Last week three staff from XP Trust Secondary Schools were invited by Outward Bound to a dinner event at St James Palace in recognition of, and to celebrate, the continued partnership we have with the Outward Bound Trust.
Since XP opened, every year on their first day of school, all Year 7 students at XP Doncaster and XP Gateshead have visited the Outward Bound Centre at either Aberdovey or Ullswater to engage in an outdoor expedition that explores the concept of Crew. Whilst there, students take part in activities that provide purposeful opportunities for them to build relationships and have shared experiences as a Crew.
XP staff work alongside Outward Bound Leaders and instructors to tailor the experience to closely align with our Character Traits and Habits of Work and Learning. This allows us to build the foundation of our Crew culture for students that eases their transition into school when they return. The activities and experiences also become a metaphor that we use throughout their time at XP: Whilst on the Outward Bound experience students spend a night in the wilderness and on the following day they summit a mountain – together, as a Crew. Therefore, when we are back at school we are able to reference the idea that to be successful as a community, we all need to support and challenge each other to ‘get to the ‘top of the mountain.’
Outward Bound have recognised this commitment and invited Natalie Johnson, Julie Mosely and Kate ap Harri to attend this wonderful celebration where we had the opportunity not only to meet other schools that invest heavily in the values of Outward Bound but also to network with members of the public who provide funding which allows our schools to afford to continue sending our students on these valuable residential experiences.
