I went to the Thackray Museum this afternoon...
The museum houses the largest collection of medical artifacts in the country. Cllr Richard Harker had asked me to visit to talk to Almut Gruner, Chief Executive, at the museum about how we could work together. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk to Almut about some of the areas where we could work together. It was an exciting potential agenda:
* improving sexual health and well-being;
* tackling smoking;
* tackling alcohol abuse;
* tackling obesity;
* equality and fairness for all.
We could also work with the muuseum to develop a series of young peoples' lectures on these key issues. I promised Almut that I would talk to colleagues about the aspects we explored and get back to her.
Chris
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
I started the day at Kippax North Junior and Infant School...
Barbara Clark, the headteacher, talked to me about some of the challenges they are facing with their building and their caretaking. Barbara also showed me around her little school where I met some of her team and some of her children. The learning environment is fantastic and it was great to see the incredible Magical Garden at their new Children's Centre. I also met Chris the schools' learning mentor and Debbie the schools' business manager who are both doing great things to celebrate and promote the school. Barbara and her team are clearly doing a great job with some wonderful young people.
Chris
Barbara Clark, the headteacher, talked to me about some of the challenges they are facing with their building and their caretaking. Barbara also showed me around her little school where I met some of her team and some of her children. The learning environment is fantastic and it was great to see the incredible Magical Garden at their new Children's Centre. I also met Chris the schools' learning mentor and Debbie the schools' business manager who are both doing great things to celebrate and promote the school. Barbara and her team are clearly doing a great job with some wonderful young people.
Chris
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
My colleague Maxine Squire one of our Secondary School Improvement Advisers sent me some great news...
"Dear Chris, Just to let you know following their inspection Wortley High School has been judged to be a good school. They have good judgements in most categories including achievement and standards, leadership and management, personal development and well being. Care, guidance and support was judged outstanding. A high proportion of good and outstanding lessons were seen over the last two days - only 1 inadequate and that was a supply teacher. It's a fantastic achievement for the team at Wortley. Regards, Maxine."
"Dear Chris, Just to let you know following their inspection Wortley High School has been judged to be a good school. They have good judgements in most categories including achievement and standards, leadership and management, personal development and well being. Care, guidance and support was judged outstanding. A high proportion of good and outstanding lessons were seen over the last two days - only 1 inadequate and that was a supply teacher. It's a fantastic achievement for the team at Wortley. Regards, Maxine."
This is wonderful news for West Leeds, and an incredible achievement for the brilliant team at Wortley High School.
Chris
Design a Poster Competition
Hand hygiene is an important part of breaking the threadworm lifecycle...
Design a hand washing poster to help us break the cycle! The competition is designed to raise awareness about hand hygiene and how it helps to break the threadworm cycle. To take part, entrants should design an A4 poster about the importance of regular hand washing. The winning poster from each age group - up to 7 years and 7-11 years - will receive a luxury Caran D’ache art set, trophy, certificate, and have their poster professionally printed for use in schools. Two runners up from each category will also win an art set. Send your posters to the address below by 27th March 2009. Please include the teacher’s name, school and contact phone number, and make sure every poster has its designer’s name, age and class clearly written on it. Send your entries to: Hand Washing Poster Competition Judges, Thornton & Ross, Linthwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5QH
To find out more visit http://www.fredworm.co.uk for more information.
Good Luck!
Chris
Design a hand washing poster to help us break the cycle! The competition is designed to raise awareness about hand hygiene and how it helps to break the threadworm cycle. To take part, entrants should design an A4 poster about the importance of regular hand washing. The winning poster from each age group - up to 7 years and 7-11 years - will receive a luxury Caran D’ache art set, trophy, certificate, and have their poster professionally printed for use in schools. Two runners up from each category will also win an art set. Send your posters to the address below by 27th March 2009. Please include the teacher’s name, school and contact phone number, and make sure every poster has its designer’s name, age and class clearly written on it. Send your entries to: Hand Washing Poster Competition Judges, Thornton & Ross, Linthwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5QH
To find out more visit http://www.fredworm.co.uk for more information.
Good Luck!
