As you know I think laughter is one of the indicators of a successful organisation, a successful school and a successful team...

It's not simply the best medicine, research has shown that laughing can:

• lower blood pressure;
• reduce stress;
• increase your muscle strength;
• boost your immune system;
• increase levels of disease-busting antibodies;
• trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers;
• produce a general sense of well-being.

It's a bit like chocolate, red wine and exercise!

Chris

'what leads to success?'

• passion;


• hard work;


• being good at what you do;


• focusing on what you do;


• pushing yourself;


• giving great service;


• having brilliant ideas; and


• persistence.

AND, persistence is the number one reason for anyone's success.

Chris

At the end of the day yesterday, I spent a stimulating and interesting hour with Paul Kaiserman, Claire Biggs and Jo Richardson from our Artforms team...

I am going to London on Monday to the 'Next Practice in Radical Pedagogy Workshop' with the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the DCSF Innovation Unit. The workshop builds on the Musical Futures work that we have been doing here in Leeds and Paul, Claire and Jo talked me through the learning that has gone on. They had spent the morning at the 'Embracing Diversity, Cultural Literacy and Reaping the Benefits' session led by Rosemary Campbell-Stephens during the morning. She had apparently been brilliant and the session had been both stimulating and challenging.

I am constantly amazed at the real insights colleagues bring to their work and the deep learning that is going on across Education Leeds. Paul, Claire and Jo are brilliant colleagues who helped me think and made some real connections for me in terms of how we can re-engineer secondary provision to deliver brilliant learning more consistently and ensure that young people are powerfully and passionately engaged in their learning.
Chris

LIVE A BALANCED LIFE!

I noticed how tired many colleagues were looking after half-term and worry about the relentless pressure we all face...

It is vitally important that we keep the three aspects of our lives in balance and don't neglect ourselves and our relationships while we struggle with the immense and complex agenda we are juggling, managing and delivering at work.

We need passion in all aspects of our lives but unless you keep a balance between work, relationships and looking after yourself we will struggle to get to Christmas.

Let me know how you are feeling and what we can do to improve your life-work balance
Chris

SEVEN HAPPINESS HABITS

I am more and more convinced that the seven things we all need to do to be happy:

• make you body work by exercising regularly;
• make your brain work by getting mental stimulation;
• make you spirit work by getting artistic stimulation;
• do a good turn for someone else every day;
• do something great with a friend;
• give yourself a treat every now and then;
• celebrate and congratulate yourself on the things you do well.

What do you think?

Chris

I was reading again last night, this time about the 80:20 rule...

Causes, inputs and efforts lead to results, outputs and rewards. The 80:20 principle asserts that a minority of what you do usually leads to a majority of what you achieve. Looking at it another way, 80% of what you achieve in your life comes from 20% of the time you spend doing it.

I am passionate about beautiful systems, deep research, intelligent accountability, learning organisations and the importance of discipline. The researchers Pareto, Zipf and Juran have all demonstrated the truth of the 80:20 rule. 80:20 thinking is:

• reflective;
• unconventional;
• strategic;
• ambitious;
• confident;
• focused on progress and outcomes.

Just think about it... the rule suggests that what you achieve in one day of your working week delivers 4 days of your results. If we could capture what that magic day was all about and increase how often it happens our outcomes would go through the roof. Our 'brilliant learning, brilliant leadership' initiative is how we begin to understand how we can go from good to great and focus on learning-centred leadership, learning organisations and learning classrooms.

Chris

Fantastic. A day without migraine!

Thanks to everyone who showed they care by tiptoeing past my office, whispering while they talked to me, turning off the lights, taking some of the responsibility and the burden and just showing some thought and consideration by asking how I was. It's appreciated!
Chris

The real problem with my migraine...

I have had migraine since I was very young and spent a considerable slice of my life in darkened rooms with my senses on fire and my head being ravaged by pain. I used to get it every weekend as I relaxed and I think the worst thing is that bit when you wake up in the morning and find it's with you again. I have had this headache now for the best part of a week and tonight it seems to have finally gone. However, I am thinking of staying up all night to try to break the cycle and avoid waking up... If anyone out there is a fellow sufferer and has found a solution please let me know because I have tried everything.
Chris

There are so many great schools in Leeds and it was encouraging recently to read the OFSTED inspection report on Bankside Primary School. I wrote to Sarah Rutty and her team to congratulate them and Sarah wrote back...

"Dear Chris, Having read one of your more recent blog entries and marvelling (and commiserating) at the number of hours you work in order to help us achieve 'Bankside Best' on a city-wide scale, I am even more touched and grateful for the time you found in order to send us your 'well done' note, in the wake of our recent OFSTED. As you once pointed out to me, you do have many schools to run in Leeds, I am always impressed at how you still manage to stay in touch with us all... Well done back to you!

We too were delighted with the report; it was my first ever as a headteacher and I too was really pleased with the very positive comments it made about our leadership team. Leadership, as you know so well, is critical to the creation - and maintainence - of a successful and vibrant team... all my Bankside Best wishes to you, our 'primus inter pares', as you boldly stride out at the vanguard of that team provision, here in Leeds! As your blog makes clear, this is not always a straightforward journey and I very much hope that the indomitable Edwards' spirit will prevail - even when the going gets rough. I often bring to mind Tim Brighouse's set of 'desirable qualities' in leadership, when sets of lips tighten yet more firmly and cardigans are buttoned up TO THE TOP with savage intent during staff meetings; the one I find most re-assuring at troubling times like this, is his view that successful leaders need to have a quality that he characterises as 'unwarranted optimism'...Long may your optimism be 'unwarranted' and abundant - even when the lips of challengers tighten and (metaphorical) cardies are buttoned up against you ...Lots of Bankside Best wishes. Sarah"

We all need to understand the challenges we face here in Leeds and the real difference we are making together is why we continue to turn up when the easy life is so available to talented people. We must continue to be optismistic and positive and to fly the flag for everything that is brilliant about Leeds including its' primary schools like Bankside, its' people like Sarah and her team and most importantly its' children like the wonderful young people at Bankside Primary School.
Chris

I received an e-mail from Richard O’Neill a traveller storyteller who has visited Leeds over the last few years to work with Peter Saunders and his colleagues in the Travellers Service...

"Hi Chris, Just a quick note about a children's programme I recently recorded for BBC radio 4. 'Go for It.' will feature Gypsy Traveller storytelling, music and culture will be broadcast on the 4th of November at 7.15pm, just after the Archers. You can listen again on the website for up to a week after. All the best. Richard"

Richard is one of those amazing human beings with real energy and enthusiasm and the ability to inspire with his stories. I have personally been on a journey of discovery about the history, the culture, the music and the stories of the Traveller communities and I will be listening to Richard on 4 November. Why not join me?

Chris