XP School

This week in Crew Brunel has been full of preparation, reflection, and celebration. From getting ready for presentations to coming together for our final whole-school community meeting with Year 11, every day brought something meaningful.

We started the week with our usual weekend check-in, giving everyone the opportunity to share how they were feeling and reconnect as a crew after the weekend. These conversations continue to help strengthen our relationships and create a supportive start to the week. Alongside our check-ins, we spent time making final preparations for our Wise Wednesday presentations. Everyone worked hard to make sure they were organised, confident, and ready to present their ideas and learning.

On Tuesday, we focused on sorting through lost property. Students worked together to organise and display lost personal belongings in order to take photographs for the Lost Property blog post. It was a simple but important reminder about responsibility and supporting each other as a community. The activity also linked closely to the values of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme, particularly teamwork, service, and taking responsibility for helping others.

Wednesday gave students the opportunity to explore future pathways by looking at GCSE options, particularly Creative and Global subjects. Students discussed the courses available, thought about their interests and ambitions, and asked thoughtful questions about what their next steps could look like. It was great to see students engaging positively with conversations about their futures and beginning to think carefully about the opportunities ahead of them.

On Thursday, we were joined by Crew Sinfield and Crew Peake. Together, we reflected on the week by looking at praises and conducts. This was a valuable opportunity to celebrate successes, recognise positive contributions, and discuss how we can continue to improve as individuals and as crews. The collaborative atmosphere helped encourage honesty, reflection, and encouragement between students.

Friday’s whole-school community meeting was packed with highlights and celebrations from across the school. One of the standout moments was seeing the Year 8 final product work focused on migration. Students showcased an impressive wall painting project using stencils and spray paint to creatively express themes connected to migration. The artwork demonstrated both creativity and teamwork. We also heard from a water safety awareness expert who visited Year 7 students to raise awareness about staying safe around water. The session was informative, engaging, and incredibly important as we move towards the summer months. Another exciting update came from Year 10 students who recently completed their DofE Silver practice expedition. It was fantastic to hear about their resilience, teamwork, and determination throughout the experience.

As always, the meeting included appreciations, apologies, and stands, giving students and staff the chance to recognise one another, reflect honestly, and celebrate positive actions across the school. There was also an important stand made around following the XP character traits. It was recognised that there have been a few incidents recently where students have not demonstrated these values as positively as they could. This was an opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of showing respect, compassion, courage, and integrity, and to encourage students to put things right moving forward.

Finally, this community meeting marked the last one with our Year 11 students before they move on to their next steps. It was a special moment to recognise their journey, contributions, and the impact they have had on the school community.

This week showed the importance of preparation, teamwork, reflection, and celebration within Crew Brunel and the wider school community. We are proud of the positive attitude and effort shown by everyone throughout the week.

As we head into a week off, we hope everyone has the chance to rest, recharge, and enjoy the sunshine. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for the final half term of the academic year and to another successful few weeks ahead.

Miss Mitchell