Chris
I bumped into some colleagues from the Co-op at the Packed Lunch event today...
They were there as partners and supporters of our approach to transforming school food and drink and had brought along a range of healthy foods, drinks and snacks for participants at the event to try. The Co-operative Group with their focus on ethical trading and meeting social goals are brilliant partners supporting fair trade and local communities.
If you don't know about the Co-op's 'From Farm to Fork' outdoor learning experience or their 'co-operative young film makers' festival every year at the National Media Museum in Bradford or their walking bus scheme or their 'green energy for schools' scheme you can find out more by visiting http://www.co-operative.coop.
Chris
They were there as partners and supporters of our approach to transforming school food and drink and had brought along a range of healthy foods, drinks and snacks for participants at the event to try. The Co-operative Group with their focus on ethical trading and meeting social goals are brilliant partners supporting fair trade and local communities.
If you don't know about the Co-op's 'From Farm to Fork' outdoor learning experience or their 'co-operative young film makers' festival every year at the National Media Museum in Bradford or their walking bus scheme or their 'green energy for schools' scheme you can find out more by visiting http://www.co-operative.coop.
Chris
I started the day at the Packed Lunch Guidance Policy Training Event at the South Leeds Stadium...
Our fantastic Leeds School Meals Strategy team have been working on the Packed Lunch Guidance Policy and this session was to help school based colleagues and partners with this key aspect of our work.
Over 45,000 young people take a packed lunch to school every day... around 9,250,000 packed luches are consumed every year here in Leeds. The policy aims to raise awareness about healthy eating and help parents and carers make informed and affordable choices.
Rosemary Molinari, our School Meals Strategy Adviser, talked about the evidence based approach and the public consultation that had shaped the new policy. It is wonderful to listen to Rosie share her passion, knowledge and experience and to see the impact her team are having here in Leeds.
Derrin Porter, Assistant Headteacher at Farnley Park High School talked, about the issues facing our secondary schools with packed lunches, the impact it has on their community, the power of the local shops offering cheap 'junk food' options and the connection with standards and outcomes.
This was a really good session and I only wish I could have stayed longer. Rosie, Elaine and Kate, our School Meals Strategy team, are doing a brilliant job in transforming school food and drink. The resources are available on our website at www.educationleeds.co.uk/schoolmeals.
Chris
"Healthy packed lunches are the best,
Healthy Packed lunches beat the rest,
To eat healthy,
You don't have to be wealthy!"
Leeds Youth on Health
Over 45,000 young people take a packed lunch to school every day... around 9,250,000 packed luches are consumed every year here in Leeds. The policy aims to raise awareness about healthy eating and help parents and carers make informed and affordable choices.
Rosemary Molinari, our School Meals Strategy Adviser, talked about the evidence based approach and the public consultation that had shaped the new policy. It is wonderful to listen to Rosie share her passion, knowledge and experience and to see the impact her team are having here in Leeds.
Derrin Porter, Assistant Headteacher at Farnley Park High School talked, about the issues facing our secondary schools with packed lunches, the impact it has on their community, the power of the local shops offering cheap 'junk food' options and the connection with standards and outcomes.
This was a really good session and I only wish I could have stayed longer. Rosie, Elaine and Kate, our School Meals Strategy team, are doing a brilliant job in transforming school food and drink. The resources are available on our website at www.educationleeds.co.uk/schoolmeals.
Chris
Monday, 20 October 2008
I recieved this today celebrating our achievments in developing extended services across Leeds...
"As you may be aware, on 5 November the Secretary of State and Beverley Hughes are speaking at a national conference for extended schools that will celebrate progress to date and the fact that nationally more than 14,000 schools are now providing access to the full core offer. This is a fantastic achievement and we would like to extend our thanks to you and your colleagues for your support to reach this target. However, we also thought it important for you to be aware of what is now planned which may attract both local and national press and community interest.
The conference coincides with the inclusion on the Direct.Gov website http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/ of a flag showing all schools that have been recorded by your LA as meeting the full core offer of extended services. This information is part of helping parents and families to be in a stronger position to access services in their local area and is also linked to the work of your local authority Family Information Services.
