I visited Rawdon St Peter's CE Primary School this afternoon...
Caroline Sibson, the headteacher of this great little school, had invited me to the official opening of their new community room and Extended Services building, which includes Peter Pan Pre – School and Emma’s Angels. Cllr Brian Cleasby performed the opening ceremony along with a number of special visitors who have contributed to the project. Caroline also showed me the new Reception Base where they have just finished work on new early years provision and the team are rightly very proud of what they have achieved.
Caroline and the team have transformed provision at Rawdon St Peter's CE Primary School and the new provision is brilliant. This is a unique school doing extraordinary things which also acts as a base for the North West Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre. Their 'Orchard' base allows children with specific needs to be full members of this very special school community.
Chris
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
BE PASSIONATE!
Another week closer to Christmas...
It has been a great week spent with some more extra-ordinary colleagues, and some great leaders. I visited Primrose Lane Primary School to see Catherine Holmes, the new headteacher, who had started at the school at Easter. Catherine is a talented colleague who brings successful experience of headship from Hertfordshire, and it was great to be able to meet her and see first-hand what an intelligent and capable headteacher we have at Primrose Lane Primary School. I visited Hugh Gaitskell Primary School where Margaret Beesley and her team have made more progress opening a new community room, office, staff room, teaching areas; and a primary-age inclusion unit building on the excellent work they do with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. David Dickinson and I had breakfast with nine of our new headteachers, an amazing group of colleagues, and we talked about the brilliant provision we have built here in Leeds over the last nine and a half years and how their schools can continue to maintain the focus on standards with so much changing locally and nationally; the challenges with safeguarding, child protection, multi-agency working and extended services; and so much expected of schools.
I visited Benton Park School to see David Foley, the headteacher, whose enthusiasm and commitment has transformed the leadership and the culture at the school over the last couple of years. I had been invited to the school because Benton Park was holding a careers fair over two days and had attracted 48 providers from the universities and colleges to the armed forces; and from Morrisons to a local hairdressing salon. I visited the West Park Centre to attend the official opening of Ferdinand Koci's wonderful Art Exhibition. Ferdinand Koci is a Roma from Albania who has exhibited his work all over Europe. The artwork is loaned from Ferdinand's own private collection, and shows off his talent and amazing ability to tell stories through these fascinating and beautiful pictures. This free exhibition is at the West Park Centre until Christmas, and schools have a unique opportunity to visit the exhibition with groups of children. I visited Fieldhead Carr Primary School, an amazing little school, to see the real progress the school is making on its journey to outstanding. Nik Edensor is an inspirational young headteacher whose passion, drive, determination, commitment and hard work with a brilliant team is achieving some extraordinary results. I visited St Theresa's Catholic Primary School where John Hutchinson, the headteacher, and his strong senior leadership team are driving school improvement and achieving some impressive results, particularly with their boys. And finally I attended the Leadership Challenge Event 2010 where the real highlight was being able to listen to Chris Pilling, head of direct banking at HSBC, who's energy, passion, commitment and leadership style has had a powerful impact at First Direct and now HSBC. His approach focuses on developing a culture which empowers, engages and gives ownership to his team and also draws on intelligence and performance management to drive world class outcomes. Now where have I heard that before!
A week spent with great leaders and great colleagues reminds you about the importance of leadership. Great leaders are great learners… by constantly questioning and asking why. Great leaders are great performers… by being confident and energetic. Great leaders are great storytellers… by bringing strategies and policies alive. Great leaders accept responsibility… for decisions and outcomes and focus on what really matters. And above all, great leaders are passionate.
Be passionate!
