Applying for a place at XP – Fair Banding Assessment

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To ensure a balanced intake of students across all ability levels, all applicants to an XP secondary school must sit a Fair Banding Assessment. 

This multiple-choice test focuses on non-verbal reasoning and helps us place students into one of five ability bands. There is no pass or fail, and results are used solely to support a broad and representative admissions process.

Completing the assessment is a key part of the application and must be done to be considered for a place. 

Please ensure your child is registered by 31st October 2025 and prepared to attend the assessment on 22nd November 2025.

Find out more here: https://xptrust.info/XPTFBA

If your child has an aptitude in music, find out how to apply for a musical aptitude place at XP here: https://xpschool.org/unlock-your-childs-musical-potential-at-xp-school/

Unlock your child’s musical potential at XP School!

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At XP School, we believe music has the power to inspire and shape young minds. Each year, we offer a unique opportunity for children with a natural flair for music to gain a place in Year 7 through our dedicated Musical Aptitude route. 

Whether your child already sings or plays an instrument, or simply has a keen ear for rhythm, melody, and pitch, this pathway recognises raw musical potential. 

With access to expert tuition, vibrant performance opportunities, and a culture that celebrates creativity, XP School is the perfect stage for your child to flourish musically and academically. Click here to see highlights from our recent annual XP Festival of Arts and Culture https://youtu.be/-tcB979lD_g

Apply now, and don’t miss this chance to join a learning community where talent is nurtured and passion takes centre stage!

Find out more here: https://xptrust.info/XPMA

Crew Brunel: A Week of Connection, Reflection, and Community

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This week in Crew Brunel we kicked things off by checking in after the long weekend. It was great to hear what everyone had been up to and to share our stories. We were joined by members of Crew Attenborough for this session too, which made the conversation even more enjoyable and gave us the chance to connect with others across the year group. It was a positive way to ease into the week and reminded us how important it is to start with connection.

On Wise Wednesday, we continued our focus on developing note-taking skills. We took it in turns to take notes and worked in our small teams to make sure we captured all the information. 

Together as a crew, we reviewed our praises and conducts before reflecting on the targets we had set ourselves last week in order to think carefully about our progress. It was a valuable chance to pause, be honest about where we are with our HoWLs, and consider the steps we need to take to push ourselves further.

The week finished with a whole school community meeting, where we came together to share appreciations, apologies, and stands. These meetings are always a highlight because they bring the whole school together to celebrate each other, reflect on mistakes, and show support where it’s needed. It was powerful to hear so many voices and know that everyone has something valuable to contribute.

Finally, a special mention goes to David, who has managed not to receive a single conduct so far this academic year! This is something he has been working on, and his consistent effort is really paying off. We’re really proud of him for showing determination and self-management – keep it up, David!

All in all, it’s been another strong week for Crew Brunel, filled with connection, reflection, and community.

Miss Mitchell

Spotlight on Talent: Arina Exhibits at  Art Festival!

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We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate the incredible artistic achievements of one of our own, X30 student Arina Barsukova! Arina recently had the fantastic opportunity to exhibit her artwork at the Barnby Dun Church Art & Craft Festival, and her pieces truly shone among the local talent.

Arina’s commitment and passion for art are truly inspiring. Her painting, which features a dimly lit, narrow street after rain, captured with striking, warm-yellow reflections from the streetlights, is a powerful example of her technical skill in handling light and mood.

Having your artwork framed and presented in a public gallery space like this is a massive achievement for any artist, let alone a student!

Celebrating 30 Years of Local Art

The Barnby Dun Church Art & Craft Festival, which celebrated its 30th year this year, is a cornerstone of the local community art scene. Participating in such a long-standing and respected event gives Arina invaluable experience, from preparing her work for display to sharing her creative vision with a wider audience.

An Inspiration to All

Arina’s exhibition at the festival is a brilliant testament to the talent fostered here at XP. It’s a powerful reminder that our students are not just learning skills, but are actively contributing to the wider community and pursuing their passions at a higher level.

Please join us in giving Arina a huge round of applause for this incredible accomplishment. We can’t wait to see where her artistic journey takes her next!

Have you ever exhibited your artwork or craft? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Sharing our Stories: 26/09/2025

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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

Class 6’s visit to 1666 @ Green Top

Amazing craftsmanship and quality in home learning @ Plover

]Crazy Crew Challenge @ Carcroft School

Outstanding Craftsmanship and Quality in X29! @ XP

Crew Hoy – Not Passengers @ XP East

Continuing Our Marvellous ME Expedition @ Norton Infants

Weekly Update for Families @ 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 comms@xptrust.org –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!

7 Skipper – Working Hard and Getting Smart!

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This week, 7 Skipper have been showing what it really means to work hard and get smart as they prepare for their History skills check on the Norman Conquest.

Our class have been learning how to become more independent and reflective learners by focusing on revision strategies that help them remember and apply key knowledge.

We didn’t just say “go revise” — we learned how to revise. Skipper explored techniques such as:

  • Creating flashcards with key terms and dates
  • Using retrieval practice to quiz themselves and each other
  • Organising knowledge into mind maps to see the bigger picture

Good luck to 7 Skipper in their History skills check today, you’ve got this!

OUTSTANDING Craftsmanship & Quality in X29!

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I had the opportunity this afternoon to pop into X29’s 3D Art class – and wow, what a set of kids!!!

Their attention to detail is second to none, and they’ve been working on Celtic Knots and other tricky patterns – with a focus on shading and tone. The results are absolutely incredible – take a look here!!! Phenomenal work from Lewis, Bentley, Alfie, Alfie, Luella, Bear, Sara, Aiden, Heidi, Lacey, Seb, Alejandro and Corah!!! Lewis even noticed how neat and tidy Seb’s book was – some great kindness highlighted, too.

Year 11 Post 16 provision for EHCP students!

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Are you or someone you know looking for a fresh, focused, and future-ready approach to post-16 education?

Harrison College Doncaster invites you to our Open Evening on Wednesday, 22nd October 2025, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Come and explore how we support young people aged 16–25 with high aspirations and additional needs to thrive in a professional, inclusive, and supportive environment.

✅ Meet our dedicated staff and current students
✅ Tour our modern facilities
✅ Learn about our unique curriculum focused on business, employability, and independence
✅ Discover how we prepare learners for the world of work through real-life experiences and partnerships

Whether you’re a student, parent, carer, or professional, we’d love to welcome you and show you what makes Harrison College different.

📍 Location: Harrison College, Doncaster
📅 Date: Wednesday, 22nd October 2025
🕔 Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Reserve your place today or just drop in – we look forward to meeting you!

Book A Visit – Harrison College

X29 Skipper – A Change Really is Doing You Good!

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X29 Skipper are approaching GCSE English with the mentality of champions. Our expedition is called ‘A Change Will Do You Good’ and I cannot help but admire the change in you all. Your focus, hard work and positive attitude is shining in all our lessons and I cannot help but leave them with a big smile on my face.

All your effort is also reflected in quality of your books and the amazing Quality and Craftsmanship shown. This is how you get smart. Keep it up guys!

Mrs Desborough and Mrs Burnitt