I started the day early having breakfast with headteacher colleagues at Pudsey Grangefield School...
These headteachers from the Pudsey and the West Families of Schools are great colleagues doing some amazing work with children and families. We talked about the new children's services arrangements, increasing reception numbers, the White Paper, acdemies and Team Leeds. We agreed that we need to maintain a focus on outstanding teaching and learning, on the WOW factor, on quality provision and how we nurture passion, enthusiasm, creativity and imagination. We also talked about th need to work positively with colleagues from Social Care, health, the police and the voluntary sector to support families and build healthier and more sustainable communities.
It was a brilliant start to the day with some great colleagues and we need to do more of this; to talk more, to share more, to network more and to celebrate more. We talked about the challenges that lie ahead and the need to be more creative and more collaborative and to stop the merry go round of meetings, bureaucracy and things that made no difference to children and families and focus on those we know do.
Chris
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
TIM BRIGHOUSE
I had dinner this evening with my friend and colleague Sir Tim Brighouse...
Tim is one of Britain’s most respected educationalists. He started his career as a classroom teacher and going on to become Deputy Education Officer in ILEA and Chief Education Officer for Oxfordshire. He became Professor of Education and Head of the Education Department at Keele University and founded the Centre for Successful Schools. Tim returned to the role of Chief Education Officer for Birmingham City Council and was also appointed Visiting Professor at the Institute of Education, London University. Most recently, Tim served as London Schools Commissioner and then Chief Adviser for London Schools where he set up the London Challenge which transformed outcomes in some of the most disadvantaged schools in the country.
It was wonderful to catch up with Tim who was on his way to Hull where he has been involved in leading the Hull Challenge where again he has helped transform standards and outcomes in another one of the most disadvantaged parts of the country.
Chris
Tim is one of Britain’s most respected educationalists. He started his career as a classroom teacher and going on to become Deputy Education Officer in ILEA and Chief Education Officer for Oxfordshire. He became Professor of Education and Head of the Education Department at Keele University and founded the Centre for Successful Schools. Tim returned to the role of Chief Education Officer for Birmingham City Council and was also appointed Visiting Professor at the Institute of Education, London University. Most recently, Tim served as London Schools Commissioner and then Chief Adviser for London Schools where he set up the London Challenge which transformed outcomes in some of the most disadvantaged schools in the country.
It was wonderful to catch up with Tim who was on his way to Hull where he has been involved in leading the Hull Challenge where again he has helped transform standards and outcomes in another one of the most disadvantaged parts of the country.
Chris
CARR MANOR HIGH SCHOOL
This afternoon I visited Carr Manor High School...
Carr Manor High School is another of those places where you can see, through their real success story, the Education Leeds story. It was great to sit and talk to Simon Flowers, the school's inspirational headteacher, about the journey they have been on from potential closure in split site and unloved accommodation to an oversubscribed, increasingly successful and innovative school occupying a fantastic PFI building which was opened by Tony Blair. I sometimes need to pinch myself because what we have achieved at Carr Manor High School and at so many other great schools across the city is simply unbelievable. It has been a privilege to work with Simon and his brilliant team and to watch the transformation of teaching and learning take place.
Simon took me on a last tour around the school before we went to a special reception he had arranged for me with some of his team, some of his governors and some of his students to thank me for everything I had done for the school over the last ten years. They gave me a wonderful picture which was a montage of photographs of important moments over the last ten years including some of me, which I will treasure.
Chris
Carr Manor High School is another of those places where you can see, through their real success story, the Education Leeds story. It was great to sit and talk to Simon Flowers, the school's inspirational headteacher, about the journey they have been on from potential closure in split site and unloved accommodation to an oversubscribed, increasingly successful and innovative school occupying a fantastic PFI building which was opened by Tony Blair. I sometimes need to pinch myself because what we have achieved at Carr Manor High School and at so many other great schools across the city is simply unbelievable. It has been a privilege to work with Simon and his brilliant team and to watch the transformation of teaching and learning take place.
Simon took me on a last tour around the school before we went to a special reception he had arranged for me with some of his team, some of his governors and some of his students to thank me for everything I had done for the school over the last ten years. They gave me a wonderful picture which was a montage of photographs of important moments over the last ten years including some of me, which I will treasure.
