Random Acts of Kindness!

I can't remember who introduced me to this website but thank you...

I'm Sorry!

"It's getting to the point 

Where nobody can stop it now 

It's getting to the point 

Of no return 

And all that I can do 

Is stand and watch it now 

Watch it burn, burn, burn 

It's getting to the point 

Where reasons are forgotten 

It's getting to the point 

Wwhere no one knows 

And all that I can do 

Is say I'm sorry 

But that's the way it goes..."

Chris

Education Leeds All Stars!

I spent the day, the last day of the Education Leeds contract, with my colleagues and friends at Merrion House and Adams Court in Leeds...

It was a sad day and a happy day for so many colleagues who are facing a new dawn as members of Children's Services in Leeds or moving on to do other things or taking retirement. Happy because the opportunities that lie ahead but sad because of what we have been through together and the fact that life will never be the same again.

Farewell Education Leeds!

"In the end the love you take is equal to the love you make" 

Education Leeds has come to the end of the road and this line is essentially the Beatles closing statement. It is the last lyric on the last album they recorded, Let It Be and somehow seems appropriate today!

Leeds City Museum!

Sue and I moved on to visit the last of the City Council's fantastic museums here in Leeds...

Leeds City Museum is located in one of Leeds' much loved civic buildings - the Leeds Institute building on Millennium Square. 

Thwaite Mills!

I visited Thwaite Mills this morning with my colleague Sue Davies who is Head of Learning and Audience Development for the Leeds Museums and Galleries Service...

Sue and I were given a tour of this amazing site by Hannah Kemp, Visitor Assistant, and Nina Baptiste, Keeper, whose enthusiasm, passion and knowledge was wonderful.

Bluewave SWIFT!

I was in Nottingham again yesterday and met up with colleagues from the Bluewave SWIFT team...

It is a remarkable achievement when you understand the history of Bluewave SWIFT

Who would you want to work for?

Found this brilliant article about the qualities in companies you would want to work for... really want to work for! The qualities are...

Train Journeys!

I have been spending a lot of time sitting on railway stations and travelling on trains recently...

Train journeys provide time to think, to reflect and to work while the world rushes by.

Valerie Hannon in the Guardian!

Everyone who cares about learning in our schools should read the powerful piece by my colleague Valerie Hannon in today's Guardian...

"What else have successful systems to tell us about the issues we face today?

Hi, hallo, guten tag, jo napot, szervusz, hej, god dag, salut and bon jour!

It is great to know that the blog attracts such a diverse audience from around the world...

During the last week there were 536 visitors from the United Kingdom, 62 from Germany, 30 from the United States, 24 from Hungary, 18 from Denmark and 18 from France. So hi, hallo, guten tag, jo napot, szervusz, hej, god dag, salut and bon jour. Surprising how far the Leeds story has reached!
Chris

Learn Constantly!

We are going through a period of enormous change and moving into a more complex and challenging period for schools and learning...

This will be a period where there will be great opportunities

Every School a Great School!

I have spent the last fifteen years of my professional life working in York and Leeds to ensure that every school in those two wonderful cities is a great school, often sadly against a background of negativity, criticism and indifference. 

We are constantly criticized in the media, by politicians, by businessmen and by parents and carers who rightly are concerned about underperformance and underachievement at all levels in the education system.