XP East Football Stars Selected to Represent Doncaster at a High Level

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We are delighted to celebrate the success of two talented XP East students who have recently been selected to represent two prestigious football teams across Doncaster.

Their selections are a fantastic achievement and reflect the dedication, hard work, and commitment they have shown both on and off the pitch. Competing at a high level of football requires discipline, resilience, and a passion for the game—qualities that both students demonstrate every day.

Representing their respective teams will provide them with exciting opportunities to develop their skills, compete against strong opposition, and showcase their talent across the region. Being chosen to play at this level is a significant accomplishment and highlights the growing sporting talent within our school community.

At XP East, we are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements, whether in the classroom, through expedition learning, or in extracurricular activities such as sport. These selections are a testament not only to the students’ dedication but also to the support of their families, coaches, teammates, and the wider school community.

We look forward to following their progress throughout the season and celebrating their future successes. We wish both students the very best as they take on this exciting challenge and continue to represent XP East with pride, determination, and sportsmanship.

Congratulations to both players on this outstanding achievement—we can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Rising to the Challenge: Our Athletes Shine on the Track and Field

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What an incredible two days of athletics for our Year 7–10 students at Doncaster and District.

Our athletes showed that success comes from hard work, determination, and the courage to give their very best. Every race run, every jump taken, and every throw made reflected the dedication and resilience of our students.

🌟 Year 7

  • 2nd place in Long Jump
  • 3rd place in the 200m
  • 5th place in the 100m
  • A fantastic 4th place overall for the girls’ team

🌟 Year 8

  • 3rd place in the 1500m, demonstrating tremendous perseverance and strength

🌟 Year 9

  • An exceptional achievement as one of our students earned the title of Fastest Year 9 Boy in Doncaster, winning the 100m sprint in style!

While these results are certainly worth celebrating, what inspires us most is the character shown by our students. They supported one another, pushed through challenges, and represented our school with pride. Their achievements remind us that success is not just about winning—it is about having the confidence to step forward, work hard, and never stop striving to be better than yesterday.

To every student who competed: you have shown what is possible when talent meets effort. Be proud of what you have achieved, and let this be the motivation to keep aiming higher. The future is bright, and this is only the beginning. 💙🏅🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

“Success isn’t always measured by the medals you win, but by the courage you show in chasing your goals.”.

Sun, Royal Gardens, and Celebrations: A Day at Buckingham Palace

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There are some invitations you just have to read twice. When Chris and Emma were invited to Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards 70th-anniversary celebration, they were absolutely thrilled. To share in such a monumental milestone in a truly wonderful place was a massive honor.

Here is a quick recap of their unforgettable royal garden party!

Sunshine, Tea & Cake

They couldn’t have asked for better British weather- the sun was shining gorgeously across the immaculate palace grounds. Emma and Chris spent the afternoon exploring the stunning gardens and enjoying a delicious afternoon tea with a slice of royal cake.

A Star-Studded Lineup

The atmosphere was buzzing, made even more special by an incredible lineup of guest speakers who came out to celebrate 70 years of youth empowerment. Here are a few that they managed to listen to:

  • The brilliant Sara Davies MBE
  • The stunning Molly Rainford & Tyler West
  • The swesome Dame Kelly Holmes MBE OLY

The absolute pinnacle of the day was hearing from His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT GCVO himself. Witnessing him champion the incredible legacy of the DofE awards on the palace lawns was a moment Emma and Chris won’t ever forget.

A Day to Remember

As the afternoon wound down, Emma and Chris felt incredibly grateful. It was an absolute privilege to be invited, to soak in the history, and to share this beautiful experience together. Cheers to 70 years of the DofE Awards—a day they’ll be talking about for a very long time!

Crew Brunel: Rising To The Challenge

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It has been another busy and rewarding week for Crew Brunel, with a great mix of wellbeing activities, learning, important life skills and an exciting outdoor adventure.

We began the week with a check-in with Crew Sinfield, giving everyone the chance to reconnect, share how they were feeling and set positive intentions for the week ahead. We also spent some time outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and using the space to start the week in a calm and positive way. It was a great opportunity to focus on wellbeing and building strong relationships within crew.

On Tuesday, Crew Brunel joined Crew Sinfield again and used the session to catch up on important learning tasks. Students worked hard to complete their Sparx Maths and Tassomai activities, showing focus, independence and commitment to keeping on top of their studies. It was a productive session where everyone was able to make progress and support each other.

