XP School

The Year 11 students at XPE have demonstrated exceptional Habits of Work and Learning (HoWLs) as they diligently prepare for their upcoming English Spoken Language assessments. Across both Miss Buckley’s and Mrs Desborough’s classes, lessons have been driven by outstanding focus, active engagement, and dedicated craftsmanship and quality, ensuring students refine their delivery, structure, and techniques to present with confidence. This commitment is clearly reflected in the exciting and diverse range of topics chosen by the students, spanning pressing social issues, personal passions and curiosities. Their hard work, positive attitude, and thorough preparation promise a brilliant and engaging set of spoken presentations.

Walking down the corridors at XP this week, it has been impossible not to notice the atmosphere of working hard and getting smart across Year 8. Everywhere I visited I saw our students demonstrating incredible learning behaviours—locked in, on task, and pushing themselves to be the best version of themselves.

Here is a glimpse inside two of the fantastic classrooms where our students have been shining this week.

Making Connections in Spanish with Señorita Warwick

In Señorita Warwick’s Spanish classroom, X31 Admiral were put to the test with a high-level inference challenge. Rather than simply memorising vocabulary, students were asked to act as linguistic detectives.

Drawing on their background knowledge and applying their understanding of cognates—words that share similar roots across languages—students worked together to connect visual pictures directly to Spanish terms. The level of critical thinking in the room was superb: students were justifying their choices, testing ideas, and making sophisticated language connections with confidence.

High Expectations in Miss Wilkinson’s Room

Just a few steps down the corridor in Miss Wilkinson’s classroom, the exact same high standard of engagement was on display.

Working with X31 Skipper, students were hooked into the immersion phase of their new expedition by responding to a series of powerful provocations. The depth of discussion and the quality of their written responses reflected the high expectations that make the XP so special.

What stands out most across Year 8 this week isn’t just what the students are learning, but how they are learning it. To see two classrooms maintaining such focus, high energy, and mutual support shows just how much our Year 8s care about their craftsmanship and quality.

A massive well done to Year 8, Señorita Warwick, and Miss Wilkinson for setting such a powerful standard for the term ahead!

What a fantastic start to the year!

​Last week, my crew and I took on the great outdoors! Every single student played an integral part in our fieldwork at Outward Bound in Ullswater. From gorge walking and wild camping to taking the leap with cliff jumping, the students showed incredible courage and compassion toward one another. They quickly recognised that everyone brought unique strengths to the table, whether physical, mental, or emotional and used them to support each other throughout the week.

​I am so proud of how they tackled every challenge and built truly strong, lasting relationships along the way.

​We’ve kicked off this week with a positive buzz and memories we’ll hold onto for a long time to come.

​Let’s go, Crew CST!

After an incredibly immersive day, C33 are making their return journey to XP & XP East.

We will arrive slightly later than anticipated- 6pm.

Please collect your child from Car Park 3 where they will be dismissed by their fieldwork lead, unless school have been informed otherwise. This is the normal drop off and pick up area, not that used last week.

Thanks.

Yesterday marked an exciting milestone for our Year 8 students as we officially launched the immersion phase for our upcoming expedition. Trading the classroom for the chalk-lined coastline of Danes Dyke, the trip set the stage for a day filled with hands-on discovery, scientific curiosity, and outdoor exploration. Students were tasked with scouring the shoreline for open fossils, observing signs of active marine life, and examining the vast array of shells washed ashore by the tide.

Throughout the day, our students consistently demonstrated our core character traits of compassion and respect for the natural world. Mindful of their footprint on the delicate coastal ecosystem, everyone embraced Leave No Trace principles. They handled their surroundings with care, ensured marine habitats remained undisturbed, and left the shoreline just as pristine as they found it. Their environmental stewardship showed a mature understanding that true scientific inquiry goes hand in hand with protecting the places we study.

