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.
Crew Walton Wildlife Park @ Green Top
Handwriting champion of the week @ Plover
Expedition – Science @ Carcroft School
Beautiful work from Harry in Year 10 @ XP Gateshead
Crew Nightingale Hunt for a Rainbow in the Rain! @ Norton Infants
A settled and productive afternoon @ XP East
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!
Welcome to the first update of our journey! This week marked the official launch of our brand-new intervention programme, designed specifically to support, challenge, and empower a select group of Year 9 young men as they prepare for the road ahead.
Our ultimate destination? A grueling, high-energy Inflatable 10K in Bakewell on the 26th of September! But before we can tackle the physical obstacles waiting for us in September, we had to lay the groundwork for how we operate as a team.
Here is a look inside our very first session.
We kicked off the week by pulling back the curtain on exactly how the course will look over the coming months. Because this programme requires vulnerability, honesty, and grit, our very first task was to establish our ‘rules of engagement’. The boys actively collaborated to set out their own norms and expectations, deciding together how they will respect, support, and hold one another accountable.
Once the boundaries were set, we dived into some vital conversations about the current landscape of education for young men. We looked closely at the key issues they face today:
You can’t build a community just by talking about it—you have to experience it. In the second part of our session, we shifted from theory to action, putting our physical health and teamwork to the test.
The focus was entirely on group dynamics, leadership, and communication. Through a series of team-based challenges, the boys quickly realised that individual strength means very little if you can’t communicate under pressure. We saw early leaders step up, quiet voices find their confidence, and the beginnings of a genuine brotherhood start to form. They learned firsthand that to move fast, you might go alone—but to go far, you have to move together.
Every sweat-breaking circuit, every deep debate, and every mile we log between now and September is driven by one central, guiding question:
“How can we move together to create a community where every young man makes a positive contribution, feeling like he belongs and can be himself?”
Week one proved that these young men are more than ready to answer that call. They showed up, they engaged, and they took their first steps toward redefining what it means to lead.
Stay tuned for next week as we bring in external experts and start breaking down the internal barriers affecting youth wellbeing. Bakewell, we’re coming for you!
Want to know more about our upcoming milestones or the expert partners joining us? Keep an eye on our weekly blog updates!
I was invited into to the official relaunch of Embrace today — our dedicated hub designed to support wellbeing, foster connections, and provide a safe, structured environment during social times.
We are only a few days into the relaunch, and we are already seeing a massive, positive shift in how students utilise their lunchtimes. While unstructured free time is important, it can sometimes feel overwhelming or isolating for students. By providing a well-structured shared space, Embrace has bridged the gap.
We are already noticing;
Navigating the school day can be draining for some of our students. Embrace offers a calm, regulated environment where students can decompress, take a breath, and reset before their afternoon classes. It has quickly become a cornerstone of our daily mental health support.
Because the space is structured with intentional activities, board games, and relaxed seating arrangements, breaking the ice is easy. We are seeing students from different year groups sit down together, share, and build new friendships that might never have formed.
The environment naturally invites participation, giving everyone a clear sense of belonging and a safe place to land. Staff and Students – Next time you pass by during lunch, take a peek inside!
From discussions about health, wellbeing and personal safety to debates around democracy, British Values and life beyond school, students across XP Doncaster have engaged in thoughtful and meaningful learning through Wise Wednesdays this term. This newsletter celebrates some of the beautiful work taking place in Crews and provides a preview of the important topics students will be exploring next term.
As we enter the final few weeks of year 7 (where did that year go?) I just wanted to make sure that everyone in my crew continues to bring their device every day fully charged as well as having the required equipment. I’ve noticed a real decline in students having a reading book on them at the start of session 1. Please make sure items like pencils pens etc are in their bags and that they are not bringing in energy drinks or sugary snacks and sweets.
We are working hard in lessons to get ready for this year’s arts festival, hopefully you come along and see just how much beautiful work has been produced during this recent terms work.
Today, witnessing our X29 (Year 10) students lead their TSLCs across the school with their subject teachers sat alongside them, was an amazing event!
With just 12 months between now and the culmination of their Key Stage 4 journey, today wasn’t just an ordinary check-in. It felt like a pivotal moment for our students as they begin to step into the final stretch toward their GCSEs.
