This morning I attended the 'Progression to Post-16 and Higher Education in Inner South Leeds' dissemination event at the new Hillside Centre in Beeston...

Dr Paul Sharp had conducted the research and produced the report which he summarised for the invited audience.A young student in her third year at Leeds University studying law talked about how she had enjoyed her time at Hugh Gaitskell Primary School, Cockburn Community College and Notre Dame Sixth Form College. I talked about the keys to brilliant outcomes for young people, families and communities; people, places, attitude and partnership.

The report and the event generally emphsised the need to do more to target our resources to ensure that young people and their families in deprived communities achieve basic skills, have high expectations and high self-esteem.
Chris

I received this e-mail from my colleague Laura Wilson, Senior Admissions Officer and wanted to share it with you...

‘We turn not older with years, but newer every day’
Emily Dickinson

"Hi Chris, I was decorating the Admissions & Transport team section of the 10th floor on Tuesday for Christmas and was discussing with my colleagues the fact that another year is over. We’re already one third in to the academic year and this year, like previous years, we expect to place some 22,000 school children in to schools in Leeds – whether that be mid-year or through the annual process for Year 7 and Reception for September 2010. We will also process approximately 6,000 applications from children and young people for help with transport to school or college. Every one of those applications is precious to us. Every child is dealt with individually. And this, understandably, takes time and effort and patience. I know that we can only achieve this because of the fantastic, talented and conscientious team that we have here at Admissions & Transport. And as Christmas is a time to be thankful, I am certainly thankful for my team mates – my colleagues. I am proud to work with such a diverse, hardworking, good humoured and kind group of people. Abdul Jalloh, our New Arrivals Officer, always says to new recruits ‘Welcome to our family!’ and he is right – we do work together like a family. Sometimes we may quarrel and may dispute with each other about what action is right, what path to take when confronted with something new or uncertain, but we do it because we care, because it matters to us about getting it right for families in Leeds.

I grew up in Leeds, I went to three Leeds schools, but never until I worked here did I realise what a multicultural city Leeds is. I was closed off from reality as a young person and only when I came to this team did I see how such a mix of ages, experiences, cultures and backgrounds could really work together to achieve fantastic things, things that a lot of people don’t see. I can honestly say that in the two and a half years I have been here I have never laughed so much or learned so much in my life. I do grow newer every day. Let me close by saying that I am thankful also for members of our extended family. Amy Williamson and Caron Tribble from Choice Advice, Steve Byrne at Parent Partnership, Jon Molton from Data Management, Jenny Marshall at PMIT, Bev Lloyd, Carl Whalley and Stephanie Rayford from Communications, Camille Wilkinson and Emma Mayhall on Merrion’s Reception who assist us in our work to reach these fantastic outcomes. I hope that this email serves as a small glimmer of something positive in weeks that have proved to be quite trying at Education Leeds. I look forward to 2010 knowing that the rest of my team grow newer with me and that we can only build upon the successes of this term so far. Regards, Laura."

As we face more and more criticism of Children's Services, it is really encouraging to remember and know what a great job Laura, Viv and colleagues are doing.
Chris

This evening I attended the Memorial Celebration Evening at Farnley Park Maths and Computer College in memory of Dr Bill Pullen...

The evening was introduced by Phil McEvoy, Acting Headteacher at Farnley Park Maths and Computer College, and included brilliant performances by some of their talented young people; Charlotte Wainwright sang 'Footprints in the Sand', Oakley Pilotile performed a street dance called 'Down' and Lauren Brady sang 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'. I had seen Oakley dance before with his sister when we opened Lower Wortley Primary School's new PFI building.

We have all been privileged to know Bill and his death is a sad, sad loss to education and learning in Leeds. Colleagues have talked to me of his commitment, his confidence and his expertise. But for me he was a man of passion, pace and purpose… thoughtful, intelligent, deliberate and with a deep sense of social justice. Our colleague Bill Pullen, took up the post of Headteacher at Farnley Park in September, 2005 after being Deputy Headteacher at Benton Park School. He also worked at Huntington School in York, Whitley Bay High School in North Tyneside and Allertonshire School in North Yorkshire.

Bill was one of those colleagues who could take your breath away; a giant of a man with a charismatic and friendly style and he will be sadly missed by us all... Farnley Park, West Leeds, Leeds and the world of education and learning have lost a remarkable human being and the world is a sadder and less special place without him. His family have asked us to support a charity Bill was passionate about; the 'House of Love Scholarship Programme' sponsors children to attend school in Uganda. You can find out more by visiting http://www.dfid.gov.uk/mgd/.

Chris

This afternoon I attended the 'Talking Heads! Community Art Project' celebrating the International Day of Disabled People at Kirkstall Abbey Visitor Centre...

The project was funded by the Equality Team at Leeds City Council working with Leeds Museums and Galleries and Education Leeds Visually Impaired Team. This wonderful project involved children with visual impairment from across the city working with Seagulls community artists to create decorated heads based on the bust of Colonel North who gave Kirkstall Abbey to the people of Leeds. It was wonderful to talk to the children about the project. They all received certificates and goody bags from Cllr Richard Brett, Leader of the Council.

