A Proud Crew Leader: Reflecting on Crew White’s Passage Presentations

Over the past two weeks, I have had the absolute privilege of watching members of Crew White deliver their passage presentations. It has been a time of reflection, pride, and deep emotion as they looked back on their journey through Key Stage 3 and shared how they have grown into the incredible individuals they are today.

Their presentations were not just about academic progress but about the personal development they have undergone since Year 7. They spoke candidly about their highs and lows, the lessons learned, and the resilience built along the way. As their crew leader, I could not be prouder of the honesty, courage, and strength they displayed. There have certainly been a few tears—both theirs and mine—shed with pride and emotion.

One student beautifully compared her time at XP to building a house. She described Year 7 as the foundation, where she learned about our character traits, HoWLs (Habits of Work and Learning), and the unique way we work together. Each lesson became a brick, carefully laid to build knowledge and skills. Expeditions acted as windows and doors, opening new perspectives and opportunities. And as she moves into Year 11, revision will be the final step—placing the roof on her house to secure everything she has built. This analogy resonated deeply, capturing the essence of our journey at XP.

Another student reflected on her personal growth, stating, “My confidence has grown significantly since joining. I now feel comfortable doing things like asking for help and pursuing my interests, which have been grown by the people around me in this school.” This statement truly encapsulates what Crew is all about—support, encouragement, and the belief that we are all capable of achieving great things when surrounded by the right people.

Throughout Key Stage 3, these students have developed resilience, independence, confidence, and a deep sense of responsibility for their own learning. These traits will be invaluable as they step into Key Stage 4, where the challenges will be greater, but so too will their ability to meet them head-on.

Crew White, you have already achieved so much, and I have no doubt that you will continue to thrive as you move forward. You are ready for this next stage, and I couldn’t be prouder to be your crew leader.

Onward and upward—our journey continues!

Mrs Fowler

Crew Windsor – Lost Property 04/02/25

E29 – Crew Windsor are part of the cohort in charge of looking after the lost property. Here are some bits that are missing their owner…..(Manchester Utd top now claimed) If you notice something to be your childs – please sed them to the East stairs where they are displayed.

E30’s Powerful Work on Macbeth

As part of E30’s expedition ‘Fight the Power’ they are grappling with the anchor text, Macbeth. Me and Mr Portman have been blown away by every single students’ engagement, effort and focus so far. Our Friday session 5 drama sessions are quickly becoming the highlight of our week.

Not only this but their analysis work, interpretation of key scenes and characters and book work is beautiful. They are really embodying XPE’s HOWLs in their lessons. Keep working hard, getting smart and being kind guys.

See a sneak peak below of some of our thespians in action. Get ready for the POL! Details of which will be sent out asap.

Thank you for making our week – Mrs Desborough and Mr Portman

Sharing our Stories: 31/01/2025

Beautiful Work This Week

Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust from this week. To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.

Top of the Blogs

Family Learning @ Norton Infants

Class 9 Family Learning @ Green Top

Family Learning @ Plover

Why do we have a skeleton? @ Carcroft School

Digest This! @ Norton Juniors

A Visit from Brenda Dinsdale @ XP Gateshead

Cheerleading Festival @ XP

Share your stories with us!

We now have a new dedicated news email so that you can send your stories, updates or ideas about potential news articles directly to us in Comms.

It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!

Cheerleading festival

XP/XP East cheer squad Explosion had the opportunity to work with Outwood Danum academy to showcase their cheer routines and take part in a stunt workshop. The students in the cheer squad have been working really hard since September to develop their skills and this showed during the workshop. It was an amazing evening of fun, enjoyment and new learning. We hope the cheer squad continues to grow and develop.

Well done everyone

PE extra curricular W/C 27/1/25

Tuesday- KS4 badminton practice and girls football practice 3.30-4.30. girls football will finish at 4.10.

Wednesday- Netball practice 3.30-4.30

Thursday- KS4 Badminton finals at home 3.30-5.15

Any questions please email team PE.

Sharing our Stories 24/01/2025

Beautiful Work This Week

Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust from this week. To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.

Top of the Blogs

Family Learning @ Norton Infants

Class 8 are artists @ Green Top

Our Expert Community Visitor @ Plover

What is humanism? @ Carcroft School

Table Mathematics @ Norton Juniors

G31 Expedition Reveal – Do Your Bit @ XP Gateshead

Share your stories with us!

We now have a new dedicated news email so that you can send your stories, updates or ideas about potential news articles directly to us in Comms.

It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!

XP East Fieldwork to Thackray Museum of Medicine

We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for our XP East students as part of our current expedition, You Give Me Fever. On Thursday, 30th January, students will be visiting the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds. This fieldwork will provide invaluable insights into the history of medicine, complementing their classroom learning with real-world context and interactive exhibits.

Here are the key details for the day:

  • Date: Thursday, 30th January
  • Location: Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds
  • What to bring: A packed lunch, a coat, a bag, and a pen
  • Timing: The fieldwork will take place during the school day, with students returning to school in time for normal collection hours (traffic dependent).

This promises to be an unforgettable experience where students can engage with the fascinating evolution of medicine and deepen their understanding of how health care has changed over time. Please ensure that your child is prepared with everything they need for the day.

Thank you for your support in making this learning opportunity possible. We can’t wait to share what we’ve learned!