I visited Harehills Primary School again today to see Margaret Broughton who has recently been appointed to the headship after a period as consultant headteacher...

It was great to visit the school and talk to Margaret and some of her colleagues. I also talked to some of Margaret's wonderful children who were simply incredible and the most amazing ambassadors for the school. We also managed a quick walk around the school to see some of Margaret's colleagues and more of her great children. It was deeply reassuring to see the emphasis on tracking, data and standards set within a rich and exciting curriculum offer that included the arts, sports and mad science!

This is a school that is certainly releasing a very special magic.
Chris

I moved on to another staff induction session at the Derek Fatchett CLC...

It was wonderful to be able to spend some time with this great group of new colleagues from across the company.
Chris

I started the day early at Carr Manor High School...

I arrived having travelled through a snow storm to find business as usual with their great team out on duty shepherding in the students. It is reassuring to see the transformation that is happening at Carr Manor and to talk to Simon about the incredible work they are doing to drive up standards and extend and enrich the offer we make to these young people. The 21st Century Schools consultation document reinforces the importance of this work on different models of leadership and governance, extended services, partnership working, family support, learning campuses and learning communities. It was a great start to yet another snowy day.
Chris

I have just seen the latest weather forecast and it looks like we are in for more snow tomorrow...

It will be interesting to see how bad the weather is tomorrow and how many schools are once again forced to close. It certainly has been a very challenging week for headteacher colleagues who will once again have to make a difficult call first thing in the morning.
Chris

I went on to West Park to attend Headteacher Forum...

I haven't been able to attend the Forum recently so it was great to be able to spend time with this wonderful group of colleagues looking at some of the big issues we are facing. The feedback session raised the following issues:

• School closures for snow and ice;
• Secondary provision in East and North East Leeds;
• The National Challenge;
• New headteacher roles and responsibilities;
• Safer Schools Partnership.

The agenda also covered the harnessing technology grant, the inclusive learning strategy, secondary standards, primary standards.
Chris

I met with two young students today...

Jessica interviewed me for her dissertation on the creative curriculum and Kim did a radio interview on healthy eating in schools. It was great to talk to these talented young people about the work we are doing here in Leeds.
Chris

I visited another great little primary school first thing this morning...

I arrived early at Lady Elizabeth Hastings Church of England Primary School in Ledston to see Amanda Leathley, the new headteacher, who took over as headteacher last September. She is clearly doing a really good job and releasing a very special magic with her new deputy. Amanda has great plans for this little school and it was wonderful to be able to visit after two days of snow and ice.
Chris

I received this e-mail from my colleague Mike Woods, Headteacher at Corpus Christi Catholic College...

"Hi Chris, Just a bit of positive feedback despite the severe weather. We had our dress rehearsal for Bugsy Malone on Monday 10am with an invited audience from our local Primary Schools. All the cast of 47 made it, as did our Primary Schools; two of whom (St Theresa's and Our Lady's had to bus pupils in). All went great. School too functioned well although we had to close early and cancel the first night's perfomance. On Tuesday we had nearly 550 pupils in and ran a full curriculum and the new first night of Bugsy Malone played to a full house. I never cease to be amazed at the dedication of teachers and support staff. They worked brilliantly throught the severe weather and take Bugsy Malone for instance, there was a production team of 49 plus Thomas Danby Students doing a fantastic job with hair and our PTFA. Curriculum disruption was an absolute minimum (only the Monday first performance with Primary Schools). Everything being done X-curricular including the last two Sundays! So great things are happening on your patch. Best wishes, Mike."

It's great to hear about some of the amazing things colleagues are doing across Leeds despite the weather!

Chris

I have been reading the DCSF publication '21st Century School: A World Class Education for Every Child'...

This really excellent document sets out how world-class schools, and world-class standards for every community, are central to realising The Children’s Plan ambition to make England the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up and how it is vital that our school system is capable of preparing every young person to make a success of their life. Like us the DCSF believe that every young person, no matter what their background, has the potential to achieve and succeed, and that it is the task of our schools to make that a reality and that we need a school system which is supported to break down barriers to achievement and which breaks the link between deprivation and low educational attainment.

In the publication the '21st century school system' must ensure that:

• children and young people are fully engaged with their education until at least the age of 18, reach world-class standards and acquire skills, understanding and qualifications that will serve them well in the future;
• all children and young people are supported to progress, with excellent teaching; stretched to develop their talents; given the opportunities to pursue an engaging curriculum and qualifications; and to learn in a way which excites them and meets their needs;
• all children and young people learn in an environment of good behaviour, are not bullied or discriminated against, and develop the wider personal skills, characteristics and attitudes they need to succeed and make a positive contribution to society, while enjoying a fulfilling and healthy childhood;
• through collaborative working with other services, children and young people’s additional needs (including SEN) are met as early as possible – an end in itself; and because doing so supports learning by removing barriers and ensures that children and young people do not become distracted or disengaged from learning; and
• we achieve high levels of parental engagement and satisfaction.

The key components of a 21st century school system

• great leadership;
• a diverse and highly expert workforce of skilled professionals;
• a shared determination to do the best for every child;
• high aspirations for all children and young people;
• excellent personalised education and development;
• good progress and high standards.
• a key role in identifying and helping to address additional needs,
• working at the centre of a system of early intervention and targeted support;
• a range of activities and opportunities to enrich the lives of children, families and the wider community; and
• contributing to community objectives such as local cohesion, sustainability and regeneration.

21st Century Schools will support improvements in outcomes and, in turn, children and young people’s life chances by:

• providing a more personalised approach for each child and young person;
• greater integrated working and coherence between services;
• delivering a wider offer and, with other partners, a greater range of provision;
• meeting additional needs to ensuring problems are identified early and addressed;
• maximising the impact of the best leaders and governors and sharing effective practice and professional development;
• making the best use of resources, sharing staff, functions and facilities across a number of school sites; and
• ensuring greater collective accountability for outcomes for children and young people in the local area.

It is important that every school reads and responds to this vitally important consultation. You can access it at www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations.

Chris

I received this e-mail from my colleague Shelagh Henderson, headteacher at Rawdon Littlemoor Primary School...

"Dear Chris, I would just like to let you know that Rawdon Littlemoor is open despite the snow and despite other schools around me being closed. All my staff are in and we are working as normal. We didn't close yesterday and neither did we close on December 4th when most other schools did. Does this entitle us to a special award for being resilient and dedicated to children's education? Yours, Shelagh."

It is great to hear about schools that have opened despite the weather, and of course even with 105 schools closed across Leeds, we still have 160 brilliant schools open and working as usual.
Chris