I have had a very strange day today. A day when everything seems difficult and I simply feel angry with the world...

I think it is about getting back up to speed and being able to cope with the enormous number of complex and challenging issues we are dealing with. But it is also about my frustration with the pace of progress and how slowly things are moving forward in so many critical areas. Change isn't so difficult and while colleagues tell me that it takes time to change cultures and attitudes, I know from over 30 years of doing this that change can happen tomorrow if we are all prepared to make it happen!
Chris

I read the HMCI Annual Report over the half-term and once again Leeds schools are well represented among the list of outstanding providers...

Our brilliant learning places are as follows:

• Beecroft Primary School,
• Carr Manor Primary School,
• East Garforth Primary School,
• Featherbank Infant School,
• Garforth Community College,
• Ireland Wood Primary School,
• Ninelands Primary School,
• Parklands Children's Centre,
• Scholes (Elmet) Primary School,
• St Paul's Catholic Primary School,
• West Oaks School North East Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre,
• Westbrook Lane Primary School,
• Westerton Primary School.

Well done to each and everyone of our colleagues who work so hard in these learning places to release the magic.

Chris

Like you, I am constantly working to be the best I can be, trying to do a good job or even a great job…

I find however, that I am working so hard on today’s non-urgent emergency stuff, that I’m finding it hard to find enough time to think and to plan for tomorrow. However great today’s challenges are, the only way that we are going to achieve really outstanding outcomes for our children and young people is by focusing on what we need to do tomorrow, to ensure that today, is not simply another day doing the same things and achieving the same outcomes.

I don’t know about you but I keep a diary, or to be honest Althea does, and recently I looked back at what I do in a typical week. In a typical week, whatever that means, I work around 60 hours, about 45 hours in Leeds and about 15 hours at home. I also spend about 10 hours in my car! In that typical week I spend about:

• 30 managing the office, the paper, the e-mails and generally fire-fighting;
• 15 hours at routine meetings;
• 10 hours on current initiatives and projects;
• 5 hours of refection and thinking time.

Put it into the Leeds context; there are eight weeks or forty working days until Christmas and so much to do! I’ve been looking through my diary and alongside the usual stuff the rest of this term looks incredible. Christmas will be here before we know it and while we will have ratcheted up another catalogue of incredible stuff will we have spent enough time thinking about how we can drive the change agenda here in Leeds.

This is just a slice of the best stuff…

• The launch of the ‘Inclusive Learning Strategy’;
• The official opening of the new Ralph Thorsby High School building;
• The Stephen Lawrence Education Standard Celebration;
• The launch of the Business Education Strategy Group;
• The Leeds Healthy Schools Celebration;
• The Education Leeds Annual Lecture by Tim Brighouse;
• ‘Children in Need’ day;
• The launch of our ‘Brilliant Learning, Brilliant Leadership’ programme;
• The Leeds Mentoring Celebration;
• The Annual LCC Retirement Receptions;
• 11 Million Takeover Day;
• Parent and Family Support Strategy event;
• The ‘STEPS’ Celebration;
• Leeds Trinity and All Saints Foundation Degree Celebration;
• University of Leeds Student Volunteering Awards;
• Governor Area Meetings;
• The Education Leeds Christmas Party.

This is alongside the Council’s Executive and Scrutiny Boards agendas, the Education Leeds Board agendas, the Joint Area Review schedule, headteacher breakfast and tea-time meetings and the incredible agenda we are working on with the 14 – 19 agenda, Trusts, Academies, extended services and locality working. It’s true that there is never a dull moment here in Leeds… just make sure that you can find time to think and to reflect as well as to juggle!
Chris

As you get back, after another half-term break; back to the day-to-day business, the cut and thrust, the ups and downs, the roller-coaster ride, I hope that things aren’t getting too hard, too difficult or too stressful. Our business has never been for the faint hearted, the uncommitted, of those looking for an easy life. Over half-term, I re-read the Audit Commission’s School Survey and we all know or so people tell us, we are only as good as our last piece of work, as our last decision, our last conversation, our last design, our last piece of advice. However, thinking about it, it’s not true… the truth is that we are as good as the next one, the one we are going to do today, tomorrow, this week, next week, this month, next month. We must always remember that there are constant opportunities to do better, to improve and develop and to learn.

Whoever you are, you don’t win every race you enter, but you can try to win the next one. You can try to do a better and better job on everything you manage, you touch and you are involved with. Always remember, because no-one else will tell you, that we are making real progress, we are going the right way, things are getting better … even if it is sometimes slow, difficult and challenging… and that progress is down to you, your enthusiasm, your passion and commitment and your sheer hard work.

We must all find the time to think; to constantly reflect on our abilities, our targets and what we have achieved. But we must all have the determination, the courage and the self-belief to aim higher and to look to achieve more. Success is all about attitude, ownership and self-belief, so, above all, you must believe in yourself.

