OK, then that's it for another half-term...
I am switching off the blog, unplugging the batteries, pulling up the drawbridge and repelling boarders. I'll be back soon but remember if you are out in the world, hold hands and stick together.
Chris
Friday, 22 May 2009
My colleagues Andrew Hodkinson, Headteacher at West Oaks School, and Chris Walsh, Headteacher at Boston Spa School sent me this after their visit to Bangladesh...
"Dear Chris, Children always come first and are at the core of everything we do. Children – whether in Bangladesh or Britain are children first and foremost. Following our recent successful visit to Bangladesh on the 'International Inspiration' programme thought you might like to know how we got on. The young people were happy and enjoyed learning. 'International Inspiration' invited Boston Spa and West Oaks Schools to Bangladesh on the back of the Olympics and Paralympics events to transform the lives of children and young people in schools and communities in some of the poorest countries across the world through sport, activity and play. Not only were we able to grasp that opportunity, but we also were able to begin to lay the early foundations for a long term and broader legacy from both the 2012 events enabling us to share with our hosts our approaches to teaching and personalised learning. We were strong ambassadors for Leeds and feel we made a significant contribution to the programme. Our two Associate Staff members that accompanied us on the programme; Mark Swales (Boston Spa) and Michael Smith (West Oaks) made telling contributions and ensured that sport and inclusion impacted massively throughout the week. We spent two days in our Partner schools in Narayangja and Manikgongj in Greater Dhaka, where we introduced them to Rugby League, Football and Quick Cricket. We also made strong links with other agencies and in true partnership fashion we ‘stepped outside’ the organised itinerary. By passing on the opportunities to go sight seeing or shopping we were able to visit two very deprived areas to introduce sport as a lever for change. Some of this represented the most rewarding moments of the visit, including playing cricket and rugby with barefoot ‘street’ children, and it was to these young people that we distributed many of the football shirts that our schools had donated. Away, again, from the for the original itinerary we also had the fortunate opportunity of visiting the "Society for the Welfare of the Intellectually Disabled" (SWID-Bangladesh) at Eskaton Garden.
It was very humbling and a privilege because what we found was truly inspirational and real champion for the inclusive agenda. This was a school full of colour, pride and compassion. The young people and staff were extremely talented and the school was a vibrant place to be despite the fact that staff had not been paid for 7 months. Despite the challenges this organisation faces they had representatives at the Paralympics where their young people had won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in America and China in 95, 96 and 99. This is brilliant and so aspirational, and for many organisations an example of how the power of sport can and should inspire young people. After our visit we linked with Carel de Roy (Head of Unicef, Bangladesh) and he is going to try and help to ensure facilities like those at Eskaton should not be lost. We hope to develop strong links with this worthwhile project and help to drive its strong programmes and awareness raising of inclusive practice in Bangladesh. The Ramna branch is facing acute financial crisis as their donor NFU left in 1999. The funding they get from tuition fees and the Government does not cover staffing and we witnessed a passionate protest from staff and parents because of this
We were also fortunate to be guests of the SOS Children’s Village International in Bangladesh. This organisation works in 132 countries worldwide and was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Austria in 1949. He was committed to help children in need –children who had lost their homes, security and families. Their philosophy of "family approach" to the long term care of orphaned and abandoned children was amazing and we can learn a great deal from them. We met the National Director for SOS and we were impressed by their Pastoral system , outreach support, preventative programmes and vocational centres. It was humbling to find such committed people making such a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable young people in Bangladesh, yet the need for the expansion of this work is so acute. This was a deeply emotionally literate organisation, driven by clear and admirable values; such is their ambition and hope for the young people in their care that they also run a school for their "looked after" children that is also a community school. These were inspirational people
"Dear Chris, Children always come first and are at the core of everything we do. Children – whether in Bangladesh or Britain are children first and foremost. Following our recent successful visit to Bangladesh on the 'International Inspiration' programme thought you might like to know how we got on. The young people were happy and enjoyed learning. 'International Inspiration' invited Boston Spa and West Oaks Schools to Bangladesh on the back of the Olympics and Paralympics events to transform the lives of children and young people in schools and communities in some of the poorest countries across the world through sport, activity and play. Not only were we able to grasp that opportunity, but we also were able to begin to lay the early foundations for a long term and broader legacy from both the 2012 events enabling us to share with our hosts our approaches to teaching and personalised learning. We were strong ambassadors for Leeds and feel we made a significant contribution to the programme. Our two Associate Staff members that accompanied us on the programme; Mark Swales (Boston Spa) and Michael Smith (West Oaks) made telling contributions and ensured that sport and inclusion impacted massively throughout the week. We spent two days in our Partner schools in Narayangja and Manikgongj in Greater Dhaka, where we introduced them to Rugby League, Football and Quick Cricket. We also made strong links with other agencies and in true partnership fashion we ‘stepped outside’ the organised itinerary. By passing on the opportunities to go sight seeing or shopping we were able to visit two very deprived areas to introduce sport as a lever for change. Some of this represented the most rewarding moments of the visit, including playing cricket and rugby with barefoot ‘street’ children, and it was to these young people that we distributed many of the football shirts that our schools had donated. Away, again, from the for the original itinerary we also had the fortunate opportunity of visiting the "Society for the Welfare of the Intellectually Disabled" (SWID-Bangladesh) at Eskaton Garden.
