3G – How courageous are you?

26th August 2025Mrs Graves

It was great to welcome everyone back for the start of the new school year.

This week is based around developing our positive character traits and today, the focus was on ‘Courage’ – and really did have to face our fears (me included!).

We were lucky enough to be visited by Nick from Project Wild, who brought some of his little friends along with him – Humphrey the snake, Cinnamon and Liquorice the millipedes and Charlie the Tarantula!! Many of us had to show a lot of courage, as we held, stroked or high-fived our mini-beast visitors! It was amazing to see how everyone embraced the situation and really used their courage – even though they had been so scared to begin with!

We then completed some ‘Commando Joe’ challenges, working together to problem-solve and support each other to be courageous.

Finally we discussed different types of courage and how courage is often represented in films and stories, and thought about if we were to create a courageous character, what would they be like!

We have had a great day and I feel so proud of everyone and how they took part in the challenges we have thrown at them today – what a great start to the school year.

I wonder what tomorrow’s character trait will be?

Mrs Graves

#LovePlover

We are 4H!

26th August 2025Mrs Haycock

Where have those tiny little year three pupils, who I taught last year, gone? Everyone has grown so much over the five week summer break and everyone looked so much older today than just those few weeks ago!

What a great first day back we have had! We launched the first of our new ‘Character Traits’ today: Courage. All of our work has been based around courage and what this can look like to different people. We all learnt about a young boy called Joseph Wang who taught us that being brave doesn’t mean there has to be something risky involved like sky diving or swimming with sharks. Sometimes being brave can simply involve walking into a room full of people who are already listening to someone speaking at the front of the room.

This afternoon, we were joined by Nick from Project Wild. He introduced us to some of his friends: Humphrey – a beautiful corn snake; Cinnamon and Liquorice – two baby millipedes; and Charlie – a very beautiful Chilean rose tarantula. Everyone used their own levels of courage to decide what they could do. Some of us just looked at the animals, some of us stroked or gently touched them and many of us held them.

Well done everyone! I’m really proud of you all. Special shout out to Mrs Ogle who joined us for the session and was incredibly courageous along with us! Mason – you were awesome too, supporting Alec and calming him when he pushed himself to hold Charlie.

Remember the feeling you felt when you were courageous today folks and next time you feel anxious, scared or worried be brave, share your fear – whatever you’re afraid of probably isn’t as bad as you think!

Mrs Haycock

#LovePlover

Thank you to the Glover family for the generous donations!

15th August 2025Miss Blackham

A huge thank you to Mr & Mrs Glover, Ellis and Elijah for the generous gift voucher to purchase much needed items for our Plover Pantry. We have stocked up on tinned goods ready for the new school year. Good luck to the boys at their new school. They will be really missed by all at Plover.

Please note the Plover pantry is open to all parents and carers of Plover school.

-Miss Blackham

LovePlover

Harris is raising money for cancer- a perfect example of compassion!

7th August 2025Miss Blackham

This little superstar will be walking one mile a day throughout August to raise money for cancer. What an amazing thing to do! To support Harris on his mission, please donate via the link below.

https://fundraise.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/fundraisers/kellyward?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMBMmpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHjstfrTABO9KyHeBL0e1Xhrdnj9aWZknBGIFidQCzdfiZv1KPUIFD8Gn3Wu__aem_c6FHZV0G0AMT6TWnLsu2MA

Good luck Harris, you will smash it!

-Miss Blackham

LovePlover

Sharing our Stories: 18/07/2025

18th July 2025Geoff Hewitt

Beautiful Work This Week

Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust from the last two weeks of term! It’s been filled with all kinds of wonderful things from all of our schools. To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.

Top of the Blogs

Why the Arts Matter at XP – Our Festival Highlights @ XP Trust

Year 6 leavers party 2025 @ Green Top

EYFS Sports Day @ Plover

Prom 2025 @ Carcroft School

At the Coalface: POL @ Norton Juniors

Climate Change Through Data @ XP

Crew Rosa Parks @ XP East

G29 What a Wonderful World POL @ XP Gateshead

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!

From all of us here at XP – have a great summer break! We’ll be back in the new term with more beautiful work to share!

Why the Arts Matter at XP – Our Festival Highlights

18th July 2025Andy Sprakes

At XP, we believe education should help young people discover who they are, what they stand for, and how they can make a difference. The arts are at the heart of this.

Through music, dance, drama, and visual art, our students learn to collaborate, express themselves, and craft work of real depth and beauty. These aren’t “extras” to the curriculum – they are essential experiences that develop the character traits we value above anything else: courage, craftsmanship, respect, and compassion.

Last Friday, we celebrated these values at our second XP Festival of Arts & Culture – a day filled with music, dance, and art from across all the schools in our Trust. Every primary school showcased their dancing skills in collaboration with Phoenix Dance Company, alongside cheerleaders and singers from across the Trust.

The afternoon culminated in a show-stopping parade led by the New York Brass Band, bringing everyone together for an unforgettable rendition of Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration”. The evening carried the energy forward with live music from XP Doncaster and XP Gateshead students, alongside local bands and professional artists.

Our students were phenomenal – both on stage and in the audience – showing once again the power of Crew in action.

A huge thank you goes to the XP Doncaster and Plover staff who stewarded and supported the event. It was a powerful example of what’s possible when we create spaces for young people to thrive.

Here’s to next year!!!

In Crew,

Andy Sprakes