At XP East, we believe that creativity is a powerful tool for learning, expression, and personal growth. Our Visual Arts Aptitude route offers a unique opportunity for Year 7 students with a natural flair for creativity to gain a place at a school where the arts are truly valued.
This pathway is open to all children, no prior art training or experience required, just a passion for drawing, designing, and thinking creatively.
Through an inspiring curriculum, expert support, and dynamic extra-curricular opportunities, students will develop their talents across a range of visual art disciplines. If your child loves to create, imagine, and explore the world through art, this is the perfect chance to help them shine. Click here to see highlights from our recent annual XP Festival of Arts and Culture – https://youtu.be/-tcB979lD_g
Apply now and let their creativity take centre stage! Find out more about this here: https://xptrust.info/XPEVA
To ensure a balanced intake of students across all ability levels, all applicants to an XP secondary school must sit a Fair Banding Assessment.
This multiple-choice test focuses on non-verbal reasoning and helps us place students into one of five ability bands. There is no pass or fail, and results are used solely to support a broad and representative admissions process.
Completing the assessment is a key part of the application and must be done to be considered for a place.
Please ensure your child is registered by 31st October 2025 and prepared to attend the assessment on 22nd November 2025.
On Tuesday 16th September, Big Talk Education are speaking to Year 9 students as part of the statutory Relationships and Sex Education. Below is an outline of what is going to be covered by Big Talk Education.
This week, Year 8 students at XP were given an exciting opportunity to immerse themselves in their new expedition with a visit from professional artist Michelle Clarke Stables (MC Stables).
Michelle worked with all Year 8 groups, bringing energy, expertise, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live and work as an artist. She inspired students by sharing her personal journey and creative story, showing that art is not just about making something beautiful—it’s about expressing the human experience.
One of the highlights of the day was when Michelle introduced her original artwork and a powerful sculpture titled Entrapment. This piece explores themes of fear, anxiety, and the barriers we sometimes create for ourselves, sparking deep conversations among students about how art can communicate emotion and connect with audiences in powerful ways.
Students also had the rare chance to closely examine Michelle’s original pieces. This hands-on immersion gave them valuable insight into materials, processes, and the layered thinking that goes into creating professional artwork.
The workshops challenged Year 8 to explore expressive mark-making, colour, and words in new ways—laying a strong foundation for their expedition learning. By experiencing art firsthand, students began to see how creativity can give voice to complex ideas, emotions, and stories.
Michelle’s visit has raised the profile of Art across the school, showing students that the subject is not only about developing skills, but also about asking questions, telling stories, and making meaning. She has kindly donated, on loan, some of her pieces to be exhibited within the XP and XPE community which will enrich the arts experience for the whole school; its staff, students, parents and our visitors.
The buzz in classrooms following her sessions has been undeniable, and it’s clear her visit will leave a lasting impression on our budding artists.
“Michelle inspired our artwork in class. I enjoyed that we were able to express ourselves freely through the marks we made. I think it’s good to have authentic artwork around the school. I added XPs Character traits to my own work.” – Jensen E31
What a wonderful start to the year with C31. I’m looking forward to seeing how their work progresses!
Morning from the not so sunny hills of Stockbridge, students have began there journey and are in great spirits. Heading for a memory filed 3 days see you on the other side
The survey closes on Monday 15th September 2025 at 09:00a.m.
We would also very much appreciate your support in sharing the survey more widely through your communication methods/websites/social media etc
The survey will help us to understand the childcare needs across Doncaster moving forward and support the production of our Annual Childcare Sufficiency Assessment.
Thank you in advance
Why and How do we need this information and why is it so important?
So we can better understand opinions and perspectives of parents.
To make improvements in Learning Environments.
To spark discussions with parents
To improve family retention and lower vacancy rates.
To highlight areas requiring improvement
To provide opportunities for recognition, motivation and empowerment
Every week in Community Meeting we celebrate those who are top of the attendance and praise leader boards. At the end of the 24/25 academic year we shared certificates to those who had shone throughout the year.
Students with 100% attendance throughout the whole year were entered into a draw to win an Amazon gift card. Well done to those students! Enjoy a treat on us!
Students below went the extra mile providing ambassador tours to the huge amount of visitors we had to school. We appreciate their commitment to sharing our stories!
Finally, we recognise that although we look at the praise board every week, there are a number of ‘unsung heroes’ in our community. Students below received the ‘Crew Champion’ award. Identified by their Crew Leaders for the variety of ways in which they have embodied XP throughout the year and shown what it truly means to be Crew!
The leaderboards are now reset and we start a new academic year looking forward to seeing which faces we’re celebrating by the end of the term!
C30 students during the first week back took part in a colour run hosted on the back field to raise money for Diabetes UK and Age UK. The event was a huge success and all students involved gave it a 100% effort whilst having fun and laughter. Thank you to all the staff, students and parents for their support.
What an incredible start it has been for Crew KHE in E32, our brand-new Year 7 crew at XP East! The past two weeks have been full of adventure, teamwork, and settling into life at secondary school.
We began our XP journey with Outward Bound, where the crew showed courage and determination every single day. From climbing a mountain and abseiling to kayaking, canoeing, and orienteering, they pushed themselves out of their comfort zones and discovered just how much they can achieve when they work together. The highlight was definitely everyone leaping into the lake — a moment of pure joy and celebration after a week of challenges overcome.
Back in school, we’ve focused on what it means to “be crew, not passengers.” We’ve circled up, started morning check-ins, and agreed on crew norms to guide how we treat and support each other. It’s been inspiring to see Crew KHE already showing respect, kindness, and maturity — helping one another with worries, listening carefully in discussions, and making sure no one feels left out.
The crew have also enjoyed their first fieldwork with a trip to Murton Park, where they threw themselves into learning with curiosity and enthusiasm. Experiences like these show the power of connecting learning to the world beyond the classroom.
As this is my first time leading a crew, I’ll admit I felt a little nervous to begin with — but Crew KHE have made me feel right at home. Just as they’ve supported each other in these first weeks of secondary school, they’ve supported me too. I couldn’t be prouder of the way they’ve approached this big transition with courage and positivity.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue building our crew identity, settling into expeditions and lessons, and facing new challenges together.