As the days get darker and the nights get longer we must retain a ruthless focus and concentrate on activities which deliver the outcomes we want to see. We must,
· be disciplined and determined;
· think and behave long term;
· except the unexpected;
· always stay positive.

Thank you for the significant effort you are making to make education in Leeds such a success and for making a real difference for children, young people, families and carers and communities here in Leeds.
Chris

If the vast majority of the world’s scientists are right, we need to all work together to avoid a major catastrophe. Climate change is one of the biggest issues we face as individuals, as families, as organisations and as communities. Unless we act, we face an uncertain future or our children and grandchildren do… and it’s a catastrophe of our own making.

We all need to lead by example, and listen to our Recycling and Climate Change Champions, because we can be part of the solution… individually and collectively we can make a real difference. These are some simple things we can all do to save the world…

• Change to low energy light bulbs;
• Drive less… walk, cycle, car share or take the bus;
• Recycle more… at home and here at work;
• Use less hot water… bath with a friend;
• Avoid buying things with lots of packaging… or unpack it and leave the packaging where you bought it;
• Turn down your central heating… just 1C makes a real difference;
• Plant a tree;
• Don’t leave things on standby mode;
• Turn off electrical devices.

But whatever you do… do something!
Chris

“A team of brilliant individuals is less effective than a brilliant team of individuals.”
Robert Falcon Scott

I have often said that leadership is one of the keys to unlocking the future. Whatever level you are in this organisation, people will be looking to you for guidance, motivation, encouragement and support. Leadership requires a clear shared vision and a strategic direction that engages and motivates everyone in the team. This vision must drive the culture of Education Leeds, be built into our values and behaviours and be part of everything we do. I promise to set an example for everyone and I expect everyone in the company to play their part.

I want us to continue to motivate everyone and support everyone who is doing the right things. Together we must set ourselves clear and unambiguous targets and hold each other personally accountable for getting things done.

We will never succeed by micro-managing our colleagues. We will only succeed if they are inspired, engaged and passionately believe in what we are doing. We must continue to trust colleagues, give them responsibility and let them get one with things in ways they know best.
Chris

11 Mllion Takeover Day

Don't forget that the first ever 11 Million Takeover Day will be on 23 November 2007. It is a chance for the 11million children and young people in England to take over from adults. It is a way of celebrating the importance of young people in our society and for businesses and organisations across the country will demonstrate their commitment to children and young people for the day. I hope that every school in Leeds will get involved in some way.

To find out more about 11 Million Takeover Day you can visit http://www.11million.org.uk/.
Chris

The Education Leeds Annual Lecture

Make sure that you have booked a place at the Education Leeds Annual Lecture on 20 November where Tim Brighouse will talk about the challenges and the opportunities we face in the big cities. Tim transformed Birmingham and has had a massive impact on standards in London secondary schools. Be there and be inspired by one of the great educationalists of our times.
Chris

We are launching our new Inclusive Learning Strategy this week and it is important that we all understand the importance of this piece of work...

We have been working on this agenda here in Education Leeds for the last six years and we all recognise and understand that developing inclusive practice and inclusive provision is an on-going process... a work in progress!

We are working to develop brilliant learning places: good, improving and inclusive provision where all our children, young people and adults including those with disabilities and/or learning difficulties are included and valued for what they contribute and add to our provision. We must work with our colleagues in Children's Services, Leeds City Council and other agencies to support and develop inclusive provision that helps build healthy, thriving, harmonious and inclusive communities where everyone is equally valued and has the same opportunities for participation and engagement.

How are you going to help with this agenda and support us as we build brilliantly inclusive provision for all our children and young people?
Chris

I’ve been reflecting on the progress we’ve made...

We have actually had another great year, the Corporate Assessment says we are good and most things are ok, but progress on the important things aren’t exactly as it should be, there are frustrations and to be totally honest there are times when I wish I was somewhere else. While I recognise that I have a great job, like you I suspect not everything in my life is creative or fun, there are things that are fragile, places where progress is depressingly slow and things that are not going the way we would hope. Sadly I don’t look forward with real pleasure to every meeting and I don’t love every colleague, every head teacher and every councillor but that’s life!

This weekend and this half-term, I am going to forget about Education Leeds, forget about work, forget the highs and lows we are experiencing at the moment. Instead, I am going to remember that I am a partner, a parent, a friend to some important people and recognise that the weekend and the holiday is a time for them.

I am going to:

• enjoy myself;
• leave the ‘work me’ at work;
• be myself for once;
• accept the criticism;
• clean the toilet;
• talk to the people I love and care about;
• talk nicely in case I have to eat my words.

Take care.

Chris