Last week was a great week...

Viv Buckland and her colleagues did a brilliant job managing 16000 admissions to schools and are continuing to do a brilliant job dealing with the ensuing enquiries from parents and carers. Dirk and I had lunch with colleagues from the personnel team. It was a great opportunity to listen and learn and the session confirmed once again what a talented bunch they are.

I also visited Seacroft Grange Primary School to see Terry Ayres, Chair of Governors and headteacher, Mike O’Grady. It’s a wonderful little school where Mike and his colleagues are releasing a really special magic.

On Friday I spent the day with around 300 colleagues at the Extended Services Conference. We listened to Lord Andrew Mawson, Christine Gilbert HMCI and Maggie Farrah from NCSL. It was a great day thanks to Mark Hopkins, Sally Bavage and colleagues.

The highlight of the week was the Long Service Awards where we celebrated the contribution that 66 of our colleagues from Education Leeds and schools have made to education in the city. It was a great evening thanks to Stephanie, Danielle, Iram, Helen, Claire and Paul, and it was wonderful to be able to thank so many wonderful colleagues for a life of service to children and young people here in Leeds.
Chris