Last night I went to see Rigoletto...
Opera North were doing the wonderful Verdi opera at the Leeds Grand Theatre and it was a fantastic night out. It's a dark story which led it to be banned when it was first performed. Richard Mantle, General Director at the Grand says in the programme "Rigoletto is an opera of immense vitality with an unforgettably vivid score and a story capable of turning both our hearts and our stomachs."
But why do all the great operas have to end with someone dying?
Chris
Saturday, 26 May 2007
Thursday, 24 May 2007
It's another half-term and everyone I meet is so tired. A bit like the footballers who played in the Cup Final this year...
I am really lucky, my life is brilliant and there is never a dull day because I am constantly setting new goals, accepting new challenges, meeting new people and focusing on what I still need to do here in Leeds. Remember that there is a real danger that we all look forward so much to the end of something; a half-term, a term or a career and set that as our goal... only to find that when we get there we are totally exhausted, because we have achieved our goal and there is nothing to look forward to, nothing to work for or to get the energy levels up.
Lou Tice got it right ,we must constantly set ourselves new goals, things that will keep our energy levels up and enable us to enjoy the break, our work or our retirement. So what are your goals for half-term and for the week after half-term... remember to refresh, recharge, read, relax and take care. See you after half-term for the next set of challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead.
"Set the goal and invent the way;
Set the goal and make it happen;
Set the goal and change the world."
Keep the faith.
Chris
I am really lucky, my life is brilliant and there is never a dull day because I am constantly setting new goals, accepting new challenges, meeting new people and focusing on what I still need to do here in Leeds. Remember that there is a real danger that we all look forward so much to the end of something; a half-term, a term or a career and set that as our goal... only to find that when we get there we are totally exhausted, because we have achieved our goal and there is nothing to look forward to, nothing to work for or to get the energy levels up.
Lou Tice got it right ,we must constantly set ourselves new goals, things that will keep our energy levels up and enable us to enjoy the break, our work or our retirement. So what are your goals for half-term and for the week after half-term... remember to refresh, recharge, read, relax and take care. See you after half-term for the next set of challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead.
"Set the goal and invent the way;
Set the goal and make it happen;
Set the goal and change the world."
Keep the faith.
Chris
I finished the day meeting with Rose Simpkin, Director of Leeds Racial Harassment soon to be renamed Stop Hate Crime...
Interestingly, the Channel 4 news this evening identified Leeds as having one of the highest levels of reported racist incidents in schools. The programme highlighted the example of two young Asian women who were too frightened to go to school in Manchester... it was terribly sad that anyone would bully or intimidate these two intelligent young women.
We must continue to do everything we can to tackle this corrosive and destructive issue. We must all all refocus and redouble our efforts through Circle Time, our PSHE programmes, the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard and the Together for Peace initiative to continue to build respect, tolerance and understanding. We must also work closely with Rose and her colleagues to continue to rigorously tackle and root out every racist incident in our schools.
Chris
Interestingly, the Channel 4 news this evening identified Leeds as having one of the highest levels of reported racist incidents in schools. The programme highlighted the example of two young Asian women who were too frightened to go to school in Manchester... it was terribly sad that anyone would bully or intimidate these two intelligent young women.
We must continue to do everything we can to tackle this corrosive and destructive issue. We must all all refocus and redouble our efforts through Circle Time, our PSHE programmes, the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard and the Together for Peace initiative to continue to build respect, tolerance and understanding. We must also work closely with Rose and her colleagues to continue to rigorously tackle and root out every racist incident in our schools.
Chris
I received an e-mail today from one of my colleagues who has got a fantastic new job...
"Dear Chris, I announced to my Governors on Monday, and to my staff today, my imminent departure from Leeds to take up a headship in North Wales. This is a fantastic 'work life balance' opportunity for my family to move to an area where we have wanted to live for some time & also a tremendous professional challenge for me (no SATs, no CVA, no league tables......no money!!!!).
I want you to know that, although it has been a roller-coaster for me, I have enjoyed working in Leeds so much that I could not begin to tell you. A lot of people,including myself at times, have scoffed at your oft stated assertion that there are 'brilliant' people in Leeds - well it is 100% true. There are many colleagues in Leeds I will miss, both professionally and personally, and I could possibly name them all. At Education Leeds I have come across so many great people that it may be unfair to mention anyone in particular, but I would like to thank both you and your colleagues for allowing me to work closely with you on many projects over my time. I hope I may have made some small contribution to pushing things forward in the right direction - and if not you an always blame me for stuff when I've gone!!
I think it is worth pointing out that, under the Welsh Assembly Government, things are entirely different in Wales and so it will take me a while to get used to things. One thing that is already clear, however, is how well off Leeds is financially and you should take some of the credit for that personally because you have ensured that Leeds never gets forgotten. Learners in Leeds will thank you one day I'm sure."