Chris
OLIVIA'S STORY
In May I told you about the Stepping Stones Celebration at Tiger Tiger where I spent the evening with Olivia and Kari, two of our fantastic looked-after young people, and their foster carers. I was so impressed with these two young women that I asked them to write to me about their experiences and Olivia has justsent me this...
"During the summer holidays I took part in two summer schools – one at Hull University and one at Cambridge University. I enjoyed both summer schools and gained a better knowledge on life as a university student. I attended Hull University at the beginning of July. I felt very welcome when I arrived and soon settled in. We stayed in the student accommodation which wasn’t too bad apart from the fact I had no television. During the day we travelled down to the university and sat through lectures on university life, law and computer science. These were very interesting and expanded my knowledge of university. We also had practical lessons on medical science where we were given real life scenarios and had the chance to examine evidence and play the role of doctors and use medical equipment to solve the mysterious illnesses. During the evenings we did a range of activities from going to the cinema to having a disco. Throughout the week we worked with university students and had the chance to ask them our questions. During the first week of August I attended Cambridge summer school. We also stayed in student accommodation but I didn’t really like these as they were like flats and quite frightening. Throughout the day we travelled to the university and had lectures on student life and finances. We also had lectures from a top law firm, Clifford Chance, and had the chance to solve a real case as lawyers either for or against the defendant. I really enjoyed this as I hope to go to university to study law and maybe one day become a lawyer. We worked with university students who made us feel at home and gave us an insight on their experiences as a student. Overall I enjoyed both summer schools and now have a better understanding on university life. I would definitely recommend the summer schools and am glad I was given this opportunity.This story show us what is possible for our looked-after children and the brilliant work that Julie Pocklington and Ken Campbell, our Stepping Stones team, are doing with the CLCs and students from the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan Iniversity. It's great to know what a difference this fantastic intiative that is making where it really matters.
Olivia."
Chris
"During the summer holidays I took part in two summer schools – one at Hull University and one at Cambridge University. I enjoyed both summer schools and gained a better knowledge on life as a university student. I attended Hull University at the beginning of July. I felt very welcome when I arrived and soon settled in. We stayed in the student accommodation which wasn’t too bad apart from the fact I had no television. During the day we travelled down to the university and sat through lectures on university life, law and computer science. These were very interesting and expanded my knowledge of university. We also had practical lessons on medical science where we were given real life scenarios and had the chance to examine evidence and play the role of doctors and use medical equipment to solve the mysterious illnesses. During the evenings we did a range of activities from going to the cinema to having a disco. Throughout the week we worked with university students and had the chance to ask them our questions. During the first week of August I attended Cambridge summer school. We also stayed in student accommodation but I didn’t really like these as they were like flats and quite frightening. Throughout the day we travelled to the university and had lectures on student life and finances. We also had lectures from a top law firm, Clifford Chance, and had the chance to solve a real case as lawyers either for or against the defendant. I really enjoyed this as I hope to go to university to study law and maybe one day become a lawyer. We worked with university students who made us feel at home and gave us an insight on their experiences as a student. Overall I enjoyed both summer schools and now have a better understanding on university life. I would definitely recommend the summer schools and am glad I was given this opportunity.This story show us what is possible for our looked-after children and the brilliant work that Julie Pocklington and Ken Campbell, our Stepping Stones team, are doing with the CLCs and students from the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan Iniversity. It's great to know what a difference this fantastic intiative that is making where it really matters.
Olivia."
Chris
Monday, 22 November 2010
LEADERSHIP FORUM
I started the day at the Education Leeds Leadership Forum...
This will be the last time I spend time with this group of colleagues who were looking at the developing structure within the new children's services arrangements. We talked about the future and how we can shape it. We talked about passion, purpose and culture. We talked about people, teamwork, attitude and ownership and engagement as keys to releasing the magic in our teams and our schools.
Chris
This will be the last time I spend time with this group of colleagues who were looking at the developing structure within the new children's services arrangements. We talked about the future and how we can shape it. We talked about passion, purpose and culture. We talked about people, teamwork, attitude and ownership and engagement as keys to releasing the magic in our teams and our schools.
