We’re proud to share the incredible work our students, staff, and schools achieved in the 24-25 Academic Year. From thought-provoking expeditions to beautiful products, this report celebrates the stories and successes that make XP Trust truly unique.
Activism
“How are we actively contributing to building a better world?”
All of our schools continue to develop and deliver cross-subject, academically-rigorous Learning Expeditions as the cornerstone of our curriculum. In addition, all of our schools develop culture through Crew, our pastoral system.
Our Curriculum Seams dominate the design and influence the delivery of our compelling curriculum inspiring activism in our students.
Our engagement with local communities continues to evolve and grow, as does our connection and collaborative work with the wider world.
Our charitable work is usually connected to Learning Expeditions and/or Crew and this year was no exception, with considerable monies raised for various local organisations. For example…
We have welcomed hundreds of delegates from around the globe this year, sharing our design principles, how we XP and delivering CPD. Visitors have included educators from Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, Switzerland, Spain, Japan, and all across the UK.
Our visitors’ book is filled with comments that show just how deeply people value the work of XP Trust – and how consistently they are astonished by our students.
A visitor from Oldmachar Academy in Aberdeen exclaimed, “What a few days! Fabulous school, great young people, great vision. Wish my time at school had been like this”
Another visitor from Aboyne Academy, Aberdeenshire stated, “What an eye opening, heart filling experience. We appreciate you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us and look forward to taking our learnings back to our schools.”
A delegate from Fukuoka, Japan said “I really enjoyed my visit today! Wonderful school facilities, teachers and students. I would like to give 10 praise points each to the students who took me around the school! Lovely students! All the best to XP School!”
Anna Panisello, who, with her team representing the Catalan government, is leading an initiative to bring student-centered, deeper learning to schools in Catalonia. After her three day visit she said, ‘ Thank you for everything! We’ve had an amazing and inspiring experience cat XP admiring your beautiful work. It’s been a pleasure to share our passion for education. See you soon in Barcelona!’
The partnerships and collaborative work developed through this have been hugely positive and palpable.
To develop the research and activism of our expeditions we are also working more closely than ever before with partners, including Doncaster City Council, The Edge Foundation, The Frenchgate Centre, The Wood Foundation and various other local and regional and international cultural organisations.
For example, our CEO, Gwyn ap Harri is developing a partnership with the Government of South Australia to implement Crew and Expeditions across schools in their state. Indeed, Gwyn, Kate and Ron Berger visited South Australia and worked with the state government to explore our signature processes of Crew and Learning Expeditions and how schools in the region could adapt, develop and adopt these key practices. This has led to a strong partnership and many schools in South Australia have begun to trial Learning Expeditions and Crew.
Internationally renowned, Doncaster Youth Jazz Association (DYJA) have now made XP their permanent home, meeting and practising here every week. We are looking forward to working with their orchestras and ensembles in the future.
We held our second Arts Festival in July 2025 hosting artists from all of our schools in the Trust as well as community partners including Higher Rhythm, New College and DYJA. This year, we expanded the festival with a second stage which provided even more creative opportunities for students from across our Trust. Check out the festival in the clip below:
We also hosted a number of XP LIVE events throughout the year including an Indie Night, a Jazz/Funk night and an Open Mic Event. All the events have been well attended and we have invited young artists from across Doncaster to come and showcase their skills. In addition, as part of XP Live we hosted visits from Ron Berger and Jeff Robin, two world renowned educators who have influenced and supported XP, as well as hosting a retrospective exhibition for local artist Bramwell Sprakes that took place at the Doncaster Gallery and Museum.
We were delighted to welcome back to XPE for a second year the Royal Ballet in residence, with their ‘Chance to Dance’ programme. This not only raised revenue for the Trust of nearly £3,000, but also involved the participation of students from six junior schools in the area – including our own Norton Junior School. A wonderful showcase for the school and Trust.
We were also invited by Doncaster City Council’s Cultural Services Team to be part of delivering a prestigious new exhibition at the Danum Gallery Library and Museum, about Sir Nigel Gresley in the centenary Year of the Flying Scotsman. We created the official brochure and our students were invited to the launch. (Our book ‘Rail City’ was also timed to complement these celebrations and is now sold in both the gallery shop and Waterstones).