The “buzz” in the Lorax space this evening was unmistakable. It was the sound of authentic student voice in collaboration with their subject teachers.
What makes Student Led Conferences at XP so powerful is that adults don’t talk about the student; the student lead their narrative. Observing our students look their parents and subject teachers in the eye to articulate exactly their performance in mocks, where they stand academically and what they have identified they now need to be working on is incredibly moving.
Students gave sharp, honest, and self-aware reflections, identifying:
Culture is built together. Today simply would not have been possible without the shared culture of support for our students by both parents and staff.
As positive as today was, it also served as a reality check. The clock to the GCSE exams is officially ticking.
Between now and the morning of their very first GCSE exam in May 2027, our X29 students have approximately 47 weeks.
The message leaving today’s TSLCs was loud and clear: Consistent, structured revision starts now.
Engagement in Sparx and Tassomai, utilising your Pinpoint booklets, reviewing your poetry anthologies, re reading your core texts, practicing 18 mark questions. I heard loads of other great tips from the staff tonight.
A pdf of our XP and XP East Study Guide is found below – check out some great tips, we’ll hand out tangible copies at our Y11 evening in September.
#WeAreCrew
https://drive.google.com/drive/search?q=study%20type:pdf
Mrs Salter
As part of their Power and Prejudice expedition, E29 (Year 10) students will be taking part in fieldwork at the National Holocaust Museum. This visit will support their learning as they explore the Guiding Question:
“How does ideology impact people’s lives?”
Students will depart school at 9:15am and are expected to return at approximately 3:15pm. Please note that return times may be affected by factors outside of our control, such as traffic. Any updates to arrival times will be shared via the school website.
Students should bring:
Students who are entitled to free school meals will be provided with a packed lunch by the school.
If you have any questions about the fieldwork, please contact Shannam at shannam@xpschool.org or speak to your child’s Crew Leader.
Monday- Athletics practice 3.30-4.30
Wednesday- Rounders practice 3.30-4.30 and Cricket fixture away return to school for 5.15pm
Thursday- Cheerleading practice 3.30-4.30 and girls badminton fixture away return at 5.15pm. ~No cricket practice due to fixture.
After a well-deserved half-term break, Crew Brunel returned to school ready for a busy and important week filled with opportunities, information, and decision-making. This half term is particularly significant as it marks the final half term of Year 9, making it an exciting and important period for all students as they begin preparing for the next stage of their educational journey here at XP.
On Monday, the whole school community came together for a Community Meeting to warmly welcome students and staff back after the half-term break. It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect, refocus, and set the tone for the weeks ahead.
After the meeting, our Year 9 students were introduced to the exciting Valencia Fieldwork experience. Students learned about what the trip involves, the opportunities it offers, and the application process. There was plenty of interest, and we look forward to seeing applications from those keen to take part in this memorable learning experience.
From Tuesday through to Friday, we were joined by Crew Sinfield for a series of GCSE Taster Sessions. These sessions gave students the chance to explore their potential GLOBAL and CREATIVE option subjects for next year.
Throughout the week, students experienced a range of subjects, gained valuable insight into the content and skills involved, took part in activities and tasks linked to each course, and began thinking carefully about the choices that will help shape their future learning journeys. The sessions provided an excellent opportunity for students to ask questions, discover new interests, and consider where their strengths and passions lie.
It has certainly been a busy first week back, with lots of important information to take in and many decisions to consider. As we enter the final half term of Year 9, students are beginning to make important decisions about their GCSE pathways and future aspirations.
We are proud of the positive attitude and engagement students have demonstrated throughout the week as they explored their GCSE options and considered the exciting opportunities ahead. We look forward to supporting everyone through the options process and helping them make informed choices that reflect their interests, talents, and ambitions.
Well done, Crew Brunel, on a productive start to the final half term of Year 9!
Miss Mitchell
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.
Crew McLoughlin Become Historians! @ Carcroft School
POL and our first XPG Live for all families @ XP Gateshead
Seaside explorers @ Norton Infants
Spotting Greatness in X32 Skipper: Working Hard, Getting Smart, and Being Kind @ XP School
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!
