A colleague sent me this quote today...

"These are all our children.
We will profit by, or pay for, whatever they become".
James Baldwin

That is so true.
Chris

My colleague Gary Milner sent me some great news...

"Dear Chris, this morning we received good news about the results of the Diploma Gateway 3 process. We have secured approval to start delivering four new Diplomas from 2010 and one for 2011. Nationally 58% of applications gained approval for 2010 and 42% for 2011, so we have done much better than most local authorities. We now have approval for 13 Diplomas and the overall picture is:
Delivering started Sept 2008:

• Creative & Media
• Construction & Built Environment

Delivery starting in Sept 2009:

• Business Admin & Finance
• Engineering
• Environmental & Land- based Studies
• Hair & Beauty Studies
• Information Technology
• Society, Health & Development

Delivery starting Sept 2010:

• Hospitality
• Manufacturing & Product Design
• Public Services
• Travel & Tourism

Delivery starting in 2011:

• Sport & Active Leisure

If recruitment goes as well as this year (we recruited 96% of our target learner number against a national average of 25%) we should have around 800 learners studying Diplomas by this September. A big thanks to all those involved with what was a very comprehensive and robust application process. Best Wishes, Gary."

This is fantastic news for Leeds and clearly shows that our relationships and partnerships with schools, colleges and businesses are focused on delivering brilliant outcomes for young people in Leeds through these Diploma programmes. Well done to Gary and his team who are really making this happen here in Leeds.

Chris

I started the day early at St Augustine's Catholic Primary School...

After talking to Michael Teggart, the headteacher, I was shown around the school by Melissa, Darryl and Bailey, three year 6 students. They were brilliant ambassadors and adverts for this great little school. The DCSF published the Key Stage 2 performance tables yesterday and the school has just received it's contextual value-added ratings and everything is green and the progress children are making is clear for everyone to see if you are prepared to look.
Walking around the school was wonderful; everywhere was calm, focused and purposeful, the learning environment was great and the children were bright, polite and terrific. This is a great school where Michael and his talented team are releasing a very special magic with some wonderful young people.
Chris

I finished the day at the White Rose Centre for their Learning Centre celebration...

The Upper Circle at the White Rose Centre was packed with young people and their parents, carers and teachers who were there to celebrate the achievements of some incredible young people. It was a fantastic evening celebrating children from Hunslet Moor, Hill Top and Fountain Primary Schools and Morley and Woodkirk High Schools. We were also treated to a dance routine produced, choreographed and performed by young people from Woodkirk High School

My fantastic colleague Rachael Holdgate, Study Support Manager at the White Rose Centre, the learning mentors and everyone else involved with this wonderful learning centre are making a real difference for young people in this part of Leeds.
Chris

"If I were absolutely certain about all things, I would spend my life in anxious misery, fearful of losing my way. But since everything and anything are aways possible, the miraculous is always nearby and wonders shall never, ever cease."
Robert Fulghum

After a day like today it is important to know that miracles can happen and will happen. Keep the faith.
Chris

I started the day early at Pudsey Greenside Primary School...

I had been asked to go by Janet Howard who has achieved great things over the last five years at this little primary school.
Chris

THE STORE

ArtForms, Education Leeds in partnership with Leeds City Council and Find Your Talent Leeds present...

THE STORE

ARTS AND CULTURE UNDER ONE ROOF
Thursday 30th April, 10.30am - 4.45pm
The West Park Centre,

The STORE will give you the unique opportunity to meet a wide variety of artists and cultural
organisations under one roof. You will be able to talk to them about your individual requirements, see performances and join in taster workshops and seminars. Come along to this inspiring event and discover how the arts and culture can make a powerful difference to the lives of children and young people in Leeds. For further information, contact: Clare Biggs, Head of Arts Development or Sarah Westaway, Arts Manager.

If you are passionate about bringing the arts to children and young people, don't miss it.
Chris

NOW WE ARE EIGHT!

I have been in Leeds for nearly eight great years and today, 1st April 2009, Education Leeds is eight years old...

They say time flies when you are having fun and it has been great fun thanks to you; the brilliant, talented, gorgeous and wonderful colleagues who have made me laugh, made me smile, made me cry and enriched, energised and brightened my life over these eight great years. At it’s brilliant best our schools, our educational provision and our support services here in Leeds are breathtakingly wonderful, making an incredible difference and releasing real magic in so many ways.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Chris

I spent the rest of the day with my colleagues from the Council's Corporate Leadership Team at an Independent Living Project in Scott Hall Grove...

This is a brilliant initiative delivering high quality, sustainable accommodation and support services for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs. The CLT session was looking at strategy, priorities and capacity and I talked about the processes we are exploring:

• a 21st Century schools world class universal offer for all our children and young people;
• early intervention and prevention;
• targeted provision around vulnerable and challenging individuals;
• developing young people's ownership, voice and choice in the system.

Our priorities identified through a process of monitoring, audit and intelligence are:

• leadership and governance;
• attendance;
• behaviour provision;
• 14 - 19 provision;
  
• target schools;
• target groups of young people.

The other areas we need to look at are:

• Capital investment through the Building Schools for the Future and Primary Capital Programmes and the impact of population growth across Leeds;
• Workforce development, efficiency and value for money;
• Safeguarding and the integration of services around vulnerable groups;
• Health and well-being programmes;
• Environment and sustainability programmes;
• Managing the recession, preparing for the upturn and developing the skills and intelligence needed to drive success in the new economy.

It was encouraging that other colleagues identified almost the same issues which we are going to work on together over the next eighteen months.
Chris

I started the day at the 'Prevent Launch Event' at Leeds Town Hall where I was talking about where the 'Prevent' agenda fitted into our work on safeguarding and safer schools...

It was encouraging that twenty schools managed to make the launch of this vitally important initiative alongside colleagues from West Yorkshire Police, some of the Leeds colleges and colleagues from Neighbourhoods and Housing, Education Leeds and Children's Services. The event was opened by Cllr Andrew Carter, Leader of the Council, which reflected the importance of the event. We heard a personal story from Zaf Shah, a former Great Britain Tae Kwon Do champion and Commonwealth athlete. Zaf is Director of Clinical Management Solutions Ltd and a specialist in Muslim affairs and his session was both challenging and interesting. My colleague Andrew Hobbs, who is currently on secondment to the Government Office, talked about the DCSF Toolkit 'Learning Together to be Safe' which provides schools and colleges with guidance on preventing violent extremism. Detective Inspector Graham Archer from the Counter Terrorism Unit took everyone through 'ACT NOW' a resource for schools. The session was closed by Chief Superintendent Mark Milson who stressed that this is an area where no one is the expert and where we can tackle the issues by working together to deliver brilliant universal provision alongside targeted work around protecting our most vulnerable young people.

It was an interesting and stimulating morning for everyone involved and I am only sorry that more schools weren't able to be there.
Chris