Wednesday was our Wise Wednesday session, where we explored an important topic linked to staying safe during the summer: alcohol awareness. Students discussed the risks associated with alcohol, the importance of making safe choices and how to look after themselves and others. These conversations are a valuable part of helping students develop confidence, responsibility and good decision-making skills.

Thursday brought an exciting challenge as students took part in their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze expedition. The day started with preparation, including packing bags, checking equipment and making sure everyone had everything needed for the adventure ahead. Students then set off for the first part of their walk, working together to navigate the route, support one another and develop their teamwork skills. After completing the walk, students set up camp and spent the night outdoors, putting their resilience, organisation and independence into practice.

On Friday, the expedition continued with the second part of the walk. Students showed determination as they completed the route and worked together to overcome the challenges along the way. After returning to school, the final important job was to degunge all the equipment! Tents, bags and kit were cleaned and packed away properly, ensuring everything was ready for the next adventure.

Crew Brunel finished the week tired but proud, having achieved something challenging and memorable. A fantastic week of teamwork, learning, resilience and new experiences — well done, Crew Brunel, you’ve all earned a well-deserved rest!

Miss Mitchell

Reminder to parents: Hot Weather

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This week, temperatures are expected to rise across the UK. Please ensure that your child brings a water bottle, sun cream, and a cap for PE lessons.

This is especially important if your child is attending the Doncaster and District Athletics events on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd June.

Thank you for your support.

Thank you.

Deepening Understanding: Showcasing Crew and Beautiful Work to visitors from the University of Manchester.

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XP and XP East welcomed colleagues from the University of Manchester to find out all about our practices today. It is always an exceptional opportunity to share our practices with visitors, but today I was able to witness how powerful our students sharing their stories truly is.

Our students confidently presented on the question: “What is Crew?” They articulated the deep-rooted culture of community, accountability, and peer support that defines the Crew structure across our schools. Watching them explain how Crew acts as both an academic anchor and a supportive team to our visitors was a powerful reminder of how deeply they understand and live our values daily.

In addition to exploring our Crew culture, our visitors gained insight into the rigorous academic scaffolding that underpins our curriculum.

A huge thank you goes to Miss Johnson, who shared her expertise on how we design and produce our stunning, high-quality expeditions. By taking our guests behind the scenes of our planning processes, she demonstrated how we connect deep subject standards in order to answer guiding questions and produce beautiful, authentic final products.

Final Word: C28 – Checking Out…

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This week has brought a deeply grounding reminder of why we do what we do at XP and XP East. Being invited by our students to sit in on their Final Word presentations has been nothing short of a privilege, leaving a lasting impression on all of the adults in the room.

The Final Word is a cornerstone experience where our departing students reflect on how their time here has shaped them as people and as learners. But it is one thing to know the protocol, and another entirely to sit in a room and witness it unfold. The depth of reflection shared by our students this week has been remarkably profound. They have spoken with immense maturity about their academic journeys, their growth through Crew, and their readiness to step into the wider world.

For the staff and family members listening, the impact is hard to put into words. Hearing a young person articulate their own character development, trace their resilience through years of hard work, and offer authentic appreciations to those who supported them is incredibly moving. It provides a rare, deeply moving view of the impact of our collective work. The vulnerability and insight shown by the students does more than just demonstrate their preparedness for the next stage—it reminded every adult present of the immense power of giving young people the space to own their story.

Thanks Neave and Karan for letting me join you today! I can’t wait to hear more stories next week.

A reminder to all of our C28 students – what we have at XP is special, you are all judged by your character and beautiful work in the world you are about to enter – not just your results! You have all worked incredibly hard. Please don’t be strangers, email us and come back to celebrate with us.

Energy, Enthusiasm, and Excellent Rallies:

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Year 10 Badminton in PE Session 1 today was so uplifitng!

Students were engaged in leading, umpiring and playing badminton in todays PE session. There is always something incredibly uplifting about seeing our students fully immerse themselves in sport, and today was a perfect example of community, teamwork, and character growth in action. There were smiles, encouragement, and a supportive competitive spirit. It was wonderful to watch these students engage so positively with the session, actively building their coordination while showcasing excellent sportsmanship. Core PE is really important to use to support wellbeing alongside the physical and health benefits.