Chris
THE FUTURE IS FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES!
Only four weeks left and the time is flying by...
It has been another extraordinary week. I visited Benton Park School again. My colleague David Foley, headteacher, had asked me to come to talk to his leadership team about the future. I visited Methley Primary School again. It's an extraordinary school and the school's inspirational headteacher Tracy Dell's leadership, passion, commitment and hard work has built an outstanding team and the learning environment is simply fantastic. I visited Willow Young Carers with Councillor Jane Dowson, my colleague John Paxton, and Al Berry, a student at Temple Moor High School who represents Leeds on the Youth Parliament. Willow Young Carers is a brilliant project that reaches some of our most special and simply extraordinary young people who care for someone in their family as well as managing their home life, their friends and their school work. I attended the Year 11 Achievement Evening at St Mary's Catholic High School. It was a real honour to be asked by Cath McMahon, headteacher at this highly successful school, to be part of this very special evening and to present the certificates and awards to some fantastic young people. I visited Gledhow Primary School again. This is a popular and successful school and Steve Archer, the headteacher, took me around the school and showed me the improvements they have made since my last visit. I visited Brigshaw High School again. It was great to be able to catch up with Cath Lennon, the headteacher at this wonderful school, and talk about the progress the school has made over the last few years. I also attended the city council's Excellence Awards. I was there to present one of the awards and it was great to spend time with Education Leeds colleagues who had won our Spirit Awards, and had subsequently been nominated for these awards.
During the week I attended the the Guardian Social Enterprise Summit which was sub-titled 'The Key to Big Society? Scaling up social enterprises to deliver public services'. The event comes at a particularly interesting time for public services, who are facing the cuts announced in the comprehensive spending review. The government has also made it clear that they expect social enterprise, volunteering and the Big Society to help fill the gaps. Everyone was talking about ‘savage and horrendous cuts’ to all our budgets to balance the budget deficit the country currently faces. We clearly need to work smarter, better, more closely and be more efficient and effective in everything we do and to think team...
The last ten years have shown that great learning happens in teams: in groups and networks who share ideas about what works; and what doesn't. Great learning develops and grows through co-operation, collaboration, networking and sharing. Great organisations, great schools, great classrooms are about great individuals who operate in and with great teams. AND... you don't need to look elsewhere to see great teams and brilliant leadership. Simply look at the schools I visited last week. Wherever I look there are simply extraordinary colleagues releasing the magic where it really matters. The future is full of opportunities for outstanding colleagues and outstanding teams who are creating outstanding learning places.
Chris
It has been another extraordinary week. I visited Benton Park School again. My colleague David Foley, headteacher, had asked me to come to talk to his leadership team about the future. I visited Methley Primary School again. It's an extraordinary school and the school's inspirational headteacher Tracy Dell's leadership, passion, commitment and hard work has built an outstanding team and the learning environment is simply fantastic. I visited Willow Young Carers with Councillor Jane Dowson, my colleague John Paxton, and Al Berry, a student at Temple Moor High School who represents Leeds on the Youth Parliament. Willow Young Carers is a brilliant project that reaches some of our most special and simply extraordinary young people who care for someone in their family as well as managing their home life, their friends and their school work. I attended the Year 11 Achievement Evening at St Mary's Catholic High School. It was a real honour to be asked by Cath McMahon, headteacher at this highly successful school, to be part of this very special evening and to present the certificates and awards to some fantastic young people. I visited Gledhow Primary School again. This is a popular and successful school and Steve Archer, the headteacher, took me around the school and showed me the improvements they have made since my last visit. I visited Brigshaw High School again. It was great to be able to catch up with Cath Lennon, the headteacher at this wonderful school, and talk about the progress the school has made over the last few years. I also attended the city council's Excellence Awards. I was there to present one of the awards and it was great to spend time with Education Leeds colleagues who had won our Spirit Awards, and had subsequently been nominated for these awards.
During the week I attended the the Guardian Social Enterprise Summit which was sub-titled 'The Key to Big Society? Scaling up social enterprises to deliver public services'. The event comes at a particularly interesting time for public services, who are facing the cuts announced in the comprehensive spending review. The government has also made it clear that they expect social enterprise, volunteering and the Big Society to help fill the gaps. Everyone was talking about ‘savage and horrendous cuts’ to all our budgets to balance the budget deficit the country currently faces. We clearly need to work smarter, better, more closely and be more efficient and effective in everything we do and to think team...
