I moved on to Bracken Edge Primary School for the official opening of their new and wonderful building by Fabian Hamilton MP...
It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate what has been achieved with the buildings over the last few years. The school has been transformed since I came to Leeds in 2001. The school has over forty languages and on this glorious sunny day outside the childrens faces showed just how lucky we are to work here in this richly diverse and exciting multi-cultural city. I was shown around the school by two of the children who were fantastic ambassadors for the school and we practiced our WOW words as we went round. The buildings are simply magic and just what the children and the staff team deserve!
Chris
Friday, 3 April 2009
I moved on to Colton Primary School to say thank you and give some flowers to Andy Syers, headteacher, who was retiring after nine great years at the school...
Andy is one of those talented, brilliant, gorgeous and wonderful colleagues who over the last twenty years here in Leeds has made an enormous difference. She has developed this wonderful little primary school to release a very special magic. She has built a great team, the building has been transformed and the results last year were fantastic. She is leaving a really wonderful legacy at Colton Primary School.
Chris
Andy is one of those talented, brilliant, gorgeous and wonderful colleagues who over the last twenty years here in Leeds has made an enormous difference. She has developed this wonderful little primary school to release a very special magic. She has built a great team, the building has been transformed and the results last year were fantastic. She is leaving a really wonderful legacy at Colton Primary School.
Chris
I started the day early at the East SILC at the John Jamieson site...
I was there for a meeting with the Specialist Inclusion Provision Group where we talked about the journey provision for children with special educational needs has made over the last few years. The SILCs are increasingly doing brilliant work in terms of providing an outstanding specialist offer, supporting partnership provision in resource and partnership schools and providing outreach training and support. We need to continue to look at the gaps in provision and ensure thqt provision is more consistent across the city. We need to look the behavioural continuum and work to fill the gaps in terms of rapid respite response and provision for children exhibiting the most complex mental, emotional and behavioural problems.
It is great to work with these colleagues who are making such a difference for our most special children. As always there is more to do.
Chris
I was there for a meeting with the Specialist Inclusion Provision Group where we talked about the journey provision for children with special educational needs has made over the last few years. The SILCs are increasingly doing brilliant work in terms of providing an outstanding specialist offer, supporting partnership provision in resource and partnership schools and providing outreach training and support. We need to continue to look at the gaps in provision and ensure thqt provision is more consistent across the city. We need to look the behavioural continuum and work to fill the gaps in terms of rapid respite response and provision for children exhibiting the most complex mental, emotional and behavioural problems.
It is great to work with these colleagues who are making such a difference for our most special children. As always there is more to do.
Chris
Thursday, 2 April 2009
I finished the day at the Leeds Schools Music Association Festival Concert at the Town Hall...
We were there with over 350 young people from 42 primary schools who played and sang for a full house of parents, carers and colleagues from schools. We were also treated to a wonderful performance on the Gamelan by children from the East SILC at John Jamieson.
It was a great evening, to end a great term.
Chris
We were there with over 350 young people from 42 primary schools who played and sang for a full house of parents, carers and colleagues from schools. We were also treated to a wonderful performance on the Gamelan by children from the East SILC at John Jamieson.
It was a great evening, to end a great term.
Chris
I had lunch with brilliant colleagues from the HR team...
It was great to be able to talk to them about the transformation HR services have been through over the last eight years. The traded services feedback from our schools now says that the service is good which is brilliant since the team deal with some of the hardest issues we face around workforce development and management. The team also talked about the challenges we all face in the future with the need to develop a menu of more personalised services for schools to use to suit their circumstances.
Chris
It was great to be able to talk to them about the transformation HR services have been through over the last eight years. The traded services feedback from our schools now says that the service is good which is brilliant since the team deal with some of the hardest issues we face around workforce development and management. The team also talked about the challenges we all face in the future with the need to develop a menu of more personalised services for schools to use to suit their circumstances.
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:
"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
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
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
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
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
Robert Fulghum
After a day like today it is important to know that miracles can happen and will happen. Keep the faith.
Chris
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