It's great to know that colleagues leaving Leeds, with nothing to gain or lose, recognise and celebrate what we have here... people and provision that is so unique and so special.
Chris
"Dear Chris, I announced to my Governors on Monday, and to my staff today, my imminent departure from Leeds to take up a headship in North Wales. This is a fantastic 'work life balance' opportunity for my family to move to an area where we have wanted to live for some time & also a tremendous professional challenge for me (no SATs, no CVA, no league tables......no money!!!!).
I want you to know that, although it has been a roller-coaster for me, I have enjoyed working in Leeds so much that I could not begin to tell you. A lot of people,including myself at times, have scoffed at your oft stated assertion that there are 'brilliant' people in Leeds - well it is 100% true. There are many colleagues in Leeds I will miss, both professionally and personally, and I could possibly name them all. At Education Leeds I have come across so many great people that it may be unfair to mention anyone in particular, but I would like to thank both you and your colleagues for allowing me to work closely with you on many projects over my time. I hope I may have made some small contribution to pushing things forward in the right direction - and if not you an always blame me for stuff when I've gone!!
I think it is worth pointing out that, under the Welsh Assembly Government, things are entirely different in Wales and so it will take me a while to get used to things. One thing that is already clear, however, is how well off Leeds is financially and you should take some of the credit for that personally because you have ensured that Leeds never gets forgotten. Learners in Leeds will thank you one day I'm sure."
It's great to know that colleagues leaving Leeds, with nothing to gain or lose, recognise and celebrate what we have here... people and provision that is so unique and so special.
Chris
I went on to Hovingham Primary School for yet another celebration of the achievements of their parents...
My colleagues, Val Cain and Jane Haswell were there to help me celebrate the achievements... some of the mums had completed the STEPS course and others had completed the Volunteering course. Sitting in the Pupil Development Centre with the mums afterwards you realise what Janet and her colleagues have achieved at the school. It was a wonderful atmosphere and the engagement with parents and carers is clearly making a real difference to these families.
Chris
My colleagues, Val Cain and Jane Haswell were there to help me celebrate the achievements... some of the mums had completed the STEPS course and others had completed the Volunteering course. Sitting in the Pupil Development Centre with the mums afterwards you realise what Janet and her colleagues have achieved at the school. It was a wonderful atmosphere and the engagement with parents and carers is clearly making a real difference to these families.
Chris
I did manage to make it to Adel Primary School...
I caught the end of their assembly on the work of Oxfam. I'd been invited to their 'International Week' where they are celebrating global citizenship. I walked around the school with Stephen Boothroyd, the new headteacher. Every class had adopted a country and the classrooms featured displays of art, activities and games from every continent and examples where children were exploring new cultures and new languages... some of the younger children were counting and speaking in Italian!
It's really great to see our talented colleagues in wonderful schools celebrating the richness and diversity of the world we live in!
Chris
I caught the end of their assembly on the work of Oxfam. I'd been invited to their 'International Week' where they are celebrating global citizenship. I walked around the school with Stephen Boothroyd, the new headteacher. Every class had adopted a country and the classrooms featured displays of art, activities and games from every continent and examples where children were exploring new cultures and new languages... some of the younger children were counting and speaking in Italian!
It's really great to see our talented colleagues in wonderful schools celebrating the richness and diversity of the world we live in!
Chris
I started the day early with Simon Flowers at Carr Manor High School...
This is a great school with a brilliant team of colleagues who are working to transform outcomes for young people in this community. Simon showed me a picture taken at the School Prom... it was picture of Simon and some of his students... students who had not been expected to finish school and achieve anything but because of the relationships and the self-belief the team had developed with these young men, here they were; some of the real but hidden successes. Simon and I talked about the 14 - 19 Review, Trusts and Learning Campuses and how we could help Carr Manor High School continue to develop its offer to its students, their families and the community.
It was a great start to the day.
Chris
This is a great school with a brilliant team of colleagues who are working to transform outcomes for young people in this community. Simon showed me a picture taken at the School Prom... it was picture of Simon and some of his students... students who had not been expected to finish school and achieve anything but because of the relationships and the self-belief the team had developed with these young men, here they were; some of the real but hidden successes. Simon and I talked about the 14 - 19 Review, Trusts and Learning Campuses and how we could help Carr Manor High School continue to develop its offer to its students, their families and the community.
It was a great start to the day.
Chris
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
My colleague Dirk Gilleard and I had dinner this evening with Lord Andrew Adonis...
We had been invited by the DfES to the Queeen's Hotel to discuss the potential of Academies here in Leeds. Leeds was well represented at the dinner... Cllr Blake, Cllr Brett, Cllr Harker, Cllr Harris, Cllr Hyde, Rosemary Archer and Paul Rogerson were joined by Margaret Coleman from the Learning and Skills Council, colleagues from Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of Leeds, colleagues from the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds along with a selection of business partners.