Chris
It has been a great week spent with some more extra-ordinary colleagues, and some great leaders. I visited Primrose Lane Primary School to see Catherine Holmes, the new headteacher, who had started at the school at Easter. Catherine is a talented colleague who brings successful experience of headship from Hertfordshire, and it was great to be able to meet her and see first-hand what an intelligent and capable headteacher we have at Primrose Lane Primary School. I visited Hugh Gaitskell Primary School where Margaret Beesley and her team have made more progress opening a new community room, office, staff room, teaching areas; and a primary-age inclusion unit building on the excellent work they do with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. David Dickinson and I had breakfast with nine of our new headteachers, an amazing group of colleagues, and we talked about the brilliant provision we have built here in Leeds over the last nine and a half years and how their schools can continue to maintain the focus on standards with so much changing locally and nationally; the challenges with safeguarding, child protection, multi-agency working and extended services; and so much expected of schools.
I visited Benton Park School to see David Foley, the headteacher, whose enthusiasm and commitment has transformed the leadership and the culture at the school over the last couple of years. I had been invited to the school because Benton Park was holding a careers fair over two days and had attracted 48 providers from the universities and colleges to the armed forces; and from Morrisons to a local hairdressing salon. I visited the West Park Centre to attend the official opening of Ferdinand Koci's wonderful Art Exhibition. Ferdinand Koci is a Roma from Albania who has exhibited his work all over Europe. The artwork is loaned from Ferdinand's own private collection, and shows off his talent and amazing ability to tell stories through these fascinating and beautiful pictures. This free exhibition is at the West Park Centre until Christmas, and schools have a unique opportunity to visit the exhibition with groups of children. I visited Fieldhead Carr Primary School, an amazing little school, to see the real progress the school is making on its journey to outstanding. Nik Edensor is an inspirational young headteacher whose passion, drive, determination, commitment and hard work with a brilliant team is achieving some extraordinary results. I visited St Theresa's Catholic Primary School where John Hutchinson, the headteacher, and his strong senior leadership team are driving school improvement and achieving some impressive results, particularly with their boys. And finally I attended the Leadership Challenge Event 2010 where the real highlight was being able to listen to Chris Pilling, head of direct banking at HSBC, who's energy, passion, commitment and leadership style has had a powerful impact at First Direct and now HSBC. His approach focuses on developing a culture which empowers, engages and gives ownership to his team and also draws on intelligence and performance management to drive world class outcomes. Now where have I heard that before!
A week spent with great leaders and great colleagues reminds you about the importance of leadership. Great leaders are great learners… by constantly questioning and asking why. Great leaders are great performers… by being confident and energetic. Great leaders are great storytellers… by bringing strategies and policies alive. Great leaders accept responsibility… for decisions and outcomes and focus on what really matters. And above all, great leaders are passionate.
Be passionate!
Chris
RECOGNITION FOR ANOTHER BRILLIANT COLLEAGUE!
Julia Norton the headteacher at Wigton Moor Primary has let me know about the recognition her deputy has achieved...
Janina Wincerz is a finalist in the Teaching Awards ceremony in London on 31st October, which will be shown on BBC2. She is nominated in the Lifetime Achievements Category; an honour which everyone who knows Janina recognises is fully deserved. She is in the final six from nine thousand nominees. What an incredible achievement and recognition of a lifetime's commitment to education and learning.
Chris
Janina Wincerz is a finalist in the Teaching Awards ceremony in London on 31st October, which will be shown on BBC2. She is nominated in the Lifetime Achievements Category; an honour which everyone who knows Janina recognises is fully deserved. She is in the final six from nine thousand nominees. What an incredible achievement and recognition of a lifetime's commitment to education and learning.
Chris
Monday, 4 October 2010
FARNLEY PARK HIGH SCHOOL
I attended the official sod-turning ceremony at Farnley Park Maths and Computing College this afternoon...
Young people from Farnley Park, Lawns Park Primary School and the West SILC carried out the ceremony to mark the start of this fantastic £23 million building project. We were joined by John Townsley, our consultant headteacher, Robert Greaves, the chair of the school's governing body, Cllr Judith Blake, deputy leader of Leeds City Council and executive board member for children's services and the three ward councillors; Cllr Ann Blackburn, Cllr David Blackburn and Cllr John Hardy. Colleagues from the LEP, Interserve, Education Leeds and the schools also joined us as we celebrated achieving this first step which will see the school's new facilities being completed in July 2012.
