I received this e-mail from my colleague Rehana Minhas, Director for Equality and Entitlement, about another of the events I was invited to last night...


"Dear Chris, I attended an excellent 'Playing for Success' Celebration Event at Elland Road yesterday. The large Lorimer Suite was totally packed with Young People, their parents, families, mentors, headteachers and school staff. The Lord Mayor was present and championed the work the study support team are doing and the many activities Education Leeds has initiated to support Children and Young People. The special guests were presented with beautiful hand made designer cards to thank us for our attendance. I received a lovely one made by Matty Ward from South Leeds High School. The following schools were involved:

• Mount St Mary's High School
• Asquith Primary School
• Windmill Primary School
• Low Road Primary School
• Morley Victoria Primary School
• Lawns Park Primary School
• Lower Wortley Primary School
• Broomfield SILC
• Cockburn College of Arts
• South Leeds High School

Well done and congratulations to the study support team. Kind regards, Rehana."

These events are a fantastic reminder of the brilliant work that Steve Smith and his talented colleagues in the Study Support Centres across Leeds are doing to improve literacy, numeracy, ICT and personal skills for our young people. The brilliant partnership working with sports clubs and centres provide the motivation and incentive that draws young people and their families into learning and helps improve outcomes. We need to franchise these places and build a study support centre in everyone of our schools to reach even more young people with the Playing for Success magic.

Chris