Expedition highlights from 2024/25
Learning Expeditions at XP Trust continue to provide our young people to create beautiful work, grow their character and make academic progress. Here are some of the highlights from 2024/5.
Autumn Term
Be Kind: ‘How Do We Show We Care?’ – All Trust Primaries, EYFS
In the Autumn of 2024 the EYFS children at Norton Infant School began a Learning Expedition called ‘Be Kind’, which looked to answer the guiding question ‘How do we show we care?’ – you can watch their story here!
To Infinity and Beyond: ‘How does movement affect our world?‘ – All Trust Primaries, UKS2
Across our Trust Primary Schools, UKS2 pupils explored the guiding question “How does movement affect our world?” through a rich Autumn Expedition combining space science, forces, and design technology. Learners investigated the movements of the Earth, Moon, and Sun – developing their understanding of day, night, and the seasons – while hands-on experiments helped them uncover how forces such as gravity, friction, air resistance, and water resistance shape the world around us. They applied this knowledge by creating mechanical systems and Solar System models, testing prototypes, and refining designs in true young-scientist fashion. Their final Presentations of Learning, held as science fairs and expos across the Primary phase, saw pupils confidently share experiments, reports, narratives, films, and models with families and the wider community – celebrating not only their scientific understanding but also their creativity, collaboration, and growing confidence as designers, engineers, and storytellers.
Rags to Riches: ‘What lies within the castle walls?’ – All Trust Primaries, KS1
In the Autumn 2024 expedition “Rags to Riches: What lies within the castle walls?”, Year 1 and 2 pupils at Norton Infants explored materials, medieval life, castle structures, and early engineering through science, history, and design technology. From investigating the properties of everyday materials through stories like The Three Little Pigs, to studying castle types, timelines, and feudal roles, to designing and testing their own catapults, pupils built a rich understanding of how people lived and worked within castle communities. This learning culminated in a powerful final product created in partnership with English Heritage: a series of photographic posters comparing jobs from the past with modern careers, celebrating both historical knowledge and the aspirations of children today. The collection was installed inside Conisbrough Castle, allowing families and visitors to experience the pupils’ learning in an authentic medieval setting and strengthening the Trust’s ongoing relationship with English Heritage.
Lest We Forget: ‘How Does War Change Lives?’ All Trust Primaries – LKS2
Across our Trust Primary Schools, LKS2 pupils explored the guiding question “How does war change lives?” through an Autumn Expedition centred on World War II and its impact on families, communities, and everyday life. Children investigated themes such as evacuation, rationing, The Blitz, and the changing roles of men, women, and children, using rich texts and historical sources to inform biography writing and reflective poetry. Their learning culminated in community-based Presentations of Learning – held in meaningful local venues – where pupils shared their understanding through song, storytelling, and exhibitions of their artwork and writing. These events, supported warmly by families, not only showcased the children’s knowledge and creativity but also honoured the lives affected by war and strengthened connections between our pupils and their communities. Here is an example from LKS2 at Plover: Lest We Forget – Plover’s Presentation of Learning – XP Trust
A Whole New World: ‘How do stories from different times show and shape the way people live?’ – XP Doncaster and XP Gateshead, Year 7
Year 7 students took part in the Humanities and Arts expedition entitled, “A Whole New World”, exploring the Guiding Question, “How do stories from different times show and shape the way people live?” as they journeyed from the Roman and Medieval periods through the Early Modern and Industrial eras.
Through immersive fieldwork, including Viking life at Murton Park, hands-on historical enquiry, Shakespearean study, geographical mapping, creative writing, and expert insights, pupils connected past and present in meaningful ways. Their expedition culminated in a vibrant Presentation of Learning, where they recreated a historical timeline for families, performed dramatic scenes, and led teaching sessions showcasing their understanding, alongside the launch of their professionally produced book of historical narratives that is available to purchase from our Trust shop.