The school has been through a very challenging period following the tragic death of Bill Pullen,the previous headteacher, whose passion and vision had been shaping the new school. After the school's brilliant GCSE results this Summer we can look forward to the school now going from strength to strength as it's new buildings are constructed through our wonderful Building Schools for the Future programme.
Chris
Young people from Farnley Park, Lawns Park Primary School and the West SILC carried out the ceremony to mark the start of this fantastic £23 million building project. We were joined by John Townsley, our consultant headteacher, Robert Greaves, the chair of the school's governing body, Cllr Judith Blake, deputy leader of Leeds City Council and executive board member for children's services and the three ward councillors; Cllr Ann Blackburn, Cllr David Blackburn and Cllr John Hardy. Colleagues from the LEP, Interserve, Education Leeds and the schools also joined us as we celebrated achieving this first step which will see the school's new facilities being completed in July 2012.
The school has been through a very challenging period following the tragic death of Bill Pullen,the previous headteacher, whose passion and vision had been shaping the new school. After the school's brilliant GCSE results this Summer we can look forward to the school now going from strength to strength as it's new buildings are constructed through our wonderful Building Schools for the Future programme.
Chris
LAWNS PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL
I visited Lawns Park Primary School this afternoon...
It was great to visit this little school and talk to Rebecca Ford, the school's talented headteacher, about the approach the school has developed using Guy Claxton's work which is based on the principle that all students can develop their learning power.Rebecca and her team don't see children's ability as fixed at birth but something that can be continually expanded by developing their 'learning muscles'. These 'learning power' capacities need, as mentioned, to be part of all learning and they permeate the culture of this great little school. I was taken around the school by two great examples of the effectiveness of the work the school is doing. Katrina and George were wonderful ambassadors for the school and talked passionately about their wonderful Magic Garden, the Foundation Stage provision, the allotment, the classrooms, the displays, the buddying system, the gymnastics club, the gardening club, the cookery club and much, much more. Rebecca, George, Katrina and I had tea with the Year 5 group who were cooking pizzas using some of the vegetables they had grown in the school allotment... the puff pastry pizza was fantastic and I was given one to take away for my supper!
This is a great primary school where Rebecca and her team are releasing a real magic. They have created a wonderful learning environment for their little learners and are modelling how the children can develop their learning muscles.
Chris
It was great to visit this little school and talk to Rebecca Ford, the school's talented headteacher, about the approach the school has developed using Guy Claxton's work which is based on the principle that all students can develop their learning power.Rebecca and her team don't see children's ability as fixed at birth but something that can be continually expanded by developing their 'learning muscles'. These 'learning power' capacities need, as mentioned, to be part of all learning and they permeate the culture of this great little school. I was taken around the school by two great examples of the effectiveness of the work the school is doing. Katrina and George were wonderful ambassadors for the school and talked passionately about their wonderful Magic Garden, the Foundation Stage provision, the allotment, the classrooms, the displays, the buddying system, the gymnastics club, the gardening club, the cookery club and much, much more. Rebecca, George, Katrina and I had tea with the Year 5 group who were cooking pizzas using some of the vegetables they had grown in the school allotment... the puff pastry pizza was fantastic and I was given one to take away for my supper!
This is a great primary school where Rebecca and her team are releasing a real magic. They have created a wonderful learning environment for their little learners and are modelling how the children can develop their learning muscles.
Chris
Sunday, 3 October 2010
I saw the brilliant Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on Saturday evening...
This is 'possibly the most successful modern dance company on the planet' to quote The New York Times and the combination of strength, technique and energy inspired by the blues, spirituals and gospel music was fantastic and uplifting. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater started in 1958 with a performance, by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African-American modern dancers, that changed forever the perception of American dance. They have now performed for an estimated 23 million people in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents. If like me you love modern dance you can catch them at the Alhambra in Bradford on 15 and 16 October.
