Simply BRILLIANT Places are HAPPY Places.
Happiness and well-being are increasingly seen as vital elements in successful organisations. You have to ask what is wrong with us… the evidence would suggest that we are better off, we have more and we work fewer hours... although personally I am not sure about this. Yet, as a nation we are apparently more stressed, less happy and less content.

So how do we make our BRILLIANT learning places happier places… how do we make our schools happier, healthier and safer places for our learners? What are the characteristics of a happy organisation? What are the characteristics of a happy learning place? What makes you happy at work? Please let me know.
Chris

What do you want to achieve this year? What are your goals? How do you achieve them?

I was witha group of young people yesterday at South Leeds High School and it's simple… simply believe in yourself. You must believe that you have enormous potential and that you can lose weight, you can stop smoking, you can do more, you can achieve more, you can be more. You must passionately see yourself as a healthier, fitter, better and stronger you and you will find a way. It’s a simple as this, you must set the goal and invent the way.
So, what are your goals?
Let me know… I might be able to help.
Chris

We have now launched this year's Be Healthy! campaign through launch events led by young people and attended by school staff and members of school councils. The pack for 2007 is in schools and can be accessed on our website from Monday. www.educationleeds.co.uk/behealthy
Chris

I had a great meeting with Rosemary Archer, Sally Threlfall, Keith Burton and colleagues this morning where we explored 'Progressive Universalism'...

Interestingly the challenge we all face is how do develop an entitlement for all... 'The Leeds Promise' for every child at key points in their lives here in Leeds:

• the Leeds Promise for Babies?
• the Leeds Promise for 5 Year Olds?
• the Leeds Promise for 11 Year Olds?
• the Leeds Promise for 16 Year Olds?

and on top of this what are the 'Additional Promises' we will make for :

• Looked After Children?
• children with a disability?
• children from Traveller Communities?
• children from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities?
• children from White Working Class Communities?
• Children at Risk of Underachieving?

I'd be interested to know what people think.

Chris

I received the following information through the Campaign for Learning and thought you might find it interesting...

Fallibroome High School have been involved in the Campaign for Learning's Learning to Learn Programme since 2003. In December 2006 the school received a remarkable Ofsted report with a full set of grade one judgements under the headline of "an outstandingly effective school."

The school has been on an interesting journey in the last few years and, in a very complex business, they argue that two factors have been crucial to their success; attendance at the Learning Brain Expo in the USA and adopting the Kagan Co-operative Learning Strategies, which they discovered at the conference.

The school is now leading the Macclesfield Partnership of schools in recreating the learning conference in this country and they have brought over many of the inspirational American speakers and added a fantastic list of UK strategists and neuroscientists. The Learning Brain Europe Conference is in Oxford from 4-5 June and in Harrogate from 7-8 June.

To find out more go to www.learningbraineurope.org
Chris

I went to Parklands Primary School last night to the drinks reception to mark the retirement of Steve Fisher...

Steve is a brilliant headteacher of a fantastic school... good, improving and inclusive provision characterises this beacon of real excellence in Seacroft. Steve has been headteacher there since 1989 and he has built a wonderful school to serve this community. He pioneered multi-agency working long before the DfES even thought of it and was instrumental in establishing MAST which has had an incredible impact in the area working with children and their families.

He will be missed by us all and we wish him well in his retirement.
Chris

As a part of her induction to Education Leeds, my new colleague Louise Vardey, Head of Personnel, went to Ingram Road Primary last week. Louise was clearly bowled over by her visit to this wonderful little school. She told me that she thought Sara Millard is a great headteacher who was justifiably very proud of everything that the school is achieving. For instance:

• Hilary Benn MP visited as a part of the Red Nose Day events;
• photos of Sara's school children appeared on the Leeds School Meals Strategy newsletter;
• the school is a fantastic example of a healthy school;
• the school is a Beacon for English as a second language;
• their Contextual Value Added is 103!
• it is one of the best, if not the best, schools for the take up of free schools meals in Leeds.

We are so lucky to have brilliant leaders, like Sara, leading great schools here in Leeds.
Chris

A colleague recently told me that she just wanted to be inspired...

As part of the Education Leeds 'Lead Inspire Transform' programme we wanted to recognise young people who inspire others. Nine talented and amazing young people were nominated by their headteachers, group leaders or peers as 'inspirational young leaders'. The young people who received their Young Leaders Awards from the Lord Mayor were...

• Rheima Ibrahiim who was nominated by Paulette Morris from Leeds Young Authors;
• Danny Parr who was nominated by Aimee Fletcher and Jamie-Leigh Hall from Halton Moor Youth Centre;
• Eleanor Hallis who was nominated by Christine Belt from Harehills Primary School;
• Danielle Hemingway who was nominated by Louise Megson from St Lukes Cares;
• Gavin Foster who was nominated by John Goldthorp from Priesthorpe Sports Specialist College;
• Beth McCann who was nominated by Sarah Moss from Parklands Girls High School;
• Finley Lund who was nominated by Chris Clarke from Kippax North Junior and Infant School;
• Sadie Bateman who was nominated by Linda West from Raynville Primary School and Charlee Bewsher from Youth on Health;
• Jonathan Langstaff who was nominated by Linda West from Raynville Primary School and Charlee Bewsher from Youth on Health.

These wonderful young leaders are showcased on the Education Leeds 'Lead Inspire Transform' web page on InfoBase and InfoBase Schools.
Chris

The seven rules of motivation...

• set grand goals and build pathways;
• make sure that you finish what you start;
• spend time with people who share your passion;
• learn how you learn best;
• develop your talents;
• learn about things that inspire you;
• take risks.

Just do it!

Chris

I often think that the ends of term are great as things come together but this one was tinged with sadness as one of our most talented headteachers is retiring after a long and distinguished career at Parklands Primary School in Seacroft. I attended a drinks reception at the school to bid Steve farewell with other colleagues and friends.

Steve Fisher leads a great school which he has shaped and developed over the last seventeen years. Steve was instrumental in leading the development of integrated services around the child and the family... MAST was alive and delivering long before Children's Services was an idea at the DfES.

Steve's passion and commitment for this community and its children and families is inspiring and he will be missed.
Chris