We think that the publication of the details on Direct.Gov is an opportunity for you to publicise and celebrate the success of extended services provided by your local schools.
Yours sincerely
Dr Hilary Emery, Executive Director
TDA Executive Directorate for Development and Improvement
Sheila Scales Director
Early Years, Extended Schools & Special Needs Group"
This is a fantastic achievement and reflects a huge amount of hard work by colleagues which has started to reconfigure and redefine our services to children, families and communities and is making an incredible difference where it matters most.
Chris
"As you may be aware, on 5 November the Secretary of State and Beverley Hughes are speaking at a national conference for extended schools that will celebrate progress to date and the fact that nationally more than 14,000 schools are now providing access to the full core offer. This is a fantastic achievement and we would like to extend our thanks to you and your colleagues for your support to reach this target. However, we also thought it important for you to be aware of what is now planned which may attract both local and national press and community interest.
The conference coincides with the inclusion on the Direct.Gov website http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/ of a flag showing all schools that have been recorded by your LA as meeting the full core offer of extended services. This information is part of helping parents and families to be in a stronger position to access services in their local area and is also linked to the work of your local authority Family Information Services.
We think that the publication of the details on Direct.Gov is an opportunity for you to publicise and celebrate the success of extended services provided by your local schools.
Yours sincerely
Dr Hilary Emery, Executive Director
TDA Executive Directorate for Development and Improvement
Sheila Scales Director
Early Years, Extended Schools & Special Needs Group"
This is a fantastic achievement and reflects a huge amount of hard work by colleagues which has started to reconfigure and redefine our services to children, families and communities and is making an incredible difference where it matters most.
Chris
My colleague Richard Irvine our Data & Information Services Manager sent me this...
"Hi Chris, Just wanted to let you know that, following Leeds being singled out by BECTA as having some of the most exciting and innovative ideas regarding the CfP initiative, Microsoft have published their case study outlining work carried out across the city. Hopefully this provides further evidence of the excellent work continuing throughout Leeds in delivering benefits to children and young people through the use of technology. Microsoft were keen to point out that the case study pages receive approximately 250,000 hits every day, so hopefully will be a good vehicle to highlight progress being made. Kind Regards, Richard"
You can find the case study by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=4000002859
Chris
"Hi Chris, Just wanted to let you know that, following Leeds being singled out by BECTA as having some of the most exciting and innovative ideas regarding the CfP initiative, Microsoft have published their case study outlining work carried out across the city. Hopefully this provides further evidence of the excellent work continuing throughout Leeds in delivering benefits to children and young people through the use of technology. Microsoft were keen to point out that the case study pages receive approximately 250,000 hits every day, so hopefully will be a good vehicle to highlight progress being made. Kind Regards, Richard"
You can find the case study by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=4000002859
Chris
What a week!
A week when we heard that our GCSE results are rapidly improving across every indicator, NEET figures are falling and the Oakwood PRU is outstanding. We are closing the gap, making a real difference and maintaining the relentless pressure on standards and outcomes for all our children and young people.
I attended some great events: Mike O'Brien's 'Great Leadership, Great Culture, Great Performance' session at The Manchester College; the Leeds Enterprise Exchange at the Village Hotel; the Leeds Strategic Plan Strategy Group at the Leeds City Museum; the launch of the Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Strategy at the Cardigan Centre; and a Community Investment event at Premier Farnell in West Leeds.
I also attended some great sessions: another induction event at the Derek Fatchett Centre; the New Headteachers Conference at Oulton Hall; and a joint session with senior leaders and governors from Boston Spa and Wetherby High Schools.
I managed to visit some great schools: Asquith Primary School for it's 6th birthday celebrations; Ryecroft Primary School for the launch of our School Packed Lunch Policy Guidance; Hunslet Moor Primary School for their East-Meets-West Charity Dinner; Grimes Dyke Primary School; and Harehills Primary School.
