Crew Hoy – Stewards of our Community
On Monday this week Crew Hoy litter picked across the school site. By working in teams of girls and boys there was a healthy element of competition used to make this job a little more fun.
All of us were shocked by the amount of litter that we found on our site and we hope that we can continue this regularly to ensure high levels of stewardship across our schools.
Thanks Crew Hoy. Great work!
High Expectations and Great Focus: Inside Mr. Morrison’s Maths Group
There was maths energy in the air last week when visiting Mrs. Morrison and Mr. Elliot’s Year 11 Maths group. From the moment the lesson began, it was clear that this is a room where high expectations were met by great effort—and the results speak for themselves.
Stepping into the classroom, the first thing that struck me was the level of focus. Every student was fully immersed in their maths learning, head down, and working with real purpose.
- Deliberate Practice: Students diving straight into complex problem-solving, building fluency and confidence step by step.
- Pride in Presentation: Clear, step-by-step working out that showed a deep understanding for the concepts.
This was a clear framework of support and challenge. The combined drive from Mr. Morrison and Mrs. Fowler creates an environment where students were able to succeed.
By holding students to exceptionally high standards, Mr. Morrison and Mrs. Fowler are actively pushing students out of their comfort zones to accelerate their progress.
“Getting smart” isn’t something that happens by accident—it’s the direct result of consistent effort, expert guidance, and a relentless work ethic.
Classroom Highlights: Passion, Persistence, and Precision in Year 11 Maths
Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of dropping in on Mrs. Goddard’s Year 11 Maths group.
As Year 11 ramps up, the pressure can build quickly, but stepping into this classroom I saw focus, effort, and high expectations. In mathematics, retention is everything—topics build upon one another like building blocks, so these sessions are key.
It was fantastic to see the whole group actively engaging with previously learned material, strengthening their memory pathways, and proving that hard work pays off.
While the whole group deserves huge credit for their work rate, a special mention must go to Heidi.
Heidi showcased true craftsmanship in her learning demonstrating what it truly means to “get smart” through additional Sparx engagement.
Mrs. Goddard’s group showed exactly what Year 11 is all about: dedication, deliberate practice, and a determination to improve every single day.
Hands-On History: Building Motte & Bailey Castles
E33 Pioneer have been working incredibly hard on the History content for their first Expedition: This Land is Your Land.
When exploring how William the Conqueror gained control in England we learnt about the Motte and Bailey castles, which we had in Doncaster!
On Friday we spent the session consolidating our knowledge of the features of the castles by building our own to include:
- Motte
- Keep
- Bailey
- Palisade
We’re now working towards our skills check to demonstrate our knowledge so far in the expedition!
Excellent work, Pioneer!
What coming up WC 28th September
Wednesday – Boys dna girls football training 3.30-4.30.
Year 8 and 9 netball fixture at Home against Ridgewood. 3.30-4.45.
Thursday – Cheerleading practice 3.30-4.30
Crew White- A little time to breathe
The last five weeks have been a big one for Crew White, and I just wanted to take a moment to say how incredibly proud I am of them.
They have been working so hard and have really stepped things up now that they are in Year 11. The days are long, with five-session days now sometimes becoming seven because of Academic Crew and Learning Labs. That is a lot to fit into a day, and yet they continue to show up, keep going and give things their best.
That’s why this morning’s Crew session felt so needed.
It was a chance to slow things down for a little while. Time to catch up, talk about how Year 11 is treating us, share a few thoughts, have a laugh and, most importantly, just have a minute to stop and breathe.
Because whilst I want them to work hard and make the very most of Year 11, I also want to get the balance right. I don’t want them burning out before they’ve even had the chance to really get going. There is so much pressure on them, and sometimes they simply need permission to pause.
A little hot chocolate and a sweet treat certainly seemed to hit the spot! ☕🍪 It was very well received and definitely appreciated.
But more than the biscuits and hot chocolate, I hope they know just how proud I am of every single member of my crew.
I’m proud of the hard work they are putting in. I’m proud of the way they are growing in confidence and maturity. But I’m also incredibly proud of the young adults they are becoming.
They’re growing, changing, finding themselves and discovering more about who they are and who they want to be. Year 11 isn’t just about exams and results — it’s about becoming the best versions of themselves, both academically and personally.
And I feel very lucky that I get to be a small part of that journey.
And honestly?
I just love their company. ❤️
This morning was definitely one that filled my little heart.
Sometimes, it’s the simplest moments that remind you exactly why you love what you do.
Same crew. Bigger dreams. Year 11. ❤️
E31 Explorer: Bringing ‘Lord of the Flies’ to Life
It is always a thrill when a piece of classic literature truly clicks with a class, but what is happening right now with E31 Explorer in English is on a completely different level. We have recently dived into William Golding’s masterpiece, Lord of the Flies, and to say that this group of students is getting into the text would be a massive understatement.
From the moment we crash-landed on the island in chapter one, E31 Explorer has brought an incredible level of maturity, curiosity, and deep thinking to our reading sessions. The discussions we’ve been having are phenomenal, proving just how insightful, articulate, and truly great this group of students is… But the absolute highlight of our lessons has to be how E31 has pulled one of the most iconic symbols from the novel right out of the book and into our classroom culture: the conch.
Just like Ralph and Piggy use the white conch shell on the island to establish order and ensure everyone gets a fair chance to be heard, E31 has adopted this exact system for our class. The rule is simple, pulled straight from Golding’s pages. It has completely elevated our reading, discussions and debates, making sure every single voice in E31 Explorer is valued and heard without interruption.
I could not be more proud of how E31 Explorer is navigating this challenging, intense novel. I can’t wait to see how they react as the tension on the island builds in the final chapters. Keep holding the conch high, E31!
Miss Buckley, English Specialist and Expeditionary Teacher
Sharing our Stories: 25/09/2026
Beautiful work this week
Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust!
To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.
Top of the Blogs
]The bog baby @ Norton Infants
Year 4 English Quizzers @ Norton Juniors
Year 11 History: Living under Nazi rule @ XP East
Share your stories with us!
Write to us at [email protected] – we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!
Year 11 History: Living Under Nazi Rule
Our Year 11 historians have been developing their understanding of life in Nazi Germany, exploring the experiences of different groups within German society.
Students revisited key policies affecting German workers, including the German Labour Front (DAF), Beauty Through Labour and the Reich Labour Service, before moving on to explore the changing lives of German women and the Nazi vision of a Volksgemeinschaft – a people’s community united around Nazi ideals.
Students were encouraged to use purple pen to check, correct and build on their answers, helping to address misconceptions and strengthen their historical knowledge. Through thoughtful questioning and discussion with Mrs Eliott, they made connections between individual experiences and the Nazis’ wider aims for German society.
It has been fantastic to see our Year 11 historians engaging so thoughtfully with this challenging topic and continually working to improve their historical understanding. Well done, Year 11!
