Exciting opportunity at Carcroft School! We’re looking for a Teacher with a Specialism in SEND to join our team and make a difference. Interested? Find out more here: https://xptrust.org/carcroft-school-teacher-with-specialism-in-send/

Beautiful Work This Week

Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust from this week. To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.

Top of the Blogs

Family Learning @ Norton Infants

Class 8 Fabulous PE @ Green Top

Awesome home learning in Year 5/6 @ Plover

Maths is better with chocolate @ Carcroft School

Learning Outside the Classroom @ XP

Light and Shadows @ Norton Juniors

G29 9.2 Expedition Reveal @ XP Gateshead

Share your stories with us!

We now have a new dedicated news email so that you can send your stories, updates or ideas about potential news articles directly to us in Comms.

It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!

Join our Crew at XP Trust as Central Administrator! Play a vital role in keeping everything running smoothly and making a real difference.

Apply now: https://xptrust.org/central-administrator-xp-trust/

Year 9 students took part in an exciting Expedition called “Another Brick in the Wall,” where they explored the guiding question, “How are structures important in helping us explain our world?” The learning combined HUMAN and STEAM subjects and kicked off with problem-solving survival challenges, debates on political systems, and analysing Lord of the Flies. Along the way, they learned about government structures, the science of atoms and nuclear power, and how architecture shapes our communities, using China’s political and economic changes as a key example.

The project culminated with students creating their own visions of utopian communities. They designed buildings, drew up plans, and built models inspired by their studies, presenting them to parents and visitors at the POL. Teams made their case for why their community was the best and the community voted on which they would like to live in.

We are currently working to create a directory of experts for our upcoming Year 9 Passage Presentations and would appreciate your help! 

Passage Presentation is an opportunity for students to reflect on their learning and demonstrate their readiness to move onto the next phase of their education – GCSE.

Students share their high quality work to a panel of experts and their family through an oral presentation, increasing their accountability and character development demonstrating the skills and knowledge they have gained in Key Stage 3. 

As part of the presentation students provide insight into their future goals and aspirations and we would like to ensure an authentic expert for each of them at their presentation – this is where you come in! 

We are seeking support from any members of our community to become an expert panelist at a Passage Presentation, to listen to the presentation, ask questions and support in directing pathways. In order for this to be a success we request help from members of the public who are able to share their own experiences and advice in order to advance our students to the next level of formal schooling.

If you feel this is something you are interested in, please use this link to sign up to the directory. 

Presentations will take place week commencing 27th January 2025 for 3 weeks. You will receive an invite from the student you have been allocated nearer to the time. 

Should you have any further questions, please contact a member of our Key Stage 3 Team: 

Natalie Johnson- [email protected] (KS3 Lead) 

Emma Watson- [email protected] (Phase Lead XPE 8/9)

Chris Morrison- [email protected] (Phase Lead XP 8/9)

We appreciate your support in advance. 

When changes are proposed to admission arrangements, we must consult on our admission arrangements that will apply for admission applications the following school year and at least once every 7 years, even if there have been no changes.

Our consultation will last for 6 weeks and between Friday 20th December and Friday 31 January.

Our admission authority will consult with:

• parents of children between the ages of two and eighteen;
• other persons in the relevant area who in the opinion of the admission authority have an interest in the proposed admissions;
• all other admission authorities within the relevant area;
• the local authority

Therefore we invite people who represent the above to send us their views;

1. Using the online form here
2. Sending an email to [email protected]
3. Writing a letter to Clerk to the Board, XP Trust, Middle Bank, Doncaster DN4 5NG

Here are the updated admission arrangements for:

• XP School
• XP East
• XP Gateshead

Norton Junior’s UKS2 Autumn Expedition, “To Infinity and Beyond”, explored the guiding question, “How does movement affect our world?”, through an engaging journey into space science, forces, and design technology. Beginning with an exploration of the Solar System, students investigated planetary movements and their effects on day, night, and the seasons, supported by an inspiring visit to the National Space Centre. Building on this, they delved into forces such as gravity, air resistance, and friction, conducting hands-on experiments and learning about mechanisms like pulleys, levers, and gears. The culmination of their studies was a design project where they crafted mechanical Solar Systems, demonstrating their understanding of space and engineering.

The expedition concluded with a Science Fayre at Norton Junior School, where students presented their Solar System models alongside interactive activities like debates, quizzes, and experiments to an audience of parents and the community. The event not only showcased their learning but also celebrated their creativity and collaboration. Artwork inspired by space, including chalk galaxy pieces, was sold to support the Doncaster Astronomical Society, ensuring the Expedition had a lasting impact on both the students and their community.

Crew Council at Green Top are tackling an ongoing issue with parking around the school! They got together and made this video to make a stand for better parking in the community. Their message is clear – park smart, stay safe, walk more! You can watch their activism here…