy during a traditional mini Olympics. Students gave it their all in classic events like the egg-and-spoon and wheelbarrow races, showing great humor and encouragement from the start. The competitive spirit stayed high as we moved into an intense intra-crew quiz challenge—where Crew KHE’s sharp thinking and collaboration paid off, leading us to take home the overall victory!

Tuesday: Practical Skills in the Woods On Tuesday, we traded the classroom for nature with a visit to Sandall Beat Woods. The crew dived headfirst into hands-on learning, mastering bush clearing, developing vital survival skills, navigating terrain through orienteering, and inspecting local biodiversity during mini-beast hunting.

Wednesday: Craftsmanship, Compassion, and Pledges Midweek presented an ambitious crew design challenge: research, plan, and construct a brand-new PE kit, producing 25 identical high-quality copies as a team. Crew KHE embodied our core character traits of respect and compassion by ensuring every voice was valued. The final products truly highlighted our commitment to craftsmanship and quality. To wrap up the day, students engaged in solo reflections, celebrating their highlights from last year and setting personal pledges for who they aim to become in Year 8.

Thursday: Energy and Voice We energised the morning by choreographing original Zumba routines, performing them live in front of the entire cohort. After bringing down the house, we split into smaller groups to debrief the week’s triumphs and craft a compelling presentation to share at tomorrow’s community meeting.

Crew KHE has already set a phenomenal tone for the year. With this level of teamwork, respect, and determination, Year 8 is bound to be unforgettable!

What a start to the week we’ve had! We’ve absolutely loved every minute so far, and rebuilding and rebooting Crew has been amazing. 💙

Day 1 We kicked off the week with a traditional mini Sports Day taking part in egg-and-spoon races, mini hurdles and skipping. Although we came second, we’ll be practising hard and getting ready to steal that first-place spot back at Sports Day this year! 🥚🏃‍♀️🏅 We then stepped into Vegas to take on the quiz, recapping all things Year 7 and putting our knowledge to the test.

Day 2 Saw us heading down to Sandal Beat Wood, where we hunted for mini beasts, tackled fires and helped clean up and look after the woods. We also can’t forget the 25,000 steps it took us to get there and back — definitely a well-earned rest afterwards! 🌳🐛🔥

Day 3 was all about creativity and design. Students designed their very own new PE kit before stepping into the world of manufacturing, bringing their ideas to life through designing, constructing and finally presenting their finished designs ready to be launched to PE for discussion. 👕🎨

The afternoon was a little more peaceful as Crew headed down to Lakeside for a solo reflection, taking some time to reflect on Year 7 and think about what they want to achieve and get out of Year 8. We then finished the day by chilling, chatting and having a kick-around together. ⚽💭

We can’t wait for the final two days, where we’ll continue preparing, reflecting and getting everyone ready for the busy and exciting year ahead! 🚀

We are excited to share information for year 7 (C33) fieldwork to Kynren on Wednesday 2nd September. Please see information below.

We’ve arrived safely at Outward Bound! 🌲

After our journey, we’ve refuelled with lunch and are already starting to settle into our new surroundings. Next up: finding our rooms, making our beds and getting ready to head out for our first activities!

There’s already a real buzz of excitement as everyone gets used to our home for the week. We can’t wait to see what challenges, adventures and memories the next few days bring! 💪

The adventure officially begins now… 👀

#C33OutwardBound

What a fantastic first day back for C29!

It was lovely to start the first day of our final year with a walk around Langsett Reservoir, taking in the stunning views and enjoying some time together in the great outdoors.

The walk was also a chance to reminisce about their very first day with us back in Year 7, when they set off on their first Outward Bound walk in Wales. Looking back, we’re not quite sure where the time has gone. It feels like we blinked, and suddenly their school journey is almost over!

It was wonderful to see everyone return after the summer well rested, refreshed and raring to tackle Year 11. There was plenty of catching up between friends, lots of laughter and, of course, plenty of opportunities to show what being a crew is all about. As tired legs started to kick in, students supported and encouraged one another, making sure everyone kept going.

Most importantly, it was fantastic to see the students enjoying themselves, spending time together and taking in the beautiful surroundings.

What a way to begin the school year – and what a way to start their final year with us. Here’s to a brilliant Year 11!