VE Day Celebrations!

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!

VE Day@Norton Campus

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.

VE Day at NJS!

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!

Y5/6 Mixed Cricket @ Askern CC

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!

#BetterWorldWeek at XP

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…

Continue reading

Sharing our Stories: 02/05/2025

Beautiful Work This Week

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.

Every year, our friends and partners at EL Education invite schools across the world to take part in #BetterWorldWeek – a celebration of student work that makes a meaningful difference in the world.

Just like at EL, at XP this isn’t a one-off event – it’s the work we do every day. But this week gives us a moment to pause, reflect, and share the incredible ways our students have stepped up.

In the last year, they have:

  • Hosted tea parties to tackle loneliness
  • Campaigned for safer streets around their schools
  • Created environmental art with purpose
  • Challenged inequality through powerful public products
  • Brought communities together

…and that’s just the beginning.

You can read all about their beautiful, purposeful work here:

https://xptrust.org/betterworldweek-2025/

Top of the Blogs

Class 8 Monarch Sketches @ Green Top

Self portraits @ Plover

Memory Jars @ Carcroft School

Weekly update for families @ XP Gateshead

If you go down in the woods… @ Norton Infants

Magnificent Magma @ Norton Juniors

Cheerleading competition @ XP

Share your stories with us!

We now have a new dedicated news email so that you can send your stories, updates or ideas about potential news articles directly to us in Comms.

It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!

Y5/6 Dodgeball Drama!

In a dodgeball tournament taking place at Armthorpe Academy, our Y5/6 made the final, beating every team bar one to reach the knock out stages. Each game was hotly contested, with some with the incredible shots and catches. Shout outs to Mack, Alba and Zak for their whole team knockouts – 5 whole team knockouts between them!

The final vs Owston Park
Beating Owston until the final millisecond when one of their balls hot Hollie in the back. After a group referee decision, they decided on extra time which resulted in 2 minutes extra game play. Both teams took early losses but ultimately Owston came out winners. Well done to our amazing team nevertheless!

MVP – Holly Williams

Magnificent Magna

Well, it’s been quite the whirlwind since 4GC returned to school last week. Our hook week included making our own volcanoes, celebrating Earth Day, creating some amazing volcano pop art and writing some wonderful Haiku poems. The 5th day culminated in a whole phase trip to Magna Science Adventure Museum – and it didn’t disappoint – leaving the children full or awe and wonder about the world that we live in. Roll on the rest of this term…

Sharing our Stories: 25/04/2025

Beautiful Work This Week

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.

Top of the Blogs

Class 8 are Historians @ Green Top

Children dress up day @ Plover

Crowning the King and Queen of Carcroft @ Carcroft School

G31 Year 7 POL – Tonight! @ XP Gateshead

A Fairytale Tea Party @ Norton Infants

Fabulous Fieldwork @ Norton Juniors

Share your stories with us!

We now have a new dedicated news email so that you can send your stories, updates or ideas about potential news articles directly to us in Comms.

It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!