At XP Trust, the first week back across all of our schools focuses exclusively on Crew. Crew is our culture and we invest time after the long summer break to return to the fundamentals of Crew. The strongest examples of engaging with Crew can be seen when activities have been carefully planned to challenge and support students to reflect deeply on their character and how this will help them to build their resilience and courage to face the challenges ahead with others.

The strongest examples of engaging with Crew can be seen when activities have been carefully planned to challenge and support students to reflect deeply on their character

On Wednesday morning, students in Year 9 at XP and XP East were preparing for a walk on the Monsal Trail in Derbyshire and they were certainly up for the 12K challenge. I spoke to a number who were not only excited to be back at school with friends but also keen to bond again with their Crews in a shared challenge and experience. It was lovely to see students helping each other for the day ahead. Whilst this preparation was taking place Students in Year 8 were designing a PE kit and relating that to our Character Traits and HOWLs, thinking carefully about imagery and design. In addition, Year 10 were also busily writing CVs in readiness for ‘mock interviews’ hosted by local businesses and partners later that afternoon to give them a taste of what is like once you enter the workplace. 

I spoke to Charlie a student in Year 10 just after her ‘interview’ and she spoke positively about the activity. This is what she had to say!

“I was nervous but it was a valuable experience. I know it will help me in the future.’

Year 11 at this point were engaged in sessions concerning developing study skills and revision strategies. Highly engaged in retention strategies. Note taking, mind mapping in timed activities. In the History session students showed real integrity with some acknowledging that they weren’t yet in good study habits. There was a palpable will to rectify this and begin their final year with a real focus on producing their best. 

In the afternoon, at Green Top, I joined the Lower Key Stage Two Crew as they headed out to be stewards of the community by litter picking in the local park. The young people worked hard to pick up any litter,  although the park, whilst not perfect, was in pretty good shape! Students worked together with purpose but the highlight of the afternoon for me was when a member of the community, who was walking through the park with her elderly mother, stopped us and asked what we were doing. She was full of praise for our environmentalists saying, ‘It’s lovely to see young people tidying the community, I thought that was what you were doing and I’m thrilled to see you showing such respect and care. Keep up the good work!’ 

The most significant and impactful part of the day, however, was when we returned to school and Robyn, one of the class teachers, debriefed the activity with the children. They spoke eloquently about how the activity related to Crew and how by working together they could see, hear and feel the positive difference they had made to their community. It was another reminder of the importance of reflecting on our learning so that we can make connections, deepen understanding and make pledges for the future.

They could see, hear and feel the positive difference they had made to their community.

Interestingly, the following day I met up with Carcroft students who were visiting the Outdoor Centre at Austerfield and were building the skills of collaboration and teamwork to tackle an orienteering session on site. Students listened really carefully to the instructor and gave some brilliant responses to questions regarding map orientation and the points of the compass. The Guiding Question throughout the week had been endeavouring to answer was, ‘How can we work together to achieve our end goal?’ It was particularly noteworthy how Shannon, the class teacher, intervened and framed for students the activity and how it linked to both the Guiding Question and the building of culture through Crew. She reinforced the core principles of working with each other and how in previous days they had struggled to do this and as a result they had met with mixed results. She was hoping to see progress! It was heartwarming to see students dive into the activity and consciously work together to solve the clues to take them around the site. The weather was starting to turn but students just got on with the activity. If the focus remains on the power of Crew, and I have no reason to doubt this, then these students will certainly make great progress as they head through the year.

In the afternoon I headed over to Plover in the torrential rain and had the privilege to witness a gruelling but inspirational ‘tough runner’ activity at Plover. In spite of the weather all Year Groups and almost all students had participated in the activity. I was present for Y5 as they braved the rain to complete this fund raising Crew challenge. The commitment from students was outstanding – they fully embraced the assault course, which was tough I might add, in really difficult conditions. I was  inspired by the way they just got stuck in.I spoke to Sergei from Year 5 and asked him, ‘What has this activity got to do with Crew?’ His response was both coherent and powerful. Watch the clip below:

The school have raised a significant total and this will be used to enhance fieldwork experiences for children across the school throughout the year. Plover students clearly showed courage but I was struck deeply by how this was underpinned by compassion.

On Thursday evening, I headed up to Ullswater with Geoff Hewitt from our Comms Team to capture the final day of our annual Year 7 Outward Bound experience for both XP Doncaster and XP Gateshead. Students had been engaging with the Guiding Question, ‘What Does it Mean to be Crew’ throughout the week and they had clearly faced trials, tribulations and triumphs. Some students had struggled with being away from home and had shown great resilience to overcome this; some students had found the activities physically challenging and had, with the support of Crew overcome this – what was clear was that students had grown over the course of the four days and they had viscerally experienced and therefore very quickly deepened their understanding of the purpose of Crew.

This is what Caleb from Y7 had to say about his experience,

These experiences help us to create life long memories that we can think back on in due time. In Crew we share our feelings as a team not how good or bad it can be. As a Crew we have certain Character Traits to help guide us and shape our future. These include respect, integrity, craftsmanship and quality, compassion and courage. We show these by being polite, working hard and showing kindness.

I never cease to be amazed by how powerful first week back is when we get it right. There are some key areas I saw that will always guarantee success. For example, activities that enable and facilitate the building of community and teamwork; staff making our Character Traits and HoWLs real by modelling them and highlighting and elevating these when students show them; and thorough debriefing of experiences to allow deep and meaning reflection upon our three dimensional approach and our culture of Crew.

First Week Back is a culturally defining moment at XP that has deep repercussions for our culture and the success of students both in terms of belonging and becoming active agents for positive social change.