In Year 7 at XPG students engaged in a similar Learning Expedition but created a different product. Their expedition encompassed a comprehensive study of England’s history from the Roman Empire through the Dark Ages, Anglo-Saxon period, Norman conquest, and Industrial Revolution, with a special focus on how our region’s coal abundance fuelled industrialisation. Students delved into the works of Shakespeare, exploring his influence through stories and language, and how they remain relevant today. Additionally, they studied the novel Kit’s Wilderness by critically acclaimed local author David Almond, making connections to our region’s rich mining history and the story of the Felling Pit Disaster of 1812. The expedition also included origin stories from the Northern Hemisphere, the etymology of the English language, and the geological and chemical properties of the ground beneath us. This involved studying particle models, basic chemistry, and the periodic table to understand coal’s significance during the Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, we traced the evolution of religion and its impact on contemporary life.
The expedition culminated in students writing folk songs about the different time periods students had studied and about figures from the local area who should be remembered for their significant contributions to the communities of the Northeast. Through the term in music, students worked in classroom workshops to sharpen their ensemble skills, and to practise developing motifs into phrases, and phrases into sections of verse chorus form music. Initially we worked in the style of minimalism, inspired by stimulus material from Terry Riley and Steve Reich. Then students studied folk music and put into practice what they had learned about rhythmic motifs, to make melodic motifs which would become the basis for their final folk songs about the lives of The Venerable St Bede, Thomas Hepburn, George Stephenson and Sir Humphry Davy, Catherine Cookson and David Price.
Another Brick in the Wall: ‘How are structures important in helping us to explain our world?’
– XP Gateshead, Year 9
XP Gateshead Year 9’s “Another Brick in the Wall” Expedition culminated in a fantastic Presentation of Learning at the Farrell Centre and Hancock Museum in Newcastle. Students showcased their creative and analytical work from the project, including the oral histories they crafted and the artwork they had created.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas: ‘Is charity enough?’ – XP Gateshead, Year 10
At XP Gateshead, students asked themselves a challenging question: “Is charity enough?” What followed was a rich and reflective expedition exploring inequality, compassion, and the deeper impact of human connection.
Inspired by A Christmas Carol, students considered both the historical and present-day realities of poverty and loneliness. They wrestled with complex ideas about justice, systemic change, and the emotional weight of being unseen. Their written responses, shared publicly at the end of the expedition, were powerful, personal, and deeply thoughtful. With honesty and maturity, they challenged the limits of charity alone, calling instead for lasting relationships, empathy, and structural change.
The Learning Expedition culminated in a heartfelt act of service: an Afternoon Tea hosted by the students for local community members and their grandparents, designed specifically to address isolation and foster belonging. Guests were welcomed with kindness, served by students, and invited to stay connected with the school and its events beyond the day itself.
EL Education’s Better World Week 2025
Once again, we took part in EL education’s annual ‘Better World Week’ which brings schools from across their network in the USA to celebrate activism and agency in young people who are working in their communities to actively make a positive and lasting difference. The link below shares our stories of how we are making the world a better place in the communities we serve.
#BetterWorldWeek 2025 – XP Trust
Spring Term
See How Things Grow: ‘How do Things Grow and Change?’ – All Trust Primary Schools, EYFS
Across our Trust Primary Schools, EYFS children explored the Spring Expedition “See How Things Grow: How do things grow and change?”, learning about how they themselves have grown, what their bodies need to stay healthy, and how plants and animals develop over time. Through stories, play-based exploration, and hands-on activities, pupils deepened their understanding of growth while nurturing their environments.
At Plover School, as a lasting legacy, the children designed and created their own seed packets – beautiful products that celebrated their learning and encouraged others to help things grow too.
Ready Steady Grow: ‘How Can I Be the Healthiest Version of Me?’ Plover and Norton Schools, KS1
Inspired by a transformative professional learning visit to Jeff Robin at Jeff Tech High, staff at Norton and Plover reimagined their Key Stage One expedition Ready, Steady, Grow: How Can I Be the Healthiest Version of Me? – placing creativity, curiosity, and “doing the project first” at the heart of planning. Year 1 and 2 pupils explored health and wellbeing through rich, hands-on experiences, from sensory immersion with Handa’s Surprise to observational art, food preparation, poetry, and story innovation. Playful experimentation with Shrinky Dink plastic became a powerful bridge between art, science, and design, igniting excitement both in school and at home. As pupils developed their understanding of nutrition, food groups, and healthy living, they confidently shared their learning at a science fair-style Presentation of Learning, proudly presenting artwork, published stories, and healthy tasters to families. This Learning Expedition not only produced joyful, high-quality outcomes but also sparked a cultural shift in staff practice – proving that when learning begins with inspiration and heart, deeper understanding and exceptional standards naturally follow.
