What does it really mean to be part of XP? Don’t take it from us – hear it from the students themselves.
If you’re a teacher who believes in creativity, challenge and doing work that matters, this is the role for you. We’re open to applications across a range of subjects – find out more here
https://xptrust.org/were-looking-for-great-teachers-at-xp-doncaster/
What a wonderful day celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE day. Children dressed in the patriotic colours of red, white and blue and took part in a thought provoking Crew session, listened carefully during remembrance assembly and observed a minute silence. Lunch was a picnic or traditional fish and chip supper. In the afternoon, 5HJ created these stunning watercolour paintings of a Spitfire mid flight!
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.
G28 Fishing Success @ XP Gateshead
Class Five journey to space… @ Norton Infants
Crew Peake tackle the litter @ XP
To celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE day 3SG have participated in lots of lovely activities to learn about and remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting during World War 2. We dressed in the patriotic colours of red, white and blue, sat beautifully for a remembrance assembly where we heard moving memoirs from children during the Blitz, before observing a minute silence. Lunch was particularly lovely, we all sat outside on the grass eating the traditional British classic of fish and chips and had a little boogie! In the afternoon, the children designed their own Spitfire plane and we had a little competition in the hall. What a wonderful day!
Today 3EG have celebrated and remembered the many soldiers and civilians who gave their lives during the Second World War. We took part in Crew activities and listened to stories and diaries written by children at the time. We completed a guided reading challenge about the history of VE day, and finished the day with a paper Spitfire competition!
Celebrating VE Day at Norton Campus
Today, across the school Campus, we came together as a school community to mark VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) – a significant moment in British history commemorating the end of World War II in Europe on 8th May 1945.
Our day of remembrance and celebration began with a special whole-school assembly, where pupils learned about the importance of VE Day and reflected on the sacrifices made by those who served during the war. We also listened to real accounts of those who loved through the war which helped bring history to life and encouraged thoughtful discussion. At the end of this assembly, we observed a two-minute silence in a moment of quiet reflection to honour the bravery and resilience of those who lived through the war.
Additionally, in true British tradition, we enjoyed a special lunch of fish and chips – a popular wartime meal that remains a favourite today! Thanks to our FONCA group, our grounds were decorated with Union Jack bunting, and there was a real sense of celebration and pride throughout the day. We even managed to order some cold and windy weather to enjoy our fish and chips outside in true British style!
Pupils also took part in a CREW session focused on gratitude, resilience, and the spirit of unity that VE Day represents. They explored the values that helped people through difficult times and discussed how we can carry those lessons into our own lives today.
Throughout the day, there were a variety of engaging activities across year groups, including:
Wartime-themed arts and crafts
Listening to popular 1940s songs
Creating commemorative posters
Watching historic footage and documentaries
It was a wonderful opportunity to connect our students with the past in a meaningful and memorable way. VE Day reminds us of the power of community, courage, and peace – values we continue to uphold every day across our Campus.
Lest we forget.
NJS pupils had a wonderful day celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day. They took part in VE Day crew sessions and assembly, held a one minute silence, ate fish and chips outside and the Year 6 pupils created some amazing Spitfire artwork! What a great day!
More success today as the Y5/6 mixed cricket team secured silver medals. Unfortunately, the final did not go their way but there were stellar performances all around. A shout out to one of our youngest team members for her incredible performances over the last two days (girls and mixed cricket tournaments): Eleanora!
Well done to both the girls and the boys teams for all their practice during lunchtimes and break times. Onto the Y3/4 cricket tournaments in a couple of weeks time!
This morning, 5HJ explored a range of 3D shapes including cubes, spheres, pyramids, and a selection of prisms. The children were tasked with the job of identifying the amount of faces, edges and vertices to solve mathematical problems.
At XP Trust, we’re proud to be long-standing partners and friends of EL Education. We take part in Better World Week every year – not as a one-off event, but as an extension of the work we do every day in our schools. Like EL, we believe that learning should be purposeful, rooted in community, and driven by the desire to make a positive impact. It’s a shared mission that sits at the heart of our relationship and everything we do.
In every XP school, students take on meaningful work that matters to real people. From campaigning for local change to producing high-quality expedition products that leave a legacy, our young people learn not just how to succeed – but how to contribute. Better World Week gives us the opportunity to shine a light on that work, celebrate the voices of our students, and stand alongside a global network of educators who are committed to doing things differently…
Click ‘read more’ below to see our students’ beautiful work from this year…
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