Let me know what you think!

I have improved the blog so I hope that it is easier to quickly access and get what you want from your visits...

As a learner I know that we are constantly on journeys to improve and develop what we are doing and that every colleague, every school, every team and every workplace has things that are brilliant and things that need to be worked on.  Please let me know what you think of the blog and how I could further improve it for you. If I can help you on your own personal, team or school journey please let me know.
Chris

You can!

Those who believe they can, can and those who believe they can’t, can’t...

It is as simple as that and no longer open to question. People fail and people succeed not because of who they are but because of who they think they are.

Attitude and belief!

We have to help our young people understand that the key to success is your attitude and belief...

The only limitations and barriers in your life are those that you set for yourself.

Learning is a team game

We must continue to develop co-operative and collaborative approaches where we network and share what works and create 'learning zones' where we learn from our own best practice and what works everywhere and anywhere.

Re-imagine learning!

We mustn't go backwards; we need to 're-imagine learning for a digital age'...

As Dan Pink says in his brilliant book 'A Whole New Mind'; "The last few decades have belonged to a certain kind of person with a certain kind of mind...

What do you believe in?

We must continue to nurture and support our learning teams to ensure that they continue to deliver for our children and young people; so that every child is a reader and can count by seven, every child is a brilliant little learner by eleven and every young person is on a pathway to success by sixteen; whatever it takes! 

Dangerous times!

Sir Ken Robinson constantly reminds us all that these are dangerous times for those of us who understand that learning is a dynamic and creative process

Accountability, learning zones and courage!

We need to continue to reflect, think, focus and stick to what really matters; leadership, vision, positive behaviour, discipline, focus, passion, engagement, creativity, partnerships, relationships, persistence, determination and hard work...

Be brilliant!

Having visited some great schools recently, I know what it takes to build brilliant; it's alive and well and it's not rocket science...

Attitude!

My visit to schools yesterday reminded me of this wonderful quote which I have added to the quotes list at the side of the blog...

Coach, practice and learn...

What is it about our teachers, our colleagues, our schools, our authorities that means that we perform so poorly when compared to the best in Europe let alone the best in the world?

Dirk Gilleard

I caught up with my colleague Dirk Gilleard this evening...

It was great to see Dirk, catch up on the news and hear about how things are going. Dirk is a great coach and a constant learner who has shaped learning provision particularly in secondary schools. He told me that the latest value added results place 62% of Leeds secondary schools in the top two quartiles, 5A*-C results in line with national averages and with 5A*-G and 1A*-G results above national averages; what a transformation when you compare them with where  we were in 2001! We certainly have a lot to be proud of but as always so much more to do to achieve world class outcomes.
Chris

Hovingham Primary School

I visited Hovingham Primary School this afternoon...

It is a simply extraordinary learning place and I had been invited to their Mathletics celebrations. Matheletics is a commercial on-line website which aims to help develop maths learning and motivation. The children are set goals and achieve gold, silver and bronze certificates. Jane told me that the children have never been so keen on doing maths and that she is amazed at how excited and motivated the children were by the scheme. You can find out more about the scheme by visiting their website at www.mathletics.co.uk.

Janet Spence, the headteacher, and Jane Fisher, who leads the work on Mathletics, have created an extraordinary culture focused on hard work and positive attitudes. These celebrations brought powerfully alive by the whole school's singing and the positive psychology that surrounds every aspect of their work. Jayne Warburton, the CEO of Mathletics uk had come up from Bristol to award the school with the first Mathletics Center of Excellence award.

She explained that the school had achieved more than any other Mathletics school in Leeds,Yorkshire, England, Europe and the world! What an achievement for a primary school serving this rich, diverse community at the heart of Harehills. A school making a real difference!

Chris