XP School

We have all successfully returned from overnight expedition!

Lots of tired but very proud Year 7 students this morning and afternoon as they made their way back to the centre to Degunge their belongings and prepare for their next activity.

It was beautiful to hear how students demonstrated character traits throughout the day yesterday to support one another to step out of their comfort zone and into the stretch zone. Students were faced with physical and emotional challenges which see them return pleased with their achievements and ready to conquer the next challenge!

This afternoon groups have headed out for another activity and will return to site once again this evening to prepare for their Crew presentations tomorrow.

We anticipate to be leaving the Outward Bound Centre at 12:30pm tomorrow (28th August) and will update on our return time through the blog and Facebook. Please keep an eye out! Parents should collect their child from the area in which the coaches were parked upon departure, collect their belongings and sign out with their Crew leader.

These very exhausted faces will be glad for their own beds… but prepare… we’ve had lots of conversation’s about the food were most looking forward to returning to!

Crew Sinfield have had a fantastic start to year 10!!

Our guiding question for the week was ‘How can we ensure that our future selves will thank us for the next two years?’ We have participated in activities where we have had to show resilience and also work together! We also took the positivity to the town centre giving our appreciation to the volunteers in town and gained our crew mascot ‘Pebble the owl’ who is going to help us be wise for the next couple of years!

Crew have also spent the week preparing for mock interviews creating CVs, covering letters and completing tasks. Crew showed great courage and there was some brilliant feedback from the interviews.

Fantastic work crew- Can’t wait to see all your hard work this year!

Mrs Burnitt

We are excited to share information for year 7 (C33) fieldwork to Kynren on Wednesday 2nd September. Please see information below.

Please note X31 have had a slight delay to their ETA. They should be back for 3:45pm.

The visit focused on critical real-world topics, providing practical advice and open discussions surrounding drugs, alcohol, and sexual health.

Hands-On Learning & Beer Goggles

Rather than a standard lecture, the team brought along interactive activities that got everyone involved. One of the highlights was testing out “beer goggles,” which simulate the disorienting effects of alcohol consumption. Students experienced firsthand how drastically alcohol impairs vision, coordination, and perception—making simple tasks surprisingly difficult and driving home the realities of alcohol consumption in a memorable way.

Key Topics Covered

• Alcohol Awareness: Experiencing impaired vision and learning about the physical impacts of heavy drinking.
• Drug Education: Open discussions on safety, risks, and health effects.
• Sexual Health & Wellbeing: Essential guidance on personal health, safety, and available local support services.

A huge thank you to the Zone 5-19 team for delivering such an engaging, informative, and valuable experience for Crew Lovelace!

A strange one for our Year 7 staff team this morning… arriving to school and not jumping straight on the coach! But we’re set and raring to go for the morning!

A reminder that all Year 7 students are to arrive through Car Park 3 gate into the school yard for 7am. We will be leaving on the coach at 7:30am.

In the morning, please meet your Crew leader to:

• Be registered
• Hand in any medication
• Hand in your mobile phone
• Hand in your £10 deposit

If there have been any changes to medication over the summer Crew Leaders have consent forms, please request one if you need to leave any with us. This includes any travel sickness tablets for the return journey.

We will provide updates throughout the week using the hashtag #C33OutwardBound on here, Facebook and X. This includes information on the return journey on Friday 28th August.

This week is all about stepping out of our comfort zones and showing there is more in us than we know, that starts by arriving in the morning! We look forward to seeing you!

X30 is taking a step back to answer the question: What does it actually mean to be Crew?

Crew isn’t just a label or a time slot on the schedule—it’s a commitment. It’s the part of our day that drives how we learn, grow, and show up for each other every single day. But maintaining that standard requires constant recalibration. Today, X30 met a new set of high expectations, proving that relationships aren’t a given; their earned through collective effort.

Adaptability is the true test of any crew. This afternoon, X30 has been pushed to step up to distinct challenges set by Miss Cocliff, Miss Mitchell, Miss Burnitt, and Mr Machin.

Whether it’s raising the bar for academic rigour, sharpening personal character traits, or deeply reflecting, we know what X30 is capable of achieving. True support isn’t just about giving praise; it’s about making a stand, to do this we need to respect one another. Challenge without support leads to frustration. Whenever the bar is raised, X30 ensures no one is left behind, stepping in with encouragement, shared effort, and shared responsibility.

At the heart of XP culture lie our Habits of Work and Learning; working hard, getting smart and being kind.