A trailer for Relational Schools documentary which was shown in Parliament in 2017 - focusing on Crew at XP
Crew takes place at the beginning of every day and lasts for 45 minutes. There is one adult to 12 / 13 students in each crew.
At XP one of our Design Principles is personalisation. We believe that during their time at XP each student should know at least one adult really well. One of the ways we foster and develop this relationship is through ‘crew’. Furthermore, our Common Mission is to ensure that students achieve academic success and grow their character so that they make a positive impact on the world through producing beautiful work; Crew is central to this three dimensional approach.
Crew provides each student with a one-to-one relationship with an adult (crew leader) at the school, as well as a consistent and ongoing small-scale peer community. Crew Leaders monitor and support student progress, serve as the student’s advocate in difficult academic and social situations, and act as the primary contact point between parents and the school.
Crew leaders are the first line of contact with parents so they work hard to establish positive relationships. This involves regularly updating parents about the progress of crew members. This can be through website posts (crew blogs), emails home, telephone conversations and face to face meetings. Crew meetings are frequently used for team building exercises and for group discussions on topical issues that relate to PSHE/Citizenship. These exercises and discussions help establish crew identity and contribute to and sustain a positive school culture.
Strategies and practices that take place in crew to support relationships are:
Establishing group norms (Check-ins, apologies, appreciations, stands etc.)
Participating in group initiatives and debriefing them
Circling up to celebrate student successes and address student issues
Discussing and resolving social and school culture issues
Understanding, learning and applying the Design Principles, Character Traits and HoWLs through readings and reflection
Using daily readings and other daily rituals to inspire thinking and discussion
Contacting parents on a regular basis
Monitoring the academic progress and needs of each student through contact with expedition teachers and learning coaches
Discussing and practising organisational and social skills
Considering our place in the world and how we can best affect positive change through: reflecting on Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural issues; considering British Values and how they align with our Character Traits; discuss Citizenship ideas including democracy, social agency and community; as well as understanding how to keep safe in a variety of different contexts.
Crew always starts with students circling up. The power of the circle is that it creates equity, allows students to share openly and allows support and challenge. Crew always starts with a check-in whether this is a welcome, a greeting or a sharing activity. This gives all students a voice. Activities are inclusive and challenge all students to participate - there are no passengers in crew. This makes students not only accountable and responsible for their own behaviours but also for those of their crew members.
All students consider their academic progress in crew and set themselves targets to improve at the start of every term. These are displayed in crew rooms and during academic crew targets are discussed and students are held to account by their crew. Students provide examples of their work which show progress towards their targets and other crew members offer support and guidance. These ‘pledges’, and progress towards them, are shared with parents in Student Led Conferences.
At XP Trust, rather than holding traditional parents evenings, we expect our students to become sophisticated leaders of their own learning. As such, twice a year students organise and lead a Student Led Conference. Crew Leaders create opportunities for their crew to reflect on their academic work and comment on their strengths and areas for development.