'Change comes from small initiatives which work, initiatives which initiated, become the fashion. We cannot wait for great visions from great people, for they are in short supply at the end of history. It is up to us to light our own small fires in the darkness'
Charles Handy

You all know that I read a lot...

I have been reading a DfES publication by Tim Brighouse and David Woods called 'Butterflies for School Improvement'. Tim and David recognise that this is not an exact science and that the whole process is complex and messy. However, the little booklet captures in many ways what we have been trying to do here in Leeds. Our challenge is, together, can we capture the little pieces of magic that work to improve our learning places and can we then put the pieces together to create brilliant learning places. Perhaps we should call our model 'the jigsaw pieces needed to build brilliant learning places'.

I am going to think about my list and I would welcome knowing what would be on yours... all contributions gratefully received. I'll then collect all the ideas together so we can publish the definitive list of pieces that build brilliant learning places. By the way if you want to read 'Butterflies for School Improvement', it is available from http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications.
Chris