It was very humbling and a privilege because what we found was truly inspirational and real champion for the inclusive agenda. This was a school full of colour, pride and compassion. The young people and staff were extremely talented and the school was a vibrant place to be despite the fact that staff had not been paid for 7 months. Despite the challenges this organisation faces they had representatives at the Paralympics where their young people had won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in America and China in 95, 96 and 99. This is brilliant and so aspirational, and for many organisations an example of how the power of sport can and should inspire young people. After our visit we linked with Carel de Roy (Head of Unicef, Bangladesh) and he is going to try and help to ensure facilities like those at Eskaton should not be lost. We hope to develop strong links with this worthwhile project and help to drive its strong programmes and awareness raising of inclusive practice in Bangladesh. The Ramna branch is facing acute financial crisis as their donor NFU left in 1999. The funding they get from tuition fees and the Government does not cover staffing and we witnessed a passionate protest from staff and parents because of this
We were also fortunate to be guests of the SOS Children’s Village International in Bangladesh. This organisation works in 132 countries worldwide and was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in Austria in 1949. He was committed to help children in need –children who had lost their homes, security and families. Their philosophy of "family approach" to the long term care of orphaned and abandoned children was amazing and we can learn a great deal from them. We met the National Director for SOS and we were impressed by their Pastoral system , outreach support, preventative programmes and vocational centres. It was humbling to find such committed people making such a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable young people in Bangladesh, yet the need for the expansion of this work is so acute. This was a deeply emotionally literate organisation, driven by clear and admirable values; such is their ambition and hope for the young people in their care that they also run a school for their "looked after" children that is also a community school. These were inspirational people
Our visit ended with a huge celebration in a ‘Festival of Sport’, organised and led by the first young people to be formally trained as ‘Sports Leaders’ in Bangladesh. This was such an optimistic event, showcasing how much can be achieved for the many through sport with the right investment empowering young people to lead their peers. We also had time to link with the British High Commissioner who has asked us to contact him to discuss our "Included" project. "Included" will be directed by Boston Spa and West Oaks and will hopefully involve Leeds Schools, Bangladeshi Schools, our Bangladeshi community here in Leeds, the British Council, Education Leeds, Leeds Sports clubs, IOC, Paralympic organisations, SOS Village, and SWID School in Eskaton. Children – whether in Bangladesh or Britain are children first and foremost. We can and should do more! We will be holding a launch event for ‘Included’ in the second week of July. We would be delighted if you could attend, and give us your support. If you could let us know which dates you are available, we will fit it around your diary. As ever,
Andrew and Chris."
Andrew and Chris."
This is a simply wonderful initiative and a great advert for the best of what we do here in the city.
Chris
I received this wonderful letter from Geraldine Connor, Artistic Director, Musician, Composer, Arts Consultant, Academic and creator of Carnival Messiah...
"Dear Mr Edwards,
LEEDS BI-CENTENARY TRANSFORMATION PROJECT LAUNCH EVENT
I write to apologise for my non-attendance at the Leeds Civic Hall yesterday. of such an historic and important event. I was really not well enough to attend, however, I was absolutely certain by just looking at the proposed programme, that the event was going to be an immense success. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity offer my heartfelt congratulations to you and your team for the outstanding impact you have and continue to make on the cultural and educational landscape of Leeds. The continued successful interventions of the Leeds Bi-Centenary Transformation Project in parallel with Education Leeds independently and through the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard in Leeds, are providing a template of excellence and good practice that is now set to be replicated nationally and internationally. I congratulate you all ! I look forward to, if not actually contributing to this Project’s continued success myself, at least monitoring at close quarter, its continued and dynamic, exponential growth. Yours sincerely, Geraldine Connor"
It was a brilliant event but it is fantastic to receive such praise from such a talented and influential woman who has done so much for the arts and to promote diversity, equality and talent here in Leeds, regionally and nationally.
