DofE supervisors will available to talk to after the Y9 presentation of learning on Wednesday 18th March from 5:15pm.
Year 9 Presentation of Learning
As we approach the end of the term, we would like to invite you to the Year 9 Presentation of Learning—a chance for our students to step into the spotlight and share their hard work, creativity, and progress with you.
Event Details
- When: Wednesday, 18th March
- Time: 4:15 PM
- Where: XP East School and classrooms
Coffee, Cake, and a Great Cause
In addition to the presentations, the evening will serve as a key milestone in our Expedition Fundraising.
We will be hosting a Coffee and Cake and raffle stall throughout the event we would ask if you could bring please cash if you would like to take part. All proceeds will go directly toward our fund raising for Doncaster and Rotherham hospice.
We look forward to seeing you on the evening.
Best regards,
The Year 9 Team
PE roundup
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:
| Day | Activity | Location/Details |
| Wednesday | Y7 Boys Football | Home |
| Y8/9 Boys Football | Training | |
| Netball Game | Away | |
| Thursday | Cheerleading Practice | School Gym |
| BTEC Sport / Health & Social Care | Learning Labs |
Crew White
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.
Running for the Arts Festival!
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.
Just click the link here to make a donation.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Andy Sprakes
Co-founder and Chief Academic Officer, XP Trust
Sharing our Stories: 06/03/2026
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
Crew Peake – stewards of our community @ XP
Crew, Collaboration, Critique and Teamwork Tigers! @ Norton Infants
Multiplying our Maths Skills @ Norton Juniors
Share your stories with us!
Write to us at comms@xptrust.org – we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!
X29 Monday’s crew session – Sports hall fun!
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.
We’re looking forward to the next one!
X32 Fieldwork Monday 9th March
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.
Thanks,
Year 7 Expedition Team
Y9 boys football
The game has been cancelled this evening. There will be another fixture on Wednesday, 4th March.
