I had lunch yesterday with three amazing colleagues who have provided brilliant support for me over the last ten years...
Althea, Dee and Danni capture for me the essence of the magic that is Education Leeds. They are truly talented, brilliant, gorgeous and wonderful and are three colleagues I will deeply miss.It was lovely to have lunch with them and be able to say thank you for everything they have done to help me manage my life over the last ten incredible years here in Leeds.
Chris
Thursday, 16 December 2010
MARK MILSOM
I had coffee yesterday with Chief Superintendent Mark Milsom from West Yorkshire Police...
It was great to be able to catch up with Mark who wanted to personally thank me for everything I have done to build the relationship between the schools here in Leeds and the West Yorkshire Police. Through the Safer Schools initiative we have developed a strong, dynamic and successful partnership where colleagues from the Police are part of the teaching and learning teams in secondary schools across the city. This builds on the work that PC Bob Bowman has brilliantly pioneered and has developed as a model of best practice across the region. I hope that despite the financial challenges facing the schools and the police this work will continue and further develop to continue to develop the relationship young people have with the police and reach those young people most vulnearble to and those at risk of crime and criminal behaviour.
CHris
It was great to be able to catch up with Mark who wanted to personally thank me for everything I have done to build the relationship between the schools here in Leeds and the West Yorkshire Police. Through the Safer Schools initiative we have developed a strong, dynamic and successful partnership where colleagues from the Police are part of the teaching and learning teams in secondary schools across the city. This builds on the work that PC Bob Bowman has brilliantly pioneered and has developed as a model of best practice across the region. I hope that despite the financial challenges facing the schools and the police this work will continue and further develop to continue to develop the relationship young people have with the police and reach those young people most vulnearble to and those at risk of crime and criminal behaviour.
CHris
COOKRIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL
My colleague Debbie Hawkins, Community Co-ordinator at Cookridge Primary School sent me this update about their bluebell planting...
Dear Chris, On Friday 10th December, Cookridge Primary School's Year 4 pupils walked to Breary Marsh to meet Steve Clavering, Leeds City Council Parks and Countryside Ranger and his colleagues, Graham and Jackie where they had organised a morning's Bluebell planting. With the council creating a new path through the woods for easier access, it had meant digging up the existing bluebell bulbs from the proposed path and relocating them. With the plants already dug up and put in pots, Steve now had some 200 pots for us to replant! Armed with spades and gloves, the children set to work and work they did! They dug holes, took out the bluebells from the pots and planted them near the pathway heading towards Paul's Pond. They planted all 200 pots within one and a half hours! The weather was mild at a balmy 5 degrees and with the snow melting, were able to dig fairly easily. The children loved it and wanted to carry on! Covered in mud, tired, but happy we said goodbye to Steve, Graham and Jackie and walked back to Cookridge Primary School, looking forward for a revisit in May to see the new carpet of bluebells that we have created and to be able to say "We did that!" Many thanks, Debbie."
It is great to see the difference Debbie's work is making in the community and through some small but significant steps they are building brilliant.
Chris
Dear Chris, On Friday 10th December, Cookridge Primary School's Year 4 pupils walked to Breary Marsh to meet Steve Clavering, Leeds City Council Parks and Countryside Ranger and his colleagues, Graham and Jackie where they had organised a morning's Bluebell planting. With the council creating a new path through the woods for easier access, it had meant digging up the existing bluebell bulbs from the proposed path and relocating them. With the plants already dug up and put in pots, Steve now had some 200 pots for us to replant! Armed with spades and gloves, the children set to work and work they did! They dug holes, took out the bluebells from the pots and planted them near the pathway heading towards Paul's Pond. They planted all 200 pots within one and a half hours! The weather was mild at a balmy 5 degrees and with the snow melting, were able to dig fairly easily. The children loved it and wanted to carry on! Covered in mud, tired, but happy we said goodbye to Steve, Graham and Jackie and walked back to Cookridge Primary School, looking forward for a revisit in May to see the new carpet of bluebells that we have created and to be able to say "We did that!" Many thanks, Debbie."
It is great to see the difference Debbie's work is making in the community and through some small but significant steps they are building brilliant.
Chris
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
MY LAST HEADEACHER BREAKFAST MEETING
I had breakfast this morning with headteachers from the North West and Inner North West Families of Schools...
I turned up late having been stuck in an accident but it was great to see so many wonderful colleagues who are doing great things and releasing the magic for young people and their families. I will miss these opportunities to connect and catch up with headteacher colleagues, to take the temperature and to see what issues are causing concern. It is vitally important that people who lead and manage services understand the reality of what we do by walking the estate and talking to children, young people and colleagues on the front line. We have created an extraordinary culture here in Leeds; one that values people and challenges and supports colleagues to be reflective and constantly look for ways to imporve, develop and do even better.