Chris
"Dear Mr Edwards,
LEEDS BI-CENTENARY TRANSFORMATION PROJECT LAUNCH EVENT
I write to apologise for my non-attendance at the Leeds Civic Hall yesterday. of such an historic and important event. I was really not well enough to attend, however, I was absolutely certain by just looking at the proposed programme, that the event was going to be an immense success. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity offer my heartfelt congratulations to you and your team for the outstanding impact you have and continue to make on the cultural and educational landscape of Leeds. The continued successful interventions of the Leeds Bi-Centenary Transformation Project in parallel with Education Leeds independently and through the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard in Leeds, are providing a template of excellence and good practice that is now set to be replicated nationally and internationally. I congratulate you all ! I look forward to, if not actually contributing to this Project’s continued success myself, at least monitoring at close quarter, its continued and dynamic, exponential growth. Yours sincerely, Geraldine Connor"
It was a brilliant event but it is fantastic to receive such praise from such a talented and influential woman who has done so much for the arts and to promote diversity, equality and talent here in Leeds, regionally and nationally.
Chris
Thursday, 21 May 2009
I finished the day at the Stepping Stones Looked After Children Celebration at Tiger Tiger...
I had been invited by Ken Campbell and Julie Pocklington who manage this fantastic initiative here in Leeds and it was brilliant to see the young people in care, their carers and the students and colleagues who are involved in making this project such a success. The talent and potential in the young people we shared a couple of hours with was simply amazing.
Chris
I had been invited by Ken Campbell and Julie Pocklington who manage this fantastic initiative here in Leeds and it was brilliant to see the young people in care, their carers and the students and colleagues who are involved in making this project such a success. The talent and potential in the young people we shared a couple of hours with was simply amazing.
Chris
After breakfast Jill Wood, headteacher at Little London Primary School, took Dirk and I to see her 'learn to learn' group...
The 'learn to learn' initiative targets a small group of children who are struggling in their primary schools and over two terms the programme aims to get them back into learning through a very focused curriculum and intensive support. It was wonderful talking to some of the children in the 'learn to learn' setting and to see the impact it is having. Colleague heads were hugely supportive and complimentary about the initiative which we need to consider for other areas of the city.
Chris
The 'learn to learn' initiative targets a small group of children who are struggling in their primary schools and over two terms the programme aims to get them back into learning through a very focused curriculum and intensive support. It was wonderful talking to some of the children in the 'learn to learn' setting and to see the impact it is having. Colleague heads were hugely supportive and complimentary about the initiative which we need to consider for other areas of the city.
Chris
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
I went to see the Birmingham Royal Ballet this evening at the York Theatre Royal...It was three short ballets but I slept through most of Galanteries and The Dance House. However, Elite Syncopations was fantastic. Wonderful music by Scott Joplin and others and brilliant choreography by Kenneth MacMillan. A completely stripped back theatre burst into life as dancers in brilliantly coloured costumes gathered for a dance competition. An amazing rag-time band accompanied a string of sketches, spanning the dazzling, the witty and the touching, as each dancer at the competition took their turn. Elite Syncopations was beautiful, breathtaking and joyful.
Chris
The Recipe for Myself
My colleague Richard Boughey sent me this e-mail today...
"Hello Chris, Patricia, Liz and I have just come back from a great morning discussing Harnessing Technology. We met the Elmete Partnership of Schools Family, and then moved to Manston St James Church of England Primary School to meet with Lynne Gillions and Debra Twigg. As always I'm humbled by the amazing work going on in Leeds schools and the great openness in discussing the way forward for all of us. There is no simple "right way" in the technology debate and no simple answers so it's fantastic to be able to spend the quality time exploring options and experiences with enthusiastic people!
The Recipe for Myself subject title for this email comes from Manston St James. It comes from a pupils description of themselves as a recipe (my apologies if I get anything wrong as I'm trying to remember what they wrote!):
4 spoon fulls of crazy
7 cups of running
6 cups of healthy
2 slices of thin
1 tea spoon of nosiness
7 cakes of sports
What would our recipe for Leeds or ourselves be?
