Crew is fundamental to, and a distinguishing feature of, all XP schools. Over the past few months I have been thinking deeply about how we can clearly and simply define the component parts of Crew in XP Trust and the impact of Crew on ourselves, each other and the wider community. As a result, I wrote, in collaboration with others, a document that articulated what I believe to be the three dimensions of Crew.

Crew at XP Trust is defined across three core dimensions: structure, curriculum, and culture.

“We don’t just do Crew, we are Crew.”

Crew is a Structure

Crew is an allocated time within the curriculum at each of our schools, facilitating the structure needed to build positive relationships and underpin our Narrative for Success (N4S). This structured time is where we build and sustain positive relationships, activate our Character Traits (CTs), and form our Habits of Work and Learning (HoWLs). Through this structure, we support and challenge students to identify their strengths and improve in areas where they need growth, both academically and socially.

Crew is Curriculum

“Our Crew curriculum is underpinned and strengthened by referencing, applying and realising our Character Traits and HoWLs”

As part of our ‘building character’ curriculum, Crew requires us to sequence, design, and plan purposeful experiences that allow our students to develop their understanding of themselves, each other, and the world around them. Areas of focus within the Crew curriculum include PSHE, Citizenship, and RSE. At the secondary level, this also includes Careers and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The content and delivery are consistently underpinned and strengthened by referencing, applying and realising our Character Traits and our HoWLs.

Crew is Our Culture

Crew is our fundamental culture, starting with Staff Crew, where intentional actions and shared language demonstrate the strength of working together, supporting, and challenging each other to achieve our best. Staff Crew is how we embrace, represent, and model our culture for students and the wider community.

“The culture of Crew we cultivate enables staff and students alike to be kind, thoughtful, and socially responsible citizens, fostering a community that promotes agency and cultivates diversity and belonging.“

This culture is also foundational in our Teaching and Learning model. We explicitly plan to build this positive culture through the language of expectations and interactions with students in teaching sessions, using opportunities to anchor learning to the development of character, framed by activating Character Traits and the forming of strong Habits of Work and Learning.

In Crew, always,

Andy Sprakes, Chief Academic Officer, XP Trust.