We must continue to Think Team and work together to build safer, stronger and more successful schools and communities.
Chris
I turned up late having been stuck in an accident but it was great to see so many wonderful colleagues who are doing great things and releasing the magic for young people and their families. I will miss these opportunities to connect and catch up with headteacher colleagues, to take the temperature and to see what issues are causing concern. It is vitally important that people who lead and manage services understand the reality of what we do by walking the estate and talking to children, young people and colleagues on the front line. We have created an extraordinary culture here in Leeds; one that values people and challenges and supports colleagues to be reflective and constantly look for ways to imporve, develop and do even better.
We must continue to Think Team and work together to build safer, stronger and more successful schools and communities.
Chris
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
JUDITH BLAKE AND RICHARD HARKER
I saw Cllr Judith Blake this afternoon before I had dinner this evening with Richard Harker...
It was really good to see Richard again and to be able to thank Judith and Richard for the leadership and support they both provided over the ten years they held the education portfolio. During these wonderful years we achieved so much; transforming teaching and learning and rebuilding the school estate. The legacy is everywhere and we owe both Judith and Richard a great deal for their trust, faith and belief.
Chris
It was really good to see Richard again and to be able to thank Judith and Richard for the leadership and support they both provided over the ten years they held the education portfolio. During these wonderful years we achieved so much; transforming teaching and learning and rebuilding the school estate. The legacy is everywhere and we owe both Judith and Richard a great deal for their trust, faith and belief.
Chris
HOVINGHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL
This afternoon I visited Hovingham Primary School again...
Sadly my colleague Janet Spence, the headteacher at this wonderful school, was poorly but the hall was packed and Jane Fisher and her colleagues and Year 2 performed 'A Snowman at Sunset' which was great. Jane also gave me a copy of her 'Now Hovingham 2011' CD which will always remind me of the special times I have spent at this extraordinary learning place. The children finished with a wonderful song called Feliz Navidad a Spanish Christmas song which you can listen to by visiting this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihW56Xa3XGQ&feature=related
Chris
Sadly my colleague Janet Spence, the headteacher at this wonderful school, was poorly but the hall was packed and Jane Fisher and her colleagues and Year 2 performed 'A Snowman at Sunset' which was great. Jane also gave me a copy of her 'Now Hovingham 2011' CD which will always remind me of the special times I have spent at this extraordinary learning place. The children finished with a wonderful song called Feliz Navidad a Spanish Christmas song which you can listen to by visiting this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihW56Xa3XGQ&feature=related
Chris
THANK YOU!
"Take pride in how far you have come and have faith in how far you can go"
I returned to my bleak and miserable office with its blank walls to find this lovely surprise...
My colleague Becca had left me a card, a chocolate rudolf and a bookmark with the message above. Thank you, Becca. The message is a great one as we move on to face our next challenges!
Chris
FREE SCHOOL MEALS LAUNCH EVENT
I visited Roundhay School this morning to attend the launch event for our Free School Meals...
It was great to see Neil Clephan, the headteacher, and some of his colleagues again and to see how the school has adopted the 'Grab and Go' system which encourages more young people to take up their free school meal allocation. My colleague Rosie Molinari has done a brilliant job developing our school food strategy and encouraging the uptake of free school meals which have risen by 10%!
Chris
It was great to see Neil Clephan, the headteacher, and some of his colleagues again and to see how the school has adopted the 'Grab and Go' system which encourages more young people to take up their free school meal allocation. My colleague Rosie Molinari has done a brilliant job developing our school food strategy and encouraging the uptake of free school meals which have risen by 10%!
Chris
ALLERTON CE PRIMARY SCHOOL
I visited Allerton CE Primary School again today...
It was great to see Helen Stott, the schools' talented headteacher, who gave me a beautiful framed piece of her childrens artwork to keep to remember my visits to the school. I was also given a guided tour by Georgia, Josephine and Tyler from Year 6 who were three brilliant adverts and ambassadors for this amazing little school.
Chris
It was great to see Helen Stott, the schools' talented headteacher, who gave me a beautiful framed piece of her childrens artwork to keep to remember my visits to the school. I was also given a guided tour by Georgia, Josephine and Tyler from Year 6 who were three brilliant adverts and ambassadors for this amazing little school.
Chris
DINNER WITH LEADERSHIP TEAM
I had dinner with my colleagues from the Education Leeds leadership team last night...
It was great to spend the evening with this very special group of colleagues who over the years have helped transform education and learning here in Leeds.
Chris
It was great to spend the evening with this very special group of colleagues who over the years have helped transform education and learning here in Leeds.
Chris
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