Their artwork will be on display in Kirkstall Abbey Visitor Centre for the next six month.
Chris

Following the Annual Lecture with Sir Ken Robinson, I was talking to Dirk about how we re-engineer our provision to encourage and support all our young people...

We do need to think differently about how we engage young people in learning; how we develop our young people as passionate and powerful learners; how we get young people to understand that the keys to success are attitude, discipline and hard work.

Interestingly we know what works; what makes the difference...

• Opening early with breakfast.
• 'Every Child a Reader'.
• 'Every Child Counts'.
• Brilliant teaching.
• Singing.
• Coaching.
• Mentoring.
• Small nurture groups.
• Study support.
• Family support through STEPS.
• Enterprise activities.
• Sport and activity.
• Laughter.

What else works?

Chris

I went to Carlton Primary School this evening...

The school was celebrating their brilliant new hall and classrooms extension with the Rothwell Temperance Band, their choir and their School Council. The School Council started the evening by talking about the Time Capsule they had created so that anyone discovering it in the future would know what it was like being a student at Carlton Primary School in 2009. The choir were brilliant and were accompanied, for some of their songs, by the Rothwell Temperance Band who were outstanding. The new hall and classrooms are fantastic additions to the school and the builders have done an excellent job to create such bright, airy and spacious areas.



This is a really good little school with a talented, gorgeous, brilliant and wonderful teaching and learning team doing a great job and releasing something very special with some wonderful young people. It is one of those schools where you see happy, healthy, safe and successful in practice and it's magic!

The visit was the highlight of my week.
Chris

After the induction session I attended this week I received this wonderful bit of feedback from my colleague Jenny Sebright, who is an Education Officer in the West Leeds Youth Offending Service...

"Good Morning Chris, I met you yesterday at the Corporate Induction and I am taking you up on the offer of contacting you! I wanted to let you know that with all honesty I wasn't sure what the Induction would be like and how relevant I would find it. I was very wrong. I left feeling inspired and motivated. Not only by yourself but by Karen Cooper. I now feel I am part of a very successful team in terms of the whole of Education Leeds. As I am based in another service it is easy to feel unconnected to the wider service that I belong to and I am now excited by the challenges that faces me within the Youth Offending Service and working with schools and family's to ensure that Young Offenders receive an education. I have also in the last week put my name forward to be a parent governor at my sons school where he has recently joined in the Nursery so I am even more excited to be part of his Education and hope that I am successful in becoming a Governor. I am now looking forward with new and refreshed motivation to my new job with Education Leeds and will be following your blog with interest! Regards, Jenny."

It is great to get feedback from colleagues so we know what is working well and what we can do to improve and develop what we are doing here at Education Leeds.
Chris

More Good News!

I received some more good news this afternoon from my colleague Maqsood Sheikh...

"We should live our lives on this planet by following the secret to making perfect footprints in sand...... tread lightly, taking every step with care, leave your imprint without any lasting damage".

"Hi Chris, Just thought you’d be interested to know that as well as the Ofsted inspectors starting their onsite inspection on 23 November, we also had our external Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) auditors from BVQI carrying out their surveillance visit that same afternoon. The visit was an opportunity for us to showcase some of the areas of good environmental practice within the organisation. The auditor, Jonathan Wallace, met with: Alex Macleod and Victoria Stewart from our PFI Programme Management team to look at the way we manage PFI school contracts; Tony Palmer, David Ingham and James Saunders in Estate Management to talk about what we are doing to meet Zero Carbon School targets; and Steve Ruse in Health Initiatives about the Leeds Sustainable Schools Programme. Thanks to these colleagues, no non-conformances were raised by the auditor, and the visit was a success. This means that we continue to retain our EMAS accreditation. As part of the visit, Liz White and I also presented our Environmental Sustainability Statement to Jonathan, which, as you know, sets out our commitment to looking after the environment. Thanks for agreeing to support the delivery of our commitments in the statement, and I will be in touch with you over the next couple of weeks about supporting the recruitment of Environmental Champions from across Education Leeds.
Best Wishes, Maqsood."


It is brilliant to see colleagues in Education Leeds setting an example in terms of EMAS and that we are moving forward with Environmental Champions across the company. Remember..."Take only photographs, leave only footprints."
Chris

Chris

On 11 November I spent a brilliant lunchtime and the early part of the afternoon with some amazing children from Moortown Primary School and Stanningley Primary School as part of our '11 Million Takeover' activities...

It was great to spend some time with such wonderful young people.

Chris

I moved on to the West Park Centre for Headteacher Forum...

What always surprises me is the talent that turns up at these meetings. This meeting was really well chaired by Martin Fleetwood and was attended by some brilliant headteachers who as well as running great schools gave up some more of their time to share, network and learn. I am always impressed with the colleagues I work with from our schools. We have developed great teamwork and brilliant understanding here in Leeds and our headteachers are an amazing bunch... innovative, creative and imaginative and determined to do things their way because they passionately believe that it works for children and young people. We talked about how we can share more of the magic across schools and within schools to ensure that everything we do is outstanding.

Chris