Crew White checking out for Christmas

15th December 2022Web Blogger

We can not believe that we have completed our first term here at XP East, in one way it feels like we were only boarding the bus for Aberdovey yesterday, but then in another way we feel so settled and like we have been here forever.

Between us as a crew we have collected 194 praise points and this week we have been reviewing our HoWL’s. After looking at our data we have made pledges for the spring term. Some examples are below:

I pledge to improve my Get Smart HoWL in Maths from a 3.0 to a 3.5 by the end of next term. I will do this by putting my hand up and asking more questions. This will help improve my AP by the end of next term- Lola Endicott

I pledge to improve my Work Hard in P.E from a 2.5 to a 3 by remembering my kit every week. I will do this by the end of next term – Elsie Wright

I pledge to improve my attendance to 97% by the end of next term – Arlo Hague

As a crew leader I have also made a pledge to visit my crew in their sessions more and look at their beautiful work- I’m sure they will remind me of this.

It’s safe to say we have crammed lots into this term, Aberdovey, the coal mining museum, Bletchley park and Billy Elliott performances just to name a few! We can not wait to share our POL with you in the new year.

Here are some of the things our crew have said are highlights/favourite moments from this term and some photos of what we have been up to.

Nicole: My highlight of this first term was learning about Billy Elliot and reading in the character/pretending to be them with Miss Buckely. Also exploding the quotes and phrases to learn more about the characters.

Kiera- My highlight from our first term was when a student in HUMS asked Mr tucker a bunch of questions about coal and it got to a point where he had to walk out of class because he found it so irritating but funny at the same time.

Lucas-My highlight was in Aberdovey when i got to know my roomies and neighbours properly whilst spending cherishable time with them. Im pretty sure everyone was happy with the people they were put in a room with.

Have a wonderful and restful break, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Crew White.

E27 Presentation of Learning

12th December 2022Web Blogger


Presentation of learning is being held at XP East tomorrow evening. We have a couple of special guests in attendance in the hope of raising awareness about the current housing crisis in the UK.

We have been studying how metaphorical and literal structures have huge impacts on our lives and we are excited to share with you our ideas.

We hope to see you all there – XP East, 4:30-5:30.

Crew Malala Mindful Painting

28th November 2022Web Blogger

Crew Malala spent a Crew session quietly creating beautiful art in watercolours. We put on some quiet music – pianist Ludovico Einaudi – and losing ourselves in colours and creativity. During our debrief, students said how much they enjoyed the activity and that it’s something they’d like to do on a regular basis.

Mrs. Batty/Mrs. Collinson

Lost Property at XP East

17th October 2022Louise Shaw

Have a look at the photos below, do you recognise anything? This is the lost property located in the XP East Office and will be ready for collection as soon as we return to school after the half term break.

Mrs Shaw – XP East Office

Y8/Crew Malala Learn To Work Together!

7th September 2022Web Blogger

Crew Malala have been working on communication and team skills. We talked about how working together means listening to one another and learning how to communicate in a productive way. To practice these new skills, Crew Malala played the spider web game. Standing in a circle, one person had to hold onto the end of a ball of wool and throw the ball across the circle to another crew member. That person had to hold on to the wool and throw the ball to someone else, and so on, until everyone was holding onto the wool. This created a spider web in the middle of the circle. Crew Malala then had to work together to untangle the wool without letting go, with the final goal of standing in a straight line while still holding on to the wool. There was some frustration but by working together, giving clear instructions to each other and listening carefully, they finished the game in a straight line! Well done Crew Malala!

Mrs. Collinson & Mrs. Batty

XP East Laying down the Law!

23rd March 2022Web Blogger

What a fantastic two days students across XP and XP East have had!

On Tuesday, Citizenship students, who have been studying the role of the police, and their year group were involved in 3 seminars from Doncaster Police and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. These included Road Safety, Gun and Knives and Exploitation. 