Fight for your rights: ‘How can one moment influence our future?’ – All Trust Primaries, UKS2
During the Spring Term of 2025, Year 5 and 6 embarked on an exciting Learning Expedition called ‘fight for your rights’ and investigated the guiding question ‘How can one moment influence our future?’. The pupils explored influential people throughout history who have fought for social justice and have made a significant impact on society and how we live today.
The Power of Life: ‘What Makes You Human?’ – Green Top School, LKS2
In the Spring 2025 expedition “The Power of Life: What Makes You Human?”, Year 3 and 4 explored how electricity, the human body, living things, and healthy eating help us survive and thrive. Through hands-on investigations with circuits, studies of nutrition and digestion, classification of living organisms, and an exploration of seasonal foods, pupils built a rich, interconnected understanding of what humans need to live well. Their learning was anchored by The Wild Robot, creative anatomical modelling, and purposeful writing tasks linked to science and design technology.
At Green Top, the Learning Expedition culminated in a beautifully crafted Healthy Living Diary, a published product combining children’s scientific explanations, food knowledge, and wellbeing insights. Sold to families to raise funds for the local food bank, the diary – shared proudly at their final presentation – captured both the learning journey and the children’s commitment to supporting their community.
Fight The Power: ‘What Is Power?’ – XP Doncaster and XP Gateshead, Year 8
In the joint Year 8 expedition “Fight the Power”, students at XP, XP East, and XP Gateshead explored the guiding question “What is power?” through Shakespeare, history, science, geography, RE, art, music, and computing. From analysing how power operates in Macbeth, to investigating tectonic forces, energy systems, and historical movements such as the Peasants’ Revolt and the Suffragettes, pupils developed a nuanced understanding of power in human societies and the natural world.
Their learning culminated in powerful creative products shaped by activism, context, and voice: at XP and XP East, students worked with a graffiti artist to design and paint a large-scale mural outside the school using stencils inspired by symbols of power studied throughout the expedition; at XP Gateshead, students created an abridged performance of Macbeth at the Caedmon Hall in Gateshead, showcasing how dialect, reinterpretation, and performance can challenge traditional narratives.
You Give Me Fever: ‘How can we continue to make progress in public health?’ – XP Gateshead, Year 9
Year 9 students at XP Gateshead brought their expedition “You Give Me Fever” to a powerful conclusion by hosting their second annual Public Health Conference, answering the guiding question “How can we continue to make progress in public health?”. Through a rich blend of History, Science, Geography and English, pupils investigated how health has evolved from the Medieval period to today, exploring the impact of poverty, government action, and scientific progress on community wellbeing. Their final product -a fully student-led public health conference – featured keynote speeches, expert Q&A panels with local authority and health professionals, and a marketplace where students presented rigorously researched reports on topics such as respiratory health, deprivation, the tobacco industry, and the risks of smoking and vaping. With clarity, confidence and purpose, students challenged misconceptions, raised awareness, and called for meaningful community action, demonstrating how XP Gateshead learners are using their academic work to drive real social change in their city.
Summer Term
Once Upon a Time: ‘Who is hiding in the page of this book?’ – All Trust Primaries, EYFS
Earth Shattering Events: ‘What happens when disaster strikes?’ – Norton Junior School and Carcroft School, LKS2
In the summer of 2025, Years 3 & 4 began their Learning Expedition with the guiding question ‘What happens when disaster strikes?’
