Remembrance day

So proud of my crew today! ❤️

They all sat so beautifully and took part in the 2-minute silence to show their respect and remember all those who lost their lives protecting our country. 🌺

We have been busy creating our own poppy displays, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve made together.

A lovely moment of remembrance, respect and reflection. ❤️

Lest we forget. 🌺

Remembrance Day Poppies

As part of our crew session we discussed the reasons we have Remembrance Day and 2 minutes silence. We then all made our own poppies to help us remember the brave soldiers who have given their lives for us.

Inclusive Playgrounds

As part of our expedition we have become designers and have been thinking about how we can ensure play is inclusive for all children.

We have talked lots about how playground equipment can be adapted to those with physical disabilities.

We have then started planning our own inclusive playgrounds which we will turn into 3d models over the next few weeks.

We’re looking for a Learning Coach and Crew Leader at XPG

At XP Gateshead, building strong relationships is at the core of everything we do. By leading a close-knit Crew of just 12-13 students, you will guide their daily character development and ensure they achieve real academic success. It’s about helping young people discover that they can do work that truly matters.

We are looking for passionate individuals who dare to break the traditional educational mould. As a Learning Coach, you won’t just support lessons – you will foster a vital culture of teamwork, equity, and belonging.

Join us in shaping thoughtful, kind individuals who are ready to change the world.

Find out more about the role and apply here: https://xptrust.org/xp-gateshead-learning-coach-ta-and-crew-leader/

Testing out air resistance 🪂

Working as scientists!

Today, Y5 explored air resistance using their homemade parachutes. We found that the larger the parachute (surface area) the more air resistance. We tested this using 5 different size parachutes and the largest parachute took the longest time to land on the ground.

Parking near school

Parking Peace: A Quick Guide to Driveways, Yellow Lines, and School Zones

Please be mindful of our neighbour’s drives.

Parking in a busy neighborhood can sometimes feel like a competitive sport, but a little mindfulness keeps the peace and keeps everyone safe. Whether you’re navigating the morning school run or just having friends over for the weekend, how you park impacts the entire street. Here is a quick refresher on being a considerate neighbor behind the wheel.

Mind the Driveways It is easily done—squeezing into a tight spot and leaving your bumper just slightly over a dropped kerb. But for the homeowner, that slight overhang can make turning out of their driveway a daily hazard, or worse, trap their car entirely. Always leave plenty of clearance. If you have to hold your breath to make your car fit between two driveways, it is probably not a valid space.

When it comes to school zones, safety takes absolute priority. Yellow zig-zag lines outside schools mean strictly no stopping or parking during the times shown on the signs—not even for a ten-second drop-off. These markings exist for one critical reason: to give children and parents a clear, unobstructed view of the road when crossing. Blocking them, even momentarily, creates dangerous blind spots.

Good parking isn’t just about avoiding a penalty charge notice; it is about being a considerate part of the community. Taking an extra five seconds to check your positioning makes a world of difference to the people living and walking on your street.

Thank you for your support

Important Update: Free School Meals and How Applying Directly Helps Our School

We are writing to share some positive news regarding Free School Meals (FSM) and to ask for your support with a simple step that directly impacts the funding and resources available to your children.

What Has Changed?

As of September 2026, the rules around Free School Meals have expanded. If your household receives Universal Credit, your children are now eligible to receive a free, hot, nutritious meal at school every day—regardless of your total household earnings.

Even if your child is in Reception, Year 1, or Year 2 (and already receives a meal under the Universal Infant Free School Meal scheme), or if you aren’t sure whether you meet the previous earning thresholds, we strongly encourage you to sign up.

Why Registering Matters (Even for Infant Families)

Free School Meal applications do not happen automatically – each family must register.

When you apply, it does more than secure a daily free meal for your child:

  • Direct Funding for Our School: For every family who registers and meets the eligibility criteria, our school receives crucial additional funding called the Pupil Premium (up to £1,550 for primary pupils and £1,100 for secondary pupils every year, for up to six years).
  • Support for Learning: This funding goes directly into the classroom to support extra tutoring, classroom support, learning resources, and extracurricular activities.
  • Extra Benefits for Families: Registering can also unlock additional support for your family, including access to free holiday activity programs (HAF), school travel support, and free school milk.

Key Deadline: Please Apply Before 2 December 2026

To ensure our school receives the correct funding to support our students for the upcoming academic year, all eligibility checks must be completed and registered on or before 2 December.

How to Apply

Applying is quick, completely confidential, and takes only a few minutes through this link.

There can be a delay in the school being notified of this due to the new process so we’d ask you to complete this form if you have had confirmation that you will receive FSM. Please only fill this in if you have confirmation and not before it is confirmed. 

Even if you aren’t certain whether you qualify, submitting an application ensures we don’t miss out on vital funding that directly benefits your child’s education.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Warm regards,

Mr S Longley

XP School Trust