E24 Explorer working hard in Art

By Heather Cross11th October 2019

We are working on the guiding question ‘Why do we still need charity?’ Today we looked at the artist Kathe Kollwitz and had to put together a jigsaw in pairs. We then used the protocol ‘silent conversation’ to analyse visual material and answer questions relating to the art work we are interpreting.

Afterwards we all presented our analysis to the class. Students wowed me with how sensitive they were with the art work they were discussing. Corey commented on his image that: “It looks as if the hands are dragging him away from life to death”.

Analysing artwork is a difficult skill to master but Explorer really unpicked what they were looking at and most importantly in a sensitive way. Well done!

E25 Inter-Crew competition

By James Walker1st October 2019

The weather may have scuppered our normal plans today but it didn’t dampen our spirits. We took the opportunity to run our first inter-crew competition of the year. E25 students competed fiercely in their Danish Longball contest (a mixture of cricket and dodgeball). Points were up for grabs for good sportsmanship, good individual play and, of course, for winning games. Crew Turing ultimately emerged victorious after some outstanding play by all!

Introducing XP’s Own Army Expert!

By K Poncia25th September 2019

Today in HUMAN, 7Explorer were lucky enough to have a visit from a particularly special expert! Ethan, who is one of XP’s first cohort of students to take their GCSEs, came to speak to us about applying for jobs in the army and the qualities needed to be a successful soldier.

Ethan is joining the army in March when he will start his training as a soldier in the Royal Engineers.

Ethan talked to us about what inspired him to join the army, what his roles and responsibilities will be and what his daily routine will be like. He also explained what duties the role of being both a medic and an engineer would include.

We were fascinated to hear that he will have to share a dormitory with 11 other soldiers and get up at 5am! We were shocked to hear that you can have one hour on your X Box each evening to help you unwind!

Ethan spoke clearly about needing qualities such as compassion, respect and craftsmanship and quality. Shawn said, ‘It’s just like crew!’

We then shared examples of our job descriptions and asked Ethan to choose a job to apply for. Ethan said he would apply for all of them as he was impressed with persuasive devices used, such as Sam’s rhetorical questions, and the clear explanations of the character traits that are needed.

7Explorer would like to appreciate Ethan for taking his time to talk us. We have invited him back once he has started his training to let us know how he is getting on.

Good luck, Ethan!

Case Study 1: United We Stand!

By K Poncia24th September 2019

Today in HUMAN, 7Explorer have been working extremely hard writing their final copy of a World War 1 job description.

Students’ task was to compose a piece of persuasive writing to encourage men to enlist in the army. They had to include a range of persuasive literary devices such as rhetorical questions, alliteration and powerful vocabulary to make their adverts appealing.

All students were focussed in sessions and were praised and appreciated for their sustained levels of concentration and productivity.

Take a look at what working hard and getting smart in 7Explorer looked like!

7 Pioneer Complete their First HUMAN Learning Target!

By H Hickson22nd September 2019

This week 7Pioneer have undertaken their first ever Learning Target in Hums which is ‘I can write an imaginative piece of informative, persuasive writing’

Working and learning in secondary school may feel like a big step step up from primary school for the class and although at first completing this learning target seemed like a huge mountain to climb, they all reached the top!

This piece of writing was in the form of a job advertisement and description of a role in the First World War such as the Navy, Royal Engineers or Royal Flying Corps. It was great seeing the students explain the roles and responsibilities, skills, qualities and requirements for each job.

Here they are in action – super focused and working hard to create beautiful work!

E24 Pioneer and Explorer

By Heather Cross20th September 2019

What a week from E24!

This video is of Pioneer working hard, creating beautiful work and showing craftsmanship and quality.

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We then did some peer critique doing the protocol ‘milling to music’. What a great way of getting students out of their seat, appreciating other students work and writing purposeful feedback.

Some great moves from Explorer! When the music stopped students went to the nearest table and peer critiqued (we did this twice). Students then actioned their feedback by improving the work from the suggestions given. In purple pen they explained this and wrote a personal target they needed to achieve in next weeks lesson. All in all an excellent week in Art for E24! Keep it up!

E24/Year 9 How to build a rollercoaster workshops

By Katie Haughey14th September 2019

Year 9 have been lucky enough to experience another fantastic day of fieldwork, helping them build background knowledge for their STEAM expedition, ‘Slow Down’. In a few weeks time, their learning will culminate in a final product that answers the guiding question:

What does physics and maths have to with saving life?

This Thursday, the year group visited Alton Towers’ education department to learn about how they assess the safety and functionality of their roller coasters. Students were briefed on how they might want to design their own roller coasters using the principles of physics and mathematics.

They also applied their knowledge of algebraic substitution by calculating gravitational potential energy, as well as velocity at each hill of their roller coasters and centripetal acceleration. Students were then given a workbook to fill out as we travelled through the park – they were able to explain why they felt so weightless during the drop on oblivion, and were able to calculate GPE on the coasters across the theme park using the knowledge gained in the workshops. Plus, we all had a lot of fun on the rides!

We will be picking up this new physics and maths content once we get back into school this coming week and applying it across the STEAM sessions.

E24 Explorer and Pioneer

By Heather Cross12th September 2019

E24 started off their immersion for the expedition ‘Why do we still need Charity?’ Creating contextual studies from the artist: Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. What a great start to beautiful work! Some have been carefully using a craft knife to remove sections: creating contrast. Others have been using pen to block out areas. All students will do both pieces of work.

This is just some of the beautiful work they have produced. Keep up the hard work! Can’t wait to work on the final product with you (we are creating a product that runs alongside Hums).

Y9 (E24) Fieldwork 12/9/18

By A Parker11th September 2019

Here’s a reminder about tomorrow’s fieldwork, and a bit more information about where we are going and why.

The fieldwork relates to our STEAM expedition – ‘Slow Down’ – and the Guiding Question has been revealed:

What does physics and maths have to with saving life?

Tomorrow, we will be visiting Alton Towers. We have already explored the Smiler accident (as part of Case Study 1) and tomorrow’s visit will help us to understand more about forces, speed and safety.

Students will attend a focussed STEAM workshop in the morning. This will build on our visit to AMRC.

After lunch, there will be an opportunity for students to visit some of the rides discussed in the morning session (working in small groups, accompanied by a member of staff.) Of course, it isn’t compulsory to go on any of the rides!

So, here’s a reminder about the key information for the day. If you have any further questions, please contact Mr Smith – [email protected]

**Please also note that students have been told NOT to bring any money**

All students to arrive at school by 7:45am for a prompt departure at 8am.
Students will need to bring a packed lunch and bottle of water (no glass bottles or fizzy drinks or sweets.) A packed lunch will be provided for those students receiving free school meals.
Please bring any prescribed medication required, clearly labelled in a plastic bag or envelope with your child’s name and required dosage. This includes travel sickness tablets where necessary as we will be travelling by coach for approximately 1hour 30minutes.
Sensible clothing, coat and shoes need to be worn. We will be outside for part of the day, so please make sure clothing is weather appropriate.
Students will return to school at approximately 4pm – although we will post updates on the school’s twitter account and the XP East Parents/Carers Facebook group.

8Pioneer Extended Study

By H Hickson9th September 2019

8 Pioneer have now had the big reveal of their first Hums expedition in year 8 ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go?’ which will focus around the theme of migration (past and present).

Our anchor text ‘Of Mice and Men’ will be explored and analysed so in preparation for this, the students have been set an ongoing extended study to learn 33 different literary terms and devices such as oxymoron, anaphora and protagonist, as well as an example (they have been given a list of these in today’s lesson). Image result for of mice and men book