I moved on to the Leeds Inclusion Chartermark Award Ceremony at the Civic Hall...

The ceremony recognised the work of 42 schools across the city who had either achieved the Chartermark for the first time or had been reaccredited. The presentations were interspersed with a series of performances by some of the schools which were simply brilliant!

Meanwood CE Primary School's choir performed wonderfully. Children from Rawdon St Peter's CE Primary School talked about Eva Schloss' life and performed an inspirational short dance. Jack, an inspiring young man, from Year 7 at Ralph Thoresby High School zoomed up in his wheelchair and talked confidently about inclusion and transition. Children from Hunslet Moor Primary School talked about their enterprise evening, how the school worked to make them more confident and gave an extraordinary performance of Michael Jackson's Earth Song. Parents from Morley Victoria Primary School talked passionately about supporting the school through their Parents Council and their SPACE initiative. And finally, children from Wigton Moor Primary School talked about inclusion, assemblies, food, culture and awards and performed a short and catchy rap.

At the end of yet another year when we ask ourselves how do we continue to improve and develop the things we do an afternoon like this simply makes you realise that small steps can change the world; can and are making an extraordinary difference in these brilliant schools. Our mission here in Leeds is to ensure that all our children and young people are happy, healthy, safe and successful; whatever it takes! Eva Schloss said that she wanted to be 'safe, loved and cared for' shouldn't that be what we want for all our children.
Chris