Lord Adonis outlined the power of the Academy model in tackling educational disadvantage and Cllr Harker outlined the Leeds approach before I talked...
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever does."
Margaret Mead
" Here in Leeds we have made really good progress over the last five years. 38% of our young people were achieving Level 2 qualifications (equivalent to 5 good GCSEs) at 16 and now 52% are!... and interestingly by the age of 19 over 75% of our young people are achieving Level 2 qualifications.
We believe that we still need a step change in outcomes for young people. About 80% of our young people are successful at primary school so why shouldn't 80% go on to achieve Level 2 qualifications at 16, with 95% progressing to Further and higher education, and 60% achieving Level 3 qualifications by 19?
To achieve these ambitious outcomes, the most ambitious targets for any local authority in the country, we need to do things differently... ALL OF US... schools, colleges, Leeds City Council, the Learning and Skills Council and Education Leeds! We need to develop LEARNING PATHWAYS based on a clear and unambiguous LEARNER ENTITLEMENT. We need to develop CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE linked to the skills sectors crucial to the success of our great city. We need to build BRILLIANT PROVISION consistently for ALL OUR LEARNERS... whatever it takes!
We must develop a new language around learning, around our little learners and our bigger learners, and we need to build a city where everyone understands that learning matters and every learners counts. To do this we must put aside our institutional bias and prejudices and start talking about:
We had been invited by the DfES to the Queeen's Hotel to discuss the potential of Academies here in Leeds. Leeds was well represented at the dinner... Cllr Blake, Cllr Brett, Cllr Harker, Cllr Harris, Cllr Hyde, Rosemary Archer and Paul Rogerson were joined by Margaret Coleman from the Learning and Skills Council, colleagues from Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of Leeds, colleagues from the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds along with a selection of business partners.
Lord Adonis outlined the power of the Academy model in tackling educational disadvantage and Cllr Harker outlined the Leeds approach before I talked...
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever does."
Margaret Mead
" Here in Leeds we have made really good progress over the last five years. 38% of our young people were achieving Level 2 qualifications (equivalent to 5 good GCSEs) at 16 and now 52% are!... and interestingly by the age of 19 over 75% of our young people are achieving Level 2 qualifications.
We believe that we still need a step change in outcomes for young people. About 80% of our young people are successful at primary school so why shouldn't 80% go on to achieve Level 2 qualifications at 16, with 95% progressing to Further and higher education, and 60% achieving Level 3 qualifications by 19?
To achieve these ambitious outcomes, the most ambitious targets for any local authority in the country, we need to do things differently... ALL OF US... schools, colleges, Leeds City Council, the Learning and Skills Council and Education Leeds! We need to develop LEARNING PATHWAYS based on a clear and unambiguous LEARNER ENTITLEMENT. We need to develop CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE linked to the skills sectors crucial to the success of our great city. We need to build BRILLIANT PROVISION consistently for ALL OUR LEARNERS... whatever it takes!
We must develop a new language around learning, around our little learners and our bigger learners, and we need to build a city where everyone understands that learning matters and every learners counts. To do this we must put aside our institutional bias and prejudices and start talking about:
- the learner entitlement;
- teaching and learning;
- coaching and personalisation;
- a rich, diverse and creative:
- ... post-14 offer; and
- ... post-16 offer.
- intelligent accountability;
- engagement and choice;
- centres of excellence
- ... academic;
- ...vocational; and
- ... specialist.
We are hoping to take forward a Leeds Learning Trust to help us drive this transformational programme across the city. We are happy to have more Academies but only where they add valus and help us achieve our goals and where we have shared and agreed protocols around attendance, exclusions and partnership working.
We are totally committed to working with anyone and everyone who shares our passion and ambition and who wants to help us ensure that every school in Leeds is a brilliant learning place whereevery child and every young person is happy, healthy, safe and increasingly successful."
Chris
I have been trying to get to Adel Primary School this week...
Sadly so far I haven't made it! I've been invited to their International Week where they are celebrating global citizenship. The weeks activities include:
Sadly so far I haven't made it! I've been invited to their International Week where they are celebrating global citizenship. The weeks activities include:
- a Fairtrade Cafe with recipes from around the world;
- music, dances and songs from different cultures;
- displays of ethnic art:
- activities and games from every continent;
- exploring new cultures and new languages.
It's great to see our wonderful schools celebrating the richness and diversity of the world we live in and I might still make it!
Chris
I spent most of the afternoon with the Headteachers' Forum...
I am increasingly 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.
Who wouldn't be impressed?
Chris
I am increasingly 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.
Who wouldn't be impressed?
Chris
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