My colleague Mike Cooper e-mailed me after the 'Showcase and Celebration Event : Social Enterprise - the Journey so Far' which was a fantastic success to let me know who the winners were...

• Best stand - John Smeaton Community College;
• Best marketing - St Augustine's RC Primary School;
• Best team - St Augustine's RC Primary School;
• Best Business Plan - Woodkidk High School;
• Best Social Enterprise - Cockburn Arts College;
• Primary Entrepreneur of the Year - Kellen Midgely from Ebor Gardens Primary School;
• Secondary Entrepreneur of the Year - Melissa Green from Cockburn Arts College.

These young business leaders of the future are amazing. Today Leeds, tomorrow the UK... then we take over the world!
Chris

I then visited Oakwood Primary School where Anne Matthias and Becky Ingram are doing brilliant work and releasing their own very special magic particularly in the Foundation Stage...

Anne had asked me to visit to look at the impact a visit to 'Reggio Emilia' had had and to see their brilliant Foundation Stage practice which has been showcased on Teachers TV and in CPD materials for QCA/NAA. I had three wonderful little guides to the Foundation Stage who wouldn't let go of my hands and excitedly showed me all the areas of provision. It was truly wonderful; an oasis of superb early years practice and just being there you knew that you were in a very special place where every child really did matter. Becky also gave me a quick tour of the rest of the school where the atmosphere, ethos, purpose and relationships showed me what a wonderful school this is. This community is so lucky to have at its heart Oakwood Primary School and Anne Matthias. Sadly Anne retires this Summer but what a brilliant legacy she leaves in Becky's capable hands.

My personal challenge is to take what Anne showed me and the impact the Reggio Emilia experience has had at Oakwood Primary School and build on it so that more schools and more children and families experience the magic. Anyone out there want to help?
Chris

I moved on to the Annual Leeds Governors Conference at The Village Hotel...

The theme of this years conference was 'A Vision for the Future: governance and succession planning' with Liz Cross as the keynote speaker whose energy, creativity and transformational approach has made a real difference in Manchester and Northern Ireland and she was brilliant! Stephen Rennie, Chair of the Governors' Forum, chaired the conference and a great day was had by all from all accounts.

Chris

I started the day early with colleagues and governors from Wetherby High School...

The school is embarking on the next stage of its development as a brilliant learning place and it was great to listen to the vision and strategies they are developing to build brilliant at the heart of the Wetherby community.
Chris

I finished the day at the Leeds Schools Music Association Festival Concert at the Town Hall...

Take two evenings in June, nearly 700 children from forty primary schools and a little bit extra from St Peter's, St Matthew's and Hovingham primary schools. Sprinkle a little bit of magic from my colleagues at Artforms and you get two incredible evening. This evening ended with 'You Raise Me Up', a brilliant finale, which received a standing ovation from an enthusiastic audience.

Thanks to Fiona Pacey and everyone involved in producing such brilliant performances from these wonderful children.
Chris

I went on to have lunch with Doug Stoup, explorer, expedition leader, climber and motivational speaker...

Doug had been in Leeds to talk to our international visitors to the Breeze Festival. He was accompanied by Monica Westin, President and Founder of the World of Hope International a charitable organisation working to bring water and hope to communities in Africa. Doug and Monica are keen to work with any schools with links with schools and communities in Africa and can be contacted through their websites http://www.wohi.org and http://www.iceaxe.tv.
Chris

It's OFFICIAL! Education Leeds is now the FIRST recipient of the ALL NEW Government standard of 'Customer Service Excellence' formerly known as Chartermark...

This has been a fantastic team effort and reflects the work of colleagues across the company who have worked very hard to embed brilliant customer service within all our services based on customer feedback and insights. The assessor said in his report that "Education Leeds was found to have a deep understanding and commitment to Customer Service Excellence. The commitment was found from senior management through to operation and front line colleagues."
Thanks to everyone involved particularly to Jenny Marshall and Liz White who have brilliantly managed the process for us and helped us secure this wonderful endorsement of our work.
Chris

I moved on to the 'Showcase and Celebration Event : Social Enterprise - the Journey so Far' at Weetwood Hall...

It was brilliant to see the work that Mike Cooper, Christine Marsden and colleagues are nurturing and supporting. Their passion, commitment, energy and hard work have created something really special which was showcased by young people from Bramley St Peter's CE Primary School who talked about their 'Events Management Company', by Woodlands Primary School who talked about their 'Community Newspaper', by Cockburn Arts College who talked about their 'Glassroom' and by Prince Henry's Grammar School who talked about their 'Fair Trade and Social Enterprise' work. These amazing young people were wonderful ambassadors and advocates for their schools and from what I saw the future of Leeds as a centre of enterprise and innovation is very safe in their capable and creative hands.
Chris

I started the day early with breakfast with the Otley and Aireborough headteachers at the Chevin Country Park Hotel...

Ros Vahey and I were having breakfast with headteachers from this talented bunch of colleagues. These breakfast meetings are opportunities for us to create space and time to share, network and reflect with colleagues on some of the opportunities and challenges facing us... and they are brilliant ways for us to get feedback and look for ways to further improve our services and support for our schools.
Chris

I missed the North Of England Teaching Awards Ceremony in Sheffield last week but Leeds schools brought home a hat full of trophies...

• Meanwood CE Primary School won the DCSF Award for Sustainable Schools;
• In the NCSL Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Primary School category distinctions went to Helen Sanderson, headteacher at Meanwood CE Primary School and Jim Vincent headteacher at the Whartons Primary School in Otley;
• In the Award for Special Needs Teacher of the Year category a distinction went to Jan Pulham from the NW SILC based at the Pennyfields site and a commendation went to Karin Scattergood from St Theresa's RC Primary School;
• In the BT Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School a distinction went to Siobhan Leonard from Rothwell St Mary's RC Primary School;
• In the Ted Wragg Award for Lifetime Achievement sponsored by The Innovation Unit a distinction went to Peter Woodhead headteacher at St Peter's CE Primary School;
• In the Guardian Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School a commendation went to David Pearce from Roundhay School and Technology College.

Meanwood CE Primary School will now go on to the national finals of the Teaching Awards to be held in London on October 19. Good luck to Helen and her fantastic team.
Chris