Throughout this Learning Expedition, children explored the impact of both local and international disasters – from flooding in Fishlake to fires in Florida. The causes, preventative measures and impact of such disasters were all examined, as was the effect on the people who experienced these troubles including displacement, health and the economic impact. Through studying local disasters, children were able to make sense of the geography of Doncaster, including their own positionality compared to areas that have suffered both natural and industrial disasters. What’s more, students shone a light on the 2019 flooding of Fishlake. They wrote newspaper reports about the hardships that villagers faced as a consequence of the flooding which was brought to life by our expert visitor – Kerry Poncia – who explained in detail the impact the flooding had on herself and her family. Finally, each of the four classes within Y3/4 studied an artist that represented four types of disaster: water, wind, fire and industry. This artwork formed the border of our product – a scaled map of Doncaster which was co-created by year 4 children following a sequence of mathematical learning centred around the concept of area.
At Carcroft School, pupils undertook their own iteration of the Learning Expedition What happens when disaster strikes?, with a strong focus on geography, science and art. The expedition began with a Hook Week visit to Magna Science Adventure Centre, where pupils explored the galleries and took part in a volcano and rocks workshop that anchored their learning. Through the Learning Expedition, children developed a deep understanding of the Earth’s structure, tectonic plates, volcanoes, earthquakes, rivers and the water cycle, alongside scientific investigations into rocks, soils and fossils, and an art case study inspired by pop art. This learning culminated in a high-quality information leaflet and A3 information spread created for a real audience at Magna, directly linked to the workshop experience.
The final work now lives at Magna and is featured on their website.
At the Coalface: “How has the mining industry shaped our community?” – Green Top, UKS2
In the Summer 2025 expedition “At the Coalface”, Year 5 and 6 pupils at Green Top explored the guiding question “How has the mining industry shaped our community?” through music, history, geography, and rich fieldwork. After an immersive hook week studying artefacts, maps, songs, and artwork linked to Doncaster’s mining past, pupils investigated the evolution of mining, the experiences of child workers, major disasters, and the ways mining shaped local settlements and economic activity. They developed musical performances inspired by mining poems and folk songs, conducted fieldwork at the National Mining Museum and local pit tops, and studied how Doncaster’s landscape has changed over time. Their learning culminated in a powerful final product: a performance of percussion-accompanied mining poetry showcased at both the XP Festival of Learning and the Green Top Summer Fayre, alongside a community information map created with Thorne and Moorends Council, celebrating and preserving the area’s mining heritage.
Nature vs Nurture: Are We Really Free To Choose? – XP Doncaster, Year 10
In the joint XP and XP East Learning Expedition “Nature vs Nurture: Are we really free to choose?”, X28 and E28 explored the complex relationship between choice, identity, and the forces that shape human lives through history, science, RE, English, and art. Immersion began with ethical debates sparked by Gattaca and media portrayals of young parents, prompting students to question how society forms expectations of individuals. They then examined life under Nazi rule through a wide range of historical sources and interpretations, studied Jewish beliefs and the impact of persecution, and used genetics and evolution to expose how Nazi racial ideology distorted scientific principles. In English, students analysed Boys Don’t Cry to explore themes of family, prejudice, and societal pressure, while in Art they investigated interwar movements that challenged restrictive norms. This learning culminated in a documentary that became the central product of the expedition: a powerful student-produced film featuring interviews with Holocaust survivors, people with chronic health conditions and those who have lived with prejudice. By weaving their academic understanding with the lived experiences of Experts, students created a thoughtful, compelling piece that challenges prejudice and invites viewers to consider how confronting discrimination can inspire real change.
Curation Focus: Frenchgate Centre
Our curation highlight of the year is undoubtedly A Decade of Activism, a powerful exhibition transforming a corner of the Frenchgate Shopping Centre with artwork created by students from across XP Trust. Showcasing ten years of Expedition work, the display captures the issues our young people care about most – from protecting the planet to challenging injustice and fostering kindness within their communities. Every curated piece tells a story of activism, leadership and equity, reflecting the heart of our Trust and the belief that students can shape a better world. Rooted in our three rich curriculum seams – Protecting Our Planet, Standing for Social Justice and Cultivating Diversity & Belonging – the exhibition stands as a vibrant celebration of the courage, creativity and compassion our students have shown throughout the last decade.