For me, mine would be:
5 cups for hope for the future
2 slices of skiing (and a dash of cycling)
4 cakes of meeting interesting people
8 spoon fulls of seeing it all happen
1 cup of wishing I was thin!
Thanks, Richard."
What would other colleagues put in their recipe?
Chris
"Hello Chris, Patricia, Liz and I have just come back from a great morning discussing Harnessing Technology. We met the Elmete Partnership of Schools Family, and then moved to Manston St James Church of England Primary School to meet with Lynne Gillions and Debra Twigg. As always I'm humbled by the amazing work going on in Leeds schools and the great openness in discussing the way forward for all of us. There is no simple "right way" in the technology debate and no simple answers so it's fantastic to be able to spend the quality time exploring options and experiences with enthusiastic people!
The Recipe for Myself subject title for this email comes from Manston St James. It comes from a pupils description of themselves as a recipe (my apologies if I get anything wrong as I'm trying to remember what they wrote!):
4 spoon fulls of crazy
7 cups of running
6 cups of healthy
2 slices of thin
1 tea spoon of nosiness
7 cakes of sports
What would our recipe for Leeds or ourselves be?
For me, mine would be:
5 cups for hope for the future
2 slices of skiing (and a dash of cycling)
4 cakes of meeting interesting people
8 spoon fulls of seeing it all happen
1 cup of wishing I was thin!
Thanks, Richard."
What would other colleagues put in their recipe?
Chris
My colleague Alex MacLeod, Acting Head of PFI Programme Management, sent me some great news about our PFI schools...
"Dear Chris, I am pleased to share two recent successes with you, which my service is very proud of.
1. Lawnswood- As you will recall, historically there have been challenges in the relationship between the school and the PFI contractor , however, relationships are at an all time high between all parties. So much progress has been made that we have successfully negotiated additional (no cost) after school hours access for the Friends of Lawnswood (community choir) and to support the schools recent recognition as a centre of excellence for badminton.
In addition my service (Kathy Page) has finalised a long outstanding dispute between the school and the original builders (Mowlem) resulting in a windfall of £7k to the school for lost utilities.
2. Headingley Springbank Primary School- I have for sometime tried to maximise our partnerships with PFI contractors and get them to support our broader Council and ECM objectives. As a pilot activity, representatives of my service, Carillion/ESCO (PFI partners), constructed a wildlife pond in the grounds of Springbamk school. The pupils were engaged as an ecology learning activity, and great fun was had by all, especially as the Fire Service from Kirkstall (Redwatch) filled the pond with water!!. Clearly this will help build relationships and fosters goodwill between all parties. Kindest Regards, Alex."
"Dear Chris, I am pleased to share two recent successes with you, which my service is very proud of.
1. Lawnswood- As you will recall, historically there have been challenges in the relationship between the school and the PFI contractor , however, relationships are at an all time high between all parties. So much progress has been made that we have successfully negotiated additional (no cost) after school hours access for the Friends of Lawnswood (community choir) and to support the schools recent recognition as a centre of excellence for badminton.
In addition my service (Kathy Page) has finalised a long outstanding dispute between the school and the original builders (Mowlem) resulting in a windfall of £7k to the school for lost utilities.
2. Headingley Springbank Primary School- I have for sometime tried to maximise our partnerships with PFI contractors and get them to support our broader Council and ECM objectives. As a pilot activity, representatives of my service, Carillion/ESCO (PFI partners), constructed a wildlife pond in the grounds of Springbamk school. The pupils were engaged as an ecology learning activity, and great fun was had by all, especially as the Fire Service from Kirkstall (Redwatch) filled the pond with water!!. Clearly this will help build relationships and fosters goodwill between all parties. Kindest Regards, Alex."
Alex and his team are doing a great job making the PFI schemes work to best effect. It is great to hear about brilliant things happening at Lawnswood and Springbank.
Chris
I attended Headteachers Forum this afternoon...
The forum was at the West Park Centre and it was a really stimulating afternoon with some great colleagues looking at the new School Improvement Policy which has been refined following feedback from headteacher colleagues, data collection and analysis using the fantastic materials Andy and his colleagues in our Performance Management and Information team have put together. We also discussed primary school places and the challenges we face.
Chris
The forum was at the West Park Centre and it was a really stimulating afternoon with some great colleagues looking at the new School Improvement Policy which has been refined following feedback from headteacher colleagues, data collection and analysis using the fantastic materials Andy and his colleagues in our Performance Management and Information team have put together. We also discussed primary school places and the challenges we face.
Chris
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