The last ten years have shown that great learning happens in teams: in groups and networks who share ideas about what works; and what doesn't. Great learning develops and grows through co-operation, collaboration, networking and sharing. Great organisations, great schools, great classrooms are about great individuals who operate in and with great teams. AND... you don't need to look elsewhere to see great teams and brilliant leadership. Simply look at the schools I visited last week. Wherever I look there are simply extraordinary colleagues releasing the magic where it really matters. The future is full of opportunities for outstanding colleagues and outstanding teams who are creating outstanding learning places.
Chris
Saturday, 20 November 2010
OUR LAST CHRISTMAS PARTY
Our 2010 Christmas party will be the last time we get together as a team so I hope as many colleagues as possible will try to make it...
The party is on Wednesday 8 December, 7.30pm until midnight at The Loft, Leeds City Centre: www.loftleeds.com. As this is the last-ever Education Leeds party, and to recognise that this has been a collaborative and collective team effort, where everyone who has ever worked for Education Leeds has contributed to our success, we'd like all colleagues - past and present - to join us for our final celebration. So tell your friends and please pass on the invitation to your former colleagues. Tickets cost just £2 and all money from ticket sales will go to charity. You can get your ticket from the reception at any of the main Education Leeds sites and if you are not based at one of the main sites please contact Stephanie in the communications team, phone 247 5499 or email her at stephanie.rayford@educationleeds.co.uk.
Our party this year is being sponsored by Capita and we are grateful to Ian Harrison and Parin Bahl who have worked with me over the last ten years providing fantastic support and challenge which has helped us achieve such brilliant results.
Chris
LABOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY GOVERNORS
I spent the morning in Leeds with a small group of Labour party local authority governors...
I had been asked to attend the session which was organised by Cllr Jane Dowson and attended by Cllr Judith Blake, Cllr Peter Gruen and Cllr Lisa Mulherin. We talked about the progress we have made over the last ten years and the challenges that remain in delivering world class outcomes for children in Leeds. We also talked about the new Government's policies and the implications of the comprehensive spending review on schools, extended services, the capital programme and the Council's children's services.
It was great to spend a couple of hours with this group of governors who as volunteers give so much time to our schools and make such a difference.
Chris
I had been asked to attend the session which was organised by Cllr Jane Dowson and attended by Cllr Judith Blake, Cllr Peter Gruen and Cllr Lisa Mulherin. We talked about the progress we have made over the last ten years and the challenges that remain in delivering world class outcomes for children in Leeds. We also talked about the new Government's policies and the implications of the comprehensive spending review on schools, extended services, the capital programme and the Council's children's services.
It was great to spend a couple of hours with this group of governors who as volunteers give so much time to our schools and make such a difference.
Chris
Friday, 19 November 2010
EXCELLENCE AWARDS
This afternoon I attended the City Council's Excellence Awards...
I was there to present one of the awards and it was great to spend time with Education Leeds colleagues who had won our Spirit Awards and had subsequently been nominated for these awards.
Sadly, none of our colleagues won, although being nominated meant that they were all winners.
Chris
I was there to present one of the awards and it was great to spend time with Education Leeds colleagues who had won our Spirit Awards and had subsequently been nominated for these awards.
Sadly, none of our colleagues won, although being nominated meant that they were all winners.
Chris
GLEDHOW PRMARY SCHOOL
I moved on to Gledhow Primary School...
I arrived as Steve Archer was doing the 'spotty' infants assembly showing the work they had been doing for Children in Need. This is a popular and successful school and after the assembly Steve took me around the school and showed me the improvements they have made since my last visit. The new Children's Centre and the reception classrooms are wonderful additions to the learning environment.
Chris
I arrived as Steve Archer was doing the 'spotty' infants assembly showing the work they had been doing for Children in Need. This is a popular and successful school and after the assembly Steve took me around the school and showed me the improvements they have made since my last visit. The new Children's Centre and the reception classrooms are wonderful additions to the learning environment.
Chris
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