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!

Mrs Hudson

Last term Year 10 worked hard to produce a product talking all about their family, freetime, and device preferences. They could take on a role with a fictional family, or describe their actual family, and redrafted to produce beautiful Spanish. XP school produced this for XPE Year 10, and vice versa. Take a look, and a listen, to their final product.

Our E27 / Year 8 Spanish students have recently completed their 6 frame daily routine storyboard, that provides a model for Year 5 students in our XP Trust Schools to follow. By connecting their learning to previous material covered in year 7 – such as telling the time, naming family members, and identifying rooms of the house – most of our E27 / Year 8 linguists were able to evidence up to and including excellence standards on the rubric table.

We’re really proud of their achievements and wish to share their beautiful work, curated here into a short video-clip, with the wider community. ¡Enhorabuena a todos!