Great events, great meetings and great schools marked an incredible week brought alive by great colleagues like Mike O'Brien, Gill Austerfield, Mike Cooper, Margaret Broughton, Jan Toothill, Diana Mann, Elaine Bown, Narinder Gill, Barry Whitney, Wendy Winterburn and many, many more all releasing an incredible magic and building brilliant provision for our children and young people... and achieving brilliant results whatever it takes.
Chris
A week when we heard that our GCSE results are rapidly improving across every indicator, NEET figures are falling and the Oakwood PRU is outstanding. We are closing the gap, making a real difference and maintaining the relentless pressure on standards and outcomes for all our children and young people.
I attended some great events: Mike O'Brien's 'Great Leadership, Great Culture, Great Performance' session at The Manchester College; the Leeds Enterprise Exchange at the Village Hotel; the Leeds Strategic Plan Strategy Group at the Leeds City Museum; the launch of the Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Strategy at the Cardigan Centre; and a Community Investment event at Premier Farnell in West Leeds.
I also attended some great sessions: another induction event at the Derek Fatchett Centre; the New Headteachers Conference at Oulton Hall; and a joint session with senior leaders and governors from Boston Spa and Wetherby High Schools.
I managed to visit some great schools: Asquith Primary School for it's 6th birthday celebrations; Ryecroft Primary School for the launch of our School Packed Lunch Policy Guidance; Hunslet Moor Primary School for their East-Meets-West Charity Dinner; Grimes Dyke Primary School; and Harehills Primary School.
Great events, great meetings and great schools marked an incredible week brought alive by great colleagues like Mike O'Brien, Gill Austerfield, Mike Cooper, Margaret Broughton, Jan Toothill, Diana Mann, Elaine Bown, Narinder Gill, Barry Whitney, Wendy Winterburn and many, many more all releasing an incredible magic and building brilliant provision for our children and young people... and achieving brilliant results whatever it takes.
Chris
Sunday, 19 October 2008
On Saturday evening I went to see The Australian Ballet’s Swan Lake at the Lowry and it was fantastic...
Set to Tchaikovsky’s brilliant music, this unique production was made more exceptional by its collaboration with the wonderful BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. This is the first time in recent history that the Orchestra have accompanied a ballet performance and it was breathtaking.
Swan Lake is one of my favourite ballets and I have seen it danced by the Royal Ballet and the Kirov and seen Matthew Bourne's version but The Australian Ballet’s dazzling version, created by Australia’s leading choreographer Graeme Murphy, was another incredible experience. Featuring a contemporary storyline full of drama, wit and passion, with more than 70 talented dancers, stunning sets and costumes, the work contrasts heartbreaking duets with lavish scenes at the Royal Court and by the frozen lake, a dreamlike setting where Odette seeks solace from her turbulent marriage to Prince Siegfried. Like Matthew Bourne, Murphy has brought the spirit but also the scale of classical ballet into the 21st century with extraordinary results.
It was one of those incredible evenings where you simply don't want it to end and then you want to see ity all over again. The passion, the power, the discipline, the beauty, the magic was extraordinary. It was a great production of the greatest ballet of all time and I will remember for it a very long time.
Chris
Set to Tchaikovsky’s brilliant music, this unique production was made more exceptional by its collaboration with the wonderful BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. This is the first time in recent history that the Orchestra have accompanied a ballet performance and it was breathtaking.
Swan Lake is one of my favourite ballets and I have seen it danced by the Royal Ballet and the Kirov and seen Matthew Bourne's version but The Australian Ballet’s dazzling version, created by Australia’s leading choreographer Graeme Murphy, was another incredible experience. Featuring a contemporary storyline full of drama, wit and passion, with more than 70 talented dancers, stunning sets and costumes, the work contrasts heartbreaking duets with lavish scenes at the Royal Court and by the frozen lake, a dreamlike setting where Odette seeks solace from her turbulent marriage to Prince Siegfried. Like Matthew Bourne, Murphy has brought the spirit but also the scale of classical ballet into the 21st century with extraordinary results.
It was one of those incredible evenings where you simply don't want it to end and then you want to see ity all over again. The passion, the power, the discipline, the beauty, the magic was extraordinary. It was a great production of the greatest ballet of all time and I will remember for it a very long time.
Chris
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