That same dedication was on full display through the incredible craftsmanship of their field sketches. Pausing along the beach, students poured real focus and precision into capturing the detailed textures of ancient rock layers, coastal erosion patterns, and native shoreline features. The care put into every line and shading detail reflected a high standard of work and a sharp eye for scientific observation.

The absolute highlight of the afternoon came when patient searching paid off—several students managed to find real fossils embedded directly in the chalk rocks! Holding pieces of ancient history brought the day’s learning to life in a memorable way. With their impressive environmental mindfulness, scientific curiosity, and artistic quality, our Year 8s have set a fantastic foundation for the rest of this expedition. A huge well done to all our students!

Our Year 7’s have arrived at their fieldwork and are enjoying the first show!

After a whirlwind week at Ullswater filled with lifetime memories, from tears to laughter, our crew has returned closer than ever. From sharing our family pet names and favourite foods to opening up about our biggest challenges, we truly got to know each other. The Ullswater experience has given us a strong foundation to learn, grow, and support one another throughout our XP East journey. It was an awesome experience and i was super lucky to be apart of it with them.

Our first day back in school was a huge success! During our morning crew session, every student arrived fully equipped and ready to put their best foot forward.

To help us keep this positive momentum going, please ensure your child brings the following every day:

• Stationery: Pen, pencil, rubber, and ruler
• Reading book
• Hydration: A refillable water bottle
• Uniform: Correct dress code (and PE kit on PE days)
• Technology: Charged device (once issued)

A Quick Reminder: Mobile phones and smartwatches must be switched off and put away, or disconnected from mobile networks during the school day.

We are looking forward to a fantastic term ahead, and I will keep you posted on how our students are getting on!

Mrs Watson – Crew EWA

After a whirlwind start to Y7 and attending Outward bound, Crew DCU have settled into school as we embark on our schooling journey.

Over the course of last week, we managed to take part in a plethora of activities, exploring the beautiful scenery in Ullswater. We braved new challenges like gorge walking and night navigation, showing immense courage and determination in unfamiliar environments.. It was a privilege to be part of this experience, and all of our crew members showed exceptional character growth, as we started our journey to the ‘top of the mountain’. We hope to bring these experiences, memories and character traits back to school this term.

Overall an amazing effort. Here are some of our highlights:

The transition to Year 7 is a monumental step for any student, but C33 Explorer took it in their stride during their very first mathematics lesson this week. Stepping into a secondary maths classroom can be daunting, yet our new Year 7s demonstrated extraordinary Courage right from the moment they walked through the door.

Guided by our Teaching and Learning protocols, the classroom was a space where taking risks, embracing contributions, and stepping out of comfort zones are celebrated as essential parts of the learning journey. All valuable skills that were developed at Outward Bounds last week!

Data Analysis and the Gallery Walk

The highlight of the lesson was an ambitious data analysis task. Working collaboratively, students identified patterns, trends, and information.

To share their findings, we deployed our Gallery Walk protocol. The data analysis was superb for a first lesson – students were actively interpreting what the data meant and backing up their conclusions with clear mathematical reasoning.

Shout-Out to Kai! A massive shout-out goes to Kai, who showed fantastic leadership by kickstarting our Popcorn protocol. Taking the initiative to launch a new classroom routine in front of peers requires serious courage, and Kai set a brilliant, high-energy benchmark for the rest of the crew to follow!

Working Hard and Living Our HoWLs

Throughout the session, C33 Explorer embodied our Habits of Work and Learning (HoWLs):

• Work Hard: Every single student remained focused, persevered through challenging tasks, and gave 100% effort from start to finish.
• Be Kind: Students supported one another during group discussions and built upon one anothers answers.

It was a great start to the academic year. C33 Explorer proved that with courage, collaboration, and dedication to our HoWLs, there is no limit to what they can achieve in our expeditions. Keep up the amazing work E33 Explorer!

All enrichment and learning labs will being on W/C 7th September. See timetable below.