I moved on to the DCSF National Launch of the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard at the Royal Armouries...

It was an extra-ordinary celebration of the best of Leeds with contributions from Cllr Judith Elliott, Lord Mayor of Leeds, Doreen Lawrence, Stephen's mum and Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the highlights for me were the performances by young people; young people from Wigton Moor Primary School, Rawdon St Peter's Church of England Primary School, Otley Prince Henry's Grammar School, the East SILC, Hillcrest Primary School, Woodkirk High School, Pudsey Bolton Royd Primary School, Raynville Primary School and Talbot Primary School who all brought a little bit of magic to the conference. Headteacher colleagues from Prince Henry's Grammar School, Asquith Primary School, Blackgates Primary School, East Ardsely Primary School and South Leeds Academy also talked powerfully and with great personal commitment about the impact the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard has had in their school and their community.

The conference attracted a huge audience from across the country and we were able to showcase the remarkable work that has been the product of ten years dedication, commitment, passion, determination and hard work by an extra-ordinary group of colleagues, partners and schools. The Stephen Lawrence Education Standard is a unique tool kit which we all hope will help other colleagues, other authorities and other schools continue to build respect, trust, tolerance and understanding at the core of their work on school improvement, community cohesion and equality. WE are happy to help anyone who shares our passion, our determination to build brilliant and our commitment to every child being happy, healthy, safe and increasingly successful... whatever it takes!
Chris