It is truly inspiring to witness students when they are given the reins to help shape the teaching in their own school. This Thursday afternoon, that energy was on full display at XP East as we held interviews for new teachers joining us for the upcoming academic year.

It wasn’t just a formal panel of adults making the decisions. Our students were right at the heart of the process, actively leading the direction of our school and proving once again just how vital student voice is in our community.

Setting the Standard: E31 Pioneer

A massive highlight of the afternoon was the engagement of our E31 Pioneer class. Their focus during the session was outstanding.

The candidates were put through their paces, but what really shone through was how naturally our students integrated our HoWLs (Habits of Work and Learning). They didn’t just participate; they modelled what it means to work hard, get smart, and be kind. It is a powerful thing to watch young people take total ownership of their learning environment.

A Huge Thank You to Our Student Panel

While the students were busy in the lesson, the formal interview process was running in parallel, including the support of Liam, Nicola, and Kiera from E29.

These three students stepped up to support the formal interview panels with absolute professionalism. We deeply value their contributions to the afternoon—their perspectives gave us insights into student teacher relationships and the way these students talked about our school to the candidates with integrity and a genuine pride in How we XP was so beautiful to witness!

Why Student Voice Matters

Thursday was a beautiful reminder of why we do things differently at XP. We don’t just talk about student voice; we live it. When we trust our students to help choose the educators who will teach them, we aren’t just filling a vacancy—we are building a culture.

I have had the best first week back after half term – Mrs Salter