Chris
This is 'possibly the most successful modern dance company on the planet' to quote The New York Times and the combination of strength, technique and energy inspired by the blues, spirituals and gospel music was fantastic and uplifting. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater started in 1958 with a performance, by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African-American modern dancers, that changed forever the perception of American dance. They have now performed for an estimated 23 million people in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents. If like me you love modern dance you can catch them at the Alhambra in Bradford on 15 and 16 October.
Chris
NEW KINDS OF SMART!
There was a great article in the Times Educational Supplement this week...
We all know from Howard Gardner's work on multiple intelligences that he identified seven distinct intelligences. This approach emerged from research and "documents the extent to which learners possess different kinds of minds and therefore learn, remember, perform, and understand in different ways". Gardner argues that "we are all able to know the world through language, logical-mathematical analysis, spatial representation, musical thinking, the use of the body to solve problems or to make things, an understanding of other individuals, and an understanding of ourselves. Where individuals differ is in the strength of these intelligences - the so-called profile of intelligences -and in the ways in which such intelligences are invoked and combined to carry out different tasks, solve diverse problems, and progress in various domains." In the first of an occasional TES series professors Guy Claxton and Bill Lucas argue that the science of learnable intelligence should also be changing the way we work. They debunk these myths:
Chris
We all know from Howard Gardner's work on multiple intelligences that he identified seven distinct intelligences. This approach emerged from research and "documents the extent to which learners possess different kinds of minds and therefore learn, remember, perform, and understand in different ways". Gardner argues that "we are all able to know the world through language, logical-mathematical analysis, spatial representation, musical thinking, the use of the body to solve problems or to make things, an understanding of other individuals, and an understanding of ourselves. Where individuals differ is in the strength of these intelligences - the so-called profile of intelligences -and in the ways in which such intelligences are invoked and combined to carry out different tasks, solve diverse problems, and progress in various domains." In the first of an occasional TES series professors Guy Claxton and Bill Lucas argue that the science of learnable intelligence should also be changing the way we work. They debunk these myths:
- intelligence is essentially a one dimensional commodity;
- intelligence is relatively fixed;
- intelligent activity is focused in the mind;
- intelligence is rational and conscious;
- ntelligence is a personal possession;
- intelligence is an individual not a social concept;
- intelligence is universally valid;
- intelligence is an intellectual function.
- intelligence is composite;
- intelligence is axpandable;
- intelligence is practical;
- intelligence is intuitive;
- intelligence is distributed;
- intelligence is social;
- intelligence is transferable;
- intelligence is ethical.
Chris
LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE EVENT
I attended the Leadership Challenge Event 2010 this morning...
It was an interesting morning and the real highlight was being able to listen to Chris Pilling, Head of Direct Banking at HSBC, who was First Direct's chief executive before he took over a new role at parent company HSBC as head of direct banking in a move to beef up their telephone and online services. Chris Pilling is still in charge of Leeds-based First Direct, but he also has responsibility for all of HSBC UK's internet and telephone banking. Chris' energy, passion, commitment and leadership style has had a powerful impact at First Direct and now HSBC. His approach focuses on developing a culture which empowers, engages and gives ownership to his team and also draws on intelligence and performance management to drive world class outcomes. Now where have I heard that before!
Chris
It was an interesting morning and the real highlight was being able to listen to Chris Pilling, Head of Direct Banking at HSBC, who was First Direct's chief executive before he took over a new role at parent company HSBC as head of direct banking in a move to beef up their telephone and online services. Chris Pilling is still in charge of Leeds-based First Direct, but he also has responsibility for all of HSBC UK's internet and telephone banking. Chris' energy, passion, commitment and leadership style has had a powerful impact at First Direct and now HSBC. His approach focuses on developing a culture which empowers, engages and gives ownership to his team and also draws on intelligence and performance management to drive world class outcomes. Now where have I heard that before!
Chris
Friday, 1 October 2010
RECOGNITION FOR A BRILLIANT COLLEAGUE!
Debbie Hawkins, Community Co-ordinator at Cookridge Primary School sent me this bit of brilliant news...
