Over the weekend I read the OFSTED publication "twelve outstanding secondary schools: Excelling against the odds"...

We have some outstanding secondary schools here in Leeds, schools like Carr Manor, Cockburn, Roundhay, John Smeaton, Morley High and David Young. These schools have achieved great things and reading the OFSTED report you understand that these are the characteristics we need to build consistently across all our secondary provision. The outstanding schools in the OFSTED sample succeed for the following reasons.
■ They excel at what they do, not just occasionally
but for a high proportion of the time.
■ They prove constantly that disadvantage need
not be a barrier to achievement, that speaking
English as an additional language can support
academic success and that schools really can be
learning communities.
■ They put students first, invest in their staff and
nurture their communities.
■ They have strong values and high expectations
that are applied consistently and never relaxed.
■ They fulfil individual potential through providing
outstanding teaching, rich opportunities for
learning, and encouragement and support for
each student.
■ They are highly inclusive, having complete
regard for the educational progress, personal
development and well-being of every student.
■ Their achievements do not happen by chance,
but by highly reflective, carefully planned and
implemented strategies which serve these
schools well in meeting the many challenges
which obstruct the path to success.
■ They operate with a very high degree of
internal consistency.
■ They are constantly looking for ways to improve
further.
■ They have outstanding and well-distributed
leadership.

We must learn from the success stories captured in this OFSTED report and continue our relentless and uncompromising focus on building brilliant provision to serve every community in Leeds; whatever it takes!
Chris