It has been another busy and chaotic week as we roll down to the end of term, and the end of an extraordinary school year here in Leeds...

I started the week at a meeting at the University of Leeds to discuss a Sutton Trust proposal to support young people from disadvantaged communities here in Leeds getting places at the university. I moved on to Boston Spa School to the launch of their 'Sporting Inspirations' programme linking the school and West Oaks SILC with children in Bangladesh. I attended the Leeds Secondary Headteachers and Education Leeds conference at Hazlewood Castle before attending the Inclusion Chartermark awards ceremony at the Civic Hall. I visited Cobden Primary School and I also managed to get to yet another STEPS presentation, this time at Victoria Primary School, before moving on to this year's headteachers retirement celebration at Weetwood Hall. And finally, at the end of another full week I attended the Partnerships for Schools BSF open day at Allerton High School.

As always my week was filled with with colleagues and children whose inspiration, creativity, imagination and magic enriched my life; pictures from Bangladesh, children from Meanwood CE Primary School, Rawdon St Peter's CE Primary School, Hunslet Moor Primary School and Wigton Moor Primary School. Jack, from Year 7 at Ralph Thoresby High School, Paula Head and her colleagues from Cobden Primary School, Alison Carrick, Amie Morton and her STEPS mums from Victoria Primary School, Pauline O’Connor, Janet Poynting, Paul Tindle, David Wisnia, Andy Syers and Elaine Silson and her colleagues at Allerton High School - simply extraordinary people and amazing places.

Whatever happens next year, it will be a year of new beginnings. New colleagues, new challenges, new opportunities, new possibilities, new problems. A year where we need to continue to be different, to be creative, to try new things, to learn new tricks and to continue to make a real difference… whatever it takes! I suppose the most important thing is to learn from each other, to share everything, to positively embrace change and to celebrate the opportunities the new year brings.

Over the summer we have the opportunity to spring clean, the chance to reflect, to review and to focus. Whatever we do, we must ensure that we are doing the right things and doing them brilliantly.

Have a great summer break.
Chris