"Dear Chris, Jo Speak, teacher and International Co-ordinator at Cookridge Primary School, Leeds has won the Link2learn International Co-ordinator of the Year. The award is to celebrate excellence and innovation in international schools partnerships. It is organised by the British Council and supported by HSBC Global Education Trust. Mrs Speak, since arriving at Cookridge Primary school some 3 years ago, has worked tirelessly to create strong links with schools in South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico, Paraguay and Spain with staff members throughout the school exchanging visits with the link schools. Cookridge Primary School has been awarded £2,500 and Mrs Speak will use the award to now invite children from Cookridge's partner schools to join in a conference on global issues. Thank you, Debbie."
Jo Speak is a brilliant colleague who worked as part of the International Relations Team in Leeds City Council before she joined Cookridge Primary School. Her passion, enthusiasm, commitment and hard work shines through everything she does and I am delighted that she has received this fantastic award which is well-deserved.
Chris
"Dear Chris, Jo Speak, teacher and International Co-ordinator at Cookridge Primary School, Leeds has won the Link2learn International Co-ordinator of the Year. The award is to celebrate excellence and innovation in international schools partnerships. It is organised by the British Council and supported by HSBC Global Education Trust. Mrs Speak, since arriving at Cookridge Primary school some 3 years ago, has worked tirelessly to create strong links with schools in South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico, Paraguay and Spain with staff members throughout the school exchanging visits with the link schools. Cookridge Primary School has been awarded £2,500 and Mrs Speak will use the award to now invite children from Cookridge's partner schools to join in a conference on global issues. Thank you, Debbie."
Jo Speak is a brilliant colleague who worked as part of the International Relations Team in Leeds City Council before she joined Cookridge Primary School. Her passion, enthusiasm, commitment and hard work shines through everything she does and I am delighted that she has received this fantastic award which is well-deserved.
Chris
Thursday, 30 September 2010
ST THERESA'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
I moved on to visit St Theresa's Catholic Primary School...
John Hutchinson, the headteacher and his strong senior leadership team are driving school improvement and achieving some impressive results particularly with their boys. It was great to talk to John whose energy, expertise and experience is making a real difference at St Theresa's. It was also good to see the transformation of the school chapel which is now a wonderful centre for spiritual development for the school and its community. While John was teaching, I was given a guided tour of the school by Francesca and Ciaran, two of John's wonderful Year 6 students, who were confident, articulate and both fantastic adverts for the school.
It was great to meet some of John's talented team and to see Debbie Kelleher again, one of the school teaching assistants, who reached the regional finals for the National Teaching Awards. There are some exciting initiatives in place which are having a real impact on the children's learning. The creative curriculum work in Year 3 with Creative Partnerships is making a real difference as is the work with Education Leeds colleagues on enterprise. The early years is great with another fantastic 'Magical Garden' which enhances the outside play available for the youngest children. The school serves an interesting and challenging community and is also doing great work with inclusion and provision for children with autism.
This is another good school with outstanding features led by a talented headteacher whose passion, energy and commitment is achieving great things.
Chris
John Hutchinson, the headteacher and his strong senior leadership team are driving school improvement and achieving some impressive results particularly with their boys. It was great to talk to John whose energy, expertise and experience is making a real difference at St Theresa's. It was also good to see the transformation of the school chapel which is now a wonderful centre for spiritual development for the school and its community. While John was teaching, I was given a guided tour of the school by Francesca and Ciaran, two of John's wonderful Year 6 students, who were confident, articulate and both fantastic adverts for the school.
It was great to meet some of John's talented team and to see Debbie Kelleher again, one of the school teaching assistants, who reached the regional finals for the National Teaching Awards. There are some exciting initiatives in place which are having a real impact on the children's learning. The creative curriculum work in Year 3 with Creative Partnerships is making a real difference as is the work with Education Leeds colleagues on enterprise. The early years is great with another fantastic 'Magical Garden' which enhances the outside play available for the youngest children. The school serves an interesting and challenging community and is also doing great work with inclusion and provision for children with autism.
This is another good school with outstanding features led by a talented headteacher whose passion, energy and commitment is achieving great things.
Chris
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