Hello, we are Dufton Crew! This is our first blog post and we want to share with you some stories from our first half term at XP East.
When we first joined XP, we were all nervous and shy but our experience at Outward Bound prepared us for the challenges and adventures we would face.
In our first week, we jumped straight into immersion, where we went on our first fieldwork trip to the National Coal Mining Museum. At this point, we did not know our Guiding Question or Expedition Title, so it came as a shock when we were plunged 240 feet underground in a rickety elevator. We faced anxieties and fear, due to the depth of the tunnels and confined space, but we were able to spend some time underground before we rapidly rose to the surface again.
This allowed us to get to know our classes, Explorer and Pioneer, that we would be spending the next 5 years together throughout our time at XP. Our expedition is called: From the Ground Up and our Guiding Question is: What does the community of Doncaster owe to mining? We have looked at the mining strike, women’s roles during the time and how Britain changed and developed as a result of the Industrial Revolution.
We have analysed the musical, Billy Elliot, to help us understand what it was like during the 1980’s. We also had an expert from Reading University who shared with us some stories of local women who protested and fought for the miners of Doncaster.
We are currently planning and preparing for our Presentation of Learning – but we can’t reveal to you the fun details that are about to unfold… just yet.
Stay tuned for more action!