"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Another week and another term consigned to history...
I started the week with the primary PE link teachers conference at the Ghandi Hall at Leeds Metropolitan University. I attended the playing for success celebration evening for the Hunslet Hawks Learning Centre at the John Charles Centre for Sport, and the celebration evening for the White Rose Learning Centre at the White Rose Shopping Centre. I attended and spoke about the crucial role of safer schools at the prevent launch at Leeds Town Hall. I attended the Leeds School Music Association festival concert at Leeds Town Hall, had breakfast with principals, headteachers and colleagues who make up the specialist inclusion provision group, and had lunch with colleagues from the personnel team. I visited Pudsey Greenside Primary School and St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, attended the official opening of the new school buildings at Bracken Edge Primary School, and went to Colton Primary School to say thank you to Andy Sayers who was retiring as headteacher after nine years at the school and twenty years here in Leeds.

After yet another incredible term where we have achieved so much together, I'll never understand why so many people settle for the mediocre, the achievable without a struggle, or just what is expected. What is it that holds so many people back from achieving brilliant results and achieving great things? After eight great years here in Leeds I've discovered that there is a simple formula for achieving success:

Success = Persistence + Determination + Discipline + Courage + Hard Work.

That’s it, simple as that. It's all about dreaming big, believing in yourself, knowing the obstacles and still going for it. Don’t let other people tell you what's good for you and what you are capable of. Go for what you believe in, and if in the end you don’t succeed, you’ll have the experience to carry you through to the next venture.

Remember that there’s no failure in life when you try, only learning.
Chris