After a fantastic Tuesday, things only got more exciting here at XPE today…
Students listened to a talk regarding Dog Handling and were introduced to not one, but two real life police dogs! Isn’t Hudson wonderful?
If that wasn’t enough, students were given time to ask all their pressing questions in a Q&A session. Students also experienced all the equipment police officers are trained to use, including riot gear and operating police cars.
A fantastic two days had by all students and staff! #WeAreCrew

No DofE Expeditions in 2022

11th March 2022XP East

Dear Parents and carers,

It is with regret that I have to inform you that we are unable to provide DofE Expeditions during this academic year for any of our students. This is due to staffing limitations within the DofE expedition structure and the lack of availability for training for new staff that want to be part of our team. 

Safety of our students is of paramount importance to us and while we understand this is very disappointing news, we cannot compromise this.

On a more positive note we are already planning the training programme and staffing structure to enable  expeditions to be delivered in the next academic year, 2023. 

We are hoping to be able to offer our current Year 10 students (C25) the opportunity to do their Bronze or Silver expedition after completing their GCSEs in Year 11 (2023). Students that have successfully completed the other activities within the DofE award programme and have good or improving HoWLs will be considered to join the DofE expeditions.

Current Year 8 students (C27) will ALL start working towards their Bronze DofE Award Programme in September 2023 when they are in Year 9. Our School’s DofE lead will be in touch nearer the time with further information.

Best Wishes,

Kate ap Harri

XP Trust DofE Manager

E28 Year 7 Presentation of Learning

26th November 2021XP East

Finally E28 are able to show off their great work to their families in a Presentation of Learning. This is an opportunity for the students to show off their work and learning from their current expedition From the Ground up! Something we are so excited to have back at XP and XP East.

The current expedition has focused on mining and students have been answering the guiding question “What does the community of Doncaster owe to mining?”, alongside showing their work, parents and carers will have the opportunity to hear the music students have created inspired by the Colliery bands of South Yorkshire and see the Artwork students have produced!

If your child is in E28 they will be hosting a Presentation of Learning on Thursday 9th December, starting at 16:00 and will finish by 17.00.

Students will be expected to stay at school at the end of the school day before the Presentation of Learning.

We ask that students bring a change of clothes and dress in smart clothes as it is a formal occasion. They may also want to bring a snack to eat before the start of the evening.

We will post a reminder closer to the event and we hope to see you all there!

XP East Careers HQ

11th October 2021Kathryn Burns

At XP we have always had careers at the heart of our expeditions whether it’s working together with experts, out on fieldwork or creating our products. Given the importance of our career, its time to further develop and improve our programme throughout the school, not forgetting our XP16 provision

I would like to invite you check out our  XP Careers HQ Website

The website gives information on our career policy and programme we offer, helpful links and tools to aid guidance in GCSE options, post-16 & post-18 opportunities including university, apprenticeships & jobs of the future as well as details of careers related events happening throughout the school.  This website is designed to be continuously updated to make sure our learners:

  • Raise aspirations
  • Develop confidence in making decisions and career choices
  • Develop an understanding of the world of work and how to respond to changes in today’s workplace

Please explore the website and I hope you find it useful when supporting our young people with these all important decisions.  I would appreciate feedback on the website and please, do not hesitate to contact me Kathryn Burns, Careers Lead, [email protected]  Enjoy!

XP East Careers HQ

11th October 2021Kathryn Burns

XP East Careers HQ

At XP East we have always had careers at the heart of our expeditions whether it’s working together with experts, out on fieldwork or creating our products. Given the importance of our career, its time to further develop and improve our programme throughout the school, not forgetting our new XP16 provision

I would like to invite you check out our website.

The website gives information on our career policy and programme we offer, helpful links and tools to aid guidance in GCSE options, post-16 & post-18 opportunities including university, apprenticeships & jobs of the future as well as details of careers related events happening throughout the school.  This website is designed to be continuously updated to make sure our learners:

  • Raise aspirations
  • Develop confidence in making decisions and career choices
  • Develop an understanding of the world of work and how to respond to changes in today’s workplace

Please explore the website and I hope you find it useful when supporting our young people with these all important decisions.  I would appreciate feedback on the website and please, do not hesitate to contact me Kathryn Burns at [email protected]