After my visit to Templenewsam Halton Primary School I wondered if there was any research evidence to support the sugestion that singing promotes well-being...

I found this study on the web that explored the possible beneficial effects of singing on well-being during a singing lesson. Volunteers were given continuous ECG which was recorded and computerized spectral analysis was performed as they sang. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, prolactin, cortisol, and oxytocin were measured before and 30 min after the lesson. Five aspects, sad-joyful, anxious-calm, worried-elated, listless-energetic, and tense-relaxed, were scored before and after the lesson. In addition, a semi-structured interview was performed. Singing increases joy and elatedness, and singers are more energetic and relaxed after any singing lesson.

In summary, in this study, singing definitely promotes well-being. So everyone should sing!
Chris

This coming week is the fifth annual Enterprise Week...

It's an opportunity for all those budding entrepreneurs to release their magic. Apparently last year more than 500,000 young people got involved in events all over the country. Thursday is apparently set aside specifically for 'social enterprise' events.

It is reassuring to know that Mike Cooper, Christine Marsden and their enterprise ambassadors are doing brilliant work is this area.
Chris

My colleague Inari sent me this after her wonderful week in Leeds...

"Dear Chris, Thank you for being such good host, for your warm attitudes and behaviour to children, young people, your staff. It was wonderful to see how kindly and with respect you talked even with the smallest children. I'll write as soon as I'm in Finland. Kind regards, Inari."

We all really enjoyed having Inari here in Leeds and I am grateful to everyone who helped.
Chris

I finally popped in to Austhorpe Primary School...

I wanted to personally congratulate Caroline Robinson and her colleagues who have all worked incredibly hard to get the school out of Special Measures. Sadly Caroline wasn't there but I was able to thank the new deputy and some of his colleagues.... BRILLIANT!
Chris

I moved on to a brilliant learning place...

My colleague Victoria Relton, who is Marketing and Communications Officer with the Leeds Learning Network team, had been working with two focus groups of young people to get the children insights and feedback on ICT in school and home with particular focus on social networking sites and their LLN My Site. Apple had provided two iPod shuffles and two young people from Fountain Primary School and Temple Newsam Halton Primary School had won these fantastic prizes. This afternoon I was at Templenewsam Halton Primary School with Vicky to present the socond iPod shuffle.




It was a great visit to see some wonderful young people and the work that Kay Crellin and her fantastic team at Templenewsam Halton Pimary School are doing. This is an amazing school where colleagues are releasing real magic and boy can the children sing!
Chris

I went back to Elland Road to talk to colleagues again and to encourage them to rise to the challenge we have been given by Ed Balls and Jim Knight...

We have had a brilliant year and we are releasing a real magic across the city but we need to build 'brilliant' consistently around all our young people, whatever it takes. Ed Balls and Jim Knight recognised our success today and these amazing colleagues lie at the heart of our success.

I also talked to colleagues about how we continue to develop our 'can do' culture and the power of the Pacific Institute programmes we are using across the city; IIE, STEPS and Go for It. These programmes have transformed our culture, they change lives and have created a positive approach which helps us dream big and believe in ourselves even on the dark days.

Everyone I spoke to had a great day and it appears to have energised and motivated the colleagues who were there... which is fantastic.We also had a collection for 'Children in Leeds' which I hope raised a huge amount for this great cause.
Chris

I moved on to a meeting with Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and Jim Knight, Minister for Schools...

They met with Cllr Brett, Cllr Galton, Cllr Harker, Cllr Harrand and I to discuss the National Challenge, Academies and school improvement and to be reassured that we were continuing to drive up standards across Leeds. It was a really interesting and helpful meeting which reviewed the progress we have been making and how we can continue the relentless drive to ensure that no schools in Leeds are below the floor targets, we address complacency and that every child and young person in Leeds is happy, healthy, safe and successful, whatever it takes.

Ed Balls said that he wished that "every authority were as focused, determined and successful as Leeds has been." recognising the real successes we have had with GCSE outcomes, attendance, exclusions, John Smeaton Community College, the David Young Community Academy, Cockburn Community College, Wortley High School and West Leeds High School. Clearly they also recognised that we had made real progress but challenged us to do more at Intake high School, South Leeds High School, Parklands High School, Primrose High School and City of Leeds School.

My line as always was trust us, give us the resources and we will deliver brilliant outcomes for all our children and young people.
Chris

I started the day at the Education Leeds Narrowing the Gap Conference at Elland Road...

It was absolutely brilliant to have so many of my talented, brilliant, gorgeous and wonderful colleagues together to listen to some inspirational speakers and to share, learn and network. We also had two magical sessions with children from Castleton Primary School singing and children from Chapel Allerton Primary School encouraging everyone to Wake Up Shake Up. The speakers were Maggie Farrah, Operational Director with the National College for School Leadership, Kevan Collins, Director of Children's Services at Tower Hamlets Borough Council and Hardial Hayer, Headteacher at The Radclyffe School in Oldham.

My colleagues Mark Hopkins, Dorothy Smith and Dirk Gilleard had organised and delivered a great day which will help us continue to drive up standards across Leeds.
Chris

I finished the day at Mount St Mary's Catholic High School's Presentation Evening...

I was really pleased that Bernadette King, headteacher, had asked me to come to present the awards and certificates at this really successful school which is making such a difference at the heart of the city. The evening started with Mount St Mary's Choir who were great and finished with a performance by Ciara Houton, Ciaran Houton and Francesca Walsh doing Irish dancing and they were fantastic. The whole evening was brilliantly organised and executed like a military operation after they had got over a slight technical hitch with a faulty microphone. I was thanked by Jack Crosby, Head Boy, and Louise Passmore, Head Girl, who gave me some wonderful art work for my office.

It was a great evening celebrating the gifts and talents of a wonderful group of young people and a tremendous team led by Bernadette.
Chris

Over lunch I helped judge the Attendance Champions Holiday Photo Competition...

John Normington and his colleagues had organised this great competition supported by the Regional Managers of Co-op Travel. There were over 150 entries and I look forward to hearing about the winners.
Chris