Our Netballers took centre stage this week, competing in a high-stakes tournament. The girls were in incredible form, displaying seamless teamwork and sharp shooting to fight their way into the semi-finals at Hall Cross. While they eventually lost out in a hard-fought battle, their progress and spirit were a highlight of the week. Huge congratulations to the squad for such a deep run!
On Wednesday, our Year 9 boys travelled to Ridgewood for a gritty encounter. With no substitutes on the bench!), the boys knew they had a mountain to climb.
Despite the lack of fresh legs, they showed immense character to claw the game back to 2-2 just after half-time. Unfortunately, the fatigue of playing without subs eventually took its toll, and the match finished 6-3 to the hosts. It was a loss on paper, but a massive win in terms of heart and resilience
Thursday offered a change of pace as we took 38 students to the All England Badminton Championships. This wasn’t just a trip; it was an immersive educational experience. Seeing the world’s best players in action allowed our students to see the pinnacle of the sport, bridging the gap between our PE curriculum and the professional world.
What’s Coming Up Next Week?
We have another packed schedule to look forward to. Mark your calendars for these upcoming fixtures and sessions:
It has been a real pleasure dropping into lessons this week and seeing Crew White in action. It was fantastic to see students so engrossed in their GCSE English text, Boys Don’t Cry. I happened to walk in during a key chapter and the reaction in the room said it all – there were literal gasps as the events unfolded! Their books and notes are looking fantastic, and these will become a vital resource as they move into revision. Seeing the level of detail, craftsmanship and quality in their work made me incredibly proud.
I also visited a DT lesson, where Harry and Kiera were working exceptionally hard and producing some brilliant products. It’s great to see the creativity and commitment they’re bringing to their practical work.
Overall, Crew White are really firing on all cylinders at the moment and I am hugely impressed with the effort they are putting in. We also achieved 100% attendance again this week, which is a real credit to their dedication to school at such an important stage in their journey.
Once again, I’m donning my running shoes, together with my brother Michael, and attempting the challenging Sheffield Half Marathon on the 23 March to raise funds for our upcoming Music and Arts Festival in the summer term.
This year will be the third time we have brought together students from across the Trust to showcase their artistic and musical skills alongside community partners and professional artists. Take a look at the highlights from last year.
To make this happen again we need your support! If you could make a donation, however big or small, we can place music and the arts right at the heart of our mission to make ourselves, our community and our world a better place! And make the third Community Arts and Music Festival the best yet.
For the first time in a while, all four crews joined together for Monday’s crew session. It was all about coming together and enjoying time in the sports hall.
After some quick organisation, we decided to split into two groups. One group headed off for a game of football and a kick about, while the other picked up the badminton rackets and got some rallies going.
The football team was full of energy with plenty of laughter and some brilliant passes! Over on the badminton courts, there was just as much enthusiasm with rallies getting longer as confidence grew.
The best part of the session was the atmosphere. It wasn’t taken too seriously — just the right balance of friendly competition and relaxed fun. Everyone played well and enjoyed themselves.
It was great to see all four crews mixing and making the most of the time together.
Over the last few months, Crew Peake have been logging hours for their DofE volunteering section, whilst also being active stewards of our community and cleaning up school grounds.
We are excited to announce that our upcoming fieldwork to the Staffordshire Regiment Museum is just around the corner! To ensure that all students are well-prepared for the day, please take note of the following important details.
Students should arrive at school promptly at 7:45 AM. This will give us time to organise the group and prepare for our departure. The group will leave school by 8:15 AM to travel to the Staffordshire Regiment Museum. Please ensure that your child arrives on time so we can adhere to the set schedule.
All students are required to bring a packed lunch for the day. For students eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), lunch will be provided. Parents should ensure that their child has a drink for the day. There are no cafe facilities on-site at the museum, so if a student forgets their drink or lunch, it cannot be replaced. The drink for the day should be water, as per our school policy, which prohibits fizzy drinks.
As the museum visit involves a bit of walking, we recommend that students wear comfortable shoes to ensure they can participate in all activities without discomfort.
A warm coat is also essential for the day, as the majority of the visit will be spent outside. The weather can be unpredictable, and we want to ensure that all students stay warm and comfortable.
Students will leave the museum at approximately 2:30 PM, and we expect to return to school by 4:00 PM, traffic permitting. Please be mindful that traffic conditions may cause slight delays, but we will keep parents/carers updated.
In Summary:
Arrival at school: 7:45 AM
Departure for museum: 8:15 AM
Packed lunch required (unless FSM, where lunch is provided)
Drink required (parents to ensure their child brings one)
Comfortable shoes and a warm coat are advised
Return to school: Approximately 4:00 PM
We look forward to a fantastic day exploring the history of the Staffordshire Regiment and experiencing everything the museum has to offer. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
After a well-earned week off, Crew Brunel returned to school refreshed and ready to begin the second half of Term 2. We started the week with our usual crew check-in, taking the time to reconnect as a group and share what everyone had been up to during the break. Many students spoke about spending time with family, catching up with friends, and making the most of the chance to rest and recharge. It was clear that the break had done everyone some good, and it was nice to ease back into the routine by hearing about each other’s week.
On Tuesday, we used the time productively to catch up on some important learning tasks. Students spent time completing work on Sparx Maths and Tassomai, ensuring they were up to date with their independent learning. Alongside this, students also updated their Duke of Edinburgh skills logs, reflecting on the progress they are making on their volunteering skills. We also made sure there was time for reading, continuing to build positive habits and focus as we settled back into the term.
Wednesday brought something a little different for Crew Brunel. For our weekly Wise Wednesday session, we were joined by Crew Sinfield. It was great to bring the two crews together and give students the opportunity to work with different peers. Students worked in small groups, discussing the topic for the session and making notes on their ideas and reflections. The collaborative atmosphere was really positive, and it was encouraging to see students sharing perspectives and engaging thoughtfully with the discussion. Having another crew join us added a new dynamic to our usual Wednesday routine and is something we would definitely like to repeat in the future.
Later that morning, we prepared for Year 9’s fieldwork by revisiting our fieldwork norms and expectations. This is always an important part of preparing for visits beyond school, helping students understand the importance of representing themselves, their crew, and the school positively while out in the community. Once we had discussed expectations, we travelled to the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds, where students took part in a day of learning linked to their current expedition, “You Give Me Fever.” The visit allowed students to explore the history of medicine, disease, and healthcare, helping them build a deeper understanding of the topics they are studying in school. Students engaged well with the exhibits and activities throughout the day, asking thoughtful questions and showing curiosity about how medicine and public health have changed over time. It was a really enjoyable and valuable day out, and Crew Brunel represented the school brilliantly.
On Thursday, Crew Brunel visited Crew Sinfield, this time to spend some time looking through praises and conducts for the week. This gave students the opportunity to celebrate positive contributions while also reflecting on areas where improvements could be made. These discussions are an important part of crew culture, encouraging accountability, reflection, and a focus on personal growth.
To round off the week, we joined the rest of XP School for a whole-school community meeting. These meetings are a key part of life at XP and give both students and staff the opportunity to come together as a community. During the meeting, people shared their positives from the week, celebrating acts of kindness and achievements across the school. Some students also took the opportunity to apologise for actions earlier in the week and made pledges about how they would put things right moving forward. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of responsibility and learning from our mistakes.
Overall, it has been a busy and productive first week back for Crew Brunel. The combination of collaboration, academic focus, and real-world learning has helped set a positive tone for the term ahead. We are looking forward to continuing to develop our learning, strengthen our crew culture, and build on this strong start as we head into Week 2 of this shorter half term.
